Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-26

frieiSi had been lately discipiining into
somt sort oi system, aud after taking a
turuor two, We seated ourselves on the
fallen trunk OF IA tree, when my thoughts
revsrtedto our recent conversation.
am airaii, NY dear sir, you estimate
the merits OF those writers, aud the ei-
iects OF AN acquaintance with them. al
too low rate
I" By no means-no estimate O! them
can surpass mine. As literary compO-
6 si,ioHs, think them noble aud excellent
efforts OF genius-iong may they CONT
nue. 10 be termed and used as classic au-
thors in our seminaries OF education-to
nOurlsh noble aspirations In the young,
and atfoid amusement 10 the old. ALI
mean to Insinuaie Is, HAT, though they
might have exercised dominion and con-
troll over the manners and sentiments of
The times andp!aces Of their publication,
YET, L doubt their power In relation 10
the appearances and phases of uianners
: OF so entire a disSimiiiiude, and would
{ also add, that. if il be possible for
periodical work to possess aud exert any
power, of utility in relation TO such.
objects, could wish 10 see series of
ESSAYS attempted, the chief design of
which should be, 10 introduce true
descriptions OF Virginian manners and
sentiments into Virginian scenery
meaning by scenery, the fact OF appear
ance, III relation 10 The forms, habits
and arrangements of private life and
domestic ecODOmy--if such work
could succeed-but doubt it,"
Your observations remind ME OF
similar wish, conceived on my walk
hiiher, when my medltaiions on The neg
lecfed field OF poetic associations In our
beautiful scenery, wandered from that
source OF regret, 10 the consideration OF
the equally neglected province of moral
description. Blu, why do you doubt the
result you Yourself, in my estimation,
are competent TO the task. You are
past the hey day of youth-you have
devoted yourself TO letiers-know men
and women thoroughly, and have ira
yelled both in America and Europe.
Wllat more is necessary 10 the serious
entertainment, on yourpart, ofsuch an
enterprise"
" Surely you have not calculated lis ar
duOusness. 1t will be difficult 10 occupy
a series of essays, with matter, sutficient-
", exclusively devoted 10 Indigenous
speculation. Besides, tho the British
essayisls are not very applicable 10 our
state OF manners, is il light Thing, toai-
b
authors merely succeeded in, in their
'own ?"
Well, if This be difficult, yet still,
while YOU maintained, as the tenor OF
your design an unreliBquIshed regard 10
such objects, could YOU moi inietsperse
essays ON other subjects. which might
be amusing and instructive? Though
little may he effected in relation 10 indI-
genous manners, yet much WILDE gained,
even n your essays may only excite
native emulation or CRAFTY TASTE,
and if, even by dressing familiar * old
thoughts in new and attractive words,
something may he added 10 The stock Of
harmless amusement, though 10 tangI-
bic good he produced"
But my friend, you do not consi.
der, that the writers who have aimed al
Ibis moral portraiiure, have dwell in
populous cities and moved in the circle
of their tasliiOHs-Is a secluded resi-
dence, in this retired Virginidn cottage,
suitable 10 such an aItempt?"
You have, i'll the course Of your life,
been cOnvrTsani with the most fashiona-
BILE society OF the most populcus towns.
Bui, independent OF that, / consider
your present situation as the most ELI
gible for the execution ofsuch plan.-
A wrong estimate, on this very point,
has been the wrecking of many attempts
{ of this kind, in this country. Some
individual has frequently started up in
our great towns, and sciZiDg the pen
and assuming the iannty air and dcbo-
nair carriage of Sir Richard Steele, or
Coleman and Thornton, retaiIed, as
pictures of American manners-stale
sketches from their descriptions of the
foIlies, &c. of their day. In several Of
The American states, and more parliCu-
larry so in Virginia, The towns do NOT by
any means exhibit the true native tone
of indigenous manuers. Tie rich III
such places, generally foreigners, show
the variety of The manners OF their
different countries, while the only unI
formity is exhibited in the contest foT
superiority of show in the luxury oil
mercantile wealth. The genuine Virgl-
MAN character is most often found, III
6 The independent and cultivated class OF
country proprietOrs-except where this
Characters neuiralzed by meddlng will
banks and speculation. You have an
extensive intercourse and acquaintance
among the most respectable OF this class
Prepared with proper knowledge o.
the world, enjoying this liberal utter
course-indcpendeD in this charming
retreat, | will moi, cannot excuse you
from aiding such All attempt at least
even If you will mol assume tIIe lead il.
Come-siall we mediate upon plan
and title Z"
My frend remained in deep reflection
| for some minutes: he then turned to me
Well; upon Que condition will aic
you III this attempt-ihough, from my
earliest youth, a votary both OF The
muses. and OF severer studies ant
though have exhibited 10 the public
view some sonnels and verses TO The va
i 4, L..