Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-28

the Rep. Josepa Beriagton. syo.
No. 5.
Enclosing he biography ofthese celebrate
nersons, the reader will naturally conlem'
Mate for moment the dissimilitude OF their
characters, which was fully as remarkable
as The parity of their fortunes. From the
writings of Abeillard that have descended TO
us. lev of these excellenees are found OF
which the description is necessary toexpialn
the unlimited applauses be received. AS
seasoner, like all the learned OF his time,
ne possessed !more verbal agility, than eie-
gance Of diction, extent OF knowledge, OF
nroiuntlily OF thought Instead OF simplify
ing science, he augmented It's perpleAiues
believed himself wiser than others, when he
wo.e a web too intricate to,be uGraveiied,
and when he talked too darkly TO be under
stood, laid the blame on the hearer. Ills
theological writings, the commentaries beng
excepted, are sand to display great poiem'-
cal proves but seld m 10 induce practlca!
good. But though this important reduction
al his claims be made, il is idle 10 reason
alphabetically against facts, and the pFaeu-
cal operations of his genius show IFS abun-
dance in the qualities, whatever they WeIe'
which in his age built up'a repulation'-
That his persuasiyeness arose IRON some
thing very unlike The arts by which motern
eloouence iuiwlGes itself with the passions
of the nearer ana eeguiles MS Judgment, is
obvious 10 the lost careless view, Tor A
h4il.ard excened in talent he had also no.
many rivals in violence OF dosmahsm,-
These were indeed the faults Of the age, ana
m his instance had less of il.iberality and
rancour than is usual in theological contro-
yeysy. The ipauence CT MS reasoning was
greatly turthered by the attractions OF
graceful figure and musical voice-adVan-
fages TO which in all countries and times the
more solid faculties OF mind have been post
poae For beauty OK style or amplitude
of knowledge, few will compare Lord Chat
hams speeches. noble as they undoubtedly
are, TO those OF Burke yet the personal su-
periority of the peer always made them more
popular. The moral character OF A9ellarc
has few clauGs TO respect Alter deliberate
" sedecing Heloiaa and iInmuriug Der
youthful loyeIiness in convent, he desert
&c her, and for many years manifested RI M
terest, and, according to Qua author, Tell
none in her fate In bis autobiography her
name selcunr occurs aud is soon espalchea.
This at least Is NJ. Berington's siatehlent {;
but the letter TO Pbilntus &; neraiiy ascribed
80 Abeinsrd, EXHIBITS him, have said ina
different aud more amiaEle view Indeed !
the correspondence between the lovers with /
(which the public Is familiar shows Abeilard !
70 have always retained the ioudest retnem- |
brance oil his " lie, to profess inability to |
resign it 10 the control Of pieiy, and 10 as !
sumo GOODNESS My that he might Calm the !
extasy OF hergrief. Between the claims TO |
authenticity of these letters and those OF !
which translation concludes TIE present |
volume, have no means TO Iecide, and t,y |
his silence as To the former, MIR. Bcrngton
leaves The question in doubt.
But from both it is inierible that the real or
apparent Indifference Of Abeillard ceased
when Heloisa removed to the Parac!ete, land
ihat be often afterward promoted her harpi
ness by spiritual advice. To Ibis however
prolessionatyanity was evidently an incen,
tive.
s Criticism may desert with pleasure the
crooked diaiectick and selfish character OF
AbeiIlard, TO contemplate The geaces OF her
who once possessed his love andnow divites
his glory. Jhiettered by the scholastic
teehnicalitts which rerplexed Tie style of !
her lover and gave du!ness TO even his de-
clamations, Iieloisa infused into her wri-
iings glow and elegance which a potter /
age may despair 10 emulate. Receiving |
from nature, in natures most prodigal me-
ment, perspicacity that discovered truth
amid the clouds which ignorance and preJu- !
dice gathered round it, she abandoned the |
pathway OF ordinary minds, and reached the !
object OF Intellectual pursuit by step too
6rm 10 fAlter and too Aeet to be followed.
Her fancy, exquisite in It's inventions, was
'ohasten, by the harder qualities Of mind. !
and their union resulted in compositions at
once eloquent and profound passionate and