Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-07-09

! tratiye d Capacious intelligence. displayed
10 its researches, which fixes our venera'
ten on him who pursues them with sue
cess. No! but il is thai ex alratioD, which
such studies give to the genius, that sub
Unity they impress upon the character
And W hat is it that gives the orator bis
power of encbanlment? Think you tits
bis mastery over language, his skill ia
smoothing bis periods, enrichlng bis phra.
seology, and coloriDg bis imagery! No!
many posses this who are still not orators.
But the qualities OF the soul, more than
the accomplishments of the intellect, ir-
part TO bis words their talisrhapic influence,
and 10 his voice, It's magic facikation.---
1t is that internal beauty and grand eur
which is evolved from bis graceful ges.
lures, varied intonations and msjestic
bearing; and above all, il is that en,husi.
asm, which beams from bis countensnce,
thrills in bis utterance, and seems to fash
in every hurried motion. Hence il is, that
(according to Quintilian) virtue is neces.
sary to the perfection OF eloquenee; and
hence it is Gas Demosthenes and Cicero
strenuously assert) that delivery is the most
important part of oratory; for it is that.
which expresses these qualities with a
force, yivacity and precision, with which
words alone are powerlass to portray them.
Take another instance, and inquire what
it is that makes the hero, so much admired
by the men and beloved by the women. Is
il merely bis knowledge as an adventurer
or general. bis skill in planning cam.
palgn, pointing cannon, or directing an
attack? Or is itnot rather the evidences
of great qualities and noble nature,
which give bim bis brilliant fame? It is
not that something of the vast and lin.
bounded ctaracterising bis actions and de-
portment "--fortitude under suffering, in>
trepidity in danger--a spirit calm and col.
lected amidst tumult and distraction; end
that deep devotion to noble sentiments.
which evinces the Immortality OF man by
rendering him superior 10 all mortal cham
ces, and indicates his alliance with Hea.
ven, by exalting him 50 high above the
earth?
If these reflections be just, | would have
you bear them in mind during the follow
ing observations, especially if you wish to
come at q proper estimation of class OF
men, whose character it is good fer Us
frequently to contemplate. For it seems
to me, that their renown is Of that kind
which it best becomes us to emulate; and
that those qualifications and qualities which
achieved our prosperity, are the very sort
to perfect and perpetuate those institutions
from which it SO abundantly flows. Then
it would be well'for US to be stimulated to
this emulation and to these attainmehts, as
well by inclination as bya sense of duty |;
and feel assured, the more we analyze
their fame and study, their virtues, the
more we shall be enamoured OF both.
Among the infinite variety OF human
character, there are three distinctions to
which | would draw yonr attention, viz:
the Asiatic, the European, and the Ame'
rican. 1 mean this az moral, rather than
q geographical division, and the luxurious
pomp of the first, the elegant gaiety Of the
second, and the hardy virtue OF the third,
uncircumscribed by physical boundaries,
and underlined BY lines Of latitude and lon
.gitude, are didused in different proper.
tions throughout the babitable globe But
in that region of the earth, where we find
the first vestige of the human being, and
the earliest advancement in arts aud 60.
vernment-where patriarchal rule soon de-
generated into despotic domination
where the labor Of multitudes has been e.
yer directed to supply the great with plea
sures, and thus perpetuated that bias to-
wards manual labor which the earliest ne
cessities of our nature first gave to human
iogenuity-where palaces rising out OF ri.
vers, and gardens suspended in air, early
afforded luxurious bowers for oriental beau
ty-where the melting climate dissolves
the body into incidence, and the troplc
sun-beams impart their own tTe to the
Soul
(. There where the gorgeous East with richest
hand;
Showers on her kings barbaric pearl & gold"
where rocks hewn into temples, earth ex-
waited into catacombs. and pyramids rear
ed so high and composed OF such MASSIVE
materials, that these structures OF barba-
rism defy the speculations OF science-re.
main the imperishable records OF an age
which has no other adequate history. and
EXHIBIT the most stupendous monuments Of
the work Of human hands;-there pleasure.
pomp, splendor, power, compose the CHER
good TO which men devote their lives, ana
whose perfection they hope for in their
Mahomedan Heaven.
Bur in Europe these eastern propensi.
sites were corrected by truer wisdom
and finer taste. There the bold and &C
tive spirit awaked in its FIRST settlers by
the tolls, wants, and dangers Of emigra.
ton, opposed strong barrier to the en-
croacbments Of The shepherd kings-There
men were early dei6ed for useful inven.
tions T. generous exploits-There the sue.
cessive prosperity Of numerous republics
evinced tbelnecessity!ot,virtue to the main.
tenance OF freedom and the creation OF