American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-03-29


should not be tortured into construction applicable
to such. We would ask the gentlemen two plain
Questions ;-what child could understand Byron
or could an untutored mind comprehend him the
obvious answer is-No. ltrequres previous study
to understand the CLASSICAL illusions and wrought
imagery of his compositions it is not calculated for
infane capacities, the abodes Of ignorance. The
arguments of the editors strongly remind us oil
|Colemans hero, who excaims--
"Were the master of boarding school,
I'd squash such books in toto, if couldn't
Let me catch one miss that broke my rule
And fog hersoundly, d-n if wouldn't"
Speaking of the most immoral of his productions
these same gentlemen, who make such hue and
cry about mpety and RIGHTEOUSNESS, tell us that
lit is fortunate circumstance that the impety Of
lord Byron is too fearless and revolving, to have that
wide range of mischief, which more art with equal
vrulence might occasion No one, as Hannah More
expresses it, 'who was not hurt before, could read
Don JUAN for instance, without finding in his insult
ed feelings pretty efectual security against its
noxious tendency" Thus they speak against his
most ascivious work, and tacitly confess the harm
less tendency Of the less exceptionable If the ear
Hest thoughts and strongest associations of youth
are directed, as they should be, to the acquisition Of
solid information and correct principles, they will
prove an effectual security" against all the nox-
ious sentiments contained in the poets, from Chau
|cer to Byron inclusive. We have said before, and
again reerate the assertion, that few persons are
so silly as to fashion their morals by the hero Of
poem.
The editors affect considerable establishment at ar
|opnon we have expressed, that the moral charac
ter of Byron should not be drawn from his poetry
Such is our impression sit may be singularly orr
lgina and readily accounted for. In the selection o.
food for our mind we employ no caterer we reae
and Judge for ourselves. We put but little faith il
the opinions of reviewers, knowing them to be fal
ble mortals like our selves; and we'll aware tina
they are not unfrequeny influenced bypolitical ran
cor or private pque. We never pretend to sit in judg
ment on our fellow men, or fahom the inmost reces
es of their hearts. We conceive it impious to hur
our maledictons, and anticipate the destinies of on
fellow mortas. Whether their deeds be good or evi
we believe is an account which can alone be settle
between them and their God, who will judge then
for the deeds done in the body
We will conclude by observing that the editor
of the Star appear to us to have read Byron in scare
of POISON in place of honey to have sought ran
zueeds in lieu of roses and have reoiced that hei
unnatural search had not been vain. We, on til
contrary, have read him in search of moral beauties
classical illusions, splendid imagery, and have oun
that which we sought.
il We have heard with great concern that attempt
are making to shake public confidence in our Dc
' mestic Manufactures. We have it upon creditabl
authority, that the English Manufacturers hay
initiated our fabrics-made the imitation of damae
ed Materials and thrown considerable quantities int
the country. The article known by the name
Wilmington Strife, originally manufactured in on
Borough, is one among many other species Of good
which have been imitated and it is with regrs
we learn, that certain of our storekeepers (regard
less Of the injury they are doing the community an
the Industrious who have settled in our Bo
: rough and its vicnty,) repair to the neighborin
commercial cities and purchase the very article thu
could be furnished them byheir enterprsing town:
men. 1t may be commended that the difference i
Price warrants the preference I'VE contend it doe
not. Iii Withdrawing money which should be cir
culated among ourselves it lis providing employ
lment for foreign manufacturers 10 the ruin of OF