The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-11-26
Literary .apOsiaies, sinoeRrists, and Piece

II has been sometimes asked what mo-
tiyes< could induce sarh mea ~ Walter
Scott, Robert Seuthey, Thomas Camp
bell, and number of other literary char
acters, Ia devote their talents in eulogising
the established political systems of Europe,
when thuy must be perfectly aware that
these systems are hostile 10 the happiness
Of man. Tint Walter Scntt should he
found the advocate of the privileged or
dels,n and OF The p.rpetuiiy of the fendal
system, is natural enough, considering that
he has always folloa 81 IN the tram Of those
who, for these thirty years, have been the
most ayowed opponents Of liberal prinei-
piles. At the early part OF the French Re
,olution, NE find him at the head OF corps
of cavalry, raised by certain individuals in
Tie nelghbourhood of Edinburgh, for the
avowod purpose of putting down French
principles, by discriminating all who pro-
fessed them. For tins service, the lloyd
barrister' was appointed to the Office of
Sheriff Depute OF Saliirshire, with sala-
~ of Goo sterling per annum; of"hich, If
rumour speaks true, he was At tins time
greatly in want from his pancity OF talent
rs an advocate II the Scottish bar, where
his practice scarcely yielded him the ne
cessarles of life. All the world has since
beard of his fame as a poet, aud his adula-
tors have even endeavourcd 10 iaeten ON
him the reputation writings to which he
never had any prctrnsens, because he was
conscious Of his inability 10 produce them ;
but ii Is not so generally known that, be-
sides being elevated to the rank ofnobility,
Gte tNaIf.,Y h.a H.. nj bnP
ded for his devotion To the cause of ifgih-
pincy, with the office of Clerk of the Court
OF Session in Scotland, 10 which a salary OF
$4,000 sterling per amman is attached. The
patriotic knight thus enjoys nearly fifteen
| thousand dollars year, a SUN sufficient TO
induce any man Of "his kidney" TO sup
port corruption by his pen 10 the day of
his death.
But the case stands somewhat different
as 10 Southey, Campbell and variety OF
others, who AS eagerly advocate the Gauge
| oftyranny as the author OF Marmion. Ro-
bert Senthey is the acknowledged author
| Of dramatic poem entitled Um I'Wer, and
several other poctcal productions, all brca-
thing the pure5t principles Of liberty and
d"testation of despots. For number of
| years he associated with Che most reepcc-
| table men in England, friends Of reform,
and was considered an nncxiblc p;ttriot by
all who knew him. Having been threaten
! I'd with u prosecution for some Of his VII
tlngs, he hdsely compromised matters with
| the Ministry by agreeing for the patry
sum OF Eio0 year, not only tn abandon
his party, but 10 take up hs pen against it.
In pursuance If this very honorable agree
mcnt, he continued for "A long period 10
pour oul, III the Quarterly Review" the
most Infamous abuse upon all reforms With
out discrimination; and SO well did he az
qult hImsclftO the satisfaction of his cnl-
| ployers, that when the situation of Poet
| laureate became vacant, I've was elevated TO
that post, where he now iauds ROYALTY 10
the skies for Coco additional wear, with
as much ierYour as he formerly denounced
II from principle. Poor Apostatc Sou
they What a miserable termination of
his career when he could barter conss
tcncy and Independence for paltry $500.
We wish we could use more delicate
terms when speaking Of the Author Of the
apostatlzed, and abandoned his principles
aud his friends for pension. Like Sou
they he WAS long an open enemy of cor
ruptlon, and ieok an active part i'll endea-
Horlng To elect rational reform. Like
Southey he accepted pension Of f201,
Tor which his name stands emb'ay one6>in
the "kcd Book :" and latyerly, when he,
mo doubt, expected his pcrfdy would be
forgotten, he accepts The Editorshjp of the
New Monthly Magazine, work establish
ed ayowedly ia support ol the English
ministry, aud to write down the former as
socates of Thomas Campbell task
which this man does not hesitate TO dis
charge with zeal admirably adapted To
the taste of his employers, and by which,
IN due time, il is more than lik ~ he will
obtain an increase of the "royal bounty
Although the poet laureate is known 10
contribute many article, TO the "Quartcrly
Review" the real editor Of that work is
WHiidm Clifford, comptroller of the lottery
Office, with a salary Of Coco and Paymas-
ter OF gentlemen pensioners with an add
tional salary of $500 sterling per aunum.
OF all the prostituted Journals IN England,
the "QuartcrIy Review" with the cScep-
ton perhaps ol Biackwood's Magazine, is
more exclusively devoted TO scurriEty,
talsehood, and misrepresentation, than any
other periodical publication. The editor
is known to be The SON of shoemaker, and
many have attributed the foul language
which flows from his pen, To his low origin.
But We need so no farther than the large
pensions which he enjoys, and the immc, St
patronage, given TO his work, by the friends
OF the government, 10 find cause for h
thus abusing every thing that is praisewor-
thy and honorable. We regret TO find
that there are individuals in this country,
who are continually endeavourng to bring
the Quarterly Review into notice, hy pro-
mitigating It's pestiirrous doctrines. Such
work, may be allowed to have impor-
lance IN the eyes ofthe abettors of tyrants,
and of slaves, but it ought never to occupy