The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-03-21
JOHN II. PLEASANTS.

| character of n private citizen.
JOHN II. PLEASANTS.
ron THE yIRGINIAa.
TACITUS IIAiL-No. II.
- Enblemshed let me live or die unknown !
i" Oh, grant an honest fame, or grant me
none y
Under the auspices of our beloved Pre-
sdcnt, an unworthy member presumes TO
continue the communication, signed Idci-
tus, which appeared in last Fridays Virgin
ian. Since that time, some young gentle
men of this neighborhood taking into con
sdrration the great utility winch may re
suit from a sincere yinJiCation of each good
cause which aou .'anguishcs in n world add
verse 10 all goodness have formed II union,
which they have thought proper to'deno-
inmate in plain terms, tho rel meaning
society,"" Not being under the influence of
that spirit of castigation which appears to
have gained an ascendancy in some essay
I lists, we are resolved To devote our minds to
a noble object, tholding that tenderness is
moi Incompatible with the most imprcgna-
BILE intlexiblity, aud that Satire smartness
never exists, except in default of keen ia
Guilty in the mind, aud in mild manner
not only to combat but intmldate the col
lectvc vices of our age Our President is
not like Rassclas neither are We like his
| companions: our fancics are subordinate
| 10 our reason. Imagination, however, will
sometimes 4,redomlnate with the best of
us. But all the giants, knights. wizards,
dragons, Srilins or school boys in the coun
try shall not prevent MS from improving. the
present opportunity 10 do.good.
| With regard tn Xol!ut' yiudication of
some of our young neighhors, who were
left at fheconclusion OF our last communi-
cation, nearly as mindless as Ottomans,
thct,icsdship of this world ought to be of
great value when he could desert his real
feelings so faras to ,indcatcths tribo olga
trihers. ! am aware that his readingis no,
very extensive, but no doubt he can call TO
his recollection Addigon's Cato, or the ma
estie mind of Johnson, whose writings
blasted.,he vanity aud folly of human pur-
suits Oh, Xoilus, you are the cold heart
Cd misanthropist you do not possess
' The generous heart that borrows
From Others JOYS IA friendly glow;
/ And for each neigbhor's hopeless SORROWS
Throbs with a sympathetic woe
Such are the feelings which prompt us
to endeayor to reclaim the giddy and we
would sooner be thought to enjoy the ma
lcous pleasures of Alandeville or a Swift
when doing our duty, than to receive what
is due toa Shatiesbury or Bolngbruke
or even gour omn great share of vulgar
praise, which you may possibly command
from the insignificant. We shaliteach you
and the young men whom you defend,
why we depreeate their practices.and your
writing.
The christian characteris the only cnvi-
able one. No man can possess rational
courage unless he conGdes in the Supreme
Power. This is the man who will press to
his object, while death is impending. Your
contemplate and ridiculous attack will not,
therefore, avail you much in the present
controversy. We shall NOW dismiss this
commander n,chel oil the corps of critics
this classical standard of the age-ths
advocate of tolly--this captain of the tri-
! ilcrs--this coiner of words, who, with all
his refinement, has adapted terms and
phrases which have long since lost then
point, and are almost forgotten--by advi-
sing hin, before he writes again, to read
the Histories of AImagro, Pizarro and DE
Luques, if he expects to disconcert, and TO
call to his recollection Pompey and Marius,
il he expects to intimidate us.
IL there were in those persons whose in
tellectual powers and attainments are
small, candid humility and gratitude
springing up in their minds towards those
who are disposed to inform them, we
should be too much pleased with this anna.
bic feeling 10 be much repealed by their
defective characters but instead of this,
you may often observe in them, compla-
cent sense of self-sullicjency in their little
spheres,as il they knew all that is ofconse-
quence to be known. These habits of i'm
portance are excessively disgusting at an
times, but more especially so when pract-
sed by such youths. After making the IL
bove remark, il may perhaps be as wen to
observe that we are acquainted with some
personsin this neighborhood, who distin-
guish themselves bysnch an tinassuming sim
i'plicity of manners, by SO much refinement
ef conscience, that it exalts them in the es-
tmaton olanimprosed mind Not know
ing any portion Of the life of man which
may with greater proprety be deemed inn
poFtant, let as return and take deliberate