The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-02-11

Oglnm ritter from lie younger iiHltrs,
Duke q buckingham, upoa his dedih-btd,
10 he ReU M HObWtoH
DEAR DocToR--l always looked upon
you as a man Of true virtue, aud know you
10 be II person of sound understanding /;
for, however may have acted in opposi.
ton 10 the principles oi religion, or the
dictates Of reason, | can honestly assure
you, had always the highest yeneration
for both Thu world and | now shake
hands, Tor dare Affirm, We are heartily
weary OF 0ne another oh, doctor, what
n prodiGa1 have been of tlat most val,la-
bic Of All possessions, Time | have sq,ian-
dcred II away with protuslon unpIrsllcI-
led and NOW, that the enjoyment of o few
da, ) would be worth n hecMonb of worlds,
cannmt llatlcr myself with a prospect ol
halt dozen hours.
How despicablc, my dear friend, Is that
raan, who never prays 10 bis God but in
The time Of distress in what manner can
he duplicate that omnipoicnt Being, in
lbs alIliction, with reverence, whom, in the
tide Of his prosperity, he neycrrmembcr-
ed With dread Don't brand me with inf
deity, my dear doctor, when tell you
am almost ashamed 10 offer up my petit
tiois at the throne of grace, or Of implor-
my that divine mercy IN the next world,
which have ~ srandalously abused in
this =. Shall ingrnttudc 10 man be Looked
upon rs the blacklist Of erilnes, aud not
ineratitndc 10 God Shall an insult offered
10 the king, be looked upon in the most
! offensive light, and yet no notice be taken
when the King Of Kings, is treated with IN
dignity aud disrespect!
The companions Of my former libertin-
ism would scarcely believe their eyes, my
dear doctor, were you 10 shcw them this
epiatlc. They would laugh Il, me as d
dreaming enthusiast, or pity me AS a tim
orOns wretch, who was shocked at the
appearance of futurIly. But whoevel
laughs at me for being right, or ptlcs IN,
for being sensible Of my errors, is more
entitled TO my compassion than my resent
ment. a future state may very well strik,
terror into any man who has not acted
well IN this life, and he must have Al un.
common share of courage indeed, who
does not shrink al the presence OF his
! God
You ace, my dear doctor, the apprehen.
sion Of death will bring The most pronlgat.
10 Il proper use of their understanding
! To what situation am Invw reduced
Is this odivns little hut a suitable lodging
] for prince, ur is this anxiety OF my mind
The becoming characteristics OF a Chris
TAM From my rank aud fortune, might
have expected al'lueuce TO wait upon my
fife from my religion aud understanding,
peace to smile upon my end instead Of
which | am afflicted with poverty, and
haunted with rcmorse; desplsed by my
country, and, fear, forsaken by my God !
There is nothing 50 dangerous, my dear
doctor, as extraordinary abilities. | can
not be accused of vanity now, by being sem
sbIe was once possessed OF uncommon
qualifications, more especially AS sincere
" regret that ever WAS blessed with any
at all. Ny rank in life made these accom-
plisbmtnts still more conspicuous and,
fascinated with the general applause which
they produced, | never considered about
the proper means by which they should
be dispayed hence, TO purchase smile
from a biockhead despsed, hazel treated
the yirtaous with disrespect /; and sported
with the holy name Of Heaven, 10 obtain a
laugh from parcel Of fools, who were en-
titled to nothing but my contempt.
Your men Of wit, my dear doctor, gene
rally look upon themselves AS discharged
from the dnics of religion, and conline the
doctrines OF the Gospel to men of weaker
understandings it isa sort of degration, IN
their opinion, 10 comply with the rule of