The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-11-18

, a visit 10 this country. Where he common
ced his military career, and whose liberties
he was 81 zeaipus IN promoting, does honor
10 the natlnnal feeling. Ia the whole con sc
af General L. Faytitr's political life, II h,s
bren matter Of much srdi,,i,aiion Ia ihe
! friends of freedom, tht amidst al, TIE
changes which he Witnessed, and the temp
lug "lrrs made him both by Napoleon aud
the Rourbons. ihat he cuulinued In adhere
10 first principles, aud NOW, after a. L..
| storms of revolutions which h" passed thru
lie stands forward Ia public Niew, the same
| lnhrxIble lIatriot--the same honorable titan.
ln IA manuscript poem of the accomplished
Miss Frances Wright. entitled, " Thought,
ofa Keciuse," which We are sorry 10 learn
will not be published, We find the foiioMing
dedication 10 this iIIuslrious warrior" which
We prefer Publishing to any eulogy that We
could frame
To General La Fayette.
Should consider all your high and APP
proved virtues-ai the great and ever
during services that you have rendered 10
the human race,--the honorable celebrity
that your name enjoys, and which II Is des-
tined to enjoy throughout all ages, N every
civilized country ofthe globe should con,
slider this my resered friend, should So"
much presumption in inscrbing your name
upon these papers. But know that 1t Is
permitted me 10 address you in another
character than the i" Father of your coun.
try," or the assertor OF the liberties oil Two
worlds and that you will receive this little
production of my early youth as simple
tribute of the heart to the best aud most
indnIsent of friends.
have already confessed to you that the
following poem was written before had
attained my twentieth year, the greater
part at the age Of eighteen. TWAS. indeed,
during those two years that, to divert my
mind from the impressions received during
a singulaIly calamitous childhood, | wrote
most ofthe works which you have honor
ed with your pernsal. 1t is probable,
therefore, that they bear the impress of
hasly and inexperienced hand !; perhaps,
too the present poem may breathe an ar
dour Of feeling which cooler reason might
have checked, or, at least have taught
me to dissemblr. Upon reconsidering,
however, after the lapse of some years, the
sentiments there expressed, | find none
which my understanding does not receive
as Just. But while increasing experience
has confirmed rather than shaken the SELF
adopted opinions of my youth, it has taught
NE that they are little likely to be received
by the world. II, notwithstanding this
persuasion, have been induced To make
them public, il Is 10 the few, rather lhan
the many, that | present them. The
hOughf6 which have engaged your atten-
ton my engage that of other generous
minds: it is the opinion oisuch that is slane
worthy of regard ; nor shall ] appeal 10
il with muck apprehension, for, if they
are the best, | have learned from expert
ence that they are also the most mdulgent
critics.
have mentioned the age at which the
present poem MAS composed. However
unworthy IN Itself the tribute there offer
ed 10 your virtues, it may not be altogcth-
rr without lis value in your eyes. Written
at period when YOU were to me like one
of the herocs of antiquity, it may afford TO
you an evidence of the impression which
the record of your actions viii make upon
the youthful mind in aitcI times. Ny adj
miralion Of what Was great and ,irtuous
IN paying my secret homage Ia his
character, | little foresaw that | should
possess the honor of his frirud,hp and dis
cover that his Vlrtues asa patriot, a soldier,
and statesman, for ned only part Of
his virtues as man, and that the beauty of
his character in private was in perfect UNI
sou, with the putty of his public lift.
FRANCES WRIGHT.