The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-14

| VINO dares 10 aspire TO emiDeDce, with
out the talismanick influence of title.
| Conceding then from the nature OF
| the government and the want OF proper
support from his countrymen, that the
perplexit'es of the Scot. exceeded those
OF the American general, we will next
compare the military proves OF the two
| commanders, and the consequences that
resulted from their separate exer,ions.
And this LEADS us to regret thai so little
| has been recorded Of the life and tn.
! fortunes Of Wallace. 1t seens that his
great virtues had stirred up an luminosity
| against him, that nothing but a suppress
| sure ofhis history could abate. The on
w correct accounts which we have OF
him are from the pens OF his enemies,
| and these 50 limited in their information
that all re know OF him is little less than
| that he was patriot and hero. + on
what we have been able TO gain of his
life, however, we do not find that he COM
| menced his career OF arms under half as
| untavourshle circumstances ss the Amer
lean. or that he distinguished himself as
much in prudence and Conduct. -
tie had not as many difficulties TO encoun
ter, with respect to either the clothing
or maintenance Of his army, hese
we're atoply provided FOR, by excursions
in the rich terrific Of his enemy, d by
wasting he lands of he disaffe cred mob e..
His chief praise consisted in the prudent
selections of his retreats, in issuing from
them upon an unguarded foe, and in
sometimes surprising whole detachmentS,
before they we're aware of his neighbour
hood. But natu ally arient and chiv
alrous in his temper, he was not SO fortu
nate as Washington in curbing it, he was
too apt to hazard the fate of his country
on the issue Of q single battle This was
eVinccd both near Sterling and al Fal-
kirk. For had Warrenne in the frs
followed the advice of sir Roher. de un-
d., his master Of horse instead of
the naughty Cressingham, which to
lord the river and engage the enemy un-
I'll the whole army could cross over, il is
impossible 20 say what would have heen
he consequence. Far different, perhap,,
| from that which happened For W ar
| renne's forces trebled his in number, and
Warrenne himself was man of abilities
| aud talents. LII the Other, the battle of
| paTaD, with only $4,000 men some oi
them raw an, undiscipl ned, he cared TO
| hazard an engagement with 10000 vele
| an troops ana these CONN, sndsd by Ed
ware :. the most martial mona, ch OF the
age. This, must be az XII. W dyed, as
he height of indscretion For in III,
divided state in which Scotland then was
and when she was about contiding he
resources to him, as the only man whu
could rescue her from her thraldop, II
vas incumbent on him 10 ha We increased
ih's confidence by caution, and not to
lave risqued it at a single blow He
should skllliully have avoided his enemy
until his little army, which was then dails
increasing, became sufficient to hazard
an engagement. In the general course
whlca he adop ed however, tho it ev,den,
" evinced want Of prudence, we find
much to applaud. II showed an impa-
tieDl spirit, smarting under The wrongs
which his country had received, and an
eager desire to avenge and redress them
" evInCeS chivalry and an ardour which
almost tinged with ah air of romance. the
incidents of his life. But it may be
'"S"'Nh1 "hNNiSl AiiS aIl-ti dllOlI VIC lCCl
Tor his character, may rot haze borrowed
lis chief charm from the shade of mis-
fortune The tear of sympathy, is too
apt to How, and by natural process ex-
aggerate the merits Of one, who has been
unsuccessful in the cause of humanity,
and who has died in defence of freedom.
The sentimental mind loves 10 raise up
images of perfection, which will neither
stand the test of reason or of criticism.
Ii loves to view as guileless that which Is
far from without stain and in its enihusi.
asm 10 deck II with every thing that is
noble and great. That WaIlace's prin.
ciPles were pure noble and patriotic, VIC
will readily admit, that his examples f.
ualiy rescued his country from oppres-
sion we will also allow but we cannot
but believe hat his temper was too un,e-
tied TO have ,rowded his own Efforts with
success
On the contrary Washington was pos
sessed OF superior temper and caution.
Arriving TO take command Of the al nv at
Boston, he found every thing in a state
Of confusion and disorder the soldiers
without discipline, without pay, and with
out clothes, badly provided with arms,
and with scarcely provision enough 10
support existence. H. this posture OF
affairs, il belonged only t. the genius e
resources OF his great mind 20 Keep then,
together s To- torm them ,cto any kind Of