Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-31
Gas full Of peril and aavcn,uro,,s spi,it.

As fuh OF peril and adventurous spirit,
| As to o'erwalk a current roaring loud,
On the unsteadfast footing Of a spear
WIZ De VAN for the reader to search his
memory or his books, for auy thing comparable
with 1t IN intensity or grandeur. Alexapder,s
Pass'se Oh the Granicus, his leaping from the
walls OF the MALI with only two attendants. in
10 tue midst oil host of armed enemies; and CIR
sar's Drawing the tempest and the enemy in an
open boat, were enterprises of comparative ease
and safety. To do justice to the author, and
" INC sunlec', we shall give its recital in his
own words, Up. 394.)
"'Ihe 25th, Goth, and o7ih-of Januorv. Ccnor,,
'ireene employed i'll making'the Indispensable ar
ransements for the march of his army; and on the
20ih he committed what will be deemed bv manv
the most imprudent act of his life. With only a
guide, one aid, and sergeant's guard of cavalry
ne struck across the country to gain the army IF
General Morgan, and aid him in his arduous op.ra
tons. The distance was one hundred miles at
least, the country infested with tories and Camden
not far on the left, where such p,ize would have
been literally paid for"
IL inns extract shows the state and dignity of
VIZ. Johnson's mind, what follows, evinces his
deep and wonderful acquaintance with the ma
ture and history of man, and his peculiar penc-
tration INTO the imposing cxigences of militia
| ry hie-which require the soul of hero TO
| brave them, and The hand of a master 10 por-
tray:
"But there is less danger i'm such enterprises than
Us generally imagined. History furnishes many in
stances oil their successful issue. The very SIR
prise produces hesitation in the minds of manv
VINO, II they had time tn deliberate might be in
cned 10 treachery; and the bodness deters or over
awes those who might be disposed 10 make advan-
tage of the occasion"
we cannot pretend to analyse the beauties of
inns passage, or 10 foreshow the admiration it
J,,t e.;
much may he said without the least arrogance;
mai IL Is the greatest and prest effort of the ba-
thos on record. Compared with it, how tame &
splritlcss Is Lees relation of this stupendous O.
vent IN the life of Greene. Escorted by a few
jragoons, General Greene hastened to reach
"orgah' winch he happily accomplished the
| last day of January"
To he serious-let us remember that Greene
was IN ms own country, that his route Law chief
| ~ throngli the friendly counties of Mecklcn-
nufg ana Rowan, where there might have been
uisancction, but was no hostility; recently inof-
'cnsive 10 the fugitives from Camden, and now
gnailing under the rcnown of Morean's victory:
= ariaeh nj least fifty miles from him, and be-
coming more distant at every STEP and II will
appear probable that the judge Gimselfis &C
daring as the General, and performs adventures
is nardy as TINS, IN his yearly progress TO the
metropolis. Lee, 1t seems, was not aware of its
inprndcnce; Greene, from his letter of the 28th.
was unconscious of his danger; and Major Bur
nett, who boldly accompanied him, and had the
tenerty to return alone, was so blind as to per-
celve no cause of apprehension; for GU the I'd of
February, he writes TO Lee, '.Camp on Pedee
II TINS moment returned from Rowan Conn
ty' where left the General last evening""
but II appears the peril of this expedition was
NOT greater than It's CELEBRITY. The s.listance is
stated at one hundred and twenty miles. -
Up. 4o3,) and that Greene compassed it in two
days, Is thus demonstrated. For we have his
| letters OF the eth, dated Camp at Pedce, and
| many Oh the 3oih, written from the camp
| at Sherard's ford on the Catawba. all in
his own hand writing. The hiatus is ONLY of
the 28th and 29th, during which lie was upon
ms Journey" But might he not have written
halt dozen letters before he took horse on the
| 2Ith, and as many on the evening of the 30th.
after he halted, and consequently have consum
ed four days IN the ride, Yet il is not probable
1t occupied hin so long, as the distance did not
require it; for Major Burnet passed over nearI,
the same space, returning in little more than
one day. as appears from his letter to Lee of the
I'd OF February. This putting and parade about
| the ride of a hundred miles is Ridiculous: and
how must the friends of the literature of the
| country, and the adorers of the memory of
l'recne deplorc, that Judge of the Supreme
totft should ne The author, and 'the restorer of
the south, )" ''the subject of these Sketches
will add another short but luminous nara
graph:
Page 408.-"The operations and stratanen,s Of
war, from the Dous Sinonis down to the peace of
Paris, are founded on combinations of slight bur
sagacious coijectures The essence of the ma rita
art, consists not III mastering hundreds and thou
sands, and directing them by positive information
and ascertained facts; but in hurling the force and
courage of armies along these quick and dangerous
glance of thought. Cesar did not know that tho
cavalry OF Pompy wonid dread a scratch in the face
more than a wound in the body; yet he operated OH
that shrewd conjecture; and, by the force of it. be-
came master of the world General Jackson did
not know that he should gain any signal aciva
over the British, when he attacked then, ON the
night of the Odd of December; but he inferred tina
by a prompt and rigorous assault he should INFER
crpt their advance, inspire them will, caution in
duce hesation and gain time to increase his forces
This sound and brilliant resolutions like all others
founded on the insight of genius into the nature Of
man, succeeded, and enabled the hero who formed
1t, to save our western republics"
- COMMUNICATED.
FIRE On Friday night, the 18th instant. the
Barn of Captain John A. Richardson, of Hanover
county, was entirely consumed by frc-It contain
cd his stock of Corn, Sccd-Whe Carriaoe Cir
Harness. and all his Plantation Tools of everv des
cription.-fhe amount of property lost by this ca
lamity, has not been estimated; neither has it been
asceriained whether it the effect of accident or
the act of an Observation-Disclosures have fallen
heavily upon this afflicted fairly buma ne