Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-07

n
involving good deal of trouble with very little
compensation in the nature OF enjoyment
There were number of interesting and conVi-
vial private parties, of some OF which, and par
ticularly of that at the spring at Arlington,
held under the Tent of Washington, We are
promised an account =
We extract from an article written with great
force and mich splendour OF dIcfIon, SKETCH
OF The CHARACTER OF MILToN, x a'descriPiionl
of the Puritans. The writer proposes TO re-
view the long lost, but lately found, Latin 'ea-'
tise on Christian Doctrine, OF that great Author.
and stakes advantage" as he himseit.says "oi
the interesting discovery, while the memorial
is in the hands of all, 10 say something, OIL MS
intellectual qualities, and to commemorate, IN
all love and reverence, the genius and virtues
of the poet, the statesman, the philosopher, the
glory of English literature, the champion and
martyr Of English liberty"
aThe character of Milton was particularly
distinguished BY loftiness Of thought he was
a statesman and lover, and had been unfortu-
nate in ambition and in love. He had survived
his health, and his sight, the comforts OF MS
home and the prosperity OF his party. vi the
great men by whom he had been distinguished
at his entrance into life, some had been taken
away from the evil 10 come. some had been car
ried into foreign climates from their unconquer-
able hatred Of oppression, some were pining IN
dungeons, and some had poured forth their
hopes upon a scaffold.
"That hateful prescription, facetiously termed
the &C, of indemnity and oblivion, had sci hand
on the poor blind poet, and held him up, by
name, 10 the hatred of a proAigate Court; and
an inconstant people! Venal & lieen.loas serb
blers, with just sufficient talent 70 clothe the
thoughts Of pander in the style OF bell man,
were now the favorite writers OF the Sovereign
and of the people. Ii was foathsome herd,
which could be compared to nothing so filthy as
to the rabble Of Comus, grotesque monsters,
half bestial, half human, dropping with wine,
bloated with gluttony, and reeling IN obscene
dances Amidst these, his muse was placed
like the chas,e Lady of the Masque, lofty, spot.
less, and serene; 10 be chatted at, and grlnned
at, by the whole rabble of Salyrs and COLLINS
If ever dependency and asperity could be ex-
cused, it was in Milton. But the strength Of
his mind overcame every calamity. Neither
blindness, nor govt, nor age, nor penury, nor
domestic Affections, nor political disappoint-
ments, nor abuse, nor prescription, nor neglect,
had power to disturb his sedate and majestic
patience. His spirits were never high, but SIN
gulary equable. His temper was serious, per-
haps stern but il was temper which no sui
ferings could render sulen or fretfu. Such as
it was, when on the eve of great events, he re-
turned from his travels, in the prime Of health
and manly beauty, loaded with literary distinc-
tons, and glowing with patriotic hopes, such it
continued to be-when, after having experience
ed every calamity which is incident to our ma
ture, old, poor, sightless, and disgraced, he re-
tired to his howell to die.
The Puritans were perhaps the most remark
able body Of men which the world had eyerpro-
Guced The odous and ridiculous parts of their
character lie on the surface He that runs may
read them: nor have there been wanting atten-
tive and malicious observers to point them out.
For many years after the restoration they were
the theme of unmeasured invective and deris
ion They were exposed TO the utmost licen-
iiousness of the press and the stage; at the time
when the press and the stage; were most licen-
tious. They were not men ofletters: they were
as body unpopular, they could not defend
themselves, and the public would not take them
under their protection. They were therefore
abandoned, without reserve, to the tender mer-
cies OF the sa,irists and dramatiSts.
The ostcnta,ous simplicity Of their dress,
their sour aspect, their nasal twang, their still
posture, their long graces, their Hebrew names
the scripiural phrases which they introduced
on every occasion, their contempt Of human
learning, their detes,ation ofpoli,e amusements,
were indeed fair game for the laughers. But
ii is not from the laughers alone that the PHI
losophy Of history.is TO be learned. He who
approaches this subject should carefully guard
against the influence of that potent ridicule
which has already nised so many excellent
writers
Those who reused the people to resistance
who directed their measures through long
series Of eventful years,-who formed out the
most unpromising materials the finest army
tina: Europe, had ever seen, who tramp!ed down
king, church, and aristocracy, who IN the short
intervals Of domestic sedition and rebellion,
made the name of England terrible to every ma
ton on the face Of the earth were no vulgar
fanatics. Most Of their absurdities were mere
ly external badges, like the signs offree mason
~, or the dresses of friars. We regret that
these badges were not more attractive. We
regret that body to whose courage and talents
mankind has owed inestimable obligations, had
no, the lofty elegance which distinguished some
of the adhercnts of Charles !. or the easy good
breeding for which the court Of Charles ii. was
celebrated.
Tho D., r;t.nc ,vere men whose minds had