The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-01-26
For the Wilmingtonian.
nErLgcTIcEs ON GENIUS.

REELEGTICITS ON GENIUS.
How various. extensive and invaluable
are the resources Of Genius. lfdebarred by
adverse circumstances from mngling the
pursuits of Literature with those OF actual
observation, it is not depressed, but indem-
nifics itself with elastic buoyancy of spirit in
the wide field of nature, certain of finding
an equivalent for ali that it is obliged to relin-
quish in Letters.
By the term Genits, DO not mean the er-
ratio ana bewilderng light that misleads and
captivates its fanciful votaries, with An emp
ty name, but more rational and elevated
expansion of intellect. an ardent thirst for
knowledge, and a capacity for acquiring that
knowledge from the meanest as well as the
greatest things--a mind never weary of
contemplating Nature in all her wonderful
an, interesting varieties, and ever disposed
to
"Look through Nature up to Natures God"
1t is such men as these who truly enjoy
the beauties of nature and art. For whose
erect his palace and decorate his grounds ?
Not for his own: for certainly the gratifica.
ton of sordid ambition is not true pleasure.
No: it is to delight the humble and unnotic-
ed spectator, whose dsinterested admira-
ton is not alloyed by the slightest wish that
they were really his. His own experience,
and observation on others, tell too unerring
" the dangerous fallacy Of worldly advant-
ages, and the folly and wickedness OF suffer-
ing the demon of Envy to find an entrance
into his bosom.
But the contemplation Of inanimate nature
and art is not his highest enjoyment. The
study of human nature is subject of intense
interest to every philosophical mind. There
is nothing in lettered love so obstructive and a
musing as to follow her impar,ially through
all her ntricacies-to analyze her minutes
traits and catch, if may so speak, the expires
sion of the whole. 1t is mine ofresearch anc
information, ever open and!always inteligibl'
to an enlarged and benevolent mind, and t.
such alone; for reason teaches that the Con
tracted and, d,illiberal, although they may hav'
what is called a knowledge Of the world ant
of human nature in general, yet not possess
ing these delicate perceptions and sensibili
ties. and the extended Charity that soften
the heart and enlightens the understanding
of the man ofintelect and benevolence, the
cannot be even impartial much less indul
gent.
1t would be an unsatisfactory employment
indeed, to dive into the recesses of the hu
man heart, expecting to find all light an
falr-to wander in search of perfection with
out looking first within. Know thyself,
is master-key to much, very much wis
dom. 1t displays our hearts as they reall
are, and the consciousness that we ourselve
need much extenuation will, certainly max
us indulgent to others. 1t may be though
an arrog ant pretension for any man to max
his heart the standard by which he is to c:
innate the rest of the world. But be,iev
it to be an incontrovertabie moral and rel
gious fact, that every mans heart in its ger
era tendency is the exact duplicate OF tn;
of his fellow man throughout the world
tions and conclusions are formed i'll the gel
uine spirit of Christian Charity, and who
fully prep red to meet with much OF shat
as well as light in the human character, Il
ment ever new and satisfactory. +.