Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-06-27

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paryenu OH his pedigree, a condemned
author on his Tragedy, and al olo maid
on her age. Besides these iniquites
his want of sympathy is SO open and
undisguised, thai the most ioquacious
egotst loses the pleasure OF talking oi
himself, in the evident absence OF al
! feeling or interest on the part OF his
hearer. His conversation is always
more like a Judicial examination than
any species OF social interco curse, and
often like the worst sort Il examination
Gross. questioning. He demands like
a secretary to the inquisition, and you
answer (for you must answer) like a
prisoner on the rack Then the man is
80 mischlevous! He rattles old china,
marches over flower beds, and paws ur-
ling's lace The people at museums and
exhibitions dread the sight OF hIm. He
cannot keep his hands from moths and
humming birds; and once poked up a
rattle snake to discover whether the
joints oi the tail did actually produce the
sound from which il derives its name I,
by which attack that pugnaclous reptile
was excited to such wrath, that two la-
dies fell into Mysteries He nearly de-
mollshed the Invisible Girl by too rough
an inquiry into her existence, and got
turned out OF the automa,on chess play
er's territories, in consequence Of an as
sault whicn he committed on that ingen-
ious piece Of mechanism. To do Mr..
LINK Justice, | must admit thai he some
times does little good for ali his harm.
He has, by design r. accident, in the
ordinary exercise of his vocation, him
dered two or three duels, prevented a
good deal Of poachlng and pilfering, and
even saved his own house, and the hou-
ses of his neighbours from divers bur-
glaries, his vigilance being, at least, as
useful in that way as a watchman or an
alarm bell.
The obscure has remarkable charm
for him To enjoy It in perfection, he
will often repair to some great manulac-
turing town, where ne is wholly un-
known, and deposit himself in some sub
urban lodging in new built row, with
poplars be ore the door, when, inviting
his landlady to make te for him, he
gains, by aid OF that genial beverage, an
insight into all the loves and hatred.
"kitchen cabals and nursery mishaps,"
in a word, all the scandal of the town
Then he is happy
Travelling is much to his taste; as are
also stage coaches, steam packets, aud
diIigences, and generally all places
where people meet and talk, especially
an inn, which is capita questioning
ground, and safer than most others :
There is licence, liberty, a freedom,
il. the very name, nd besides people do
not stay long enough to be atironted.-I
He spends much of his time in these
privileged abodes, aud is well known as
the Inqusitive Gentleman, Oh most of
the great roads, although his seat in
Linx-hall is, undoubtedly, his principal
residence. II IS most comm diously sit
uated, on fine eminence, overlooking
three counties; and he spends most of
his time in a sort of observatory, which
he has built on rising ground at the
edge of the park, where he nas mounted
telescope, by means of which he not
only commands all the lanes and by
paths in the neighbourhood, but is ena-
bled to keep a good lockout, on the great
narrow road, two miles off, to oversee
the stage coaches and keep an eye on
the mail. The manor lies in two parish
es--another stroke Of good fo,tune!--
since the gossiping of both villages seem
to belong To hun of territorial right. -
Yes ries, warehouses;, schools, all are
legitimate ground of inquiry. Besides,
his long, and intimate acquaintance with
the neighbourhood, is an inestimable ad-
vantage to man of his turn Of mind,
and supplies, by detail and m;nuteness,
what might be wanting in variety and
novelty. He knows every man, woman
and child, horse, COW, pig, and dog,
within half d. zen miles, and has roy
al faculty IF not forgetting, ST. that he
has always plenty of matter for ques-
tions, and most of the pcopl" being his
Ill