Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-04

gully Of the charges that have been preferred
against him. We say tins, because Of our
hopes that Mr.. Barker is not the guilty man
that some would make him, and because we
cannot bs; hope, that man, who has render
ed eminent services To his country, is not base,
infamous, and ostracised.
Our good friend jerks, the very able Editor
ofthe Nantucket Inquirer, has written a very
interesting article relative to jacob, and his
affairs, which VIC must copy, as We feel assured
that 1t VIII interest our readers, aud elicit their
kindly feelings.
" This indyidunl; considered as a private
citHen, Is perhaps ore of the most exiraoid,-
nary men living From an obscure origin, and
with very limited opportunities for the acqui-
sition OF either fame or notoriety, he has risen
by intense assiduity and application, 10 n rank
which Impdris TO almost every occurrence con-
nceied with him, a very considerable degree
Of public interest BY dint Of pure persever-
ance, he has triumphanily surnounfed the dif-
nculiies and discouragements which usually
obstruct the advancement of common men !;
and ha. thus acquired celebrity throughout
the political and commercial classes OF his
counirymen, which, we, are safe in saying, no
other man, 'abourng under similar disadvan-
tagei, has yet attained. That, in the course
of his career, il has been Mr.. Barker's good
or cvll fortune 10 become obnoxious TO sundry
politicians, and 80 arouse the preludlces Of
some portions of the community with whom he
may have been brought into immediate con-
tact, we are perfectly aware; nor do We pre-
tend to affirm that those hostile feelings are
founded IN no cause, either real or Imaginary.
II is not our object to enter upon tbo vimiica-
iion Of any particular act of his llic--we pro-
pose, generally, and from cur own personal
inspection, TO describe the man as we have
found him.
Endued by nature with strong and versatile
powers of mind, and blcst with "a temperament
OF the happicst cast, Jacob Barker exhibits
not only practical illustration Of the force of
industry; but an example of philosophical for
ttudc under the scycrest cmbarrassments and
prosecutions, truly worthy of imitation. The
facility with which he is enabled TO apply his
attention simultaneously TO numerous and va
rant subjects, might be tested by any one OH
entering his counting room or banking house
There, he has been seen debating at once 10
half a dozen clerks or ananuenscs, and at the
same moment cOnversing with as many visi-
tors Oh matters OF merchandise, stocks or poll
itics and the whole business, however seem
mg!y complicated, carried on like clock work.
And whether in courts of law ably and often
successfully contcnding with judicial giants, or
at political meetings, earnestly harangung the
populace, the equanimity of bis iaind has been
displayed on many occasions, where oyerbcar-
ing dogmatism or vul gar insult would have kim
died flame Of ire in the very bosom of sto-
ic.
However roughly the current Of popular
opinion in New-York may have set against
Mr.. Barker, il cannot be denied nor should
1t be forgotten that he has rendered important
services 10 his counry-serviccs, for which
we have every reason to believe, hc has ne yer
been 'compensatcd. Whatever may haze been il
motive, whether it was patriotism, or, a. il has
been ungcne ro,isly surmiscd, ararice still. by
his cxcrtions nj porous pncture, " The sin
ews of war" were furnished, and the arm of
the government strcng ghencd and sustained. -
1t is enough then TO know this fact, without
guessing at its latent orlgin.--In all cases, bs
the object what il may, tho agent which pro-
duces a beneficial effect, if not deserving OF
the warmest gratitude, Is at least Justly entl-
tied to respect and considerable Asglcnt in
the pursuit of any fiyourlte undertaking, ia
cob Barker, like all other men who deal large
Iy with the world around them, may have TAX
en- many a step tending to disturb the stand
ing of his competitors. But il is our sincere
convection, that where one just cause of COM
plant can be preferred against him, it is in his
power to show twenty instances Of wrong com
mted upon him by others. He is man
"more snned against, than SHINING"
II is impossible to affix limits to the opera
tions Of n mind constituted and disciplined like
that Of Mr.. Barker. Accustomed from earlv
youth to habits of intellectual research, he Is
enabled as it were by intuition, to comprehend
the whole drift and bearing of propostion;-
and to trace its qualifications TO their ultimate
consequences. The grand principle which
seems to sustain him amidst the numerous re-
II. 1.
destiny to encounter, is scit-depeadence--a
principle hitherto successful in every emergen-
cy; for no sooner is one project defeated, than
some countervailing cxpedient is suggested,
whereby the threatened disast is either rem
odied, or converted into benefit. A firm re-
lance upon the resources of his own IN ind has
thus enabled him to vanquish many n calamity,
under whose weight, men of more splendid
talents might have sunk in despair.
We have not drawn up this personal sketch
from any idle motive TIE reader may gather
from it, moral and instructive lesson. 1t
teaches the utility Of early habits Of physical
and mental industry, and the advantage Of ps-
tabllshng that trust in ones own powers which
shall operate as charm against the ordinary
troubles Of life. Whether this confidence can
possibly be acquired and maintained, without
knowledge or without virtue, is u question
which any intelligent being can readily solve"
n5- Hon. JAMES HAMILTON, Of South
Carolina, has been spending the summer in the
Now-England states, and is at present in the
vicinity of Northampton, Massachusetts. lie
was invited by the committee Of arrangement.
TO partake Of the festivities to be observed in
Philadelphia, by the Jacksonians, on the fourth
of July, but MS he was not enabled TO accept
it, he addressed long note to Gen. Robert
Patterson, Chairman of the Committee in which
after making half dozen useless. and uncall-