Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-08-16
lFron the Literary Foeas
rNDEPENDENCE OF MIND.

Whatever genius or acIn ments a
man may possess, independence OF
mind will be requisite to give vlgour to
his thoughts anu actions, and energy
to bis character; without it the
mind, distrustiui OF its own powers OF
requirements ,howeverrespeclabIe they
may be, nmIdly yields to the Syren
sloth, the tell destroyer OF all hope OF
mental improvement.
Suppose a man furnished with the
means OF improvement, and his mind
stored with ideas; yet, without that
inmate independence OF mind, which
Will prompt him to scrutlnlze opinions,
and decide on their merits--to deduce
scientific and moral i~nierebces from
the phenomena OF nature, and occur
FENCES of life; versatility OF mind will
render his theories futile, and his ac
tons undetermined Opinions gene
rally received, Ia science, customs and
n~ldEals, especially when sanctioned by
the concurrence OF the wise and the
good, are unquestionably entitled to
respect and reverence.
Ii 10 this source of influence we
add the prejudices OF education, and
proDeness to admiration OF favorlte
authors and opinions, we will find II
equally important and difficult to pre-.
serve that smparllality, which will en-
able us TO view things in a just light,
to search steadily after truth, without
Incllnlng either 10 the right or left, val
uing it for intrinsic worth, not Oh &C
cedut oil popular applause, or triumph
over an opponeni. BY a mind thus
regulated, truth will be cordially re
celved, whether daslved from the re
searches OF others, or suggested by
the facts which have come under our
own observation.
This independence ofmind is import
ant, not OH accou of It's influence IN
preserving from error, both IN theory
and pFacsice; and producing correct
DesS IN our opinions aud conduct-buI
is IN itself a source of sublime enjoy
ment to the possessor. Ii preserves
the mind open 10 the reception ii truth;
and are SO formed by nature, thai
the reception of truth is the chic
requlsition of happiness. What car
be more pleasing, than the con
temptation of the works of nature
when on every hand we see displayed
The wisdom and benihcence of the
Author--in creating beings capable Of
intellectual improvement, and the en-
Joymens of happiness; and in the beau.
Htul aud mutual dependence, exhibited
n every grade Of existence. 1t arises
IN the mlnd from the sensual gratifica
tons which render it the prey of dis
content and misery, TO the contempla
ton of more sublime objects, aud to
converse with the high Author of ma
iure, which alone can inspire true
dignity Of character.
Independence of mind also fits a
man for receiving and imparting pleas
ure 10 the social circles OF life. 1t ex
empts him from the corroding passions
TO which inferior minds are subject.
and produces a cheerfnIness and mag
nanlmity, which renders him amiaoIe
IN the view of those with whom he
associates. He is free from many EN-
barTassments to which the indetermin
ate mind is subject; he estimates Justly
the relation which hebears 10 bis fellow
creatures and Creator. He decides
and acts according to the dictates of
reason, confident that happiness is in
separable from virtue and intelligence
Alexander, in his Journey from
England" noticing the pearl divers of
the Persian Gulf, says-"The divers
sometimes meet with springs of fresh
water at the bottom ofthe Gull: at Bah
reen in particular, the only water used
for drinking on board the c~ruizers is
procured by sending a man down three
or four fathoms with a muskes barrel
which he fills and brings up"
Temperance Temperance, that
virtue without pride, and fortune with
~-k