Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-12-13

this charge we wish TO be understood in limit
ed sense Where rs own country Us not con.
cerned. we can find 10 fault this score; aud
even then. there is no Intentional misrepresen-
ta,ions Of facts, in order 10 deceive and mislead
Like the painter, who, although he gives the
true features and positions, contrives the color
ing SO artfully as to Conceal The defects whith
he wishes TO hide, and increase, IN some mea-
sure. the beauty Of that in his painting which
he wishes us to admire, Sir Walter presents US
with his char ac,ers, full indeed Of life and ma
,ure, but bearing evident marks OF his own skill
and care il their construction, and the pains ne
took to fashion them according to his own ieei'
ines. Hhistory must bear the severest scrutiny.
If"lynx eyed' criticism discovers its defects
and exposes It's errors, we cese to regard lis
statement, or venera,e its authority. lime may
possibly bring to light new facts, which might
alter the views which are generally entertained,
or may perhaps effect change in Sir Walters
political opinions. Until one the other OF
these events occur, it requires little OF the spi-
rit of prophecy 10 predict that the "Life OF Ma
poleon Bonaparte by the author Of Waveily,
however it may be regarded by men OF taste
for its literary merits, will never be the text
book Of those who wish 10 have an IMPARTIAL
statement Of the g~a, movements which agita-
ted all Europe in the beginning OF the l9th
century, and Of the master spirit who "rodc in
the whirlwind and directed the storm"
The second objection that we have TO the
work now under consideration is, its OCCASION
a. 2rolixity. In the preliminary review OF the
French Revolution (Which, although we may
appear singular in this too, We cannot help
considering The most valuable part OF the three
volumes) a certain tediousness Of narration,
Il; he
their appearance. Digressions which lead oil
from the main subject should be seldom per-
mi;,ed by an author, because they tend TO Ia
,irue his readers patience, and distract his at
t.ntion For the same reason, prolix nara
lions should always be avoided. We might
refer to several examples. but will not lengthen
this article with quotations, winch every one
remembers who has read the work.
The third and last objection We shall offer Is.
the too frequent use, and in some instances
abuse Of figures and metaphors That writer
>of Sir Walkers genius and vivacity OF intel
ect should so often be found following me
,aphor through all its different windings, and
fairly running il down, is not i little remarka-
bic. We can only account for the fact by re-
membering The various literary labors IN which
our highly talented author was engaged, the
shor,ness OF the time he was allowed 10 hnlsh
this work, and the consequent impossibiIl,y OF
attending to these minor, and comparatively,
,r:fing concerns. To this cause must also be
attributed the occasional tediousness OF which
we have before spoken lnderd, the wonder is,
how so few faults OF literary nature, are 10
be found in these volumes. The very fact that
amidst all his pecunisry endorsements, the
distraction Of miad consequent Thereto, anc
the multiplicity of business which was forced
upon his hands, he was able to complete this
great work-not faultless cer'ainly-5ut then
the faults are - ---------------
"Like angels visits, few and far between"
shows the astonishing powers of his mind, and
the colossal greatness of his intellect.
To be Continued