Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-29

81
Gus as i, seemed, was followed by the stroke oil
death. N
so happens that myself have played all
NV ne. with his forked shafts unhurt, because
| had metaphysical clue 10 carry OIL the nox-
inns par,icles and let them sink into the earth,
like drops of water. But The English nation are
not a nation Of metaphysiclans, or they would
have detected and smiled or wept over the glit'
-,ernr fallacies Of this haif,bred reasoner, but,
at the same time, most accomplished rhetori
clan tina, the world eyer saw. But they are
perllcxed ny sophstry, supplied by prejudice,
staggered by authority In The way OF common
sense s. practical inquiry, they do well enough:
but start paradox, and they know not what 10
make of it. They either turn from it altose'
Their, or if interest or fear give them motives 10
attend to it, are fascinated by it. They cannot
analyze or seperate the true from the seeming
good Mr.. Pitt, with his deep mouthed COM
mon places, was able 10 follow in the same track,
and fill up the cry, but he could not have given
the tone to political feeling, or led on the chase
with $50 musical discord, such sweet thul''
der" Burke s,rrwed the flowers OF his style
over the rotten carcase of corruption, and en-
balmed it in immortal prose; he contrlved, oy
the force of artful inyective and misapplied cpl
the,s to persuade the people OF England that
Liberty was an illiberal hollow sound; that hu-
mainly was a barbarous modern Invention, thal
preiudces were the test OF truth, that reason
was strumpet, and RICH, hcllon. Every o.
Their view of the subject but his $50 well Inc
temper glozed' seemed 10 be without atrac-
ton, elegance or refinement. Politics became
poetry in his hands, his sayings passed IKE
proverbs from mouth 10 mouth, and his des-
criLtons and SMILES were admired and repeat
T.. tha Eaip | IlDtrtV
from thence forward became low thing: phi
osophy was ii sprig-naileG, elvet-pawed tiger
cat, with green eyes, watching its opportunity
10 dart upon its prey: humanity was a lurking
assassin. The emblems Of our cardinal and Ia
yorite virtues were overturned: the whole voca
buary Of national watch words was inverted or
displaced. This was change indeed In our
style Of thinking, more alarming than that In
our calender formerly; and this change was
brought about by Mr. Burke, who soitened
down hard reasons in the crucible OF his fancy,
and who gave 10 his epilhets the fierce OF nick
names Half The business was done by his de-
scription Of the Queen Of France Ii was an
appeal 10 al he women ofQuaiity; 10 all who
were, or would he thought cavaliers or men oil
honor; TO all who were admirers OF beauty, or
rank, or sex. Yet what ii had to do with the
question, il would be difficult 10 say. II a VIC
man is handsome, it is well; but ii is no reason
why she should poison her husband, or betray
a country. If instead of being beautiful, and
free Of manners, Marie Antoinette had been old,
ugly and chastc, all this mischief had bcen pre-
vented.
The author OF the Reflections had seen or
dreamt he saw most delightful vision sixteen
years before, which had thrown hls-hraiI into
fermenI; and he was determined 10 throw his
theme for q COPY Of verses, or a romance; not
for a work IN which the destinies Of mankind
were TO be weighed, Yet she was the Helen
that opened another Had ofwoe5; and the world
has paid for that accused glance al youthful
beauty with rivers of blood.
MIR. Burke was much Of theatriCa al man. !
do not mean that his high-wrought enthusi-
asm or vehemencc was not natural TO him; but
the direction that he gave to 1t was exceeding
" cap,icious and arbitrary. II was for some
time doubtful question which way h nould
turn with respect TO the French Revolution,
whether for or against it His pride took the
alarm, that so much had been done, with which
he had nc Ai,g 10 do, and that gr, at empire
had been overturned with his fay orie engines,
wit and elOquence, while Lt hid been reform
ing ;he "turn.spit of INC kings Kite hem IN ct
speeches far superior to the occasion. Rosseau
AID the Encyclopedias had Iamentablyg got the
start Of him by the heels, and bring what they
had Affected to an untimely rnd,-
''Uudoing all, as all had nevertbeen."
The reflections on the French Revolution"
was spiteiul and bastard but too successful
attemp, to put n spoke in The VheeLs Of knowl-
edge and progressive civilization, and throw
them back for century and hall at least
In viewing the charge in the prospects Of soc
ETY., In producing which he had only slight
and indirect hand by his efforts in the cause of
American freedom, he seemed 10 Say, with la
go In the play,
Though that their Joy be JOY,
Yet vii! contrive
To throw such changes OF vexaton omit,
As it may lose some colour"
He went beyond his own NOS, sanguine
hopes, but did not live to witness Their f. al
accomplishment, by seeing Frsnce !iterai.
"bl"tted out of the map Of Europe" He d,d
in the most brilliant part Of Bonaparte's victo-
ries and captalnike campaigns il Italy fit
could have been foressen what ali "ugly cus,o>