Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-14

ing the ordinary growth OF intellect. that 1t seems
a duty you owe TO Society, 10 mark the. several
points and stages Of its advancement TO such early
maturity"
- see you start at The proposal I am about 20
make but tile papers now before me, no,
only scrs, TO increase my admiration of your he
;oved child, but convince me, the more read
'hem, that she WHO'S gone, ought to live in uni
versai remembrance; that over such grave grief
should not be dumb; and that the World, deprived
by her death Of Of ts brightest ornaments has
| a claim to every memorial OF her exalted worth
and talents, to show the unthinking crowd what
may be done land 70 hold forth example Of what
hds been done, even in short space Of time, by
fulfilling the duties Of christian life and the pur-
poses OF rational exs'ence."---
Every page unfold, fills Inc with fre,h as.
tonshment, aud when recoliect the evidence Of
your Daughters attaininents within the short pe-
ROD oil her earthly existence; when combine
The Srsces of person, and the elegance of accom-
plishInents. with her moro noble and higher dis
tinctions OF intellect, to lose sight of hat
once adorned society, and TO be tracing form Of
ideal Perfection
"Oyer every thing she touches she seems TO
spread new charm; and whether she furni shes
materials from her own capAcious mind or draws
hem from tue stores OF others, there is 4 choice c,
arran cement, which evinces the sounde,t iutg-
ment, as well as the sweetest imagination. Her
feelings are exquisite, but never romantic; and in
me night OF her most exclusive fancy, she keeps
she invents or describes, nothing is overcharg-
ed or unnatural. Her pen, like her pen.
cu, places every object in the most pleasing
point oil view; aud the delicacy Of her thoughts
ETY., Of the exrressicns in which they are
conveyed. In her various foundations from the
German. and other languages, most of which
nave compared with the different Authors, she ne
Yer mistakes or weakens the spirit of the original
kiopstock under her management, talks English
a. wen as his native tongue; and the warnest Of
his admirSs would rejoice to hear the facility and
precision with which she has taught their favorite
noe! ana philosopher to converse among US OF
her Hebrew versions, Of which would not allow
myself to be a competent Judge, 1 can now speak
In the strongest terms Of praise, from the tesmo-
ny Of some OF our best Hebrew Scholars, to whom
mitted.''
To the foregoing admirable euIogium will add
only one more. and this is from the zen OF Mrs
T.. Hamilton Of Edinburg:
q" IL was not on first acquaintance that Miss
| smith extraordinary qualities were 10 be appre-
| ciatcd. She cid not emit those brilliant f,sbes
which dazzle the inauguration; and so superior
| were the native Sraccs of her mind TO the orpa
inenls which enlbclished it. that requirements.
| which in others would have been admired IA .s
| tonishinS, were III her, sometimes almost unob-
served. To those tcho had been accustomed to
| contemplate the possessor of 4 e11ius or learninp
rd 'sed upon the pedestal Of ranify. and ertor,
| ,nlS ne nomage y af,plduseJrom all behoideYs,
Inc simplicity, to tchich all ostentatious dispiav
| ,ods aoh0,Yenf, icould harc appeared as a defecf
ana therefore It IS not surprising that her merit
snoH'a maze oeen sometimes overlooked. But
whoever compared IT with higher standard, than
that OF The world, must have been sensible of its
near approach TO per!ecton; and while thew be-
slowed on her character the admiration so Justly
due, they would DO led TO reflcc: With gratitude
mat ne model on teh'ch all her rtrtues ,cere
lJ0ulded, IS tcithin the reach Of all ri,o NTH p
qndi sincerity er,deav0ur TO mould themselves TO
ITS likeness"
Now,ie me entreat you, my youn:, friends no,
| 10 shrink from the comparison which, have re.
| .oli'lheHueo' OF your onn requirements with
! those OF the admirable women just described. and
especially ofthe last, whose character most ear.
nestiy eXhort and entreat you ALWAYS to keep before
YOU as the very perfection Of female loneliness
ana excellence Although such comparison will
certainly repress all yaAity it should also encour.
age hope, by the confederation that what has beer,
aone by individuals OF your own sex, may be done
agar; and consequently, that none need despair
VINO iee conscious both of the desire and the pow
er TO acquire knowledge. Ii is not necessary that
you should be able accurately TO measure this
Powef:-its existence, and the steady, earnest
inclination TO appiy-to exercise il, is all of which
you heed be certain. MOI that would have any
OF my present hearers calculate on becoming La
dy Jane Greys, Maria Agresis, or Elizabeth
smiths; Tor there may he too much, as well as too
hfHe use made Of books Not only their kinds
nut the extent to which they should be studied
ought TO depend on the respe ctive ages at which
stances o! lie an which You likely TO be placed
Many OF you will probably have 10 spend the
greater part OF your time in tho discharge of those
actvc domestic duties which preclude the oppor-
,uni'es Tor much reading; and be it euer Telnena
oe1ed' that however strong may be your incIina-
uon Tor books, the call oil those necessary duties
sn'iSf DC preferred and first obeyed. Again, the
very late period at which some of you have com
henced study, and the very short time which l.
usually allowed in this country at least for fe-
iha'e education, would render utterly unattainabIe
such requirements we're made by the ceiebra-
zee !adics gust mentioned, even, if you had talents
ana genius lar surprising what you really possess
but mus lar az OF you may 70 with absolute Ger
tainty oil considerable success. You may d;liyent
" employ every moment not devoted to other ne
cessary duties, in adding continually to your stock
Oh inteiieciual treasure; and nemerous instances
might he adduced by way Of encouragement, of
seiftausht scholars, no under the greatest dissd
VantsgeS OF poverty, ilihealth, want of Books and
Oh leisure, have attained degree of en,inence in
ali useful and ornamental know ledge, entirely i'm.
credible 10 the lazy, stupid and worthless sons and
daughters oil wiul ignorance. None in the pre-
sIns es,-sti'i less can yoit, my young hearers
plead tie want OF opportunity TO gain much useful
learning; Tor you have been seduIousiy placed in
tbe way OF tby those who are most interested in
Jonr welfare and happiness. Neglect this and Won
incur the double guilt Of not seeking, and at the
same Tune rejecting this great and easily attsna
Die goou. Easy II cerionly Is, compared with the
utcuiy OF The acquisition in former times: for NOT
only are schools and books greatly mul,iuIied but
among Tie latter are to be found numerous and ex
ceIient works on the various branches OF human
ieaFbins, now become so cheap, az TO be accessi-
bic to aimos! every body. Truly may il now
oe sad' that all who thirst for the waters OF
eternal iiic--aIi who would draw from tbe ne
rennal fountains Of eternal tru,h-aij who
would restore their souls 10 tie God who rave ,Sern
adorned with every iute trca-urr sc, fi,a,