Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-10-26

in the Richmond Enquirer, I'D "hlch Mt MI
.h;s a. evidence ,b.t The remarks referred 10
were not the production OF superior mind,
states tina, they were " frt.i The pen Of q gentle
man residing near that city, and 'oho has nersr been
in public life, and moi nt all kno'on as an author
or politician" Truly this is an improving
age. According, then, to the logic OF this mo-
dern SoIon, Patrick HEERY's celebrated speech
against the parsons was only an inferior pro-
duc,ion, brcause, forsno,h, he was not previ-
ously famed as an orator. CAMPBELLs Plea
sures Of Hope is in .he same predIcament, as ne
was no, previously known as poet. we
would ask the sagacious Mr. Ri'chle how ma
ny years of public life and authorship does II
REQUIRE 10 become man OF superior mind!-
we had heretofore thought that talents were
the gift Of nature, and, though susceptible Oh
improvement, could never be acquired Does
the consistent Mr.. Rirh;e intend to insinuae
that his experience in politics and puoic lite
has given him superior mind, and rendered MS
ldic,um infaliibe? We would merely suggest
to him, ,ba, perhaps it will require equal ex-
p.renre and sagaciiy in his readers TO disc over
it, We will, however, by way OF CONJECTURE.
hin, to HIN, hat we suspect another reason
! than even the-greal one OF residence near
Richmond and want Of. political experience,
may be found in the remarks in question, which
doubtless ifluenced his judgment.
The writer of the remarks made some just
and severe observations upon the regeneration
Of Mr.. Rtchie's quibbiing, inconsistent poli'i'
cal course, and upon his utter desti'ution OF
every manly and honorable feeling, in his con-
duct towards HENRY CLAY. These, no doubt,
deprived the remarks every literary merit in
Mr.. Ritehie's eye. An Editor possessed OF the
leas' spark Of modes'y, would have con,ented
himself with rcbu,ing the arguments, AID, as
an interested patty, have left the public to pass
sentence on their literary merit. Since his no.
table discovery respecting Hannibal, we per
ceiye Mr.. Richie has become quite classical
in his quotations.
We subjoin Mr.. Ri,chie's remarks from the
Richmond Wing, with the reply Of the gentle
man to whom reference Was made by him as
the supposed author, Ievea Mr.. Ri,chie's supe.
rior mind may err as literary curiosi'y-if
not precious moroccan
From the Richmond Whig.
TO THOMAS RI ICIiiE ESQ.
SIR I'm reur Enquirer Of uesdsy, find
The following notice OF the Preface to Mr. Gays
Speech a, Fowlcr's GARDEN, and its supposed
Author:
.4nother Literary Trick The reader has scarcely
forgotten the letters of Farmer published in this
City for the purpose of propPing the sinking of
the Coalition They were undeniabl, from the pen Of
the now celebrated DIR Tobias Watkins-but s,gges-
ton having gone forth that they written BY Mr
Madison. the whole pack join d in the chorus-snd
theywere rcpubished and pufcd through the States,
az the production Of Mr.. Madison What course did
these men take who knew better They suffered the
trick to pass uncontratlcted and the base coin 60
abroad without effort to arrest its crcuation-un-
til Mr. Madison himself was compelled to nail it to
the counter,
lie. pamphlet copy of Mr.. Csy's Fowler's Garden
Speech has been published in this City, accompanied
by a flaming preface. II soon announced in the
Wa ngton paper the production of of the
eminent, or distinguished, abes citizens of Virginia,
we forget the precise terms of the panegyric it
was calculated TO pass the pamphlet into notice The
Coalition Papels North and West accordingly publish
ed extracts from the Preface, and some of them the
Whoie itseus WIN upon the autnOr
We had read this precious morceau and confess, we
were somewhat astonshed the high parentsge claim
ed for it-and what turns be the fact That it
Is from :he pen of gentleman this City and who
has never been in public life. and not at all known
AN author or politician Yet this is the gentleman,
whose Preface is to be cried up the work of superi
or mind
If We are not deceived new Literary Trick isabout
to be put upon the Public for effect-Which shall
expose, 1t necessary, in due season.
am not very ambitious, otherwise my van
iiy nigh get the better Of my discretion. and
for the sake Of a compliment justly due to ano-
Their: l might be induced to hazard the fate of
the unhappy Watkins, TO which you would
seem 70 refer mr., or tho, Of some others who
were considered fl subjects for either the shears
or the halter- Report places you in the latter
class, though hope it is nothing but Goa
lition lie, for thin men hang mighty hard. l
nigh, however well 4fford TO consult my safety
in declining The compliment, for what could it
all ms mn uht the hor If the preface