Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-20
3ststss,s oes0 aesbt9.
WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY MORNING, NAY 20. 1870.
FoH Thr RicHMoSD Vino.
EDGE HILLS
II Criti"ue by a Revolutionary .n,,,,
CONCLUDED

~ 49,
realities they are entirely erroneous. But this
have conceded quHe far neces,ary TO fancn a,d
hotio' Let US first trace then, the most un,1nror
tant errors OF this kind
Old Fitzroyal the lordy proprctor ,f. EJx, nan -
was irst married to lady of wealth and family Io
rofdng to the distinctions of that day) in his own
neighborhood by her he had three sons and ono
u"Sn(c me eldest son took the Royal side with
tpe an'r ia INC rcv~lution, and accepted command
III 'he British army; but, rs he returned ,f,er ibo
war 10 ms native Stoe, and reared M n spectabe
ahG amabic family, who should not be repronched
anu who cannot be stared by the errors of fbe In ,,
shall pass him by without further comment ,h.n
merely to Justify myself for painting men and tbnps
III Their true colors os they really existed
The second son Of old Frzroval was fat ,o,Iv null
worthy farmer, ignorant and dull without sufficient
INDUSTRY or energy to carry him year into ba
Ia M lie could oiScCt the roasting of shell drake
Iwhch tien Soounded on James river 10 the best NOS
sble advantages: and then assist most ntroi nnd -,
the best possible style. in burynp il with III M ~
mars ~ 'e1r l'n tohich he iook no either lo,I i'm h.
p'iable bottle Of wine with any genteel visitor who
favored HIM with his company
Thcthlrd of old Fizroval enterod tho roroI,,
tonary amy on tho American side AT the very cnr,
menccInent IN l775 6, us Lieutenant Colonel nf
GeV"y am served to the end of the war; discharppn
las duty Faithfully, galanty and honorable I'm g.
mon with his brother officers, but without ever d;
tingushng himself particularly or ever being n,o
NOTED IN ali that time; and therefore, the picinro
ala n OF Cnatos frzroyai can have no application
TO him, III true historical revolutionary sense.
Old Fli2royai lost his first wife at tolerabv ear,
period OF lie, and married again maiden lady a.;
mercantile connexions in Philadelphia, said TO he M
tached to the British side of the cause She ,vos ,
female possessed of most extraordinary powers ~
mind; and therefore, docs answer in a s;ngle mar
tcuar Except i'll poics) to the cfarace err of the sI
pufed-"p arstocrat widow Eastwood, with her sill
more conceitcd daughter Cornea. By tl, last mar
rage old Fzroya had one son and four daurb,,,rs.
some OF the last of whom partook much of the mon
tai qualities of their mother, and were truly amaba
and valuable. Ftzroyal died himself about tho Won,
u o. a Gnr,u I'll
and therefore could not have been an actor in tho
sccles OF 1881, set forth in the novel
But these again may readily be conceded 10 tho IL
ccnccs OF fancy and fiction. What apolncv is IN Le
made however, for the garng Observation-Disclosures ~
solemn matters OF fact which 90 take from sorc
the POSITIVE possession of merits, and from ol hers
tam deme' ITS and placing them the brows of 9th
c's And above al, what is to be thoupht in otbo-
countries OF the POLITICAL the military and Gtetar,
character OF our country, if the deneatons of ED,
tlil are to he resoTed 20 in these partculars3 r.
was to overhaul and correct such INN, RANT and -,
furious errors rs these induced 10 take I'm M,
pen; ana not to take from the author anv of the cod,
OF the beauties of his fancies his ictiops with
which nm still highly pleased
This historical and important mart of tho po,,l '
think, opens with the eleventh chaper md cont;nm
Roarly, II not entirely throughout. When I had
read 1t through was near throwing the book into =
.nrge coal ire before which then sitting, il
neg ono OF the coolest days OF the then pnsinp win
tor, and nj course rccdng no other chilling applca
tons Having recovered however, little from tIis
sudden and entire stngnaton of all the mental ami
nations and cheerings with which the Coretas.e ~,
fancy ina tic'on had inspired me, j exclaimed nvo
unfairly, Heaven preserve my devoted Country fi,s
pohucai, ITS military and literary character de-
pended on such miserable trash for it's fo,n-
atoms! miserable group of tories tro;,or-
and British vultures seeking TO clut themselves o.
sumptuous private board, form the whole mr.
ray on the part Of Grcnt Britain; two Africans vyitL
Shcir negro a., 'ogu"s, and two boys Just from COL
icCe, hrcd with pa riOtic zeal and burning for hail
in ttnir countrys cause. compose the foundation ~
winch was 70 be erected and built up the resuecati
Of the American cause, then sunk to one of lie gcr,
lowest Gibbs of desperation. w
Philips and the traitor Arnold arc here coon j., o
social and harmonious command torether; ,vborcns
It wns understood in the American army at that dav
That the former when he took command of the Bri,ib
army al tclersburg decided to his great credit not
10 permit the latter 90 hold command under hi,
ana sent him on board the shipping where It was nm
dcrsood he stnid till conveyed TO England in the pri
vogcd vessel stipulated for in the capitulatjon NJ
forE: lhis Justice IS Gccmod due TO an honorable
and deceased enemy.
intcrmiXcd again with these errors and iLdra,vp
hctior', the thus annoyed reader presently finds
something on the score Of fancy and natural charac
tcr TO cheer f homes and encourage him TO read NJ,
Tho ''r' .-csc Hrrcsca Cnar"s ~, 1r0vYl and Ruth
n.f. r ''.- purse acafi7, 'trrtrri! delicate Ten.
''.| '... ."f ... '.l' rIp. f'..a crrcri-.
V'd eH. nos ingenious. CURED ~, b.. OBJ. y.I.irous
kept up by The nuhor ;hc fitness of all their parts
and the chastc and classic elegance Of the whole
style But here again comes another historical part
which as 1t relates to the revolution, is much TO be
lamcntcd.
Charles repairs Immediately after this cabin scene
% Laayctcs head quarters in Richmond, and accepts
n comets command in the cavalry and in very few
days achieves miracles such were not surpassod
by the veteran partizans Colonies w. Wnahinptoo
". Ice. and ID. Morgan, after five years experience
IN hard fighting The cornct Fiizroyal is soon made
tho great and conspcuous hero Of the revolutions be-
gins to turn the fate If ware recovers our SINKING
cause, and thence throws al the other heroes and
leaders III tho revolution, who had fought SO lonV.
INTO TIE shade Of military forgotfunessl Is this ony
thing nhe inc correct history? Are the conclusions
and effects in reality to be drawn from sucb crrone
Gus paintings, 10 be justified under the greatest in
dulg'nces and allowances TO be made for fiction and
fancy even'
another error in character and fact is 10 be found
IN the soventeen'h chapter Tarlton s there descri-
ocd as glgnnlIc lcrocIoua hero: whorens he waa I'm