Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-14

COMMUNICATIONS.
10 the aullor Of Edge.HiH.

TO the H,ihi0r Of Edgc-HiU
thank you. in behalf OF my sex, for the charm
ing production which you have ushered into light
hope It viii be generally read, and l am sure
It Will find its way to the public admiration. II
is true, Sir, that you will have TO encounter IA,
difficulties OF all Authors, and especially Author.
oil genius There will always exist an enviou,
tribe oil snariers,-incn OF little souls.-who wi
depreciate what they cannot equal. and hate .thal
excellence they cannot rcach."--There are Others
whose minds are so invetera,ely ignorant Or prc-
JUDGED, nothing will induce them to beliey. tbat
ana,ive Author can possibly possess merit, OF II
perchance they are compelled 10 admit the claim
OF "a Cooper or Sed gewick, they will We. contend
tnRt In our Southern cline, where every thine
else Is fertile, the mind alone is unfruitlul
Know not. Sir.--iI your work should find its wav
to the North, il NEST certainly will what thoso
literary dictators, the reviewers, will say concern-
ing H,-but OF this 1 can assure you,-that no ~.
tie sensation has been excited in our city, and es-
pecialiy among female readers, by lis Appearance
W hist you have she wn that we have an,ou,r t,s /,
CDrnelia Dashwool, you have likewise redeemed
The character oil the sex III your Interesting uor-
TRAIT oil Miss Eimore. In her you have shew;, M,
give me leave TO say, with 10 ordinary skill
how meeknes5 and modeSty OF character NAV DO
blended with spirit truly !icrO!c,-and think 4
have no where seen the peculiar traits of a fiery
yet brave and generous young yirgnan, more
trl1y depicted than IN young FitzrOya
1 presume that you have read the Criiiqife of
the Editor OF the Enquirer. ] confess that va.
good deal surprised at his notice Wills, !, !.
true, that lac lavis!les mnch compliment upoD vour
performance, euogizes your powers, and pre =
diets that high literary distinction awaits YOU II
you persevere in your eiIorts,-I cannot ,bin,,
that his criticisms are just. He finds fault Will,
your negro diaiogues-and especially that he
tween Miss Katy and Overley-and characteri,es
them as low, without being comic. ! know moi
what he precisely means by comic, but thin.
that at least nine out OF ten readers would be
pleased with Miss katy's uneducated simplicity.
lit was right 10 introduce low personages AT an
III the story-it was surely proper TO give them
natural and appropriate conversation; and nolbin
would have appeared more awkward and irrational
thanto have ascribed TO the humble House. Keen
et and the rustic tpplers at the Inn the lanpuape
OF refined and polished people II the Editor j.
right-thcn Waller Scott and even Shakespeare
are egregiousy wrongs for no writer's have adj
iDltted more low dialogue into their works
than those great men.
1t may be the privilege. and perhaps the duty
OF Limner,t TO make his coioIing fresher s, deeper
than nature-because his canvass will fade Syitb
tirne,-but the writer who represents human life
anil manners, should be true aa1 faithful in his
pictures.
With as little Justice / think. is the disIact Of
the negro condemned. That beautiful writer. The
aYthoress OF Redwood has been guilty the same
literary sn-with this difference only that whilst
her limitations imperfect, ana are more like the
african than the Virginia negro-you have hit
cqTacy. For my own part, think there is some.
thing affecting in the short dialogue between
Ruth and the Gardener; and think most persons
would feel the force and simplicity of old Allice's
conversation with Charles in the Cottage
Some good protestants have accused Won IN
derstand, OF dsparaging the episcopal character in
The person Of Mr.. Rubrick; but have often heard
my elders say, that the Church in Virginia during
the Revolution. was composed OF many such pas
tors, who preferred the fleece 10 the flock OH
contend that iNvp GOD #.
characters from Scott; and that your Ruth EIulore
"a nothing more than copy OF Rebecca in Iyanhoe
know not what you may have designed-But |
confess am better pleased with the Christian
Orphan than even the heroic Jewess, although I
DO not and j ain sure you would have too much
rnodesty to contend, that any living writer could
rival SCOTS description OF Rebecca, when she
threatens to leaPfron the upper story of the tower
hope, Sir, you will not be discouraged by any
Ill-natured things that may be said of your work
You may rest satisfied that 10 the heart of woman
at least, parts OF it affecting, and the whole
deeply interesting. 1 could wish with the Editor
OF the Enquirer that you have over charged the
character OF MOnteagle. Such a wretch ought moi
to exist in real life, but dare say there have
been, and VIII be many again, but little his inferi
or in wickedness, A LADY
I'VE lay before our readers the crifio,le of MIR
Fair Correspondent. without the cou,DlinIeu
she is kind enough TO pay % ourselves But with all
our respect Tor herJudgmentw are still unfortunate
ShOuHn W WIN uCJ. W z are perfectly con
tent, however, that the Public should decide be.
tween us.-We assure our Correspondent that we
have no desire 10 s1idTi al the Author Of Edge hill
Of even to repeat the criticisms we have adyanc,
ed, We feel sincere respect for the talents of the
Author Of Edge-bill; and with adequate efforts.
ne think he may reach the distinction 70 which he
asPres. He.has our best wishes fer his success 7
a writer in the "Visitor and Telegraph" pub.
hsfed Jan. p, signing himself "W," and protest.
ing 70 tevbw Mrs. Cdry's Letters, uses the fol.
lowing expression, viz " II is low probably, no
disadvantage to her az a writer on the subjects
which are discussed in this volume, th0t size tcGs
nursed IN hc bosom NJ WfdeEiy" This writer
appears TO be one Of those Observation-Disclosures who
WIN the doctrines Of Christianity upon his tongue
has nought OF 1t in his composition, teaching its
grecepts and belying its practice making bis do,
ffine subservieDi TO the illibersy Of his heart AT
The expense Of truth and justice. cantiog aLont
religion, and Iibeing ahd calulnnialing virtue in
the same breath In one sweeping clause ne tell,
us That Mrs. Cary was reared in the family Of
SdT. Jefferson, ain TIE bosom If infdeHy." The
htrse and pro,ectress Of Mrs Cary's infant or.
pasnsss.i' ~ 7srs'n Thrn 'i,s rfi;er iirec.'r