Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-01-23

been thrown off as freely and with as little con-
sideration Of their value, as the trees resign
their leaves to the au,umn winds. They were
also written at period when the author MAD
already ceased TO think OF ambilion-when ne
was depressed by despairing views Of his own
lot in life, and while he bent beneath vague
sense Of unhappiness, seeming tospring up from
every thing around him TO pu, forth It's harvest
Of modification, disappointment, and sorrow,
Yet these productions, so little elaborated, ana
written under such causes Of enervation, are
stamped with all originality, boldness, force,
and pathos, illustrative OF genius, not perhaps
Inferior to that Of Burns, and certainly much re-
rembling it in kind. What could moi such
man have done, had he been sustained BY Tor
tune equal to his merit, and melted by those
i'm pulses which give energy and efficiency 10
the exeriions Of other men!
Mr.. Brainard was no, only poet but an ex-
cellen, writer Of prose. The columns Of the
Mirror, during his editorial career, exhibit ma
nv specimens Of truly beautiful & original prose
composiiions-and these are not only interest,"
ing as literary specimens, but they illustrate
his kind feeling and gentlemanly character III
a very striking manner. There is,perhaps no
situation in which men more frequently violate
the die ates Of good breeding and just princi>
does no, perhaps arise from the circumstance
that an undue proportion of The editorial corps
are really ill.bied and unprincipled; but the
truth is, there ale multitude Of temptations
peculiar 10 their condition. The impatient de-
sire Of gaining dis,inctio aided by the preNa-
lent notion that malignity, personalities, and
disregard Of The decencies Of society, are proofs
of talent, is the wide snare into which many OF
them fall The qualification which i'll regulat-
ed minds experience from making their power
felt, the unworthy pleasure of seeing others
wriihe beneath their lash, together with the i'm.
pun,ty with which editorial malice is exercis-
ed, form another source OF the frequent errors
Of which we speak. But TO all these tempta>
tons Brainard was superior. His kindness OF
heart, his dignity and recttude Of mind, kept
him from falling into these beset,ng sins oil the
profession. During his editorial life, we do
not recollect passage in his paper, al which,
for any blemish of the nature we now speak OF,
his frie nds have any occasion TO indulge Ie>
greet. We earnestly recommend this delightful
example 10 every member OF the editorial bro
therhood.
In friendship, Brainard was warm, sim
cere, and sieadfast 10 the last We have never
net with a man whose notions OH this subject
were more exalted He would never patient.
w ."
maxim was to stand Sy friend in time Of need,
whether he happened TO be in the right or
wrong. Ii was doctrine upon which he acted,
that one never needs support and defence so
much as when his own errors are the occasion
Of his diffic ultes. We do not mean by this
that he would excuse faults or pallate miscon-
duct in general-but he held in detsstation
tina, das,ardly spirit which leads glea, par!
fellow. being. While others therefore would
rush on to crush and wound, Brainard would
be forward to support and protect.
As before stated, he was unsuccessful in the
profession he had chosen. This operated with
peculiar force 10 depress one whose character
gree. Besides he had met with that species
of disappointment which often, clings longer
and more heavily abou, the heart than any o.
,her II is obvious therefore that when he
lef, his profession and entered upon his liera-
nv career, there was crisis in his life, the issue
Of which must form the index Of his future
fortunes. He was about 10 enter a new field,
and make one more experiment IL that were
unsuccessful. il must clearly De fatal to one Of
a temperament so much inclined TO despon-
dence, already stricken and wounded at heart.
No one perhaps ever more needed countenance
and encouragement than did Brainard at the !
time he took charge OF the Mirror. Had his
then been iavorably adapted to his
character, had he been sustained and cherished |
he might have been at this moment living and
shl dding the light Of his genius around him.
Blu, it was ordained otherwise. Branard was
not understood where he lived. He laughed,
joked, and rriflrd, and among the grave peo-
pie where he resided he was almos: an quito asst.
Without meaning reproach, for the case is by
no means singular, it is sill proper TO say that
they did no, appreciate the value Of charac.
ter deep and sincere as il was, which could no,
Or would no, adopt the sober and discree, guise
which it was the fashion among ,hem 10 wear.
Il was not till he sleeping in the grave, tina,
MS praises were sung-not till they sprung up
and blos.omed through every sod Of the tomb,
hat his virtues were perceived and acknowl-
edged.
II is a remarkable fact that the sad at heart,
are often the most delightful companions for
he display of thoughts, and feelings, the very
'everse OF those which prevail in their own
breasts. The anecdo,e ofthe Italian hypoc hon.
lriac, if it be fable, illustrates many cha
acter in real life Dishearlened and iespon,
H.. =