Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-13
FOR TIE ENQUIRER.


To THE "NovEL READER
SIR:-It is with much diffidence that address
you, in answer to your communication in the En-
q,iirer, because am averse both by habit aud in
c'ination and might add by that sense of proprie-
ty which becomes my sex, from engaging even in
literary controversy. You have however dis
tncty called on all the eulogists of edge HILL
to declare what you seem to be at loss to under
stand,-their motives for praising that work land
you seem to manifest wonderful unbelicf in the
sincerity OF their opinions. Permit me, sir, with
all that courtesy which is due to gentleman who,
whilst he Glsclans all professions to taste himself,
presumes very consistently to be sure) TO make
himself the standard for Others,-to enquire wheth
or II would not have been more dignified in you
to assign some for your own singular opin-
ION, than TO question the motives, and impugn the
sincerity OF the many who entertain different
one. Yours believe, sir, is the solitary voice in
the larger circle, where Edge Hili' has been
read, that has consigned II to rank below " med-
ocrity"-and yet you have not coudescended to
use single argument in support Of so harsh a
sentence Of condemnation. 4 am informed, that
there is scarcely one Editor in the State who has
not received the work. and pronounced il talent
ed Production;-nay more; l have been told that
gentlemen of distinguished literary attainments
in this City and elsewhere, have awarded the
same tribute to its merritt 1t reserved for you
to oppose to this united testimony, your own judg-
ment-and to involve, in one sweeping anatlIema,
the work and its admirers. I,oiW not, su, .foiio,c
your example oy UTdlgnIug your m0ttveS. II
will not even suppose you ac,uatcd by that senti-
ment, which is common 10 some minds, the desire
OF being thought singular;--but | extremely re-
greet, that as you have kindly taken the literary
taste Of our State under your own peculiar pro-
tection,-and as you have so sterDly rebuked the
multitude who have sought 10 dishonor it--you
had not charitably .hown us wherein we had so
egregiously erred. You speak Of the glazing de-
fects of 80 Edge Hill" in general teyms-but you
are not pleased to point out those defects to the
numerous aud infatuated readers who have ven
tured to praise il. You tell us Of the " standard
productions in this kind Of literature in different
ages you have not said in what particulars
the performance in question have deviatcd from
those standards. Indeed, cir, unless you really
suppose that your solitary opinion, without
or argument; 10 support IL, is more than equal to
tie taste and judgment of large portion oil socie
ty-you must confess yourself involved IN the OPP
posite prcdicameDt Of having asserted what you
cannot possibly esiablsh.--I hope, sir, you will
pardon me for saying, that you have adopted that
awkward kind Of logic, which il so often jocusrly
aud, perhaps, tauntingly asciibed to our sex by
yours-thst you have no better reason Tor saying
that the thing is so. than because II is go.
In conclusion, will TAX leave 70 inform you 4.
that was perfectly sincere IN the estimate which
placed upon " Edge-Iill." DO not affirm that
The work is free from fauIts, for what human COM
position is perfect; but il tale which, according
TO my conception. is writte1 IN An easy, correct
aud even glowing style--whose incidents are
nighiy interesting, and whose characters are well
drdwa aud supporied-bo entitled TO the praise OF