Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-09-21

surmount and the expenses to sustain IN intro
ducing my work into moro than half the Union
they, IN short, who know that have done all inns
alone, unaided by friends or patrimony, ana thet,
in tho early part of this arduous undertaking. L
had the misfortune to break dopm my constitutions
that now, in the meridian of lie, am Dragging
out a miserable existence, borne down ny the
weight of organick diseases and other inhri"i.'es
brought upon me by over-cxertion IN novahcing
tho cause of learning in our country anu tna'' III
consequence of these infrmities, 1 am incapaoie
of Delivering Iectures by which, only, could
i bring my system properly before tins community,
and secure to it that attention and support winch
| thousands believe il richly merits-thcy VINO know
| all this say, and they only, can duly appreciate
the Injustice and cruelty of those cnvious and ma
| lignant remarks, which, if believed, are calculated
to crush my feeble efforts ut ecturing in Richniond
and thus deprive mo of the immediate means OF
| subsistence.
| In order to exhibit this injustice in a stronger
light let us reverse the Suppose that 1, for
| instance, had wantony assaulted this self-same
teacher who has fallen upon me, land had just
good right to do it, thought indeed, no right at
sl) and by traducing his character, tfhe has sny,)
and misrepresenting and deprcciating his talents
and skill, had succeeded III depriving him of his
school With what bitter lamentations and loud
complaints would he nave stunned the of the
community!-and yet, the cruelty and injustice of
the procedure would not have been half aggrava-
ted they arc in the present instance; for he is
where he is known, and am a stranger; he is also
in far better health than myself and, lastly, have
done more TO advance the cause of learning, in one
year, than he is capable of doing in his whole life,
or than he would be capable of doing could he live
as many lives cat.
1 am sensible that owe an apology TO my read.
ers for abusing their patience with long a ser.
mon from SO barren text, and that they may Just
y put to mo the intorrogatory which Job applied
TO his friends: ''Will we break me in pieces with
ieords3" Had been the son ofCfGsus, possess
ed the hand OF Midas, so that could have con-
verted my grammars into gold, should have laugh.
ed at the puny assaults of this literary Ajax of Lii
iiPut, and let him quietly pocket all tho gains re.
suiting from this of mcanncss Judas did; for
am aware that he has grammar of his olon 10 b.
ground in the heavy mill of his favouri,o GooId
Bronon--a task not to be envied, either as it re-
CARDS tho miller or the poor cusfomfr-and that he
mas Instructions of his own begetting be Sold
(my compassion rises for the purchdser;) and that
nothing so annoys contracted selfish mind, u.
the success of rival. Who, then, but pity Tho
poor creature!-But the sordid Plutus never dcign
cd to smile upon my path: aud patrimony neyc
inherited, even to the amount OF dollar What
ever OF wealtli-whatever of learning, do possess
! came not by inheritance, nor by patronage but
under the blessing of Providence, they are the frui
| oil my 0,cn labour. Although no imperishable lsu
re's cluster around my brow, although have no
"trod the waves of glory" yet, unfriendcd ant
alone, have struggled up the hill Of science so ia
as TO attain an eminence above many of my prede
! cessors IN grammatical science.
Did not the itcra:c effusion of my assailant fal
altogether below the trhe dignity of criticism,
would show him that he lives in glass house ant
must be careful how he throws another stone; but
will,sparc him for the present, hoping to tcaci
him, by this gentle stroke of the lash, better mo
rails, 1t not better manners. But if find him stub
born, and foofhardy and still inclined to scribJIc
| will apply the enustick, and see if that will no
stop the drizzling of his ink. lie ought to know
that his unbushing arrogance and scribbling auda
city have already rendered him obnoxious, not only
TO the caustick of criticism, but also of the Law
The system Of iogiek adopted in his incongruous
and dislointed. and ungramnatieal productions is al
together unique; but to comprehend it. would re-
quirc ono more deeply skilled in dialecticks than
can be presumed of any modern philosopher To
e1pungo faults from piece of composition total.
~ destitute of excellencck would be task equal
iy useless and inglorous will, therefore, for tho
present, let it rest in ts own insigni6cancc.
"Some have for wits" then, teachers, passed;
"Iurncd criticks next, and proved plain fools at
last"
Richmond, Sept. II. S. KIRKHAN