Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-03
A Series OF POrfraif,--NO. =.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
EDWARD LIVINGSTON.
Wdshington,


person sojourning in this metropolis is led by very
natural curiosity well by respect for his HIGH rem
tanon 10 visit the Secretary OF State All the public ,nc
tonariesat Washngton, when not parcuarlv epg,nod o.
accessible to the calls of strangers On being
struck by the unosentaous carriage and kind name
MT Livingston twas impossible perceive i'm him IN,
slightest trace OF personal vanity or seIf-sulcencv
saw before me man of tall and erect ormabove 81
with hair, black as the ravens yvn~N,.;,h
quick, prominent and intelligent eye-drcssed with taste
ana elegance-bu in a style every way suitable 10 hi
years and high station In his step and he
ed 10 possess almost the spring and alacrty of youth
required only glance perceive that the Secretary had
been bred in the best society'-by which terms I do moi
merely mean that he has been brought up amongst the
IicI-ue well born--the gay and the fashonabIe-bu
mat IN his youth and early manhood he was accustomed
10 see and to associate with that CORPS of gentle
men who were TO be found the Army during the Revo
luton, and in Congress after the adoption of orr Con
sutuion. mean, Of course such men as Wasbinoton
Jefferson Hamilton, Madison, the Lees the RutIedges
anu inc finckneys These men, by their geneness and
dignity IN their intercourse with society," threw grace
over their enduring renown.
man, in this inquisitive age, who has any acouaint
ence with the world, any desire TO improve himself
Is not satisfied with merely specializing upon the dress
e manner or The temper of Secretary oState-the Sc
coma oihcer In the administration of great Government
Opportunity has been afforded me- since INV residence
here to see good deal of Mr. Livingston and therefore
propose 10 say something more OF him. Yet it must be
acknowledged that language vague and weak when
s employed TO distinguish the varieties of mental SUI,
pcrionty Ii Is easy to describe a mans merit i'm general
terms OF commentator, because some OF mans oale,
nc as IL were on the surface But is arduous under
taking accurately TO describe the range and COMPASS NJ
mans intellectual vew-hs power of contemplating many
ana distant objects together, without ndsncness or con-
fusion Before attempt TO describe what Mr. Livnes-
ton Is, VIII state what am very sure he not He il
not metaphy sician-uor an astronomer-nor n motbe
inatlcian--nor a neutrality-suspicious. a chemist He Is
wholly exempt from the love of singulaty or paradox
re mas no nveerae prciudces. His familiarity with the
active world has guarded him against all visionary and
uess Specuiat'ons lie never speaks writes in the
language of exaggcralion.
Mr. Livingston has extensive acquaintance with and
warm devotion to, LITERATURE This love of literature
mas been one oil ms main enoyments through life when re-
eVed from the pressure of his proe duties No
Is more thoroughly convinced than the Secretary or Stat
tat civilian and statesman in these days without lite
rature is like PoyPhemus with his eve out And hero
may De permitted TO remark, that the value of what i,
termed literary knowledge is not perhaps generally per-
ceved; although ii lies much nearer 10 the fccli1g NJ
mankind than scencc-and ALTHOUGH il has The mos, ~
portant elect on the sentiments with which the sciences
are regardedthe activity with which they are pursued
and the modes in which they ae cultivated Polite life
nature alureS the world into the neiebborood of c s
eDces OF morals and of mind: and is not ONLY the tre
Aiap oil the moral sciences, and the sole instrument o
spreading their benefits among men, butt becomes from
those very circumstances the regulator Of their cuva-
ton and iheir progress. Hence we see in this aoe nj
growing light and advancing Improvement readers in the
common ranks OF society, who gradually led on from
eoquence and poetry to morals and philosophy Philoso.
Pnes ana moraists who used TO speak only to one an
oher now address the great body of mankind with the
nope OF lame and usefulness. Intercourse with the great
pu r "oW supplies new materials and imposes
, s.S INC ieelings-commOn sense--and ordinary af-
iairs Oh men, now present themselves 10 the statesman
pur Puphc .uhctOnaes speak in INELIGIBLE terms TO the
S , uo'S .'nuns and sentiments. Hence Mr.. Liy.
lngsoh mas secured to himself all those mental eratca
IONS ana and worldly advantages which result from am ac
quainance with general literature Fven o, be rcsJ
with zcs and agidty, the finest literary of bf
DAY. Ono Is Oiled with gratifying surprise. 70 see N,
secretary sun employed in discplinng and enrcbin b
mind-stDl pursuing, with the ardor and vyoci,, 80 ~,
manhood that system Of selfeducalon founded on sty
research and the deductions of experience without yvbic
man can hardly continue to be, at this day. either rca
ruseful. - '"0' BIca
Mr. Livingston Is devoted friend to liberty-to cons
utional, representative Government In nv converss
ons with MN on this subject have been struck with hi
vigorous thoughts and broad and comprehensive We've
me range Of my acquaintance do not know single ma