Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-10-31
MISCELLANEOUS


lHE SOUTHERN lirERARY MESSENGER, No II.
Richmond Pa T. W. WHITE.-we like THIS second
number, and are pleased to earu that the public liked the
hrst so well a. 10 give encouragement the proprietor to
persevcre We, however, would rrcirr this periodical in
monthly, rather than in sem-werkly form; and such
we suspect would be the general those WHO de-
sire TO preserve their numbers.
There is variety aud in DO the prose md noeti
Cal contents Too much space, however is PERHAPS pi
ven to The extract nom the Pilgrims of the Rhine now
10 longer book.
The annexed letter from Mr. Writ written not great
while before his amented death, vy be eageryread II
was written, as Is stated, under the following circum-
stanccs
young gentleman who about TO leave the walls Of
University, and looks to the law his profession who i.
not related TO- connected WITH Mr. irt nor even ac
gnalntrd with him. ai knows him only ornament 10
his profession and his country is Induced by The be EST
mate he has formed OF his character and the great conf
dence That might be rrPosed ia any advice that he would
give {" AK al his hand ruction as 10 The course
OF study best 10 he pursurd Mr. Writ replied tlus-
NtU lO'k American
Baltimore, Dccember 90 1893
My DEAR stR:- Your letter. d.ied "Unversi,y of
-. December H. was received on Yesterday mornur
and although IL finds extremely busy i'm prepariue
Tor he Supreme Couri of the United Sales am so much
pleased with It's spirit, aI csunu reconcile il 10 myself
to ie II pass unanswered IL were quali.
hed TO advise YOU TO which do pretend bur Ii tie good
could be done by single letter, and have not time for
more- k""wng to hing oil the pcculiares OF YOUR men
al character, give sdvce adapted 10 your pecu
liar Gaze am persuaded that educ alton NAV he SO di-
rected 10y sagarinus and sku lcaccr a. 10 prune AMI
rcpess those faculties OF The pupil which too prone TO
are
dsPfeporli0naicY weak slow; TO create us ba
lance among The powers, and enable the mind 10 ac viii,
mc highest ier oi which is capable. But requires
previous acquaintance with the student, ascertain the
natural conduon Of his various powers in order 10 know
which 'tqnIes the spur and which the rein la
minds Imagination ovcrpowe rS and spolhrs All
the other iaculies: in others, reason like sturdy oak
throws all the rest T'o ,irkly shade Some men have
r'orh'd passion Tor HE study OF poeuyoiers Of mac-
maiics, &c &c. All this may be corrected by discpliue
so Tar ~ may be j1dicOus correct it, But the rbvsi
ran must understand the disease, aud become acquainted
WIN III The ldosyhcracies OF the patient before he can
prescribe have no advantage oil ills Kind with regard
TO you; and to prescribe by cot"cufc would require me
TO conjecture every possible HAT may yours ani
TO prescribe Tor each, which would call for ponderous
minds the germ Of all ihc faculties exits and nav bv
Skiil manSg' menl be wooed into expansions but they
eX st naturally IN different degrees OF health reng
AID as Ills matter i generally left the impulses of ma
lure ia each individual the hcalicst and STRONGEST eers
get the Siar-gIve impulse aud dircc ion the efforts OF
each hlulsamp us Character and shape lis destiny
A. educaiiou, therefore, stands among us each man
must he his own ricccp'o IN This respect by turning
his eyes upon himself aud describing the conpratiyc ac
most on -wir, II any, less. We mus, take care how.
ever. not 10 make an estimate the relative va
luc OF Tie iacues, and thus commit The sal mistake of
cu'lya""g the snowy at he cXpensc Of the solid. With
These preliminary rrmafks, by way OF explaining why
canno he more particular in regard to your case permit
me, insIead oi cdlkng study by finnish.
ing yon with Isis 81 hooks and tie order in whit the
should he read (d list books and course of slud
would be equally proper for al minds y TO close this letter
with icw general remarks.
II your spirit I've and pure az your letter indi
Gates. you require little advice beyond HAT which Won
will find within The walls Of your University a bs,ve
and pure Split is worth Ian hoD me 6Gf,Ie, NOT
only in preparing Tor lille, but in HTS conflicts Joke IL
Jor grated mat DYes trcelience ujfhoa greaf Ia
OOT. NO mere aspif atoms for cmuence, however ardent
will 40 The business Wi.lng, and signing and inson
ing, aud dreaming OF greatness will never make YOU
II sou would gt 10 s mountains top ~ which lie
PIE o' lame stands IT viii not 10 10 stand sfr hooking
admiring AID wi.ldtg you were there You mu.t oisi
~ your louis, aud go work - n ell lie indoifebl.
energy OF HSnnihal scaling the Aips-Iabofions STUDY
and digen observation Of the world are boi,, i,f.re
e 10 tie attainment OF euinence Nv the ortrer vo,
must make yourself MASTER OF al that known Of science
and letters by The latter, YOU must know man AZ Ir,e
ana particularly Tue character aud genius Of your own
comniryme0 fon must cultivate ANONYMOUSLY the habits
OF reading, thinning. aud obscrpinQ Understand youf
own language, grammaucsy, critically, thoroughly !;
'eNrne VS. origin, or father vsfiOus origins which you
may learn rom Jobnsons and Websters pfelsces 10 their
large dieuonst's Lean al lhat is deIirate aud beaud
iui as wen ~ strong. in The laugusge and master
an is soiIee OF opnlrncc. You will Gnd lich mine
OF instruction ~ he splendid language Of Bfke HE die
non s frequently magnificent; sometimes loo eof,coo, !
thnk, for chasfe sti correct taste bnf he y I'm show
you MI he wcSn Of your language You must. by Ar.
dent study apl practice, acquire Tor yourself ,gosfer,
Of hc language, aud be able bob 70 speak and 10 win ~
promptly, casly, eioganily, aud with thst variety Of
style which different subjects, different hoarers aud d
lefenl readers, arc continually requiring You must have
such command Of " be abs adapt Yourself ,yi,l,
inuiuyc qucsness and eaFc, ovefy situation In which
you may clancc TO be placed aud you will find no
great diibcny 10 ibis, IL you have tie c0pa Ue,bo.
rum and correct tas'c With dis study Of the
language, yon take care 10 unite the sis arca
dy mentioned -thc dIlgen observation of al bd is pas.
siug around YOU aud acfire rf0sc and s,fJ ,b,L;,
u yon have access 20 Frank's works rs IA tle,o c,tf
", particularly his third volume AID you will knov
mean by Hle habits of Observing and Min5fpg We
es"nol al be Ffanhns lite tfuei but inanbg his men.
TAI habits and unweafied industry, may resell am emf
nenco we should never ohefwso attain Nor would he
sye been The FfsDkn he wac IL he hal permitted ill.,.
seif n be Discouraged ~ tho reflection sf ~ ,,, m,
VI pffff ,rrafr a.. H. III.