Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-11-20


both to speak and to write II, promptly, ca
silly, elegantly, and with that variety Of
style which different subjects. different
hearers, and different readers are coniiuu-
ally requiring. You must have such IA
of it as to he able t. adapt your
|sef with intuitive quickness and ease, Ia
ever. situation in which you may chance
L be placed J. and you will find no great
difficulty in this, if You have the copia per.
Idly of the language you must take care to
unite the habits already mentioned--th4
ldi'igent observation Of all that is passing
around you, and active, close and useful
thinking. If you have access to Frank
Inns works, read them carefully, paricu
larry his third volume, and you will know
what mean by the habits of observing
and thinking. We canno, all be Frank.
Inns, it is true; but by initiating his mental
habits and unwearied industry, we may
reach an eminence we should never other
wise attain. Nor would he have been the
Franklin he was, if he had permitted him
self to be discouraged by the reflection tina
we cannot all be Newtons. 1t is our bust
uess TO make the most of our own talent.
sHa Hs4ssd IF all Sff is
ginary impossibiiities, to believe all thing,
possible, as almost all things are, to a spir
ilt bravely and firmly resolved. Frankli,
was fine model of practical man al con
rradistinguished from visionary theorisI
as men of genius are very ap, to he.-He
was great in that greatest Of all good quail
tiles, sound, strong, common sense. A mere
6ook.worm Is miserable driveler; and a
mere genius, thing of gossamer, fiji only
Tor the winds to sport with. Direct your
Intellectual efforts principally to the cult
sation OF the strong masculine Qualities 4
he mind. Learn ( repeat it) to thlnk-
h'nk deeply, Complementary, powerful,
-and learn the simple nervous Language
which is appropriate to that kind of think
ing. Read the legal and political argu-
ments OF Chief justice Marshall, and h se
II Alexander Hamilton, which are coming
out Read them, study them; and oasery +.
WIN what an omolnoten, sweep Of though.
they rnge over The whole field IF everv
subject they lake in hand--and ,ha. with a
seythe SO ample, and 50 keen, that not IA
straw is left standing behind them. Brace
yourself up to these grea, etf,rts Strike
Tor this giant character of mind, and leave
prettiness and irlvoIty for triflers. There
Is nothing in your letter that suggests .ho
necessity OF this admonilion; / make i,
merely with reference ID that tendency to
effiorescence which have occasionally
heard charged to southern genius. 1t is
perfectly Consistent with these derculaneau
habits Of thinking, to he laborious SUDDEN.
aud to know ali that books can teach. This
extensive acquisition is necessary, not only
to teach you how far science has advanced
IN every direction, and where the terra in.
cogn'fd begins, into which genius is to d.
rect lis future discoveries, but to teach YOU
also the strength and weakness of the hu-
man intellect-how far it is permitted US to
60, and where the penetration of man is
forced by its own impotence and the ma
lure vi the SUBJECT. to give up the pursuit.
and when you have mastered ali The past
conqucsts Of science, you will understand
what Socrates meant by saying, that he
knew only enough to be sure that he knew
nothiLg--nothing compared with that il
iimitable trac. that lies beyond the reach
OF our faculties. You must never be salts.
fled with the surface OF things; probe them
TO the bottom, and let nothing 20 till YOU
understand it as thoroughly as your paw
ers viii enable you. Seize the moment of
excited curiosity on any subject to solve
your doubts; Tor if you 10, it pass, the de-
sire may never return, and you may remain
IN ignorance. The habits which / have
been recommending are not merely for
college, but Tor life. Franklin's habits of
constant and deep excogl,ation chung to
him to his latest hour. Form these habits
now; learn all that may be learned at YOUR
University and bring all your acquisitions
and your HABITS TO the study of the law.
which you say is to be your pi ofession:-
and when you come to this study, come re
solved to master ,t-not to play in its shall
lows; out to sound lis depths. There is no
knowing what a mind greatly and firmly
resolved. may achieve IN this department
Of science, as well as every other. Resolve
to be the first lawyer of your age, in the
depth, extent, variety and accuracy of your
.ssai isarni"a.. Master tho, science of
|pieading--master Coke upon Little,ou--
and Coke's and Powders reports-master
tesrne on contingent: remainders and exec.
usory devises, TIL you can sport and ola,
tsmiliary with its most subtle distinctions
tx..n.~ 49,.