Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1840-04-27
SELECTIONS.
From me Southern Literary Messenger. Jor March
- THE LEARNED BLACKSMITH.

From The Southern Lierayy Messenger. FIR March.
THE LEARNED BLACKSMITH
We invite the attention OF The public to the sub
j"ncd communication from Dr. Nelson of this city.
accompanied by letter 10 him from Mr.. Burn. al.
really stingui.hrd by Governor Everett, as the
Learned blacksmith Of Massachusetts Mr.. Bvrriit's
extraordinary requirements. under the pt euiiar ci,
cumsiances Of his life are Only squaed by the
modes,y with which he shrlnLs from n,,oricty. We
doubt whether there IS parallel instance on record
Of tho same appical,o 10 menlal improvements, IN.
der such striking d s,dvanfages. The mus, | armed
hngnsr nov HING, We believe, IL Mezzpfati, the
P,ofcss"r Of Oriental Languages AT the University
81 bologna, IN Italy. lie is sud TO SPEAK and VINE
huently. eighteen ancient and modern languages. and
,~ent.-'wo dileren, dialects Of Europe; bur Mczzo.
fsnti has not been obliged 10 Labor e.lhird OF lus
tune at the anvil for subsistence Lord Byron said
81 him-"he rs monster OF languages-thr Biia
rsus OF parts OF speeeh--a walking poly elot and
more, who ought la have existed a, the time Of the
tower of B,bri, universal interpreter" VIVA,
would Lord Byron have said of the seif-auph, Mas
s"chaseus hogurt, whose wonderful acquisitions
have been treasured up amidst toll and poverty aud
IN !"sc intervals winch usually devoted TO ,cpose
or recreation II any OF our readers should be IN
creauous ~ this matter, we iced only refer them
Ia thefaddress OF Governor Everett and also to the
PERSONAL trst ony and observation Of DR.. Nelson OF
whom may be SAID thai no deelaraiion of ours is
necessary 20 en,.le his sentiments To the fullest cou-
hdeoce.-Ed. Mcss.1
10 he Editor elite Southern Literary Messenger
With few friends. who have seen the loIlow;n ,
communication. cntitely concur IN the opinion iha,
II ought to be given 10 the public. II is brilliant,
an unsurpassed example. VI what may be achievc ed
W perstveing application 10 study. To all persons
especially 10 the young mechanics Of our county, il
may rrovca beacon flight 10 gude them to hirh,,
dcs'inies. by dligeni improvement Of their .hul,
fragments Of time"
OF the verify of Ike statement made by the w,i,c,
he dim In In, IA,
Governor Everett OF Massac busets IN an adI,e.,,,
an association OF mechanics III Boston, took occasion
TO mention that ba, ksmih Of that State had b, IN,
unaided industry made himself acquainted with IN,
languages. In July OF the iolnwng yca,, | was pas
eng through Worcester. the place oi his pseset re.
sidence. and grahed my curiosity by ealing To Sc,
nm. LAKE, any other sou oil Vulcan. Mr.. Buui
was al his anvil introduced m, srlfto him, ,bser
wing that had read with grea: pleasure, aud wrl
uuieisned astouishment account of him by In
Governor Of his State, which had Induced me To- tax
the liberty oil raying HIM visit. lie yery modcs 4
replied thai the Governor had done hm more in,
Justice. u was true, he sald, that lie could read
bout MY languages but he had MOI sudIe them al
critically. .ukee curiosity had Induced hmm n
look M the Latin grammar; he became int eres ed n
u, psrscvere, aud finally atqu, cd thorough know
ledge oil that language. He then studied the Greed
with equal care. A perfect atoa aiui.p,e v,,b ,h,s
languages bad enabled hlm TO ,ead nuh facility th,
Italian the French, the SPANISH aud poruguese
The Russian. 10 "nch he then devoItnp h,
"odd moments" be said tie must ilicult of an
he had undertaken.
- expressed my surprise al his youthful anne =,
snce. lie informed me he was but tuenfy sere
years Of age; ito which statement gave ready c,e
deuce that he had been Constantly engaged NJ Ii
trade t'om boy hood 10 that hour, and thai his educ,
no" previous 10 ms apprenticeship had been yer
slender.
Mr.. Burt remov d from ayillase near uaufor
IN Connecticut, where lie WAS bonn and where Il
earned ms trade TO Worcester, 10 enjoy The b"nei
o, 'n antiquarian library stored "nh ,ate books.
which The trustees gave him daily access. "Yes sir
said he, 81 now have the key TO thai library (sbou
ing u as u twete the most precious Jewel, the re;
hey TO koowedge,) aud there x" every day an
sindy e'ghi hours. work eight hours, and the 9th.
eigM an obiigei TO devote 10 aui,nal comforts an
Teposs."
The Stage drove up and | mos, reluctantly left hin
ex1ciins however promise that he would wri,e n
some account Of himself-of his past and press
sindies r'
The following is The first, bnt no, the on,x lon,
"w'hche'e has done me the favor To write. I ma,
assurance that Mr.. Burrnl would no, b. so f,.s
ms professions as 10 object to us pnblciiy Bur
am equally we'll assured that il will give him mn
pn,o man pleasure. TIL. NELSON.
Richmond. Februdry4M. 1910.
WORCESTER. Dec. 10Th, 1889.
Dc0r4eT;- sit down to wiiie TO won undo,
lively apprehension thstyou will accept Of no anal
~ 'hai can make for my long silence. Blu, beio
y"u ImPaie 10 me indifference or neglect lbep yo
NY dear sir, to consider the pc .ular nature Of n
aoccopsions.--to reflect that my time 10 not at ny d
spossl. and that my leisure moments are such a,
M can steal away from the hours which my srduo
manual Iabnvs would incline me to allow 10 repose
deferred writing So ne tint. thinking TO address you
letter on Your return from the springs; bur the n
5pse o. my business became such in the fall that
escompe'ied TO labor bath night and day up TO u
nfSenf ts'ne, which 10 The frst leisure hour ths,
Ahase had Tor several months. eanpni bur be era,
July affected ~ Tie benevolent crest which y.
- Nl~s'esi ~ ny pursuits. both our inerview in Wo
4eifr. a"d "a the letsei FOR which | am indebted
<1Vt courtesy aud kind co, deration I,hank :,
4 s No'u'N's iof ihesr expressions Of good wi