Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-20
COMM NICATIo Ms.


NV structures were directed, not at the man, whom
do no, know, and who is perfectly indifferent L
me; but at the errors contained in his patch worl
production II tho language was apparently severe
I can only say that il is the critics province to b
| severe upon whatever is calculated TO mislead o
misinform the minds OF his readers. And he woul'
III discharge tho duties OF his Office, did he not en-
deavor ito detect and defeat imposture," and "tC
warn the public agains, the purchase OF shop worr
| goods and tinsel wares" The author OF that essay
may bless his stars, that he did not publish il il
London or Dublin; for he knows very well, tina
not feather OF all that borrowed plamage woul,
have been left unplueked.
| The warning note led me me to expsc, defence
a eentemanly one, hoped, il not a candid one, bu
lie MGR soeeus losins; haze est
Grusomera
The reply is q source oil triumph TO his enemies
Of modification to his friends, and OF pity TO all
lilo met only one of my criticisms, and then i, wa.
but 10 acknowledge my correction and his own err
ror; with how much candour, and with how gooC
a grace, leave for others to determine. His ex-
cuse, that i, was mere "slip OF the pcn," is tho
more readily admitted, because there is SO great
similarity, both in meaning and sound, between th,
words death and deihronsmeKt that one might easily
be taken for the other.
Many careful reader OF history has, ere this
smiled at his attempt, To substitute "Socratic age
| IN place of his original word, contemporaries
lie gives his readers little credit for peneiraton
! no thinks they do not perceive the difference.
| agree TO the amendment.
He SO perlinaciously hugo his poetical sins, that
feel bound TO quote Tor him the mctrieal canon
| laid down by Lord names, whose admirable work
is used as textbook in most of our high schools
and colleges. "The English heroic line is common.
Nv Iamblc. the first SYLLABLE short the
and so on alternately through the whole line. One
exception there is, OF lines commencing with Tro
chncus, l. c. long and n short syllable; but This
affects not the order OF the following syllables,
which go on alternately as usual, one short and one
long" The reader, however, needs no metrical
canon TO enable him 10 detect the uncouth false
quantities OF BIS verses. Let him try them 10y his
own ear, and can summon no better witness.
Let us now contemplate our high mind ed scholar
in the position in which he has placed himself He
admits shat the public ignoran, of the source from
winch the structures emanated, mignt suppose them
entitled 10 some considerations The first thing that
suggests itself to his honorable soul crush the
Troublesome critic, who has dared 10 NEEDLE with
his rpeness. Fancy him, then, tearing along up to
the Wing Office, in a most magnanmous heat, and
demanding the name of the unfortunate wight tor
the purpose OF hunting him down with coarse inycc-
tive and personal abuse. He returns home, and
now behold
Arma du senior i.susia tremendous .yo
Cireumiai nequiequsm humeris, ct inuule ferrum
t'nguur sat raiionis In arms.
Next follows n most edifyins exhibition Of impo.
tent rage, which eNhausts itself in calling names. IL
IS the very madness OF poetry without its nspira-
ton:
Convincing all by demonstration plain
Poetic souls delight in prose insane"
AS soon as he RECEIVERS his breath he informs his
readers that the audacious critic is but a vortnr
man, and further, that he is only Teacher in the
Richmond Academy This is no, the frs, line tina,
arrogant age has attempted TO stfe TRUTH with 'the
atroeious charge" that its advocate was young
man. Nor does the present writer profess TO be at
all original, when he expresses the sincere hope
that age TO him may bring freedom from gross er-
rots, and the Notifying follies OF unsovernabe pas
SON. Ills accusation that am n teacher in the
Richmond Academy, is, indeed, thrust difficult 10
parry. But suppose 1t true. Does he expect that
the citizens OF Richmond will regard as dishonora.
Die, the situation OF teacher in that institution which
they have established in spirit Of noble liberaty
for the education of their sons7
but 90 not see how any OF these circumstances
are 10 influence the Judgment OF the public either
concerning that remarkable essay or the structures
written upon II. had not the vanity to suppose
that my name could add any weight to what history
proves and acknowledged authorities declare. Nor
have reason TO believe there is sufficient unfair.
ness in this community TO Judge that truth is in anv
respect less true because 1t is written by nv pen
DO not ask them 10 receive my opinions farther
than they are consistent with reason-but have n
right 10 ask them TO examine the grounds upon
am in the ygor Of youth, or in the dwelling weak
ness OF age; whether occupy q garrett OF cellar.
Now for the last annhiatog blow. He advises
me to measure my tiny wings, before | attempt
again to soar into the regions Of space
SIC fiius senior, telumque imbee sine ictu
Conieeit - wires in ventnm effldt.
From bis lofty tone, it is evi1en; that Be
would fam appropriate to himself the character Of
me eagle, a'mfger JOviS, which, with thunderbolts
in his claws. guards the regions of space.n but M,
readers have alreadv assIUneI IN 81.
character of the stanza from which he quoted:
Who killed cock rob!nI
said the sparrow,
With my bow and arrow
II is amusing TO see his agitation at reading an in
offensive remark Of mine, that the note so loaded
with eomplime~,, vas ostensibly written by the
editor; and which he CONSTITUTES into an insinuntion
that he is the concealed Editor Of the Messenger
u strongly reminds me Of the old French adage:-
Ne parlez lamas dc coTde en- presence d. un homme
qui merte d. etre pendu. Under the same brilliant
auspices he has lately been heralded forth to the
world as "leaTned and practical physician who
puts forth views and disquisi,ions on medical sub
leeis, no less profound than they are Originally
With his pretensions in that line have nothing TO
DO Physelans, leave that tumour for your seal
pei.
Blu, If "B." has failed to impress upon the public
MAD that he is q finished classical scholar he has
gwen evidence OF q most admirable ncsuainta nee
with certain other species Of ancsn. lore called
bilhnssgate. In that he is universally allowed to
'N'~ uSutfuCu 10 confess that
my taste has led me into n different field Of study,
ana therefore beg leave TO decline all controversy
Of ephets-since he has Tesorted TO his peculiar ac-
eOmpllshment, prudence warns mo To turn upon nv
heel. Not the choicest terms in his charming yoca
buary, though pronounced in his richest accent, or
sung IN his smooihesi Iambics shall prevent my id
hersnee to the maxim of iaVorle author,
decent, sensible, AMI weLbred man.
VIII not insult me- and other can.
have already said, that DO not know The author
OF the and defeura AMI
cd, the tree may be known by lis fruit, have no
reason TO regret that we strangers IL pains me
TO notice the difference between tho former ptoduc
ton and tho latter. commend him 20 "a better spi-
rt and careful study OF that book Of books winch
he thinks II necessary TO praise in a manner so very
| original. Yet may be permitted TO hope, that the
youth placed under his care, will not consider his
course 10 this discussion, example worthy Of imi.
IaliOn. d.
Mr. Ejilor-You arc, no doubt, aware tina, tn,
vacancy oecasoned by the resignation, by Prof
Blo"ne Of the chair Of Humanity n William md
Mary College, has been filled by the election OF Nj
Charles Minnlgerode; but as he may not be Nc well
knoen IN the South il 10 desirable that he should
be, take the liberty Of requesting Tint you viii
publish the following short account of him collect
ed from tie overwhelming mass Of crt dsntals which
I he produced to the Board OF Visitors:
MIR mnnigerode IS by birth German nnl tn
son OF the late Chief Justice Of lIossc Dnrmstad,
ne was educated IN that country, and was forced
alter having suffered some persecution for his 10 T.
cal principles, TO emigrate TO this country where h,
arrived about years and half ago. fIs educa
/ ton was commenced at Dnrmstadt and Terminated
$50 lar as his connection with professional instruc
/ ton - eoncsrned) at the University OF Giessen-
But " appears rom The letters OF many gentlemen