The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-03-16
For The Gazette.
SOLITARY REFLECTIONS.

For The Gasetie.1
SOLITARY REFLECTIONS
"Blest 10 the man, rs IA, as earth can bless,
Whose measur'd passions reach no wild excess,
Who, urg'd by Natures voice, her gifts enjoys,
Nor other means than Natures force employs"
To contemplate the natural and improv-
Cd condition Of our race, and view the nigh.
~ contrast which has been gradually ef.
fecscd with the lapse Of years, by the excr-
else Of mans transcendani genius, excitcs
the liveliest scnsibilitics and gladdens the
rejecting and ambitious mind, with the
most grateful and pleasing emotions.
Il is passing in reric,c, the causes which
have wrought such important consequent
css to mankind, and rendering apparen,
those proportional obligations, noticed by
Great Master, that "where much is given,
much shall DO required"
The earliest stage Of society afford, to
our present reflections, but monotonous
and somhre picture Of man-his condition
Of inanity and solitude, nssimiIatcd with
the fierce and the wild Of the forest.
IMAM walked ,rifh beast, joint tenant Of
the shddc," n stranger to the individuals Of
his own species-a stranger to himself.
From the spontaneous bounties Of nature,
and the tolls Of the chase, he gathered
precarious and scnnty ubsis,ence-irriin-
ted by absolute wants, sheltcrless, and con-
tinually exposed to tho inclemency md vi.
cissitudes Of the seasons-heat aud cold;
damp and drought; and wind and weather.
But with capacity to retain and dispo.
sition to learn, he early discovered the
pleasures Of the social affections and made
them subservient to the exchange Of mu,u.
q good offices--which in every state Of So
ciesy attaches man to beings, created, liv-
Jog and acting like himself.
Society-once bcgun-was fraught with
multiplying advantages, and necessarily
opened the way to man's first aud carlies,
improvements. The arts successfully q.
ross, and were held in requisi,ion to supply
mans natural wnnts-,hen Agriculture
parent Of trnc enjoyment and science oi
true refinement-er"dualIy extend their
efi"sts 10 cheer aud bless the world 'rill
then, custom was law; and simple nature,
the tenure of obedience and fidelity.
Before tho use of letters, or the knowl-
edge Of wording thought literally, painters
were the only historians. and hierogiyphics
tho only historical monuments of the
achievements Of a nation. But the bontls
Of union and oil tho liganen,s Of society
were then feeble, aud man WINS prey 10
the discnrdant mud fcrocious passions; cru.
81 wars are wagcd and natural boundaries
and barriers transgressed aud passed By
rude aud predatory ambition. The freak
become subject to the sfrong-and, con-
quests following conqaes.s, are tho ,ri-
umphs Of ph.sica strength and power.
The social compac. is then formed-com.
munisy essablished-and governments rear
Cd on sure foundation CON-
mence--commerce is instituted knowledge
prevails; the powers aud faculties Of the
human mind dcvelopo benefits md bless
ings-virtues and felicities spreading. their
banners and extending their ranks-wi,h
their accompan, ing trains--advancc in
ID, grand march Of civilization. Numcr-
ous cnuses, with various incidental and
adventitious circumstances, conspire to
emerge man from his cherries recess Of
ignossnce and shades nnd glooms Of nsens-
Utility and insecurity into the calm diiIa-
sive sod rsdinting lights Of truth, wisdom
and human perfect ability, justly to appre-
eiate and reverence the attributes Of inGn
ite goodness, in the organization of the uni
verse, the wise construction Of this world,
and the dispensation Of m ovcrruling Prov
idence; TO appropriate to the best Of uses,
lits's general benefits, 10 speed on the
ssce-course Of dsty-to rejoice in the di.
vine muni6cencc. and regard with due ven-
GRAFTON 1.-THE Divinity TINT s.irs within 10.
and moves without and around u, in the
gssss body Of Nature, and oil tho appeudo.
re- of this fair creation.
CADMUs.
TAxn ~ HAr.-Cist says:--Oue would
have supposed il there was any thing new