Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-04-12
NATIONAL INTELLlGENCER.
KENNEDY's LIFE OF WRIT.

ye his requirements and untiring his application,
could conpile an adequate history Of so many So
yeregn Staes each fruitfulin materials and rich in
he lives and exploits Of ofchershed sons and daugb-
rers whose deeds adorn her annals and elevate her
character.
Mr.. BANcroYr's History Of the United States,
iif IL stall ever be completed, will doubtless serve
as a general and able outline of our country's
story, and will comprise the most important ma
tional events. But this outline must be filed up
by numerous personal memoirs, because from
them we can frequently obtain the most accurate
"details Of great transactions, whether civil mill
,tary, of which the subjects were eyewitness, or
with which they were intimately connected. AS
the geolOgist, in observing she grand physical cha
sracterstics of the earth, cannot pause to anayze
every dower whose perfume greets him in his pro-
gress, but leaves the graceful task TO the more mi
mute botanist, the historian, while delineating
those important occurrences and measures which
stamp the character of age, cannot turn aside to
portray the virtues and 'gallantry of those whose
lives have not exercised direct ruling influence
upon nations destiny.
In our Republic especially the biographer must
perform this unfinished labor and from his inves-
legations we may not only expect an acquaintance
with those whose names have in their day re-echo-
led throughout our wide territory, but we may ac-
quire knowledge Of many patriots whose lives
VIGIL uCSCTVc EcCOTO, Uut WuO ONcEWiSC WOulu
have continued, save in small circle, /" unwept,
unhonored, and unsung.'' We imbibe renewed
devotion to our country and its institutions from
these accounts Of the courage and selfsacri6cing
generosity of such men, who needed but more
enlarged sphere of action to have been entitled
heroes. We learn to love them, and to emulate
their.noble patriotism. Thus will they be appre-
cated, and their deeds be esteemed valued part
of our heritage from the past:
"And while the mere victor's may appal or stun
g The servile. and the vain, such names will be
GA watchword till the future shall be free."
The appearance Of new edition of the Life Of
WILLIAM WRIT, by JOHN p KENNEDY, affords us
opportunity to express the especial qualification
we have dervedfrom its repeated perusal. We
assuredly do not mean to include Mr..;WIRT in the
catalogue Of those unappreciated men whose merits,
to be fttingly known, require biographical exhh-
nation; but as only small part of his career was
given to public life, and as comparatively small
part Of the infuence he should exercise is due to
his POLITICAL or even his legal distncsion-great
both ,unquestonaby were--it is to be feared that
he was in some danger Of being crowded out Of
fresh remembrance by the throng, of popular aspi-
rants for public attention.
Though, we have appreciated the utility of this
biography to all who desire to preftby the lessons
Of the past and the wisdom of a teacher no longer
among u.s. we regard it as of particular importance
to that large class OF young men for whom WRIT
almost seems to have written, with prescience
that his experience would be invaluable. Indeed,
we esteem his Life, as evolved in these memoirs,
one of the greatest treasures to the spirited and
really ambitious youth of America of any work we
have read The most instructive, as well as the
most interesting portion of the volumes, are Mr..
WIRTs numerous letters to his friends, and chiefly
to his fdus .4chates, Judge CARR, of Virginia.
With what eagerness, if not with feelings Of graft
tude will the aspiring student read and read again
these portrayas of WIRTs fears of failure and his
self-distrust in those lonely hours, when, wearied
with prolonged study he falters and begins to doubt
his own fitness for success. AT such moments let
him turn to the encouraging experience of his ex-
emplar, who, suffering from similar diffidence,
.pours forth his own doubts and shrinking, in Ian
~guage as earnest as his emulator can command.
Then, rejecting on what WRIT achieved by resolv-
ed endeavor, let him resume his studies, remember
ling that he cannot doubt his success or his compe
ttency for il more than did at times the future At
torney General of the United States.
In these letters, apart from fund of instruction
which enrches them, there is fascination not equal
led by any collection emanating from an American
source. They treat in turn of subjects grave and
gay, and of all with polish of STYLE fertility of
illustration, and literary information which charm
the reader, and which would alone justify WIRTs
reputation as one OF the most agreeable and brilliant
7men. Of his day. From the age of reflection he
was conscious that he had misspent time, and had
mot sufficiently svailed himself Of his opportunities
And to us how slight they appear to have been
Ten years later, find his intellect more matnred,
but from his own avowai, his book learning small,
and ms futHre .ilLassured that an emigration ito
henucky, Georgla, or to any spot that promised.a
livelihood, seemed 10 open an encouraging prospect.
He came to the Bar IN Virginia, and soon we OBJ
serve difference in his letters. The clever hut
uniformed boy has grown into the thouptxful Young
lawyer, and his playful productions begin to eyh;.
bit the fruits Of iadefasisable study. Every letter
from that time onward, It is scarcely too much to
say. evinced an expansion Of mind and know.
ledge Of subjects which, though not Immediately
connected with his profession, showed tla, he
aspired to at least partial dominion over the entire
realm Of physical and moral science. IL he had
really cause TO lament any early idleness or dissi-
patton, the consciousness Of his weakness only
nerved him to more strenuous efforts to avail him
self Of his remaining youth; and he exhibited shin
ing proof of the truth Of Coleridges fine sen,i-
ment-
g The strongest plume in wisdoms pinon
is the memory Of past folly"
Friends are now living who could bear testimony
to the steady march of his professional and esthet
cal at,anments, as he advanced in years, until he