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THE REFLECTOR. L. I. MILLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1618. LITERARY! tters from the south. lemon or juhx 6vll and rkothir Jonathan. originality of thought—the brilliant ccnco of genius, flowing and happy ion, but above all the correct, liberal, uly national opinions of this writer, ained upon our affections and deserve He has talents fitted to vindicate eraiw faineofour country, and reading extensively than usually belongs to who rely upon the powers of a fertile nation in works of litis nature, te can bring the exuberance of his fancy strict control—if lie can prosecute his <r researches of study and enquiry with me happy success as he manifests in 'sition, we may regard him as the fu- pridc of our literature, a support to me. fixing his attention upon domestic in- h, lie has wisely chosen the most pro phcrc of his utility, and by directing 'guuicut to matters that come home to man’s bosom and business, lie is the likely to be attended to. Blending in- ion with amusement, is to dignify the of letters, and to confer upon it list value, deprived of which, wit has harms and eloqucnco is unmoving,— I ct jucunda ct idonca dicere vita;, orate, in more than one place, has a- ded the summit of his praise to those mingle the utile with the dulce, and us es to himself more than common merit encouraging at his parties conversation a rational kind, instead of gossip aboui ghbors and neighbors’ concerns—matters, observes,thnt do not properly belong to us. *he author has much merit for his clas- al allusions, which will always find ad- rers. Wc would recommend ancient litc- ure to his frequent recurrence, as the ndatioU of a just taste, rather than per- xing himself about the opinion of modem tics or ephemeral prototypes, equally nn- erving his notice. Addressing himself an American public, lie lias no need of a eign copy, without which Ire lias ability ugh to be independent and respectable satisfactory to observe, that all the pro- -tions of this writer breathe the same ge ne spirit, and wo recognise in this, the ic character that heretofore marked him a pure unadiiltcrcd native genius. It is norablo to the public that they have pass- a favorable judgment upon them. Indeed works of the day appeal ntOro directly the best feelings we possess. For our pari, could give the best excuse imaginable, if dined to depart from the confines of truth rthe purpose of overpraising any Work, c mean, an entire coincidence of opinion, ith flic author upon many of the subjects lias considered in the course of his pere- inations. His decided patriotism, his pow- 'ui national sentiment, and thorough ron- mpt for little local prejudices—the high mantic opinion of his country that pre- ils throughout, must gain the approbation all good citizens, and wifi probably make, any friends in every state where his letters all reach. The following will justify praise from cve- rcadcr: * 1 have takefi up an odd notion, that the coptc of the United States constitute one rcat nation ; that whether a man be born ast, west, north, or south* provided c is born within the limits rtf our country, c his still an American. ‘ It is much to he wished that the people of e various divisions of the United States ere a little more acquainted with each oth- r, for, I am satisfied, they would like one hothcr the better for it. At present, like tenants of one of those amazing high ouses in Edinburgh, that accommodate se- eral families, though living, as it were, un- er the same roof, they have scarcely a peaking acquaintance. The impressions, hicli they long since took up on trust, with spect to each other, from ignorant or slo- -tclling travellers, interested in deceiving sporting with their credulity ; the stories f horscracing, drinking and gouging, on ne hand, and of tricking and witch-burning n the other; that have passed current for a chtury or more* are still received as pic- ure8 of existing manners, though, even at ny time, they were of rare occurrence, and cry many of these practices arc altogether xtinct. The changes which succeed each ther, in this camelioh country, more rapidly han in any other part of the world, have, t would seem, passed unmarked and unre- orded, while the good people still continue believe and tremble. The impressions of lie natives herii with respect to those of the astward, are still tinctured with the remem- erancc of witch-burnings ; and not a pious ame in our northern parts, that would not ompound fur her son coming bark with one ycleft, from an excursion into the back parts of the southern states. 1 Such foolish prejudices arc worthy of ho nest John Bull, who, from time immemorial has believed that bis neighbors, the French, Oat frogs, and are destitute of religion, ns well as of every manly and womanly virtue. But our people, who all read, and write* and think* and reason—some right—others wrortg, ought to be ashamed of themselves, to believe so badly of their friends and neigh bors. It is a foolish absurdity, even the pro duct Of national folly, or national antipa thy, to assert, that cotemporary and neigh boring people, having the same lights of re ligion, living under similar laws, and en joying, equally, the advantages of education, should he so essentially different in morals. They may (litter, it is true, in manners ; but there is no pliilosoliical reason for tliejr ex hibiting a contrast of m ,rals, or that one should be so much wiser or better than the o- ther. I believe, if we place them fairly in comparison, with no interest to allure us a- strav, and no antipathies t» tempt us from the truth, we shall find that an inf riority in one point will ho met by a superiority iii another ; that, though they may diUor in various respects, there is no general dispa rity ; and that, on the whole* the scale re mains equally balanced,’ Wlien .vo examine an American literary production, the first thing wetrtok to is, whether the author hits adopted an English fashionable model or not: if lie has, we then hasten to find whether lie has drawn his cha racters, views and opinions from the sanr source ; and we confess that our good opin ion of him is not improved if we discover that lie has. Our best efforts in the literary walk are due to our own country, and w consider it a breach of duty to tiic republic of letters in' America, to assist by servile conformity, the taste of every thing foreign in literature, now prevailing. The most ap parent consequence of such a taste, is a state of colonization of intellect, and the critical opinions of the once mother country, are hv some, deemed binding upon us in all cases wnatsocycr. It exposes us to misrepresen tation, and is taken abroad as an undeniable proof that we Want both talents and patriot- — though at file same time, if we deny the tact, it would puzzle almost any one of us to give a good reason, why two foreign reviews are always called upon to govern us ■ a matters of a literary nature. The notice of new publications in our great cities, con tains uniform opinions of every work, ex tracted lrom tiie Edinburgh or Quarterly Review. It may be said ni defence of this* that it is exceedingly convenient, and saves the Americans the trouble of thinking, and thatweougut to he nr.ich obliged to Mr. Gilford or any oody else, that would take so disagreeable and perplexing a matter off our lianils. To bojust, we seem to admit that ilie tiling is reasonable enough, for whenever Mr. Gilford sends us a certificate that a book is to be read with safety, we give our perus al perfectly satisfied ; and it is not a little amusing to hear how exactly in unision the public expression and the English and Scotch reviewers are, with regard to matters of a critical nature. An awkward state of feel ing sometimes may arise, however, as in the instance of a work, such as the one now be fore us. The Edinburgh lately has looked pleasantly enough* on American productions; Out the Quarterly—i-wo to the author who presumes to think as lie pleases on the sub ject of England, or who defies by name the Quarterly Review, and speaks disrespect fully of English button makers, and Cossark pantaloons. The offence cannot be forgiven —and wo have no doubt but that the review- wlicn ho comes to notice these letters, will compare the temerity of the author provoking the attack, to that of the ingeni ous Irish gentleman who undertook to stop the explosion of a cannon with his wig. \t 1 received a letter from you, da ted almost a montli ago, which I must answer forthwith; In the first place you accuse me if hostility to English people add English literature, because I belivc, I hope with be coming feeling, of the unceasing attcmpls of a great number of British writers, to injure the reputation of oar countrymen and gov ernment in the eyes Of the world. I dis claim the imputation of any other but defen sive hostility; at the same time* I assure you, I am neither ashamed of feeling indig nant at their calumnies, nor afraid of express ing my indignation. Whether abuse of the peoplo of this country, its manners, morals, and literature, Is a popular subject or not; or whether it assure;* to the calumniator the patronage of government, I am not able to say; but certain it is, that there is hardly a newspaper or political pamphlet, published in that country* favorable to the ministerial side, that docs not in some part of it contain a repetition of splcntic effusions against us. If the Rreviewers get hold of an American publication, it is made use of merely as pretext to calumniate us in some way or other ; and one of the most celebrated of the Reviews seems to have been established for hardly any other purpose, than to libel Amc- • Sc£ tlie review of Frankin'* private cerrespoinlcncf in the Edinburgh Kevicw. rica and France. It is called the Quarterly Review, and being rather an obscure* con temptible kind Of Billingsgate production, would hardly merit attention, were it not for its propensity to general and indiscriminate abuse of tiny body the ministers dislike.-^ in times less enlightened than the present, political satire and abuse were generally con fined to newspapers and pamphlets, and tin- title of the article corresponded with the sub-- jert. It is the peculiar boast of this age, that criticism should have been enlisted into the service of party, and that a critic can, now snugly vent his spleen Upon a whole peo ple, or party, in reviewing a hook* which has nothing to do with the subject. What is perhaps still more extraordinary, many of the most enlightened people of this coun try, do actually pay attention to the judg ment of these impartial critics, and not tm- frcquently make up their minds, as to the merits of a book, on the decision of these competent judges. Don’t mistake me, in- supposing that I mean to say, their deci sions arc never founded on the real merits of a book; I will do tltein the justice to say, that if they have no particular antipathy to an author—if the subject of his work does not in the remotest degree affect the ministry, ir go to advocate the abolition of tlie office' if inspector-general of pipes—if, in short, the work has nothing to do with the favorite ipiuionsof the Reviewers—it is just as like-, ly as not, that he will give a tolerable judg ment ; provided lie don’t forget the book al together* in tlie pleasure of bearing himself abuse tlie Americans. ‘ Great. Britain, as well as the more en lightened portion of this country* is now rent and divided into two great factions, mar shalled under the banners of the two great Reviewers, one carrying tho sway over Scotland, the otlirr over England and Wales —the first soinc/imes mistaken, but willing to retract; vide, lord Byron ; the latter al ways trnacious in opinion* especially when lie is in file wrortg, and only fo be deterred from the repetition of old calumnies, by the refreshing temptation of new ones. ‘ This gentleman was once a cabin-boy in i Newcastle collier ; and I should disdain l<: mention this to his disparagement, had not he deserted his cast, and become an enemy snd calumniator of the very class of people from whence he derived his birth, ever since he became siiperiutcrtdantof pipes, and wrote squire to his name. There was lately in A——■ a sea captain under whom the Re viewer served his apprenticeship, who told vcrhl amusing anecdotes >.f this little fel low* Among other matters Iro mentioned his pertinacity, in sticking to a calumny, when once lie had given it utterance, and the in vincible obstinacy with which he resisted the application of a rope’s end, which was gen erally employed to get tho truth out of him. l'lic honest captain moreover averred, that he was the ugliest, snarling, captious, trou blesome little cabin boy ho ever had in his ship ; and that his ungovernable hostility to the Americans, arose from his having once been terribly Hogged by a Yankee sailor at Wapping. • To award that justice he has fiever warded us, I will do him tlie credit to say, that amid ail tho disadvantages of His sit uation. he managed to cultivate learning, insomuch that he at length gained (lie notice of some munificent gentleman who sent him to tlie university, where he excited attention, not so much for being a great scholar* as be ing a great scholar considering lie was bro’t up a cabin boy. ‘’Among those who were smitten with dnli do r at such a phenomenon, was carl Gros- venor, a nobleman who, being immensely rich* had little occasion for any extraordina ry portion of understanding. It struck his lordly capacity, that it was a most wonder, ful thing for a man, who was neither a lord nor a gentleman born, to have either com mon sense or common feeling. So he took him under his protection* brought him into notice,fjjnd'continued his patron to the end of his life. The moment he got artfong lords, he began to assume all tlie airs of a mail of high aristocratic birth, tacked esquire to his name, and on all occasions expressed his ut ter contempt for democrats and common peo ple. This is ever the case with men of low and grovelling minds, who ar«5 continually reminding us of their former insignificance, by thoir ill-bred arrogance when fortune smiles. He Wrote a poem, now gone down to oblivion ; one of those productions which acquire celebrity, not from their own merits, but the demerits of those they aro aimed nt. It gave the finishing blow to the miserable Della Cruscans however, and the embryo Reviewer strutted about in triumph, like > a little school boy, when he has made the frogs duck their heads and bo quiet, by throwing a pebble in a pond; or more appropriately like Don Quixote when he had utterly dis- comfitted the wood clad host of Trapoban About this time lie made a furious attack on the French revolution, while presiding over part of “moonshine.” to Mr. Canning, tho sun, by whose reflected light lie shone. Tho next time lie came before the public, was as the translator of Juvenal. Iu order to make room for this, he began by finding fault with all preceding translatorsj being, I suppose, resolved to raise his own work by bringing others below its level. The harsh and over.* wcaning arrogance of this preface, was wor thy the editor of the Quarterly Review, which, if I mistake not, praised it, either from a fellow feeling arising from similarity of character* or because the translator of Juvenal was at that time editor of the Re view. The world hits probably forgo I ten these circumstances ; for it is a peculiarity of this writer* that whatever he docs, after having provoked a temporary indignation or contempt, sinks quietly into oblivion, or is only brought into notjee by. some more hein ous misdemeanor. He resembles a convict* whose petty rogueries are only brought to light by more serious offences, which at last bring him to the halter, where they all come out in iiis last dying speech. \ Since this fortunate, or rather unforta- natc gentleman, lias become the high p; '-R • if public opinion in England* the insp.-, >r general of tobacco pipes, he has attra . d the attention of the peoplo of this con at , pretty much in the same way. His • » would probably never have been hen \ this wide western hemisphere, and cei . . y never would have been honored by tin - :- tempt of a great majority of the Ameer, who have chanced to hear of him* had h . -. t, as it were forced himsClf into ournoa-e. [mo a little irritable cur, by following us ro.iml, barking and biting our heels, until w .-,<re tempted to tern und kick the puppy, f >r *s obtrusive impertinence and persevering id nature. Every thing written by this dough ty esquire is marked by the charactcristi s of his early vulgar associations ; his reprehen sions are vulgar abuse ; bis wit is of the terns forecastle smack ; his satire, is calumny : bis humor of the genuine coal heaver stamp, ’.nil his criticism partakes of that coarse ha.di- ness, which almost always distinguishes a low man, raised by fortune rather than . it- fit, to a height he neither sustains In his dignity nor adorns by his modest worth.’ Sonic of the author’s portraits remind r(s of Steele's Papers in the Spectator. They lisplay similar capacity of discrimination, and a talent for portraying character more chaste than is common amongst us. “ Tho city of Richmond deserves to have a song written about it, as well as Rirli- moud-lull, where lived a lass, in England ; and were I a poet, it should not lie without it twenty‘•four hours. It is beautifully situ ated, just on the line of division betwren tin region of sca-smnd, and of river alluvions, and at the foot of James River rapids* A* hove, the river foams and roars among tim rocks ; below, it winds gently and qui* !iy through a sweet landscape of meadows, and golden harvest fields. It was once, and un til lately, inhabited principally by a race, of most ancient and respectable planters, hav ing estates in the country, who chose it fop their residence for the sake of social cn, y- ment. They formed a society, which, I ant sorry to say* is now seldom to be met with in any of our cities: I mean a society of people* not exclusively monopolized by mo ney-making pursuits, but of liberal educa tion, liberal habits of thinking and acting, und possessing botii leisure and inclination to cultivate those feelings, and pursue those objects, which exalt our nature, rather than incl'ease our fortune. I am however one of those who, like honest Candidc, think all things happen for the best, and that this is the best of all possible worlds. 1 therefore don’t actually quarrel with the money-get ting spirit that pervades all our great cities, to the utter exclusion of the encouragement of literature, except so far as it is necessary to pen an advertisement. It makes men rich, if not liberal and enlightened : and in places where wealth is synonymous with virtue and intellect* it m?.y, for aught I know, answer in lieu or both. I shall never forget how the good alderman, your father, dropt his knife and fork, one. day, when I asserted at his table, that , the great merchant, who was actually president of a bank, and had the credit of being worth millions, was, in feeling, intellect and action, no better than a pedlar. The alderman looked at me as if I liad abused general Washington or the Bi ble ; and I have never sat at the good man’s tabic since. But without exactly quarrel ling with that sordid disposition, or that os tentatious, yet vulgar profusion, which iu general actuates the people of our great cit ies, to the exclusion of every nobler pursuit, and all rational economy ; still I may ven ture to lament its universality. In days of yore, I’lutus, although he shone in gold and precious stones, hid himself in the bowels of the earth ; but now' he is seen clothed in rag ged bank-notes, taking precedence every where in the city drawing-rooms. There is now no place where a knot of harmless pco- : he Autijncobin Review, where lie played the 1 pie of moderate fortune can sit down in tho