STAFFORD TO MOLTON.
I thank you, my excellent friend, for your kind letter,
of the —, and I hasten to reply to it, as briefly as
possible. The vessesel is just about to sail, I find; and
I must send you one word of acknowledgment, and
thankfulness by her—though it be but one word; and answer
you, when I have a little better opportunity. I
should have written to you, many times before, but I have
been expecting to see you; and, until I received this letler,
I knew not where to address a line.
You have gone, with your usual boldness, into the
character of Byron, and the Unknown; but, I cannot
agree with you, throughout; nor, would you wish me to.
I know your temper too well, to believe that. I think
your manner too, is too dictator-like; too arrogant and
unqualified. But, I am anxious to hear more from you,
on the subject; and, particularly, upon the character of
your countrymen, and your great men, if you have any;
for, I have a serious design to pay you a visit, in the
spring. Who are your writers?—what are they?—You
have not mentioned all. In this country, we only
know a
few of them—such as the writers of the
Federalist—some
of your Reviewers—and Mr. Trumbull, the
poet. Have you any dramatists? architects? sculptors?
musicians? poets? novelists? historians? orators? statesmen?
tragedians? painters?—Let me know something
more about them; and don't forget to give me some general
notion of the state of society, politicks, religion—O,
I beg you to be particular, respecting that part—for, I
begin to attach myself, with emphasis, to theology.—
The Editor of that paper there—the Galaxy—seems to
be a hardy sort of a fellow—but why does he abuse my
stray countryman so bitterly?
Who is Mr Pinkney? What is he? A great man, or
not? I saw him, once, at St. James's—but I never liked
him; and, when I read his official correspondence with
our cabinet, there was such an air of laboured nothingness;
something, so excessively polite, and round-about,
that I began to think humbly, indeed, of him. There is
a Mr. Wirt, too; haven't you some such a name? Wirt,
or Wart? Let me know something about him. They
are Lawyers, I believe---are they not? By the way, is
it possible, that a Lawyer can be an honest man? Is it
not the most abject and humiliating profession, where
the highest prerogatives of man, are set up for sale, to the
highest bidder? Nay, that reminds me of a remark of
yours; and, if I mistake not, about this very Mr. Pinkney;
yes, it was---I am sure of it. You said, that, you could
determine, at any time, the amount of the fee, which he
had received, by the quantity of sound that he emitted;--
that a scale might be graduated, upon which, without
knowing one word of the subject, you would be able to
tell, exactly, what quantity of calorick he would give
out, on any particular question. Was it he? I am curious
to know.
Ah, there is another thing. You are always boasting
—I mean you Americans, about the freedom of your
government! Is it any such wonderful discovery? I
think not. Aristotle, you know, has shown, in his political
writings, that he was familiar with all the doctrines
of representation; and many cities of Greece practised
the same. Make me understand it. And, above all,
that must not be forgotten. You used to speak in a way
that troubled and distressed me, respecting religion, the
errand of our Saviour, and his miracles. If you have
changed your opinion—as I hope and pray that you have,
let me know. I shall love you, a thousand times better
for it. But, if you have not, let me beg of you to be silent.
Pass the matter over;—let us not discuss it.
