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important knowledge, upon the acquirement of which, exery hope of usefulness and eminence in the medical cas reer, for which he evinced an early predeliction, must necessarily rest. 14

"My kind neighbor, said Melmoth to me, on the melancholy occasion above mentioned, I have earnestly wished for this interview: it had been my ardent prayer, my fond hope, that Heaven should so far prolong my existence, as to allow me to see my children assume their stations in society, as respectable and useful members of it. That happiness is denied me-my dissolution approaches, and -here I interrupted him, and began to express better hopes" it is in vain, resumed my friend, it is in vain-Thou Lovetruth, surely wouldst not deceive me aid me rather to meet the fatal blow as becomes a man and a christian. Thus much I request for myself; for my children, I have more to ask ;"-Assurances of undeviating compliance with the solemn dictates of such a friend, broke from my lips. He continued-" Thou knowest how reluctantly I parted with my Edward, but tell me, Lovetruth, could I chain down my noble boy to an inglorious obscurity? Could I doom him to intellectual barrenness and insignificance Where, in his native state, could his ardent thirst after natural knowledge have been gratified?..Where are our anatomists, our botanists, our chemists, &c. . In population, in wealth, in physical resources of every description, Virginia has rapidly progressed-but her moral course seems to be retrograde. The assertion is neither uncandid nor harsh; it is not es ven my own: I only reverberate a cry which resounds on all sides. Degeneracy, political, forensic, scientific, is every where a subject of lamentation. Under such circumstances, I suffered my Edward to go. Yet, I feared for his innocence, for his virtues, for his patriotism, as well as for his personal safety. At his age, habits of thinking, and modes of action, are not yet confirmed. Much is to be apprehended from impressions hostile to republicanism and to morals. I am happy to find, however, that his political principles remain unshaken, and his heart pure. His last letter, whilst it evinces his enthusiastic and rapturous admiration of the intellectual blaze which has suddenly burst upon his mind, contains likewise expressions of regret at being far from us and from his native country; too forcible, too affecting not to be sincere. Alas! the beloved boy little thinks of the cruel blow which now threatens him in the person of his father!" Here Melmoth was overpowered by his sensibility.

Tears bedewed his venerable cheeks.-Unable to pro

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eeed, he pointed to a letter on his bureau. I took it up, and read as follows::

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My last apprized, thee, beloved father, of my arrival at Paris. I was, when I wrote it, nearly in the situation of one roused, at mid day, from prolonged slumbers. The soft, progressive tints of morn had not prepared me for meridian corruscation.-I could only wonder and admire. Such an immense mass of research and discovery! Such a lofty and glorious fabric of genius, improvement and science! As I contemplated the brilliant scene, mine was the fond, impassioned gaze of the rapturous lover. The domain of thought, the regions of intellect, appeared to me aggrandized, as if by magic; my breast swelled with inward pride and exultation at this majestic display of the dignity of our species. Then it was that I fully perceived how and why man constitutes the first link in the chain of sublunary existences. Had I ever been inclined to doubt that his soul is a ray of immortal and divine light, surely, what I then saw, before me, must have warmed me into the consoling belief; for, thou hast taught me, my venera, ted parent, to admit proofs from sentiment as well as from reasoning.

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"To those fervid and enthusiastic emotions, has succeeded a plan of studies, in which I shall steadily persevere, The four years which I am to spend in Europe, shall not, 1 trust, be lost to myself, to my country, to humanity.

"Chemistry, compared anatomy, and, drawing, "that art subservient to almost every department of physical science," employ a considerable share of my time. Botany shares with them my attention. Among the almost countless plants here présented to the student's view, I have recognised several natives of Virginia. I have hailed them as old friends; they have awakened in my mind a pleas sant train of associations. Yet, I must confess it, I have not met them here without a secret sentiment of shame, This originated in the painful reflection that, had I never left my native state, I should have remained ignorant, not only of their stations in the vegetable empire, their properties, and their, virtues, but even of their names. Whether the blush ought to have crimsoned my cheek alone, or might justly have been transferred to that of our countrymen, whose apathy and mistaken views leave the rising generation in the most deplorable want of literary and scientific assistances, thou, my dearest parent, can'st best determine. Thy patriotism never yet warped thy judgment, and the candor of thy honest heart.

"Delighted as I am with my present extensive opportanities of acquiring every element of future professional

usefulness and eminence, I continue deeply to regret, my honored father, the cruel necessity that has torn me from thy bosom, and from endearing scènes of innocence, joy and bliss. Ah! where are now the sweets of home, the smiles of kindred, the sympathy of friendship, the simple, unreserved effusions of congenial hearts? Where the cheerful welcome of patriarchal hospitality? Where, in fine, all the domestic and social blessings, which peace, civil liberty, and primeval purity of manners bestow? Did not the ardent glow of emulation animate my breast; were not the primary wish of my heart to be truly great, because truly useful; did not science illumine and embellish the path which I tread; I should sink into that gloom and despondency, which has justly been termed maladie du pays. The national ranz des vaches of the Swiss has scarcely more influence upon the feeling natives of the Alps, than upon me the mére recollection of all I have left in Virginia. Ah! dearest Parent, fear nothing for those principles which thou deemest more valuable even than scientific treasures. The government of this country is calculated to dazzle, not to attach. To thee I shall return confirmed in republican principles, and possessed, I trust, of every claim to thy affection, and to the esteem of my country.

"Adieu, beloved Father; assure the Boys and Emily of my undiminished brotherly affection; and remember me to our neighbors at Cara-Selva.

"EDWARD MELMOTH.”

The sequel of this interesting and instructive conversation will form the body of a future number.

Theodore Hopewell is thankfully received, and shall have the early attention of The Old Bachelor.

Number XII.

In causaque valet, causamque tuentibus armis.

Ut puto, vincemur.

Ovid Metam. Lib. VIII. V. 59.

In such a cause, such arms must, sure, prevail.

I now give to the reader, as I promised, the sequel of my friend Lovetruth's interesting conversation with his dying friend and neighbor, Melmoth. Whether the particular plan of education, whose outline, merely, has been sketched or rather hinted in the remarks of Melmoth, be the best that can be suggested, it is impossible for us to decide without knowing something more of its detail. If our friend, Lovetruth, shall favor us with a view of Melmoth's papers, we may be enabled to form some conclusion on his project, or to suggest others for the consideration of the public, which may not be without their use. At present, however, the most important function wihch The Old Bachelor proposes to himself, is to endeavor to awaken the taste of the body of the people for literary attainments; to make them sensible of the fallen state of intellect in our country; compared with the age even of the revolutionary war; to excite the emulation of the rising race, and see whether a groupe of statesmen, scholars, orators, and patriots, as enlightened and illustrious as their fathers, cannot be produced without the aid of such another bloody and fatal stimulant. To put up the spirit of the nation to this point, is the first great object; indeed, it is the only object; the project of a seminary and all the rest will follow of themselves. And to that object, I know nothing more conducive than such letters as my friend Lovetruth is capable of furnishing; the pure and simple effusions of virtuous feeling adorned by genius. In such a cause such arms must sure prevail. If he shall find his friend Melmoth's papers calculated to promote this purpose, (as the subjects of some of them seem to indicate,) The Old Bachelor will be grateful for the assistance, and will be happy in being intrumental in ushering them into light.

The Old Bachelor begs the attention of the reader to this conversation between Lovetruth and Melmoth. There is scarcely a period on which he may not pause and meditate to advantage. Such reflections cannot be too often thrown into circulation-They will lead the people to

think, to talk, and to act. I say, the people; because if this subject shall ever take a spring, I believe the impulse

must come from them.

SEQUEL OF MY FRIEND LOVE TRUTH'S COMMUNICA TION.

The perusal of this letter added to the sympathy which already glowed in my breast. "Melmoth, said I, whether thy gloomy forebodings be, alas! too well grounded; whether thou mayest still live to see thy Edward in the maturity of manly perfection, in the dignity of active worth, and social usefulness, I lament, profoundly lament, with him, and with thee, the shameful, the wretched destitution to which our youth is surrendered; a destitution which either neutralizes and annihilates every principle of native mental energy, or tears our sons from our fond bosoms, and from the lap of their country, to send them where, they find, it is true, rich and vigorous shoots of science, but where rank weeds of political error spring up in their path, with equal luxuriancy!" Melmoth was now less agitated; his countenance bespoke, not the absence of feeling, but manly fortitude, and christian resignation. "Lovetruth, (replied he, in a deeply impressive tone,) as a citizen, as a father, I have always deemed this a pre-eminently important subject ; even now its magnitude presses on my mind with increased force. My eyes view, perhaps for the last time, this map of Virginia; here is a state that was foremost in our glorious revolutionary contest; a state, that has produced men whose very names are sufficient to infuse into us a generous pride, and dignified views; a state, swarming with a numerous youth, whose genius is in most cases, naturally strong, inquisitive, and bent upon improvement; a state, whose gigantic advances in population; industry, commerce, and wealth, have led the philanthropist, and the patriot to expect, at least, sonte incipient exertion in favor of literature and science. Yet, what has been done for either? We call our children the blossoms, the hope of the republic; yet what fostering care is displayed by us, as a nation, to mature those blossoms into fruit, and to realize that hope? Our apathy, with respect to them, is truly deplorable, it is mean, it is pitiful; it is treason against common sense, against humanity, against patriotism. An English monarch founded our only university; the munificence of the illustrious Washington has liberally endowed another institution; but I am considerably mistaken, or we cannot boast of having erected, on the basis, of national patron

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