The Letters of the British Spy"An anonymous collection of travel notices written by Virginian William Wirt. Wirt (1772-1834) was a lawyer who served as Attorney General of the United States and ran for President on the Anti-Masonic ticket. He also possessed literary aspirations, and he authored several works, including a monumental biography of Patrick Henry. “Enamored with the vibrant, intellectual culture of Jeffersonian Virginia, Wirt continued to hone his skills both for the legal and literary arenas. Wirt longed to be not only a lawyer of great repute but also to be known as a scholar and a gentleman. In September 1803 Wirt began to publish, in the Richmond Argus, a series of gossipy biographical sketches under the pen name ‘The British Spy’” -- ANB online. The end result was the present work, supposed to be the observations of a British traveler upon Virginian society"--From McBride Rare Books website, viewed November 1, 2023. |
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Adieu alluvion America appearance argument Atlantic Atlantic ocean audi beautiful believe Blue Ridge British Spy Briton Buffon cause censure certainly character clear continent coun curious dear deism Demosthenes doubt earth east eastern coast effect elegant elevation eloquence emersion eyes fancy fluid force furnished genius gentleman give hearers heart heaven honour human Indians Inquirer intirely intitled James river ject judgment lava letters light literary look lord Verulam manner ment miles mind motion mountains native nature never ocean once opinion orator Pacific Ocean passion perhaps perpetual person PHILIP MOORE philosophers Pliny the younger political present principles probability produced proprietors reason remarks Richmond river shore solid soul South America speaker spirit style sublime superior suppose surface talents taste ther thing thought tides tion town truth United Virginia voice western whole Williamsburg wonder writer Zoilus
Popular passages
Page 117 - The effect is inconceivable. The whole house resounded with the mingled groans, and sobs, and shrieks, of the congregation. It was some time before the tumult had subsided so far as to permit him to proceed. Indeed, judging by the usual, but fallacious standard of my own weakness, I began to be very uneasy for the situation of the preacher. For I could not conceive how he would be able to let his audience down from the height to which he had wound them, without impairing the solemnity and dignity...
Page 117 - It was some time before the tumult had subsided so far as to permit him to proceed. Indeed, judging by the usual, but fallacious standard of my own weakness, I began to be very uneasy for the situation of the preacher. For I could not conceive how he would be able to let his audience down from the height to which he had wound them, without impairing the solemnity and dignity of his subject, or perhaps shocking them by the abruptness of the fall.
Page 115 - I was struck with his preternatural appearance ; he was a tall and very spare old man ; his head, which was covered with a white linen cap, his shrivelled hands, and his voice, were all shaking under the influence of a palsy ; and a few moments ascertained to me that he was perfectly blind. " The first emotions which touched my breast, were those of mingled pity and veneration. But ah ! how soon were all my feelings changed ! The lips of Plato were never more worthy of a prognostic...
Page 1 - In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, " An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the. Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned...
Page 120 - The blood, which just before had rushed in a hurricane upon my brain, and, in the violence and agony of my feelings, had held my whole system in suspense, now ran back into my heart with a sensation which I cannot describe — a kind of shuddering delicious horror ! The paroxysm of blended pity and indignation to which I had been transported, subsided into the deepest self-abasement, humility, and adoration. I had just been lacerated and dissolved by sympathy for our Saviour as a fellowcreature ;...
Page 116 - His peculiar phrases had such force of description, that the original scene appeared to be at that moment acting before our eyes. We saw the very faces of the Jews; the staring, frightful distortions of malice and rage. We saw the buffet : my soul kindled with a flame of indignation ; and my hands were involuntarily and convulsively clinched.
Page 128 - grew speedily to an excess ; for men began to hunt more after words than matter ; and more after the choiceness of the phrase, and the round and clear composition of the sentence, and the sweet falling of the clauses, and the varying and illustration of their works with tropes and figures, than after the weight of matter, worth of subject, soundness of argument, life of invention, or depth of judgment.
Page 121 - On a rock, whose haughty brow Frowns o'er old Conway's foaming flood, Robed in the sable garb of woe, With haggard eyes the poet stood ; (Loose his beard and hoary hair, Stream'd like a meteor to the troubled air,) And with a master's hand and prophet's fire Struck the deep sorrows of his lyre...
Page 116 - He then drew a picture of the sufferings of our Saviour; his trial before Pilate; his ascent up Calvary; his crucifixion, and his death. I knew the whole history; but never, until then, had I heard the circumstances so selected, so arranged, so colored! It was all new: and I seemed to have heard it for the first time in my life.
Page 73 - Ignorance is preferable to error ; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.