ADVERTISEMENT. AN association was formed during the last summer, by a few gentlemen, of whom some are now, and others have been, inhabitants of this city, for the purpose of composing a series of Miscellaneous Essays for the Richmond Enquirer. These Essays were regularly published every Saturday, during the months of August, September, and October. The first number appeared on the 11th of August, and the last on the 20th of October. These numbers, taken together in the order in which they were published, will constitute the first series of the Rainbow: and it is this first series which is now presented by the proprietors of the Enquirer to the amateurs of Literature, and to its patrons in Virginia. The second series will probably be communicated to the public in the present form, as soon as it shall be completed by the members of the association. RICHMOND, Dec. 6th, 1804. THE RAINBOW. NUMBER I. THE INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. It On the UTILITY of MISCELLANEOUS ESSAYS. No Literary Productions are more generally admired, or read with greater advantage and delight, than periodical and miscellaneous essays. Of this species of composition, the classical remains of antiquity do not furnish a single model, or solitary specimen. We shall not on this account, be disposed to entertain an humbler idea of its utility and dignity, when we retrace its origin and review its influence. Its descent, altho' not ancient, is sufficiently illustrious. is the legitimate offspring of the art that ennobles and immortalises every work of genius; preserves the lights of science from extinction, and the beauties of literature from decay,-of the art that promises to make truth triumphant, liberty universal, and society progressive-It claims its origin from the art of printing, and can only arrive at perfect maturity, produce its most wholesome fruits, and display all the luxuriance of its beauty, under the genial influence of a free press. Previous to the invention of the art of printing, there existed no means of bestowing on productions so fugitive and perishable, a form sufficiently permanent, or a circulation sufficiently diffusive. Until the press was unshackled from restraint, periodical essays could not become the vehicles of intercourse betwixt the enlightened and the ignorant, convey the maxims of moral and political truth, from the profound philosopher to the plodding ploughman, and transmit "the glowing sentiment and the lofty speculation" to minds of every grade and dimension. Nor have the effects of miscellaneous essays been less beneficial, than their origin was honorable. Their rapid multiplication, diversified enquiries, and extensive dispersion, have made the benefits and pleasures of reading and reflection, common as light and air. They have opened a secure and an casy access to the garden of literature, and invited the humblest of Adam's descendants to pluck the ripe, wholesome, unforbidden fruits "of the tree of knowledge." They have fashioned and subdivided the bullion of science, before "monopolized by a few opulent minds," into a species of literary currency, of which the demand is incessant, and the circulation universal. The composition of large and elaborate works on scientific subjects, requires a portion of genius and learning which is rarely attained by the sons of men. The profitable perusal even, of such works, presupposes an improvement of intellect and an extent of information, to which those who enjoy the advantages, of what is styled liberal education, rarely aspire. But, to compose with correctness and elegance, and peruse with advantage and delight, a short essay, on some instructive or amusing subject, demands only a moderate degree of ingenuity, curiosity and culture. Publications of this nature, are admirably adapted to improve and to amuse every description of readers, every class of society, every grade and variety of intellect. The indolent are allured by their brevity, the gay by their novelty and variety, the frivolous and superficial by the access they afford to some portion of rational entertainment and instruction, without persevering attention, or elaborate reccarch. Even the sordid drudge of avarice, and the infatuated debauchee, who regard with indifference and disgust the voluminous depositories of science and learning, will be induced to animate the occasional intervals of business or dissipation, by the perusal of a lively or instructive essay. During these intervals, when the cares of selfishness are forgotten, when the senses are sated with indulgence, the "mental monitor wakes," and awakens liberal curiosity and serious meditation. In this state of mind, the man of business and the man of pleasure, look for something, which whilst it agreeably exercises their mental faculties, may prove an opiate to the suggestions of "rancorous remembrance," and fill "the aching void" of apathy and inactiIn this situation the perusal of short literary and moral castys, seems to be happily calculated to enliven and amuse a listless, weary or wounded mind: they communicate va on. luable information, suggest admirable reflections, and without requiring much earnestness of attention, or, occasioning unusual vehemence of emotion, imperceptibly enlighten the understanding and mend the heart. Could we trace with accuracy and minuteness, and illustrate by biographical anecdotes, the influence of moral and literary essays on all the varieties of individual mind, the correctness of these observations might probably receive the amplest confirmation. But facts of this sort are rarely observed, recollected or recorded. Although essentially connected with social happiness and personal improvement, they are destitute of those attractions that awaken curiosity and captivate attention. The historian deems every event unworthy of commemoration, which has not occurred in the " gorgeous palace" or the "tented field." The biographer, attracted by the vicissitudes of fortune, or the adventures of enterprise and genius, rarely possesses inclination or ability, to enrich his narrative by an analysis of the circumstances, that secretly fashion the character of the hero of his tale. Hence probably arises the difficulty of illustrating by particular instances and striking facts, the practical utility of periodical essays not because such facts and instances do not exist, but because like the subtle agency of elastic fluids, they become observable only in their remote and combined effects, and in their primitive simplicity and secrecy, elude alike the indolence of the vulgar and the pride of the curious enquirer. But although we may explore in vain the volumes of history and biography for details of this sort, yet I will venture to refer with confidence to a more authentic and accessible, though less dignified source of information, the personal experience of my readers. Let any of my readers, how scanty soever his opportunities for intellectual improvement may have been, recollect the books which originally awakened his sensibility to the beauties of literature, and accustomed his mind to rational speculation on the affairs of life, the character of man, the history, structure and prospects of society. He will probably find, that he was indebted for these inestimable benefits and refined pleasures, to the labours of the miscellaneous essayist. When I retrace the progress of my own mind (and on this subject I shall not probably expose myself to the charge of improper egotism, by referring to my own ex perience) I can truly say, that to the perusal of literary and moral essays, I was indebted for my most valuable juvenile acquisitions and enjoyments. They kept alive the flame of curiosity and the love of knowledge, which the jargon, rote, and discipline of an injudicious course of scholastic educa tion had a direct tendency to extinguish. My mind, accustomed to miscellaneous enquiries and logical analysis, gradually acquired sufficient vigour and penetration to comprehend those more profound and methodical disquisitions of philosophy, which without these preliminary attainments, I should neither have possessed ability to analyse, nor courage to explore. For it ought to be clearly perceived, by every patriot, and if possible by every parent in Virginia, that unless the youthful mind is stored with elementary ideas, and exercised by miscellaneous enquiries, the truth deposited in the volumes of philosophy, will be inaccessible and useless "as the unsunned silver of the mine," and even the flowers that bloom in the garden of literature will "waste their sweetness in the desert air." There is probably no person who speaks the English language, however humble his capacity, or however narrow the range of his ideas, who has not imbibed some notion of literary and moral refinement from the essays of Addison, Johnson, Hawkesworth and Mackenzie. As well might it be believed, that the solar rays and genial dews, could penetrate the bosom of the earth without fertilizing the soil, as that the extensive circulation of such works as the Spectator, Rambler, Adventurer and Mirror should fail to improve and refine the general mind. Some are disposed to undervalue miscellaneous essays, on account of the light, cursory and superficial ideas which they necessarily convey. They have a tendency, it has been urged, to breed smatterers, pedants and sciolists, and to enable ignorant pretenders to usurp the stations, and assume the privileges which are due only to those who have attained solid and extensive information. objection is probably altogether fallacious, What is urged as a disadvantage, is in truth one of the principal recommen dations of miscellaneous essays. The mass of the people cannot be profound: peasants and mechanics cannot become philosophers, critics and scholars.* But altho' the un This *The writer of this Effay, performs what he feels to be in the most emphatic fenfe of the term, a focial duty, when on this subject he recommends to |