Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1
Once more I set down to write you, and this once will be the last. The Scene will be soon changed, & a long, blank Cessation yawn in the Correspondence of your Friend. I am now diverging from the mild pacifick "Equator" & hoisting sail not only to cross the Atlantick, but the rough boisterous Ocean of Life. Would to God that the Storms & Tempests of the former, may be less frequent than the Froths & Bubbles of the latter. That while Passion blows a fair, but gentle Gale, Reason may sit Regent at Helm & Steer that Course, wch. Shall finally lead me to the Safe Haven of a calm Conscience & Serenity of mind.
Grieve not at the Departure of your Friend, but regard him rather as the Sober Cynthia, only waneing in hopes ere long to return with fuller Splendor & Merit is not to be purchased by a dull, inactive Lethargy, Or a just Knowledge of Life, by a constant Round of Desires & Enjoyments. But happy He, who like Apelles drawing his Venus, picks a Beauty here & there, & by an extensive steady Observation of Men & Books, Himself & the World, moulds into such an Image as pleases without Envy, & charms without Reluctance.
Heaven with kind Indulgence has opened a thousand Avenues to Science, And the Muses sport with Freedom thro' the boundless Scenes of Nature. Why then should Ambition let the drowzy Faculties of the Soul sleep, & not spread the Wings of Fancy, to exhaust Wisdom from every Mine of the Universe, & inhale Ambrosia from the various Gardens of345the World. Shall America's too partial Bounds confine the pure, balsamic Airs of Parnassus? & She only be a Fountain for the inspiring Streams of Helicon? No, Waft me, ye Eolean Zephirs to the distant Poles! And O Ye Guardian Powers of Friendship! teach to me explore the hidden Treasures of the Earth, & to form myself a more worthy Member of Society.
Youth I am too well satisfy'd has it Foibles & Weaknesses & Life its malicious Inchantments. They who are thus as it were in the Embryo of Being, should stalk into the world with out Caution and Diffidence, watch every Opening & Clue to Virtue; repulse the Assaults & flattering Allurements of Vice, and be aware of the tempting Gewgaws of Madness & Folly. But recollect here, my Friend! & ask, What would be the Glory & or Honor of a returning Warrior, victorious from an Army less powerful than his own? Or even from one equal Force? Had we no Passions, no Inclinations to engage, No Enemy no Invasions to encounter, Where then would be the Triumph of Success & Victory? Tis Conquest only crowns the Hero with Laurel, & only that which Should gain him the Applause & Eclat of the World. Tis not only not yielding to the Tide of vicious Inclinations, but to stem & resist it will procure us Esteem & Honor. Let us then, my Friend! march forth with the Arms, & under the Banner of Reason, and boldly attack the rude, impetuous Sallies of Passion, & lop the Excressencies of wild Desire. Let us, courageously fight for that Conquest, & obtain that Crown of Laurel which shall really bloom a glorious Immortality. It is undoubtedly true that a Variety & Succession of Ideas Objects will always afford us a Variety & Succession of Ideas, & that with these Ideas is always connected a new Fund of Knowledge. Upon this Principle, it must be allowed that from him who has seen most of the World, & had the greatest Opportunity of passing thro' the various Scenes of it, will always justly most be expected. 'Tis mine then, Who am thus as it were on the Outset of Life, to begin with paying such a Regard to the rising Subjects of Observation as shall most conduce to the Happiness & Advantage of Myself & Friends. To search for that Ore which shall hereafter be of the greatest Weight & Importance; and to polish & refine from their Dross the purest Gems of Nature. I have long since received it as an indisputable Truth, that we are not only sent into the World simply to procure our own Happiness & Welfare, But with Fervency & Ardor to seek that our Fellow-Creatures; And I cannot but think it just that the Principle of Benevolence wch. so flagrantly appears to influence the benign Author of Nature should also influence us346tho' in this contracted Sphere of Action. He that has so narrow & partial a Soul as to confine the Schemes of his Invention, to his own private Emolument, must be less than Man, and it seems to me actuated by the mere Impulses of Instinct. From these Observations I am naturally led to congratulate You & the other Luminaries of Friendship, upon your chearful Union of Hand & Heart, in the mutual Ties of Amity & Affection. May that Heaven! which first form'd your Minds for Science, & your Souls for Friendship; That Heaven! which first spoke you into Being, & bestowed on you Ten Talents, continue graciously to expand the Thread of Life, Give you Power to negociate & improve 'em All, and Still Smile Prosperity on her favorite Sons. Tho' tis my Misfortune to be thus lop'd from the Body, & become an extravasating Member, yet I appease myself with this Consolation, That 'tis mine not only (like the glittering Insect) for a few Hours to glow & buz in the warm Gleams of Sun-Shine; But at the Grand Fiat like the rolling System round me, to revolve thro' Successive Light & Shade.
That, that Being who is Light & Love, may be your Alpha & Omega; and that from the united Efforts of Friendship, you may henceforth Shine a glorious Constellation, & reflect Honor on this lately rude, uncultivated World; Is the sincere Wish, The last poor Boon of your departing Friend