Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

From the Hampshire Gazette.

"Glory's shining Chariot swiftly draws
With equal whirl the noble and the base."

When we look round upon the great multitude of mankind, and trace out the principles of action in each individual, we shall find that ambition runs through the whole species, and that every one is more or less actuated by it.

The desire of distinction seems to be implanted in our natures--and when it operates on a fair and virtuous mind, is productive of the greatest good to the individual and to society when cultivated by education, by study and conversation with the wise and virtuous, it exalts and dignifies the man, and those around him will rise up and call him blessed.

Real esteem and honor are only to be obtained by intellectual and moral accomplishments--authority may create fear--an ability to confer favors may command a servile attention--a splendid appearance may attract the gaze of vulgar admiration, and ceremonies civility and artful adulation may wait upon superior rank; but that man only is sincerely respected, whose laudable ambition urges him to soften the asperities of his station by condescension and benignity--by acts of beneficence and benevolence.

Hannibal was educated at the instep of Gama. He became all things to all men that he might save some. He gave umbrage to beasts and met to men, and thus accommodated himself to the age and genius of his pupils. The propriety of allowing this sort of example of the great patriot at Carthage evidently appears, when it is reached. that this passion--this desire of distinction is frequently perverted to weak, wicked and wanton purposes--that it incites the assassin to murder his friend--the barrister to pervert truth and justice--the gamester to nocturnal exploits and the cutpurse: a thousand enormities--and all this to distinguish themselves--to be pre-eminent in folly and mischief!

Thus the same passion that urges some to glorious deeds, impels others to the vilest actions. And is there no remedy no way by which the active spirit of youth may be cooled to virtue and wisdom--Cannot this wild ambition--this juvenile fever be corrected & made subservient to the noblest purposes--Certainly in man, or the condition of youth would be indeed deplorable. The God of nature inspires his soul with a thirst for glory.--But he has no experience--no compass to direct his course--a thousand passions and feelings are in arms to dictate his ruin, and to hurry him into the vortex of dissipation and ruin!

What shall stay him in this mad career?--Education--this is the balm indeed--the medicine of life! Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it--ought therefore to be the care of education to instil into the minds of untainted youth early lessons of wisdom, of virtue and piety--and by a steady and persevering course of gentle manners and unassuming instruction, to refine and elevate his ideas of moral excellence.

The words of wisdom would then indeed be pleasant. The smiles of tenderness and concern would interest the feelings of the ductile youth, and cast him into the paths of virtue and science--Rhetoric and philosophy too would soon lend their aid to quiet his passions and direct them to proper objects.

Happy, thrice happy, the youth who is thus aided
Doomed to virtue and happiness--to dignity and glory by the elegant manners and persuasive talents of those who think it a delightful task to rear the tender thought, to teach the young idea how to shoot, to pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind, to breathe th' enlivening spirit, and to fix the generous purpose in the glowing breast!