Alexandria Daily Advertiser

From the Philadelphia Gazette

Mr. Burr,

Though political objects as excite great curiosity perhaps more than is necessary to the welfare of mankind, you will perhaps deem these observations unworthy a place in your paper.

Fragments translated
found in the library
of
-AM

By the Clothes,
Nobility resides in their seeds from virtue alone.
The favor of kings can give rank and titles
honor,
When titles are given as idle and conferred upon the unworthy, they inherit honor both
gives, and the subject who
a favor brings many advantages.
If the virtues of a descendant
Shall inherit a right to
who can say they are
The man without
of the least of his ancestors
nothingness, can be
takes shelter in a title.

Is it an advantage to the blind if his ancestors could see? What advantage is it to the
mute if his father was eloquent? What does
it avail to the vile if his ancestors were no.
ble?

The mind formed to virtue, will without ti.
tles exalt the man who possesses it, and make him
shine above the vulgar.
He will deserve the dignities which will be
conferred to others. 'and well he may say to
them—were your ancestors, from whom you
boast your descent, such men?
As the shadow follows the body so does true
honor accompany virtue.
Do not say that true honor is the son of cou.
rage—No. Its work is not the true contempt of
life—it does not proceed from any action in it-
self, but from the manner in which that act. is
executed.
All men are not called to .
in the state, or to command navics
the duties of your station, and
well,
Do not say to be honored 's I
queer great difficulties—th
be encountered on the road to
chaste dame deserving praises?
An honest man does not pretend s.
the to be
honored.
The thirst after fame is violent, the love of
honor is powerful. He who gave them great in.
centives. did so for the noblest motives,
If the welfare of the state requires us to take
a desperate part, we must expose our lives to
save our country, what can stimulate virtue but
ambition?
'Is not a noble mind animated by the honors
it receives? Greatness consists in deserving
them.

"Is it perchance not better that we can say.
Why has not this man obtained a statue? than
to ask on what account he obtained it?
The ambitious is always the first in the crowd;
he is full of suspicion and never looks back.
him, than he rejoices to leave a thousand b.
He grieves more to see a single man above
hind.
First it grows with flesh, and last it departs.
others modesty; it seems to involve all the souls
not thrive in all; in some, fear oppresses it, in o.
Ambition takes root in all hearts—but it does
it: if we do not know how to govern it, it s
It leads to honor when we make a good use of
the artifice of fame and ruin.
it—cold dissimulation inspires it with a soft lan
guage. It hides itself artfully. Hypocrisy casts a veil over
In the bosom of the treacherous, ambition
loses its venom: the tooth of the viper is not
The snake, though torpid with cold, does not
for her, and she will show thee her spirit: warm
her in thy bosom, she will reward thee with
death.
he disdains the applauses which haughtiness begs:
The man truly virtuous loves
virtue for itself,
too noble to look for reward, it cannot be re.
which it confers should be in the praises of men!
How easy would virtue be. if the happiness
warded.
thus virtue, the greater and the more perfect is
The steps of the sun make shadows disappear;
We all prize, and yet cannot avoid them.

The man who runs after it; but it follows the foot.

Glory, like the shadow, vanishes before the

steps

of him who avoids it. If without merit

it thou deservest, it will find thee where.

The hidden purity of thy conscience will be a greater

reward, than the applauses of millions who are

ignorant of thy desert.

A SWISS.