Memoirs of Charles Brockden Brown; The American Novelist, Author of Wieland, Ormond, Arthur Mervyn &C.: With Selections from His Original - Paperback

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 194 MEMOIRS OF C. B. BROWN'. Though attached to the seclusion of the closet; though he would for hours be absorbed in architectural studies, measuring proportions with his compasses, and drawing plans of Grecian temples or Gothic cathedrals, monasteries or castles; though addicted to every kind of abstraction, and attached by habit to reverie; he would break off with the utmost ease from these favourite occupations of his mind, and enter into conversation on any topic with a fluency and copiousness which approached to the truest eloquence. He was never dictatorial or intrusive; and although pleased when holding discourse, and conscious of superior colloquial talents, he was among men of the world, or loud and long talkers, generally silent, though not perhaps a listener. Though not imposing in personal appearance, and with great simplicity of manners, he was winning in his address, and made friends of both sexes where- ever he felt that the object was worthy. It is not an eulogium of Mr. Brown, but memoirs of his life, and some account of his writings, that I have wished to present to the reader: and if the impression of his character made by the foregoing pages, is not that of a man of uncommon acquirements, superior talents, amiable manners, and exalted virtues, it is owing to want of skill in his biographer. LETTERS FROM CHARLES BROCKDEN BROWN TO HIS FRIENDS. chapter{Section 4LETTERS FROM C. B. BROWN. TO W. DUNLAP. Philadelphia, Nov. 28, 1794. MY DEAR FRIEND, How many weeks have elapsed since you left us, and since you requested me to write to you some comments both upon your performance and the representation of it. Better late than never, is an excellent adage; and when men have delayed the performance of their duty, instead of prolonging the breach b...