The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-05-08 00:00:00, page 1

• RUDD solicit* t|ie attention of
■l’A her friends in Providence* and in
forms them that she has taken that large
* And commodious BOARDING-HOUSE,
Mo. f* G<M-Street, two door* from Mak
Mn-Lane, and next above her former resi
dence. Her thanks are tendered to those
Who have favoured her with their custom.
Aew Port, A&y 1, 18>0.
T> friends,
•*■*> and the publick, that he has opened
* a SCHOOL for YOUWG LADIES, at his
dwelling-house In Providence ; where hr
Will teach Sfirlling, Reading, Writing,
£nglish Grammar, Comfioaicion, Arith
metick; And, without any additional ex
pense, those who are sufficiently advanced
» in the above studies, shall be taugh' the
woe of the Artificial Globea, Aatronomy,
Geography and /itttory. The-delicate
« state of his health having rendered this »r
-raugement necessary, he hopes for the
kind <«f those parents who pie
frv Ursend their daughters to a Schpol ex
clusively ft>r Females.
May 8, 1810. tf.
.'THE RHODE-ISLAND AMERICAN,
AND GENERAL ADVERTISER. 1
z Rum, Sugar and Molasses.
EIGHTEEN Hhds, of sweet flavoured
Rum,
*6O lllids, of retailing Molasses,
10 Barrels of Muscovado Sugar,
. 20 Half Casks of Rite,
* For sale on reasonable terms by
JACOB SOESMAN.
« BENJAMIN T. CHANDLER
TJ \S just received, and offers for sale,
26Hhds. of RUM of a superinur quail*
ty. Likewise, • general- assortment of
GROCERIES-
May 4, 1810. tf.
JOSEPH S. MARTIN
BAS FOR SALE, No. 4, BUTLER’S WHARF,
b T, PETERSBURG clean Hemp, ;
® Russia Duck,
Ravens Duck,
Russia Sheetings,
Old and new Sable Bar-Iron.
February 27, IMO. 1 tf.
Stationary, &c.
WANTON & RATHBONE,
At'the Store next door to Messrs. Blod
cet* & Power’s, have just received
' from Boston and'Hartford,
AN additional supply pf Paper-Hang
ings and Borders ; among which
are a few setts of elegant drapery figures,
ysith top and bottom Borders.
.Also, received as above,
'An assortment of Quills of a superiour
Quality, frbm one to three dollars per hun
dred ; Foolscap and Letter Paper, Ink
j’owdec. Penknives, Lead Pencils, Me.
For Sale or Circulation,
Don Sebastian, or House of Braganza;
’ Tales of Fashionable Life, .
Marmion, by Scott;
History of New-Yorl, flee.
.dflril 07, JfllO; 6t.
"" Jl Tok 's7l£ or
~ IACQ& BABBITT,.
_ At bit Store hi Bristol,
THREE Hundred and fifty Hhds. of
Havana Molasses, ndw crop;
190 Boxes of HaVan* brown Sugar,
90H>d» and 30 Barrels do. do-
Brhtoj, Afiril 27, 1810,
Fpr SAVANNAH, (Georgia,)
THE Schooner HEN* »WN,
Justus Allen, Master, is
ready to take Freight
dMMBMwat Masts Eddt and Broth
er’s Wharf, to sail in six days. For Freight
or Passage, apply to the Master on board,
er tq RICHMOND & ALLEN.
Afay 1, WIQ.
i
THE Subscriber being appointed Ad
ministratrhi, with the will annexed,
on the Estate of Robbrt Newell, late
pf. Providence,' Esquire, deceased, and
having qualified herself as the law directs,
hereby notifies all persons having claims
against said Estate to exhibit the same to
Stanford Newell, Agent to said Ad
jrfinistratrix; and all persons indebted to
Baid Estate are requested to make pay
ment to said Stanford Newell, with
patdulay.
•, LYDIA NEWELL.
May 4,1810 r
THIS day opening at the Providence
Hat-Stork, No 13, Cheap-Side, an
assortment of. YOUTHS' and CHIL
DRENS’ HATS—black and drab, of an
excellent quality—cheap for cash.
ARNOLD BUFFUM, jigent.
Sth Mo. 4, 1810.
May 4, 1810. tf.
" For
I THE Schooner Adamant,
Uli/iha D. Cubb, Master, will
q&QijwpjP * n t,x For Freight
wHMBmCb or Passage, on very reasona
ble terms, apply to the Master on board,
at Sutler’s Wharf, or
AMASA & Wm. H. MASON.
Afaj/4 1810.
Volume 11.
School for Young Ladies.
CHILDRENS’ HATS.
A CARD.
“THE NATION WHICH INDULGES TOWARDS
“ And Goody says that mother’s there i
* Su» if she thinks we want hi* ak! v ‘
**l think perhaps she’ll send him here.”
I clasp’d the prattlers to my breast,
And said, entae both and live with me ;
je, give ye rest,
And wiU a second mother be.
And C,.d win be vour Father stil!;
*Twas hs in mercy sent me here
To teach ypu Vo obey his ViU,
YotlP steps to guide, your hearts to cheer.
The duellists.
Wn at is the honpur that impels
Tb’ ensanguined mind to murderous deed,
Why is it that the bosom swells
To taste of pride, the genuine meed I
Can the vague pistol’s vagrant aim.
Determine aught of right or wrong;
As well m.ght infamy to fame,
Guide virtue’s sacred steps along.
” We’ll go and seek for God around;
“Lady, pray can you tell us where
“ That God, oitr Father, may be found
“ He live* in heaven mother said,
A the Editors of the Rhode-hland American.
Gentlemen,
If you think the following extract from the
London Courier worthy of a place in your pa
per. you will oblige a female reader by insert
ing it. M.
Just as the setting sun’s last ray
Tipt with refulgent gold the vane
Of the old church across the way.
Across the way I silent sped,
• The time till supper to beguile,
In moralizing o’er the dead,
That moulder’d round the ancient pile.
TIM many an humble green grave shew’d
A faded beach, its shadow brown,
Threw o’er \ grave where sorrow slept j
On which, tho* scarce with grass overgrown,
Two ragged children sat and wept.
A piece of bread between them lay,
Which neither seeni’d inclined to take;
And yet they look’d so much a prey
To want, it made my hyart to ache.
My little children, let me know
Why you in such distress appear;
And why you, wasteful, from you throw
That bread, which many a heart would
cheer I
The little boy, in accents Sweet,
Replied, whilst tears each other chas’d,
“ Lady, we’ve not enough to eat,
“ And if we had, we wonld not waste.
“ But sister Mary’s naughty grown,
“ And will not eat, whate’er I say,
“ Though sure I am the bread’s her own,
“ And she has tasted none to-day.”
“ Indeed,” (the wan, starv’d Maby said,)
“ Till Hcnby eats, I’ll eat no more j
“ For yesterday I got some bread j
“ He’s had none since the day before.”
My heart did -swell, my bosom heave j
1 frit as though deprived of speech;
I silent sat upon the grave,
And press’d a clay-cold hand of each.
With looks that told a tale of wo,
With looks that spoke ft grateful lieart,
The shiv’ring boy did nearer draw,
A»d thus their tale of wo impart.
vßdtoe W father went away,
“ And we no mote a mother have—
“ Here many a day we sat and cried
“ Together, on poor mother’s grave.
“ But when our father came not here,
“ I thought if we could find the sen,
“ We should be sure to meet him there,
“ And once again should happy be.
“We hand in hand went many a mile,
“ And ask’d our way of all we met i
" And some did sigh, and some did smile,
“ And w e of some did victuals get.
* But when we reach’d the aea, anfl found
“ Twas one great water round us spread,
“ We thought that father sure was drown’d,
“ Andcry’d and wish’d us both were dead.
“ Said fatlicr died beyond the sea.
“ Tlien, since no parent* have we here,
“Entic’d by bad men o’er the sea,
“ Sister and 1 did nought but play—-
“ We liv’d beside yon great ash-tree.
And then poor mot l>er did so cry,
" And look’d so chang’d I cannot toll,
“ She told u* that she soon should die,
“ And bade u* love each other well.
” She said that when the war is o’er,
“ Beriiapa we might our father see j
“ But if we never saw him more
“ That God our Father then would be.
“ Site kiss’d us both, and then she died,
“ So we return’d to mother’s grave,
“ And only long with her to be!
“ For Goody, when this bread she gave,
Where want and pain, and toil did resti
And many a flattering stone I view’d
O’er those who once had wealth possess’d
THE ORPHANS.
Al Y chaise the village inn did gain,
Poetrp.
NCR AN HABITUAL HATBED, OR AN HABITUAL FONDNESS, IS IN SOME DIOMII A tLAYE.'*—
PROVIDENCE, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1810.
1 he eighteenth century was a distin
guished period in the history of literature.
It has been, with great propriety, styled
an age qf the diffusion qf knowledge—
During this period, literary information
was more generally extended, and literary
exertion mo< e liberally rewarded, than’ut
any former time. Commercial enterprise
removed the barriers by which distant na
tions had been separated, and opened t
communication among the learned of dif
ferent countries, which produced an inter
community of letters, enlarged the bound
of knowledge, and fostered the spirit <>>
emulation. * The political and religion
state of Europe, was made an incentive t
exertion,'and the success of the scholar,
hastened the plans of the politician and th*
warrior. The antiquities of India, wen
searched with more than Moravian zeal,
to increase the stock of oriental literature;
and Herculaneum gave up its dead, t<
develop the obscurities of classical learn •
hig. Nations which were before, compara
lively barbarous, assumed an emineqt rank
in th* literary wofld, and brightened bt
neath the beams of the sun of science. Sucl>
was the progress of improvement during
this century, that some great change in the
moral condition of man was anxiously anti
cipated and confidently foretold. Ane«
order of things was declared to be nigh at
handa literary and political millennium
was seen dawning in the horizon, and th<
lovers of science and of man were called
upon to shout for joy.
But at the close of the period which we
have mentioned, it way discovered that al
though knowledge t\ad been extensive!)
diffused, it had become superficial—that iu
the process of expansion it had exchanged
its strength for feeble splendour—that
the rivalry from wb|ch such fruits had
been anticipated, had become like that of
Chryssififtus and Eflicurus, not who should
write best, but who should write most ;
and that a conceit prevailed that the rivu
lets of intelligence which trickled in so ma
ny directiohs, added little beauty, and stil
less use, to the plains through which the)
passed; and that it was only the wide
stream, rolling in allMnt majesty, which dif
fuses verttare and fertility, and in Its broad
transparent bosom 1 , reflects the images <»l
the heavens and the earth.
As the conclusibh of the whole matter,
many a prophet took up hit lamentation
for the cause of literature, and the age
was with singular truth, pronounced an
age qf sufterficial learning andirfidel flhi
losofthtj. *
Many of the causes which have ope
rated unfavourably upon fllfe literature of
Europe, have had a similar influence in
our country. It Is not my design, however,
io examine these causes, nnr to ask your
attention to the effects they must ultimate
ly produce. Let us withdraw from the
European world—turn off our minds from
her wasting empires, her dedining reli
gion, and her languishing science, and con
template for a fevf moments the state of
our own literature and some of the peculiar
causes by which it is injuriously affected.
To the loved* of learning and of man this
cannot be an uninteresting subject.
The history of our country is by no
means replete with literary incident. The
poverty of the original settlers, and other
circumstances which surrounded them, did
not permit them to devote much attention
to letters. It was not till their numbers
had been greatly increased, till their safe
ty had become fat les* precarious than at
their first arrival; not until the night had
07” TaK following Oration has been for
a long time on our publication file, and we
h ive done violence to our oNn feelings in
not presenting it to the publick before. It
never h»s been published. We deem an
apology necessary for its retention go long.
The fact is, that the clambur and bustle
and altercation excited by our national and
State politicks have superseded every other
We shall in future have
more lime to dedicate to literary produc
tion*. The reader will .observe in the con
cluding part more especially, many truths
not so flattering to his pride ; bbt which
still are severely just and worthy of re
membrance by those who think adulation
subordinate to justice.
Then cease, OI cease this Gothick way,
‘Which ignorance plann’d, and vice has trod,
Nor make, till God's appointed day,
The last—the grand appeal to God.
AN ADDRESS
PRONOUNCI* D. BEFORE THE
PHILANDRIAM SOCIETY,
AT TAUNTON, SEPTEMBER, 1809.
Bt Thebqn Metcalf.
flSisrellanp. .
nt ss.
Our literary productions also prove that
we have not yet reached the highest point
of eminence. Most of those periodical
works which claim the honours of science
nnd taste, and asiume the authority of cri
ticism, are hut blotted pages of ind< x-faam
ii'g, tmelasslck prose, ana Wretched verse.
The felicity with which, through these
every unfledged sciolist, can
obtrude his meager thoughtsupon the pub
lick, has producecfan unexampled rage for
writing; and the complimentary prologue
with which the most stupid communica
tions are introduced, misleads the judge:
ment of a great portion of readers, swells
the vanity of the petty authour, and indue* s
him to ait down in soothing self-complacen
cy, and say blessed are they
“ Who hunger and who thirst for scribbling’*
sake.” Dvnciad.
The unparalleled spread of abridge
ments, selections, and translation*,, has
‘bated the ardour of exertion, relaxed the
intenseness of application, narrowed the
distinction between profound and superfi
cial knowledge, and made thousand* be
lieve the dangerous heresy, that there is a
short way to science. Hence the doctrine,
that the treasures of ancient literature re
ward not the toil of searching for them.—
Hence a new style of composition which
characterizes our country. Hence we find
vanity inflated, and obstinacy stiffened*
while the Comprehension is not enlarged.
The wonderful fortune of our country,
has produced among a great proportion of
our citizens, a spirit very unfriendly to the
interest* of literature. The rapid increase
of our numbers and wealth—the literary
proficiency which we have really made—
the success of our struggle with our parent
country, and the interests which most of
the enlightened world took in the contest—
the attention and applause Which were be
stowed upon us by the most polished Courts
of Europe, and the flattery which we annu
ally hear from our July orators, all have
concurred to inflate our vanity and deceive
our understandings. Respectable as may
be our nation, and considerable as may be
our influence in the great affairs of man
kind, we have unquestionably, greatly
overrated our consequence.
Thousand* among us believe that most of
the world is not only fed from our hand, but
instructed by our discipline, that doubtless
we are the fttoftle, und wisdom will die
with us. The exalted talents, the sublime
discoveries, and important*exertion* of a
few of our self-taught countrymen, who
have burst from obscurity and bls zed in the
splendour of renown, have dazzled the eyes
of the gating multitude, and deceived them
intn a belief that this is a region where
spuntaneAs science shoots an exuberant
growth, and genius luxuriates in wild pro-
ceased to ring with the war-whoofr, ant'
the day to smoke with the conflagration qf
their dwellings, that our ancestors paid
their vows to Minerva, and invited the
muses to this western shore.
The first respectable progress that learn
ing here made, was in those branches of
study which are most intimately connected
with Theology. The motives which in
duced our fathers to emigrate, and the re
ligious sea] by which they were long in
fluenced, gave a peculiar character to the
learning of their days, and made almost
every school a school qf flroflhets. -But as
their intercourse with each other and with
Europe increased; aunew avocations press
ed and new duties arose, a new system of
instruction was devised,’ and new plans of
education carried frijlo ‘practice. Free *
schools were extensively established—uni
vtrsitics were founded, and laureate hon
ours conferred. Then the literati of Eu
rope hailed a new star in the west, and the
bright beam of our fainp was declared to be
coming on. The expectations which were
then formed, have not been wholly disap
pointed. Our progress in knowledge has
been rapid beyond example. In no other
country is information so generally diffused.
But in no other country perhaps, are there
among so many who know so much, so ma
ny also, who know so little. It is no hazard
to assert, that our profound scholars are
extremely few. With us alngost every man
is obliged to support himself by his own ex.
ertions. Those who obtain a publick edu
cation, leave the walls of the university
and the pursuits of literature at the same
time. And the course of our education is
adapted to the circumstances of those who
seek it. But a short time is allowed for
academical probation; but small attain
ments required for academical honours.—
'Jo ample foundations are here established
on which genius can repose in mere specu
lation ; and few, very few, have here that
leisure which is necessary for great scien-,
tific.k. and literary acquirements. '* Our
countrymen are proverbially men of busi-
At the close of the revolution, the Uni
ted States were deeply involved h debt ;
and a large proportion of the depreciated
currency of those days, was in the*hatidb
nf men, whose necessities compelled them
to sell It for a small part of its nominal
value. Here commented a system of specu-
Int ion, which hi different forms has con*
•intted to the present dav. The sale of new
' 'nds succeeded, and snch was the ardour
nid such the sitcceAwith which
lions were conducted, that thmsMadg end*
The early fondness which was here man
ifested for cantering academical degress,
is another peculiarity io our Mlerary his
tory, which deserves to be noticed. Even
while this country was a wilderness, it
blossomed with the KMNkty Aonaers of it»
schools. With such profiisiou, and wish se
little regard to literary acquirement, have
honourary degrees been conferred in bur
country, that the design of the m -has been
almost defeated. Though w» cannot say
that our Universities, like th<we of Aber
deen and St. Andrews, sell their diplomas
to all who tender their established price,
yet they often attempt to dignif/folty and
embellish ignorance with thtir splendid
title*. The highest honour that is ever
conferred upon the profoundest erudition,
is often bestowed on those who are distin
guished by attainments in no of
science, and who are not known beyond
the limits of the county in which they re
side. It is bestowed also on those, who are
tottering on the brink qf their climaetcrick,
who have ceased to acquire knowledge or
to enjoy its praises* Like the extreme
unction of the Catholicks, it is adminis
tered in the article qf death ; could it ab
solve the subjects of it, from their literary
sins, we might rejoice to see it so often
applied.
In all these ways, in which our vanity is
increased, our progress is retarded. They
who count that they have already attained,
will not firess forward toward the mark
for the prize.
The influence of political feeling, also, Is
unpropitious to our literature- Suf h is thp
connexion of the American people with
their government, that they take th* deep
est interest in all its measures. Every
man is here a politician. The unprece
dented diffusion of newspapers, urd thn
liberty which is here indulged to the press,
have made political writing, political read
ing, and political conversation, the employ
ment of the leisure hours of a vast pro
portion of our citisens. To become eml
nent in the ranks of party, to hfttraogue
with eclat in town-meetings, and to gain
For the effusions of their pens, the first page*
of the Gazette, seem the prime objects of
desirje, with thousands who were appa
reutiy' destined to nobler engagements ajid
capacitated for more exalted spheres of
action. Literature of c<Airse is put in the
back ground, and as far as.it is necessarily
ft>hnccted with political discussion, is mis
erably entreated. To those whose heads
are heated with party spirit, and whose
hearts are engrossed with party interesi,
the beauties of science are presented fa
vftin; •
” The dream* of Pindus, and th* Aonlan maids’*
° Delight no more.”—' , ■
Though the tongue of the Muse drop
manna, and her song be sweeter than the
Nightingale’s at the tomb of Orpheus—
•hey will not /fere» to the voice of thia
charmer, charming never to wisely. Safe-
Jy might they pass the coast of the Syrens,
without the. precaution of Ulysses
This t po||tica! phrenzy not only dissuades
many from literaty pursuit, but biasses the .
judgements', and perverts the taste of oth
ers. It holds up dangerous models and
sanctifies dangerous errours. It tinctures
the reviews of dur country with partiality,
and corrupts the judgement criti
cism. Are the political opinion* of the am*
thour offensive to the tribunal of erftielu,
before which it is sure to be arraigned V
They watch its production with malicious -
pleasure, and stand, like the great red
Dragon of the Apocalypse, ready to de
vour the child as soon at it is bbm.
But the devotion of our country to the
pursuit of wealth, is the cause from which
our literature has suffered the most al
ready, and from which it has the most to
fear in fatUre.
Fuslon, Tpl* deception has been strongly
fixed by the pompous eulogies which have
been lavished upon these characters by the
interested and designing Courts of Eunipe.
When the old world acknowledged our
claim to literary eminence, it was natural
that we should believe those claims well*
Founded ; it was natural that we should set
up as models those whose celebrity we
were proud to witness. Here a givat mis
take has been committed—a mistake, the
evil effects of which we shall long have
reason to lament.
* Numbir 58.