The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-05-08 00:00:00, page 2

& flenly row from *4 M*>ed forth
K In all the sptaaMs tf Show
Il and p*r*ds, which catch t|ie eyes pnd cap
tivate tha beam of a vast majority of men,
now banished simplicity from Our coun
try, and hurried our ciqaens into all those
.extravagances which sudden wealth natu
rally produce. In the mean time, (he pt
cuiiar state of the European world gave un
paralleled ardour to our enterprise, and t"
our commerce an extent and a profit, be
fore unknown to the trading world. Rich* ■
have poured into our country in abtmdar.'
profusion, and by multiplying,, the enjoy
ments of life, have given employment to
multitudes, who in a different state of soc.i
ety,w>u>t have toiled for a for less reward,
and been content to move in a for humbler
sphere. The real wealth which the pros
porous fortune of our country has secured,
| and the artificial wealth which it pro
-1 duccd by the noexainpled multiplication
| of banks, have given the stile of luxury to
1 the houses, the tables, the dress, and the
V equipages of our citisens, and generated a
1 State of society, in which riches are not on*
ly the means, but the end of life. All are
I making haste to be rich. For this object,
'| science toils, ingenuity is stretched ujwn
J the rack, and is wearied through all its re
ft finements, and legislative authority tired
with incessant applications. For.thc at
/ talfiment ef this object, no labour is too
B* arduous, no adventure too hazardous, no
V sacrifice too great. Property is now the
V fiewsT after which our nation ia wandering ■
In such a state of society, the Grecian
• ' apophthegm, wealth maket the man, is
I 1 folly verified. Truly was jt said, mon?y
' conww/ndt ttfl things It is a succedaneum
for talents and knowledge, and draws hoc
our and influence in Its train. It secures
the smiles aad caresses of beauty, and
makes the golden shower, in which Jupi
"t ter introduced him»elf to Danae, scarcely
a fabulous* Moat properly did Mythology
1 represent love as blind. The avariciou*
suitor finds Helen't beauty in a brow of
I Egyfit. s
s “ O what a world of vile ill-favour’d fiduts,
Looks handsome iu three hundred pounds a
year.”
This devotion to wealth Is a stain upon
our character, which the waters, neithc
of Jordan nor Pactolus can wash away.—
When the heart-strings and purse-strings
of the nation are so closely entwined, where
| , can genius find motives to exertion ?
Where b the recompense of merit t Where
the force of emulation ? When wealth U
b the grand object of pursuit, the race of li
| - terature bMt to the swift. The golden I
I apples scattered by the way, seduce them I
| from the course, and the victory is lef;
to the meanest rival The taste of the agt
t la vitiated. They who pray that every
j thing may be converted into gold at their
touch, ardft< h itke fflidas, to prefer the
' rustic k vwitfe ef Pan, to the heavenly mu-
sick of Apollo. Writers inquire not what
trill gam immortality to their pames, but
'what will insure the most rapid sale,
and produce the moot ample profits. Even
literature is made a subject of speculation.
i Copyrights are bought and sold in the
‘ shambles, and the trade of the Book
seller crowded with competitors for the
pFbfits of literary traffiUc.
At such a time we cannot expect that
science will flourish and literature be en
couraged. The talents of the country are
engaged in different pursuits, for a bright
er i eward awaits their exercise than sci
ence can offer to its votaries. The path oi
knowledge glitters not with diamonds, no>
Is the tt mpL of fame built of gold. Hen
1 and there indeed a traveller, in the narrow
, way of immortality, despising the allure
• menu of wealth, and overlooking the in
citements of curiosity and competition, hukb
* his cmirse unfaltering, while the voice
** Of truth and nature, up the steep ascent
•* Of science, call him to hi* high reward,
w Th' applauding smile of heaven.*
Such e xamples however, are extremely
| rare; such motives are too distant for
general operation.
Baneful' to literature as is thia devotion
to the acquisition of property, the effects
which overgrown acquired wealth will
produce are tenfold more to be deprecated
Riches are sure to generate luxury. And
When an enormous luxury has increased
artificial desires, and multiplied artifi
dial necessities; when k hue poisoned the
seance* of Ide, and Drought, on general
enervation and effeminacy, even the sickly
% foi mof our present literature, will grow
more ineager still Taste will become uni
versally corrupt—false ornaments will •»-
aume the place of real beauty— the heart
Will be estranged from natuie, and the
weakened mind require the cuutmuui
stimulus of the marvellous or the horrid to
hflect it. Pleasure will be the universal
demand, and sensuality engross the age.
Religion and moral* will pine to a shadow,
•nd vanish away in death.
If tbefine art* ere regarded, If beauty ex
cite a complacent smile, it will be for the
gratification of sensuality, or the pastime
of an interval of satiah-d passion In such
•o age,, even the fair sex would lend their
chai ms to the accomplishment of th*, min
of the soul. In their unhallowed abodes,
the laciviou* pages of Rousseau and D’Lrn
Cio* would be perused With glowing ar
dour ; musick would breathe but to foa the
flame of voluptuousness, nd the peficil shed
its colours but tn swell into Uflk lite image *
of pollution. T ( ’ w
These are not chimerical
The history of the revolutions of letters
warns u* of the dangers which attend th<
literature of a nation, luxurious by riches
ind enervated by luxury.
Athens, once the school of the world,
i.M immortal for her illustrious sons of *ci
nee and the arts, who for a long period
■>tood unrivalled in the ranks of classick
'jme. But .wealth and luxury enervated
<he state, and her schools faded from their
lustre and were extinguished. Rome in her
days of glory, was the light of the world.
But the fear of Cato was realised by the
descendant* of those to whom be express
cd it; and for her effeminacy and her
vices, Rome was blotted from the firma
ment of letters.
If we compare the United State* with
hose countries which have for many cen
turies enjoyed the light of letters—where
.icniushtfsreceivedltshighest cultivation—
irt been modelled to it* highest perfec
tion, and science built on the broadest foun
dations, we shall probably find, that in pro
portion to our age and our advantages, we
hava already contributed our lull share of
those talents and acquirement* which have
so highly dignified and exalted the human
character. * And we perceive no peculiar
fatality by which we must inevitable be
doomed to future insignificance. It re
"equires indeed, no gift of second tight to
foresee that cur country can never arrive
it the point of emiMnce which and
Rome and some modern nation* dtayc at
tained, unless a change is affected in our
national spirit and national pursuita. Such
s change we may rationally anticipate.—
Our excessive national vanity will work its
own cure. We are now in that early stage
of improvement in which nations, like in
dividuals, are proud and ostentatious oi
.heir acquirements. As we advance in
Knowledge we shall learn our proper stand
ing and more correctly estimate our attain
ments.
The light of knowledge next irradiated
benighted France, and travelling onward
to still more benighted Britain, like auro
ra boreaUt, glowed and sparkled in the
northern hemisphere. In ail these coun
tries, the path of science and the arts
shone more and more unto thefierfect day.
But Italy again became proverbially lux
nrious and effeminate, and literature ha*
'here suffered a second death. The other
nations which followed Italy in the pro
gress of letters, suffered and are suffering
me fate which is destined to luxury and
nervation. The tun qf their glory it fast
detrending to the horizon, and themtelvet
teem flatting to that artful dittolution,
whose issue it not given human foretight
to tean
Political Jeelings cannot always continue
chuj affect our literature
ihe acrimony of pa+«£’ must subside ano
merit be measured by an Impartial stan
dard, or not only our literature, bn» our
liberties will expire.
And does not the present state of our
country and of the world induce us to bc
ieve, that the inordinate desire of gain
*lll be moderated ? Has not a crisis ar
il ed, St which we may rationally hope,
nut the attention of our countrymen will
nut be engrossed with the pursuit of mo
ney ? Human prophecy is hazardous—but
nope at least is innocent.
What shall we say then ? Are there no
prospects to cheer our hopes ? No efforts
*hicW may raise our literary character,
Hid secure to u* the glories of science and
• he art* f
Let ail then who have influence in socie
ty—all who regard |£e- interest of letters.
Improve the favxMgptfle moment, and use
their most strenuous exertions to counter
act the spirit of vanity, of party and ava
rice which are blighting the blossoms ot
our literature. Let the first motions to
wards the fashionable follies of the day be
resisted; and Ovid's first maxim for the
remedy of lovp be the scholar’s first max
im for the correction of taste, " Principkis
obsta.*
After a long night of Gothick darkness,
in which science apparently slept the sleep
of death, Italy arose, and throwing aside
her shroud, glowed with animate£Jife.-y
Learning and the art* awaked fromlfie
dust of death, and again the bank* of bfie
Tiber echoed to the voice oi science.
One of the best and surest means of im
provement is tn set up correct standards—
to make admiration and imitation of them
Hshionable—by exalting and refining Ute
imagination to the sublimity of their senti
ments and the purity of their characters,
to transfuse into the present age, the ex
cellencies of their spirit and the beauties
of their manners. Let the ancients there
fore be the models. They drank the waters
of Castalia at the fountain. They frequent
ed Helicon and toiled up the ascent of Ida.
There they enjoyed the converse of the
Muses and beheld the unveiled beauties of
the heavenly Goddesses. They founded
the empire of taste, and built those monu
ments of genius, which will shine with un
fading splendour to the last hour of lime.
I' tiead therefore of modern sciolists, let
the ancients receive the homage of the sons
ot literature.
Profligate and Riot!
From the Commercial Advertiser of April 27.
At ten o'clock last night, about four hun
dred persons, men and boys, mortified by
defeat and inflamed with liquor, sallied
forth from Martling's Den. They com
menced their operations by giving three
yells in *• Republican Square." They
marched down Broadway, to the house of
Mr. Huggins, and with stones and brick
bats broke ueariy all the windows in the
front of his house. Thence they pi oceed
ed to the dffice of Mr. Cheetham, editor of
the Citizen, and broke his windows. From
the Citizen they proceeded to the office of
the Evening Post; where the same cow
ardly and disgraceful scenes were rc-acted.
Nearly all the from windows of Mr. Burn
ham's house are broken *—Mrs. Burnham,
with an infant in her arms, narrowly es
caped' death-; a brick from one of these
savages having passed within three inches
of her head. After leaving the office of
the Evening Post, they marched to the
Publick Advei iser, and made the “ welkin
ring" with screams and yells. From the
Publick Advertiser they proceeded to Me
cnanick-Half, and there, the Federalists
having long before peaceably retired, they
fearleeely battered the house, and broke
one of the windows. From Mi-chahick-Hull
they marched off to the dwelling-house of
Mr. Coleman, the editor uf the Evening
Post «U)d manfully broke bis windows, Mr.
Coleman Mt the same time lying ill in the
house. From Mr. Colepian's they returned
back to Martling's, where they remaineu
drinking and carousing till broad daylight.
Such fellow-citizens, such was the con
duct, last night, of a set of Ruffians, who
arrogate to themselves the exclusive title
of republican* and friend* of the peo
ple ! In the name, uf Heaven, what are
we coming to ? Is this city to be eternally
disgraced, and the peace and lives of the
inhabitants jeopardised by the annual riots
of a desperate gang who bid defiance tv
the civil authority, and break through all
forms of tow, of order, and propriety?—
The sanguinary mobs of Perm, in the
bloodiest days of unhappy France, were
scarcely more ferocious than the crew who
last night prowled about our cMy- Nor
was it windows and houses only that ex
perienced the effects of their fury. Men,
known to be federalists, were assaulted
and knocked down iff the streets. If these
thffigs are permitted with impunity, we
are not safe even in our own dwellings.-
Freedom of opinion has hitherto been our
boast; but what kind oi freedom is that
which subjects a min to msult and brutal
violence for voting as his conscience dic
tates and the law permits.
If to the character of virtue and admi
ration of the patients, our countrymen
should join a spirit of manly emulation,
science and the art* might here strike an
everlasting root. I* every age of the work!
the effects of competition have excited
wonder and astonishment. Why do the
most superiour geniuses, like the Pleiades,
rise and set together ? Why are two suc
cessive generations so rarely cheered by
their splendour or guided by their light ?
Emulation ia the powerful cause. Rival
ship works miracles. The wonders of an
cient art bear witness to its power, and
science owns its mighty efficacy.
Here then let it take its fall effect, and
may oar future improvement atone for past
deficiencies. May the next generation,
if reproached for their ancestry, like the
son of Clymene, hold on their journey to
the refulgent fialatt«/ tun, and there
assert and obtain the honours of a rehttial
ttigin, i • ♦
It should be known, not only in this city,
out throughout the state, how these re
fiublicant conduct after expei fencing de
feat. All men, who have at heart the
peace and safety of the country, or who
have any regard for propriety or dignity of
character, should view with maiked ab
horrence and detestation the profligate and
baneful acts of a set of men who are thus
rttempting to arm citizen against chi sen ;
Who «re cealously endeavouring by every
The connexion of morals and the litera
ry arts ia acknowledged. The best affec
tions of the hqart are cherished by litera
ry intercourse, and even the sacred form
of virtue Improved by the dress which
taste prepares for her.
* To heaven’* uneaMrsfuM view,
■* Than to the gIiNMMMff of a wupx flam 1
“Ifho that from a|foe heights, his labour
'' 1 in K *?«■’ , '
Shoots round the wide horizon, to survey
M Nitas or panget, rolling his bight wave,
M Thro* mountains, plains, thro' etopires black
with shade,
*• And continents of sand, will turn his gaze,
“ To mark the windings of a scanty rill,
“ That murmurs at his feet J
Let the interests of virtue also be *•»',
credly guarded. Whenever her Vestal
tire shall be extinguished, the republick of
Utters will be subverted. In an age of
licentiousness and vice, genius withers and
emulation dies. «
•* Can art, alas! or genius oide the head,
" When truth and freedoaMrom the heart are
fled l
“ Can leaser wheels repeat their native stroke,
" When the prime functions of the soul is
broker
■ /* ■
The bill having been further amended,
passed to be engrossed—Ayes 2L noes 7.
Mr. Milnor reported a resolution, which
was adopted, to defray the expenses in
curred under the orders of the House, by
the committee appointed to inquire into
thecause or causes of the extraordinary
mortality in that detachment of the army
ordered for the protection of New-Orleans,
and by the committee appointed to inquire
into the conduct of General Wilkinson.
The resolution allows the witnesses who
have been before the committee three dol
lars a day for attendance, aqd twelve and
an half cents for mileage.
The bill for preserving peace, &c. In the
harbours of the United States, was post
poned to December.
COAfM£/?CZ4Z. MTXRCOURSR.
The amendments of the bill from the
House. [Mr. Macon's, Wo. 2.] were taken
up. That for striking out the section toy
ing the additional 50 per cent, duties, pass
ed. For striking out 18. Against striking
out 9. The totter, were, Messrs. Clay,
Condit, Franklin, Gregg, Lambert, Leib,
Pope, Robinson and Whiteside.
A substitute providing for the employ
ment of the Navy to convoy American ves
sels, was adopted—2o to 8.
A motion to efriAe out the section which
gives the President power to revive the
non-intercourse on certain events, was ne
gatived—2o to 7. A motion to renew the
section for laying additional duties was ne
gatived—l 9 to 9.
A resolution was received from the Se
nate proposing an amendment to the con
stitution so as to preclude American citi
sens from receiving any title of nobility, oi
pension, salary or emolument from any
emperour, prince or potentate, on pain oi
forfeiting his citizenship.—Read twice anu
* eferred to a committee of the whole on the
state of the Union.
A bill from the Senate to erect the terri
tory of New-Orleans info a state, was read
twice and referred to a committee of the
whole.
The noes were, Messrs. Crawford, Good
rich, Hillhouse, Horsey, Lloyd, Pickering,
and Turner—7.
The amendment to the Constitution re
specting Titles of Nobility, passed—l 9 to
5. The latter were, Messrs. German,
Gilman, Robinson, Smith, (of N. Y.) and
Whiteside.
Mr.' Smith reported the new LOAN
BILL with an amendment, for continuing
tht charter of the United State* Bank until
June 30, 1812.—Postponed until Monday.
A supplementary act for the punishment
of certain crimes, passed to a second read
ing.
A bill from the Senate for the relief ot
Robertson, was read twice and made
vQc order of the day for Monday. .
On motion of Mr. Randolpfi, the House
- esumed the consideration of the bill to re
duce the naval establishment of the United
States.
BALTIMORE, April 27.
LATE FROM TQWWGW.
Bt the fast sailing ship Qeorge and Al
bert, Captain Norman, 30 days from Ton
ningen, we have accounts, printed and
written, to 24th March. Prom Hamburgh
and Altona papers, with which we were
politely favoured, translations follow :
By this arrival we learn, that prices In
the north of Europe were not very flatter
ing; exchange on England fluctuating;
some American property liberated, much
After a long desultory debate, Mr. Mum
ford again moved to postpone the subject
indefinitely. Question negatived, ayes 40,
noes 54.
After taking the ayes and noes several
times on different questions on amendments
and modifications, Mr. Sinilie's amendment
as amended and modified was passed, ayes
49, noes 45.—[The number of seamen au
thorized to be kept In actual service, by
this amendment is 1485.]
Mr. Randolph moved to amend the bill
so as to reduce the marine-corps to four
companies of 72 men, one Captain and
three subalterns each. This amendment
was carried. Adjourned.
means to ihrir wdne* aaaschr
confusion and misrule—who, judging from
their rnmflnrt, would* if in their power,
make New-York • wyvern and the fo|Jer
al inhabitants WcWsu tf the tomahawk.
JN SENATE,
TMvaaway, Arair. 26.
jIb.,|)XLL to admit Ifta Orleans Territory
fertfi the Union as *» original State, was
read a third time, and passed—Ayes 18,
noes 9.
The new LOAN BILL from the Hopse
was committed to Messrs. Smith, Craw
ford, Lloyd, Franklin, and Hillhouse.
The Amendment to the Constitution re
specting Titles of Nobility, was, after at
tempts to postpone it, ordered to have a
third reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Saturday, Aran 2ft;
Ssp the Jhails.,
Fixpay, Apiil 27.
yet to jeopqrdy, and apprehensions Mt
pleasant. The Official PetersburgQfe*
attic denies the pretended rupturdFlWk
France, charging it to the printeri.ff Brea
lau—Russian army advancing on Tarkey;
large armies rapidly organising by the lat
ter. The Bavarian'army reduced Hol
land filled with dismay at . its expected
fate ; while the Rhenish Princes pro
mised (20th March) new acquisitions, and
Pomerania restored to the Swedes | be
tween whom, Austria and France a cfoaer
union (God help the weak) is to be formed.
The new Empress would leave Vienna
12th March. King Jerome and his Queen,
(or rather she foremost, for - she precedes
him a day's ride) were flying about the con
tinent ; the last place they touched at vias * *.
Frankfort, March 12, whence they de
parted for Paris—no doubt to sign the re
ceipt for Hanover, of which his Westpha
lian Majesty has now formed possession.—
Besides those troops in Hamburgh and
other northern districts, a French corps
possesses Lubeck. The Master of Frank
fort on the main, (whose previous title wo t
have forgotten,) was, at the last frolick,
promoted to the rank of Grand Duke.
Stockholm, March 6. ,
From Gottenburgh we learn that the
herring fishery will the ensuing season bd|
unusually productive.
Pakis, March 11.
The criminal Tribunal of the Depart
ment of the Siene, continues to persecute
and panic,4 all Frenchmen who have acted „
with the Austrians against France since
1804, agreeably to the imperial decree of
the 6th April, 1800. v
. Official information has been forwarded %
to England, conjointly by France and Aus
tria, accompanied as we are told, by some
new proposals for peace.
• Altona, March 19.
We learn from France that a closer con
solidation of the confederative states be
longing to the French system Is in agita
tion. It is also said that an alliance be
tween France, Austria and Sweden to
about to be promulgated, and letters from
Stockholm of the 6th March, announce the
departure of Colonel Von Engelbrechen to
receive possession of Pomerania, which
province the French will evacuate.
They write from Holland that the castle
of Loo, (on the frontiers,) 1s to be ready on .
the 15th of April to receive the King of
Holland; who is expected at Amsterdam
early in that month. The Dutch are again
taught to hope for peace. »
Sthassuko, March 12.
The Princess Maria Louisa, of Austria,
has arrived at this place, on her way to
Paris. The papers are filled with the in
tended ceremonies of the coronation.
An Altona paper of the 23d Inst. says,
that a letter from France, dated the Bthf
which mentions,' that the armistice her
tween the Russians and Turks has not yet
taken place. They assure us, that a note
from the French Minister has been hand
ed to the Porte, to induce him to join the
continental system, the success of which
is expected. In the mean time, it is affirm*
<d, that France has offered Jjer medtotfoa
between Russia and the Turks.
Vibnna, March 10.
The Court Gazette contains the follow
ing:—The Prince Neufehatel arrived ots
the 4th on his mission relative to the mar
riage of her Imperial Highnesa Maria
Louisa to the French Emperour.
Fbanktobt, March 12.
On the night of the 10th her Majesty,
Queen of Westphalia arrived heres and
proceeded at three o'clock next morning
■hi her way to Paris, the King of West
phalia, followed through this day.
. We expect the speedy return of our
troops from Gallicia through Poland, to
winter in the interiour of the empire. We
are surprised to find this movement on the
frontiers to considered, (by foreign prin
ters,) an an advance towards the Niemeife
We would bo rejoiced to And those prin
ters as anxious for peace In their publica
tions as Russia is in fact.
Hanovbb, March 14.
This day was published and posted up
the proclamation of the King of Westpha*
Ito to the Hanoverians. x .. . i
Altona, March
The St. Petersburgh Cbort of
2d of March contains the following:— .
From Grodno, llth February.
Amstbxdam. March IX
Couriers daily arrive from our King.—
The fate of our country is yet unknown.—
The painful suspense and apprehension
have produced a depreciation in the funds,
Faox tub Main, March 14.
The Grand Duchy of Frankfurt is to be
increased by the annexation of Hannan
and Fulda. The Bavarian army is to be
reduced to the peace establishment
The 20th of this month, is to be render
ed important in the history of the Con
federation—when the new acquisitions of
the respective Princes will be made known.
CoN«TAWTmorLi, January 25.
The Porte has determined to raise tat
mediately a new army of I|o,ooq men.