The New-York journal, and daily patriotic register — New-York [N.Y.], 1788-06-20 00:00:00, page 2

''The Worcester Speculator-, No. 24.
A N attentive view of the natural
■* 1 world, and of the course ofPto
vidence, in any season of the year,
but especially in the spring, is as in
ftruftive to *he mind, as it is grateful
to the imaq nation. Who can con
♦template tne order, the harmony,the
"un.form defign,which reigns through
the Creator’s-works, plans and oper
ations, without being flruck, with
the conviction, that Order is Hea
ven’s firft law,” and that the human
as well as the natural and animal
world, ought to obey it ? The regu
lar succession of the seasons, and of
day and night ; and the conftant,vo
iu itary confinement of every species
of beasts, birds, fifties, infefts and
reptiles to its own station, element
and class, for its provision, propa
gation and defence, are such inces
sant lessons of reproof to inconstant,
irregular man, as is enough to put
him to the blush, if not to compel
him to the inva iable observance of
the line ’of his destination. With
such observations and refie&ions as
these, was my mind occupied in a so
-1 tary morning walk on the firft of
May. The contrail between the
beauty and regularity of nature, and
the dillurbances and infelicities Oc
casioned in society by the ungovern
ed passions and unaccountable hu
mours of eccentrick man, was so
finking, as almost & overpower my
Spirits. I could not help wishing
that I Could make every body fee
and feci just as I did at that moment,
and then,” said I, “ every body
would keep to his own station, would
be contented with bisown lot ; would
mind his own business for which na
ture and education had made him
moll fit; and ihen every thing w u'd
go rm regularly and well, and every
body wou d behappy/’peffefled with
theie ideas, my imagination ftrctch
td, until I rose to the following re
verie, by which the reader will fee to
what extravagant notions a man may
be carried when he gives a loofc to
this wonder working power.
Methought that, for my benevo
knt wrihes and upright intentions,
as well as or my adequate abilities,
I was appointed to the necessary of
fice of Regulator general, with full
power to turn out every person who
was unfit for the place in which he
flood, and to constitute another in
his room; and toeftablifh athorough
reform both in church and state.—
Thus commiffioned,and with a feep
tre in my hand like the spear of Ithu.
rial, I immediately ran through all
ranks in society, giving forth my so.
vereign orders, that every hand and
every faculty fhovld be employed,
and in that paaticular sphere and
business to which it was best adapted.
Forthwith a beautiful system, like
original creation, rose out of the fir
mer confufion and chaos. In do
meft'C lite I restored harmony and
happiness by dripping the wife of
the breeches and giving them back
to the husband : and ordering both
of them to remember the sentiments
they exprefled in cuurtfhip, and the
vows they made in marriage, I
cleared the ftreecs of vagrants, and
of idle children : The former I or
dered to the workhouse or jail, ac
cording to the degree of their de
merit; and the latter I sent to school,
or to fomc employment, according
to their age and capacity, that they
might be trained to virtue and in
dustry. Every school house I fur
mffied with a master or mistress ca
pable of forming the minds, the
manners and the morals of youth.
Many of the former mailers andmif-
MISGEL L A N Y.
FriM the Massachusetts Spy-.
trebles I ordered to school until tli6y
had learned to fpelb to pronounce,
and to behave so as to be patterns
for the children to imitate. At the
waving of my feeptre, many traders
and would be gentlemen, sent their
goods and furniture to their credi
tors, and returned in their frocks
and aprohs, to the trowel, the Ipade,
the plough and the butcher knife :
And a considerable number of riders
in photons and coaches, fold their
equipages to pay their debts, resolv
ing to figure and live by that only
which was their own. Among the
youth I picked out the geniufles and
sent them to academies and univer
sities, and direded the expense of
their education to be paid out o c the
fuperfiueties of the wealthy. Thou
(ands of people, on Lord’s day mor
ning, I hauled out of their bedsand
sent thoughtful and sober to meeting.
Even the learned profeffors under
went a considerable alteration Hun
dreds in the country, who had aflum
ed theiitleof physician, without edu
cation or (kill, dropped o f their
knees at my frown, alked pardon for
their prefumption,and declared they
were not aQuated by malice pro
penfe ; and therefore, I only order
ed them to be burnt in the hand for
man [laughter, aid sent back to the
low occupations and rank from
which they sprung. I altered the
lawyers oath; and instead of making
them swear to be true to their cliants,
I adjudged them to adhere ftriflly to
truchand equ ty. And the most of
them were entitled to great refpeft
for their learning, abilities and emi
nent services, I continued them at
the bar, upon their solemnly engag
ing to take no higher reward than
what was adequate to the pains and
expenses they ihould be at, and the
bulineis they should tranfacl. As to
the clergy, whatever reverence they
might claim fro n the dignity and .
importance of-he office they sustain
ed, impartiality would not fuffur me
to permit a sing e preacher to afeend
the pulpit, who was either ignorant
or unfaithful. Those who through
pride or laziness had quited the la
bour of the hands fur the labor of
the lungs, I drove back with igno
miny to the field or workffiop. In
some instances, indeed, when they
plead grace and goodness in the
heart, as fufficientto compensate for
the want of learning or difeernment
in the head, I consented that they
should hold forth, provided they
could find an audieuce more igno
rant and weak than themltlves. I
revised the civil lifts in every county,
and expunged the Ef^ from every
name that could not lay claim to it
on the score of merit. I fuff red no
justices to hold courts, but such as
had the law in their heads, and up
rightness in their hearts, With uni
versal applause I eftabliffied the Jus
tices of the Supreme Judicial Court
on the bench, as their superiors in
ability, integrity, and indefatigable
attention could no where be found.
Every military officer, from amajor
general to a lubaltern, I deprived of
his commission, unless he could dis
play thereal qualities both of the sol
dier and the gentleman, which was
caffiiermg many of them for life.
Resolving to make thorough work,
and to break the nest egg of evils,
my flame-winged imagination flew
with me to the statehouse ; and,bolt
ing into the representatives cham
ber, as if the General Court had
been fitting like Oliver Cromwell in
the Parliament house, with a stern
look and a stamp with my foot, I
demanded what they meant by put
ting the country to so much expense
by their everlasting and infignifi
fjant debates? And bid every lub
ber among them, who only hung as a
dead weight on the wheels of govern
ment, to be gone upon his peiil, and
none ever dare to ffiow his face with
in those walls upon the arduous bu
siness of legislation for an enlighten
ed Commonwealth, but such as were
qualified therefor by the greatest po
litical wifdomand inflexible integri
ty. I passed to the Sneate chamber,
and paying refpeft to a number of
characters which maintained the true
senatorial dignity, I annihilated the
rest with a Low! of sovereign con
tempt. Addressing myfelf to the
Chief Magistrate, I assured him that
nothing gave me so sincere a plea
sure as to fee my fellow citizens
both just and generous in diftingufb
i g and rewarding the truly patriotic
and def-rving. —Having compleated
t cremation of the commonwealth,
I da t. d >vnh the fwiftnefs and ight
of a f nbeam to the other dates;
which, by my irradiating influence
and authority, immediately discern
ed and <e t their mutual interest, du
ty and happiness-, adopted with
che- rtTne s and unanimity the cele
brate 1 federal c nftiiultion, and with
one vol e, and with the (bouts of
all ations, placed a WASHING
TON in the office of President-gen
eral.—But before I hads t me to fire
my other directions obeyed, or to
enjoy the tranquility and happiness
which I had every where procured,
a certain impertinent neighbor of
mine,feeing me in a strange fixed pof»
tu.e regardless of every thing
arc .nd me, bawled in my ear, and
bluntly asked me, “ if I was in my
proper place, or knew what I was
about 1” startled and abaffied at the
sud Jenncfs of the found and the un
luckiness of the question, all my vi
sionary greatness a rd felicityyaniffi
ed, a ;d I found myfelf leaning on
the fence of mv cowyard ; and as
soon as 1 recovered my wi s, I betook
myfelf to my morning talk of suck
ling my calves and feedmg my pigs.
A MOST melancholy affair happened in
this metropolis, theeffeCls of which ex
tended for Tome miles round it. Men, wo
men, and children bad attired thcmfelves in
their best habiliments, and were on the march
to the diflerent places, for the reception of
the religious after Divine Service, such as
the Dog and Duck, Bagnigge Wells, &c.
The houses in the city, the churches, and the
ftablefe, were delerted. Man and horse were
out and all was gaiety, mirth, and jollity,
when lo ! n fnozuer —not having the fear of
silks, muslins, and fat citizens before its eyes,
but most opportunely, and unpreparedly, did
iflue forth from the clouds, and did wet,foak,
bedaub, deface^ arid obliterate all the beau
ties of dress which were exposed on the
backs of the aforefaid men, women, and
children, to the great detriment of the good
tempers, pleasant walks, fine evenings, and
snug parlies of the said men, women, and
children. Owing to, and by which means,
the one and all did express their diffatisfac
tion by running, jumping, fchreaming,(wear
ing, murtnering, grieving,fretting,andfum
ing, and alio by which means all the bu
siness ufuallyexecuted upon hot loaves,rolls,
butter, tea, coffee, fyllabubs, punch, ale
and amber, was interrupted, prevented,
Spoiled, and relinquished for the space of
the whole evening. And moreover, the
said men, women, and children, horses,
and chaifes,were obliged to return to their
refpeftive habitations, without being able
to employ that space of time commonly
called the Lord’s day, in the business and
exercise beforementioned. And hereby
declares this to be a true account.
J. B. Secretary.
American Occurrences,
B O S T O N, June 7.
AT a meeting of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences, on the 17th
ult. the following gentlemen were ele&ed
officers for the ensuing year.
The honorable James Bowdoin, L. L. D.
Prehdent, ,
The reverend Joseph Willard, D. D.
Vice-Prelident.
COUNSELLORS.
Hori. Samuel Adams, Esq,
Hon.,John Adams. L. L. D.
Loammi Baldwin, Esq.
Hon, Richard branch, Esq.
A London WET SUNDAY.
His honor Benjamin Lincoln, Esq.
Hon. John Low®!!, Esq.
’ Hon. Robert T. Paine, Esq.
Hon. Cotton Tufts, Esq.
John Warren, M. D. •
Rev. Edward Wigglefworth, D. D.
Mr. Caleb Gannett, recordiag-fecretary.
The rev. Joseph Willard, D. D. consC
ponding-secretary.
Ebenezer Storer, efq. treafui'er.
Mr. Benjamin Guild, vice-trealurer.
Mr. Caleb Gannett, librarian and keeper
of the cabinet.
The following among other communica
tions were received :
Observations of the variation bf the mag*
netick needle, from the 2d of November,
1787, to the nth of May, 1788.
By Stephen Sewall, Esq.
A case in surgery, occasioned by a frac
ture of the [hull.
By Dr. Samuel Mather.
Observations On the manufacture of pot
ash, pointing out the causes of the defeats
frequently difeovered in that article ; and
containing direCtion for making it pure and
valuable; «'
By Aaron Dexter, M. D.
Mr. Isaiah Thomas, presented to the aca
demy, a copy of his edition of Perry’s Eng
lish Dictionary ; a copy of the Worcester
collection of facrcd harmony, and afpecimen
of his printing types.
June 11.
Yesterday a bill passed the hon. house of
representatives for lowering the wages of
the members of the honorable council to 6/1
per diem—of the honorable senate to 5/6.
per diem—-arid of the hon. house of repre
sentatives to 5/I per diem. By this unequi
vocal instance of patriotism in our political
fathers, and from the expeCted shortness of
the session, owing to the happy union of sen
timent that pervades that honorable body,
a saving will be made to the commonwealth,
in this session, of between four and 500®
dollars.
Sunday morning arrived captain North,
in 24 hours from New-York, with whom
his excellency the Governor, and a number
of other gentlemen, members of the conven
tion, came passengers ; and in the afternoon
arrived captain Mott, with his honor the
Mayor of New-York, and others, also mem
bers of convention.
>O >O>O>O<>O-
NcwYork, June 20.
THE confols or anti-republicans, who have
affirmed to themselves the appellation of
fedcrali/ts, observes a correspondent, still con
tinue to display their mean weapons of falfe
hood, deception and detraction, in order'
farther to cajole and betray the honest yeo
manry of our country into the horrid fangs
of the new leviathan of power. For this
pmpofe, paragraphs and extracts of letters,
having no foundation on facts, are coaflant
jy formed, fabricated, and published in the
various newspapers, stiled federal. Of this
description we {hall confider the extract in
the Daily Advcrtifer of yesterday, from a
gentleman in Philadelphia to his friend in this
city, dated the 16th inst. It is there asserted,
that Mr. Mason wrote to a friend of his in
Philadelphia on the 7th of June, declaring,
“ that he thinks it will be carried against
him in convention, &c.” But as our cor
respondent has great reason to doubt the
truth of his declaration, it behoves the Phi
ladelphia letter writer to procure and pub
lish a full, fair, and candid extraCi from Mr.
Mason’s letter, if he has written any on that
day, other'Wifc it will be deemed as his own.
not Mr, Mason’s declaration,
PHILADELPHIA, June 18.
The public are hereby informed, that a
considerable number of BASE HALF' JO
HANNES have lately been brought to this
city from Massachusetts, and it is said they
have been imported there from the Weft-
Indies. They are so well done as to pass on
those not constantly in the receipt of gold,
and well acquainted with the genuine pieces
they represent. The weight of fomc is
barely nine penny weights ; of others, nine
pennyweight two grains and nine penny
weights three grains. They have not
been cut, and look frefh, though bearing
date 1771, 1776, 1777. Tie figures ex
pressing the dates in all of them are longer,
and not so strongly marked ; the hair on the
back of the head is much coarfcr, and the
piece feels rather thicker than the genuine
half joe;
[ ihe several Printers in the United Stated
are requeued to give this advertijement a place in.
their papers, j
On Saturday the 7th inst. several farmers
of the county established a society for pro
moting agriculture and domestic manufac
tures.—-Dr. Edwards, Dr. Logan, the Rev.
Dr. Jones, and Mr. Gilpin, were appointed
to draft a constitution and regulations for
the fame;
. POUGHKEEPSIE, June 7;
This day the convention of this state meet
at the court-hbufe in this place, for the pur
pose of adopting or rejefting the new con
stitution.