Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-06-05 00:00:00, page 2

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tyile dieeks and gouty liri^bs, from Dan to Bertheba, he
-will be convinced that taowfog in /July, and hauling wood
in December, are left fatiguing than pleasure a race. When
-an inquifitfve being afa why there is so much vice and
misery in the world, I conceive no answer would be more
/pertinent, than because the vicious ind the miferible have,
at some period of their lives, been haters of laborious
•work and husbandry. ,
What is it but this aveffion to labour, and a
fantaftic wish to be free from care, that urges
so many to exchange health for whiskey, and
their money for a game of cards ? why are so
many rheumatic limbs "propped by crutches ?
why fees the attorney commence fifth frequent
faits for the inn-keeper; and why in a jail are
the debtors' roo:(s crowded ^ if the hoe, the
spade, and the field could speak, they would fay
"because meh hearken to (he whispers of fancy,
or the perfaafidhs of indolence, and forfake us,
the best allies in life's warfare."
Unless Le save, go forth to fro, he C^^ CT
ped sixty, or tin hundred fold. Unless men some
times love laborious work, and^ufbandry, they
will not reckon much fine gold, nor be eagerly en
quired aftcr'in ihe gate. The ages of miracles are
past ; and I know not whether man has a right
toexBl! that providence will interpose partied
larb:Favour, and give him bread, if he
™mte e " E "° pains toCTeatot it.
"ct&TCW* adjudication, which fenfenced
Adam tl^mUM-e^ ' n 'he sweat of his brow, has
been harffity^fenominated a curse, by unthink
ing chriftians. But it is demonftrabie that the
meceffity for labour is one of the highest blef
iings of life, and without this necessity, other
blessings would loose half their value. In this
initial stanza of one of his frft compositions, a
favourite author has uttered this eternal duth
with equal grace and energy ;
O mortal man, who lived here by toil,
Do not complain of this thy hard estate,
That, like an emmet, thou must ever moil.
Is a lad sentence of an ancient date ;
And, certes, there is for reason great;
For, though, sometimes it makes thee weep and wail
And curse thy star and early drudge and late,
Withouten that would came an heavier bale—
Loose life, unruly passions, and diseases pale.
The ancient poets, delighting in fiftion, have
amused themselves and credulous readers with
a gorgeous deicription of the golden age. An
age which, according to poetical chronology,ex
ifted prior to the primal curse. In this bleft
period, as the fables of Ovid feign, no culrer
pierced the earth's furface, honey diflilled from
oaks, arid wine gurgled spontaneously from
springs. This is undoubtedly 1 vision of the
night. But, if it had been realized, and men,
like the austere governor in the gospel, could
have reaped where they had notfown, and gathered
cohere the, had not ftrrtoed, such a state of inaction
would produce an extreme of wearihefs, more
Intolerable than the drudgery of the field. A
profound obferver* has remarked, that if all the
year were playing holidays, to sport would be
•w tedious as to work! and, if we Mark the men
of pleasure, whom the legacy, or the partiality
of parents has enriched, we shall difeever the
truth of this observation. Who is so anxious,
who loses so much rest who so worketh with bis
bands as the nodtural gamester ? What perils
what storms, what fatigue the drunkard encoun
ters, navigating the raging ocean of wine.
To what injury, and to what infancy is the
libertine exposed, who nightly haunts the recedes"
of debauchery, or who provokes the vengeance
of the hulband by tempting the loyalty of his
wife. What toils, what watchings, what anxie
ties are endured by every sensualist, whether he
roves through the Haram of Variety, of labours
to fully the purity of virgin innocence : yet all
these make delight a trade,
" And coy perdition every hobr purrue.' l
For u,yfelf, I cannot help thinking, that cutting
tender grass is more easy, than cutting unlucky
cards ; that the labourer with a corn basket on
his (houlder, is less burdened than the tipler with
the load of his stomach ; and that the "flaxen
headed plough boy," tracing the straight and
Undeviating furrow, has a lighter talk to fulfil,
than he, who bewilders himfelf in the mazes of
wantonness, who in the twilight, in the evening, in
the black and dark right, hurries after her, who is
emphatically called " the Grange woman," and±
Whose house is theHoufe of Hell, going down to
the chambers of Death.
Repair then, with alacrity, happy hufb^ndman,
to laborious work. Trust me, ye deep founder
than he, who advises you, arid who is destined
to have no acre to till, but who, with throbbing
temples, toils ever the weekly sermon. As I
wander through rural lanes, with a head per
plexed with anxious thought, and with a heart
lacerated by many an arrow of adversity, ftillT
am always tranquilized, when I regard the epe
rations of agriculture. 4 I gaze with pleasure at
your bursting barns, your well ordered cottages,
and your fruitful fields. I fee that, in confc
quence of your labour, you are healthful and happy,
While you,jocund, drive your teams afield, and in-
Sale the balsamic flavour of the earth, you con-|
fult your fortune by the one, and your preserva
tion by the other. Continue to venerate the
plough and feed the ox, and you will turn up
gold with the firft, and draw to your dwellings
foe gold with the second. Let others, as it has
been eloquently said, dig for factitious wealth
in the bowels of the earth, your brighter ore is
derived from its upper stratum.
* SzAKsriARE, who in numerous ptfiges of his mat
chiefs dialogues, faithful to truth and nature, has eloquent
ly recommended habitual industry, and who was himfelf a
figrial and glorious example of ardent applkation affociatod
with the mod creative genius.
I This piawrefque phrase of King Solomon exprefied
with all the energy and magnificence of oriental didion, is
peculiarly memorable, because every apothegm of the Jew
, prince was the dictate of experience, as we abundantly
jam both from bis domestic hiflory andpublic declarations.
;" Curracoa, May 6.—“ This port is blockaded
by an English 44. gun frigate, and several smal
ler velfels, and a fleet from Jamaica is daily
expected ; several veflfels, have been turned away
—Beef is xo dolls, pork 14#15, flour rz." ~
' ~ "From the UNmtfiL GirirfE
THE friends of humanity and of an enlarged/
policy look with uncommon Solicitude to the 1
measures of the legislature of South Carolina, re
fyeding the adtriiGion of slaves. It has been
affirmed, and we hope truly, that the citizens of
that state are hostile to the continuance of the
unfortunate aft, which after a long period of
virtuous abstinence, opened the avenue to this
difcraceful traffic.
If this be afaft, let the voice of the people tie
expr^ffed, in tones so audible as to rescue their
tharader from the liberal reproach cast upon it.
The injury already done cannot be retrieved, but
it may be checked ; and it may be made to appear
to the world that the people of our lifter state of S,
Carolina will riot fuftr the promotion of the nar
row interest of a day tooutweigh thole of ages. It
may be, that our feelings run away with our judg
ment on this fubje&,when we hold the opinion that 1
fat fume future day,unless this great evil be repressed,
or eradicated, we shall pay, in the blood of our best
citizens, the cost of the unfortunate-experiment now
trying. Would to Gad we could awaken those
most deeply intercity to the vigorous profecutioti
of thole measures which can alone save oar coun
try from the mournful feeties which bid fair in a
neighbouring country, to convert one of the faireft
regions of the earth into a howling wilderness;
and where civile I man has become, from the sur
rounded contagion, almost a lavage.
The address rhade to the virtue of South-Caro
lina, by the National Legiflrture cannot, wefhoold
think,Tail in union with other powerful motives, th °
arrest all further importation of slaves The con
stitutional power of imposing a tax of ten dollars
on each imported Have was ttudifputed ; and it
was ooly on the ground of policy that it Was for
borne to lay it. The delegates of the state, nok
withstanding their variance of politics, concurred
in the afforarice that if Congress waved the interpo
fitioo of their powers the obnoxious law would be
repealed. Nor do we believe, had it not been for
this assurance, and the confidence it created in the
meafufes of the ftite legifliture, that Corigrefs would
have lorborne to lay the tax,and thus to have infli&-
ed a deep wound on the character of atefpeaable,
and in most refpeas an enlightened state.—We
may go further, and declare our belf/f, that but for
this confidence, an amendment would long fioce
have been propoled to ths confutation, and have
been by this time probably ratified, prohibiting all
further importations.—Those who may be difppfed
to entertain doubts of this, need only recoiled
that no measure has ever occurred in this country
Which has excited a larger share of indignation,
and that in this fentimerit men of all political de
scriptions concurred and manifefted a zeal,which
while its cause continues can never fubfide#
Let them recoiled that the decided interests of
New. Hampshire, Rhode-Ifland, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, New-Vork,Vermont New-Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and Delaware, are hostile to the
exigence of slavery in any Ihapt whatever ; arid
that Maryland, Virginia North Carolina, Ohio,
and Kentucky arc equally adveife to new impor
tations. We forbear speaking of Georgia and
Tennessee as we are not particularly acquainted
with their sentiments on this point.
Did wenot fully rely on the virtuous feelings
of the people of South Carolina, we might touch
$ chord of interest that ought we think, of itfelf
10 procure a repeal of the odious law. Will
" not the interest of every exiting slave holder
who does not himfelf engage in the new import
nations, be deeply impaired by them ? Iri propor
tion to the number of slaves, according to an in
verse ratio, will be their value ; and just in pro
portion to the addition made to the present frock
will be ihe diminution of value. Let the present
holders of this Species of property only realife this
audit is as certain as their exigence and they
must perceive that unless they purchase to a con
fiderabte extent negroes ^wly imported, they
will in truth be Infers;
By the latest Mails.
PIHL/ IJELrHIA,MAY2j.
The Grand Jury of the Circuit Court for the Diftrietof
Georgia, at the City of Savannah in May term, 1804,
made the following presentment-r
"We present as the most fcrious grievance the pfa&ice
of armed vessels said to be of the French republic laying Hi
ports longer than necessary or than by treaty authorifed to
do ; endeavouring to gain information of the failing of ottr
vtffels engaged in lawful trade with a view to enterupt
or capture them, and in one instance laid before us of their
adually having captured within the limits of the U. States
We regard such conduit as in the highest degree inju
rious and infalling to our country ; and recommend to the'
government of the United States to employ a fufficietit na.-
val force on our toad to prevent in future similar aggres
sions, and we also recommend that the diftri& attorney do
afcertaln whether there are not now vessels fitting within
the ports of this state for the putpofe of cruizing against the
citizens or fubjeds of countries in Friendship with the U
nited States." ty,;,-.-,~ ~ ,^ ;
' -7 — —r
Letter from Lt. Decatur to Com. Preble.
On board the Ketch Intrepid,
SIR, at fca, Feb. 17th, 1804,
I have the honor to inform yon, that in pursuance of /
your orders of the ift inst. to proceed with this ketch off
the harbour of Tripoli, there to endeavour to effed the de
ftru&ion of the late frigate Philadelphia. I arrived there
in company with the brig U, S. Syren, It. commandant
Stewart, on the 7th, but owing to the badness of the wea
, ther, was unable to effect any thing, until last evening,
when we had a light breeze from N. E At , o'clock I
entered the harbour with the Intrepid (the Syren having
Sined her station without the harbour, in a fixation to
„>port us in our retreat) at half pad nine laid her "along
fide the Philadelphia, boarded and after a fbort contest
carried her. I immediately fired her in the store rooms,
'gun room, cock pit, and birth deck, and remained 90 board
until the flames bad issued from the spar deck, hatch-ways
and ports, and before I got from along fide, the fire had
communicated to the rigging and tops / previous to our
boarding they get their tomkins out and hailed several
times, but not a gun was fired. The noise eccafoned by
boarding and contending for possession (although no fire
arms were used) gave a general alarm on ffiore and on
board their cruisers, which lay about a cable and a half
length from us, and many large boat# filled with men la,
around, but from whom we received wo annoyance. They
commenced a fire on us from aH their batteries on fborc,
but with no other cfc& than one (hot pacing through our
top gallant fail. The frigate was moored within half a
gun (hot of the Bafhaw's castle and their principal battery,
their two cruisers lay within two cables length on the
starboard quarter, and their gun boa<within half a gon
(hot on the larboard bow, & had all her gnus mounted
inc lloaded, Which, if they belime liot, Weil oft, Iha 5
she lay with her brdhd fide to the town, I hive no doubt
'but some damage has been done bv them. Before I got
out the harbour her cables burnt off, aod'fhf drifted in un
der the castle where she was consumed, I can form no
fragment as to the number of men that were on, board of
her. , There were about twenty killed ; a large boat full
got off and many lefy into the sea.—We have made one
prifdner who, I fear, from the number of wounds he has
received, will not recover although every assistance and
comfort has been given him. 1 boarded with 60 men and
'officers, leaving a guard oh board the ketch , tor her de
fence, and it is with the greater pleasure I inform you,'l
bad not a man killed in this affair, and but one (lightly
wounded. Every fopport that could be given, as received
from my officers and as each of their codduft was highly
meritorious, I beg leave to enclose you a lift of their names.
Permit me also, Sir, to speak Os the brave fellows I have
the honor to command, wbofe coolness and intrepidity was
such as I trust will ever characterize the American tars. It
would be injustice in me, were I co pass over the impor
tant services rendered by Mr. Salvadore, the pilot, on
whose good conduct the success of the enterprise in the
greatest degree depended He gave me entire fatisfadiott.
i have the honor to bt, &c. &c.
Stephen Decatur, jr.
,fa lift of the Officers engaged in the dtfruction of
fife Philadelphia.
Licuts. James Lawrence, Joseph Bainbridge, Jonathan
Thorn. .
Midihipmen. Mr. Ralph Izard, Thomas M'Donough,
Charles Morris, John Davis, John Row, Alexander Laws,
Thomas Anderson.
NEW TOTRK, MAT Afr
Accounts from New-Orleans to the 1 sth April
state, that the army of Louisiana had left tint place
three days previous for Pensacola. The late Prefed
Mr. L'Auflat was on the eve of departing. Hrs
destination was unknown. He was to fail in the
brig Natchez, some said for Gaudaloupe others for
Charleston. He took a formal leave of the Amer
can commissioners on the 12th and was received at
rhe government house with great refpe& and cere
mony. The American inhabitants intended giving
a fumptoous antertainment to the Commissioners,
previous to the departure of Govenor Wilkinson.
It appears that some unealinefs was excited at
N^w-Orleans by the appearance there of the letter
from Govenor Claiborne to the President of the U.
States, which was published in the papers of the U.
States. It Will be recollected that this letter spoke
in very unhandlome and contemptuous terms of the
ribercharits, planters arid others of the country.
Some Frenchmen, who conceived themselves ca.
Irimniated by the Governor have manifelleq unusu
al irritation. Inflammatory publications havebeen
the consequence inviting the inhabitants to rtfift
the governmerit of the United States. The govern
dr has declared the letter to be a mutilated extract
from the genuine letter ; and on the 15th the pub
lic feeling seemed to be subsiding.
. NEW-TORK, MAY z 5.
foam: Bonaparte.—lt is underfi red, that the
sudden departure of M. Jerome Bonaparte, on Sat
urday last, was occasioned by intelligence of the ar
rival of Mr. Patterson, brother to Jerome's Lady,
and also of diffotches for him from France. Mr,.
Patterson had beeri some time in Europe, and lately
visited the cotirt of Paris. The firft Consul, it is
laid, declined affecting to his wi(h of being pre
tented to him as brother of the lady with whom
his family was now conheaed; but he was received
by Bonaparte's mother, and the rest of the family.
BOSTON, MAT jt.
FROM EUROPE. f
By Capt. O'Brian, of the ship Shepherdess, arri
ved at Newyork, from Gibralter, the public are
furnifhed with the following particulars : —Major.
Barney, the American Consul fol Sicily, had re
ceived difpatehes from Mr. LivingUori at Paris,
enclosing a letter from the First Consul of France
(written in his own hand,) to the Commifaire Ge
nerale at Tripoli, demanding i lie release of the A
iherican officers and seamen of the Philadelphia fri
gate. The difp^tches had been forwarded to Sy
facufa
On the 6th of Feb. an aid-dc.calnp of General
Berthier arrived at Leghorn ftym Paris witb-orders
to raise 200,000 rations. On the 7th the Frerich
General Verdier, with the said aid-de-camp, visited
the vessels in Leghorn Mid took down their names.
Sixteen bad been put in a state of r^quitition, for
the ptirpofe of carrying French troop-; their des
tination was not known, nor was it ku °&n at what
I port they were to embark. It wds luppofed, how
ever, for Corsica or Elbth
.REPORT./
Capt. Clark, arrived at Baltimore, from Liver
pool, which he left the iph April, ftatesthat it was
reported at Liverpool, just before he failed, that the
King of Great-Britain h^d relapsed, and died very
fudtlenly j and that Pichegru, Moreau, and other
state prisoners in France, had been removed from
P,ris to the interior of th: republic.
The National Intelligencer oft& ^th loft, for
nifhes us with the following pleating articles :—
THE REWARD OF MERIT.'
OFFICIAL.
As a testimonial of the PRESIDENT's high
opinion of the gallant cobdud of Lieutenant DE
CATUR, in taking and destroying the frigate the
Philadelphia, a commission to him as Captain in
the Navy, has been duly issued, and will without
delay be trahfmitted to Cooynodore Preble, tq be
presented to him. '
OFFICIAL.
Efttraa of a letter from Commodore Proto to the Secretary ts
the Non,, dated at toed fa Cotfitutiorc, S,rac#fe Barto,
February 1804.
Feb. lath—l received about 20 Maltese sailors
and pilots from the ifl:nd of Malta, which by the
permillion of the governor, I ordered to be sapped
there. These men I thall want to difiribute among
our sailors in latteen boats, as they are accustomed
to them.
19th— A prize to the Nautilus has this moment
arrived, captured to the eastward of Tripoli. She
is a brig from Malta under English colors^ bound
to Tripoli, loaded with hemp and Ipars, ready
made fails, bale goods, and building stone, and has
nine Tripolities on board.
Letters have been received at New-Yorfc, giv
ing information of a terrible fire having broken
out and extended itfelf over an immense part
of the province of Demarara.
Important.
Extras ts a letter to the Secretary bf the Naty, from fl,
commanding officer of a detachment 'tf mariner fat bence to
New brieane, dated Havannab, April 23, 1804.
Having three days water on board, it was deemed
expedient to pdt in nere for an additional supply.
The Governor has manifefted towards us the most
friendly difpofitibntyand has afforded us every ac
commodation in obtaining the requifife fuppMes.
I have great pleasure in informing you that the
governor has lately puffed a decree prohibiting she
French privateers from bringing American prizes inter
any of the ports of Cuba. 1
ICTSTON, MAY 29.
The Court appointed to inquire into the condu& of rhe
I late commander of the Mediterranean Squadron, Com.
i Morris, have reported as their opioirt that he did not
I conduct himfelf with the diligence 6r aaivity necessary to
j execute the important duties of his station. In cooft
! quence of which the President has revoked the Commif
fan of Capt. Morris—The Court was composed of Sam'i
Barren, Hugh G. Campbell, and John Caffin.
. The difpatrhes which have been received at the feat of
government from the Mediterranean, bear ample testimony,
not only to the bravery of the feameu, who were engaged
iri the deftfuaion of the Philadelphia frtyfe but to the
fiiraefr« evert-proceeding con^aed wank Commo
dore Prlule, in hh letter to the Secretariate Navy +
(peaking of this gallant franfatiion, obferves-^^feenciofc
you copies of my orders on this occasion, which mffi&bceu
executed in the most gallant and officer-like manner, bv
Lieut. Commandant Decatur, aflifted by the brave offi
cers and cre^ of the little Kerch Intrepid, under his com
mand. Their condua, io the perforOTWee of the danger,
ous service assigned them cannot btfifficiently efUmated—
It u beyond all p'raife." .
Anmtal Eleaion.
I Yesterday, the Legislature of this Commonwealth for the
year ensuing, met in this town—A quorum of both branch
es affejibled at the usual time of meeting—The Members
having taken the oaths required by the Confutation; pro
ceeded to the organization of the two Houfcs—The Senary
made choice of the Hon. DAVID COBB. Esq. for Pr<6-
dent ; and Wendell Davis, Esq. for Clerk. g,7D
Senators present. Were 36 — of rebich Mr- Cobb bad the Juffi ages
0f%3 —ln the Horife, 00 taking the ballot for Clerk, it was
found that the whole number of votes wait 231— of which
NICHOLAS TILLINGHAST, Esq. had 128, and was
chofen—ln the ballot for Speaker, the whole number of
Votes was 2„, of which the Hon. HARRISON G OTIS,
Esq had 129, and Was chofen.* Perez Mortcn, Esq.
Bad 103, and there men 3 scattering Votes.
The two houles were then joined by the Supreme Ex
ecutive, and eicorted iri prcc.ffionto the Old South
Meeting Hchfe, by the Indf'penCent Cadets, where a ler
mon replete with moral precepts and.inOruaibns calculat
ed to make good citizens, good men, and chriftians, was
delivered by the ReV. SAMUEL KENDALL, of frefton.
In the afternoon both branches io convention proceeded
to fill up the vacancies in the Senate A debate atofe i r
the Senate on the legality of the ek&on of Nathan? 1
Morton, Esq. of ],iftol Didria—Many of the Votes wee
given to Nathaniel Morton, Esq. others to Nathaniel
Morton, jun Esq
Therfe are two Nathaniel Mortons in this diftri&, ore
bf them a very honest fbocmaker, and a federal man ,• the
other is justice of the peace and a democrat—The Senate
decided that the votes were intended for the democrat ; and
that he was allowed to hold his teat—This may be jufticc;
, but the majority of the Senate ought to feel FcGuaded>
that had there been a democratic majority, and Mt. Mor
ton been a federalift, chat he would have been irftantly ur
feated, and a democrat chosen in his dead—and Friar Ba
con's logic Webld have been exercised as plauCbly for the r
ekpulfion of the federalist, as it was for the retention of his
feat by the democrat.
In filling up the vacancies in Plymouth d ; ftriift, the whole
number of votes was found to be 455 —and that the Hon.
Isaac Thbmpfon, cfaulre,had 140, .Hon. Beta Havard, 14$,
and were elected— g^The other v&s mere for Albert Smith,
fttfiro Ilfrfor Nathan Willis, enquire Ix 3, boto democrats.
In filling the vacancies for Parrfable, the whole number
of votes was 23, —of v-tych Richard Soars, cfquire had 143,
and was chosen—g, Hon John Dillingham, a democrat, bad
1x6..
In filling (be Vacancy in Lincoln, the whole number of
votes was 256; of which Mark Langdon Hill, esquire bad
144 votes; mi teas cte&cl
•Mr Otis, on being touch fled to the Chair, addre&d
the House as follows :—-
Gentlemen if this Honorable House,
THIS repeated indanee . i rhe confidence end appro
bation of the House of ihpreleotatives, infpircs me With
emotions of refpeaful gratitude.)
I accept the high honor which-you have been pleased to
confer upon me, with new excitements to duty, and a sin
cere dffcofition to attempt, in some final! measure, to re
quire the favor, by acouftant and impartial attention to the
the dispatch of the public business.
From the Wefi Indies.
Mr. Gibbs, arrived at New-York, from Turks
Island, was informed by a Captain from Cape-'
Francois, that oh or about the 20th April, ev
ery Frenchman, woman, and child to be found
tin that place had been put to death—during
which time nd Americans had ventured to. open
their stores, for the purpose of doing any kind of
business ; but as the Mountain troops marched
out on the morning of his quitting the Cape
(the 20th of April) directly after it was supposed
they would commence business.—All kinds of
American produce extremly high and in great
demand. Produce of every &fcripuon to be
purchafedTof xoodth patties value. ~
Froth the CITIZEN fa New fork democratic paper.)
On Tnefday, after the adjournment of tfe
court, the Mayor of this city was Violently as
saulted in his own house, by a man by the name
!of Williamson. The tircumftances which led to
this outrage are briefly these.
Williamson, who had been put in jail, bro't
an action again(l a person for falfe imprison
ment, and recovered 150 dollars damages. Ou
Tuefday a motion was made in the Mayor's
court by the counsel for the plaintiff for a new
j trial, fnpported by the affidavits of Mr. S. Riker,
jun. and others, tending to (hew that on the one
hand teftrmony essential to the cause of the plain
tiff had, on the trial been suppressed ; and that
I on the &her, his counsel had been surprised by^
I testimony which was unexpedted, and which
!therefore could not be repelled. After hearing
counsel for and against the motion, the. court
;were unanimously of opinion that a new trial<
ought to be grafted. The Mayor was on the
bench, and therefore delivered the opinion of the
court.-
Immediately after the Mayor returned home,
Williamson entered his house with a club in his
hind 2nd enquired for him.—The Mayor [De
, witt Clinton, a prime democrat] appeared, Wil- ^
Ihrafa aiked about the decision of the court ;