Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-03-06 00:00:00, page 1

Vol. XIV.]
FRENCH LANGUAGE.
MR. MARECHAUX, a French
Gentleman who has been educated in a
celebrated College at Paris, and whose business
in St. Domingo, threw him into America some
years ago ; presents his refpeds to the Ladies
and Gentlemen of Portsmouth, and begs leave
to offer them Lessons in the French Language,
for which it would feerh unnecessary to seek pat
ronage, since that ufeful and fashionable language
has become an indispensable part of a liberal ed
ucation,efpecially to those who devote themselves
to commercial business, and who with to enjoy
the beauties of its literary riches. The sub
scription is open it Mr. Cazeaux's office, who
will communicate the terms.
Portsmouth, March 3, 1803.
==== ==== == == ——r
OF ALL THR DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS
WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY,
RELIGION ANb MO 12 0 f rrr, tut J^^^
~&Li. v JrPUKS3 —-—rifofinn^oe , 1 egacy.
ngq^nfflnntotmt&raretHracttem^^
MORALIST.
We have toiled all night and have caught nothing:"
THIS anj^er given by the poorfjhermen to the
Savour of the eWorld, contains much more sense
in fewer words, than many of the boasted proverbs of
fianklin, or maxims of Rochefacult. It can too,
like them, be applied to numerous individuals in society.
And many who never felt the power or owned the
wisdom of a" penny saved is a penny earned" must
feel the truth, and own the force of the answer of the
ffoermen of Galilee.
Aft the impovifhed peculator, who walks the street
in his fleabby coat and dirty Jhirt, who by bis ill-go
ten wealth for years rolled in uxury,'aft h:m how re
flcflion taxes him with fraud, with lying and deceit, he
will tell you with a sigh that he has not only toil'd all
night but maty nights and many days, and has in
deed " caught nothing."
Mik the worn out Debauchee, who flighting all the
fleets of wedded life, bar rioted in all the variety
ofluftful and criminal poffions —wibo has often taken
from credible fair ones their " ricbeft dower," and on
the faith of a Preacher, he will own, that be has toil'd
many night's and '' caughtmothing!'
?fk the worn out Coquet “ who ihivers in lawn
and farcenet" on a December's day, where all her
boasted lovers are fled ? what has become of all her
conquests ^ and wby she is now laugh'd to scorn by
these ver, men who were once her proffered adorers ?
She will tell,ou that (he has " 101 l her time" and
with all her BAITS, and allber artfoe has " caught
nothing."
7he religious erithufaft, whose bead has for year's
beer, turned b, some bair#dined Methodist, who
mopes about the streets and in bye places, vociferating
nonsense, which he calls worshipping the true and
^f, Coda-wu, * l,ds captive fly women' by
ticiife instead of devotion —aft him at the return of
reafan, the advantage of these things and.be will tell
you, alas ! I have toiled man, nights and " caught
nothing."f
Man, other instances might be drawn from real
life, of tboje who have toiled all night and caught
nothing, but as m, pulpit brethren fa, “ let these
fuffice." — And may, all m, readers so conduit
themselves thro' the drear, paths of life, and so im
prove the various blessings fattened in their garners
by him that js good to all that when they have done
with things here, and exchange Time for Eternity,
they may not so have toiled as to have “ caught nothing.
If tte foft hand of winning pleasure leads
By living waters, and thro' flowery meads ; ^
When all is'fmiliog, tranquil and serene,•
Aid verbal beauty paints the filtering feene ;
Oh, teach me to eldde each latent snare,
And whisper to m, Aiding heart— Beware !
With caution, let me hear the Syren's voice,
And doubtful, with a trembling heart rejoice,
If friendlefs, in a vale ofteats I stray, 4
Where briars woiind, and chores perplex my w,,is
Still let my ftcady foul Thy goodness fee,
And with strong confidence lay hold on Thee;
With equaljoy my various lot receive,
R.figo'd to die, or refolptc rd live ;
Prepar'd to leifs the fceptre,OT the rod,
While God is seep in all, and all m God,
I read His'awful name emblazon d high
Web golden letters on th' illumin'd Iky ;
NoV iefs the tpyftic characters I fee ,
Wrought in each flo«er 3 iwf€rib'd in ev'r, tied j
In c vry leaf that trembler on the breeze,
1 hear the voice of Gon among the trees; /•
With Thee in ffiady feiitu deci walk.
With Thee in bafy crowded cities talk ;
In every creature own Th, forming pow'r
fe each event Thy Providence adore.
Thy hopes (halt animate my drooping foul,
Thy precept, guide me, and Tty .fear control.
Thus lull I rest, unmov'd by ail alarms,
Secure within the temple of thine arms; 1
From anxious cares, from gloomy terror free,
and feel myfelf omnipotent in Ihce. , ,
Then, when the last, the closing hour drawanigl^
'And earth recedes before my fwimrowgeye
re¥he* to quit this trantitory feene
With decent triumph and a look serene;
Teach me to fix my ardent hopes ou high,
And having liv'd to Thee, io Thee to die. _______
FIVER IN ENGLAND,
Ifappears from our late London papers, that a fever of
a deadly and malignant nature, rages in the town of New-
Castle, (Eng.) The fiaim is seized with & violent pain,in
the forehead, which is quickly followed by a stupor, and in
a fhprt time he is reduced to a very weak condition. It had
became so alarming, that the magiftratps had taken notice
of it, and had orderad out the fire engines, with inftruc
tiou' ste waffi every lane and alley on the Quay fide, com
pletely clean. — >
Ihe following is the present state of the Datum navy ;
Nineteen (hips of the line, of which one is of 90, two of
80 twelve 0f,4 and four of 64 guns ; fifteen frigates,
& vhich five are of 40, and two of 36 guns, &c.&c. eight
brigs, (even of 13 and one of 10 guns ; a cutter of 20, a
di.tec of 2% and a yacht of 8 gens f together with
Lfrtean gun-boats each mounting two guns; in all 53
Vliets, mounting 2014 fe& Besides which, there are
Newson the flocks, three 74 gun ships, two frigates ,one
oi4p gum, and the other of 36, and three other fall veff-
Paris Arps.
^^^^ra^c.,^^
EXTRACTS
FROM A ROUGH SKI TCH OF MODERN PARIS,
SOCIETY.
Society in Paris is describe I as divided into three
chffes ; (ft. l'ancienne noblesse, or n ld nobility ?
.Silly, the governmental elafs, or constituted autho
rities ; and 3'lly, les parwnur ou nouveauxsiekes, up
starts or new gentry. The riches and luxury of
this third elafs may be inferred from the following
<kiraa:—
Nothing can exceed the fplendotir of the persons
of ths defcripdon. The furniture of their houses;
the dress of their wives, their table, their pl oc, their
villas, in short, all 11, "a^romens" of life, are in the
highest style of oriental magnificence.
To give you some idea of the manner of living,
I will describe to you the house of madarne ——,
w+hica I , o fbrrhy obtained t!itpr^foiff% e s fc^iofo
in her absence.
The house is fifuate in a street leading from the
Boulevard, and is approached by a fine corirt, of
considerable length. The back of the house looks
on a pretty garden, arranged a I'Angloife. It was
formerly the residence of a miniftcr of Gate.
The drawing room, and falls a mange, f, were
not finiflied. The furniture prepared for them
was rich; 1 did not think it particularly beautiful;
but the bed room and bathing cabinet exceeded in
luxury every thirty which I ever beheld, or even
ventured, to imagine. The cariopy of the bed was
of the fineft muslin, the cohering of pink satin, the
frame of beautiful mahogany, ftipported by figures
io gold of antique fh?pes. The (bps, which led
to this delicious couch were covered with red vel
vet, ornamented on each fide, with artificial flow
ers, highly feeoted. On one fide flood, v>n a pe
deltal, a marble statue of Silence, with this inscrip
tion :
"Totatur fomnos et amores confcia kai."
On the other, a very lofty gold ft^nd, for a taper or
lamp. A fine mirror filled up one fide of the bed,
and was reflected by one at the top, another at the
opposite fide of the room.—The walls were cov
ered with mahogany, relieved with gold borders,
and now and then with glass ; the whole in excel
lent taste. The bathing cabinet, which adjoined,
was equally luxurious. The bath, when not in use,
forms a fopha, covered with kerfeymere edged with
gold ; and the whole of this cabinet is as pretty as
the bed-room. Beyond this room is the bed-cham
ber of monsieur, plain, neat, and unaffected ; and
on the other fide a little elofet, covered with green
silk; and opening on the garden, in which madaroe
fits, when she amuses herfelf with drawing. To
conclude, I find the "loves," which "silence
guards," and of which this Paphian feat is the wit
ness, are those of January and May ; for the wife
is twenty, (the greatest beauty of Paris,) and the
huiband something feis thanlixty.
Ihe Chief Consul. —His completion is uncom
monly fallow, hiscountenance expressive but stern,
his figure little but well made, ahd his whole per
son, like the mind which it contains, singular and
remarkable. If I were compelled to compare him
to any one, t should name Kemble the ador. Tho'
Bonaparte is much lets in size, and less handsome
than that refpe&able performer, yet in the con
friiaion of the features, and in the general expref
ficn, there is a strong resemblance. There is,how
ever, such originality about the appearance of the
First Consul, that, without having seen him, it is
difficult to form an idea of his perlon. The pid
ure of Bonaparte at the review, exhibited some
time back id Picadilly, and the bust in Sevre china,
which is very common at Paris, and which has
probably become equally so in London, are the
best likenesses I have seen. As to his dt^fs, he
wore the grand caflume of his office, that is to fay,
a leaflet velvet coat, richly embroidered With gold;
to this he had leather breeches, jockey boots, and
a little plain cocked hat, the only ornament of
which was a national cockade. His hair, unpow
dered, was cut close in his neck.
General Berthiev. —He is a little man, plainly
drefled, with cropped hair. His countenance is
expressive, When he speaks ; but his figure is dimi
nutive; atid his appearance by no means military.
He is extremely polite; feenticrt;anly, and affable.
I^m told lie is by birth 'tub gcAtilhomme ;" and
by his manner it is easy to fee, that he epuft have
puffed the early part of his life in good company;
The lupper at a ball given by a ci-devant no
ble, is represented as contifting of soups, hot diflies,
ligumes, fruit, and pastry ; after which, as a re
move, two large plates, one of turhot,and the other,
of salmon, made their appearance. This will strike
the Englifte reader as a finguUr arrangement; but
it is averted, that "all good French (uppers con
clude with fifli."
A con/ulai dinner at & Tlailloks.
The entertainment was extremely elegant;
and the fight very striking. More than two
hundred persons fat down to table in a splendid
apartment. The company confided, betides the
family of Bbhaparte, ofr the minivers, the am
bassadors, several generals, senators, fourifellors
of state, and other conftituted.authorities. The
number @f women present was by no means in
proportion to that of men, and did not exceed
fifteen. All the English ladies, who had been
presented to Madame Bonaparte, were invited
(though not their husbands) to this entertain
ment ; but it happened that only two remained {
at Paris..
The dinner Was served entirely on plate and
Sevre china, the latter bearing the tetter B. on
every dilh, and every plate ; and the plateau
was covered with mofsfout of which arose innu
merable natural flowers, the odour of which per-•
fumed the whole room.
The First Coaful and Madame Bonaparte,
•Recamier w 6 believe.
fEating Room.
I "Silence guards & f^^rf ,^f^^^^ b^
ORACLE POST.
i^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^pmmafflnfflmramtHßmNpmnßmtifo'reQflflQßQtmmt^ttm—^—. ..."'S
TUESDAY, March 6, 1804.
.--, ,
conducted themselves with much ease, and spoke
Very affable to those around them.
Ihe Servants were ' numerous, fplcndidly dref
and highly attentive. The dinner lifted
bcre than two hours.'
Literary eftablifotaents.
Perhaps there is no town in the known world,
^hkh affords fitch favourable opportunities of
acquiring and cultivating knowledge, as that
from which I am now writing. Or ithis fub
jeft, equality in the best sense exists; and while
the poor nian has the fineft libraries, and most
exUnfive cblfe&ions offered to his use, without
aur expense Whatever, he, whose circumftahces
are moderately easy, obtains, for a trifling con
fi< oration, every possible means of additional
improvement.
.Comparative view of Paris and London.
hi width, cleanliness, and beauty, the streets
h London have such a decided advantage over
e of Faric, that I believe even a Frenchman
Would acknowledge, that the question could not
be disputed. The foot-paths of the former, on
which the pedestrian may walk without danger or
dirt ; the excellent pavement, which prevents any
I fatigue from betig experienced in the use of a car
riage ; and the brilliancy of the lamps at night
which renders the passage, in an evening, from
one part of the town to another, rather a pleasure
than apain, are but ill contraft^d by the narrow &
ilthy lanes of the latter, in which persons on
foot are eonftantly exposed to every kind of ac
cident and inconvenience ; to the neglected car
riage ways in moving over which individuals
are bruised, and wheels rapidly worne out ; and
to the dismal and uncertain light, which a few
lantherns, hung by cords suspended from the op
posite houses, Faintly afford. But if the Greets
of Paris mild yield to those of London, the for
mer city is undoubtedly superior in its palaces
and public buildings, and in the height, style &
architecture of private houses, the fCine fronts,
regular plan, and lofty dimenflons of which,have
a very commanding appearance. But though
the edifices are finer and arrangement more con
venient,each floor consisting of a complete set of
rooms, yet from their great size, it happens that
the fame house is occupied by several families &
the stairs eonfequently becoming public, are as
dirty and disgusting as the common streets.
Where tao an individual keeps an entire house
in his possession, ffie number of his house is rare
ly proportioned to the size of his habitation;and
either only a part is occupied, or the whole is
negleded and in bad order.
The eating rooms of French houses are very
disgusting. Instead of the comfortable Turkey
carpet, handsome curtains, ftucceed walls, blaz
ing fire, and ornamental sideboard of a London
parlour, the dinner is here served in a dark and
gloomy ?partmer%.m&,-flr f¥!e a mange,"
impetfedly heated by a Hove, the floor generally
of ftotte, and always without a carpet, the win
dows'without curtains or Gutters, and the whole
dirty and uninviting. «Vhere there is no separ
ate antichamber, the servants occupy the dining
rooms in the absence of their masters ; and, in
that case, the smell, which such company is apt
to leave, is extremely offenfive.
To those who are fond of the* arts, and who
devote their time to the pursuit, Paris offers ob
jeds of great interest and unequalled beauty.
Persons who pass their lives in a career of Qi^-
pation, who are Satisfied with public amuse
ments, bought p'eafures, and high play, will
find here, decked in all the joys of variety, the
means of gratifying their favorite wishes. •To
such as come to view the curiosities of the place.
Paris will appear delightful during a residence
of two or three months, as that time will be
fully and agreeably occupied in examining its
various institutions, and in visiting its different
theatres, particularly if the traveller arrives in
the beginning of fpfing, when the charms of na
ture are added to those of art; But to him
whose attachments are centered within the circle
of his own family, who is fond of the investiga
tion of truth, and whose early days have been
pa(fed in the poliflied societies of London, Paris,
after its great and striking beauties have once
been efficiently viewed, will appear compara
tively tame, dull and uninteresting; He will
daily ir.ifs the freedom bf converfatiofi, which is
so prevalent it England she will look in vain
for that manly sense, with which great national
questions are difeuffed by men of education in
London he will be irritated by the flippancy
of French' politicians, and by the pedantigerms
and laboured sentences, which take the place of
found argument ahd solid reasoning. He *ill
find the amusements rather various then splen
did; He will find society difficult when .it is
good, and dangerous when it'ft easy. He will
admire the grace and elegance hf th? ladies; and
will look with an eye of pity, if not of contempt,
on the indelicacy of their dress. He will bear
"la-bonne compagtiie" talked of in every set,
andnever defined. >. He will perhaps at last di(-
cover that it only erifts where it does not as
sume the name, or, as Voltaire fays,
“tyties' appelle pas h.bonne c impagnie, niais qm Pelt
He will view with wonder and admiration the
works of art, and fee with no little pleasure and
gffidfity the extraordinary man now at the head
I 5f government. Such will be -nis principal
(ources of fatisfadion dt Paris. He will soon
difeover that every thing else, however blazoned
out so the trappings of grandeur or vamped up
in the colouring of hyperbole, is Only "air and
empty nothing."
A fatal accident happened on Monday fe'nnight at Quar
ry Hill Leeds,' A child about nine weeks did, having
been left asleep in a basket placed on a table, ffhllft. its
nurse went to n neighbour's house, the basket wag by foroe
means overturned, aod the child falling into a tub of beer
ttated<md« the titty ", ^^"
m4»r,a»T||<«■■ I.aWOICTIWHBMMIMBMtWMB ^
, .HOTTENTOTS IN ENGLAND.
Mr. Kitchcrer, 3 Dutch Missionary Preacher, ha,
arrived in London from Holland, accompanied by a male
and two female Hottentots, who have become civilized, and
espoused Christianity under his Ministry and by his exer
tions; and they accompanied him to Holland and Eng
land at their own particular request, to have occular proof
that persons met together te worGiip as he had rep: ented
to them. On the Monday evening, Rafter their arrival,) a
meeting was held at Miller's Lane, Cannon-ttre t, Meet-
House, on missionary business, when Mr. Kitcherer at
tended and introduced the three Hottentots; they were
placed in the Clerk's Dfk for the gratification of the
crowded assembly brought together to behold these ex-,
traordm^ry beings who had become civilized. They are
of a copper colour, with woolly hair ; one of the females
appeared to be about fifty years of age, the other between
%o and 30, and the male about that age ; the females are
about five feet high, ahd the male about five feet eight
inches ; they were habited io a plain English dress ; thef
have been baptized John, Martha, and Mary.
The business of the Mceting^was commenced by Mr.
Vofs, an African Preacher. Mr Kitcherer then rofc
and dated, that he had been about five years among the
Hottentots,.and had nr^ewall; been in the country, which
was Bear 500 miles beyond the Cape of Good ilopn Oe
his firft arrival among them, he was under the greater ap
preventions for the preservation of his life, as he was fre
quently (hot at with bow and arrows. He fotindthem to bp
of such a very indolent difpt>fition,that they would not flir,
except impelled by hunger,& after be had got a fewefthemto
be reconciled enough to affociare with him, the firft attempt
at Reformation he made was to perfuadc them to leave off
ornamenting themselves with filth, &c. to convince them,
of their need of eloathing, &c. ahd to stimulate them to
ads of industry ; and be had succeeded so far, that instead
of hole! io the earth,& huts which they used © sleep in,the,
had now got,tolerable houses. He distributed Bibles among
them in the Dutch language. His congregation confided
of about 600 and he had baptized about 40, and there were
in the whole about 1400 of the wild and tame Hottentots
who attended to what he and a brother missionary had to
fay. Mr. Border, the Secretary, read a letter which had
been received from the country, since Mr Kitcherer had
left it, in which it was said, every thing was going oa
well, but Mr. K's return was anxiaufl, looked for. The
Hottentots sung a Hymn in their own language by thcra
felves.
Commonwealth of Maftichufetts.
A Proclamation
^or a dAY of PUBLIC FASTING and PRAYER.
AS we receive from the goodness of the Su
preme Being; not only our individual ad
vantages and enjoyments, but all the public and
social blessings with which we are encompassed;
it is highly proper for us, at the opening feafort
of the year, in a public and Solemn manner to
acknowledge our entire dependence upon His:
unmeritted bounty ; and to implore His forgiv
nefs and the grant of such future support and
protection as may be necessary for us.
I do therefore, agreeably to the long eflab
lifhed usage in this State, and with the advice
and conferit of the Council, appoint Thursday the
Fifth day of April next, to be observed through
the Commonwealth as a Day of Public Fading
and Prayer- And Ido herty^requeft the Mia
ifters ^d People of the van'' aminationsof
Christians, to meet together ® that day, that
with humble arid penitent hearts we may confefs
our multiplied transgressions, and intieat the
forgivenefs and beneficence of that Gracious Be
ing, who is attentive to the circumllances of all
His creatures, and who fulfills the desires of
them that fear Him, and hope in His mercy.—
And beseech Him that in the'eourfe of the year
to come, He would be surety for us for good,
arid guard us in those situations of danger,
which no prudence or care of ours can forefee or
provide against—That he would guide and
prosper our National and State Governments—
That our Magistrates may exert themselves to
unveil and defeat every dilhoneft practice, arid
guard the innocent and weaken the power of the
oppreffor—^hat those who are employed to in-
Apia others in the doctrines and duties of the
Christian Religion may themselves experience its
Divine power and efficacy, and illullrate by their
example its beauty and truth—That Christians
of every denomination may be diftinguilhed by
the candour of their sentiments, and the active
goodness of their conduct—That the virtues of
sobriety, frugality and regard to the public wel
fare may prevail in tvery elafs of the people;
and that we may all pursue the business of our
refpe&ive Rations and profeffions in life with in
dullry and with a fixed dependence on the Di
vine Blessing; as absolutely necessary to our fuc-
Cefs.
That in the course of the ensuing feafori He
would prosper our husbandry, and cause (he
earth to yield its increase -That he would pre
serve the health of the people, and save them
from wafting and infectious diseases — That he
would grant success to our trade, manufactures
and fisheries—That he would regard with fa
vour our University and other seminaries of
learning, arid make them eminently ufeful in dif
fufirig knowledge through every part of the
Rate ; arid that our posterity may ever enjoy the
advantages of religious and moral instruction,
and the means of literary improvement.
That he would retrain the passions of ambi
tion and rapacity which have been so fatal to the
refofe and happiness of Mankind.—That the na
tions who are engaged in war may be inspired
with sentiments of justice, and of mutual for
bearance and friendship ; and that Divine Orace
may remove all obstructions to a free eoltrfe of
the Gospel, and cause its infitfeoce to be ever,,
where extended.
And the People of this (late afe requeued to
abstain from' unnecessary labour aqd recreation
on the said day.
Given at the Council Chamber in Bftn, this Jev
enteenth day of February, in the, year of our
Lord,' one thousand, eigld hundred and four^
and in the twenty eightJear of the Indepen
dence of the United States of America,
CALEB STRONG.
0, His Excellency's Command, with the advice anil
content of the Council. ' ''
JOHN AVERY, Secretary.
GODfave iPe Csft&OMwealtb of M^jLlu/citi !
[No. 21.