The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1790-11-20 00:00:00, page 1

NOTES.
•Set Ibe letters farad ~ R. in Dr, Franklin's
fSee ik the mtoirs ts the Amrita* Acadra, &f
Arts ami 'Sciences, bis fyflraef a* all-farrmding
«rb. 3
s„Hst^^'' Later,.
LARGELY had the deceased (hared in the ho
nours of the world. Before the Revolution,
when young, he was elected a Representative of the
town of Bofan, for many years focceffively ; and
one of the Council of the then Province of the Mafr
faebufats Bay. He has since been elected Prefa
deal of the Cancel of this Sutt-Prefdent of the
Convention which formed the Constitution of
this Commonwealth ; and Governor of the fate,
under that Conflitation. He died President of the
American Acadamy of Arts and Sciencies—Pref dent
of the Humane Society, Doctor of Laws in the Uni
ve/fitifs of Cambridge and Edinburgh ; and Fellow
of. the Royal Societies of London and Dublin.
Various, dignified and important as were his
ftaUQng, purfuita and honors, in civil, political and
literary life, they were equalled, if not surpassed,
by the power of his understanding —the virtues of
his heart—and the acquisitions of his mind. Born
to affluence, from his earliest youth, he cultivated
his tafle for science and literature—entered the
Fields of P¥!efophv with the immortal Frank
lin, and therein obtained the laurel Os F? afc ,
& wreath of Immortality.* Nor did his ever-adive
mind rest here, but, like another Newton he dis.
covered a Belt for Nature, and the balance of her
fyftemsf. His <afte for science, and the habits of
literary life, did- not impair his capacity or divert
bis attention from the active perfuits of public and
private business. He early engaged in the service
of his country, and was copfidered by her enemies
is one of their mod formidable oppofersfr
My dear Girl, you too well know my situation
a—and tho' fortune has put it in your power to
pronounce me miserable, yet I know your innocent
and gentle temper, has 'OO much compassion to
otter such a lenience.— And altho' adorned wiih
all that beauty <an bellow upon a person, attracting
to every being capable of receiving an impression ;
tho'-your eves dare fire to my foul, still 1 fay year
mind performs the completion of rendering your
felf the admiration of all who has the happiness of
enjoying four ag eeable company---and at the fame
time breaths forth such sense aid judgment, as
grows into m, foul, warms ever, vein, arid beats in
roe r , pulse.
Perhaps you will fay 'tis flattery ; but believe
me for once, it is the real sentiments of a fond lover
to—-Beside, I know you have so great a forefi^ha
as to perceive the difference between jiaton and
reality; but I have only to rely on your generoficy,
candor, 'benevolence and hospitality for my final
fenteice—And let me beg of you not to be too pre
cipitate in your determination, consider my happi
ness or misery depends on your decision ; but to
take a circumfoedive view of your conduct towards
me I can fee no bad omen at present ; but days
pass like years when absent from you ; and be af
fired, that neither distance nor place, time nor
eternity (ball ever erase from my mind your image,
which is so deeply engraven on my heart, buvfick
or well, dead or alive, believe me to be your sin
cere admirer and devoted humble servant,
4 Copy of a Love Letter, written
by a Gentleman in , to a Lady%
Dear »####,,
TO launch into a juftificaribn of my pr 6
fumption, in writing to you'at the prefect
crisis, would take up too much time need
lessly ; but hope thit your good naure, affability
and mental qualifications, of which nature has so
liberally endowed you, will forgive my intrufiba ;
and permit you to peruse the contents.
I need not inform you, that ever since my firft
glimpse of your perlon,,a partiality has perhaps
been visible in my conduct to^a ds you ; nor is it
possible for me to look, but wih aftoniihment, nor
hear, but with admiration.
###*?#######•
To the amiable and accomplished Mfs ,
Hon. JAMES BOWDOIN, Esq.
M,. RANLET,
By inferring the following you'll oblige a favourite
Customer..
THE NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Saturday, November 20, 1790.]
On the DEATH of the
• A MONG all the vices that disgrace human
nature, none is mpre odious than Ingratitude.
The ancient sages reckoned it the quintessence of
all wickedness. The man who was unthankful
for favours received, they stigmatized as a mon
ger. The reasoning brute that could forget his
benefactor, they, deemed an obje& of contempt
and derision. But however detestable ingratitude
is, no vice prevails mbre universally ; and the man
of yesterday's oblervation will fee, that those op
whom he laviffies his most benign favours, general
ly return evil for good, dilhmulatioo for sincerity,
and hatred for kindness.
I have always considered gratitude as the foul of
virtue ; andrhe man, whether in high or low life,
whose heart is warmed with its genial rays, is an
honor to human nature, a rt d an heir of a happy
immortality..
In Appian and other authors, I have read of the
gratitude of lions and savage animals to their be
n^fadors, and every recital sos such aftions filled
my bread with the love and veneration of this
faired of Eternal Wisdom's children ; but the re
collection of the following ads in humble rational
life, ever fills my foul with rapture and admire
tion.
During the Tory administration of Queen Anne,
no courtier was more carrelfed, adored, and raised
to higher places of traft, honour and preferment,
than the noble Butler, Duke of Ormond. Her
Majesty had appointed him Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland ; and his Grace, in failing from Cheftef
to Dublin, thro' a dangerous channel, was over
taken by a violent storm, which drove them on
the rocks of Anglefea, where they were wrecked ;
his Grace and only a few of his retinue having
with difficulty, saved their lives by fwimmidg to
landi That part of the Tfland on which they were
call,was cold,barren and uncultivated. Having tra
velled fame miles through a<lefart, the firft house
they espied was the humble cottage of a poor
curate. It confided of a kitchen and bed-cham
ber, both meanly furnifhed. The clergyman on
feeing his weather beaten guests, knew them .to be
persons of rank, and gave them a most welcome
reception. Having kindled a Twinging fire, he
dried their wet garments, and set before them the
best entertainment of the house. This frugal,
tho' decent hospitality charmed the Duke. He
was transported to fee so much solid contentment
and unalloyed felicity possessed by his generous
landlord. He asked the curate what his year
ly living was. Five pounds replies Joseph (for
that was his name): but I have a notable wife,
and as we have two cows, we fell their milk and
butter, which almost fopports us, and we referee
the five pounds to buy cloaths, and for our chil
dren's education. Ormond on his departure,
promised to remember his host, and his secretary
gave Joseph directions where he might find his
guests, if ever he came to Dublin.
The curate waited long to hear of something
being done in his favour; but in vain. At left,
roused by his wife, he resolves to pu(h his fortune,
and being properly equipped, he sets out for the
Irilh metropolis. On his arrival, being a scholar,
and a man of conliderable abilities, he was readi
^ admitted by the Dm p preach next fafe
J^^^ _. .
Blended with the fttong lines of business and
philosophy, the portrait exhibited the milder radi
ance of the conjugal arid parental virtues :— An a
iniable Widow now laments in grief, unutterable,
the loss of the friend, the partner; and the solace
bf her days-=A daughter, the father, from whose
lips (he had received the bust of affeftion.
His Charity and his Piety, had the real touch
stone of secrecy—-the former was known only to
the wretched, and the latter to his God.
His Patience and Magnanimity, which had
formed so illustrious traits' in his charader, travel
led through. .nor quitted him at the lad :—Tho'
he was racked by the mod excrutiating torture, not
a groan was heard ; —though he was to be torn
from the heights of forenue, fame and grandeur,
not one repining tigh was uttered ;— Though the
dark hour in which the ftoick trembles Was pressing
upon him, not the fnaile ft flutter of trepidation
appeared :—But reclining upon the Pillars of Phi
losophy, Virtue and Conscience, his foul passed away
in the mild effluence of Confidence, resignation and
Piace. [Columbian Centinel.]
[4 Correspondent has favored us with the following
beautiful picture afiagratitude, which we present
to our patrons, as not unworthy their attention.]
Published by H. Ranlet, in the Main Street, Exeter.
From a former Publication.
forenoon before the Lord Lieutenant and both
Houses bf Parliament. Having mounted the
pulpit, he chose that remarkable text But the chief
Butler (his Grace's name was Butler) remembered
not Joseph, but forgat him. Here he painted th#
vice of ingratitude in the most striking colours, -
and (hewed the unhappy influence that high life
has on the great, in making them forget the be
neficen and humane actions done them by those
who dwell in the humble valley of obscurity and
indigence; and having described this criminal
negligence towards their generous benefaftors, he
observed, " that this might arise, hot so much from
an innate depravity of heart, as from the multi
plicity of state offices in which they may be nobly
employed, or frem having their minds poi foned by
the bewiching flatteries of mercenary fyeophants.
Who cease not to draw their attention from the amia
ble pursuits of humanity, justice & companion, into
those of rich, intemperance & debauchery." H/vinp
come to his application he thus concluded; "And
how, my honourable audience, let each of u< turn
our thoughts inward, and aft ourselves, Did I
ever receive a grateful kind office from any one ia
a Ration of life far inferior to mine, from one to
whom all-bountiful Heaven had not dealt its com
mon gifts with so liberal a hand as to me; but on
Whom it had conferred more valuable blessings, an
open, a generous heart? And have I forgotten
such generosity ? Have I negleded to reward it
tenfold ? Was I ever in my life exposed to the
rage of the merciless elements, when all nature
seemed to conspire for my deftruftion ? Did [
ever fee my companions swallowed up in the
devouring deep, and myfe ls brought fafe to
land with a surviving few? And did any poor, but
contented man, receive me and my (hip-wrecked
affociatts into his house, whilst his adive wife was
employed in making a fire, and with unaffected
decen: simplicity, prepared a repast of plain whcl
fome food, to cheer our fainting spirits, and in
vigorate our cold drenched limbs., now fafe from
the dangers of the fto,my main — who would not
permit his guests to stir from their charitable dome,
till clear serene ikies, and genial fun-ihine, invited
us to proceed on our journey ? And have I un
grateful man ! fuffered such generous and disinter
ested benevolence of foul to pass unnoticed and un
rewarded ? Have I fuffered my benefactors to lan
guish under the corroding scourge of friendlefs
poverty, or to solicit charity's cold hand in vain."
Ormond was all attention to this difeourfe, and,
on examination found himfelf guilty of some pieces
of criminal negligence perfectly similar to those
now described ; but conviction was brought home
to his mind in a more forcible manner, when on
recollecting the features and countenance of the
preacher he found him to be his kind and generous
ianlord of Anglefea, whom he had inhumanly for
got. Turning about to his Secretary ; "Is not
this" fays he, "our honest friend Joseph?" To
which he replied, " Please your Excellency, I
believe it is." '' Invite him to dinner with me."
Joseph being come into the Duke's presence, told
him, with those ingenious blulhes natural to am
honest mind, that he was the poor curate of An
glefea, whose welcome guest the Duke once was;
that he seemed to have this single chance in his
whole life to make his fortune, and that he came
to remind his Excellency of his promise to provide
for him. " You are a deserving, worthy, honest
man," replies his Grace, and immediately order
ed the vacancies of the church to be Searched :
only one living of £3OO. was found vacant. ''There
is none so meritorious as our generous host," and
instantly promoted him from (§. a-year to £3OO.
But alas! how Ihort-lived is all human bliss !
how quick the transitions of fortune! How small
confidence can be placed on princes or the sons of
men! At the Accession of George I. Ormond
was divested of all his places, fled to escape a trial
for his life, and his whole fortune was seized by
the crown. For some time, the liberality of hi,
friends fopported him, but ttys' was anon with
drawn ; and the once great and mighty General.
ifimo of England, became a forlorn fugitive, invi
roned with all the dreary horrors of want, eppref*
fion, and contempt. But how was his heart re
joiced to find a generous and ample supply from in
unexpected quarter, even from hi, old landlord
Joseph. This grateful man, hearing of the Duke's
great misfortune, thought it the lead part of hie ,
duty to relieve out of his benefice, the neckties
of his great and good patron, to whom he owed al£
his living. '' Mydeareft." fays he to his wife,
" ^°y o °hear of the great wants and deep dillreff.
es oftur noble benefador, who raised us to our
prefer affluent gm,. Y% know ire can lire .
[Vol. V.— Numb. 224