The Newhampshire gazetteer — Exeter, N.H., 1790-11-06 00:00:00, page 1

IMPENDING DUEL.
AVERY curious quarrel arose last week, be
tween two as true originals as this fruitful
town harto boast of, that is to fay, Mr. B ,
of Soho-Square, and Mr. N -, turning the
corner of King's- street, Drury-Lane, (where he had
been to visit a patient) in his chariot, Mr. B—• ,
who chanced to be passing that way, failed and
whispered something to a friend, who was walk
ing with him. Mr. N - was much hurt at
this and the fame evening sent a gentleman to de
mand an explanation ; and, in particular, to know
what business Mr. B- — had to smile while
he was passing.
The answer from Mr. B— —— — was, (and the
writer of this article was an eye-Witness) that he
really was not, at the instant, prepared to fay what
business he had to smile while Mr. N ■ was
passing, but would firft of all with to know, " what
business Mr. N had to pass while he was
foiling?'
The report was made,which, however, produced
nothing serious, only that the parties were, from
that day, looked upon as people at variance.
One day, the beginning of last week, Mr,
B— — — dined in mixed company, & the difeourfe
happened to turn upon his antagonist, N -;
B —, (who is a wit) took up a flip of paper,
and wrote the following extempore:
O, Dodor N—= ! 0, Doaor N—=!
Tby ffy, now at full,
With plate of brass upon tby door,
And ditto on tb,Jcull!
In the-carelessness of mirth and hilarity, he forgot
th take care of this fatal scroll ; which a person, in
GREAT BRITAIN, with a debt of three
hundred millions sterling, like a mill-Rone
hung about her neck, and everv resource
of taxation explored and almost exhauftea, appears
to have her fate fafpended on a thousand contingen
cies : Among others, the most important is the
tenure upon which (he holds her East-India poffef
,fions, one of the most produdive sources of her re
venue ; this is so precarious, as absolutely to de
pend upon the fidelity of her military eftablilh
ment in that country.—ls we turn our eyes to
FRANCE, we behold a mighty nation, in an ad
vanced age, bowed down with infirmities, and an
ewormoui:d:b:, ^-p^'g with deep-rooted pre
judices, and a despotism, that is interwoven in the
very texture of the people—and although her en
lightened patriots have performed wonders in e
mancipating their country thus far, it appears that
little iefs than a miracle can preserve their politi
cal Union, without reverting to the firft principles
of civilization, and beginning again 4 novo.—
SPAIN appears to be at an interesting crisis—Ci
vil convulsions impending, and the second edition
of the French revolution may b, hourly expected.
—GERMANY in addition to the intolerable bur
den of foreign war, is involved in all the horrors of
civil diffention : Harmony, peace and confidence
are suspended—and without these, all the enjoy
ments of civil and domestic life are at an end.—
RUSSIA and SWEDEN are cutting each other's
throats.—TUßKEY is groaning under military
exactions to carry on the war against Austria and
Russia ; these in addition to the cruel peace impo
sitions of a despotic government, mull fill up the
measures of human misery, in that ill-fated empire.
—The ITALIAN STATES are allo torn by in
ternal directions,& appear to be on the eve of a re
volution. All these circumflances are hostile to
that happinefi which results from good government
—They subvert the principles cf the social com
pa&—property is set afloat—and human hope is
cut off.
The UNITED STATES on the other hand, are
±, t & o afen&tfca of Providcuu. placed at a
goodly distance from all these feenes of tumult and
mifery-.peace reigns triumphant through our coun
try—arts, agriculture, manufactures and com
merce, under the foftering hand of the federal go
vernment, are pursued with pleasure, profit and se
curity—the seasons shed their mildest and most be
nignant influences on, our labours—our land yields
its increase—the exuberance of our fields are trans-
ported to distant regions—while the produce of
every clime is wafted to our Ihores-.-every man
enjoys in security the fruits of his industry-.-nor
is there " @ one to annoy, or make us afraid.
"THE NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Saturday, November 6, 1790.]
From the Gazette of the United States.
-THE CONTRAST.
LONDON.
the demand of Spain for fulfilment of the,condi
tion of the Treaty called the Family Comped.
The hon. member, in a speech of great elo
quence, pointed out the relative situation of France
with the other European Poweres, and the neces
sity of adhering to existing Treaties. He said, not
withstanding the present hostile appearance of two
neighbouring nations,he flattered himfelf that peace
would still be preserved. He said if the dispute
between Spain and. England were to be decided
by the principles of equity, it would be soon de
termined, for the territory in question belonged to
neither of those nations. It belonged indisputably
to the independent people whom nature had plant
ed in those regions, and could not be comprehend
ed within any line of demarkation made by the
Pope. He said, it would befi<|es be injurious to
the character of two enlightened nations, to sup
pose that they would lavish their blood and trea
sure for the acquisition of so distant and unproduc
tive a spot of ground.
He then took a view of the internal state of the
kingdom ; he painted in forcible terms the deran
ged state of the finances, the undisciplined state of
the army and navy, and the innumerable calami
ties consequent upon war ; bdt these evils, he said,
great as they were, were not to be taken into view
when deciding upon the question of alliance. The
time, he said, was perhaps approaching when the
standard of Liberty would be set up in all the na«
tions of Europe ; but that, until that time arrived,
France must be governed by her old political in
terests. This condu& she was compelled to adopt,
to preserve her from deftrudion: After having
proceeded with some further general observations
he submitted to the Assembly two propositions:
ift. That all proceeding treaties entered into,
and concluded by the King of the French, ought
to be ftrialy observed by the French nation, fub
je& however to such changes and modifications as
' should be made (herein, in consequence of the re
ports of the several committees.
The sentiment of France overcame its habit, and
a " Bravo ! Bravo !" echoed from every quarter of
the room. Every heart felt the magnanimity of
Douglas---nor is there a man of principle that reads
this anecdote (for falfe honor is out of the question)
that will not readily allow, that it requires infi
nitely less courage, to fight, than not to fight a
duel.
FRANC E—NATIONAL ASSEMBLY,
AUGUST 25.
MDE MIRABEAU brought up a report from
• the Diplomatick Committee, relative to
There was an instant murmur among the bye
ftanders ; and his antagonist feeling the affront,
as if the lie had been given him, in the violence
of his passion, snatched up the tables, and hit
Douglas a blow on the head.
,The moment he had done it, the idea of his im
prudence, and its probable consequences to him
felf and his friend, rushed upon his mind ; he fat
ftupified with shame and remorse, his eyes rivetted
on the ground, regardless of what the other's re
sentment might prompt him to aft.
Douglas, after a Ihort pause, turned round to
the fpe&ators :—-" You think, (said he) that lam
now ready to cut the throat of that unfortunate
young man ; but I know, that, at this moment, he
feels an anguish a thoufand# times more keen than
any my sword could infli&——l will embrace him
thus, and try to reconcile him to myfelf: but
I will cut the throat of that man among you, who
shall dare to breathe a syllable against my honor."
" Bravo ! Bravo !" cried old Chevalier de St.
Louis, who flood immediately behind him.
Captain Douglas, a gallant Scotch officer, play
ing at Tridrac with a very intimate friend, in a
coffee-houfe, in Paris, nmidfl a circle of French
officers who were loofomg un, fame depute afofe
about a cast of the dice; upon which Douglas
said, in a gay, thoughtless manner, " Oh ! what a
story !"
IN France, such is the severity of the laws of
honor (as they are falfely called) that nothing
but the death of one of the parties can expiate a
blow.
a full bottom peruke, apparently a physical man,
adually pocketted and carried to Mr. N.——.
Such a gross provocation, as this, could never
pass unnoticed, and the parties are to have a meet
ing, as soon as their refpedive wills can be execu
ted, which are, at this instant, in the hands of
solicitors of the firft eminence.
Published by H. Ran.l et, in the Main Street, Exeter.
FRENCH DUELLING.
A SCOTCH parson in a babbling
prayer cried out " Laird bless
the Grand Council, the Parliament,
and grant that they may all hang to
gether." A country fellow Handing
by replied,yes, yes,with all my heart,
and the sooner the better, for I am
Jure it is the prayers of all good peo
ple." " But friends" said Sawny, "I
don't mean as the fellow means, but
pray that they may all hang together
in accord anj concord." "No mat
ter what cord, replied the other, so
it is but a strong cord.','
2d. That the King Ihould be addressed to make
known to the powers with whom the French nation
are in alliance, that the unalterable desire of peace,
and the renunciation of conquests, being the basis
of the French Conftitotion, they will not confider
as obligatory any part of fach treaties, but fipula
tions purely defenfart.
He then stated that the committee had examined
the alliances entered imom^ifferent periods with
the Court of Spain, the utility of such to France, &
the present fate of Spain& England. The Spaniards,
he said, had been long enemies to France. The
treaty of the Pyrenees had at left put an end to the
effufion of blood. This was followed by the Suc
cession of War, which terminated in the union of
the royal ceptres of France and Spain in the
Family of de Bc&boDj bat fill, as the two
nations were not. united, a rival(hip subsisted, and
England, profiting by these divisions, seized with
impunity the dominion of the sea, and the commerce of
the nvorll
After the calamitous and deftrudive war of <757,
which had cost France her ffiips, her wealth, and
her fined colonies, an opportunity offered for the
Spanish nation to manifeft its character of gene
rosity and honour. They generously flood forth
as the friends of France when (he was bending un
der the weight of her misfortunes, participated in
her calamities, revived her hopes, and weakened
her rivals. A treaty was signed in 176 1. The
fruit of this treaty was a profound peace for six
teen years, which might have been longer pre
served, had England refpe&ed towards her Colo
nies those sacred principles of liberty (he herfelf
adores ; and had not the French (the proteaors of
the liberties of others before the, attained it them
selves) besought their King to assist the Americans?
On this octafan the Spaniards, faithful to their trea
ties, run to arms,and affixed France with their fleets,
their treasures and their soldiers ; and the consequence
was, a restitution of Libert, to a considerable part of
the human race.
He concluded his speech and report, which were
frequently interrupted by bursts of applause from
all sides, with proposing the following plan of a
Decree : which was adopted.
Decree of the National Afrabh of France on the Fa
mily Compaa. °
" The National Assembly deliberating on the
formal proposition of the King, contained in the
letter of the minister, dated the firft of Auguff,
“ Decree, that the king be supplicated to make
known te his Catholick Majesty, that the French
nation, in taking all proper measures to maintain
peace, will observe the defenfive and commercial
engagements which the French government has
previously contraded with Spain.
" They farther decree, that his majesty (hall be
requested immediately to charge his ambaffadours
in Spain to negociate with the ministers of his Ca
tholick majesty to the effea of perpetuating and
renewing, by a national treaty, the ties so ufeful to
the two nations, and to fix with precision and
clearness every stipulation, that shall be ftridly
conformable to the views of general peace, and to
the principles of justice, which will be forever the
policy of the French. °'
'' The national assembly further taking into
confideretion the armaments of the different na
tions in Europe—their progressive increase, and
the fafety of the French colonies and commerce,
decree, that the King (hall be prayed to give or
ders, that the French marine force in commiffioia
shall be increased to at leaf Forty-five (hips of the
line, with a proportionate number of frigates and
other vessels. Twelve of which are to be fitted
out in the ports on the Mediterranean."
[Vol. V.—Numb. xz