Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1802-11-23 00:00:00, page 2

THE superior diftinaion which Mr. Jef
ferfon has acquired, in the political world,
is founded upon the alliance of virtue and
fortune. Great events give birth to great
talents. It is not difficult to fay, however,
that had the revolution in America never
taken plaqe, he would have risen to confiders
ble fame in the republic of letters and phi
losophy. The advantages of an excellent
education, habits of application and Rudy,
were cifcumllances that gave to his miud an
inclination for philosophical and literary pur
suits. His "Notes on the State of Virginia,"
is a vrork replete with merit ; it dilcovers
a mind at once fugacious and iqquifitive § a
mind capable, by the gradual means of ex
periment and rational deduction, of unfold
ing the sublimest principles of truth. The
fame great event which has immortalifed the
genius of American patriotism, and drawn
from obscurity the most brilliant talents in
the field, and cabinet, paid equal tribute to,
the virtues of Mr. Jefferfon, and gave him,
diftinaion in the firft rank of ttatefmen. At
the hrit shock of that convullion, which e
ventually feparafedthe Continent of Ameri
ca from Great Britain, the philosophical
apparatus fell from his hand. Dire&ed by
that genuine patriotism which facrifices pri
vate interest to public felicity, he exchanged
rural case and retirement for the buttle of
active life, the researches of Rudy for the
more important duties of the Cabinet. In
this situation Mr. Jefferfon leems to have
been designed by character and talent to com
bine with the solidity the durability of repu
tation :—his advancement was gradual, and
every step of it was marked by a display of
abilities that was£qually honorable to him
felf, and competent to tlie difficulties occa,
fioned by the precipitancy of events. Ther,
is a contemptible activity, which facrifices'
personal dignity &' independence to the rage
of ambition, and the desire of fame. Not
contented with the internal confcioufne?s of
deserving applause, and waiting with com
posure for the period which ihall bestow it,
it goes in search of unmerited laurels, and
courts the acquisition at the expence of every
sentiment of delicacy and propriety. This
imputation never tarnished the character of
Mr. Jefferfon., The fuffrages of his country
were wifely disposed of. He deserved con
sideration and he'obtained it. He never fol
lowed fame, but fame appears to have pur
sued him through every department in which
fortune or circumstances have placed him.
An undemanding clear and sagacious, in
tegrity unpolluted by public reproach 04
private malice, and principles whose found-!
nefs and moderation are^the best testimonials
of their finceriiy, were qualifications which
called him to the highest departments of Rate.
If I may be permitted to give an opinion of
the political principles of Mr. Jefferfon, it
will be drawn from the aggregate qualifica
tions of the character, —1 his mode, how
ever, may commonly be a very fallible one
in forming our judgment, because the most
manly virtues, and most brilliant intellects
are too often in coriflift with the latent feel#
ings of the heart. But' it w^uld be unchar-j
" itable in the present initance to conceive 4
difpari't y which nothing confirms but every
thing relates. It would be barbarous to
violate" the fentim'ents of benevolence, an'd
to reproach the Judgment with deleft with
' out truth or reason. It is impossible to
mark the progress of personal interest in the
anions of a man, every part of whose con
dud has been connected together by a Chain
of uniform morality, whose tone is decisive,
whose Ryle and language are clear and nerv
ous, whose principles convey the reality of
jultice, and the convictions of experience
add reflection." The political principles of
Mr. Jefferfon are drawn from an expanded
intelled, that confits the oracles of nature
and wafon as its only guides. Born at ape
rio&wilen the whole uhiverfe was consulf
ed by the Goufliaing pa'ffions of mankind,
' it was his Rudy to reconcile the jarring ele
ments, and to extract felicity and order
from misery and conf^fion. Experience
veiled, and the poignard of an Eriex Junto
introduced as a substitute—who then, Sir,
could answer for the dreadful Rate into
which foci ty would be plunged r You mutt
lave been responsible tor the event, and
" Ged only knows" the extent "of ite ca
traftrophe. Viewing things on this broad
scale, no citizen who duly estimates the har
inonyot tlie United States will confider the
obfervatious as too pungent. I flatter my
felf that your candor will suppose them but
a moderate discipline for the evil which you
threatened.
OLD-SOUTH.
From the London Morning Post.
Character of Thomas Jefferfon,
(NOW PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.)
The following elegant and we doubt-not correct de
lineation of one of the most important political
characters now in exigence, we hope may be ac
ceptable to our readers : This portrait of agreat
and upright Jlatefman, patriot, and philosopher,
is the production of an American pen, and was
drawn during the late political ferment in 'the
United States..
jand observation have pointed out to him the
wrecks of ambition and despotism, ol error
and prejudice. They have conveyed his
mind through the various regions of society,
, famdiarifed it with the melancholy exhibi
tion of loft* dignity, of injured innocence, of
polluted virtues, and ledlt in the awful con
templation of Irenes at which his humani
ty ibudders. It is no wonder, therefore,
that his opinions are the pious innovations
of the philosopher, who willies to repair the
injuries which an unjust policy has oc^a
fioOed in the World: that he cherishes them
as a peculiar tribute to his own feelings,
which the understanding confirms, and the
heart ratifies. Upon this liberal plan of phi
lanthropy, Mr. Jefferfon is the true Citizen
of the world. Like Cato, he feels an at
tachment to his country ; but, like Socra
tes, his affeaions embrace the universe
It will be difficult to reconcile the princi
ples of such a chrraaer, with the views and
inclinations that govern the parasite of des
potism. The firlt are founded upon a basis
whose truth is irrefiltible, whose origin is
nature, whose attribute morality, whole es
sence reason. The last sets nature at defi
ance, confiders morality as mockery, and
reason as a fooL If, therefore, Mr. Jeffer
fon differs in opinion with many of his
countrymen, it is because he differs in the
degree of eßimation in which these things
are mutually held. He confiders nature the
source of every human right, morality the'
basis, and reason the guide of every human
adion.Of course, he perceives no grades ot
society, no partial diltinaions ; coniiders
the people as the source of all power, or the
guardians of their own rights. He makes
allowance for the particular situation in
which he has found mankind. He endeav
ors to reconcile their different interests by
inßitutions calculated to produce the molt
extensive and complete felicity. Consult
ing nature, his maxims of Government are
pure and simple. They do not partake too
much of that overtrained energy which bor
ders on oppression, or of that laofe, licen
tious fanaticifm, which is connected with
the subversion of all order and security in
Government. They point eventually to a
reform of abuses which have conitifoted the
greatest Riare of misery in society, which
he confiders as the excrescence of Rate and
germ of despotism. It is laid, that Mr. Jef
ferfon is a Philosopher, that consequently he
possesses a peculiar Call of mind that unfits
him for the duties of a ftafeSman. Let this
obje&ion rest in the bosom of the illiberal
parasite of power, who fits at the foot-Rool
of despotism, and dreads the influence of a
single qualification that might fotten the af
fliaions of a nation. For my part, I fee
not the incompatibility complained of. The
phitofopher is nothing more than a being
whose morality is,elevated ; whose opinions
are drawn from the conviction of truth and
reason ; whose expanded intellects disdains
'the (hackfes of prejudice ; and whose foul
clocks with complacency upon the errors
and fallibilities of mankind. The reverie
of these qualifications constitutes the fea
tures of tyranny whenever it is blended with
extensive power. There is an invisible
chain which cormeas immorality with a
contempt of; truth, a contempt for truth
with the delufioris of errror, and the delnfion
of error with the most brutal tyranny —
Hence the licentionfn'efs'of Courts, and the
enormous crimes of ambition ; hence the
cold philosophy which chills the warmth of
benevolence; and facrifices on the polluted
altars of despotism the happiness of mil
lions. Disdaining the character of a cour
tier, where pufilanimity and flattery are the
Reps by which the obsequious arise to fame
and dißinaion, Mr. Jefferfon has arisen to
tho highest offices of Government by his
own intrinsic merit. The simplicity of his
manners, and the reservedness of his temper
—are the charaaeriftics of 3 vigorous mind,
which grasps at higher objedts than the
mere art of pleating. Yet there is no man
in private lif+at once so amiable and so dig
nified, and none whose manners possess in
a higher degree the incomparable felicity of
inferring the combined emotions of attach
ment and refpea.
####*#*.**
Mr. Jefferfon appears from the incom
parable felicity of his temper, to have ar
tiv6d"af the molt elevated heightof philoso
phy. He has not escaped the misfortune,
if itbe one, of having enemies to depreciate
his virtues and calumniate his principles.
These virtues 'have frequently furnilbed
pretences for the bitterest calumny. The
equanimity of his temper, however, never
fell a viaim to the unmanly provocations
which so often diftufb little minds. His
contempt for unjult censure, his dignified
reserve beneath the insolence t>f minißerial
loquacity, and his unfbaken serenity, whilst
the whole political world was moving a
rpund him, mark a foul capable of holding
calamity at defiance. Viewing mankind
as they really are, biafled by pallions, sway
ed by prejudice, and with ears continually
ppen to the invocations of individual inter
erf, he stands aloof in the tenement of his
own exalted mind, and, like Jupiter from
London, sept. 13.
WE hate already expreßed an opinion,
that Touffaint would not be brought to a
public trial. He has been confined in the
Castle of Jeux, situated near Mount Jura,
where he is probably confined to pass the
remainder of his life.
By a gentleman arrived at Plymouth, ^ho
has been making a tour of France, and par
ticularly of its principal sea-ports, we learn
the following interesting particulars—There
will be, in the course of this and the next
month, ready for launching, 16 men of War,
from 74 to 120 guns, at Brest, Rochefort,
and L'Orient. Provisions of all kinds wefe
very dear/ particularly in Paris.
sept. 15. Gen, Andreoffi, it is said; is
to make his public entrance into London on
the 23d September, a day purposely (elected,
.as it ihould seem, for it corresponds with the
Ift Vendemaire of the French calendar, or
new year's day, arid i$ (he day on which
France was declared ro be a Republic. His
Excellency's suite will be very numerous and
splendid. M. Port alis, jun..who was one of
the secretaries of the French legation at A
miens, is to be secretary to the embassy.
sept. 16. A Portuguese squadron, of 2
fail'of the line and feyen frigates and (loops
of war, is now collected at Gibraltar, which
are to fail with an intention ot blockading
Algiers, in hopes of forcing the Dey to com
elude a peace with them. •,
JAVA RICHER 1
The quantity of dollars Rated M abetter re-'
.ceived trom Bombay to be at this time in the isl
and of Java, is prodigious. The neutral Clips
which have for some yearl pal! arrived there,
amount, it is said, to at least one hundred annu
ally, left a considerable number of dollars for the
purchase of their homeward cargoes. It is stated
that t here are dollars in the hands of Individuals on
this island, to the amount of forty millions. This
enormous film is (till increasing, trom their im
mense depot of produce. The inhabitants are a
proud, powerful people. The island is very
fertile, and has very high mountains, reaching to
the clouds, particularly the pepper mountain on
the fouth fide of the island.
Liverpool, sept. 14.
The Privy Council have illued orders pro
hibiting the importation of produce of the
British colonies or territories, either for ex
portation or home co'nfwmption, otherwjfe
than dire&ly from thence, with some excep
tion with refpe&. to cotton wool. Other
produce, except the growth of the U. States,
can only be imported from thence for ex
portation. <
Solingen (Germany) Arc. 27.
Dreadful Fire. Last Tuelday was aday of hor
ror, devaluation and alarm, to the town Trade.—
In the morning, at nine o'clock' a lire broke out,
within the walls of that place, in a brew honle,
which hicreafed with such fury, that in Jess than
two hours the whole town consisting of 182 hou
ses, -was laid in allies. There is scarcely a yeltge
of any honfes, except here ,and there the piece of
a wall. The Roman church is {landing. The
Lutheran church lies in ruins ; and the Reformed
church has 101 l a part ofits roof.
It is heart rending to observe the misery of the
poor inhabitants, who could scarcely save any
thing from the flames, and are now without food
of covering in the orchards and fields. If falls
peculiarly hard on the aged, the infants at the
bread, the infirm and the-ficK ; and unless speedy
assistance be offered them, they mult inevitably
Olympus, Surveys with serenity and filencc
the fate of Empires. It i< well known.
th& his enemies were of this oblequiou>
tribe of court parasites, who moved in the
inferior circles of fefpedabilitr, and, feel
ing the influence df his talents, fought to
decry them "by arts of petulancy and"by lo
quacity. He has a knowledge of human
nature, teaching him that this is the invol
untary tribute of envy, and is confided that
it is the medium of the inculcation of truth ;
is fatisfied that he is not confeious of o'eferv
ing reproach, and is filenr. Surely a man
who can preserve such equanimity of rem
per, who can maintain the composure of
his mind, and listen without the confeiouf
nefs of deserving it, surely such a man is
entitled to the firft place in our esteem.—
They ate attributes which few men possess,
are the proßu&ions of the most difficult of
all attainments, the knowledge and esteem
of ourselves, and flow from an elevated phi
losophy that leeks tranquility 'in cohfcibus
rectitude, which teaches forbearance, whilst,
it refines our knowledge of human nature',
and views the confliaing- passions of man
kind, as conne&ed with the destiny of social
life. To descend from this dignified sphere
of human reason would be doing violence
to the fanauary of philosophy. His ene
mies may desire it, and leek occasion for
that triumph which pertinacious mediocri
ty sometimes acquires oyer the sublimity of
genius. He feeks.the most complete secu
rity in the ccleftial fanatiary of felf^o
plaufe, in the Ready difeharge of the duties
committed to his care, in an inflexibility to
ill, and in the obßinacy of justice. The
arts of malice, and rude voice of faaion,
affai! him in vain. The senseless clamors
of his enemies make no impression on him.
He appears invulnerable to the (hafts of ma
lignity which fall every where around him,
blunted by the invincible dignity of his char
aaef and the high refpeaability of his tal
ents
foreign articles
fink under the load of tlkir nr"er^sand wants.
Several of the inhabitants perilled in the flames :
among whom was a Calv;uißic Mmiltet of the
golpel, aged 70 ,ears.'
BERLIN, Arc. %
PRINCE HENRY'sHi <.
The laitwill of the late Prince Hern, ot Pruffil
is Dow pub!uh4i, bearing date the 25th February
TBo2 # The fo&wing is a cop, ot it:
" It will u~ left in the place where I may be,
whether in bed or in a chair, till no doubt (hall
remain of my death ; but while even uncertain!,
remains, the drawers and ciufets in the chamber
where 1 perform the lad act ot life, shall be sealed.
When it is certain that 1 am no more, mj curpfe
shall be laid on a simple tent bed. 1 will not
trouble.my d<wieftics to adorn me ; and face
cUtloro, however, required it, 1 will be dressed in
my okleft regimentals ; and, should my legs be
levelled, my boots flia l be cut open : it does riot
lignify, so they are only tt for a dead man to wc. r.
Betides those who p ace a real interest in my lots,
no one Dial! be permitted to fee me. I will net
attend to bn odious and Uifgufting ipectacle, ty
being exhibited to the public.
“ Count Roeder (hall announce my decease to
the king ; at the fame time telling him that Count
De la Roach Aymon, being charged whh my lafi
wiil as to my interment, fliall Afterwards difeharge
a private commission, and deliver him fomethiu^
from me : be shall tell him that, according to this
will, I am to be interred at Reinsberg : that, that
fame de lire flood in my testament which I request
him to open speedily ; that 1 made an epitaph on
myfelf, which muff remain bn the done that is to
be placed at the vault on the very day of my inter
ment. That l desire neither flambeaux nor lights
around my coffin, it being to be doled as icon as
it Shall be ready and 1 pucinto it, not wilhing
to stay a moment longer above thteearth than is
necefl'ary to afeertain my drttb.
" A single perfoh fliall guard my corpse, to keep'
the cats and dogs from it. Ido not with to tor
ment people alter my decease, to fit up wUh all
inanimate creature ; no cords, nd fringe, either in
or upon my coffin. The day of interment, being
fixed, it Ihall have place at noon, if in the <, inter £
it in the fbmmer at tour or five o'clock ; without
any other pomp, my donieftics (hull carry my
corpse down the stairs, and through the fJoon of
yellow marble, to the ft fidence of my difiluion,
which is not tar off: as soon as the coffin is put in
there, the tomb flone, which 1 have had engraved,
fhdl be placed at the entrance by tie I,rchite&
Reineft ; and this having occurrr,ed all in done—
-1 belong no more then to the kingdom oft*e living.
“ 1 beseech the Court De la Roche A,man; to
summon together the gentlemen who fliall have
attended me to my death, * ith the private Secre
tary La Baufd, and the Architect RyinWrt, in an
apartment of the Cattle, after my interment. Firfr;
1 profefs my acknowledgments 'll) the Cotint De la.
Roche Aymon, for his tender attachment to me all
the time 1 had the happiness of his company. I
request him to tell those Gentlemen, tbit 1 die
grateful : that I pray him to protect e^ch other
during their lives ; tliis being the greatett evidence
they can give the wot Id, that m, memory has not
escaped them.'
"I also with the Count be la Roche Ayrton to
call togetherall m> chamberlains, cooks, musicians
and lacqueys, and to hive the pohtenCls to thank
them in my name, for the Cervices which they have
rendered me, telling them all, from the firft to the
lall, that I have made a Will, by which, have be
queathed remembrances in money er effects; that
each, when the King has opened, it ffiall knoiy
what my friendfhip or grautue bequeaths; but:
that it is natural, without difrefpeft to any one,
for me to estimate those who in my opinion, have
been sincere and oped, and most truly attached to
me ; and therefore by favoring the one more thatt
the other, I have followed the impnile of my
heart. That I, moreover, being only able to cif
perfe of a part of my property, have net had it id
my power to. do more than it will be found 1 have
done ; but that 1 requelled every one to be fatis
fied , and the property that he got, t^conlider as
the property that I wilh to all : I dying in the
hope, tiat there can no greater proof of attach
ment be given to my allies, than that no one mur
murs at the little or much of the difiribmibn.-b
Moreover, 1 have recommended those uho have
served me, to the king and my hei/s, norfdotibtfhg
but that ad ofany hut tenement will be Executed,
“ The sword which I wore in the I'everal years'
war, (hall be delivered to the Count De La Roche
=and I reqhefi him after my interment, to repair
to the kitty, add to affore him of my last wilbei
for him and the date ; at the farte time handing
qty sword tp him, With the prayer, in n)y name
tohave it prcfcrved,.in memory of the faithtui
nets witly&hich I have served my country. Thus
1£ the iff ^ of my life terminated. Eternally
farewell !? ; ;.^
Philadelphia, Nor. 2."
Exlrafl of a letter from Trenton, t, a gentle
man in this city dated Gm. 28.
", It is now well afeenained this ftateis to
,0 Without a governor ! The business
was fully tried this afternoon, in joint mee
ting, when the votes were equally divided —r
viz. 26 for Mr. BldomfieM and the fame
number for R Stockton Efq.' It is decid
edly understood, that neither parrywill
yield, of course there cannot be;an elcftion.
NTw-Yor'k,Nui; to. -
Extras of a letter from Isaac C. Barnets fj^
lately appointed Commercial Agent for the U,,
States, at Antwerp, dated Bordeaux,&pty
20, \®z2, to a friend in thirdly. *
“ i ihall leave this the day after to-mor
row, for my new residence (Antwerp) uQcre
Latest :^ the ^aiW
Washington-City , Ned. {.
.Within a ffiort period, ten sovereign Itaie,
have chosen their representatives, and invefe
ted them with the highest .political duties,
without the least exhibition, of violence.
Not a mob, that we learn, has fullicd the
cxercife of this important political function.
Yet, on no occasion, perhaps, have greater
efforts been made to excite passion and kin^
die resentment.
Citizens of America ! while you value
freedom, refp§& and cling to this great right
that the bayonet may never be fubftiluted in
the room of the ballot.