Fowle's New-Hampshire gazette and general advertiser ([Portsmouth, N.H.]), 1785-03-18 00:00:00

From Doctor Price's Observations.
(CONTINUED.)
OF EDUCATION.
SUCH is the state of things which I wish to take place in the united American States.—In order to introduce and perpetuate it, and at the same time to give it the greatest effect on the improvement of the world, nothing is more necessary than the establishment of a wise and liberal plan of EDUCATION. It is impossible properly to represent the importance of this. So much is left by the author of nature to depend on the turn given to the mind in early life and the impressions then made, that I have often thought there may be a secret remaining to be discovered in education, which will cause future generations to grow up virtuous and happy, and accelerate human improvement to a greater degree than can at present be imagined.
The end of education is to direct the powers of the mind in unfolding themselves; and to assist them in gaining their just bent and force. And, in order to this, its business should be to teach how to think, rather than what to think; or to lead into the best way of searching for truth, rather than to instil in truth itself.—As for the latter who is qualified for it? There are many indeed who are eager to undertake this office. All parties and sects think they have discovered truth, and that they alone are its advocates and friends. But the very different and inconsistent accounts they give of it demonstrate they are utter strangers to it; and that it is better to teach nothing, than to teach what they hold out for truth. The greater their confidence, the greater is the reason for distrusting them. We generally see the warmest zeal, where the object of it is the greatest nonsense.
Such observations have a particular tendency to shew that education ought to be an initiation into candour, rather than unto any systems of faith; and it should form a habit of cool and patient investigation, rather than an attachment to any opinions.
But hitherto education has been conducted on a contrary plan. It has been a contraction, not an enlargement of the intellectual faculties; an injection of false principles hardening them in error, not a discipline enlightening and improving them. Instead of opening and strengthening them, and teaching to think freely; it hath cramped and enslaved them, and qualified for thinking only in one track. Instead of instilling humility, charity, and liberality, and thus preparing for an easier discovery and a readier admission of truth; it has inflated with conceit, and stuffed the human mind with wretched prejudices.
The more has been learnt from such education, the more it becomes necessary to un-learn. The more has been taught in this way, of so much the more must the mind be emptied before true wisdom can enter.—Such was education in the time of the first teachers of christianity. By furnishing with skill in the arts of disputation and sophistry, and producing an attachment to established systems, it turned the minds of men from truth, and rendered them more determined to resist evidence, and more capable of evading it. Hence it happened, that this heavenly instruction, when first communicated, was to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness; and that, in spite of miracles themselves, the persons who rejected it with most disdain, and who opposed it with most violence, were those who had been educated in colleges, & were best versed in the false learning of the times: And had it taught the true philosophy instead of the true religion, the effect would have been the same. The doctrine "that the sun stood still and that the earth moved round it," would
have been reckoned no less absurd and incredible, than the doctrine of a crucified Messiah. And the men who would have treated such an instruction with most contempt, would have been the wise and the prudent; that is, the proud sophists and learned doctors of the times, who had studied the Ptolemaick system of the world, and learnt, by cycles and epicycles, to account for all the motions of the heavenly bodies.
In like manner, when the improvement of Logic in Mr. LOCKE's Essay on the Human Understanding was first published in Britain, the persons readiest to attend to it and to receive it were those who had never been trained in colleges; and whose minds, therefore, had never been perverted by an instruction in the jargon of the schools. To the deep professors of the time, it appeared (like the doctrine taught in his book on the reasonableness of christianity) to be a dangerous novelty and heresy; and the University of Oxford, in particular, condemned and reprobated the author.—The like happened when Sir ISAAC NEWTON's discoveries were first published. A romance (that is, the Philosophy of DESCARTES) was then in possession of the philosophical world. Education had rivetted it in the minds of the learned; and it was twenty-seven years before NEWTON's Principia could gain sufficient credit to bring it to a second edition.—Such are the prejudices which have generally prevailed against new lights. Such the impediments which have been thrown in the way of improvement by a narrow plan of education.—Even now the principal object of education (especially in divinity) is to teach established systems as certain truths, and to qualify for successfully defending them against opponents; and thus to arm the mind against conviction, and render it impenetrable to farther light. Indeed, were it offered to my opinion which I would have, the plain sense of a common and untutored man, or the deep erudition of the proud scholars and professors in most universities, I should eagerly prefer the former, from a persuasion that it would leave me at a less distance from real wisdom.—An unoccupied and simple mind I think infinitely preferable to a mind warped by systems; and the entire want of learning better than a learning, such as most of that is which hitherto has been sought & admired. A learning which puffs up, while in reality it is nothing but profounder ignorance and more inveterate prejudice.
It may be worth adding here, that a narrowed education (should it ever happen not to produce the evils now mentioned) will probably produce equal evils of a contrary nature. I mean, that there will be danger, when persons so educated come to see the absurdity of some of the opinions in which they have been educated, that they will become prejudiced against them all, and, consequently, throw them all away, and run wild into scepticism and infidelity.—At present, in this part of the world this is a very common event.
I am by no means qualified to give a just account of the particular method in which education ought to be conducted, so as to avoid these evils: That is, so as to render the mind free and unfettered; quick in discerning evidence, and appeared to follow it from whatever quarter and in whatever manner it may offer itself. But certain it is, that the best mode of education is that which does this most effectually; which guards best against silly prejudices; which inflames most with the love of truth; which disposes most to ingenuity and fairness, and leaves the mind most sensible of its own need of farther information.—Had this been always the aim of education, mankind would now have been farther advanced.—It supposes, however, an improved state of mankind; and when once it has taken place, it will quicken the progress of improvement.
I have in these observations expressed a dislike of systems; but I have meant only to condemn that attachment to them as standards of truth which has been too prevalent. It may be necessary in education to make use of them; or of books explaining them. But they should be used only as guides and helps to enquiry. Instruction in them should be attended with a fair exhibition of the evidence on both sides of every question; and care should be taken to induce, as far as possible a habit of believing only on an overbalance of evidence; and of proportioning assent in every case to the degree of that overbalance, without regarding authority, antiquity, singularity, novelty, or any of the prejudices which too commonly influence assent.—Nothing is so well fitted to produce this habit as the study of Mathematics . In these sciences no one ever thinks of giving his assent to a proposition till he can clearly understand it, and see it proved by a fair deduction from propositions previously understood and proved. In these sciences the mind is inured to close and patient attention; shewn the nature of just reasoning; and taught to form distinct ideas, and to expect clear evidence in all cases before belief. They furnish, therefore, the best exercise for the intellectual powers, and the best defence against that credulity and precipitation and confusion of ideas which are the common sources of error.
There is, however, a danger to be avoided here. Mathematical studies may absorb the attention too much; and when they do, they contract the mind by rendering it incapable of thinking at large; by disqualifying it for judging of any evidence except mathematical; and, consequently, disposing it to an unreasonable scepticism on all subjects which admit not of such evidence.—There have been many instances of this narrowness in mathematicians.
But to return from this digression,—I cannot help observing on this occasion, with respect to CHRISTIANITY in particular, that education ought to lead to a habit of judging of it as it is in the code itself of christianity; that the doctrines it reveals should be learnt only from a critical and fair enquiry into the sense of this code; and that all instruction in it should be a preparation for making this enquiry and a communication of assistance in examining into the proofs of its divine original, and in determining to what degree of evidence these proofs amount, after allowing every difficulty its just weight.—This has never yet been the practice among Christians. The New Testament has been reckoned hitherto an insufficient standard of Christian Divinity; and therefore, formalaries of human invention, pretending to explain and define it (but in reality misrepresenting and dishonouring it) have been substituted in its room; and teaching these has been called teaching Christianity . And it is very remarkable, that in the English Universities no Lectures on the New Testament are ever read, or even suffered to be read; and that, through all Christendom, it is much less an object of attention than the systems and creeds which have been fathered upon it.
I will only add on this subject, that it is above all things necessary, while instruction is conveyed, to convey with it a sense of the imbecility of the human mind, and of its great proneness to error; and also a disposition, even on objections, and to consider nothing as involving in it our final interest but an HONEST HEART.
(To be continued.)
WANTED,
A BOY about 14 Years old, to serve as an Apprentice to the Peruke-making and Hair-dressing Business, Inquire of the Printers.

Messieurs PRINTERS, From the late publications in your GAZETTE on all sides, it will readily be granted you, that your Press is uninfluenced by any party. You will please to give the following Observations, (from the ESSEX JOURNAL, &c.) a place in your useful and strictly impartial Paper. Your correspondent is totally ignorant whether they are true or false, he is however of opinion, they had better be made public, than to remain secreted in the breasts of a respectable number of the citizens of New-Hampshire; if they are groundless, the persons referred to have now an opening to set the matter right. The people have always a right minutely to examine the conduct of their servants, a certain respectable body cannot be considered as judges in this case, but as parties, the late profuse showering of honors on this branch, has made this business too misty for them to distinguish clearly: the impartial public are the sole arbiter here, it is for them to know whether their servants have been faithful or unjust, whether they have made a mere job of the public trust, or have made the common good their chief object—whether their appointments have been levelled to their own private designs, or the public is likely to be bettered by them; if they have discharged their trust with a manly independence they will be rewarded by the grateful remembrance of the people, if self-interest and private views have governed them, they ought ever to be considered as unworthy of the public confidence.—
THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL NOT INTERMEDDLE WITH THE MAKING OR TRYING IMPACHMENTS; BUT SHALL THEMSELVES BE IMPEACHABLE BY THE HOUSE, AND TRIABLE BY THE SENATE FOR MALCONDUCT. Constitution of New-Hampshire.
As the Bill of Rights declares, that "A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the Constitution, is indispensably necessary, to preserve the blessings of liberty and good government!" we will use the freedom to extract a few sentences from the Constitution; and make a few remarks upon them, and the conduct of the C—l.
"The magistrates and officers of government are the substitutes and agents of the people, and at all times accountable to them:—The abilities and integrity, requisite in any place or office in government, are not transmissible to Relations or posterity."—"Government being instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the whole community; and not for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, whenever the ends of government are perverted, and public liberty manifestly endangered, and all other means of redress are ineffectual: the people may, and of right ought to reform the old, or establish a new government. The liberty of the Press is essential to the security of freedom in a State, it ought therefore to be inviolably preserved".—And the general tenor of the Constitution is, that public men and public measures may be remarked on with severity, whenever they deserve it. In short, that the people have a right to express their sentiments upon any transaction of their Governors; to praise and reward them for their good deeds; to censure and to punish them for their bad ones.
Give me leave therefore, my countrymen, to state a few deeds of our C—l for universal information; if this information has not reached every ear; if it has, contempt for their pretended honesty, and regard for the Constitution, must have arisen in every breast. Let me ask your decision, whether our C—l deserve our confidence, or detestation?
Perhaps because the Constitution says, "That all officers shall hold their commissions, 'till other persons shall be appointed in their stead;" that to comply with the Constitution, the new C—l thought they must necessarily appoint other persons in their stead. This subterfuge, wretched and poor as it is, affords their only chance of escape from the indignation of the Freemen of New-Hampshire. For no other reason can be assigned for displacing men, who have discharged their duty with probity and ability, and raising to office, Petty-foggers—ignorant Doctors—broken Clergymen—and disbanded officers from another State.
In the county of Hillsborough, a man is appointed a Judge of the Inferior Court; who, upon motion of the Attorney-General in the State of Massachusetts, was excluded from the bar, by the Supreme Court; upon account of the political infamy of his character, and the want of a regular education. Without any process, without any trial or pretended delinquency, THREE of the Judges in that county are at once struck off from the bench.
In the county of Strafford, an officer of the
Massachusetts line, during the whole of the war, is appointed a Judge of the Inferior Court. This man (as we are credibly informed) has not lived in this State more than a year; what then gained him his seat? Is it possible that a person, who can merely pretend to an acquaintance with the duty of a soldier, should be qualified to decide upon the property and reputation of his fellow citizens? Did he deserve a reward, because he served his country faithfully in the field? God knows, we have officers enough of merit of our own to reward, without applying to Massachusetts, to pour in those upon us, they cannot, or do not see fit to provide for, themselves. He married a daughter of a M—r of C—l; and one more daughter, we are informed this M—r of C—l has to dispose of, and probably with one of the best offices in the county. Two of the old Judges of the Inferior Court last named, have been left out: men, whose characters, even the malevolence of B—ts and Horse-Jockeys has not dared to calumniate. A M—r of C—l is appointed Judge of Probate, in the county last mentioned, and six of his sons, sons-in-law, and other relations, are appointed to offices in the State. Does this square with the idea of the Bill of Rights, that "Government is not instituted for the private interest or emolument of any one man, family, or class of men?" or does it agree with the notion, (though perhaps a strange one) that "the abilities and integrity, requisite in any office or place in government, are not transmissible to Relations or posterity?" Is it not an attempt to establish a nobility in the State; or must we suppose, that Providence happened to endue this man and his family, with greater abilities and more integrity than any other man or family in the State? or can we suppose, that the wisdom of the county is centured in the pitiful village of G-I-m-n-t-n?
In the county of Rockingham, a son-in-law to the M—r of C—l, who is so fond of his relations, is appointed a Judge of the Inferior Court: a man who at least possesses the merit of being connected with the C—l; who has been a Clergyman; and we know not, but in private life is a good man. One of the old Judges of this county is left out; a man of strict integrity; who, precedent to the revolution took a most active part in the dispute with Great-Britain; and has uniformly continued a friend to his country. From this same court, a man has been "borne on the shoulders of the people" up to the Superior Court; to the exclusion of a man of unspotted character.
Is it not cruel to deprive those persons of offices; who in the time of danger, and when their all was at stake in accepting them, despised the idea of fear; and nobly gave assistance to a distressed country; and who have served it with ability and fidelity? Is it not insulting the sacred name of freedom, to exalt persons to offices, who were averse to the Revolution, and to the principles of the people? Is it not base and treacherous, that after persons have neglected other business, to qualify themselves for serving their country in a particular department, their places should be seized by men, ignorant of business—contemptible for abilities—and odious to the people?
My friends, look around you—examine your constitution—see to what rights you are entitled; then examine the conduct of the junto; and at least exert the privilege of complaining, not denied even under the despotism of TURKEY.
But the C—l have not all provided for themselves; how is this? The others, at least are worthy of our confidence. The truth with some is, that there was a point of much greater importance to carry, than the possession of a paltry hundred a year. The purchase of antiquated grants must be secured; influence must be created for this purpose; or all is gone. One, as we are informed, dared to assert—and without bringing to justice, the wretch that offered the bribe; that he was offered one hundred dollars for the office of Sheriff of a certain county.
Fortunately for our future safety, and the preservation of our rights, our new Governors have shown "what spirit they are of." While each one feels warm in his regard to those liberties, he has rescued from the violence and tyranny of Britain—no one, I hope, will be suffered to trifle with the Constitution, or any body of men to contradict in their measures, the first principles of a government; established by a virtuous, sensible and free people: and in which is united the collective wisdom of mankind in every age of the world.
A FRIEND TO THE CONSTITUTION. Exeter, February, 1785.
All Persons indebted to, or that have any demands upon the Estate of JONATHAN TAYLOR, of Canterbury Yeoman, deceased, are requested to settle the same with RUTH TAYLOR, Administratrix. CANTERBURY, March 17, 1785.
COFFEE By the Cask, Hundred, or smaller Quantity, To be sold CHEAP for CASH by John Sparhawk.
TO BE SOLD, Cheap for CASH, West-India Produce, Dry-Goods, Interest-Certificates, or Public Securities, or part of each, A valuable HOUSE LOT. 50 Feet front, on Pleasant-Street, 370 Feet from said Street to the Mill-Pond, adjoining the Land of the Rev. Doctor HAVEN, and bounded on the North by a Street of 20 Feet wide from Pleasant-Street to said Pond. Payment would be received in Joyner's Work on the inside of a House, and Fences, &c. Also, Bricks, Lime or Boards, in part. Enquire of the Printers. PORTSMOUTH, March 17, 1785.
[Warren.] NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident Owners of Land in WARREN, who have not paid their Taxes for the Year 1784, that so much of their Land will be sold at Public Vendue, on Thursday the 14th Day of April next, at 10 o'Clock in the Forenoon, at my House in said Town, as will pay the Taxes and Charges, unless prevented by previous payment.
Table with 5 columns: Name, D., £., s., d. Lists names like Jonathan Greely, Esq., Joseph Blanchard, Abraham Morrell, James Graves, Daniel Page, James Nevin, Abel Davis, Thomas Peirce, Samuel Page, Moses Page, Capt. Nathaniel Currier, Moses Greely, John Page, jun., Ephraim Page, Silas Newell, Phillip Tilton, Andrew Greely, Samuel Dudley, John Batchelder, Enoch Chase, David Morrell, Benjamin Clough, Joseph Tilton, and WILLIAM BUTLER, Constable.
WARREN, March 10, 1785. ROCKINGHAM is. Portsmouth, March 17. WE the Subscribers, appointed Commissioners by the Honorable Judge of Probate for said County, to receive and examine the Claims of the several Creditors to the Estate of Mr. DANIEL SHERBURNE, late of Portsmouth, in said County, Merchant, deceased, represented insolvent, hereby give notice, that we shall attend for that Business on the third Monday of this and the five following Months, from 10 to 12 o'Clock, A. M. at the House of Mr. WILLIAM BREWSTER, Inholder in Portsmouth. DANIEL RINDGE, NAT. SPARHAWK, RICHARD HART, Commissioners.

FAITH is so far from being above reason and knowledge, that it is below ignorance, which it depends upon: For no man can believe and not be ignorant; but he may be ignorant and not believe.—Whensoever reason and demonstration appear, faith and ignorance vanish together.
They that dispute matters of faith into nice particulars, and curious circumstances do as unwisely as a geographer, that would undertake to draw a true map of terra incognita , by mere imagination. For though there is such a part of the earth, and that not without mountains and vallies, and plains, and rivers; yet to attempt the description of these, and assign their situations and tracts, without a view of the place, is more than ridiculous.
He that thinks to please God, by forcing his understanding in disquisitions of him, beyond the limits which he has been pleased to prescribe, beside the loss of his labour, does but endeavour to intrude where he is denied access, and preposterously attempts to serve God by disobeying him.
It is a dangerous thing to be too inquisitive, and to search too narrowly into a true religion: For 50,000 Bethshemites were destroyed, for looking into the Ark of the Covenant ; and ten times as many have been ruined, for looking too curiously into that book, in which that story is recorded.
Almost all the miracles in the jewish history, from their deliverance from their first slavery, by the plagues of Egypt, to their second captivity in Babylon, were performed by the destruction, ruin, and calamity of mankind.—But all those that our Saviour wrought to confirm his doctrine, quite contrary, by raising the dead to life, curing of desperate diseases, making the blind see, calling out of devils, and feeding of hungry multitudes, &c. but never doing harm to any thing; all suitable to those excellent lessons of peace, love, charity, and concord, to which the whole purpose of all that he did or said perpetually tended.—Who-soever, therefore, does endeavour to draw rules, or examples, for the practice of christianity, from the extraordinary proceedings of the Jews, must of necessity make a strange confusion and adulterate mixture of the christian religion, by depraving and alloying it with that, which is so directly averse and contrary to its own nature. And as this unnatural mixture, of two different religions, was the first cause of dissention among the apostles themselves, and afterwards determined and resolved against, by them all: So there is no doctrine of rebellion, that was ever vented among christians, that was not revived, and raised, from this kind of false and forced construction.
The enmities of religious people would never rise to such a height, were it not for their mistake, that God is better served with their opinions than their practices; opinions being very inconsiderable, further than they have influence upon actions.
All reformatiions of religions, seldom extend further than the mere opinions of men. The amendment of their lives and conversations, are equally unregarded by all churches, how much soever they differ in doctrine and discipline. And though all the reformation our Saviour preached to the world, was only repentance and amendment of life, without taking any notice at all of men's opinions and judgments; yet all the christian churches take the contrary course, and believe religion more concerned in one erroneous opinion, than all the most inhuman and impious actions in the world.
Charity is the chiefest of all christian virtues, without which, all the rest signify nothing: For faith and hope can only bring us on our way to the confines of this world; but charity is not only our convoy to heaven, but engaged to stay with us there for ever.—And yet there is not any sort of religious people in the world, that will not renounce and disclaim this necessary cause of salvation for mere trifles of the slightest moment imaginable; nay, will not preposterously endeavour to secure their eternal happiness by destroying that, without which it is never to be obtained. From hence are all their spiritual quarrels derived, and such puerilities of opinion, tho' more nice and peevish than those of love and honour in romances, are yet maintained with such animosity, as if heaven were to be purchased no way but that, which is the most certain and infallible, of all others, to lose it.
L O N D O N, December 17.
The States of Holland have published an ordinance forbidding the exportation of salt-petre, brimstone, cannon, muskets, shot, &c. and all kinds of ammunition and warlike stores, the exportation of horned cattle, sheep, hogs, grain, flour, &c. are also strictly inhibited, under pain of confiscation, and a fine of 1000 florins.
Glasgow, who formerly employed agents to build ships for them in America, have come to a resolution to have them built in England for the future; this will give new life to our naval artisans.
It has been signified by the Imperial Court, to the owners of several merchant vessels belonging to Fiume and Trieste, that if they chuse to arm their vessels and engage in the Austrian service against the Dutch, they shall be furnished with cannon and warlike stores from the royal magazines.
Several regiments are on their march from Bohemia to the low Countries.
Extract of a letter from Dunkirk.
"I blush at the meanness of the fellows here belonging to the customs. On coming away from this place, they always examine whether you have any thing prohibited about you; I mean, they come under pretence of examining, for if you will give them only a six-pence, you may bring off what you please. Now our English gentlemen are more respectable in imposition.—"I must not see the King robbed," said one of them in the late reign.—"True," answered a smuggler (at the same time placing a guinea on each of his eyes) "I am sure you cannot see!" "Put another on my mouth," said the officer, "and then I cannot speak!" But six-pences here will do."
PHILADELPHIA, February 29.
Extract of a letter from London, dated Decem'r 18.
"The Emperor has consented to a mediation, principally on the part of France. By that mediation the Scheldt will probably be opened. By suffering this bustle, France will have the means of rendering herself of consequence to Germany and Holland. If the preceding apprehension take place, it is well if Prussia and the Stadtholder are not equally paid with France & Germany, as the stronger are often led to compound their own quarrels at the expence of those who are weaker."
"The King, without solicitation, has made Lord Shelburne Marquis of Lansdown, as a reward for past services: he is come to town for a day to kiss hands. The ministry talk of acting upon the speech of 1782, which the King pronounced when he was minister."
It is true, a Serjeant at Arms from his Most Christian Majesty has arrived at New-York, in order to carry Mr. Longchamps to France, agreeably to his Majesty's demand.—But here the questions must arise, By whose authority is M. de Longchamps to be taken from the new jail of Philadelphia, where he is undergoing the punishment which the laws have inflicted upon him, and delivered up to the Serjeant?—Who is empowered to drag him forth, from that castle of defence, where a friendly Sheriff is bound, by the duty of his office, to guard him? Not the Congress, certainly.—Their duty is to support the dignity of the United States with foreign powers; Kings and Princes may tremble at their frown, George of Brunswick may accept of peace on their own terms, but freemen must never suffer them to invade their right of civil jurisdiction, or ever pay an implicit obedience to arbitrary mandates, unwarranted by the articles of confederation.—Not the Executive Council—The Judges whom they have consulted have declared the measure to be unlawful, and the Honourable Legislature have unanimously applauded and ratified their decision.
The question is no longer, whether it is lawful to deliver M. de Longchamps to France or not? This important question has long since been determined. The only one is now, whether Pennsylvania will be base enough to lay her known laws, and her dear-bought liberties, at the feet of every foreign Prince who will be pleased to demand the sacrifice?—AMERICANS! spurn the idea! Know this, that it behoves you to act consistent with the principles which first actuated you in the revolution:—And while your breasts must contemplate with heart-felt gratitude the numerous services done you by your august Ally, YET YOU MUST CONSIDER, that the love of constitution is a nobler, and more sacred tie, the least infringement of which should awaken your highest wrath and indignation; and your lives and fortunes ought to be sacrificed in its defence. The world will approve of the resolution! and even his Most Christian Majesty, we are certain, will applaud your firmness—Great men ever were, and ever will be the lovers of great actions—they are pleased with them even when contrary to their own interest.
N E W-Y O R K, March 18.
A correspondent says, he is of opinion, the Spaniards have learned a bad precedent from the administration of Sir Robert Walpole in England. That minister, whose schemes of corruption and peculation would be totally unhinged by war, suffered the Spaniards, in 1728, to commit, with impunity, the most daring act of outrage and piracy on the British merchant-ship in the West-Indies, whilst the Dons triumphed at the supineness of the
ent, when we had citizens of the British Empire, and brave enough to lay prostrate, the enemy of Britain, to the utmost pitch of her greatness, we have patriots left, from the ravages of war, to demand satisfaction for the insults our nation has received, in violation of treaty, in the Missippi. If the Court of Madrid does not afford proper satisfaction there can arise no hesitation respecting the steps America should take. If she wishes to be respected as an independent nation, let her adopt the motto— Nemo me impune lacessit .
PORTSMOUTH, March 18.
On Monday last, Doctor Hall Jackson, of this town, was called to visit a patient, in a very urgent case, at Sturgeon-Creek, Kittery:—the roads being impassable and the storm violent, it was thought most adviseable to proceed in a large sail-boat: In his return in the boat, in company with Mr. Elisha Purrington and William Smith, both of Kittery, when within a mile of this town, a sudden and most violent squall struck the boat, filled her with water, and having a large quantity of stone-ballast in her, she instantaneously sunk to the bottom. A daughter of Mr. Samuel Ham's, of eight years of age, accidentally observing the unhappy persons in the water, notified her father, who immediately collected a number of hands, with great difficulty launched a boat, and proceeded to their assistance: Smith was the first recovered, just expiring; Doctor Jackson was the next taken up, nearly exhausted, and in less than a minute after, Purrington was taken up, in whom there appeared no signs of life; every method was taken to recover him, but unfortunately proved ineffectual. Mr. Ham and others judge they were at least half an hour in the water after being discovered before taken up: Doctor Jackson was incumbered with a large drab watch-coat, lined with baize, two pair of stockings, and a heavy pair of boots; his cloathing, after being taken off, weighed fifty pounds, notwithstanding which, he swam with great agility and resolution, and it was wholly owing, next to the goodness of God, in their being so early discovered, to their thorough knowledge in this most important and necessary art, that the Doctor and Smith were saved.
Purrington has left a wife and eight small children to lament his loss. It is hoped that the humane and charitable will contribute to the necessities of this indigent and distressed family, whose only support and dependance is taken from them, and this in his exerting himself for the relief of a distressed neighbour.
We hear that the towns of Concord, Hollis, Goffestown and Keen, at their several meetings for the choice of a President, have been unanimous for the Hon. JOHN LANGDON, Esq. and that several other towns are likely to follow their example.
We learn from Charlestown, No. 4, and most of the towns on Connecticut river, that at their late town-meetings for the choice of a President, the Hon. GEORGE ATKINSON, Esq. has been almost unanimously voted for, and it is thought that a large number of towns will follow the example.
On seeing a small mezzitinto print of Doctor FRANKLIN, in the case of a watch;—by an Englishman, 1778.
—Had but our nation mow'd like this great man, With wisdom's wheel to regulate its plan, Not urg'd by rancor, nor disturb'd by rage, But guided by the prudence of this Sage; The spring of State had still been strong and tight, Its chain of Friendship, lasting, pure and bright, Our band of time had pointed still at noon, And sable night had not approach'd so soon.
WILLARD'S PATENT CLOCK-JACK'S. THOMAS LEARNED, jun.
Clock-Maker from Roxbury,
MOST respectfully informs the Gentlemen and Lady's, in Town and Country, that he has for Sale, at his Lodgings at Mr. McHard's, Portsmouth, (if applied for soon) a few of SIMON WILLARD's PATENT CLOCK-JACK's, directly from his Shop in Roxbury;—these much esteemed Machines are all warranted to be good and of a long duration, and will be sold as reasonable as at his Shop in Roxbury:—Also good warranted Eight-Day TIME-KEEPERS. He requests those who are inclined to purchase, to call as soon as possible, as he intends to return soon.
N. B. He hopes that no Person will defer purchasing on Account of any that have been made and vended through Piracy or otherwise.

POET'S CORNER.
A true and faithful Inventory of the Goods belonging to Dr. SWIFT, late Vicar of Lara Cor, in Ireland, upon lending his house to Bishop...
A noken broken elbow-chair; A cawdle-cup without an ear; A batter'd, shatter'd ash-bedshead, A box of deal, without a lid; A pair of tongs, but out of joint, A back-sword poker without point;
On Thursday, the 17th Day of March next, will certainly be sold at Public Vendue, at the House of Mr. BENJAMIN LAMSON, Inholder in EXETER, at three o'Clock, Afternoon,
That excellent F A R M, (containing about Eighty Acres, with the House and Barn, standing thereon, and about Twenty Tons of good Hay, within one Mile of the Meeting-House, in Exeter) belonging to the Estate of Doctor NATHANIEL GILMAN, late of said Exeter, deceased, and is to be sold for the payment of his Debts, &c. by NOAH EMERY, Administrator of his EXETER, Feb. 28, 1785.
(Runney.) NOTICE is hereby once more given to the delinquent Proprietors of the Township of Runney, in the County of Grafton and State of New-Hampshire, who have not paid their Taxes to me the Subscriber, that there is an Assessment made on each Original Right in said Runney, liable by Law to be taxed, of the Sum of One Pound Thirteen Shillings, Lawful Money, granted and raised by said Proprietors in the following Manner, viz. A Tax of Fifteen Shillings on each Right, for the Purpose of settling the Lines and Bounds of the Township granted on the 12th Day of December, A. D. 1784. Also, a Tax of Twelve Shillings on each Right, for the Purpose of laying out the Third Division of Land in said Town, granted the 14th Day of June, A. D. 1782, and a further Tax of Six Shillings on each Right for the defraying Proprietors Charges, granted the 28th Day of April, A. D. 1783; which Assessment, together with a Warrant, requiring me to collect the same, is committed to me: I therefore notify said Proprietors, who are yet Delinquent, either in whole or in part, that unless Payment be made at my Dwelling-House, in said Runney, so much of their Lands as will raise the Money to pay said Tax, with incidental Charges, will be sold at Public Vendue, to the highest Bidder, on Thursday the 14th Day of April next, at 10 o'Clock, A. M. at the Dwelling-House of Major Alexander Craige, Inholder in said Runney. The delinquent Proprietors Names are as follow, with the Sums due.
BLANKS of most Sorts may be had at this Printing-Office and at the Printing-Office, Exeter.
SUBSCRIPTIONS for this Paper, at Four Shillings & six pence per six Months (exclusive of postage) are taken in at the Printing-Office in Portsmouth and Exeter, where Essays, Letters of Intelligence, Advertisements, &c. are received, and all kinds of Printing performed expeditiously, and at a reasonable rate.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident Owners of Land, in Henniker, who have not paid their Tax for the Year 1783, that so much of their Land will be sold at Public Vendue, on Tuesday, the 5th Day of April next, at 10 o'Clock, A. M. at the House of Timothy Gibson, Esq. in said Henniker, as will pay said Tax, with incidental Charges, unless prevented by previous Payment.
Table with 7 columns: Delinquent Names, Ac. Lots, Range, £, s, d. Includes names like Drawed to Thomas Packer, Esq., David Arshbald, Nathaniel Aiken, William Eyers, James Todd, John Scoby, Alex. Mc Murphy, John Clark, James Humphrey, James Ewen, Mathew Pinkerton, John Steward, Robert Wallace, Robert Rogers, John Mc Collom, George Duncan, Common Land, Joseph Bell, Law Lot, No. 1, John Mc Collom. Signed by JOSHUA KIMBALL, Constable. HENNIKER, Feb. 10, 1785.
(Henniker.)
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE. NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident Owners of Land in Henniker, who have not paid their Tax for the Year 1783, that so much of their Land will be sold at Public Vendue, on Tuesday the 5th Day of April next, at 10 o'Clock, A. M. at the House of Timothy Gibson, Esq. in said Henniker, as will pay said Tax, with incidental Charges, unless prevented by previous payment.
Table with 7 columns: Delinquent Names, Ac. Lot, Ra. £, s, d. Includes names like Drawed to Daniel Lefly, John Logan, James Willson, William Holmes, John Duncan, William Rodgers, Thomas Gregg, James Smith, Alexander Craige, James Wallace, Alexa. McCollom, jun., John Barr, Robert Cochran, George Duncan, Hugh Willson. Signed by EBENEZER HARRIMAN, Constable. HENNIKER, Feb. 14, 1785.
By Virtue of Licence from the Hon. Judge of Probate for the County of Rockingham, will be sold, on Thursday the 31st of March, at the House of David McCallis, Inholder in Canterbury, at 2 o'Clock, P. M.
All the real Estate of Thomas Hoyt, late of said Canterbury, Tanner, deceased; consisting of about Sixty-four Acres of Land, in two Pieces; exclusive of the Widow's Dower. ABNER HOYT, Administrator.
State of New-Hampshire.
THREE Months more being allowed by the Hon. Judge of Probate, &c. for the County of Hillsborough, to receive and examine the Claims of the Creditors to the Estate of DANIEL FLANDERS, late of Warner, in said County, deceased: Notice is hereby given that we shall attend at the dwelling House of Isaac Chase, in Warner, the last Thursday of this and the two following Months, from two to six o'Clock P. M. ISAAC CHASE, DAVID BAGLEY, Commissioners. Warner, February 18, 1785.
Mr. QUIN's Account of SCOTLAND.
THIS After being once asked if he had ever been in Scotland, and how he liked the people: "If you mean (replied he) the lower order of them, I shall be at a loss to answer you; for I had no farther acquaintance with them than by the smell.—As for the Nobility they are numerous, and for the most part proud and beggarly. I remember when I crossed from the North of Ireland into their d-d country, I came to a little wretched village consisting of a dozen huts, in the stile of the Hottentots, the principal of which was an Inn, and kept by an Earl. I was mounted on a shrivelled Quadruped, for there was no certainty of calling it horse, mare, or gelding, much like a North Wales goat, but rather larger, and without horns. The whole village was up in an instant to salute me, supposing from the elegance of my appearance, that I must be some person of a large fortune and great family. The Earl ran and took hold of my stirrup while I dismounted; then turning to his eldest son, who stood by us without breeches, said, "My Lord, do you take the Gentleman's horse to the stable, and desire your Sister, Lady Betty, to draw him a pint of twopenny; for I suppose so great a man will ha' the best liquor i' the whole hoos." I was obliged (continued Quin) to stay here the whole night, and to make a supper of rotten potatoes and stinking eggs; the old Nobleman was indeed very complaisant, and made me accept of his own bed. I cannot say that the dormitory was the best in the world, for there was nothing but an old box to sit upon in the room, and there were neither sheets nor curtains to the bed. Lady Betty was kind enough to apologize for the apartment, assuring me, "Many persons of great dignity had frequently slept in it, and that though the blankets luk'd fae block, it was not quit four years sin they had been washed by the Countess her mother, and Lady Matilda Caroline Amelia Eleonora Sophia, one of her younger Sisters." She then wished me a good night, and said, that the Viscount her brother would take particular care to groase my boots."
CORDAGE,
Of every Size, Manufactured by Mr. John Hart, from clean Petersburg Hemp, And to be Sold by
Joseph Champney, Opposite the POST-OFFICE, Where may be had as Usual,
Russia and Raven's Duck, Ticklinburghs, Bar-Iron, & Bar-Lead pr. Ton, German Steel, Powder and Shot pr. Quantity, &c. &c. &c.
Ben. Kenton's best London Porter, with best Cheshire and Gloucester Cheese.
— A L S O — A neat Assortment of HARD WARE, and piece Goods, suitable for every Season. Portsmouth. March 10, 1785.
FLOUR.
SUPERFINE and common Philadelphia FLOUR, TAR, PITCH, ROSIN, SULPHUR, (very good for graving Vessels, &c cheap) Nova-Scotia Grindstones, Barcelona Handkerchiefs, TOBACCO of all Sorts,
To be Sold cheap for Cash, or short Credit, by N. M'INTIRE.
A few of Dartmouth College Lottery TICKETS may be had of John Wendell, jr. Portsmouth.