The gazette (Portland, Me.), 1798-11-05 00:00:00

The Gazette.
[NUMBER 28.]
By ELEZER ALLEY JENKS, Portland, Maine.
[VOLUME I.]
Portland.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5th, 1798.
Communication.
EVERY American ought to blush and be ashamed that his own want of spirit has in some measure been the means of procuring insults and injuries from the French; and that the latter, amidst the din of arms, have formed so mean and contemptuous an opinion of the people of the United States. Let every man ask himself if he has never aided nor assisted to weaken his own government since France has been trying to depress it? How very few will be self acquitted! And how contemptible (at least in my eyes) is the man, who, though compelled by decency to be of the good behaviour during the present outrageous villainy of France, yet whenever there is any little lousy chance to spit venom against our own rulers and our own laws, cannot for the soul of him conceal the black temper of his cowardly heart!—You shall never see among the enemies of government, a man whom you or anybody else can love, much less respect and esteem. The qualities which command these things, never inhabited with meanness, jealousy and debasement. The sterling bullion of intrinsic public virtue, forms the basis of legitimate reverence and satisfaction; while the copper counters of jacobin patriotism, are not only good for nothing, but will corrode your mouth, and canker every thing they touch.—Fie, fie! Let us, by way of a sweet morsel under the tongue, my precious countrymen, revolve the speech of citizen director president Barras to James Monroe . We are now about the period of his recall.
This man ( Monroe ) it seems was of such a pre-eminent class of character, that after president Washington had leisurely looked round the United States for a person fit to go to France, the choice fell upon him. And he could not have hit it better if he had been looking among the jacobins for one that was fit to go to the Devil.— Monroe in France, pursued sincerely that line of conduct which should only have been played off externally against their diplomatic skill in this country. Perhaps the President sent them this fool to puzzle the Directory and gain time. But no matter— Monroe with perfect sincerity, laid the United States at the feet of the proud Republic, and told the Directory that the people of America would cheerfully raise five millions by a land tax to aid the cause of liberty in Europe—nay, there was nothing that we should not do at the request of France. Now this was a minister of quite a different cut from Governor Morris or Mr. Pinckney; and the Directory, consisting then of Barras , Lepeaux , Rewbell , Letourneur and Car-not , were as well suited in an American minister as could be, provided his countrymen would only make good his professions and fulfil his promises. But when it was found that he was burning the candle at both ends, the President saw proper to recal him, and it was upon that occasion that Barras president of the five directors for the time being, with Monroe's consent, took leave of this jewel of a minister in the following words, which I pray every man of honor to be so good as to read and swallow if he can—They are pretty hard of digestion, but never mind that—What business have we Americans with talles, palates, or titbits?—Do not the dogs put up with the crumbs
that fall from their master's table?—Hear the scoundrel.
"Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, "By presenting today your letters of recal to the Executive Directory, YOU GIVE TO EUROPE A VERY STRANGE SPECTACLE. "France, rich in her Liberty, surrounded by a train of Victories, strong in the esteem of her allies, will not abuse herself by calculating the consequences of the condescension of the American government to the suggestions of her former tyrants. Moreover, the French Republic hopes that the successors of Columbus, Raleigh and Penn , always proud of their liberty, will never forget that they owe it to France. They will weigh in their wisdom the magnanimous benevolence of the French people with the crafty cares of certain perfidious persons who meditate bringing them back to their former slavery. Allure the good American people, Sir, that like them we adore liberty; that they will always have our esteem, and that they will always find in the French people republican generosity, which knows how to grant peace, as it does to cause its sovereignty to be respected.
"As to you, Mr. Minister Plenipotentiary, you have combated for principles, you have known the true interests of your country. Depart with our regret. In you we give up a representative to America, and retain the remembrance of the citizen whose personal qualities did honour to that title."
In our next we shall consider this most impudent and most ignorant speech in detail, and abundantly shew that nothing less than a most beastly disregard of all honour and honesty, and the most blind and stupid pursuit of a design to ruin us could have dictated this morsel of republican eloquence. And Monroe , blown home by this foul breath of the French Directory, has faithfully served them ever since, by doing all he could to depreciate a government to which he owed his honours, and which he basely, nay, most infamously (unless charity will say that he was but a fool) betrayed. And he, together with a name which we shall but little longer allow rank and privilege to shelter, and the Gallatins , Livingstons and Lyons of the day, to the eternal shame and confusion of face of every honest American, by heaven! are able at this very moment to have their ambassador, Dr. Logan , received and feasted by the same scoundrels who dared to make the aforesaid speech and reject with contempt the legitimate commissioners of the United States!!!
When Congress met after the recal of Monroe , President Adams in his speech took notice of the philippic of citizen Barras in the following dignified manner. "With this conduct of the French government, it will be proper to take into view the public audience given to the late minister of the United States on his taking leave of the Executive Directory. The speech of the President discloses sentiments more alarming than the refusal of a minister, because more dangerous to our independence and union, and at the same time studiously marked with indignities towards the government of the United States. It evinces a disposition to separate the people of the United States from the government; to persuade them that they have different affections, principles and interests from those of their fellow-citizens, whom they themselves have chosen to manage their common
"concerns; and to produce divisions fatal to our peace. Such attempts ought to be repelled with a decision which shall convince France and the world, that we are not a degraded people, humiliated under a colonial spirit of fear, and sense of inferiority, fitted to be the miserable instruments of foreign influence, and regardless of national honor, character and interest."
What American would not have his President speak for him in this manner? Yet to Messrs. Pinckney , Marshal and Gerry , Talleyrand , for the aforesaid Directory, insists that this very moderate language shall be retracted, qualified, or some way disowned. Does not every American feel insulted by this degrading demand?—He who does not, it is needless to say ought to be despised, for he cannot be respectable, nor feel a moments happiness but what the devil could enjoy as well.
[To be continued.]
Birth-day of President Adams.
Last Tuesday, being the anniversary of our illustrious President's birth, the day was observed in this town with those voluntary marks of respect and festivity which flow from hearts warmed with grateful sensibility towards those eminent characters whose lives are devoted to the service of their country. It must afford the most hearty pleasure to those interested in the welfare of America to know that this inestimable man is still favored with an unimpaired constitution, & superior strength of nerves—combined with the strongest intellectual powers known in the history of man. And the daily emanations of his pen bespeak the vigor of youth blended with the gravity of age; and a complete knowledge of all that is revealed to human understanding. Such is the man America possesses to steer her through the present political whirlwind; and such is the man we delight to honor.
The day was welcomed by the discharge of cannon, the ringing of bells, and the display of the American standard from the fort and shipping in the harbor. A federal salute was also given from the battery.
A respectable company partook of an elegant entertainment, prepared at the Columbian Hall. After dinner the subsequent toasts were drunk, and suitable songs sung.
1. JOHN ADAMS, President of the United States. * * * * * 2. The Congress of the United States. 3. George Washington, Lieutenant General of the Armies. 4. Timothy Pickering, Secretary of State. 5. Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury. 6. James McHenry, Secretary at War. 7. Nathaniel Stoddart, Secretary of the Navy. 8. Commadore Barry, and the Navy. 9. General Hamilton, and the Army. 10. Governor Sumner, & the Commonwealth. 11. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. 12. John Marshall. 13. Elbridge Gerry. 14. The Members of Congress from Maine. 15. Honor to whom honor is due—TRIBUTE TO NONE!
A SONG, composed for the occasion.
A Council of Gods, in the absence of Jove, America plung'd on the billows of ocean, The tempests of faction , the veil'd swift drove, Depriv'd her of Compass & Helm of late motion, And each smil'd on his seat, At the troubles of State, The treach'ry of France, & Columbia's hard fate: CHORUS. They deem'd none but Washington fitted to wear, The fair emblems of peace, or the thunders of war. Then started old Mars, bloody slaughter's floun chief, Of Jacob the friend, & of faction the mover, Propos'd that Columbia sore wounded with grief, In ocean should sink, and no refuge discover; But Minerva more wise, And more p'aring her eyes,
The day star of liberty saw in the skies— For Adams was born on his bosom to wear, The fair emblems of peace and the thunders of war
Jove enter'd the Senate, the Gods were in fear. Asum'd the just right to pronounce the decision—
"To Columbia no tempests shall threaten'ing appear,
"No faction shall prosper, nor plans of division"—
'Mid the ocean's wild roar, The barque trembled to shore, While Neptune was left his sad fate to deplore, For Adams was seen on his bosom to wear, The fair emblems of peace, & the thunders of war.
All hail to the day! lovely Freedom is thine, The President's health we drink in full chorus; The hero of Vernon in union combine, And sing—"may they ever be happy & glorious."
HEAV'N the victors will crown, The base faction disown, Stamp Washington's deeds in the page of renown,
In Adams bold out—as he sits on his Car, The fair emblems of peace & the thunders of war!
"Honour to whom Honour is due!"
Some persons lately observed, "that the money and powder expended in celebrating the President's birth, had better have been reserved to fight our enemies."—Triflers! Why do you not consider that every gun that has been discharged in honour of our public officers, has in reality done more execution than if levelled at the disordered columns of intoxicated Frenchmen? Is it not the sole aim of our enemies to bring the men of our confidence into disgrace and mistrust among the people, and thus effect their diabolical purpose of fomenting a civil war? How then can we more completely defeat them, than by honoring and supporting those who daily prove themselves worthy of the confidence of freemen?—It is not force, but Intrigue , that we are now to combat, by every possible means.
Observance of the day in Boston.
From the Centinel of last Wednesday.
The natal day of the beloved Citizen who presides over the interests and honor of the United States, was celebrated in this town, with unusual marks of high respect, veneration and esteem. To trace the numerous testimonials, which individual patriotism exhibited, would occupy a great part of our paper—we must therefore notice those only of a more general aspect.
In the morning, at noon, and at sunsetting, the ringing of all the bells, the firing of cannon, and found of martial music, awakened and kept alive, the most grateful feelings.
Maj. Gen. Elliot, ordered out the several Independent Companies in town; the Boston Artillery , and 4 uniformed Companies of Militia, which at 11 o'clock, formed a line on the Common. After being reviewed by the Maj. General, and performing their exercises and firing, they marched into State Street , and again formed a line. The exercises and firing being completed, the Horse and Sub-Legions, marched to the different places assigned them, and were dismissed. Every soldier's best high satisfaction; and every citizen pronounced approbation.
The Ships in the harbour made a handsome appearance, in displaying the Eagle and Stripes , and the echo of their "Rolls of equipage," where grateful to the American ear.—At 12 o'clock, Capt. Gates, of the Cattle , gave a federal salute. In the evening, a brilliant display of Fire-Works were made.
The Theatre was uncommonly crowded, last evening. " Adams and Liberty ," was sung and encored; as well as the " Green Mountain Farmer ." His Excellency the Governor, accompanied by Maj. Gen. Elliot, and suite, and the Sheriff of Norfolk, honored the performances with their presence.—The Columbian Museum was handsomely illuminated.
An elegant entertainment was given at Concert-Hall, at which were present, His Excellency the Governor; His Honor the Lt. Governor; the President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives; Judges of the Federal Court—and the Supreme Judicial Courts; Members of Congress, and of the State Legislature; Reverend Clergy; Foreign Consuls; Officers of the Army and Navy, and other distinguished characters.
At Newburyport, the day was also observed with distinguished respect.

Gazette-Office, November 5.
Arrived at this port on Friday, 2d inst. ship Cumberland, Andrew Scott, master, in 40 days from Liverpool, and 30 from Dublin. Papers are received to the 25th Sept. from Dublin, containing London accounts to Sept. 21. The most important articles follow:
LONDON, SEPT. 21.
WE yesterday stopped the press to announce a communication which had been made by the Telegraph to the Admiralty, of French papers having been received at Dover, and one of them containing an account of the defeat of the French Fleet in the Mediterranean by Sir Horatio Nelson. This communication of course excited a most lively interest and anxiety.—In the evening the French papers reached town, and the articles above alluded to we found in a Supplement to the Redacteur of the 14th, in the following words:
“Letters from Malta inform, that Buonaparte had landed on the first of July, with the whole of his army, at Alexandria, that after having entered into a treaty of amity with the Chiefs of the Arabs, he directed his march along the Nile to Grand Cairo, which he entered on the 23d July at the head of the French army, and that having rendered himself master of Lower Egypt he was continuing his march. The same letters inform us, that the squadron of admiral Brueys had anchored on the coast of Bignieres, and was preparing to return to France, when it was attacked by the English squadron, which was superior to ours both in the number and the size of the vessels; that on both sides the Action was maintained with a degree of obstinacy, of which History affords no Example; that during the Action the Vessel of the French admiral was burnt; that two or three French ships sunk; and that some others, both English and French, ran aground, after having lost all their masts; and that, finally, some other French ships, quite disabled, remained on the spot where the Battle was fought. We are much alarmed about their fate.”
From the Star.
The Echo, a paper of little authority, has a letter from Nice, dated Sept. 2, stating that Buonaparte, after landing his troops, had again put to sea, defeated the English, and taken five sail of the line, and that admiral Nelson had shot himself. This improbable fiction is contradicted by the Clef du Cabinet , a demi-official paper of the following day. The latter says, that, from prior intelligence, the rumour was wholly improbable.
London, Sept. 20.
Sun Office, half past one, P. M.
We stop the press to announce, that we learn from undoubted authority, that by the admiralty Telegraph intelligence has just been conveyed, of a French paper of the 15th having been this forenoon landed at Dover, containing the very gratifying information of an action having taken place between admiral Nelson and the French fleet, in which the British was happily victorious.
London, Sept. 18, 19, 20.
The various accounts which have been received respecting the operations of the French army under Buonaparte, have much contributed to perplex the public opinion. That of Saturday, by the Hamburg mail, of the French having sustained a very considerable defeat, seemed to be contradicted and overthrown by the account received by the East India Company, from their agent at Constantinople; while on the other hand the statements by the mail which arrived on Monday, seemed to confirm those brought by the former. We have been at great pains to trace these various accounts, to compare and to digest them; and we think we can say with a considerable degree of confi-
dence; that the Company's agent must have adopted vague and hasty reports, while the intelligence by the mails was founded on more authentic information. By letters from Constantinople, of as recent a date as those received by the overland dispatch, and which amount in fact to official authority, it seems certain that Buonaparte had received a very considerable defeat near Rosetta, in consequence of which he was obliged to encamp and to entrench himself. In this situation he could neither advance nor retreat, while the Arabs were collecting in immense numbers with the determination to attack and overwhelm him. From a view of the map, and after a temperate consideration of all circumstances, we are strengthened in our opinion that the accounts of Buonaparte having possessed himself of Grand Cairo must be unfounded. It is a march of about 120 or 130 miles through a country presenting innumerable difficulties to an army, and more particularly when that army must be harassed and beset by such superior numbers.
Citizen Prireron failed from Toulon on the 16th ult. for Alexandria. He goes in the character of commissioner of the executive directory in Egypt.
Malta has been organized after the manner of the departments of the Republic of France.
The speedy recommencement of hostilities on the continent appears every day more probable. The deputation of the empire began to deliberate on the last note of the French ministers on the 2d instant. The French ministers will not admit of much delay. They have demanded “a prompt and categorical answer,” which they say “will govern their future conduct.” Thus the answer of the empire must be anxiously looked for, as containing the signal of peace or war.
The military requisition in Paris is made with great activity, and the public places are surrounded with troops, for the purpose of apprehending those who seek to avoid it.
Vienna, Sept. 1.
We learn from Constantinople of the 20th Aug. that Buonaparte's landing at Alexandria has highly irritated the Divan and the whole Turkish nation. He attempted to gain possession of Rosetta, in order to go from thence to Cairo, but was resisted so firmly, that he was obliged to retreat and entrench himself in his camp. Long preparation has been made here to frustrate his views. The only magazines that are formed for his army were made here and there by some Turkish Jews, with the intention of selling them to the French on their arrival, and these Jews have been taken up and punished. The captain Pacha, will it is said, march against Buonaparte.
Constantinople, Aug. 10.
The Porte received on the 31st ult. the confirmation of Buonaparte's debarkation at Alexandria. Possessing that city, with little resistance, he immediately proceeded against Rosetta, the garrison of which being few in number, fled at his approach. He immediately afterwards directed his march to Grand Cairo. We are not acquainted with what has since passed—but it appears certain that the Beys, forgetful of their personal animosities, have united closely and have collected a considerable number of troops, which has been much increased by the Arabs. This army stationed itself at about 20 leagues from Rosetta, between that town and Cairo, with a view to dispute the passage. It is further added, that the Pacha of Palestine has also succeeded in collecting a large body of men, at the head of which he was to have marched against Alexandria.
The many incoherent reports in circulation afford reason for sticking entirely to the official accounts received by the Porte from Damietta, dated July 18, which say that the French were intrenched in the environs of Rosetta, ten leagues from Alexandria, and in sight of the army of the Beys, which was only the distance of half a league from the French camp.
A considerable degree of fermentation prevails in this capital, and the police is obliged to redouble its activity in preventing the populace from venting their resentment upon the French who are resident here. They are still, however treated with much moderation and regard by government, a conduct which leaves much room for speculation, and which every one interprets according to the spirit of his own opinions. Some discover in it a secret understanding with the French government, while others regard it merely as an act of circumspection, which is
indispensable to the secrecy of military operations which are now in preparation. It any thing can throw light on this kind of problem, it is the Catéchisme and orders that issue from the Porte to all the provinces of the empire. The preamble is conceived in expressions that strongly speak indignation. The conduct of the French it represents as the most unjust and the most opposite to the faith of treaties; the orders which it enforces prescribe measures of the most decided resistance, and of determined hostility. The English Minister still continues powerfully to influence these determinations, and the activity of his zeal leaves nothing untried that can rouse and give vigor to the energies of government. The Russian ambassador is equally active in his negotiations; but it does not appear as if there existed any thing like a concert and cordiality of operations in the conduct of those two ministers; and if they tend to the same end, it must be owned that their particular direction seems altogether to be insulated.
Official letters from Candia (in the island of Candia) dated July 18, mention the appearance of an English squadron before that island. The commander of it, after having enquired concerning the course of the French fleet, determined to sail directly for Egypt.
A letter from Smyrna, of the 1st of Aug. mentions that the same squadron was met with beyond Rhodes, with a fair wind for Egypt.
The Porte, it is confirmed has made advantageous offers of peace to Pashwan Oglu, and proposed to make him Pacha of Servia, which last honor, however, he has declined, and says he only wishes to remain as a private Janissary, whose rights, &c. he had so long defended.
Paris, Sept. 5.
The directory has not yet published anything official respecting Buonaparte.
Some of our public prints contain a journal of ship news, collected and published by citizen Regnault, commissioner of the Executive Government of Malta. But in regard to Malta, they come down no farther than the 28th of July. The master of a ship, which arrived from Alexandria in 33 days, proposed, “That by means of the public prints, the French expedition against Egypt was known there some time previous to the arrival of the Toulon fleet; that it made the most profound impression throughout that country; and that the 24 Beys held a Council with the Lawyers attached to the Government of the country, to deliberate on the conduct which would be most proper to observe on this important occasion. Having understood that the expedition had been undertaken with the consent of the Grand Signior, they concluded that the French must be provided with a Firman, in which case they would allow them to sail off to Cairo by detachments of from 200 to 300 men. It is also said, that an English packet had arrived at Suez, with dispatches from the East-Indies, and was waiting there for the answer.”
Dublin, Sept. 25.
By a second communication made through the admiralty Telegraph at London late on Thursday evening, the detail of admiral Nelson's victory has been in a good measure notified; it was understood, according to our correspondent's letter “that Buonaparte had been purposely suffered to land his men at Alexandria, in order that the Porte should be roused to a sense of indignation against France; that admiral Nelson had therefore retired from Alexandria, when he discovered that he had anticipated the French fleet, but that having returned in a short time, he found that fleet so fortunately disposed that he attacked it with the happiest success, capturing three and burning four ships of the line.”
Extract of a letter from Ballyshannon, Sept. 18.
“The French were on this coast a few days since, a vessel mounting 16 guns and 200 men, a large park of artillery, and a great quantity of small arms and ammunition on board, arrived at Rutland on Sunday last; they landed the men, but finding that the country people would not join them, they re-embarked after pillaging the Post-Office and other houses in that town, they sailed thence to the eastward on the same evening.”
“It is confidently said, that James N. Tandy was the conductor of the above expedition; and from the course she steered on her departure from Rutland, we have every reason to hope that she cannot escape the vigilance of some of our cruizers on the Cork station.”
From the London Star, of Sept. 17. On Saturday we laid before our readers the accounts brought by the Hamburg mail, of a defeat said to have been experienced by Buonaparte near Cairo. We have now to state intelligence of a very different nature, which was received in the course of that day at the India House, and which we think much better entitled to credit.
Mr. Tooke, the Company's resident at Constantinople, in a letter to the directors, dated the 10th ult. which was forwarded by a special messenger, informs them that Buonaparte had not only made himself master of Alexandria, but of Rosetta, Damietta, and Grand Cairo, tho' not without considerable loss, having been harassed by the Arabs and Mamelucks, whom, however he had dispersed with great slaughter. The intelligence is given by Mr. Tooke on the authority of letters from Aleppo, dated the 28th of July.
It is extremely probable that the substance of this intelligence is true, tho' there are difficulties to its receiving full credit. Rosetta is only between 40 and 50 miles distant from Alexandria, which he might reach in a little time, without very great labour: but from thence to Damietta he could not possibly march at the season; for the Nile begins to overflow its banks about the end of May, and all the low lands continue inundated till the 10th or 20th of August—sometimes even to the end of September. Through such a country no army could march a distance of about 100 miles, even if we suppose the waters to have subsided earlier than usual; for the ground always continues soft and muddy for some time after.
To Cairo the French might proceed direct from Rosetta without such an impediment, but the distance is about 150 miles, and could not but expose them to considerable danger, if by any means the enervated and enslaved inhabitants may have been roused into action; which may possibly have been the case if the Firman laid to have been issued by the Porte, addressed to the Bahaws and Beys of Egypt, and which was brought over by the last Hamburg mail, may be considered as genuine. It directs them to throw every possible obstruction in the way of the infidels, who were invading the country with a view of overturning its religion, and endeavours to rouse them to adopt the most vigorous measures, so that the enemy may not be permitted to carry even a grain of sand out of the Sultan's dominions.
But it is possible Buonaparte may have gone from Rosetta to Damietta by sea, having previously ordered his fleet from Alexandria to the former, while he proceeded there by land: or having left a sufficient garrison in Alexandria, he may have even gone to Rosetta by sea—taken and garrisoned it, and then again embarked for Damietta. This appears the wisest and most rational plan that could be followed; for admiral Nelson having left Buonaparte complete master of the eastern extremity of the Mediterranean, there was nothing to oppose his progress by sea. Being once arrived at Damietta, he could go up the large eastern branch of the Nile to Cairo, in boats, the common passage being only about six or seven days.
In which ever way we suppose him to have reached Cairo, his progress must have been rapid indeed; for he reached Alexandria on the 7th or 8th of July, and the accounts of his arrival at Cairo are stated to have arrived at Aleppo on or before the 28th of the same month; that is within 20 days, though so much was to be done in the time, and the news to travel upwards of 270 leagues.
If the Conqueror of Italy has reached Cairo, having previously made himself master of the places stated—or, in other words, having conquered Egypt, he has only 70 miles to march to Suez. Short as this distance is, it takes the Caravans about eight days to traverse it, being a very sandy desert. It is said, that it was after he left Cairo that the principal attack was made upon him by

MISCELLANY.
FROM A LATE ENGLISH PAPER.
THEATRICAL EXIT.
JOHN PALMER, the celebrated Comedian, the early pupil & veteran imitator of the English Rofcius, after having "wifted the glimpse of the stage" for upwards of 40 years, has at length acted his "laft fcene of all" in life's motley drama.
This is the second instance of the kind recorded in theatrical history. The other was Moliere, who died on the ftage in his own play of the "Hypochondriac."
An actor, who with wondrous skill could hold, Truth's politifh'd mirror up to Nature's felfe.
The following lines are infcribed on the head ftone of Mr. PALMER, who expired while uttering them on the ftage, in the character of the Stranger :
"Oh! God! Oh! God! There is another and a better world!"
From the Liverpool Advertiser, Aug. 20.
On Monday evening, the Tragedy of Hamlet was performed at our Theatre, for the benefit of the children of the late Mr. Palmer, when the following address, written by Mr. Roscoe, was spoken by Mr. Holman.
YE airy fprites, who oft as fancy calls, Sport 'midft the precincts of thefe haunted walls! Light forms, that float in mirth's tumultuous throng,
And frolic dance, and revelry, and fong, Fold your gay wings, repress your wonted fire, And from your favourite feats awhile retire.
—And thou, whofe powers fublimer thoughts impart, Queen of the fprings that move the human heart, With change alternate, at whofe magic call, The fwelling tides of paffion rife or fall;
—The fwell'd forms around us move, We hope, or fear, rejoice, decref, or love: Nor heaves the figh for felfifh woes alone. Congenial forrows mingle with our own:
Hence, as the poet's raptur'd eye balls roll, The fond delirium feizes all his foul; And, whil'ft his pulfe concordant meafures keeps, He fmiles in transport, or in anguifh weeps. —But, ah! lamented shade! not thine to know The anguifh only of imagin'd woe;
Defin'd o'er life's fubftantial ills to mourn, And fond parental ties ultimately torn: Then, whil'ft thy bofom, labouring with its griefs, From fabled forrows fought a fhort relief, The fancied woes, too true to nature's tone, But the flight barrier, and became thy own;
In mingled tides the fwelling paffion ran, Abforb'd the actor, and o'erwhelm'd the man! Martyr of fympathy, more fadly true, Than ever fancy feign'd, or poet drew!
Say, why by Heaven's acknowledg'd hand impreft, Such keen fenfations actuate all the breaft? Why throbs the heart for joys that long have fled? Why lingers hope around the filent dead?
Why fpurns the fpirit its incumbent clay, And longs to foar to happier realms away? Does heaven unjuft the fond defire inftill, To add to mortal woes another ill? Is there thro' all the intellectual frame, No kindred mind that prompts the nightly dream?
Or in lone mufings of remembrance fweet, Infpires the fecret wifh—once more to meet? —There is—for not by more determin'd laws The fympathetic feel the magnet draws, Than the freed fpirit acts with ftrong controul, On its responsive fympathies of foul;
And tells in characters of truth uncurl'd —There is another, and a better world. Yet, whil'ft we forrowing tread this earthly ball For human woes a human tear will fall. —Bleff be that tear—who gives it, doubly bleff, That heals with balm the orphan's wounded breaft;
Not all that breathes in morning genial dew, Revives the parent plant where once it grew, Yet may thofe dews with timely nature aid The infant flow'rets drooping in the fhade: Whil'ft long experieinc'd worth, and manners mild, A father's merits—ftill protefts his child.
American Antiquities.
The following is a Note in a late Charge by the Rev. Dr. Cutler to the Rev. Mr. Story, at his ordination as Minister at Marietta.
VESTIGES of ancient works, of which the present natives retain no tradition, are found in various parts of the western territory. Of thofe that have yet been difcovered, the works at Marietta are of the greateft magnitude. Their fituation is on an elevated plain. They confift of walls and mounds, of earth, in direct lines, and in fquare and circular forms. The largeft fquare contains 40 acres. On each fide are three openings, at equal diftances, refembling twelve gate ways. The fmalleft fquare contains 20 acres, with a gate way in the centre of each fide. At the angles of the fquares are openings fimilar to thofe at the fides. The walls, which were made of earth, were not thrown up from ditches, but raifed by bringing the earth from fome diftant place, or taking it up uniformly from the furface of the plain.
By an accurate meafurement they were found to be from 4 to 8 feet in height, and from 25 to 36 feet, at the bafe, in breadth. Two parallel walls, running from an angle of the largeft fquare towards the Mufkingum river, which feemed to have been defigned for a covered way, were 175 feet diftant from each other, and meafured on the inner fide, in the moft elevated part, 21 feet in height, and 42 feet broad at the bafe. Within and contiguous to the fquares, are many elevated mounds, of a conic form, and of different magnitudes. The moft remarkable of the mounds within the walls are three, of an oblong fquare form, in the great fquare. The largeft of thefe is 188 feet in length, 100 feet in width, and 9 feet in height, level on the fummmit, & nearly perpendicular at the fides. At the centre of each of the fides the earth is projected, forming gradual afcents to the fummmit, extremely regular, and about 6 feet in width. Near the fmalleft fquare is a mound, raifed in form of a fugar loaf, of a magnitude that ftrikes the beholder with aftonifhment. Its bafe is a regular circle, 115 feet in diameter, and is 30 feet in altitude. It is furrrounded by a ditch, at the diftance of 33 feet from its bafe, 15 feet wide and 4 feet deep, forming a bank 4 feet in height, leaving an opening or gate way, towards the fquare, about 20 feet wide. Befides thefe, there are other works, but the limits of this note will not admit of a defcription. At the commencement of the fettlement, the whole of thefe works were covered with a prodigious growth of trees. When I arrived, the ground was in part cleared, but many large trees remaining on the walls and mounds. The only poffible data for forming any probable conjecture refpecting the antiquity of the works, I conceived, muft be derived from the growth upon them. By the concentric circles, each of which contains the annual growth, the age of the trees might be afcertained. For this purpofe a number of the trees were felled; and, in the prefence of Governor St. Clair and many other Gentlemen, the number of circles were carefully counted. The trees of the greateft fize were hollow. In the largeft of thofe which were found, there were from three to four hundred circles. One tree, fowewhat decayed at the centre, was found to contain, at leaft, 463 circles. Its age was undoubtedly more than 463 years. Other trees, in a growing ftate, were from their appearance, much older. There were, likewife, the ftrongeft marks of a previous growth, as large as the prefent. Decayed ftumps would be traced at the furface of the ground, on different parts of the works, which meafured from 6 to 8 feet in diameter. In one of the angles of a fquare, a decayed ftump meafured 8 feet in diameter at the furface of the ground;
and though the body of the tree was fo moulder'd as fcarcely to be perceived above the furface of the earth, we were able to trace the decayed wood, under the leaves and rubbifh, nearly an hundred feet. A thrifty beech, containing 136 circles, appeared to have firft vegetated within the fpace that had been occupied by an ancient predecessor, of a different kind of wood.
Admitting the age of the prefent growth to be 450 years, and that it had been preceded by one of equal fize and age, which, as probabely as otherwife, was not the firft, the works have been deferted more than 920 years. If they were occupied one hundred years, they were erected more than a thoufand years ago.
It is highly probable the exterior walls were erected for defence. An opening being made at the fummmit of the great conic mound, there were found the bones of an adult in an horizontal pofition, covered with a flat ftone. Beneath this fkelton were thin ftones placed vertically at fmall and different diftances, but no bones were difcovered. That this venerable monument might not be defaced, the opening was clofed, without further feach. The cells formed by the thin ftones might have contained, like the charnel houles in Mexico, the fculks of the facrifices; or the mound may be a general depofitory of the dead, collected in the manner defcribed by Lafitau and other travellers among the Indian tribes.
The large mounds in the great fquare, it can hardly be doubted, were appropriated to religious purpofes. On them they erected their temples, placed their idols, and offered their facrifices; for it is difficult to conceive of any other purpofe for which they could have been defigned. Comparing their form and fituation with the places of worship in Mexico and other parts of the country, when firft difcovered, we find as great a fimilarity, as there was in the places of worship among thofe different tribes. Their temples were generally erected and their idols placed on natural or artificial elevations, with gradual afcents. If the Mexican tribes, agreeably to their hiftoric paintings and traditions, came from the northward, and fome of them in their migrations, went far to the eaftward, it is not improbable, that either fome of thofe tribes, or others, fimilar to them in their cuftoms and manners, and who practifed the fame religious rites, were the conftructors of thofe works. The prefent natives bear a general refemblance, in their complexion, form and fize, to the ancient Mexicans. Though their rites and ceremonies differ, they profefs the general principles of the Mexican religion; believing in the great fpirit, good and evil genii, and a ftate of exiftence after death. They have no temples nor images; but fome faint notions of religious oblations are to be found among them. When it is confidered, how long it muft have been fince thefe works were erected—how generally the practice of offering human facrifices anciently prevailed among all the tribes from Louifiana to the western ocean—that men, women and children were facrificed in their fmalleft as well as moft populous towns—that in the dominions of Montezuma only, as hiftorians fay, twenty thoufand were yearly facrificed, and in fome years fifty thoufand—will it not ftrengthen the probability that human facrifices were among the religious rites of the ancient poffeffors of this ground?
The following Advertisement appeared in a late London paper.
STRAYED OR LOST, A LITTLE, thin, fallow-looking man, known by the name of Buonaparte. The laft time he was heard of was when he fet fail from Malta.—The Poles and Ruffians report that he is gone to the Black Sea—the Germans fay he is gone to Trieffe, to march to Vienna—the Turks that he is gone to the Greek iflands—the Portuguefe that he is to land in Spain to attack Portugal—the
Italians that he is to invade Naples—the Irifh, that he is to land in Ireland, and the Englifh that he is gone to the Eaft Indies. In fine, EVERY country fears he will pay them a vifit, whilft it is generally fuppofed that THE FRENCH ONLY know where he is gone. Whoever will give fuch intelligence as may enable Admiral Nelfon to bring him to St. James's, fhall be handsomely rewarded.
N. B. A handfome reward will also be given to any one who will tell where Admiral NELSON is.
A Hamburg paper of September 11, obferves on the letter of Gen. Wafhington, accepting of the Lieutenant Generalcy of the new American army, that it "Fills the world with a confidence againft the French which it never before knew."
Bowdoin College.
THE OVERSEERS of Bowdoin College are hereby notified, that a femi annual meeting of their Board is to be held on the Second Wednefday of November next, at Mr. Graffam's Columbian Hall, in Portland, at 10 o'clock A.M. By order of the Board.
JONATHAN ELLIS, Secretary. Topfham, October, 1798.
THE TRUSTEES of Bowdoin College are hereby notified, that their femi annual meeting, is to be held at the Court Houfe in Portland, on the FIRST WEDNESDAY in November next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
JOHN FROTHINGHAM, Secretary. Portland, October 19th, 1798.
A List of Letters
Remaining in the Post-Office at Wells, October 20th.
Harvey Conant, Wells. John Denit, ditto. John Findley, Kennebec. Jacob Fisher, esq. ditto. Joshua Gray, jun. Wells. Jonathan Stevens, ditto. 2.
List of Letters,
Remaining in the Post Office, Brunswick, Maine.
Thomas Pennell, Brunswick. Anne Higges, ditto. Jacob Weston, ditto. Samuel Gros, ditto. Benjamin Metcalf, Topsham. Walter Hatch, ditto. Isaac Roth, ditto. John Hern, ditto. William Gowell, Bowdoin. Margery Sootbaker, ditto. Abvin Dummick, ditto.
ANDREW DUNING, Post Master. October 15, '98.
APPRENTICE WANTED.
Wanted as an apprentice to the Cooper's Business, a Lad about 14 or 16 years of age, healthy, of a stout make, and robust constitution. Good encouragement will be given to one of this description. One from the country would be preferred. Inquire at this Office. Oct. 22.
Genteel Boarding.
Two gentlemen may be accommodated with genteel board, in a very central part of the town Inquire at the Gazette-Office. Oct. 22.
A good Franklin Stove for sale.—Inquire at the Gazette-Office. Oct. 22.
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