Jenks's Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland [Me.]) 1799-1802, 1799-11-25


TO every man who is capable of worthy con-
dna, the plcafure from the appreciation OF wor-
Thy men is exqui6te and iqexprellible.
It is curious to confider the final caufes of
things when the phyfcal are wholly unknown
The intellectual and moral qualities are
mott within our power, and undoubtedly the
mott ehential. to our hsppineis The per-
fonal qualities of health, ffrength, and agility,
are next In npouanee.-Yet, the qualities OF
torture. fuch as birth, riches and honors, tho
a man has leis reafon to etieem himlelfl5r theft,
Than fot tho!e Of his mind or body, are every
whsre acknowledged to Glitter with the bright
Ell lultre, in the eyes Of the world.
As virtue is the only rational furce, and
eternal foundation OF honour, the wifdom of
nations, in the titles they have e1ablilhed as tie
arks OF order and iuhbordinalion, has generally
given an intimation. not Of perional qualities,
nor of the qualities OF fortune; but OF iome
particular virtues, more especially becoming
men, in the high aa,ions they p lefs. Rever-
ence is attributed to the Clergy to
Observation-Disclosures to Senators-iereniy. Gle.
mency, or mildnels Of difpolition, to Princes.
The fovereign authority and fupreme executive,
have commonly titles that deii9nate power as
well as virtue--as Maiefy to KIngs-magnii
cent, moi honored, and lovreign Lords, to the
government of Geneva--noble mightneles to
the aates of Frieaand-noble and mighty
Lords to the fates of Gnelderland--n
great and venerable Lords to the regency of
Leyden--noble and grand Mighlineaes to the
ftates of Holland-noble great and venerable
Lords, the regency of Amnerdam noble
| mghtinehes, the States OF Ureicht--and high
| mehtineiies Of The States General.
A dea bed, it is faid, ibcws the err ptincfs Of
| ,itlcs.-Tha, may be.--But does it not equally
thew the futility of ri, hes power, berry and all
earthly things! The cloud.capt towers, the
gorgeous palaces, the folemn temples. the great
globe iIfslf, appear The balelefs fabric of VII
ION, and life itelf tale told by anideot, full of
found and fury, ignilying nothing. Shall it be
inferred from this, that fame, liberty, propert
and life, ihai be always delpiied and elected !!
Shall laws and government, which regulate
| Iublunaiy things be neglected., beeaufs they ap-
pear baubleS at HE hour Of deaihs
The wifdom ard virtue of all nations have
| endeavoied to regulate TIE plfiion for reiped
and diainelion, and to reduce ii to iome order
in iociety, by titles marking the gradations of
MagHgacy, to prevent as far as human power
and policy can prevent, colliGons among The
paRions of many purifying the fame objects and
the rivalries, animofites, envy, jealou'y and
vengeance, which always refut from them.
Has there ever been a nation, who under
food the human heart, better than the Ro-
mans9 Or made better uie Of the paiiion for
confederation, congratulation and dlitincion
They conlidered, that as realon is the guide OF
life, the ienies, the imagination and the alice
tons are the fprings Of activity. Reafon holds
the helm, but paiions are the gales and as the
dire6tea road to ,hele is through the ieries, the
language of iigns was employed by Roman
wildom to excite The emulation and active vir
tue Of the citizens. DRm7ious of condition. as
we'll as or ages, were made by difference of
cloahing. The Laticlave, or large flowing
robe, audded with broad fpots of purple.
the ancient dfintfon of their Kings, was after
the Establishment of the conlulate, worn by the
Senators through the whole period of The re-
public and the Empire. The tribunes of the
people, were, after their infttution, admitted to
wear the fame venerable fignal of fandity and
authority. The anguaiclave, or the fmaller
robe, with narrower fluids of purple, was the
dilin guilhing habit of the Roman Knights.
The golden ring was ALTO peculiar TO Senator'S
and Knights, and was not permitted to be worn
by any other citizens The ratext, or lorg
WAile rOoe Reaching GOWN 10 Tie aheies, 'oeT-
ed with purple, which was worn by the princi-
pal magiftrates, iuch as Confils, Prrtors, Cen.
fors and iomelimes on iolemn feltiyals, by Sen
ators. The chairs oil ivory the I.ittors; the
rods tn axes; the crowns of gold ; OF ivo-
ry; Of flowers; of herbs; of laurel branches
and of oak leaves; the civil and the mural crowns;
their ovations; and their ttiumpths, every
thing in religion, government and COMMON life
among the Romans was parade, representation
and ceremony. Every thing was addieiied to
the emulation of the citizens, and every thing
was calculated to attract the attention, to allure
the confederation and excite the congratulations
OF the people to attach their hearts to individu
al citizens according to their merit; and to
their lawgivers, magilratcs and judges, accord
ing to their ranks, tatons and importance in
the State. And this was in the true lpitit