Jenks' Portland gazette. Maine advertiser. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1802-1803, 1803-04-11

cling the efforts Of honeii and improved
minds, in the greatea work upon which
they can be employed. k Such labours
are in faet the greaief honour to thefe
collections of various and uleful matter;
and aremorcover capable of being ho.
noured and recommended, where moth.
ing is placed by the Gde of them incon.
lilteut with their deGgn. The advan.
tage is reciprocal, and mould be purified
with relolution and conaancy. An OBJ.
jeetion however aries Of great weight,
10 far as we'll founded, becAufe itrelates
to perfonal intere(t. You are a raid of
lohug encouragement, by Introducing
fuch inbjects as are fuired to inform and
ttimulate mea in thei duty 1heie are
no: generally coLGdered as the mott
Pleafing fenes either for thought or
conversation; or, mould it be othtrwife,
1t may yer be laid that enough OF f-ri
oufnefs is to DC met with every fab
bath, without being futj ed 70 the
tax, where we are accuRomed TO leek
mere entertainments. 1t mutt be ack.
nowledged there is too much difficulty
ariting from This. fource. But as il
comes within my prelent defgn to ad
ereis rsader5, as wei "a editors, fhall
embrace this opportunity for the pur.
pole, iince the connection feems u re.
quIre this Arrangement.
There feems then to be nc reafon why
Improvement, as we'll as recreation,
fhould NOT be fought in a Newspaper.
Ii will not be denied, that the knowl
edge of politics, of fcience, aud life, is
OF great confrquence 10 all clafes Of
people. 70 fa- as their understanding
extends. Nothirs therefore is here ad
vanced tending ~ discourage attention
70 thrfe. fubjetts. II does not however
follow from this acknowledgment, that
others of a hyperion nature may NOT be
mingled with them 10 the greatea ad-
va &c. No reafon can be given, why
the mott facred principles fhould NOT
be habitualiy admitted Into the mind,
10 clofe connexion with the motives and
facts Of ordinary life. The clown, who
takes up a public Journal, without
Knowing whether he ihould begin at
the right hand or left, is hardly lefs
contemplate in his ignorance, than one
who ieeks from it nothing that is fitted
70 promote elevation of mind, and cor
rectnela of mannets. AmidIt the diii-
cuities of duty, AID the wanderibgs Of
error and vice, it is neceGary we hould
be always directing our eye to fcme
point, where virtuons ener gees may find
the greatelt 1uPport, where falle delires
may meet with the NOT effeaual re
iltaint. Whithsr will you repair for
this advantage, but TO the fentiments of
1 God and futurity Thele then lhould
have aligned them place IN your moit
familiar reading and oonyeriation. The
mPreilions which they ought 10 make
upon every heart, mutt each day, each
hour be renewed, if you mean TO grafp
that high, eternal good, to which they
mark the way. ~
Happily we find lor1ething 70 fnp
port this argument ia the prevailing
methods ofreadiug public prints. With
what anxiety do you turn' to the obituary
OF the day ; Is it confident to be 10
eager TO mark The paGage of your
friends and fellow beingsinto the other
world, and yet feel avert. TO fuch re.
hedions. a. are 6ried 10 prepare you for
| your own journey iEto the fame difant
and unexPlo ed regions : While then
you ron over the catalogue of tn. dead,
turn NJ away from The friendly admo
nj ION, " be yr alto The ca.
tattfcPhe OF life never fails to excite
! glowing curiofty. You are not alarm
ed at the view of miraculous rhilery,-
iEH,tted upon men, the victims Of eve
evils Ii is enough for you if the event
be uncommon, though it fhould drive
the painful fenffbihties to- the greatell
sxtreme.Y You are always ready, by
The force 1T pathetic and horrible reia
tions, to be hurried into the field of bat
re, and fand in pentiv- contempl ltion
over lhoulands dying, snd thoulands
dead. You are fenGble to 4 fort of
Pleaiure, a gloomy, yet irrefaible in
terea, even in following the defpondent
wretch to premature and unnatural
death. The devouring fame VIII h