Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-09-04
FOR THE ARGUS.
from THE CLUB.
Richmond, Angust IS, 1910

Richmond, august IS, 1sf0
Ever since the curious ard extraor-
binary deveiopement by Robson and
Barruel of the origin and progress of
the club of old Weishaupt and the
terror which the very name of Robes
pierre's-jacob clubs had excited in
France and else where it has been
thought discreet, at the institution ef
every new association of the kind, TO
assign to the public the motive and OH
ject of its establishments. This expo,
sition seems the more necessary, IN
az much as the word CUB carries with
1t very terrific idea as well as sound
and, when considered in its affinity TO
what the Irish hterati call a shillela, is Z
shocking enough to aeitate the anatomy
OF the most robust of the human spec
ciess There may, also, be some in.
eenious person in society at this pc
rod, sagacious enough to. discover
that the institution of a club can have
no other motive than the restoration
of the age Of batbarism, and that, its
object of course must be the prepaga-
tien o. club Ian. Others, again, may
imagine that none but lawyers out Of
practice would promote The existence
OF CLIO, because il may be supposed
to have an infallible tendency tn pro.
duce ASSAULTS and batteries, by which
the interest OF the fraternity would be
amazingly advanced. Besides ihese,
there are number Of minor considers
atoms which render it expedient for
all clubs at the outset to avow their
principles Of action: Devotecs may
be alarmed for religion politicians
for the stability Of the constitution
and prudent matrons for the purity Of
morals. But what has appeared to our
club to ender an explanation of its
intentions Indispensable, is the exis..
tence within this city of certain loo
and zohiSt clubs. 1t might be suppo.
rsed that we are DESTROYS of assaiiinr
those patriotic societies, which sup
position, however, would be very wide
of the truth ; for, as our plan is inten-
ded for the advancement of virtue and
the general good of the comniunity.
we shall rather cherish than repress
those excellent card-parties which cx-
perience has taught us do most adm
rably promote the cause of morality and
religion; and also inculcate sobriety.
regular hours, int acknowledgements
and chastity. One branch of our busl-
ness is, in truth,to corroborate the hon.
orabie practice of gambling, which, bv
! long custom. from time ilnuoernorisi
has been the common-law right Of the
enlig htened citizens of this common.
wealth aud there cannot be a doubt
that this candid declaration will relieve
great many of the human species
from any further anxiety with respect
to our operations. From the Liferdrv
GLIB II Richmond, neither the church,
the state, nor morals, have any thing
to fear. If, then, any parson is afraid
that we intend to drive him from his
living, il any statesman supposes thar
we wish TO deprive him of ms place I:
or the ladies imagine that we mean 70
cultivate the faculty of scandsious
conversation among them, we pray
them to dismiss their approximations,
and to be convinced that we are per-
fectly neutralized from all corrosive
| qualities Of the SORT.
J Furthermore, it rot our intention
| to assail Peyso1S but, if in painting the
devil, with coiling tail and huge
pair OF horns for example, auy person-
age ia the community should think