Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-15
From Cobbett's Reasty Register, Nay Ia.
LITERARY FUND AND WASHINGTON
BENEVOLENT SOCIETY

hav> observed, that, year after year. this in.
stitution becomes more ike common charity
concern. A parcel of lords, and other men of
purse, take the char, and take the lead. This
last meeting was, see, presided over by the
Duke OF Kent, in the same way as the Lancaster
school meetings, and other meetings for the as
sstance Of the poor and miserable. The conse-
quence Of this must be, that the poor devils 10
htics will serve as the measure of the bounty he
is to receVe-'rhe original design of this fund
must be totally overlooked. That design, be.
lieve, was to prevent authors from seiing their
pens whereas, now, should suppose, the prn-
ciPal design to be to purchase tae pens of au-
thors, or TO keep alive poor slaves whose works
are well-ineant towards their patrons, but dest-
tute of the talent necessary TO make them SELL
observe, that the " foitn!cr's' health was drank
but, that the Z" founder" Mn. Dawn WILLIAMS
was not RGmed-Nlr David Williams wrote SOM.
excellent political tracts in supper, of the princ.
pies OF IRE edom he also translated some of the
works OF Noltaire on the subject of religion
Never did he expect that Institution would tun-
bic into such hands as have now got hold of it.
The truth is that the scheme was very good one.
Its object and its tendency was to encourage Ii
terary merit, and TO make authors honest and in
dependent but it has now r.lnifestly been CON
verified INTO sort ofprooflist for decaved ltera-
ry hacks. They tell the world that they do not
publish the names of the parties who receive cha
rity. They are very wise in this, for the public
would soon see what the real object of the fund
was ltthey could see the names of he persons re-
lieved. In short, this, ike almost every othei.
6 Charity" as they called, is neither more nor
less an adjunct of the government, or rather of
the system. What Jacobin or Jacob;n's wife, (un-
less she first betrayed her husbsnd) was ever re-
lieved By any ofthese societies. They are kept
up for the purpose of keeping the needy in good
humour, or cfrewarding faithful decayed slaves
Here the man who has paid fortune in taxes
OF en comes, cap in hand, and receives back the
means of getting dinner. 1t is curious to OBJ.
erve, that the. aristocratic faction in America
have resorted to q trick of this sort. They set
up, some few Years ago, asociety which they CALI
eel the Washington Beneuoient Society,"" which;
it appears, has branched out all over the country.
fhe object of this trick was TO collect groupes
OF the most needy and mean-spir.tted part of the
people, and, BY the means ofdonations in money,
clothes, books, or medical aid to attach them to
the aspiring rich, and thus to found sort of afii-
alton against the republican government The
name OF Washington was taken for the purpose
OF deception, and as party word opposed to
the name of Jefferson or Madison, who were
thus TO be held up as having deviated from the
principles of the man, to whom American graft
tude has gwen what, perhaps, American wisdom
and justice would have given largely, but GER
tanly with less prod gal hand Awaiting them
mics of their codntry's freedom have been work
ing up the people here and there, by the means
OF these societies., to an opposition of the govern
ment. They hold their stated meetings rs our
I" chaiities' do. They make speeches, compl-
ment one another, extol the virtues washington,
who, though one of the first of patriots, never
was fool enough to bestow his money in the max
ing of paupers Shut out of the legislative as
semblies by the peoples voice, they harTangue at
these meetings, ard thus continue to keep them
selves in mind Silly as the thing IS, however, in
Itself would have the Americans be upon their
guard against it. II is aspiring arstocracy in its
most alluring gtIise it is imposture OF the most
dangerous kind It terds TO the creating of par
berismj to the formingof class in the commune
ty, who have no interest in supporting the rights
and liberties of nation and whoare to be bought
and sold like cattle. These societies ought to be
resolutely attacked and exposed. A little matter
would break them up amongst a sensible people
wish could show the people Of America the
effects of pauperism in England; I wish l could
make them see the degradation which It has
brought upon the land other forefathers-The1e
would need nothing more.