Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-01
ALEXANDRIA,:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER !, 1878.

II
tiers Of no very weighty concern, men are
frequently unmindful Of that reciprocal con-
sideration FOR the feelings of others which
! Justice would dictate. This absence ofmu.
tual beneyolence is among those Of the
lower orders of understanding displayed in
| malignant sneers, jibes, and unprovoked
acts of annoyance--practical jests, and, as
| they are commonly called, hoaxes I; the au'
| tbqrs OF which are universally found to be,
more than others. in,olerant of the sligf test
encoaehment of the same kind upon them
selves. Wits, and jokers, and satirists, are
more peevish and susceptible Of provoca-
ton, more resentful, and at the same time
more afraid of attack of the same kind they
deal out to others, than any description OF
character whatever. Dean Swift, who ne
yer abstained from wounding the feelings OF
others with his caustic wit, entirely aban-
doned hi. temper on receiving the least -
tort-eyen an accidental one. OF this dis
tortion of temper and weakness Of mind,
number OF curious instances are recorded
! by his best biogrsphers. He was in the ha-
bit of eating apple sauce with roasted duck,
which being perceived by thick-skulled
gentleman who dlned one day at the same
table with him, at the house of a gentleman
in Cork, the latter (meaning nothing more
than the words literally implied) exclaim-
ed, "why, Mr.. Dean, you eat your duck
like a goose" -Upon which Swift, in
rage, bounced up from table and left the
house. But a still more ridiculous instance
! is this :-One day riding out near Dublin,
he saw girl with her wheel sitting at the
door of low ale house spinning flax
Being thirsty, he rode up to her, and by
way OF pleasantly said. "my pretty spinster
do you spin ale here ?" "Yes, Or, (she
replied) as much as would make you reelr'
This was too much for the dean he turned
round his horse, and calling her a pert
young slut, rode of in passion. Swift,
however, was not afraid of attack, like
Voltaire, who was so much alarmed at
set of wits in Paris who parodied all the
new tragedies, with pungent ridicule and
success, that when he brought out his Sc
miramis, he wrote letter to the queen TO
implore her protection; conjuring her
with the most lively grief, Chose were his
words) not to suffer violation of decency
in permitting satire against him." Then,
after stating that his tragedy was founded,
from one end to the other, OH subject the
most pure and moral, and from that circum.
stance demanded her protection, he pro.
cceds with bis suppication, and says
"deign, Madam, to consider that am the
kings domestic, and consequently yours.
My colleagues, who are gentlemen in ordi-
nary TO the king, Of whom many are en-
ployed in other courts, and many possess
the most honorable situations, will find
themselves disgraced by this insult, and
will deprive me ofmy charge, and humble
the in the eyes of the royal family, if ] am
forced to submit to this cruel humiliation"
al therefore conjure your majesty by
your goodness Of heart, by the greatness
and liberality OF your mind, by your piety,
not to deliver ME in this TO thy hidden and
overt enemies, who after loading me with
thousand opprobrious outrases, would
destroy me, by making me public laugh
ing stock.
"Deign 10 consider that these parodies
have long since been legally forbIdden.-
Must they then be revived solely TO my in
jury And will your majesty suffer it p
No, Madam; your heart is TOO just not TO
be moved by my wretchedness and my
prayers--nor will you suffer an old servant
to die with grief and shame. Let me hope,
then, that your humanity will be touched
by my sorrowful case and as, in painting
you, paint virtue itself, let me hope that
virtue will be my protection"
The goods of nature and benefactions Of
providence are more equally distributed
than men in general are aware Of, OF willing
to admit. How often do we see brilliant
talents coupled with miserable weaknesses?
That the peace of SO great wit as Vol
taire should be thus PROSTATE al The mercy
of every contemplate pretender who chose
TO assault him, is lamentable that he
should have betrayed it is still more so.--
He ought, in prudence as we'll as from
pride, to have passed them by as huge
mastlff passes by dwarf dog; or if he did
de ign TO notice them, to do it in such sort