The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-09-12

belk the appalling cry Of IRE, the music
al twang Of clans, milk, or tea-rusk ?
No--tbe perturbed sluhnbers, in a
melting night, are gradually and sweetly
broke in upon by musick, which, steal.
ing softly DER the senses, shakes the pop
pies from the eye, and breathes a sweet
sensation DER the soul; particularly by
good musick; Willis's bugle, for example
and who that was ever thus awaken
ed ever complained? The chariest maid
that ever loved, listens with delight to
the floating harmony the wife wakes
the fond husband, and both catch the
sweet inspiration; and even the little
squalling cherub, tormented with the
heat and with teething, sits upright in
his crib, and pricks his little ears at the
unknown and grateful sounds. Why
then should these nocturnal minstrels be
molested, or put in "durance vile," under
the plea of disturbing the publick peace ?
A few nights ago, when the full moon
coursing through the azure vault, tipp'd
the waving poplars with silver, and shed
its mild beams on the faces of the sleep
ing watchmen, gentleman sailed forth
from his lodgings with his clarionet, and
sauntered down William-street. He
took his stand under a window from
which the loves and graces had been
frequently seen, and, applying the instru-
ment to his lips, f" it discoursed most ell
oquent musick." Whether sympathet-
ick feeling had kept the lady awake, or
the sweet breathings had disturbed her
slumber, we know not; but she arose.
and with flowing mantle, white as her
own purity, appeared at the window Just
as the minstrel was playing "Sleep on,
sleep on, my Kathleen DEAR" and while
thus governing the ventiges with his
finger, and giving it breath with his
MOUTH surly Waterman, with
black cap and big stick, as hostile to
Apollo and the MUSES. as ever Hannibal
was to Rome, or Buonaparte to the 'sfast
anchored ISLE" seized the musician by
the cravat, and in sight of the lady and
the moon, carried him off, clarionet and
all. Such an assault, in musical way,
has been unknown, since Dussek threw
the musick stool at the head of the big
drum, for stiking note too soon when
playing his concerto before the King of
Prussia, old Frits, as our Knickerbock-
ers used to call him.
Now we do most seriously protest a.
gainst this rude assumption of power on
the part of watchmen, as being contrary
to customs pursued in every part of the
globe, civilized OF uncivilized, and hos
tile to personal rights. The Spaniard
glides like ghost through the dark
streets of Seville and Madrid; and, taking
his guitar from under his cloak, strikes
the chords and sings ditty in praise of
his mistress, and under her window !;
and yet 10 alguazil disturbs him. The
turbaned Turk, with his mandolin, PAGES
the narrow streets of Aleppo, and sings
his plaintive ditty unmolested The
streets Of Paris and Vienna, swarm with
nightly Ministries, and no guard arrests
them. Why, then, in free country,
should freeman be disturbed when
committing no offence, making no riot.
We hope these very useful and patri-
otick guardians of our slumbers will
have the taste and peliteness becoming
decent and quiet metropolis, and per-
NIT harmless musician to display his
abilities without molestatioa hereafter.