The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1823-07-01

clustering together of Modernism this
as IN most of the former works of the same
author 1t adheres with considerable truth to
history, OF which perhaps there is more detail
than will interest most of the readers of romance
and less of that universal agent of common nov
e's, love, with its contradictory Obligations and
perplexing interests, Its hyperbocaI Jos aud
outrageous sorrow" and its distresses aud deiy-
erances like nothing human, the business of most
modern romlnces
The frequent descriptions of executions,
wrought up with a detail that will disgust the
more refined readers of the present day. and of
the crueites practised by Louis l tn, an ingen-
lous inventor of fortunes, seem almost necessary
to the full deyelopement of the character Of the
king AMI Of the customs of the period in which
he reigned. although they may appear to some,
excrescences in the work.
After brief sketch Of the characters of the
king and Charles the Rash, Duke of Burgundy,
Quentin is brought forward, and this, with mi
mute description of the Castle of PIessis les Tours,
Its external defences and internal arrangement,
both moral aud physical, in which are exhibited
the atrocities of Louis, forms the main introduce
tion to the story. The scene thea changes to
Liege, and Afterwards to Peronne the residence
OF Charles the Rash, in whose power Louis had
voluntarily placed himself, to secure his conf
own part In all these changes Quentin Dur
ward, as may be supposed, sustains no unitnpor-
tant place, and finally meets the reward which
awaits all heroes Of romance.
The election of a Representative in the several
districts of York, Lincoln, kennebec and Han
cock and Washington, took place yesterday.
The eleciioneering spirit has not been so warm
ly manifested as on some former occasions. 1t
is difficult to prognosticate any other termina-
ton of this ballot than an unsuccessful one, from
the namber of candidates in nomination.
Mr.. Otis has come out in the last Centinel
with able vindicaton of himself and those of his
colleagues WHO acted with him, against the complaints
winch have been elamorousy urged by his opponents
on the sublect of the claim Of Massachusetts and
Maine foE the services of their militia during the late
He shows in manner quite satisfactory that the
claim stands upon the solid ground Of justice and equ
y ard is fully supported by evidence and that the
reasons which have operated so long TO defer its al
lowance. have been wholly beyond the control of him
self andthose who particularly in its sup
port. .NT- Otis justly remarks 9 II would nave been
quite impossible for those of my colleagues the Sem
ate and House, with whose views had the honor to
concur or for myself, have exetsd ourselves with
more fidelity and industry, if the reward for perform
ing those duties had been the amount of the cam.
Nothing could be done in the Senate for the
above alleged. more than 10 discuss the merits Of
claim IN repeated conversations, which omitted
opportunity of doing. Aud be obvious that 10
agate the question in the House, while portion of
the Representatives from the interested states, were
ndisposed to vndicate the justice of the claim and
while the doctrine was constantly maintained in the
public newspapers ut our state. that equity afford
ed no ground for its support and that must
be preceded by concessions of error and permitted by
che mere bounty of Congress, would have been
dertaking worse than hopeless"
AID - sI1 e. IF al,
claim, venture to predict that any allowances made
towards it, will never be the fruit Of dsavowas
fractions, but the result of conviction founded on
idence." 81 am well satisfied" he continues I" that
there such evidence and that the principles
rect, and that the claim may he placed a foot that
would require departure from the political OF
any party
lie also maintains that il is not competent for the
government TO make the giant beunty:" If we are
entitled TO it in equity, il ought TO be paid"