Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-04-18

.1dViee to Yl;gi,.iu,s-Of all The people on earth
next TO John Bull, Virginans the most easily gull
ed Johns curiosity and love the marvellous are such
that much he loves his money! he ever ready TO paw
eXtravagany for the qualification of these passions
tell him of with three legs and see il he will, a,
any cost His curiosity Johns weak point as vanity
is Vrginan's. Assaed on this side with address,
FirgInan certain TO be vanquishcd We have daily
instances of this in the frauds and impostions pactiscd
on US by our itincran brethren from the northern and
middle States, thinkers, pedIars, and particularly agents
Tor obtaining subscriptions works about to be pub
ilshed. Knowing this weak point in character
these last assai IT with characteristic shrewdncss and
dexIcrity-and notwithstanding the frequency and fla
grancy OF imposition, subscriptions of this charac
Ter are supposed to be annually collected in Virginia.
than the whole Union besides. \ Virginian is met
is pride put 10 sleep by dextcous compliment to
himself or his State-the lbcraty of the Old Domi-
nion her heroes statesmen orators-which thinking
to be well deserved, motive is never for monent
suspected. Having effected this Judgement all the rest
is plain sailing. BY this time being on a familiar footing
subscription paper is il were accidentally produced
great names on i-Chief Justice Marshall
Secretaries Clay, Rush, sc. Dewitt Clinton The Vir
gilman told that the work valuable and 10 be highly
hnishcd-but chiefly it is delca,ey limited, that has
name will be of great consequence inducing others
10 subscribe This irresistible but still lie may hcsi-
tate little. The cunning agent is all this time laugh
ing in his sleeve, knowing the day be his own But
TO make doubly sure he next leads TO the
time when the work is expected TO appear. Under
standing this is not TO be earlier than IS months
years, our Virginan calls for pen aud ink the spot
and down goes his This DONE lie thinks more
of the affair until the books arrive for was there
an instance yet in which they did arrive sooner
later He is called upon by man he before,
for knowing the storm that always these oc-
casions, the original agent employs another 10 carry
around the books and make collections. Being inform
cd by this deputy, that he has books for him,
tyman who has long ago forgotten tina, he subsc.ibc
very naturally enquiries what bouks-and where from?
When these particulars expained-wlen his rCcol
lection returns, refreshed by seeing his his own
proper hand write on the obong subscription book
when he the infamous manner in which the book
is eXecutedbut above all when he remembers tue sill
ly which induced him subscribe then comes
the storm foreseen and evaded by the first agen-everv
book, and every book maker is damnedfro.n Mathew
Carey down. When nature is thus relieved, the money
is paid, and damnaton invited to fall on him. if he ever
subscribes to another book. But very probably in
mouths time, this prudent resolution is orgoon and he
is again laltcred into subscribing some new work.
Sometimes thappens, that after he has thus been pro
vailed upon, under the expectation that he will not be
called upon pay in several years. the books brought
upon him in many days.
Now advise readers and the public, nero, to
subscribe 10 any work-iIow plausible may be
the schcme-however much he may want t-and how
ever long off the day of payment If the work be va
liable, il generally be had--f not, he pays too
much for it. This, however, lie is sure to do valuable
or not Subscription prices arc generally 100 rer. cent
above store prices, these last above auction pric
1t not unfrequently happens that while subscribers
paying so for their books the same books are sell
ling in market al >. Besides the mostinferior parcels
always put of subscribers while the best are
retained for retail. Never therefore, subscribe fol aay
book. Good books las SCOTS novels need not tis an
ticipatcd patronage to introduce them TO the world