Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-08-18


Hon. SOLOMON SoUTHwIcK.-Our cot en-
porary, Solomon Southwick, the Editor of the
National Observer, published at Albany, has
been in hot water, ever since the abduction of
Morgan; and hIs paper has tccmcd with moth
ing but Masonry, Morgan, and Morganism. -
He is decidedly opposed to those Masons, who
it is said carried off Morgan and instead of
confining his ccnsurcs TO the few concerned in
that said-to-be-tragical affair, he assals the
whole fraternity, as if they were a race Of
blood-hounds. BY pursuing this course, he
has incurred the peculiar displeasure of the
craft, who in return, according TO all the prin-
ciples of retaliation, visit him with their ven-
goance; and to destroy the influence Of his
writings, have denounced him as n "hard
drinker." and it is to rcpcl this charge, that
friend Solomon gives the annexed sketch of
of his adventures, a-ia-mode Sinbad the Sailor;
in which he proves TO " an alspice," that like
our friends, the Honorable Wheeler Martin
and Mrs. Anne Royal, he drinks nothing but
pure cold water:
1t is but few days since, that gctleman,
OF Darlton, in Massa chusetts, who has known
us intimately twenty years at least, found him
self in circle of the holy brotherhood, one or
more of whom boldly asserted that the Editor
OF the National Observer was hard-drinker,
and that he could not write a line till stmula-
TED by powerful draueht of brandy! The
gentleman, above alluded too, declared this to
be falsehood, Of the bla ckest dye; asserting
that he knew the Editor Of the Observer, TO be
n temperate man in the strictcst sense of the
te,ms: But he found it in vain to contend with
the calumniators; they still persisted in their
calurnny, and one of them went so far as TO
assert, that we had acknowledged our intcm-
peranco. Now, then, for the truth. The
Editor of this paper is fifty four years of age.
In early life, he followed at one time the bak-
ing business, a very laborous employment.
lie was afterwards one year common hand
in fishing company on Cape Cod, &c. anott-
er labor'ous occupation, in which he was oft
en- exposed to inclement weather, without a
shelter. He was afterwards for several years
on the ocean, in the capacity Of a common
sailor; and saw and suffered as much hardship
as commonly falls TO the lot of seamen, having
been at hard service, and in as hard gales as
ever blew. lie was once twenty-one days in
sailing from Providence, Rhode-Island, TO
Charleston, S. c. and was about sixteen days
of that time exposed in the gulf stream, TO
incessant and heavy gales, in which all the
deck cargo Of the vessel was literally washed
overheard and the vessel several times in
great danger Of laundering. It was in the
month of February, and every part of the hulk,
sails, and rigging, were covered with ice for
nearly n woek without intermission The cap
tain had been on board Of the feet of Count
dc Grasse, when it experienced the memorable
gale. by which il was scattered, in the same
latitude, during our revolution /; gale which
was said TO be one Of the hardest that ever
blew ; and he declared TO us, that he consd-
cred our situa lion more awful, than the one in
which the French fleet suffered so severcly
But why do We recount these things? You
shall know, gentle reader ; nor will you, if
possessed of spark ofmanhood or generosity,
deem 1T egotsn, under the circumst ances of
the case. Know, then, that during all this
hard service, and up to this day, when our
locks display the frost Of more than fifty win
ters, we can safely assert, in any manner how
ever solemn, that we have never drank (put il
all togethcr) gallon of ardent spirits of any
kind During the whole term of our sea SER
vice, we never drank n drop of ardent spirits
Our constant beverage, through life, thus far
has been pure and wholesome water and but
for one fourth Of July, some thirty years ago,
we never should have known what it is to be
"happy" over n bottle Of Madeira.
If friend Solomon, has been through life, as
abstemious as he says he has, he is singular
mortal, and quite prodigy among the corps
Editorial" We do not doubt but he is very
temperate man; and we hope he will continue
so through life, whilst we will beg leave to
whisper a word in his ear If you wish to re-
main temperate, friend Solomon, VIC charge
thee, partake not of the goblet of "hasty-
pudding and milk" for by partaking of that
sin, "fell," not the " angels" but ono or
more Of the gentlemen of the press, a few
nights since, and sad to relate, broke down
the railing to a staircase! "wo, wo, unto
you, seri5es and Pharisccs," eve partokers
of the flesh pots of Egypt" yc wine bibbcrs,
and yc lovers Of hasty pudding and milk.
But to be serious, the life Of Solomon South
wick has been an eventful one, and its results
have proved, that talents, when properly di- !
rcctcd, and associated with industry, pcrsc-
vcrancc and prud,ncc, cannot fail ofmceting
with success