Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-03-16

yations OF pith and nOuiehl uieie 'iiuu.S@u ''
will in due season appear detailed throughout our
successive papers, and spread over the NUMBERS
of the Hotchpot. While we have been apPa-
rently forgotten by an ungrateful public, we have
never ceased to think Of 1t. The slumbers Of
midnight have been broken by the groans OF Ne
cation mourning over the follies of mankind, and
the morning sun has lighted the corntenance OF
Traverse Illuminating upon the condition OF his
fellow men. We are practical philosophers
We think with Terrence-.sHomo sum: huma-
nj nihil a me alienu,n puto." 1t is not surpris-
ing. therefore, that we should wish once more to
step from obscurity. We have no longer any
motive to remain silent. Cessante ratione cessat
ct ipsa lex.
How delighted will our fair friends be, to see
again their old councillors? How they will
throw aside the newest patterns to laugh at our
iokes-to weep over our pathetics-to spell out
our Latin mottos-and pry into our histories!
How pleased. too, will be the old bachelors, who
whilome loved the Hotchpot next to their coffee
at breakfast, and vowed we were the cieverest
fellows in ChristendOm. How charmed Will be
the venerated spinsters, against whom we never
SAID a word, a. the temperance upon the stage
of action of those who have afforded SO much
food for speculation and curiosity! thus, VIII
the whole town be thrown into a fit OF %eTfdtacs,
from which we shall not arouse it for At least
some time to GENE. When, however. we have
surfeited our kind readers with the good things
we have in store, we shall leave them to recover
bv degrees from the admiration into which we
have thrown them. Cessante ratione, cessat ct
ipsa lex.
Let it not be presumed that there is any sPE1nK-
ling of vanity in this opinion OF our own amazing
talents. Our town is stocked with WISDOM SO
flooded with genius-so fruitful in bright exam
plies of literary labor, that we. poor, humble wor,
Slippers of learning, can afford to say a good word
of ourselves, and yet keep far in the rear OF our
betters. Vanity, we eschew. We leave that to
our Muminati men whose intellect has srasped
the tie of a cravat, fathomed the profundity of a
boot. and measured the cut of Il coat. These
subjects are beyond the reach of our faculties.-
They are too high, we cannot attain unto them"
1t is sufficient for us to enter the temple of know
ledge. or linger at its portals-we dare not climb
the steep, where fashions proud dome shines
affair.""
The Hotchpot, designed to rival those great
works, the Spectator-,he Idler-the Guardian
will no doubt Weld to its authors an abundan
harvest of fame. With the vivid imagination OF
Dick in the Apprentice, we already fancy that we
shall be .'applauded by the men, loved BY the
women" even the gods in the gallery will thun-
den dow their praise upon US. Nay, may we
not with the poetic enthusiasm ofthe Roman po-
ct. aud in view Of the perfection and completion
Of this our great labor, exclaim
Janq~e opus exesi; qund nee Joyis ira. nee isnes.
Nee po,eljt terrum, nee eGax abolere ve'ustas.
Bearing this in mind, our good friends, and
kind readers will perceive how Important it Is to
cherish our p~recepts, aud follow our advice
They are to guard our literary reputation as the
apple Of the eve. They are TO indulge in no un.
seemly criticism of our writings. and no factlous
murmurings at our edicts Having mounted
the throne, we are determined to rule as sover-
eisns or not at all. 1t is for them. BY a course OF
honest obedience, to make our power permanent,
our reign secure, and themselves happy-for sure
" nothing more grievous could happen to ration
al creatures, than to be deprived of our care and
attention.
Promises are at best but vain things-light as
air-unstable as water-Or wOmans attections.-
We shall therefore make none-but leave the
public to Judge of us as we deserve, and especi-
ally Of their humble servant,
VINCENT VENUE.