Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-31

Ten censure wrong for one who writes amiss"
And again:
",Tis not enough your counsels still be true,
Blunt truths mischiefs than nice Elsehoods do
Men be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown proposed rs things forgot.
Without rood breeding truth is dsapproved,
That only makes superior sense approved"
Mr. President beg the Senate to recoect that the
progress has been several days the public
the Battle Of the Books Now somehow or other hap
pens that the nimtabe satire of Dean Swift which known
under this title contains several things well worthy Of atten
ton the present OCCASION feel specially called upon to
read few from it, in consequence Of the cruel cast
CATION which my excellent friend Mr. Palmer has unde-
servedy received well by of the introduction of
figure Of speech here which is one of the most striking
which occurs ia the Battle of the Books" allude, of
course the figure Of the spider abrcang its airy palace
from its intesnes You recolect that figure Mr. Pres
dent, sure and you remember that poor Mr. Palmer
sadly denounced and dcued because he had not the
preparation of this book of his, spdred himself into tes
final renown. rejoice to know that Dean Swift did not
admire the character Of the spider much that Of the
bee as will presently appear and before reading the extract
which am about to invite attention, beg leave to say
that trust all which is said by the good Dean about the bee
may be applied Mr. Palmer and his book, whilst cheer
fully leave all that is said in description of the spider
whomsoever shall choose to appropriate the to himself
To begin; you remember sir that this Battle of the
Books contest between ancient and modern authors
imagined have occurred within the precincts of the Royal
Library, in London The battle is about commencing
Things at this crisis (says the author) when
tera accident fell out For, upon the highest OF
large window there dwe certain spider wollen up the
first magnitude by the destruction Of infinite numbers Of e
whose spells lay scattered before the gates Of his palace like
his castle were guarded with turnpike. pasadoe ali after
the modern way of fertilization Alter had several
courts to the centre wherein you behold the
constable himself in his lodgings which had windows
fronting each avenue and ports to sally upon all
sions of prey defence In this mansion he had for some
BY swallows from above to his palace BY brooms from be-
low when it the pleasure of fortune to conduct thher
wandering bee to whose curiosity broken in the glass
had discovered ITSELF and in he went where expatatng
WHILE he at last happened asht upon Of the outward
walls of the SPIDERS citadel which, yielding the unequal
weight sunk down to the very foundation Thrice he endea-
yored force his passage and thrice the shook The
spider Within feeling the terrible convuon, supposed at first
that nature approaching to her final dissolution else
that Beezebub with all his egons come to revenge the
death many thousands of his subjects whom his enemy had
slain and dsvoured However, he length vaanty resolved
forth and Meanwhile the bee had acquit
ted himself of his tolls and posted securely distance
employed in cleansing his wings and dsengagng them
from the ragged remnants Of the cobweb By this time the
spider advenured out ~hen behodng the chams the
ruins and adaptations of his fortress he very his
wits end he stormed and like mailman, and sweled
till ne was ready to burst AT length casting his eye upon
the bee, and wisely gathering from events they
knew each other BY sight plague split you, said he for
ad s y0 not aa
and be dnd do you think have nothing else do lin the
devils nancy but to mend and repair after your
Good words friend said the bee havng now pruned him.
self and being disposed drol I'll give you my hand and
word to come near kennel in such
COMPOUNDED pickle since born Sirrah, replied the
spider if for breaking old custom in family
stir abroad against enemy should and teach
you better pray have patience said the bee
you'll spend your substance, and for aught you may
stand in need OF ALL toward the repair of your house.
Rogue rogue, replied the spider yet mehnks you should
have respect to person whom all the world allows
be much your betters BY oh said the bee the
parison will very good jest and you will do
favor to let know the that all the world is pleas
ed to in hopeful dispute At this the SPIDER having
sweed himself into the size and posture dsputan began
his argument in the spirit OF controversy with resou
ton to be heartily scurrous and angry to urge his
reasons without the regard answers or objections
OF his opposite and fully predetermined in his mind against
all conviction.
"No disparage myself said he by the comparison with
rascal what thou but vagabond without house
home without stock inheritance born of
your but pair Of wings and dronepipe Your veli
fields and gardens and for the sake Of stealing viii r otea
nette easily violet Whereas am domestic ANIMAL
furnished with native stock within myself This large
tie Ito show Improvements in the mathemacs is all built
with own hands, and the materials extracted altogether out
Of my own person. .u-.
am glad answered the bee you grant, at least
that honestly by my wings and my voice them
it seems, obliged to Heaven alone for my flights and
music and Providence would have bestowed
two such gifts without designing them for the nobles ends
visit indeed all the flowers and blossoms OF the field and gar
den but whatever collect thence enrches myself without
Now you your skill in architecture and other mathe
mates, have little say in that building of yours there
might for augh know have been labor and method enough
but BY woeul experience for BOTH is plain the maer
ais naught and hope you will henceorward take
ing and consider duration natter we'll method
You boast indeed of being obliged other creature
say may Judge OF the liquor in the vessel by what issues
out you possess good plentiful OF dirt and poison in
your breast and though would by lessen dis
parage your genuine stock of either yet doubt you
somewhat Obliged tor increase of both, little foreign
assistance Your inherent portion Of dirt does fail
quon by sweepings exhaled from below and insect
furnishes you with share poison destroy anether So
that short the question all to this whether is the
uobler being of the two that which, by lazy contemplation
Of four inches round by overweenng PRIDE feeding
rendering itself, turns all into and venom,
producing nothing ALL but fybane and cobweb that
which, by universal range with long Search much study
true Judgment and distinction of things brings home honey
and wax"
truer description than this Of Mr. Palmer could no,
well imagine. is, in truth, by universal range
the whole erraqueous GLOBE by ong search, much study
true Judgment and distinction of things that he has fitted
himself for the preparation of the book which he has
brought to for entertainment and instruction, and for the
entertainment and instruction Of his countymen and the
world think he has right complain Of being accused
Of possessing Of the moral properties attributable
| spider
hope, MIR. President, to be excused by the Senate fol
bringing forward one other quotation from the Battle Of the
Books upon this OCCASION when il will be com
pelled whether wish not either yield to dogmat
cal criticism resent it. What Dean Swift says of the
Goddess of Criticism seems to germane the question
under consideration and well calculated to put us on
guard against the sweeping apeons which have poured
forth ercey upon the head Of the modest and amabe
gentleman whom endeayong to Defend that am sure
honorable Senators will pardon reading in their hear
/ ing in continuation, thus
A things violently tending to decisive battle Fame
who much equented and had large apartment formerly
signed her IN the regal library fed up straight JUPITER
between the parties below for among the gods she
ways tells truth Jove great concern conyokes council