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[No. 47, of Vol. lII.]
FROM TBOMAS's MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
For much it boots which way you train your boy,'*
AMONG the many dirc&ions and rules which have been li
berally prescribed for the well educaiing of children and
youth, none has been oftener repeated, or more strongly inculcat
«d than this, That they Ihould be carefully guarded from bad ex
am pies, and encouraged and led on in the right way by those that,
are good. Children are prone to imitaiion, and form themfelvcs
by means of it. They immediately adopt the language they heai
uttered, and the attions they fee performed. Hence, in all trea
ties, in all methods, in all schools, of genteel education, it is an
invariable maxim, to keep children, as much as possible, our of the
company of low and mean people, and especially of fcrvants left
tJieir manners and sentiments Ihould be tainted with any thing
that is low, vulgar and mean. The wisdom of this rule has been
universally acknowledged, and the advantage of it in*ariably ex
perienced, wherever regarded. But by some observations I hav
made of late, 1 have been led to conclude, that the rule i« pretty
much laid aside, 1.1 some ot those ftaus, families and clafl"e< that
ought to know and obserVe the rules of good breeding and polite
nets; or, that the tables are now turned; that language and ac
tions, which none butt he Uferfort were supposed capable of, may
fce now learned of some wno call themselves the better lor: • and
that those things which heretofore were looked upon as degrading
and fcandaloiis, and against which children and youih we're care
fully warned and guarded, are now considered as manlv and
genteel. , 7
J have a little Ton whom I have wiftied to be brought up both
genteelly and virtuously, aud always supposed that these were per
teaiy confident ; nijr, that virtue was cffential to the character of
a gentleman ; and that, to be well bred, he mull neither he Vulgar
nor vicious. I therefore cautiously retrained him from mixing
with pcrfons of a mean education, and with those whose occupa
tion was low and servile, whose language ts apt to be fcurnlous
and profane, and whose manner of fpcaking and behaviour would
be degrading and contemptible in a gentleman.
With a view to the improvement of my boy, as well as my own
gratification, X made several exen/fions with him the lad year and
the lad season, through the mod populous counties in this date,
and through some of the neighbouring dates, exciting his ambition
toobferve and imita-e the manners and language of those who a j
peared to be tafliionable and genteel, not doubting but such guides
would be fafe, considering their education and advantages, and
that they would lead him in the way in which he should go. R u t
before I got home from my last journey, I found to hly mortifica
tion, that, through my ignorance of modern improvements in the
iafhionable world, I had carried my son to a wrong ichooj, it 1
meant to preserve the purity of his language, ideas' and morals.
ros i e began to mow high spirit and resentment at fmaTl provoca
tions; to hludei and ilorrtV at the servants ; to fwetfr when in a
palfion, and sometimes in good humour; he would blackguard to
<ii fplay his wit, and play mischievous pranks to (hew his fun.
When I reproved him for his indecent and ungentiemanJike be
haviour, he replied that he had carefully followed my directions;
that he had learned nothing of the lower fort of people; that he
had spoken and done nothing but what he had heard and seen in
those families into which I hnd introduced him. I was con
ounded and fil'enced, knowing that he /poke the truth, having
been myfelf eye and car witness to the fame. . In some families
tie mailer would seldom speak to the servants, especially when he
was out of temper, without oaths, taunts, and leproaches. The
*ons would do the fame, and often intermix.their chcerful talk
With unnatural and dreadful profanity.—l heard of a man in the
neighbouihood of my lodgings who was engaged in an impoitant
undertaking, hich required skill arid abilities, as well as fidelity.
I had thecuriofitv to 'ee him while in the execution of his trust.
J Judged that every man who was employed, by persons of the
nrft chara&er, in matters of great and extensive conlequence to the
public, if he was equal to the undertaking, mud have manners and
address equal to his Nation, and to his skill in his employment;
2nd that his attendants, being awed by his manly deportment,
would behave, ai lead, with decency. But what was my surprise
when he replied to some of my moded inquiries in the roughed
language, and nothing was to be heard among his attendants but
t c fouled oaths! I soon made my escape from such company, and
urried with my son to my lodprings. When I returned to the
lnn > I found a number of people collected, daring and grinning,
Tound a handsome carriage; and soon heard paflionate exprcfEons
and profane oaths delivered in a haughty tone. Upon inquiry I
was told that ?he well drelfcd man who was raving and {wearing
at the driver, for some trivijl accident, or failure, was ,
I will not tell who he was; but I should not have been more
* onilhed, it I had heard imprecations and scurrility from the
mouth of a Judge, or even a Member o JCongrefs. It immediately
rou»ht to my mind an ex predion v\ nich I heard from a chaplain
?I if w ht'n I was a boy—" What honour can there be in
elching out oaths, when the mcanrjl fcnundrel can do the fame ?"
FROM THE MARYLAND JOURNAL, Be.
| City of Washington, in the diftritt of Columbia, in-
JL tended lor the p' rmancnt feat of the Government of the Uni
c . t«'tcs, bf ing now begun, a concise d fenptionof the situation,
® n pre le nt fete of metropolis, may not be altogether unin-
to those at a distance.
Ihe frat 01 the city Hands at the jun&ion of the rivers Patow
*nac and the Eaftern-Hianch, extending nearly four miles up
i, including a tratt of territory, exceeded in point of con
venience, salubrity, and beauty, by none in America, if any in
1 ' r lc'—For, although the land is apparently level, yet, by
gent e and giadual fwelhngs, a variety of elegant profpc£ls are
P'o need ; while there is ajTufficient descent to convey off th»- wa
lrr occafionerl by rain.—Within the limits of the cit), are a g'eat
< x'cellent fprinos, and by digging wells, water of the belt
Ua readily be had ; besides, the never-failing dreams,
"t rmw run through that territory, are also to be colle&ed for the
O'cof ihecitv.
K-, ► C -Branch is one of the fafeft and mod commodious
a 'ors in America, b~mg fuffioiently deep for the largelt Ihips,
1 * out ,<>ur iniles above its mouth ; while the channel lies close
»iongt if oTthe city, and is abundantly capacipu*. The Pa
bir??' a^ou &honly navigable for fmjll-cratt, for a confidera
-1 anrt from its banks adjoining the city (excepting about
for/ OVCr,K> j Unaion of «he rivers) will nevertheless as-
8 r " M,s urnm ' r -harbor; as an immense number of (hips
*r•' M, the great channel, opposite to, and below,the city.
' * metropolis, being fituatcd upon the great poft-ioad, ex
THE NEIGHBOUR.
Saturday, October 8,
aftly eqmdiftant from the northern and southern extremities o<
the Union, and nearly so from the Atlantic to Fort-Pitt, upon the
belt navigation, and in the midst of the richest commercial terri
tory in America, commanding the moftexteofive internal refour
■ ces > 18 b Y far <he most eligible situation for the residence ot Con
) ; and as there is no doubt of it, being pressed forward, by
. the public-fpmted enterpnfe of the people ot these United States
. and by foreigners, it will grow up with a de get* of rapidity hi.
t, >wto unparalleled in the annals of cities, aud will soon become
} tnc admiration and delight of the world.
The plan of this city, agreeably to the directions of the Prefi
k 7,', o!<ed States " was defi K ne <l. and drawn, by, he cele
brated Major i.'Enfant ;and is an inconceivable improvemem
upon all other cities in the world, combining not only conven
ience, regularity, elegance of profpeft, and a free circulation of
air but every thing grand and beautiful, that can possibly be in
troduced ,nto a city—As the plan of this elegant city will be
pubhfhed early in next month, a particular description of it here
would neither be poflible nor necessary : A few sentences, on
that fubjeft, must therefore fuflice.
The streets, in general, run due north and south, and east and
welt, forming rcSangular fquarej._The area for the Congress-
House, is situated upon the most beautiful eminence, little more
than a mile from the Eaftem-Branch, and not much more from
thePatowmac ; commanding a full aud complete view of every
part of the city, as well as a considerable extent of the country
around. The President's Hovse will (land upon a rising
ground, not far from the banks of the Patowmac, possessing a de
lightful water profpeft, together with a commandingview of the
Congress-House, and most of the material parts of the city. The
Houjes for the great Departments of State, the Supreme Cour:-
Mouse and Judiciary-Offices, the National Bank, the General
Exchange, and the several Market-Houses, with a variety of other
public buildings, are all arranged with equal propriety,judgment
and taste. in such situations as, in practice, will be found the most
convenient and proper.—Due south from the President's House,
and due weft from the Congress tfoufe, run two great Pleasure-
Parks, or Malls, which interfeft a rid terminate upon the banks of
the Palowmac, and are ornamented at the firies with a variety of
public gardens and elegant buildings, interspersed
through the city, where the most material streets cross, in the most
important situations, aie a variety of open areas, formed in various
regurarfiguies, which in great cities are extremely ufcful and or
namental.— Fifteen ot the best of these dress may be appropriated
IO the different States ctvmpofing the Union, not only: to "bear
their relpedive patties, but as proper places for them tqereft sta
tues, obelilks or columns, to the memory of their favorite heroes
or ftatelYnen ; providing they contribute towards the improve
ment of the lots around these areas, in (uch manner as may be a
greed upon.—From ih* Congref.-Hotife, the President's Houfc.
and fame of the other important areas in the city, run tranlverfe
avenues, or diagonal streets, from one material objfft to another,
which not only produce a variety of charming profpefts, and fa
cilitate the communication through the city, but temoyethat io-
Cpid sameness,- that renders Philadelphia and Charleilpn uuplea
fing.—Thffe great leading (trfffs are all 160 feet wide, including
a brick pavement of 10 feet, and a gravel walk of go feet planted
with trees, on each fide; which will leave 80 feet of paved street
for carriages.—The reft of the streets, are in gensral, 130 and no
feet wide, and are now mostly run out upon true principles, from
celestial oljfervaiions, by thf Geographer-General of the United
Stales, whose astronomical knowledge, and fcientific talents, are
so univtrfally known and admired
The founding of this city, in furh an eligible fltuation, upon
such a. liberal and elegant plan, will, by fumre be
confidejed as one of the mull important tranfa&ions of the pre
sent President of the United States ; while its name will keep frefh
in mind, 10 the end of time, the mjiiy important fervicet he has
rendered hiscountry.
Among the many fortunate circumstances which have attended
this country, during the present administration in government, the
residence of Major l'Enfant in America, at this time, may be con
fide red as one of the moll material.—The plan he has now pro
duced, and which is happily adopted, exhibits such striking pi oofs
of an exalted genius, elegance of taste, extensive imagination and
comprehension, as will not only produce amazement in Europe,
but meet the admiration ot all luture ages ; having theiein so hap
pily combined ihe beauties ot situation with general convenience
and, at the fame time, effectually guarded against thofc inconven
iences which arise in other great cities.
The public buildings, now planned by this great engineer and
archited, and carrying on under his direction, will befuperbano
elegant, and such as will do honor to the capital of a great and
prolperous empire; while,fortunately, it is not in the power of
Congress to interfeie with the funds obtained for those public
works ; the whole being from private grants of individual State*
and citizens.
It mutt, no doubt, be admitted, that Congress have power, even
at their next feflion, to repeal the present law, by which they arc
obliged to remove to the city of Washi NCTON,at the time there-
in mentioned ; but they have no power to fay that, from the prefeni
tunds, certain houses (hall not be erected, or that the proprietor
shall not proceed in building the city : Hence, therefore, it wi];
remain, at any future period, with Congress, to choose their per.
mafient residence, in the moil central situation. Here it may \ c
proper to observe, that, agreeably to the new constitution of the
Union,the States of Virginia and Maryland surrendered a diftri6l
of territory, which Congress have, by law, accepted of That, a
greeably to the fame law of Congress, these two States have made
a grant of money, for the public buildings, part of which is now
a&ually paid and expended—That, in consequence of the fame
law, a large tract of land is granted, by a number of individuals ;
which land is now cut up into a city, and, belore the meeting of
Congress, will, in part, be fold to a variety of people throughou
the Union.—The repeal of a law, therefore, so groisly to violate
pub'ic and private faith, would not be mentioned in a Congress
of fiends imt in Pandemonium ; far less in the general legifLturt
of these United Stares, whose tenacious adherence to uublic faith
prevented their altering t'nefunding-law last feflion when proposed.
With regard to the fufficiency of the funds, now obtained, so?
the pubJic purposes of this new city, it will, in a great measure,
depend upon the management of the sale of the lots ceded to th<
public. If they are fold off gradually, as money maybe wanted
to thole who will attually improve thein in a reasonable time, th«
fund will be produ&ive, far exceeding the mod fangume calcula-
tions that have been made upon it —For the lots remaining 01,
will rife in value, in proportion to tbe growth and namr*
advantages of the city, as is evidcut in the mod trifling town and
village in America.
185
A SPECTATOR
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HUso
[Whole No. 255.]
i 1 A R I S, July 30.
r T"VHE eighty articles which have been for some
X time part preparing by the Committee ofCon
titutiop [°r the Royal acceptance, and which are
i° i"i\ ° f the nevv to "ftitution, are to
[be la,ci before the Aflbmbly on Monday next
I . lieie is 110 doubt but that they will extend the
King s prerogative much wider than it was ac
1 ""tended ; for the majority of the kingdom
leems to be of opinion, that it is impoL'ifcle, from
the nature of encumftances, to carry ou the go
vernment without giving a strong arm to the ex
ecutive power, and the nation is unanimous ia
being governed by a king.
It is certain that the magiftrares of the Swift
Cantons are the most inveterate enemies of all
the people in Europe agsinfl the French consti
tution.
A creditor of Monfienr, the King's brother
went ycfterday to Brunjoi, the Prince's countryl
hotife, accompanied by an usher (bailiff) andfeiL
ed as much of his goods as wer? wtinh 30,000 l
itres, the amount at' the demand vyhich he had
upon hun. , . «•
M. de Noailles, ambaflador at the Imperial
Court, it is allured, is returning honie, fu that a
rupture is inevitable. • "
dug. r. In the feliion of the h, they read
an address from the department «>f the uiume
reqnetting that 290 individuals, who bad fi<>ned
a protefl againit the decrees of the Nation? AC
(e.nbly 0 f which they themselves are members
might be proceeded against and tiied for perjury
and treason. J '
An address was also read, signed by a frreat
number of citizens of Clermont Kerraud ex
cl a lining agamlt the suspension of Electoral' As.
leinblles, and terminating as follows :"U j s
time lor the peoplejo; exercUeJLhcixJLvereignt v.
ana 10 wi.iKe Known their vvi/hes ; anci as tiie
country is in immediate danger, we declare to
you that if 111 a fortnight your decree is not re
voked, we will employ the means with which
the law has furnilhed a free people to exercise
their rights."
The detachment of the National Parjfian
guards, which was encamped in the plain of
Crenelle, let off for the frontiers Jaft night ;
they are to be replaced directly by the citv mili
tia of the dirtritfis of St. Eennis, and of Bourg ] a
Heine, which will shortly proceed to the fame
place of destination.
O N DON, Augufl 4.
The King of Sweden has difTuantled all the
fortifications eretfted duringthe war, 011 tlie fron
tiers of Ruffian Finland ; a measure which In
dicates an early aiul permanent pacification in
the North, and may by Come politicians be fpp,
poled to look favorable to that Confederacy a
gainlt France, which has so long been spoken of.
The present combination of Kings again ft the
liberty of France plainly shews that their Ma
jesties want wisdom. If they were poflefled of
much penetration, they would know that it was
the interference of the French in the affairp of
America that firft made them pane for freedom
and that the soldiers of the German, Spanifli'
and other Princes, by now interfering in the af
fairs of France, may learn that they were noc
born to be slaves.
1 he putting a ftopto theprefs is an indication
that the establishment of peace is in a promising
train, but the cot tinnance of the bounties u>
sea nen rtews, that it is not yet accomplifted
I lie Paris letters of Fiiday do not even anti
cipate any thing with refpeift to the decision of
the Aflemhly on the great question refpetftine
the flight of the Royal Family. The only ru
mour with refpecft to the latter is, that as Toon
as the decrees on the conftitorion are completed
a digest of them is to be made up and offered to
'he King. The Monarch, on this oceafion, is ta
be allowed to remove to one *>f his country pa
laces, and there to frame his decision with alt
polhhle freedom. Jf he aflentshe is to be reftor
fd under certain provifious ; if not, the ibve
reignty dexolves instantly to the Dauphin.
A gentleman who had lately occasion to *jfi t
the country, gives a most favorable account of
the a ppearance of harvert. The highly season
able and beneficial influence of the late rain*
has been most happily felt, and the barley and
oats are in excellent condition.
Jiignit Oran hns been relieved, and the
.oors have received a complete overthrow. The