THE TABLET. NUMBER 111. " Debate and Dijfention not only flow froi/i civil liber ty, but contribute to preserve it." TN my last No. I mentioned having pafled anevcir -t ing with two foreigners. The remarks, made by one of them, have been communicated. The reply of the other equally deserves notice. It is ,to the following effect. " I confefs that your observations appear to be founded in fact. No inference, however, to the discredit of this country, can be drawn from such circumltances. There maybe assigned two reasons why the cicizens of the United States are prone to Jpeculative controversy. One of them proceeds from the nature of their government, and adts as a permanent cause. The other results from par ticular incidents, which may be considered adven titious; but which unites its influence in producing the general effecft. " In a delpotick government, where the subject , has no voice in making the laws, or in eitabliihing modes of religion, he has little occasion to be a dil putant. His whole attention is employed, in per forming the duties that are laid upon him. The cafe is totally the revcrfe in a country of freedom. Every man knows that he may be eligible to legi- Every man feels' a pride and independence of spirit, that he can clioofe his own religion. This operates as 6n eflabliihcd' cause of speculative en quiry and investigation. No reflraint can fafely be put upon an indulgence, which is in itfelf so falu tary. 1 here is leis danger from excels than from reliricflion. " Ihe peculiar situation of this country has af forded great scope for the difcuflionsof theoretick men. It has infufed a spirit of altercation into all ranks of people. Time and experience will corretfl those extremes of such a temper, which have been excited by special cau£s. It must have its own course, and work its own remedy. The love and the pratftife of difputo, fh ike out light upon the various fubjefts, relative to government. It habi tuates men to reflection. I acknowledge it has been carried so far, as to militate with ufeful oper ations, and prevented a&s of real utility being in troduced. Many of the States have totally "new modelled their governments. This could Tiot be produced without great deliberation. The fervour has hardly yet subsided. " The entire tolerarion of religion has given a large range to persons prone to controversy. Each fetft naturally wiflies to extend its influence. The forms of government and religion will be better ascertained, and men will have determined what fide to take, in both. When this happens, the evil yqu complain of, will in part be removed. But while the spirit of liberty exists, controversy is unavoidable." Thus spoke my two companions. The one point ed out errors, and the other accounted for them. Their observations, whether they are new or not, appear to be just. Such hints ainufe fame people, while they do injury to none. A HINT7~ ONE finding feature in tliepolitical complexion of the Dutch Republick is, that the children of both sexes are, from the moment of the earliest capability, initiated in some line of indullrious avo cation among them. Solon and Lycurgus coidd not have chalked out a wiser line for the service of the Grecian States. It was an opinion with Alexander the Great, that boys nurtured and bro't up in the camp, were ever after fond ofarms—and practice gave fantftion to the theory. It holds e qually good, that children, early trained up to in dustry, ever incline to it in maturity—for, in the language of the poet, "it grows -with their growti, and Jfrengthens, vi:th their flrength." To our coun trymen, we hope the application is evident. If they accustom their little ones to honest employ ments (such as will suit their years, constitutions and choices) they will thereby render them virtu ous andindeqendent citizens,a credit to tliemfelves, and an ornament to society. The consequences of a different conduct are evident. ANECDOTE OF LORD MANSFIELD. THIS J udge being in one of the counties, on the circuit, a poor woman was indicted for witch craft. The inhabitants of the place were exafpera ted against her. Some witnefles deposed, that th.2_> had fecn her walk in the ai;-, with her feet upward Lord Mansfield heard the evidence with great tran quility, and perceiving the temper of the people, whom it wouJ d not have been prudent to irritate, he thus addrefled them. lC Ido not doubt that thh woman lias walked in the air, with her feet up wards, since you have all seen it; but she has the hono ir to be born in England, as well as you and I, and confeqaently, cannot be judged but by the laws of the country, nor puniflied but in proportion as ha< violated them. Now I know not cne law that forbids walking in the air with the feet up wards. We have all aright to do it with impuni tv. I fc! noreafon, therefore, fqr prosecution ; ant ilus poor woman may return home when she plcaf'es. • PLAN , O F T H E GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES. A NATIONAL PAPER. To be puHifhed at th( seat of the federal government, and to comprise, as fully as pojfible, t/ie following Objells, viz. I. 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