Ho. I' V - ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. THE TABLET. NUMBER IX. u Tht imagination of man is naturally fuhlime, de- Hghttdwith whatever is remote and extraordinary, ani running without controul into the jnoft dijiant part' of [pact and time, in order to avoid the objects, which cujlom has rendered too familiar to it /~vF all the weaknefles,to which the human mind 0 is incident,there is not a more extraordinary one than that blind, implicit reverence/ we are apt to feel for the characters, the maxims, and the institutions of antiquity. The love of novelty, strong as it is, does not overcome our propensity to tins-kind of admiration. There seems to be tome unaccountable fafcination, that holds the mind in fubje&ion, and prevents the clear exer cise of judgment, while the imagination is tak ing its flight into the regions of pall ages. We are so captivated with the splendor and extent of conquests which hijtory presents to our view ; with the lustre and elevation of characters it displays ; with the various and altonilhing revolutions it records, that our reafonis overwhelmed,and can not exert that force, which it discovers on other occasions. There is scarce a circumstance that looks like perfection, or even utility of cultivation, in which ancient can bear any comparison with modern times. Itmay not be unentertaining,to search for the cause of oar veneration for antiquity, notwithstanding it to have 110 reasonable foundation. In forming our ideas of fame of the ancient nations, whom we profefs to admire, we compare them with other cotemporary ones ; whom we have been accuftomcd t;o reprobate and despise. As molt ot our opinions, respecting virtue and vice ; prail'e and blame, are comparative, we sometimes be llow an extravagance of applause, on a people vi cious and d«praved, merely because they are not jo deeply funkin depravity, as other people, with whom we compare them. This is one reason why encomiums are to lavishly heaped on characters and actions, which scarce deserve a place in our remembrance. Perhaps this admiration is heigh tened by the profufe compliments, that historians .have paid to particular periods and nations, at the expense and disgrace of others. We feel no motive to discredit their relation of tranfatftions, orto doubt the propriety of their opinions or con clusions. We are pleased with indulging refpeCi and veneration, and that pleasure colts little or nothing. There is no competition to excite jea lousy, or alarm avarice. Another reason that may be afligned for our admiring the ancient republics in so high a degree, is, that the different periods of their exiltence are marked with a vast variety of tragical inci dents. The human mind is delighted with what ever is marvellous. This is one of the earlielt propensities, that discovers itfelf in our nature. Every man occasionally feels within himfelf a lan guor andliftlefliiefs of mind ; from which, he takes a pleasure in being roused. Ke is apt to affix a fa vorable idea to almolt any cause, which has di verted him, in those moments of heaviness and infipiJity. This will generally be the cafe, un less the incident which enlivens his feelings, is attended with immediate or personal inconve nience. With what eagerness, do we read ac counts of maflacres, treasons, inundations and earthquakes : When these happen at a distance, we do not fed so much pain for the miserable fate ol thole, who are involved in the distress, as we 0 at being roused and llimulated into a Rigorous Itate of mind. No inference difhon'orable :° human nature can be drawn from this reason- J' one of the -sources of gratification, is always innocent and sometimes ufeful. 1 inconveniences it produces does not counter balance the advantages. We should however be on om " guard, in drawing conclusions relative to or own conduct. Causes, which excite admira -IQn, u:ive a molt powerful influence, in seducing j ls into error ot opinion. The reason of man t ? es I,s balance, while the mind is employed in 1-act of admiring. In tills view of the matter, lowl proper, that youth lliould not be al liill' au unreitrained liberty, in reading ancient as f°l? • lna y acquire opinions and feelings 3cious > as an unbounded indulgence in ing novels can produce. ex<^r,' e j^ mar ' ts are only introductory to a more ter J the l'ubjedt,which lhall hereaf reflp^ Car ' ' nt^e mean time,the reader will let his blylT 101 * 3 'he deficiency, Which uiiavoida - a ppeuedfroin this partial and imperfe.it ellay. From SATURDAY, May 9, to W E D N E S D AY, May 13, 1759. of the POLITICAL STATE of AMERICA. NUMBER VII. THE leading features of the Magna Cliarta of Ameiica, or that mutual compact which now unites her citizens, by one common bond, are strongly imprcfied with the genius and character of the people who formed it, and who will be fubjecft to its future controul : FREEDOM, or the MA J ESI y Of 1 HE PEOPLE, is wrote in Ca pitals upon the face of the Plan, and its tenor and l'ubltance bespeaks a critical acquaintance with the rights of mankind in its compilers, with a sacred regard to the perpetuating thole rights, unimpaired, to the latest posterity. fhis beautiful compilat ion originated from the people, the only pure fountain and source of all lawful power—nor were they, when called to form it, under any duress of mind, or undue bias, but prompted to the execution by principles of pati iotifm, and with a view to reciprocal advan tage, having the " Salus Populi" for the pole Star of their conduct. Among the particular traits of the System above attended to, which claim our attention, may be placed the periodical elections of those, who are to administer it; as alio the liberal principles up on which those elections are formed, which, while they ensure a remedy for a corrupt admi nistration, serve also as a preventive against the difeal'e they are calculated to cure, affording a conltant check to the progress of ill-directed in tentions, and improper actions—and have the further good influence of presenting future op portunities for the enjoyment of the honors of their country, to those who are found to deserve them, thereby constantly encouraging a virtuous emulation among the members of the society, which operates but faintly, if at all, in those go vernments, where the adventitious circumfiances of birth, or fortune, give the only claim to emi nence and preferment : Many more are the moral and political advantages, which mull be derived from this part of our excellent Constitution ; but as detail is not here my I (hall proceed to a view of fovne other general principles, which presage equal benefit :/ Among which, may be ranked those ltrong guards, against every kind of monopoly, or exclusive advantages to be granted to any class of citizens, in preference to another, arilingfrom a good heart, great abilities, and su perior merit, is acknowledged to be the only l'up port of an American Aristocracy. Freedom of IJjeech, and debates, and an mn reftrained use of the Press, will operate as pow erful auxiliaries, in chcrifhing and supporting the future Liberties jof the country, by their na" tural tendency to check and fruftrate the ill de signs of men in power, and who, though unre strained by the admonitions of confcicnce, that faithful Monitor over all human actions, will dread the stigma of a contemning public. That relief of the mind from religious thral dom, which has been productive of so many evils in other countries, and which is so completely guarded against in America, ltands among the foremoll of those great charaCteristics, which give her form of government a preference to any one extant: Here the infallibility of the Pope is with humility contradicted, while the magic power of his foot, thrils with but faint and feeble palpita tions : Here the kind aid of the civil arm, is 110 longer exerted to destroy, by fire and sword, the bodies of men, in order to save their fouls : Here without subscribing to thirty-nine articles, which thirty-nine times in a day are frequently broken, a person can be admitted to the privileges and honors of his country : It is here that true Reli gion presents her alluring and captivating charms in resplendent lustre : A recluse and monastic life, is 110 longer supposed to adorn the votaries of Cliriftianity : But those actions, which are prompted by the molt diffufive benevolence, are esteemed the molt grateful incense to that Deity, who is benevolence and love. In America, Religion waves her peaceful ban ners, courting, by her intrinsic merits, that obe dience to her service, which any adventitious power has ever been found inadequate to effect. AMEIIICANUS. (To be continued.) EXTRACT FROM "AMERICAN ESSAYS.* ON DUELLING. A BRAVE and virtuous man, " dares do all that may become a man, who dares do more is none." A good citizen will ever respeCt his ru lers, and rev ere the laws, and must therefore be averse to the committing any act unlawful, or unjust ; he will blufif at the palpable injuries, and daring effrontery of the man, who in a ci\ - zlized state shall aflume the power of judgino*and determining in his own cause ; he can not admit thatthelaws of honor,fupercede those of reafoh, religion and nature ; he can not conceive that any man has a right to determine at will that ano ther has offended liim, and infill that the fuppo led offender shall acknowledge what he know ;»*.<>r ' believes to be falfe, or deliberately consent to h murdered, or become a murderer ; he fonfiblv feels that his country, his amiable wife, and innocent, promiffing infants, are not beneath a gentleman's notice ; and that he has no right to rob them of his services, kind offices, support and protection ; he believes that in Heaven there is no exclusive privilege for gentlemen ; and that he cannot plead the laws of modern hopor before the sacred bar of unerring juflice : But, O tempora ! O mores ! He feels too sensibly the force of cruel cultom, and knows not how to avoid the guilt, without dif'grace ; a most impi - ous cultom has lanCtified the crime, .and made the apprehensions of unjuit reproach more dread ful to the christian, than damnation : Such is the folly and depravity of this Qiiixotijh age, that a man dares not be just to himfelf, his family, or his country,leafl he should incur the odium of be ing afraid to die, or to shed a little innocent blood ; and though he should have llain an host oi: his country's foes in the field of battle, yet these shall not secure liis fame in the opinion of the honorable fanatics, should he decline to llain his name with fafhionable murder ; as there might probably be some so bafe,and malignant, as to .»i ----fecft to believe, that the hero was more afraid of death; than of the crime ; and the force ofcui tom, and the fear of reproach, are now become so powerful and obligatory, that he mull be more or less than man, who can avoid faCri;iciiig every thing precious, estimable, sacred, and truly ho norable, in compliancc with the foolifh fafcinat ing phantom called honor : Yet duelling has fqme times only proved to be a little fclieme, of little minds, to build a l.ttle fame ; it is often a brazen Ihield,forged by desperate gam biers,and (harpers, toprotect their tender names from truth's search ing painful probe ; apl finely those, whose cha racters will stand test of public inquisition, can never with rcafon and propriety, resort to this slender, doubtful, desperate fupportv it is therefore devoutly to be wilhed, that no real gen tleman would be guilty of an act, that not only tarnishes his name, but renders it fufpecfted of former taints, by confounding it vith those who have no other means to lupport their pretentions to a decent character, or continue their ruinour. connexions with gentlemen ; and who, but for this infamous tenure, would be expelled all re putable society, but are now admitted into all companies, who by the laws of honor are obliged to be civil to those impudent, intruding harpi?s, or to fight them ; and thus are the young, unful pe