Of f/JC %y> [No. XIX.] THE TABLE T. No. XIX. u Sensible men as -well as others aftner have occafiou to repent of faying too much than too little." THOUGH I place a new motto at the head of this number, yet 1 am continuing my last filiation rather than introducing a new one. There is such a direrfity of appearances in human rtint the molt diligent enquirer after truth Iv come to a stand in his researches He will L to himfelf, I may as well remain idle, as per ' v mind with enquiries, which cannot ter minate in a fatisfaCtory solution. This difficulty 'culiarlv attends the cafe now under confidera ■ n It has been fhcwn that in some instances obvious advantages result from a cold, reserved deportment ; while 011 other occasions, the fue l's of aman seems to have originated in an open, unreltrained communication of his thoughts. 1 will dilate a little upon the circumltances that attend such a difference of behavior, and leave the reader to draw his own conclusions. He will recolleA, that in this paper, I am remarking up on characters that deserve some eminence for their abilities. The different views men entertain of applaule and influence lead them to strike upon different expedients for promoting their reputation. One man has ail ardour of spirits that tliirits conftant lyafter frefh drafts of flattery ; and like a dram drinker, he has a spark that al w ays wants quench ing. This induces him to captivate attention wherever he falls into company ; and he had rather be gratified with momentary applause, than to acquire that which may be durable, if the aequi firion will fubjed: him to a temporary felf-denial. The character the reverse of this gains slowly upon the admiration of others ; but he holds fait what he docs gain : He never loses any part of the influence he obtains ; and encreafes the ve neration of the world by appearing very indif ferent abont it. _ _ i While one man is ambitious of exciting admi ration by the brilliancy of his wit, and the gaiety and elegance of his conversation ; another avoids those methods of allurement, and only wishes to be refpccted for solidity of judgment, and for a (paring, but pertinent, communication ofliisfen timents. If one were asked which of tliefe cha ratfters were molt desirable, he may re])ly that eacJi of them may be most desirable to different men, whose talte and views run in a different di rection. The person of reserve, who seldom speaks at all, and never but when he can fay ibmethitig judicious and fingulatTy adapted to the fubjed:, has more weight and influence in society than he who always speaks, and often wanders from the real merits of the queltion. It frequent ly happens that men of the most active powers of oratory are dazzled by their ownluftre, and make many unimportant or erroneous remarks merely for the fake of displaying their eloquence. Those who fall into the praiftice of speaking a great deahnay be certain they will let drop many things that are neither jult or interesting. Every error in opinion, and every falfe or improbable afier tlon will bring a man into disrepute, and render his judgment as well as veracity liable to suspi cion. By this mfcans, when he makes an observa tion that is judicious, it does not receive that cre dit which it deserves, or that it would receive, if he had been accustomed to speak with precaution. It is true the fafcination of oratory, in many in itances, gives a popularity to fpeeclies beyond what they merit; but 110 substantial or permanent influence can result from such captivations of ap plause. Men guarded in their conversation eltabliih a more beneficial influence ; their word is equivalent to truth, and their opinions are ci ted as authority to dired: the conducft of others. Upon the whole, afenfible man, if he talks a great deal may often be applauded ; if he talks but lit tle, he will always be refpeCted. A. £. ItiTablet No. XVIII, thefixth paragiaph, eleventh line, "- r " mifdtmeavor" read demeanor. A SKETCH OF THE POLITICAL STATE OF AMERICA. [Continued from No. XVII.] ">S method and system, in conducting the 'ommon concerns of private life,are attended vtitli ''very advantage, and found to ailift greatly in 'he attainment of the objects we have in view, wis argument applies with additional force to the and important concerns involved in the eco nomy of a nation. Tliefe being various and com plicated in their nature, and indefinite in their number, _ without order and system, would e peculiarly liable to derangement and confufi on - Hence arises the propriety of eftablifning 1| e K rea t executive departments of government, ' * their appropriate powers, and the WEDNESDAY, June 17, 1789. objects of their attention and management. As, affairs relative to revenue and national income to a financier—military matters to a secretary at war—foreign affairs to a person specially appoint ed—domestic concerns to their peculiar depart ment—to a marine board the iuterell of a navy, &c. Upon the requilite qualifications for tliefe fe veral,offices and on the objedts of their commissi on, I venture a few general observations. In a financier we hope to find a critical acquaintance with mankind, and the various thihgs which go vern the heart—a knowledge of the history of foreign nations—with a more particular infor mation of that of his own country—the genius of its inhabitants—different interelts of the commu nity—the various sources from which to derive an income to the public—the practical philoso pher, and profound mathematician—acquainted with the operation and fluctuation of money in a State,and with the means of extending and equa lizing itscirculation to common benefit; and in ge neral,with a capacity to economize public expen ditures,and by other means to eltablifh and support national credit and consequence. The mechanical bulinefs of the department of treal'ury or finance will be to keep a fair and accurate ftateuient of the national debts and credits, and so contracted as to avoid embarraflinent, prevent error, and deteCt fraud. In the war-office we are led to look for a person of ability and information, acquired by a long experience in martial purfuiis, a dis ciplinarian, and well acquainted with the eco nomy of a camp and military tallies—capable of directing to the bell means for preserving the health of the soldiery, of supplying them with ne ceilaries,offupportinggarrifons and forts,and pur suing every mode for his country's defence, with propriety, and economy ; his attention to method will enable him (whenever called upon for that purpose by government) to present a full and ac curate estimate upon every fubjedt comprised within his department. To dired: the concerns of the marine, will re require an early and uniform education in naval pursuits ; with ability to improve upon the infor mation thus acquired—an acquaintance with the best mode for obtaining good timber, &c. for the building of ffiips and all the necellaries forcom pleating them ; dlfo with the means to be purfu cd for encouraging the increase of seamen—the lealfc expenfivc mode for supplying them, and molt efficacious method for preserving their valuable lives, See. in this department will be kept accu rate registers of the men employed in the navy— estimates of their supplies and general expendi tures, and upon a report of which to thefupreme executive, will receive warrants on the treal'ury for their disbursement. The person filling the office for foreign affairs with a knowledge of his own couiltry, ffiouldpof fafs a general acquaintance with the history of other Nations—be able to develope the arcana of their politics,commercial purfuits,and readily fee into their connection with probable effects upon those of bis own country ; and while correspond ing with our public officers and agents abroad on tliefe fubje unite the affections of ad his fellow citizens, and thus united, to lead them to national glory and felicity. Fromthe characters which form the two branch es of Congress, we mull poflefs the liighelt con fidence in that alterably, and are lead to antici pate from their nieafures, the blessings of that se curity and dignity,'which at all times are the re sult of national wisdom, integrity and jullice ; and I believe that the good people of the great confederated Republic, may allure theinlehes that the principles upon which the revolution was supported will so forcibly inlinuate tliemfelves into all the measures of that augult Legislature, that no place will be opened to tliofe ideas of monarchy and defpotifin, which have long Icourg ed other parts of the world. But it ought ever to be remembered, that no form of government, or mode of admin iftration, can make a vicious people happy, and that there fore, the public felicity will in a great measure depend upon the exercise of the l'ocial and private virtues, by the people of this extensive republic. That this Commonwealth, which constitutes so important a part of the general government, may increase its own internal prosperity, while it pro motes that of the Union, we ought to support and encourage the means of learning, and all institu tions for the education of the riling generation ; an equal diltribution of intelligence being as ne cellary to a free government, as laws for an equal diltribution of property. Our wife and magnanimous anceltors, imprefl ed with this idea, were very liberal and careful in the eltablilhment of inltitutions for this pur pose ; among which, that of our Uni-verlity In Cambridge, and that of Grammar Schools in our • n* towns, were very important : Every necellary at tention will certainly be paid to the former, and I cannot but earnellly recommend to your inqui ry, the reason why the latter is so much neglected in the State : Should any new laws be wanted in this matter, you cannot do your country a more efiential service, than provide them. Notwitliltanding the just expectations we have from the government of the United States, yet the honor and crcdit of the several States are of vast importance to the citizens of tliem. In this State we have accumulated in the course of the late war, a very heavy debt ; individuals of the community have loaned their property to support their diltreffed country.—The resources of the Commonwealth are as well known to you, gen tlemen, as they arc to me, and I feel myfelf allu red of your serious attention to measures directed to the support of public credit, and the ellablilh ment of public jullice. Pursuant to a rcfolution pafled by the Legisla ture in their late feflion, the Sheriffs of the seve ral counties have been called upon to return, and fettle the executions which have been committed to them againlt defective collectors of public taxes : A Itate ps their settlements I have direc ted the treasurer to lay before you. I lhall communicate to you such matters, from time to time, as I may find to be necellary for the interest of government, but am very happy to in form you, that from a state of external and in ternal peace and quietnefs,no bulinefs is likely to call for your attention but the common and or dinary concerns of supporting government. JOHN HANCOCK. Bofion, June 8, 1789. ~~A TALK, Lately sent by the Coinmiflioners of Indian affairs in the Southern Department to the Creeks cor respondent. To the Head Men, Chiefs, and IVarriors of the Creek Nation. WE last year appointed a time and place for holding a treaty with you to eltablilh a Jailing peace between you and us, that we might again become as one people ; you all know the real'ons why it was not held at that time. We now fend you this talk, inviting you to 3 treaty on your bank of the Oconee river, at the Rock Landing. We wilhed to meet you at that place on the eighth of June, but, as that day is so near at hand, you might not all get notice. We therefore lhall expect to meet you on the 20th of June.