FABLE.
£THE absurdity of attempting luch amendments to the Constitu
tion ot the United States as will remove the objc&ions of every
individual, was not better ridiculed in the celebrated simile of
the Breeches, than it is by the following, taken from Profei
for Gelliht'j Fables.]
A VILLAGE in Germany had the privilege
of clioofing their own minilter. At one of their
meetings, after the decease of their old pallor,
it was moved and seconded by some honest pea
sants, to give the place to nobody, but to luch a
one, who, by the power of his prayers, would
be able to make rain or funlhine, according to
the wilhes and true welfare of his parishioners:
as it was found in the Bible, that some prophets
of old had been entrusted with such powers;
*md St. James observed, that the energy of the
prayers of Elijah were not unattainable by other
men. The whole aiiembly perceived the advan
tages of luch a resolution, and adopted it. It
required some time before they could meet with
fncli a subject, though they spared no means to
make their intention known ; but at lalt they
succeeded ; a candidate profefled to be pollelled
of luch powers, and, upon his solemn promise
to exercile them whenever required, was initia
ted. Not long after they met and relolved to try
the expediency of the laid measure, and the mi
nilter was called. Sir, laid the foreman, we wifli
now that you perforin your promise, and make
lis the weather for to-morrow. With all my heart,
laid the minister, what weather do you wish tu
fee to-morrow ? Why, fir, replied Stephen, a lit
tle rain would aflilt the crop amazingly. Not
now, said Godfrey, by any means ; for some ol
the village have begun the hay-making business :
I Ihould prefer clear weather. A cloudy day,
laid Hans, and rain in the evening, would be fa
vorable both to the hay and the crop. Sir, said
Thomas Hizkopf, I speak with impartiality : we
cannot help that some of our people were pre
mature in cutting their hay: plentiful rain the
crop requireth ; and plentiful rain we will have
by my honor. Let me speak one word, said
Chriltian King : you all, brethren know my ex
perience in the farming way, as long as I can re
member I have found the greatelt benefit from
thunder lhowers, only not mixt with hail at this
season of the year : let us agree to that, reve
rend Sir, answered Wilhelm Plauderer, I hope
you, as a divine, fee the malicious tendency of
the proposal: there are bad people in your flock,
Sir: they wish to ruin their neighbours—Stop,
my dear hearers, said the young parson ; don't
quarrel here : as soon as you can come to an
agreement among yourselves I shall be ready to
make you the weather. The man, it is said,
enjoyeth still his living in peace, unlufpeOted
ot having promised more than he was able to
perform.
MR. FENKO,
iou are iejired toinfert theinclofedin your pLtper: It mav eithez
prove to be a remedy agamjl the HcJJian Fly, or may lead to the difcove/)
cf one. your's, (3c.
An Extract the printed report of the Privy Council of Great.
Britain, of their enquiry about the Hcllian Fly.
Method of defraying the fxikg Wail in Bavaria, in a letter from Mr
Wauoii, M/nferfrom the Court of Great-Britain, at Munich, ti
the Marquis cj Carmar th in , Sec/etary of State.
" A PERSON put on a heap of corn, thyme and sweet mai -
jorum, and changed each ot thele plants every 24 hours, inhopes o!
•difcovenng one which would answer his puipofe. Hemp w. s
also tried : He took a handful and put it on a heap of corn, ai.d
found the next morning that the hrtnp was full of Wevils. These
1 ittle black animals fcem to have thefmell of a curious nature, since
they find the bad scent of hemp agreeable, and it appears they like
the folt rind of it. 1 hig handtul of hemp was picked out of the
grainery and winnowed, and put again on the corn. The result
was that 111 five days afterwards there were no Wevils to be seen in
the said heap ol corn. In the season when there was no green
hemp, they made ule of mouldy old hemp and with equal fucccfs,
, except that it required a longer time to deltroy these tn(> fts. When
the Wevils appeared again in the month of May the following year,
in less quantities, and at that period, there was only the tow or
heards of hemp that was already prepared to spin; nevertheless the
luccefs was the fame, and in eight days time all the wevils wcrt
removed. Perhaps linen might be used, ilcepeo ill the juice of
hemp where the hemp is not cultivated, and the event mii'ht turn
out equally fuccefsful. However, it is necelfary to (hake the hemj>
well that is put on the corn, and to stir the corn if it is in »reai
quantities, in order to hring the Wevils to the furfacr. This ex
periment was made also in a rainy luminer, when it was neceflary
to collett together the {heals which were very wet, and carry them
into the grainery. which of course produced a fermentation in the
barn as well a« the grainery, and from that cause, many Wevils
Hemp was made use of very early in the fprinjt. and the coin stir
red at the fame time, and as the exceflive heat aioie from it the
Wevils difappearcd."
LITERARY ARTICLE.
MADAME la Baronne df. V \.sse is about to
publish at Paris, a History of the Revolution, in
America, La Revolution de /'Amerique, &c. in two
vols, octavo—priceto fubferibers 10 livres (1 4/2.)
It will include a period of 27 years, beginning at
1 760 ; and Madame de Vasse allures u.s, that the
information it conveys may be relied on—it being
compiled from authentic documents, and indis
putable authorities alone, by an unprejudiced
and impartial writer. We are alio told, that it
has been approved by Dr. Franklin and other
American gentlemen, who have feenit in manu
icript ; and that an English author of some dif
tinvftion in the literary world, hasfo high an opin
ion of it as to be engaged in tranflatiug ir It is
just publiihed.
NATIONAL P/.RAGRAPHS.
THE revenue system of Great Britain is a lyf
tcm of checks: This is founded on the longelt
experience that any commercial country can boalt:
It is the rel'ult of an accurate knowledge of hu
man nature ; and is placing matters upon the on
ly principle that can ensure the lealt profped: ol
a punctual collection of the impolt.
How far checks may be provided which lhall
operate in the different States, so as to affeCt the
general interelt of the union, or whether every
particular State mult not be provided with a fyl
tem of this kind, which shall extend no farther
than the limits ol such State, is perhaps worthy
of attention ; but except this principle is inter
woven in the texture of our plans of revenue,
we lhall find ourselves guilty of amoft eflential
omission—and the fyltem like the old confedera
tion, will prove a rope of land.
Every lion ell man will readily recognize the
obligations which are imposed. upon him by law,
for the faithful difcliarge of the duties annexed to
any office to which he may be appointed; and
this he will do, not only from a judicious re
gard to his own reputation, but alio to sanCtion
tliofe checks which it is absolutely neceflary, that
a great proportion of characters lliould be con
trouled by, who will always find methods to in
troduce themselves into public departments:
Checks can never injure the feelings of a good
man, and every one acknowledges, that they
are requiliteto deterjthej unprincipled, by mak
ing it their interelt to be jult and lionelt.
The proceedings of Congress have hitherto
been so open, unreserved, candid and explicit—
the spirit of theconllitution (so far as all parties
have generally agreed in it) lias been so ltri<ftly
adhered to, and the fubjecft of amendments has
been taken up at so much earlier a period than
the diflatisfied expected, that there is every rea
son to suppose the seceding States will have every
objection done away ; and will very Joon come in
to the Union, by ratifying the fyltem.—Not one
inaulpicious anticipation has been realized—nor
is there theffiadow of reason to suppose, that the
withes of the free citizens of tliefe States will not
be fully gratified, by having the constitution
made more perfect than it now is, if pojjible.
It has been said that society has not yet arrived
to its liighelt degree of perfection—lmprovements
are to be made, and this lalt poliffi appears to be
reserved for the inhabitants of tliefe riling States.
It is true we are yet too much tramelled with the
ideas and fy Items of European countries ; but their
influence is daily diminilhing, and will undoubt
edly finally be done away : The immense ocean
that rolls between us and the old world, operates
as a molt powerful impediment to the encreafe of
exotic habits and manners. America ihould eltab
lifli her character for originality upon principles
which will admit of boundless improvements.
Europe, and particularly Great-Britain, has pass
ed her zenith, and is evidently 011 the decline ;
but America is in the morning of her glory here
society lhall fee its tie plus ultra, and the display
of the powers of the human mind be extended to
limits hitherto undefined.
Thedoineltic tradeof the United States is an ob
ject of the greatest importance : It arrelts the at
tention of every patriotic mind : Independent of
the numerous advantages that will accrue to the
several States, and to the revenue, from having a
wife fyltem adopted to regulate the intercourse
between the different parts of the Union—the po
litical consequences are of a very salutary and ex
tensive nature. It is Commerce that forms the
chain of connection between distant countries
and has contributed to civilize and polish the mind
of man, and encreafe the pleafuresof lociety. A
more frequent and intimate intercourse between
the inhabitants of these States will be attended
with limilar effeCts ; belides giving them a more
perfect knowledge of the resources of their
country, for all the purposes of commerce, ma
nufadtures,agriculture,and independent hapj>infs.
" There is that withholdeth more than is meet
but it tendeth to poverty."_ The truth of this is
often verified, but its bad policy may be more
itrongly exemplified in respeCt: to public officers
than in any other inltances that can be cited :
Generous salaries are the 1110 ft powerful induce
ments to fidelity in the servants of the public •
They command the belt abilities, and the fair eft
characters : They cut off a powerful temptation
to <li(honefty, and give respeCt, dignity, and ener
gy to the government. If we would have our
public offices we!l filled, we mult pay well • In
the Revenue, in particular, it will be found the
wifeu, cheapest, and moll productive plan.
Drawbacks of the duties 011 goods exported
open a door to frauds: It has been said that more
1 obacco has been exported from a particular port
111 Scotland, and the drawback received 011 the
fame than had been imported in the fame time
into the whole kingdom : Nevertheless, diaw
bacKs are neceflary Hence the neceflitv of truft
lng nothing to apparent principles; but depend
ing solely 011 the molt energetic vigilance.
MR. FENNO,
A WRITER in the Daily Mvertifer of yester
day, has thought proper in an apologetical ellay"
to assign lome very extraordinaiy rcafonsfor the
flow progress that Congress makes in tranfatftina
public bulinefs : This writer's information res!
peeling murmurs on this account may be authen
tic ; but it appears to me, very different fuggef.
tions would come nearer the truth of faA. From
the ardour and expectation in the minds of the
citizens at large, complaints were anticipated
iliould occaiion call for them ; but what lavs ex
perience ? Scarce a murmur has been lisped—the
good sense of the people discerns the innumera
ble difficulties that obtrude themselves ou every
hand, and patience and candour triumph over the
peeviflmefs of human nature.
But the most surprising idea that could enter
into the imagination of a timid politician, and
which is afligned asa reason for extra caution and
deliberation is, the " precarious eftablilhment
of the constitution; the peculiar vigilance with
which all parties observe its motions, and the
holtiliries which lie in ambufli to watch the mo
ment of exposure, and to blast its ripening, but
tender growth." Thanks to that good Provi
dence, which has hitherto guarded America,
rhefe sentiments have no place in the minds
of the pre/cut Federal Congrefs.—ldeas like
tliefe, would neceflarily lead to weak, wavering,
and indecisive condudt; and we might wait till
the morning of the refurredtion, before we Ihould
realize that we were blefled with any government
it all.—The conftitrution of the union, is, how
ever, established upon so solid a basis, that an en
tire revolution of lentiment in the public mind,
with refped: to an objeift from which they de.
rive every expectation of political happiness,
must precede every poflible danger of precati
oufnefs in its establishment. That the constitu
tion ftiould be watched with vigilance is the du
ty of its friends ; and it is true, there is an unu
l'ual vigilance at the present moment; but it is
directed to the operations of Congress, from a de
sire that they fhouldact up to the spirit and mean
ing of the system with vigour, energy, and dis
patch—on rliis all our hopes are founded.
As to the " hostilities which lie in ambulh"it
is not poUible to conceive what can be meant.—
There never was a formidable party against the
constitution; and at the present moment tliofewho
have had their doubts, are as anxious as its
warmed advocates for its speedy operation.
Suspicion gives birth to party ; and of all the
evils that attend government, there is none
pregnant with more fatal effects than indeci/ion
and timidity: There never was a people so tho
roughly informed as we are in the principles
of government, or more fatisfied with the
nature and tendency of their own constitution.
The firm and immoveable eftablilhment of this
whole plan, is suspended upon giving its prin
ciples a complete operation : to recede, or to move
with a dilatory, doubting step, will create facti
ons, will fanrtion complaints, and render nuga
tory all that has been done. C.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
FROM THE CONNECTICUT COURANT.
Meflieurs PRINTERS,
I OBSERVE you have republifhed the account of thentw in
vented shuttle, that runs on wheels, and by means of which cloth
10 quarters wide may be wove. It may not be amiss to inform
your readers that there are now in this place three broad and one nsr
row loom constantly worked with the spring or fly fhuttle —the
extra expenceof fitting a loom in this manner for a fhuttleand
iron work, is from twelve to fifteen fhillrngs, according to the
size of the looms. By means of this invention, a single perfoa
can weave cloth three yards wide—a few hours prafticAii. fuffici
ent to learn a common weaver to throw the Ihuttle—Any carpen
ter who is used to make the common looms, can from injpclling
tbefc, erect the broad looms, and add what is neeellary to carry
the fly shuttles. There is neither myflery or difficulty attending
working th?m when once observed. All looms de/igned to
weave cloths a yard wide and upwards, should be worked in
this manner. It is much to be wished that the country weavers
would get reeds and harness to make their cloths ijyard wide in
the loom, so that they may be wide when fulled and drefTcd.
The flannels of this width would always command calh in this
city—which will soon lie theJlapu of loooUn cloth as well as of
woo/ for this State. If the principal weavers in each town would
erect, fay two or three broad looms to a town, where the yarn,
made out of the wool that is too coarse for the fabric of fine cloths,
might be wove into blankets and coatings, they would net much
more to the farmers than making it into yard wide flannels, as
is now pra£lifed. Such flannels would always fell at the faft°r)
in this town—and in this way immense quantities of coarse cloths
might soon be made, even for exportation. The whole expence
of a broad loom and the necefTary apparatus, maybe four pounds.
Hartford, July 3, 1789.
FOREIGN ARTICLES.
London, April 27.
Extratt of a letter from Paris, April 12. .
" The, clc&ions are still going on very peaceably, in g^ n^
Bretagne is the only province in which we hear of any 01 ur
banceon this account. The nobles are there still as much at va
riance with the Third Estate as they were at the beginning, 1 " 0
much that we do not find that any deputies are yet ele&ed. 1
delay will, however, make no difference in the assembly 0
States-General at Versailles, which is still determined tor the 27
of this month. All the furnifhed lodgings at Versailles are are
dy taken by government, for the accommodation of the depu 1 >
lomeof whom are already arrived. The meeting is to bene
the room in which the notables aflembled ; considerable a " ? ut
are, however, making, not only for the number of deputies,,
for the accommodation of the public ; a large galley 15 eTC J
lufHcient to contain three thousand persons. who wi-be a n ll
1 by tickets, and a large space is left for the peon'., hi genera.