r/f/e% (ttt f cbApfdf Cs ( r\'o. XXXIV.] THE tablet. No. XXXIV. « The fear of punijhment may retrain fame peo / from the commtjfion of atrocious crimes ; but it •[tiding too much from that pajfton, to imagine 1 /it is alone capable of guarding youth agai/iji im furalor imprudent aCiions." TO determine how far it is proper to lay prohibitions upon the condudt of chil dren, conllitutes one of the most difficult parts f education. Too much severity or too much in dulgence produce refpeiftivcly a train of very se rious consequences. It is however much more eaiy to complain of this difficulty, than to re move it. There are two important points ofview, in which the fubjeift shall be considered. In the firft place, it is requisite to distinguish between habits that may be denominated good or bad ; and secondly what are the most suitable methods to prevent the one, and promote the o ther. Having determined what acftions are im proper, it will of course be enquired, what is the belt way to fecureachild against the tempta tion to commit them. Indolent or austere parents will be apt to conclude at once, that feveie pro hibitions are the most effectual security against the allurements of vice and folly. Those who are indolent wish to avoid the trouble of examin ing the different springs of the human mind, and therefore remain so ignorant of the true charac ter of a rational being, that it is very doubtful whether their children arc ever taught to love or praiSice the moral duties. To make the matter easy and cut short the labor of ejiquiry and in vestigation, arbitrary regulations are adopted, which fuggeftno other motive to shun evil acftions, than what results from the fear of breaking through prohibitions. Austere men being desti tute of fine feelings, and an amiable disposition, take delight inrigorous precepts and discipline. Their temper is so morose and unindulging, that they characterize as vicious and reproachful, ma ny customs and habits, which in the view of other people are innocent and even ufeful. It is obvi ous to a moderate capacity that takes any pains to reflect on the fubjedt, that such people will generally find their children perverse and prone to an excessive career of vice. The great point to be accompliflied is to coun teract and divert temptation to bad acftions, by rendering an opposite conduct more delirable. This can only be effected by creating motives to a good conduct, that lliall be stronger than what impel to a bad one. If children do not take such pleasure in the company and approba tion of their parents, asto make it their chief de light to obey and gratify them, there is an end to every reasonable hope of their being vir tuous oramiable. By accumulating rigorous pro hibitions children take a difgult against their pa rents, and acquire an habitual inclination to thwart and disregard their injunctions. Every person ihould conclude that he is pursu ing a wrong mode of education, if he finds that his child does not prefer home to any other place, anciconfider his parents as his belt friends and soft entertaining companions. Asfoon as a youth di£ikes the company of his father, he will feel inclination to dilobey his commands, and op pose his wishes. In proportion as prohibitions are rigid and numerous will the young reprobate lengthen his fortitude to break them, or improve his sagacity to elude them. He arts upon the pre 'ttmption, that they are all useless and arbitrary. A youth let loofeupon a world full of tempta- Uons and intrigues, with a persuasion that he has been hood-winked and cltiped in his education,has Jiothiijg to guide his future Iteps. It is altogether a matter ot accident whether he makes a virtu ous man or a knave and vagabond. One cannot pronounce with any certainty what will be the deltiTiy of such an adventurer. If he falls into good company before he has been seduced by a d,i L is poflible he may form good principles and ts. But ihould he on his firft escape from pa rental authority, meet with profligate aflociates, t ere ' s little hope he will preserve his morals character. Whatever new connexions he °ruio he will be obliged to a flume different noti 01f aiß ' manners from those under which he was ei 'U.ated It is to be expected he will imitate the J >oi:s of those with whom he aflociates. He will oon imagine that his parental reproofs and coun ts \vci e founded in error ofjudgment, and in an te'ignorance of human life. In this however <• ls "lilt Liken. Many of the admonitions were oth^'fi' 1 r^em '" e ' vcs - but by being blended with i-,, 1 - at were merely capricious and unnecefla- - are ve j e< - rtec l and disowned. irta", 6 ]- cct " ls capable of being thrown intofo lights, that I shall venture once SATURDAY, August 8, SKETCH OF THE POLITICAL STATE OF AMERICA. WHILE among the various objects whicli claim the attention of government, none can be esteem ed of more importance in their nature and con sequences than the finances of this country ; per haps in no other inftancehave the sanguine hopes of individuals ledtliein into so wrong conclusions, as to the immediate practicability of making the proper arrangements of this comprehensive fub jetft ; there can be no doubt, that for the revival, eftablilhment and support of public credit, pro vilion ought to be made as early as pollible for the discharge of at least the interest of both the foreign and domestic debt ; but we are on many accounts notyet ripe for thel'e appropriations: The doctrine of anticipating funds, is equally ruinous to public as private measures : We have already experienced great inconvenience and loss of cre dit, by proinilling more than we have been found able to perform : We ought therefore, in future, to avoid by wiser plans of adminiltration, an e vil of such a dangerous tendency—let time be given to ascertain the nett product of our customs and ability from other sources to answer the de mands on government. —To lhun the evil just mentioned, would be a fufficient consideration to juftify the policy of this mode of procedure ; but an object of still greater consequence, prior to making our appropriations, will be to have the fifcal department of this country more compleat ly lyftemized and Amplified ; as in its present deranged and confuied state, it seems almost im poflible to have a due idea or knowledge of it. Requisitions totally complied with—others • in part, and others not at all —the accounts between the States not yet adjusted, appear on the face of the present fchedivle.—But considering the har raffed situation of the country during the late war—the confufion introduced by a fluctuating currency—our youth and inexperience in the sci ence of fifcal legislation—the weakness federal compact, &c. &c.—a derangement of our finances was rather to be expelled than admired at : But as we now feel a more perfect consisten cy in our political situation, and as the present government poflefles most of the resources of the country, it will be found not ofily expedient, but indispensably neceflary to form a general liqui dation of our domestic debt, consolidating the whole into one great national mass—by which we {hall avoid much future confufion in its manage ment—prevent a division of the public interests— promote that general equality of circumstances among the inhabitants of the Union, which will produce a harmony both of sentiment and exer tion in their duty to the public. Though in making the arrangement, perfect justice cannot be done to each individual istate, it is a partial facrifice, which principles of pa triotism and a regard to the future welfare of their country mult prompt them to make to the general good : Their respective balances can be placed on the ground of other loans, subject to similar terms of payment. Upon a proper adjustment of these great princi ples, and having from experience obtained an ac curate knowledge of our n.ett income ; it will be in the power of government, by the consent of the public creditors, to eftablilh the domestic debt on an interest of at moll 4 per cent, which will make a laving of 547,678 2*9oths dollars per annum compared with the present rate of inter est as the debt now stands, at the fame time giv ing iatisfacftinn to the lenders, as 4per cent, punc tually paid; is far preferable to 6 per cent, only promiifed, and in proportion as the rate of inter est is lowered our power for punctual payment will be encreafed. Whatever neceflity may arise from the nature of our contracts, to urge a discharge of the prin cipal of the foreign debt—l do not fee either our ability, the expediency or policy of attempting at present a discharge any part of the princi pal of the domestic ; as that properly funded, on a moderate but sure interest, will form a nation al stock or capital, and eflentially assist a general circulation—the progress of manufactures, and internal labor—in promotion of which object, the eftablilhment of a national bank under proper regulations would be found lerviceable, into which the money arilingfrom the public revenue can be paid from time to time, and the officers of the revenue be obliged to receive its notes as cash in all payments : There is no nation better adapted than this for such 'on eftablilhment, as its commerce, resources and power are upon the en creafe, which with the advanced rate of interest, for even 4 per cent, is above the general funds in Europe, will be to all appearance a fufiicient inducement to foreigners, as well as natives, to veil their property in the public funds of this country—l feel allured, that lliould our inclina- [Publijhed on IVednefday and Saturday ."J tlon run parallel with our ability, we have it i ll our power to place them on the moll respeCtable and solid grounds. AMERICAN US. PROGRESS OF MANUFACTURES. IT niuft afford great pleasure to every well wisher to his country, to fee the rapid progress that manufactures are making among us.—While under the lhackles of Great Britain every effort of that fort was cramped, and their arts of Par liament were numerous, fjr preventing every attempt to promote them ; but no sooner.was our Independence established, than the efforts of ge nius prevailed, and the manufacture of Wool- Cards,* in which upwards of eight hundred persons, including men, women and children, are daily employed in the town of Boston, has arrived to such a degree of perfection, by the im provements made in the machinery, invented by the native genius of the country, as to rival the Europeans in the fabrication of that article ; and the States of America are supplied at near fifty per tent, less than they used to pay for British wool cards before the revolution : s That although at prefeut the manufacturers are obliged to im port the wire from Europe, yet under that dis advantage they are able to make the cards, pay 1 a second freight to Europe, and under fell them in their own markets. Nor is the manufa<flure of Sail Cloth, lately established in Boston, the leall esteemed for its great utility and public benefit ; as moil of the veflels fitted out of late, from this and the neigh boring ports, are either partly or wholly cloath ed from the Boston FaCtory, and the proprietors ot the manufactory have the fatisfaCtion to find that it is generally approved of, and has the pre ference to European Duck. The lhort period that has elapsed fmce the looms were firft produc tive, affords but a single instance of a tris.l being made of the cloth, which was pronounced by the fifhermen, who used it upon the banks of New foundland, to be " the best Canvass" they ever failed with : and such is the encouragement giv en to it, that, though they can turn out upwards of twelve hundred yards a week, yet for the molt part of the time, the elotli is anticipated in the looms; as the public have the flattering prospeCt that it will not be liable to mildew, owing to the great care and pains taken in the fatftory to prevent the use of any ingredient that may be productive of it, and we have assurances from the gentlemen interested in it, that if attention is paid to the cultivation of flax, foastoafford them an ample supply, they mean to extend the manufacture so far as to turn out one hundred pieces per week, which they are encouraged to do from the disposition of the female part of the community to contribute to so great a work ; and I may,too aflert Meflis. Printers, that the establish ment of the manufacture is much more owing to their exertions in tine cause of industry than to the Male part of the inhabitants. I cannot conclude without remarking, that the Nail Manufactory has so far succeeded as to tally to preclude the neccffity of the importation of that article, and instead of importing ntar three thousand calks annually into this Common wealth, we are able to supply our home consump tion and export considerable quantities to other markets—nor should I do justice to the manu facture of Paper Hangings, not to mention the great progress made in that art: A gentleman of respeCtability in the town, concerned in thatbu finefs, has declared, that if he can be allowed one year to provide stock, he will engage after that to make fufficient to supply the whole Uni ted States, and as to quality, the productions will fufficiently speak for themselves.—The silence that has been observed refpetfling our manufac tures has induced the writer of this to remark upon tliofe four capital branches ; much more might be said upon many others of less impor tance, which will probably be taken up in some future paper. Herald o/'Freedom. * Within the laji eleven months there has been manvfaflured by Richaids Sc Co. (>i,Boo pair of Wool and Cotton Cards. Boston, July 23, 1789. CONFINEMENT FOR CRIMES. THE ministry of England have agreed to a partial adoption of Dr. PvUsh's plan for changing the punifhxnent of capital offenders to solitary im prifonnient instead of death. In Gloucefterlhire, where several persons have been doomed to seven years seclusion from that society whose peace and security their bad conduCt tended to disturb, the horror that has feizedtliemis not to bedefcribed. They beg with the greatest earnestness, that they may be hanged out of their misery. Someafk to fee their wives and children only for a moment, but this is not allowed them ; infhort no punish ment ever devised seems so \yell calculated to fofc en the hearts of the hardened and insensible.
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