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.