[No. LIX.] THE TABLE T No. LIX. '< In free countries, it is a branch of liberty, claim <( e J by the middling and loiuijl claJJ'es of the people, '<< to be as wicked and profligate as their superiors." THE fubjed: introduced in my last nuin ber has some remote connection with that, which is now brought into dii'cullion. It has been remarked that economy, as a general virtue, has more utility in promoting the interelt of in dividuals, than mere sagacity in acquiring pro perty. But though this qnality contributes to the prbfperity of all men, it is more eflentially rcquifite with persons in low circumstances, and who have small advantages for making them better. It is not my intention to indulge uudifUnguilh ing censure against the extravagance or vices of the times ; or to examine how far the luxury of individuals may be considered as a public benefit or injury. Perhaps 110 iuveftigation can bring the matter to any definite point. Waving there fore the consideration of the influence of profli gate, <'xpenfive manners upon the public pros perity,, I will only shew that such excefles coun teract the happiness and success of individuals. It is very certain that no gratification can afford aplealure, that will not be more than balanced by the pains of debt and embarrafsinent. Whe ther it is fimplythe love of pleasure, or an ambi tion to make a figure in polite life, that tempts people to live beyond their income, they are bad calculators of happiness, who thus involve them selves. A very considerable part of the wretched nel's and difgracp, into which fpme families are plungeiJ, isoccafioned by their taking too high a tone in their expences. Had they pitched upon aftyleo f living one grade lower, they would have gained :more real fatisfacftion and refpecfl, and would not so often lose their character and estate. There i s a great proportion of the misery, that inflicts society, derived from this unfortunate source. This ardor to imitate superiors creates a gener: d confufion and miscalculation ; it fedu ces people into a habit of progrefling too fafl: in their ex pences, and straining too hard upon their income. Perha ps it will be urged that the community gain too much advantage by the luxury of in dividuals to attempt any rellraints uporv it. Far am I fr< >m supposing that any legal interference, pointed directly to this object, wjll produce any reformation. It is more than probable that such arew ly will prove worse than the difqrderitfelf. But Ia: n not yet willing to believe that this evil is totaJ ly incurable. If attempts were made, in the ed ucation of children, to render a prudent mode i if living reputable, and to enftill into their minds an aversion to contract debts, there would be less temptation to spend falter than theycarn #d. 'There is a peculiar relaxation in the present pract ice of educating children, with respect to their habits of expence. It is an evil, in some mea sure,. rising out of the nature of a free govern nien t, and therefore it is of the m.ore importance to against it, in the early periods of life. In the United States, there are many causes to ejffvate the hopes of men, whether they are pur suing objetts of avarice or ambition. The idea of alluming a more important stand in society is iir iprelled on the minds of people, from their very in fancy. They expert, at some future day, to m ove in a fpliere higher than they do at present. 7 he fafcinating influence ofl'uchahope draws fbme people into an anticipation of the property i .hich they hereafter intend to acquire. By this means, many persons, in every grade of life, spend too prpfufe]y,and involve thenifelves in debt and ?>«rple;vity. In fliort they have been left to i&elieve that there is less disgrace in losing their !i>Mfwtua}ity, tfoan in retrenching their expences. Nothing can effectually reftraiu tliefe mifchiefs ibut a more rigid attention to the habits and opin ions of youth 011 the interesting points of economy and felf-denial. BosxoN, October 28, 1789* To the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES. SIR, TT is \v;th (ingular plepfure that we, the Prefi- A clent and fellows of Harvard Univeifity in Cambridge, embrace the opportunity, which your moil acceptable visit to this part of the coun try gives u s, of paying our refpetfts to the t iift Magistrate of the United States. It afforded us the highlit fetisfaiftiop, to iinu tills large and refpeiftable Nation unanimous, in placing at the bead ps the new Government, the firm and diftnterelted Patriot—.the illuftripus and intrepid Soldier, who, during her struggles in the caufeof liberty, braving every difficulty and "langer in the field, under tlte £niles pi <1 hind Prov i<leuce,led her armies to victory and triumph, and finally eftabWfted her freedom and independ ence. Nor were we lei's gratified. when we found, 'Hat theperfon whose military skill and exertions W1 been so happily succeeded, actuated by the i nne Ipirit of patriotism, did not decline the ar "lnous and toilsome office, but liltening to 'he WEDNESDAY, November 4, 1739. voice of his country, left the tranquil scenes of private life, to secure those national bleftings, wewere in the utniolt danger of losing. We were fully persuaded, that the man, who during so great a length of time, and in the most trying c ire uin fiances, had been accepted by the multi tude of his brethren, would, in this newllation, enjoy rheir entire confidence, and ensure their highest esteem : Nor have we been disappointed. Permit us, Sir, to congratulate you on the hap py eftabliffiment of the government of the Uni on, on the patriotism and wisdom, which have marked its public transactions, and the very ge nera] approbation, which the people have given to its measures. At the fame time, Sir, being fully sensible, that you are strongly impreiled with the neceihry of religion, virtue and solid learning, for support ing freedom and good government, andfixingthe happinefsof the People upon a firm and perma nent bafts, we beg leave to recommend to your favorable notice, the University entrusted to our care, which was early founded for promoting these important ends. When you took the command of the troops of your country, you saw the University in a state of depreflion—its members dispersed—its literary treasures removed—and the Muses fled from the din of arms, then heard within its walls. Hap pily restored, in the course of a few months, by your glorious fuccefles, to its former privileges, and to a state of tranquility, it received its re turning members, andouryouth have since pur (ued, without interruption, their literary courses, and fitted themselves for ufefulnefs in Church and State. The public rooms, which you formerly [aw empty, are now replenished with the neceflary means of improving the human mind in literature and science, and every thing within the walls wears theafped; of peace, so neceflary to the cul tivation of theliberal arts. While we exert ourselves in our corporate ca pacity,to promote the great objects of this inftitu tion,we reft afl'ured ofyour protection and patron age- We wish you,Sir,the aid and support of Heaven, while you are difchargjpgthe duties ofyour most important Ration. May your success, in promot ing the best interests of the nation, be equal to your highest wishes! And after you shall have long rejoiced in the prosperity and glory ofyour country, may you receive the approbation of Him, who ruleth among the Nations ! JOSEPH WILLARD, Prelident ofthe Univerfitj. October 27, >789. To the PRESIDENT and tELLOWS of Harvard University in Cambridge. GENTLEMEN, REQU ESTING you to accept my sincere thanks forthe Address with which you have thought peoperto honor me, I intreat yoH to be persuad ed of the refpectful and affecftionate consideration with which I receive it. Elected by the fufFrages of a too partial country to the eminent and arduous situation, which I now hold, it is peculiarly flattering to find an approbation of my conduct in the judgment of men, wliofe reverend characters mull fanition the opinions they areplealed to express. Unacquainted with the expreflion of sentiments which I do not feel, you will do me justice by believing confidently in my disposition to promote the interest of science and true religion. It gives uie sincere fatisfaction to learn the flou rifhing state of your literary republic—afl'ured of its efficiency in the past events of our political l'yftem, and of its further influence on those means which make the best support of good government, I rejoice that a dire&ion of its measures is lodged with men, wliofe approved knowlege, integrity and patriotism, give an unqueOionable aflurance of their fuccef^. That the Muses may long enjoy a tranquil re sidence within the walls of your University. and that you, Gentlemen, may be happy in contem plating theprogrefs of improvement through the various branches ofyour important departments, are among the most pleasing of my wishes and expectations. GEORGE WASHINGTON. Boston, October »7, j The ADDRESS aj the INHABITANTS of the Town of Boston, to THE P RESIDENT of the United States of America. SIR, WE beg leave to express our happiness in the honor you confer upon us by your visit to this capital. We are happy in the opportunity of again mak ing our personal acknowledgments to a character, on every principle, we are so deeply indebted. Every motive of esteem, duty and affection have conspired to fprm in our minds the strongest at tachment that the freeft people can feel to the moil deserving citizen. As men, we have long since confidercd you, under God, as the great aud-glorio us Avenger of \_PubliJbed on Wednsfday and Saturday .'J the violated rights of humanity—As citizens we have observed with peculiar fatisfaction, that ycu have invariably reipedted those liberties, which you have so fuccefsfully defended : And aS inha bitants of a great commercial town, we attribute the fecuricy we enjoy, to the, lingular mevit and success of those measures, in the progress of the war, which you had the honor to conduct. It cannot but afford you the highcft pleasure, when you compare our" present fltuation with the signal diltrelles to which we wereexpofed during the period in which this town waj in the pofieffion of an exalperated enemy. Indignant at tiie mul tiplied reliraintsoflioltiledomination, we fought an afyium auiong our friends and connexions in the country, and cheerfully abandoned our pro perty and pofledions in tl»e common caule of A merica—that we were so soon happily reinftatcd, may he jultly imputed to the wisdom of those ar rangements which compelled our invaders in the jr retreat, to adopt a less policy than that, which on other occasions, they so wantonly pradfifed. In every trying vjciflitude we have remarked the conspicuous and unaffected piety of your heart, and the wisdom and moderation of your counsels. We. have feenyou relinquilh the ease and inde pendence of private fortune to lead in the untri ed dangers of a war, at the risque of your life and reputation. With pleasure we have viewed you retiring in \'idtory,and exhibiting a new exam ple of patriotic virtue to an admiring world ; and we now feel a llill higher fatisfadiion at your hav ing once inorcfacrificed the sweets of domestic re tirement in obedience to the united voice ofyour countrymen. Thele, Sir, are the fentinlents and reflections which naturally occur on an attentive conlidera tion ofyour palt conduit. To the future we look for thole virtues which adorn the man, and mark the wife and accomplished Legislator. We anti cipate from your discernment the happy union of liberty and law, lenity and vigor, mercy and jus tice: The enlightened policy of a mind calm amidst the influence of power,and uncorrupted by the fafcinating allurements of avarice or am bition. With these impressions the preservation ofyour life through the varied scenes in which you have been engaged,demands our grateful acknowjege ments to the beneficent difpoferof human events. It is one of the firfi: wishes of our hearts, that you may be as happy in your present elevated Na tion, as you have been diflinguifhed in your mi litary character, and it is our fervent prayer to the Almighty Ruler of the univerl'e, that the in visible hand which led the citizens of America through the dangers and calamities of war, may ltill guard and protedt you as ail ornament to hu man nature, and a bleiling to your country. To the INHABITANTS of the Town of BOSTON. Gentlemen, THE obligations which your goodnefshas im posed upon me, demand my grateful, and receive my lincere acknowledgments. Your esteem does me honor, and your affedtion communicates the truest pleasure—by endeavoring to deserve, I will indulge the hope of retaining them.' Over rating my services, you have afcribedcon fcquences to them, in which it would be injustice to deny a participati jn to the virtue andfirmnefs of my fellow citizens of this refpedtable town, and Commonwealth. If the exercise of my military commission has contributed to vindicate the rights of humanity, and to secure the freedom and happiness of my country, the purpose for which it was aflumed has been completed, and I am amply rewarded.—lf in the prosecution of my civil duties, I shall be so fortunate as to meet the wishes of my fellow citi zens, and to promote the advantages of our com mon interests, I shall not regret the facrifice, which you are pleased to mention in terms so ob liging. The numerous sensations of heartfelt fatisfac tion, which a review of past scenes affords to my mind, in a comparison with the present happy hour, are far beyond my powers of utterance to express. I rejoice with you, my fellow citizens, in every circumstance that declares your prosperity—and I do so, most cordially, because you have well deserved to be happy. Your love of liberty—your refpedt for the laws —your habits of industry-—and your practice of the moral and religious obligations, are the stron gest claims to national and individual happinefjs —and they will, I trust, be firmly and lastingly eftabliflied. Your wishes for my personal felicity imprefsa deep and affectionate gratitude—and your pray er to the Almighty Ruler of theUniverfe, in my behalf, calls forth my fervent supplication, to thai gracious and beneficent Being, for every blefling on your temporal pnrfuits, and for the perfection of your happiness hereafter. G. WASHINGTON 7 . Bofion, OZober 27, 1789.
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