C -V^liii- [No. LXII.j THE TABLE T No. LXII. " There is, generally /peaking, left truth in panegy ricks than in satires." WHOEVER might be the author of the re mark contained in my motto, he certain ly did not mean it as a compliment upon human nature. Some of the asperity, which the obier vation discovers, will be taken off, when we re flect that men, who write satires, draw too lively an image of the bad qualities of others ; and those, who bellow panegyricks, give too favorable a co loring to good qualities. Both may be carried to extremes, though neither originated in fallhood. it is no proof that satirical writings contain more truth than panegyrical, merely because the for mer excite more forcible impreiiions than the latter. The fact is, we are more strongly affett ed with the failings, than with the virtues ofone another. If in company I draw a favorable cha racter of my neighbor, my companions attend less eagerly to what I lay, than when I prefent|to their view an odious character. But this does not prove that I do not speak, with an equal degree of truth, in both instances. It only shews that there is a predisposition in men to attend more critically to the bad, than to the good qualifica tions, that are made the subject of con. erfation. The enemies of a man are more active and vi gilant in exposing his bad actions, than his friends are, in displaying the meritorious points of his character. This however is 110 proof that his friends depart from the truth, any more than his enemies. Men more readily make a common cause offpying out and reprobating the vices or •defects of others, than they do, in searching for and proclaiming their virtues and excellencies. A vicious action rouses fonie of the most energet ic palfions of the foul. It produces in the mind more ferment and agitation than can be excited by any exhibition of virtuous deeds. The truth contained in fatireis generally more obvious, and more readily acknowledged, than in encomiums. Men, who draw upon themselves the pen of the satirist, often have other enemies to encounter besides the writer ; for a satirical attack upon aman isofitfelf a circumftantialevi dence, that his conduct deserves reproach. All innocent, virtuous man will commonly befhield edby his innocence and virtue. He will not be dangerously expofedto the /hafts of /lander while his character is really unimpeachable. This man may, for along time, poflefs excellent qua lities without their ever being a subject of special commendation. But let him once depart from a fair, virtuous line of conduct, and I cannot war rant he will long be exempt from reproof and in vective. We cannot however infer, that praise would not have been equally just, while he yet was a good man, as blame is, after he becomes a bad one. In short, though it is a plausible theory, that there is, generally speaking, more truth in satire than in panegyrick, it will nevertheless not appear so, upon a ltrict examination. It i s on ly true, that blame and reproach meet with a more ready reception, and aflimilate better with the usual feelings of people, than praise and applause. As it has been before hinted, men will more eagerly hunt down their enemies, than raise up their friends. The emotions ofjealoufy, envy, and hatred are pungent and irritating, and pro duce a stronger control over the mincT, than the operations of friendlhipand humanity, which are ufiially tranquil and inefficacious. The unfriend ly paflions have, in the natural constitution of things, a very sadden and stimulating influence over human actions. If the propriety of pane gyric, bestowed 011 my friend, is called in ques tion, I shall, no doubt, be disposed to vindicate his character { but it may still be impossible to con vince an ill-natured, envious man,that he is bound to pay any regard, either to the panegyrick it felf, or to my comments upon it. When my enemy meets with reproach, I shall scarce haveoccafion to bring arguments to condemn hiin. Mankind easily believe the report of his unworthy actions, because they are predisposed to believe it. He probably is, in fait, a bad man, or he probably had not been my enemy. I cannot however imagine that panegyrick has generally less truth than satire, merely because the latter ltieets with . more attention and credit than the former. ANECDOTE. MPv. MORLAU, fir ft Fhyftcian to the Ducliefs of Burgundy, going one day, we know not for what purpose, to the Prince's with a sword, was jocose upon his adjustment, and said, " Monfeig neur, do not you think I resemble Capt. Si'ez zaferro, ofthe Italian comedy?" It is inipolli ble to resemble him less," answered the Prince, " Spezzaferro never killed any b-)dy SATURDAY, November 14, 1739. Portsmouth, October 31, 1789. IMPROMPTU 011 the approach of THE PRESI DENT of the United States. FAME fttetch'd her wings,and with her trumpet bleu*, Great WASHINGTON, is near : —What praise ha due ! What Title (hall he have ; She pauf'd and said, Not one ; his name alone strikes every Title dead. ADDRESSES TO THE PRESIDENT. Salem, Nov. 3, 1739. ADD RE SS oj the Inhabitants of the Town of Salon, to the PRESIDENT cf the United States. S I R, r I 1 HE Inhabitants of the Town of Salem, upon J- receiving a visit from a personage the firlt objecftot their esteem, cannot forbear exprefling those sensations, which an occasion so pleasing must naturally excite. While we view it as an high honor done us, a molt obliging mark of condescension and regard shewn us, in making us this visit ; nioft readily would we manifeftthe fatisfatftion we feel, in being gratified with an opportunity of feeing the man, whose deeds have been so illustrious ; and of paying our particular refpe&s to the character, which not only the peo ple of America, but all the world are agreed to admire and celebrate. How great Sir, we had conceived our obligations to be, and how ftrongfoever the motives of attachments we were under to you, for those military ferv'ices and at chievemehts, from which such essential benefits have been derived, an addition to those obligati ons we are sensible is now made ; andftill further reasons of attachment are presented, from your acceptance of that important trust in our newly instituted government, which was so earnestly, and univerlally desired. That remarkable spirit of patriotifin, of benevolence towards this peo ple, which has been so ctmfpicuous in your past condu<fl, -we doubt not has determined you to this arduous undertaking.—Whatever therefore may contribute to the ease and happinefsof your administration, whatever returns of refped, and dutiful submission, it becomes a grateful people to make, we with you to receive and enjoy. Long may you be continued,diffufing those bles sings of freedom and good government, by which our prosperity fliall be further promoted—Long may you be indulged a series of the best fatisfac tions, which the honors and enjoyments of this world can afford. And by that Almighty Beino-, whose agency and aid you have ever acknowledg ed, in events you have been improv ed to accomplish, with distinguished honors and felicities may you finally be rewarded. THE ANSWER. GENTLEMEN, WOULD words exprels the feelings of my heart, I should have the happiness to de monstrate to my fellow citizens of Salem, that their afTedionate address is received with grati tude, and returned with sincerity—To your good ness I refer myfelf for a just conftrurtion of thoughts which language will not explain. Honored by the high, yet hazardons, appoint ment which my country has conferred upon me, it will be my best ambition to discharge its im portant trusts with fidelity—for the reft I must cast myfelf upon her candor, and kind indulgence. Towards you, Gentlemen, permit me to afTure you, I entertain every disposition that is due to your virtue—and the promotion of yourinterefts will be among the molt grateful of my employ ments. From your own industry and enterprize you have every thing to hope that deserving men and good citizens can expert. May your navigation and commerce flourifh— your industry, in all its applications, be reward ed your happiness, here, be as perfed as be longs to the lot of humanity— and your eternal felicity be complete ! G. WASHINGTON. Salem, October 29, 1789. Newburyport, Nov. 4, 1789. Soon after The Prelident's arrival in this town, he wasprefented with the following address. To Th > PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES. SIR, 7HEN, by the unanimous fufTrages of your VV countrymen, you were called to preside over their public councils, the citizens of the town of Newburyport participated in the general joy, that arose from anticipating an administration, conduded by the man, to whose wisdom and va lor they owed their liberties. Pleasing were their refledions, that he, who, by the bletfing of Heaven, had given them their Independence, would againrelinquifh the felici ties of domestic retirement, to teach them its jufl value. {TMiJhed On IV ednefday and Saturday .j riiey have feenyou, victorious, leave the field, followed with tlse auplaufcs of a grateful coun try —and they now fee you entwining tlie Olive I with the Laurel, and, in peace, giving security and happiuefs to a people, whom in war, you co vered with glory. Ar the present moment,they indulge themselves in sentiments of joy, resulting from a principle, perhaps lei's elevated, Luc, exceedingly dear to their hearts, from a gratiiication of their affediion, in beholding personally among them, the friend, the benefactor, and the father of their country. They cannat hope, Sir, to exhibit any peculiar marks of attachment to your person ; for, could they express their feelings of the most ardent and sincere gratitude, they would only repeat the sentiments, which are deeply iinprefled upon the hearts of all their fellow-citizens ; but, in jullice to themselves, they beg leave to aflure you, that, in 110 part of the United States, are those senti ments ofgratituda»and afFedtion more cordial ancl animated, than in the town, \vhich, at this time, is honored with your presence. Long, Sir, may you continue the ornament and support of these States, and may the period be late, when you ihall be called to receive a reward, adequate to your virtues, which it is not in the power of your country to bellow. To the foregoing Addrcfs, the President was pleased to reply as follows: To th: Citizens of the Town of Newbury port. GENTLEMEN, THE demonflratiohs of and affeiflion which you are pleased to pay to an indivi dual, whofehighefl pretension is to rank as your fellow-citizen, are of a nature too diltinguWhed not to claim the warmell return that gratitude can make. My endeavors to be ufeful to my country have been no more than the result of conscious duty. Regards, like yours, would reward services of the highefl eftiination and facrifice : Yet, it is due to my feelings, that I should tell you those regards are received with esteem, and replied to With sin cerity. In visiting the town of Newburyport, I haveo beyed a favorite inclination, and I am much gra tified by the indulgence. In exprefling a sincere vvifh for its prosperity, and the happiness of its inhabitants, I do jullice to my own sentiments, and their merit. G. WASHINGTON. LONDON, September 7. SWEDES and RUSSIANS. ATranfa<ftion which has lately taken place be tween the King of Sweden and his adversaries in Finland, may probably in its consequences an nihilate those distinctions it has been so much the object of all civilized nations to eftabliih ; distinc tions which have been found to lefi'en the hor rors of war, whilst not one national advantage has been lofl by extending kindness to those brave men, who cease to be enemies the moment they are prisoners. A Ruffian officer was taken prisoner at to whom his Swedilh Majesty wiffied to give his parole ; and he was desirous at the fame time of shewing some civility to the Prince Labanoff, Col. of the regiment, to which the captive belonged, he ordered Baron Kliiigfporre, his aid-de-camp general, to write a polite letter to the Prince, and fend back the officer on his parole. This was done on the 20th of July. A trumpet, accom panied by aSwediffi officer, conducted the Ruffian prisoner. Arrived at the advanced polls of the enemy, the trumpet founded, and they hailed ; but the only answer they received was, the double discharge of arquebulles from the Coflacs and ChafTeurs, and notwithstanding a second found ing of the trumpet, thefignal of truce, the firing was continued. The officers and the trumpet were obliged to retire and return. The King was still at Hogsfors, to whom they gave an account of the reception of his trumpet. His Majesty, supposing that so strange a condudl could be owing only to the usual licentiousness of the barbarous and undisciplined hords who compose the light troops of the Ruffian army, and that even their own officers could not restrain them, ordered Baron de Klingfporr, to write a letter to the Prince de Naflau, who commanded the Ruffian squadron, then stationed off Frede rickffiam, to inform him of what had happened, and to fend his letter to Prince Labanoff through thatchanel ; persuaded that with an officer like the Prince de Nassau, he had no reason to fear the violation of the laws of war. The Baron a(fted according to his directions ; and as the Prince de Naflau was personally known to the King, his Majesty added a complimentary postscript to the letter, in his own hand writing. The Princc thought himlelf under the necefiisy
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