[No. LXIV.j
THE TABLE T. No. LXIV.
»' People tire never ?nore vexed, than when the thing
that offends theviisiuhat they mujl not complain of."
TEARS anil complaints are among tlicfour
ces ofrelief that lie open to the afflicfted
and unfortunate. Those people, who can vent
their grief in either of tliefe ways, feel less op
prelfion of spirits, than those who conceal their
misfortunes through atemper of prid», or cheridi
their sadness under fucli a clole contexture of
heart, as cannot readily let loose its sorrows.—
But one meets with innumerable ills and vexa
tions in the world, about which, it would be
weaknefsto sigh, and indelicacy to complain.
An epicure, in dining with his friend, some
times finds no difli that suits his palate. The
cookery may in every respect be different from
what he relishes. To be sure, he is placed in a
fitiiation, which, to him, is a very unpleasant one.
Nothing could vex him more, and yet he mull
not complain. He mult disguise his feelings, or
he will offend those of his friend.
An old man, connected with a young wife,
whom he durlt not quarrel with, is perpetually
exposed to vexations, which he cannot even men
tion without being ridiculed. His natural dispo
sition may be sullen and reserved ; and those cha
rafteriltics may be heightened by age and infir
mity. Her temper may be peculiarly gay and
volatile, and her desire for company and amufe
inent may be encreafed, by living with an hus
band, wliofe character and wilhes are so different
from her own. Both of them feel a state of un
easiness, which they can neither hope to escape,
nor cease to lament. And yet their disquietudes
are of such a nature, that any complaint would
excite contempt rather than pity. The evil ad
mits of 110 remedy : It meets with noconipaffion.
It can be 110 mark of difcerninent for persons vo
luntarily to plunge into a fftuation so tedious and
hopelels.
The secret of living happily depends very
much on knowing how to avoid the description
of evils to which I allude. In the choice of inti
mate friends and companions, one will fall into
disagreeable mistakes, unless he adts with great
difcernnien't and caution. A liuiilarity in circum
itances, a coincidence in political sentiments, and
many other causes may induce men to .form cir
cles of acquaintance, into which perhaps not a
lingle ray of realfriendlliip ever penetrates. One
should not number among his particular friends,
those persons with whom he becomes acquainted,
only through accident or convenience. If he
does, he will commit an error, that will involve
him in all the difficulties, I am exhorting him to
Ihun. Before any man is recognized as a familiar
associate, he ought to give unequivocal proof,
that he poli'efies purity of principles, and gener
osity ot heart. There should be a resemblance
intafteand habits between those who often come
together for the relaxation of their mutual cares.
When there is a disagreement in this refpedi,
their scenes of mirth and fellivity will soon de
generate into fullenncfs anddifcontent. It is not
material, that chere be a limilarity of age, under
standing, or natural temper. It is only requisite
that their habits and inclinations Ihould be form
ed with a view to limilar modes of gratification.
Nothing is more common than for an old man to
be less lprightlyand enterprizing than his young
friend, and yet both may take delight in the
fame course of business and amusement. A man
prone to lilence and gravity may be happy in
companions of an open unreserved temper. If
they are both alike well-bred, aAd familiarized
to like cultoms, their difference of temper may
probably never prove a l'ource of much vexation
to each other. But persons living together will
soon disagree, if they have been accustomed to a
different llile and manner of enjoyment, and
have modelled their taste and fafhions by a dif
ferent level of circumilances.
When I visit my friend, it is of no importance
to my liappinefs, that he fiiould know as much,
or talk and laugh as much as I do. But if he
gives me bad wine, and a dinner not so well dres
sed, as I could have got elsewhere, I undergo a
vexation, against which I have no remedy. This
shews how much of our pleasure in life depends
on avoiding habitual familiarities with persons,
who will inceflantly counteract our prevailing
taffe and inclination. I may view a man withref
peift and veneration for his talents and virtues,
and yet 110 degree of acquaintance may be able to
intereff any of the tender sentiments of my heart.
Wemavhoth applaud each other for our reflec
tive good qualifies, but we must commit force
upon ourselves if we attempt to pal's a social hour
together.
It cannot be too much contemplated how many
or the irkib ne moments of life are occaiioned by
S A T U Pi D A Y, November 21, 1789
incidents, that appear too trifling to be ranked in
the catalogue of misfortunes. No man could ever
move one l'enf'ation of pity in the breast of ano
ther, because his fellow-lodgers chose a different
hour of dining, or a different fort of provisions
irom himfelf; and yet many a man lias fuffered
more a<ftual vexation from such acaufe, than he
probably has realized in all the lofles and disap
pointments that have perplexed his plans of bu
siness.
When a man is afTailed by those heavy misfor
tunes which engage the atten;ion of mankind, he
may flatter his pride, by the manly fortitude he
discovers, and afl'uage his grief, by the tender
fyinpatliy he excites. This source of consolation
however is not open to another man, who is vex
ed and mortified by a thousand untoward acci
dents, which embitter every moment of his life,
and which he cannot think of, without sentiments
offhaine, nor declare without cxpofing himfelf to
derision. Men maybe so inceflantly teazed with
incidents of this (lamp, as to fall into habits of
peevishness and caprice, and become a torment
to thcmf elves and thofe,with whom they aflbciate.
I have seen two men, who from motives of conve
nience in bulinefs become fellow-lodgers. Their
taste in living was so opposite, that they were ne
ver both pleased with precisely the fame thing.
It is incredible how a petulance of temper grew
upon them, and how soon they dilliked each as
companions. It was no relief, under such vexa
tions, that they were both fenfi'ole, well-informed
men, and both sustained an excellent character.
Had one of them been a fool and the other a wife
man, they had probably lived more harmoniously
together, if their taste and habits had coincided
better. These reflections will, I hope, lead my
readers into an examination of the causes, that
contribute to happiness and tranquility. lam
confident that with a little precaution, men may
make life pass away more agreeably, and escape
innumerable fo-arces of disquietude, in which a
greatportionofthe human race are involved.
FRANCE.
Copy of a letter from the Marquis de Cascaux to the
Editor of the Paris Journal, and which hi has tranf
■rnitted io the Provinces.
Paris, August 30.
S I R,
THE queflion of the Royal Negative, themoft
important of" all the questions, after that of
deliberating by individuals or by orders, may, in
my opinion, be reduced to very simple terms.
The people is every thing. No legitimate power
cauexilt but from them and forthem ; or rather,
all that which bears the character of public pow
er, whatever may be its shape, can be 110 other
than the people acfting by representation of one
kind or another.
In a monarchy, the people have two kinds of
representatives, both equally efTential: the Na
tional AHembly, and the King. This is the rea
son why their persons should be held equally sa
cred and inviolate ; and it is evidently for the
public good that this inviolability should be eflab
lifhed.
Each of these representatives would be desirous,
sooner or later, to govern the other ; such is the
nature of man. This is the reason why the peo
ple fay to them both—Ye shall be able to do no
thing, but when ye agree.
In the mean time that they may severally know
what they ought to do when the public interest
requires that they should a<ft, the people fay to the
one, " It is your province to difenfs, and to pre
sent your labor to the King." They fay to the
other, " Do yon examine, and after you have ex
amined, if you fanrtion, it fball be my •will; that
is, it shall be Law. If you shall rejed; that which
the other body present you, do you fend it back
to me, that I may re-examine it; if I lhall ap
prove of that which you have rejetfied, I lhall
lend back the fame body to present it to you a
gain, and they lhalHtgnify to you, King ! Obey !
If on the contrary, I lhall think that you had
good reason for rejecting it, I shall chufe and fend
you other representatives, who shall lay before
you the bill altered and they shall fignify to you
that we are fatisfied with the manner in which you
have exercised the prerogative that we the peo
ple have confided in you.
We fee by this flatement whether the aflentand
diflent of the King were given to him for his own
advantage, or for that of the people : or rather
we may fee whether the National Aflembly has
the right to deprive the King of a prerogative
which guarantees the sovereignty of the people,
to whom alone the sovereignty belongs.
111 the mean time, a wicked Aflembly, and a
wicked King, might easily at onetime or another,
agree together to deceive the people. This,.there-
[Publijbiil (ill Wedriefday and Saturday, j
fore, is the reason why the people fay to the King
and the Aflembly, " Theli'oertyof the press ih:i]l
be as sacred and inviolable as your august per
sons, because it is my interelt that itfhouldbefo."
Let us refietft then whether it is not the mere
childhood of democracy to be afraid of a King,
when he is watched by a free press, and by the
National Aflembly, who hold the purse-strings of
the nation.
If it is not a childish fear of defpotifin to bea
larmed at a National Aflembly, when it is watch
ed by the press and the King.
If it is not the mere childhood of visionary pref
byterianifm, to be afraid of the concord and har
mony, which ought to fubfiit in an enlightened
age, between anunmoveableKing, and a Nation
al Aflembly, tobeconvened annually, when both
of them are watched by theiuviolabe freedom of
the press.
These are three tribunals of* the people, with
out which there can be no true monarchy, and
with which monarchy, of all the governments that
exist, will ever be that in which the interests of
the people will be bell watched over, and belt
balanced, and in which they will run the least
rilk of being facrificed, either to a King, or to
an Aflembly.
Such is the Amplification of the idea of a con
flitution ! I have the honor to be, &c.
Le Marq_uis de Caseaux.
Discourse delivered at the National Ajfembly on the Ith
oj September, 1789, by the female citizens -who
came to make an offering of their jewels and other
ornaments as a voluntary dijlributisn towards the
discharge of the public debts.
Messeigneurs.
THE regeneration of the State is a work com
mitted to the National Representatives.
The liberation of the State should be the care of
every good citizen.
In order to enable the Senate to fulfil a vow
that was made by Camillus to Apollo before the
capture of Vieum, the Roman ladies made a vo
luntary <)flering of their ornaments to the Repub
lic.
But 110 vows can be more sacred than engage
ments contracted with the creditors of the State,
the public debt fliould be scrupulously difebarged,
but the means' should be rendered easy to the
people.
It is in that -view thatfeveral citizens, wives or
daughters of art ids, came to ofFer to this august
National Aflembly tliofe ornaments, which they
would blufli to wear, when patriotism bids them
facrifice them to the public good. What woman
is there, worthy of the title of citizen, who
would not prefer to the iniipid parade of vanity,
the inexpveflible pleasure of converting the or
naments of herperfon tofo excellent aufe ?
Our offering is no doubt of final 1 value ; fora
mong the votaries of the fine arts, glory rather
than riches is the pursuit: our offering is in pro
portion to our means, but not to the sentiment
that animates our breast.
May our example be followed by many citizens
of either sex, whose circumstances are far more
opulent than ours! and our exampJe will, my
Lords (Mefleigneurs) befollowed, if you will but
deign graciously to accept, if you will procure
the facility of making voluntary contributioHS,
by establishing from this moment a bank, for the
sole purpose of receiving patriotic gifts in money
or jewels, to be invariably applied to the dis
charge of the national debt.
Reply of M. Le President of the National Stfjembly,
to the female citizens who have made an offering of
their personal ornaments towards the discharge of
the public debt.
THE National Aflembly beholds, with infi
nite fatisfadtion, your generous facrifice, which
emanates from motives of true patriotism.
May the more noble example which you offer
us at this present moment, communicate to all
ranks of citizens the heroic sentiment from which
it proceeds, and may it find as great a number
of imitators as it does admirers !
You are far more adorned by your many virtues,
than you could be by the precious ornaments
which you facrifice to the good of your country.
The National Aflembly will take into considera
tion the plan which you propose, with all the
warmth which it inspires.
A true copy. Signed,
Henry de Longueve, Sec. Nat. 4(f.
Dfschamps, Sec.
Acorre<fHi(l of the ladies (wives or daughters
of celebrated artists) who,on Monday the 7th of
September, 1789, delivered to the National As
sembly, their jewels and other female ornaments,
as a voluntary contribution towards the dif
j charge of the public debt.
Married Ladies.
' Moitte, president and firft mover of the patriot