[No. LXXII.]
THE TABLET.
No. LXXII.
" We often fancy or forge an effect, and then set
ourselves ai gravely as ridhuloitjly to find out the
caitfe."
FROM a curiosity which is innate in man,
he is of ten hurried into researches after
knowlege on l'uchfalfegrounds,as willbetray him
into decep ion, in proportion as he extends his
purfuiis. If we took nothing for granted, that
had no foundation in facft ; and cherilhed no
principles, that were unfupportcd by reai'on, our
enquiries would be much fewer, and our reflec
tions much less tedious, than they are. Theplea
fure of delusion is so captivating that men reluct
antly bear restraints upon the imagination. No
period of time has been exempt from a variety
of popular fallhoods and errors. Even those ages,
that have been molt celebrated for learning and
philosophy, have been agitated with many frivo
lous disputes, which were deemed important
from the characters who engaged in them, and
from the vanity and zeal that were exhibited
through the difcuflion. How many men, who have
ail'umed the name of philosophers, have exhauft
cd their lives in examining the absurdities and
exploding the heresies of former fecfts or philo
sophers ! How njany persons, who would palm
themselves upon the world as wife and learned
men, have wafted their days in the most labor
ious studies, without discovering an important
truth, or recommending a ufeful virtue !
It would be expecting too much from human
nature, to hope there ever will be a period, when
reason is not liable to be borne away on the wings
of imagination, and when truth is not obfeured
by folly and prejudice. The superstition of past
times, however, is so far diflipated bytlie progress
of science, thatthe road to truth seems.to be more
open and practicable. We hear few storieS of
evil spirits ; doctrine of witchcraft and
enchantments is general!j'exploded. The mind,
relieved from the fears and delusions that such
imaginary evils fuggelt, is left more at liberty to
contemplate upon things that have a real cxift
ence. This gives an advantage to our researches,
by turning our attention to subjects that can be
examined by rational evidence, and afford fonie
degree of precilion and certainty. Our thinking
faculty cannot remain itill and unexerted. It
must have materials for contemplation ; and it
will create ideal and visionary images if acftual
ones are unknown or disregarded. For this rea
son, ignorant people fall a prey to falfe opinions,
and to a thousand imaginary terrors, which an
enlightened mind defpilesand rejecfts.
Curiosity has fucli power over the foul, as to
make it often delight most in pursuing objetfts
that are new and extraordinary. The uncer
tainty of the attainment sometimes puflies us fur
ther into the dark, and when we are involved in
mystery, we do not fufpeift we have wandered
from the truth, but that it is too incomprehenfi
bletobe underftaod. Thus many a man has per
plexed his understanding in seeking causes, for
what never existed, but in his diforuered imagi
nation. Every person should eftablifli it as a rule,
when he hears an aflertion, to enquire as to the
fa (ft alledge'd, before he troubles liimfelf to ex
plore thecaufe of it. By this means, a conlider
able part of the investigations, wlth.il puzzle the
human mind, would be avoided.
In a country where the people are generally
so well educated, as they are in America, they will
not easily be duped by magic tales, or deluded
by enthusiastic rliapfodies. No pretender to any
special communion with invisible beings, whether
they be good or evil, can now draw any number
of people into a delusion. Those who advance
principles that admit not of some clear and ra
tional explication, cannot expeift to propagate
them cxtenfively ; and those, who sport with hy
potheies that appear extravagant, will be called
to the bar of denicrnftration to receive their juit
sentence. Can we then estimate too highly the
advantages of the many schools and universities
which are interspersed over the various parts of
our country ? Can any pains or cxpences be deem
ed too great, for rearing up a generation of men
who will be proof againit the absurdities that have
characterized past ages of ignorance and bigotry ;
and who will have knowledge to understand civil
liberty, and spirit to defend it ? Are any anti
cipations-, too bold and extravagant, of the attain
ments that will probably result from a state of
society f» perfect, as that to which wo are hasten
iug ? How many of the causes, that occasioned
the wre.tchednefsand downfall of antient nations,
Would have been removed, had they been blelled
vith the inltituikms, we now enjoy ?
SATURDAY, December 19, 1739.
FROM THE SALEM MERCURY.
December i.
The President of tlie United States, in
his late tour through this State, was pleased to
honor the town of Marblehead by a ihort visit.
He was received at the entrance of the town, by
the Selectmen, the Clergy of the town, and a
numerous body of Citizens, and was conducted
to the house of Mrs. Lee, where a collation had
been provided, of which he very cheerfully par
took, with the Gentlemen of his Suite, the Select
men, Clergymen and other Gentlemen of the
town.— The President, afterwards, with that at
tention by which he encourages every ufeful em
ployment, vilited one of the Fish Yards, and
exprclled his earnefi wishes for the success of the
indultrious people of Marblehead. Onthisplea
ling occasion, the Selectmen, in the name of the
Inhabitants, had the honor to present their AD
DRESS ; of which, with! the ANSWER of the Prer
fident, we insert the following copies, but lately
received.
TO GEORGE WASHINGTON,
President ok the United States.
SIR,
YOUR presence has inspired the Inhabitants of
Marblehead with the mo It unbounded joy ;
but they cannot express, as they would wiih, their
grateful sense of the honor done them on this
occasion. The two visible decay and poverty of
this town inufl. be their excuse, that they have
not offered to the illustrious Character who now
visits them, a reception more answerable to his
dignity, and more expreflive of their own vene
ration.
The Blessings of Independence and a Republi
can Government must ever excite our gratitude
and affection to so eminent a Supporter of the
Public Liberty, whose wifdotu and valor have so
fuccefsfully defended the rights of his country.
The eltablifhment, by the United States, of a
secure and efficient Government, gives us the
pleating expectation of the gradual revival of our
Fifliery and Commerce—objects of the indultry,
and principal means of the fubfiltence, of the
Inhabitants of this place, for above a century
previous to the late revolution. In the com
mencement ot the eontelt with Great-Britain,
this Town were early in their exertions in the
common cause ; and were not discouraged, when
they forefaw that reverie of their lituation, which
the war has neceflarily produced. The return
of peace did not restore to us the former advan
tages of the Fifliery, which liarli remained under
peculiar discouragements : and we have yet
patiently to-expect that attention of the General
Governiilent, which may remedy these evils, and
which thefubject may deserve, from its extensive
importance to the commerce of the United States.
The present Government of the United States
commands our ready fubmiflion, and inviolable
attachment : and we deem it a peculiar felicity,
that the highest dignity of that Government is
so properly vested in you ; in whom all America
repose the most entire confidence ; in whose ad
miniftrarion, the world will admire the example
of a Patriot-Rules.
Sir,our anxiety for your lieahli and long life is
proportionate to our most ardent wishes for the
prof'perirv of our country ; and we are well as
sured, that you will ever partake in the happiness
of that numerous people, over whom you preside.
May the Divine Providence continue to favor
your care and guidance of their most important
public affairs, and reward your virtues, which
have been so long employed in promoting the
happiness of mankind.
In behalf cf the Town of Marblehead, Oflober
29/1789.
Isaac Mansfield, ~|
Jonathan Glover, |
John Glover,
Samuel Sewall, ! p , „
, u } Selectmen
Samuel Hooper, <
Nath'l Lindl'cy,
B-urrel Devereux,
Richard Harris,
To the INHABITANTS of the Town of MAR
blehead.
GENTLEMEN,
THE reception, with which you have been pleased
to honor my arrival in Marblehead, and thefft:-
tinients of approbation,and attaebmeut, which you have
exprejfed oj my conduit, and to my person, are too
flattering and grateful not to bt acknowledged with
sincere thanks, and answered with unfeigned wishes
for your prosperity.
Avoiding to dwell on the diminution of plsafure,
which the mention of your impaired circum fiances ot-
\PtibliJhst■ w IVedncfday a/:d Saturday.j
cafiu us r:e, J dfire to engage y our thoughts on the
pleating profpeCl pre fait id to .:il our inter dp, and
particular.7 to our fifhery, in thi effic'nucy of our
government, .aid the invigorated industry oj our citi
zens.
Prctefled in the txtrsi/'e of those means, which the
beneficent Parent of mankind has furnijhed for their
sustenance and comfort, the citizens of America, ani
mated by virtuous enterprise, and actuated by due
obedience to the laves and regulations of their govern
ment, may expett, with confidence, to enjoy every
blejjittg which industry can promise, and national un
ion may ensure.
Tour attachment to the constitution of the United
States is worthy of men, who fought and bled forjrce
dom, and who know its value.
Tour anxiety for my health, and your prayers for
my happiness, are replied to with solicitude for your
welfare, and earnejl entreaty to the Author of Good
for your felicity. G. WASHINGTON.
LONDON. ——
Fjom Woodfall's Diarv.
IN the year 1767, the ships Indian Queen, Duke
of York, Nancy, and Concord, ot'Briftol, the
Edgar of Liverpool, and the Canterbury, of Lon.
don, lay in old Calabar rjver.
It happened at this time that a quarrel fubifift
ed between the principal in habitants of Old Town
and those of New Town, Old Calabar, which had
originated in a jealousy refpec r ting Slaves. The
Captains of theveflels now mentioned, united in.
fending several letters to the inhabitants of Old
Town, but particularly to Epliraim Robin John,
who was at that time a grandee, and a principal
inhabitant of the place. The universal tenor cf
these letters was, that they were sorry that any
jealousy or quarrel should subsist between the
two parties ; that if the inhabitants of Old Town
would come on board, they would afford them se
curity and protection ; adding, at the fame time,
that their intention in inviting them was, that
they might become mediators, and heal their dis
putes.
The inhabitants of Old Town, happy to find
that their differences were likely to be reconciled,
joyfully accepted the invitation. The three
brothers of the grandee just mentioned, the el
dell of whom was Ambue' Robin John, firft enter
ed their canoe, attended by twenty-seven others,
and being followed by nine canoes, directed their
course to the Indian Queen. They were dispatch
ed from thence the next morning to the Edgar,"
and afterwards to the Duke of York, 011 board or
which they went, leaving their canoe and atten
dants by the fide of the fameveffel. In the mean
time the people 011 board the other canoe, were
either diitributed on board, or lying clofeto the
other ships.
This being the situation of the three brothers,
and of the principal inhabitants of the place, the
treachery now began to appear. The crew of tlie
Duke of York, aided by the captain and mates, and
armed with pistols and cutlafles, rushed into the ca
bin, with an intent to seize the persons of their
three innocent and unsuspicious guests. The un
happy men, alarmed at this flagrant violation of
the rights of hospitality, and struck with alton
ifhment at the behavior of their supposed friends,
attempted to escape through the cabin windows \
but being wounded, were obliged todefift, and to
submit to be put in irons.
Inthefame momentin which this attrocious at
tempt had been made, an order had been given to
fire upon the canoe, that was then lying by the
fide of the Duke of York. The canoe soon filled
and funk, and the wretched attendants were
seized, killed or drowned. Most of the other
ships immediately followed the example. Great
numbers were additionally killed and drowned on
the occasion and others were fwiinming to the
Ihore.
At this juncture, the inhabitans of New-Town,
who had concealed tliemfelves in the bushes by
the water-fide, and between whom and the com
manders of the veflels the plan had been previous
ly concerted, came out from their hiding places,
and embarking in their canoes, made for i'uclias
were swimming from the fire of the Ihips. The
ships boats also were inltantly manned, andjoiu
ed in the pursuit. They butchered the greatest
part of those they caught. Many dead bodies
were loon seen upon the sands, and others were
floating during the whole of the day upon the wa
ter ; and including those that were seized and
carrried off, and those that were drowned and
killed, either by the firing of the ships, or the peo
ple of New-Town, three hundred were loitto the
inhabitants of Old Town on that day.
The carnage, which I have been nowdefcribing
was scarcely over, when a canoe, full of principal
people of New Town, who had been the promoters