Gazette of the United-States. (New-York [N.Y.]) 1789-1793, December 23, 1789, Image 1
i'No. LXXIII.j THE TABLET. No. LXXIII. " 1 hate a drinking companion, fays tht Creek pro verb, who never forgets." I KNOW not a more fallacious opinion that men entertain, than that there is a great degree of friendlhip and generosity among per sons, who mingle in parties of dilfipation and intemperance; The warm profefilons of attach ment andlgood will that flow so easily, in moments of feftivity, are apt to lead a by-ftander to imagine there is some serious friend/hip, at heart. Many an imprudent youth has fallen a victim to the af k-verations he heard at convivial mee:ings. There is perhaps no delcription of men who pro claim their own generosity so loudly, and yet who i ealize fewer substantial acts of it, from each other, rhan those who enter circles, under the stile of bottie-coinpanions. It is hardly credible to one, who has not ftri<tly noticed it, how slender the ties are, that are created by such a connexion. The idea conveyed in my motto may be taken in two different (enfes ; and the reader may make his choice of them. It is true, that when per sons are engaged in a drinking match, they should wilh to forget their cares and misfortunes ; and it will heighten their hilarity, if they can so far dr*wn their reflection, as to forget the duty they owe their character and family. And it is like wise true, that such allociatcs desire that whatever passes at their scenes of conviviality fliould not be repeated elsewhere. In either of these con structions, that companion who does not lole his recollection will be hated by the reft. What can be more offenfivc, in the jollity of a debauch, than renionftrances ot reason, or lectures of mo rality! What can be more disgusting, when the d«bauch is over, than a jult description of the ac tions, and recital of the expreflions, with which it was attended. If a vociferous person throws off all rellraint in the hours oi'liis merriment, he certainly cannot wi(h to behold a portrait of him felf, when he is sober. His own conduct; his own conversation are thelaft things in the world, that he can hear or recolle«t with approbation and pleasure. I would advise all such clubs, that the iirft article of their aflbciaiion should be a solemn oath of secrecy. Otherwise they may often be fhockedat a view of their own picture. But the greatest advantage of forgetfulnefs consists in freeing one from the pain and inconvenience of being reminded of prouiifes, that are made, when the heart is opened by mirth and intemperance. When this kind of openefs and generosity disco ver themfelvea, among Bacchanalians over the feottle, it is not intended they fliould afford any claim upon the person, in whom they are exhi bited. I lately met with my old college acquaintance, Joculus. As he did not appear with his former dignity and fprightlinefs, I had the curiosity to enquire into his circumstances and profpecfts. I found him deflitute of money and friends ; and that he bad neither character to deserve the one, nor indultry to procure the other. He complain ed of ill-health ; and his constitution was too much wrecked with intemperance to be reclaim ed. It was difficult for him to aflume resolution enough to relate his vices and misfortunes ; and his appearance was so mean andflovenly, that he Was not willing to be recognized, even when I called him by name. The terms of intimapy on which we had formerly aflociated made us both communicative. When I knew Joculus, foine years ago, he dreflcd handlbmefy, poflefled an easy flow of Spi rits, and was generally esteemed for his amiable qualifications. His patrimonial estate was fufli cient, with care and attention, to have afforded him a decent support. Ithappened unfortunate ly that he loved pleasure uiofe than business ; and knew better how to Squander a fortune, than to keep, or to gain one. Though he was born and educated in the country, he early conceived an idea, that he could enjoy life in greater perfec tion, by taking a relidence in some populous town. He followed his inclination, and entered at once into scenes of dilfipation and extravagance. Soon after he fixed himfelf in a city, he fell into com pany with a set of profligateyoungfters, whocal led themselves choicefpirits. This appellation ac corded so well with the feelings of Joculus, that he eagerly solicited an admiflion into the club. As he appeared alight hearted, acconnno ds»ingyoungman,liis comrades viewed him as an acqnifition. They foondifcovered the depth of his purse, and knew intimately his hopes and in tentions. It was their firft attempt to persuade him that he had too nobleafpirit to submit to the drudgery of business, andthat when he liadfpent his property, he could not be at a loi? for friends. i- ~,/0 W EDNESDAY, December 23', 1729. Thus he was beguiled into a course ofidlenefs and debauchery, which soon plunged him into debt, and alienated him from his old friends and con nections. The lioneft, unfufpedting temper of Joculus, though it gave his new comrades a controul over his time and money, was still a source of much altercation. From his ignorance of human na ture, hefuppofed that men never spoke but with sincerity ; never promised but with an intention to fulfil. He would often repeat in the day, what he had heard in the revels of the night; andfome tiiues called in good earnest for the afliftance that was so lavishly offered, when he stood in no need of it. 11l this way, he mortified them by the reci tal of their folly and imprudence ; and vexed them by his demands on their justice to reimburse his advances ; and by his appeal to their gsnerofity to put him into better circumstances. But neither their justice, their generosity, or their pity afford ed the lead relief to Jocuius, and he now re mains as wretched as vice and poverty can render him. The choice spirits have totally discarded him, and ridicule him as a low-bred fellow who remembers too well. THE OBSERVER. No. IX. TO THE PUBLIC CREDITORS. many of the evils which happen to a good citizen, he extracts a happiuefs as they pass. The patriotic creditor, who deposited his property with the public, has the happiness of reflecting that his lols contributed to the fafety of millions, and laid the foundation of an em pire, in which we hope science and virtue will per petuate freedom. There have been many delays, and many things done on the part of the public, which ought not to have been ; still you have no reason to defpairof national justice. Somethere may be who would fpunge the whole, and oblivi ate your claims—these men are of small number, and still less influence—they a«sl not from princi ple, and falfely fuppoling the jneafure would be popular, have baulked their own expectations of perferment. As the cafe is eircumftanced, if there were no sense of justice, a principle of policy would support your claim with every confederate man ; for to drive to despair two hundred thou sand creditors and influential citizens, is an event too great to be hazarded, aud might produce worse consequences than the most rigorous pay ment. Convinced of these fa<fts, the creditors ought not to be too hasty in their expectations from the present government. Let it be feenthat your patience hath not been the eftedt of neceflity, but from a convi<flion of the deranged state of the National finances. The mind is apt to vibrate in extremes, and from too great despondency rife into sanguine hopes, which never can be realized. Something of this I have observed in the credi tors of the nation. To arrange a fclieme of finance —to liquidate many unsettled claims—to search from anew, the resources of this great country, and to adjust the whole into a fyfiem beneficial to agriculture, commerce and manufactures, re quires great ability and industry in the official departments, and the most candid indulgence of all parties concerned. The gentlemen who have these duties in trull, poflefs too much good fenp* to hazard their own responsibility in a sadden manner, and before they can pollibly ascertain the means which may be exerted. Returning order in the treasury department, istliefirft thing necellary—this you may fee, and for the reft, there must be time to adjust measures which will be durable. If the legislature were to decide without previous information from its executive, or the executive to endanger its exiftfince by re commending without knowledge, it would betray a want of the proper capacity, to relieve a nation from such confufion as we have experienced. Cer tainly it will be for the public advantage to stop the accumulation of interest 011 a great debt ; spee dily as can be ; you may therefore depend on everything which is consistent with justice and humanity to the people, and more thau this ought not to be granted. The resources of the Uni ted States are increasing, and in a few years may do what is at present impoflible. You have no right to expert, that funds can befuddenly ere<ft ed and formalized, fufficient to answer the literal promises of the public ; but ought for the present to be fatisfied with what in this country hath been ■esteemed small interest for property : On the other hand, national honor and justice require, that the funds provided should be in their nature increasing ones, that the dividend you receive may increase with the public ability, until it arrives to the point of equitable interest ; after which, all increase in rPublijhn■? on IV cdntfday and Salurd ry.J the national revenue, may become a finkino'fund, to (to away the general debt, if that be judged belt. By funds thus conftitutedand sacredly ap propriated, a comproinife may be made be tween the nation and its creditors, honorable for one, and life for the other. In a country of increafing'comnierce and population,and in which every year brings a million acres of new land in to taxable improvement, there is the bed oppor tunity for funds of the above description. The State Creditors appear to me in the molt hazar dous situation, and ought immediately to unite their influence, that they may be placed on the fame footing with the creditors of the United States—the meaftrre mult take place now or never, —You have a reasonable demand—Your proper ty was advanced for the common defence, and if an application is made in l'eafon, you must be heard. I can forefee but one objection to be made to this measure, which is,that it willincreafe the value of State securities, and make them of e qual goodness with the Continental: But he must be a churl indeed, who objects 011 this ground, when it is considered hots much the State creditors have loft in the principal of their debt, and that the appreciation will arise from the simple cir cumstances of giving them a more extended cir culation, and placing them on the credit of a known government, and not from laying any new burdens on the people. The National and State securities ought to be considered as negocia blebank stock, and one circumstance on which its credit and consequent value depends, is the ex tenfivenefs of its circulation, and the credit of the government pledged for its redemption. For these reasons, one hundred pounds placed in the funds of the United StateS, will be of greater va lue than the fame sum bearing the fame interest, in the funds of a single State. lam not an ad vocate for encreafing the demands on the people —they have already been too great,and as a friend of the people I shall endeavor to shew still more plainlythe impositions they have fuffered. The people pay a certain sum annually for interest 011 the State debt, and it is of little consequence tp them, whether this centers in the treasury of the United States, or of a particular State. If by the adoption of one general fyftein, both people and creditor* may be benefited, every friend of his country will give an influence to complete it. From a Hartford Paper. ENGLISH ARTICLE. A Gentleman from the Weft of England Went -£*- to London a few weeks ago, to receive ai legacy of jool. which he propol'ed to bring with him into the country. His servant, apprised of his masters errand, imprudently talked of it at an inn upon the road. A perfonin the room, to appearance a tradesman, but in reality a highway man, overheard the conversation, and determin ed to pollefs hiinfelf of the booty. Pursuing the gentleman to London, he watched all his mo tions, and 011 his return into the country was ready to follow him. On the other fide of Houn flow, near the turnpike on Smallberry Green, the robber came up with the chaise, and pafled it full gallop, but at the gate, not having a single penny to pay the toll, appearing confuted, he: took out his handkerchief and begged the turn pikeman to take it as a pledge. The gentleman in the chaise having observed the tranfadtion, on. liis coming up inquired the caule ; and promi sing to return the handkerchief to the owner, paid the penny for him. He presently overtook the ordered his chaise to stop. Pray, Sir, said he, is this your handkerchief ? If so, I fear you are 111 great distress. lam indeed, Sir, replied the man, in the greatest that is pollible. Allow me, then, replied the gentleman, to relieve your immediate wants ; and, drawing out his purse, presented him with five guineas. Your generosity, said the highwayman, disarms me ; your five guineas have favedyou five hundred:—and, turn* ing his horse immediately rode off. LONDON, OCTOBER 20. PERHAPS there is no part of Europe where such an unrestrained toleration is allowed toper lons of every religious denomination as in the fe vcn United Provinces: Amsterdam may be given as an epitome of the whole. The eftabli/hed reli gion is Calvinism, and the people of that per iuadon make up one third ofthe inhabitants, the Roman Catholics another third, and the Luther ans, Arminiang, Anabaptists, Quakers and Jews, conipofe the remainder. Each fedt has its parti cular places ofworfhip, wliofe pallors may walk the public llreets with those diftintflions of dress which immediately characterizes them. No ad