fters sent a copy of the order to Search his house to the National Aflembly. PARIS, November 6. Some of the Convents of Nuns havethanked the National Aflembly for their decree, forbiding any vows to be taken. There are other Convents, however, who will not befo well pleased with the decree in question ; however, taken in a general point of view, it must be approved of. THE NATIONAL MONITOR. No. XXXII. When the Almighty form'd the spheres, To rule the ever circling years, His wifioin in the wond'rous plan, Defign'd the happiness of man ; And Time, while he his track pursues, th' Almighty's glorious views. THE number ten forms a series of years which include as many remarkable incidents in the liiftoryof mankind, as any that can be mention ed. From the years 1760 to 1770, to go no further back, the inhabitants of North America experienced the melt important changes in their situation, sentiments, manners, and views. Thro their unparellelled exertions, the war in Ameri ca was brought to a glorious termination : From that moment we felt our consequence in the l'cale of empire—and our views became enlarged ; ar rived to maturity, our dependence on Great-Bri tain became a very problematical event. In 1770, we were on the eve of diflolving our connection with the mother country ; from that time til 75, how rapidly events crowded upon each other, to bring the important crilis. Many supposed we were ripe at that date for the revo lution ; but some wife, and penetrating patriots, whose names need not now be mentioned, repres sed the ardor of too sanguine dispositions, till the people were fully prepared, and the infatua tion of our enemies was complete—The mine was then fprung —and our Independence was established—so that in 1780, nothing lhort of om nipotence could have carried us back to our for mer situation. From i 730, to 1790, the retrofped: gives a per iod that amazes, altonifhes, and alinoft confounds us in the contemplation—What victories ! what triumphs ! what exultation ! what Utopian schemes ! what embarrassments ! what alarms ! what fluctuations of councils ! what imbecility ! what fears for the sacred ark of liberty, amidst the dread of anarchy, the prostration of law and government, and the unrighteous and-lliameful expedients of tender laws, and that corse of all morals and national character, paper money !— But that arm, which is omnipotent to save, roused us from oilr low state of degradation, and awak ening as from a delirium, Amcrica oncc vlore role to her wonted magnanimity. The 2hree last years lhe has done more to ellablilh her charac ter, than in all her exertions in the darkest tno. incuts of her conflict—great in the hour, when greatness is adorned with its brightelt lnftre, lhe hath eilabliihed her fame and happiness on the immortal pillars of laws and government; realiz ing that lhe fought for a lhadow, unless her ac quilicions of liberty and independence were se cured by the barrier of a just and free Constitu tion : With aftonilhing unanimity lhe hatli adopt ed a fyllem, that, if the people continue-wife, will perpetuate their felicity to the final cjnfuinma tion of all things. We are now arrived to the beginning of the last ten years, in the eighteenth century —and taking ourcalculations from part experience, how pregnant does the womb of Time appear. The concentration of the wisdom of our country hath ondutfted the States into the path of honor and fafety—a glorious reward awaits her toils and la bors—the road is narrow at the outset, but wi dens as we advance—the timid, the doubtful may hesitate, perplex, and draw back, but the intre pid patriots will persevere, till the salvation of their country is perfected. With grateful hearts then, let us adoVe that providence which, after giving us the victory over our enemies, hath at length enabled us to triumph over ourselves—and in the words of our beloved President in his fpeecli 10 the National Legislature, let us offer our " fervent fuppticatians *' to that almighty being, who rules over the universe, " -who presides in the councils of nations, arid whose " providential aids can supply every human dejefi, " that hit benedidion may confecrats to the liberties " and happiness of the .people of the United States, a " government inJUtuted "by thimfelvesJor these essen " tial purposes, and may enable every injlrument 1 ' employed in its adminijlration, to execute with fuc* " cess the fund ions allotted to hit charge." 7'en years in the age of a country may be as one tp the age of man : In the period between this and 1800, may our country progress in Em pire, true greatnefi and glory, and her liberties be secured beypnd the reach of anarc liy and def potifin ; and from her example, may the whole race of mankind be led to vindicate the dignity of human nature, and eftablilh UNIVERSAL FREEDOM, FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATEi 1 ALLEGORY. 13 ET WEEN two wealthy neighbors lived a poor man, who had nothing but his industry to depend upon. He was much indebted to Albi nus, the proudest of his neighbors, who finding that his circumflances did not allow him to pay, threatened to take away his house, and to throw him into ptifon, Gallicus, the other neighbor, partly from natural benevolence,and partly from a jealous disposition towards Alb in us,who was then considered as unfriendly to the whole world, un dertook the defence of thepoor man Columbel l u s,and [pent his health and part of his treasure to save him. Now the good man began to thrive, and to form even some connection with proud Albinus, who finding that fomethiug might b: got from him cajoled him on every occasion ; but the exertions of Gallicus in his favor had been too great,and the times growing bad,GA llicus saw himfelf ob liged to make great alterations in his family, and reduce his expences, which occasioned a great uproar amongst his numerous servants, some of which ran away with bloody heads into the house ofALBiNUS, where they inif-reprefented every tranfaiftion of their former matter. The poor man, forgetting his obligations to Gallicus, gave a currency to these falfhoods, and polled up all the scurrilous language of Albinus, and the discontented servants of his friend and benefadlor. When Gallicus was informed of this he was more grieved at the behavior of bis presumed friend, Columbellus, than at that of Albinus. And who is this ungrateful Man ?—Read the new.fpapers ofAmerica on the revolution of France and—blush if you have a foul. BENEVOLENCE. . FOR THE GAZETTE OF THEUNITED STATES. f1 * ■ OE>E, rOR THE,NIAV VtAR- Hail the NEW YEAR f Farewell blest Eighty Nine ! Long (hall thy numbers, in our annals shine, O'er evYy year that's past, blest year indeed, That saw our rights fecur'd, and Europe freed, At least the work's begun—Ninay fltiall fee It alinoft finilhed ; Europe almost free. May Frenchmen use their power, so late retriev'd, In humbling pride, and righting the aggriev'd ; May prudeace teach them not to go too far, Nor whelm their country in the woes of war. Blest Eight y Ni saw our glorious Chief, # Rouse from xepofe, and fly to our relief, Fly to cement that Union which he wrought, By wisdom fix, the pile for which he fought. Blest Eighty Nine, that gave h;m to ourftght, More lov'd, more honour'd, glo.r iouflybright, Long may his influence o'er our States extend, Our much lov'd brother, father, chef and friend, And when by age, and nature's hand bow'd down, Time's silver honors, (freedom's only crown,) Play o'er his brow, then may he Hovfr decay. Blest with health's smile, on each succeeding day, Till life's worn fountains, gradually ccafe, And pray'rt of millions waft his foul to peace. D. THE TABLET. No. L.XXVI. , " If a man often changes his friends, 1 fiifpeft he is deficient either in candor or difcernrnent." WHEN we hear men complain of the fickle nefsorinfincerity of their friends we should not readily participate in their reproaches. Few men poflefs the art of maintaining a tiiendfhip through any great viciilitude of circumstances. In a ftateof prosperity we are apt to demand from our friends, more attention and refpetft, than we deserve: In a state of adversity we are prone to expedl more relief and patronage from others, than they aredifpofed to communicate. Thus it happens, that in almost any situation, we are li able to make complaints, where there is no real foundation. _ My neighbour Discretus is now upwards ot fixtyl years old. The scenes ot his lifehavebeen critical and diverfified. He allured me, in a late converfation,that he never loft the friendfhip of a person which he o nee poflefled ; and that he scarce ever was acquainted with a person, who did not become his friend. 1 his is the more extraordi uacy, as Dischetus is not distinguished by any brilliancy of talents, or generosity of condudt. The'mediocrity of his abilities raises him above con tempt ; but are not so eminent as to excite envy. In /hort, he is a prudent man, who, though he may gain slowly upon tlte friendihip or attachment of liis acquaintance, never runs any risque of losing what he does gaiu. If not warmfh Qfjfpij-it to perform great or liberal actions ; he has the (.ac tion toihun those that are mean and illiberal. Hi» virtues are not carried to such an extreme in any instance as to become a weakness or a vice. Ke observes the line where the lhades of virtue and vice meet,and walks so strait upon it,as always to el'cape inconvenience or reproach. It is true some men call him a negative kind of character ; but this is not material so long as he does nothing po sitively badj and avoids censure, in all his actions. He never flanders any person ; ,nor does hs ever extol any one to the Ikies. In his view, all men are worth attending tofo far as not to incur their ill will; but none are so meritorious, that he will not treat them with some caution and reserve. By not expediting too much from his friend he is fel domdifappointed ; andby not promifingtoo much, he is never charged with deception. ALBANY, December 24. Col. Maxwell, who arrived in town last e vening, from the county of Ontario, has favored us with the following intelligence— That a wag gon road, with bridges over the creeks and riv ers, quite to the Genefee river, 119 miles from Oneida, is now completed—the proprietors of the Genefee Company having opened the road from Oneida to Caynga, 62 miles in extent —That the fait-works are in such forwardnefs as to af ford forty bufliels per day—That Mr. Ellicor, on the firft of November last, applied to Col. Har ris, the commanding officer at Niagara, for per mif lion to pass that fortrefs, for the purpose of as- the boundaries between the lands of the United States and those purchased by Meilrs. Gorham and Phelps, which was refufedliim ; but when Mr. Kllicot had arrived at the Genefee riv er, he was overtaken by an express from Col. Harris, who had sent him a pass, on which he re turned to Niagara, where he received every mark of refpe<ftful and polite attention—the Com mander having in the mean time received orders on the fubjecflt, from Lord Dorchester, to whom application had been made by the President of the United States. NEW-YORK, JANUARY 2. Members ofCongrefs now in this city : Senate, Frefidentof the Senate.—Mr. Dalton.—Mr. John son Mr. Schuyler.—Mr. King.—Mr. Izard.—• Mr. Butler.—Mr. Langdon.—Mr. Wingate.—Mr. Few. REi'RESENTATrvES,Mr.Gilman.—Mr.Gerry.— Mr. Lawrance. —Mr. Benfon.—Mr. Scott.—Mr. Coles.—Mr. Brown.—Mr. Griffin.—Mr. Huger. Mr. Smith, of South-Carolina.—Mr. White.— Mr. Partridge—Mr. Tucker.—Mr. Goodhue.— Mr. Thatcher.—Mr. Baldwin. Mr. Otis, Secretary of the Senate. Mr. Beckley, Clerk of the House. The revolutions of time, give birth to the vo lume of events which forms the general liiftory of mankind. The contemplative mind traces the progress of effe<fts from their caules, and marks the invariable similitude between the series of past and present times where the fame principles: appear to (tamp the predominating features of t}ie age. Empires commence, progress to matu rity and then link into oblivion ; and this has been so undeviatingly the course of things, that those who contend that human nature is the fame in all periods, have certainly the test of experi ence on their fide. However the United States according to some visionaries, are to exhibit a new example to mankind. From the sublime heights'of their political and literary attainments they are to take a comprehensive view of all the defects of humanity in all part ages, and having the paflions and weaknefles incident to man under the perfetf: controul of their reason, they are to perpetuate their happiness and freedom, -without the reftrair.ts of civil inftitutions,to the latest pe riod of time. Those however, who view things through a jufter medium, think otherwise; and happy for our country, those who form a differ ent estimate of human nature are at the head of our affairs. Public virtue is commonly a dormant principle till great occafionscall it into exercise : Wife legi slators therefore calculate their measures to touch the more obvious spring of fit) intercft; and it is happy for mankind, that the particular incereft of individuals, and communities when properly pur sued always conduces to the advantage of the ge neral interest. ARRI VALS.—NEWrYORK, Thursday, Ship Charlotte, Lambert, Loivdoo, 405 days Ship Christopher, Smith, Viocen^s. Brig Brownlow, M'Mcaker, Dublin, 50 days. Brig Dispatch, Lockhart, Antigua, 2Q days. Schooner WUliog Maid, Wallace, Cape Francois. Sloop Hiram, Surrijpafn, 48 days. Sloop Friendship, Buruham, Savannah, 15 day Sloop Liberty, Barker, Charldlon, 16 days.
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