[No. LXXXI.j
THE TABLET.
No. LXXXI.
" The mind a(is with mofl vigor when confined to a
finglc objeli."
IT is obvious, upon a little reflection, that mo
mentum of character is derived more from ap
plication than genius. Men who hold the great
est influence in political life, and who acquire the
lai geft amount of property, are generally those
whose principal charaCteristics are perseverance
and attention. Vigor of imagination and brilli
ancy of talents create a lustre which dazzles the
pofieflor, and beguiles him from that plain track
of common prudence which leads to wealth and
influence.
The probable reason why men of a bold, enter
prizing spirit so often miscarry in their projects,
is that their plans of bufmefs are too diverfified.
It is easy to observe that men of thisftamp fail in
many attempts, in which the calculations are fa
vorable, and the facrifice only happens through
want of attention. If the mind is employed on
many objeCts it can do justice to none. The men
tal faculties lose part of their vigor by being oc
cupied in unsteady and separate courses. There
is a difficulty in accommodating our turn of think
ing to the various transitions which are required
by difFufive concerns. When a person has fuchn
diverlity of affairs to manage that they fall into
confufion, he will soon break through system,
and the separate branches of his business will to
gether form one general wreck.
1 have often been told by men, who had divi
tied their attention between many different ob
jects, that had they seleCted either of them singly,
and attended closely to it, they would not only
have been less exposed to risque and fatigue, but
have gained property far more rapidly. T ne fame
canfes, that render thedivifion of labour foufeful
in mechanical operations, may be applied to molt
of the employments of society. Every individual
should reduce the sources of his care to as final! a
number as possible. It is much easier, and more
profitable to pursue one plan of business to great
extent, than to manage two upon a less extensive
scale. The mind cannot art with vigor or regu
larity when it is frequently making tranlitions
from one subjeCt to another. The ideas become
scattered, and the power of combination is sensi
bly weakened. Many capable men lose the be
nefit of all their efforts by attending partly to
several things, but effectually to nothing. They
enter the chace with a fair prospeCt of game, but
before they'overtake it, anew scent diverts them,
which they follow till their career is t'xned to a
course still more alluring. The most anxious cares
and severe toils are often endured without produ
cing one substantial advantage. The miscarria
ges of men in important fcheines of business are
generally owing to their having so many concerns
on hand, that lome if not all must be negleCted.
No employment can be profitable without atten
tion, and few men can attend to more than one,
with propriety. Care and induflry will overcome
the difficulties of almost any occupation, and po
verty is only to be feared by the indolent, the
fickle and the knavifli.
There are, it must be confefied, some men of
such comprehensive talents, that they can at once
conduCt numerous and distinCt operations. This
results from a faculty of intuition that only has
to glance at an objeCt to understand it. And when
a comparison of ideas is requisite, an elevated ge
nius combines so rapidly as to be ready to decide
and aCt, in any turn of circumflances. As few
men poflefs such faculties, it Ihould not be infer
red, that the bulk of mankind will not prosper
belt, in a narrow sphere of action.
The defeats of the human mind can have no
other remedy than a judicious affignmcnt of parts
to the different characters of society. If every man
were to attempt to do many things, most men
would do nothing effectually. Wherever we turn
our cyef, we find instances of men laboring under
the difficulties of a complex or an unsuitable talk.
They never arrive at perfection, either because
they are not properly employed, or because they
have too many employments It would be well
to examine whether the regulations of this coun
try are not deficient in that proper division of
duties among the citizens, which in the higliefl
degree promotes the prosperity of individuals,and
encreafes the resources of the community.
PI!'LVOV tliU Al. APfARAI US.
ON Thursday the 25th tilt, arrived at New-Haven, fate and
in good order, from London, a Philosophical Apparatus, for
"Yale College. As soon as it was received, it wasdepofited in the
Apparatus Chamber of the College. The Univetfity is thus fur
niihed with a complete set of instruments and machines, for exhi
biting a whole course of experiments in Natural Philosophy and
Astronomy. It was purchased by the liberal donation&ot a num
ber of gentlemen, friends' to literature ; among whom the Rev.
Dr. J,ock\voo» was the ptiincrpal benefactor.
W EDNESDAY January 20, 1790.
THE GUEST.—No. XIII.
May he who makes yon glorious source of day,
Life, light, and blef/ings to the -world convey ,
Dispel the clouds that Jbade the human mind,
And Earth'sgreat fat/iily in concord bind.
A NARROW, and censorious spirit, is the com
mon attendant of a gloomy, and felf-opin
ionated temper : It is always conneifted with a
want of charity for those, whose sentiments are
not cast in the fame mould with its own. I have
known persons of this stamp who suspend the
salvation of their neighbors, on the belief of cer
tain particular tenets, upon which the woild at
large are infinitely divided. Some persons of this
description, would merit pity for their ignorance,
were they contented with being their own tur
menters ; but they disturb the happiness of so
ciety, by difleminating their principles, and rai
ling doubts in the minds of others, refpetfting the
benevolence of the Deity to the whole human race.
1 here are some of this chara<fter, who limit the
mercy of the Divine Being to a very narrow com
pass : Tho they may poilefs so much modesty as
to confels that they never were admitted to the
councils of Heaven, yet they can without hefita
tion cotifign to future misery all those whose faith
vaiies from their own—And as to those, who by
the dispensations of Providence never enjoyed the
light of revelation, their minds are not irradiated
by a (ingle ray of hope refpetffing their future
fate : But can we rationally suppose, that he,
whose " tender mercies are over all his worts,"
can approve such a judgment! How can it be re
conciled to the principles of justice, that those
should be condemned for not obeying, what they
never enjoyed an opportunity of knowing. Altho
ic is reasonable, that those who are favored with
superior advantages, lhould consider themselves
as accountable for the improvement of their pri
vileges, yet sacred writ allures us, " that he that
" feareth God,and worketh righteousnesS,/« every
" nation, is accepted of him"—and there can be
no doubt, but that the favor of Heaven will be
extended to every son of Adain, whose difpolition
is conformed to the spirit of thatgofpel, which is
" peace on earth, and good-will towards men,"
whether they have been favored with the written
word or not. " The Judge of all the earth will
do right"—and as " those that have finned in
" the law, lhall be judged by the law," so tliofc
who have been a law unto themselves, or which is
the lame thing, have followed the dicftates of that
law, which God hath written on the heart of every
man, even those who have never enjoyed the
light of Revelation, shall find favor with him,
who not without reason, " hath uever left htm,-
felf without witness of his divinity in every nation
under heaven." The world is approximating to
that glprious period, when mankind lhall not be
divelted of charity towards each other, for a dif
ference in opinion, any more than they will re
pi'oach one another for not being all of one co
lor, onefize, or one universal set of fimiliar fea
tures. The sentiments of bigotry, are opposed
to the best interests of mankind : To gratify its
ignorant and contra<sied propensities, it will coun
teract the most benevolent designs, even to its
own disadvantage, left those of opposite princi
ples Ihould be benefited thereby. We may differ
in sentiment, but when we fuffer, our particular
opinions, or prejudices to guide our decilions in
matters of benevolence, and public utility, we
justly merit the appellation of the enemies to
society.
A FAMILIAR EPISTLE.
To Mrs. Virci ni a, aliasTHF. Ancient Dominion.
Dear Sifter,
WE have lately seen some letters, which two
of your confidential servants have sent you,
calculated entirely to make mifcliief in the fami
ly. We have always allowed your claim of rank,
as our eldest Sifter ; and when your children and
servants have pretended that your power was the
great eft, your purse the heaviest, your farm the
and yourfelf a woman of more fen fe than
any of your Sifters, we have never contradicted
them, because we did not wish to quarrel about
the matter —though we were sensible that a great
part of your farm was untenanted and goingout
of repair, that you were constantly running in
debt foi your annual expences, and whenever
;he robbers hare broke into your house you were
very poorly able to defend yourfelf,andcould on
ly alarm the neighbourhood,by dismal outcries,of
" Help, Murder and Rape." But you ought to
remember that we established our Copartnership
on terms of perfect equality, and that we have
advanced at least our equal snares in the public
itock. You cannot therefore pretend any right
\_PubliJhet? on WednefJay and Saturday.]
to govern us in the buliuefs. As to your boy,
Dickey, we have knowu him many years. He is
a goodnatured fellow when he can have his own
way,but as fractious as Satan when he is contradic.
ted. Beiides, you are sensible, that he never could
endure it, that we formerly appointed your Son,
George, Steward of the houfeholii, and have late
ly given him a full Power of Attorney to manage
the concerns of the company—when Dick, in the
simplicity of his heart, always believed liiinfelf
the fitteft man of the two—Whereas you and all
the world know, that George is toorth as niany of
him, as Omnipotence could create to gll eternity,
if it had no other bulinefa to attend to. And
now Dick and Bill are finding fault witlithecon
tractof Copartner/hip, because it does not give
you a controlling power over the whole transac
tions ; and they are out of all patience and temper,
because we are not willing to alter it. 111 the
fame manner some of your fervans-lately till eacen
ed that you would break your contiacft, aiid fee
up for yourfelf, unless we would fend all our
head-servants and agents to reside in your do
minion underyour immediate eye
We have always wiihed to proceed in business in
perfect union and equality ; and notwithstanding
these fooliih speeches sometimes thrown out by
your people, we have no idea, thatyouare in the
least inclined to follow theexample of ourprofli
gate Sifter, who has run away from the family,
and now keeps a house of evil fame, at the Sign
of C****ns's Head in Rhode-[(land. We are still
willing, as a matter of etiquette, to allow your
superiority in point of age, rank and p ecedence,
but (hall not submit to theinfults of yonrdomef
tics. We wish you to take these matters into your
serious consideration, and teach some of your
servants a little better manners.
We have the honor to be,
With the most cordial esteem,
Your affedlionate Sifters,
NEW-ENGLAND,
NEW YORK,
PENNSYLVANIA,
CAROLINA, &c.
(From the ConneSicut Courant.)
EUROPE.
PARIS, November 8.
The Count de Mirabeau's motion on Friday lad
in the National Aflembly, to admit the Cabinet
Ministers as Members of the Aflembly, was yester
day rejecfted by a very large Majority, and to
fliew their disapprobation of it, M. de Lanjuinais
moved.
" That, for the future, no Member of the As
sembly could accept of any place in Administra
tion, nor any other place which might be offered
him by the executive power, pending the dura
tion of the existing lelfion of Lcgiflature, nor
for three years after."
This motion, of course, called up M. de Mira
beau, who seemed much nettled at this indired:
attack on himfelf—The Aflembly would not luffer
him to speak till his motion of the preceeding
clay was firft reje&ed. On M. de Lanjuinais mo
tion being put,—
M. de Mirabeaii was admitted to speak. He
considered the motion as directed by afecret pur
pose ; in which cafe, fays he, I propose to limit
the exclusion of those persons whom the author
has in view by it. I know but two who can be
the objecft of it, himfelf and me. He has no
doubt the fame opinion of himlelf as I have of
myfelf. I am not therefore aftoniflied that he
should think me incapable of filch a function. I
therefore begin by proposing to limit the exclu
sion of this motion to M. de Mirabeau.
In other parts of his speech, M. de Mirabeaii
entered into the absurdity of fucli a motion.
" Shall it, " fays he, " be supposed, that the
election of a whole nation cannot comprehend
within it a good Ministry ? Shall the confidence
of the Nation towards a citizen be a title of ex
clusion to the confidence of the Monarch . The
declaration of rights gives every man access
to all employments. Shall we then derogate
from this principle, by excluding the National
Representatives ? Shall what is a means of pu
lie fafety to our neighbours be afource of misfor
tune to France ?"
All this fair reafoningand argument could not
obftrudt M. de Lanjuinais motion being earned,
and it accordingly palled as we have given it, ex
cept with the omission of the 1 ast words, nor for
three years after, which were referred to future
has the towering ambition of Mirab ""
been completely fruftrated Though he has the
art fometunes to persuade by !
ing, it is evident he has not had u