|' I iitin'l I■■'--i I'l | V -111 i"', I ''' in rrr ■ no i PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN /CTA'O, No. 4:, BROAD-STREETj NeXr THE EXCHANGE, NEW-YORK [No. 12, if Vol. ll.j DISCOURSES ONDAVILA. Such bribe! the rapid Greek, o'er Alia hurl'd ; For such, the steady Romans (hook the world. IN a city or a village, little employments and trifling diftindiions are contended for with e qua! eagerness, as honors and offices in common wealths and kingdoms. What is it that bewitches mankind to marks and signs ? A ribbon ? A garter ? A star ? A gul den key ? A Marfhil's ftaff ? Or a white hickory stick Though there is in such frivolities asthefe neither profit nor pleasure, nor any thing amia ble, eftiinable or refpeiftable ; yet experience teaches us, in every country of the world, they attratft the attention of mankind more than parts or learning, virtue or religion. They are there fore fought with ardor, very often, by men pof fefled in the most eminent degree, of all the more solid advantages of birth and fortune, merit and services, with the best faculties of the head, and the most engaging recommendations of the heart. Fame has been divided into three species : glo ry, which attends the great atflions of lawgivers and heroes, and the management of the great commands and firft offices of State : reputation, which is cherished by every gentleman: and cre dit, which is supported by merchants and trades men. But even the division is incomplete, be cause the desire aiul the objetfl of it, though it may be conlidered in various lights and under different modifications, is not confined to gentle men nor merchants but is common to every hu man being. There are no men, who arc not am bitious of diftinguiffiing themselves, and grow ing conliderable anions those, with whom they converse. This ambition is natural to the human Ibul : and as when it receives a happy turn, it is the fourceof private felicity and public prosper ity ; and when it errs, produces private u«eafi> ness, and public calamities, it isthe buftnefsqnd duty of private prudence, of private and public education, and of natural policy, to dired: it to rjffh* obWte. IVt '•««. ir (hould be con lidered, that to every man who is capable of a wor thy condutft, the pleasure from the approbation of worthy men is ex'quifite and inexprelfible. It is curious to consider the final caules of things, when the physical are wholly unknown. The in tellectual and moral qualities, are most within our power, and undoubtedly the most ellential to our happiisefs. The perfonalqualitieso'fhealth, llrength, and agility, are next in importance.— Yet, the qualities of fortune, such as birth, rich es, and honors, though a man has less reason to esteem himfelf for these, than for those of his mind or body, are, every where acknowledged to glitter with the blighted lustre, in the eyes of the world. As virtue is the only rational /buret, and eter nal foundation of honor, the wifdoin of nations, in the titlestliey have established as ttie marks of order and fubord-ination, has grneritlly given an intimation, not of perfoital qualities, nor of the qualities of fortune ; but of lome particular vir tues, more especially bccoming.mtfij, ill the high itations they poiiefs. Reverence is attributed to the Clergy—veneration to Magiftratej-i—honor to Senators—serenity, clemency, or inildnefs of dif poiition to Princes. The sovereign authority and iupreme executive, have commonly titles that de signate power as well as virtue—as Majesty to rungs—u'agniSciMiti inoit lion-orcd, and fotei Sign -Lords, to the go\ernment of Genevan—noble to the States of Frielland—noble and mighty* Lords to the States of Gneldcrland—noble great and venerable Lords to the regency of Leyden—noble vuid grand Mightihe'Tes to the States of Holland—noble gfre.'r atid venerable Lords, the regency of Amfterdam—iioblemighti nefies, the States of Utrecht—and high mighti neiles the Stfites-(-eneral. A death bed, it is said, (hews the eftVptinefs of titles. '] lint may does it not eqri l a]ly ihew the futility, of riches, power, liberty and alt earthly things ? The cloud-capt towers, the gor geoMs palScesjthe folenin temples, the g»eat gFobd i'-ltil, appear the bafelcls fabric of a vilioii, and liie irlVlf a tale, told by an ideot, full of found and fury, fignifying nothing. Shall it beinfer red from this, that lame, liberty, property and life, fliall be always despised aild liegletTted ? s naH laws and government, which regulate fub <unary things be negletfted, becaufd they appear baubles at t"he hour of death ' The wifdoni and virtue c' 11 nations have en deavored to regulate the pa ni)i for re (pert and diftimftiou, and to reduce it to some order in fo cietv, by titles marking the gradations of-magif N°- , >f SATURDAY, MAT 22, 1790 tracy, to prevent as far as homan power and po licy can prevent, collifiotis air»ng the passions of many purfujug the fame objects, and the rivalries, animofkies, envy, jealousy and vengeance, which always result from thejii. Has there ever been a nation, who und«rftoW i ;ie human heart, better thar the Romans ! Oi made a better use of the pa/i, nfor confideratioii congratulation anddiftinctiov ? They considered, that as reason is the guide life, the fcnfes, tin imagination and rhe atfcCti. ~s are the springs ol adti\%»-. Reason holds the hilm, but pallions art the gafles : and as the diretfeft road to thefc ii through the senses, thelang uage offigns was em ployed by Roman wisdom to excitc the emulatibr and a&ive virtue of the citizens. Dijlinttions ol conditions as well as of ages, were made by dif terence of cloathing. The Laticlave, or largt flowing Robe, studded with broad spots of purple, the ancient distinction of their Kings, was, after the eftabiifhment of the consulate, worn by the Senators, through the whole period ofthe repub lie and the Empire. The Tribunes of the peo ple, were, after their inffjtntion, admitted to wear the fame venerable signal of fandiity and author ity. The angufticlave, orthe smaller robe, with narrower studs of purple, wps the diftinguiihing habit of Roman Kjiights. The golden ring was also peculiar to Senators and Knights, an<T was not permitted to be worn by any other citizens. The pretext, or long "white robe reaching down to the aoflea, bordered with purple, which was worn by the principal u.agifrvates, fucli as Cop fuls, Prretors, Ceufors and fohietimes on solemn feftivals, by Senators. The cliairs of ivory ; the Lienors ; the rods ; the axes; the crowns of gold ; of ivory ; of flours ; of lierbs ; of laurel branches ; and of oak-leaves ; the civil and the mural crowns ; their ovations ; and their triumphs ; everything in religion, government and common life ftinotig thePiomans was parade, representation and cere mony. Every thing was addrefled to the emula tion of the citizens, and every thfng was calcu lated to attract 'h« attentiov - to allure the con sideration and excite the congratulations of the people ; to attach their hearts to individual citi zen# acfording to their merit : and to their law givers, magiflratcs and judges, according totheir ranks, stations and importance, in the State. Ai.d this was in the true spirit of republics, in which form of government there is no oth£r confiflent method of' preserving order, or procuring fub rniffion to the laws. To such means as these, or to force, and a (landing army, recourse fnult be had, for the giiardianfhip of laws, and the pro tection of the people. It is universally true, that in all the republics now remaining in Europe, there is, as there ever has been a more constant and anxious attention to such forms and maiks of diftinOtions, than there is in the monarchies. The policy of Rome was exhibited in its highest pel fedion, in the triumph of Paulas Emillius over I'erfeus. It was a striking exemplification of congratulation and sympathy, contrasted with each other. Congratulation with the conqueror : lympathy with the captive : both suddenly chang ed into sympathy with the conquerer. The de (criptioli* of this triumph, is written with a pomp of language correfpoiulent to its dazzlingmagni ficence. The representation of the King, and his children must excite the pity of every reader, who is not animated with the ferocious fenti men ts of Roman insolence and pride. Never was there a more moving lcdbn of the melancholy lot of hu manity, than the contrasted fortunes of the Ma cedonian and the Roman. The one diverted of his crown and throne, led irrchains with his chil dren, before the chariot of the other, blazing in gold and purple, to the capitol. Thisinftl'uitHve leflon is given us by the viilorhimfelfin a speech to the people. " My triumph, Romans, as if it " had been in derlfion of all human felicity, has " been interposed between the funerals of my " children, and both have been exhibited, as " fpedtacles, before you. Perseus, who, him " felf a captive, saw his children led with him in " captivity, now enjoys them in i'afetv. I, who " triumphed over him, having ascended the ca " pitol, from the funeral chariot of one of my " sons, descended from that capitol, to fee ano " ther expire. In the house of Paulus none re " mains but hiinfelf. But youf felicity, Ro " mans, and the prosperous fortune of the pub " lie, is aconfolation to me under this deftruc " tion of my family." It is easy to fee how such a scene must operate on the hearts of a nation : how it must aftetlthe paffiori for diftintfion : and how it must excite the ardor and virtuous emulation of the citizens. * 45. 39- 461 PHYSIOGNOMATICAL ANECDOTE. T REQUIRE nothing of thee, said a father to 1 his innocent f6n, when bidding him farewell, bu; that thou lhouldft brjng me back this thy couiif tenance. All amiable and innocent young lady, who had been chiefly educated in the country, saw her face in the glals, as {he pafled i: with a candle in her hand, returning from evening prayer, and hav ing jutt laid down her bible. f-ier eyes were ci'.ft on the ground"wit.h liß.ypr-.v'iblc- moicfty, at the light of her own image. Siie pailed the win'c. in town, I'urrotinded by adorers, hurried, away Ly dilnpation, and plunged in triflihg Ihe forgot her bible, and her devotion—ln the spring ihe returned again toilie country, her chamber, and the table on which her bible lay. Again fiie had the candle in her hand, and again saw herfelf in the glass. She turned pale, put down the candle, retreated to her fofa, and fell on her ki:res—Oh God ! I no longer know my face. How am I degraded ! My follies and vani ties are all written in my countenance, Where fore have they been negletfted, illegible, till this inltant ? Oh come and expel, come and utterly efface them, mild tranquillity, sweet devotion, and ye gentle cares of benevolent love !■" CONGRESS 0,1 the ytfy infiant in the Hqufeof Beprefentaihes, vSlien tie hill forfi valty ahujling the claims oj Baron Stmbcr\ was before {he Houj}, se veral Members having frevroufly spoken to a motion for Jti;iking c\iz the JirJi clause of the bill, Mr. Pace made thcjalfowing reply. S I R, I AM a earn (I the motion for (hiking out the 2706 dollars, and lnftgrtinjt 1 5 00 » because it is incompatible with the preceding of the bill, which slates the sum {2706) as justly due to the Baron according to the report ot the Secretary of the Treasury ; ;ind bccaufe it is derogatory to the honor and veracity of the mem bers of the committee of Congiefs, on whose tcftimony the Ba ron's claim is founded. Some gentlemen, iir, lay great (tress.on the want of proof, ref pc&ing wh?t is called the contract with Baron Steuben ; but*fy, I think we have had all the proof the nature of the cafe will admit of, and Cor toy part I (hould want no other than Mr. Lee's leitfr ti» the Baron. Sir, this illustrious vetefan offered hisfervihes on such gfirerouai terms and served us so eflentialLy, that I (hall blush for Congrtfsv fhotild tht ideas of fomegentlemen hqw. prevail. It is unworthy of Congress, after having f» long enjoyed the benefit of those ser vices, now to be thus coldly scrutinizing the terms on which he offered them, and speaking of them aS of little importance I Weigh them not, fir, with she dollars proposed : they are far be yond any sum which we can give : .and if the worthy member Irom North-Carolina (Mr. Bloodworth) who mpyed the motion, wishes to abandon the principles of the bill, aud inftcad of pay ing to the Baron the debt there dated as due to him, means to give him a sum by way of compensation for his services, and has economy in view, I would advise him to withdraw his motion ; tor if we depart from the principles'of the bill, they who v9luc this great man's services as I do, will vote to give him much more than the bill proposes. If I (hould be at liberty to propofea com pensation for the facrifices he made by coming to America and lerving in her war, and to recompense him for his great fcrvicei, I am sure I (hall propose a much larger sum than has yet been talked of. Sir, had the Baron ftipultJed to receivc but two percent on the afticles under his dire&ion, or I fay on what be saved, lie would be entitled to much more than is now propof.-d to fc>e given him. The economy he introduced into the army was the occa sion of an imtnenfe (aving. Who can fay now what was saved, in arms, accoutrements and ammunition, and by the reduction of bag gage and forage ? I have been told that ofHcers, who had leaded a waggon with their baggage, wrre (bon reduced to a (ingle pack horse. Some gentlemen have made light of the diftipbne which has been attributed to the Baron, and told us of the affairs of Bunker's- Hill, Trenton, Princeton, and Germantown. It was true these were brilliant a&ions ; but the mcmberlrom South-Carolina (Mr. Smith) and the member from Delaware, had replied fully to this observation. They well observed that, brilliant as those anions were, valoiii 1 without discipline ij.qfttn vain, and may lead only to definition —that the commander in chief did wood, rs with out the Baron, and (they might have added) he was Wonderful iri refourcrs, and " in him'felf an hoil" : but we (hould not now con. fider what the commander in chief did before he had the Baron'i alfiftance, but what he did with his assistance, and what use he made of his services ; and to this, at far as relates to the Baron, he has. repeatedly and geneioufly borne ample trftimony. Sir, the Baron, as Adjutant-General and Director General, was peculiarly adapted to the purpose of the American arm). Hav ing served S2 yars in the Pruflian army, wllich Americans had been taugbt to believe was the belt difcip(iued in the world, his discipline was more readily embraced, and more confidence *re posed in it, than would have been the cafe bad almost any other man, of any other nation, undertaken that great tallc. Thepiaife now given to the Baron is no disparagement, therefore, to other officers. The Commander in Chief flood in need of an adjutant like him, from the peculiar fituatioa of our army, and has acknow ledged his services ; therefore it does not become us to speak of them as unimportant. Sir, the importance of those services would have been displayed to your view by many officers now in this house, had they not, from that delicacy peculiar to American officers, who having laid by the name and dress of foldicrs and mixed with their fellow-ci tizens in civil life, refrained from appearing to be more know ing in military matters than the other members of this house : I fay, were it not for this delicacy, we should have had a full dis play of the Baron's services. One officer, indeed (Col. Bland) from the honest warmth of his heart, has not refrained fiomfa\- ing a few words in support of the Baron's claim. But, fir. I have alked officers, and some of them now n this house, whether I had misunderstood or over raied the Baron's claim ? and I have been constantly told that 1 did not. Though I had not the honor of being in the army, I was well informed by my correfpoadcms [Wholf. No. 1 to.]
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