Of a ballet at Versailles. A poetical etijiotrut
who feels for the decadenc: offcis country, laments
this fatal change of manners in the following pa*
thetic and affecting lines :
" Autrefois, Jans la France,
*• La prefenced'un due faifoit taire tin marquis <
" Dev»nl l'tiomme cour adrois
" Un gcutilhomme de province
" N'auroit oft rcftcr aflii.
" Un bourgeois refpeftoit le noble le plus mince |
'• Les plus grands impofoient tonjours aux plus pctits |
" El e'etoit un ordrc admirable :
" Majs I'aujonrdliui dans ce Paris
" C' t(l un despotisme effroyable ;
" Tout le mindty dit fan avis "
How different is our situation at this moment I
Ho* triumphant the contrail ! By the aufpicioua
exercise of the prerogative, the British and Irish
peerage have been liberally increased during the
present reign—As birth, fortune, and desert are
not faftidiouily deemed indispensable qualificati
ons, the gratitude of the new peer to the crown
jsinfured, as lie can only ascribe his promotion
to the gracious favor of his fovereign,and the be
nign influence of the ininiller. Thus the pride
a*id arrogance of alluming merit are effe<ftually
checked ; and a courtly complaisant race of 110
hies gradually formed ; all actuated by the true
Tpirit of arillocracy, and implicitly devoted to
the crown ; always ready to support its preroga
tives, and maintain the splendid privileges of
their own order, againfl vulgar prejudice, and
popular encroachments.
for though the lords derive their honor from
the crown, the fountain of all honor ; Hill as they
are only trustees, they lhould be ever ready to
reiign it with alacrity on any great political cri
sis. By a spirited exertion, founded on this ge
nerous fentiinent, a few noble peers, [if report is
to be credited] gallantly defpifirtg reproach and
obloquy, and disdaining to be bound by too rigid
and scrupulous an adherence to their word, sav
ed the king, the church, and the nation, by vo
ting againlt the Eall India bill in 1 783.
Oil the fame maxim, a desertion of friends,
party, an 1 principle, may foinetimes beconfider
ed as a political tefl, and as a just, fair, and con
ltitutioual claim to a pension and peerage ; be
ing a fort of feudal homage, and the mod une
quivocal proof of profound duty, loyalty, and
attachment. Surely even the malignity of facti
on mutt admit, that the elevation of foul which
indignant virtue inspires, could alone induce any
person to a<ft what is commonly, but very erro
neously, deemed a dishonorable part in politics.
V °*'id the mod unprincipled administration a
bandonfuch an intrepid convert, to be vilified,
traduced, and exposed to the bitter taunts, and
contemptuous f'neers of a calumniating oppositi
on No : let a man of such heroic merit never
be consigned to difgrare ; let him be ennobled
by a title, and enriched by a Pension, in order to
excitc a generous emulation in others, and as the
only adequate reward and consolation he him
felf can relish.
I have also, Sir, often reflected with fingnlar
fatisfaL r tion on the pleasing mode in which civil
fints were carried on in France ; where even the
decifiens ofjuftice were hiafled by the gentle influ.
ence of manners and customs,& blended with their
social system of policy. The PrefiJent wag usually
foliated in person, by his noble or fair clients,
and their flare of the cafe was liflened too with
the mofr polite refpedl and attention. As gal
lantry and law were happily united, ladies with
8' eat condescension visited the judge at his own
'chamber.— When beauty pleaded her cause irre
iiftably in private, what a faint impression could
even the eloquence of an Erlkine make in open
cou " • Sometimes an amorous proposition, ex
prelied with the utinoft delicacy, drop'd from
the judge, and if favorably received, le froces
etoitgagni. A French critic has produced a fpe
ciinen of elegant wit, addrefied by a judicial ma
gistrate to a charming Alitor, on this nice point,
equally honorable to himfelf and the jurifpru
uenoe of his country : The equivoque of a legal
term is happily preserved ; for as the author
was a lawyer,he remembered the profefTion in his
poetical rapture, and rested his claim to recibro
city on a double entsudre
11 Vous avez chez moi Tibre acces.,
14 J' en demande chcz vous un autre.
lt Sijc iiegagne mon proccs,
" Vous ne gagncrez pas lc voire &c.
But the barbarous spirit of democracy has in
terrupted this tender intercourse ! This fenti
mental mode of conducing law-suits ! Judicial
inagilb-ates will no longer be permitted to pur
chase offices. A previous study and lono- prac
tice in the courts will be elteemed indifpenf.ble
<] uficaiions for the bench ; and consequently
youngmep will be excluded, on whole generous
feelings the tears and solicitations of the fair ne
ve. fail in exciting the warmed emotions.—ln
ex ,ble bourgsoh j.iiies will be eltabli/hed, who
may p-efume to j :dge both of the law and fad ;
no defH, e;ice will be p.iid to birth, rank or rich
es ; and an accompli (lied courtier, perhaps a fa
vonre of his fovereigu, will be treated like one
of the canaille.
But the tvjf will not flop here : not only the
loft intercourse which has been just described,
will no longer be tolerated, but all the delica
cies of politeffe will be abolilhedj and ancient rus
ticity revived. " The ideas which the Greeks
formed of politeness, mult hiave been very dif
ferent from our's," fays Mr. Hume, iri quoting
this passage from Menander : " It is not in the
power of the Gods to make a polite soldier."
l'he reason is obvious.—The turbulent spirit of
licentious equality difFufed among the Grecian
republics, inspired a contempt for those finer so
cial arts, the original invention of which even
Mr. Dutens admits to be modern They disdain
ed to acquire that refpettful addrefs,that delicate
adulation, and honourable subserviency to the
pleasure and inclination of others, in which the
veiy ellence of true politeness consists. Such
a sensitive plant shrinks from the rude hand ot
democracy, andean be only cultivated to its ut
most perfection undef the genial influence and
cheering beams of court sunshine. The authoi
of Esprit des Loix, who saw this finely exeniplifi
ed in his own country, remarks, -with patriotic
exultation, " that politeness and arbitrary pow
er made an equal progress among the Romans."
The converse of this pi opofitionis likewise true.
The French will soon lofethat boaftedfuperiori
ty which has so long excited the envy and emu
lation of Europe. Even the Dutch, under the
protection and auspices of the Pruflian monarch,
will speedily be drilled into more refinement, and
excel them in every graceful and elegant accom
pli (hment. As amiablenefs of character is attain -
ed by the agreeable art of concealing the boiste
rous tallies of pallion, and restraining the dif<r U ft.
ing bluntnefs of sincerity, politeness and diflunu
lation are indiflolubly connected, and always
H jurifh under the protection of royalty. This
exterior varnish pleases ihe eye, though it dis
guises the heart as painting glass, beautifies it
but renders itlefs tr; ufparent.
MADRID, May 25
COUNCILS have been held here oflattf, occasi
oned by the-jumerous couriers from London,
Liibon, and Paris ; but there is not the fmallelt
appearance of any intention in our Court to give
up its claims to the exclusive navigation ofthe
Southern Ocean.- Portugal, in consequence of
the family marriage which took place lately, a
bandons Great-Britain to join our cause. The
preparations for war go on with more vigour
than ever.
LONDON, June II
The French patriots are greatly elated with a
recent vitftory o*£r the ai iltoci arics, in the French
Netherlands—the regiments of Vintimille and all
the regulars in the garrison of the place, have
entered into a voluntary union and confederacy
with the national troops at Douay. And thus
the hopes of the royal party are diniinifliinz in
every quarter ! °
The best opinion amongst the principal mer
chants concerned in the Spanish trade here is
that if we demaitd of the court of Spain a res'
titution of our (hipping and a partial trade to
the south well coiflt, both will be granted; but
if we demand an exclofive general trade it
would be in fact giving np the keys of Mexico
and Pern, and for the preservation of those
places they will rifqoe every thing.
The speculative politicians, who look to our
quondam polleflions in America, for afliftance at
the prefentcrifis, will be deceived, if we arc to
trull to the best informed men from that country.
They look on European differences with too
much fang froid. They have a debt only of fif
teen millions, which as they quaintly fay, they
can discharge while they sleep, and that there
fore their best vitfory is to be found in neutra- j
The bodies and Ikeletons found in the dun
geonsof theßaftile, were depofned on the ift
mft. irt St. Paul's church-yard. The funeral ce
remony was accompanied with solemn pomp—
The bier was borne by twelve of the
employed in the of that fortrefs, and
the pall supported Jby those who had disinterred
the corpses: they had their tools conspicuous with
a label containing these words—" Tremble ve
enemies of public good!" On the coffin were
placed a chain and bullet, found very near one
of the v,cW. Ihe battalion, and almost all the
citizens of the De la Culture, attended this fu
aeral.
June 22
The expenditure of the Briti/h armaments a
mounted, on tnday last, to one million one hun
dred and forty-eight thousand pounds fterlin-.
SWEDES AND RUSSIANS.
Further particulars of the taking Revel by the Swedes.
',Y r !r e -i f Sucl e rmania, immediately up.
A the f ?.lure of his si.st on the H.ZilZx
V\ i U \ g k n the h,rbor of Re^el « ancho' i
«h.ch he loft two ftips of the line, retired about
lea guesfiom the harbor to repair the damage
574
(To be continutd.)
June 19.
his fleet had fuflained, and to prepare for a te
cond attack before any relief could be afforded
to the Ruffian fleer. As Toon as he had refitted
he failed for the harbor, at a league diitaut from
which th» Ruffian fleet was discovered ready
dispute with the Swedes the entrance. Upon
Council being held by the Duke, it was resolved
to attack the Ruffians, and the signals beiim
ven the fleet bore down for the attack, which
maintained for near fix hours with the utnioft
fury < at length the Swedes broke the Ruth ari
line, which threw them into much confufion
- tien the Swedes, taking the advantage of the
general confufion into w.iich the Ruffians were
Ctirown, followed them with their whole force
into the harbor, where, after a fliort bur dread
ful conflict and carnage, the Ruffian flaps which
remained afloat struck, and the caflle and towi.
furrtudered." 1
CHARLESTON (S. C.) July t2 .
The increase of population in this Stare has
ulrpafled the mod sanguine expectation. A gen
tleman who went froii} this in the year T 755 to
fettle in the country was the tenth peifon who
inhabited Pendleton county ; but according ta
the returns nittde in conformity to the ast tor
procuring a cenfns of the people of this State
and which was exhibited to the late convention'
it appears, that the number of fighting men i«
that county exceeds fezten thou/and.
August 14.
Last evening arrived the brig Wafhtnirton
Roullaniu n days, and schooner Faithful, Aaron'
Young, in 17 days from Aux-Caves.
Previous to the departure of the brig Wafting,
ton, from Aux-Cayes, a French packet had ar
rived there from France, with dispatches for
the commandants of Aux-Cayes, Port-au-Prince
kc. which had excited much anxious curiosity
among the patriots, from their import not be
ing communicated to the public. On an expreft
having been forwarded to the general at Port
au-Prince, the popular impatience arose to such
an unbounded height, that they seized on the ex
press, brought him back, and opened the dis
patches in public, which, on being read, produ.
ced the u tin oft fatisfaition ; containing inflruc
tious to the adminiflration to acquiesce in the
proceedings of the patriots, and to fuffer them
quietly to proceed in the formation andeftablifh
inent of their municipal governments. Tlie dis
patches also contained orders to put the island
in the best state of defcnce.
PHILADELPHIA, 24.
The crops of wheat and rye in every part of
Pennsylvania, have greatly exceeded the expevft
ations o! the farmer. While those grains had
an unpromising appearance last spring, a quad
luple quantity of Indian corn, oats and potatoes,
were put in the ground, all of which promise an
miineiile encreafe, so that the profits of agricul
tuie to the State of Pennlylvania, it is computed,
this fall and next spring, will be equal, if not
fupeiior to what they have been during the last
I he Princes of antiquity, and particularly the
Roman Emperors, had recourse to the expedient
of deification, in order to inspire into the minds
of the people reverence for their persons, and
absolute fubmilfion to their extravagancies.—The
jus divinum and fan&ity of character, which some
of our modern monarchs have afliimed, are co
pies of this original absurdity, and calculated
011 (imilar principles of policy, to enslave the
mind, and divest human nature of tliofe rights
and privileges communicated, by supreme pow
er, to elevate man above the reft of the
creation ; but the people have dece<sted the im
posture, and regained that rational station in so
ciety, which their fathers had impotently re
signed to the iniquity and caprice of monarchs
for several thousand years.
tor the information of the public, a corres
pondent has favored us with an account of the
cause of the difturbanres in Hifpaniola, which he
collected from his letters, and intelligence recei
ved of persons from that island :
Sometime ago, the citizens of the island aflem
bled, and chose delegates from each diftricft, to
meet at St. Mark's in aflembly, with authority
to make laws for the government of the island.
1 hey met, and made a number of laws—these
laws were approved of by the inhabitants of the
north, and disapproved of by the south fideofthe
liland ; but the Aflembly attempted to enforce
them, and enliftened all the King's troops, at
eig t dollars per month, and a bit a day wages :
u' ZC i . U P O . n a f renc '' 74 gun-lhip, and a frigate
■nc ] J ?y in the harbour, and manned them: —
they alio enrolled all the inhabitants of the north,
and draft them by terms. Any pei foil who is
.in- i i a,K ' not turn out 10 e "f° rce £ h e
nuembly's laws, i* p u t into confinement. Any
per son drafted is free from arrell for debt while
in service, or in going to or coming from head
quarters, or for fifteen days after their return.
!n consequence of this law, a number of people
have purchased goods from merchants and ma»
teis of vefiels, and taken protection by joining
the troops. >