THE RIGHT CONSTITUTION OF A COMMONWEALTH EXAMINED. (CON TIU AjTJJ.p N\) XEDHAM talks of •' senate. and people's feeling the burthens •' of the fury of the kings but as we cannot accufethis writer of ignorance, this mult have been either artifice or inadvertence. There li not in the whole Roman hillory so happy a period as this under their, kings. The wiiole line were excellent cliara&ers, and fathers of their people, notwit'.i/hnding the continual cabals of the nobles agaiuft them. The nation was formed, their morali ty, their religion, the maxims of their government, were all eita bhfhed under these kings : The nation was defended againil innu merable and warlike nations of enemies ; in iftort, Home was never so well governed or so happy. As soon as the monarchy was abolished, and an ambitious republic of haughty afpiriug ari ilocratirs wa* eretted, they were seized with the ambition of conquest, and became a torment to themselves and the world. Our author confeifes, that 44 being freed from the kingly yoke, 4i and having fecuredall Dower within the hands of themiejves and *• their posterity, they fell into the fame absurdities that had been 44 before committed by their kings, lo that this new yoke became " more intolerable than thetormer." It would be move conform able to the truth of hillory to fay, that they continued to behave exactly as they had done ; but having no kings to murder, they had onlv people to destroy. The .sovereign power was in them under the kings, and tliei r grealeft animolity againlt their kings, next to the ambitious defiic of getting into their places, was their too frequent patronage or the people. The only change made bv the revolution was to takeoff a little awe which the name of king ifrifpired. The office, with all its dignities, authori ties, and powers, was in fa6l continued under the title of consul ; ic was marie apnuallv elective it is true, and became accordingly a of the senate, wholly destitute of any power or will to protect plebeians, a difpoQticjn which the hereditary kings al ways discovered more or less, thereby became odious to the senate ; for thi-re is no fin or'crime lo heinous in the judgment of patricians, as for any one of their own rank to court plebeians,or become their patron, prritc&or, Or Iriend. It is very true 44 the nevy yoke was more intQlqrqblf than 44 the old, nor could the people find any remedy until they pro -44 cured that necellarv office of t"he tribunes." This was form remrdy,but a very "feeble and ineffectual oiie : Nor, if the people had inllitnted an annual affeinbly of 500 representatives, would that have been an effectual remedy, without a plenary executive power in the consul ; the senate and alfembly wpuld have Ljetii soon at wir, and the leader of the victorious army mailer of tin ilate. If 44 the tribunes, by being veiled with a temporary au 44 thority.by the people's election, remained the more fetffible of i: their condition," the American governors and senators, veiled as they are with a temporary authority by the people's election. wHI reniain sensible of their condition too. If they do not be corhe too sensible of it, and discover that flattery, and bribery, and partiality, better calculated to procure renovations of their authority, than honesty, liberty, and equality, happy indeed ihall we all be ! 4i What more excellent patriot could there be th in Mnnlius, till he 44 became corrupted bvtinie and power?" Is it a clear cafe thatMan iius was cprruptcd ? T«j me he appears the belt patriot in Roman h'ftory : The m«ft humane,the moll equitable ; .the gjeatdl friend of liberty, and the mofldefirous oj a conllitution truly free ; the real friend ps the peonle, an<J the enemy of tyranny in every (hapc , as weir as the greatelt hero and warriourof his age—a much greater chara&er than Camiljus. Our author's cxpreflion implies, that 44 there was no greater patriot," until he fawthe neccflity of new modelling thp cpnftitytion, anil was concerting measures upon the true principles of liberty, the authority of the people, to checks upon the fmate. But Manlius is an unfortunate ipltance for our author It was not time and power that inspired him wi.t,h his deligns ; the jealou-fv and envy of the senate had removed him from power : he was neither consul, di&ator, nor general. Ariftoc/atical envy had let up Camillus, and continued him in power, both as consul and dictator, on purpose to rival and mortify Manlius. Ic was difcontinnance of power then that corrupted him. if he corrupted ; and this generally happens, disappoint ed candidates for popular elections arc as often corrupted b/ their fall from power, as heiediiary anftocratics by their continuance in it. 44 Who more noble, courteous, and well affe&ed tothe common 44 good tban Appius Claudius at firfl ? Butafterwards, liaving 44 obtained a continuaiiQii ps government in his own hands, 44 he soon loft his primitive innocence and integrity, and deyoted 44 himfelf to all the pra&ices of an absolute tyrant." This is very tr.ue, b.ut ic was not barely continuation of power, it was absolute power, that did the mifchief. If the power had been properly limited in degree, it might have heeu continued, without limitati on of time, without corrupting him : though it might be better to limit it, both in degree and in time ; and it mull never be foi goiten that it was the people, not the senate, that continued him i:x nower. Tlie senate ?£led an arbitrarv and reprehcoftblepart, when they thought to continue Lucius Quintius in the consul/hip longer than the time limited by law : bv violating the law they became tyrants, and their ads was void. That gallant man acted only the part of a good cit-zen in refufing to set a precedent 10 prejudicial to the Roman conllitution ; bis'inagnanimity merits praise : but perhaps he was the only senator who woujd have refufed, and we cannot fafely reckon upon fucb felT-dcii'ial in forrrfing any constitution of government. But it may be depended on, that when the whole power is in one afletnbjy, whether of patricians or plebeians, or -•nv mixture of botl) ? a favourite will be continued in power when ever the majority wifhrs it, and every conceivable lundamental 2Uw, or even oath, againlt it will be dispensed with. From the Massachusetts Magazine. OE NI LEMF. N, T.ie depth of philological knowledge, j'iftnefs of fentimert, and gLirity of ftylp, which .ire the characfefilhcs of Mr. WibsterV Vi/jcrtatwiii on th( Englju Lfinguge, mutt recommend thrin to the* attention of <v ry American. Perhaps no part of them is more cftnnation, than those spirited p iges, where he iras attacked the proud demiGodsof Briulh Literature, and JjuijiMed their Qcttifs of Hiftoty, iu the dull of Criticism. As H ivs.rim«n sis hjafuperior .ib'iitics, nice difccrnnient, and c,or r.st taste," please to insert the iiiliowing. Your (Sic. Z. M. IVEJISTER's CRITICISMS" UPON CIBBON's HISTORY. fW no particular is the falfetafteof the Englilh more obvious, than in the promii'cuqus cncomiums lhey have bellowed on Gibbqn, as a liiftorian. Hii work is not properly a " Hijlory of the de cline a:id fall of the Roman empive hut a " poetical historical description of certain persons and events, embellHhed with luitable imagery find •episodes, designed to show the author's talent in felcCtins; woYcls, as well as to delight the ears of his readers." In his history Hiould be en titled, " A difplayof words except fomechap ters which are excellent commentaries on the hiitory of the Roman empire. The general fault of this author is, he takes more pains to form his fcntejiccs, titan to colletft, i arrange and e::p.ef> the facts in ancafv and per- J fyicuous manner. In confcquepcc of attending to ornament, he seems to forget chat lie is writing for the information of his reader, anil when he ought to irrjtruft the mind, he is only [> leafing the ear. t\ully poliefied of his fubjecft, he describes things and events in general terms or figurative language, which leave upon the mind a faint evanescent impreliionoffome.indeterminateidea ; fp that the reader, not obtaining a clear precil'c knowlege of the fa<fts, finds it diflicult to under ltand, and iinpoflible to recollect the author's meaning. Let a man read his volumes with the molt laborious attention, and he will find at tin close that he can give very little account of the " Roman Empire but he will remember per fectly that Gibbon is a molt eleg;nt writer. Hiltory is capablc of very little embellilhinent; tropes and figures are the proper inltruments 01 eloquence and declamation ; falls only are the sub jeCts othJJtor, . Renditions of the author are ad mitted ; but these should not be frequent ; for the reader claims a right to his own opinions. The justness ol the historian's remarks may be called in queftion—facfts only are inconteftible. The plain narrative of the lcripture historians, and oi Herodotus, with their dialogues and di grefiions, is as tar superior, considered as pure liittory, to the affected glaring brilliancy of Aile and manner, which runs through Gibbon's wri tings, as truth is to fiction ; or the vermillion blush of nature and innocence, to tlie artificial daubings ot falhion. The firft never fails to affec't the heart—the last can only dazzle the senses. Another fault in Gibbon's manner of writing, is, the use of epithets or titles instead of names. " The Cafar, tjie conqueror of the ealt, the protector of the church, the country of the Citfars, the foil of Leda," and innumerable linnlar appellations are employed, inltead of the real names ot the persons and places ; and fre quently at fucha diltance from any mention of the name, that the reader is obliged to turn over a leaf and look for an explanation. Many of the epithets are new ; custom has not made .us fami liar with them ; they have never been substituted, by common consent, for the true names ; the reader is therefore surprised with unexpected ap pellations, and constantly interrupted to find the persons or things to which they belong. I am not about to write a lengthy criticism on this author's hiltory ; a few paliages only will be (elected as proofs of what I have advanced. " Decline ana Fall of the Roman Empire," vol 3, oift. chap. 17: In explaining the motives of the hmperors tor removing the feat of governmeni from Rome to the East, the author fays,—Rom, was insensibly confounded with the dependeni kingdoms which had once acknowledged her su premacy ; and the country of the Ctejars was view ed with cold indifference by a martial prince born in the neighbourhood of the P^nube,educa ted in the courts and armies of Alia, and inverted with the purple by the legions of Britain." Bj our author's beginiug one part of the sentence with Rome, and the otherwith the country of tht C.rfars, the reader is led to think two different places are intended, for he has not a suspicion ol a tautology ; or at lcaft lie l'uppofes the authoi uses the country of the Ccrfars in a more extensive sense than Rome. He therefore looks back and reads perhaps half a page with '.closer attention, and finds that the writer is speaking of the feat of empire, anj therefore can mean the city of Rome only. After this trouble he is dil'pleafed that the author lias employed five words to fwel] and adorn bis period. This however is not the only diffi culty in understanding the author. Who is the martial prince ? In the preceding sentence, Dio clefian is mentioned as withdrawing from Rome; md in the sentence following, Conftantine is said to \ iiit Rome but seldom. The reader then is left to colled: the author's meaning, by the cir cumltances ot the birth, education and election of this martial prince. If he is pofleffed of these facts already, he may go on without much trouble, The author's affectation of using the purple foi the crown of imperial dignity, is so obvious b} numberless repetitions of the word, as to be per fectly ridiculous. " In the choice of an advantageous situation he preferred the confines of Europe and Asia ; tc curb, with a powerful arm, the barbarians whe dwelt between the Danube and Tanais ; to watch with an eye of jealousy, the conduct of the Persi an monarch." Here the members of the sentence in Italic, are altogether fuperfluous ; the authoi wanted to inform his reader, that Diocletian de fined to curb the barbarians and watch the Per sian monarch ; for which purpose he chose a fa vorable situation ; but it was wholly immaterial to the fubjeift to relate in what manner or de-j-ree the Emperor meant to exert his arm or his jealou- Cv. Nay, more, thel'e are circumltances which are not reduceableto any certainty, and of which the writer and the reader can have no precise idea. Withthele views, Diocletian had fele(tedand embellished the rcjidence of Nicbmediau."—ls Ni comedian a princess, whose residence the Empe ror feledted and embellished ? This is the raoft obvious meaning of the sentence. But Nicome dian we learn from other paflages, was a citv the residence ufelf of the Emperor. Yet the au thor could not tell us tliii in a few - 1 without Ipoiliagtlie harmony of' cliofe therefore to leave it obfeure ami m! ; e matical. 1 UD S'am- But the memory of Dioclofi-m abhorred by the f,rot«hr of-the church - Jj? 1 * jlantws was not insensible to the anlbi; ion off j ing a city, which >„igft perpetuate tit, S " his own name.' VVhoisth By Conftantine's being alter one would think he cannot be the W intended ; yet on examination, this i s so be the cafe. But why tins separate it leenis the author meant by it to coiivev rV idea ; That Dioclefian was a persecutor tfl church, therefore his memory was abhored b Conftantine who was its protector ; tit Ceujlautinr x abhorrence implied, and be unfolded to the reader in a finale eokW i this history ! I mutt have the liberty to think th inch terfetufs of ihle, notwithstanding the autho rities of Tacitus and Gibbon is a ornfs com,!' tion and a capital fault. PROGRESS OF \UmFA ~TIRE-. A correspondent übferves, that there was such a spirit of industry, and zeal top* mote manufactures, in this town ami its viciuiu as at preient prevail, rtlmoftever.y family ieeiK more or less engaged in this way. There arc now alio at work a carding machine, witha three feet cylinder, two spinning Jennies of 6: spindles each, and one of 58 spindles, and an! after Arkwright Vconftruction, which carries spindles by water ; fiom which machines, s well as from large quantities ipun bv hand/cor duroys, jeans, fuitians, denims, &. &c. arc making.—There are fcvcral other jennies ertd ing for the cotton, as well as carding and other machines for the wool manufa&ory, amon" which the wool picker and flying shuttle are m provements every raifer of iheep and manufstS uring family lhould poflefs. They are attended with little expence, and greatly facilitate la bour. As sheep are the molt profitable Itockthat can be railed, and on their incrtafe depends tic increase of our woolen manufactory,every fanner who can raile flieep will lhew his love to his country, as well as promote his own interest, by increasing his flock. By this attention, as alio an increased care in the raifer* of cotton in the southern Rates to have it picked clean from tie pod, kept free from dirt of every kind, proper ly fepa rated, that which is fully ripe from that which is not, aud having it cleaned in jennies that will not inafli but separate the feed, we may reft allured that there will be no occasion for fending money out of the country for purchas ing clothing. This care, adds our corres pondent, must be highly interesting to the southern states, in order to give their cotton its proper value, as for want of this care it is leffep ed atleaft 50 per cent, a great discouragement to fall on the raifers, when by proper care they might in time rival the Weft-India planters in the production of that valuahle article, as iti quality, when in perfection, needs not to tc doubted. NATIONAL MONITOR. No. XVI. " O HAPPY, IF THEY KNEW THEIR HAPPY STATE." LIKE mariners ejeap'dfromfkip wreck, weflandaj!flnifkcd.ittkiir.- gen that awnted vs : li'/ien ice contemplate our situation and profftt: under the auspices of the new Confiitution, u ire smile at the enjoy thf flormV Haying piloted theJhip into a fcourt harbour, t'kt remains, but that we enjoy the jruits of our labor, and make ththfi prpvemeiit of the favours we have received from Heaven f Injf)'"j 1 country which abounds with all that nature can bejiow for convtiitin enjoyment, and delight—biejjed with that firft of all earthly Nefifi 1 government of our own chufing, and which every day atp'reciitts tfi W eflrem —and having the ad mini (Iration of it committed to the tirft of our tried patriots and flqtrfmen y what can uie want to crown wj l ' hcity, but the accordance of our own wilts. Happiness is evidently within our grasp : It invites andallunsif 1 " its embrace.*, by every attraction, which wifdon can fi<rgejl, iicy would desire: She fays to America, be wife, and know, and we ttings which belong to your present and future peace: But her Jm'" " t'lo attainable, are the result of exertion. No acfu/fitions are vim" l * pr ice : Happiness for our country is offered upon the mojl but terms} are annexed-THEY ARE PATRIOTISM, OBEV 1 * ENCE AND SUPPORT TO THE LAWS, AND DILIGENT AND ACTIVITY IN OUR RESPECTIVE rhefe will traXKjuilize the public mind—givi energy, dig;uty to the government, and enjure felicity to individuals, communities, and States : And can We decline the purchase as a p vJ pic ? HEAVEN FORhID > _ PRICE, CURRENT. •SEIV^YOKH Jamaica Spirits, - &!• Antigua Ram, - - - 4/8. <* 4JJ' St. Croix, do. - - & ifi- Country, do. - - MaialTcs, - t/2. 2 /°- Brandy, - 5/6. <* tfy Geneva, - r - - sjh Do. in cases, - - 2%f. & 2 9j- Muscovado Sugar, - - 56/ a 7y* Loaf, do. - - J/J' Lump, do. - - V}* Pepper, ... 2/0. a eyio. Pimento, - y9- 1 5 Chocolate, - Vf Cocoa, - - - 75/* a ' Coffee, - - «/&• " '/r _ R^cf' (Caro -" a) " - " Publiftied by JOHN FENNO, No Lanje, near the Ofwe?o-Market. New-York,-—' w 2 °-r
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers