the Bank, where by law it is kept. A system that should afford in the Comptroller's office, a particular account with each of the debtors and creditors of the state, and also an exact account with the treasurer, which would at all times, exhibit precisely the balance of his account, might be found to contain greater security against misapplication of the publick money, than that under which our pecuniary concerns have been managed.' The course of remark which his excellency pursues in regard to party spirit, and personal animosity we should imagine would cause the Patriot and Chronicle newspapers to blush for the base innuendoes, the foul insinuations and the false conclusions with which even their columns have been disgraced. Let the editors of those papers read the following paragraph, and then let them asperse Mr. Gore and charge him again with being in British pay or British interest, if they have sufficient audacity. • To adopt a rule, that no man is to be selected for office, unless he be of the particular sect, or party of those, who administer the government, or subscribe to their political creed, is to establish a principle, not only not recognized by, but directly repugnant to the constitution. It is moreover highly unjust to the people, as it narrows the choice for office, and may frequently exclude from their service, the purest integrity, the highest capacities, and best dispositions. It is considering government as instituted not for the common good, but for the exclusive advantage of an association or party of men.' REVIEW OF AMES's WORKS. A Series of numbers have appeared in the Patriot newspaper, which are entitled 'a Review of the Works of Fisher Ames;' but instead of candid controversy on principles and sentiments, we are amused with party insinuations and personal allusions, instead of a Review of Mr. Ames' works, it is an appeal from his writings, his personal views and feelings. Views and feelings, however, for which his life, and not his writings are supposed to furnish an authority; but views and feelings which neither his life nor writings can afford any justification to the author of the review in assuming as facts. When the numbers are closed, it may be deemed proper to expose the probable motives of the au thor of them, the fallacy of the arguments, and virulence of the insinuations he employs to effect the object which he secretly expects to accomplish. SILVA. In the fourteenth number of the Ordeal, we took occasion to ridicule the silliness and insipidity with which the department of Silva, in the Monthly Anthology, is so frequently demeaned. These peculiarities are the more remarkable, since it is understood that the department in which they are found is filled every month by the society of gentlemen who superintend the whole work, and who really have frequently displayed much elegant literature, and much acuteness of remark, in the conduct of it. Whether this literary society ought or ought not to farther the pigmean and ricketty brats which scramble about in the Silva, the ridicule which they excite will not be diminished from any such adventitious considerations. A society of litera ry men imposes upon the mind; but even such authority cannot impose the following nonsense upon the world, for either wit, learning, or important information. A LONG INVITATION. "Mr. Bourgoin, French Minister in Portugal, was removed to Hamburg On his arrival there he found an invitation to a dinner in Lisbon, which he had forgotten to answer, but he had time to write by post, that it was out of his power to accept it." It may, to be sure, be very important to the world that Mr. Bourgoin was invited to dinner in Lisbon, and more extraordinary that he could not dine in that city, when he happened to be in Hamburgh; but the importance resulting from these circumstances sink into mere insignificance, when compared with the wit of the next anecdote; which is equally witty and true. LEDYARD. "This celebrated traveller, who was a citizen of Connecticut, was sent by Capt. Cook to explore a river on the coast of Kamschatka. He embarked in a canoe with only three companions. These were the Bible, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and a bottle of brandy." Those of our readers who have been impressed with the wonders, which these sapient paragraphs record, will find their sen sations not diminished on perusing the next specimen of profundity. A PRUDENT MAGISTRATE. 'A vessel arrived at a port in Portugal from Marseilles. A strict quarantine was imposed on all vessels coming from the Levant, on account of the plague. The diembargador ordered the ship into quarantine. But sir, I come from Marseilles. Well, that is in the Levant; you must go into quarantine.' . Why, sir, only look at the map. I will show you that it is not.' The map was produced; the captain pointed at Marseilles, and then shewed him what was called the Levant. The judge, placing his thumb on Marseilles and then stretching his fore finger to the Levant, exclaimed, Poh! Poh! They are close together, it is all the same thing; you must perform quarantine.' The two following paragraphs, and particularly the query at the conclusion of the second, deserve to be connected with the wisdom which has preceded them. DIPLOMATICK CAUTION. The am During the time that the Marquis de Pombal governed Portugal, he was much surprised at receiving no despatches from his minister in Sweden, though he had often written to him. At length, sending a courier to St. Petersburg, he ordered him to go to Stockholm, to enquire the reason of the minister. bassadour was much surprised, said that he had written regularly once a week; he went in consequence with the courier to the post office, to know why they had not been forwarded. The postmaster knew nothing about it, but said he always sent forward all letters. He told them, however he had a number of letters which he had not been able to forward, because he could not discover the direction. Taking them into another room, he shewed the packets, which proved to be the ambassador's, and which for greater security were directed as well as written in cyphers?' PHILIP IV. A man was brought before Philip IVth. of Spain, accused of having slandered his majesty. It was a man whom the king had never known or had any connection with: Let him be dis missed,' said Philip, he must be a madman; no one in his senses would speak ill of a king who had done him no injury. Query. How many mad men would that monarch have found in the United States?'. RECENT PUBLICATIONS. 21 Memoir concerning the Commercial Relations of the United States, with England. By Citizen Talleyrand. To which is added, An Essay upon the advantages to be derived from New Colonies, in the existing circumstances. By the same author. Boston, T. B. Wait, & Co. 22 An Essay on the History of Civil Society. By Adam Ferguson, LL. D. Boston, Hastings, Etheridge & Bliss. 23 A Discourse delivered before the Lieutenant Governour, the Council, and the Houses composing the Legislature of Massachusetts, on the day of the General Election, May 31, 1809. Boston, Russsel & Cutler. 24 An Address delivered before the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, June 2, 1809. By Alexander Townsend, Esq. Boston, Russel & Cutler. 25 Solemn Reasons for declining to adopt the Baptist Theory and Practice, in a series of letters to a Baptist Minister. By Noah Worcester, A. M. Pastor of a Church in Thornton. 26 The New Testament, in an improved version, upon the basis of Archbishop's Newcome's new translation, with a corrected text, and notes critical and explanatory. Published by a society for promoting christian knowledge and the practice of virtue, by the distribution of books. From the London edition. Boston, W. Wells. 1809. 27 A vindication of a discourse on the death of Doctor Priestly, in reply to the Rev. John Pye Smith, in letters to a friend. By Thomas Belsham, To which is annexed the discourse on the death of Dr. Priestly. By the same author. Boston, J. Cushing. 28 The Military Instructor, or New System of European Exercise and Drill, as now practised by the British army, according to General Dundas; and comparative notes between the same, and the Regulations for the Militia of the United States, according to the System of Baron Steuben; clearly demonstrating the superiority of the former over the latter, and the facility with which it can be obtained. In three Parts. Recommended for the adoption of the Militia of the United States. By E. Gillispy. Boston, J. Cushing. THE ORDEA L. No. 24.] SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 1809. [Vol. 1. "Yet not unconscious of this awful age, MANNERS AND CHARACTERS OF THE AGE. THAT the people of the United States, or at least a considerable portion of them, have a tendency constantly to complain of every thing like the coercion of salutary laws, every thing which appears like regular government, will not be denied by any extensive and acute observer of the state of society in the country. It is a kind of democratick impulse which requires restraint; an embryo licentiousness of political feeling, which may germinate into civil riot and confusion. The following observations from an European work will serve to place the cause of such a disposition among a people upon a right basis. I am very ready to admit, that our improvements in civilization and literature have, in many respects, produced an advantageous effect upon our manners. We are certainly entitled to say from experience, ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes, emollit mores, nec sinit esse feros.' But if we take a comprehensive view of the subject, and poise the scales with impartiality, I believe that we shall find no cause to felicitate ourselves upon a comparison of the present with the former times. I fear, that upon such a comparison, the age in which we live will appear to be distinguished by a great and alarming increase of infidelity, and by a growing profligacy of manners, particularly evidenced by the most frequent, flagrant, and aggravated violations of the nuptial tie. Nay, when we observe the loose and indecent attire, in which our half-dressed females present themselves, without a blush, to the publick eye, it is impossible not to conclude that Vol. I. Y Y |