Mr. Jefferfon, who is univerfally admit ted to be a philofopher, may have adopt. ed this principle, and acted upon it..

Under the adminiftrations of Wafhing

ton and Adams, the nation had affumed a grave caft. Were Mr. Clinton to be e. Jefted they might look grave again. But thofe who think of retaining Mr. Jefferfon, according to his earneft defire, laugh at the very notion. They fuppofe that his tricks are not exhaufted; and that fhould Spain wage war against the United States, it will be managed in a jocofe manner. The plan of building gun-boats may be intended to turn the laugh upon the Marquis DYrujo, and the King his Mafter," The greateft laugh of all will he, when they engage the fhips of the line and frigates which the Marquis has gently and kindly hinted may be fent.

A LAUGHER.

Editor's Closet.

BRIBERY.

WE look upon bribery in elections, as a crime of the most heinous and mifchievWe have therefore ever con. ous nature. fidered it as our duty to expofe every inftance of it which fhould come to our

knowledge. But the men who have been guilty of this crime have generally managed the matter with fo much art, that they have eluded difcovery. Once, it is recollefted, we had information of an inftance of the kind in this county. We were a bout collecting the neceffary documents to fubftantiate the fact, when the crafty perpetrator of the crime took care to place the proof beyond our reach. There is one man in the world who will understand this allufion. For the prefent, we have nothing more to fay to him. We have another objef in view.

Obferving, in a Rhode Island paper, a week or two fince, an account of the moft open and direct bribery, at an election for deputies to the General Allembly, in the town of Portsmouth, Rhode-Ifland, we did not hesitate to republifh the fact. It will

not one

cratic deceit; for if they should write ninety-nine truths, they would be employed merely to hide the deformity of one lie.

The writer amules himfelt with giving the character of what he calls a true republican; and his ideas exactly coincide with our own, for he lays,

To be a republican, is to be, both in "theory and practice, the friend of free"dom and of virtue, the enemy of tyran"ny and corruption. In the character "of a true republican, we fhall ever find, "in private life, fuavity of manners, affa

be recollected, that the account ftated, that
money to obtain votes was openly and||
publicly offered by thofe who have ever
pretended to be above corruption, and the
reproach of carrying a point by fuch means"
that "votes were purchafed by the
felf-flyled republicans, at various prices,
from a gill of New England rum,. up to a
yoke of oxen, atd feventy-five, if
hundred dollars"-and that by fuch
means they obtained their election by a
majority of three votes." As this ftate.
ment was published on the fpot, where it
could not, if untrue, efcape refutation a
fingle moment, we had every reafon to be."
lieve it correct. Still, however, we ex-
pected to find, in the democratic papers of
Rhode Island, fomething like a contradic-genuine defcription of a true republican-
tion, juftification or palliation. But what
was our furprize, when, on fearching thofe
papers, we found them unable even to de-
ny

bility, generofity, honour and integrity "-and in public, a facred regard to the conftitution and conflitutional laws of "his country,"

Nobody will deny that this is indeed a

nor will any reasonable man deny that it defcribes a kind of character as totally dif ferent from thofe demagogues and polit ical fwindlers who call themselves repub. licans, as can be conceived. But, "this trial does not come on to day;"-let us return to our subject.

༣

the charge, in dire& and unequivocal terms. As our readers may have a curi ofity to fee how the honeft democrats attempt to get over the affair, we will briefly examine fuch publications as we have The writer (founding his judgment, no seen on the subject. In the first place in doubt, on his knowledge of democratic may be proper to notice fome remarks writers and editors) thinks the charge awhich appear in the Albany Regifter, in- gainst the Rhode Island democrats is not troductory to a piece extracted from the entitled to implicit credit," because it Rhode Island Republican. The writer of is the bare affertion of an editor, or an those remarks commences with a number anonymous news-paper writer." This is of general obfervations, the juftice of rather a curious argument for "an anony which every one muft acknowledge. This mous newfpaper writer" to ufe, when is a fale trick of democratic writers. By claiming implicit credit" for another anonymous newspaper writer." While advancing undeniable, and very familiar pofitions in the outfet, they hope to far to this Albany Regifter urges its readers to gain credit, and ingratiate themselves withhold the charge against the Rhode Island the reader, that all the lies and groundless democrats "falfe and malicious," their infinuations that follow, may have the attention is required to the article from weight of truth and found argument. As the Rhode Island Republican, in which if one should fay-Honey is good. Yes. the writer fays, "the charge is denied." Wax is nfeful. Yes. Therefore, the We are no fo filly as to expect truth from the Regifler; but we did not believe that fling of the infect that produces them is neither painful nor injurious. By mixing even that paper had impudence enough to their poifon with a cordial, they intend tell a plain, plump, downright falfhood, that both fhall bé fwallowed together. The with its detection and refutation marked reader fhould therefore guard against demoon its very front. But this is abfolutely the cafe here. The piece from the Rhode. Inland Republican does not deny the charge of bribery, as made in the Newport Mercury and copied into the Blance. Whether the readers of the Regifter will take it for granted that the piece does contain fuch a denial, and never give themselves the trouble to perufe it, we know not.

* The Bee, with its ufual regard for truth, afferted last week, that a writer in the Rhode Island Republican had refuted the calumny, &c. We declare, and defy contradi&ion, that the publication in question, is nothing like a refettion, nor is it offered as fuch by the writer.

ether

We advise them, however, to look for themselves. Now let us attend to the writer in the Rhode Island Republican.",

This writer begins by faying that the
production from which the charges in
question were extracted, 'contains "gröfs
falfhoods, which demand notice." But
he neither points out thofe falfehoods, nor
honors them with any notice. He next
pretends to guefs at the author of the
charges, which we conceive to be a very
excellent mode of refuting them. Then
he begins to charge the federalifts with the
fame crime, and declares that "they have
by bribery carried their candidates for three
years paft." This affertion, if true, would
unquestionably prove that the good demo-
crats had always been innocent, particu
larly the prefent year, Next, he thinks it
ftrange that a man fhould barter his vote
for a gill of New-England rum. We also
think it range, and none the lefs ftrange
for being true.. Next, he affures the citi
zens of Rhode Island that there are a great
many bad things which the democrats of
that ftate have not done. This kind of
negative praile is very common among de-
mocrats. But amongst all the villainous
tricks from which he declares the demo-
crats of Portimouth, Rhode-Ifland, are
exempt, he has not dared to touch upon
the charge of their " having purchafed
votes, at various prices, from a gift of
New-England rum, up to a yoke of oxen
-and feventy-five if not one hundred dol-
lars." This charge ftands undenied and
unrefuted; and we therefore conceive is

jully entitled to fult and implicit credit.
But, if democrats, with all their impu-
dence and effrontery cannot refute, nor e-
ven deny they can abufe, accule, and
calumniate the federalifts. We give the
following extract from the publication in
the Rhode Island Republican as a fpeci-
men of their talent at refuting charges :→
"At a town meeting in Portsmouth one
of the people called quakers-one who
fits on the high feat, brought forward a
perfon tobe qualified as a freeman, upon
his cath, but the poor creature, when
told that his property was infufficient,
and, as charity induces to believe, ren-
dered confcious of the crime he was a-
"bout to commit, tainted; being carried

66

out of the house and duly instructed, the • miferable object was produced a fecond **time, and again, when preffed to take the

oath, faultered and retreated; but being "a third time ufhered into the presence of "the moderator, the affirmation was ten

In a late of "Mor War," we ticle:Firft, a the conftru No. 1 and

a fting in like unto f them they greeably f nation, the

are now b

at Corlear

dered to him, by requeft of the pious qua "ker, and the man was then qualified, and "voted like a true federalift-like a friend to order and religion. Pause a moment, "reader; reflect that the affirmation is "provided by law for the accommodation "of the confciences of quakers principal-armed, lik ly! What an abufe of religion! What a "prostitution of chriflianity: The victim "could not face his God; but urged by the pious quaker he could affirm! He "could not wear -This is not bribery "and corruption. Is it federalism? An"other fact to create a bluth :" Many "of the pious quakers have contributed ble of act their mites to fupport the practice of bribery lately introduced into Portsmouth. Thus are the quakers found among the perfecutors of the friends of man and his rights; and perhaps this is not furprizing to him who recollects that perfecution has ever originated in what the world calls "teady habits;" for "our Saviour was perfecuted by the fready habits" of the Jewish Sanhedrim→→ "the proteftants were perfecuted by the fteady habits" of the Roman Church, and the quakers were perfecuted by the "feady habits" of the Church of England, "Are not the quakers getting into the "track of the " fteady habits" of this

4

68

14

world, and ready to purfue with vindic tive rancour thofe who differ from them "in polities? This is the common course of human nature, and we must not be "aftonithed fhould they, the power once in their hands, perfecute in their turn "fcr confcience fake, as well as for political principles.

As this narration has no authority but the bare affertion of an anonymous newfpaper writer," the Albany Register will excufe us it we do not give it "implicit credit." We believe it to be a bafe and deteftable calumny; and we think that the character fuftained by the people called quakers, wherever they are known, will fupport us in our conjecture. The quakers are known to be a quiet, peaceable and fober people, who feldom or never' meddle with political diffentions, and who, for all the oflices, honors and emoluments which could be conferred by men, would not be guilty of the crimes with which they are charged in the above paragraph, The "anonymous newspaper writer" of RhodeIsland, and the genuine republican "editor" of the Albany Regifter, ought to be afhamed of aiding the propagation of such fcandal.

tremities their mo As foon a

enough boats, the were, wit woe be too near, "For

" "TV

The mo
States,

been co

cillor, D ends, is the ftern improve fuggefte

to has al till this t ence to ferfon, orthodo

As a ed that

lic arm of the them fwer th

Some of the men who vifit my fhop, 1. have no doubt, are afhamed of this detefta. ble practice. They wish to embrace the monster, but do not wish to be discovered in the act. Thefe men, therefore, watch their opportunity to flip into my fhop undiscovered by any one-and fecure their liquor from fight by means of their leather apron or fomething elfe. And thus they now.sika fpend, by fix-pence and a fhilling at a time, dollar after dollar, which would otherwife have been of great fervice to their families.

part of his lite as a difconfolate and unfor-gether fo untowardly, that you may per tunate Bachelor.

bad voices, are always finging out of tune; and thofe that cannot play, delight to fumble on inftruments. He grows the unwifer by other men's harms; for the worse others write, he finds the more encouragement to do fo too. His greediness of praife is fo eager, that he fwallows any thing that comes in the likeness of it, how notorious and palpable foever, and is as fhot-free against any thing that may leffen his good opinion of himfelt. This renders him incurable, like difeafes that grow infenfible.

"If you diflike him, it is at your own peril; he is fure to put in a caveat beforehand against your understanding; and, like a malefactor in wit, is always turnifhed with exceptions against his judges.This puts him upon perpetual apologies, excufes, and defences, but ftill by way of defiance, in a kind of whiffling train, without regard of any man, that flands in the way of his pageant. Where he thinks he may do it fafely, he will confidently own other men's writings; and where he fears the truth may be difcovered, he will, by feeble denials, and feigned infinuations, give men occafion to fuppofe fo.

"If he underftands Latin or Creek, he ranks himself among the learned, defpifes the ignorant, talks criticifms out of Scaliger, and repeats Martial's baudy epigrams, and fets up his rest wholly upon pedantry. But if he be not fo well qualified, he cries down all learning as pedantic, difclaims ftudy, and proteffes to write with as great facility, as if his Mufe was fliding down Parnaffus. Whatfoever he hears well faid, he feizes upon by poetical licence; and one way makes it his own, that is, by ill repeating it. This he believes to be no more thef, than it is to take that which others throw away, By this means his writings are, like a taylor's cushion, of Mofaic work, made up of feveral fcraps fewed together. He calls a flovenly nafty defcription, great nature; and dull flatnefs, #range eafinefs. He writes down all that comes in his head, and makes no choice, because he has nothing to do it with, that is, judgment. He is like an Italian thief, that never robs, but he murthers, to prevent difcovery; fo fure is he to cry down the man from whom he purloins, that his petty larceny of wit may pafs unfufpe&ed. He is but a copier at best, and will never arrive to practife by the life; for bar him. the imitation of fomething he has read, and he has no image in his thoughts, He difclaims ftudy, pretends to take things in motion, and to fhoot flying, which ap- pears to be very true by his often miffing of his mark. His wit is much troubled with obftructions; and he has fits as painful as thefe of the ipleen.

"A for epithets, he always avoids those

that are near akin to the fenfe. Such
matches are unlawful, and not fit to be
made by a Chriflian poet; and therefore
all his care is to chufe out fuch as will
ferve, like a wooden leg, to piece out a
maimed verfe, that wants a foot or two;
and if they will but rhime now and then
into the bargain, or run upon a letter, it is
a work of fupererrogation.

"For fimilitudes, he likes the hardest
and most ebfcure beft: for as ladies wear
black patches, to make their complexions
feem fairer than they are; fo when an il-
luftration is more obfcure than the fense
that went before it, it must of neceffity
make it appear clearer than it did; for con-
traries are best fet off with contraries.

"We read that Virgil ufed to make fif ty or fixty verfes in a morning, and after

wards reduce them to ten. This was an

unthrifty vanity, and argues him as well
ignorant in the husbandry of his own po
etry, as Seneca fays he was in that of a
farm; for, in plain English, it was no bet.
ter than bringing a noble to ninepence.-
And as fuch courfes brought the Prodigal
Son to eat with hogs, fo they did him to
feed with horfes, which were not much
better company, and may teach us to a-
void doing the like. For it is certainly
more noble to take four or five grains of
fenfe, and, like a gold-beater, hammer
them into fo many leaves as will fill a
whole bock, than to write nothing but epit-
omies, which many wife men believe will
be the bare and calamity of learning.

Selected.

NATURAL BRIDGE.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman noro travelling for the purpose of viewing the natural curiofities in the western parts of Virginia, to his friend in Peterfburg, Virginia, dated Lee CourtHoufe, July 24, 1804.

"I ACCOMPLISHED on Monday laft the most laborious job I ever undertook this was, the measuring the Natur. al Bridge in this county, "the most fublime of nature's works." This bridge is 134 feet higher than the Natural Bridge in Rockbridge county; being 339 feet in perpendicular height, its fummit projects 87 feet over its bafe, it fronts to the fouthweft, and is arched as regular as could be by the hand of art; the arch in front is about 200 feet high, and flopes off to 60 feet at the diftance of 106 feet from the entrance from its mouth in a straight direction measures 406 feet-thence at right angles 300 feet-from the wall to the other end 340 feet; the roof is regularly arched, and gradually defcends to 18 feet, which is the lowest part at the interfection of the fecond angle; it then rifes to 20, 30, 40, and 75 feet, which is the height of the northeast entrance. The ftream of water which runs under the bridge is from 35, 40, to 55 feet wide at its common height. The head of this ftream (Stock Creek) is from 3 to 4 miles above the bridge, rifing out of a knob or fpur of Clinch Mountain, and empties itself three miles below into Clinch River-this creek is fuddenly fwelled by rains fometimes to 10 and 12 feet perpendicular, but is foon run out. There is a waggon road over the bridge, which is only used in time of frefhes, and that is the only part that can. be croffed, on approaching it to the fouthawful fenfations; the front is a folid rock wet front, it produces the most pleafing, of limestone, the furface very fmooth and regular, formed in a femi-circle, the rock In "the Choice of Hercules," from the of a bright yellow colour, which colour is Greek of Prodicus, the following ftanzas heightened by the rays of the fun, the arch occur. It is worthy of remark, that an is partly obfcured by a fpur of the ridge ancient perfonification of Pleafure, fur-which runs down to the edge of the creck nifhes an accurate and flriking picture of a modern belle.

"For metaphors, he ufes to chufe the hardeft, and most far-fetched that he can light upon. These are the jewels of elo. quence, and therefore the harder they are, the more precious they must be.

"When he writes anagrams, he ufes to lay the outfides of his verles even (like bricklayer) by a line of rhime and acroftic, and fill the middle with rubbish. In this

he imitates Ben. Johnfon, but in nothing

else,"

"But bold her nein, unguarded rov'd her eye,
And her flush'd cheeks confess'd at nearer view
The borrow'd blushes of an artful dye.
All soft and delicate, with airy swim,
Lightly she danc'd along; her robe betray'd,
Through the clear texture, every tender limb,
Height'ning the chaims it only seem'd to shade:
And as it flow'd adown so loose and thin,
Her stature shew'd more tall, more snowy white
her skin."

in front of the arch. Acrofs the creek ftand feveral beautiful trees; the most elegant and luxuriant is a Cucumber Tree, teeming with fruit; the leaves are from 2 to 2 feet in length, and 1 foot in width, this, with two white cedars, and three white walnut trees, adds very much to the beauty of the fcene-to defcribe it, would be a vain attempt, and can only be done by the fkillul limner.

"If the fcene below creates fuch pleafing lenfations, what muft that fron, above be? It fills the mind with horror. From

the level of the fummit of the ridge where the road paffes, to the verge of the fifsure, the mountain defcends about 45 degrees of an angle, and is from 45 to 50 feet perpendicular height-you involuntarily flide down feet foremaft, holding on to every twig you pass, until you reach the verge, which is for 6 or 8 feet lels fleep'; the rock is covered with a thick ftratum of earth, which gives growth to many large trees; from this landing to the verge is a defcent of 9 feet, fo fteep that it cannot be approached near enough to look overto the weft of the arch about 400 yards, the afcent to the verge is much leveller, where you may look into the abyfs below. My guide was an old hunter, who had been for many years accustomed to clambering over the steepest mountains-on approaching the verge, the horror of the fcene be. low intimidated him for a few moments, but he could prefently walk along the verge with compofure.-This bridge may be paffed by thoufands, without a knowl edge of it, unless attracted by the roaring of the water below."

Be it our weekly task,

To note the passing tidings of the times.

Hudson, October 16.

STAR IN THE SOUTH.

The late election in the ftate of Delaware has terminated nobly for Federalifm. JAMES A. BAYARD, Esq. is elected Member of Congrefs by a majority et 361 votes over Mr. Rodney. At the Jaft election it will be recollected that Mr. Rodney's majority was 15.-Gen. Mitchell, the federal candidate for Governor, is elected by a very handsome majority.

Mr. KING has recently vifited the dif trict of Maine, the place of his nativity. He was received with expreffions of the utmost efteem and regard. The inhabitarts of Portland gave a public dinner on the occafion. Judge Benfon was among the guefts. A number of toafts and volnateers were drank. Among the latterProtection to Commerce-Gun Boat,

No. 1."

to be invested with his prefent dignity could not be obtained without much difficulty. With that modefty which we fuppofe is inherent in great minds, he long held out; and it was not until he faw that at all events they were determined

"To buckle fortune on his back,

"And make him bear it whether he would or no.”

It is ftated in a letter from Natchez, dated Auguft 15, that the whole province of Louifiana, is nearly in a fate of rebellion --the people are diffatisfied with the prefent mode of government, and declare they fent mode of government, and declare they that he yielded to the wishes of the people, will be a ftate, enact laws for themselves, [Mer. Advertifer.] appoint their own governor, &c.

The dwelling-houfe of Mr. Ifaac Feltch, of Wilton, Mafs. was lately confumed by fire, together with fix of his children, the eldest about thirteen years old.

The following circular letter from the Secretary of State of the United States, notifying the Ratification of the Amendment to the Federal conftitution, has been tranfmitted to the executives of the feveral States in the Union.

THE STORM.

Every fouthern mail brings additional accounts of the devastations made by the late hurricane.

A letter from Charlefton, of the 16th Sept. received at New-York, ftates, that bufinefs is nearly at an end fince the hurricane-that it has deftroyed the hopes of the merchant and planter-that what the caterpillar had left of the cotton, is ruíned that the leaves of the live-oak and evDepartment of State, Sept. 24th. and that trees and fhrubs more tender apergreen are blighted and tnrned yellow,

SIR,

pear as if a fire had been kindled under them. The letter adds, that the wharves are washed away to low water mark, and that fhips, &c. are drove upon, and up into the heads of docks, where they lay thattered, and must be dug out.

I have the honor to notify to you, in pursuance of the act of Congress, pafled on the 26th of March laft, entitled " An act fupplementary to the act entitled " An act relative to the election of a Prefident and Vice President of the United States, In the vicinity of Savannah, the rice as and declaring the officer who fhall aft as well as cotton is wholly cut off; and it is prefident, in cafe of vacancies in the office eftimated that the damage done to buildboth of Prefident and Vice Prefident."-ings, wharves, goods and fhipping, in SaThat the amendment propofed, during thevannah, is from 350,000, to 500,000 dollaft feffion of Congrefs, to the conftitution of the United States, refpecting the manner of voting for Prefident and Vice Pref. ident of the United States, has been ratified by the legiflatures of three fourths of the several states, to wit, by thofe of Vermont, Rhode-Ifland, New-York, NewJerfey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Teneffee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Gorgia. I requeft you to be pleafed to acknowledge the receipt hereof. I have the honor to be, with very great refpe&, Sir, your most o bedient fervant.

JAMES MADISON.

Our readers are already in poffeffion of
the fact that General DESSALINES has been

proclaimed emperor of Hayti. Since that
circumstance is come to our knowledge, we
have received from Cape Francois an offi-
cial copy of the addrefs from the civit and
military authorities by which he was invit-
ed to accept imperial power; and his ma-
jefty's molt gracious anfwer of acceptance.
As every circumftance connected with fo
fingular an event must be read with no lit-
tle degree of intereft, we have put these pa-
pers into an English drefs, and now lay
them before the public.-Thefe papers
are omitted until our next.]

It appears that the confent of Deffalines

lars. So violent was the ftorm, that not a veftige of the former buildings on Cockfpur ifland remain, and the furface of the iland is much below its former height. A cannon, weighing 4800 lbs. was carried 30 or 40 feet from its pofition-a bar of lead weighing 300 lbs. was carried 100 feet-cafes of cannister fhot, from 100 to 200 feet, and mufkets fcattered all over the ifl. and. Reuben Armstrong, William Crafts, Daniel Lacy, Thomas Moor, Jofeph Whitaker, John Glynn, Samuel M. Wil liams, and John S. Nicol, belonging to Fort Green, loft their lives.

It is flated in a letter from Savannah, of the 19th ult. that it is growing fickly there,. from the very difagreeable stench which arifes from puurid animal and vegitable fubftances lodged on the low land plantations in the vicinity, in the late gale. Upwards of 500 head of fheep, horfes and cows, are faid to be lying in Mr. Clay's Selds, that drifted from Moufeman's it. and. So great is the stench that the inhabitants of the city, particularly under the Bluff, are obliged to keep their doors and windows fhur, fprinkle the floors with vin egar, and burn tar and brimflone.

The hurricane was feverely felt at St. Simons. Maj. Butler loft his crop of rice, and 19 negroes. At Broughton's ifland, one man loft his crop and upwards of 70