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The fhip Manchefter, Capt. Hall, arrived at New York, on the 6th inft. in 52 days from Liverpool. By this arrival, English accounts to the 9th January, have been received. They furnifh nothing material. The invafion had not taken place; and it would appear (fays the Evening Post) to be a more correct view of it to lay, that it feems not to have been entirely given up, than thatit may ferious ly be expected.'

On the night of Friday the 2d inft. perished in the fnow, near the city of Schen. ectady, Mr. SIMEON SCHUYLER, of Minden, in the county of Montgomery. The circumftances of this melancholy event, are thus related-Mr. Schuyler, together with a black man from his neighborhood, left Mr. Shield's houfe in the above city, fometime in the evening, on their way to Albany, and with great difficulty reached a fmall cottage, at the diftance of about half a mile, where they turned out their horfes and concluded to put up for the night. The fituation however was incommodious, and the flage-driver arriving fhortly after in diftrefs, left his fleigh, and prevailed on the man of the houfe to pilot him into the city-Mr. Schuyler followed, but several times loft the road, and was put right by the pilot, who at length found him fo far exhaufted that he was forced to abandon him; and as no relief could be obtained he was obliged to yield to the impetuofity of the tempef: where he and one of his horfes were found dead in the morning-the other having made his way into the city. The black man prudently remained in the cottage till morning.

[Albany Gazette.]

We understand, fays the Centinel, that another man perifhed in the fnow the fame evening, about five miles above Schenectady.

On Sunday morning the 12th ult. about fix o'clock, the fouthern double range of brick flores on Roper's whart, in the city of Charleston, was difcovered to be on fire. The flames had got to fo confiderable a height before they were difcovered, that it was impoffible to get them under before the whole of the range was burnt or pulled down. That wharf and its ftores are in the poffeffion of Meffrs. Waring & Smith, factors; the ftores contained near a thoufand barrels of rice, and upwards of feven hundred bales of itaple cotton; of the former it is fuppofed upwards of tour hundred barrels are deftroyed and near four hundred bales of the latter. The property belonged to different planters and merchants; the eastern end of the range was occupied by Meffrs. Waring & Smith, if

Mr. Thomas Ball and Meffrs. Alex. & John Corrie, as counting houfes; nothing was faved out of thefe but their papers and books. We have no information to fay pofitively to what this unfortunate circumftance is owing; however there is no reafon to believe it was done defignedly.

We cannot now prefent an exact account of the loffes nor the names of the owners of the property, but we understand the greateft loofers are Meffrs. Nathaniel Hayward, J. & W. B. Mitchael, Gordon & Miller and Col. Fishburn, Meffrs. Warfufferers. ing and Smith are alfo very confiderable

An attempt was made on the following night to fet fire to the houfe of Mrs. Cochran, on Eat-Bay. The incendiaries had made an opening underneath the back door, where a new fill had recently been placed, and putting in the fire, it rapidly communicated to an infide glafs pannel door, and had rifen to an alarming height, when the cracking of the glafs fortunately awoke the family; and the alarm being promptly giv en, the flames were, with great exertion, extinguished. A negro man and woman have been committed on fufpicion.

[Mercantile Advertiser.]

Captain Fairchilds, who arrived at this port yesterday in the brig Ann from Aux Cayes, informs us, that on the 21st of January about 70 white inhabitants, were maffacred by the brigands, and thrown into the river, faid to be in confequence of the commander having received intelligence that General Deffalines might be daily expected there from Port-au-Prince to replace him; and that he (the commander) had determined to ufe his power, fo long as it should be continued to him, in revenging the injuries of the blacks. The prefent Government had fitted out a privateer fchooner of four guns and 100 men, and laid an embargo on all veffels in port until he was completed and ready for a

cruize.

Accounts had reached Aux Cayes two

or three days previous to the failing of captain Fairchild, that the powder magazine at Port-au-Prince had been blown up, fuppofed by the whites; and that all the white inhabitants with the exception of fix had been malfacred.

[Ibid.]

NEW LONDON, FEB. 29.

The fchoner Gladiator, Manning, mafter, ofthis port, during the violent fnow storm, on the 23d int. was compelled to come to anchor off the Gull-Island. She parted her cables at 8 P. M. and went on Thore on the caft fide of the western point of Gardiner's Illand. On the following

morning, the captain and fome of the people, went on thore in fearch of a Foule which they fortunately found. After they had gone, the mate, (Caleb Williams, jun. of Groton) who was left on board with a boy, went on fhore and perifhed in the fnow. John Colloden, the cook, died in the fore-peak.

FOREIGN.

LONDON, JAN. 5.

The fignal flying at Deal on Tuesday evening, was in confequence of thirty of the enemy's gun-boats having come out of Calais. Our cruifers immediately failed, and a heavy firing was heard yefterday morning till ten P. M. it then ceafed. Soon afterwards a more diftant firing was heard. No particulars have yet been received, we fuppofe that the firing proceeded from an attack of our ciuifers upon their gunboats in their paffage from Calais to Boulogne. It is certain that very confident expectations are entertained along our whole line coaft, of an attempt being made by the enemy. Yet the frofly weather that has juft fet in, muft we should think, impede all the operations in the Dutch

rivers.

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JANUARY 9.

We have jufl feen a letter from an Eng. lith gentleman who has lately made his ef cape from Fontainbleau and remained boldly at Paris a fortnight by means of a national cockade, and a perfect knowledge of the language, from whence he is now returning via Germany. He fays, "from the information I was able to collect at Paris, that city is in a great teriment, on account of Bonaparte's measures to grati. fy his ambition. The conferipts are refra&tory. The old veterans peak against the expedition, and fay that they would not embark to be butchered. The Conful is not liked; he has thoufands of ene. mics, and I think the oppofition will fhortly fhew itfell; murmurs and com. plaints multiply, and arreftations are very frequent. It is the opinion of the wifer part of the people fill, that the expedition will not take place. Nothing is ready, and all that large army on the coaft is placed there only to intimidate the English, if I may ufe the expreffion. They are lill building gun-boats at New-Brifack on the Rhine, but very flowly.

PARIS, DEC. 16.

The expedition against England, it is faid, will be carried into effect in the month of January. '

The Firft Conful is fill here, but part of his equipage has already been fent to the coaft.

The Wreath.

NATIVE POETRY.

[With pride and pleasure, we cull the following effusion to bedeck our Wreath-with pride, because the author is a young American-with pleasure, because we wish to shew how much we admire a man, as a poet, whom we are compelled to consider, politically, as our enemy. Edit. Bal.]

I

EXTRACT

From an unfinished Dramatic Manuscript.

BY SELLECK OSBORN.

MET, as near the forest skirts I stray'd, A remnant of a man; wooing the gloom Of twilight shade, congenial to his soul. He threw askance 'a look of wild reproach, That seem'd to say, "avaunt! unkind intruder, These haunts are consecrated to DESPAIR !" Then turning, sought the bosom of the wood. I follow'd him, aloof; and oft observ'd His comely, though emaciated form, Alternate, gliding 'neath the hemlock boughs, Or slowly climbing o'er the craggy steep. At length, beneath a huge and sheiving rock He sat him down; its high projecting brow A hemlock met, whose thick entangled limbs Flung o'er the ground beneath a sombrous shadeAnd near the root, in subterraneous course, A grumbling streamlet flow'd, whose hollow sound Rose through the crannies of the broken earth"Fit temple of despair!" he said, and then With eyes that gleam'd a sullen satisfaction, He view'd the gloomy scene. "Here, haggard fiend, Thou sitst, enthron'd, in ghastly majesty

Here will I raise an altar, and thereon

Lay these weak limbs, a wretched sacrifice!"

Then from his bosom he a phial drew,

And view'd it with a grim bysteric smile"Oh! precious draught "" he said- thou art, to me, "Like a cool fountain to a thirsty pilgrim

Thy cordial pow'r shail full the rankling pain That wrings my tortur'd heart!" Then to his lips He rais'd, with eager hand, the leadly potion. "Hold! wretched man!" I cry'd--and rushing forth, Seiz'd his rash hand-wh le with a ghastly stare, He ey'd me, as an evil genius, sent To cross the fondest purpose of his soul. His cheeks were lean and haggard, and he seem'd A wreck of man, a monument of wce! (I saw him once, in happier days, when joy Beam'd in each feature, and the admiring world Deny'd him not the early wreath of fan ePut, in a sanguine moment of his youth, ell Dissipation led his steps astray— Then id no frierd, with mild solicitude, Reach out a gentle band, to stay his course,

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His spirit down, and drove him to despair!)

I press'd his hand, and with a tender smile
Proffer'd my service-and, while yet I spoke,
I saw a tear roll down his faded cheek,
Which was a stranger there-for scorching grief
Had dry'd, long since, the moisture of his eyes.
And then methought I saw a gleam of hope,
Borne in a languid smile, illume his face-
A gradual increasing smile, which seem'd
Like the returning of the vernal sun,
Which comes to chase the wintery cloud away,
And bid reviving nature bloom again!

And now, with health and happiness elate,
He lives, to virtue and to friendship true-
Oft with the grateful music of his thanks,
He serenades my ear-and blesses oft
The guardian pow'r that led my curious steps
To the intended scene of self destruction.
Now do I feel more pride, in having thus
Restor'd, a youth, from misery and vice
To virtue's path-his sorrows sooth'd, and pour'd
The balm of friendship on his wounded heart-
Pluck'd from his breast the canker of despair,
And planted hope's delightful promise there,
Than I should feel to rule the state alone,
Or wade, through bleeding millions, to a throne!

EPITAPH.

ON MR. THOMAS ALL.

READER, beneath this marble lies
All that was noble, good, and wise;
All that once was form'd on earth,
All that was of mortal birth;
All that liv'd above the ground,
May within this grave be found :
If you have lost or great or small,
Come here and weep, for here lies All.
Then smile at death, enjoy your mirth,
Since he has took his all from earth.

Diversity.

ORIGINAL ANECDOTE.

A CELEBRATED Lawyer in this State riding through a country town, stopped at a cottage to inquire his way-the old woman of the house told him he must keep on ftraight for fome way, and then turn to the right; but faid that the herfelf was a going to pafs the road that he muft take, and that if he would wait a few moments till fhe could get her horfe ready, the would fhow him the way. Well (faid he) bad company is better than nonemake hafte." After jogging on 5 or 6 miles, the gentleman asked if they had not

yet come to the road that he must take :Oh yes (laid fhe) we passed it two or three miles back; but I thought bad company better than none, fo I kept you along with me! [Salem Gaz.]

NEAT COMPLIMENT.

WALLER, an English poet, made in a very good Latin poem, an excelleut panegyric upon Cromwell, whilft he was protector. Charles II. being reftored in 1660, Waller waited upon him with a copy of verfes, which he had made in his praife. The King having read them, told him that he had made better for Oliver; to which Waller replied, Pleafe your Majefty, we poets fucceed better in fiction than in truth.

THALES, the Milefian, one of the feven wife men of Greece, being asked what was the oldest thing? he answered, that God was; because he has ever been; what was the handfomeft thing? he faid the World was; because it is the work of God; what was the largest thing? Space, because it comprehends every thing: What was the best thing? Virtue, replied he; because, without it, nothing that is good can be faid or done; what was the easiest thing to give advice to others; what was the hardest thing? to know one's feit.

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Driginal.

HUDSON, (New-YORK) TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1804.

To the EDITOR OF THE BALANCE. ·

IN your paper of the 6-h-infts you

acknowledge a fmall production which I fent you for publication, and refufe at t iime time to give it a place. You remark, that you "cannot believe that the Editor

of the Bee would abfolutely relufe to admit into his paper any defence of Col. Burr, after having been, for a long time, in the conftant habit of vilifying him," and then after begging" to be excufed," you "repeat, that you have nothing to do with the prefent controversy."

If you had contented yourfelf with merely refufing to publish my letter, perhaps I fhould not have troubled you with another line: But, after the many proofs the public have had of Mr. Holt's partial and unfair manageinent-after the great pains you have taken to expofe his mean. nefs, it is really aftonifhing that you fhould pretend to believe in his candor or edito. rial honefty. It is idle to hope, at this time, that the Editor of the Bee ever intends to do juflice to the reputation of Col. Burr. Pray, fir, what but his deep-rooted averfion to every thing juft and honorable, has fo long prevented it? Has he not had time enough? Has he not had fufficient opportunity? What reafon, then, have we to fuppofe that he can be induced to make atonement for the wrong he has heaped upon the Vice-Prefident? Does he wait to be hired to be honeft? Muft he, like a Virginian flave, be flogged to his duty? I like not these honeft gentlemen who make a virtue of neceffity. It would pic

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voke me to drive an infidel to church, and then hear him boaf of his religion. I difdain to urge an habitual knave to an honeft act, for the fake of hearing him. boaft of his impartiality. I therefore forbear to ask the Editor of the Bee, at this late day, to publish any thing in favour of Col. Burr.

You profefs to ftand on neutral and independent ground. Then, furely, your

paper is a better medium for the difcuffion. of the important queftion which now agitates our state, than one which openly a vows the moft rancorous enmity to one, candidate, and the moft fervile attachment to the other. I am not so unreasonable as to ask you to open your paper exclufively to the friends of Col. Burr. In the prefent controverfy, I wish you to hold forth a balance of truth and justice. I beg that you will candidly and impartially weigh the merits of the two parties. Give them both a fair and equal chance. Let Col. Burr take one fcale-Let Chief Juftice Lewis take the other ;-and then let the people witnefs which of the two rival people witnefs which of the two rival candidates fhail kick the beam.

ARISTIDES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

[Waving all comment on the above note, or the production which gave rise to it, I now present the reader with both the one and the other. As the following letter is headed “No. I,” it seems ARISTIDES intends to pursue the subject; I have therefore to request that he will not permit his zeal to get the better of his reason. To save the Lewisites the trouble of telling a single falshood about the business, I explicitly declare, that any person who feels disposed to reply to ARISTIDES, in a decent and proper stile and manner, shall have an opportunity, through the same medium.

EDITOR OF THE BALANCE.]

FOR THE BALANCE.

TO THE PEOPLE.

No. I.

A REPUBLICAN, and a friend

of Col. Burr, begs leave to addrefs you through the medium of a federal prefs.The enemies of this gentleman have, by force, by perfuafion, and by bribery, cut off every other means of addreffirg you. The republican preffes in the flate (one or two excepted) are monopolized, and preffed into the fervice of the reigning faction. Every republican editor has a mafter, whom he dares not difobey. Every petty officer is a licenfer, and is vefted with full power to fupprefs all publications that are calculated to wipe away the foul ftains which have been caft upon the Vice-Prefident, by a vagabond foreigner.-The republican prefs in this vicinity has, for a long time, teemed with flander against Col. Burr-by whofe command, you fhall hereafter be informed.-For the prefent, it is only neceffary to mention that no excufe, no apology, no vindication, could find a place in the fame paper that has been the most forward to calumniate. For these reasons, I am induced to refort to a federal prefs, notwith?anding all the difadvantages under which I muft confequently appear.

I am aware of the mifrepresentations which are circulated abroad for the purpofe of cheating you into a belief that Col. Burr is a federalist. It is a mean and despicable expedient of the partizans of Judge Lewis. It will be repeated again, and again, in the fervile prints, devoted to him. It will be blazoned forh 1

90

;

electioneering handbills. It will be prated : ftate, it was unanimoufly agreed to fup-
in caucuses. It will be bawled in bar- port MORGAN LEWIS, our prefent
rooms, and at the public corners — Nev- Chief Juftice, for Governor, at the enfu-
ertheless, it will fill be falje !-Colonel ing election, and to recommend him to the
Burr has uniformly been a republican. He fupport of our Fellow.Citizens. In this
was a republican when Ambrofe Spencer office he has fignified his affent to ferve,
and
and Morgan Lewis were federalists
if deemed worthy of the honor by a ma-
it is poffible that he may remain a repub-jority of the Electors.
lican until thefe two "Genuine Republi-
cans" have again turned their coats, and
He has al-
once more become federalifts.
ways been confiftent; and it is not in the
power of his worst enemies to fhew, that he
has ever, either in word or deed, deviated
from the ftri&t line of rectitude and honor.
Why then, my fellow-citizens, are vou
called upon to abandon Col. Burr? Why
are you told that he is a federalift? Why
is he called a traitor and a Cataline ? It is
that the ambition of two proud and lordly
families may be gratified that all the of
fices may be monopolized by thefe "gen-
uine republicans;" that an aristocracy,
may be reared on the ruins of your liberty.
Your good fenle will lead you to view
thefe things in their proper light.

You will not be duped by political quackery. You will not believe you are fipping nectar, while swallowing poifon. You will hefitate long, before you confent to your own chains.

rivet

ARISTIDES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY..

Selected.

[Since we have concluded to open our press to the admission of electioneering matter, we are in iuced, from our peculiar attachment to Judge Lewis, to publish the "genuine republican"

ADDRESS.

To the Electors of the State of N. York.

FELLOW-CITIZENS,

THE approaching election for Governor having naturally attracted the attention and interested the feelings of the Repub. licans from different parts of the state affembled at the fest of Government-an application was made by them to our prefent CHIEF MAGISTRATE, to know whether He would again confent to be a Candidate for that important office; in anfwer to which he informed of his determination to decline-an event to be regretted by every friend to his country. It then became neceffary to afcertain the fentiments and opinions of our republic an fellow-citizens, in different parts of the ftate, with refpe&t to a fuitable fucceffor. With this view, feveral meetings have been held in this city; and at a very numerous one on the 20th inftant, composed of almost every.Repub. lican Member of the Legiflature, and of other citizens from various parts of the

the

In forming this determination various
confiderations have confpired.--The flour-
ifhing condition of the United States; the
importance of the flate in the Unton; and
the confequent influence which a proper &
judicious expreffion of your fuffrages may
upon the political movements of
nation have impreffed with a high fenfe of
the importance of the crifis. The benefits
we derive from the prefent Adminiftration
of the ftate government, are alfo recogniz
ed by the experience of us all. In our ex-
emption from unneceffary burdens; in the
full enjoyment of the fruits of our induf-
try; in our undisturbed poffeffion of those
liberties for which we contended in the
revolution; in the prevalence of tran-
quility, law and good order; and in the
profperity which prevades every part of
the ftate, and which is felt by every def-
cription of the community, we behold the
influence of government in the profperity
of the nation, we perceive the bleffings
which we derive from the prefent adminif
trations, and we feel the importance of fe-
curing a continuance of thofe bleffings by
a proper direction of the elective franchife,
and by a patriotic and energetic ufe of thofe
means which have been placed within our
power by the benign difpenfations of an o
ver-ruling Providence.

In the felection of the Candidate for
Governor, we have been attentive to those
qualifications which ought to adorn the
character of a Chief Magiftrate, and to thofe
political opinions which are molt congenial
with the public fentiment, and beft adapted
to promote the public profperity. The
private character of Chief Justice Lewis is
fair and unbiemhed, and his official con-
duct is above reproach. From an early
period of the revolution to the prefent
time he has been engaged in various ref-
pectable and confidential flations. He has
at different times been a member of our
ftate Legiflature; and as Attorney-Gen-
eral of the ftate and Judge of the Supreme
Court he must be known to all of who
you
have attended the higheft courts in the dif-
ferent counties. In him you have feen
affability with dignity-an inflexible regard
to the interefts of diftributive juftice-a
difplay of talents and qualifications, and
an energy of conduct which render him a
proper chara&er to prefide over the affairs
of a great and flouring community.

expiration of the term for which he was elected, we have with equal unanimity agreed to recommend JOHN BROOME, a Senator from the Southern District, as his fucceffor; and if private worth, irreproachable morals, a found and difcriminating judgment, and a courfe of undevi. ating patriotifm, can influence your de terminations in his favor, (and we are certain they will) Mr. BROÒME, as well as Chief Juftice LEWIS, will receive your fuffrages.

The vast majority of Electors in the flate whofe fentiments are in unifon with those of our Candidates, and the general intereft of all defcriptions of people to produce a refult favorable to the prefervation of law and liberty, property and good order, and the maintenance of thofe principles of right and justice, which compofe the elements of every good and well ordered fociety, leave no room to doubt bút success will attend our efforts. It is important, howev

er, not only that we should prevail by a majority which will forever filence the intrafive claims of PRETENDED PATRIOTISM, and the infolent murmurs of DISAPPOINTED AMBITION.

BY ORDER,

EBENEZER PURDY, Chairman, S. SOUTHWICK, Secretary.

[The following ingenious translation of the above
address, is from the pen of the editor of the Uister
Gazette ]

A TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE INTO
PLAIN ENGLISH.

THE approaching election for Governor having naturally attracted the attention, and interested the feelings of those who were fougly feated in offices, an applica tion was made by them to our prefent Chief Magiftrate, to know whether he would again be candidate for that important office; in anfwer to which he informed us of his determination to decline, as heintended to be vice-prefident of the United States an event to be regretted by every friend to his country. It then became neceffary to afcertain the fentiments and opinions of our fellow democrats in differ. ent parts of the ftate, with refpect to a fuit able fucceffor. With this view feveral meetings have been held in this city, of which John Lanfing, jun. was unant moufly nominated and after accepting the nomination, very fuddenly and much to our chagrin and mortification, let us in the lurch and inasmuch as judge Livinglon, the amiable and fweet tempered De Witt Clinton, and even John Tavlor bimef rejected our offer, we were driven to the beceffity of unanimoufly agreeing to top Our prefent Lieutenant-Governer, af- port Morgan Lewis, our prefent Chitf ter devoting a great portion of his life to Juftice, for Governor at the enfning lecthe fervice of his country, having alto tion, and to recommend him as well as we thought proper to retire from office at thecould to the fupport of our fellow-citizens.

at one

In this office, you eafily believe he has fig. nified his affent to ferve, if deemed worthy by a majority of the electors-for altho' he might deem himfelf worthy, yet he would find it difficult to ferve, if deemed unworthy by them.

In forming this nomination, various confiderations have confpired to embarrass us. The decline of democracy in the United States the importance of this State in the Union and the confequent influence which a manly and dignified expreffion of your voices may have upon the political movements of the nation have impreffed us with a fearful fenfe of the danger of our fituation. The benefits of the prefent flate of politics are allo recognized by the pockets of us all-in our exclufive enjoyment of public ftations-in the full fruition of the rewards of our electioneering projects-in our undisturbed poffeffion of thofe liberties we take with the loaves and fishes-in the prevalence of commotion, violence and dif organization-in the profperity which pre. vades all ranks of bawling patrio's, and which is felt by every defcription of our fect. We behold the influence of party intolerance: we perceive the bieflings we derive from the prefent adminiftrations and we feel the imperious neceffity of fecuring a continuance of thefe blcffings, by giv ing you directions for the exercife of the elective franchife, and by an obftinate ufe of thofe means which have been placed within our reach-always excepting ballot burning and making falfe returns.

In dictating in this laft inftance, who must be your Governor, we have not been very attentive to the qualifications which ought to adorn the character of a Chief Magiftrate, but rath to thofe family confiderations which cannot be overlooked, and are at the fame time fo well calculated to anfwer party purpoles.

Of the private character of chief juftice Lewis we hall fay little, and his official conduct is above reproach, except by ju rors who do not like travelling after a judge, or atiftocrats who do hold that truth is not a libel, and fqueamish people of that fort, but as we can eafily top their mouths by the doctrine of contempts, we have little to fear from this quarter. During part of the revolutionary war he fome how or other got an appointment or fo-he has at different times been one thing and another in politics, and unluckily must be known to all of you who have attended the higher courts in the different counties. In him you have feen-but let us drop a tear upon his frail. ties; he is a democrat & that's enough for us.

Our prefent Lieutenant-Governor after devoting the conftitution to the flamesbut what fignifies palavering you on this head? If you can vote for Morgan Lewis you will not find it hard to vote for John Broome; for affuredly he is not the worst of the two.

The vast majority of the electors in the ftate whofe fentiments are in unifon with those which our candidates pretend to enjoy, andthe general delufion of all defcrip tions of inferior democrats, leave no room to doubt but fuccefs will crown our efforts -at least it can do no harm to fay fo, fince fo many like to go with the ftrongest party. It is important however, not only that we thould prevail, but that we fhould prevail by a majority which will forever filence the introfive claims of our late fellow patriots, and the infolent menaces of those faucy Burrites. For we can never be rewarded for our virtues until we are immovably fixed in power, and there fhall be none to disturb us.

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You may perhaps be furprifed that we have not abuted the federalifts as ufual. We can now enter into no explanations on this head. If we have not touched upon a delightful theme, we have had good reafons for it. Not being permitted to lay a ny thing about the British Treaty, and the Alien and Sedition Law, and the Taxes, and Monarchy, and all that rigmarole, our addrefs is unufually flat and infipid. But this is a time in which it would be dange rous to offend the federalifts--but rely up on it that if we carry this election, we shall be as haughty and overbearing and infolent as Belzebub imfelf could defire.

Conor's Closet.

The editor of the Balance has neither time nor inclination to reply to the impotent ravings of the dead and alive animal that prats the Bee. The poor starvling insect has frequently complained of the present bard winter; but it was not known until lately, that this was owing to the destitute condition of the bive. However, I will not sport with his afflictions. I pity the poor thing; and will even make him a present of the following Epitaph, should he give up the ghost before the warm season

arrives:

The Bee lies here (for lying was his trade)
A stinking insect in a filthy grave;
Not all the honey in one summer made,
Through one bard winter could this insect save.

When the editor of this paper was indicted for a libel on Thomas Jefferson, Mr. Attorney-General Spencer contended that the common law, under which he was acting, forbid the admission of testi mony to prove the truth of the charges. He pretended to regret that this was the case; but declared that he was bound by the law, and was compel led to act contrary to the dictates of his feelings and conscience (or some such thing.) He pretended to

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dislike the common law principle, and sincerely hoped (yes, reader, sincerely) that the legislature would, at the next session, pass a law allowing the truth to be given in evidence. We are not now about to question Mr. Spencer's sincerity. Let it pass. Some people, however, very much doubt whether he was ever sincere in any thing but his attachment to good fat offices. But we will let that pass also; and turn' our eyes towards our republican, and genuine republican, and double refined-republican legislature.—Some weeks since, Mr. Emott, a federal member, introduced a bill into the house of assembly, "concerning libels," one section of which provided that the truth might be given in evidence, on the trial of an indictment for a libel-Now, some people, who have not yet found out the amazing difference between democratic profession and democratic practice, may imagine, that this bill was promptly taken up by the democrats, and passed without hesitation. But no, reader, no! The democratic members were not to be caught in this manner. They were not to be gulled by this federal trick! They took the matter into serious consideration; and after a month's debating and amending-striking out sections, and making provisos-a member proposed the following substitute for a clause in Mr. Emott's bill :

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Be it enacted, by the people of the state of NewYork, represented in senate and assembly, That from and after the passing of this act, it shall and may be lawful for every defendant who shall be charged by indictment with the publication of a bel, to prove on the trial of the same, the truth of the facts alledged in the bill of indictment; and upon the introduction of testimony, if it shall appear to the satisfaction of the jury, that the facts are true, with the publication whereof the defendant stands charged, such evidence shall be deemed a complete justification of the charge, any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding."

Reader, can you see any thing objectionable in this clause-Perhaps not-for you, no doubt, are willing that truth should be lawful. But, our genuine republican legislature REJECTED it, 70 to 11; and fully passed the clause following in lieu of it :

And ie it further enacted, hat in every prosecu tion by indictment, for writing or publishing any libe. against any person holding any office of honor, profit o or trust under the government of the United States, or under the government of this state or who shall be a candidate or proposed for any such office, it shall be lawful for the defendant, upon the trial of such indictment, to give in evidence in his defence the truth of the matter contained in the publication charg ed as a libel: Provided, that the name of the author of such publication be subscribed & published therewith.

Now, we should like to be informed by some of our wise legislators, whether truth is any less libellous with a name subscribed, than if anonymous? It is well known, that the editor or publisher of a paper, whose name is affixed to it, is accountable for every thing that is published in it, whether true or false; it is therefore ridiculous to require a distinct signature to every article which appears in a newspaper. It It may, to be sure, with considerable justice, be contended, that worthless fellows, like Holt or Cheetham,may be the ostensible editors of papers, while their editorial departments are filled by men of responsibility who screen themselves from punishment by skulking behind the rotten reputations of their hirelings. In reply to this, we would merely remark, that the present law affords no relief; for the same venal tools who lend their names as editors, will also, if commanded, lend their actual signatures to their master.

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