W

ITH what ardent pleafure would I fly to the forefts, and browse on herbs and roots. I defired it. I was rea

dy to fly to the end of the world. Happily, my mifter has not thought. fit to fhew me the example. My reafon then was but a demonftrated neceffity of not ufing my reafon. I regarded the caufe of paternal tenderness as the prejudice of corrupted nature. I confidered women as created only to fatisfy a fhameful defire. I believed I believed it was my duty to fhun them, as foon as my paffion was gratified. My master or dered-I blindly obeyed.

Soon afterwards, he taught me to love them with eagernefs, with fury, even if attempting to rob me of my life. He made me drink deep of the poifon of voluptuoufnefs, and inftructed me that virtue confifted in the gratification of the pallionsthat this was the true path to follow, without troubling limfelf, whether or not I might be caught in this dangerous and feductive rout. His fublime morality pleafed me more whilft it prefented to me a man virtuous and paffionate for two women at the fame time, and in each other's prefence. I then conceived the project of being a philofopher-that is to fay of always being in love with the wife of another-of always reproaching myfelf with it, and nev. er correcting it; and of loving two at a time, as long as I found pleasure in it, on condition neverthelefs, of being very forry for it.

All at once, he who had ordered me to fly from fociety, advised me to return to it as it was my duty to love and ferve it—that true happiness was to be found with my lawful wife; and that I fhould educate my children in thofe arts and fciences which he taught me to abjure. I was a little fur. prifed, I confefs: but baffled by the obftacles of loving the wife of another, and

all that which you fee. He knew not the name of God. He knew not that to this Being he owed his exiftence, and on this account gratitude. He was foon acquainted with an hundred problems in geometry, and was unable to form this fimple reflection. This my mafter has fhewn invincibly in his own manner. With anxiety, I anticipated the time when the paffions with force develope themselves, to say to my élevé, my fon you muft fubdue them. Till that time, I permitted him to gratify all his paffions, to enable him to combat afterwards thofe of puberty.

I engaged to work with a joiner, and in my leifure hours I visited a young girl, whofe parents allowed me privacies, amufing enough. When I believed I had her affections, I quitted her for the exprefs purpofe of making a long journey. I foon returned and got married. I felt the enjoyment of my new condition. I propofed to perform great fervices for my coun- At laft I taught him religion; that is to try, which I did not acknowledge as fuch. fay, to defpife heartily that of his country, I had a child and took great care of it, be- which I nevertheless acknowledged was caufe, according to the principles of my the beft of all. I taught him that the gofmafter, it is difficult to educate many. pel was a book both divine and abfurd.This child was ftrong and healthy, which-That the life and death of Jefus Chrift made me very happy, as true wifdom de- are thofe of a God, and that his dogmas. pends on ftrength of body and as I was are an impofture-all things neceffarily certain that a child cannot form one fin- follow one another. gle act of reafoning till the age of twelve or thirteen years, I believed it was necef fary to commence his education from the cradle.

At first I allowed him to tumble about in a meadow-afterwards, to exercife his reafon, I fubdued it by force. I took pleafure in counterfeiting ignorance, and of caufing myself to be defpifed by him, to gain in the end his confidence and refpect. In fhort, all the inftruction I gave him was no more than a tiflue of little cheats and frauds, which could not but wonderfully incline him to the love of truth.

I took great care to exercise the body of my fon to hardfhips, to render it capable of enduring them the rest of his life; and I carefully avoided to fortify his heart and his mind in like manner. Í accuftomed his foul to repofe-his body to fatigue. Perhaps I did not foresee the confequences -But obedience fupplied the place of reafoning; and I conducted this dear child on the roofs of houses, to learn the art of carpentry-but I never taught him to arrange his thoughts.

One thing gave me great inquietude, which was that my mafter had prescribed to children a kind of duties altogether oppofite to thofe of the parents. I dare not inftruct him on a fubject of no importance to him. I contented myfelf fimply in infpiring him with a lively tendernefs for his nurfe, and advifing him to make her his companion all the reft of his life, after the manner of the Grecian Princeffes.

To lofe no time I allowed him a month to discover that which I could have taught him in a few minutes. He was already a mechanic, attronomer, natural philofopher, geometrician, and engraver, and had no idea of a fupreme being. It would have been very difficult for him to fay who made

I finished his education by fome particular inftructions. I faid to him, my fon, the iniquity of chiefs and magiftrates, will perhaps, ftrip you of half of your fortune. It is a thing which happens every day-a thing which I fee continually, and which I alone perceive. It is then neceffary that you learn a mechanical trade, in order to affure you of subsistence. I moreover faid to him, you are now arrived at the age of reafon. You are uneafy under paternal authority. You can now defpife that authority; becaufe without difpute you love yourself, but you are not fure that your father loves you. This excellent rule of morals be of may fervice to you. great muft add, that if any one infults you, you ought to affaffinate him. The advice is hard, but it is conformable to fair nature. I am happy to forewarn you, that you may marry the daughter of a hangman, provided you think the fuits you. But, as according to my principles, you must not make a choice precipitately, prolong your addreffes to this charming girl by tedious affiduities, and have a care left the fon of a king fnatch her from you.

I

It is very certain, and I am compelled to agree to it, that all men who fincerely practife the chriftian religion, are virtuous; in the mean while, you need not trouble yourfelf with the belief or practice of this religion. This is an effential point of your education, and I have thought neceffary to make a long article of it. It cannot increase virtue. It weakens the motives of it. Your confcience is your only guide, although it may be proved that wicked wretches have likewife a confcience even whilst they are most wicked. If your foul is calm and tranquil, your confcience will speak loud and you will hear it. If the paflions agitate you with violence, her voice will be weak; you will hear her no

between Spain and the United States.-In the 4th article of this treaty it was flipulated that the weftern boundary of the United States which feparates us from the Spanish colony of Louisiana, fhould be in the middle of the channel of the river Miffiffippi, from our northern boundary to the completion of the gift degree of latitude north of the equator, and that the navigation of the river, in its whole breadth from its fource to the ocean,fhould be free only to the citizens of the United States and the Spaniards, unless by special convention between the king of Spain and other powers.

But befides this, it was abfolutely effential that the citizens of the United States fhould have fome place of depofit, where their property might be taken out of their river-boats, and laid up, previous to its being shipped on board veffels of fuitable burden for exportation; and fo again, where their importation might be firft unladen and depofited previous to being put on board the boats, to be carried up the river, fince without fuch place of depofit, as it is called, the navigation of the river would be almoit or quite ufelefs to them. It was therefore futher agreed by the penultimate article of the treaty, as follows:

And in confequence of the ftipulations contained in the 4th article, his Catholic Majefly will permit the citizens of the Unite i Sares, for the space of three year from this time, to depofit their merchandize and effects in the port of New-Orleans, and to export them from thence without paying any other duty than a fair price for the hire of the ftores, and his Majefty promifes either to continue this permiffion, if he finds during that time, that it is not prejudicial to the interefts of Spain; or if he fhould not agree to continue it there, he will affign to them on another part of the banks of the Miffiffippi, an equivalent these eftablishment."-Obfervations on two articles, and their fair conftruction, are referved till we come to speak more partic ularly of the affair of New Orleans.

Balance Closet.

Two motives induce us to copy the following article from the Bee. The first is-to shew that even democrats are compelled to censure the conduct of Mr. Jefferson; and the second-to expose a base and despicable attempt of the editor of the Bee to impose upon the large and respectable society of Friends in this vicinity.

"Certain refractory officers of the Pennsylvania militia having been fined and degraded by a courtmartial for their contempt of the republican cockade ordered by the legislature, Gov. M Kean has approved their sentences in terms of merited censtre. The decided and manly conduct of this able statesman during his administration having produced the

most favourable effect on the politics of that state, is it not a natural inference that similar conduct on the part of the federal executive would be attended by a similar effect? The respectable body of Friends in Pennsylvania, who seldom interfere in political natters on censurable grounds, have by a deputation to the governor testified their approbation of his conduct."

After telling of the "favorable effect" which has been produced by "the decided and manly conduct" of Gov. McKean, Mr. Holt asks, if it is not "a natural inference that similar condict on the part of the federal executive [Mr. Jefferson] would be attended by a similar effect?" Now, who could have expected such a question as this from the editor of the Bee What! Dare he insinuate that Mr. Jef. ferson's conduct has not been "decided and manly?" -Wonder of Wonders! Why, if a federal printer had said thus much, this very Mr. Holt would have pronounced him a slanderer, a tory, and all the ugly names he could have borrowed or invented. But the thing is past; and if some apology is not immediately made for this direct and stinging cen

sure on Mr. Jefferson's conduct, we fear the consequences may be serious to our honey-making neighbor. However, we leave this affair to be settled by our good democrats, while we proceed to examine the concluding sentence of the above paragraph. The gross and impudent falshood with respect to the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania, first appeared in the Aurora: but the editor of the Bee was aware that if he published it on Aurora authority, it would obtain no more credit than an hundred other falshoods, which he has, at various times, copied from the same paper. He therefore chose to depend a his own naked word; and this, we are sorry to say, has of late been so shamefully prostitut ed, that it is but little more entitled to credit than Duane's.

The editors of the Gazette of the United States, as long ago as the 17th of December, published an ample refutation of Duane's story about the Friends, by which refutation it appears,

That four or five individuals of the fociety of Friends, waited upon the ex"ecutive to reprefent to him the defective operation of the laws of the common"wealth for the fuppreffion of vice and "immorality, and to point out particularly "the inadequacy of the law prohibiting "horje-racing, its known evafion, and defective execution. This, and this a lone, was the bufinefs of the Friends "who vifited the Governor."

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"But, farther, (add the editors of the "Gazette of the United States) we flatly

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deny the truth of the Aurora ftatement, "and explicitly affert, upon unquestion. "able authority, that the fociety of Friends, either in a body, or by dele"gation, has not given a teftimony of "approbation and confidence in the exec

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utive of this commonwealth;' that it has "afforded no other than ordinary tefti"monies of refpect to the Governor,' "when meeting him upon matters of busi

nefs; that it has not declared its approbation of M'Kean's adminiftration;' "and that it has not, by any public act,

"added its good opinion of the chief magiftrate' to that of his fupporters." After this refutation, it seems that Duane, by some quibble, attempted to impress a belief that his first statement was substantially correct. This led to a reply from the Gazette of the United States, of which the subjoined paragraph forms a part.

"We intend to leave no room for fur"ther equivocation upon this Tubject. We "therefore affert explicitly, and declare "that the affertion is founded upon un

queftionable ground, that the fole object "of the vifit of Meffrs. Waln, Pember"ton, &c. was to confer with the govern"or upon the violation of the law for the "fuppreffion of vice and immorality, as

before fuggefted, and further, that they "did not, either in behalf of the fociety, "or for themfelves, afford to Mr. M.Kean an expreffion of refpect, nor avow appro"bation of, or confidence in his adminif tration."

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BREAD,

ΤΟ

READ, more than any other article is the ftaff of human life; and, thro'

the fingular goodness of providence, almoft every country and clime are capable of producing this effential fuftenance of man. Articles of luxury are the peculiar growth of fome particular climates. The grape, the nutmeg, the pine-apple, the orange, and numberlefs other delicacies, require the vivid rays of nearly a tropical fun : but fome or other of the various grains which produce bread, may be made to grow almost every where.

Even in the cold and dreary regions of Siberia in Ruffia, where peach, plumb, or cherry, never grow; where the appletree, tho' affifted by a garden culture, can be made to produce fruit fcarcely bigger than a walnut, the fields are laden with luxuriant crops of wheat. Buck-wheat feems to have been an indigenous plant of that country; or in other words, it reproduces itself there and grows fpontane oufly, or without any cultivation. Oth er kinds of wheat, it is faid, reproduce themselves, or grow fpontaneoufly in the ifland of Sicily.

When countries become crowded with people, neceflity urges them to diminish the limits of their meadows and to turn them to tillage; that fo they may raise the largeft poffible quantities of grains for bread, and of vegetables. In England, hay is comparatively but little ufed. It is accounted too dear a food for cattle.Wheat, barley, rye and oats, are raised in the greateft poffible quantities; the kernels whereof, allowing a portion of the coarseft to their horfes, is ufed for the fuftenance. of man; and their ftraw, together with turnips, carots and fome other vegetables, are food for their cattle during winter.

The country which is fertile in yielding grains for bread, is much better than that. which under a barren furface. contains mines of gold: because men can live without the latter, but not without the for

THE

HE Sabbath is one of thofe falutary intitutions, which promote "peace on earth, and good will to men." Befides the opportunity which this day affords to promote our fpiritual progrefs towards the kingdom of heaven; it is a moft happy

fource of moral inftruction and focial refinement. Every feventh day, there is a folemn paufe from labour and amufement: out temples are opened, and truths, relative to GOD, ourselves, and our fellow-creatures, are impreffed.-Admitting that to thefe affemblies fuch difcourfes only are addreffed as the learned, or those who affect to be learned, cali plain and ordinary; ftili much inftruction is conveyed. A large proportion of thofe, who fill our churches, have few or no other means of gaining remorals and manners of this clafs of citizens ligious or moral knowledge. Are not the the weary an opportunity for cleanliness of great importance? This day affords to and decorum, to acquire light and information, and to contemplate their moral ftate. Look into fociety; compare those places where fuch inftitutions prevail, with thofe where they are abolished, or growing thofe where they are abolished, or growing behold induftry, fobriety, graceful manners, into difufe and contempts in the first; you and patriotism; in the laft, idleness, intemperance, prodigality, and impatience of every civil and moral reftraint.

Improvements.

FROM THE BOSTON CENTINEL.

A BRIDGE (the first in this ftate) has been thrown over Connecticut River, between Montague and Greenfield. The conftruction of this fplendid piece of architecture, is new in this flate. It is a wooden bridge, confifting of 4 arches of 120 feet each,built of two courfes or ftretchers of hewn timber, 20 inches deep and 10 wide, placed one above the other fo as to break joirts, and at fuitable distances bolted together by large iron bolts; each arch has ten courfes of thefe ftretchers, all con

nected by braces of timber: the stretchers are about 24 feet long, and all picked of natural fhape fuited to the intended curve. The whole is fupported by two abutments and three piers, all of ftone, which are about 36 feet long, 25 wide, and 5 high, handTomely faced and pointed. The length of the bridge from the extremity of the abutments 620 feet, and go wide, the fides of which are fecured by a fubftantial and elegant railing. The plan of this bridge is confidered to be an improvement upon the very wonderful bridge built at Wittingen, in Switzerland, by Mr. Ulrich Grubenhamm, of Tuffen, who alfo built the celebrated bridge over the Rhine, at Schaffhaufen..

This fpirited enterprize, which has coft eleven thousand dollars, will have an effect on the completion of the 14th Maffachuletts Turnpike; in which cafe there will be a good road, the greater part one continued turnpike, from this town, and running nearly a western direction thro' this ftate, and the ftate of New-York, to the falls of Niagara.

The following was published in the Balance, on its first commencement in a folio form; but, as sev en or eight hundred of its present readers, were not subscribers for it at that time, there can be no impropriety in re-publishing an article which may of great public utility.

BRIDGE BUILDING.

The following is a cheap and eafy method of building bridges over ftreams which are obftructed by ice, &c. AFTER the abutments are built, a centre or mould should be formed in the fame manner, as when the arch is to be turned with flone; cover this centre with seasoned pine boards jointed at the fides and fquared at the ends, and laid lengthwife across the ftream; nail them faft to the centre to keep them in their proper places, and pay them. over with tar or pitch, to preferve the work. This being done, add as many layers as the length of the arch requires to render it ftrong, paying each one over as before, and obferving to break joints in each direction as much as poffible. Small nails fhould be used for the first and fecond layers, after which 10d. nails will be prop

er.

The form or curve may be varied to fuit fituation and circumftances, and it will be found upon experiment, that this bridge, though cheap and fimple, will nevertheless be fufficiently ftrong; being compofed of an arch of folid timber, laid in the most advantageous way of the grain. The work, when finished, may be covered with gravel, in the mener of ftone bridges. This method is doubtlefs preferable to that of building with flone, or even iron, as, from