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MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.

A singular and calamitous event which happened in New-England, was long involved in the deepest mystery, and was brought to light a few years since. Mr. D-, when a young man, was married to a young and lovely woman, to whom he was fondly attached. A party of the friends of the family were invited to pass some days with them at his mansion in Charlestown, to celebrate the happy event. In the evening of the marriage they were amusing themselves with playing pawns. During the game every thing was redeemed but the wedding ring, and they all were employed in seeking for it, wondering where it was hid. Not being able to find it, nor obtaining any answer to their repeated enquiries, they became alarmed, and every one with all the servants, were employed in the search. The house was ransacked from the chamber to the cellar. The garden, the grounds about, every thing was explored in vain. Thinking it might have been stolen by a servant, notice was left at the jewellers' shops in Boston, to stop it, if it should be offered for sale. Nothing could be heard of it. The husband and wife lamented their misfortune, and were always tortured with this mysterious loss. After a lapse of ten years, a large gold fish, which had long been a favourite of Mrs. D~, died; she recollected approaching the open glass vessel in which the fish was confined, when she played pawns ten years before. She had dreamed that the fish had swallowed her ring, and she determined to cause it to be opened. Her directions were obeyed, and on removing a part of the entrails, just in the place where she had dreamed the ring had lodged, what, gentle reader, do you imagine was found there? Why, the ring to be sure, you exclaim. No such thing; they found nothing, verily nothing.

AN INSTANCE OF EXCUSABLE FRIGHT.

A lady of my acquaintance, related to me a story which happened to herself. The circumstance took place in Cornhill; she was at that time a young girl, and her chamber was on the first floor. It was a municipal regulation of the town of Boston, at that time, for the watch men to call out aloud the hours of the night. Past 12 o'clock, and a cloudy morning,' had just awakened her, when she heard a clattering noise above her, which seemed to whirl about with inconceivable rapidity. Presently she heard a door creek slowly on its hinges, and something descended the stairs with a noise as terrifying as it was unaccountable. She became more and more alarmed as the sound approached; and when the something jumped upon her bed, the young lady shrieked with apprehension and agony. Mew, mew,' whined the cat, whose feet her wicked brother Robert had shod with empty walnut shells; and who frightened at the noise they made, had been frisking about the house, and created general alarm.

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ADVERSARIA.

"ARISTIDES, MILTIADES, PHOCION, AND SCIPIO."

THE democrats, in order to throw an odium on Mr. Adams, have published a pretended letter, in which Count Deodati is made to predict, that Mr. Adams would be treated like other great men in republicks, Aristides, Miltiades, Phocion, and Scipio; and Mr. Adams is made to add, that he expected it, and that history had verified it as to himself.

Now, in order to prove that Mr. Adams, who is well acquainted with ancient history, could not have compared his character and fate with those of the great men above mentioned, I shall give a very short sketch of each of those illuftrious men.

ARISTIDES was a distinguished citizen of Athens, who rendered great and unexampled services to his country in the field, and so remarkable was his modesty and affability, that he consented to serve under his rival and enemy Themistocles. He was banished by his ungrateful countrymen, and died so poor, that he was buried at the publick expense, for want of estate sufficient for that purpose.

We can see no point of resemblance in this character to the history of Mr. Adams.

MILTIADES was another eminent Athenian Commander. In his first exploit against the Chersonesus he was guilty of the basest treachery against the inhabitants of that country. On his return to Athens he was employed in honourable commands in their army, and displaygreat talents. He was at last accused of treason, perhaps unjustly, and was sentenced to death, but the punishment was commuted for imprisonment. He died in prison, but so poor, that his son Cimon was obliged to borrow money to redeem his dead body.

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Surely it will not be pretended that Mr. Adams has experienced so 'cruel a fate.

PHOCION was both a celebrated orator and general of Athens. It is said he was too modest to solicit office. He was a man of a mild temper and persuasive manners. He was extremely poor. He was sacrificed by a faction in the state, and executed. At his exit he gave directions" that his son should forget the injuries he had suffered."But it seems son disobeyed his instructions, and revenged himself by the blood of his father's persecutors. Historians say this was the only good action of his son's life, that he had but a small share of his father's abilities, and none of his virtues.

No part of this character or of this unmerited fate can be applied to the happy and illustrious life of Mr. Adams.

As to the last character (SCIPIO) we are not told whether the Scipio referred to by Deodati was the Asiaticus, or the Africanus junior;

both of them experienced ingratitude. The former having been fined, his estate would not pay the amount of the fine. The latter was strangled in his bed by order of the Decemviri.

We hope when the democrats invent another letter for Mr. Adams they will select examples a little more apposite.

Surely these instances of base ingratitude in former republicks ought not to be applied to a man, who, with his family, has received a series of honours and profitable employments, of which the history of no republick on earth can exhibit the parallel.

We are not disposed to depreciate the merit of these gentlemen ; and we are convinced that their names will descend to posterity with all the reputation they deserve, unless pretended friends, or some unguarded act of their own, should tarnish the honour, which a liberal country has most munificently bestowed.

BIOGRAPHY.

I KNOW of no kind of composition better calculated to fix the reader's attention, than the history of great and good men ; and of all specimens of biographical writing, I know of none, that in simplicity of style, importance of subject, and minuteness of relation, can vie with those in the PANOPLIST. Lest I should be thought singular in my opinion, 1 beg leave to present the reader with a few extracts.

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In a Memoir of the Rev. John Newton, in the Panoplist for July, 1808, after an important relation of Mr. Newton's repeated voyages to Guinea, for slaves, we are told that through the kind procurement of a friend, he received an appointment to the office of tide surveyor of the port of Liverpool. This place afforded him much leisure, and the liberty of living in his own way. His circumstances now became smooth and uniform for some years, as before they had been stormy and various. At that time religion was at a low ebb, in Liverpool.'* The biographer then introduces a letter written by Mr. N. in which he says, "I find my duty is to attend the tides one week, and the other week to inspect the vessels that are in the docks. I have a good office with fire and candle; fifty or sixty people under my direction, with a handsome six oared boat, and a cockswain to row me about.' Happy man! What, though religion is at a low ebb, yet thou enjoyest thy six-oared boat, and a cockswain to row thee about! Pattern of piety! thy sublime employment shall be the admiration of remotest posterity.

In this extract I have taken the liberty to italicise a few technical words, not noticed by the Panoplist.

Being at Leeds, he (Mr. N.) was desired by the late Rev. Mr. Edwards, to preach for him at White-chapel. He met a party of religious friends at Mr. Edwards's house, which adjoined the chapel ; and took his tea (of which he was remakably fond) with them. At the appointed time the service commenced; and after prayer, Mr. Newton read his text, which was, I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.' Mr. Newton began fluently; but in a few minutes he lost all recollection of his plan; was confused, stopped, and desired Mr. Edwards to come up and finish the service. Mr. E. urged him to proceed, but Mr. N. left the pulpit. P. 98.

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Reader! have you observed several remarkable occurrences mentioned in the preceding extract? If you have not, then read it over again; pause and ponder, and ponder and pause,' and you will find that Mr. Newton took tea' with his friends! Why? to comply with common custom, or to prepare himself for the services of the chapel? No such thing; he took tea' because he was remarkably fond' of it.

Another remarkable circumstance, which would hardly gain credit, were it not related in the Panoplist, is, that after prayer he read his text.' If the unbelieving reader should doubt as to the truth or propriety of this assertion, Shakespeare furnishes an irresistible argument, which is to the point- If two men ride a'one horse, one must ride behind.'

A third circumstance is more wonderful than all the rest. He was confused, stopped, and desired Mr. Edwards to finish the service." Why did he stop? My dear sir, he stopped because he was confused;' and I presume he had more modesty than most of our extemporaneous preachers, who go on the better for being confused." But why should he be confused? Lord, what a stupid reader you are, to ask so silly a question. Don't I tell you he had lost all recollection of his plan ?'

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"He published a narrative of the former part of his life. This procured a small addition to his income, and excited a greater attention to his ministry. The people,' says he, 'stare at me since reading itand well they may. I am indeed a wonder to many-a wonder to myself; especially, I wonder that I wonder no more.' Bless us! what a crowd of wonders is here!

Many more passages, equally beautiful and instructive, might be selected, but let these suffice.

BOSTON THEATRE.

Master J. H. Paine, who has lately distinguished himself at NewYork, by his personation of several important dramatick characters, and surprized the inhabitants of that city by his uncommon powers of

elocution, has appeared on the Boston stage, where he has performed the parts of Norval in Douglass, and Zapbni in Mahomet, with extraordinary skill. We believe we only echo the publick opinion, in declaring, that his judgment seldom fails of correctness, that his elocution is remarkable for its purity, and his action and deportment are eminently well suited to the passion he represents, and the sentiments he pronounces. He has satisfied the judgment of the impartial, whilst he has exceeded their expectations; and he has amply gratified the wishes of the friendly, by the success which he has hitherto obtained.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

7. Report of the Rev. Mr. Puffer to the corresponding secretary of the Evangelical Missionary Society. Also the Report of the Trustees of said Society, at their annual meeting, October 5, 1808. Worcester, I. Thomas jun. In which the author questions the utility of conducting missions on the usual itinerant plan, in which much is attempted, and little done, and proposes that missionaries limit their labours to two or three parishes.

8. A Sermon delivered at the Installation of the Rev. Horace Holley, to the Pastoral Care of the Church and Society in Hollis-street, Boston, March 8, 1809. By Joseph Eckley, D. D. senior Minister of the "Old South Church, in Boston. To which are added, the Charge, given by Rev. John Lathrop, D. D. and the Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Dr. Kirkland. Boston, Belcher. This publication, especially the latter parts of it, is an emanation of what the catcholic spirit of the Bostonian christians once was. But the d days seem to be hasten1ing, , when the intolerant temper of Archbishop Laud is to be exercised in all its relentless fury.

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G. Graupner proposes to publish, in a neat pocket volume, a collection of Glees, Catches, Canons, Duets, Rounds,' &c. &c. usually sung by the Anacreontick Society in Boston, principally composed by Messrs. Harrington, Hayes, Hook, Aldrich, Green, Bryce, Haydn, Purcell, Atterbury, Webbe, Dibdin, and other eminent authors ; to be entitled The Anacreontick Vocalist. This work is to be handsomely engraved on copperplates, and to contain from 70 to 80 pages. Price to Subscribers 1,50 cents.

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TO CORRESPONDENTS.

No. 3 of "Letters from Boston" was not received in season to be inserted in the present number.

paper.

Communication from Cambridge is too trifling in its nature for this

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