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the evil is by no means so dreadful as is generally supposed, particularly when it is considered that the British ministers assured Messrs. Munroe and Pinckney, Nov. 7, 1806, that their government gave at that time no cause of offence to the United States by impressments, and that the American ministers might be satisfied, it would continue to pursue the same policy;' and in an official note presented by Lords Holland and Aukland, they give Messrs. Munroe and Pinckney the most positive assurances that 'instructions have been given* and shall be repeated and enforced, for the observance of the greatest caution in the impressing of British seamen; and that the strictest care shall be taken to preserve the citizens of the United States from any molestation or injury; that immediate and prompt redress shall be afforded upon any representation of injury sustained by them.' Mr. Madison, in his note of Feb. 3, 1807, resorts to equivocation in endeavouring to remove the assertion that no recent causes of complaint had taken place' in respect to this subject; he roundly asserts, without the least proof, that impressments never were more numerous, and however the language of Mr.Lyman's book's may countenance this errour,' the secretary can not say, but he undertakes to assert that he thinks it probable even there, that the means of correcting it may be found.' Messrs. Munroe and Pinckney accorded in sentiment with the British ministry; and since the Chesapeak disaster, which unfortunately occurred soon after the above official communications, we have heard of no instances of impressments of American seamen but on the contrary, many such sailors have been discharged from the British service.

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CALUMNIES.

'The real object of this party is to separate the United States, and excite Rebellion and Civil War, for the purpose of establishing a Monarchy, under the pretence of a Northern confederacy, or to force us into a destructive war with the continent of Europe, consequently a fatal alliance with the corrupted monarchy of Britain, whose embrace is death.' ' Chronicle, Feb. 16.

It is almost useless to refute this calumny. The object of the Federalists has always been to maintain the laws and the constitution; that of the democrats to evade both. The embargo laws were either constitutional or not; if not, the Federalists are supported by the constitution in endeavouring to obtain legal redress. Laws which are unconstitutional are not binding; and the legislature have declared these laws to be thus invalid. But there never has been known any thing like a northern confederacy, to force government into a war with France; though there are many wise politicians who consider the measure highly just and expedient. Yet such assertions spread as widely as if they

* Such orders were issued about this time.

Vol. 1.

were true; and too often remain uncontradicted, under the vain hope that they would carry their refutation in their absurdity. But it is too late to indulge such fancies; when we observe grave senators in congress, yet advocate the EMBARGO policy on the ground of PRECAUTION, though its operation is precicely the reverse, we must no longer conceive any intimation too absurd for systematick refutation.

CONTRADICTION.

• If the minority must rule the majority, there is an end of the constitution.' Chronicle.

This is a republican impossibility; but if applied to the State government, where is democratick modesty? The majority cannot be ruled, the moment what was the majority becomes ruled it is no longer such; because it must be overpowered by counteracting votes. There is no such thing therefore as a majority being ruled by the minority, or the constitution being ended in consequence. The constitution however can be ended, by other means. If our unalienable, inherent rights are destroyed, the constitution is ended; and if cOMMERCE is annihilated, so far as the provisions of the constitution which were made for its protection are rendered nugatory, it is ended.

MISREPRESENTATION.

Men may very honestly differ on these points; but there never would have been any difficulty at all if it had not been for the contrivances of the Monitor.

Essex Junto.'

So much for veracity. The Essex Junto we should imagine would be infinitely obliged to the editor of the Monitor, to particularize the contrivances which have had such a wonderful effect. It is well known the Essex Junto oppose the difficulties, which it seems have been occasioned by their own contrivances, so that they must have been very shallow brained politicians. Now, such men as have occasioned so much distress, whose plans existed before we had met with any disaster, and who have so fully succeeded in their designs, cannot be very foolish in their schemes, however they may be wicked.

DEMOCRACY, vs. DEMOCRACY.

'Resolved, that the real causes of our present embarrasments are not the embargo, or any measures of our own government, but are wholly owing to the unjust and oppressive conduct of Great-Britain and France.'

ANSWER.

Chronicle, Feb. 16.

The evils which we as a people do this moment experience, are in some measure owing to the publick and private machinations of our domestick enemies.' Chronicle, Feb. 16.

But there never would have been any difficulty at all if it had not been for the contrivances of the Essex Junto.' Monitor.

4

THE STAGE.

Next came the legion, which our winter Bayes
From alleys here and there contriv'd to raise ;
Projecting schemes the dreary months to cheer,
And with wild folly tire the listening ear.

WE are generally willing to allow the propriety of scrutiny on the performances of the stage; but do not deem it incumbent on us to take up much room in descanting on the merits of the complaints of. managers, or the personal conduct of performers. As far, however, as the publick is evidently connected with such enquiries, we are ready to permit any remarks to be published, which can have a tendency to remedy the evils complained of: but our correspondent ALPHA, who is so much incensed at the behaviour and situation of certain performers on Mr. Bernard's benefit night, and has communicated his very severe and caustick remarks for publication, is respectfully informed that the length of his piece far exceeds any limits which we can reasonably assign to a subject so notoriously stale in fact, and which would be so unprofitable to discuss. There are some of his observations, however, not undeserving of regard.

ALPHA, it seems, is fond of the theatre, but had been prevented by sickness from attending any performance, until particularly induced by the attraction of Mr. Bernard's benefit; he complains bitterly of his disappointment. He says he had heard that the managers had made many complaints of the times, which prevented their receiving any encouragement from the publick; he had sympathized with them in their misfortunes; but now the opinion of ALPHA is, that they must have received infinitely greater support than they had any right or pretension to expect. For,' says he, if such actors as Messrs. Taylor, Johnson, Robertson, Barnes, Morgan and Vining are cast to some of the most important characters in the scene; if Mr. Caulfield is allowed repeatedly to offend, indeed to insult the audience, as he did on Wednesday evening; if during the whole season, there has hardly been performed an excellent or legitimate comedy;' but some ill-digested and, miserably written productions, as the Blind Girl, the World, Begone Dull Care, the Wood Dæmon, and The Pilgrims have been forced upon the publick to tire their patience and pervert their taste, it is utterly ridiculous to make complaints so entirely destitute of any stability for a foundation.' He complains that Mr. Bernard should have treated his friends on his benefit night with a production of Dibdin, which had nothing but musick to recommend it. But even that could not save it in London, and it was generally condemned, as being perfectly flat and uninteresting, and as possessing neither wit in dialogue, truth in character, nor ingenuity in plot.

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It is the cause of frequent observation, too, he further remarks, that the principal business of the season has been confined to Messrs. Bernard, Dickenson, Mills, and Mrs. Woodham; the two latter of whom have been unfairly treated, as to their professional reputation. They have been so often required to take principal parts almost at a moment's warning; to play every night during the season, and not uncommonly in the longest characters, both in play and farce, that they have seldom had an opportunity to impress the words upon their memory, much less to give life, soul and vigour in the utterance, to the sentiment and expression.

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MR. FENNELL'S READINGS.

ANOTHER correspondent complains of Mr. Fennell's bills of fare: which he says remind him of the epicure, who dined on pork and beans one day, and beans and pork the next. Mr. Fennell gives us John Gilpin and the Maid of the Moor one evening, and the Maid of the Moor and John Gilpin the next. It would certainly be an improvement in the present course, to have the same pieces in the same order, every evening. This method would save the printers much trouble, as there would be no occasion for displacing their types; and the audience, as they would not then expect any thing new, would not be disappointed (as they must be at present) in finding nothing new.

The pages of Shakespeare, Milton, Young, Brooke, Thomson, and others, contain an inexhaustible variety of passages excellently adapted to publick reading. The Iliad and Odyssey, Ossian, Madock, Marmion, &c. afford episodes of exquisite beauty, and susceptible of the highest improvement from a forcible and judicious reader. With such resources, a repetition of the same pieces, when they are not to be committed to memory, is certainly unnecessary.

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Is Mr. Fennell insensible that he possesses no talents for comedy, or light satire? and that they cannot be supplied by critical study? It is true, he might be successful in speaking the Satire of Juvenal; and he is not deficient in the description of a fop:' but this species of composition partakes of all the qualities of heroick poetry; indignation, contempt, anger, are passions, which though found in comedy and satire, are entirely distinct from humour. We therefore think, that the introduction of humorous compositions into Mr. Fennell's reading, is a custom which would be more honoured in the breach than the observance.'

ADVERTISEMENTS.

CARD.

The beautiful young lady, who unfortunately slipped down upon the ice, and dropped her garter in the Mall, last Wednesday, is desired not to make herself uneasy, as the gentleman, who witnessed the fact

and picked up the garter, is upwards of fifty, and most religiously promises that the exposure shall go no further.

FOUND

Out, by the administration, that the British are not to be frightened by the embargo, and that the Orders of Council will still continue, until our temper be changed.

WANTS,

ARGUMENT, Mr Giles's Speech;

VIRTUE and WISDOM, Mr. Jefferson's administration;

MEANING, Honestus' essays in the Chronicle ;

WIT, the Journal of an English traveller in the Monthly Anthology; LIBERALITY, the Panoplist; and,

ENCOURAGEMENT, most new publications.

THE THEATRE,

This season, has a great many wants. The PLAYS want attraction, the ACTORS want talents, the MANAGERS want liberality, and the PUBLICK want discrimination.

NOTICE.

If the writer of certain paragraphs in certain papers, who, according to his opinion, is possessed of the very first talents in the country, and is eminently well calculated to guide the chariot of Phoebus, is now in want of employ, we shall be happy to publish some of his lucubrations; provided his meaning be rendered more evident, by numerous Italick phrases and capitals, and provided his wit shall depend upon the printer, as well as himself.

THINGS TAKEN.

The ENGLISH NAVY have taken nothing, because there is nothing to take;

The FRENCH have taken Madrid ;

The UNITED STATES ARMY have taken cotton-wool;

CONGRESS have taken time;

The LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS have taken good council, And the LIEUT. GOVERNOUR has taken umbrage.

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