r*-*- .-.tf ' -,' '..• ^■•^^ i '■■: ■'■Sf^'^' •I - '•■» ^ W^i: **'^ ^^ DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY T^reasure %oom THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR CONTAINING A VARIETY .OF ORIGINAL AND SELECTED PIECES ; TOGCTKER WITH RULES, CALCULATED TO /MPROVE YOUTH AND OTHERS IN THE ORNAMEKTAJ AND USEFUL ART OF ELOQUENCE. BY CALEB BINGHAM, A. M. Author of The American Preceptor, Toung Ladys Accidi/ice^ tT^. " Cato cultivated Eloquence, as a necefTary mean for defending the Rights of the People, and for enforcing good CcunfeJs." ROLLIN. FIFTH TROY EDITION. ..^....♦..<^..o....^., PUBLISHED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS. TROY: PRINTED AND SOLD BT PARKER AND BlIS^, AT THE TROV BOOK-STORE, SIGN OF THE BIBLE, 1811. yovb^ PREFACE. NorwiTHSTANDING the multiplicity of School-Books fjaiv in ufey it has been often ftiggejled, that a SeleBion^ calculated particularly for Dialogue and Declamation^ would be of extenftve utility in our feminaries. The art of Oratory needs no encomium. To cultivate its rudiments, and diffufe its fpirit among the Touth of America, is the defign of this Book, Of the many pieces nvhich this volume contains^ three only are to be found in any publication of the kind, A large proportion is entirely original. To thofe, who have ajjlfted him in this party the author returns his warmejl acknowledgments. The COLUMBIAN ORATOR is defgned for a Second Part to the AMERICAN PRECEPTOR 5 fot this reafon, no pieces are inferted from that Book. As no advantage could arife from a methodical ar- rangement, the Author has preferred variety to fy stem.. In his choice of materials, it has been his objeEl to feleft fuch asfJjould infpire the pupil with the ardour of elo- quence, and the love of virtue. He has /pared no pains to render the Work, in every refpeEl, worthy of the gen- erous patronage, which a liberal public have be/lowed on his former publications. Bofton, May i7tb, 1797. CONTENTS. Page GENER.Al. InftrucStions for Speaking - - - 7 Oration on Eloquence - - Perkins 30 Speech in Congrefs, 1789 - - Washington 34 Speech of a Roman General - - P. Emilius 36 Exhortation on Temperance in Pleafure - Bi-air 38 Judah's Plea for Benjamin, before JoftpJi - Philo 41 Plea in hehalf of Thomas Muir - - Muir 43 On the ftarry Heavens _ - - HERVF.r 44 Paper, a Poem - - - Franklin 46" Speech before the Roman Senate - - Cato 48 DialoguebetvveenDuellift,8avage,andMerciiryLTTTLETON 50 Speech of an Indian Chief - - - - 54 On thr Creation of the World - - Blair S5 Lines fpokcn by a little Boy - - Everett 57 Speech in the Britifli Parliament, 1766 - - Pitt 58 Scene from the Farce of Lethe - - Gar rick 6f Eulogy on Dr. I'Vanklin - - - pAUCiiEr 64 Epilogue to Addiibn's Cato _ _ - . 69 Self-Conceit, an Addrefs by a fmall Boy - - - 70 Dialogue between Howard and Lefter - - yz Chrift's Crucifixion _ _ - Cumberland 74 The Wonders of Nature - - Hervev 77 Dialogue on Piiyfiognomy ~ * - - 79 Oration at the Feftival of Gratitude - Carnot Sz Addrefs to the Prcfident of the United States Adet 85 Prefulent's Anfwer - _ - Washington 87 The opprefdve l^andlord, a Dialogue - - - 88 Speech in the liritifli Parliament, 17 70 Mansfield 94 Oil the Day of Judgment - _ ■ Davies 97 Chrift triumphant over the apoftate Angels Milton loo Slaves in Barbary, a Drama in two Adls Everett 102 Speech in the Britifh Parliament, 1770 - Pitt 119 Plea before a Roman Court - - Socrates laa Dialogue on Cowardice and Knavery - - ia6 Speech in the Britifli Parliament - Sheridan 130 Extradl from an Oration againft Catiline Cicero 131 Defcription of the tirft American Congrefs Barlov/ 135 Speech of a French General to his Army BuoNArARiE 135 Refle(Slions over the Grave of a Young Man Hervey 136 Scene from theDramaof "Mofesin theBulruflies"H Moore 137 Speech of a Roman General - - C Cassius 14a Speeeh in the Britifli Parliament, 1784 - Erskine 144 Addrefs to the people of the U. States Washington 147 Dialogue on the Choice of Bufinefs for Life - - 150 Speech of 2" French General - - Buonaparte 154 Speech in the ^ritiil J Parliament, .1777 - -^ Pjtt j^d A z vi CONTENTS. Page Dialogue between a Schoolmafter and School-Committee 158 Speech in"the Britifli Parliament, 1770 - Pitt 165 On the general Judgment-Day - - Dwight 169 On the Works of Creation and Providence Hervey 171 Speech in the Britifli Parliament - - Fox 17a The Conjurer, a Dialogue - - Everett 175 Speech in the Britilli Parliament, 1775 - Pitt 184 SptLch of the Caledonian General - Galgacuus 185 Alodern Education, a Dialogue - _ _ 189 On the Exiftence of God, a Sermon - Maxcy 195 The Dignity of Human Nature - - Burges 203 Infernal Conference - - Cumberland 205 Speech in the Britifli Parliament, 1777 ' - Pitt 214 On the Day of Judgment - - Young 217 The Diffipated Oxford Student Altered from Burney 2x9 Speech in Congrefs, on the Britifli Treaty - Ames ajo Oration on Independence, July 4, 1796 - Blake 234 General Defcription of America, a Poem Everett 237 Dialogue Between a Mafter and Slave - Aikin 240 Speech in the Irifli Parliament - - O'Connor 243 Scene from the Tragey of Tamerlane - Rowe 248 Speech in the Britifli Parliament - ■« Barre 254 TheLaft^ay _ - _ , Everett 254 Dialogue on I^oquacity - ♦ - - 237 American Sages - - r Barlow 261 Speech in the Britiflli Parliament, 1777 • Pitt 26a Scene from the Tragedy of Cato - Addison 265 Oration, delivered at Bofl:on, July 4, 1794 Phillips 268 Dialogue between a White Man and an Indian Everett 269 Oration, pronounced at Boflon, July 4, 1796 Lathrop 27^ Dialogue between Edward and Harry - Evereit 275 David and Goliath . , * H. Moore 27^ Oration on the Powers of Eloquence - - 281 Dialogue on. Civilization - . - - 289 Oration on the Manumiffion of Slaves - Miller 29J A Forenfic Difpute _ _ - Everett 295 Oration, delivered at Bofton, March jth, 1780 Masoji jos^ THB COLUxMBIAN ORATOR, &c. INTRODUCTION. General Directions for Speaking; extracted from various authors. OF PRONUNCIATION IN GENERAL. THE beft judges among the ancients have repre- fented Pronunciation, which they likewife called Adtion, as the principal part of an orator's province ; from whence he is chiefly to expc^ B 14 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. alter the tone of their voice, though they do not attend to it. It rifes, finks, and has various inflections given it, according to the prefent ftate and difpofition of the mind. When the mind is calm and fedate, the voice is moderate and even; when the former is dejected with forrow, the latter is languid; and when that is inflam- ed by paflion, this is elevated. It is the orator's buiinefs, therefore, to follow nature, and to endeavor that the tone of his voice appear natural and unafFeded. And for this end, he muft take care to fuit it to the nature of the fubjecl; but ftill fo as to be always grave and decent. Some perfons continue a difcourfe in fuch a low and drawling manner, that they can fcarcely be heard by their audience. Others again hurry on in fo loud and boifterous a manner, as if they imagined their hearers were deaf. But all the mufic and harmony of voice lies between thefe extremes. /Perhaps nothing is of more importance to a fpeaker, than a proper attention to accent, emphafis, ond ca- dence. Every word in our language, of more than one fyllable, has at leaft, one accented fyllable. This fylla- ble ought to be rightly known, and the word fliould be pronounced by the fpeaker in the fame manner as he would pronounce it in ordinary converfation. By em- phafis, we diflinguifh thofe words in a fentence which we efleem the moft important, by laying a greater flrefs of voice upon them than we do upon the others. And it is furprifing to obferve how the fenfe of a phrafe may be altered by varying the emphafis. The following example will ferve as an illustration. This fhort queftion, " Will you ride to town to- day?" may be underftood in four different ways, and, confequently, may receive four different anfwers, ac- cording to the placing of the emphafis. If it be pronounced thus; Will you ride to town to-day? the anfwer may properly be, No; I fhall {^ndi iny ion. If thus; Will you ride to town to-day.'* Anfwer, No; I intend to v/alk. Will you ride X.% THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 1 5 town to-day?. No; I fliall ride into the country. Will you ride to town to-day? No; but I fliall to-morrow. This fliovvs hoiv neceflary it is that a fpeaker iTiould know how to place his emphails. And the only rule for this is that he iludy to attain a jud conception of the force and fpirit of the fentiments which he delivers. There is as great a difference between one who lays his emphafis properly, and one who nays no regard to it, or places it wrong, as there is between one who plays on an inftrumcnt with a mafcerly hand, and the mofi: bungling performer. Cadence is the reverfe of emphafis. It is a depref- fion or lowering of the voice; and commonly falls up- on the lail: fyllable in a fentence. It is varied, howev- er, according to the fenfe. When a queftion is afked, it feldom falls upon the laft word; and many fentences require no cadence at all. Every perfon who fpeaks in public, fhould endeavor, if he can, to fill the place where he fpeaks. But (i'xW he ought to be careful not to exceed the natural key of his voice. If he does, it will neither be foft nor agreeable; but either harfh and rough*, or too flirill and fqueaking. Befides, he will not be able to give every fyllable its full and diftincSl found; which will render what he fays obfcure, and difficult to be underftood. He fhould therefore take care to keep his voice within reach, fo as to have it under management, that he may raife or fink it, or give it any inflec^tion he thinks prop- er; which it will not be in his power to do, if he put a force upon it, and ftrain it beyond its natural tone. The like caution is to be ufed againft the contrary c^reme, that the voice be not fuffered to fink too low. This will give the fpeaker pain in raifing it again to its proper pitch, and be no lefs ofFenfive to the hearers. The medium between thefe two is a moderate and ev- en voice. But this is not the fame in all; that which is moderate in one would be high in another. Every perfon therefore muft regulate it by the natural key of his own voice, A calm and fedaie voice is generally i6 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. befi; as a moderate found is mofl pleafmg to the ear, if h be clear and dilHn^l. But this equality of the voice muft alfo be accompanied with a variety : other- wife there can be no harmony; fmce all harmony con- fiils in variety. Nothing is lefs pleafing than a difcourfe pronounced throughout in one continued tone of the voice, with- out any alteration. The equality, therefore, we are here fpeaking of, admits a variety of inflec^lions and changes within the fame pitch. And when that is al- tered, the gradations, \.*hjrher higher or lower, fliould be ih gentle and regular as to preferve a. due prc>por- tion of the parts, and harmony of the whole; which cannot be dnncy when the voice is fuddenly varied with too great a diltindlion. And therefore it fliould move from one key to another, fo as rather to glide like a gentle ftream, than pour down like a rapid torrent, as an ingenious writer has well exprefied it. But an affected variety, ill placed, is as difagreeable, to a judicious audience, as the want of it, where the fubje6t requires it. We may find fome perfons, in pro- nouncing a grave and plain difcourfe, affcrances, it appears to a6l more powerfully. A cart of the eye will exprefs delire in as moving a man- ner as the fofteft language ; and a different motion of it, refentment. To wring the hands, tear the hair, or flrike the breaft, are all flrong indications of forrow. And he, who claps his hand to his fword, throws us into a greater panic than one who only threatens to kill us. N'»r is it in fome refpec^s lefs various and extenlive language. Cicero tells us, he often diverted himfelf by trying this with Rofcius the comedian ; who could exprefs a fentence as many ways by his geftures, as he hiir.f 'If could by words. And foi.»e dramas, called pan- tomimes; have been earned on wholly by mutes, who 20 THE COLUMBT AN OR ATOR. have performed every parr by geftures only, without words, in a way very inttlligibie. Bat 'vlth rf {peel to oratory, gefture may very prop- erly be called the fecond part of proniinciati( n ; In which, as the voice (liould be fuited to the inipreffions it receives from the mind, fo the feveral motions of the body ought to be accommodated to the various tones and infif^t^fcions of the voice. When the voice Is even and moderate, little gellure Is required; and nothing is more lumatural than violent motion, in difcourfiDg upon ordinary and familiar fijbjc61:s. The morions of the body Ihould rife thereftire in proportion to the ve- hemence and energy of the exprefli n, as the natural and genuine tfFe(Sl of it. But as geftiire is very different and various as to the manner of it, which depends upon the decent condu<5l of feveral parts of the body, it will not be aipIA to con- fider more particularly the proper management of each of thofe parts. Now all gefture is either natural, or from Imitation. By natural gellure, we mean fuch ac- tions and motions of the body, as naturally accompany our words, as thefe do the imprcffions of our mind. And thefe either rerpe(51: the whole body, orfome par- ticular part of It. The fpeaker ihould not long continue ftanding In the fame pofirion, like a ilatue, but be cimll^antly chang- ing, though the m-otion be very moderate. There ought to be no appearance of iHffnefs, but a certain cale and pllablenefs, naturally fuiting itlelf to cvrry CXT'r.^fli on; by which nieans, when a greater degree of motion is neceffary, it will appear lefs fudden and ve]*ement: for as the raifing, finking, and varIo\i^ in- fli '.'f'ons of the voice mufV be gradual, lo llkewif ^ ihould the motions of the body. It iy only on fome parvicu- lar occafions that a haity vehemence and im}»eruofity is proper in either czit. As to the feveral parts of thebody,theheadIsthe inoft COf hderable Vo lift it up too hioh has the air -f /irro- gance and pride j to Aretch it out too far, or throw i^ THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. as back, looks clownirti and unmannerly; to hang it down- wards on the breati, fhows an unmanly baihfulnef^ and want of fpirit: and to fuffer it to lean on either iTioul- der, argues both ilorh and indolence. Wherefore, in calm and fedate difcourfe, it ought to keep its natural ftate, an upright poRure. However, it fhould not be long without morion, nor yet always moving ; but gently turn fometimes on one fide, and fometimes on the other, as occafion requires, that the voice may be heard by all who are prefent ; and then return again to its nat'iral pofition. It Ihould always accompany the other acflions of the body, and turn on the fame fide with them; except when averfion to any thing is cxprefied; which is done by ftretching out the right hand, and turning the head to the left. But it is the countenance, that chitflyreprefents both the paflions and difpofitions of the niind. By this we cxprefs love, hatred, joy, forrow, modtfiy, and confi- dence : by this we fupplicate, threaten, foothe, invite, forbid, confent, or refufe; and all this without fpeaking. Nay, from hence we form a judgment not only of a p( r- fon's prefent temper, but of his capacity and natu al difpofition. And therefore it is common to fav, fii and the pafiions* Even in thofe fentences which are expreffed in the moft even and fedate manner, there is often one or more words which require an emphafis and diftint^ion of the voice. Pronouns are often of this kind; as, this is the man. And fuch are many words that denote the circumftances and qualities of things. Such as heighten or magnify the idea of the thing to which they are joined, elevate the voice ; as noblej admira- ble, majejlic^ greatly, and the like. On the contrary, thofe which leffen the idea, or debafe it, deprefs the Toice, or at leaft protradl the tone : of which fort are the words little, mean, poorly, contemptible, with many Others. Some tropes, likewife, as metaphors and verbal fig- ures, which coniift in the repetition of a fingle word, fliould have a particular emphafis. As when Virgil fays of the river Araxes, " It difdainedTi bridge." And Nifus of himfelf in the fame poet, I, / am the man ;'* where the repeated word is loudeft. This diil:in. Extract from an Oratiok on Elo- QllENCE, PRONOUNCED AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY, ON Commencement Day, i 794. THE excellence, utility and importance of Elo- quence 3 its origin, progrefs, and prefent ftate ; and its iiiperior claim to the particular attention of Columbia's free-born fons, will exercife for a few mo- ments the patience of this learned, polite, and refpe(n:ed alTembly. Speech and reafon are the characleriftics, the glory^ and the happinefs of man. Thefe are the pillars which fupport the fair fabric of eloquence ; the foundation, upon which is erected the moft magnificent edifice, that genius could defign, or art conftruct. To cultivate elo- quence, then, is to improve the nobleft faculties of our nature, the richeft talents with which we are intrufted. A more convincing proof of the dignity and importance of our fubjecft need not, cannot be advanced. The benevolent defign and the beneficial effects of eloquence, evince its great fuperiority over every other art, which ever exercifed the ingenuity of man. Vo kiftruct, to perfuade, to pleafe j thefe are its objeds; THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 51 To fcatter the clouds of ignorance and error from the at'nofphere of reafon; to remove the fihii of prejudice fr vn the mental eye; and thus to irradiate the benight- ecl mind with the cheering beam=; of truth, is at once the bufinefs and the glory of eloquence. To promote the innocent and refined pleafures of the fancy and intel]e<5t; to ftrip the monfter vice of all his borrowed charms, and expofe to view his native defor- mity; to difplay the refiftlefs attra(5lions of virtue; and, in me word, to roufeto action all the latent energies of mim, in the proper and ardent purfuit of the great end of his exigence, is the orator's pleafing, benevolent, fublime employment. Nor let it be objedled, that eloquence fometlmes im- pedes the courfe of juftice, and fcreens the guilty from the puniihinent due to their crimes. Is there any- thing which is not obnoxious to abufe? Even the benign religion of the Prince of Peace has been made the unwilling inflrument of the greateft calamities ever experienced by man. The greater the benefits which naturally refult from any thing, the more pernicious are its cfi:e9 fpread a continual feaft *, and health, vigor, and high fpirits, invite them to partake of it without reftraint. In vain we warn them of latent dangers. Religion is accufed of infufferable feverity, in prohibiting enjoy- ment : and the old, when they offer their admonitions, are upbraided with having forgotten that they once were young. And yet, my friends, to what do the reftraints of religion, and the counfels of age, with refpecl: to pleaiure, amount ^ They may all be comprifed in few words, not to hurt yourfelves, and not to hurt others, by your purfuit of pleafure. Within thefe bounds, pleafure is lawful *, beyond them,* it becomes criminal, becaufe it is ruinous. Are thefe refiraiiits any other, than what a wife man would choofe to impofe on him- felf ? We call you not to renounce pleafure, but to enjoy it in fafety. Inftead of abridging It, we exhort you to purfue it on an extenfive plan. We propofe meafures for fecuring its pofTeflion, and for prolonging its duration. Confult your whole nature. Conlider yourfelves not only as fenfitlve, but as rational beings ; not only as rational, but focial *, not only as focial, but immor- tal. Whatever violates your nature in any of thefe refpe peds of human felicity. THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 41 Judah's Plea for his Brother Benjamin, BEFORE Joseph in Egypt. WHEN we appeared before you, Sir, the firft time, we anfwered without refer ve, and ac- cording to the ftricSteft truth, all the quefiions which you were pleafed to put to us concerning our family. We acquainted you, that we had a father, heavily la- den with years, bn.it ftill more heavily with misfortunes ; a father, whofe whole life had been one continued ilrug- gle with adverfity. We added that we had a brother peculiarly dear to him, as the children born towards the end of their life generally are to old men, and who is the only one remaining of his mother ; his brother having come in early youth to a moft tragical end. You commanded us, as the proof of our veracity and innocence, to bring that brother unto you ; and your command was delivered with fuch threatenings, that the terror of them accompanied us all the way back to our country, and embittered the remainder of our jour- ney. We reported every thing minutely to our father, as you dire^ed us. Kefolutely and long, he refufed to intruft us with the care of that child. Love fuggefled a thousand caufes of apprehenfion upon his account. He loaded us with the bitterell: reproaches for havmg declared that we had another brother. Subdued by the famine, he at length relutStantly con- fented •, and putting his beloved fon, this unhappy youth, into our hands, conjured us by every dear, every awful name, to guard with tenderncfs his pre- cious life ; and as we would not fee him expire before our eyes in anguilh and defpnir, to bring him back in fafety. He parted with him as with a limb torn from his own body ; and in an agony of grief mexpreffible, deplored the dreadful nec^^iliry which feparated him from a fon, on whom aii the happincfs of his life dc- gended. 15 ;j 42 THE COLtTMBIAN ORATOR. How then .-^.n we appear before a father of fuch delicate fendbihty ? With what eyes fhall we dare to look upon him, unlefs we carry back with us this fon of his right hand, this fVafF of his old age, whom, alas ! you have condemned to flavery ? The good old man will expire in horrors dreadful to nature, as foon as he ihall find that his fon is not with us. Our enemies will infult over us under thefe misfortunes, and treat us as (he moft infamous of parracides. I muft appear to the world, and to myfelf, as the perpetrator of that moii horrid of crimes, the murder of a fither j for it was I who moft urgently prefl'ed my father to yield. I engaged by the moft folemn promifes, and the moft facred pledges, to bring the child back. Me he intrufted with the facred depofit, and of my hand he will require it. Have pity, I befeech you, on the deplorable condition of an old man, ftripped of his lair comfort *, and whofe mifery will be aggravated by refle(fting that he forefaw its approach, and yet want- ed refoiution to prevent it. If your juft indignation muft needs have a facrifice, Iiere I am ready, at the price of my liberty or of my life, to expiate this young man's guilt, and to purchafe his releafe ! Grant this requeft, not fo much for the fake of the youth himfelf, as of his abfent father, who never offended you, but who venerates your perfon and efteems your virtues. Suffer us not to plead in vain for a fhelter under your right hand, to which we flee, as to an holy altar, con- fecrated as a refuge to the miferable. Pity an old man, who, during the whole courfe of a long life, has culti- vated arts becoming a man of wifdom and probity, and who, on account of his amiable qualities, is almofl adored by the inhabitants of Syria and Canaan, though he prf feffes a religion, and follows a mode of living totally different from theirs. THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 43 Extract from the Plea of Thomas MuiRj ESQi AT HIS CELEBRATED TriAL IN SCOTLAND. Gentlemen of the Jury, THIS is now perhaps the laft time that I {hall ad- drefs my country. I have explored the tenor of my part life. Nothing fliall tear from me the rec- ord of my departed days. The enemies of reform have fcrutinized, in a manner hitherto unexampled in Scot- land, every aftion I may have performed, every word I may have uttered. Of crimes, moft foul and horri- ble, have I been accufed : of attempting to rear the ftandard of civil war ; to plunge this land in blood, and to cover it with defoiation. At every ftep, as the evi- dence of the crown advanced, my innocency has bright- ened. So far from inflaming the minds of men to fe- dition and outrage, all the witnefies have concurred, that my only anxiety was, to imprefs upon them the necefiiry of peace, of good order, and of good morals. What then has been my crime ? Not the lending to a relation a copy of Mr. Paine's Works ; not the giving away to another a few numbers of an innocent and conlHtutional publication ; but for having dared to be, according to the meafure of my feeble abilities, a ftren- uous and a£live advocate for an equal reprefentation of the PEOPLE, in the HOUSE OF 1 HE PEOPLE ; for having dared to attempt to accomplilh a meafure, by legal means, which was to diminifh the weight of their taxes, and to put an end to the profufion of their blood. From my infancy to this moment, I have devoted myfelf to the caufe of the PEOPLE. It is a good caufe. It will ultimately prevail. It will finally tri- umph. Say then openly, in your verdiiSl, if you do con- demn me, which I prefume you will not, that it is for my attachmentto this caufe alone, and not forthofe vain and wretched prt-texts ftated in the indictment, intended on- ly to color and difguife the real motives of my accuf^- 44 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. tion. The time will come, when men muft ftand or fall by their actions ; when all human pageantry {hall ceafe; when the hearts of all Ihall be laid open to view. If you regard your moft important interefts j if you wifli that your confciences fhould whifper to you words of confolation, rather than fpeak to you in the terrible language of remorfe, weigh well the verdidt you are to pronounce. As for me, I am carelefs and indifferent to my fate. I can look danger, and I can look death in the face ; for I am fhie)ded by the confcioufnels of my own recti- tude. I may be condemned to ianguilh in the recefles of a dungeon. I may be doomed to afcend the fcaf- fold. Nothing can deprive me of the recollection of the paft ; nothing can deftroy my inward peace of mind, arifing from the remembrance of having dif- charged my duty. On the starry Heavens. « TO us who dwell on its furface, the earth is by far the moft exteniive orb that our eyes can any where behold. It is aUb clothed with verdure ; dif- tingiijfhed by trees *, and adorned with a variety of beautiful decorations. Whereas, to a. fpecStator placed on one of the planets, it wears a uniform afpeCt ; looks all luininons, and no larger than a fpot. To beitjgs who dwell at ftill greater dillances, it entirely difap- pears. That which we call, alternately, the morning and evening ftar ^ as in one part of her orbit, fhe rides foremoft in the proc* flion of night *, in the other, ufli- ers in, and anticipates the dawn, is a planetary world ; Avhich, with the five others, that fo wonderfully vary their myftic dance, are in themfelves dark bodies, and lliine only by reflection ; have fields, and feas, and fkies of their own j are furuilhed with all accommodations THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 45 for animal fubfiftence, and are fuppofed to be abodes of intelle think of a fine lady now ? ^f. As I expected. You are very yonng, madam, and, if you are not very careful, your naiural nropen- fity to noiie and aiFeddrefred himielf to joainds capable of compre- hending him. THE COLUMBIAIsr ORATOR. 67 Immortal females of America ! I will tell it to the daughters of France, and they only are fit to applaud you ! You have attained the utmoft of what your fex is capable ; you pofTefs the beauty, the limplicity, the manners, at once natural and pure j the primitive gra- ces of the golden age. It was among you that liberty was firft to have its origin. But the empire of free- dom, which is extended to France, is about to carry your manners along with it, and produce a revolution in morals as well as in politics. Already our female citizens, (for they have lately become fuch) are not any longer occupied with thofe frivolous ornaments and vain pleafures, which were nothing more than the amufements of flavery ; they have awakened the love of liberty in the bofbms of fa- thers, of brothers, and of hufbands ; they have encour- aged them to make the moft generous facrifices ; their delicate hands have removed the earth, dragged it along, and helped to elevate the immenfe amphitheatre of the grand confederation. It is no longer the love of voluptuous foftnefs that attracts their regard ; it is the facred fire of patriotifm. The laws which are to reform education, and with it the national manners, are already prepared ; they will advance, they will fortify the caufe of liberty by means of their happy influence, and become the fec- ond faviours of their country ! Franklin did not omit any of the means of being ufe- fu) to men, or ferviceable to fociety. He fpoke to all conditions, to both fexes, to every age. This amiable moralift: defcended, in his writings, to the mofl artlefs details ; to the mofV ingenuous familiarities ; to the firffc ideas of a rural, a commercial, and a civil life ; to the dialogues of old men and children ; full at once of all the verdure and all the maturity of wifdom. In fhort, the prudent lefTons arifing from the expofition of thole obfcure, happy, eafy virtues, which form fo many links in the chain of a good man's life, derived immenfe weight from that reputation for genius which he had 63 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. acquired, by being one of the firft naturalifts and greateft philofophers in the univerfe. At one and the fame time, he governed nature in the heavens and in the hearts of men. Amidft the tempefts of the atmofphere, he directed the thunder 5 amidft the ftorms of fociety, he dire(^ed the paflions. Think, Gentlemen, with what attentive docility, with what religious refpe<5l, one muft hear the voice of a limple man, who preached up human happinefs, when it was recollected that it was the powerful voice of the fame man who regulated the lightning. He electrified the confciences, in order to extract the deftrudtive fire of vice, exaCtly in the fame manner as he elecStrified the heavens, in order peaceably to invite them from the terrible fire of the elements. Venerable old man ! auguft philofopher ! legislator of the felicity of thy country, prophet of the fraternity of the human race, what ecftatic happinefs embeliifli- ed the end of thy career ! From thy fortunate afylum, and in the midft of thy brothers who enjoyed in tran- quility the fruit of thy virtues, and the fuccefs of thy genius, thou haft fung fongs of deliverance. The laft looks, which thou didft caft around thee, beheld Amer- ica happy j France, on the other lide of the ocean, free, and a fure indication of the approaching freedom and happinefs of the world. The United States, looking upon themfelves as thy children, have bewailed the death of the father of their republic. France, thy family by adoption, has honor^ ed thee as the founder of her laws ; and the humaiv race has revered thee as the univerfal patriarch wha has formed the alliance of nature with fociety. Thy remembrance belongs to all ages j thy memory to all nations j thy glory to eternity I THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 69 Epilogue to Addison's Cato, YOU fee mankind the fame in every age : Heroic fortitude, tyrannic rage, Boundlefs ambition, patriotic truth, And hoary treafon, and untainted youth, Have deeply marked all periods and all climesj The nobleft virtues, and the blackeft crimes. Did Cefar, drunk with power, and madly brave, Infatiate burn, his country to enflave ? Did he for this, lead forth a fervile hoft To fpill the choiceft blood that Rome could boaft i The Britifh Cefar too hath done the fame. And doom'd this age to everlafting fame. Columbia's crimfon'd fields ftill fmoke with gore ; Her braveft heroes cover all the fliore : The flower of Britain, in full martial bloom. In this fad war, fent headlong to the tomb. Did Rome's brave fenate nobly dare t' oppofe The mighty torrent, ftand confefs'd their foes, And boldly arm the virtuous few, and dare The defp'rate horrors of unequal war ? Our fenate too the fame bold deed have done, And for a Cato, arm'd a Wafhington ; A chief, in all the ways of battle ikill'd, Great in the council, mighty in the field. His martial arm and fleady foul alone, f Have made thy legions fhake, thy navy groan, > And thy proud empire totter to the throne. 3 O, what thou art, mayft thou forever be. And death the lot of any chief but thee ! We've had our Decius too ; and Howe could fay, Health, pardon, peace, George fends America ; Yet brought deftru£lion for the olive wreath j For health, contagion, and for pardon, death. Rife ! then, my countrymen, for fight prepare j Gird on your fwords, and fearlefs rufh to war : 7a THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. *TIs your bold tafk the gen'rous ftrife to try y For your griev'd country nobly dare to die ! No pent-up Utica contracts your pow'rs ; For the whole boundlefs continent is ours f Self-Conceit, An Address, spoken by a very small Boy. WHEN boys are exhibiting in public, the politc- nefs or curiofity of the hearers frequently in- duces them to inquire the names of the performers* To fave the trouble of anfvvers, fo far as relates to my^ felf, my name is Charles Chatterbox. I was born in this town ; and have grown to my prefent enormoua jftature, without any artificial help. It is true, I eat, drink, and fleep, and take as much care of my noble felf, as any young man about ^ but I am a monftrous great ftudent. There is no telling the half of what' I have read. Why, what do you think of the Arabian Tales r Truth ; every word truth ! There's the ftory of the. lamp, and of Rook's eggs as big as a meeting-houfe. And there is the hiftory of Sindbad the failor. I have read every word of them. And I have, read Tom Thumb's Folio through, Winter Evening Tales, and Seven Champions, and Parifmus, and Parifmenus, and Valentine and Orfon, and Mother Bunch, and Seven Wife Mafters, and a curious book, entitled, Think well on't. Then there is another wonderful book, containing £fty reafons why an old bachelor was not married. The firft was, that nobody would have him ; and the fecond was, he declared to every body, that he would not marry ; and fo it went on ftronger and ftronger. Then, at the clofe of the book, it gives an account of his marvellous death and burial. And in the appen- dix, it tells about his being ground over, aud coming THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 7 i T>ut as young, and as frtili, and as fair as ever. Then, every few pages, is a picture of him to the life. I have alfo read Robinfon Crufoe, and Reynard the Fox, and Moll Flanders ; and I have read twelve de- lightful novels, and Iriih Rogues, and life of Saint Patrick, and Philip Quarle, and Conjurer Crop, and .-^fop's Fables, and Laugh and be Fat, and Toby Lump- kin's Elegy on the Birth of a Chi!d, and a Comedy on the Death of his Brother, and an Acroflic, occafioned by a mortal ficknefs of his dear wife, of which flie re- covered. This famous author wrote a treatil'e on the Rife and Progrefs of Vegetation ; and a whole Body of Divinity he com.prifed in four lines. I have read all the works of Pero Gilpin, whofe memory was fo extraordinary, that he never forgot the hours of eating and fleeping. This Pero was a rare lad. Why, he could ftand on his head, as If it were a real pedeftal ; his feet he ufed for drumfticks. He was trumpeter to the foot guards in Queen Betty's time ; and if he had not blown his breath away, might have lived to this day. Then, I have read the hiftory of a man who married for money, and of a woman that would wear her huf- band's fmall-clothes in fpite of him *, and I have read four bocks of riddles and rebufes ; and all that is not half a quarter. Now what fignifies reading fo much If one can't tell of iSr^ In thinking over thefe things, I am fometimes fo loft in company, that I don't hear any thing that is faid, till fome one pops out that witty faying, " A penny for your thoughts." Then I fay, to be fure, i w^as thinking of a book I had been reading. Once, in this mood, I came very near fwallowing my cup and faucer ; and another time, was upon the very point of taking down a punch- bowl, that held a gallon. Now, if I could fairly have gotten them down, they would not have hurt me a jot ; for my mind is capacious enough for a china-fhop. There is no choking a man of my reading. Why, if my mind can contain Genii and ^% THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. Giants, fixty feet high, and enchanted caftles, why not a punch-bowl, and a whole tea-board ? It v/as always conjectured that I fliould be a mon- flrous great nran ; and I believe, as much as I do the Spanifli war, that I lliall be a perfect Brobdingnag in time. Well now, do you fee, when I have read a book, I go right off into the company of the ladies ; for they are the judges whether a man knows any thing or not. Then I bring on a fubjedl: which will fliow my parts to the Deit advantage ; and I always mind and fiiy a fmart thing juft before I quit. You muft know, moreover, that I have learned a great deal of wit. I was the firft man who invented all that people fay about cold tongues, and warm tongues, and may-bees. I invented the wit of kiffing the candlefiiick when a lady holds it ; as alfo the plays of criminal and crofs- queflion ; and above all, I invent- ed the wit of paying toll at bridges. In fhort, kdies and gentlemen, take me all in all, I am a downright curious fellow. Howard and Lester. A Dialogue on Learning and Usefulness. jj T ^^ ^^ much like a fiddle : every man plays i^ J fuch a tune as fuits him. Lejl. The more like a fiddle, the better I like it. Any thing that makes a merry noife fuits me ; and the man that does not fet his hours to mufic, has a dull time on't. Hoiv, But, Lefter, are there no ferious duties in life ? Ought we not to improve our minds, and to prepare for ufefulnefs t Left, Why, in the prefent day, a mans preparing himfelf for ufefulnefs, is like carrying coals to New- Caftle. Our country is full of ufeful men } ten, at THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 73 leaft, to where one is wanted, and all of them ten times as \'eady to ferve the public, as the public is to be ferv- ed. If every man fliould go to Congrefs that's fit for it, the federal city would hardly hold them. How. You mean, if all who think themfelves fit for it. Lefl. No ; I meant as I faid. H01U. Then what do you think fits a man for Con- grefs ? LeJ}. Why he muft be flippant and bold. H01U. What good will that do him, if he Is with- out knowledge ? Lefl, O ! he muft have knowledge to be fure. Ho-iu. Well, muft he not be a man in whom the people can truft ? Muft he not underftand politics ? and muft he not be able and willing to ferve his coun- try ? Left. I agree to all that. How. Then you fuppofe that the federal city could hardly hold all our men who unite eloquence with confidence, knowledge with integrity, and policy with patriotifm. I rear that a counting houfe would give them full accommodation. Lefl. I don't go fo deep into thefe matters : but this is certain, that when the ele<5lion comes, more than enough are willing to go. How. That, iny friend, only proves that more than enough are ignorant of themfelves : but are there no other ways of ferving the public. Lefl. Yes •, one may preach, if he will do It for lit- tle or nothing. He may practice law, if he can get any body to employ him ; or he may be a Dodlor or an Inftrudlor j but I tell you the country is crowded with learned men begging bufinefs. How. Then you intend to prepare yourfelf for the Ignorant herd, fo that you may not be crowded. Lefl. I have ferious thoughts of it. You may take your own way, but I'll never wear out a fine pair of eyes in preparing myfelf for ufefulnefs, till this fame G 74 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. public will give me a bond to employ me when I ai ready to ferve them. Till fuch a bond is figned, fealedj and delivered, I fliall fet my hours to the tune of ** Jack's alive." To-day's the fhip I fail in, and that will carry the flag, in fpite of the combined powers of yefterdays and to-morrows. Hoiu. Well, Lefter, you can take your choice. I fliall fet my hours to a more ferious tune. I afk no bond of the public. If my mind is well furnifhed with knowledge, and that fame generous public, which has fo uniformly called to her fervice the difcerning, fhould refiife my fervices, ftill I fhall poflefs a treafure, which, after a few years of diflipation, you would give the world to purchafe, THE RECOLLECTION OF TIME WELL SPENT. Christ's Crucifixion. ■* l^T^^ darknefs fell J^^ On all the region round ; the fhrouded full From the impen'tent earth withdrew his light : I thirft, the Saviour cry'd •, and hfting up His eyes in agony. My God, my God 1 Ah ! why haft thou forfaken me .^ exclaim'd. Yet deem him not forfaken of his God ! Beware that error. 'Twas the mortal part Of his compounded nature, breathing forth Its laft fad agony, that fo complain'd -, Doubt not that vail of forrow was withdrawn, And heav'nly comfort to his foul vouchfaf'd. Ere thus he cry'd, Father ! into thy hands My fpirit I commend. Then bow'd his head And died. Now Gabriel and his heav'nly choir Of minift'ring angels hov'ring o'er the crofs Receiv'd his fpirit, at length from mortal pangs And flefhy pris'n fet free, and bore it thence Upon their wings rejoicing. Then behold THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. /5 A prodigy, that to the world announc'd A new religion and difTolv'd the old : The temple's facred vail was rent in twain From top to bottom, 'midft th' attefting ihocks Of earthquake and the rending up of graves. Now thofe myfterious fymbols, heretofore Curtained from vulgar eyes, and liolieft deem'd Of holies, were difplay'd to public view : The mercy-feat, with its cherubic wings O'erfhadow'd, and the golden ark beneath Covering the teftimony, novr through the rent Of that dilTever'd vdl firfi: faw the light ; A world redeem'd had nov/ no farther need Of types and emblems, dimly fhadowing forth An angry Deity withdrawn from fight And canopy'd in clouds. Him, face to face, Now in full light reveal'd, the dying breath Of his dear Son appeas'd and purchas'd peace And reconcilement for offending man. Thus the partition-wall, by Mofes built. By Chrift was levell'd, and the Gentile world Enter'd the breach, by their great Captain led Up to the throne of grace, opening himfelf Through his own flefh a new and living way. Then were the oracles of God made known To all the nations, fprinkled by the blood Of Jefus, and baptiz'd into his death ; So was the birthright of the elder born. Heirs of the promife, forfeited ; whilft they, Whom fin had erft in bondage held, made free From lin, and fervants of the living God, Now galn'd the gift of God, eternal life. Soon as thofe ligns and prodigies were feen Of thofe who watch'd the crofs, conviction fmote Their fear-ftruck hearts. The fun, at noon day dark ; The earth convuliive underneath their feet. And the firm rocks, in Ihiver'd fragments rent, Rous'd them at once to tremble and believe. Then was our Lord by heathen lips confefs'd. 76 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR- When the centurion cryM, In very truth This righteous Perfon was the Son of God ; The reft, in heart aflenting, ftood abafh'd. Watching in iilcnce the tremendous fcene. The recollection of his gracious adls, His dying prayVs and their awn impious taunts Now rofe in fad review ; too late they v/ifli'd The deed undone, and fighing fmote their breafts. Straight from God's prefence went that angel forth. Whole trumpet iliall call up the fleeping dead At the laft day, and bade the faints a rife And come on earth to hail this promis'd hour. The day-fpring of falvation. Forth they came From their dark tenements, their Ihadowy forms Made vilible as in their flefhy ftate. And through the holy city here and there Frequent they gleam'd, by night, by day, with fear And wonder feen of many : holy feers, Prophets and martys from the grave fet free, And the lirft fruits of the redeemed dead. They, who with Chrift transiigur'd on the mount V/ere feen of his difciples in a cloud Of dazzling glory, now, in form diftin^l:. Mingling amidil the public haunts of men. Struck terror to all hearts : Ezekiel there. The captive feer, to whom on Chebar's banks The heavens were open'd and the fatal roll Held forth, with dire denunciations fiU'd, Of lamentation, mourning and of woe. Now falling faft on Ifrael's wretched race : He too was there, Hilki all's holy fon, With loins clofe girt, and glowing lips of fire Ey God's own finger touch'd : there might be feen The youthful prophet, Beltefhazzar nam'd Of the Chaldees^ interpreter of dreams. Knowledge of God befiow'd, in vifions fkill'd. And fair and learn'd, and wife : the Baptift here. Girt i?i his hairy mantle frowning flalk'd. And pointing to his ghaitly wound, exclaim'd. THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 77 Ye vipers ! whom my warning could not move Timely to flee from the impending wrath Now fallen on your heads ; whom I indeed With water, Chriil hath now with fire baptized : Barren ye were of fruits, which I prefcrib'd Meet for repentance, and behold ! the axe Is laid to the unprofitable root Of every faplefs tree, hewn down, condemn'd And call into the fire. Lo ! thefe are thtry, Thefe fhadowy forms now floating in your fight, Thefe are the harbingers of ancient days, Who witnefs'd the Meffias, and announc'd His coming upon earth. Mark with what fcorn Silent they pafs you by : them had ye heard. Them had ye noted with a patient mind, Ye had not crucified the Lord of Life : He of thefe ftones to Abraham fhall raife up Children, than you more worthy of his i\ock 9 And now his winnowing fan is in his hand. With which he'll purge his floor, and h<.ving {lor'd The precious grain in garners, will confume With fire unquenchable the refufe chatF. The Wonders of Nature. HOW mighty ! how majeftic ! and how myfteri- ous are nature's works ! When the air is calm, where fleep the ftormy winds ? In what chambers are they repofed, or in what dungeons confined ? But when He, " who holds rhem in his fill," is pleafed to awaken their rage, and throw open their priion doors, then, with irrefilHbie impetuofity, they rufli forth, fcattering dread, and menacing deltruc^tion. The atmofphere is hurled into the molt tun. ultuous confufion. The serial torrent burfts its way over nioun- tains, feas and continents. Ai: thing!: feel the dread- ful fhock. All thini];s trcinb'e h.f(^re rh.: furious b'aft. The foreft, vexed and torn, ^roaus under the koujrge* G z 78 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. Her fturdy fons are ftrained to the very root, and al- moft fweep the foil they were wont to fliade. The ftubborn oak, that difdains to bend, is dallied headlong to the ground : and, with fliattered arms, with prof^ trate trunk, blocks up the road. While the flexile reed, that fprings up in the marfh, yielding to the gufV, (as the meek and pliant temper, to injuries, or the re* ligned and patient fpirit, to misfortunes) eludes the force of the florin, and furvives amidfl the wide-fpead havoc. For a moment, the turbulent and outrageous fky fcems to be afTuaged ; but it intermits its warmth, only to increafe its ilrength. Soon the founding fquadrons of the air return to the attack, and renew their ravages with redoubled fury. The flately dome rocks amidft the wheeling clouds. The impregnable tower totters OH its baiiSj and threatens to overwhelm whom it was intended to protefi:. The ragged rocks are rent in pieces ; and even the hills, the perpetual hills, on their deep foundations are fcarcely fecure. Where now is the place of fafety ? when the city reels, and houfes become heaps ! Sleep affrighted flies. Diveriion is turned into horror. All is uproar in the element •, all is confternation among mortals : and nothing but one v^?ide fcene of rueful devaflation through the land. The ocean fwells with tremendous commotions. The ponderous waves are heaved from their capacious bed, and almoft lay bare the unfathomable deep. Flung in- to the mofb rapid agitation, they fweep over the rocks ^ they lafh the lofty cliffs, and tofs themfelves into the clouds. Navies are rent from their anchors j and, with all their enormous load, are whirled fwift as an arrow, wild as as the winds, along the vaft abyfs. Now they climb the rolling mountain ; they plough the frightful ridge •, and feem to fkim the fkies. Anon they plunge hito the opening gulf ; they lofe the fight of day j and are loft themfelves to every eye. How vain is the pilot's art I how impotent the marl-- ncr's fb-ength ! « They reel to and fro, and ftaggcr THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 79 like a drunken man." Defpair is in every face, and death fits threatening on every furge. But when Om- nipotence pleafes to command, the ftorm is hufhed to iilence *, the lightnings lay afidc their fiery bolts, and the billows ceafe to roll. Dialogue on Physiognomy. Enter Frank and Henry. j^ J TT appears rtrange to me that people can be ^^" * J_ fo impofed upon. There is no difficulty in judging folks by their looks. I profefs to know as much of a man at the firft view, as by half a dozen years acquaintance. Henry. Pray how is that done .'' I fhould vvifli to learn fuch an art. Fr. Did you never read Lavater on Phyfiognomy ? Hen. No. What do you mean by fuch a hard word? Fr. Phyfiognomy means a knowledge of men's hearts, thoughts, and chara their brothers in arms. Oh that I could here difplay the immenfe and glorious pidure of their vi '"y ^^^'*' ^ ^^^^ warned all UGH rhiup. YY ^^^ families out of my long range of buildings, and ordered them to pay double the rent they have done, for every day they remain. From every new tenant I am determined to have three times the fum. The prefent rent will never do in thefe times. Our children will become beggars at this rate ; and you- and I fliall have to betake ourfelves to hand labour, like" the common herd, to earn our daily bread. Wife. But I fear that fome of our tenants are too poor to endure a rent, double to what they now pay j and I am certain it will be impoflible for them all to remove, on account of the fcarcity of houfes to be ob- tained. Don P. That is not my look-out. It is enough for me to attend to my oivn intereft, not theirs. Wife. But you will exercife a little lenity towards. them, at this diftreffing time. I am perfuaded, my dear, that you will not turn them into the ftreet. Beiides, it is thought by fome, that they already pay a reafon- I able rent. ! THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 89 Don P. I have nothing to do with lenity. Woman, would you not have your hufband be looking out againft a rainy day ? What would become of you, and your children, if I were to fpend my time in ftudying /e»ityy inftead of my intereji-table P I tell you, that now is the harvell: time, and I am determined to thruft in the iio kle, and reap my proportion of the crop, before the fea- fon's over. The town is crowded with foreigners who are exiled from their homes, and neceility obliges thenv to pay whatever price is demanded, for a Iheiter to cover their heads. JVife. Would you then profit by the neceffities and misfortunes of your fellow-creatures ? Thefe exiles are entitled to our compaffion, inftead of experiencing ouc oppreilion. Don P. You talk like a poor weak woman. Did I not tell you that I had nothing to do with other peo- ple's good or ill fortune ? It is more than I can do to take care of my own dependants. We fhould make fine way ahead, if you were at helm. I believe in my confcience, that, if you poflefled the keys of the ftrong- box, you would fquander away to the full amount of a piftareen a week upon thefe poor ftarving runaways. I have not yet forgotten how you lavifhed a whole gal- lon of cider upon thofe three miferable wretches tha^ cleared out our well, the day before thankfgiving. Does this look like taking a prudent care of your fam- ily ? Pray how do you read your Bible ? Has no& Nebuchadnezzar faid, that, " He, who provides not for his own houfehold, has denied the faith, and is worf^ than an infidel ?" Wife, If you had ftudied your Bible as faithfully as you have your inter efl-tabhy you would not have put Saint PauPs words into the mouth of the king q£ Babylon. Does not the fame fcripture fay, that " H& who opprefTeth the poor, and " Don P. Hulh, I fay ; one of my tenants anproaches* Banifh your womanifh feelings \ and let not your HJi^ .JCuly tongue betray your weakaefe, H 2 90 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. Enter Tenant. Ten, Sir, I come to inform you, that I have at laft been fortunate enough to procure a fhelter for my fam- ily, though an indifferent one *, and have brought you» the rent of your tenement, which I quitted with re- luctance yefterday. \ Don P. It is well you are out ; for you would havd rnet with trouble, if you had remained three days long-^ er. I had ordered my attorney to give directions to am officer to tumble all your goods into the ftreet, and youP and your children after them. Ten. Then a good Providence has preferved us. Don P. Providence has fmiled upon me, I confefs^ in granting me fuch a riddance. Ten. I contend not with an adverfary who is man- tled in gold. Will you pleafe to count your money, and give me a difcharge ? Don P. ^Counts the money."] Why, man, the fui is deficient ; I cannot receipt it. Ten. It is the fame, Sir, as I paid the laft term. Don P. That is very true *, but did I not double the rent three days ago ? Ten. You did, indeed ; but my reply was, that I was utterly unable to pay a higher price ; and as the time was fo fhort, I thought you would not ftand for trifles. Don P. Trifles ! If you were to receive it, I believe you would not call it a trifle ; neither do L I demand the utmoft farthing. Ten. For the fake of peace, though I think your demand unjuft, I will take your receipt for this, and bring the remainder to-morrow. Don P. Not a cent will I receive without the whole, left by fome quibble of the law I lofe the reft. Ten. Your avaricious difpofition leads you to a6t contrary to your own intereft. Don P. I {hall not apply to you for leflbns of in- ftruCtion. I fliall condnft my own afl^airs according to my fovereign will and pieafure. Let me tell you,. Sir^ THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. ^i this impudence does not well become a man of your circumftances. Ten, "Sir, your honored father never ufed me thus." Alas I he little thought in what oppreflive hands he left his large eftate Could he be permitted to revifit the earth, his ghoft would haunt your guilty foul ; and, if you have any confcience left, harrow up remorfe, and awaken you to repentance. Don P, I did not admit a tenant into my houfe to hear a moral lc6ture from him. Ten, If you will take your money, I will quit your houfe with pleafure. But before we part, give me leave to tell you, that, though your great wealth has exalted you above yourfelf, and, in your own opinion, placed you beyond the reach of poverty, the time may come when you vfiWfeel what oppreffion is. Wife, I entreat you to receive the money and be tontent. Don P. A woman, who can't be filent in her huf- band's prefence, efpecially when he is negociating im- portant bufinefs, may take a modeft hint to leave the room. \_Exit Wife, Ten, If you are refolved not to receive your money, I muft carry it home again. And I hope the time is not far diftant, when I Ihall be out of the reach of your oppreflive hands. \^Exit. Don P. [Solus.~\ Every man I deal with is trying to cheat me. Mankind are by nature all knaves. I am afraid to truft even my beft friends. What an af- fli that the very decifions of fome of the courts were tinc- tured with that doctrine. THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 97 It was undoubtedly an abominable doctrine. I thought fo then, and think fo flill : but neverthelefs, it was a popular dodlrine, and came immediately from thofe who were called the friends of liberty -, how de- fer vedly, time will fiiow. True liberty, in my opin- ion, can only exift when juftice is equally adminiftered to all ; to the king, and to the beggar. Where is the juftice then, or where is the law that protefVs a mem- ber of parliam.ent more than any other man, from the punilhment due to his crimes ? The laws of this coun- try allow of no place, nor any employment, to be a fandluary for crimes : and where I have the honor to fit as judge, neither royal favour, nor popular applaufe ihall ever protedl the guilty. Extract from a Sermon on the Day of Judgment. LET us endeavor to realize the majefty and terror of the univerial alarm on the final Judgment Day. When the dead are fl^eping in the filent grave ; v/hen the living are thoughtlefs and unapprehenfive of the grand event, or intent on other purfuits ; fome of them afleep in the dead of night ; fome of them diiTolved in fenfual pleafures, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage ; fome of them planning or execut- ing fchemes for riches or honors j fome in the very act of fin ; the generality ftupid and carelel^ about the con(ierns of eternity, and the dreadful day juft at hand ; and a few here and there converflng with their God, and looking for the glorious appearance of their Lord and Saviour ; when the courfe of nature runs on uniform and regular as ufual, and infidel fcoffers are taking umbrage from thence to a£k, *' Where is the promife of his coming ?" In fhort, when there are no more vifible appearances of this approaching day, than of the deftrudlion of Sodom, on that clear morning in which Lot fled away j or of the deluge, when Noah en* 98 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. tcred into the ark : then, In that hour of unapprehenfive fecurity, then fuddenly Ihall the heavens open over the aftoniihed world ; then lliall the alarming clangor break over their heads like a clap of thunder in a clear iky. Immediately the living turn their gazing eyes upon the amazing phenomenon : fome hear the long expect- ed found with rapture, and lift up their heads with joy, afTured that the day of their redemption is come ; while the thoughtlefs world are ftruck with the wildefl horror and confternation. In the fame inftant the found reaches all the manfions of the dead ; and in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, they are raifed, and the living are changed. This call will be as ani- mating to all the fons of men, as that call to a finglc perfon, «* Lazarus, come forth." O what a furprife will this be to the thoughtlefs v/orld ! Should this alarm burfi: over our heads this moment, into what a terror would it ftrike many in this afTcmbly ? Such will be the terror, fuch the confternation, when it a Acl: I. Scene I. A Garden. Am Al^D ATSL foIuSf confined with a chain. IN vain the flowers fpread their gaudy colours, and fill the air with fragrance. The fun has not a cheering beam for me. All nature^s fmiles are frowns to him, who wears the chain of bondage. Fifteen ^long months have witnefTed my misfortune : what luck- lefs winds delay Francifco's palTage ^ Enter Oran luith a cane, Oron. Moping fugitive ! quick to your tafk. \Beat''- ing him.'] I have not placed you here to mutter to the herbs and flowers : they need the labour of your hands. Let them have it ; or heavier blows fhall pun- ilh your negledl. Aman. Then do your worf^ \ I aik the fatal blow^ to put a period to my miferies. Oran, Your life is in my hands ; but it fhall be 'prolonged ; and with your life, Fil lengthen out your, miferies. THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. i<^3 A man. Unfeeling tyrant ! From you I only afk the murderer's office. Speech was defigned for friendly intercourfej it ill becomes the tiger. In brutal filence, you may tear my flefh : add not the fting of words. Enter OzRO. Oran, Hah ! Ozro. A flave enlarged is no grate- ful %ht to his old mafter. \_Aftde, Ozro. I come, my brother, to end your fufFerings. Aman. Welcome I You know them to be more than man can bear. Oran, Vile intruder ! are you fo foon intoxicated with your liberty ? Quick, flee this place ; or ftronger chains, than bound you here before, fhall fober you again. 0%ro. Talk not of chains ; but rather learn to dread the hand, on which they have been bound. I come to execute the orders of your lord and mafter ; not to be frightened with your threats. Amandar's injuries have reached the ears of the Baftiaw *, and I am fent Oran. Tale-bearing renegade ! Well, I £hall learn to hufband my own property, and give up no more Haves for Hamet*s counfellors. Attend your duty ! [To Amandar^Jir iking him. Ozro, Repeat that blow, and it fhall coft you dear. Oran. Caitiff! begone from hence; or even the Bafhaw fhall not defend you from my indignation. Quick, leave my fight ! Ozro. Not while you have it in your power to ex- crcife your tyranny over my brother. But yefterday, you promifed to fell Amandar for this fum : here it is^ ready counted to your hands. I demand him of you. Oran. One half this fum would have bought him yefterday. It is my prefent choice to facrifice my property for my revenge. I will double his ta£k and fhorten his allowance, till his pride is reduced, and he becomes more profitable, by additional feverity. Tlvis is my promife to-day : tafce it for your folaces 104 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. Ozro. Monfter ! would you forever feaft your foul on the miferies of the unfortunate ? Your word is pafTed ; recal it at the peril of your life. There is your money. \_Flinging it at his feet.'] Amandar is — Oran. When foreign ruffians, who ought to wear the chains of bondage, are armed with fwords, all right is loft ; our property is given to the winds. Were it not for what weak heads, and fickly hearts call juftice, Fd feaft my dogs upon your flefli. Ch:ro. Go Tent your railings to the favage beafts, that prey on one another. If you love the law that fanflions cruelty, they are your fit afTociates. Amandar, you are once more reftored to liberty and life. \_Cut' ting off his hands with his fivordJ] \_Exeimt Amandar and Ozro. Oran. [Taking his mofiey.'] Thefe high-bred fellows make but poor flaves. 'Tis well to fhift them oiF at any rate. I will take care how I lay out ray money for the future. {Exit,, Scene II. The Highiuay. Ozro and Amandar. Aman. Am I deluded by a dream ? or is this real ? What angel eye of pity has glanced upon us ? O7.ro. I would not interrupt thy blifs, nor ftir the dregs, which the fair furface of this draught conceals^ But fortune feems to make our happinefs her fport. Aman. Has not the Bafhaw purchafed our freedom l What are the conditions ? Ozro. That is for time or wild conjecture to deter- mine. We muft deliberate what courfe to take. Aman. What doft thou fay ? let me hear the worfti Ozro. You know the circumftanccs of my liberation. All had the appearance of affability and pity in the Ba- fhaw. He queftioned particularly concerning our fit^ uation, and feemed moved with the account I gave. I informed him, our brother was daily expelled with tlie gleanings of an unfortunate father's intereft to re- / THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 105 deem us from our chains, and reftore us to a difconfo- late family. He turned afide, as though fome fudden emotion had feized his mind -, then exclaimed, « They fhall be mine !" The money was paid for your ran- fom, and committed to me. We arc conlidered as his property. Aman. What then creates fufplcion ? This favour has fome claim upon our gratitude. If we muft err, let it be on the fide of honor. Ozro. So thought I, Am.indar. Thefe were the impreffions of the moment. Bat avarice often aflumes the appearance of generolity : and malice, to make its prey more fure, puts on the gulfe of pity. If the Ba- fhaw's motive were our h^.ppinefs, all, but my freedom, I would pledge to pay the debt of gratitude- But I would fooner feek the lion's den, or truft the mercy of a tiger, than commit myfelf to a mercenary Turk. A father's fortune well may tempt the hypocritic ihow of kindnefs to his fons. Aman. This thought gives weight to your fufpicion» Are our misfortunes then the obje(Sl of bafe fpecula* tion ? This well becomes the dignity of rulers ; the honor of the prime magiftrate of Tunis I to feek us out, like brutes, to buy and fell, and fill his coffers on the ruins of our family. But ftay. Is there no room for charity ? Tunis, of all the ftates of Barbary, is famed for its refinement. Every Turk is not an Oran, I think I have heard theBafhaw noted for his humanity. Ozro. That ruler has but an ill title to humanity, who fuffers his fubje(Sl:s to trafiic in the deareft rights of man, and fliares himfelf the execrated commerce. Aman. True, my brother. But let us remember our native Venice. We have feen the Turk fold there in open market, and expofed to all the indignities which we have borne with Oran. Nay, more ; we may come nearer home, and fpread the blufh on our own faces. We both have heard the ftory of the grateful Turk, who, by the interceffion of Francifco, was twice releafed from fervitude. He had a noble ic6 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. foul, a feeling heart. Though his virtues were difcov- cred, and finally rewarded by our £\ther, we may blufh that they were fo long unheeded by our countrymen, and he fuffered to languifh in ignominious bondage. Ozi'o. Your words have weight. For the fake of this noble captive, I will take part of my cenfure from the Turks, and fparc it for my countrymen. Though this was done before my memory, the ftory paints his virtues to my mind ; and had I no other claim, I would call Francifco brother for this deed. Aman, \_Jfter a paufe,'] Can it be ! no j 'tis too much to think of. Ozro, What, Amandar ? Aman. A thought has ftruck my mind. Help to confirm, or to confute it. Enter Guards abruptly. Ozro, lDrawing.2 Who is here ! Stand off \ [^Guards drcmf, \Ji Guard. But look, my lads I You fee you are outmanned. We are more than two to one. Ozro. Then keep your diftance, and let us know your bufinefs : elfe, were yeu ten to one, Fd make your number lefs. \Jl Guard. As to ouf bufinefs, wc are obliged to let you know it ; or I believe your fwords would not frighten us to it. It is to carry you to the Bafhaw. Ozro. On what conditions muft we go ? \ft Guard. As to that, we fhali not be nice. We have no cavalry, ye fee *, fo you muft be content to march on foot. You may take the front, or centre, as fuits you beft. But we fhall not truft you in the rear, if you £how a difpofition to defert us •, and, if you are inclined to be hoftile, we muft fecure that fword. Ozro. I afk the terms on which we are to go ; as flaves or freemen } ift Guard. We don't wifli to take the trouble to bind you. If you are not free to go, we muft quicken THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 107 your march with the point of our fwords. Our orders are to return immediately. Ozro, Keep us no longer in fufpenfe. "We now arc free; and ift Guard, As to that, I believe you are a little miftaken. The Bafhaw has bought you both, and paid for you ; and we fliall look better to his intereft than , to lofe you for nothing, d'ye fee ? Come, march ! Ozro, What is the paltry price, compared with years of mifery ? Perhaps you know our deftiny. If we're for (ale again, tell him, we give the terms. This place fliall be the fair, and life the price. zji Guard. I tell you again, we are not eafily fright- ed. But I fee you are afraid of getting into Oran's hands again. If you choofe to be obftinate, we could eafily flice you in pieces, and carry you on tlie points of our fwords. But we don't wiili to fpoil you in fuch a manner. Belides, our mafter keeps no cut- throats. Our orders were to carry you fafe to the Ba- fhaw, and neither hurt you ourfelves, nor let any bo- dy elfe. You may wonder at this extraordinary hon- or, and fo do we. But he takes a liking to Chrif- tians, and is very often doing them a good turn. I fancy fomething uncommon is going forward to-day by this manoeuvre. Perhaps he is inclined to iin a little in your own way, by drinking a few bottles of wine with you. Ozro. [To Jmandar.'] Their honeft franknefs quite unarms me. I hope my fufpicicns have been ground- lefs. Aman. Let us truft ourfelves to their care. I am siuxipvis to know the fequel. Scene IIL Hamefs Houfe, Harriet, iSo/us.'} The grateful day returns, that ij^ings to miiiid my generous beneft<^or&. The birth- 108 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. day of my happinefs, my fortune, and my honor. Let it be facred to gratitude, and devoted to the fons of forrow. Enter Officer. Officer. Noble Sir, the fale of prifoners begins in hah'' an hour. Is it your pleafure to attend the auc- tion ? Hamet. It Is. Hnve them upon the foot ; and fee that they are treated with humanity. \Exit Officer.'] Ill-fated men J their lot is miferable indeed. Twere •almoii juft to rife above the laws, and give them all their freedom. \_Exit Hamet, Scene IV. 27)^ Jlreet in Tunis, Enter Crier, ringing his bell. At half an hour from this time ! will be fold at pub- lic auction ! to the highefi: bidder ! prifoners of all cot^ lours ! forts and fizes ! lately captured ! on the Medi- terranean ! and brought frefli into port ! warranted free from ficknefs, and wounds ! Alfo, a conliderable number ! a little damaged ! by mufket fhot ! and can- non balls ! and carelefs handling, with long knives and broad fwords ! and for want of wholefome air ! on ea- fy terms for the purchafer. [Exit Crier, ACT IL Scene I. Gran, 'Walking to the fair, Ormi. [S^A/j-.] Yes, he who frees a flate, arms an aflaflin. The Bafliaw may learn this to his forrow. Let him look to that. He has given a high price for ftock, that I fhould have been glad to turn upon his hands. The money will purchafe two for one. Gorton's and ,^anga's freight of prifoners will aUnoft glut the awr- THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 109 ket. The Bafliaw may be as oftentatious as he pleafes of his boylfh pity : thank fortune, I am not fo tender- hearted. No : dominion is the right of man. The love of power is planted in his nature. But all men can't be kings. If there are lords, there muft be flaves. And what muft be, is right. Let moralizers murmur at the doctrine ; their arguments are flender threads ; feeble as thofe who fpin them out from lovers' dreams, and children's notions. What is juftice without power? The flave's ideal friend ; whom he would wiih to break his chains ; on whofe credit, he would eftablifli univerfal government ; then dilTolve connexion, and ihut his partner up in prifon. ^Exit Orat:. Scene II. The fair, a large fquare. linter Officer, with a draivn fivord ; Zanga and Gorton, ivith fwords, followed by prifoners pinion^ ed ; bailors in the rear; AUCTIONEER, l^c. Sharp, a negro, fanding by Gorton, Officer bringing forward ftck and wounded. AuElioneer, Here, gentlemen, is a lot we (hall not differ about. For the fake of difpatch, we will put up all the fragments together. Here are a number with broken legs, arms, &c. and a number more with mortal wounds, that may get well, or may not. That is your rifk ; I fliall not warrant them. Upwards of a dozen : count for yourfelves. Who bids ? B-nter Hamet, and attendants ,• filence obferved, and all pay him obeifance. Sharp. Dat a man, a planter, mafler Gorton. [To Gorton* AuB. Examine for yourfelves : who bids ? Oran. Four hundred fequins for the whole. AuB. That is fcarce the price of one good able- bodied flave. Oran. They will not do me half the fervice at pref- ent. The greater part of them are not able to cook K no THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. their own food ; much lefs to earn it. Yet they muft be fed ; or they will die on my hands, you know. And a iick or dead flave is the very worft of dead jftock. I'll give no more. Harriet. Thefe unfortunate men are the objects of compaflion, not of unfeeling farcafm. Raife their price to five hundred, and charge them to my account. Servants, fee them removed to the hofpital. Let a furgeon be employed to heal their wounds, and reftore them to health. {Frijoners bowing refpeclfully.'^ \_Exeunt fervants and pr'ifoners. Sharp, Dat a good planter, mafler Gorton. He good to white man ; an be he good to poor negur man too ? Officer bringing farward a number, AtiEi. Here are a parcel of lads of the firft quality; fuperfine •, the fons of noblemen. Their relations will give their weight in gold to redeem them. \Jl Purchafer. And their country, twice their weight rather than have them return. AuB. Now is the time to make your fortunes. Who bids ? Zanga. [To Gorton.'] Thefe, I fuppofe, are your champions, that took flielter in the hold, with their fea- faring brethren, the rats, when you fought them ? Gorton. The fame. AuB. One ! two ! three ! Juft going for — nothing. ifl Purchafer. Precifely what they are valued at, at home. You know, captains, thefe men of the femi- nine gender, don't pafs very current with us. You would do well to exchange them for ballaft, or frefti water. I will give you one hundred fequins a piece for them. Gorton. Strike them off ! It is cheaper buying men than raifing them at this rate. One, two, three, four, five of them. Clear the hatchway ! [^Exeunt ijl Purchafer and prif oners. Officer bringing forivard three others. AuEl. Here are three ftout, able-bodied fellows for you *, well made for labour. Who bids ? THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. m Sharp. Dat a man my mafTer. {^Pointing to Kidnap, 2d Piirchajer. Mere bladders filled with wine. Our labour and climate will blaft them like mufhrooms. id Purchafer. Let me look at their hands ; they are the index of the flave. A good hard hand is worth more than a dozen bloated cheeks and barrel bodies. Let me fee how they are put together. \_Shakifig them by the jhoulders. Kidnap. Stand ofF ! bafe ruffian. {(jfficer Jlrikes hint. Sharp. Dat larn you ftrike poor negur. Me wiffi he killa you ! [^Jjldc. Kidnap. BLick imp ! be filent. Officer. This fellow is a rare piece, Fll aflu^e you. Rather mettlefome at prefent. Difcipline him freely with a whip for feveral week^, and he will be as pa- tient as a Dutch horfe. Kidnap. Severe reverfe ! Now, Africans, I learn to pity you. \_Aftde. 2,d Purchafer. What does he fay ? Officer. I fancy he wifhes to be excufed from read- ing the new leaf we are turning over for him. His dreams have been very much inclined to tattle, lincc he has been in prifon. If I may judge from them, he has been a wholefale dealer in flaves himfelf ; and is jufl: beginning the hard lefTon of repentance. Gorton. Is this the man who entertained you fo agreeably in his fleep ? I fhould fuppofe he might af- ford a deal of amufement when awake. Officer. He was in a very companionable mood laft night. He muft have thought himfelf at home : poor man, I am almoft forry for his delufion. In his fecial glee, he ordered fix dozen of port, gave Liberty and Independence for a toaft, fung an ode to Freedom \ and after fancying he had kicked over the tables, bro- ken all the glafles, and lay helplefs on the floor, gave orders, attended by a volley of oaths, to have fifty of his flaves whipped thirty ftripes each, for finging a liberty-fong iii echo to his own ; and fix more to be 112 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. kung up by the heels for petitioning him for a draught of milk and water, while he was revelling with his Jrunken companions. Then waked up, and exclaimed, O happy America ! farewcl forever ! Juftice ! thou haft overtaken me at lafb. AuEl, His dreams will be a cafh article. Who bids ? yl Furchafer. Two hundred fcquins a piece, for t\it three. Hamct. Oiliccr, forward that man : I wifh to fpeak with him. \_Officer leads Kidnap to Hamet. From whence are you .'' \To Kidnap, Kidnap. From North America. Hunict. Tiie boafted land of liberty ? Kidnap. None more fo. Hamet. Then does (he realize thofe fcenes your fancy paints, and which your tongue defcribes, when off its guard .'' Kidnap. Take fecond-handed dreams for evidence, and judge as you pleafe of me, or my country. Hamet. Your arrogance is evidence againft you. Stand there in filence. Bring here that African. [TV the officer. '\ {Officer leads forward Sharp. Was that man your mafter ? Sharp. Yes a mafler. \_Boiuing. Hamet. Is he a kind mafter ? Do you wifh to live with him ? Sharp. No, maffer planter ! he get drunk ! he whip me ! he knock a me down ! he ftamp on a me ! he will kill a me dead ! No ! no ! let a poor negur live wid a you, mafier planter ; live wid a maffer officer ; wid a dat a man ; or any udder man, fore I go back America again ; fore I live wid a malTer Kidnap again. Hainet. Fear not, honeft fellow: nobody ihallhurt you. Shafp. Tank a you, maffer ! blefs a you, good mafl^ er planter ! [_Bowing. Hamet. [To Officer.!^ Deliver this man to the higheft bidder. Let mifery teach him, what he could never learn in affluence, the leffon of humanity. [3^ Piir chafer takes off Kidnap and the other two^ and returns again. ^ THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 143 Common fa'dors brought forward. AuEl, Here are robutl fellows for you •, reduced to difcipline ; hardened by toil *, proof againft heat and cold, wind and weather. Now is your laft opportuni- ty. Who bids ? 4^/6 Purchafer. Two hundred a piece for the whole. 5/^ Purchafer, Two hundred and fifty. AuB, Two hundred and fifty, and going. Their bare bones would be worth half that for fkeletons. But they are well ftrung with nerves, and covered with hardy flefh : none of your mufhrooms, grown up in the ihade. Look for yourfelves : they are almoft bul- let proof. Zanga. Quite, you might have faid, or we fliould have made riddling fieves of them. Oran. Three hundred a piece. Aucl, Three hundred, and going. One ! two ! three ! iStj^ikes. Zanga. [To Oran.l^ I am forry we were obliged to cut fo many of them in pieces, before we could per- fuade them to ftrike. The whole crew would furnifli a fine plantation ; and you might Uve in the llyle of a Weil India planter. Officer. Follow your mafter. '[Oran going ,- flaves following. OrarHs fervants follow the faves with whips. Teague. \_Refufing to follow.~] Ship-mates, you may do as you pleafe. I fhould be glad of your dear com- pany 'y but, by my fhoul, I will enter no man's Ihip by fea, or by land, till I know the conditions, and receive a little advance pay. Oran. Come on, my lad ; or my fervants fhall fee to your advance pay. [^Servant Jlrikes him with a whip. Teague. \_Burfling his pinions ^ and feizing Grants fer- vant.'\ If this is your prompt pay, by faint Patrick ! you (hall have cnange in your own coin, my honey ! D ye fee ! I could tear your rigging before and aft like a hurricane. \_Shaking him. Officer attempts to flrike him with hisfword; other fervants y tvith their 'Whips* K 2 1 1 4 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. Hamet. Forbear ! his honeft indignation is the efFu- fion of humanity. Let him fpeak for himfelf. There is fomething in this ingenuous tar, that moves me to K^o him a kindnefs. \AJide. Teague. I think, an't pleafe your honor, a poor failor has a hard time enough on't to encounter wind and weather, hunger and thirft, and all the other dangers of the main fea ; and when rain and fl-orms have frowned on him for feveral months, he ought to find a little funfliine in every man's face -, and not be bought and fold like dumb beafts in the market. I believe in my flioul, if one were to get rich in a Chrif- tian country by fuch a vile trade, the judgments of heaven would keep him poor as long as he lived. Ah, and if men were made to be flaves and mafters, why- was not one man born with a whip in his hand and gold fpoon in his mouth ; and another, with a chain on iiis arm, or a fetter to his heel ; aye, and without a tongue, or a pair of jaws, fo long as one mull: not be allovsTcl to yfe them ? And if I had known I were to live a dog^s life in this hard-hearted country, as I am a ChriftJan, I would have fought ye till I died. But, look y^ ! all hands upon deck ; this muckle arm of mine is free ■, and by the blood of my heart, it fhall be torn from my body, before I will be bound once more, it ihalL Oran. I msft leave that unmanageable creature ivith you, Zanga ; I have had too much to do with fuch fellows already. Hamet. Tnift him with me. His are the inborn virtues I admire : virtues, that ought to make the ty- rant blufh before him, and find him friends, wherever there are men. league. On my honeft word, I am your honor's gf^od friend and fervant, fo long as T live, let the winds blow as they wil). Yes, I will be any man's ^^ood friend and faithful fervant, that will fecure my liberty in the mean time, I will. THE COLUMBI AN OR ATOR. 1 1 5 AuB. Here is this honeft negro lad, who has been under the benevolent inftru THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 139 " That ev'ry male, of Hebrew mother born, «« Muft die." Oh ! do I live to tell it thee ? Muft die a bloody death ! My child, my fon, My youngeft born, my darling muft be flain ! Aiir\ The helplefs innocent ! and muft he die ? Joc/j, No : if a mother's tears, a mother's prayVs, A mother's fond precautions can prevail. He ftiall not die. I have a thought, my Miriam I And fure the God of mercies, who infpir'd. Will blefs the fecret purpofe of my foul, To fave his precious life. Mir. Hop'ft thou that Pharaoh — Joc/j. I have no hope in Pharaoh ; much in God j Much in the Rock of Ages. Alir. Think, O think. What perils thou already haft incurr'd ; And fhun the greater which may yet remain, [ferv'd Three months, three dang'rous months thou haft pre- Thy infant's life, and in thy houfe conceal'd him ! Should Pharaoh know ! Joch. Oh ! let the tyrant know. And feel what he inflicts ! Yes, hear me Heav'n I Send the right aiming thunderbolts — But hufti. My impious murmurs ! Is it not thy will. Thou infinite in mercy ? Thou permitt'ft This feeming evil for fome latent good. Yes, I will laud thy grace, and blefs thy goodnefs For what I have, and not arraign thy wifdom For what I fear to lofe. O, I will blefs thee, That Aaron will be fpar'd I that my firft born Lives fafe and undifturbed 1 that he was given me Before this impious perfecution rag'd ! Mir, And yet who knows, but the fell tyrant's rage May reach his precious life ? Jock, 1 fear for him. For thee, for all. A doting parent lives In many lives ; through many a nerve ftie feels ; From child to child the quick afFe^lions fpread, Forever wand'ring, yet forever fix'd. 140 THE COLIBIBI AN OR ATOR. Nor does divifion weaken, nor the force Of conftant operation e'er exhauft Parental love. All other paflions change, With changing circumftances j rife or fall, Dependant on their ohjcdi ; claim returns ; Live on reciprocation, and expire Unfed by hope. A mother's fondnefs reigns Without a rival, and without an end. Mir. But fay what Heav'n infpires, to fave thy fon ? Joc/j. Sincethedearfatalmorn which gave him birth, I have revolv'd in my diftra(51:ed mind Each mean to fave his life : and many a thought. Which fondnefs prompted, prudence has oppos'd As perilous and rafh. With thefe poor hands I've fram'd a little ark of flender reeds ; With pitch and flime I have fecur'd the fides. In this frail cradle I intend to lay My little helplefs infant, and expofe him Upon the banks of Nile. Mit\ 'Tis full of danger. Joch. 'Tis danger to expofe and death to keep himi^ Mir. Yet, O refledl ! Should the fierce crocodile,. The native and the tyrant of the Nile, Seize the defencelefs infant ! JocL Oh, forbear! Spare my fond heart. Yet not the crocodile, Nor all the deadly monfters of the deep, To me are half fo terrible as Pharaoh, That heathen king, that royal murderer ! Mir. Should he efcape, which yet I dare not hopc^- Each fea-born monfter ; yet the winds and waves He cannot 'fcape. Joch, Know, God is ev'ry where ; Not to one narrow, partial fpot confined y No, not to chofen Ifrael. He extends Through all the vafl: infinitude of fpace. At his command the furious tempefi:s rife. The blading of the breath of his difpleafure : He tells the world of waters when to roar 5. THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 141 And at his bidding, winds and feas are calm. In Him, not in an arm of flvfli I truft ; In Him, whofe promife never yet has faii'd, I place my confidence. Mir. What mufl: I do ? Command thy daughter, for thy words have wak'd An holy boldnefs in my youthful breaft. Joch. Go then, my Miriam; go,and take the infant. Buried in harmlefs flumbers, there he lies : Let me not fee him. Spare my heart that pang» Yet furc, one little look may be indulged ; One kifs ; perhaps the laft. No more, my foul ! That fondnefs would be fatal. I fhould keep him. I could not doom to death the babe I clafp'd : Did ever mother kill her fleeping boy ? I dare not hazard it. The talk be thine. Oh ! do not wake my child •, remove him foftly 5 And gently lay him on the river's brink. Mir. ]3id thofe magicians, whom the fons of Egypt Confult, and think all-potent, join their Ikill, And was it great as Egypt's fons believe *, Yet all their fecret wizard arts combined, To fave this little ark of bulrufhes, Thus fearfully expos'd, could not efFe61: it. Their fpells, their incantations, and dire charms Could not prcferve it. Joch. Know, this ark is charm'd With fpells, which impious Egypt never knew. With invocations to the living God, I twifted every flender reed together. And with a pray'r did ev'ry ozier weave. Mir. I go. Joch. Yet e'er thou go'ft, obferve me well. When thou haft laid him in his wat'ry bed, leave him not ; but at a diftance wait, And mark what Heav'n's high will determines for him. Lay him among the flags on yonder beach, Juft where the royal gardens meet the Nile. 1 dare not follow him. Sufpicion's eye , 142 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. Would note my wild demeanor ; Miriam, yes, The. mother's fondnefs would betray the child. Farewell I God of my fathers. Oh protect him ! Speech of CAiUb Cassius to his collected Forces, after the death of Cesar. Soldiers and Fellow-Citizens, THE unjuft reproaches of our enemies we could eafily difprove, if we were not, by our numbers, and by the fwords which we hold in our hands, in con- dition to defpife them. While Cefar led the armies of the republic againft the enemies of Rome, we took part in the fame fervice with him ; we obeyed him ; we v/ere happy to ferve under his command. But when he declared war againft the commonwealth, we became his enemies ; and when he became an ufurper and a tyrant, we refented, as an injury, even the fa- vours which he prefumed to beftow upon ourfelves. Had he been to fall a facrifice to private refentment, we fhould not have been the proper adtors in the exe- cution of the fentence againft him. He was willing to have indulged us with preferments and honors ; but we were not willing to accept, ^s the gift of a mafter, what we were entitled to claim as free citizens. We conceived, that, in prefuming to confer the hohors of the Roman republic, he encroached on the prerogatives of the Roman people, and infulted the authority of the Roman fenate. Cefar cancelled the laws, and over- turned the conftitution of his country ; he ufurped all ' the powers of the commonwealth, fet up a monarchy, and himfelf affected to be a king. This our anceftors, at the expulfion of Tarquin, bound themfelves and their pofterity, by the moft folemn oaths, and by the moft direful imprecations, never to endure. The fame obligation has been entailed upon us as a debt by our fathers j and we, having faithfully paid and difcbarged THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 143 it, have performed the oath, and averted the confe- qiiences of failure from ourfelves, and from our pof- terity. In the ftation of foldlers, we might have committed ourfelves, without reflexion, to the command of an officer, whofe abilities and whofe valour we admired ; but, in the charaver, confiftentiy with inc- i45 THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. tives, which I was not at liberty to difregard, to return to that retirement from which I had been relucSlantly drawn. The ftrength of my inclination to do thisj previous to the laft election, had even led to the prep- aration of an addrefs to declare it to you -, but mature reflection on the then perplexed and critical poOureof our affairs with foreign nations, and the unanin cus ad* vice of perloas entitled to my confidence, impelled me to abandon the idea. I rejoice that the ftate of your concerns, external as well as internal, no longer renders the purfuit of Inclination incompatible with the fentiment of duty, vi propriety ; and am pcrfljadcd, whatever partiality may be retained for my fervices, that in the prefenfe circumftances of our country, you will not difapprove my determination to retire. The impreffions, with which I fir ft undertook the arduous truft, were explained on the proper occafion. In the difcharge of this trufi:, I will only fay, that I have with good intentions contributed towards the or- ganization and adminiflration of the government, the beft exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable. Not unconfcious, in the outfet, of tlie infe- riority of my qualifications, experience in my own eyes, perhaps flill more in the eyes of others, has ftrength- ened the motives to diffidence of myfelf : and every day the increafmg weight of years admonifhes me more and more, that the fhade of retirement is as necelTary to me as it will be welcome. Satisfied that if any cir- cumftances have given peculiar value to my fervices, they were temporary, I have the confolation to believe, that while choice and prudence invite me to quit the • political fcene, patriotifm does not forbid it. In looking forward to the moment, which is intend- ed to terminate the career of my public life, my feel- ings do not permit me to fufpend the deep acknowl- edgment of that debt of gratitude which I owe to my beloved country, for tb.e many honors it has conferred upon me ; ftUl more for the ftcdfaft 'confidence with THE C(K.tMBrAH ORATOR. 14^ which it has fupported me j and for the opportunities I have thence enjoyed of manifefting my inviolable at- tachment, by fervices faithful and perfevering, though in ufefulnefs unequal to my zeal. If beneiits have re- fulted to our country from thefe fervices, let it always be remembered to your praife, as an inftructive exam- ple in our annals, that under circumrtances in which the paflions, agitated in every direction, were liable to miflead ; amidll appearances fometimes dubious ; vicif- fitudes of fortune often difcouraging ; in fituations in which, not unfrequently, want of fuccefs has counte- nanced the fpirit of criticifm ; the conftancy of your fupport was the eflential prop of the efforts, and u guarantee of the plans by which they were effected. Profoundly penetrated with this idea, I (hall carry it with me to my grave, as a ftrong incitement to unceaf- xng vovfs that Hc^aven may continue to you the choicefl: tokens of its beneficence ; that your union and brotli- erly affe. Relying on its kindnefs in this as in other things ; and actuated by that fervent love towards it, which is fo natural to a man who views in it the native foil of himfelf and his progenitors for feveral generations, I anticipate with pleoiing expectation that retreat, in which I promife myfelf to realize^, without alloy, the fweet enjoyment of partaking, in the midft of my fel- lov.'-citizens, the benign influence of good laws under •a free government j the ever favourite obje6l of my heart, and the happy reward, as 1 truft, of our mutual cares, labors, and dangers. Dialogue on the Choice of Business for' LlEE. Enter Edward, Charley, and Thomas. V / --// T'^ appears to me high time for us to choofe i o^^ bufinefs for life. Our academical itudies will foon be completed ; and I wifh to look a little forward. What lay you ? am I right ? Charley* It may be well for you ; poor men's fonS muft look out for themfelves. My father is able to fupport me at my eafe ; and my mamma fays flie would rather fee me laid in a cofHn than fhut up in a ftudy, fpoiling my eyes and racking my brains, plodding over your nonfenfical miniiler, doctor, and lawyer books \ and I am fuve (he would never have me confined be- hind a counter, or a merchant's defk. She intends I fhall be brought up a gentleman. My mother is of noble blood, and fhe don't intend that I fhall difgrace it. Ed%u. Pray, mafter Charley, who was the fathCC of your noble- blooded mother ? Char. A gentleman, I'd have you to know. Edw. Yes, a gentleman cobbler, to my knowledge. Char. Aye, he followed that bufinefs, to be fure, ibmetimes, to flop the clamour of the vulgar. Then THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 151 poor people could not bear to fee a rich man living at his eafe, or give a nobleman his title. But times are altering for the better, my mamma fays : the rich be- gin to govern now. We fhall foon live in ftyle, and wear titles here as well as in England. She intends to fend over and get my coat of arms, and (he hopes to add a title to them. Bd^v. High ftyle ! titles ! and coats of arms ! fine things in America, to be fure ! Well, after all, I can't really difapprove of your mamma's plan. A lapftone, ^n awl, and (hoe-hammer will make a fine pi£lure, and may appear as well In your mother's parlour, as in her father's ihop : and the title of cobbler, or flioe-maker would well become her darling Charley. Char. I will not be infulted on account of my grand- father's employment, I'll have you to know ! I have heard my mother fay, her father was grandfon of an aunt of Tquire Fhorw, who once had a horfe that run a race with the famous horfe of a coufin of the Duke of Bedford, of Etku. Qiiite enough I I am fully convinced of the juftice of your claim to the title of Duke, or whatever you pleafe. About as much merit in it, I perceive, as in your father's title to his eftate. Ten thoufand dol- lars drawn in a lottery ; already two thirds fpent. A title to nobility derived from the grandfon of an aunt of 'fquire Thorn, from 'fquire Thorn's horfe, or per- haps from fome monkey, that has been a favourite play- mate with the prince of Wales. Thefe are to be the fupport of your eafe and honor through life. Well, I believe there is no need of your troubling yourfelf about your future employment : that is already determined. Depend upon it, you will repent of your folly, or fcratch a poor man's head as long as you live. I advife you to fet about the former, in order to avoid the latter. Char. I did not come to you for advice. Fll not bear your infults, or difgrace myfelf wijth your company any longer. My parents ih^l teach you better manners. {Exit Charley, 15^ THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. Thomas. I pity the vanity and weaknefs of this poor lad. But reflecHon and experience will teach him the fallacy of his hopes. Ediu. Poor child ; he does not know that his lot- tery money is almoll: gone j that his father's houfe is mortgaged for more than it Is worth; and that the only care of his parents is to keep up the appearance of pref- ent grandeur, at the expenfe of future fliame. Happy for us, that we are not deluded' with fuch deceitful hopes. Tho. My parents were poor ; not proud. They ex- perienced the want of learning ; but were refolved their children fhould (hare the benefit of a good education. I am the fourth fon, who owe the debt of filial gratitude. All but myfelf are well fettled in bufinefs, and doing honor to themfelves and their parents. If I fall Ihort of their example, I fliall be mod ungrateful. Ediv. I have neither father nor mother to excite my gratitude, or ftimulate my exertions. But I wifh to behave in fuch a manner, that if my parents could look down and obferve my actions, they might approve my condu(Sl:. Of my family, neither root nor branch re- mains : all have paid the debt of nature. They left a name for honefty; and I cfteem that highs-^r than a pre- tended title to greatnefs. They have left me a fmall farm, which, though not enough for my fupport, will, with my own induftry, be fufficient. For employment to pafs away the winter feafon, I have determined up-^ ©n keeping a fcliool for my neighbours' children. Tho. I heartily approve of your determination. Our mother Earth rewards, with peace and plenty^ Ihofe who cultivate her face ; but loads, with anxious cares, thofe who dig her bowels for treafure. The life you contemplate is favourable to the enjoyment of focial happinefs, improvement of the mind, and fecurity of virtue ; and the tafk of training the tender mind is an employment, that ought to meet the encour?.^*-- ment, the gratitude of €^iery parent, and the refpe^of every child. THE COLUMBIAN ORATOR. 15-^ Ediv. I am pleafed that you approve my choicer Will you as frankly tell me your Ovvn ? Tbo. I will: my intention is to follow the inclina- tion of my kind parents. It is their delire that I {hould be a preacher. Their other Tons have taken to other callings j and they wilh to fee one of their children in the delk. If their prayers are anfwered, I fliall be fitted for the important tafk. To my youth, it appears formidable ; but others, with lefs advantages, have fuc- ceeded, and been bleffings to fociety, and an honor to their profeffion. E(ku. You have chofen the better part. Whatever the licentious may fay to the contrary, the happinefe of fociety muft reft on the principles of virtue and re- ligion ; and the pulpit muft be the nurfery, where they are cultivated. , no, « ^The pulpit; And I name it, filPd with folemn awe, Muft ftand acknowledged, while the world fhall ftandj The moft important and effe61ual guard, Support and ornament of virtue's caufe. There ftands the meflenger of truth. There ftands The legate of the fkies : his theme divine, His office facred, his credentials clear. By him the violated law fpeaks out Its thunders, and by him, in ftralns as fweet As angels ufe, the gofpel whifpers peace.'* My heart glows with the fubje