Page images
PDF
EPUB

24
celebrated dictionary which bears his
name, relates fomething no lefs ftrange,
in a letter to a friend, dated Rotter-
dam, March 27, 1697. It is, fays
he, fome time ago that I mentioned to
you a physician in Friezeland, who has
performed feveral cures without giving
any thing to his patients. He con-
tents himself with mingling with
their urine fomewhat, which, as the
malady requires, either fweats, vomits,
or purges. He continues this practice,
and I am told he was domeftic to a
certain great Lord of Italy, who was
fent for to the Court of Vienna, to
cure the Emperor, which he actually
did. This man difcovered his matter's
fecret, and has fet up for himself. Yet
he is not the only one who profeffes it,
for there are three others who purfue
this practice as well as he; one at
Leyden, one at Antwerp, and a third
has been here at this city of Rotterdam
for two or three months. He has but
lately been in any degree of credit.
His house at prefent is like the pool of
Bethefda, all who are difeafed run thi-
ther. It is certain that he has cured
fome, and that he has fweated a great
many. The physicians cry out against
him with the utmoft fury; and, as
there are more in this country than in
any other, who are apt to deny, as im-
poffible, whatever they do not comp. e-
hend, fo there are numbers who jo u
in the fame outcry with the physicians,
but, not being able to deny the fact that
many have been sweated, they tribute
this to a prepoffeffed imagination. For
my own part I cannot think it impof-
fible, phyfically fpeaking, than a man
may be made to fweat by having fome-
thing put into his urine."

Superiority of Shakespeare's Defcription of the Night afferted.

Thefe relations, with others no lefs wonderful that are mentioned in the great Philofopher Bacon's Natural Hiftory, feem to give countenance to the pretenfions of this new op water, who, the papers fay, did actually perform fome extraordinary cures. I am, Sir, yours, &c. Kent, July 10, 1773.

Mr. URBAN,

A. B.,

OF all the topics on which the poets,

ancient and modern, have exercifed their imagination, and vied, as it were, with cach other, for the victory, there is no one that has been more generally or more fuccefsfully attempted, than the defcription of the night. Homer and Apollonias among the Greek, Virgil and Statis among the

Roman writers, feem to have put forth all their ftrength on this favourite argument; and have each found their feveral admirers, who have weighed and adjusted their respective pretentions with a fcrupulous exactnefs. Great as their merits are, I fhall, with the leave of the critics, venture to affert, that they have all been ecli, ed, in this one article, by the poets of our own nation. The copy of Homer's nightpiece has received-fome delicate touches, and exquisite heightenings, from the pencil of Pope, which render it fupe, Lior to the original; and Shakespeare's dreadful defcription in Macbeth (not to mention the phalingly picturesque one of Milten) infinitely exceis all that have proceded it, as being an aliem. blage of the moft ftriking images, perhaps, that nature itfelf can afford, or poetic fancy can form.

Macbeth folus.

Now o'er one balf the world, Nature feems dead, and wicked dreams abufe

The curtain'd fleep; now Witchcraft
celebrates

Pale Hecate's offerings: and wither'ḍ
Murder

(Alarum'd by his centinel, the wolf,
Whoje bowl's his watch) thus with his
Realty pace,

With Tarquin'sravishing firides, tow rds
bis defign
Moves like a ghost.

This is truly a night of horror. We fee here half the globe buried in the profoundelt fleep, except the three great enemies of mankind, Luft, Witchcraft, and Murder; and them too waking only to perpetrate their deeds of darkneis. We hudder whilft we read. We look round,affrighted and alarm`d, expecting every moment to fee the af faffin's dagger lifted against us. The additional horror, which Mr. Garrick's inimitably awful pronunciation breathed over this foliloquy, the last time I heard him repeat it, threw me into this train of thinking, and occafioned me, at my return home, to turn to the feveral defcriptions before alluded to, and to fome other celebrated ones of our English authors. Among thefe, none, I think, approaches fo near the merit of Shakespeare's, as that of Marfion, his contemporary, in the opening of his tragedy called Antonio's Revenge. As this play is not cafily to be met with, I hall tranfcribe the paffage :

Piero

Shakespeare's Defcription of Night critically confidered.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

In the dull, leaden band of snoring sleep. No breath diflurbs the quiet of the air, No fpirit moves upon the breaft of earth, Save bowling dogs, night crows, and fcreeching owls,

Save meagre gbofis, Piero, and black thoughts.

My edition of this play is of the year 1602: it cannot, therefore, be doubted but Shakespeare had read it, before he wrote his Macbeth; probably had played a part in it; fince we learn from Langbaine [Catalogue of Dramatic Authors, article MARSTON], that all Marston's pieces had been performed, and approved by the audience at Blackfriars." It is, however, very obfervable, that, although this defcription confifts of so many just and natural images, and is worked up in fuch Atrength and propriety of diction, with fome of the most expreffive and characteristic epithets in the English language; yet, fuch is the originality of Shakespeare's genius, that he has not copied even a single image (for the ghoft is introduced only by way of fimile), nor adopted more than one epi thet in his own defcription,and that too has been confiderably improved in his hands, by the manner in which he has applied it. Marfion confines his ideas to the night alone, and this, by a bold metaphor, he represents as being actually dead Shakespeare, with a much bolder flight of fancy, extends the epithet to Nature herfelf; but, at the fame time, with the strictest attention to propriety and truth, qualifies its force by the verb he makes use of: Nature feems dead. Dryden, ftruck with the beauty and forcibleness of this image, has tranfplanted it into that well-known defcription in the Conqueft of Mexico:

All things are hub'd, as Nature's felf lay dead:

Where it constitutes the principal figure in the piece, being equally juft and noble in itself, and rifing ftill higher in eftimation, from a comparifon with the many concetti, and affected prettineffes that appear in the fucceeding lines:

The mountains feem to nod their drowfy head;

The little birds in dreams their fongs

[blocks in formation]

25

There is another defcription of the night, which has been much and defervedly admired y I mean, that of Lee, in his Theodofius: But had one * of the critics who has noticed it known how greatly it is indebted to Marfion's for its principal beauties, he would not, probably, have paffed over the old bard, without allowing him his due proportion of plaife:

Tis night, dead. night, and weary Nature lies

So faft, as if the never were to vife; No breath of wind now whispers thro the trees,

No noife at land, nor murmur in the 'feas:

[ocr errors][merged small]

Lean wolves forget to howl at night's pale noon, No wakeful dogs bark at the flent moon, Nor bay the ghofts that glide with horror by

To view the caverns where their bodies lie;

[ocr errors]

The ravens perch, and no prefages give, Nor to the windows of dying cleave; The owls forget to feream, no midnight found

[ocr errors]

Calls drowy Echo from the hollow ground;

In vaults the walking fires extinguish'd lie,

The fars, beav'n's centry, wink, and feem to die.

Almoft every image is evidently ta ken from Marlon; that of the flars, which are quaintly termed beaven's centry, is from a paffage of the old poet, no lefs quaint, in the fame scene with his defcription of the night: You borrid feouts

That centinel fwart night

It is, however, fomewhat surprising, that Lee, when he was copying, fhould omit the finest image in the wholeblack thoughts, especially as it would fo admirably have fuited the temper and fituation of Varanes's mind, at the time the poet puts thefe beautiful lines into his mouth, which is just before he deftroys himself.

Caerbayes, near Tregony,
in Cornwall, Jan. 21.

[ocr errors]

Remarkable Refolution of two young Deferters, as related in the Hague Gazette.

TWO dragoons at St. Denys, intimate friends, and both of them tired of living, though the oldeft of

Trapp, in his notes on the fourth book of the Eneid,

them

26

· Summary of American Advices on Tea-Ships...?

them was not above twenty-two years
of age, took a refolution together, of
reciprocally ridding one another of the
burden of life; a burden which, it
feems, was become intolerable to them;
and this dance they agreed to effect
by blowing one another's brains out.
Their dreadful philofophy had made
them look on this deed as a mark of
their courage, of their mutual regard,
and as the most important fervice they
could do one another. But just before
they carried this mad infatuated felreme
into execution, they drew up a paper
couched in the fe terms; It is folely
the diftafte we have taken to life that has
determined us both to execute on this
day the project we have long before
conceived of taking away each other's
life. We are fenfible that this action
will be blamed; but we have thought
ourfelves obliged to give this example
of courage to thofe to whom their ex-
iftence may be a burden. We have no
cause to complain, that, in the courfe
of our lives, we have met with any
vexation, any injuftice, any mortifica-
tion. On the contrary, Fortune has
rather been favourable to us. Our pa-
rents have never ceafed to have the
greatest kindness for us, our friends the
greatest efteem, and our comrades
much regard.. However, upon the
whole, we have fatisfied ourselves of
how much there is to be gained by cea-
fing to exift, and hold them much the
happielt who cut themselves off from
mankind. The only regret that we
have in depriving ourselves of life is,
that we have deferted, because that is
a great crime fuch as it is we have,
however, punished our felves for it."
This is a
what is extraordinary cafe; but,
fill more remarkable, is the
Cooinefs with which they proceeded in
it, and the precautions they took to a
void any fufpicion of their having
fought in confequence of any quarrel.
On the day that they deftroyed them-
felves, they were walking very calmly
in the town of St. Denys, and were
faying, that they thought it fo charm-
ing a place that they would end their
days there. They returned to their
inn, where they faid as much, and go-
ing up into their chamber, they took
their land in a corner of it, and, firing
at once, difpatched one another.

Summary of the Advices relative to the
Tea. Ships fent to America.

TH
HE tea exported to America by
the East India Company, in pur
fuance of an act of parliament palt

[ocr errors]

laft feffions, has already produced a ferment throughout that conjinent, and is likely to be attended with more alarming confequences. The follow ing accounts are inferted to thew the beginning of troubles.

New-York, Nov. 29. Capt. Cou per is arrived here from London, in which fhip came Col. Chrifte, of the Royal Americans. Capt. Couper informs us, that 10 days before him failed a hip for Bolton, with tea chets 600; a hip for Philadelphia was fallen doyen the river, with 600 a hip for Charles-Town, ready to fail, 200; a hip for Rhode island, ditto 200; and another for New-York, taking in 600; in all 2200 chefts. It was laid in London, that Commiffioners for the fale of the tea would be sent out with it.

[ocr errors]

Bofon, (New England) Nov. 22. Laft Friday his Majetty's Council of this Province met, by a fummons from Governor Hutchinfos, to confi❤ der a petition of the tea Commiffioners in this town, praying "to refign then felves, and the property committed to their care, to his Excellency and their Honours, as guardians and protectors of the people," and "that meafares may be alive ted to, for the landing and fecuring the teas, until the petitioners can be at liberty openly and fafely to difpofe of the fame, or until they can receive a da&tion, from their con ftituents,

Last Wednesday evening a number of people affembled before the house of Richard Clarke, Elq; in Schoolfreet, and being irritated by a musket or pitol being fired at them out of the houfe, they broke the windows, and did other damage.

New-York, Dec. 1. By the Boston papers of the 25th of November, we find the tea was not then arrived the Contmiffioners had refufed to refign, and had asked protection of the go vernment, to defend them in an intended treafon against its conftitution!

New York, Dec. 1. It having been reported that the Hon. Henry White, Efq; Abraham Lot, Efq; and Mr. Benjamin Booth, were appointed Com miffioners for the fale of tea, intended to be fent to this colony by the EastIndia Company; a number of the inhabitants of the city met at the house of Capt. Thomas Doran, on the 25th of Nov. laft, and appointed a committee to wait on thole gentlemen, and defire to know of them, whether, if

- they

Summary of American Advices on Tea-Ships.

they were appointed, they would act on
the faid commiffion or not? The Com-
mittee waited on them accordingly,
and received the following antwer:

* Gentlemen, At present we trave
received no appointment from the Eaft-
India Company, nor any certain infor
mation on what terms the tea is to come
out to this colony!' When it arrives
(if addreffed to us), the community'
frall be acquainted with the conditions
on which it is fent! Should the tea be
hipped able to the American duty;
we believe it is against the fentiments
of the inhabitants that it thould be
föld by us, or any other perfon, and
therefore we cannot execute the com-
miffion's nor fhall in any refpect act
thereifi, contrary to the general fenfe of
our fellow citizens.”

[ocr errors]

On the arrival of the packet, the goth of November, the faid gentlemen having received certain advice of their appointment, at another meeting, al committee was again chofen to wait on them, and defire their pofitive answer to the questions before propofed; to which they gave the following anfwer, which it is not doubted will be fatisfactory to the public, viz.

"The agents fince find, that the tea will come liable to the American du. fy; and agreeable to their former promife, have declined receiving and felling it under that predicament.

Bofion, Dec. 20. the body of the people of this and all On Tuesday laft the adjacent towns, and others from the distance of 26 miles, affembled at the Old South Meeting-house, tó enquire the reafon of the delay in fending the hip Dartmouth, with the EaftIndia tea, back to London; and having found that the owner had not taken the neceffary fteps for that purpose, they enjoined him at his peril to demand of the Collector of the Custom's a clearance for the ship, and appointed a committee of 10 to lee it performed ; after which they adjourned to the Thurfday following, ten o'clock. They then met, and being informed by Mr. Rotch, that clearance was refufed him, they enjoined him to enter a proteft, and apply to the Governor for a pa.' port by the caftle, and adjourned again till three o'clock of the fame day. At which time they again net, and after waiting till near fun fet, Mr. Rotch came in and informed them, that he had accordingly entered his proteft, and wai ed on the Governor for a pafs, but His Excellency told him he could not,

27

confiftent with his duty, grant it until bis velfel was qualified. The people, finding all their efforts to preserve the property of the Eaft India Company, and return it safely to London, fruftrated by the tea cor fignees, the Col-' lector of the Customs, and the Governor of the province, diffolved their meeting. But, behold what followed ! a number of refolure men (dreffed like Mohawks or Indians), determined to do all in their power to fave their country from the ruin which their enemies had plotted, in lefs than four hours emptied, every cheft of tea on board the three hips, commanded by the Captain's Hall, Bruce, and Coffin, amounting to 342 chefts, into the fea, without the leaft damage done to the Ahips or any other property. The masters and owners are well pleased that their fhips are thus cleared, and the people are almoft univerfally congratulating each other on this happy event.

Capt.Loring, in a brig from London for this place, having 48 chefts of the detefted tea on board, was caft afhore on the back of Cape Cod laft Friday fennight. Tis expected the Cape Indians will give us a good account of the fea against our next.

We are pofitively informed, that the patriotic inhabitants of Lexington, at a late meeting, unanimously refolved against the ufe of bohea tea of all forts, Dutch or English importation; and, to manifeft the incerity of their refolution, they brought together every ounce contained in the town, and committed it to one common bonfire.

Charles Town, South-Carolina, Nɔ-
vember zo. The tea affair makes great
noife here, but nothing is yet done;
it will be prevented landing, without
doubt.

An inflammatory hand bill was a
few days ago diftributed in Philadel-
phia, addreffed to the Delaware pilots,
informing them, that a fhip loaded with
tea was on her way to th it port, being
fent out for the purpose of enslaving and
poisoning all the Americans; and, as
The cannot be brought to anchor before
that city without their affistance, ex-
horting them to prevent her arrival à
they cannot be at a loss how to act. As
they have proved fcourges to evil doers,
it is predicted of the pilots, that they
will give a faithful and fatisfactory ac-
count of the tea fhip, if they should
meet with her.

In this hand-bill they fay, "It is
clear, that, if the Americans buy any
of

32:

Summary of American Advices an Tea-Ships?

of this tea, they must pay the Parlia ment's duty, and acknowledge their right to tax us as often and as high as they think proper, than which nothing can be more difgraceful and injurious to a free people.

[ocr errors]

New York, Dec. 6. The following notice has been difperfed about this. city: "Whereas our nation have lately been informed, that the fetters which have been forged for us by Great-Bri tain, are hourly expected to arrive in a certain thip, belonging to or chartered by the East India Company We do, therefore, declare, that we are determined not to be enflaved by any power on earth; and that whosoever shall aid or abet fo infamous a defign, or shall prefume to let their store or ftores for the reception of the infernal chains, may depend upon it, that we are prepared, and thall not fail to pay them an unwelcome vifit, in which they shall be treated as they deserve, by

Nov. 29, 1773. THE MOHAWKS." Philadelphia, Dec. 24. At a publis meeting of the inhabitants held at the State House on the 18th of October, the fenfe of the city was expreffed in the following refolves;

1. That the difpotal of their own property is the inherent right of freemen; that there can be no property in that which another can of right take from us without our confent, that the claim of Parliament to tax America is, in other words, a claim of right to levy contributions on us at pleaine.

2. That the duty impofed by Parliament upon tea landed in America, is a tax on the Americans, or levying contributions on them without their confent.

3. That the refolution lately enter ed into by the East-India Company 10 fend out their tea to America, fubject to duties on its being landed here, is an open attempt to enforce this minifterial plan, and a violent attack upon the liberties of America.

4. That it is the duty of every Ame tican to oppofe this attempt..

5. That a committee be immediately chofen to wait on thofe gentlemen, who, it is reported, are appointed by the Ealt India Company to receive and fell the faid tea, and request them, from a regard to their own character, and the peace and good order of the city and province, immediately to refign their appointment.

In confequence of this appointment the committee waited upon the gentlemen in this city, who had been ap

[ocr errors]

pointed conûgrees of the expected-cargo. Some of the commiffioners refigned in a manner that gave general fatisfaction; others in such equivocal terms as required explanation; however, in a few days the refignation was complete.

At another fubfequent general meeting it appeared to be the unanimous opinion, that the entry of the hip at the custom-house, or the landing any, part of her cargo, would be attended with great danger and difficulty, and, would directly, tend to destroy that peace and good order which ought to be peserved. An addition of 12 other gentlemen was then made to the former committee, and the general meeting adjourned till the arrival of the tea ship.

[ocr errors]

On Christmas-day in the evening, an exprefs came up from Cheffer, that the tea fhip, commanded by Capt. Ayres, with her detefted cargo, was arrived there, having followed another thip up the river fo far.

The committee met early the next morning, and being apprized of the arrival of Mr. Gilbert Barclay, the other confignee, who came paffenger

[ocr errors]

the fhip, they immediately went in a body to request his renunciation of the commiffion. Mr. Barclay politely attended the committee at the first re quest, and being made acquainted with the Sentiments of the city, and the danger to which the public liberties of America were expofed, by this measure, he, after expreffing the particular hardə hip of his situation, allo refigned the commission, in a manner which affected every one present.

About two o'clock, the hip having weighed anchor, the appeared in fight of Gloucester Point, where a number of inhabitants from the town had af fembled with the gentlemen from the committee. As the paffed along, the was hailed, and the Captain requested not to proceed farther, but to come on fhore. This the Captain complied with, and was accordingly accompa nied to town by a number of persons, Upon an hour's notice this morning, a public meeting was called, and the State Houfe not being fufficient to hold the numbers affembled, they adjourned into the Square.

1. Refolved, That the tea on board the hip Polly, Capt. Ayres, hall not be landed.

2. That Capt. Ayres fhall neither enter nor report his veffel at the customhouse.

3. That Capt. Ayres fhall car y back the tea immediately.

« PreviousContinue »