MISCELLANEOUS. On Contentment and Discontent. DISCONTENT, is the universal bitter of human life; there are very few who do not complain of some want or other, though the want arises only from the caprices of their will. Things go not right. if they are not on the wheels of their fancy, and turn about with the windmill of their own brain. The poor man thinks he is unjustly dealt with, to be defrauded,as it were of wealth; the rich man thinks the same, because his wealth double his care. The divine thinks the lawyer gets all the money, the lawyer envies the parson's case; the bachelor wants a wife, and the married man would be glad to get rid of one. Thus, through every station of life there is some one thing unpossessed that ruffles our pleasure, and puts a bar to our contentment. Not to accuse ourselves with hopes or fears, but to rest satisfied with our present circumstances is the only way to contentment, for he who wants. nothing posses every thing. The blessing of life are within our reach: but, like fools, we suffer ourselves to be hood-winked, gambol in the dark, and grope about in vain not to be wished, but if it is our lot, we should make it sit as easy as possible, and shew our resignation with decent fortitude. Liberty. What a high value ought we to set upon Liberty, since without it nothing great or suitable to the dignity of human nature can possibly be produced Slavery is the fetter of the tongue, the chain of the mind, as well as of the body. It imbitters life, sours and cor The greatest cause of discontent is, that men have no definite measure to their desires; it is not the supply of all the real wants that will satisfy them; their appetites are precarious; they hunger not because they themselves are empty, but because others are full. Ahab, one would think, might have been contented with the kingdom of Israel without Nath's vineyard; and Haman with the obeysance of the Persian court, without the additional bow of a poor Jew. imaginary wants-could we not, if we chose, create imagi-Tupts the passfons, damps the nary satisfactions? The madness would be far happier to think with the crazed Athenian, who imagined that all the ships that came into the port to be his own, that to be forever tormenting ourselves for things that are unreasonable and unattainable. We too often create towering faculties implanted within us, and stifles in the birth the seeds of every thing that is amiable, generous, and noble. Reason and Freedom are our own, and given to continue so; we aretuse, but cannot resign them without rebelling against him who gave them. On the Conversation of Men of Letters THE conversation of Men of Letters generally commences with praises and flatteries, reciprocally exchanged. An attack upon their rival ensues, and then arise long argu compiled without care and without choice, which we may take up for a moment, but soon throw away with disgust. A French officer at a geneeral review before the king, dans la plaine des sablons in Paris, while he was running on horseback through the ranks happened to let his hat fall on the ground; a soldier picking it up with a drawn sword, made a hole into it, which put the officer in such a violent passion, that he declared he would rather have had the sword cannot be termed a conversation; every one speaks for himself alone, and follows his own ideas without listening to those of others. They are absent, impatient, or thoughtful. If they are silent, it is to prepare an answer, without the least attention to what has been said. Is an interesting story related? Their minds are occupied in inventing another, which they trust will be more applauded by the hearers. It seems as if they had assembled together with the intention of challen-through his guts than his hat. ging and surpassing each other, without attempting to promote the common amusement and instruction of the party. They are generally on the watch to find an opportunity of introducing some bon mots of their own composition. These are sometimes in honour of men of letters; sometimes anecdotes which relate to themselves: but those numerous quotations become at length tiresome; the hearers seldom feel any portion of the satisfaction of those who repeat them; they are not always instructive and any person listening to such a conversation would imagine that he heard read one of those fatiguing books which are full : of ridiculous stories and puns, His majesty hearing this An apothecary, who used to value himself on his knowledge of drugs, asserted that all bitter things were hot, No,' said a gentleman present, 'there is one of a very different quality, I am sure, and that is a bit. ter cold day? In a Dutch translation of Cato, the version of the soliloquy is curious: thus does it commence : 'Just so, you' ilare very right Mynheer Plato."' The SPECULATOR. NUMBER I. Vincit amor pro patriæ SATURDAY, Oct. 27, 1810. THE difficulty (said Johnson) of a first address is sensibly felt by every undertaker.' With due submission, however, to that greast master of the English Language, I beg leave to dif fer; for indubirably when a man feels conscious of his own power, why should he fear? When I cast my eye upon the many and manifold works that have been periodically published in the kingdom of Great Britain, (that Im-` porioum of Science) the question, mentally and naturally occurs why can we not do as well? Are we not as learn ed? Have we not the same advatages of Education? The answer is questionless yes. Therefore, let the opin. ions of others be what they may, I am determined to advance. I may be prob. ably branded with Egotism, well, so let it be. The public shall judge, whether I undertake upon myself more than I am able to perform and when my Specula tions become so somnifically dull,as to set the reader nodding after the first sentence, let them in welcome withdraw their Subscription. Every person who buys an article, has certainly a right|| to inquire as to its quality, and as this paper is to be sold and not given away, I shall laconically state the manner of its subsequent conduction. The noblest motive' (saith my motto) is the public good,' a motto which I shall always bear in mind. Nothing will appear in my numbers. that can possibly offend the car of delicacy, or tend to vitiate the principles of morality on the contrary, if I do not advance, what may improve, I am con. scious that my promulgations will never injure. With Political bickerings I meddle not. Religious tenets ! intend not to discuss. Moral and Instructive compositions shall always find a place under the head of the Speculator When Sir Richard Steele, took upon himself the management of the Spectator and Tatler, he was indebted to his scientific friends, for the most substan. tial honors he received, from the voice of an admiring nation. He boldly entered the field as a combatter against vice and folly. He nobly unfurled the standard of Science-on his right, stood Virtue and Truth, on his left, a Phalanx of Worthies, who by their aid, tended to prop and keep stationary, that glori ous banner. For every kind of aid I shall be thankful, if it comes to me in proper form. There are scientific men among us who could do much good; nothing but resolution is wanting. Arrogance and Impudence, I am resol. ved to set my face against; but the meri torious, either cloathed in the garb of indigence, or arrayed in the splendid robe of power, shall never, with their off. rings, retire abashed. Those who write for the Speculator must remem: ber, that if their lucubrations are not strictly orthographical, they will be in admissable. Lexicons are cheap, and a man must be most stupidly brutish who cannot correctly write his national language. It may probably be ask. ed, who is the Speculator? I answer thus-what I am I shall not pourtray; what I am not can easily be told, I arrogate to myself but little. I never form. ed a balloon; I am totally unacquainted with the diving bell aystem, and know not how to compose an Almanac, but, when the wind blows south and south-west I can generally tell a Hawk from an Hand-saw'—In one word, (for ✩ I wish not to be prolix) vice, in what The piece subscribed L. S. is not ad. missable. I, notwithstanding, admit he appears to have a plentiful lack of brains. V. Z. Has my free will, to hoist himself on the most convenient beam in the cellar he inhabits. I say cellar, for a man who advances sech grovelling improprieties, must, without doubt, dwell in the regions below. The communication of P. H. I have perused. I shall wait upon one of the members belonging to the City Corpo Duels. A duel was fought on Saturday morn ing the 25th ult. at Manchac, West-Florida; between P. Grymes and Stephen A. Hopkins, Esq'rs. attornies at law, of New Orleans. The third fire Mr. Grymes received his antagonist's ball just below his right breast. Ile is in a fair way of recovery. On Sunday last a duel was fought near St. Francisville, West-Florida between Francis Triplett and James Tur, ner, Esq'rs. attornies at law, of Point Coupee. The first fire Mr. Triplett re ceived his antagonist's ball directly through the heart, and expired instantly. Sept. 28. On Wednesday evening last, a stable owned by Col. Rhea, and occupied by Major Gulick; aud a barn belonging to Mr. Harris, at Trenton, were consumed burnt to death. ration, and enquire who superintends by fire. Two valuable horses were the mud scows, and when I am properly informed, I intend to resommend P. H. to one of the most eligible situations in that enviable department. Considering him duly qualified. Speculator. Oct. 24. Saturday. So called from an Idol, worshipped on this day by the old Saxons. |