Or have we found angels, in the form of kings, to govern him? Let history answer this question.

Let us, then, with courage and confidence, pursue our own federal and republican principles-our attachment to union and representative government. Kindly separated, by nature and a wide ocean, from the exterminating havoc of one quarter of the globe too high-minded to endure the degradations of the others possessing a chosen country, with room enough for our descendants to the thousandth and thousandth generation-entertaining a due sense of our equal right to the use of our own faculties-to the acquisitions of our own industry-to honour and confidence from our fellow-citizens; resulting not from birth, but from our actions, and their sense of them-enlightened by a benign religion, professed, indeed, and practised in various forms, yet all of them inculcating honesty, truth, temperance, gratitude, and the love of man-acknowledging and adoring an over-ruling Providence, which, by all its dispensations, proves that it delights in the happiness of man here, and his greater happiness hereafter-with all these blessings, what more is necessary to make us a happy and prosperous people?-Still one thing more, fellow-citizens, a wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another; shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement; and shall not take from the mouth of labour the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government; and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.

About to enter, fellow-citizens, on the exercise of duties, which comprehend every thing dear and valuable to you, it is proper you should understand what I deem the essential principles of our govern

5

ment, and consequently those which ought to shape its administration. I will compress them within the narrowest compass they will bear, stating the general principle, but not all its limitations. Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political-peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations-entangling alliances with none-the support of the state governments in all their rights, as the most competent administrations for our domestic concern, and the surest bulwarks against anti-republican tendencies -the preservation of the general government in its whole conftitutional vigour, as the sheet anchor of our peace at home, and safety abroad-a jealous care of the right of election by the people a mild and safe corrective of abuses, which are lopped by the sword of revolution, where peaceable remedies are unprovided-absolute acquiescence in the decisions of the majority, the vital principle of republics, from which is no appeal but to force, the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism-a well-disciplined militia, our best reliance in peace, and for the first moments of war, till regulars may relieve them-the supremacy of the civil over the military authority-economy in the public expence, that labour may be lightly burdened-the honest payment of our debts, and sacred preservation of public faith-encouragement of agriculture, and of commerce, as its hand-maid-the diffusion of information, and arraignment of all abuses at the bar of the public reason-freedom of religionfreedom of the press-and freedom of person under the protection of habeas corpus, and trial by juries impartially selected. These principles form the bright constellation, which has gone before us, and guided our steps through an age of revolution and Feformation. The wisdom of our sages, and blood

B

of our heroes, have been devoted to their attainment. They should be the creed of our political faith the text of civic instruction-the touchstone by which to try the services of those we trust: and should we wander from them, in moments of error or alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps, and tọ regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty, and safety.

"I repair, then, fellow-citizens, to the post you have assigned me. With experience enough in subordinate offices, to have seen the difficulties of this, the greatest of all, I have learned to expect, that it will rarely fall to the lot of imperfect man, to retire from this station, with the reputation, and the favour, which bring him into it. Without pretensions to that high confidence you reposed in our first and greatest revolutionary character, whose pre-eminent services had entitled him to the first place in his country's love, and destined for him the fairest page in the volume of faithful history, I ask so much confidence only, as may give firmness and effect to the legal administration of your affairs. I shall often go wrong, through defect of judgment. When right, I shall often be thought wrong, by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground. I ask your indulgence for my own errors, which will never be intentionally; and your support against the errors of others, who may condemn what they would not, if seen in all its parts. The approbation implied by your sufrage, is a great consolation to me for the past: and my future solicitude will be, to retain the good opinion of those who have bestowed it in advance, to conciliate that of others by doing them all the good in my power, and to be inftrumental to the happiness and freedom of all.

66 Relying, then, on the patronage of your good

will, I advance with obedience to the work, ready to retire from it whenever you become sensible how much better choices it is in your power to make. And may that infinite Power, which rules the des tinies of the universe, lead our councils to what is best, and give them a favourable issue, for our peace and prosperity!

"THOMAS JEFFERSON."

The writer of this article, lately received a letter (dated Philadelphia, June 20, 1801.) from a warm admirer of JEFFERSON and of the vicepresident BURR; his language concerning them is very impressive. "With JEFFERSON's admirable speech I am sure you have been pleased. Meek as Moses, determined as Joshua, and sagacious as Solomon; he will guide the people to their political paradise. I have been twice in the company of WASHINGTON and twice with JEFFERSON. The former was remarkably reserved, and the latter vice versa, is as communicative. His Notes on Virginia, which contains much excellent information, I presume you have read. There is an elegant edition now in the press with additions, to which will be prefixed the head of the author. BURR is a charming little man, polite, affable, aud energetic in all his actions. I became acquainted with him in 1796. You see that nature which has sometimes been charged with being capricious, has not bestowed all her greatness on any one nation in particular, but bestows her gifts in every clime and among all people who make good use of her donations!"

Such are the sentiments of a sensible and worthy man, upon whose judgment the reader may rely; and who, by his merit alone, has attained to a considerable degree of respectability in the United States of America.

We conclude with just observing, that it is our hope and trust that THOMAS JEFFERSON the present illustrious president of the United States of America, will study the prosperity of his country. Educated in her bosom, having partaken of the hazards incurred by the revolution, and now ele-. vated to the highest office she has to bestow; he will be intent on those measures by which her best interests will be advanced. Above all, he will be studious of avoiding that greatest of evilsWAR by which millions of the human race have been consigned to destruction! Placed by Nature in a situation far removed from the intrigues and broils of Europe; we would wish America to preserve her native dignity. Having asserted her own rights-she will be careful not to interfere with the rights of others. Cherishing within her own terri tories the law of justice and sacred order-let her breathe peace and charity towards mankind. Let her shew to the nations of the earth an example of moderation. Liberating the slaves by whose bon dage she is now disgraced and cultivating they kind and generous affections in all the departments of human life-may she become the admiration and delight of the world!

Islington.

J. E.

ON THE SUPERIOR PLEASURES AND

ADVAN

TAGES OF THE COUNTRY TO THE TOWN.

THE of usiastic applauses of the poet, HE pleasures of a country life have in all ages the citizen, the philosopher, and the hero. After straining the faculties in pursuit of the muses; exhausting health in accumulating riches; enervating the frame by intense application to study; or shortening life by unremitting duty, in defence of liberty