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from the Aewburyfiort Gazelle. Audi alteram putem. STATEMLNI Oi 1-ACTS. As we, Students of Havard University, ate tdxjui to dissolve tlie ties which have lutltert-u bound us to that institution) we think that a decent regard for the opinion Os the public, and es ccially for those who me more deeply and dearly interested, requires that fte should give a fair and impartial statement ol the causes which have brought us to this our present, im portant and unusual resolution. \ve sensibly f eel the powerful, the pressing embariassments w hich we are forced to encounter, by opposing the embodied authority, and tin- united influ ence oi a great and venerable institution. We dourly foresee- from our age, our situation, and from the veiy nature of things, that the pie r,uioption of the public will he strongly against us. The authority of great names ever lias given, ever will give, and ever ought to give a marked direction to the grow ing tide ol public, opinion l"o that authm ity we have neither name nor influence to oppose. We shall give a clear and unvarnished statement of facts ; and then appeal r>, a coal ai>.l Impartial decision,-to tlic understanding of the public. The history of the case is simply this : On the 20th March; a decotous and respectful pe tition was presented to the lion. Corporation-, by a committee from the several classes Jn this jn i ition a true and faithful picture of the -de plorable state of commons was drawn with the minutest accuracy, hilt with the Utmost respect for the lion, body, to whom it was presented. The several articles of commons, which were deemed faulty, lroin their intrinsic essential qualities, together with the uncleanline sand filth of the cooks, were detailed at length. This petition lay upon the table or in the hands of the corporation, ten days, without any notice being taken thereof, to the knowledge of the students. During the whole of this period, the j commons being more and more offensive and j disgusting. On Monday morning, ten days iif’er the petition had been presented, the stu dents resolved, that if the commons were not better at noon, than they had heel , they would immediately retire front tho hall. The noon Came, and with it, the commons of a still more offensive and nauseous character than before The students then retired from the hall, in a peaceable, sober and orderly manner. This fact is not denied. The vileness of the food, is attested by the conduct of one*'the tutors, who called the head cook from the kitchen, reprimanded him in a severe manner, and ask ed him, “w hy he dared to send such meat as that into the hall.” It was black, nauseous and intollerable. For the offence of retiring peaceably fromjthe hall, where they found noth ing, hilt to nauseate the stomach, an offence committed every week, and usually punished l>\ the small fine of fifty or one hundred cents, ttu-j. ,rc now called upon to make an humiliat ing atonement by casting their characters at the feet of authority. “ The very head and front of their offending Hath thin extent , no more.” For this inexpiable crime, they are now re quired to make a confession of the following \mporl:—l bat they have behaved in an im proper manner; that tlicy sincerely regret ii, and that they never will behave in like manner in future. Ail who do not comply with this requisition, are denounced as re lac Is, and driv en from the university. It must be remem bered, that the only offence lor which such a conic .sion is demanded, was that of retiring .from the hall. This is acknowledged by the government. The conduct of the whole botlv of the students, must not be confounded with the particular acts of any individual. There, are, have been, and always will be, among the students, as in all bodies of considerable num ber, some who delight in mischief, anarchy, and confusion. But because, one man com mits a crime in a community of which he is a member, shall that whole community be char ged m the indictment ? There are, undoubted ly, some students who delight to raise a storm, and then sit and enjoy the uproar; but con ic npt is inseparably connected with their nu nes. For the conduct of those few outcasts, shall two hundicd respectable, characters be comprised in a general prescription ? Is this law l Is it justice? We trust no one will think it. We do most solemnly, and earnestly protest ugainst any suspicions or imputation of a sedi tious and rebellious disposition. We depre cate such intention from the bottom of our hearts. It was not our wish or hope, or expec tation, in any respect, either directly or indi rectly. to weaken or loosen in the smallest de cree. the strong and salutary restraints of con stituted authority. We know that laws, clear, definite, respe ted and unimpaired, are the living nerves and binding ligaments of society. ‘They are the bright and standing guides which di’ cct to virtue, to honor, to harmony, and to p ospeiitv. With them before us we can nev e go wrong; without them we can rarely go li Jit. We put our linger upon the clue, and arc led through the labyrinth. With them so ciety is harmony ; without them it is confu sion. We are also convinced that those, who arc appointed to the high function of their ad ministration, should he regarded as the sacred sh ines in which are reposed the covenants of our common security and welfare. But it also becomes those, on their part, to whom this high trust is committed, who are invested with the holy robes of authority, to be lawfully anx ious, lest they tarnish their robes, lest thev Wain their garments by a cruel and unfeeling exercise ofthcit power. They should rcmciu-1 ’ her, that it is possible to Vdl the spirit by too rigorous an adherence to the letter ol the law. They should recodect, that they have in their keeping, the fortunes, the feelings, the charac ters and t!ie well being of their fellow-crea tures, that the subjects on which they operate arc not wood, or rock, or water for the pui po ses of experiment ; but flesh and blood, and the living and liery springs of an immortal nature ; that there is a point of submission beyond which no man can pass without ceasing to be a man ; that “ there is a spirit in man, anti the i.ispii lion of the Almighty givelh him tinder standing that this spirit t annot be debased ; that it abhors disgrace, and is the life-spring of a good name. It cannot be described, for it bailies the power of description. It shews its nature when it is called into action. When this spirit is dead, character drops to the dust. While we kink with reverence and respect upon those who are crowned with authority, we arc still not unmindful of the purposes lor w hvl- we- came to this institution. We placed out names upon its book, because we believed it “w as good for ns to be here.” We did ex pect that we had entered the family of olir fa thers, who would treat us with the affection and the cordiality of kindred. We did expect that they would join and assist us ; that they would arm and equip us for the arduous and perilous conflicts which arc to be encountered upon the great theatre of the world. But we remembered, that, wifi’- we had an education to gain, we bad a t haracto. to lose. When the incredible demand was made,we consulted that character and formed our decision. We thought that infamy was not a passport to hon or , that degradation was not the road to renown. We deprecate the influence of authority, and ask for an unbiased mind to the naked siate ment offsets. Wc asa a full and /icr/tc; cre dence to that statement , for that statement in truth. Every fact given can be ratified by I oath. Signed by 2f studentn of the senior class, 44 of the junior, 29 of the sofihoniores , and 47 fresh , men. In all I IT. From the Charleston City Gazette. ‘To the Refiuhlicans of the United States. Messrs. Ei.i,iott k. Richards—l SEE, | with regret, by a publication from the Rich* mmd o.nyiurcr, in tins Gazette of Thursday last, that Mr. Jefferson will not serve again, | and lament it much ; for tear it will be difficult to mid another President his equal, and who has, with such unde,Kiting pro) ietv steered our political bar pie amidst such political diffi culties, as have attended his administration, | both as they respected our foreign relations, anil domestic concerns. lie, ho a ever, conceives it due to his politi cal consistency, that now he should retire .* nor will lie consent to he the example, or prece dent, for continuing the great powers of a Pre sident too long in one hand—he knows how valuable the principle of rotation is, to the pre servation **l liberty ; and tins makes him sa crifice honors, power, and even the strong de sire lit* must have to oblige his numerous con stituents, from 011 c end of the union to the oth-, er‘ who hav e addressed him, and who so ar dently wish him to continue. llovv valuable and gratifying these addresses must be tssu distinguished a public othccr as a President, every man must lecl ; and alien Mr. Jefferson adds to this, the pleasing reilec ttonoi having left his country free and respec ted ; in peace with ail the world ; its territory woiulerltnly augmented ; and the navigation ®i its great livers torever secured: anti with ad tlii.,, her public debt lessened astonishingly, and the means furnished for a speedy and final ex tinguishment of it. liellectiiig on ..11 these, he wm leave the political chair with a pleasure, that lew public men have ever leit in any coun try. tils me, when well written, win ue tiic model oi such a life, as ail distinguished politi cians snotiid lead in a republic. bn Mr. Jefferson’s Unis voluntarily and honorably leaving the > hair, 1 tiln.u. our sisict \ irginia, ought to hold her hand a little, and not push for another IVesul lit from herself ; but leave it to the republicans of the oilier states to have some liitle distinctions too ; she has had two out of three Presidents, and six teen out ot twenty years administration. If Virginia lias another President, it is an unquestionable fact, that it will he considered by the world, and particularly by the federalists, that, among all the numerous republicans of all tlie other states, who have so nobly supported tlie \ irginia and tiie republican administration, they cannot find a man sufficiently able, in their own opinions, to bring forward as a candidate. Phe republicans of Virginia, themselves, ought to see this, and not v ish to contribute to the stamping such a reflection, on their friends or adherents, as may probably lead to disunion. They ought to remember, that neglect or con tempt, and most particularly where it is suppo sed to arise from a deficiency of talents, is the strongest incentive to revenge in the human breast. Many men can bear up against the stings of wounded conscience ; but few are proof against neglect anil contempt, and parti cularly for their abilities. 1 know well that Virginia pushing for anoth er President immediately, will cause some un easiness, and she reallv, therefore, ought to come forth, for this election, magnanimously, and support two men, not citizens or belonging to Virginia. 1 have been lately at the northward, and am certain that in Massachusetts, New-York, Penn sylvania, Maryland and the Carol mas, this is ‘-lie sentiment generally among the republicans I — 1 therefore submit with great deference, the I propriety of the republicans in time turning their attention to the production cf lists for the consideration ot the gentlemen of the national legislature when they meet, to select the two candidates to be supported. ‘i he following republicans have all held high i appointments in their own states, and under ! the general government ; 1 give it as my list I for consideration* —Georgs Clinton, the present Vice-President of the United States ; B. 11. Livingston, late minister to France ; Charles Pinckney, late minister to Spain, and our pre sent governor ; gcnetr.l Smith, of Maryland, general Sumter, two brave revolutionary offi cers ; Mr. Bowdoin, the present minister at Madrid, who it is said is about to return ; Mr. Sullivan , the present governor of Massachu setts ; and Mr. Macon , the speaker of the late House of Representatives of the United States. I am not so well acquainted with all the states, as to designate all who might, with pro priety, he put on this list ; but I date say, a number of others might be and will be found— my only reason for mentioning these, is, that they have held offices and appointments, both under thtc United States and their own states, and most of them in Europe, and arc therefore more generally known to the different states It would be difficult to make an impression in favor of a man who is not so generally known, or has not held any public situations. A. most people do not like to read long pie ces, (and much might be, and probably will he said on this subject) I will only add one remark, which is, that if the principle of rotation of power, in individuals, is so necessary to pre serve liberty, and Mr. Jefferson, who might be unanimously re-elected if he pleased, goes cut expressly for that reason, does not the nature of your federal system require that, where it can be done with safety, the states should have something like a rotation in the great officers i V, hat w ould they say if the minister to Paris, Madrid or London, (the only three w e have) was to be constantly sent to each ol those pla ces, for twenty or thirty years together, from the same state, or all your Supreme Judges ta ken from one state ? 1 hey would suppose it a little unequal. I wish Virginia would think of this herself and relinquish ; but as she be gins to talk of the next President already, the other slates, which have .pretensions, ought to begin too. A CITIZEN. From the National Intelligencer. LIFE OF WILKES. [The following piece of Liography will excite an interest lti this country, scarcely interior to that felt in England. Eveu here, “ W tikes and Liberty,” were not long since syr,om inous terms, The article lias likewise the merit of being throughout weil penned, and in some parts is exquisitiy wrought. It is a faithful portrait ? Had not the patriot some foibles—had he not even some vices, which it is the duty ol the faithful Listoiiun not to overlook rj JOHN W ILKES was bom in October 28, 1727, in St. John Street, Ciurkcnweil. His la ther, Nathaniel, was a tiisliilei, ol great opu lence, and ot a most respeciuhic character. from the nature cu the government, and from the habits ot the people oi Great-Britain, an easy intercourse .subsists between ail its or der ol society. When industry has obtained for itself mole tnun competence, it naturally becomes desirous ot distinction, 1 lie powers ot wealth, however great, are yet circumscrib ed: to the we.itii\, the wealth of others is oi small importance ; and wheie there are many rich, riches ol course give attic j re-emniinence. Another standard ol merit is men resorted to, abilities and rank are made the objects of re gard. Mr. VVin.es was curly accustomed to meet al the table ot his father with persons ol literary excellence, as well as with those ol weight m tlie commercial world ; and hence he imbibed that taste for letters which he con tinued to cultivate through life. liis education, however, though liberal, was domestic ; and though not severe, yet suthci cntly sober. His philosophy therefore (that of enjoying the world, and passing laughingly through it) was not so much tlie fruit ot levity and custom, as of his ow n reflection ; and was adopted in compliance with his own \ iew of human nature. And this he was himself very willing to have believed. His parents (one of them, at least) were not of the church ol England; and Mr. Wilkes ha ving [vassed his school years, partly at Hertford and partly in Buckinghamshire, was sent, not to either of our English universities, with a pri vate tutor, to the university of Leyden, where his talents attracted much noticc- Iu the year 1749 he married Miss Mead, heiress ot the Meads of Buckinghamshire ; from which mariiage probably originated his connexon with that county. In April 1754, he offered himself as a candidate to represent in parliament the borough of Berwick, and ad dressed the electors in terms not ill, according with that political spirit, which afterwards marked his political conduct. He was not however on this occasion successful; but in July, 1757, he was elected burgess for Ayles bury, and Was also again chosen (at the general election) in 1761, for the same place. On the 2d of June following, the first num ber of the North Britain issued from the press; a work of which Mr. Wilkes was the chief supporter. Amongst the memoranda of Gibbon, as given to the public by their noble editor, is a note of a spirited dinner party, in which colonel Wilkes is mentioned as having supported his share of the conversation with much vivacity unjl intel ligence. He is also related to have made a a frank acknowledgement of his resolution to take advantage of the times and make bis fortune.” That Mr. Wilkes, then colonel of the Buckinghamshire militia, made such a de dal ution, there i. no doubt. But there may be much and reasonable doubt, whether any construction can be put on this beyond an inti mation of his desire to become an object of po pular attention. Neither his habits of living nor his turn of disposition, were such as to ren der any supposition, that a plan of pecuniary advancement crossed bis mind, at all natural. When Cardinal de Retz was reminded that his debts were large, he replied, ‘ Caesar’s at my age were greater.’ Such i.i all probability would have been the language of YV ilkes, cast of temper was a little likely, as even theirs, to make interest, the scope ol his endeavors. It is not indeed easy to perceive how, even iu im agination, he should promise himself, by the course of action which he adopted, that liberal provision as to worldly circumstances which he eventually obtained. The truth, 1 believe, is, that to be known amongst men was his ruling passion, an i it must be owned that he undoubtedly possessed many of the qualities which deservedly command renown. A weak administration and ill direct ed public counsels afforded him a harvest of materials for attack. He saw his opportunity, ‘ put in his pickle,’ and crowned his toil with, plenty beyond expectation. The North B.iton had been established but for a few months, and had reached no further than the 12th number, when it involved him iu a quarrel with lord Talbot; a quarrel which ended in a duel. By a retired scholar, unac quainted with the vvor.d, it might .not unnatu ral be made a question, whether a paper |tke this, could by a possibility have become a ground on which two responsible beings should stake the hazard of their lives. And ic should seem even to others, that the liberty of politi cal attack was certainly at that period in its in fancy, when such a trifle occasioned such a meeting. The number complained of has for Us object some pensions, which had been bes towed by the udmini nation of that day, a mongst which were those allotted to Dr. John son and the author of Douglass. Had there been no justcr cause of murtnerthan this, they who then lcld the veins of government might continued safe in power. When, however, a spirit of dissatisfaction is abroad, the lightest circumstance will tend to widen the circle of its influence. Even this complaint was not without its effect. Lord I fitchfield also, ar.d Lord Talbot, bear a part in the paper; the chief assult against lord Talbot being a sneer upon his horsemanship at the coronation. Hi* lordship however was irritable and demanded, first by note, and then by a message, a disa vowal on the part of Mr. Wilkes of his being concerned in the composition of the number which reflected on his lordships’s name. Wilkies, to whose views, an affair of this sort was not ill-suited, contented himself with a de nial of his lordship’s right to interrogate upon the subject. An appointment was made be tween them, and they exchanged pistol shot s at Bagshot, without hurt to either party. Mr, Wilkes having filed, walked immediately up to lord Talbot and avowed the paper. Mr. \\ ilkes was now daily becoming roord known to, and, from his opposition to lord Bine, a greater favorite with the public. The .North Briton still went on, and Mr. Wilkes also be came possessed of a most able coadjutor in Churchill, the poet, in March, 1768, he ad dressed a dedication to lord Bute, prefixed <o the tragedy of Rojer Mortimer, an unfinished play of Ben. Johnson. Between .Mortimer, the favorite of Isabel, the mother of Edward the third, and lord Bute, lie drew a parreliet, necessarily not very favorable to the character in that noble lord. The busy and more important part of tiny life ot Wilkes was now arriving. The far-fa "led No. 45. of the North Briton appeared o.n the 23d ol Ap;il, and on the morning of the 30th, Mr. Wilkes was served by a king’s mes senger with a general warrant, in conseque: ce ol which lie was on the same morning convey cd to the Tower. That “ a warrant to appie “ bend and seize, together with their papers, “the authors, printers, and publishers of a “ work,’| ithout naming who those authors, printers, and publishers were even suspected to be, In.s upon its very face an appearance of illegality, Cannot be denied. But in justice to the secretaries of state, who signed it,it should be remembered, that for a hundred years the practice of their office had been to issue such ; and that in so doing they did no more than w hat precedents seemed to justify. It is worthy of remark, that this event came upon Mr. W ilkes unforeseen. It was fiicge tetidu lor his adversaries, rather than a net thrown over him by them. And if the knowl edge cf this circumstance should in a degree tend to diminish the praise claimed loudly for him at the time, upon the score of presence af mind, it will at least establish, w*hat is perhaps’ still more to his reputation, and what. I believe, was as truly the real character of his under standing, that he possessed the talent of weigh ing with skill the consequences of his public actions. In a letter addressed bv him to the right hon. George Grenville, in November, 1769, he writes thus: ‘The affair of Mr. Beardmore has been misrepresented. The warrant against him for several numbers of the Monitor was made special , but directed the seizing of his books and papers. Mr. Wilkes knew Mr. Beardmore personally, went to visit him at the messenger’s house, and endeavour ed to persuade him to bring an action of false imprisonment, and damages for himself, his clerk, books, papers, See. against lord Halifax. T his Mr. Beardmore at that time absolutely refused. The transaction was in November* 1762.’ Mr. Wilkes, therefore, had examined ‘ ;