The reflector. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1817-1819, November 25, 1817, Image 4

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m m POETRY. r ’ * HOME. Not such their l\omo, whom love has taught to know, From Hint blest source wh.it real transports flow. IIomi; ! ’tis the name of all that sweetens life i It speaks the warm uliection of a wife 1 The lisping babe that prattles on the knee, In all the playful gr.ice of infancy i The spot where fond paternal love may trace The growing virtues of a blooming race | Qh, *tis a word of more than magic spell/ Whose sncrCtlhower the wanderer best can tell— lie who, longa.stant from his native land, Vcels at her name her eager soul expand : Whether as patriot, husband, father, friend, To that dear point |jis thoughts, his Wishes bend— *nd still lie owns, when’er his footsteps roam, 5*8 choicest blessings centre all—athomk. RELIGIOUS. l'he following letter (says the Connecticut Couranl,) is ascribed tothe l’opc (ianganclli, Clement the 14th. On account of his Catholism he was called by the Jesuits the Protestant Pope. In his reign in 1778, that formi dable order of men was abolished. It was conjectured he was poisoned by them. It is addressed to an Eng. liah gentleman. “ I seldom see a person of your sense a dupe to the modern Philosophy. Your knowledge ought to secure you from its sophisms, which would reduce us to the condition of brutes.— If there be a God, as nature points it out eve ry where, there is a religion. If there be a re ligion, it cannot but he sublime, and as an cient as the world, as it flows from a Being infinite and eternal, and If it lias these char acteristics, it is, without doubt, Christianity. And if it be Christianity, we must absolutely acknowledge it as divine,'and adhere to it with heart and mind. Is it credible that this intelligence that resides in us, that combines, calculates, goes, beyond the earth, soars a- bove the firmament, reeals all past ages, pierces into times to come : whiclt, in short, has an idea of what is to last, forever ; should only beam forth for a moment, in order to vanish afterwards in a light vapour. What is this voice that cries within ourselves, and at every moment that you arc born for great things. What are those desires which re new continually, and make you sensible, that there is nothing in this world can satisfy your heart ? The same truth that certifies to you your existence, certifies to you the existence of a God. If there be a God he ought necessarily to be beneficent; and if he is bcnificcnt, you ought to thank him for his benefits. If the religion of the established has taken different forms, if it was carried to perfection by the coming of Messiah, it is that God who has u- nited with it, as with our reason, which at first is only a feeble light, and which being developed afterwards by degrees, appears in its full lustre. Were God to manifest to us upon earth, clearly bis designs ; if the mys teries which astonish and thunder-strike us were unfolded to us, this would be the intui tive vision which ho reserves to us after this life, and it will be needless to die. Full knowledge is only reserved for heaven shall then know God, as I am known by him. Nature and religion both derive equal ly from God ; and they have, tlio’ in a man ner quite different, their mysteries and in comprehensibilities. We shuuld not, there fore, deny the existence of religion, notwith standing its darkness. There is nothing here below that has not a dark side. Our soul being weighed down by the body cannot be capable of seeing all. The gradations of re ligion are admirable. It was first seen as a dawn, that lowers from chaos; afterwards as the Aurora that announces the day ; at last the day appears, but overcast with clouds; and it will not be perfectly serene and in its full meridian until the moment wherein the heavens shall be opened. Has the incredu lous man a better system of religion ? Chris tianity is a picture drawn by the hand of God; and this he himself presented to men, when it was only roughly sketched out, until the time came wherein Jesus Christ came and finished it; but he will give it the beauties and colours in eternity. Jesus Christ is the principle and end of all things, the key of all the mystcijf.s of Grace and Nature ; so that it is not surprising if a person should bewil der himself in a thousand absurd systems without that grand compass. Study thor oughly that God-Man has as much as a crea ture is capable, and you will fintlin him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.— You will perceive that he is the fi rst link of the chain, that tics all things visible and in visible,and you will acknowledge him for that divine breath that raises up in our hearts the seeds of justice and holiness. Sciences will have an end. Lingua cessabunt, Scientia de structor ; and there will be only the knowl edge of Jesus Christ, which will swim over the sur/ace wherein time and the elements will be swallowed up.” Elegant thought.—In a speech at the for- motion of a Methodist Missionary Society, in Sheffield, E. the poet Montgomery has the following beautiful rcntiiuent: “ In the Bible society, (said he) all names and distinctions of sects are blended till they are lost, like the prismatic colors in a ray of pure and perfect light. In th.; missionary work, though divid ed, they ari not discordant; but, like the same colors displayed and harmonized in the rainbow, they furin an arch of glory—ascend ing on the one hand, from earth to licaven ; and on the other, descending from heaven to peace ;*u sign that the storm is passing away, and Lite Sun of righteousness with healing in bis wings, breaking forth on all nations.” DUELLING. PItOM Tills NATIONAL HKlilBTKR. Several duels have lately taken place in the United States,, in which respectable youn men have fallen victims to the custom from causes originating in the most wanton levity This unauthorized w aste of human life is a public injury as well as a private wrong; and the offenders, if in the employment of the nation, ought to he degraded from office stripped of their epaulets if they have any, and advertised.as persons who have dishonor ed their stations and violated the moral obli gations of society. We speak without any personal allusion But is it not monstrous, that so vile and ir religious a practice, which originated in barbarous and superstitous age, should find, at this enlightened day, legislatures that tol erate it, and individuals who positively sanc tion it ? Our presses teem with productions con corning Bible Societies and the propriety of converting the Heathen : thousands of dollars are annually expended in sending forth missionaries to turn the infidel from the error of his ways : but where is the Heathen or the Infidel who at present countenances a vice so gross, so repugnant to the laws of na ture, so opposite to the dictates of the Gos pel, as that of duelling ? It is a vice wholly prevalent among Christians, that we seek for it among Jews, Mahometans, and Pagans, in vain. To what purpose arc the cares of parents, the instructions of tutors, the accomplish moots of education ? The hopes of a fami ly, the support of declining age, the pros pccts of female and friendless connexions, perhaps, depond upon the future exertions of a promising youth. Frail foundation ! His life is at the mercy of the first expert rude ruffian that chooses to insult him. He falls : and in one common grave are buried his ex pected services to his country, the consola tion of his family, and the happiness of his relatives! In the times in which we live we have no pretence, except the licentiousness and bru tality of our passions, for resorting to the duel. Anciently, we find, on recurrence to authorities, that duels were allowed by the common law where proof could nut he had. Fleta defines duel to he, “ singularis pugna inter dur,s ad probandam veritatem litis ; et qui vicit, probasse intclligitur,” It was, in its commencement, a legal and judicial mode of trial; for the custom, which, as Patercu lus informs us, cainc originally from the na tions of the north of Europe, was founded on this principle, which was then generally believed to be orthodox ; namely—that God would give the victory to the innocent party There is, however, no such belief now : on the contrary, it is very manifest that the most amiable, the most intelligent, the most worthy, commonly fall a sacrifice to the un feeling hardihood of ignorance, to the vio lence of unbridled passion, or to an unre flecting vanity, which, losing sight of the higher attributes of our nature, seeks for distinction by means of a physical and bloo dy dexterity. For a considerable time the duel, as a ju dicial inode of trial, prevailed among the I- talians, the Germans, the Danes, and the Franks. William the conqueror, it is thought, introduced it into England ; but he allowed it only in three cases ; i. c. in the court mar tial, or court of chivalry and honor ; in ap peals of felony ; and upon issue joined in a writ of right; biit, in this latter case, Henry II. with the consent of the English parlia ment, established the alternative of the grand assize. The absurdity of the practice, even in those dark ages, soon became obvious. As early as the year 855, duels were condemned by a council held at Valentia 5 tbe victor being ex communicated, and the victim pronounced unworthy of burial. The kings of Denmark abrogated that method of proof. Duels were interdicted by several of the Popfs ; and three of the French monardis, particularly Louis XIV. prohibited duelling under very severe penalties. Thus, we see that pious, enlightened, and valiant men, have united in condemning tbe practice. But notwithstanding it has been banished from modern jurisprudence, the duel has sur vived, and exists, however strange it may seem, upon the grounds of its first institu tion ; if, indeed, it can he said to rest upon any grounds at all: for it docs not prevail upon the belief that God favors the party who i* in the right, by what opinion is it supported ? And if it appears, as it clearly does, that the Almighty does not interpose his omnipotent will in such affairs, is not duel ling irrational and blasphemous, and ought it not to be entirely abolished ? If the duel is not an appeal to the judgment of God, what else is it ? Can it be said, with propriety, that it is a justifiable manner of redressing private insults or personal wrongs ? Sup pose wo graut it so : upon that admission we ask, who decides upon the requisite measure of satisfaction ? Why, every mail in his own behalf; and thus, that impartiality and disinterestedness, which, in every other in earth—a bow of promise ; a covenant of stance, perradc all our tribunals in mutters that affect persons or property, I* dispensed with in an affair of life and death! Could there be a greater inconsistency ? The raw and passionate hoy, the blustering bragga docio from twenty to forty, and the cool and calculating duellist of every age, are all left to follow the impulse of an ungoverned feel ing or malignant envy. Does it require great courage to fight u duel ? Wo should suppose not. Notorious cowards, it is known, will risk the encoun ter when well pricked up. Men have been beaten, horsewhipped, ridiculed ; and, yet exasperated at last by a scornful hue and cry, have turned upon their antagonists, chal lenged them, and, aco irding to the rules of duelling, have killed them fairly. Alter the abrogation of tbe duel as a legal mode of trial, it was continued in Europe by a proud and arrogant nobility, ,who disdain ed to be controlled by any law but their own will. Some modern gentlemen, or those who would be modern gentlemen, ape this auda city. But in a country like ours, where.the laws are paramount, they should he taught another lesson. Besides, if the custom be proper, it is, under a republican form of go vernment, as proper for one man as for an other : But do we not find tnat it is a prac tice appertaining exclusively to those who assume a certain air and consequence in soci ety ? If two chimney-sweepers were to re fer their quarrel to the event of a duel, it would occasion only laughter and merriment; and this is a clear proof that it is in no wise founded in reason ; because, if it were a ra tional mode of deciding disputes, it would be applicable to one man as well as to another, whatever might be his profession. The trial by jury never excites mirth on account of the meanness of the object. It is so just, so ap propriate, so well founded in the nature of tilings, that it is impossible, in any applica tion of it to human affairs, to turn it into derision. That the legislature lias a right to prohib it duelling by exemplary punishments, can not be questioned, because it produces a dimi nution of valuable citizens from the republic. What difference docs it make to the common wealth whether a man consents to be shot, or is shot against his will I In either case the individual is lost to the community. If sui cide be a criminal act, as good men affirm it. is, how much more criminal is it that one person should take the life of another ? When the subject is closely examined, it will be found that those are most inclined to duels who have the smallest share of under standing and wit. They fail in argument, in repartee, or humor, and entrench them selves behind a pistol. The Athenians, who were the wittiest people in the world, and whose courage will not be doubted, never re sorted to the duel: the point of honor with them was, who could say the best thing. — The Homans, brave, enlightened and judi cious, were equally strangers to this modern usage. They sought to excel one another in great actions, in the arts and sciences, and not in single combat, except it was against the public enemy.* Indeed, it may be safe ly asserted, that the readier an individual is to refer the determination of his quarrel to the result of a duel, the greater blockhead he is. There arc few insults or injuries in life which may not be satisfactorily and am icably settled by the in 1* Terence and arbitra tion of honest and rational men. The fair sex have it in their power to do much in affairs of this kind. Their frowns would tend greatly to put duelling out of fa shion. In truth, we do not perceive how a- nv lady of delicacy or sensibility can recon cile it to herself to take to her arms a duellist, who has by a successful shot, probably blast ed the hopes of a family or covered a widow and children with mourning, and consigned them to wretchedness and despair. The cou rage of a di: **• st is not of that kind which is essential to the happiness and protection of women in society ; and the females who view it in that light, and confide in it, are, in gen eral, wofully deceived. It is the mind that does not yield to difficulties, the heart that is attuned to soft and benevolent sensations, and yet firm and steady in the pursuit of a virtu ous and honorable purpose, that afford to the •ex the blessings of domestic enjoyments and the pleasures of social intercourse. Wise and well tempered men shun the person who car ries a dirk by his side or a pistol in his pock et, prepared to stab or fire upon the slightest provocation. The practice, however—wc arc glad that wc are enabled to say it—is declining among us. In the states north of the Hudson it bus always been rare : the late law of the Virgi nia assembly, excluding duellists from office, lias a very salutary effect, and we now sel dom bear of duels in that commonwealth.— Indeed all that seems to be wanting complete ly to extirpate the evil, is the energetic in terposition of the government of the United States. When we reflect that officers high in rank, and of great importance to their country, may be taken oft - by the felonious custom of duelling, and the public service thereby sustain irreparable injury, will it be controverted that the offending and surviving party ought to be severely punished ? VARIETY. * They lud quarrels, differences, feuds, only with en emies : Citizens with citizens contended ah; at virtue.— S-u.ix.vr. —He speaks of thecommonwenlih. THE PRINTER. “ I pity—I pity the printer,” said my un cle Toby. “ Ho is a poor devil,” rejoined I. “ How so,” said my uncle Toby—“ In the first place, he must endeavor to please every body, and ten to one if lie pleases any body : In tbe negligence of a moment, perhaps a small paragraph pops upon him ; lie hastily throws it to the compositor—it is inserted— and he is d—d to all intents and purposes !” “ Too much the case,” said my uncle, with a sigh, “ too much the case.” Nor is that all,” continued I, “ lie sometimes hits upon a piece that pleases him mightily, and lie thinks it cannot hut go down with his subscri bers—but alas ! who can calculate ? He in serts it, and all is over with him. They may forgive others, but they can’t forgive a prin ter—He has a host to print for—he has fools and he has wise men : and every dunce that knows B. from a bull’s foot, sets up for a cri- tric. The pretty miss exclaims, why don’t he give us more poetry and bon mots ? Away with these stale pieces. The politician claps his specks on his nose, and runs it over in search of violent invective ; he finds none ; he takes his specks off, folds them, claps them into his pocket declaring the paper good for nothing hut to burn. So it goes. Everyone thinks it ought to he printed expressly to please himself, as he is a subscriber, and, thus, weekly, it is brought to the grand ordeal.” Trim could no longer contain him self, but rising and making a stride to tbe middle of the floor, with his arms akimbo, and with his head upright, exclaimed with a loud and audible voice, “ If I was a printer, an’t please your honor, I’d please myself.— I’d never gjvc up the ground to any one, or renounce one sentiment. I would not be swayed by the whim, caprice and fully of eve ry one, but would mark out a straight line, and pursue it.” (Here Trim traced with the point of his stick a right line from .my stool.) “ If I could not succeed in a plain, indepen dent course, I’d freely kick the beam.” That's Music—To the Bucks and Lasse* of this town the violin is the best music—To our merchants it is music to hear the purse chink on the counter with—* I’ll take a cou ple of patterns, if you please.’—1 just cause and good fee make harmonious music for our lawyers. * Will you take a ride to , next Monday, Miss,’ is music to our ladies; but * Will you marry me, my pretty maid,* when it comes from the favorite lad, posses- ses all the harmony and melody combined.— And to us Printers it is the sweetest music to be told ‘ 1 have brought you half a. dozen new patrons, or I have brought the subscrip tion money for all my neighbours.’ The “ Soul of the Soldiery. 9 '—The follow ing are the toasts, given by the Ciffttpany of Sergeants in Boston, at their late celebration. 1. The Day—May each surceeding anni versary find us on the march of improve ment. Mas. qrick step. 2. The Fresidontj of the U. states—Hi* life-guard is the affections of tin- people. Pres. March. 3. His Excellency the Commander ia Chief—in his youth he stood in the front rank of patriotism—and has never deserted hi* post. brook's March. 4. The Army of the U. States—They have scaled the heights of glory, and made a per manent lodgment in the fortress of public ap probation. Wreaths to the Chieftains 5. The Navy of the U. States—Its muster roll is inscribed on tiie fairest page of histo- ■’}■—and posterity shall acknowledge its va- Udity. Siege of Tripoli. 6. Our Country—May she never fall in the rear, when duty gives the word-forward ! Yankee Poodle. 7. The Citizen Soldier—When called upon to defend the soil of his fathers, may he not forget that he is a citizen soldier. March. 8. A well-disciplined Militia—The safest defence of a free people.—Mention the whole. The long roU. 9 The Heroes of the Revolution—Thf lapse of years has not withered, but added to the freshness of their laurels, time's March 10. WASHINGTON !—“ Uis remember- nnce belongs to all nations—ltis glory to e- ternity.” , 11. Massachusetts—The eldest daughter of Liberty-May she never relinquish her birth-right. Mas. March. 12. National Character—The Corinthiaft pillar which supports the fabric of National Independence. Mams and Liberty. 13. The Fair Sex—The only conquerors acknowledged by freemen— Stack arms. Come haste to the wedding. PUBLISHED WEEKLY', BX J. B. HINES, AT THREE DOLLARS PER YEAR, IX ADVANCE. Advertisements under one hundred words, inserted the first time tor 75 cents, cash, and 50 cents tor each contin uance—longer ones in proportion. Every insertion of no tices not published weekly, charged as the first. Admin istrators’ sales of leal estate advertised for g 4 cash— of personal property g 3—notices to debtors and credi tors g 3—and nine months’ citations g 5—one fourth move in every instance, if not settled for when left for publicution. fl[The law requires land and negroes belonging to estators and intestates, to be advertised sixty days ; per- shable properv, forty 1 notices to debtors and creditors, i.x weeks ; and citations lor leave to sell estate, (monthly^ iy>e months. bettors to tire editor must be post fund