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[VOL. I.]
jUGUSTA-PRMTED BY DANIEL STARNE 6l Co.
PROPOSALS
,y DANIEL STARNES & CO.
(tpllijti'Z b Mfirffum a welly Ncwefftr
IN THE CITY OF AUGUSTA,
TO BE ENTITLED
Mirror of the Times.
*
THE universal promulgation of
tntb ,h * g*®"* l diAribution of know.
Were ire objedh the firft importance in
country where liberty hat left trace*
after foctftepi, under every government
eoofulti the happineu of M*n
• Kjo*Wgefaid the Great Lord Bacon
....power,united with virtue” it certainly
it liberty. Where igßorance reigns theug
T ict triumph! and defpoiifm govern*.
mB Neemes enlightened authority will he j
limited & morality restored—Knowledge k
virtue ire the bafci *of freedom—the one i
ioftrudli us incur righu, the other teaehei, j
u, our duties; the firft (news us how to con- .
druct the best poffiblc form of government, I
the lift requires us to obey it when conftruc
,'tfd. It is therefore advantageous every where, I
ehutin 1 Ripullic it is ahfolu'ely neceila.y j
that correct information fliould be widely
diEufed ind easily obtained : For thin ’tiv
the people who govern. ‘lhty never inten
tionally choose bid leaden or approve wrong
(mfurei, yet they are liable to error—give 4!
hem true details and they will judge
Wectly—for on flam groundi the people jl|U
Ltys from ,opinion 1 : whenever they tfiljv'
lake their own intcrefls ’til owing eiujfcdfe' :
jo want of information in the maty nf ydWt’
ffhoneftyin the Jtw. But l
Ini information is not to be T
»ich labour, and few have leilugj*fs ftfogi
the fyftinu, compare the opiniemt* jpmt’lpe
rufe the pages of Locke, Sytlt- j f jibbon,
Hume and Vattel. If an tfqfi&fih.t'ctii with
the true principles oft/" duties
of a citizen ii *■£ >urred only from i
huge folios & -ufei, it would bo
m fa'-r’ L.i3!it, the plough, the
V f • iaw mi:ft (land still, s Pm e
;„u easier means of Satisfying curi
hijy rti procuring inform: tion irsuft there
iore be looked for; and where is intelligence
theapoeft and convenience united with more
dvamige, than in the closely printed col
ttnns of the humble Newspaper ? Our
ountrymen appear so well convinced of
t* ufefuluefs of periodical prints and have
loyry liberally encouraged them, that we
iwnit unnccefliry to infill on their merit,
•Kalmoll kelitate to reqneft public patron
*Vor another New {-paper dtablifljment.
Ve can premise little except what atten
"\honcfty & indnftry can perform. The
npleiofour Paper, likeour own, will be
• Y| wn i 41 fame freedom of opin
ill lie* 1 We claim for o " rfe| ve*, we w»(h
Y 9to enjoy." Civil and Religious
i i. X cvr y m ?.n, and
for tm?' e,, - an< * a^et^’w c l’ be
One \’ U *' or defervea to be a
To u
be our | 1 and morality will
endeavot” -10 eucoura S c literature our
do comn, unicationg calculated to
"exlcdci bc refufetJ 5 no hint will be
that the ,! na f '! e u ottntr T “ is nca(Tir y
vnknown r° U !r be ' le,lhcr 'ague nor
iilature wil pub lc a<^s of ‘he State leg
ume to’hanr re,orC be P ub,iflled ai they
%W/J R 0F T HE TIMES will be
a .V ranv *i* public measure with
the cond «* of
will know-l“l°™ Cerß £ nVcrn mcnt—it
f’atj fa j\ Fari y but m Y Country % A*
Wditions.
PublirtwM OF THE T,MES will be
Ct W Mmi 'h ° a a
f * n 'f cllent l ualit y> and good I
tfubferbers will be three
advance " ,1Um ’ pa ' d half y ear, y in
ln «Iu E r ' C M r adv «tifing will he fifty
4c thirtv f *^ re ,or tbe Erll infection
tintiation a " d * I ‘* ,f for each con "
''ubfcriK* V ' ll bc tlelivered to Town |
•bofe tb< "' r P' ace9 of *bode and
Pick/-. P countr T ’►ill be dc ne up
delivered at the Poll
notice.
m L Pcrfon having any dp I
Jjjjj 1 a ß*i n ® ■he tftaie of | )*”
“ nl y Ueccafcd, arc rc i
SuL r rr! n * he " -!
toeduteniv iCUCd lo - im
.V,P^ Ban
" ft “ ,w <* were obt<"i J m ’ r
tnrouoh frai.A * 'A
erg-f 0 Va^wiv
1* *4- I
JUST RECEi
an 0 Convenient
4 v ~^ maie Gi Z s
) 7«f **B harncai complete,
{ Msist^ 4lre l^c cnnierii
IMKPOWDER
For file at tkiaofie«s
MIRROR OF THE TIMES
From the Richmond Enquirer.
IMPRESSMENT OF SEAMEN.
“ When you endeavor 10
convey an idea of a greater num, i
ber of barbarians, practicing a
great variety of cruellies upon
an incalculable number of fuf. j
ferers, nothing defined or fpeci.
sic finds its way to the heart, nor
is any fentiinerit excited, lave
rf tbat of a general eratic unap-
Spropiated com;r*ifTeration. By
comprehend e
: ve >> tnmg, . j.i would convey
j npiiting. W«ben the father of
j ptyry lo pourtray the
I m ? v s»n«#?#iontending ar.
1 n.ics. tMukd field, heex.
cn,^v jf * c c * oes ven
the perplexed
con^^s a(1 •
Qul b >’ atls and
fw&tf-ff Htdivicluals, he con,.
of the vicifiitudes
*■sso- tight and fortune of the
f-Way —Seled a fingie object.”
f Curran in the calc of Hcvey
vs. Sirr,
1 TO IH£ EDITOR Os TIIE ENQUIR
ER.
Sir— lt has been truly said,
that the fait lad privilege luf
lering is that of complaint.—
No man has ever yet wiithed
under the tyrant’s lash, without
wtfhing to breathe the murmurs
of his Ipirit, and enlist the world
in his caule. —But my own luf.
ferings, acute as they have been,
would never have reached the
public ear—if they were not
calculated to convey inftrudiou
as well as to excite companion
—to rouse the attention of iny
government to attempt some eL
itdual remedy agaiuti lmular
misfortunes.—l atn the unfor.
lunate vidim of the Brnifh prac,
lice of impreflment.
1 was born a citizen of the
U. States—My parents weie
proud of their boy--and they
were laudably ambitious of tn-
Utiiing at iealt the firft elements
of knowledge into my mind.—
They ient me to a liberal Ichool
in a village—l |, a d a fpint to
learn—l read, thought and was
improved.
My thoughts had been very
early turned towards the lea.
As I (canned the magnificent
mirror of waters, which the O
cean spread before me, my
young mind was wrapt in iublL
mity and delight. I was ambi
i tious of viewing the various
phalesj which man prelents in
other countries, even before I
was acquainted with him in my j
own. No objed appeared so j
beauiilul to my inexperienced ;
! eye, as a vefiel in lull iail with
all her canvas and colours,
dreaming to the wind. I ad
mired the plough, which furrows
j the field ; but Hill more the keel
which ploughs the deep. When
1 confidcred the value of com- j
merce, in relation to aggricul- j
turc, to the export of lie produc- i
lions of the foil, to the increase
1 of the real relources of my coun
j try, and to the means of her ma
j mime defence, 1 was penetra- ,
i led with the persuasion, that uiy
government could not but bc
the fuend of the rights of com
merce, and that the friend of
*ommerce muff be the friend
d the I was determin.
| es, thercfoie, to indulge my
i fcidelt prepoflefiions, and to
“ HOLD THE MIRROR UP TO NATURE.” Shakespeare.
J , ~ . V ~ i.
WEST END OF BROAD-STREET,
devote myfelf to the sea. I
was poor too and in want o.
wages.
Before I put my plan into
execution, I had fully confider
; ed all the rights which were inci
dent 10 my profession. I had
: maturely (ludied the inimiiable
| letter of Mr. Madison to Mr*
Monroe, on the subject of the
impressment of feainen. My
mind was familiar with its argu
ments. My spirit beat high, as
1 conlidered the rank and the
rights of an American Seamen.
On the 14th of April 1806,
I bound myfelf to thfe good brig,
the Marianne, then lying at N.
York. In a few days we set
tail for Barcelonia in Spain.—
lhe wind was ptofperous, and
my Ipirits were as light as the
ether of heaven. On the tlf
of May, however, the f'cene was
fadiy reverled. In lat. 30 long.
32, we hove in fight 4 ot a Bii
tdh (flip of war. “ Breakers a
head, cried our captain, Avast
there, my lads.” The English
ship, however, espied us, and
made signals for u* to haul to.
We obeyed with a heavy heart.
The long boat was immedL
ately sent otf to us, with a (tout
f rty, headed by a young and
proud Midshipman. 46 A
press," whispered our captain.”
My veteran comrades comfir
med the omen.
The moment they placed their
feet upon the deck, my heart
shrunk within me. I could
have faced grim death in any
honor able Shape. I could have
cheerfully perished in the fields
of battle, in the defence of the
rights and freedom of mv dear
country. I could have wished
for no more fortunate doom,
than to have beru pitted on the
fiiore again!! this proud mid
shipman within my (word’s point
and my life fUked alone upon
l he hazard of the rencontre. 1
uouid have plunged with alacri
ty beneath the fait waves that
enfhiouded our vefiel—at the
flighted nod of honor. But
thus to be lorn from the arms
of nry comrades, on the man
date of this petty officer of the
British Empire —thus to he drag
ged from the realms of liberty 6c
light, to the black hold of a Bn
tifh ship of war—lo be flogged
by die cat of a boatswain, to be
call into manacles and chains,
to be condemned to every fort
of obloquy and pain, because I
could not perhaps at once bend
the firm spirit of a freeman to
their molt capricious airs of au
j thority— these were ptofpefcls
i not to be encountered without
i the strongest ffiuddering of the
heart. I awaited my fate in the
most gloomy silence. At every
risk I was determined not to
fink into the willing slave of op
pression—nor tofu Her that li
berty which the blood of my
ancestors had purchased, to be
j wretted from me, without at
lead one poor effort of merito
rious opposition.
The lift of the crew was cal.
led for. We were required to
1 go on the quarter deck, and to
range ourselves in a half moon
a round the petty chieftain of
this band. He him fell took his
Ration on the binnacle —“dreft
as he was, in a little brief autho
rity,” his countenance and mien
bespoke all the haughty arid
supercilious airs of the Oiiental
despot on his throne. His janif.
aries were placed to his right 6c
est, with pidols and cutlasses to
execute his proud behests.
I be moment his eye light upon
my person, I fay that my fate
*as sealed. I was the haled Sc
healthiest man of our crew.
Care had not yet affaileu my
conliituiion, nor had the lash
of ilavery yet founded in my
ears. My cheek was then fuf
fuled with the blush of health,
an< * l t^. tire an adventurous
in my eyes, it
loo.n became apparent, that I
was too precious a treasure to
be readily relinquished, from
any nice punctilio of principle
01 decorum.
The firft words which he utter
ed, weieofan alarming import.
He add Ced hurt fell to me.
“ You my business. 1
atn the head of a press gang—
commidioned to beat up re.
cruits for his majesty’s service.
You mud go along with me.”—
My indignation was too big foi
expredion—at length with an
uncontrollable impetuosity, 1
poured forth the ientimems of
my heart . 44 By what right do
you claim it ? Where is your
cornnuffion to take me? Where
are lhe articles which I have
signed and bound myfelf to
your service P Know you not
that 1 am the citizen of a coun
try frae, sovereign and indepen
dent as your own ? What sha
dow of allegiance do I owe
you or your masters ? My
own government has no right
to press me into its service. it
is one of the privileges of my
birth right to ufemy limbs, and
to leek my fortune at my own
diferetion. Jf my government
wants iieamen to man their (hips
what tight have they to use
compuifion ? Let them give
wages fufhciently high to datw
us into the fervice —even they
dare not lay us under the re
quisition of such pelts as
yourlelves. Whence then do
you derive the right to exercil'e
a power over my perlon, which
my own country dares not u.
lurp ?—Befides, even admit
ting that the pretensions which
I claim to the birth-right of an
American citizen are covered in 1
doubt, is this the way in which
you dare to rebut them ? Is it in
this summery form of trial, that
you are about to dived me of
the name of an American citi.
zen ? Is it for you to pro
nounce ray doom ? I protcfl
against your jurifdi&ien. What
right have you to call me be
fore this mifcrable tubun n |?
You call yourfelt the judge pa
ramount —the ablolute arbiter
of my liberty, the m o lt precious
boon which belongs to me un.
der heaven— and these smiling
minions, forfooth, are to be the
constables of this reverendcourt
the flaming ministers of your
wrath and justice. I abjure
the decisions of such a court. —
What ! if I were the most
common piece of goods on
board of a hulk, a bale of can
-1 vafs or a barrel of pork you
would not dare to proceed in
this way against me. You would
not dare to try mc--nor pro.
nounce upon the neutrality of
the cargo--it would be more
than your commifhon is worth to
! assume the power to condemn
me. No ! before you would
MONDAY, August 21, 180<».
dare appropriate even a piece of
goodsto yourferviceyou would
be compelled at lea It to fubjeft
it to the mock loletnntties of a
regular trial, and carry it before
tome one of your admiralty
courts—'and let one of its con
stituted authorities be called in
co fcal its fate. - And am I then -
to be considered of lets account
than a piece of goods P Is my
libetty of less valuetin the code
of eternal juttice, a barrel
of pork ? infamy fight upon
fuuh want ol dilcerhment-'-.fe
lhame upon the wilful hlindnef*
of your government, which fuf
lers the horrible aggiefHons of
Inch petty tyrants as yourfelf, to
efcapc with impunity.”
VVhat slashes of refentxnent
(hot from the eyes of this in
furiated inqutfition, whilst I ad
(l re lied him thus: M Avast mv
!ad, cried he ; no more of your
d 1 palaver. If you were
a rebellious Yankee, as you
pretend to be, I would care no
moieloryou and your cursed
counuy, d’ye lee then this old
Quid, buch ralcals as you ought
to be hung up at the yard aim.
Such rebels as those chaps are,
deierve no better from his ma
jtlty s metcy.—— liowlomever
1 do nt mind one word of your
curled lingo. You an’t even
hall lo good as one of thole
chaps. I take you, my lad, to
be as arrant a deierter from bis
majelty’s government as ever I
:aid my eyes upon. You are
a rascaliy liifhman inter,
itipicd this wild torrent of abjfe.
I laid belore him my proicElion t
the authenticated pledge of my
American citizenship. I might
as well addressed the binnacle on
which he repoled. He did not
hesitate ro fay that my protec**
tlou was forged— or that l had got
it irom a brother tar, the discripti
on ol wlio*e person had been some**
what similar to mine own perhaps
fora can of fl tp _ 0 r that I had
procured it through some impost-?,
non on the Collector. He ref u . *
aid to give the least authenticity
or respect to the Passport of my
government. He tore it into pieces
and gave it to the winds.
I appeared to my comrades, the
living and speaking monuments
of »»y truth. One of them had
known me j n m y cra dle at the
beautilul village ot Poughkeepsie ;
another had known me at the
school, where 1 had acquired the
earliest elements ol my education,
the captain himself had been my
companion to the office of the
Collector, who had grauted my
protection. But, no ! My judge
was pleased to say that he would
not believe a tittle of all this lj Q .
go—that we were a base associa
tion ot liars and thieves, bound
together by mutual interests and
pledged to defend each other’s lies.
My cheek burned with indigna
tion. A deep sigh tended my heart
as uiy eye happened to light upon
the fag ot the United States, which
was then waving over my head.
Penetrated as my whole soul
was with resentment at such bru.
taiity and insult, I was determined
to make one more effort for my
freedom. I was idle enough to
address a serious argument to such
incorrigible stupidity and oppres.
ston. 1 was so ridiculous as e*
ven to attempt to pursuade this
man, that even though his suspi<
cions ol my birth «cie right ; ev.
en t ivugh 1 were an Uxile of trio J
yet that be could have no right to
distuib me on buard of an Ameri„
can vessel. Did he not recollect
that, the vessel on which he stood
was a neutral bottom f VV'hencc
did he obtain the right ot search
[No. 45.]