politicians very well; but, he should recollect, that he himself has recommended many public measures, all of which the constitution has placed very far out of his reach. The constitution has left no public measure to the publishers of newspapers; and, therefore, if they are (to use the Farmer's words), 66 to leave the matter, where the constitution has left it," they ought never publish a single sentence respecting any public measure whatever, This doctrine may suit a miscellany, which has the pen of a Lay-Preacher to enrich its columns, and which numbers amongst its subscribers such a multitude of ladies and learned men; but a paper like the Porcupine, which goes forth promiscuously to the mass of mankind, can never be expected to subscribe to it.

If a newspaper discussion of a public measure be proper in any case, the sort of connection America is to form with Great-Britain, is so, at this very time; unless the Farmer means to tell us, that no discussion of a public measure should take place, till it be irretrievably adopted, an absurdity, which, I am sure, he has too much sense to advance,

Webster's Correspondence.-In my last, I took some notice of a pretended correspondence, which this prostitute wretch was publishing. I should not have seen the remainder of it, were it not for the pliant disposition of the Claypooles, who take special care to retail out every word of it to the few readers that their insipid sheet has made shift to retain.

Of the former part of this correspondence, I noticed the eulogium on the King of Prussia, the abuse of the Emperor Paul, and the justification of the revolutionizing of the Swiss Cantons. The part, which is now before me, begins with a most outrageous attack on the court of Vienna. Webster's

pretended

pretended friend, whose words he gives out as the result of wisdom, and the essence of truth, asserts, that the Imperial Minister, THUGUT, is " in the "pay of England." He further says, that "The Emperor is weak, and a bigot; the Empress still "more a bigot, but intriguing, and is governed by the "clergy." This abuse is to be attributed to the hostile disposition, at present shown towards the French, by the Imperial Court. One remark is applicable to the whole correspondence, which is this; all those who are ranked amongst the enemies of France, are sure to be the subject of the obloquy, and reproach of this rascally writer; and, all those who are ranked amongst her friends, whether despots, sham republics, or bands of rebels, are as sure to be the subject of his applause. Take the following paragraph respecting Ireland.

"Our views of England are quite different, per"haps from what you have in America. Though "we detest the French proceedings, we abhor the English in many instances, not less. Not that I "blame their measures to hinder conspiracies in England; but, their briberies, their intrigues, "their cruelties against the Irish, are objects of "abhorrence."

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This rascal does not blame the English for hindering conspiracies in England, where there are none; but for them to do the same in Ireland, where all is conspiracy, is an object of his abhorrence! And what does the wretch mean by " briberies and intrigues, and cruelties against the Irish?” What does the King want, but for the Irish to remain loyal and peaceable subjects? What need has he to employ bribery and intrigue against them? And as to CRUELTIES, this is the name that rebels ever give to measures of coercion, which they themselves have compelled their Sovereign to adopt, though he at last adopts them with a bleeding heart. BACHE

and

and CALLENDER talked about the cruelties committed by the Federal army, on their "Western Brethren," and I am at any time ready to prove, that as great severity was exercised towards them, in proportion to the magnitude of their offence, as ever the King of Great-Britain exercised towards his rebel subjects in Ireland. Let the malicious Noah Webster, therefore, hold his tongue on this subject, or let him at once join CALLENDER and BACHE, in commiserating the case of the Western Rebels.

If the reader peruses carefully the last quoted paragraph, and recollects Webster's sentiments, respecting the malecontents in Ireland, he will, I think, at once conclude, that this hypocrite is himself the real author of the letter, which he pretends to have received from Europe. But, if he should remain unconvinced of this, I am sure he will no longer remain so, after reading the following, with which the 'SQUIRE has thought proper to wind up his impudent fabrication.

"How will America extricate herself? 1 hope "she will not be involved in the war-but repel all "hostile aggressions, and the shameful intrigues of "the French ministers with a noble courage. But "we wish she may not throw herself into the arms of "England, and as far as possible, follow the truly "wise advice of Washington, not to meddle in the political affairs, and to avoid much political inter"course with Europe-You are too good a people "to be always entangled in those politics, but you are exposed to be ensnared by the European perseverance and experience in diplomatic trea"cheries. I wish I wish you had even no ministers at foreign courts, nor foreign ministers with you."

66

66

66

66

No man upon earth but Webster is fool enough to put such paradoxical nonsense as this upon paper. He hopes America "will repel all hostile aggressions

aggressions with a noble courage," and yet he hopes she "will not be involved in the war !" This is just Webster's silly unmeaning cant. But, observe, how exactly his correspondent jumps with him in judgment, about America's "throwing herself into "the arms of England," words which the 'SQUIRE has repeated, till he has wearied the very echo. The monstrous idea, with which the animal concludes, is absolutely copied from a piece, to which I replied about six weeks ago, in which he had the frantic folly to add, that, if he could have his will, be would make it death for any man to propose a connection, of any kind, with any foreign nation what

ever.

But, it is of little consequence, whether he be the author of this detestable tissue of abominations or not; we know he is the publisher of them, and that renders him chargeable with all the various mischief they were intended to produce, and stamps him, if not the hireling, the volunteer tool of the enemies of America. The wretch is abandoned by the Federal party, and he is preparing the way for shelter, under the wings of its foes, with whom he well knows nothing can be so strong a recommendation, as having zealously decried Great Britain and all connection with her. Fool as he is, he cannot but have observed, that, to prevent every connection of this kind, is what the despots of Paris have nearest their hearts; if they succeed in this, they have nothing else to fear; first or last, they will render these States dependant on themselves, or they will divide and ruin them.

If I am told that Webster is a native American, and am asked what motive he can act from? I reply, by observing, that BACHE, GREENLEAF, and many scores that I could enumerate, are also native Americans, and I then ask, in my turn, what motives can they act from? But, Webster has a stimu

lus,

lus, which none of the others have. He is a projector, a fanatical inventor of new systems, all of which, one after another, have received their deathstroke from the literary men of Great Britain, by whose neglect and ridicule, his inordinate vanity has been so often and so severely wounded, that he has contracted a spirit of revenge against the whole nation; and, in order to gratify this, though in the slightest degree, I am confident he would chearfully assist in reducing his country to colonies of France. To some persons, this may seem incredible; but, such persons know nothing of the infernal, unquenchable malice of a disappointed pedant.

Truly Noble.-An English paper says: "the Earl of Exeter has expunged from his library, and burnt the Works of Voltaire, Rousseau, Bolingbroke, Abbé Raynal, Volney, and the French Encyclopedia."

I wish every body would imitate this worthy nobleman. These are amongst the books, which have produced the mischief, which now threatens to overwhelm the world. It would be a happy thing, if the accursed art of printing could be totally destroyed, and obliterated from the human ́ mind; but, as this cannot be done, every act, whether of individuals, or societies, that has a tendency to counteract its dreadful effects, merits the applause of all good men. It is much to be feared, however, that the Earl of Exeter will find but few persons, who have resolution enough to follow his laudable example. In America, those execrable works are very common. How alarming must it be, to all true friends of religion and morality, to see Godwin's Political Justice, and Volney's Ruin, in

the