44 FELLOW-CITIZENS,

"TO remove at once all doubt, and establish confidence between us, I think it proper to state, that I was born an American, and that my forefathers have been born in this country for more than an hundred and fifty years. I add to this, that I have been no indifferent obferver of public affairs for nigh twenty years, and from the refult of all I have feen, I am a hearty friend of the prefent government of my country. Under thefe circumftances, I take the freedom to lay before you a few, as I think, timely obfer. vations upon the most important of all elections; and if the candour and uprightness which I feel do not fenfibly appear in the whole courfe of them, I fhall be more unfortunate than I anticipate.

"It is a humiliating thought, and if the reft of the world had not at prefent abundant caufe to be afhamed of itfelf, it would be in the eyes of foreign nations a difgraceful fact, that on every election of any importance among us, we have a struggle, which does not at all depend upon the merit of candidates, but upon their supposed principles; and as if fomething were neceffary to fet off and finish this public fpectacle to the higheft advantage, the bone of contention is our exiftence as a nation, which one party is willing to preferve, and the other feems to think it beft to deftroy. This, though we cannot fee it, is the figure we make to difinterefted foreigners; and the mischief is, that by length of time, and by taking various names and forms in obedience to all the cravings of individual vanity, and the meaneft qualities of our hearts, the true nature of a conteft which would have fhocked us, had it been abrupt and definite at firft, has not only pervad

ed our whole fyftem even to the minutest ramification, but by thisdiffufion it has become fo incorporate and imperceptible, as even to be de nied. It is nothing ftrange for men to flide into fituations of which they are unconscious, and which they themselves deteft and defpife; but the infidious nature of this propenfity makes it worthy of more frequent notice than it receives, as there is nothing more important to us than that we thould be often apprifed of what we are leaft likely to perceive. I fay, then, that a difpute in this country, which at different times has taken all the current, and even fome amiable forms, has finally degenerated, without our being conftantly aware of the gradual perver fion, to a quarrel about our national existence. It is to be hoped that there is honesty enough left to make us fhudder at this alarming feduction, and tread back the mazy path to fome right pofition with fuitable humility.

"It is pity that there is fuch a cloud over what is called the public mind, at times; at leaft, one cannot but feel forry for it, though it is the will of Heaven-but I believe a man must be made of extraordinary materials, who, at this prefent time, cannot be impreffed with fome belief of what I fay. There is, however, another difgraceful truth, which I muft lay down before I advert to evidence; which is, that human na ture is a great felf-deceiver, in the concern which it takes about public affairs; and that the conduct of both fides is more owing to a torpid indifference, than to any active, intelligent choice. It is by means of this indolence and fuperficial attention, that we refign ourselves to the direction of chance, of defign, and,

ple of the love of novelty in youth, induced him to quit the filent ftillnefs of a country village, to vifit the capital cities of the United States. The fame of HIM whom nations mourn, and for whom Columbia will never ceafe to figh, had fired his mind with the moft earnest wish to view the favored fpot," which was made lofty among the hills" by the labors of its venerable tenant. On his way thither, he had occafion to touch at the cities of New-York and Philadelphia. At the latter place, he may be emphatically faid to have "buried the manes of a name. A confiderable stay there gave opportunity to become acquainted with many of the blades who "Parade the streets with muffled chin, "Or peeping o'er their pudding-bags." From these he derived ideas, to innocence and reafon always new. Their politenefs to him rendered his continuance almost indifpenfable he confidered it the effufion of fpontaneous friendship-his joys every day increafed with the renewal of every day's pleasure. If his funds were exhaufted, the reputation of his father was a refource. If his confcience at any time veiled his face in fadnefs and reflection, a new excurfion, invented by his friendly patrons, fhook off the faucy intruders, and revived the hilarity which had ufurped the throne once filled with temperate economy. The firft of all vices which is dictated by the democracy of nature, was the first which gained audience in the unguarded conduct of Philo. The innocent victims of feduction, whofe native foftnefs and credulity knew not that man was bafe---when defpair fat brooding on their grief-worn brow, were the fitteft artists in feduction's school to profelyte the fentiments of our young hero.

W w

The fhort intervals of his revels fcarcely gave time to view the complexion of his increafing crimes, or reflect on the deteftation in which his virtuous education had taught him to hold a practice fimilar to his own. The vigour of his genius had experienced abatement, in proportion as he multiplied his acquaintance--for habit and a gleam of confcious fhame made him look with a blush or indifference on the respectable part of fociety. Groveling, obfcene, vulgar language and company by degrees gave a distaste for thofe refined and delicate ideas and companions, in whom he once delighted; as in the prefent pursuit, nothing was found to be current change, but his money or vulgarity.

This life foon made Philo forget his former defire of beholding Vernon's Sage. Ambition flept, while appetite was feafting. Argument and threats would then have loft perfuafion, and none but parental tears

could have flown for fuch a wretch !

Events the most direful oft are prologues to happy scenes; and characters, the reptiles of creation, can fcarce be vile enough to withstand temporary greetings from reafon and conviction. Philo was not entirely loft---a feeling heart could not be indurated in fo fhort a dream of fupine inattention to his duty. He was walking the piazza of a public house, planning the revel of the coming evening; an interruption was unexpected. Juft as the bowl of mutual engagement went cheerly round, a figure of uncommon elegance paffed the door--it was that of the unfortunate Mifs Henry. She led her little girl, four years of age. The mother's countenance was a volume to Philo; every thing but joy was depicted in beauty's higheft paints. Here the astonishment of

Philo

ingly laid before Damel, and the ambaffador explained himself as follows: "With this knife (faid he) Abdulkader will condefcend to fhave the head of Damel, if Damel will embrace the Mahomedan faith; and with this other knife, Abdulkader will cut the throat of Damel, if Damel refuses to embrace it, take your choice." Damel coolly told the ambassador, that he had no choice to make; he neither chose to have his head fhaved nor his throat cut: and with this anfwer the ambaffador was civilly difmiffed. Abdulkader took his measures accordingly, and with a powerful army invaded Damel's country. The inhabitants of the towns and villages filled up their wells, destroyed their provifions, carried off their effects and abandoned their dwellings, as he approached. By this means he was led on from place to place, until he had advanced three days' journey into the country of the Jaloffs. He had indeed met with no oppofition, but his army had fuffered fo much from the scarcity of water, that feveral of his men had died by the way. This induced him to direct his march towards a watering-place in the woods, where his men having quenched their thirft, being overcome with fatigue, lay down carelessly to fleep among the bushes. In this fituation they were attacked by Damel before day break, and completely routed. Many of them were trampled to death as they Jay afleep, by the Jaloff horfes; others were killed in attempting to make their efcape; and a still greater number were taken prifoners. Among the latter was Abdulkader himself. This ambitious, or rather frantic prince, who, but a month before, had fent the threatening meffage to Damel, was now himfelf led into his prefence as a miferable captive. The

behaviour of Damel on this occafion is never mentioned by the finging men, but in terms of the higheft approbation, and was indeed fo extraordinary in an African prince, that the reader may find it difficult to give credit to the recital. When his royal prifoner was brought before him in irons, and thrown upon the ground, the magnanimous Damel, inftead of fetting his foot upon his neck, and ftabbing him with his fpears according to custom in such cafes, addreffed him as follows:"Abdulkader, anfwer me this queftion: If the chance of war had placed me in your fituation, and you in mine, how would you have treated me ?"" "I would have thruft my fpear into your heart," returned Abdulkader, with great firmness, "and I know that a fimilar fate awaits me." "Not fo (faid Damel) my fpear is indeed red with the blood of your fubjects, killed in battle, and I could now give it a deeper ftain by dipping it in your own; but this would not build up my towns, nor bring to life the thoufands who fell in the woods. I will not therefore kill you in cold blood, but I will retain you as my flave, until I perceive, that your prefence in your own kingdom will be no longer dangerous to your neighbours, and then I will confider of the proper way of difpofing of you." Abdulkader was accordingly retained, and wrought as a flave for three months; at the end of which period, Damel liftened to the folicitations of the inhabitants of Foota

Torra, and restored them their king. Strange as this ftory may appear, I have no doubt of the truth of it; it was told me at Malacotta by the negroes; it was afterwards related to me by the Europeans on the Gambia, by fome of the French at

Goree,