may as well be proud of the lilies of the field, or the tulips of the garden, as her own face; they are both the work of the same handequally out of human power to give or to preserve; equally trifling and despicable, when compared with what is substantially excellent; equally frail and perishing.

2. Affectation is a vice, capable of disgracing beauty, worse than pimples or the small pox. I have often seen ladies in assemblies and public places, of the most exquisite forms, render themselves, by affectation and visible conceit, too odious to be looked at without disgust, who, by a modest and truly female behavior, might have commanded the admiration of every eye. But I shall say less upon this head, in consideration that it is (generally speaking) to our sex that female affectation is to be charged. A woman cannot, indeed, become completely foolish or vicious without our assistance.

3. Talkativeness. This, in either sex, is generally a proof of vanity or folly; but is in woman kind, especially in company with men, and, above all, with men of understanding and learning, wholly out of character, and particularly disagreeable to people of sense. If we appeal either to reason, scripture, or universal consent, we shall find a degree of submission to the male sex, to be an indispensable part of the female character: And, to set up for an equality with the sex, to which nature has given the advantage, and formed for authority and action, is opposing Nature, — which is never done innocently.

4. Dress. Too great delight in dress and finery, by the expense of time and money, which they occasion in some instances, to a degree beyond all bounds of decency and common sense, tends naturally to sink a woman to the lowest pitch of contempt, amongst all those of either sex, who have capacity enough to put two thoughts together. A creature, who spends its whole time in dressing, prating, gaming, and gadding, is a being, — originally indeed of the rational make, but who has sunk itself beneath its rank, and is to be considered at present, as nearly on a level with the monkey species.

If this should have the desired effect, you may possibly, in some future paper, hear more from A FRIEND TO THE PUBLIC.

Newbury-Port, April 4, 1774.

Whether this lecture had the "desired effect or not, is not to be ascertained from the very imperfect file of the Journal.

While Tinges was connected with this paper, it was well conducted, and was the channel, through which

some able writers communicated with the public. After it fell into the hands of Mycall, the writers, who had aided the former editor, seemed to abandon it altogether. The files in my possession, are very imperfect; and it is rare to meet with an editorial paragraph of any merit, or a communication worthy of notice.

Of those, who were connected with the Journal as editors, little is known. THOMAS TINGES was a printer, and served his apprenticeship, in part, with Fleming, and the rest with Thomas. He was a native of Boston. From Newburyport, he went to Baltimore, and thence to sea; but it is not known that he ever returned.

EZRA LUNT was a native of Newburyport, and was the proprietor of a line of stages, when he became a partner with Tinges. He knew nothing, previously, of the printing business, and probably acquired no knowledge of it during the short time he was connected with the Journal. During the Revolutionary war, he entered the army, and afterward removed to Ohio.

JOHN MYCALL was not educated as a printer. He was an Englishman by birth, and kept a school in Newbury port before he purchased the Journal. He published the paper about twenty years; afterwards purchased and resided on a farm in the county of Worcester. From thence he removed to Cambridge, where he died about the year 1826.

THE INDEPENDENT LEDGER

AND

AMERICAN ADVERTISER.

ON Monday, June 15, 1778, Draper & Folsom laid before the public the first number of a paper with this title, in the centre of which was this device:

Under the device was the motto, "All hands with one inflamed and enlightened Heart."

It was proposed to continue the publication on Mondays, in accordance with the wishes of "many gentle

men," there being two on Thursday. In a very respectful and modest address the publishers said, "We mean not to raise and deceive the expectations of the public, by pompous pretensions; but we dare to promise that we will spare no pains or cost to procure the freshest advices from Europe and all parts of America, which we will deliver to the public in a faithful manner and clear arrangement; doing every thing in our power to render this paper both useful and entertaining. We are young beginners, and hope for the candor and countenance of the community," &c. &c.

As might be supposed, from the device and motto at the head of the paper, the publishers were pure Whigs. There is very little of their own composition in their columns, but what there is, indicates their entire devotion to the independence of the Colonies. Their selections were made from the best sources, and many of the original communications, are productions worthy of the times, and of the character, which the publishers professed to maintain.

In one of the early numbers of the Ledger, the annexed article appears as a communication: — MESSRS. DRAPER & FOLSOM,

I am no great writer or talker, but have an opportunity of seeing much, and now and then give out a watchword for the safety of my neighbors. Formerly, the first military word given to the soldiers at their exercise, was, Take Heed! afterwards, it was changed to Have a Care! now, it is, Attention! I see no difference in the sense, but, not to be out of the fashion, I will take the last.

ATTENTION! my fellow-citizens, to your rulers of every order; for, if you do not attend to them, they will attend to themselves, and not to you. No free people ever long preserved their liberty and happiness, without watching those, who held the reins of government.

ATTENTION! to the men, that handle public money, either for civil or military service; for the gridiron, over which it is told, often enriches

individuals to the impoverishment and ruin of the community. Many think, perhaps, that paper money is not so apt to slip through as dollars were; but they are mistaken; some men can double their money, and slide it through a chink where a dollar would not enter.

ATTENTION! - to the form of government you may adopt; for, if you do not look to that, posterity will look back upon you with curses, and all the world will look upon you as a pack of fools, who have thrown away the fairest opportunity, which any people ever had to secure their own liberty and happiness. Look then, that rotation in office be not left out of your constitution.* It was designedly omitted in that, lately proposed, though wisely adopted by Congress, and almost all the other states. A few men, continued in the most important places, for a succession of years, may so extend their connections and influence, as to become really, though not openly, masters of the State.

ATTENTION!-to the accumulation of offices on one man. Nothing is more unreasonable in itself, nothing more contrary to the genius of a free government, than that one, equally well qualified, should have no public employment, while others have more than they can properly attend to. In the last case, they, who confer them, want wisdom; they, who accept them, want modesty.

ATTENTION!—to the army of your enemies in every quarter; for, be assured, whether you watch them or not, they watch you, and would be glad, in some place or other, to catch you napping.

ATTENTION!-to your own army, that it be well filled up; well fed, well clothed, well paid; and then, that the capable, the active, the brave, be at least well honored; and the incapable, negligent, and cowardly, be well despised. But watch, with all your eyes, that, in no place, and upon no occasion, the military encroach upon the civil power.

ATTENTION !—to your naval affairs, and in what manner they are conducted, from the highest to the lowest department. Observe with what expedition your ships are fitted out; when they sail; with what capacity their commanders and officers behave; what service they perform in proportion to their force; and what public rewards and punishments are dispensed according to their different behavior. Let those be extolled even to the stars, who support the honor of your flag, your new constellation, the thirteen stars; and those, who stain it, be overwhelmed with confusion, and sink into darkness.

ATTENTION!-to your commissaries of prisoners, that they treat the unfortunate men under their care with all the humanity and indulgence,

*This was written while the Constitution of the Commonwealth was under consideration.