enclosure, is more pleasing to me, than the brilliant diamonds in the diadem of Bonaparte is to him. The assurance I have in the affection of my faithful friend* William T'urton, at present a missionary to the Bahama Islands, gives me more real pleasure, than all the flatterers with their fulsome adulation, which surround the throne of the grand Mogul, can ever give him. The undoubted confidence I have in the attach * It is with pleasure I embrace this opportunity, of expressing with heart-felt gratitude, my obligations for past favours, not only to Mr. Turton, who was my bosom friend in Antigua, but also to Daniel Fen. fon, the most extensive bookseller in:New Jersey, and Mathew Carey, the most ingenuousand generous booksellerin Pennsylvania; the judicious advice of the latter gentleman, I take as a mark of pure friendship. Al. though my limits will not allow me, in this note, to mention all the personages from whom I have receiv. ed polite indications of friendship, yet gratitude forbids me to pass over the names of the Hon. Thomas Jefferson, his Excellency Joseph Bloomfield, and Dr, Logan. ment and virtue of my wife, is more satisfactory to me, than his seraglio of 350 women is to him. The docility, beauty and swiftness of my horse, is far more gratifying to me, than the prancing and neighing of one thousand Arabian steeds, which he has in his stables, are to him! And I might go on to mention many other gratifications, which the mediocrity of my situation permits me to enjoy, and of which the wealthy are bereaved, because they are ungrateful to the Author of all their mercies. With. my mental and corporeal gratifications I. am contented, because I well know, that they are given by the hand (if justice tools place without mercy) that should have long ago struck me to hell! This.consideration enhances every favour, and sweetens every blessing. But if any child of misfortui ze “ Alas! I am both destitute of mental and corporeal delight, both of the blessings of society and nature," to such I would say, the privations of this life f re should say, a quently produce eternal glory in the next. When fawned upon by the world, we' forget God; but when persecuted by it, we flee to him for rest and refuge. Affliction is without doubt the parent of virtue. An humble Lazarus is happier even in this world than a proud Dives; although the chilling hand of poverty, and the iron arm of despotism, should follow the good man to the very margin of the grave, yet should he not for one moment, harbour a doubt of the impartiality of Jehovah, but trust in him to the last gasp ; for most assuredly, death will be the boundaries of all his sorrows. Nothing will so soon sooth a soul to peace, as resignation to the will of God. Although it is a paradox, yet I will state. it as a fact, that even the ills of nature are necessary to drive us to God. He employs this method, to cause us to take refuge under the shadow of his wings, as the hen calls her brood to shelter, at the approach of a thunder storm. He well knows the dan a F gers to which we are exposed, and there, fore usés every means, consistent with his attributes and our free agency, to win us to our own happiness. As for the real evils in society, it is both unreasonable and ungenerous, to impute them to nature: They are produced by man, (and not by God) who is continually counteracting the gracious designs of his Creator. But will he always patiently endure this flagrant infringement on his rights ? it is impossible. We see him loading the most ungrateful rebels with blessings every day; while those who love and endeavour to please him, are beset with ills, and covered with misfortunes. But is this not a positive proof of a future state of rewards and punishments? We see every day, both nations and individuals, receiving from the liberal hand of God super-abundant blessings, while they only disseminate the ills of life ; but a just re-action of those ills will sooner later take place. In order to consolidate this assertion, I need not point to ancient history, modern history will suffice; one positive proof is better than all the negative proofs in the world. I will pass by many instances, and only mention two, which are recent in the mind of every intelligent person; I mean the total destruction of the slave-holders in St. Domingo, and the late nobility and royal family of France. Notwithstanding the dreadful severity of their punishment, we see others walking in their footsteps, who destroy the happiness of the many, for the ambition and aggrandizement of the few. But an equitable re-action of divine justice is at hand; the present unfortunate generation will one day give back to their cruel oppressors, with interest, the miseries they now endure. |