The New Hampshire Gazette

Messrs. Printers.

For the Gazette.

A petty scribbler has lately appeared in public under the signature of a "good republican." The public are cautioned not to trust him under that name. He has never yet been esteemed, where he is known, a good federalist. His great and mighty work appeared in the Oracle of July 26, wherein he attempts, in the style of a droll, buffoon or merry-andrew, to level a number of his low-cunning jests at American Independence, a certain company who met in Stratham to commemorate it, the town in general, the Congress of the United States, and the French nation.

This master-piece of human composition wracked the head of him and his neighbor simple, three days and three nights,--the mountain was in travail--Etna must be delivered of a huge collection of sulphureous combustibles from its burning entrails, or the earth must be torn from its centre and mountains hurled into the mighty waters.

This astonishing catastrophe was preluded by heart-rending omens--loud bellowing thunder, columns of livid flame, and rivers of burning lava. It burst and spread destruction all around. The surrounding village Stratham was the first victim of its relenteless fury-the old men were suffocated with the smoke, and the young men were maimed, wounded, and bruised, by the explosion *

The village bell
Ceas'd its delightful tune
,From ring morn till almost noon.
A mighty tale to tell.

The foundation of the State, (N. H) was also shaken. The marble pillars thereof did tremble and the massy gates were broken in pieces i A: Louisiana a Shower of stones fell and destroyed all its delightful gardens and fruitful plantations; and as far off as the the Floridas small shock of an earthquake was terribly felt a

But, unhappy for the nations of Europe, its raging conflagration did not cease here. When the great crater burst, (O shocking to relate-- enough to fill the stoutest heart with terror and amazement all the kingdoms of Europe (ex. cept the highly favored and pious kingdom of Great-Britain were shaken to the very centre.

But, at the conclusion of this general destruc- tion, all the nations were "emancipated" by paying tribute to France, except "proud Bri- tain."6

A sudden but less extensive erup'tion of the same Volcano was experienced on Monday the 7th of March last, about sun set. when the people of the village were collected in the church to transact their domestic business.

There were some things very singular in this explosion, The noise issued from the first broad stair as we ascend to the pulpit, in along, hollow, old.fashioned ministerial tone. This rumbling was not heard a great way off. Some of the villagers had a puff of ashes blown in their faces, and the Governor of the villages had a huge lump of dirt thrown at him, but it did not adhere to, nor injure him in the least, al though it went with great fury from the mouth of the great crater. But a particular account of this explosion cannot be given, it has alwa s been withheld by the mountaineer.

N. B. The mountain is not yet entirely still. the sky is very thick and dark, with thunder. lightning and frequent concussions of the earth, and dreadful subterraneous bellowings

, A CITIZEN OF STRATHAM

* In a note the above rather Portsmouth Oracle. dat d Stratham, July 7th 1806 from the be- ginning to the end the 9th period ; and also th: it period in which neighbor simple affected our author.

t Read the 9d period the most polished and pertinent of the whole, except theclose of thelast.

* Read from the 28th line and on.

a Read from the 3 thline and on.

b Read from the 92d line, and on. Here our learned author happily rebukes his neighbor im- ple for want of knowledge in the great affairs of Europe.