The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the PRINTERS.

Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the faults I see:
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me! POPE.

Of all the vices which impair human nature, I think Revenge is the most abject and detestable: For however mistaken mortals may blazon its pedigree, it is certainly the offspring of Cowardice and Pride. Our divine Lawgiver informs us, that true magnanimity consists not in revenging injuries, but in doing good to our enemies: Indeed forgiveness and mercy are the genuine characteristics of truly great and noble minds.

Besides the godlike pleasure of returning good for evil, Prudence frequently requires us to check our resentments, and even to repay offences with benefits, by doing which we may convert powerful enemies into truer and faithful friends.

When Cinna's plot to murder Augustus was discovered, Augustus sent for him privately, and after enumerating the many favours which he had bestowed upon him, reproached him for his diabolical disposition in seeking the destruction of his friend and benefactor. "However, says he, I pardon you, and this shall be the last reproach I'll give you:--From the time to come, there shall be no other contention between you and me, than which shall outdo the other in points of friendship." After this Augustus made Cinna Consul: and he was ever after faithful and just to his Imperial Master, and at his death made him his sole heir. Such were the happy consequences of Caesar's clemency.

For a man to retaliate injuries, or seek Revenge, is to put himself upon a level with the meanest of the brute creation; but to distinguish himself by acts of mercy and forgiveness, shows his alliance to divine Perfection.

When Zeno, the Philosopher, was told that his enemies reported him to be covetous, saucy and treacherous, calmly replied, "I will endeavour to live so, that the world shall not believe them."

The revengeful man carries his hell continually about with him: he is never at ease, but, on the contrary, is in continual anguish and excruciating pain: The disorder is an eating canker at his heart, which (as Prometheus was treated of old) incessantly preys upon his vitals.

A Philosopher of high rank in the republic of Letters, says "If I were to describe Revenge, I would draw a tiger bathed in blood, thirst yet, and ready to take a leap at his prey; or dress it up, as the poets represent the furies, with whips, snakes and flames: It should likewise be sour, livid, full of scars, and wallowing in gore, raging up & down, destroying, grinning, bellowing, and pursuing; sick of all other things, and most of all, of itself!"

Let us change the hideous prospect, and view the merciful man. Lo! what serenity and cheerfulness in his looks: Whilst the revengeful man is involved in continual storms and tempests, he enjoys a perpetual calm. You see benevolence seated on his brow: he squares his actions by the dictates of reason and humanity; by which he draws to himself the love and admiration of mankind: A peaceful conscience, honest