Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

Mr. Fenno, I send you an extract from the Jacobiniad No. 5—a publication in the Federal Orrery—Its applicability to a subject recently under discussion will not escape the notice of your readers.

"The speech of the Gallic chieftain, which was received with much applause, had scarcely ended, when an incident, of a very unexpected nature, happened, which greatly interrupted the harmony, that had hitherto prevailed. This was nothing less, than the appearance of a negro, who, on the just and noble principle of equality, demanded admission, as a member of the society. A warm debate ensued; and many objections urged both on account of his color, and name, which, unfortunately, was Prince. The members, who opposed his demand, observed, that this word, Prince, was of aristocratical, or, what was still worse, of royal origin; therefore, no one, bearing such a name, could, with any propriety, be admitted into a democratic society."

It was agreed, however, by both parties, that the affair should be fairly discussed before the goddess, and that they would abide by her decision—she, in the mean time, like Minerva in the Odyssey, perched on a vacant chair, in a corner of the room, in the form of a Guinea-hen—a bird, remarkable for dissonance of voice, and petulance of disposition!!

The debate, accordingly, began; and the members of the opposition urged their objections. They insisted, that their dislike to names was not merely capricious, but well-founded; for that a stranger, distinguished by that name, not long since, had turned the heads of half the town.

"O'er the thronged room there reigned a deep repose,
Till patriot Tommy, from his seat, arose:
Tommy, who, skilled in law's and war's alarms,
Is great, alike in eloquence and arms—
No member boasts more jacobinical merit;
No member boasts a larger share of spirit!!!
His gesture, awkward, and his air, uncouth,
In various forms he opes his lexile mouth;
And while Mundungus, in a copious tide,
Devolves his affron wave, on either side,
With many a hem and hah, he thus begun:
Prince Edward, lately, George's booby son,
To this, our town
dire disaster
proved;
The youths admired him, and the maidens loved—
The enamored females scarce escaped a lip;
The royal kiss yet burns upon their lip.
Still, his soft touch they feel, in darling dreams,
Still, smiling love, the high-born favorite seems.
This applicant I therefore non-suit—
Since,
He bears the name, the odious name of PRINCE!!"

The prosaic flow, and technical language, of the concluding lines, are extremely beautiful; nor do we less admire the reasoning, which is truly jacobinical, exactly adapted to the understandings of the audience, and which affords a striking instance of the great argumentative powers of the speaker.