Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

For the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES.

"Duos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat."

SIR,

Whence comes it-indeed it would be a curious moral of speculation for the new philosophy, that Pennsylvania so much famed (with what justice I will not pretend to say) for her police, her industry and wealth, should have always been so miserably rent with dissensions and party feuds? Does not her whole history present one continued scene of turbulence and discontent with the ruling power? Her peaceable and humane Founder came over with a disposition to grant and he did grant privileges upon the most liberal scale. This state of things did not long continue: other concessions and still other in succession were urged and granted to as little satisfaction; 'till at length the aged Patriarch, injured in his private fortunes, his frame and faculties worn down with vexation and disappointment, expired a martyr to his rising colony. The guardians of his minor children, whose bitter inheritance he made it-those children when they came to govern, "so clear in their great office," were they not a continual Butt for the shafts of envy and opposition?

Has the temper of the State been bettered by revolution -indeed so little varying and so little likely to be satisfied, that I am often reminded of one of the fables of the age Aesop. It is familiar to every body, but to make out my story, let me here insert it.

"The Commonwealth of Frogs, a discontented variable race, weary of liberty, and fond of change, petitioned Jupiter to grant them a king. The good natured Deity, in order to indulge this their request, with as little mischief as possible, threw them down a log. At first they regarded their new monarch with great reverence, and kept from him at a most respectful distance: but perceiving his tame and peaceable disposition, they by degrees ventured to approach him with more familiarity, 'till at length they conceived for him the utmost contempt. In this disposition they renewed their request to Jupiter, and intreated him to bestow upon them another king. The thunderer in his wrath sent them a Crane, who no sooner took possession of his new dominions, than he began to devour his subjects in a most capricious and tyrannical manner. They were now far more dissatisfied than before; when applying to Jupiter a third time, they were dismissed with this reproof, that the evil they complained of they had imprudently brought upon themselves; and that they had no other remedy now but to submit to it with patience."

Pennsylvania, to be sure, enjoys a peculiar favor-the actual choice and nomination of a chief Ruler, and every nine years her people are suffered to exercise these rights, yet strange to tell, they once made choice of a log -and a harmless quiet log he would have remained, but for a vile foreign agitator that leapt into the pond. Still not content, always croaking, and like the frogs in the fable grown too familiar with king log, they cast their eyes upon one with some different qualifications you may suppose: and, oh blind infatuation! the sagacious frogs of Pennsylvania chose a very Crane to govern them.

Most certainly ye are not now satisfied- perverse generation !-But I say be quiet, be patient-no revilings, be dutiful. Whatever his honor may say of rotation; "let political distrust and party feud be subdued for the honor of the State" I ask for of fering the voracious Crane to feed until gorged Those who are left may enjoy some repose.

AESOP.