Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

From the Columbian Museum.
Messieurs Powers & Seymour,

BY the help of your neat type, let me request the citizens of Savannah to look about them.

I have often heard old people speak of a book which had been much read in the days of our grand fathers. The volume is almost obsolete now --but several of its stories have been taken out, and by the aid of tradition, kept alive to this day.

Among these stories, there was one often told us when we were children, concerning a city of very ancient times, which had been sunk in the dead sea, for the wickedness of its inhabitants.

There is one part of this story, which I believe I shall never forget, " That before those bad men had been finally abandoned to destruction, God Almighty had proposed to spare the whole of them, on condition they would only produce ten righteous persons, belonging to the city. That not being able to raise that number, they were consigned to sudden perdition, by a fearful earthquake; and not a soul but three were exempt from the general ruin. One man and his two daughters were wise enough to believe what was threatened-took warning in time, and made their escape."

The people of modern cities should look about them-they know not the day nor the hour, when the ground beneath them may be torn asunder by convulsions; the street where they live turned to a noisome lake, or a hideous cavern! or the whole city metamorphosed into a dreadful sea, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. For those bad men the story speaks of, were not the only wretches whom the pit has swallowed up alive. Many other cities have met the same catastrophe, in much later times.

Read the Portuguese annals of '55, and learn the melancholy tale of Lisbon, Peruse the Spanish chronicles of '72, and note the subversion of Guatemala; then turn to the memorable events of the two Sicilies in '83, and you will find a tragical account indeed, of no less than 80 or 100 towns and villages, with 40,000 inhabitants, all lost beyond redemption, by an earthquake so powerful and extensive, as to throw the whole province of Calabria under the ocean.

However (earthquakes and tornadoes out of the question) there are many other means, by which just heaven scourges unhallowed cities. Unconquerable fires melt down their buildings, and give wings to their riches to fly away. A subtle pestilence, sweeps off its hundreds and its thousands. as with the beam of destruction. These sublime judgments of heaven have long been the terror of the old world. They have at length found their way to the new. Let all the people of the new world look about them-hold themselves in readiness for these great scenes of public dismay.for a time when an earthquake may surprise them-for a time when their cities or houses may be enveloped with devouring flames over their heads, or when a lethiferous fever may carry off scores of their fellow-citizens in a day.

People of the southern cities look sharp about you.

Plagues, Fires, and commotions of the globe, are not the only disasters which may befall you. Insurrections are not impracticable; massacres are not impossible; robberies are not uncommon. What milder than robberies, can be the consequence of that remarkable idleness, we discover every where around us. Idleness, the parent of incalculable mischief, indulges itself openly without the least reserve-Idleness ever prognosticates a rapid race to ruin.

A city of righteous men has nothing to fear; but where is such a city to be found ? Even a few, if it were but ten persons of that character, might ensure us protection : But are we certain we hold in every city that small number?

Then ye reverend clergy, spare no pains to make us righteous.-Ye elders of the city, exert your best endeavors to make us honest, and to keep us so.-Nightly guards, be vigilant at your posts, to keep us in safety.-Officers of health, do your utmost to hold the pestilence at bay. Officers of cleanliness, ply well the means in your power, from the east to the west of the city, that we may have wholesome streets to walk in, and a pure atmosphere to breathe.

Citizens all, be persuaded to discharge with promptitude, your bounden duties, in your respective departments.. Planters, attend closely to your affairs.-Merchants; import all the conveniences of life, before you bring us any luxuries.-Mechanics, " keep your shops, and your shops will keep you.-Gamblers and Swindlers, quit the city without loss of time! Monopolizers and Speculators, take yourselves off! Idlers and Saunterers of every description, be gone from us' Leave the honest men, and the industrious to themselves.-They have not sent for you yet, and you should keep out of the way till you are called for. Shift your head quarters immediately ! find some reputable business to employ you, or the fate of the idle, drunken Cask, may soon be yours, who cut his own throat the other day, in a paroxysm of inanity.

But if you do not mean to reform, no matter how soon you follow him and his example. The community can very well spare you, and the world would be happily rid of you.

Citizens of Savannah, look about you—always.