OUR young friends at New York-"E." and "R."-are informed that we eagerly listen to the sounds of the lyre when they strike the strings. We are impatient under the procrastination of "L." Has he been smitten with a graphobia? The lines on "Prudence" would inculcate avarice. Strangford we find better advice: Since in this dreary vale of tears No certainty but death appears, No-let the young and ardent mind In the pages of A deserted "Amelia" complains in good set terms of a faithless "Celadon," who really does not appear to be worth her regret. Of so fickle a swain we could say, with Don Pedro, "It were alms to hang him." We have not yet been able to furnish a Memoir of the late GOVERNOR MIFFLIN, whose portrait embellished the last number. From some of the personal friends of this distinguished patriot we expect to receive communications, without which we cannot do justice to the subject. Portraits of Granville Sharp, who should be surnamed "the Benevolent," and Mr. Phillips, "the Irish orator," are in the hands of our engravers. The translation of a little tract on Military Tactics reached us in safety; but we have not been able to make the inquiries suggested by our respectable correspondent; to whom we have to return our thanks, for this and the several other instances of kindness towards our humble labours. can muse. We congratulate the lovers of literature and our countrymen in general, on the signal success of the poem which has been emphatically and happily styled our AIRS OF PALESTINE. The good taste of the public has already demanded a third edition of this delightful production of the AmeriThat it has not been universally applauded should not surprise us; nay, even that it has been made the subject of some stupid jests; for all enthusiasm, all genuine poetry, all exalted ideas, have a ludicrous aspect for the unfeeling. The work however is fortunate in this respect, that no quotation can be made from it which does not contain some beauty which a poet would delight to acknowledge. The most cold and tasteless of those by whom it has been abused, have not been able to cite any of its lines which do not show that their censures are as false as they are silly and con temptible. THE PORT FOLIO. FOURTH SERIES. CONDUCTED BY OLIVER OLDSCHOOL, ESQ. VOL. IV. Various; that the mind Of desultory man, studious of change And pleased with novelty, may be indulged.-COWPER. AUGUST, 1817. ORIGINAL LETTERS.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO. GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNIER MORRIS. MY DEAR SIR, NO. II. Valley Forge, May 18th, 1778. YOUR favour of the 15th instant gave me singular pleasure. I thank you for the agreeable intelligence it contains; which (though not equal to my wishes) exceeds my expectation, and is to be lamented only for the delay, as the evils consequent of it, will soon (as I have often foretold) be manifested in the moving state of the army, if the departments of quarter-master and commissary will enable us to stir, and keep pace with the enemy, who from every account are busy in preparing for their departure from Philadelphia. Whether for the West Indies, a rendezvous at New-York, to prepare for their voyage, or for some other expedition, time only can discover. The sooner however the regimental regulations and other arrangements are set about, the sooner they will be fi nished, and for God's sake, my dear Morris, let me recommend it to you, to urge the absolute necessity of this measure with all your might. As the council held at this place was by order of congress, and the members constituting it pointed out by them, it was determined, out of respect to that body, to treat the new members with civility. Indeed the wish of all here that no private difference should interrupt that harmony which is so essential in public councils had no small share in the amity that appeared. Contrary, I own, to my expectation, the same sentiments respecting the measures to be pursued, pervaded the whole:-our resolutions of consequence, were unanimous. I was not a little surprised to find that a gentleman who some time ago (when a cloud of darkness hung heavy over us, and our affairs looked gloomy) was desirous of resigning, now stepping forward in the line of the army. But if he can reconcile such conduct to his feelings as an officer and man of honour, and congress has no objection to his leaving his seat in another department, I have nothing personally to oppose to it. Yet, I must think, that gentlemen's stepping in and out, as the sun happens to beam forth or obscures, is not quite the thing, nor quite just with respect to those officers who take the bitter with the sweet. I am told that C-nw-y (from whom I have received another impertinent letter, dated the 23d ultimo, demanding the command of a division of the continental army) is, through the medium of his friends, soliciting his commission again. Can this be? and, if so, will it be granted? I am very sincerely, and affectionately yours, MR. ADAMS TO MR. C. CUSHING, SCHOOL MASTER, NEWBURY. Worchester, Oct. 19th, 1756. MY FRIEND, I look upon myself obliged to give ye reasons yt induced me to resolve upon ye study and profession of ye law, because you were so kind as to advise me to a different profession. When yours came to hand I had thoughts of preaching, but ye longer I lived, and ye more experience I had of that order of men, and of ye real design of their institution, ye more objections I found in my own mind to that course of life. I have ye pleasure to be acquainted with a young gentleman of a fine genius, cultivated with indefatigable study, of a generous and noble disposition, and of ye strictest virtue, a gentleman who deserves ye countenance of ye greatest men and ye charge of ye best parish in the province. But with all these accomplishments, he is despised by some, ridiculed by others, and detested by more, only because he is suspected of Arminianism. And I have ye pain to know more yn one, who has a sleepy stupid soul, who has spent more of his waking hours in darning his stockings, smoaking his pipe, or playing with his fingers yn in reading, conversation, or reflection, cry'd up as promising young men, pious and orthodox youths and admirable preachers. As far as I can observe, people are not disposed to inquire for piety, integrity, good sense, or learning in a young preacher, but for stupidity, (for so I must call the pretended sanctity of some absolute dunces) irresistible grace and original sin. I have not in one expression exceeded ye limits of truth, though you think I am warm.--Could you advise me, then, who you know have not ye highest opinion of what is called orthodoxy, to engage in a profession like this.*-But I have other reasons too numerous to explain fully. This you will think is enough.→ What I said to you in my last, against ye practitioners in ye law, I cannot recollect. It is not unlikely my expressions were unguarded, as I am apt to speak and write too much at random. But my present sentiments are yt some of those practitioners adorn and others disgrace both ye law yt ye profess, and ye country ye inhabit. The students in ye law are very numerous, and some of them youths of which no country, no age, would need to be ashamed-and if I can gain ye honour of treading in ye rear, and silently admiring the noble air and gallant achievements of ye foreinost rank, I shall think myself worthy of a louder triumph, than if I had headed ye whole army of orthodox preachers. The difficulties and discouragements I am under, are a full match for all ye resolution I am master of. But I comfort myself with this consideration. The more danger the greater glory. The general who at ye head of a small army, encounters a more nu * After I had wrote so far, I received yours, for which I return you my thanks, and pray the continuance of your favours. merous and formidable enemy, is applauded if he strove for the victory and made a skilful retreat, although his army is routed and a considerable extent of territory lost. But if he gains a small advantage over the enemy, he saves ye interest of his country, and returns amidst ye acclamations of the people, bearing the triumphal laurel to the capitol. (I am in a very bellicose temper of mind to night, all my figures are taken from war.) I have cast myself wholly upon fortune, what her ladyship will be pleased to do with me I can't say. But wherever she shall lead me, or what. ever she shall do with me, she cannot abate ye sincerity with which I trust I shall always be your friend. JOHN ADAMS. DR. FRANKLIN TO MAZZEI. DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, 3d Dec. 1775. It was with great pleasure I learned from Mr. Jefferson that you were settled in America; and from the letter, you favoured me with, that you liked the country, and have reason to expect success in your laudable and meritorious endeavours to introduce new products. I heartily wish you all the success you can desire in that, and every other laudable undertaking that may conduce to your comfortable establishment in your present situation. I know not how it has happened that you have not received an answer from the secretary of our society; I suppose they must have written, and that it has miscarried. If you have not yet sent the books which the academy of Turin have done us the honour to present us with, we must, I fear, wait for more quiet times before we can have the pleasure of receiving them, the communication being now very difficult. All America is obliged to the great Duke for his benevolence to it, and for the protection he afforded you, and his encouragement of your undertaking. We have experienced that silk may be produced to great advantage. While in London, I had some trunks full sent to me from hence, three years successively, and it sold by auction for 198. 6d the small pound, which was not much below the silk of Italy. The congress have not yet extended their views much towards foreign powers. They are nevertheless obliged by your |