No. XXXV....SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1815. Ce monde est plein de fous, et qui n'en veut pas voir, AFTER having formally resigned my office as "Writer," some apology may be thought necessa why I should so soon resume it. But if my courteo readers will remember my unconquerable propensity the quill, they will easily imagine that I could not suddenly abandon it altogether. They may also con der that I left them in a sort of pet at not having be more read and admired, and will therefore be the le surprised to find me return to them again upon t return of my good humor. But as it is always mor fying to attempt a reconciliation unsolicited, I sha endeavor to save my pride by introducing the follo ing letters as mediators. They were written befo the authors knew that I was about to lay down my fice, and as they seem to have been intended for t public eye, I shall take the opportunity of coming o again myself to present them, To "The Writer:" SIR....I have a complaint to make, which, being of such a grievous nature, I hope you will think it unnecessary for me to trouble you with any apology for laying it immediately, and without further introduction, before you. I presume, sir, that you are sufficiently acquainted with good breeding and genteel company to know, that it is extremely vulgar to be punctual with respect to time, to any engagements or invitations, or appointments whatever, and very inconsistent with one's dignity, not to show your consequence by making other people wait for you. To be first at church, at the theatre, or at a tea party, is perfectly ridiculous. Even upon so solemn an occasion as a funeral, this fashionable etiquette must be complied with; and no lady would think of risking her character, by going to the house of mourning short of an hour later than the time appointed; and if she gets there after the solemnities are begun, so much the better; for although it may disturb the company, yet she will be more noticed than if she had been cooped up ever so long in a melancholy group, where it would not be thought proper to display herself. But what I have principally to complain of is, that upon every occasion of public exhibition, the places are so early taken by that class of people who have no character to lose, that a lady who comes in decently belated, sometimes loses her seat; and though ever so well dressed, and well attended, has the mortification to be obliged to stand in the crowd, whilst those who are so unfashionable as to be punctual, hurry themselves into convenient places, I must confess, that I have been particularly careful, upon all such occasions, to crowd myself into the assembly among the very last, and conformably to the strictest rules of gentility, always waited till I knew the house was full, before I attempted to enter it; but then I ever calculated upon obtaining a seat, and also of displaying my importance, by having somebody turned out of their's. But vexatious to relate, I have once been disappointed. At a late dedication, I had none of this attention paid to me; and although the - genteel hour at which I arrived at the new house, entitled me to more respect, yet I was absolutely obliged to remain in the aisle during the whole performances, and with the mortification of seeing the pews and seats taken up by people to whom I should not condescend to return a bow in the street. To prevent therefore such unmannerly treatment in future, the public should be admonished that we always expect to be provided for, (I speak in behalf of all ladies who have a proper sense of their own dignity,) and that all those who presume to take their seats in less than an hour after the time appointed, must be held liable to give them up to us who show our respect for propriety by being unseasonable. I should be sorry to forfeit the good opinion which Miss Letitia seems to have of my good breeding, but I must confess, that I cannot see why fashion should voluntarily pay such a tax to caprice. Why is it not as easy for those who lead the style, to make it fashionable to be in good season at whatever they wish to enjoy? To "The Writer." SIR....I am what the malice of the world calls an idle man; but one, who, as having no regular profession or employ, I should choose to denominate a man of elegant leisure. In either of these characters, however, I am peculiarly qualified to fetch and carry news; accordingly, for several years, I have been wholly engaged in this important and agreeable service. I think I can say, boasting apart, that I have told more news upon 'Change since the first embargo, than all the rest of the idlers put together. I was the first who announced the great revolution in Spain; and soon afterwards brought into State Street the account of the first importation of Merino Sheep; and as there was at that time a great dearth of matter to excite or occupy the curiosity of "an anxious public," my country was as much obliged to me for this seasonable piece of intelligence, as it has since been benefitted by the produce and increase of these important and useful animals. I next distinguished myself in the battle of Tippacanoe, and by a sort of coup de main, by which I surprised the multitude with an account of this victory, acquired as much glory in State Street, as the heroes who fought our red brothers gained upon the field of battle. Nor am I solely devoted to politics, but also obtain the earliest account of all civil and tragical events which have a tendency to delight the public. I am the first to know and communicate the price at which any real estate has been sold, who has stopt payment, and what mischief has been done by mad dogs. I was the author of the first notification in the newspapers of the weight of extraordinary squashes, and sub rosa whispered the first report of the coup d'amour by which a certain general carried off a lady, as gallantly as he had previously carried off a mace and other noble trophies, by a brilliant coup d'armes. But, sir, great talents, and especially those which by their usefulness begin to acquire a little fame, always excite envy; and I find I have several rivals, who are not only striving to get before me in this race of glory, but who endeavor to depreciate my former services and raise themselves upon my ruins. Now, sir, what I desire of you is, that my claims to patronage may be fairly brought before the public, (and perhaps this letter will be the best appeal to their favor,) that they may judge of my deserts; and if they think proper to encourage me by not listening to the officious reports of these my rivals, I think I shall soon become the oracle of the Exchange, and the idol of all these places in its vicinity, where the only worship seems to be paid to the god of news. MERCURIUS. No. XXXVI.....SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1815. Si ben con umil voce e falso ghigno THERE is not perhaps, in the whole catalogue of human vices, one of a more hateful nature, nor one that more degrades the nobleness of man, than treachery; and more particularly so, as it includes several others which are of themselves either criminal or odious. Falsehood, deceit, hypocrisy, meanness, and cowardice, are some of the particular and individual qualities that go to make up the monster, represented by the complex idea treachery. Treachery, by the laws of war, and in a military sense of the word, is a capital crime, and punished by death; but there are numerous instances of this vice in civil and social life, which pass unnoticed by our statutes, and which the sword of justice or lash of the law cannot reach. When we reflect that vice is progressive, we cannot be too much on our guard against the first act. We should not heedlessly sport on a declivity whose gentle slope may conduct us the more insensibly to a dangerous precipice.. When we divulge each other's secrets, we are traitors; when we do any thing intentionally to injure the character of those to whom we profess to be friends, we abuse the confidence we have endeavored to gain, we are guilty of treachery. Let us make no specious apologies to ourselves, that these are venial faults; they are steps in the path of vice, and may lead to the highway of iniquity. One of the most unworthy and aggravated species of treachery, is that which is sometimes practised upon the female sex. As I know of no particular instance of this nature, at present, in the public records of our own country, I shall take one from foreign history, of sufficient deformity, I hope, to excite abhorrence, and |