what may be called the old school; the Greek and Roman notions of things. The combat of the duel was to them unknown; though it seems strange, that a people who were famous for almost all arts and sciences, should have remained ignorant of its use. I do not conceive how, as a people, they could exist without it: but so it was, they actually were without the knowledge of it. For we do not find any trace of this custom in the poets or historians of all antiquity. business is that of an Indian treaty maker, and am on my way with a party of kings and half-kings, to the commissioners, to hold a treaty. My king of the Kickapoos, who was a Welsh blacksmith, took sick by the way, and is dead: I have heard of this lad of yours, and could wish to have him a while to supply his place. The treaty will not last longer than a couple of weeks; and as the government will probably allow three or four thousand dollars for the treaty, it will be in our power to make it worth your while to spare him for that time." "Your king of the Kickapoos," said the captain, "what does that mean?”—Said the stranger, "it is just this: You have heard of the Indian naitons to the westward, that occasionally make war upon the frontier settlements. It has been a policy of gov ernment to treat with these, and distribute goods. Commissioners are appointed for that purpose. Now you are not to suppose that it is an easy matter to catch a real chief, and bring him from the woods; or if at some expense one was brought, the goods would go to his use; whereas it is much more profitable to hire substitutes, and make chiefs of our own. And as some unknown gibberish is necessary, to pass for an Indian language, we generally make use of Welsh, or Low Dutch, or Irish; or pick up an ingenious fellow here and there, who can imitate a language by sounds of his own in his mouth and throat. But we prefer one who can speak a real tongue, and give more for him. We cannot afford you a great deal at this time for the use of your man; because it is not a general treaty, where twenty or thirty thousand dollars are appro I do not know at what period, precisely, the custom was introduced, or to whom it was owing; but omitting this disquisition, we content ourselves with observing, that it has produced as great an improvement in manners, as the discovery of the loadstone and mariner's compass has in navigation. Not that I mean to descant at full length on the valuable effects of it; but simply to observe, that it is a greater aid to government than the alliance of the church and state itself. If Dr. Warburton had had leisure, I could wish he had written a treatise upon it. Some affect to ridicule it, as carrying to a greater length small differences, than the aggravations may justify. As for instance, a man is angry enough with you to give you a slap in the face; but the custom says, he must shoot you through the head. I think the smaller the aggravation, the nicer the sense of honor. The heaviest mind will resent a gross affront; but to kill a man where there is no affront at all, shows a great sensibility. It is immaterial whether there is or is not an injury, provided the world thinks there is; for it is the opinion of mankind we are to consult. It is a duty which we owe them, to provide for their amuse-priated for the purpose of holding it; but an occament. Nos nascimur nobis ipsis; we are not born sional, or what we call a running treaty, by way of for ourselves, but for others. Decorum pro patria brightening the chain, and holding fast friendship. mori; it is a becoming thing to die for one's coun- The commissioners will doubtless be glad to see us, try; and shall it not also be accounted honorable to and procure from government an allowance for the throw one's life away for the entertainment of a few treaty. For the more treaties, the more use for particular neighbors and acquaintances? It is true commissioners. The business must be kept up, and the tears that will be shed upon your grave will treaties made, if there are none of themselves. My not make the grass grow; but you will have the Piankasha, and Choctaw chiefs, are very good felconsolation, when you leave the world, to have lows; the one of them a Scotch peddler that talks the fallen in the bed of honor. Erse; the other has been some time in Canada, and has a little broken Indian, I know not of what language; but has been of great service in assisting to teach the rest some Indian customs and manners. I It is certainly a very noble institution, that of the duel: and it has been carried to very great perfection in some respects. Nevertheless, I would submit it to the public, whether still farther improvements might not be made in the laws and regulations of it. For instance, could it not be reduced nearer to an equality of chances, by proportioning the calibre, or bore of the pistol; the length of the barrel also, to the size of the duellist who holds it; or by fixing the ratio of distance in proportion to the bulk of combatants? To explain myself: When I am to fight a man of small size, I ought to have a longer pistol than my adversary, because my mark is smaller; or I ought to be permitted to come nearer to him. For it is altogether unfair that men of unequal bulk should fire at equal distances, and with equal calibres. The smaller size multiplied by the larger space, or larger pistol, would equal the larger size multiplied by the smaller space, or smaller pistol. If this amendment of the duel laws should be approved by men of honor, let it be added to the code. Not long after what has been related in the last chapter, being at a certain place, he was accosted by a stranger in the following manner: Captain," said he, "I have heard of a young man in your service who talks Irish. Now, sir, my have had the whole of them for a fortnight past under my tuition, teaching them war songs and dances, and to make responses at the treaty. If your man is tractable, I can make him a Kickapoo in about nine days. A breech-clout and leggins that I took off the blacksmith that died, I have ready to put on him. He must have part of his head shaved, and painted, with feathers on his crown; but the paint will rub off, and the hair grow in a short time, so that he can go about with you again." "It is a very strange affair," said the captain. "Is it possible that such deception can be practised in a new country? It astonishes me that the government does not detect such imposition." "The government," said the Indian treaty man, "is at a great distance. It knows no more of Indians than a cow does of Greek. The legislature hears of wars and rumors of wars, and supports the executive in forming treaties. How is it possible for men who live remote from the scene of action, to have adequate ideas of the nature of Indians, or the transactions that are carried on in their behalf? Do you think the one-half of those savages that come to treat, are real representatives of the nation? Many of them are not savages at all; but weavers and peddlers, as I have told you, picked up to make kings and chiefs. I speak of those particularly that come trading down to inland towns or the metropolis. I would not communicate these mysteries of our trade, were it not that I confide in your good sense, and have occasion for your ser vant. "It is a mystery of iniquity," said the captain. "Do you suppose that I would countenance such a fraud upon the public?"-"I do not know," said the other; "it is a very common thing for men to speculate, nowadays. If you will not, another will. A hundred dollars might as well be in your pocket as another man's. I will give you that for the use of your servant for a week or two, and say no more about it." "It is an idea new to me entirely," said the captain, "that Indian princes, whom I have seen escorted down as such, were no more than trumpery, disguised as you mention. That such should be introduced to polite assemblies, and have the honor to salute the fair ladies with a kiss, the greatest beauties thinking themselves honored by having the salutation of a sovereign."-"It is so," said the other; "I had a bricklayer once whom I passed for a Chippewa; and who has dined with clubs, and sat next the president. He was blind of an eye, and was called Blind Sam by the traders. I had given it out that he was a great warrior, and had lost his eye by an arrow in war with a rival nation. These things are now reduced to a system; and it is so well known to those who are engaged in the traffic, that we think nothing of it." "How the devil," said the captain, "do you get speeches made, and interpret them so as to pass for truth?"—"That is an easy matter," said the other; "Indian speeches are nearly all alike. You have only to talk of burying hatchets under large trees, kindling fires, brightening chains; with a demand, at the latter end, of rum to get drunk on." "I much doubt," said the captain, "whether treaties that are carried on in earnest are of any great use." "Of none at all," said the other; "especially as the practice of giving goods prevails; because this is an inducement to a fresh war. This being the case, it can be no harm to make a farce of the whole matter; or rather a profit of it, by such means as I propose to you, and have pursued myself." "After all," said the captain, "I cannot but consider it as a kind of contraband and illicit traffic; and I must be excused from having any hand in it. I shall not betray your secret, but I shall not favor it. It would ill become me, whose object in riding about in this manner, is to impart just ideas on all subjects, to share in such ill-gotten gain." The Indian treaty-man, finding it in vain to say more, withdrew. The captain, apprehending that he might not yet drop his designs upon the Irishman, but be tampering with him out of doors, should he come across him, sent for Teague. For he well knew that, should the Indian treaty-man get the first word of him, the idea of making him a king would turn his head, and it would be impossible to prevent his going with him. Teague coming in, said the captain to him, "Teague, I have discovered in you, for some time past, a great spirit of ambition, which is, doubtless, commendable in a young person; and I have checked it only in cases where there was real danger or apparent mischief. There is now an opportunity of advancing yourself, not so much in the way of honor as profit. But profit brings honor, and is, indeed, the most substantial support of it. There has been a man here with me, that carries on a trade with the Indians, and tells me that redheaded scalps are in great demand with them. If you could spare yours, he would give a good price for it. I do not well know what use they make of this article, but so it is, the traders find their account in it. Probably they dress it with the hairy side out, and make tobacco-pouches for the chiefs, when they meet in council. It saves dying; and besides, the natural red hair of a man may, in their estimation, be superior to any color they can give by art. The taking off the scalp will not give much pain, it is so dexterously done by them with a crooked knife they have for that purpose. The mode of taking off the scalp is this: You lie down on your face; a warrior puts his feet upon your shoulders, collects your hair in his left hand, and drawing a circle with the knife in his right, makes the incision, and with a sudden pull, separates it from the head, giving, in the mean time, what is called the scalp-yell. The thing is done in such an instant, that the pain is scarcely felt. He offered me a hundred dollars, if I would have it taken off for his use; giving me directions, in the mean time, how to stretch it and dry it on a hoop. I told him, No! it was a perquisite of your own, and you might dispose of it as you thought proper. If you choose to dispose of it, I had no objections; but the bargain should be of your own making, and the price such as should please yourself. I have sent for you to give you a hint of this chapman, that you may have a knowledge of his wish to possess the property, and ask accordingly. It is probable you may bring him up to a half Johannes more by holding out a little. But I do not think it would be advisable to lose the bargain. A hundred dollars for a little hairy flesh is a great deal. You will trot a long time before you make that with me. He will be with you probably to propose the purchase. You will know him when you see him: he is a talllooking man, with leggins on, and has several Indians with him going to a treaty. He talked to me something of making you a king of the Kickapoos, after the scalp is off; but I would not count on that so much; because words are but wind, and promises are easily broken. I would advise you to make sure of the money in the first place, and take chance for the rest.' I have seen among the prints of Hogarth, some such expression of countenance as that of Teague at this instant; who, as soon as he could speak, but with a double brogue on his tongue, began to intimate his disinclination to the traffic. The hair of his scalp itself, in the mean time, had risen in opposition to it." Dear master, will you trow me into ridicule, and de blessed salvation of my life, and all dat I have in de world, to be trown like a dog to the savages, and have my flesh torn off my head to give to dese wild bastes to make a napsack to carry deir parates and tings in, for an hundred dollars or de like? It shall never be said that de hair of de O'Regans made mackeseens for a wild Indian to trat upon. I would sooner trow up my own head, hair and all, in de fire, dan give it to dese paple to smoke wid out of deir long pipes." a shout of desperation, was fixed on the spot, and his locomotive faculties suspended; so that he could neither retreat nor advance; but stood still, like one enchained or enchanted for the moment. The king of the Killinoos, in the mean time, drew his tomahawk, and prepared for battle. "If this be your determination," said the cap- | and fell behind. Teague, in the mean time, raising tain, "it will behoove you to keep yourself somewhat close; and while we remain at this publichouse, avoid any conversation with the chapman or his agents, should they come to tamper with you. For it is not improbable, while they are keeping you in talk, proposing to make you a Kickapoo chief and the like, they may snatch the scalp off your head, and you not be the wiser for it." Teague thought the caution good, and resolving to abide by it, retired to the kitchen. The maid, at this time, happening to want a log of wood, requested Teague to cut it for her. Taking the axe, accordingly, and going out, he was busy chopping, with his head down; while, in the mean time, the Indian treaty man had returned with one in Indian dress, who was the chief of the Killinoos, or at least passed for such; and whom he brought as having some recruiting talents, and might prevail with Teague to elope and join the company. The captain, who was reading at a front window, hearing the shout, looked about and saw what was going on at the woodpile. "Stop, villain," said he to the king of the Killinoos, "you are not to take that scalp yet, however much you may value it. He will not take a hundred dollars for it, nor five hundred, though you make him king of the Kickapoos or any thing else. It is no trifling matter to have the ears slit in tatters, and the nose run through with a bodkin, and a goose-quill stuck across; so that you may go about your businessyou will get no king of the Kickapoos here." Under cover of this address of the captain, "I suppose," said the Indian treaty man, "you Teague had retired to the kitchen, and ensconced are the waiter of the captain who lodges here at himself behind the rampart of the maid. The Inpresent." Teague, hearing a man speak, and lift-dian treaty man and the Killinoo chief, finding the ing up his head, saw the leggins on the one and the Indian dress on the other; and with a kind of involuntary effort threw the axe directly from him at the Killinoo. It missed him, but about an inch, measure hopeless, withdrew, and turned their attention, it is to be supposed, to some other quarter to find a king of the Kickapoos, while the captain, after paying his score, set out on his travels. THE COUNTRY PRINTER. Ask you what matter fills his various page? He to the knowledge of his townsmen brings; Some miracles he makes, and some he steals; New Hampshire apples grown to pumpkin size, He, births and deaths, with cold indifference views; III. THE OFFICE. Source of the wisdom of the country round, Beneath this roof the muses chose their home,- Here, full in view, the ink-bespangled press Gives to the world its children, with a groan: Some born to live a month-a day-some less; Some, why they live at all, not clearly known. All that are born must die! TYPE well knows that, The almanack's his longest living brat. Here lie the types, in curious order rang'd, Creek-Indian lingo, Dutch, or Highland Erse; These types have printed Erskine's Gospel Treat, Tom Durfey's songs, and Bunyan's works, complete. But faded are their charms, their beauty fled! No more their work your nicer eyes admire; Hence, from this press no courtly stuff is read, But almanacks and ballads for the 'Squire, Dull paragraphs, in homely language dress'd, The peddler's bill, and sermons by request. Here, doom'd the fortune of the press to try, From year to year poor TYPE his trade pursues, With anxious care and circumspective eye, He dresses out his little sheet of news; Now laughing at the world, now looking grave, At once the muse's midwife-and her slave. In by-past years, perplex'd with vast designs, He, in his time, the patriot of his town, Clipp'd at his beard, and twitch'd his sacred hide, Rous'd by his page, at church or court-house read, From depths of woods the willing rustics ran, Now by a priest, and now some deacon led With clubs and spits to guard the rights of man; Lads from the spade, the pickaxe, or the plough, Marching afar, to fight Burgoyne or Howe. Where are they now?-the village asks with grief, What were their toils, their conquests, or their gains? Perhaps they, near some state-house, beg relief, Ye guardians of your country and her laws! Since to the pen and press so much we owe, Still bid them favor freedom's sacred cause, From this pure source, let streams unsullied flow; Hence, a new order grows on reason's plan, And turns the fierce barbarian into-man. Child of the earth, of rude materials fram'd, Roves o'er the earth, and subjugates the wave: Despots and kings this restless race may share,But knowledge only makes them worth your care! INDEPENDENCE DAY. An Ode, composed for the Fourth of July, calculated for the Meridian of some Country Towns in Massachusetts, and Rye, in New Hampshire. BY ROYAL TYLER. SQUEAK the fife and beat the drum, 1801. Now saw as fast as e'er you can do, Come, one more swig to southern Demos This glorious Independence Day! RANDOLPH'S WIT.--Once, after the celebrated John | "Sir," said he to the Speaker, "I am in the condi Randolph, of Roanoke, had been speaking in Con- tion of old Lear gress, several members rose in succession and attacked him. His reply was as witty as it was prompt. "the little dogs and all, Tray, Blanch, and Sweetheart, See they bark at me." |