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“ It is the gift of Poetry to consecrate every place in which it moves, to breathe around nature an odour more exquisite than the perfume of the rose, and to shed over it a tint more magical than the blush of the mornirigP WHAT DO WE LIVE FOR? ltY ALBERTO. What do we live for ? is it to be The sport of fortune’s power—■ To launch our barque on pleasure’s sea, And float perhaps an hour— To waste our time in idle dreams, Of what may be to-morrow— To glean with care from present scenes The source of future sorrow ? What do we live for ? is it to find The ties of friendship broken— That love’s a sound to cheat mankind, And dies as soon as spoken— To mark the woes on others hurl’d Nor weep their hapless lot— To hate our fellows—curse the world— To die and be forgot? No ! we were formed to search for truth, Through paths made plain by reason, To hail that light in earliest youth, Which shines in every season : Yes ! we were made to win below, The boon hereafter given, To calmly smile at earthly woe, And find a home in heaven. The following singularly jingling letter is from the pen of Mr. Cowper, the celebrated poet, to the Rev. Mr. New ton, dated July 12, 1781. My very dear friend, I am going to send, what, when you have read, you may scratch your head, and say, I suppose, there’s nobody knows, whether what I have got, be verse, or not: by the tune and the time, it ought to be rhyme ; but if it be, did you ever see, of late or yore, such a ditty before ? I have writ charity, not for popularity, but as well as I could, in hones to do good: and if the reviewer should say, to be sure, the gentleman’s muse wears metho dist shoes, you may know by her pace and talk about grace, that she and her bard have little regard for the taste and fashions, and ruling passions, and hoy dening play of the modern day ; and tho’ she assume a borrowed plume, and now and then wear a tittering air, ’tis only her plan to catch if she can, the giddy apd gay, as they go that way, by a pro duction on a new construction; she has baited her trap in hopes to snap all that may come, with a sugar plum. His opi nion in this will not be amiss ; ’tis what I intend my principal end ; and if I suc ceed, aud folks should read, till a few are brought to a serious thought, I shall think I am paid, for all I have said, and all I have done, though I have run, many a time, after rhyme, as far as from hence, to the end of my sense, and by hook or by crook, write another book, if I live and am here, another year. I heard before of a room, with a floor laid upon springs, and such like things, with so much art, in every part, that when you went in, you were forced to be gin a minuet pace, with an air and a grace, swimming about, now in, and now out, with a deal of state, in a figure of eight, without pipe, or string, or any such thing: and now I have writ, in a rhyming fit, what will make you dance, and as you ad vance, will keep you still, though against your will, dancing away, alert and gay, til! you come to an end of what I have penn’d ; which that you may do ere ma dam and you are quite worn out with jig ging about, I take my leave and here you receive a bow profound, down to the ground, from your humble me.—W. C. Punctuality .—s President Washington was the most punctual man in his observ ance of appointments ever known to the writer. He delivered his communications to Congress, at the opening of each ses sion in person. He always appointed the hour of twelve at noon for this purpose; and he never faileg to enter the hall ofCon gress while the State House clock was striking that hour. His invitations to dinner were always given for four o’clock P. M. He allowed five minutes for the variations of time pieces ; and he waited no longer for any one. Certain lagging members of Congress sometimes came in when dinner was nearly half over. The writer has heard the President say to them with a smile, u Gentlemen, we are too punctual for you—I have a cook who never asks whether the company has come, but whether the hour has come ” EXTRACT FROM WIRT. <£ Excessive wealth is neither glory nor happiness. The cold and sordid wretch, who thinks only for himself ; who draws his head within its shell, and never puts it out, but for the purposes of lucre and ostentation—who looks upon his fellow creasures not only without sympathy, but with arrogance and insolence, as if they were made to he his vassals, and he was made to be their lord—as if they were formed for no other purpose than to pamper his avarice, or to contribute to his aggrandisement—such a man may be rich, but trust me that he can never be happy, nor virtuous, nor great. There is in fortune a golden mean, which is the appropriate region of virtue and intelli gence. Be content with that: and if the horn of plenty overflow, let its droppings fall upon your fellow men ; let them fall, like the droppings of honey in the wil derness, to cheer the faint and way worn pilgrim. I wish you indeed to he distin guished ; but wealth is not essential to distinction. Look at the illustrious pa triots, philosophers and philanthropists, who in various ages have blessed the world ; was it their wealth that made them great ? Where was the wealth of Aristi des, of Socrates, of Plato, of Epaminon das, of Fabricius, of Cincinnatus, and a countless host upon the rolls of fame. Their wealth was in the mind and the heart. Those are the treasures by which they have been immortalized, and such alone are the treasures that are worth a serious struggle.” Matrimonial Inf elicity.—A very respect able little man preferred a complaint at College-street, against his unmanageable rib, in whom it seems the, honey moon once over—he could discover honey no more—in lieu of that fond, tender, and animated affection ; that nameless, yet expressive congeniality of sentiment, and harmonized regularity of feelings, opi nions, and attachments, which should stamp the character of the true wife, and render the name itself first amidst the halcyon sounds that greet a husband’s ear—in place of all these, Socrates’ Xan tippe was a pattern of placidity to her; fury was in her head ; rage in her demea nor; fire flashed from her eyes ; a torna do rattled from her tongue ; and the poor husband had blows for dinner, thumps for breakfast, and kicks for supper—he pite ously described the various cuffs, scratcb ings, clawings, and roarings, that she bad poured upon his defenceless head, and the quantity of missiles which had been discharged on the same, on sundry occa sions, and in conclusion stated, that she had latterly pelted him most unmercifulU Iy with coals,whereby he was much black ened, cut, and bruised—then she vowed, or rather screamed “ in wildest accents,” that she would have his life ; and pro ceeding to keep her promise, grasped a knife with deadly purpose, with which she would have despatched him, had it not fortunately chanced that he was ena bled to disarm the fury ; disappointed in this, her passion found vent in another manner, and away went bottles, pokers, fire-irons, pots, kettles, saucepans, and stewpans, against glass, window-frames, mirrors, pictures and china ware. Notwithstanding all that had occurred, this frail pattern of womankind, and poor sample of domestic tenderness, found fa vor in her husband’s heart, where she so little merited a place ; he felt for her im prisonment in the watch house ; she had been confined there about fifty hoars and begged for her discharge ; but lo ! the mo ment she was emancipated she fled home, and raised such a storm about the suf ferer’s ears, that the poor man again sought the aid of the police, and begged that his wife might be secured. (~Dublin Journal. A Mechanic, who kept a number of ap prentices, whose wife was not possessed of the beauty of Helen, was very strict in meal time devotion. It happened one day at dinner time, that the husband was absent—the wife looking round and see ing no one at the table to say grace, thus addressed herself to the oldest apprentice: “ John, since your master is absent, I be lieve you must supply his place.” “ I thank you madam,” says John, “I had rather sleep with the boys.” Garrick and Foote.—The success of Garrick’s Stratford Jubilee, which ran ninety nights in one season, so much an noyed Foote, that he was going to bar lesque it by a mock procession. A man dressed like Garrick was to be introduc ed as the principal character, and some one was to address him in his own Jubi lee lines— “A nation’s taste depends on you, “ Perhaps a nation’s virtue too.” To which he was to make answer only by clapping his arms like the wings of a cock and crowing out— “ Cock-a-doodle doo !” Garrick hearing of this, was so much alarmed, that he got a nobleman to per suade Foote to abandon his mirth-mov ing design. A certain deacon belonging to a church, in this state, having had the misfortune to lose his wife, attempted, immediately after his spouse’s exit to “ strike up a match” with his maid, whose name was Patience. The priest of the village com ing a short time after to consult the be reaved husband, told him he must have patience to support him in his troubles —£< Ah,i (said the deacon) I have been trying her, hut she seems to be rather off.” A sailor was passing one of the petit street-auctioneers, a short time since, and stopped a moment to hear what was going on. ‘ Going !’exclaimed the knight of the hammer; * Going ! one and six pence—going ! going ! It is yours, sir,’ handing the book to the sailor. ‘Mine,sir!’ exclaimed Jack, with a tone of unaffect ed surprise. ‘What is it ?’ “ Pocahontas.” replied the auctioneer. ‘No, d-—n me, if you poke it on to us,’ replied the tar, and walked off. TO THE FARMERS OF JEFFERSON AND LOUDOUN. THE undersigned having taken the Shenandoah Mill, on the Island, near Harpers-Ferry, respectfully informs the farmers of the neighboring country, that it is now ia good order for the reception of grain. Those who bring to his mill good merchantable wheat, may expect the customary quantity of flour, the in spection of which he will stand in the Georgetown and Alexandria markets. Those who wish to send a part of their Sour to the Baltimore Market, will also have the inspection answered for them. The advantages attending the manufac ture of flour in this mill, will be obvious, when it is recollected, that in addition to standing the inspection, as above men tioned, the mill is situated at a most con venient point, just above the junction of the Shenandoah with the Potomac, and below the Shenandoah locks, so that a favorable opportunity for boating will be afforded at all proper seasons. And to effect this object more certainly, boats will be at all times employed, and punc:. tual and careful boatmen engaged to transport the flour to market, without de lay, whenever the water will admit of it, Corn, Rye, Sec. will be ground, and a country Bolting Cloth prepared, for the accommodation of those who may wish to use Rye Flour. The terms of grinding will be the same as in other mills. Wheat, Rye, and Corn, purchased at all times. From the advantages named, and from the circumstance of having competent and punctual millers employed, the un dersigned flatters himself that the strict attention and constant efforts which will be made to please, will enable him to render the farmers the most perfect satis faction. F. BECKHAM. June 1 1, 1823. MEAT AMD CHEAP! OF the above description are most of the NEW GOODS we are now opening, particularly our Cambric Prints of new and most fashionable style,figured Brilliantine Silks, super Sicillian Plaids, and Cambric Ginghams; and our Dimi ties, Dowlas, Duck, Shirtings, Chambrays, Worsted and Cotton Hosiery, Woodstock (or York tan) Gloves, and various other articles, are also well worthy of attention. And, though last, not least, are our SHOES, which, for beauty and goodness, may vie with those in any market, consisting of figured Stuff and Satteen, Kid and Mo rocco, of all colors, for the ladies ; Morocco Boots and Shoes for children ; and, for the accommodation of gentlemen, Calf and Morocco Dancing PUMPS., and an additional supply of New Orleans Sugar, Molasses, Havana and St. Domin go Coffee, (the last of good quality at 25 cents,) first chop Cavendish Tobacco, Raisins, Starch Powder, Crackers, Al monds, Filberts, and real old 5th proof Whiskey. WEED & WARING. July 2, 1823. SHEFFIELD CUTLERY,;#c. THE subscriber i.as just received from Sheffield, (England) a few cases of the first quality and handsomest PEN KNIVES ever offered for sale at this place, with a few cases of Rasors, No, 1. Huntsmen’s Drinking Cups, hc. which he offers very low for cash, or to punctual customers as usual. F, BECKHAM. June. 18. ICE CREAM "ILL be prepared at Dr. Weise’s store every Tuesday and Friday afternoons, if fair, if not, the succeeding fair days. May 28, 1823. BEST WRITING PAPER. ETTER and common writing paper for sale at the office of the Free Press. BLANK NOTES, For sale at the Printing Office SHE undersigned intend to erec BRID-GE across the Potomac river at Ilarpers-Ferry. This place contains about I 500 inhabitants, is situate at the junction of said river with the Shenan doah, in Jefferson county, one of the most fertile in Virginia. It is about 60 miles above Washington city, and on the most direct route to the western states. The river is navigable the greater part of the year, affording an easy water communi cation with the eastern cities. Tire site possesses advantages; the river is 720 ieet wide, and is shallow ; the bed is so lid rock ; for the abutments and piers there is stone on the spot; timber and all other materials can be easily procured, and on good terms. The Bridge to be of wood, except the abutments and piers, and it must be built of the best ma terials, and warranted. A further de scription is'deemed unnecessary, as 'un dertakers will first view’ the site. Propo sals will be received until the middle of October next. CATHARINE WAGER. JAMES B. WAGER. Harpers-Ferry, Va. July 23, 1823. IC73 The Editors of the National Intel ligencer, the Philadelphia National Ga zette, the New York American, and the New Haven Pilot, are requested to pub lish the above, conspicuously, once X week for 6 weeks, and transmit their ac counts for payment. REPORT OF THE 4tll DRAWING OF THE Maryland State Lottery. No. 4949 prize of glOO 12427 24601 prizes of 50 Nothing else drawn over gl2 The drawing continues on Thursday the 31st. All the principal prizes remain un drawn. The great capital of 10,000 5,000 1 prize of 2 prizes ef % prizes of Besides 17 prizes of g 1,000, with a vast number of various smaller ones. Tickets at gl5, shares in proportion,; to be had, warranted undrawn, at Baltimore Lottery Office, Wo. 32, Market street, near the Marsh Market. Where are also for sale tickets and shares in the Monument and University Lotteries. Present rate g 10. ^ Orders from the country will recei'ljp the greatest attention if sent to Conine’s Office as above. July 23. FAMILY BIBLE. JUST received, and for sale, at the Printing Office, a few copies of the FAMILY BIBLE, quarto size, with plates, at the very low rate of g5 each. Heads of families wishing to have this invaluable work, (and what family would be without it ?) will do well to make early application. July 23d, 1823. PARKE’S ARITHMETIC. THE Farmers’ Sc Mechanics’ PRAC TICAL ARITHMETIC, being a complete collection of the practical rules of Arithmetic and Mensuration, for the use of schools and men of business, and adapted to the federal money of the U. States. This book has been highly approved of in places where it has been introduc ed, by the teachers generally. It is wreli bound, and calculated to last much longer, than those usually prepared for schools. For sale at the Printing office—price 75 cents. July 23. DOMESTIC GOODS. Just received and opening. H BSJUjtSl containing 600y’ds. Indi go Blue Plaids, which will be sold at from 9d. to Is. per yard— 1 BALE 700 yds. 3-4thShirtings* at 10 cents per yard— 4-4th Sheetings, English Shirtings, Irish Linens § Furniture Calicoes— 400 lbs. MOULD CANDLES— 300 lbs. SOAP— Lump Sugar, Almonds, Lemons, and very superior PJlSTA. BLACKING. Also for sale, a few dozen large twilled BAGS, low by the dozen. WEED Sc WARING. July 16. FRESH LEMONS, JUST received, and for sale by F. BECKHAM. July 23.