disturbance of my morning slumbers by the spectacle of the rising sun. His first rays gilded the herbage, yet humid with the dews of night; and the carol of the mocking-bird, though faint, saluted the return of day.

We prosecuted our journey to Baltimore in charming spirits; a happy constitution of temper made every place alike to my companion; and his advance in years seemed only to have brought with them a higher relish for life.

At Baltimore I separated from Mr. Paine, whose profession I had not discovered, but whom I suspect to have been what Americans call, A speculator in lands.

The next morning I resumed my journey for the city of Washington, passing in my way thither through no place of any note, unless it be a little town called Bladensburgh, built on the water of the Eastern Branch of the Potomac.

Washington, on my second journey to it, wore a very dreary aspect. The multitude had gone to their homes, and the inhabitants of the place were few. There were no objects to catch the eye, but a forlorn pilgrim forcing his way through the grass that overruns the streets; or a cow ruminating on a bank, from whose neck depended a bell, that the animal might be found the more readily in the woods.

I obtained accommodations at the Washington tavern, which stands opposite the Treasury. At this tavern I took my meals at the public table,

where there was every day to be found a number of clerks, employed at the different offices under Government; together with about half a dozen Virginians, and a few New England men. There was a perpetual conflict of opinions between these southern and northern men ; and one night, after supper, I was present at a vehement dispute, which terminated in the loss of a horse, a saddle, and bridle.

The dispute was about Dr. Franklin; the man from New England, enthusiastic in what related to Franklin, asserted that, the Doctor being selftaught, was original in every thing that he had ever published.

"Sir," replied the Virginian, "the writings of "Franklin, so far from being original, exhibit no

thing but a transposition of the thoughts of "others. Nay, Franklin is a downright plagiarist. "Let him retain only his own feathers; let those "he has stolen be restored to their lawful possessors, and, Franklin, who now struts about ex"panding the gayest plumage, will be without a single feather to cover his rump." (A loud laugh from the whole party.)

If accusation without

New England Man. proof can condemn a man, who, Sir, shall be innocent? Sir, you are a Virginian. I intend no personal reflection, but it is notorious that the southern people do not hold the memory of Franklin in much estimation. But hear what a Latin writer says of him. Eripuit cælo something-

Gentlemen, I have forgot the most of my Latin; I cannot quote so correctly now as I did once; but this I can assure you, and you may rely on my word for it, that the compliment is a very fine one.

Virginian. I know the line you advert to; it was an eruption of mad enthusiasm from the disordered intellect of Turgot. But this is digressing from our subject; I maintain, and can prove, that Franklin is a plagiarist; a downright, bare-faced, shameless plagiarist.

New-England Man. Franklin, perhaps, Sir, had not that stoical calmness, which a great man

in

your State is remarkable for; he did not endeavour to catch applause by baiting his hook with affected diffidence. Franklin was above it. His penetration discovered, and his candour acknowledged, that sheer impudence was at any time less injurious than mock-modesty.

Virginian. Sir, an orácular darkness accompanies your discourse. But why retreat? Why not stand your ground? Why not evince yourself the champion of Franklin? Again I throw down the gauntlet! Franklin, I maintain was a shameless plagiarist.

New-England Man. Have you a horse here, my friend?

Virginian. Sir, I hope you do not suppose that I came hither on foot from Virginia I have, Sir, in Mr. White's stable the prettiest Chickasaw that ever trod upon four pasterns. I swopped for

her a roan horse; Mr. Gibbs, you remember my roan (turning to a man in company), I say, I swopped for her a roan with Mad-Dog, the Chickasaw Chief, who lives on the Mississippi.

New-England Man. And I have a bay mare here, that I bought of Nezer Mattocks, at Salem. I gave ninety dollars in hard cash for her. Now, I, my friend, will lay my bay mare against your Chickasaw, that Doctor Franklin is not a plagiarist. Virginian. Done! Go it! Waiter! You waiter !

The waiter obeyed the summons, and making the Virginian a bow, replied, You call, Mossa Ryland?

Virginian. Yes, Atticus. Bring down my portmanteau out of my room. I never travel without books. And it critically happens, that in my portmanteau, I have both Franklin's Miscellanies, and Taylor's Discourses.

The trunk being opened, the Virginian put Franklin's Miscellanies into the hand of the disputant, and desired he would read the celebrated Parable against persecution.

New-England Man (reading). "And it came "to pass, after these things, that Abraham sat "in the door of his tent, about the going down "of the sun. And behold a man, bent with

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age, coming from the way of the wilder"ness leaning on his staff! And Abraham arose "and met him, and said unto him: Turn in, "I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all

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night; and thou shalt arise early in the morning, and go on thy way, and the man said,

Nay; for I will abide under this tree. But "Abraham pressed him greatly: so he turned, "and they went into the tent-and Abrabanı "baked unleavened bread, and they did eat. "And when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto him, wherefore dost thou not

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worship the Most High God, Creator of heaven "and earth? And the man answered, and said, "I do not worship thy God, neither do I call 66 upon his name; for I have made to myself a god, which abideth in my house, and provideth me with all things. And Abraham's zeal was "kindled against the man; and he arose and fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into "the wilderness. And God called unto Abraham,

saying, Abraham, where is the stranger? "And Abraham answered and said, Lord, he "would not worship thee, neither would he "call upon thy name; therefore have I driven "him out from before my face into the wilder

ness. And God said, Have I borne with him "these hundred and ninety and eight years, and "nourished him, and cloathed him, notwith

standing his rebellion against me; and couldest "not thou, who art thyself a sinner, bear with "him one night ?"

The New-England Man having read the parable, he turned to the company, and, with tumultuous rapture, exclaimed, "What a noble lesson