網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

would be "but half a man," has all necessary and useful acquirements. It is evident, that nothing but dire necessity can induce a scholar to be teacher of an academy, when persons, unfit for any other business, adopt this as a trade. It will scarcely be believed, that in a republican country, where every useful or profitable art or invention is eagerly adopted, thirty or forty scholars are encouraged to read aloud at the same time, like a pack of unruly hounds, and that the encouragement which the master receives is proportioned to the stentorian lungs of his scholars.

OF LITERATURE, ARTS, ETC.

A public library has been lately established, by the subscription of two hundred individuals, at twelve dollars each; and the directors of this association have obtained an act of incorporation, with powers suitable to the direction of the establishment. Mr. Boyle, a painter from Baltimore, collects objects of natural history, to form a museum

F

in a building near the centre of the city, which was formerly occupied as a study by Stewart, the celebrated portrait painter.

The Potomac can boast of but one trophy, and that in honour of bravery-of the young officers who fell at Tripoli.

The Humane Society was lately established by some young gentlemen of the city-an institution which does them great honour.

There is no reading-room at Washington, which is perhaps owing to the profusion of newspapers received there by Members of Congress from all parts of the Union.

The National Intelligencer is the only newspaper published in the city. The acts, and sometimes the opinions of the Government, are first communicated to the public through this vehicle of intelligence; and it is owing to this circumstance, that, in Europe, it is generally considered as the organ of the executive authority.

A weekly paper, called The Hive, or, Repository of Literature, of eight quarto pages, commenced in April, 1811, at a dollar per quarter. It contains selections from books andjournals, and some original articles, which are indeed original.

An institution has been lately established, entitled, The Washington Whig Society, of which the object is political.

The preamble to this institution is as follows: "The history of mankind through all ages having shewn that free forms of government are no security for the duration of civil liberty, unless they are supported by a firm unyielding spirit in the mass of the people; and the selfishness of individual pursuits invariably tending towards a relaxation of that spirit, by a sacrifice of fundamental political principles to personal considerations, voluntary associations have, from time to time, been formed among the friends of freedom, in the different republics of the world, to countervail the interested individual bias by the excitation of patriotic sentiments, which the amicable intellectual collision of the members of societies of this description are calculated to produce."

"Impressed with the propriety of employing such laudable means for the promotion of liberal doctrines in politics, the republicans in the city of Washington and district of Columbia have determined to

associate under the denomination of the Washington Whig Society.

"In thus forming themselves into a select community, they discard all present revolutionary views, and all ideas of innovations. They unite upon a basis of veneration for the principles of American independence, and combine chiefly for the purpose of strengthening, by concentration, the cause to which they are inviolably attached."

The officers consist of a President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The two first are elected by ballot, for one year, with the privilege of being re-elected. The qualifications of a candidate are his morality and republican sentiments: each member pays two dollars for admission, and twenty-five cents at each stated meeting, which takes place the first Tuesday in every month. Polemical questions of religion are not discussed. A member may be expelled for improper conduct by a vote of the majority of the members present, seven of whom may transact business.

It is permitted to withdraw from the society after having explained the motives to the secretary, and this explanation is not required provided five dollars are paid to the

treasurer. The society may appoint hono; rary members, who are not residents of the city. The correspondence with other Republican Societies is carried on by a standing committee of five members. There are two Masonic Institutions which assemble in the same building situated on the borders of the river.

The officers of the Lodge are chosen by ballot, and serve during a year. An elected officer is permitted to resign his office on paying five dollars to the charity fund.

The treasurer is accountable for all monies received on account of the Lodge, and gives bond for the faithful discharge of his duty. To become a mason it is necessary to petition the lodge for that purpose, and the candidate must be recommended by two master masons who are members of the Lodge. One dissenting ball is sufficient for rejection: but another ballot may be taken at the request of two brethren, and, if again rejected, no other petition can be received in favour of the rejected applicant before the expiration of six months. The fee of initiation is twelve dollars; for second degree, ten dollars: for third degree, eight. Masons are received as members by ballot; and if rejected by two

« 上一頁繼續 »