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BY AMBROSE PITMAN, ESQ.

IN days of old-when first refinement's light
Broke thro' the mist of chaos and of night;
Our great great grand mothers were giv'n alone,
Such humble Christian names as MAUD and JOAN ;
E'en Arc's heroic Maid the latter bore,
And Maud-a celebrated Queen of yore.
But such the improvement of our polish'd age,
And such the revolutionary rage,
That milk and fish-fags now are Arabellas,
Louisas, Julias, Carolines, and Stellas,
As t' other day a fish wench trail'd along,

And Sprats as big as herrings, ho!" her song ;
She thus addrest-in accents far from mild-
Nay, Stentor like, her filthy wand'ring child.

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Julia Maria!-little imp of evil!

"Come from the kennel, come-you dirty Devil."

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fmall houfe the door of which was half o-
pen; from the entry, they overheard an
old man fcolding his fervant maid, who,
having made ufe of a match in kindling the
fire, had afterwards indifcreetly thrown it
away, without reflecting, that the match,
having ftill the other extremity dipped in
fulphur, might be of further fervice. Af-
ter diverting themfelves awhile with the
difpute, they knocked, and prefented
themfelves before the old gentleman. As
foon as they told him the cause of their
coming, he went into a closet, from
whence he brought 400 guineas, and reck-
oning the money in their prefence, he
The collectors be.
put it into their bag.

ing aftonished at this generofity, which
they could not help teftifying their furprize
at, told the old fellow what they had heard

1

Gentlemen, faid he, your furprize is occafioned by a thing of very little confe quence. I keep houfe, and fave or Ipend my money my own way; the one turnifhes me with the means of doing the other; and both equally gratify mine inclinations. With regard to benefactions and donations, always expect moft from prudent people, who keep their accounts." When he had fpoken thus, he turned them out of his houfe without ceremony, and fhut the door, not thinking half fo much of the 400 guineas which he had juft given away, as of the match which had been thrown into the fire.

FROM THE TENNESSE GAZETTE.

Singular Letter of Refignation.

SIR,

NASHVILLE, AUG. 27, 1804.

THE general affembly of the ftate of
Tenneffee, at September feffion, 1803, in
their wifdom thought proper to nominate
and appoint their unworthy fervant to the
high and important office of Confervator
of the Peace of the county of Davidfon.
In obedience to the fovereign will of the
people, as emanating through that enlight-
ened body, I accepted the appointment,
under the impreffion, that a legal character,
I could render fervice to my country in
the Judiciary. But that wife body, did,
before, at, and fince the time of my ap-
pointment, appoint others to the fame
dignified and high office, who were men
wanting in legal talents, and many of them
common fenfe; and there is now a majori
ty of the Fuftices in this county of the laft
defeription. Hence, few decifions in our
county court are made in coformity with
the found principles of law, or equity-
by reafon whereof, and becaufe, from my
native irafcible difpofition, I cannot keep
the peace my felf, but frequently fall pug-
nis et calcibus, upon many of the good
citizens of the ftate, I have thought proper

to refign the high power delegated to me
by that honorable body, into the hands of
thofe who gave them, I mean, the fove-
reign, free, and enlightened people of
Tenneffee. You will therefore do me the
honor to communicate the contents of this
letter to his Excellency the Governor,
who will confider my official functions as
juftice of the peace for Davidfon coun-
ty as ceafing from the day of the date hereof.
I am, refpectfully,
Your obedient fervant,

[graphic]

L. A. PARKER.

WILLIAM MACLIN, ESQ.
Secretary for the State of
Tenneffee.

WHEN the " Temple corps" was in. fpected by the Earl of Harrington, his Lordfh p, as he role along the line before the review, he ftopped to falute its commander, and jocofelv faid, "is this the I aw Affociation, Sir ?"-" Yes, my Lord." To which the Earl rejoined, "I don't find any one that speaks a word: I never knew Lawyers fo filent !"-Col. Efkine jocolely replied, "We get no PAY, my Lord."

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T was a pleasant day, and I had feated my felf at my front window. At first I had no particular object in view. But, attentively obferving the countenances of thole who paffed by, I was ftruck with the astonishing diverfity of feature, figure and drefs with which I was prefented. "I," faid I, mufing, "I could contrive fome method to detain these people a few minutes at my window, I could fketch a curious groupe, exceeding, perhaps, the most complicated mixture, ever delineated by Hogarth." I was fo well pleafed with the whimfical idea, that I immediately hunted up an old caricature, and faftened it against the window. This was my gull trap, Mr. Editor, and I affure you, it was not let in vain; for vaft numbers were caught by it, and their heads taken off, not as by a guillotine, after the French fathion-but merely sketched with a cray

on.

hefitation as fome troublefome dependent who had been put into a petty office, to give him consequence and bread. He was followed by one much younger, with not a jot the lefs wifdom or pompofity. This was a fupercilious fellow, who had fuch a habit of turning up his nofe at every thing around him, that one could hardly refrain from afking at what price he valued his name.

The next was a pretty fenfible old gentleman, but every muscle in his face was

Then came a coxcombical chap, who paffes (as French crowns formerly did) for more than he is worth.

Mr. Editor, your paper is not large enough to mention halt the sketches obtained in this way. But, I hate tedioufnefs-So, adieu !

PETER PALLET.

Political.

diftorted by his extraordinary peevithnefs A writer in the New-York Evening Post, treating

and moroseness. This man, thought I, is angry if others know lefs than himself, and he is more angry ftill, if they pretend to know as much. Thus has he always fufficient food for his fpleen. If his tho'ts or deeds were half as bad as his words, he would be the most vicious man on earth.

The next was a plain dreffed man ; but the brim of his hat was fo large that I could not get a peep at his face.

Next came a confequential character. He was employed in whittling a pine flick! And through his phiz wore every fign of ftupidity, ftill the moft fuperficial obferv. er could read in it-I will not be difputed. Clothe this man, faid I, in "a little brief authority," and his conduct would be infufferable. He would want even the elements (particularly air and water) to submit to his controul.

Then came a lump of magifterial dullnefs; but all his dignity lay, not in his face, but in fomething-above his head.

A countenance full of wisdom, firft prefented itself. Indeed, the owl, the celebrated bird of wifdom, placed by the fide of this man, would have appeared like a fimple fool. And then he had fuch a pompous ftrut, and fuch an air of feltconceit, that I put him down withouting of a babcon.

The next was a knowing, cunning old fellow. He had such a habit of screwing up his face, blinking, and looking wife, that one could hardly refrain from think

of the purchase of Louisiana, furnishes the following statement and remarks, which we recommend to the attention of every candid reader :

"AS this extraordinary purchase, has been celebrated through the United States with thanksgiving and public rejoicings, and many thoufand genuine republicans have been drunk on the occafion, it may be well to calculate each ftate's proportion of the expence of the first coft. Taking the prefent ratio of reprefentation in Congrefs for the rule, confifling of 142 Members, 105,634 dollars for each, will give a product of 15,000,028 dollars, or a trifle more than the price of this great acquifition. Now the annual intereft of this then, at fix per cent. amounts to 900,001 dolls. and 68 cts. and will be for each

Member 6,338 dolls. and 4 cents.

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ed States, fo modelling the mode of voting
for Prefident and Vice. Prefident as effec
tually to prevent a repetition of the un-
pleasant scene exhibited at the laft election
of those officers.

"Thus have the profeffed idolizers of republican aconomy, embarraffed their country with an additional debt, the annual intereft of which is more than the amount of the late United States direct tax. But, fay the deluded and deluding Governmental fycophants," the intereft of this debt is to be imperceptibly paid by additional duties on goods" confumed by the liege fubjects of that profeffed friend of the people, who fo feelingly commiffe. rates the mouth of labour, where he says "Government should not take from it the bread it has earned." Whether a man is beguiled out of ten dollars, or pays it for a direct tax, the effect on his eftate is the fame. If thefe tatements are, as I prefume them to be, in fubftance correa, I fubmit to the confideration of all candid men which would, in reality, have been mf proper upon this occafion, a thankfitfelf. giving or a faft.....

Speech

CENSOR."

OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

Gentlemen of the Senate and Affembly,

YOU were adjourned to this early day to enable you to execute a truft important and interefting as any that can be repofed in the reprefentatives of a free people. The period for which the Prefident and Vice-Prefident of the United States were refpectively chofen will expire with the third of March next. It becomes your duty, therefore, in obedience to the con-ftitution of the General Government, the a& of Congrefs, and that of the Legifla. ture of this ftate relative thereto, to appoint, during the prefent meeting of the feflion now about to be opened, the legal number of perfons duly qualified to elect to them fucceffors to thofe dignified ftations. The selection lies exclufively with you, and in making it, that you will feek for characters of approved integrity, void of prejudice, firmly attached to the principles of our government, and the true interefts of our common country, is pot to be queftioned.

On an examination of the laws above alluded to, it will be found that no provi fion has been made for the contingency of an Elector's abfence from the meeting en joined. This is a defe&t, the propriety and manner of remedying which, I fubmit to your difcretion.

It is with pleasure, Gentlemen, I announce to you officially the ratification, by the competent number of flates, of the a mandment propofed during the last feffion of Congress to the firft fection of the fecond article of the conftitution of the Unit

in office, amounting to 8600 doll. 30 cents. Of this fum 4000 doll. has been paid from their private purfes, which they request may be refunded to them, and provifion made for the discharge of the balance. An inftitution fo honorable to the juftice and

confidently hoped, continue to enjoy the patronage of the legislature.

During the recefs certain concurrent refolutions of the two houfes of the Legif-humanity of the government, will, it is lature of the Commonwealth of Maffachu. fetts, having for their object an alteration of the third claufe of the fecond fection of the first articic of the conflitution of the United States, ha e been tranfmitted to me by the Executive of that fate. A propofition from fuch high authority merits the most relpectful conideration, and (fhould the claufe alluded to be found, on examination, incorrect in principle, or inconvenient in practice) will, Itruft, receive, Gentlemen, your cordial fupport, provided no infurmountable barrier prefents How far this is the cafe at pref. ent, and will fo continue till the year 1808, you will be enabled to determine by examining this claufe in connection with the fourth of the ninth fection of the fame article, and the fifth article. The refolutions will be laid before you.

A bill drawn at the inflance of the infpectors, propofing additional penalties for the greater fecurity of the Prifon, and of is internal government, will be prefented to the legislature. The infliction of capital punishment in certain cafes will be found among its provifions. How far fuch an alteration in the criminal code may be deem. ed a departure from the principles on which the inftitution is founded, and how far it would be confonant to justice and le. gal policy, will require, gentlemen, your ferious and deliberate confideration. If it be an element of the political theory on which our government is erected, that it is vefted with no rights but such as are deriv. ed from the individuals compofing the community, and it be admitted that individuals have not the right to difpofe of their own lives, it may be reasonably doubted whether the government can jus

The miffion of General Arniftrong to the Court of France has occafioned a vacancy in our representation in the Senate of the United States. Congrefs is now in feffion,tify the infliction of capital punishment in and as there is reafon to believe that interefting difcuffions will early take place in the National Councils, I prefume, Gentlemen, you will confider the filling fuch vacancy as meriting a place among the firft objects of your attention.

A circumfiance much to be regretted has. taken place fince the laft adjournment. Some convicts in the State. Prifon fet fire to the building, and though the utmost exertions were employed to extinguith the | flames, they were not fuccefsful until one of its wings was nearly confumed. Ола confultation of the infpe&tors with the judg. es of the fupreme court, and the mayor and recorder of the city of New-York, it was an unanimous opinion that the public intereft demanded the immediate repair of the damage fuflained, and as there was no fund from which the fums neceffary to defray the expenfe could be drawn, it was recommended to the infpectors to raise them on their individual credit. This they have done, and the building has been repaired in the most economical and effectual manner, and rendered much fecurer against future fimilar difafters than it was in its q

It

any cafe not fanctioned by the divine man-
date. Its policy alto may be doubted,
The principal object of punishment is the
prevention of crime. To him who is de-
prived of liberty for life, death can have
but few terrors, and the efforts of defpair
are feldom enfeebled by the apprehenfion
of confequences.-While on this fubject,
gentlemen, pern.it me to fuggeft to you
the propriety of a revifion of your fyflem
of criminal jurifprudence. Ceainly great
improvements have been made in it; it is
however fill far from being perfect, and
is fufceptible of further amendment.
is of the effence of every good fyftem that
there be a due apportionment of punishment
to crime, eftimating the latter by its degree
of moral turpitude, and its confequences
to fociety. Commencing with the lower
order of felonies we fhall find an unwar-
rantable difference in the degrees of pun-
ifhment annexed to grand and petit larce-
nies, and yet a cent more or less confti-
tutes the effential difference between thele
offences. This is not the only objection.
The adminiftration of justice being com-
mitted to more than thirty judicatories, of-
fences of the fame grade are punished
more or lefs feverely according to the dif

riginal fate. In addition to the repairs,
they have found it neceffary to creft at a
fmall expenfe an additional work-fhop.ferent ideas of different magiftrates, arifing
The amount of difbursements for thefe ob-
jects is fourteen thoufand four hundred and
forty-two dollars fifty-one cents, for the
reimbursement of which they now apply
to the juffice of the legislature. They fur-
ther flate that the inftitution is embarraffed

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from the too great latitude of difcretion vefted in the courts of juftice. It the calendars of convictions and judgments are examined, the fame offences, probably accompanied with the fame curcumflances of atrocity, will be found punished Ly confinement at hard labor in the state-prif.

on for periods varying from one to ten years They may vary from one to fourteen years. While fo vaft a difproportion exifts between the punishments annexed to thefe different fpecies of lacerny, where in the degrees of criminality not a fhade of difference is to be perceived, fimple and compound larcenies are fubjected to the fame punishment, tho' the latter generally evince greater depravity, and ever produce greater injury to fociety than the former. Thus no distinction is made between forcibly entering a dwelling and committing a larceny therein, where not done burglariously, and telonioufly taking the property of another when expofed in the high

way.

Afcending from the loweft to one of the highest fpecies of felony, a fimilar defect prefents it felt. In the crime of murder there are various degrees of turpitude, but no difcrimination of punishment. A deliberate and premeditated kiiling, with exprefs malice, is certainly more criminal in the eye of religion and morality, than where the malice arifes by legal implication alone. So murder committed in the perpetration, or attempt to perpetrate any of the bigher offences, is certainly more criminal, than where it is the confequence of an intended trefpafs or a mere want of due cantion. Thefe diftin&tions, I am perfuaded, accord with public fentiment, as muft be evident to all those who have witnessed the embarrafment of jurors, when directed that the law impofes upon them to find one guilty of Murder whom they verily believe never intended to commit it. This is placing them in a delicate fituation, and offering violence to tender confcien

ces.

The crimes of forgery and counterfeiting are alfo fufceptible of a claffification of their various fpecies. A detailed plan of fuch an improvement would far exceed the proper limits of this addrefs. I fhall therefore referve it for a future occasion.

In the event of an irterruption of the harmony which has fubfified between the United States and the maritime powers of Europe, we cannot butlook with anxiety towards the defencelefs ftate of our principal feaport. To afford it compleat protection against an invading force, would require an expence beyond the ordinary refources of the ftate, and is an object emphatically appertaining to the general government. As far as it may be effected by militia arrangements it is certainly our duty to attempt it. Ifhall for this purpofe in the courfe of the feffion fubmit to your confideration a plan for organizing a brigade of artillerifts and corps of engineers tobe provided with a competent park of heavy field artillery, howitz, mortars, and the neceflary apparatus for the ufe of hot fhot, which may afford protection against single fhips, and even small

fquadrons. An eftimate of the expence will also be fubmitted.

the

.

I cannot conclude, gentlemen, without calling your attention to a fubje&t which my worthy and highly respected predeceffor in office had much at heart, and frequently I believe prefented to your view, encouragement of literature. In a government refing on public opinion, and deriving its chief fupport from the affections of a people, religion and morality cannot be too fedulously inculcated. To them fcience is an hand maid; ignorance the worst of enemies. Literary information fhould then be placed within the reach of every description of citizens, and poverty fhould not be permitted to obftru&t the path to the fane of knowledge. Common fchools under the guidance of refpectable teachers fhould be eftablished in every village, and the indigent be educated at the public expenfe. The Ligher feminaries alfo fhould receive every patronage and fupport within the means of enlightened legislators. Learning would thus flourish, and vice be more effectually refrained than by volumes of penal ftatutes.

With grateful acknowledgements to a beneficent God for the large portion of national profperity he continues to bless us with, permit me, gentlemen, to affure you of my ready co-operation in every exertion you fhall make to add to the mass of general happiness.

MORGAN LEWIS.

Albany, November 6th, 1804.

Editor's Closet.

It has for fome time been a general practice at the fouthward for perfons publicly to announce themfelves as candidates for office.

In Virginia and Kentucky this practice has been carried to its higheft pitch. Not an election for one of their moft inferior officers can be held, but we fee their papers crowded with the advertisements of these modeft gentlemen, puffing themselves up as deferving of public patronage. In Maryland and feveral other fouthern ftates, this delicate practice has alfo been prevalent. The people there are not troubled with meetings and caucuffes

!

to agree upon fit characters to fupport with their fuffrages. No fuch things there.Candidates for office are already cut and dried to their hands-which muft of course fave them confiderable expence and trouble, and any thing for the promotion of republican economy !It would feem, however, that this republican mode of nominating one's felf, does not go down with all the fovereign people" at the fouthward. Some of them are not altogether pleafed with it, as will appear by the following refolution, passed at a town. meeting held in Woodbury, Maryland :

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Refolved unanimously, That this meeting highly difapprove the practice, lo " inimical to republican principles, of in"dividuals announcing themselves in the

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public prints as candidates for offices in "the gift of the people, and pledge them"felves to oppofe, by all proper means "in their power, the election of any person "perfifting in fuch indelicate practice."

Genuine Republican Compliment.

It is faid that when some perfon obferv. ed to Gov. Lewis that his late speech was not fufficiently elevated and polished, he drily remarked, that it was his ftudy to fit his language to the capacities of his hearers.

We do not observe, in our governor's Speech, any recommendation of the reduction of wages or falaries! It is fincerely hoped that the Legislature will not be guilty of the fame oversight.

"The Nuns of Urfula at New Orleans," have addressed a letter to Mr. Jefferlon, to which he has returned an answer, affectionately ftyling them " Holy Sifters." This, fays a correfpondent, reminds us of the devil's falutation to the Pope-" Good morning, Holy Father."

A writer in the Charleston Courier, aptly ftyles El Marquis de Cafa Yrujo, the "tip-end of a long line of Spanish Nobility."

A Philadelphia paper mentions the marriage of Mr. Silence to Mifs Jackson. It may, with juftice, be declared, that this man has done what few others have been able to do, i. e. he has reduced a female to filence.

Agricultural.

FROM THE WILMINGTON MIRROR.

Experiments in Agriculture.

IN

BY GEORGE LOGAN.

EXPERIMENT I.

Providence, answers the designs of our Creator, and converts temporal mistortunes into bleffings, which time can neither give nor take away."

Miscellany.

FOR THE BALANCE.

MR. EDITOR,

VISITING, in our quarter, is

Let me ask him, who has rioted in diffipa.
tion, who has drank the bowl of intemper.
ance to the bottom, what must he think if
he awoke from the fleep of intemperance at
the eternal tribunal of offended and infult-
ed Omnipotence? Life is held by fo tranf.
itory a tenure; fo many cafualties waylay
and befet us at every step we advance,
that not to prepare for inevitable event,
betrays a kind of morbid infenfibility of
heart, more fitting for a brute than a man.
Well does infpiration afk the question,
"Our Fathers where are they ?" Webehold
the manfion of our youth; the tree, where
our infant fports endeared our exiftence;
and where we once beheld the venerable
form of a parent, fmiling with tenderness
on his children.-Look for him now-the
place, which once knew him, knows
him no more ;" and we can only find him
covered with the clods of the valley. It
is an undoubted fact, that death redoubles
the value of the object of deprivation.
Although the heart cannot tax itfelf with
any criminal acì, yet remembrance awakes
a thousand infances of thofe petty tranf-genteel manacr of receiving her guests is
greffions, to which all human nature is li- the object.If this thing does not fuit
able, which give a poignancy to the fut
her altogether, fhe vows" he will have
nothing to do with it, but will have a
It that thing does not exactly
pleafe her tafle, it is the homelift in the
world, and the wonders I had no more
judgement than to fele&t fuch an old fash-
ioned article. Thus is goes, Mr. Editor,

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N the year 1785, I fowed three acres, ut light ifinglass foil, containing a little clay, with barley and clover. In the month of April the following year, I divided the field into three parts, and firewed fix bufhels of Gypfum on No. 1. the fame quantity of American Gypfum, brought from the bay of Fundy, on No. 2. and left the intermediate fpace No. 3. without any. On cutting the first crop that year, little difference could be obfer-ferings of the mourner. However much ved, the fecond crop produced double the quanty of grafs, where the Gypfum had been put and the fucceeding year the difference was fill greater in favor of this ma nure; early in Oct. in 1787, the clover lea was ploughed once, about four inches deep, was fowed with rye, and in that rough ftate was harrowed, the rye was of a fuperior quality and double the quantity on number one and two than on three. After harvest, the rye flubble was plowed and fowed with buck-wheat, when a ftriking difference was ftill obfervable in favor of the Gyplum.

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we loved the object of our grief when a-
live, when dead we are perfuaded that we
ought to have loved more. Whatever ir.
ritations exifted, are buried with the corps
-whatever was noble or lovely in the
character, furvives in melancholly remem.

W

brance. Thus does the heart of affliction
create new materials for mifery ;-and I
will add, for the comfort of the mourner,
that this very propenfity is the fure mark
of an amiable mind. When fickness wears
away the conftitution by the cold grada.
tions of decay," the furviving friends are,
in a measure, prepared for the awful
change that is foon to fucceed. But where
we behold the face at one moment flu.thed
with health, and the next covered with the
palenels of death, the change is fo fudden
and awful, that the heart links under the
weight of its preffure. Let thofe, who
have been thus afflified, now pafs in mel-
ancholy review a hle without reproach to
wards man and towards GOD.
Let memo-

ry fupply what death has taken away;
and by following the footsteps of the dear
deceafed be prepared for a diffolution as
fudden, and leave behind them a charac.
ter equally revered.

the "order of the day." How long it will continue fo, the Lord only knows. Scarcely one moment can elapfe but what my wife is tittering about visiting. Where fhall I next go, and when fhall I again have company, is her whole ftudy. On thefe two things her attention is drawn almoft every day fhe lives. She does not pretend to calculate on the expence that attends vifiting. No-this is entirely out of her thought. But the belt and mot

new one.

my wife maft vifit and be fashionable, and I must pay for it. There is no knowing what I fhall conie to. But I shall endeavour to make the best of a “ bad bargain.” This very evening, Sir, he is on a jaunt fome where. I have fat alone til I am

tired, have written thefe lines, and the has

not come yet.

I with, Mr. Editor, that you would put thefe few lines in your paper, that my wife may have a chance to fee them. I don't know as they will have any good effect, but certainly they can have no bad one, I shall put just the fame letters in the fignature to this piece as there is in her own real name, and leave her to pick them out.

THE ROAD TO POVERTY.

FOR THE BALANCE.

MR. EDITOR,

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Let us not, however, give ourfelves up to melancholy forebodings and gloomy anticipations. We are under the protec tion of a Being whofe "tender mercies are over all his works," and who will heal the wounds which his own hands have. inB-Aed. To complain is puerile. We know the tenure by which life is holden; be a mutual antecl mant fubfifting between to defpond is pufillanimous and unevail-two perfons, and writing not merely from ing; but to improve the afflictions of emotions of gratitude, for favors receiv

FRIENDSLIP may be defined to

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