This Act, so full of wisdom and so good,
Has now become a Law well understood;
Since it has often been confirm'd, you see,
By many a Legislature great as we.

Yet, notwithstanding this, some chaps uncivil,
Grand Emissaries of our foe the Devil,
Aliens, and Foreigners, and Actors funny,
Who less esteem our morals than our money;

Even in our holy Capital, of late,

Have dared insult the majesty of state,
And to exhibit publicly, propose,

Stage-Plays, and Interludes, and Heathen Shows;
Which, in the garb of Moral Lectures drest,
Of our good, sober manners make a jest.
Yet so obnoxious to the people's notions,
So strange, so foreign to their constitutions,
That well I am convinced they never go,
From motives of amusement, to the Show;
But, like good, honest folks, with mere intent,
To keep these Actors under some restraint.
Judge, Gentlemen! my feelings, when at first,
This information, on my ear-drum burst:
Not more was Israel's hapless King appall❜d,
When Endor's Witch the Ghost of Samuel call'd,
And, slowly rising from the shades of night,
The frowning spectre met his startled sight.
Not more bold ELDERKIN* with terror shook,
Not more dismay was pictured in his look,

* For a particular account of this remarkable occurrence, extracted from Peters' History of Connecticut, see Supplementary Notes.

When Windham's Sons, at midnight's awful hour,
Heard, from afar, the hoarse discordant roar
Of Bull-Frog sorrow groaning on the wind,
Denouncing death and ruin to mankind;
While one supposed the tawny Myriads near,
And heard their War-hoops thunder in his ear;
Another thought Old Nick was sure a coming,

Since none but Belial's bands could make such drum

ming;

Yet each, prepar'd, his proper weapon took,

While one his bible hugg'd, and one his musket shook.

Wild consternation on my visage hung,

Congeal'd my blood, and every nerve unstrung;
O'er my whole frame a palsying horror flew,
And sense, retiring, bade a long adieu.
So CAIN, the fratricide, when deep disgrace
Fix'd its black brand upon his guilty face,
Fled from the crime of brother ABEL's blood,
And took lone lodgings in the Land of Nod.
Whether the Magistrates all this have known
I do not know; but this I know, that none
Have taken care, whatever their intent,
These Fellows' pranks, and postures, to prevent;
Ne'er have laid hold of them with Law's strong hand,
And fairly brought the scoundrels to a stand,
Nor to the whipping-post the rogues have tied,
Where oft cash-pay is chang'd to pay in hide.
With joy extreme, O Gentlemen! in you
The firm upholders of the Laws I view,

On you devolves the task (I grant it great,)
To keep unstain'd the chasteness of our State:
Since that good Lady is beset so sore

By rakes and libertines full many a score,
That much I fear me, do whate'er you can,
She'll be debauch'd by that unrighteous clan.
But this at least I hope, that, if unable

To keep with all your might, her virtue stable,
You will not fail to shew this wicked sect,
You know to punish, though you can't protect;
And whate'er punishment you shall devise,
As to your noble judgments seemeth wise;

Whether you burn, drown, knock them on the head,
Or hang them by the neck, 'till dead, dead, dead—
Or with a neighbour State, so very tender,

Loth to extend the neck of an offender,

Prefer the hanging business to commute

For private prayers and some small goods to bootI hope a great example it will stand,

And in terrorem guard our pious land.

Once more, ye Gentles! to my voice give heed, While things unthought of from my lips proceed, Things of high import and of utmost weight, Which much concern our Sovereignty of State. The Constitution most expressly says:

"Each several State shall, in such modes and ways,

For an explanation of the above, vide the Archives of Connecticut, wherein it may be found that on a certain occasion of commutative justice, the sheriff was directed to furnish the criminal with the consolation of his prayers.

"As to adopt its Rulers are content,

Appoint ELECTORS for the PRESIDENT."
Yet in an act has Congress said of late,
That the Supreme Executive of State
SHALL-what a word to Governors to use,
By men unworthy to unloose their shoes!
SHALL-I repeat the abusive term once more,
That dreadful offspring of usurping pow'r-
Cause with th' Electors names to be supply'd
Three proper lists all duly certified;

These to be given them on or cre that day
The Wednesday first that owns December's sway.
Though not unconscious of what mighty weight
Would prove my count'nance, and my aid how great,
Should I stretch forth my hand, with kind intent,
Το
prop
the frame of General Government-
And eke am conscious that the public good
Would better be consulted if I should;
Yet when the Congress in compulsive phrase,
Pretend to teach me how to guide my ways,
SHALL I, who not from them my power have got,
SHALL I obey them ?-sooner will I rot-

For from my head to foot I feel all o'er
The vast importance of Official power.
SHALL I obey them, tremble at their nod,
And, school-boy like, most humbly kiss the rod ?
I who first led the way to wond'rous things,
To humbling nobles and unkinging kings?
I who have done what man ne'er did before,
Quell'd the old British Lion's frightful roar?

I who first taught the Pole* t' ascend on high,
While flaming Tar-tubs kindled up the sky;
When, thick as feathery snows fast-flitting fall,
Or quails and manna at the Prophet's call,
The Tar and Feathers at my voice appear'd,
And every Tory thought himself a bird?
I who most nobly burst the chests of tea,
And with those wicked cargoes strew'd the sea,
Till Boston's dock might rival in its store
Kiangsi's plains, or Canton's busy shore--
That drink Circean, whose bewitching charm,
Had tied our tongue, unnerv'd our sinewy arm,
Chill'd the warm breast, transform'd the man to ape,
And given to Freedom Slavery's brutish shape?
No-I ne'er will-for Governors I'm sure

If any thing are from their power secure.
As Presidents it seems must be elected,
Perhaps the mode which Congress has directed
Is full as good as any we can find :—
Yet Gentlemen! if any strikes your mind
Of different feature, mien, shape, air, or stature,
By which you would conduct this weighty matter,
Congress shall know it-and from me shall hear
That once they've caught the wrong pig by the ear.
Pray, Gentlemen! do not suppose that I
Regard the Government with jealous eye;
Or have the smallest hope, or wish, that you
Should with a jealous eye regard it too.

* Liberty Pole.