an old note-book, several with whom he was intimate. They were General Rutledge and the Pinckneys. Charles Pinckney was governor of South Carolina at that time; and Thomas had just returned from Spain, in which country as U. S. minister he had negotiated the treaty of Ildefonso, by which the United States secured the free navigation of the Mississippi. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney had returned lately from an unsuccessful effort, along with Elbridge Gerry and John Marshall, to settle matters between the United States and France, to which country he had been appointed minister. The Directory were demanding an alliance with the United States, or, in lieu of its assistance, a quarter of a million in money, to be paid into their treasury, threatening war in the event of a refusal. It was in reply to this demand that Pinckney uttered these words that have passed into history: "War be it, then! Millions for defence, but not a cent for tribute."

Upon Freneau's return from Charleston in the latter part of December, he formed the project of a copartnership with Thomas Greenleaf in his two papers, "The Argus," a daily publication, and the "New York Journal," a bi-weekly; but for some reason the project fell through, and he assumed instead the editorship of a miscellaneous paper called "The TimePiece and Literary Companion." While projecting the co-partnership with Mr. Greenleaf, he wrote to Mr. Madison in regard to it; his letter is preserved amongst the Madison State papers, and reads as follows:

NEW YORK, December 1st, 1796. DEAR SIR, Having three or four months since formed a resolution to bid adieu for a few years to some old trees in Jersey, under the shade of which I edited, amongst ditching and grubbing, a small weekly paper entitled the Jersey Chronicle, I did not know how to employ that interval better

than in striking out here, with some printer, if such could be found, already engaged in supporting the good old Republican cause. After experiencing one or two disappointments in accomplishing this object, I am now, through the kind aid of some friends here, nearly completing the project of a copartnership with Thomas Greenleaf in his two papers, the Argus, a daily publication, and the New York Journal, twice a week; both on a pretty respectable footing, and noted for a steady attachment to Republican principles, though open to all decent speculations from any party if they choose to transmit them. In short I would wish to revive something in the spirit of the National Gazette, if time and circumstances allow, and with proper assistance hope to succeed thus, —

A Raven once an acorn took

From Bashan's strongest, stoutest tree;
He hid it near a murmuring brook,
And liv'd another oak to see.

As I consider the bargain the same as concluded, my next object is to make all the friends here that I decently can among men of eminence and ability. This I have in some small degree attempted and gained, but for want of certain insinuating qualities, natural enough I suppose to some men, I feel myself sadly at a loss to get acquainted with some characters here to whom I could wish to be known upon motives of public as well as private utility.

Among these is the Chancellor of this state, Robert R. Livingston, with whom, if I recollect right, you are on terms of intimacy. If I am not mistaken in this point, and you can with propriety accede to my request, you would confer a favor upon me by mentioning me to him in your next Letter, in such manner as you may think best, so that this new connexion may attract some share of his attention, and thereby the countenance of the Livingston family in general which would operate greatly through the State at least, in advancing our Subscription and printing Interest in general.

With sincere wishes for your long life, health, and happiness

I am sir, your obliged humble Servt.

PH. FRENEAU.

The "Time-Piece" made its first appearance March 13, 1797, and was issued tri-weekly. It was in form a quarto, and besides editing it, Freneau was associated in its printing and publication. During Freneau's editorship of this paper he had a number of lady contributors, and his office was usually thronged with visitors, many of whom were applicants for favors of one kind or another, as Freneau's kind heart and generosity were universally known. One of these applicants, an eccentric person calling herself Deborah Grennet, informed him that she had served during the Revolutionary War, dressed in male attire; and to corroborate her story, she showed him several wounds that she had received. Freneau drew up a petition for her, and advised her to present it to Congress then sitting in Philadelphia. She did so, and although Freneau had not signed his name, his writing was immediately recognized by several of the members who were his correspondents, and by their head, who was Jefferson, then vice-president. The petition received immediate attention, and Deborah went on her way rejoicing, having received her pension.

In speaking of this journal, an English publisher1 of one of Freneau's books says:

"It appears at this time in America inseparable from the notion of a newspaper to have an opponent, and Freneau's great opponent in the Time-Piece' was William Cobbet who started up a few days in advance of Freneau's paper, the Journal called The Porcupine Gazette.' If Cobbet discharged any of his porcupine quills at Freneau, it is most probable they were promptly returned; for he was always as ready to return a blow with a pen as with a sword, the former being as sharp as the latter.'"

The "Time-Piece" is said to have given evidence of Freneau's ability, and his tact in administering to the

1 John Russell Smith, Soho Sq., London.

tastes of the public was shown in the skill of the selec tions and the general elegance of the material. Duyckinck says of it: "As usual, his [Freneau's] part was well done, the Journal being well arranged, judiciously filled with a variety of matter, spirited and entertaining; in fact, what its title promised, an agreeable companion to an intelligent reader. This at least was its character while in charge of Freneau."

The press at that time was in a primitive state, like all other institutions. Newspapers were few, and managed by ambitious political chiefs; the sheets were small and crowded with advertisements,-the reading matter, what there was of it, contributed by scholars and politicians; but nearly every writer was bound by a party, and many years were to elapse before the germs of what is now one of the chief glories of America acquired anything approximating a full freedom of thought and action." But in that time of political agitation attendant upon Adams' term of office, people did not take much interest in literature, and Philip was ahead of the times in which he lived. The Alien and Sedition Acts were exciting the public, and the latter seriously affected Freneau's freedom of thought and expression, as it threatened fine and imprisonment for the freedom of speech and the press. To live under such a restraint, and moreover to edit a paper, was something like harnessing the American eagle; at least it seemed so to Philip; so, placing the paper in the hands of Matthew L. Davis, a promising young man, Freneau plumed his pinions for flight. This was his last perch in undertakings of this kind.

It would seem that Freneau visited his brother in Charleston, S. C., and that his brother Peter bought and freighted a brig named "Washington" in which Philip, as commander, made many voyages, several of which were to St. Thomas, W. I., and two to 1 Mrs. Lamb's History of New York.

Madeira; and from a private memorandum in his own hand-writing, we find that he sailed from Teneriffe for Charleston in May of the year 1804. This visit to Teneriffe he has commemorated in one of his poems. Afterwards he sailed between Savannah and the West Indies, and finally to Calcutta, after which this bold bird of the sea folded his wings on his native shore.

On our desk lie three old volumes once in the possession of the sailor poet; two of them are works on navigation, the one a good-sized book, the second volume of Robertson's "Theory and Practice of Navigation and Marine Fortifications," bearing the print of 1772. On its titlepage is written in large characters the name," Philip Freneau son livre de navigation," and underneath, the words: "Il faut bien l'esperer, car sans cette consolation il n'y aurait qu'à mourir." Two lines of poetry have evidently been intentionally defaced; the first may with difficulty be deciphered,

the second is undecipherable. On the back of a chart is written, in his peculiarly beautiful and delicate chirography, in ink paled and yellowed by time, some "Remarks and Observations" which run thus:

"The cold is greater in the southern Hemisphere than in the Northern, because, though in the same Latitude of each hemisphere the Position of the Sphere be the same, the Distance of the Earth from the Sun in the Corresponding Seasons is not equal. Winter happens in our hemisphere when the Earth is at its least Distance from the Sun and this circumstance diminishes the cold. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the contrary, winter happens when the Earth is at its greatest distance from the Sun which circumstance augments the force of the cold: add to this, that in the Southern Hemisphere the winter is longer by Eight Days than in the northern."