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  • Oct. 1, 1796
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The Freemasons' Magazine, Oct. 1, 1796: Page 29

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    Article THE GENIUS OF LIBERTY. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 29

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Genius Of Liberty.

^ ransport , as I viewed the rich scenes which my country exhibited ; tor , with that incongruity frequent in dreams , I beheld from this exp ensive plain many noble harbours crowded with shipping . I saAV London filled with inhabitants from all kingdoms of the world . Wealth and Power were seen in the streets ; and Plenty sung her harvest carol , as she piled the rich sheaves in the meadoAvs round about . Order and Equity spoke and were obeyed . Industry was

clothed with neatness , and Honesty Avalking erect through the labyrinth of commerce , bustled forward with smiles towards the calm villa of Independence . ' Oh , celestial Liberty ! ' cried I , ., turning to the Genius , in rapture , ' preserve my country thus for ever . ' ' Would it Avere possible ! ' returned she , ' but the demon of discontent from the crimsoned lains of Gallia hastens hitherand

p , scatters poison from her wings . What shall he opposed to the scorching corrosive ? It seizes on the intellects of those on Avhom it falls . They mistake legal obedience for sltrvish submission , and the decrees of justice for those of despotism . They no longer know me as their lawful Genius , but call upon the meretricious phantom , who has assumed my nameand leave me to expire on these A-

, ery ruins , from Avhose polluted floors I led their more grateful ancestors , to be first amongst the . nations . Was it for this that my heroes have bled , and my sages wasted the midni ght lamp ? W as it for this that heroism opposed his bared bosom to Ctesar , and my darling Alfred compiled his Atdumes of equity ? Shall she , baneful and

frantic , AVIIQ Avould destroy the fair at ' id beautiful creation of two thousand years , shall she be welcomed by Englishmen ? Then farewell , Britain ! I cannot survive your ingratitude . ' ' Do . not afflict yourself thus , ' cried I , involuntarily bursting into , tears . 'Britons cannot be thus ungrateful : till their island is uprooted from its base , they will adore you only . Not the tawdry affectation of your charms , but

your genuine self . ' ' When I am no more , ' cried she , ' refusing to be comforted , theymay vainly deplore my loss . ' Wrapt into future time , I behold the Gallic Visionary with her dire horde of Equality-sweeping the sacred plains which I have deli ghted to . guard and to enrich . Science droops as they approach . The arts are terrified from their seats . Subordination is annihilatedand her

, Jong train of social dependencies can exist no longer . The laws crumble into dust , and rapine and ignorance graduall y envelope this once happy island ! War tramples doAvn all before it . The flame of literature is extinguished 1 A few generations pass away , and Nature is again left to herself . Lo ! the savages are once more seen in the woods . The hunter makes the stone his pillow , and again

sacrifices , perhaps his brother , fo imaginary gods . Unknown to all the polish and decency of life , he slumbe . s aAvay his existence like those , who , many ages past , immolated upon these stupendous altars . " The horrors of this picture were , so lively that I instantly awoke , and invoked Avith energy the protecting presence of our guardian angels . . No , my friends , ' cried I , getting up , and looking from my window into the busy street as 1 ' apostrophized them , ' no , Ave

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1796-10-01, Page 29” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 9 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01101796/page/29/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
LONDON: Article 1
TO READERS , CORRESPONDENTS , &c. Article 2
THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE, AND CABINET OF UNIVERSAL LITERATURE, Article 3
EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDS OF THE SWAN LODGE. Article 6
ACCOUNT OF THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA. Article 7
Untitled Article 9
CEREMONY OF OPENING WEARMOUTH BRIDGE; Article 10
HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE OF WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. Article 21
ON THE CHARACTER AND VIRTUES OF THE FAIR SEX. Article 25
THE GENIUS OF LIBERTY. Article 28
SINGULAR ACCOUNT OF THE DEVIL's PEAK AND ELDEN HOLE, IN DERBYSHIRE. Article 30
CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF THE CHARACTERS, CUSTOMS, AND MANNERS, OF THE SAVAGES OF CAPE BRETON. Article 31
EXCERPTS ET COLLECTANEA. Article 34
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 38
LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 47
POETRY. Article 48
TRANSLATION Article 49
ALONZO THE BRAVE, AND FAIR IMOGINE. Article 50
TO HARMONY. Article 52
THE FAREWEL TO SUMMER. Article 53
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. Article 54
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Article 57
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 60
OBITUARY. Article 69
LIST OF BANKRUPTS. Article 73
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Page 29

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

The Genius Of Liberty.

^ ransport , as I viewed the rich scenes which my country exhibited ; tor , with that incongruity frequent in dreams , I beheld from this exp ensive plain many noble harbours crowded with shipping . I saAV London filled with inhabitants from all kingdoms of the world . Wealth and Power were seen in the streets ; and Plenty sung her harvest carol , as she piled the rich sheaves in the meadoAvs round about . Order and Equity spoke and were obeyed . Industry was

clothed with neatness , and Honesty Avalking erect through the labyrinth of commerce , bustled forward with smiles towards the calm villa of Independence . ' Oh , celestial Liberty ! ' cried I , ., turning to the Genius , in rapture , ' preserve my country thus for ever . ' ' Would it Avere possible ! ' returned she , ' but the demon of discontent from the crimsoned lains of Gallia hastens hitherand

p , scatters poison from her wings . What shall he opposed to the scorching corrosive ? It seizes on the intellects of those on Avhom it falls . They mistake legal obedience for sltrvish submission , and the decrees of justice for those of despotism . They no longer know me as their lawful Genius , but call upon the meretricious phantom , who has assumed my nameand leave me to expire on these A-

, ery ruins , from Avhose polluted floors I led their more grateful ancestors , to be first amongst the . nations . Was it for this that my heroes have bled , and my sages wasted the midni ght lamp ? W as it for this that heroism opposed his bared bosom to Ctesar , and my darling Alfred compiled his Atdumes of equity ? Shall she , baneful and

frantic , AVIIQ Avould destroy the fair at ' id beautiful creation of two thousand years , shall she be welcomed by Englishmen ? Then farewell , Britain ! I cannot survive your ingratitude . ' ' Do . not afflict yourself thus , ' cried I , involuntarily bursting into , tears . 'Britons cannot be thus ungrateful : till their island is uprooted from its base , they will adore you only . Not the tawdry affectation of your charms , but

your genuine self . ' ' When I am no more , ' cried she , ' refusing to be comforted , theymay vainly deplore my loss . ' Wrapt into future time , I behold the Gallic Visionary with her dire horde of Equality-sweeping the sacred plains which I have deli ghted to . guard and to enrich . Science droops as they approach . The arts are terrified from their seats . Subordination is annihilatedand her

, Jong train of social dependencies can exist no longer . The laws crumble into dust , and rapine and ignorance graduall y envelope this once happy island ! War tramples doAvn all before it . The flame of literature is extinguished 1 A few generations pass away , and Nature is again left to herself . Lo ! the savages are once more seen in the woods . The hunter makes the stone his pillow , and again

sacrifices , perhaps his brother , fo imaginary gods . Unknown to all the polish and decency of life , he slumbe . s aAvay his existence like those , who , many ages past , immolated upon these stupendous altars . " The horrors of this picture were , so lively that I instantly awoke , and invoked Avith energy the protecting presence of our guardian angels . . No , my friends , ' cried I , getting up , and looking from my window into the busy street as 1 ' apostrophized them , ' no , Ave

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