ABSTRACT
The following exquisite tribute to the memory of an unfortunate Republican, is written with such a touching sensibility, that those who can command salt tears, must prepare to shed them, The narrative is simple, and unaffected; the event in itself interesting; the moral obvious and awful. – We have only to observe, that as this account of the transactions is taken from the French papers, it may possibly be somewhat partial. – The Dey’s own statement of the affair has not yet been received. Every friend of humanity will join with us, in expressing a candid and benevolent hope, that this business may not tend to kindle the flames of war between these two Unchristian Powers; but that by mutual concession and accommodation, they may come to some point (short of the restoration of Jean Bon’s head on his shoulders, which in this stage of the discussion is hardly practicable), by which the peace of the Pagan world may be preserved. For our part, we pretend not to decide from which quarter the concessions ought principally to be made. It is but candid to allow that there are probably faults on both sides, in this, as in most other cases. For the character of the Dey, we profess a sincere respect on the one hand; and on the other, we naturally wish that the head of Jean Bon St. André should be reserved for his own Guillotine.
