898 
was a perpetual confliét of opinions 
between these southern and north- 
ern men; and one night, after sup- 
per, I was present at a vehement 
dispute, which terminated in the loss 
of a horse, a saddle, and a bridle. 
The dispute was about doétor 
Franklin; the man from New Eng- 
land, enthusiastic’in what related to 
doétor Franklin, asserted that the 
doctor, being self-taught, was origi- 
Nal in every thing that he had ever 
published. 
“ Sir,” replied the Virginian, 
“¢ the writings of Franklin, so far 
from being original, exhibit no- 
thing but a transposition of the 
thoughts of others. Nay, Frank- 
“in is a downright plagiarist. Let 
him retain only his own feathers, 
Jet those he has stolen be restored 
to their lawful possessors, and 
Franklin, who now struts about, 
expanding the gayest plumage, 
will be without a single feather to 
cover his rump.” (A loud laugh 
from the whole company.) 
New England Man. “ If accusa- 
tion, without proof, can condemn a 
man, who, sir, shall be innocent? Sir, 
you area Virginian. I intend no 
personal refle¢étion, but it is notori- 
ous that the southern people do not 
hold the memory of Franklin in 
much estimation ; but hear what a 
Latin writer says of him: Eripuit 
cele —something Gentlemen, I 
have forgot the most of my Latin ; 
- E cannot quote so correétly as I did 
once; but this I can assure you, 
and you may rely on my word for 
it, that the gcmpliment is a very fine 
one.” 
Virginian. ‘* 1 know the line you 
advert to ; it is an eruption of mad 
enthusiasm, from the disordered in- 
tellect of Turgot. But this is di- 
gressing from our subject. I main. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
tain,\ and can prove, that Franklix 
is a plagiarist; a downright, bare- 
faced, shameless plagiarist.” 
New England Man. ‘‘ Franklin,. 
perhaps, sir, had not that stoical 
calmness, which a great man in 
your state is remarkable for ; he did 
not endeavour to catch applause, by 
baiting his hook with affeéted diffi- 
dence. Franklin was above it. His 
penetration discovered, and his can-~ 
dour acknowledged, that sheer im- 
pudence was at any time less inju- 
rious than mock modesty.” 
Virginian, “Sir, an oracular dark- 
ness accompanies your discourse.— 
But why retreat? Why not stand 
your ground? Why not evince. 
yourself the champion of Franklin ? 
Again U throw down the gauntlet ! 
Franklin, T maintain, was a shame- 
less plagiarist.”’ 
New England Man. ‘“ Have you - 
a horse here, my friend ?” 
Virginian, ‘* Sir, I hope you ¢o 
not suppose I came hither on foot 
from Virginia. J have, sir, in Mr.’ 
White’s stable, the prettiest Chicka- 
saw that ever trod on four pasterns. 
I swopped for her a roan horse.— 
Mr. Gibbs, you remember my roan 
(turning toa man in company.) I 
say, I swopped for her a roan, with’ 
Mad-Dog, the Chickasaw chief, who ° 
lives on the Mississippi.” 
New England Man. “* And [have ~ 
a bay mare here, that I bought of 
Nezer Mattocks, at Salem. 1 gave’ 
ninety dollars in hard cash for her. 
Now, I, my friend, will lay my bay 
mare against your Chickasaw, that 
doétor Franklin is not a plagiarist.” 
Virginian. ‘* Done! Go it!— 
waiter !—you waiter !” 
The waiter obeyed the summons, 
and, making the Virginian a bow, 
replied, *¢ You call, massa Ryland?” 
Virginian. ‘6 Yes, Atticus. Bring 
down 
