It is well known, that the late Robert Treat Paine wrote an ode, upon the occasion of the Spanish successes, to which he gave the title of "_Spain, Commerce and Freedom, a National Ode_." It bore unquestionable marks of genius; but some of the ideas and much of the phraseology were altogether extravagant. It commenced finely-- "Sound the trumpet of fame! Strike that pæan again! Religion a war against tyranny wages; From her seat springs, in armor, regenerate Spain, Like a giant, refresh'd by the slumber of ages. From the place, where she lay, She leaps in array, Like Ajax, to die in the face of the day." The ode contained some strange expressions--"redintegrant war"--"though the dismemberd earth effervesce and regender," and so many more, that the ode, though evidently the work of a man of genius, was accounted bombastic. A wag of that day, published a parody, of which this Robert Smallpiece was the hero. It was called, if I mistake not--"Soap, Razors, and Hot Water, a Tonsorial Ode." The first stanza ran thus-- "Strap that razor so keen! Strap that razor again! And Smallpiece will shave 'em, if he can come at 'em; From his stool, clad in aprons, he springs up amain, Like a barber, refresh'd by the smell of pomatum. From the place, where he lay, He leaps in array, To lather and shave, in the face of the day. He has sworn from pollution our faces to clean, Our cheeks, necks, and upper lips, whiskers and chin." "Paullo majora canamus." No. CXLIV. In 1784, Mr. Thomas Percival, an eminent physician, of Manchester, in England, published a work, against duelling, and sent a copy to Dr. Franklin. Dr. Franklin replied to Mr. Percival, from Passy, July 17, 1784, and his reply contains the following observations--"Formerly, when duels were used to determine lawsuits, from an opinion, that Providence would in every instance, favor truth and right, with victory, they were excusable. At present, they decide nothing. A man says something, which another tells him is a lie. They fight; but whichever is killed, the point in dispute remains unsettled. To this purpose, they have a pleasant little story here. A gentleman, in a coffee-house, desired another to sit further from him. 'Why so?'--'Because, sir, you stink.'--'That is an affront, and you must fight me.'--'I will fight you, if you insist upon it; but I do not see how that will mend the matter. For if you kill me, I shall stink too; and, if I kill you, you will stink, if possible, worse than you do at present.'" This is certainly germain to the matter. So far from perceiving any moral courage, in those, who fight duels, nothing seems more apparent, than the triumph of one fear, over four other fears--the fear of shame, over the fear of bringing misery upon parents, wives and children--the fear of the law--the fear of God--and the fear of death. Many a man will _brave_ death, who fears it.