Jay's treaty with England was laid before the Senate in June, 1795, and after two weeks of fierce discussion was ratified by a very small majority. The Senate, fearing popular criticism, forbade the publication of the treaty, a course which caused such widespread indignation that Mason on his own responsibility gave a perfect copy of the text to the Philadelphia _Aurora_ for publication. The act was as much praised by one party as it was condemned by the other. PARODY[98] On the attempt to force the British Treaty on the People of the United States Americans! behold the fruits, The end of all your vain pursuits, Whole years in blood and warfare spent To save this injur'd continent.-- How must it mortify your pride To take once more the British side; How will your eyes contain their tears When all the sad effect appears! This Treaty in one page confines The sad result of base designs; The wretched purchase here behold Of traitors--who their country sold. Here, in their proper shape and mien Fraud, perjury, and guilt are seen. And few, a chosen few, must know The Mysteries that lurk below. Go home, ye merchants, poor and lean, And kiss the--_hand_--of Britain's queen. I see you of your cargoes stript Your vessels stolen, your seamen whipt, I see them from their decks compell'd To wander o'er the wat'ry field;-- In British ships, by force detain'd I see the gallant sailor band Engage the power that lent us aid When Britain here her entry made-- I see them mix'd with George's sons, I see them torn by gallic guns, Disfigur'd, in the ocean cast To find a resting place at last. Philosophy! thou friend of man, Teach me these strange events to scan; Aid me to learn the secret cause That alien seems from Nature's laws, Why on this stage of human things Man bows his neck to tyrant kings? Say did the God, when life he gave, Design his Image for a slave?-- Necessity, the tyrant's law, All human race doth this way draw, All prompted by the same desire The vigorous youth, and aged sire-- Observe, the coward and the bold Agree to have their freedom sold; Physician, lawyer, and divine All make oblation at this shrine. Yet from this dismal state of things In time a new creation springs; From vile materials, fresh, shall rise And fill the earth, and air, and skies; In various forms appear again, Popes, Presidents, and gentlemen: So Jove pronounc'd among the Gods, Olympus trembling as he nods! [98] The poet never reprinted this poem from the _Jersey Chronicle_, where it first appeared, April 23, 1796. Great dissatisfaction with Jay's treaty with England is evident in almost every number of the _Chronicle_. Freneau himself was the author of the series of papers entitled "Features of Mr. Jay's Treaty." ON THE INVASION OF ROME[99] In 1796