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Thomas Green Fessenden's description of the famous Don in Democracy Unveiled as related by Christopher Caustic, required a bit of sleuthing to discover that Thomas Jefferson was none other than the man from La Mancha, Don Quixote. One only needs to follow the dotted line to find the hero of Spain in his new role. And of course his side-kick, Sancho is found to have established his island empire in Massachusetts as promised by Quixote. Panza masquerades as that famous money man who wrote A Pickle for the Knowing Ones, The Man of the East, Timothy Dexter. In gaining his position of power Sancho was aided by John Hancock and Alexander Hamilton(!) as he acquired seemingly worthless continental money and securities issued by the state of Massachusetts which were redeemed at full value by the government of the United States and made the man of the dapple ass most wealthy.
. While Cervantes tweaked and twiddled Spain into accepting that men in iron suits were not the answer to a fair maiden's prayers (whether the maiden be of flesh and blood or of the more stately statue), his famous bumbling pair did much to satisfy the public's desire for a salve to cover the wounds inflicted by the nobility. And while the potion devised by the Don was too strong for mortal men, but it did well in purging Sancho of his desire for immortality. Alas, and as Sancho discovered, the passing of the tonic returned him to his old ways and he continued to seek the islands in the sun promised him by his man of destiny.
In mid-sixteen hundred, Samuel Butler discovered the two Spaniards had crossed the English Channel following the infamous battles between the two countries which cost Spain its position as Champion of the Seas. In researching the bastardized versions of Cervantes books by English authors, Butler was able to trace the two and found them living a quiet life within the Church community. He stirred them to action and at once they took the bear-baiting challenge in which they were successful in seeing that Cromwell remained buried (or at least his remains remained buried), after which they then returned to the pastoral life. Record of this will be found in Samuel Butler's Hudibras.
It was only after the French and English resumed their warring and brought into the dispute the new settlers of Columbia that it became obvious that once again Don Quixote and Sancho Panza were to play a major role in exposing and defeating tyrants. Such it was that Thomas Green Fessenden following the lead of Butler, sought out these two famous men. However, tired they were, they agreed to play a part in the future of the new land. But instead of claiming their rightful place in the ways of government, they down-played their roles and only a brief glimpse now and then reveals them without their disguises.
Sancho, the more obvious of the two, is to be found in his new role, for as in the two past lives, he just couldn't remain quiet. Here then is a touchstone to Timothy Dexter, aka, Sancho Panza. And Thomas Jefferson, aka, Don Quixote. For much of what is written, we owe gratitude to that scribe, Christopher Caustic who and the Arab before him, preserved these musings. Sancho Panza needs no one to promote him and as "First in the East", regales the reader with his self. aggrandization.
Sidi Mahtrow
06.12.2002
Irving Wallace's book, The Square Pegs and Samuel Knapp's Life of Lord Timothy Dexter; Embracing Sketches of the Eccentric Characters That Composed His Associates; Including "Dexter's Pickle for the Knowing Ones are worthy references. Knapp's book is only occasionally available through book sellers on the Internet.
Thomas Green Fessenden's writings are not plate but silver of the finest that can be shaped by man. As he explained: "I have divided the poetry, although of the Hudibrastic kind, into four linestanzas. For this singularity I am not positive I can justify myself. The division appeared to me to give the work an apophthegmatical appearance, and to facilitate the reading, and by (if I may be allowed an Americanism) locating each line with more precision than would otherwise be done, to assist the memory of the reader.
I am likewise aware, that I shall be accused of puns, alliterations, iterations, and other deviations from the precise path in which their reverences, the critics, would fain have me walk.
"With these grave fops, who, (bless their brains)
Most cruel to themselves, take pains
For wretchedness, and would be thought
Much wiser than a wise man ought
For his own happiness to be, �
Who what they hear, and what they see,
And what they smell, and taste, and feel,
Distrust, "till Reason sets the seal." �
With whom
Not one idea is allow'd
To pass unquestion'd in this crowd,
But ere it can obtain a place
Of holding in the brain a place,
Before the Chief in congregation,
Must stand a strict examination,"
Churchill*
(* Charles Churchill, 1731 - 1764, English poet, curate of St. John's Westminister. The Roscaid, and The Apology harsh satires that along with his profligacy led to obligatory resigning office.)
(Preface to Democracy Unveiled or, Tyranny Stripped of the Garb of Patroitism. Christopher Caustic, Boston, 1805, Printed by David Carlisle for the Author.)
American Monthly, May 1838, Nathaniel Hawthorne's obituary on the passing of Thomas Green Fessenden. ******
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