davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-11-09

reading. I am fenible of The pernicious
consequences attending this kind CT read
ing on pcrccpiible minds, and am certain
that no one can read many novels with
out experiencing their baneful effect, ur-
LET'S the mind has been remarkably we'll
cultivated and the Judgment improved by
knowledge Of human nature. If rheie
readers were content with reading the ma
tural characters delineated by the pens of
Richard Ton and Fielding, they nigh, at
leait derive p.eaiing and rational amufe-
ment, they leek with esgcrngts, and read
with the greatcl ia,isiat;ion, the gro
tefque caricatures and intriguing fittions
of Radclih, Goodwin, Wolttoncratt, and
the horrid fub,imiiy las lady called ir)
of M. G. Lewis. This Lewis has had
the haiphemous effrontery to fay, that
the Bible is 1T improper book for the pc.
rulal OF young ladies how far his infa-
nous opinion has been attended TO,
cannot fay, but will venture to aiIer,,
thar tho.e who admire fuch unnatural
trumpery as his &c Monk" can have no
relilh for the truly fublin,e pages OF Holy
Writ. The writings of fuch authors as
Wolitoncratt land thou(and of fmiIar
kind) are iure TO create a falfe tate, cor
rupt the Judgment, and feduce thong hrleis
girls, not only to waite their time, but
TO form fruitleis hopes, and vair expetta-
iions, which frequently prevent them from
recurring to tlenieives permanent felicity.
am not Of opinion that all novels have a
bad tendency; iome l have fcn, " hich
thought were calculated toinculca,e GOOD
principles, and through the medium Of a.
greeable actions 70 promote general bene,
violence, bur the modern flock, feem chief
ly INTENDED to inAame the paGions, viii
ate the saits, teach the ar,s of Intrigue,
and, under the ipcciols maxi of philolo-
ply, to inculcate ientiments I;imical to
virtue. "A novel reader has generally the
candor to acknowledg thatnovels when at
tended to are pernicious, but they only
read them Tor fhort lived amufeInenr, and
the imPreiion one novel makes in the mind.
is etfaced by the next they read. Novel
readers will al allow that there are paf.
iages IN almoR every novel improper to
De read by inexperienced youth, but they
think that the good fenfe Of ladies gene
rally, F." like guard angelic" iecures
them from injury. For my part lhouId
De more ready 10 fabicribe 20 this opinion
OF their good fenle if they would relinquilh
this improper practice.
HAMLET.
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-11-09
HAMLET.
FROM THoMAs's MASSACHUSETTS, SPY

FKOM THOMASS MASSACHUSETTS, spy
IN Our laf enay we traced the Drunk
ard, though with re'u ctant itep, TO flare
OF miiery and wret, hedne{s. And as we
know but OF one mean or remedy, BY which
he may return, we mof earnealy recon-
mend TO him ipeedy reforma ton: and
that he ihun tor the future every aliuremcnt
by which he has heretofore been led ON in
this mad career; for in this way, aaa
this only, we are confident, be may, he
can regain the land of civility and peace,
where riot and excels are unknown. We
now proceed to beitow few remarks upon
another clsis of creatures who are mere
peit TO focieiy, and by whom they are the
greater iufterers-I mean hftle /ueakjne
fbieUes, and Atile ./aeakiag liars. The
iin'ihed workmcn of this Description we
fhall leave foI the theme of more able cen.
10 attempt to point out, however, every
distinguishing characteristic of even this
clais, would be quite too voluminous for
the columns of anewfpaper, and Especially
one 10 exteniively ufeful as the SPY. We
thall therefore only give few of the moi
notorious. In general, fuch characters
are what you call rgbf high 6uck,-Igno.
rant, notify and fui! of wcrds-efpecially
in public and when before their fuperiors
can curfe and fwear fmartly-every fen.
tence alniof feems to be tipt with an cath
or fome profane expreaion. But one mark
in particular, by which they may be dif
tingulfhed, is their collecting into parsie.
on the Sabbath--not indeed for public
worlhiP or any other good pnrpofes, bat
mott probably to contult each other
when and where they fhalI be moh likely
to fuccced in rob5ing fome of their honee
ne'ghbcrs' orchards, gardens and vine.
yards. Stealing watcrmelons. pears.
plumbs, peaches, &c. has become 70 fafhi.
enable at the prefsnt day, thatit is hardly
confidered by our full blooded bucks. and
it's TO be feared, by even fome who are
parents, as worthy to be called crime.
What can be the harm, fay they, OF TAX
ing watermelon now and then Indeed
If there be no harm in it, Why is il not
taken openly Why will you grovel a
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-11-09
FROM TIA PALLADIUM.
NOVELS.
Editors,

Mefirs. Editors,
With former correspondent of yours,
l mott heartily deprecate the TOO prcga-
lent practice among young ladies of novel
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-11-09
VIATOR

Major Lazel, Of the town IF BiJzewater,
(Mafiachufetts) has lately invsnted machine to
clear ground Of Zones, and to expedite the MIX.
ing ofwsll; whereby rocks oftwo tons weight
may be taken cut Of the cIrth, loaded upon
wheels, and carried and lail into line Of wall
with iurprihng cafe and cxpc li;icn.
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-02-14

= ha
union are bound to yield obedience. Az
in anfVer % their approximations, we NAV
FAY, take the beam out Of your own eve,
before You undertake to pluck the mote
out of ours.-By the 1zth article Of ths
declaration Of rights Of Virginia, it is pro-
vided, "tlat the liberty ol the prefs is one
of the great bulwar!Ss Of liberty, and can
never reHrained but by deipotic govern
ments." Its believed this expredicndoes
not lubGant;ally vary from the amendment
of the contribution, which fays, anonglt
other things, that congreis ihail make u no
law ahridging the freedom Of fpeech or Of
the prcis. By an act Of asl;emb,y of the
commonwealth Of Virginia, paGed in 1775
it is provided as follows: -Sestion hrit.
" Whereas, at the prefent time Of danger,
the fatety of the people more Especially
requires that all perfous who arc 70 wi :ked
as to devifs the dettruetion Of good go
vernn,ens, or to ob:truct the operations Of
the laws, thould iufsr punthments G;tab,c
TO tssc.r crimes: Be it therefore cnaetei,
&c that il any perion reliding or being
within the commonwealth, Ahali, FROM and
after the publication hereof, BY any ayo~.i,
ope1 deed, or act, adyifstly and Willingly
maintain and defend the authority, jurif.
dicsion or power Of the king and parIia.
nent Of Great Britain, heretofore claimed
or exerciied within this colony, or fha!las-
tribute any 1aeh authority, juriidittion 81
power, in the king or parliament Of Greas-
Britain, the pesten 70 offending being le-
galiy convicted thereof, lhall be punilhcd
by fire and imprisonment to be aicertained
by a iiary, 70 that the fine exceed not the
fun OF tzusny tbogtard pounds, nor the
imprisonment the term Of five years.
8. Section "a. And be it enacted, &c.
That any rerfon who lhall, malic;ouAy or
advi{edly, endeavor to excite the people
to rehit the government of this common
wealth, as by law is eaablihed, or to per-
iuade them to return toa dependence upon
the crown OF G. Britain, or who fhsll ma
l;cioufly or adviedly terrify and dilcou-
rage the people from, emitting in the fer
vice ofthc commonwealth, Or dilpoie them
to favor the enemy, every perfcn 70 offend
Ing ana oe.nS mercer iegaaiy conViS'eu,
fhall be puniihed with fine and impri-
Torment as aforeiaid." II is not my In
tention, to. comment at large on this law,
and have fated it as fact, upon which
each member Of the committee will In
dulge his own fentiments and opinions.
II will, however, fate that this act
goes further than the act Of Congress
iince it not only punifhes libellous pub
locations, but alto, inAitts a puniihment
far exceeding that, contained in the ie.
dition aet, for verbal communications,
and touches not only the liberty OF the
prefs, but the liberty Of fpeech likewne.
IF the high ientiments of liberty, which
animated the people of Virginia, during
our revolution, did not induce them to be-
lieve, that when their Legislature had pro-
vided for the punifhment of nanderous, 4.
bellous, malicious publications againa the'f
Government. their liberties were thereby
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-02-14

iurreStion, and total difrespeSt for its
authority; and that without the powers Of !
preventing theie no government can cxilt.
Ard will it, fir, ccntended, that huch
publications have not this effect 7 Let me
inppoie congrefs to have paned fo,ne inn
porrant law, which thould peculiarly inter
eft the people, and meet the difapprohati-
On Of certain fettions Of the union; and
let me fuppoie printer, In order to In
create their diicontents, to publiih very
circumaantial, but faIic and malicious ac-
ccunt Of his having evidence that fach law
was paHed by the bribery and corruption
Of certain foreign miniiter, mentioning
the fun which each member had received,
would not the law, in cafe thefe reports
were credited, be reGitcd in It's execution
Yes, high minded republican people
would and ought to reiit it, Whit under
fuch inpreliions. Sir, there is no crime
which VIII not be iancaioned BY, tbis new
doctrine Of the liberty Of the prefs: trea-
fon itie!i may be committed with perfect
IMMUNITY, if fuch principles be eiGablfned.
| According to the contribution, which, by
iome is affixed to the amendment to the
contribution, Congress can make no law
in any manner affecting the prefs, becauie
they Fay every fuch law mutt amount to
an abridgment thereof. Let me G,ppole
our country at war and hottie feet upon
our coat, and that number OF hand-bills
be printed and circulated in this feet, Civ
ing particular information of the mott vul-
nerable part of our territory, and Of the
depoGts of our military Aorcs-this, if
done by letter, or verbally, would amount
to trcaion, yet if the prefs be inviolable
to the extent ccntended for, no pun;lh-
ment could reach the crime. 1t has been
frequently remarked, that there exit in
ftaluary code a number Of crimes, the
power OF creating which refs upon preciie-
ly the fame BATS as the law which is the
tubjeet OF dacuihon, and yet no objections
have ever been made to their contribution
atty. Such are the crimes Of perjury,
bribery, falhfying the public records, and
mdpriion Of treafon; for creating theEe
crimes no express proyiion is made in the
contribution, and five were agreeably to
the petition Of the gentleman from Penn
iylyania,. obliged to thew, in the manner
he contends for, that without fuch laws, our
government could not be preieryed, we
ihould be obliged to yield the point Of their
unconititutionahty.
ihall now proceed to examine this law,
as 1t is iuprofed to be prohibited by the cd
amendment to the contribution, which
fipulates againf abrigding the freedom
OF the prefs--and believing it to have
grown into maxim with many gen.
tlemen Of this committee, that the fate
OF Virginia can do no wrong, and that the
zeal Of infallibility is hampcd upon her
legislative acts, lhall bring into view
claufe in her declaration Of rights on the
iubjeet Of the prefs, and certain Legislative
acts, and then compare both with the sd
amendment Of the contribution Of the u.
States, and the law now under confdera-
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-02-14

Mir. Dennis. Like the gentleman from
North Carolina, who has this moment rea
funed his feat, i was one of thoie who
were fatis6ed TO havc~tal-en Glsnt vote
on the queition before US, and on yeAcr-
day voted againf the rihng of the commit
tee, in order that deInitive decilon
might have then taken place bat iince the
gentlemen oppoied to the continuance ofthe
law, have determined to protratt the de-
bate, and Gnce it is probable this day will
be confirmed in the difcuflion, I fhall
claim the indulgence of the committee,
WHILE ! fubmit to them fomes fentin,cnts on
the occaion. During this diicuaion
have remarked, that ob{eryations on the
conRitutionality ofthc law, have, gene
rally, been avoided, yet that fome o5;sc-
ton: have been interf perced Of that nature,
amongR the arguments, againf its expedi-
ency; Whit, therefore do not intend
an anily teal review Of all the opinions
which have hitherto been advanced, Ell
thcr in favor of or againR its conititntion-
atty, the remarks which fhall make will
occafonally apply as well to the one as to
the other. Thoie gentlemen who have
diRinguiihed themtelves by their opoftion
to this Law, have laid down the following
fandard, by which to tcf the extent OF
congregational power relative to this fubjeet
I-hra, that congre1s can exerciie no pow
crs but fuch as are fpeciically delegated
| by the contribution, or luch as are inclden-
tai ard neeeGary to the execution Of thofe
fpecifc Powers-fccondly admitting con-
| greis to have originally po1eAed the power
Of pafing laws timilar to the preient, they
have been refriefed therefrom by the pro-
hibitcry amendment of the contribution,
which, among other things, declares
that corgreis fhall pats no law abridging
| the liberty ofthe prels. In relation to the
6rR branch of the inbje6f, even the gen
tleman from Pennfyvania (Mr. Gallatin)
does not Unfit that there exits in US no
fuch thing as incidental power, nor does
he conterd that we can exerciie no power,
but iuch as we can find expressly mention
ed in the contribution but whila he admits
the exiitcnce Of incidental authority, he
requires that we fhall demonitrate the i'm
podiblity Of preterving the government,
or giving efficacy to thoie duties which it
is enjoined upon US to perform without ex-
erciiing the power iii the preient inAancc.
And how will this gentleman expect this
to be proved Are we to prove it by attu-
alexperiments Are we to fit fill and fuffcr
the government to be fubverted, in order
that we may experimentally prove the
powers we may exercife, in order to pre-
ierve it 7 Doctrines 6milar to thcfe were
inculcated with comfortable gravity during
the firit Mlurref7ion in Pennlylvania. 1t
was then contended that the prefident
could not call out the militia to fuppreis
the infurrcefion, until it fhould be fully
proved by actual experiment that the ordi-
nary powers of the Judiciary were incom-
petent to fupprefs it. That is, that al
though it was evident, from the number
and the preparations for reifsnce by the
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-02-14

Zen told by &c ,tlemar,, that he hereto
fore voted for ,n,s law, and that therefore
he ihould vote for.it again. Surely there
cannot be woric realon for vote than
this: it goes on the principle of never
changing, and # "a law be once paled, it
mutt remain law fore The fame gen
tle1nan once voted for an army, yet we
found him ready, on fit occahon to vote
pr the d.fcharge Of that army, and that
Amy too was conGdered a part of the lysse.n
OF defence; if the army could be fpared
from the general fyRem formerly adopted,
there certainly could be no necefity for this
law, at this time, unlefs, indeed, it is
now wanted for iome other purpoie than
formerly. The fame reafon ought to have
continued the army, but as the army was
d;fbanded, when the necefity ceaied for
which it was RATED, and the fyfem of de-
fence broken, why then ihould the law be
continued as part Of that fyRem, when
there was no location for it.
.A It has been iaid, that a part Of this
ttoulc are always crying out againH the
nconaitutionality of every act they do
iot approve. The anfwer to this is very
sNcafy. There is another part of the houie
sethat never quettion the con1itu.ionality Of
any thing, and if one part gueitions the
conaitutiolar7ty Of every thing, the other
do not Of any thing if one Tide believes
il has limits, the other believes it has no
limits.
Mr.. NJ. obferved, what had been fa;d
On the fubject Of jurics, he would only
fay, that no federal jury had ever been
got in the fate in which he lived, In the
fame manner that jurors were obtained for
the fate courts; perhaps it was impofible
Under preient circumstances, becauic eli
the Jurors for both fnperior and IN
ferior courts were appointed by the coun-
ty courts, and then fummoned by the
iheritf Of the county. The federal court,
he believed in thar fate, generally deter
mined from which counties the jurors
flould be fummoned, and left it to the
difcre.;oaof the MARTIAL to iu1nmon whom
he pleaEi. The MARTIAL is appointed by
the PRECEDENT; in itates where he luminous
whom he pleaies for jurors, it is mott
probable they will all be Of one party.
Another reaion had been urged for COR
eAiuliiS Calio ldW HI IOICC, WHICH IS tlilS1
that it was believed, there were newfpa-
pers in this country, under the influence
ola foreign power; whether this was a
fact or not he did not know; but he we'll
recolleefed, that not long iince there was
aprefs in the United States, which was
pretty much careHcd, the editor Of which
was foreigner, who gloricd in beingethe
inbjett ola foreign prince; the contents
of his paper are not yet forgotten, and,
ftrange to tell, he never heard that this
law had been put in operation againA that
perfon.
II is not pretended that the next pref
dent, let him be who he may, will want
this law. No action for libel has ever
been brought at common law in the federal
courts the reafon was obvious, the Aates
q
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-09-18
A1sxa,,dria Library Company.

Such members Of the compa-
ny as with for copies of the new catalogus
Of the books, to which the aet OF incorpo-
ration, the laws, and the members names
will be prehxed, are reaneited TO call as
the library and enter their names On tht
lift ofi1bicribers. AS only ayeryfew copiee
will be printed more than are iubicriber
for, they will pleafe MOTTO neglect this
notice left they !hould be disappointed. =
And fuch members as have any of the
books beyond the time allowed for reading
will pleafe TO return them to the library.
The books more particularly wanted are
Churchill's Collection of Voyages, LIT
vol.
Ruaell's Hiaory Of Modern Europe,
1T. vol.
American Mufenm, I'd and nth vols.
Weekley Milceilany one vol.
Hiaory Of the Devil.
Receis, sd vol.
Should any Of the above books not be
an the hands Of any OF the members, re-
ward proportionate to their value will be
paid to any perfon who may bring them
to the library, or diicover where :hey
may be found, 70 thar they may be reco-
vered.
JAS. KENNEDY, fen.
Sept. II. eOAt Librarian,
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-09-18
63o Acres OF Land for Sale.

or MONDAY k5s rafb af Oaobe, uexl.
at tie To4o1 ef M4zlle1ayy, IN tbe
eoanIy IF Loaa9aa, 1.Hlyd tie J.a to tie
bigbsf 6idaer,
Two adjoining tracts Of Land,
lying on Goofe Greek, in tie county OF
Loudoun, within few miles of the faid
town Of Middieburg. A part of this
land, containing about zI6 acres is ex-
cepted from this aie, leaving a BODY of
$50 acres, roods ard SO perches. rhe
Tale is made in purfuauee of deed from
Gen. Henry Lee, to Waiter Jones, Jun. Of
Aiexandria, conveying the faid land in
fruit, to be fold for certain purpofes &c,
torih IN the deed. The title is unexcep.
able and without difpate.
The land will be fold for cath, or if
more convenient to the puichafer for notes
at 80 and So days. negotiable in the
bank OF Alexandria, with an approved in
dorfer refding in the town. The truaee
feels himielf limited to great caution in
tins refPeef, and purchafers will be pre-.
pared accordingly.
Ihofe Who with to fee the land, or oh
tain faithful account oft, will b. piear
ed to apply TO Major Burr Powell, of
Middlebaig, who holds part Of the ori.
ginai tract.
WALTER JONES, Jun. TruRee.
!. Alex. Sept. ~ d6teodc
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-09-18

ROPOS AIS,
BY Warner 6 Hanna,
For PubIiihing by subscription,
Six VolHmes Of
SELECT PLAYS,
To be entitled,
The American Theatre.
= CONDITIONS.
/. The whole fet will be printed IN
handiorne duodecimo fize, on iuper.
fine wove paper, and new type, made
purpoieiy for the work.
z. The: price to fubfcribers, neatly bound
and iet,ered, will be one dollar per yo.
lume-ro -iubfcribers one dollar and
feventy- Ave cents.
8. No money required until the delivery
of each volume, and at the completion
Of the wholea lift of its patrons will be
given.
4. The frtt volume will confiit of the fol.
lowing much admired plays - Cafk
Spectre, Her at La1u, The Stranger,
and Secrets Wort6 Kno7vmg.
s. The pubiilhers pledge themfelves to
be particular in their Election, by civ.
ing place to fuch plays as are publicly
and JULY admired for purity of ient.
Inent, and elegance of dietion and no
expenee withheld in rendering the work
tor beauty equal to any in America.
e. When il is conGdered that the A.
merican public have never as yet been pot
10 poiledion, from prefs in this country,
OF a let OF wellfeletted and approved plays,
capable OF producing much rational ientl.
ment, chaite wit, and good humor, 70
we'll calculated to inculcate morality, a.
mute, recreate and animate the mind--,r
publilherS hatter themielyes their exert
ons will meet with encouragement.
VI SN3ltUptons are receiveG at h;
ebce Of the ALEXANDRIA, ADVERTISER.
Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-09-18
g 4 great Bargain!

VIII Tell, or lea1e tor 10
years, VALUABLE FARM, in the
county of Culpepper, and fate Of Virgi-
MIA, on Flat Kun, containing $50 acres
the land is extremely fertile, and yields
abundantly in the product OF corn, wheat,
and tobacco there are about 100 acres
Of meadow land, SO or so of which are
cleared, and IS acres well Get in ,imothy,
about $50 acres Of the tract are cleared
and we'll encloied. This land is diftant
from Frederick fburg about z8 miles, and
IS miles from Alexandria and The City OF
W Arlington. There are ieyeral valuable
merchant mills IN tie vicinity, one within
the diaance of a mile, where the Frede-
rickiburg prices are given for ali kinds Of
grain.
will alto fell the reveriion of
$50 acres of land adjoining the above, on
which are erected number of valuable
buildings, among them large dwelling
houfe 90 feet by 40, with rooms on a
Hoor, with fire places, and every necef-
larry ont houfes-a valuable peach and ap-
pie orchard.
A further defcription is deemed unne-
cefiary, as any perfon defrous Of purchaf.
ing or leafing will doubtlefs with TO view
The premifes. For terms rpplv to Robert
Brooke Vols, Efq. who lives adjoining
the premifes, or to the iubicriber.
will aJ6 Seller Rem,
Two three ftory Brick Houfes
IN Alexandria, completely fnifhed, on
King and Colombia ftreeis, with fundry
valuable property near the fame, poalefion
whereof may be had Immediately. The
ftuation for the -four and grocery buGnefs
equal to any in Alexandria.
For terms apply to Henry and Thomas
Moore, Alexandria, or to the fubfcriber.
NICHOLAS VCSS.
City of Warrington, I 49,
July ~. ~
N. B. I with to hire by the month.
or until the If day of November, ten OF
twelve labourers, for whom liberal wage.
wall be given. Apply to ". Vols, or
r ftreet, or w. t. Vols, at the NAVY
Ward