Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-09-26

SIR,
THE little notice taken, by Ameri-
GAYS, of thofe who deve,e their hours to.
ufefal fcieace and ornamental literature,
has been long matter of complaint, at
home and abroad. Executes have met the
acerbity of disappointment, and fattery
fmoothei the wrinkles Of want; yet no.
thing like national fpirit, even in the
form of fripling- patronage, has awoke,
the pride of drowfy Ejaculation. The
eye of Flooding induitry cannot be divert
ed from fold gain, by the muGc of A
polio or the reafoning of Minerva, while
Plutus continues the idol of the people,
and lufy ignorance holds the hrit feat in
the fynagogue. Did prudence and econo-
my deter from patrohage--Where is the
voice that would mermur': But when a
love for guady equipge, horrrid romances
and muck-worm phi.ofophy, eats up the
bread of iudufry, and Gquanders the por-
tion of honef iabor---who will not wag
their heads and ak" What news from
Genoa'" AS citizens of the mott fertile
and Aouriihing country in the world, we
ought not TO fpesk too leud of our own
diigrace, fnce the importance efa rational
charal7er TO tie United States, was 70 COL
loquially difcuHed at the latt Cambridge
Commencement. This was one Of the
beR fairies On the Versatility OF our poll
tical Sentiments, and inattension to home
brei mari, ever publicly exPrefed, by
grave Summary of icience. While the
whole foul is wrapt up Ia commercial Pc
culation, and trade and parade are conf
dered the Eummum 6anam of life, it cannon
feel he importance of national union, or
national meaiures, uniels they coincide
with IFS own PROPERTY. We reafon ab-
frattealy, conhnedly and feldhly, hence
the MAJ, who tortuitoaly loft property,
during ,he aggreaions of Britain, is ready
TO oPpoie every governmental meafure,
tending to pacifcation, or intercourfe
with chat country. So all thofe, who
have fuEered by the depredations of France,
hold that nation il fuch adherence as to
deteit accommodation. From theie iources
has iprung the party tpirit, which diff
graces our country. The mind Gated up
by thsfe narrow prejudices, and bounded
by the log book, ledger, invoice ard po-
licy Of iniurance, Cannot Judge Alright on
political queitions; and will be as likely
10 war agaiutt the good of the community,
as againf the errors of diplomacy. Art
fol and d;icontented men, aware Of the
weakness Of the human mind, under theie
nilerly delufons, have tempered with
our padions, and TOWN the feeds of bitter
nefs and jealouly throughout the union.
Of their frait we have all more or leEs
paraken, 70 that few men are unaffected
with political phobia which dricoyers its
virulence on the implicit public qneltion.
Tie only remedy for this .eale IS gene
raj information a deliberate peruhl Of
our contribution; furvey of the two lat
ad ,nirihrations a recurrence to the beit
authors On the laws of nature end nations,
Sc. &c. SC. a love Of fcience mingled
witha love Of eain viii DO much, il re-
co'ci!nng the people to the ttaid msxirns OF
aaciene policy, and che fcber wi.dom of
experience. Ii VIII correct the errors Of
a;helitical sheorits, andlthe ,nadprojedsof
political adventures, and the falfe fate
mears Of intrigae.
AS foon as the love Of fcience is cult
waited, by preferr;ng the man Of wiidom
60 the man Of money, genius will bring
her iabors TO TIE public Lyceuaa, andlite-
nature receiYe an eftablifhment adequate
TO It's fuPporr. When once wealth predo-
inmates over fcience, we become ieniaa-
l&s, epicures, and a,heias; diearding e.
very employment, which does not lead to
iplendor and pretermen,. lis eHett on re-
publican liberty is too evident for ammo
tasion. In modern republics. political
writers are the only authors that receive
encouragement; fave thole who have
writteu on the rudiments ot4ciente. One,
who blends the ufetul with the agreeable,
cannot, ia, Prsfens) expect patronage, it
is not thesv9c1tim of Americans TO cult