The recorder, or, Lady's and gentleman's miscellany. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1801-1802, 1802-03-06

nc TO know. Every SoVcihieIi', ana every
political party, contains certain number OF
characters, whole intereif and butineis 1t is TO
deceive and pillaget the people. ihefe beings
are as much afraid of truth, rs certain king
OF Scotland was of drawn lword And ac-
cordingiy, they hunt down every one, as
common enerrY, who ventures 10 publiih If.
Thus itanding the cafe, we reed not Won
der that al wife men are afraiu Of telling too
much truth, and avoid, as far as they can, the
violence of popular recruitment. This is the
reaion why our hiitories, in general, prove 70
be fuch ronance5. David Hume, for exam
pie, has, in great number OF in!tances, diff
,orted, fofrened, or luppreiied, the moi no
torious facts; and the fame is the cafe with
almoit ali hitorians Of all ages and nations.
The prudence of fulpeuding the publicity
of important intelligence cannot be better
exempiiiied, than in the cafe of MIR. Madifon,
the prcient iecretary of fate. He was a
tuen.ber of the convention that formed the
federal contribution. fte kept regular
journal Of their proceedings and debates. The
abilities Of the writer, ard the nursnfe inter
eft attached to the fubje6t, cannot fail of rem
dcring this journal curious and inhruG6ve.
The author, however, has thought proper to
keep i, behind the curtain; and his friends
do rot expect that it will DC publifhed til after
his death, By that time, the importance of
its contents m'it, in great meait,re, DC ex-
tnguilhed. The actors will have pafied OF
the ttsge, as many of them have done already;
and unle(s, as matter of cufioiitr, their
characters and principles will be of no con-
~ern TO the world. But if MIR Madiion had
been 10 rsih as TO publith This book during his
hts-sime, he muR have expected to tpend the
ret OF his days IN fate of incefant warfare
Ga this account, be very wileIy choie to keep
his IDEAS 70 hin:e!t-
We have fared, thar il is the ohiea oe
The Recorder" 10 be rs impartial as poTi-
bic; although we are previouilv certain that
ibis mparfiality cannot fah of.giying frequent
offence to many intereifed, or ignorant PEG
pie. he editors Of this paper have no per
ional obligations to any party, although they
are willing, If neceiiaTy, to contend occaGo-
nalIy for political principles.
We had alnsoft forgot the lubje6t with
winch we fct our, that is, the amount of the
national debt, of England The profits of
all the commerce OF Europe would not afford
= premium Ct thHty-four millions and an
half itcrline per annnm. The amount of the
whole annual exports OF England has fifen
within the laf nine years from about eighteen
OF twenty millions fterling to perhaps thirty
millions, or ismewhat mera.t has, youaee
to fell gu'nea's worth Of goods in the Brick
Row, and to pay iecond guinea for rheir
patiage 10 Rockies. If this be lucrative
puFialt, then 1t is pofib}e that England may
have boen gamer by the preient war.
But hciides the debt Of three hundred and
ten millions fterline, you mutt confider as
lois, all that this capital could have produced
BY It's employment in domeitic improvements.
tIch as bridges, canals, and high roads, the
paving and widening Of freet$, the dIainine
OF marines, the tcrtiiizing of corn fields, and
t"nthoufand other purpofcs, on which it might
have BEEN expended. All the(e improvements
would have paid a handlome intereft for the
capital funk upon them, inRead Of which the
fnoneS has been waited upon armies and ma
Vles, and not .o0e penny's worth Of the pro-
PeIfy will come back 70 the country.
axe IN alto the eXpence OF collecting the
taxes that paw the intercn of this enor-
nous debt; and tire worth of PERHAPS two
hundred thouifand valuable lives that have
been loit in the cotrfe of the war; befdes
the lives Il many thouiands of poor people
that have died Of hunger, on account
Of the dcarth Of provifoas. Then comes
the capture of l"rne thouiands Of BritGh
mercaaaf vciie's, by the eremYs privateers,
inc rnnenie property feized in thofe vehcIs,
ard the dcIuge o. banSrQp.cies which nave at
tended them. The Erilh revolt mutt be placed
to tbs fame account, wish all its legion of ca
iaHtIcs, and of horrors
Wish thctc fats before us, let anv one
Judge whether the temporary augmentation
o! bnGih cone'erce can be regarded rs eoui-
poihng eveHone twentieth part Of the nlieries
Of the war.
! ne military. tranfa6tions Of al other coun-
'FieS' oeieniiye wars excepted, are conducted !
upon principles quite as abfurd and defruc-
I'VE as thole Q! Lngland: 70 DIR no NO Nj