The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803, 1803-05-14
Jhs e. eGSO.R! UG.R.
FiCHNOND.
MN l4tb, 1909.

MUCH has beer faid concerning the in
ttTuttion that is 70 be derived from the pc
rutai OF hiitory. The greater part OF it,
however, contlits of nothing but narrative
OF abiurdities, and OF crimes and 70 far from
correcting the understanding, or improving
the heart, It IS our humble, but deliberate
opinion, that the leis hitory, which is pc
ruled, makes juit 70 much the better for the
mind of the reader. If the hrft battle upon
record had been fought ysiterftay, the nara
tive would have filled every eye with tears,
and every heart with horror; but, from the
habits OF Perufing what is called hihory, we
learn to read the extirpation or two hundred
thouiand people ina Jingle day, with as little
concern, as if they had been nett Of hornets
. us, II appears, that che chief COME
queoce OF hiitorical itudies, is, to harden
icntbliity, Theft remarks have required
IN confequence of the unexpected rupture
which has once more broke out in Europe.
he conduct OF BonapaFte, in his conference
with lord Whltworth, is a lcene, perhaps,
uneXampled in modern ages. 1t ieems that
we may fay Of him, what an Englilh archbi-
ihop formerly faid of cardinal Woolity
know you nor, that this man is drunk with
PROPERTY"
AS for his eternal pretences and profafra.
tons, that he is anxious fer the continuation
OF peace, It is our fufpicion, that not word
IS i'ncere. The hrit conful finds it ncceila-
ry 70 engage the attention Of the French in 70
reign war, IN order 70 divert it from the ex
traordlnary fcenc Of MS elevation. To Eng
land, peace was equally deGrabic. To Bo
naParte, in his particular fitu2tioi1, war was.
in many refpeas, deGrable. When Henry,
the With of England was upon his death bed,
he gave to MS fon and fucceGor, an ADVICE
TO this effect, that he had only his choice of
cormencinga foreign war, for the fake of
exerciiing the (pirits Of his turbulent nobility,
or Of being fubje9 to the perpetual dread of
domeitic infurre&ton, Something ycrv Ike
tbs mutt be the ftuation Of the LITTLE Ccrf-
can. The Englilh minjitrT had every con-
ceiVabls motive TO delire the proongation of
peace.
Of all the pieces Of bombsl1, that, for fonie
years paf, cave appeared, perhaps none has
been more egregtms tlaAn fhe French nro-
clamaron addfeiIcd "a tie inhabitants Of
Louifans. Whether the mafterly pen Of Be-
naparte bad any concern in fuch al eA,lfjon
Of felt adulaton,it is not pofiblc to determine:
BIT tbe manner in which he is referred TO.
exceeds every limit Of modclty, propriety,
and good lente.
It's bad wind, Jays the proyerb, that
blows nobody good. The fuppoied war DC
tween France and England viii, in all pro-
bability be the means Of poaponinC, for it
can hardly be the means Of preventing IN ul-
innate diipute between France ard the Unit
ed States. The intcret--ef the colony Of
Loniiiana differs 70 eGentially from that of
t6e North Wefern Territory, there are 70
many irren0veable grounds of debate, that
long period OF tranquility cannot be expec-
ted. OF this, we have long Gnce, taken fre-
qusnt notice.
OF all the iingular tranfaG}ions that have
occurred in feceral hhiotf, perhaps that which
wanders the f3rtheit out Of ;he way of proba-