Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-06-10
From the RECORDER.

T. MtJCHhas been said concerning the
instruction that is tobe derived from the
perusal Of History. The greater part OF
it, however, consists of nothing but mar
ratiye Of absurdities, and ofcrimes and
so far from correcting the understanding,
or improving the heart, tits our humble,
but deliberate opinion, that ths less his
tory, which is perused, makes Just SO
much the better for the mind of the rea-
der. IF the first battle upon record had
heen fought yesterday, the narrative
build have SLED every eye with tears,
and every heart with horror-bat, from
the habits of perusing what is called his,
tory, We learn 70 read the extirpation Of
two hundred thousand people in single
day, with as little concern, asifthey had
been nest Of hornets. / 49,, .-. ....~
\ To Us, it appears, that the chief con-
sequence ofhistorical studies, is, to har-
dep sensibility. These remarks have,
reeurred in consequence Of the unex-
pected rupture which has: once more
broke out IN Europe. The vconduct OF
Bonapafte,. in his conference with lord
Whitworth, is scene, perhaps, unex7
ampled in modern ages. II seems that
we may say d him, what an English arch
bishop formerly said of cardinal w oolsey,
Know you not, that this man is drunk
with prosperity" 49,.
And for his eternal pretences and pro-
testations, that he is>anxious for the con.
tinua,ion ofpeace, itNs our suspicion,
tina, not word is sincek. The first con-
sui finds il necessary to engage the atten@
ton of the French in foreign war, in or
der to divert It from the extraordinary
scene of his elevation. To England,
peaee was equally desirable. TO Bona
Patte, in his particular situation, war
was, in many respects, desirable. When
Henry, the IVth Of England was, upon
his dea,h-bed, he gave to his son and sue
cessor, an advice to this effect, that he
had only his choice Of commencing 70
= reign war, for the sake of exercising the,
spirit Of his turbulent nobility, or of be-
ing subject TO the perpetual dread of do
nestle -imsurreetion. Something very
like this must be the situation of the little
Corsican. The English ministry had
every conceivable motive to desire the
prolongation of peace. 80: 49,.
Of all the pieces of hombast, that, for
some years, past, have appeared, perhaps
none has been more egregious than the
French proclamation addressed to the
inhabitanesof Louisiana. Whether the
mastery pen Of Bonaparte had any con-
Germ in such an effusion Of rehabilitation,
it is not possible to determire--hut the
rnannerin whichhe is referred TO, exceeds
every limit Of modesty, proPriety, and
goodsense. : .~-:.s....
Its bad wind, says the proyerb, that
blows no body good. The supposed war
between France and England will, in all
probability, be the means Of postponins,
FOR it can hardly be the means Of prevent
ing an ultimate dispute between France
and the United States. The interest Of
the colony of Louisiana differs so essen
tally from that Of the North Western
Territory, there are SO many irremovea-
BILE grounds of debate, that a long period
of tranquility cannot be expected. OF
this, we have long since, taken frequent
notice. =. -.
Of all the singular transactions that
have occurred in the federal history, per-
haps, that which wanders the farthest out
Of the wayof probability, Is the congress
sional donation Of two million Of dollars
toshe president. We can all remember
the time, when the whole country ran
almost out of its senses, when the French
directory were said to have asked fora
bribe. In.the pure spirit Of consistency,
VIC have now solemuly devoted, and aP.
propriateda bride to be remitted to that
very government, at which we formsrly
felt, or pretended TO fee, such 'adeiible
indignation. Citizens of America how
are these matters to be reeoneiled II
Congress can shut their doors and vote
away two millions of dollars, they can,
by the same rule, vote hfty-and then,
what has become Of your boosted cohsti-
tuition! II siEni6es nothing for a farmer