Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-07-28


splendid and spacious poriicos, resembling
at a distance, more the minor tempies OF
Athens, IN the age Of Pericles, than the
ordinary mansions of merchants, or PR.
sate gentlemen, surrounded by grounds
and gardens, laid out with great taste, aud
kept with the utmost ncatness. These are
resorted to il the dry season, which is from
November to Manufacturing the rains,
when the country is too wet, the city, is
preferred as more healthy. The city can
no. fail TO astonish one from oar. country,
where moderate circumstances, ard ne.
cessary simplicity of manners chiefly pre-
vail. Every thing here is upon grand
scale, the eve is lost, and The ,.inc asto-
nisiled in the contemplation OF works of
every kind, which with us arr unknown.
OF the inhabitants, il may be- presumed
the shortHess OF my intended stay will not
permit me to say much. The English,
with whom we in New-Englanl may glory
in ourcommon origin, are generally reputed
frank, liberal and polite: Indeed | have
heard SO many instances Of great generosi-
~ OF character to the widow, the orphan,
ard distressed mind Of every kind, that
were TO go into detail should trespass
much on the ordinary bounds OF letter.
The present noble Governor OF INDIA pos
sesses in high degree The confidence and
esteemof his country his mind is richly
stored with literature and science, and
tllly equal to accomplish aud consolidate
A,oY
power of police, war or peace.
Upon mature reflection, having conceive
cd it more tor the interest Of n friends,
o,place my business in The hands q a mcr-
chant here OF acknowledged responsibility
than 10 attempt doing it myself, or having
it done gratis by Z. |. have given my conf
dtnce to Mr.. q, is black man here,
who has generally had the goodness to at.
tach himself to my countrymeE on their
first arrival, and address enough to per-
suad them that he ssils their consignments,
and buys their return cargo for nothing; by
this singular generosity he has it is said,
acquired within the last six years, fortune
of near a million of dollars.
The thing is very well understood here,
a cargo is wanted for particular ship and
the goods procured from the British mer-
chants; a surcharge is made upon the 6sna
tide price for his benefit and Incorporated
without our perceIying It IN his invoice
This bad management exposes our mercar-
tile judgment to some sneerlng and is Ger
tainiy productive of great disadvantage.
The history OF our trade for some years
back is simply this: at first we brought out
large credits upon houses here, tut with
out any consignment of ship or cargo, the
consequence Of this arrangement was, that
our credits were not answered, and thus 10
save-a paltry commission upon return car
goes, we were thrown out Of regular sup
ply OF goods from respectable agents here,
and forced to take up with articles the re-
fuse of the market at sxorbitant prices, and
20 paya ruinous exchange on our bills or 70
return with our ships half loaded. For
these three last years we have brought spe.
Gle, and this properly applied, ought to
have ensured us the choice Of all the goods
at market; but here again narrow policy,
L am afraid, deprived us Of this advantage.
My mercantile precursors generally got IN
60 the hands of the disinterested native
have already mentioned, and the cautious
reserve they are saidto have preserved with
the English merchants established here,
tended to confirm his influence. In short,
it is matter Of surprizc how we are able
to carry the trade on without loss and it is
supposed when permanent peace takes
place, that we shall be thrown out Of every
market. British freights from India will
be less than ours, and their investments SUI
perior IN quality and laid in at a lower
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