Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-09-27

pcrior abilities.
The full utility of SO many and such extra
ordinary qualifications of mind and body, SO
seldom united in the same man, was some
what abated by reserved exterior and rigid
adherence to his own principles and OPINIONS
which nothing could bend and on a slight
acquaintance his character was not conciilat-
ing. In the execution OF his public duty. and
especially in the control of expenditure he was
so infexibly just, as to be often thought
harsh; but when actinS In his individual cha
racter, the benevolence of his heart could not
be mistaken, aud he was by all those who had
known him long as much loved as respected.
He had resided for the last Is or l6 years
in America and was one of the early inhabl-
tants of this city, in which he had invested
the earnings of many labolious years. Since
the year 500 he has been clerk or immediate
superintendent of the public works, and had
in that situation acquired a reputation tor Ia
Tents and virtues, unanimously conceded to
few. His loss to the public, it will rot be ca
sy to repair.
In private life Mr.. Lepthail was a faithful
and affectonate husband, and fond father.
He has left behind him most amiable widow
aud three small children. Of the loss they
have suffered more can be felt than expressed.
He was, l believe about forty five years OF
age.
B. HENRY LATROBE,
Suryeuor Of The tubfc buildings
FROM THE WASHINGTON FEDE2ALIsT.
OUR democratic editors are continually
telling us of the difficulties in which the go
vernment found itself involved, when the
embargo was laid. The choice" say they,
s'was ct necessity to be made out OF dltfl-
culties alone. 1t was not choice out OF
goods and evils, but of evils alone" None
of our very wish editors, however, have
| vouchsafed to tell us who brought the coun-
try into these difficulties" The federal
editors told their readers long ago, that such
difficulties would happen-that the admins
trstion was taking the direct road to these
evils--that it was inviting aggression from
foreign powers, and that the time would
certainly come when our philosophic exccu-
tive would be involved in troubles from
which it could never cxtricatc itself, but by
destroying the liberties of the country. The
pitiful, whining language which our present
administration has ever held to foreign ma
tons, and the defenceless situation in which
it has placed the country, has been the cause
OF our degradation. We should never have
been driven to fhe dire necessity OF cutting
ofar osvn threats to SAGE ar k0es, it the adj
ministration had tread in >t.e steps of Wash
these difficulties, and well knew what would
prevent them, as appears from speech he
made in the Virginia Convention in the year
1886. He there said, e Weakness will in
yite insults. Arespectable goveramentwill
not only entitle us to a participation OF the
advantages which are enjoyed by ether ma
tons, but will be a security against attacks
and insults. 1t is to avoid the calamity OF
being obliged to have large ornaments that
we should establish this government. The
best way to avoid danger is to be in caPa
city to withstand ii"
What has been done by our administra
ton to place the country in situation to
withstand danger? Nothing They have,
as Jefferson says, s for years been looking
on the people Of Europe, afflicted with all
the evils which necessarily follow an aba..-
donment of the moral rules which bind
men and nations together" never dream
ing all this while, that those nations which
had g abandoned all moral rule" with re-
gard to each other, might sooner or later do
so with respect to US.
Our best friend Napoleon, said our min
isterial editors, is fighting for the Hbertp Of
the seas, and for the amelioration of the des-
tinies of mankind. He. good. kind souI