The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-12-15
NEw-YoRK, Dec. 10,

The editor of the London Courier of the
21st OF October, makes the following ridcu-
lous observations respecting the Presidents
answer to the Boston petition for the remoy-
al of the cmbargo:-
:" The answer of Mr.. Jefferson to the inha-
bitants of Boston, who prayed for the sus
pension of the embargo (Which we Inserted
yesterday, and have re-published to-day,) is
such as we cxpected-There is. an effcctu-
al moderation of tone and temper in it,
which it is hoped will reconcile the Ameri-
cans to msasure, which, without doing any
Injury To the oeiiigerent powers, at least, to
England, is rapidly working the ruin of the
American trade-it will require, however,
much greater talents than Mr.. Jefferson pos
sesseS, to make the people of America look
with applause on an act which may well be
called an act of suicide. l. is not as IL great
an absurdity as if a man were to give him
self mortal wound, and then cXclaim, see
how | am reveBged on the person whom |
hate Through this veil however, of mo-
deration and sensibility for the distress of
the American merchants, it is easy to see
that Mr. JefIerson's sentiments are hostile
to us. and that he does not view the eXerti-
ons of the Spanish patriots, with any feelings
of satisfaction. -Cbserve that in his scale of
offence towards America, he always places
us first-'The orders of England, and the
DEGREES of France and SPAIN as if cur or
ders had been the cause CT the French dc
crees, instead of having been the conse-
quence of them. He endeavors to keep out
Of sight that the trade with Spain is perfect
ly free to neutral commerce; that the En-
glish orders do not prescribe neutral com
merce, and that it is to the American gov
eminent alone, the American merchants are
To imputc the Introduction of their trade
with Spain and her colonies 1t has been
well & seasonGbly stated by Brother Jonr-
nalist, that the policy of the British minis
tiers in relation TO the commerce OF Ameri-
ca with Spain, was liberal, and really bene-
VIOLENT. lin reply to Il question which was
put to them before the close of the last ses-
sion, they DECEASED that the United States
was free to trade with Spain from the mo-
n!ent that Spain ayowcd her hostility to tie
tyrant Of Europe; and thar mo circuitous
voyage through England was hcnceforth to
be required OF them. But this Mr. Jeffer-
son most unfairly keeps out ofsight. He keeps
out of sight too, every thing which is cheer
ing and animating with respect to Spain
" In Spain indeed Il contest for the govern
rieDt appears to have arisen" An expression
that would give tho people ofAme!ca to un-
derstand that the contest in Spain was be-
tween two domestic factions struggling for
the direction of affairs that parties had ari-
sen in the state which had thrown every
thing into anxiety ard confusion. lie does
no; do, as he ought 20 have done, state that
in Spain there is bu. one patty, OF the whole
people determined to throw of a foreign
cl.e, and to keep cut foreign tyrant--that
is, al Spain is fighting against Bonapartc 4ho
wishes 10 impose ou the Spania dis a king
whom tllCy are determined not to accept
We should have 'hought that the American
president Who BOASTS If ruling over free
people would have scarcely been able to
nave foand words sufficiently animated to
cypress his jog ii such prospcct--that civ
log gig;'H'i C fcrni 10 liberty he woulG have
Gepic - ner bcs;ridiug tic vast Atlantic, sas-
t1ining with ono hand the Independence OF
A"er,ca, and graspins Wilh tho other the
energies G. Spain, 10 direct them against