The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-01-14
LETTER THE THIRD.
To 4HE EDITOR or 4Hr ENQUIRER

DIX,
Some cavilcrS may enquire what security
we should have that q. Il. would remain sa-
tished with the concessions propose, and in
sist that too ready compliance with her de-
mands however just, would invite to future
encroachments. 1t would be sufficient an
swcr to this to say, fiat .iushtia, ruat c.rLum
but will add that we have sufficient pledge
Ter her good faith IN her national character
When she has Shewn\ such moderation to-
wards others we ought not to expect she will
abuse her power over us. Altho' she has
made a conquest of all Iudosten, she disdain-
ed to follow the example of the Spanish in
South America, and. extripate the natives,
but is C0ntented with tux OF a few rupees
| from those who have no laci. of them. She
inflicted the mid sentence of Punishment on
the Maroons In jamaica and the Charaibs in
st. Vincents, when they had forfeited their
lives by treason and rebellion. Even the
other day, sir, did we not see that they were
satisfied with bringing away the ships and
| naval stores from Copenhagen, when every
thing besides was completely in their power?
History records no such instances of national
torbearance and magnanimity. Besides, sir
when all the profits of our trade center with
/, Or. b. 1T will be a. much to her interest to use
us kindly as it is of waggoner to feed .his
horses, or dairy maid her COW: and the
English, sir, arc a very sagacious people.
Some men make great pother and noise
about the national honor, and, ask if we must
| tamely bear every insult and injury that is
offered us, and stand confessed to the world
a nation of pitifui towards! But would ask
these mighty sticklers for honor, in turn
whether the President has not issued a proc I.
lamation, i'll which he speaks of certain peo-
pie as no better than robbers and pick-pock-
cts Whether at nuInberlcsS public mset-
4 IN all tha e 4,
| try, have not been pledged to avenge our in
| jured honor? Nay more : Have not our gal
liant volunteers actually marched to Hampton
and dared them out to fight! BY the bye,
Mr.. Editor, this gives you u foretaste of the
dangers and tolls a war will bring ,.lon You.
You may depend, Sir, piticd you from my
heart when | heard what you all suffered
from hard lodging and coarse fare, nor did [
feel easy, till met one of the carts which
brought you back. If ali that ] have menti-
oned Goes notshew spirit, ] should be glad TO
know what does. To my mind it is thou
sand times more like resentment than sui
| len refusal to buy no more OF their goods And
after all, what is this honor? a sound, a sl,a-
dow, a sick mans dream, the madman's
| phantasy. Will it ced the hungry, clcthe the
naked, or cure the sick? No. 1t can do nci-
the Of these things, but by ranting, and bal
! lying, and sometimes sighting, it soon or late
brings ruin and destruction on its deluted
votary. Away then, as Falstaff says, I'll
none of it.
As to the affair Of the Chesapeake which
has been the preteXt for all this idle dcclam-
alton, always thought it was the height of
folly to make fuss about what was done and
| irrevocable. The poor fellows who were kill
led can't be brought toslife again, and to go to
war, and consequently have more blood split
would be throwing away good money after
bad--or like old Davy Holdfast, who seldom
pays one debt without contracting another
twice as large. lobe sure if man were to
give me a slap in the face or kick in the
breach, ] should be apt to shew proper re-
sentiment. j would go to an attorney and en-
ter an action of assault and battery against
him. But i'll this case there is unfortunately
no tribunal to appeal to, Of course if we are
wise, we will compromise the matter with
Mr.. Rose, the new envoy, who, it is said, has
full powers to pay for patching up the holes
in the Chesapeake, the funeral charges of
Mcdonald and the rest, and all other expens-
es necessarily resulting from Capt. Hum
phrics's uncivil behaviour, which shall be
| supported by proper vouchers. | have very
little doubt that MIR. Rose will give satisfacti IL
on as he is said be perfect master Of ac-
counts.