The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-05-12
POLITICAL VIEWS.

II The following letter from gentleman
IN England explains i'll strong colours the
past and present conduct Of the British Mi
misty. IL is zvritten 6y an Observer on tie
$hof-addressed by a. fuN-biooded American
to gentleman in South Carolina. under date
ct Feb. 25-We are indebted for it to the
Charleston City Gazette.
For some months. during the last year,
scarcely dared to fatter myself that a pc
Rod more favorable to my views would take
place IN any reasonable time as could not
bring myself to believe, from the appearance
OF things, that any circumstances could hap
pen which would change the very naughty
tone the administration of this country had
assumed towards America. The uncxpect-
ec rising which took place in June last, i'm
SPAN, III opposition to the doinss there of
Napoleon, seemed to have Infatuated them
-one might have supposed, from the deliri-
UNI which pervaded the nation, that the
French had been entirely driven out of that
country; that they would never be able to
return to it; and that this country was to
possess Spain and all its possessions, as eff
fectuaily as IT they were colonies to it. Hosts
ut Commissioners and ENJOYS arrived from
that country, they were Toasted and treated
as no men had hardly ever been before, and
at one OF the public dinners given to them, our
Country and President were Kissed, when
an attempt was made to give them as a toast
We were told in the p pc IS of the day, that
Great Britain could do without us that the
embargo injured none but ourselves; that
they had vent for all their manufactures,
of much greater consequence than the Uni.
ted States; in short, we were completely put
III the back ground. Things continued in
this way throughout the summer the eva
nescent success of the British arms in Por
tugai, added to the delusion. Timothy
PickerinS's ieHer had arrived, it was printed
i'll all the papers. and large quantities of
faMfhlefs combining IL, quere dishersed in
every ha,t Of The three kihgdoms. Accounts
were daily publishing here, taken from f,a-
hcrs fnimicai To The administration of the
united States, of disscntions i'm the Eastern
States; of threats being made to dissolve the
Union and positive assurances were recciv-
ed, that the presidential election would ter
inmate in favor of the federalists, and that
Mr.. Jefferson and the republican party would
be set adrift; indeed, some were 80 grossly
deceived by the distorted accounts given In
these papers, OF the situation of our affairs, as
obelieve that our country was in fair way of
returning to the allegiance she had formerly
thrown off.
These things rendered their 6oasfing in
folera6le / never passed my time more
disagreeable than when my business called
me to mix with their politicians. But ear
ly in November things began to wear ano-
Their face. The speech of the Emperor of
France to his Legislature was received; in
this he announced his determination of car
ryinS his arms into Spain and Portugal ;
and as he is known to be man who is gen
orally very punctual in performing those
kind OF promises, some considerable men
here began to be apprehensive for the safe
ty ct the British army in Spain. 1t was al
so foreseen, that, owing to failure of the
crop, there would be scarcity of bread
and that as the ports Of the continent were
shut, and an embargo existed in the United
States, NO great relief could be looked for
from those quarters besides, every article
waited for the navy, and many in their
manufactures, were arising to most enor-
nous prices, and some of the first necessity
were not to be had at any price. Abou,
this time also, accounts were received from
your side ct the water, which stated, tina
the chance of the federalists obtaining pos
session OF the government was more thar
Doubtful
In this situation of things, the Ministr,
seemed unwilling to meet parliament, ID