Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-04-10

Generals. And slsmay with strict truth be
sassd thar passion. party spiris, ptsjadice,
;mi.re presents .ions, falsshoods and the want
ofafali and correct knowledge Of men and
'of the tendency of tneasusfs are such pow
erful prs ventatiyes To the exercise ct their
patriotism, that not more than one our Of
lem ten perhaps, NOT mare than one ont Of Eft
~. knows whether his vote is caiculatsd %
henrfit or TO injpre lis country. Hence
we can accoun. for the popularity Of such
men as general Smith and w. B. Giles, and
for the rlsrtion,of Jefferson TO. the presiden,
Cyl. Forauo man in his senses, who is,well
acquainted With; th.S character of the late
president can suppose that setting aside the
interested, the dishonest, and the incapa.
bic, he could have received an hundred
votes in the United States.
Far the larger part Of Swif,'s patriots.
whether called wings, tories, democrats,
frdcraIis,s, or any thing else, are not Gull
pab!r for belief or exertion. Educated, a
mahonetan the Turk spurns christian in
fidel; educated christian the believer
condemns the unbelieving Jew. Their
principle and their conduct do not arise
from cor,uptne,s Of heart. The same may
be said Of most patriots. ,e,...t- i , q
How are four fifths Of the voters in the,
u. States to know the character of a eandi-
date for the pres;deucy! A. 3. c. &c. are
farmers and mechanics, and these prolss.
sions constitute the bulk Of voters. But
few of them have time, or inclination, Or
opportunity, to be well informed of a gre at
character with whom they are unacquaisltcd.
Hence the total uncertainty, whvthrr the
best, or even one Of the best men in the
union, be elected to that Office. And hence
the chance OF success is about equal for a
Washington or Jefferson. a
TRANSACTIONS far tie PHILADELPHIA Gassste.
CADIz, Feb 9.
The Supreme Junta of this place does not
loose sight of, or omit any means which GIN
contribute to the public convenience, and
at the same tim. not diminish the means OF
defence. In addition TO the numerous
measures hitherto adopted, it has been pub
lshs d that navigation is free, and :ha; all
vessels may depart for their respective de-
situations, provided they do not take with
them provisions, which mus, be lcs1 tor tbs
sustenance Of the inhabitants. Vessels de-
parting mus. in o;her respects conform 10
thd regulations of the port.
!. The government has observed with NJ
little regret, the little assistance afforded by
the inh ahitants in constructing and for
tifying the Parapet and battery OF San For
nando and it again calls upon the citizens,
in hopes that coerclvc measures may be uu-
necessary.
The regiment of patriots which was in
garrison in this city, has received its full
complement Of arms, ammunitiuns, &c.
and measures are taxing to organize the
militia, for the better defence of the city.
According to advice from Lisbon, VIZ
may every moment expect 5000 British
troops with ships Of the line. We also
look for reinforcemen,s from Gibraltar.
The enemy On the 9TH in the morning,
were seen falling back to the Puerto Real,
in CONSCIENCE OF the FIRE from our boats
which they afterwards adj
vanced, and were fortilying themselves at
the battery Del Commerce., keeping up
constant fire Of musquetry ON our boa;s,
who continued to annoy them.
Another division of 500, with 5 pieces
Of flying artillery, proceeded the same c.
vening 10 the Troc.daro. where they had
to shelter themselves in the magazines, SO
smart was the FIRE of our ships and gun
boats. ..r.' ..
Accordingto accounts from Puerto and
Xerez, il appears, thar the enemy. no Ion
ger able to conceal their true character, have
commenced their accustomed outrages on
the peaceable inhabitants. This is the hap
piness they offer to those who ,reacherous-
ly adhere to their cause. ..-,.e Il
The whole Of yesterday, with but short
we~witnessed the FIRE Of our gun
boats, of the English and of the ship San
Jus.e, upon the Trocadero. The enemy