Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-08-07
EXTRACT
From a Review Of WALsa's LETTER, IN
the Eclectic Reviezu.

sDispositions OF the French Government,
including a View of the Taxation Of the
French Empire. By an American re-
Gently returned from Europe. Phila-
delphia printed--London reprinted -.
syo. PIP. 253. Price SIS. Eongman and
Co. 1910.
:. We shall perform very pleasing part
Of our duty, in recommending this able and
interesting pamphlet which possesses-eve-
nv claim 70 the public attention, that can a.
rise from extensive knowledge, original in
formation, political science, enlarged and
accurate views, brilliancy Of style, an i'm
portant subject, and an useful tendency
The strength of our recommendation will
not he thought excessive BY any unpreja-
diced reader of these pages. Nor indeed
will prejudice itself be found capable Of re-
sis.!ng their influence, except amongst the
blindcst and most infatuated of Its dnpes.
II has often been observed, as not alittle
e extraordinary, that partiality for the pre-
sent ruler of France should stlllexist in any
order of men amongst us. The admirers
of the French revolution might have been
expected to be the very first to cover his
name with excavations. 1t would seem ma
tural for the friends Of liberty, of com.
merce, of humanity, OF peace, OF democra-
tic institutions, to regard the bitter enemy
and base vioia,or of every thing they hold
in veneratica, as the httest object of anti
pathy and adherence. To have favored the
republican general. would have been the
suresl pledge of hatred to the imperial des-
pot. The very reverse Of this, however, is
true in the North American commonwealth,
and those who are acquainted with the state
of opinion in the various classes Of English
society, must be aware that it is, in some
measure, the case even in England. A sort
OF idolatrous affection for the French elnpe.
ror seems to pervade large class Of the
American population; and the same spirit,
thotin weaker form, undoubtedly exists
in small and decreasing number of our
countrymen. The solution OF this paradox
is not perhaps very difficult, though it may
be somewhat different IN particular lnstan.
ces, and ri ouire more extensive develope-
inent than this eursory notice will allow.
In some men, the prediction arises FROM
an attachment to the Freuch cause an at.
tachment produced by various principles
which have not since been excited to de-
stroy it, or, as it often happens, which are
absolutely unequal TO the task. tt was re-
marked of a certain parsonage, by one who
had studied his character, 8 The tutor
of that young man must take care what he
beats into his head, fer he will never be a.
bic to beat it OUT Fhe fire which has once
fixed the colors Of an enamel painting, is
said to be incapable OF dctaching them.----
Those, however, whose attachment to the
French.interest was hess enlightened and
philan,hsopic, who were rather the enemies
ofEngland than the iriendscf France, what
ever else they may be accused OF, must be
acquitted of inconsistency. It seems that
some men, moreover, are dazzled with the
fierce lustre Of unrelentlng energy, unlnter!
rupted success, and unlimited power as
the spleudor of a confagratlon bsguiles US
into au oblivion of its horrors. In many in
stances, the partiality may be Of different
kind: a despotic power may st1libs the de-
stroyer of dsspotisms, anu find favor with
those who prefer a new institution OF ~
ranny to an aid one, from a persuasion that
It's expressions will be less intolerable, and
its foundation less secure. sIhe most dan
eereus cause of partiality, however, is be-
lief, that even the present influence of such
a power is salutary, that its exercise is be-
niacent, anfi.s subjects happy. This be-
lief, which is, to 4 great extent, the effect
of the partially, as well as the cause-a fc-
titious ground, which it first creates and
then occupies, is certainly maintained bya
considerable number of politicians, eapeci-
ally of the lower kind, both in England and
America. But, whatever be the origin of
- ,,;,oent lie preva{eoce IN INV FREE.