Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-31
LETTER 1.
TIRGISIA, DECEMBER


agree with you, my dear F., in the
impertance YOU seem disposed to attach to the
Messing events of Europe. The close of the
18th, and the beginning of the 10Th centuries,
constitute undoubtedly one of the most re-
m.rkable and interesting periods in the histo-
re oftbe world At differeats times, 1t is
true, we have contemplated the elevation and
fall of different nations. Persia, and Greece,
and Macedonia, and Rome, have successfully
occupied conspicuous places on the theatre OF
tbe world: but their rise was graduai-was
,hework oftime-was the effect OF tortuitous
concurrence of circumstances. The elevation
nc these all NAV be considered as owing in a
oreat measure to the comparative depression
of the nations that surrounded them and
Greece and Rome in particular were not lit
tie indebted to the long line OF sases and he
roes, who foS several centuries rose In success
sioato give tone to their habits, nerve to the
arm. and yigor to the councils oil their respec-
tive countries. But for France and the pre-
cent generation, it has been reserved to wit
re.s. the course of a few years, revolution,
AN accumulation of horrors, rapid success
sion of conquests over the arms, the habits
,be nreiudices, the virtues, the religion, OF a
whole continent, unparalleled IN the annals
&C mankind. Such a combination OF qualities
roo. such boundiess ambition, such mental re-
sources. such bodily activity, as arc now u
n;,rd in single individual, were never per-
hans before diffuscd over any one age, or
any one nation. From country already eX-
bansted by foreign and domestic wars, and
.nnarent,v without the means OF self-preser-
vst;on. the Emperor of France has managed
80 draw forth materials for the conquest
b,d ,l,nos, said--of the worid-a world too
re;,ber los, in barbarism, nor enervated by the
re6nements of civilization. Opposed at eve
=, sten nv nations equal in vigilance to the
rowing Scythians, OF the warlike Gauls-and
hardly inferior in military skill and manly
ronraee. to the Gucicn. Romans he has ne
vertbeless established power, which seems
20 hid defiance to every thing but time. The
nations of continental Europe, many OF whom
once stood exalted in the estimation of the
~nrld. now lie low and degraded at the ty-
r,,,,,s fnotstool; for "the nigh ones OF stature
-, hoe bewn dswn, and the naughty he has
b,,,bled.n The once powerful Sweden, the
rennhlics of Switzerland and Holland, and even
ytalv the former mistress ofthe world, are lit
A. more than mere provinces of France
pr,ss;a. Denmark, Austria, and Russia, have
res;qaed the substance for the shadow, the re-
al;ty for the name of liberty and OF Spain and
Portugal, it need hardly be said, they are but
the wrecks of nations.
From this melancholy picture, this combi-
nation of light and shsde, of despotism and
.l;sprace, of upstart power and fallen pride,
che mind inyoluntarily turns to some more en-
,;yen;nr prospect, to some cheering and inyi-
srorating object, on which to rest Its hope of
Sr;cbteT day. On the continent all IS gloom,
and darkness, and despair. A cloud portend-
;,r rather the increase, than the abatement of
,bo storm. rests on It's horizon-and from G.
Rr;,,;n perhaps is derived the only ray ofcon-
.ol;pe Ito hit visible in any portion ofthe world.
should not then this solitary ray be received
srJ cherished? Should not every avenue be
.-,.,ea for Its admission Should not the
~l;s,s Of natioaal prejudice vanish before its
;re,,erces Should not the mind be illunin-
- the feelings warmed, the heart expanded,
80, sverv human power strengthened by its
.,,, These are questions of the high
~, ;,nnor,ance, not to Europe only, but the
-nrld We are all more or less interested in
= : ,vr,nd drama, now performing on the Eu-
.,r saee. Its plot, Its execution, and its
,gppbsble effects are subjects OF general con-
r.ro: nor can its principal characters, its o.
.hrI,o, and its Iago, be TOO stsentveiy surveyed.
To reasonable mind II would appear al
most impossible that, At this day, single