Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-08-09

Int IOIiUWlHo 10 IhC eN -
series of eloquent papers published al'ef-
nately in the Boston Centinei and Gazette.
I OWE an apology to the public Tor de-
seendine from our external national con.
Germs, in which the peace, prosperity anu
liberty of this great nation are involved
and in the management of which, single
act of corruption or undue Partially may
nroduee the loss of millions to the natlon'
and ruin to thousands of innocent citizens
to an individual case ofthe gross and frau,
dalent misapplication, by Jefferson anu
Madison, of the public monies.
But however Mr.. Barlow or Mr.. Mad,
ison NAV think that they have explained
this dark transaction, we are prepared TO
prove that in no free country was ever
measure adopted or permitted SO scandal
lously corrupt. The grant of $4,000 DOL
lars to young foreigner, who was enti-
tied 70 no distinction in the United States,
although this sum wonld have made ma
nv respectable citizens OF the U. States
happy for life, is of no moment i'll ma
tional point of view, but in so far as 1t
tends to prove, the unlicensed profligacy
of our rulers-their contempt for princi-
pies and public opinion. and their deter
mination to preserve their power, by
squandering the public monies on unde-
serving favourites who are willing to pro-
mote their ambitious views.
In bringing this subject most amply be-
fore the people, and in giving to it an i'm
portance which Mr.. Smiths ignorance
of many of the facts did not enable him
so efFectually to do. shall adopt the fol-
lowing arrangement:
1st. l shall take a brief view Of Mr..
Ervins's character and claims on the A.
merican people.
2dly. 1 shall consider the charges adj
vanced against Mr.. Madison by Mr..
Smith.
sdIy. shall refute most amply the de-
fence set up by Mr.. Madison and Mr..
Barlow. by showing not only that Erving
was entitled TO no commission, but that
BY a circular letter under his own hand
copy of which l possess and shall pub
lish, he acknowledged that no such com
mission as Mr.. Madison has allowed was
by him chargeable.
First then. George Erving. Esq. minis
ter at present at the court OF Denmark,
was the son of the late George Erving.
Esq. mandamus counsellor to his Britanic
majesty George the Third, who was in
consequence his acceptance OF that Of
fee, not merely declared tory. but pro-
seribed by this state as conspirator-
and even after received pension from
his Britanic Majesty for his loyalty. His
son, the subject of this essay, left this
country at five years of age, received his
education in Great Britain, and having
left the university, was brought up a lawyer
at the Temple.
We are not so illiberal as to deny that
many of the loyalists were honorable and
virtuous men; nor so unjust as to visit
the sins of the father upon his offspring;
but when we find it reproached to Mr..
Gore, who received his education in our
own country, who actually bore arms a
gainst Great Britain. that his father took
an opposite side, which the son disdained
to follow we think it fair subject of
animadversion against Mr., Erving, who
received his education iH an enemy's coun-
try, and who, when he came to mans
estate, did not, and never has to this day
changed his allegiance.
He is and ever will be the subject of
his Britannia majesty. This however we
do not consider reproach to Mr.. Erying,
but as disqualification Cor Office. Three
years after the peace, for the first time,
he visited this country to take up the rem
nants of bis maternal estate and to trans
port them TO Great Britain, which he ac-
cordingly did.
Judge Wetmore, or some other Of his
relations, procured an act then easy to be
obtained. naturalizing him under pretence
of enabling him to hold the real estate
which descended to him.
He did not reside in this country more
than two years. In the year 1900, this
youth having finished his studies as a Br;-