Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-03-11

SIR,-AS YOU have SO readily undertaken
the service which have suggested to you, as
being likely to be attended with much benefit
to the public interests, l am to request that
with yeur earliest conyeniency you will pro-
coed to Boston.
The principal object that recommend to
your attention is the endeavor to obtain the
most accurate information of the true state OF
af1Airs in that part of the union, which, from
It's wealth., the number Of its inhabitants, and
the known intelligence and ability Of several
of its leading men, must naturally possess
very considerable influence over, and will liz
deed probably lead the other E.stern States of
America in the part that they may take at this
important crisis.
l shall not pretend to point out to you the
mode by which you will be most likely to OBJ
tain this important Information your own
Judgment and the connexions which you may
have in the town must be your guide.
think it however necessary to put you On
your guard against the sanguiaeness of an as
piriag party; the federalists as l understand
have at all times discovered leaning to this
disposition, and their being under Its particu-
lar influence at this moment Is the more to be
expected from their having no Ill founded
ground for their hopes OF being nearer the a.
tamment Of their object than they have been
for some years past.
In the general terms which have made use
fin describing the object which recommend
to your attention, il is scarcely necessary that
should observe, include the state of the pub
lie opinion both with regard to their internal
politics and to the probability OF d war with
England the comparative strength OF the
two great parties into which the country is di-
vided, and the views and designs of that which
may ultimately prevail.
1t has been supposed that it the federallsts
of the Eastern States should be successful III
obtaining that decided influence, which may
enable them to direct the public opinion, it is
not improbable, that rather than submit to a
continuance of the difficulties and distress to
which they are now subject, they will exert
that influence to bring about a separation
from the general union. The earliest infor-
nation on this subject may be of great conse-
quence to our government, as ii may also be,
that it should be informed ho7y far in such an
event they zvould look u1t to England for as
sistauce or be disfiosed TO enter into u conne1ion
zvith US.
Although it would be highly inexpedient
that you should in any manner appear as an a
vowed agent, yet if you could costriye to OBJ
tain an intimacy with any of the leading party,
it may not be improper that you should insi-
nuate, though with great caution, that it they
should zvish 10 enter into any comm'th' alton
zvith oar government through ME you are autho-
riscd to receive any such, and 70RI safely trans
NIT it to me, and as it may not be impossible
that they should require some document by
which they may be assured, that you are real
" in the situation in which you represent your
self, | enclose q credential to be produced in
that view but most particularly enjoln and
direct, that YOU do not make any use of this
paper, unless desire to that purpose should
be expressed, and a.nless yen see good ground
for crtecting that Tie doing so may lead to
more confidential communication, than you can
otherwise look for.
In passing through the state Of Vermont,
you will of course exert your endcaVors to pro-
cure all the information that the Short stay
you will probably make there will admit Of
You will use your own discretion as to delay
ing your Journey, with this view, more or
less, in proportion to your prospects of OBJ
tanning any information OF consequence.
request to hear from you as frequently as
possible, and as letters directed to me might
excite suspicion it may be as we'll that you put
them under cover to Mr.. -, and as even
the addressing letters always to the same per-
son might attract notice, recommend your
sometimes addressing your packet to the Chief
Justice here, or occasionally, Though seldom,
to Mr.. Rylapd, but never with the addition of
his official description.
am sir, your most obedient humble SER
want,
(Signed) ]. H. CRAIG.
John Henry, Esq.