The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-03-17
FOREIGN.
EEtract Of letters to the editor-doteg
0PARIS DAD Dac 81.

EEtrQct Of letters TO the editor IoteJ
"PARIs, Dad Dec. & 1st Ian
cit is not easy to ascertain any thing
which concerns actual politics heer unleso
what concerns our own immediate affaIrs,
ana fror-. agents. Severe as the
police IS represented to be abroad, and jea-
ious as tine government is everywhere des-
crlbed, never witnessed, not eycn in En-
gland, any country in which here is so
much freedom taken with the Whole circle
which may be called the government. Du-
| ring the few months that / have been here,
! have had ample opportunities of compar-
ing every thing with what Ihad previously
seen in London, and you may believe did
not forget to compare both with PHILADELPHIA
a., What l have been most surprised at
here is the number of English If both sexes,
some under the name of prisoners, some un-
der the name of Americans, ami others nei-
ther claimed by, nor claiming any country
There are several circles of these, if may
so call it, and have spent some evenings
IN one or two of them which would have
been agreeable enough, had not their time
been too much occupied by retailing scan
dalous stories, many of them SO gross as
not to be capable of imposing ON any man of
observation. Whether these stories are in
| vented for want of something to do or say, or
to crafty spleen or disappointment it is
difficult to say but it is certain, that the
tales which originate in this way, take a
large circuit and find their way into English
and American newspapers as authentic e.
vents, which their authors appear TO enjoy
with that particular kind Of exultation,
wlIich arises out of the amiable English
Ipractice called hearing --they, however
hoax each other occasionally, and some
times, though ! cannot say ss often as they
merit, hoax themselves into the hands Of
! the police. There are some Americans a.
| mopg these Circles who having relinquished
! every idea of love of country, may be
well supposed not 10 have retained respect
among orr countrymen, nor among the EN-
inent men here who retain all their ancient
! attachment to America. Some fears were
expressed here on the arrival of Barlow,
that his known politics and hostility to the
Iprvilcdged orders, would have provided for
him cool reception but whether such
dislikes prevailed or not, it is certain tina,
he has been received with distinction not
only greater than was expected, but alto
IgetlIef distinguished. Indeed from the best
sources Conformation among our own coun-
trymen, il appears that the dispositions to.
wards us here are less tinctured with zeal.
ousy, than heretofore the Englishmen or
iparole in this city do an immense mischief
| by their malicious Misrepresentation, and
their affected Friendships some of them
whom l could name,. appear to me in nc
other light than as the spies of England, 6,
the policy which detains them appears to
me as incompatible with the sagacity at
tributed to this government as their tolera.
ton is a standing evidence of che little rigor
which the police exercises. Freedom Of
| opinion on all subjects is much more safe
! from the government than in London and
in private society the absence Of restraint
here is very strong contrast to the mo-
roseness with which opinions on certain to-
pics are treated there.
"Your letter by Mr.. w. was duly recei-
we'd, and / enclose you a copy of paper
which he gave me he asserts that the mum.
Der of English vessels, which go into the
Baltic under American co,ors and false pa
pers, are so great, that it will be no longer
safe for ships orproperty, really American
to risk that trade-and that an indiscrimi.
nate capture of every vessel will be the con-
sequence of measures already taking, unes:
there should be some course fixed BY nego.
station to avert the Consequences, Indeed