Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-03-20

cannot be supposed attuned TO peace
The defence offered by Adam, when ae'
cuscd of rebellion against his Maker
discover, the latent principles from
whence discord, civil Or religious, Prl'
vate or public, proceeds. "Ihe woman
whom Thou garest to be with me- she
cave me of the fruit and did eat.
Here il is impossible not to observe the
commencement of dispositions hostile to
God and man, whence originate what Is
impious in principle, or detestable IN
practice. This having been the govern
ing principle with Cain. and with the IN
habi,apts of the an,edeiuvian world,
brought ABEL to an untimely death, and
stained the earth with blood. 1t is not
expressly said that wars were then un-
dertsken, but it is strongly :n,lmated.-
An irreligious race sought and Obtained
renozyu, for what For physical strength
and violence. Glorious renown indeed
in w'$ch they emulated the Tiger, and
contendcd with beast of prey for bis
distinction. The page which recorded
their names was bloated with the tears OF
the orphan ); and the incense offered
them was darkcncd by the spectres o.
those whom they had murdered; they
trembled at the breath which sounded
their praise, and were panied by that
glory which threw tight on their criminal
conduct.
The original employments of man
kind were the cultivation of the earth,
and the care of fiocks. These procured
them food and clothing. The body was
invigorated by useful labor, * the mind
soothed hy the lessons of wisdom which
the peaceful meditation on surrounding
objects and daily occurrences, abundant
ly afforded. The turbulent mind of the
murderer Cain, was not satisfied with
these useful u,suits, and became inca
pable of receiving lessons of wisdom
He buKt city, where reflection was
lost ia the buzz Of crowds, and sensibii-
ty deadencd by the repetition of crimes,
and the society of the criminal. In CT
ties, pious objects indeed are cherished
and brought to perfection but moro
frequently, being congenial to hui
man depravitv, objects the most oppo-
site are countenanced, and acquire ma
Lightly which deform and yitiatc the cha.
racter. The Creators image is defaced ;
and vipers are generated in the mass of
corruption, offspring ot the serpent
whose throat is an open sepulchre !;
with their tongues they have used de-
ceit the poison of ssps is under their
lips whose mouth is full Of cursing S
bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed
blood. Destruc ion and misery are in
their ways, and the way of peace have
they not known. There is TO fear Of
God before their eyes"
1t has beena prevailing opinion h all
ages, that great city is great evil
Luxury dcsccnds from the highest to
the lowest, Injecting all ranks. Vice is
countenanced and with the force Of tor
rent bears all before it. In an impepe.
trable combination wichcdness is en-
trenched. The phaianx cannot be bro.
ken. From this cause corruption in
creases in cities, in proportion to the
number of the inhabitants. ct would
give one the Spleen" says Lord Kames,
60 hear the French and English yea
lousy disputing about the extent ofthcir
capitals, as if the prosperity of their
country depended on that circumstance.
To me it appears like one glorying in
the king's-evil, or in any contagious dis.
temper. Much better employed would
they be, in con,riving means tor lessen
ing these cities"
Viewing man in the infancy of the
world has suggested these observations.
The picture is given in the Eve first
chapters of Genesis. Nothing can be
conceived more deformed; but is not
the likeness exact, and are no. the lead
ing features too visible in every succeed.