Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-03-18


vulgar, and their routes dull--does appear
to US 10 be somewhat extravagant and uu-
reasonable. 1t is impossible however not to
remark, that those who hate the Americans
so much for their inattcntlon to the Graces
III their manners and conversation, cannot
be supposed to feel amy great love or re-
spect for the greater part of their own
countrymen; for, though we are not abso-
iuteiy nor altogether nation of shopkeep-
ers, we are very much afraid that more
than nine-tenths of the middling and better
sort of people among ourselves belong to
this reprobated class of traders and dealers,
and have very much the same manners
with their brethren in America. The so.
cicsy of New York and Philadelphia in short,
we imagine, must be at least as good as that
OF Glasgow or Manchester and though we
make no doubt that the beau monde of the
latter places will be extremely scandalized
at the superstition, we can assure them that
the Americans consider il as just as little
hattering to them; at least we have now
lying before US a New-Xork publication. i'm
which one Of these Republican wits makes
himself exceedingly merry with the igno-
rance, vulgarity and forwardness, of the
English traders and agents that occasional
ly resort to his city.
This objection then. though we hear it
q lily made by persons who have not the
slightest conception of what polite society
Isis obviously quite ridiculous i'm the mouth
OF all but the few who move IN the very
highest circles of fashion and can only re-
late to the few who hold similar rank
IN the scale OF American society, and dis
charge its functions, it seems, in less
perfect manner. The great body of the
people is better educated, and more COM
tortably situated. than the bulk of any Eu-
ropean coYH Apossess all the ac-
complisha us that are any>where to be
found iq Ersons of the same occ0nation and
condhioW The complaint is, that here are
no peop f fashisa lAt their colaNn still
wants i'll ;orintl 81 capital<-or in Npther
words, thosSgbo arc %ch andhidle
numbers, to ii SlSsshs to fill / r.
lection thaj fsten{ ingenious trifing, Ad
elegant disss Jon, means Of which it Has
been .discoveteR tMk wed tif.and leisilfe
may be most feeabiy sAis5aa of. Nd
hitting the faceS ke so-and ~ a couiitry
where there is nd nSpo, nobility, md no
monument or tradit5t ihiaia lsf56s usages
and where, moreover featest num-
Der OF those who.are rich and powerful have
raised themselves to that eminence by mer-
Camille industry, we really do not see how
1t could well be otherwise-we would still
submit, that this is To Law fIl cause either for
national contempt, or for national hostility.
1t IS popularity III the structure of socie-
ty among that people, which, we take it,
can only give offence to their visiting ac-
quanitance; and, while it does us no sort
OF harm while 1t subsists, promises, we
think, very soon to disappear altogether,
and no longer to affiict even our imaginati
ons. The number of individuals born to the
enjoyment of hereditary wealth is, OF at
least was, daily increasing in that country /;
andN isimpossble that their multiplication,
with all the models of European refine
ment before them, and all the advantages
resulting from free government, and a
generai system of good education--should
IAN, within avery short period, to give birth
10 better tone of conversation and society,
and to manners more digAified and refined.
Unless we are very much misinformed in
deed the symptoms of such change may
already be traced in their great cities. Their
youths OF fortune already travel over all the
countries OF Europe for their improvement;
and specimens are occasionally met with
even i'll these islands. which, with all our
preJudlces, we must admit, would do no dis
credit to the best blood of the land from
which they originallYrspruag. Mr., Weld,
indeed, and faresef' Parllinsons. give {,
very uninviting Picture Of their Society !;
but NJ. Talleyfahd, aDd.she Due. de Lii
ancourt, are by no means 20 fastidiors 4;
and we cannot help suSpecting Mat, ION a
point of this nature, then opinion is en}itIed
to full as much weight as either of tkosa En-
g!ish authorities SHeare not anxious How
ever, to establish their G fo'tie capAbili-
ties OF politeness. We only wisfstD Sencou-
rage disposition to bcasPeare. and to trade
with them; and for that purpose we really
think it enough, If it can be shown that they
are good customers, and dangerous enemies.