Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-04-12
q p UBLISHRD
ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS,
BY JOHN U.RKE.
BRITISH ESSAYS.

BRITISH ESSAYS.
In the present dearth of original matter of
: leading interest, and at moment when
our government has resumed the reiati-
ons Of Amity With the British nation. it
may not be amiss to offer to our readers
b the following papers which have fallen in-
to our hands, containing observations on
abe late war, towards the close of which
they were published in pamphlet in Lon
con. II they offer nothing new TO the A.
,serican reader, they afford wholesome
historical and political truths, conveyed
with force and elegance of style we'll
worthy Of imitation: aud they may serve
good purpose here, by shelving to this
people, that, however they may have been
vilifed by the Times newspaper. and its
more ssinine supporters in London, there
are in England men of solid talent who
understood and dared to expound, even
during its continuance, the merits of the
war which has just terminated. There
are in England many men, we hope
large proportion of the honest men OF that
community, whose senses are not entirely
ct the Command of my Lords Castereagh
and Liverpool, the facetious Mr.. Cam
Flag, and their noble and ignoble coadju>
tors. OF that number undoubtedly is the
writer of the following able essays.
Mar. Inf.
From the British Pamthieteer, 1917.
why are we still at WARP Or the Amerie.
can question considered; in series of es-
says rejected by the journalists as unpo-
pular +; recommended to a candid peru.
sol hv CopciIiator s-ln
Had guod medium est, atque infer
ufrumgue, hro6amus.
PREFACE.
The following essays were offered to a
number Of the daily newspapers, late IN Ju :
ly, and early in August last; and to that in
course which has always been held by the
writer in the highest estimation, to the +"
ditor of which the first lines do literally APP
DIV. To him nErnber of them were sent
for perusal but, though the former obJec-
ton was removed, another not less formida-
bic bad sprung up. The great events, by
which every thing relating to the American
war was cclipsed, had passed by bat now
the popular prejudice was so strong, that
nobody would look at but one side of the
question. He agreed in the sentiments /;
particularly in that which deprecated the
seeking through an expense of blood and
treasure what might be obtained without it ];
and if they should be thrown into PAM
phlet, or the Pamphieteer, which he re-
,-,mmended as work that was read; he
would willingly give extracts and commen~
da,ions.
A second Editor commended the energy,
and good temper at the same time, with
which he thought the letters were written !;
hut observed that the author was not per.
haps aware that every Journal had rs par
ticu.ar class of readers and it was neces
sary to consult their taste, bo,h with respect
20 the matter aud the time when 1t would
be acceptable.
a third saw nothing in them, that either
ne or his customers would dislike ii they
could BIZ brought to attend to them but
they would embron him in long discussions
and srgumentations, which would be more
plague than proht.----Any information OF
what was actually going on in respect to the
war, or the negotiations Tor peace, he would
be very thankful for little attention was
paid TO causes effects alone we're inquired
after. The author was now advised 20 Of
fer them to Journal, which he had known
in less degenerate days but whose Editor
after having requested from him any adVi
ces that might fail in his way, and latterly
declined Certainly in very civil way) 2
piece OF information, whose truth he did not
doubt, IS contrary to bis spirit.--Cn an in-
timatien from friend of the Editor that
they would now be received with thanks,
he suffered the manuscripts to be submitted
TO his perusai the more readily; as he
= thought the truth and candor, with which
he had cndeavored to state the case, would
form pleasing contrast to the general scope
of the paper and he preferred enliGh,ep.
ing those in the greatest darkness; upon the
ground that those that be whole needs nc
physician The objection here, however
was, that they challenged contradiction
and would invite more answers than bis Jour
nal had room for These are the princi
pal reasons assigned for their vejeciion and
which are thought to warrant the title Of
essayss rejected by the Journalists as un
popular. Most Of them, however, added
that from their length they were better
subject fer pamphlet; aad accordingly
here they are.
A few reflections naturally grow out ol
the Sc reflections That the freedom of the
press is the palladium of liberty, no Juuius
was ever better persuaded than the author
of these letters THAT it is prostituted 10
the vilest purposes is equally true THAT in
the present state Of it there is a want of get
ting fairly before the public the most inns