Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-16
THE INDIAMAN.

TX ever has oeen, anu ever VIII NC, u'e
fate Of those who devote their time, their
fortune, or their talents. to making dis
coveries and improvements in science or
the economy of life, or in tracing out new
paths for scientific research, or CONNER
cial enterprise and adventure, to expe-
rience the opposition Of the interested
the calumnies Of the malicious, and the
sneering animadversiOns OF the ignorant
and illiberal; and but Tor the bouyant
spirit. which ever enables true genius to
rise superior to such opposing obstacles
that light with which the brilliant genus
of a Gioia, a Newton, q Columbus, or
Fulton, has irradia,ed the world. would
never have shown upon mankind. lhis
continent, the iayorite resting place Of
liberty, the asylum Of oppressed hu"anl-
~ where flourishes in an eminent degree
those arts and sciences which are the
pr;de and boast of the old world, where
the science If civil government and the
principles of civil and religious liberty
are not only better understood, but more
successfully practised than in any part
Of the habitable globe, would now have
known the impress Of no foo'step but that
of the savage aborisines, and the blasts
which it is his employment to pursue
Commerce and navigation, instead OF uni
ting in the bonds Of social intercourse
AMI the ties OF reciprocal obligations and
benefits the most distant parts OF the
world, sould new have been confined to
the Narrow seas and to the coasts OF the
old world. These remarks will apply
With equal force to those who attempt to
divert men from pursuits to which they
have become attached from habit, and to
lead them into others, although their IN
terests may be in every way promoted
by the change.
The science OF commerce, like that OF
ehymistry, may be SAID to be impertectl'
bic, and lime aud adventure must con-
tinue to develope for it new channels,
and to she'd on it new lights. 1t is &c.
morally admitted that the application OF
known principle in a new way, or un'
der new circumstances and associations,
is in It's degree as meritoriOus as its in
yentiUn, and claims equally the support
and countenance Of society. The at
tempt Of some enterprising individuals in
our community to establish, for the Est
time, a vessel in the direct trade from
this port to the China seas, has given rise
to various spcculatioDs, and variOss OPT
Mons prevail as to its probable effect on
the interests Of the town and The invidu-
al Adventures; for it must be known that,
with US, whatever is the business of one
man is considered by our pFasmatical citi-
zens as the business of every man. by i'm
plication. Some are Of opinion that,
having done rsry ,rsll without such trade
heretofore, we have no need of it at all,
and that the attempt exceeds our means.
Others admit that the trade has been ge-
nerally lucrative, but Of late has been un-
profitable even to the eastern merchant,
who. they say, sails, his vessel at 20 per
cent. less than we can, and that rnevlta-
Die disaster must be the fate OF those who
have the temerity to attempt SO bold an
innovation on the long established system
oS Yankee monopoly and southern de-
pendeuce. But the grand considerations,
in which all. others appear to be swallow
ed up, Is the alarming, the terrifying
drain which it's to cause Of specie from
our hanks, threatening, as our panic
struck citizens suppose, their very EXIST.
ence, aud renderiss heavy curtailmeut'
necessary to avert impending destruc'
tion. Some even turn pale from the ap.
prsbension Of never again beholding the
cheering sight Of a, silver dollar, and al
the horrible prospect Of the return Of the
reg system with all its attendant calami
ties. An attempt to dissipate this gloom
10 calss the fears. and sooth the feeling.