Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-05

as in his praise"
From the Baltimore Morning Chronicle.
DECLINE OF COMMERCE.
The decline of commerce has been sub.
iect ofgeneral complaint, and has been i'm
puted to variety of unsatisfactory causes.
The situation of the world for twenty-five
years past, will we think sufficiently ao-
count for this phenomenon. During this
period, Europe has been engaged in san
culinary and exterminatng war: our whole
continent has been a theatre OF destruction.
1t matters not, so far as the present question
is concerned, which of the parties are the
victors or vanquished; both victors and
vanquished must be fed; subsistence and
cioathng must be obtained from nation
who is not party in The contest. What is
the wonder then if the commerce of neu-
trail power during such season Of storm
and peril, thrives with unprecedented ac-
tiyity what the wonder il extravagant
prices for all the articles Of subsistence and
cloathing are demanded and received -
When one nation has been prosecuted with
fire and sword to the waters edge. and de-
priyed OF all supplies by land, what is the
wonder if she pays exorbitantly for those
supplies which the wind and the waves
conspire 10 watt upon her shores? Hhen
peace once more Yields her sceptre of olive
an entire change OF scene takes place.
Every independent power instead OF rely
ing on precarious commerce for articles OF
food and oloahing, depends on the cultiva-
ton of ITS own resources. But the question
may previously be put, is this thing 10 be
lamented? During seasons OF such storm
anu tempest, let it be remembered that the
spilit of rash adventure, SO excited, cannot
properly be called commercial spirit it
is spirit totally irreconcleable 10 tbatslow
cautious, progressive calculation by which
mercantile fortunes are usually made when
the world enjoys repose. II the vessel ar
riyes IN safety at the destined port, when
the world is in arms, the profits Of the voy-
age ara so enormous, that they resemble
more the fortunate chances OF lottery,
than any other mode of acquiring pro-
perry
The balt is too tempting, too facinating
to De resisted and though ninety-nine who
embark IN such speculation fail the victims,
yet il the hunireth is successful the genius
Of enterprise fixes her keen ana lynX-like
eye, not on the ghlterlng wrecks by wfiCh
she is surrounded, but On the dazzling
prosperity OF the one successful Candidate.
This may be called rather an ocean lottery
tnan commerce ii eaGs to rash gambling.
Those who have been engaged in such
splendid adventures, look with loathlng on
the slow acgu sitious oi steady and systeuIa-
nc cUmmerce
How often have we heard our fellow citi-
zens wish that the Gemon OF destruction
might lie let lose on the European world a.
gain that rapine, and ruin, and desCla-
Ton, and slaughter might stalk over the
soil 50 recent y polute, with human blood
that mang led limbs and mutiiated carcasses
might s,rew the field of battle that more
widows and orphans might she'd unayailiag
tears anu that empires might be converted
INTO sepuichreS, 10: no other reason Than TO
pick profitable speculation from such
complicated mass OF human misery.
But while we are imploring heaven to
create SO much misery Tor our bene fit
wuile we think that the tears of the orphan
and of the widow may be fairly exchanged
for guinea in our pockets /; let us remem-
Der, that in The future economy of Divine
Providence, the case mag be reversed that
we may be the suffering nation, and that
Europe may be destined to speculate upon
our sorrows. Hhile We wish misery on the
other side of the Atlantic, we may justly
tremble lest Divine Providence should in
fiict il on this. Heaven has always been
kinder TO us than we have been to ourselves.
From the Neg York Daily Advertiser.
We are surprised that meme OF the book
sellers in this country have re-publshed