Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-23
tFrom che National Intctiieencer.
TO THE EDINBURGH REVIEWERS.

UeWfeWen In yHur 6lSi NO. OF Decem-
Der, 1918, YOU publish a review of some
volumes containing accounts OF travels
IN America, from the year 1909 10 the
year 1917. TO certain passages in this
review, take the liberty of calling your
attention. Although this letter may
never be delivered according 10 lis
direction" il may, possibly, produce
some eff CT on those who have read YOUR
review.
| beg you 10 believe, that should not
have troubled you with this communica-
ton, If | had not entertained very high
respect Tor you, as The authors OF liie-
Iary journal, 10 which | acknowledge
myself indebted for mach pleasure and
information, and, if had not supposed
that this sentiment was difiuSing itself
through all parts ofthe world, from which
your writings are not excluded by the
folly and the fears OF bigotry and tyran-
ny. Ii the remarks In which object,
had been made by any Of the people who
intest our couniry, hy their travels, aud
yours by narrative of them, should
have remained forever silent. ! should
probably have remained as ignorant of
their remarks as OF themselves aud, if
accident had thrown either of them i'm
my way, | should most certainly have
| paid as little attention 10 the one as 10
| the other. But when you have so long
stood centinels, waicbful and faithful
| cenllnes, Iadmit, over the liberties, the
literature, and the morals of Europe, and
whose reports are read, from The Gauges
| To- the Missouri: you, too, who are re-
garde,l by the European world as much
more disposed 10 be jHSt towards us, than
| any of your compeers A.: when ysu under
4 t.alFn l..
country, as dlshonered aud degraded by
a foul stain"-by an atrocious crime"
by feelings and practices amounting
TO The contamination of all wickedbess, A"
and my counirymen themselves as
scourgers and murderers Of slaves, and
behealh the least and lowest of the Eu-
ropean nations" think il my right and
my duty to repel, before The world, this
outrageous accusation, and 10 appeallr from
the Incorporate sentence of unthinking
or misguided philanthropy, 10 the So
Der Judgment OF your justice and phlo.
sophy.
10 this object my attention will be
exclusively directed. | shall not, there
fore, contrast the levity with which you
speak OF the American King and OF
The "price" for which we hire our
LiverpoOls, Sidmouths, and Crokers, "
| with the sarcastic remark made on the
| British Cabinet for "its iJnpeytinence" in
treating us with ridicule and contempt
Nor will | ask YOU 10 shew the consisten-
cy between that remark. and the sugges-
ton so kindly offered, that, in the absence
OF all learning in this country, we may
live for half century on the fame oil
Franklin. Nor will waste moment in
commenting on The expression which
characteristics the American people as
vulgar aud gascoDadiug Nor will
stop 10 thank you for your liberaliiy in
letting us know, that for centuries TO
come, we may depend on the g bales
and hogsheads Of sense, science, and ge.
mus, which a SIX weeks passage from
Great Britain will place within our reach.
OF your kindness, deiicacy, aud gene
rosity, in this respect, rest assured that
we are duly sensible and that ue are as
entirely convinced of your diSinierested-
ness, as We are of that of the shippers OF
less valuable, but more tangible commo-
diiies. Let all these things pass. When
the moral character of nation is de-
nOunced before the world, and this de
nuncation proceeds from British tribu.
Nal, before which, al this moment, the
character even of Great Britain stands
impaied, shall pass By all minor grie
vances and submit 10 you, at once,
some considerations, which, in the fervor
OF plllanthrOpIc feelings ceilings which
We always trust. although they almost
constantly misIead, did not occur TO YOU
or If they did, had moi the influence TO
winch they we're entitled.
beg your indulgence for another mo.
meni.-You have set an example, which
entreat others, "a well as you, 10 observe
do moi mean 10 follow. When nations
are at peace, they should he friends. This
is tie recorded language and sentiment
OF The people Of America, announced al
The tIrsl momrnt of their political exist
ence. ] respect that sentiment. 1t i!
marked by wisdom as well as human
NY : aud when you avow a disposition
TO do justice TO other nations, and " Il
, lessen that haired and contempt which
race feels for race" and then apply 10 al
the cplthets TO which have referred, W.
are authorised 10 condemn, as we'll as de
piOre, your departure from doctrine
Z about which we are both agreed. vii
c not therefore follow your example. | vii
not wanioniy insult the feelings of 4 natioI
with which we are al peace, by exhibiiin!
. charges against its Justice, lis honor. O
! ITS humanity. That Task, i'll wished n I,
be performed, might well be left 10 you
? tor, even in the book before me, there i
a abundant evidence of the stern fidclii,
with which il would be- accomplished
There are, God knows, causes enough O
e collision aud contest, and war bclwee
nations, without adding TO their numbe
= or their force, by the bitterness of nation
al insult and abuse and although az
:. moi member, and never will he a mem
u Der OF any peace society, | think il NJ
/. duty to avoid every expression calculate
q TO excite in Great Britain, that angry an
. y'ndiciive feeling which your 6lsi No. ha