Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-09-05
From the Commercial Advertiser.

From the Commercial Advertiser.
ECONOMY.
The terrible commissions which follow.
ed the French Revolution in the civilized
world, and which kept almost every ma.
ton but the American, 10 a perpetual
state Of alarm and war for twenty-five
years, impaired in great degree an ar.
tifcial character to the commercial and
other pursuits of the respective nations
The Americans were for nearly the whole
period, the only neutral power, and Of
course were the carriers for the whole
the continental powers had immense ar.
mics in the field, 10 be armed, fed, and
clothed--and the British manufacturers
found full employ for all the artizaus il
the kingdom, and by reason of an aImos,
unlimited demand for every article Of
manufacture, they were enabled to reap a
rich harvest Of profit, after payinglihAal
wages to their workmep. TIE sobse-
quence was, that without paying any al
tention TO their own manufactures, the A.
mericans were growing rich beyond ex-
ample-the laborers Of Great Britain were
contented, and individuals of that nation,
II not the nation itself, were growing rich
also, while the continental powers we're
too muchengaged in other matters, to pay
much attention to their internal concerns.
During this state of affairs, in England,
and, We may add, in America also, sys-
TEN Of profusion, extravaganza aud luxury,
kept pace with the increase of wealth,
and the facility with which money was
obtained. Indeed II seemed as though
people imagined there was never TO be any
tide in the affairs Of men" which would
not lead directly on TO fortune" Nor
we're these ideas confined TO the wealthy
and TO large cotpmercial towns. Thou
sands Of farmers, in comfortable circum
stances in the country, who were receiving
high prices Tor their produce, perceiving
the ease with which the substitute for
money was obtained from the banks, and
envying the illjudged style Of their neigh
bors, ran 10 the banks also--Obtained lib
erai discounts--exchanged their excellent
home spuns for foreign fabrics--boughl
Dew farms while they neglected their old
Ones-and---were ruined.
But the general peace 1915, changed
the complexion of things entirely. The
business concerns Of the world were sud-
denly brought back to the status quo ante
beilum and every state has since been
compelled to live upon its own resources,
ingenuity and enterprise. Hence the EN-.
barrassments that soon followed, both at
home and abroad The farmers had con-
tracted large debts at the banks-their
produce fell TO comparatively trifling
value-and they could not pay. The
merchant had made large imporiations-
no returns could be obtained from the
country-and be could not meet his en-
gagemeuls-but We need not dwell upon
this point. Such have been the causes,
and such the effects, both in Europe and
America.
The necessity Of reform in the man
ner ofliving, such as will effect general
curtailment Of family expenditures. has at
length become apparent; and had it soon
er been thought Of, and system Of re-
trenchment adopted, il would have been
far better for the people on both sides Of
the Atlantic. But it is difficult 10 retrace
our steps. particularly where SO much
selEdenial is requisite, as must be exer-
cised in abandoning our luxurious habits,
and returning back to that simple, health
full, and frugal mode Of living, for which
our ancestors were distinguished.
Since the necessity Of more economy
has engrossed so great portion of public
attention, numerous writers have engaged
in the cause, with a zeal and spirit cor
responding with the Importance and ex-
ceilence Of the object 10 view. Many OF
the English papers, in particular, have
abounded with essays upon the subject.
To one of these now before us, the author,
TO shcw the rapid strides, which luxury
and extravaganza have made, aud their
evil effects 10 national as well as indi-
vidual point Of view, gives the following
amusing narrative. We quote it entire ;
il being in good degree as applicable to
this country, as to Great-Brhain.
The Seven United Provinces we're at
the height Of their power and prosperity
about 1850, before England, recovering