Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-10

a perpetuM state vi ataFIl anu Wdr
for twenty. five years. impaired in a
great degree, an artificial Character to
the commercial and other pursuits Of
The respe tive nations, The Ameri
cans we're for nearly the whole period,
The only neutral power, and of course
were the carriers for the whole the
continental powers had immense armies
in the field. to be armed, fed and clothed
and the British manufacturers found
full employ for all the artizans in The
Kingdom, ard by reason of an almost
Unlimited demand for every article vi
manufacture, they were enabled to reap
rich harvest of profit, after paying IL
beral wages to their Moiknen. I he
consequence was. that without paying
any attention TO their own manufactures
the Americans were growing rich be-
yund example; the laborers Of Great
Britain were cOnteaird, and individuals
of that nation, if not the nation itself,
were growing rich also, While the con
tinental powers we're too much engaged
in Uti Ell matters. to pay much attention
to their Internal concerns. During
this state of affairs, in England. a'd,
we may add, in America also. system
Of prOfu ion. extra agamce and lnxury,
kept pace with the increase of wealth,
and the facility with which money was
obtained, indeed. it seemed as though
people imagined there was never to be
any "tide in the affairs Of men, which
would not lead directly son to fortune"
Nor we're these ideas confined to the
W althy, and to large commercial towns.
Thousands of farmers, in comfortable
circumstances in the country. who we're
receiving high prices fer their produce,
perceiving he ease with which the sub
stitute for money was obtained from
the banks, and ,envying the iIl-judged
style of their neighbnrs. ran to the
banks Also. obtained liberal discounts
Exchanged their excellent home
spuns for foreign fabrics-bought new
farms while they neglected their old
ones--and ruined.
But the general peace of 1915,
changed the complexion of things en-
tirely. The business concerns of the
world were suddenly brought back to
the status quo ante bcllnm and every
state has since been compelled to 1.-Two
upon it's own resources, ingenuity, and
enterprise. Hence the embarrasmpnts
that soon followed, both at home and
abroad. The farmers had contracted
large debts at the banks; their produce
fell to comparatively trifiDg value; q
they could not pay. The merchant had
made large importations no returns
could be obtained from the country; Il
he could not meet his engagements; but
we need not dwell upon this point.
Such have been the causes, and such
the effects, both in Europe and Anne
RIGA.
The necessity Of a reform in the
manner Of living, such as will effect
general curtailment OF family cxDendi-
lures, has at length become apparent;
and had it suoner been thought of, and
system of retrenchment adopted, it
would have been far better for the peo-
pie on both sides of the Atlantic. But
il is difficult to retrace our steps, par
ticulaHy where SO much self denial is
requisite. as must he exercised in aban
doning our luxurious habits, anil re-
turning back to that simple, healthiul,
and frugal m"ie Of living, for which
our ancestors were distinguished.
Since the necessity Of more economy
has onSrossed so great portion of
public attention, numerous writer's have
engaged in the Cause, with a zeal and
spirit corresponding with the impor-
tance and excellence of the object in
view. Many Of the English papers. in
particular, have abounded with essays
upon this subject. In one Of these now
before US, the author to shew the rapid
str;d,s, which luxury aud extravaganza
have made, and their evil effects in
national as well as individual point of
view, gives the following amusing mar
rative. We quite it entire it being in
good degree as applicable to this
country, as to Great Britain.
The Seven United Provinces were
at the height CT their power and pros.
perity about 1860, before England. re.
covering from destructive civil war,
began to reclaim the dominion Of the