Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-07-28

thew have NO true national character, and
devoted to and speculation, IN
forest is their idol. They carried with
them to the deserts of North America the
corruption and the vices of the most de-
generate people in Europe; and this cor
ruption and these vices have met with no
barriers in a country where all are tree,
and where hrury and insdtiadts THIRST
Of gold are the predominant PASSIONS;
extreme egotism, auar1cs, and other sor-
did passions, distinguish tic character
Of the americans. Their manners, In
general, resemble those OF the English,
though they are always accompanied with
a certain rusticity, and a provoking AFRO
gancc, that p%articularise them. The IN
habitants of the United States are de-
scended for the most part from English
families, and although a multitude OF IN
dividuals from other nations are lncorPo-
rated in their population, the dngtomu-
MIA is always prevalent. The institutions
of the country, copied chiefly from those
of England; the same laws for the admin:
istratian Of justice in civil and criminal
cases; the same language, the same en-
thusiastn for commerce, and the same spi-
rit of domination and pride, render the
two people very similar. The Anglo-A-
merican looks upon every nation with dis
dain or contempt, admiring the English
only, and making it a glory to draw his
origin from her. But their situation at
the head of the New World, without ri
walls to impede or restrain their march
an immense and varied surface of terri
tory; their rapid and astonishing progress
in population, the arts and industry; the
brilliant series of their prosperity, the
powerful success of their arms in the late
war against Great Britain; and the res
pect which they fancy they have inspired
in the principal powers of Europe, have
raised their vanity to an extreme, of which
it is scarcely possible to form an idea
They consider themselves superior to the
rest of mankind, and look upon their Re
public as the only establishment upon
earth, founded upon a grand and solid
basis, embellished by wisdom, and destin-
ed one day to become the most sublime
colossus of human power, and the wonder
of the universe. 1t is not only in the
mouths of enthusiasts, or demagogues,
who seek to infame the imaginations of
the mob with seductive and exaltedideas,
that this language is heard; it resounds
from every side. The works of all the
Anglo-American writers are strewed with
these naughty sentiments, these brilliant
predictions, suggested by an overweening
vanity. Their public monuments attest
the excess of this pride and ostentatious
confidence. The house in which the
Congress hold their sessions, they call
the Capitol; a little riv ulct near it, about
three yards wide and a fourth deep, they
denominate the Tber. Many of the
meanest settlements, have the names of
the most celebrated cities of Greece and
Rome. Every thing breathes extreme
affectation and vanity in the United
States; but the sensible man, who exam
ines things with impartiality & profound
reflection, cannot but ~foresee the ruin of
these states, in the blind i%mpetuosity, of
their ambition, and the excess of their
pride"
Per contra, we give the following as a
fair sample OF those parts of the work in
which reluctant justice is done to us:
"Their fleet is every day receiving aug
mentation, and is already upon a respec-
table and brilliant footing The Anglo
American sailors, if they do not exceed
the English in skill or courage, like them
possess the profoundest knowledge of ma
val tactics, and great experience in every
thing that can contribute to a favorable
result in naval actions. 1t is true that.
hitherto, they have had no actions, except
of ship to ship, and with small divisions
on the Lakes, but in all they have mani
tested great skill and bravery. When
their navy shall be adapted for grand
battles, they will no doubt show the same
superiority, of which the English now
boast so much; and will, perhaps, surpass
them, excited as they will be by emula-
ton, pride, and that tierceness of enthusi-
siasm which a republican spirit inspires.
Every thing is well organized in their
marine: the vessels are of excellent con-
struction, perfectly fitted and armed: a
rigorous discipline, Gu. subordination, g.
! the best order are observed in them
There is no instance of an Anglo-Ameri-
can commander or officer having faltered
in his duty, or having failed to support,
even in the most difficult extremities, the
honor of his flag: an officer who should
conduct himself in any other manner
! would not only be punished with severity,
but his name would be forever loaded
with intamy, and abandoned to public ex-
ecration. These are the principles which
make an army or a navy formidable;