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

SldttS VI nuiCltSdS iik iSN " s"S
18I9," has just been published IN thus city,
fIom The pen Of Dr.. Watkins, in whose char
acter and abilities we have a satisfactory
pledge of the fidelity and accuracy of the
translation.
We have looked over this work, IN the ex-
pectation of finding it full Of the sophisms o.
diplomacy, and very unreserVed in the frank
ness of me authors views of the United
States. We have not been disappointed.
1t is both the one and the other. Of the
character OF our people, and their besettiDg
foibles, he speaks with unsparing severity,
and with more freedom, we think, than sim
cerity. Of our institutions, and of our re-
sources, be has given as fdattering a view as
could be expected from a representative OF
monarchy, who has no longer a motive for
deceptive language, or mental reservation
in respect 10 US; it being perfectly evident,
from the whole tenor Of the Memoir, that
Don Luis De Onis has not the least expecta-
ton of ever revisiting the United States in a
public capacity. OF the policy of our gov
ernmept, he has furnished such a distorted
view as suited the purpose tor which he
wrote, which was, by a propos suggestions
to induce the Cortes of Spain to ratify the
treaty of 1919, the necessary assent u
which had been, and was at the date of the
Memoir, withheld by the King of Spain.
As we do not feel ourselves justified in
making any extracts from this book which
might interfere with the profits of the sale Of
it, due to the labor and enterprise of the
Translator and Publisher, we shall content
ourselves with a brief account of its plan,
and an extract or two calculated to shew
the general complexion of its contents.
The character of The book is well describ-
el in the following extract from the transla-
tors preface /:
"The reader Of the following pages
will soon find reason to pronounce them a
naost extraordinary production; he will
perceive that they contain a singular mix
ture of the veriest SANDER and the most
extravagant eulogy, of our country and
countrymen, that was ever heaped upon
them by foe or friend. The double object
which the author had in view, led him,
of necessity, into many contradictions and
absurdities. lie had been accused Of sui
lying the dignity of his royal master, and
wounding the interests of his nation, by a
disgrdcefM treaty; and this charge ma
turally involved the suspicion, that he
head been influenced in his negotiation
hither by tear or partially for the A
mericans. In combating this twofold ac-
cusation, it was important that he should
show the political and physical strength
OF the United States, in its utmost magni-
tude; that he should demonstrate the i'm
possibility of defending the Spanish pro-
vlnces in America from the ambitious
grasp of this colossal power; and that he
should draw such a picture of the people
as might lead to the inference that con-
tempt, rather than admiration OF dread,
supplied him with the coloring. 1t will
be seen, from the ingenuity with which
he has managed his arguments, that Don
Luis de Onis was a willy politician, a
master of the diplomatic art; and, howev-
err Elusive some of bis reasoning may sp-
pear, there are strong grounds TO believe
that the Spanish Cortes we're Influenced
by it to consent to the ratifaction of his
treaty, and that his main object was thus
accomplished"
The Memoir commences with a history of
the Don's diplomatic residence in the Unit
ed States, from the year 1909 to the year
1919; of his arrival here, the refusal of our
government 10 receive him, and his vigil
ance and faithful services nevertheless. 1t
then takes a view of the territories Of the
United States; OF their population; OF the
causes of The rapid increase of population,
and of the public and individual wealth OF
these states; OF our relations with the Indians
on our borders; Of the agriculture. manufac-
tories, and industry of the United States; Of
their commerce; OF their military force.
which be scandalously depreciates; Of the
navy; Of the national revenue; Of our inter-
nal policy; OF our political system, and the
relations of the United States with the diff
ferent powers Of the globe. The Memoir
then concludes with a brief account Of the
negocIation, and of the motives which in
dsced him to close it as he did, the Duke of
Alagon's grants in Florida to the contrary
Notwithstanding. The statistical part of the
work shews that Mr.. De Onis was not idle
or unobserving during his %sojourn here,
though many Of his statements and argu,