Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-08-16

That he dlsdalns to enter the ileIs Vi iN"
ship with abani oned falsifers, who are
the disgrace of any nation. The adhesion
of his Catholick Majesty's Ambassador
lately residing near this government TO
the noble army" of traducers, might II
even such an example were worthy OF
imitation, be adopted.
But, Sir, in this instance so far as our
dignity is concerned, can any rational dis-
tinction be drawn between an author OF
"lascivious lyricks" and the ''chiValrous
knight" of rotten monarchy The
behaviour of the last writer is rather
more extraordinary, as for many years ne
participated in the hospitality and recelv-
ed the most profound respects of the ma
ton. In the same proportion as the no
BILE Don, forgetful of the Castilian char
acter. approached the throne, so in the
same degree hath he violated the rules OF
decency and the forms of pollteness. AS
his office exalted him to an eminent height,
SO IN an equal ratio hath he become dis
grace to that office. AS he now resides
near the king of Naples, it is possible that
the standard of manners may have become
inverted; and that the first essential re-
quisite of a " sacred personags" is to
know how to be ungrateful, & the second
to depart widely from the truth. Let
that lawless crew direct their malignant
darts at the ramparts of independence,
and they lose their violence in idle air
Sir, encouragement afforded by the Presi-
dent to poets, philosophers and men Of
science and virtue. will render him in in
creasing magnitude the pride and erna-
ment of the nation. The people are ig
norant of the fact, whether the finished
Drama was presented to him for perusal
They do not know whether it was sub
mitted to his judgment for the purpose of
testing the truth and perfection of its
"unities;" they cannot believe that he con-
ours in its sentiments; they entertain too
high an opinion of his character to think
that he sanctions this unprecedented per
formance.
Can he, Sir, wish to see the laudable
ambition of American youth, arrested
Shall they be taught to conceive dislike
against the genius and philosophy of a
country, which has been lifted up through
their medium to the pinnacle Of human
glory? Shall they be now told, that the
sentiments of Sydney and Locke which
have been partially introduced into our
Declaration of independence and Consti-
tuition are false and unsuitable to republi-
cans? Are men of letters to be despised,
because such exist in any particular part
of the gloae9 Arc the dark days ofigno-
rance and superstition to be introduced.
when it was reckoned heinous crime to
be an "ohserver" of the laws OF 'nuta-
ton and aoerration" Virtue is the true
foundation of Notwithstanding and
intelligence constitute that virtue. Lev
elling principles, ! thought, had been ex-
tinguished Genius, science, philosophy
and religion, with singular success escsp-
ed destruction from that dreadful volcano,
which bore a strong resemblance to origi
nal chaos. Shall that awful crisis return?
and hath the lamp of history refused to
shed it's light any longer on that porten-
tous period9 A great mind disdains tri-
fles. A noble statesman rejoices in the
unlimited extension of talents To have
a people great he would have them wise;
to make them happy he would cause them
to be enlightened. He is friend to use
full and ornamental arts. He equally ad-
mires the invention Of the plough and the
construction of ship,the simple spinning
wheel and the splendid painting. If an
enemy to war. he detests the " rocket s.
torpedo, and will not puzz himself in
deciding the superior claims of either.
Sir, was not the cause selected by the
Secretary, calculated to call into ques-
ton the importance of literature and fine
arts. Hath he not aimed stab at the
existence of genius and science? Exam
Piles of distinguished men form the histo-