Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-03-06
For the 4Lerandria Gazette.

For the ALerandria Gazette.
Ma. EpiroR.-i am stranger in your
,oyn. not having resided in II more than
four months. ! am an cid man, nearly hi
fy wears Of age. | am or have been great
traveller; have resided in various parts Ut
North America, aRd IN the COMMONS OF
other nations besides tots. From these
circumstances, my knowledge oi the world
and OF map have beeu improved; and so
has the sympathetic feelings OF soul been
heightened. Will you permit me here TO
indulge in a few remarks in accordance
with nv knowledge of man and feelings
of mind at the present time. as applicable
to the town and inhabitants OF Alexan-
dria, d c.
In the first place. have remarked, that
the situation Of the town, OF the river, and
OF the surrounding land is goodly; but
that poverty appears in the town, on
the river, and in the land.
Secondly, have remarked, that the ire
habitants on this town are uncommoDly
healthy uncommonly beautiful, parllcu'
larry the youth, and especially the females
amongst them uncommonIy in,eliigeht
uuco. nmonly courteous and polite IN their
behaviour with each other, and especially
With strangers. | must be permitted to
state, that have been in different towns
in the 90 Ith, where II was dangerous to
walk the streets on account OF the boys--
especially if not well dressed: but here
have been seen in different KINDS OF ap-
parel, and IN different places and compa-
nv. but never was the least insulted by
any individual at all This polite and
courteous conduct of the youth OF Alex
aDdr;a does much credit to pare nts-to the
teachers, to the clergymen, aud to human
nature itself.
Again, the inhabitants Of this town are
unconmonly ,ndustrious-uncommonly mo-
ral A.; but above all their eYcelencies the
disposition OF bsnevolence stands consp'-
cuous. II might be supposed. that peo-
pie whose character could justify so much
praise must be very religious; but OF the
religion OF The people of Alexandra have
nothing to write for candidly own that
| am QUE Of those sort of men who believe
that Godlike disposition of soul is tree
religion, even'it il Is found 10 the hearts
of thuse whom some may consider bereti-
cal in faith. The religion which is found
ed in our own belief. and the religion OF
benevolent disposition, are entirely dissi-
miisr. The religion which actuates men
totbeneet themselves, is religion OF ma
tuIe aud OF earth but The religion which
actuates men 10 benefit Others is the reli-
gion of God, and is heavenly. There is
an intire and an eternal difference between
the religion OF faith and feeling and the
religion of beneVoLence. One is the effect
OF the will OF man, and the other OF the
gilt OF God.
Notwithstanding that have discovered
80 many traits of goodness in the general
i,y OF the inhabitants Of Alexandria, as a
man ct impartial sentiments, side from
truth, have some fault to find with them
also. The women dress too fine, and also
appear too often in the streets.
Now, Mr.. Editor, | am one of those
kind of creatures who are often attending
10 other peoples business, and neglt ct
their own; o. studying the happiess OF
others mure than their own happiness ::
but if il is a fault cannot help il have
been thinking over and over again, how
these good people Of Alexandra could be
benefited; and at length one scheme hit
my old head, and thai was this:
Let some two or three hundred OF the
benevolent people OF the district form
themselves into society, for the purpose
OF giving two OF three dollars pi 'ce, a
year, and then lay the money out IN buy
Jog land in the western country, for the
benefit of the present industrious poor OF
this place. and those vino in lew years
will be able to earn their own living.
Mr.. Editor, have heard it whispered
in the district, that there has already been
some talk OF a society, and that some OF
the benevolent members of Congress will
If such thing should be started, use their
influence aud their purse in favor OF the
object Of such society. But. Mr. Ed
tor, | am perhaps using too much liberty
10 writing TO you thus, as am stranger !;
but would not nave done it, il | had not
been informed that you had heart of phi
laDthropy, as we'll as some others: Alex
andria. A LOVER OF MAN,
TO the Editor If the Gazette,
A .-,;fzr IN 81, I'LL. .C E,;1.~, l..f