Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-10
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
From the NeD England Magazine for Sept.
A LEAF FROM AN OLD ALMANAC,

| u
series Of years, which in its day was highly ap-
preciated and extensively circulated. A mutt.
lated file Of this annual was lately found among
bundle Of rags, and rescued from the devourns
nav Of the paper mill. 1t affords, if not feast,
comfortable luncheon or titbit to an antigua.
rian appetite. The contents of one leaf are wor.
! thv of preservation. II has already escaped the
:. conaasration" dreaded by its publisher. for al.
most three quarters of century; and should it
be republished, cerbafim ct Hteratin, some fu-
ture antiquarian may be pleased to find it, as
long hence, and pass it on to still future genera
tons. According to all present appearances,
the dream of the Almanac maker seems likely, in
every respect, " to come to pass"
(" AMERICA is subject which daily becomes
more and more interestingly shall therefore fill
these Pages with Word upon its Past, Present
and Future State:
|. FIRST of its Past State: Time has cast a
Shade upon this Scene. Since the Creation, in
Vulnerable Accidents have happened here, the
bare mention of which would create Wonder and
Surprze; but they are all lost in Oblivion: The
ignorant Natives, for Want Of Letters, have for
got their Stock; and know not from whence they
came, or how, or when they arrived here, or what
has happened snce:-Who can tell what won
derfuI Changes have happened BY the mighty OPP.
eratons of Nature. such as Deluges, Volcanoes,
Earthquakes, &C. Or whether great Tracts Of
Land were not absorbed into those vast Lakes or
inland Seas which occupy so much Space 10 the
West of us. But to leave the Natural, and come
TO the Political State: We know how the French
have erected Line Of Forts from the Ohio to
Nova Scotia, including all the inestimabie Coun-
try to the West of us, into their exhorOtantClaim.
This, with infinite Justice, the English resented;
and in this Cause our Blood has been Spilled
Which brings to our Consideration.
H. Secondly, The present State of NORTH.
AMERICA. A Writer upon this present Time
saws, "The Parts of North America which may
be claimed by Great Britain or France are of as
much Worth as either Kingdom. That fertile
Country to the West of the Appalachian Noun
taius IA String Of or 900 Miles in Lengthy be-
tween Canada and the Mississippi, is of larger
Extent than all France, Germany, and Poland;
and all well provided with Rivers, very fine
Wholesome AR, rich Soil, capable Of producing
Food aud Physick, and all things necessary for
the Conyeniency and Delight Of Life: In fine,
the Garden Of the Word"-Time was we might
have been possessed Of it: At this Time two
mighty Kings contend for this ncstimabe Prize:
| Their respective claims are to be measured by
the Length Of their Swords.-The Poet Says
The Gods and Opportunity ride Post; that you
must take her BY the Forelock being bald Behind.
Have we not too fondy depended unon our
Numbers?-Sir Francis Bacon says. The W off
careth not bow many the Sheep be- But Num-
bers well spirited, with the Blessing OF n-a4ea,
will do Wonders, when by military Skill and
Discipline, the Commanders can actuate las bv
one SuuD the most numerous Bodies of armed
People: Our Numbers will not avail till the Co
lonies are united; for whilst divided, the Strength
of the Inhabitants is broken like the petty King
doms in Africa.-If we do not join Heart and
Hand in the common Cause against our exuitins
Foes, but fall to disputing amongst ourselves, 1t
may really happen as the Governour OF Pennsyl-
vania told his Assembly, I'VE shall have no
Privilege to dispute about, nor Country to dis
pute Ia. -
III. Thirdly. of the Future State of NORTH
AMERICA. Here we find a vast Stock OF proper
Materials for theArt and Integrity OF Man to work
Inconsistencies Of immense Worth; conceal'd
from the poor ignorant aboriginal Natives! The
Curiou have observed that the Progress OF Hu-
man Literature like the SUM- is from East to
West; thus has it travelled thrO' Asia andEurope,
and now is arrived at the Eastern Shore of Amer
lea. As the Celestial Light Of the Gospel was
directed here by the finger Of GOD, 1t will doubt
less, finally drive the long long, Night OF Heath
epish Darkness from Amerca.-So Arts and
Sciences will change the Face of Nature, IN their
Tour from Hence over the Appalachian Noun
tains to the Western Ocean; and as they march
thro' the vast Desert, the Residence OF Wild
Beasts will be broken up. and their obscence
Howl cease forever;-lnstead OF which, the
Stones and Trees will dance together at the mu-
sic of Orphe us,-the Rocks will disclose their
hidden Gems.-and the inestimable Treasures
of Gold and Silver be broken up Huge noun,
tains Of Iron Ore are alrcrdy discovered; and vast
Stores are reserv ed for future Generations: This
Metal, more useful than Gold and Silver, Will
EN- ploy Millions Of Hands, not only to form the
martial Sword. and peaceful Share, alternately;
but an Infnity Of Utensils improved 10 the Exer-
else Of Art and Handicraft amongst Men. Ma
ture thro' all her Works has stamped Authority
on this Law, namely, "That all fit Matter shall
be improved to its best Purposes" Shall not
then those vast Quarries, that teen with mechan-
ic Stone,-those for structure be piled into great
Cities, -and those for Sculpture into Statues to