The New York Journal, And Weekly Register

MR. GREENLEAF,

HAVE read with some pleasure, in the Daily Advertiser of the 6th instant, an essay on the means of promoting federal sentiments in the United States, which are said to be written by a foreign spectator. The author's reasoning is in some respects just, in others not quite so; but when he places the present distressed state of the country to the want of frugality, or rather, to the luxury, and expense of the ladies of America, he has certainly mistaken his point, to call it no worse; and although I feel my own incapacity to defend the ladies as they deserve, and at the same time feel the vast superiority which the foreign spectator possesses; yet I will, with great humility, endeavor to defend those, who, in situations of this sort, are in general considered, as not always ready to defend themselves; if, sir, we take a review of our late situation, consider our emancipation from the yoke of Great-Britain, the expenditure of blood and treasure which that cruel war was attended with, and the desolation which it consequently produced, we should rather have cause to wonder at our present state of tranquility, and prospect of happiness as a nation, than to repine at our present temporary distress; but as I do not mean to go into the wide field of national politics, but confine myself to the defence of the American fair, I shall endeavour to point out some of the real causes of our present distress; and if they appear not to arise from the luxury, the extravagance, or the dress of the ladies, I shall feel the satisfaction of having freed them from so heavy an imputation. The number of foreigners of distinction, from most of the polished nations in Europe, who have visited us since the peace, have of course, introduced improvements in the arts and sciences, and also in manners and dress; and the intercourse which we now enjoy with those nations, may have produced some of the sources upon which the foreign spectator would endeavour to establish his arguments; but I apprehend that the calamities which he wishes to point out, proceed from the following causes: the want of energy in the government, and of wisdom in the legislatures of the different states; the pernicious (I had almost said the hereditary) disposition of our people for litigation; the fatal consequences which such dispositions must produce to every member of the community, except lawyers; the enormous expenses of government; the increase of taxes, for the support of public officers, which are unnecessary; the waste of public money; the want of proper, and authenticated accounts of the appropriation of that money, which is forced from the people, by merciless and oppressive tax-gatherers: these sir, are, I apprehend, some of the real sources of our national imbecility. The distresses of individuals, may arise from other causes; expensive and frequent entertainments given by men in trade, is a thing not known in Europe. Merchants purchasing goods which they are not able to pay for; selling them at public auction, for less than half their value; keeping expensive mistresses in the purlieus of every city in America, may very properly be considered as the causes of the ruin of many individuals among us.

How the foreign spectator, could possibly have placed our distresses to the account of the fair, and virtuous part of the community, I am at a loss to know; or I have frequently observed that foreigners, in general, are polite to the sex; all ages have agreed, that virtuous women have been the greatest blessings, as well as the greatest ornaments to society: the daughter of Scipio Africanus, and mother of the Gracchi, was at once allowed to be the most sensible woman of her time, and also the criterion of female elegance. Where fashion is accompanied with oeconomy (which is the distinguished characteristic of the ladies of New-York) and as dress is certainly a relief to beauty, the delicacy of female ornaments can never be viewed with distaste but through the focus of a misanthropic eye.

I would therefore presume to suggest to the foreign spectator, the propriety of his recommending the redress of the real evils which exist, and not to insinuate that husbands are ruined by their wives extravagance, or fathers by their daughters: let the young men attend to agriculture and the establishment of useful manufactories; endeavour to check the propensity which persons in narrow circumstances have for becoming merchants, without capitals; and shopkeepers, without either money or credit: such recommendation, from so able a pen, may be attended with the most beneficial consequences.

Railing against the most beautiful, the most virtuous, the most heavenly part of the creation, shall never come from me; to adore them as the best, and the choicest of all gods gifts, becomes the man of honour, of philosophy, and of religion.

I am, sir, yours, &c.

An Admirer of Female Virtue.