Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

ALEXANDRIA DAILY GAZETTE.
TUESDAY. APRIL 2.

To the Editor of the Alexandria Gazette.

"Silence, ye wolves, while Niles to Barlow howls."

Sir--To connect religion with politics, unnecessarily, is certainly improper. It never was my intention to do so. But cases may occur, in which it is not only useful, but absolutely unavoidable. Such a one has presented itself in the appointment of Joel Barlow. So I considered it; and for that reason I ventured to make a few remarks upon the subject. My object was to shew his sentiments with regard to religion, as expressed by himself; and, of course, the utter impolicy of intrusting the most important affairs of a Christian people to a person of his character.

Sir. I should not have troubled you again respecting Joel Barlow, had not the urgent solicitations of a friend impelled me to the task. Discordant to honorable feelings it is and irksome in the extreme, to notice evanescent garrulity : but every consideration yields to the call of duty and friendship.

The editor of a newspaper printed in Baltimore, and purporting to be published by a certain H. Niles, has undertaken to defend the creed of our new minister. He has unwittingly copied the extract from the Columbiad which I sent you ; and then goes on to assert that "the Lama" there mentioned, does not refer to our Saviour, but to an idol worshiped in Thibet. For the honor of the flourishing city of Baltimore, I hope that the majority of this editor's readers are infinitely above his level, in point of understanding. Indeed, stupid as he doubtless is, I can scarcely persuade myself that he could have been serious when he wrote the article in question. Common sense revolts from the thought of such intellectual depravity.

I do not wish, Sir, to darken the pages of your Gazette, by any further quotations from the Columbiad. With profound contempt I view that production. I have been as much disgusted with Mr. Barlow's Poem, as I firmly believe the public will be with his ministerial labors. May this nation never have serious cause to lament his mission ! May the tutelary genius of my country protect us in the hour of peril, and preserve us from intrigue, corruption and slavery!

Far be it from me to blame any man for not having perused the Columbiad; but surely, before such a work is extolled as an "elegant poem" it ought at least to have been read. It is true. Mr. Barlow's Baltimore advocate might have read his work; and his own lack of intellect combining with the absolute absurdity of many of the passages, he might have been led astray. For neither of these defects he is accountable. Yet how he could have mistaken the passage quoted, is utterly inconceivable. Mr. B. is taking a kind of visionary view of all the different religions which have prevailed in the world, and in speaking of Christianity, he makes use of the slanderous Billingsgate that I extracted. Mr. Niles asserts that it alludes to an Asiatic idol. Is he not aware that the term "secret grave," is a sarcasm dull and despicable, and old as infidelity ? Never have I seen a poet and critic better matched! The first asserts that "the Lamas" devotion "rules half mankind;" the second declares that it prevails only in Thibet : one says that "his priests by myriads famish every clime;" the other asserts that they "famish" none but the inhabitants of Thibet

Great is the pity, indeed, that two such learned authors should disagree!

Mr. Editor, I shall now dismiss Mr. Joel Barlow, and his critic. He is, I perceive, in much abler hands. Yet I will venture to predict, that when the reason for conferring the French Embassy upon that man shall become public, a warm glow of indignation will be felt in every patriotic bosom.

Yours, &c.
NIKEA.