Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

Two fellow travellers were pursued by
a Lion, and in their eagerness to escape,
they hurried unperceived upon the verge
of a precipice that overhung a gulf of
hideous depth, and at whose bottom lay
extended a Dragon with his jaws yawning
horribly to devour them. They grasped
hold of a tree that flourished upon this
fearful spot, when lo! at its roots were
seen the operations of the insidious mole,
covertly undermining the foundation of
their support. But heedless of the dan-
gers which on every side awaited them,
these inconsiderate men began quarrelling
about the fruit of the tree, and whilst en-
gaged in this silly strife the reptile at
their feet succeeded in dissevering its
roots. The tree fell and the foolish tra-
vellers were both entombed within the
jaws of the monster beneath.

Application.—These Travellers person-
ify the American nation, divided into par-
ties.—The Lion is British violence, driv-
ing our countrymen into the gulph of
French influence, at the focus of which is
seated that devourer of nations, the Dra-
gon Napoleon. The Tree is the emblem
of our independence, to destroy which the
Mole indicates the underground labors of
the emissaries and traitors in foreign
pay.

And what else should be the Fruit but
the National Welfare? the cause unfortu-
nately of bitter dissentions between bre-
thren who have an equal interest in its
promotion, and which unless wisdom sea-
sonably takes place of madness, will wrest
from America the privilege of quarrelling
even for the tree itself.