Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

For the Gazette of the United States.

Mr. EDITOR,

I AM informed that Mr. Peale is the Treasurer of the Society for the promotion of emigration, in Philadelphia; and, once one of his petty-fogging squad of syllable-mongers thought proper to vomit forth his scandal against some of the members of the Columbinum, in your paper of Saturday, when they now hold their meetings at the City Hall, I should be glad (as he seems so civil an adept at explanation) if he would have the kindness to inform me, how his friend, Mr. Peale, can be truly said to be a stickler for emigration, when he and his co-adjutors endeavour to undermine the character of men of talents and integrity, instead of benefiting their country, by affording patronage and hospitality to foreigners of genius? Shall it be said in Europe, that the American nation is insensible to merit; and that it frowns upon those, who are ambitious to render it service by their abilities? Shall they return home with disgust and indignation, owing to the invidious and puny malevolence of a few individuals, who have recently attempted to swell themselves into consequence in a newspaper or two? Shall the whole nation be stigmatized, and branded abroad, with the odious titles of brutality, inhospitality, and ingratitude; and represented as composed of men little above the rank of Savages, or wild beasts, merely to serve the interested and petty views of a Peale, a Trenchard, a Birch, or a R ub? What person of genius, what mechanic of the lowest denomination, will emigrate to America, when men of character, and known abilities, are held forth to public contempt, as little better than European culprits, or vagabonds? What description will a traveller give of America, who is openly vilified and insulted with the most opprobrious epithets? Is not a man, who can descend to such despicable artifices, a most infamous * * *'* enemy to his country? For my own part, sir, I know little or nothing of Mr. Peale's political character, and I wish to know less; but provided his conduct in public life be congenial with the tone of the letter of "A Friend to Decency," I have no hesitation in saying, that if he was rewarded with any thing less than universal contempt, he certainly fell short of what he deserved.

A Friend of the Arts.