The Kentucky Gazette

[From the Virginia Gazette.]

An extract from Philadelphia, published in a late Gazette, says, that "the President has spoken the sentiments of America in his proclamation." If I believed it, I should blush for shame. I know it is not the sentiment of any in the circle of my fellow citizens. Every good citizen and honest man views France as struggling in the cause of Heaven and humanity, and sincerely wishes to help her, which he doth with his prayers when he can do no more; for my own part I think it a shame for America to be neuter in such a cause; but I am the better reconciled when I recollect that America has not the means of taking the field, but that she will cheerfully stint herself to furnish them with bread. Neither has he spoke the sentiments of those few pusillanimous wretches, who tell a disposition to fawn and cling at the foot of a tyrant. They view the righteous execution of Louis the XVIth, with horror, though his crimes would have exposed a thousand better men to the halter and the gibbet; without the pity or compassion of a single individual. No dignity of station can palliate crimes, but tends exceedingly to aggravate them. The feelings of these contemptible wretches are under the government of divine right in kings, and that they cannot do wrong; these creatures were not born in due time, they ought to have acted their part above a century ago; they breathe out their polluted wishes, that America would join England and the tyrannical junto, against France; herself, and heaven. Good God! I tremble at the thought! but my nerves are soon composed when I recollect that heaven is in the alliance against them, and that she will beat them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise, O ye kings. Be instructed ye judges of the earth, for that same Almighty power which animated France to engage against a combination of tyrants, will carry her triumphant through the mighty struggle. Thus prays every good American.

May 22.

A writer in the American Daily Advertiser, sums up the following probable consequences of the United States taking part in the present war between France and Great Britain, 1. A sudden and great diminution of those exports and imports of the United States. 2. The reduction of the price of the wheat from 8/4 to 2/6 per bushel. 3. An increase of the price of all imports, Salt would probably rise from 3/6 to 3l. per bushel. 4. A failure of the interest on the public debt, by which means many thousand widows, orphans, and aged citizens, would be immediately reduced to poverty and misery. 5. A contradiction of all that has been said by republican writers, that wars originate in the pride, ambition, and avarice of Kings and that republics love peace, and negotiate mistakes and insults with their neighbours. 6. Great distress among all classes of our citizens, from the loss of fathers, husbands, brothers and sons, who would perish in battle, or in military hospitals and prison ships. 7. A great increase of the public debt, and a heavy tax upon our farms to pay it. 8. A revival of the idleness, extravagance, fraud and profligacy of manners, which were produced by the late war, and which are now nearly banished from our country. 9. An increase of the influence of the executive part of the general government; whereby the balance of principles and conduct would turn in favor of monarchy and aristocracy. 10. Peace after a seven years war, with disgrace to our country, bankruptcy to thousands of individuals, and a concentration of all the expenditures of the war, in the hands of half a dozen contractors, quarter masters and speculators.