Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

MR. SNOWDEN,

I have again done myself the pleasure of paying a visit to your town, which I am very fond of doing when oysters and white-backs abound,—and if I possibly can, will call and pay you my subscription, as hard as the times are.—In the mean while accept of my compliments of the season, and wish you and your patrons a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year, be the times as they may. But, at the same time, let me ask why the people are so universally crying out, "hard times! hard times! no money—can't get any money—the banks are all curtailing—can't get money enough to go to market."—What is the reason of it? Is it not owing to the banks themselves?-
The cause they assign, I am told, is in consequence of the brokers harrassing them so much.—If that is the case, would it not be better, not only for the banks, but individuals, if all the banks of the district would come to a friendly understanding with the neighbouring banks of Virginia and Maryland, particularly such banks as are ultimately safe, and receive their paper as it is offered, and have a mutual interchange among themselves, without giving employment to a parcel of brokers, who neither respect nor love any of them further than their own interest? From the number of banks in the district, I should suppose there were officers enough employed to keep up a constant communication with all the banks between Maine and Georgia, with the aid of those intervening, and by that means would lessen the frequent calls upon them from individuals, and so curtail the business of the brokers that they would no longer find it an object worth pursuing.

I was surprised to hear of the paper of so respectable and solvent a bank as the branch bank at Fredericktown has always been considered to be, should be selling in the district, not forty miles from home, at a discount of 4 per cent. or the want of some bank in the place to receive it: and I have no doubt, but that not only that bank, but the Hagerstown bank, the bank of the Valley and its branches, when called on, would redeem their paper with as good funds as any bank in the district would require; and I believe that it is in consequence of this state of things that those brokers get employment, to the great disadvantage of the regular fair traders. I happened in a bank a few days since, when three or four of these creatures came in, nearly at the same time, and I was diverted at the anxiety they showed, fearing, I thought, that they would not all get satisfied.—There were different sizes and ages among them: one, whose ancient spectacles, and pate, which was smooth as a queen Anne shilling, induced me to think that he had better been at home poring over his Bible and Prayer book, than to be there so intent upon exchanging and counting one dollar ragged notes; and among the younger fry, I observed one whose loquacity seemed to know no bounds—no secrecy was observed by him, but let out his whole errand without reserve.—Thinks I to myself, thinks I, this is one of the beings that I have heard of, that would let its guts out if nature had not been kind enough to have fastened them to its ribs.—On viewing them as they were, they reminded me of a parcel of pigs pestering a galled horse in August. Whether the banks are disposed to encourage and continue such a system of business, I know not; but if they are, I think we may, with due deference, compare them with the hogs that cut their own throats while they are swimming for their lives.* I trust to Providence to send us happier times the next year, both in town and country.

A FRIEND TO THE COMMUNITY.

*It is a fact, a hog will swim till it cuts its throat.