Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

In America, says the elegant editor of the Walpole Museum, the conductor of a paper is viewed as a mere subaltern in society; and with great justice, for he is generally, an illiterate, mercenary, blind groundling, ignorant of the lowest elements of taste and science. In Europe, the case is entirely different. The editor of a paper holds a high rank, and claims and receives distinguished consideration. For he is, as he ever ought to be, a man of letters, and a gentleman. In France, under the old government, learned ecclesiastics, abbes, and characters of that class distinguished by the terms of "Gens du Robe," and "Gens des Lettres." had the guidance of the weekly or daily sheet. In Germany, learned booksellers, professors in the universities and eminent authors superintend the press, and in England and Scotland, men of the most shining talents, and of the most extensive erudition are invariably employed for this very arduous and responsible task. In short, an editor abroad, is a qualified person, elected from the literary choir, and respected as a liberal scholar and a correct gentleman. An editor here, with the exception of a few, whose talents we ever have acknowledged, and always delight to honor, is an animal, who would be much more advantageously employed as a scavenger, a tinker, or a night-man, than in filling four folio pages, with the spoils of his awkward thefts, or the lame effusions of rickety brains.