National Gazette

For the National Gazette.

MR. FRENEAU,

Being a reader of the Gazette of the United States, which I borrow of a neighbour, I find much has been said therein respecting a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars a year you receive for translating for the department of State.

This clerkship is there deemed by a writer that calls himself an American, to be incompatible with your station as conductor of a newspaper. Of this incompatibility let the proper authority determine. It may be well enough, however, and certainly not unfair, to retort on this occasion.

I am informed that the Printer of the Gazette of the United States, the immaculate Mr. John Fenno, is printer to the Senate of the United States, the emoluments of which office are very considerable, as can be made appear from a calculation on the sums annually paid for his services as printer. I am further informed that the same Mr. John Fenno enjoys exclusively the printing for the treasury department, where it seems he has rendered himself a particular favourite. He has also of late, it is said, made his approaches to another public office in Chestnut-Street, and is in a fair way of being soon, if not already, in full possession of the business thereunto appertaining.

From all which the natural inference is, that two thousand or twenty five hundred dollars a year, cannot otherwise than have some sort of influence on the Editor of the Gazette of the United States, especially when his avaricious principles are brought into view. They who are skilful at tracing cause and effect, will be at no loss in this matter. By comparing circumstances and nicely balancing the quid pro quo, wonders will be brought to light that no man would have dreamt of. I insist on it, my reasoning is fair: if two hundred and fifty dollars a year must necessarily be influential on one hand, ten times that sum must undoubtedly have a tenfold influence on the other. The principles of Mr. John Fenno, and his etters-on, are pretty well known—but, for the benefit of the United States at large, they will be better known in a short time by a pamphlet of extracts from his former files.

G.