Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Extract of a Letter from the state of Virginia, Feb. 4.

"What I have long dreaded, (unless peace took place between England and France) war, in fact, against us by the republic, if we were firm in the maintenance of our neutrality, has happened. Such is our condition, that on the ocean against France by our privateering we could not make reprisals, because, except privateers and ships of war, the French, on that element, do not display a flag; and such is the temper of parties, that even if Great-Britain, in her maritime potency, would protect your commerce, professedly as your friend, and gratuitously, party in America would reject this protection. Many there are, too many, I fear, not only in this state but in others, who applaud the measures of distress exercised against our trade, and not only justify but applaud, nay, more, rejoice at these violences. These men call themselves Patriots; ---the injury that agriculture will experience by the fall of the agricultural productions; the injury that commerce sustains by this indiscriminate capture of our vessels; the burthens that will oppress us in the payment of taxes necessarily imposed, and the miseries and ruin of our adventurous citizens and sailors in captivity, or, worse than captivity, turned adrift without any means of supporting life, under the pressure of tropical diseases contracted in confinement, are feathers to them,---are no considerations to excite pity in the breasts of these outrageous patriots: all is proper; we are rightly treated---our ingratitude to our dear allies meets with proper retaliation, and the only cause of regret with them is, that these captures are not ten fold multiplied. Such language, you know, sir, is daily and unreservedly uttered, and such sentiments entertained by the Republicæ portenta, ac pene funera. rd."