Martinsburgh Gazette

For the Gazette.

Mr. Printer:—It has been the fashion with all moralists, essayists and satirists, to expend their time and talents in decrying the pursuit and blessings of wealth; which as I humbly conceive, might have been better employed in inciting us to the diligent, but honorable prosecution of it. The censure of which I speak amounts to the sweeping declarations that money is a positive evil. I must be permitted to dissent on this matter from the whole series of censors, beginning at the head of the line—The elegant Addison, or the magisterial Johnson, with their wisdom and learning to aid them, down to the field-preacher Lorenzo Dow, claiming in the general, on the insignificance of sublunary blessings.

The Roman satirist does not lash the vice, so prevalent in his day, (the love of money) simply as such:—he censures not the father because he says to the son "get money"— but, because he tells him, to get it by all means, honest or dishonest—and moreover, because his soul is too narrow, and mean, to appreciate or enjoy the many elegant comforts and gratifications which it may buy.

No! money as the representative of refined enjoyment, physical and intellectual—of property—of health—in fine, of all that is desirable and comfortable in this life, is an object fully worth our "labour and our toil." If it falls into your coffers, the fruit of an honest calling; the act of gathering it, secures to you besides health of body and peace of mind:—Then you have the super added gratification of disposing of it as your fancy or interest may dictate.

If with your wealth you possess, moral worth a warm heart, and respectable talent, your example is more useful; the field of your benevolence is extended; your friends and admirers may be trebled; your highest ambition gratified:

If with your wealth you lack all these excellencies and qualifications, you can at least be independent with your knavery and ignorance and laugh your enviers to scorn. But if poor, tho worthy and wise—who knows it—or if it is known, who heeds it—If poor, but vicious and ignorant— May the Lord have mercy on you, for your fellow man hath none.

LECTOR.