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Letter to Editor
February 15, 1811
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Satirical letter to Alexandria Gazette editor mocks subdued welcome for new French minister amid unannulled decrees seizing American ships at Bayonne, sarcastically noting emperor's post-empress birth promises to restore property and free prisoners.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
For the Alexandria Gazette.
Well Mr. Editor, here we are all in the wrong again. A new French minister arrived, and the devil a gun fired, bell rung, on fire, or illumination.
Is it true the decrees are not annulled? That a number of our seafaring brethren, whose ships have been taken, burnt, sunk, or destroyed, came with him: that every vessel is seized at Bayonne except the ship Hawk, which was suffered to return with other Americans. But, sir, what of that: they are trifling sacrifices to the man who "loves" us: and it must be highly gratifying to every real American to learn, that the emperor has condescended to charge his representative to assure our government in his "name," that the decrees will be annulled, our property given up, and all American prisoners enlarged so soon as the accouchement of the empress has taken place.
Well Mr. Editor, here we are all in the wrong again. A new French minister arrived, and the devil a gun fired, bell rung, on fire, or illumination.
Is it true the decrees are not annulled? That a number of our seafaring brethren, whose ships have been taken, burnt, sunk, or destroyed, came with him: that every vessel is seized at Bayonne except the ship Hawk, which was suffered to return with other Americans. But, sir, what of that: they are trifling sacrifices to the man who "loves" us: and it must be highly gratifying to every real American to learn, that the emperor has condescended to charge his representative to assure our government in his "name," that the decrees will be annulled, our property given up, and all American prisoners enlarged so soon as the accouchement of the empress has taken place.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satirical
Political
Provocative
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
French Minister
Napoleon Decrees
American Ships Seized
Bayonne
Empress Accouchement
Alexandria Gazette
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Editor, Alexandria Gazette
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Mr. Editor, Alexandria Gazette
Main Argument
sardonically criticizes the lack of celebration for the new french minister's arrival and mocks the emperor's conditional assurances to annul decrees, restore seized property, and release prisoners only after the empress's childbirth, viewing seized ships as trifling sacrifices.
Notable Details
No Guns Fired Or Bells Rung For Minister's Arrival
Decrees Not Annulled
American Ships Seized, Burnt, Sunk, Or Destroyed
Vessels Seized At Bayonne Except Ship Hawk
Emperor's Assurances In His Name Post Empress Accouchement