Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

Washington, 10th mo. 22d. 1811.

Friend Samuel,

I perceive with infinite concern that thou continuest to insist upon it that Congress will lay an Embargo at the approaching session. I formerly endeavored to dissuade thee from indulging in that prophetic spirit with which thou seemest animated occasionally. It may be attended with the worst consequences. No predictions should come from any of this political cast. Should they be of a favorable nature, mere malice or revenge might induce our prime movers to effect a disappointment. For the same reason, when they are of an opposite tendency, thy expectations will be thwarted, in order that thou mayest be accused of attributing worse designs to men in power than they ever entertained. In this point of view, thou mayest say, these prognostications might have a good effect; but this is reasoning upon the supposition that in abandoning the Embargo, no measures more pernicious, or even as bad, could be substituted. Flatter not thyself with such a hope, in this age of wonders. Who ever thought of so ruinous a scheme as the Embargo itself, until that was adopted? Rely upon it, many idle experiments remain untried, and even unthought of as yet: The true policy of government, like a good state of health, always was and always will be, but one thing; while visionary theories, like diseases, can assume a thousand different appearances.

We have been much pleased here with the answer of Napoleon Bonaparte to the speech of the Ionian Deputies. Speaking of the islands which formerly belonged to France, he saith, "Conquered by the enemy by the vicissitudes of war, they shall return into the empire by the other events of the war, or by the stipulations of peace. I should always consider it as an eternal blot upon my reign if I ever sanctioned the abandonment of a single Frenchman." This seemeth to imply that he is ready to make considerable sacrifices to obtain peace, a prospect which must gratify every philanthropist. Ephraim Smooth, however, is puzzled to know how the latter sentence is to be accomplished. "Allowing (saith he) that all the Frenchmen in this country can be restored to the empire, what is to be done with the black inhabitants of St. Domingo? The Directory declared them entitled to all the privileges of French citizens; but they do not wish, at present, to accept of this bounty, but are anxious to live independent. If they are not to be abandoned, they must of course be conquered. In that case, they must again be made slaves, which would indeed be "an eternal blot" upon the emperor's reign."-- His fertile genius will, I hope, extricate him from this troublesome dilemma.

Great praise is due to James Madison, in the opinion of some, for fixing the Meeting of Congress after the Races which take place here this day; and peradventure he had that circumstance in view when he issued his Proclamation. Far be it from me to insinuate that any of our grave legislators would attend such a scene of iniquity and dissipation. I do not find so much fault, friend Samuel, with those who gratify their curiosity by witnessing the generous ardor of the steed; but the shocking depravity attendant upon horse-races in general, is what grieves every friend to social order. And how mortifying would it be to find a member of an American Congress seated at a gambling table, and perhaps disputing with the lowest of society about the turn of a spotted paper. This, however, has been prevented by the prudence of James Madison: I should rather say it has been rendered impossible; for that it could have taken place, under any circumstances, we cannot believe.

I was glad to observe that thou art no friend to the Lottery Affair lately proposed here. -This is another species of Gaming which ought to be discouraged. It hath been the ruin of many families, by sapping the vital principles of sober industry.

Thine,

SIMON PURE.