Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser

For the GAZETTE of the UNITED STATES.

COMMERCE.

From calm, commercial age debates,
Held in th' Assembly of the States,
We find our commerce understop'd—
By merchants? No—by men of wood—
Men who from inland regions came—
Where commerce scarce is known by name!
Alas—what ignorance prevails,
Where commerce spreads her broadest sails!
Ye hardy sons of northern climes,
How chang'd from good old fashion'd times;
Once to your Interest, steady, true,
That Interest ye no more pursue:
But lend to patch your navigation,
The greatest botchers in the nation—
When Patriots from the old dominion,
Quite twisted round from old opinion,
With Resolutions ready made,
To help your artists and your trade,
To raise your commerce, sadly smitten,
By the haughty power of Britain—
To keep your money in your hands,
To purchase boundless tracts of lands;
To pay old debts—aye this is true,
So long to British merchants due——
To keep your wives and see your daughters,
From buying baubles, gauze and garters,
Or which is better—bid defiance,
To Europe's Depots in alliance;
And brave the storms which rage afar,
By bringing home the sweets of War—
Of this you cannot see the Glory,
But turn to ridicule, the story—
Nor patriots from the Allegany,
(Sans doute as candid too as any)
Nor all the powers of eloquence,
Can force you to be men of sense;
Nor make you cease to apprehend,
That all these projects really tend,
To bring our commerce to an end.