Gazette Of The United States

NEW-YORK, April 27.

The following Letter from an American of information in London, to his brother in this City, contains many interesting ideas.

"London, Dec. 30, 1795.

"My Dear Brother,

"With respect to the state of public affairs in America, we are at present in a suspense, which is unpleasant enough. Much will depend upon the proceedings of Congress at this time, and I confess the western political sky looks rather more lowering than I could wish.

There is nothing very remarkable in the present situation of European politics. There have been recently some symptoms of an approximation towards a peace; but little dependence is to be placed upon them. Before the close of the season, all the parties at war will be in great want of bread, and I do not know but they will drain it off from America, even beyond what we could wish. But in a national point of view, the advantages of neutrality are increasing in Geometrical proportion to the United States. In the course of the year now expiring it has given us peace with the Indians, peace with Algiers, and a Treaty with Spain. Let the Mediterranean be fairly opened to our Commerce, and the consequences will soon be felt in respect to other branches of trade. In this country the restrictive system is already gaping, and will be forced to yield for a time, at least, to necessity. But there seems to be people in America, who are not enough aware of all these things, or who think like Mandeville, that national happiness and virtue are inseparably connected with national weakness and poverty.

"The neutrality of the present time has not only produced an unexampled course of prosperity, during the period itself, but has laid the foundation for a series of advantages, which I cannot imagine that madness itself would throw away. Our political dependence upon France, and our commercial dependence upon Britain, have both been great and heavy clogs upon us from the time of peace to this day. Every hour of neutrality now has a tendency to extricate us from both these shameful dependencies, and to make us a really and completely independent people. The demands upon the articles of our produce, will undoubtedly continue very great for several ensuing years. The inevitable course of events will make us carriers for France, Holland, and, even for Great Britain. As to the last, the benefit will be reaped only while she is at war, and we at peace; for you may be assured the moment she sees herself with extreme reluctance, compelled to resign it into our hands. Her own navigation is not adequate to her own supply; and the longer her war continues, the greater her deficiency will be. Holland, which has heretofore been her competitor and rival as a carrier, is in greater need even than she. Holland has scarce any active navigation left. She cannot protect her own Commerce, and we, must therefore be her carriers too. As to France, the thing speaks of itself. There is indeed no doubt but a general peace will produce great changes, and the usual system of selfishness and exclusion will be as far as possible resumed by all these nations. But there are many reasons which lead to a belief that France will, for many years, have no temptation to resume it entirely-and perhaps not the ability. The commerce of Holland has suffered so severely by the present war, that they will not easily find themselves able again to carry on the trade of others. But if they should, it will but partially interfere with us. Let there only be a competition, and our point is gained; for the simple reason, that we can carry quicker and cheaper than either the Dutch or the English.

There is another circumstance, which will enhance the value of American neutrality, in the opinion of every man, who can look deeper than the surface. It is the probability that a general peace will, if it takes place, be but of short duration; and that the seeds of future European wars and tumults are thickly sown. The hearts of the human race were never less pacific than they are at this time. The political question upon which all Europe has been deluged with blood for the last four years, is so far from being decided, that it has become a more extensive source of discord than ever. The political question will, perhaps, be decided by arms in every part of Europe, and it is every where a civil as well as a foreign war. It will undoubtedly give to all the standing governments so much employment, that their commercial pursuits will necessarily and inevitably suffer from it. This is our strongest security against the Gigantic projects of the British government; for so long as they shall be engaged in the grapple of democracy and feudality, their purposes of commercial extension must be often sacrificed to the necessities of their struggle. And I have no doubt but at the period when they shall be disencumbered of the doctrine, the United States will have strength to resist and defeat any attempt to encroach upon their Commerce.

"I hope, therefore, that at all events our neutrality will be preserved, as I am persuaded, that the prosperity of our country depends upon that circumstance alone; and in that hope I conclude, with the assurance of the invariable good wishes and affection of your brother, &c."