The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1809-03-01 00:00:00

STATE OF AMERICA.

The numerous arrival* from various American
ports, of vessels laden with colonial produce, and
the language held in different parts of that vast
ewehoot, expremice of disapprobation and indig-
nation at the continuation of the Embargo; these
farts, while they announce the general dissatisfac-
tion, seem to foretell the approaching separation of
the coutpoueut States, forming the American
Union. In fact, when we reflect on the nature of
the General Government, placed, it is true, in a
central position, lint incapable of coercing the dis-
tant extrimilties of the nominal Confederation or
Republic, when we consider how destitute of
ruergy are all Democratic Constitutions, and how
'Toots:moue is the submission paid to the Congress,
or representative body; we shall not, or we ought
not, to he astonished, that it seems about to exhi-
bit rem ulutionary scenes. There is not, indeed, in
America, any Throne, like that of the Locasons,
to subvert; nor w there a Nobility to level, and to
devour, like that of France in 17t49. Scarcely can
there be said to exist a national debt to extinguish.
But, on the other hand, the Executive Power has
neither a vast regular military form: to quell insur-
rection; nor a naval urusamu•nt sofficieutly nume-
rous and active to enforce obedience to their legis-
lative rzgulations. Perhaps, under other circum-
stances, and if Europe had remained on its ancient
basis, the American Union might have subsisted
for a much longer period. But, when the old
world is become a theatre of revolution, followed
by military despotism, vested in the hands of one
Chief, who has already placed his family, or his
dependants, on half the Thrones of the Continent,
and who will allow no neutrals to navigate the seas ;
the new world must, in its turn, be visited by poli-
tical convulsions. They seem to be begun, and to
threaten a rapid progrese.
As commercial regulations, or restrictions, im-
I prudently undertakeii on the part of the British
Onerinnent. in 1774, wave rise to the American
rchelhott, so other and similar acts of prohibition
in the "Cuenca* Government, in tans, wiil, appa-
rently, produce a second paroxysm be} mid the At-
lantic. The symptoms of opposition end of resist-
Race seem to manifest themselves in the wale
places, peculiarly in New England, at Huston.
Dow curious will it he to every philosophic
mind oinil how instructive a lesson to inankiud will
it exhibit, if the same Sovereign, who, inot
thirty scars ago, witnessed the first emancipation
of North America from his own sceptre, should
behold a second insurrection against that very
power which they bad themselves so recently
created ! Yet this extraordinary fact seems about
ill be realized. If, instead. of extinguishing, by
embargoes, and by non-importation laws, all ex.
ternal commerce, iadust►y, and exertion, the
American Government had adopted a more ener-
getic and masculine line of policy; if she had at
once declared herself either for France or for
Great Britain ; for revolution, or for legal legiti-
mate government; for NAPOLI:Od, or for ULORGN
ill.: it is probable that more general acquiescence
and submission would bare been paid by the
people to their Rulers. Two parties would, in-
deed. necessarily have arisen and existed; but
tsar would have occupied, employed, and fur-
nished means of subsist are, Lay, even of emolu-
ment and of wealth, to vast northers of individuals.
The ocean Mould hare been still open to commer-
cial enterprise, and to maim! ardour. Nor would
the %tight of America, m a Naval Power, have been
unfelt by who of the two eouteisding nations
she had joiner'. Mr. Jeeexasox, by too refined
and subtle a spitern, may precipitate the very evi-
n Inch he has smetlit to avert. How um a Conti-
nent, extending along the shore of the Atlantic
Oat-an, through so sonny degrees of latitude,
abounding ni valissible natural productions of a
theusaud kinds, inhabited by an industrious race
of men, but wanting many commodities or so-

ticles, may to be obtaimd from t urope, subsist,
*Maga trade or navigrition beyond its own coasts
4 porbt How can aril country thus pass lien-
.** of extinction on itself, and enforce rubmis.
WM from those who become its victims ? The
thing is most hazardous, and may recoil, like loony
other ingenious speculative inventions or devices,
on its projectors. A short time will put to the
test the solidity or the fallacy of these reasonings.

If. DA• f D—. 154019 fits I:choicer ea Emus. Offints.