The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-04-15 00:00:00

HINTS REGARDING TILE ABILITY OF TIM COUNTRY

TO CARRY ON THE CONTIIST.
The Government of France seems peculiarly
anxious to establish three points. 1. That Great
Britain ought tube excluded from all political con-
nexion with the Continent. •.!. That its prosperity
is inconsistent wito the happiness of the other pow-
ers of Europe, an assertion which Mr. Gentz has
refuted with singular ability ; and 3d. That it is
merely as art!. frial, and consequently a secondary
or inferior power, whom France can crush whenever
k thinks proper.

It is said that Great Britain is only an artificial
power, because it does not possess the same popula-
tion or extent of territory as Russia, Austria, or
Fiance. But many instances, Turkey for example,
sufficiently prove that population, or extent of terri-
tory alone, without other requisites, do not consti-
tute real strength.
The power of a country depends, 1. Not on the
extent of its territory, but the quantum and value
of those articles which it produces.• t!. Not on its
population, but on the nature of that population,
and whether it consists of wive, brave, intelligent,
and industrious individuals, or the reverse. :3. On
its situation ; for a country like Great Britain, se-
parated from the rest of the world by the ocean,
must be much stronger than one of the same popu-
lation and extent, with a frontier to defend against
several other powerful nations. 4. On its industry,
and its skill and success in agriculture, manufac-
tures, and commerce. 5. On its possessing concen-
trated force, for the contest properly is, rot between
France and Great Britain as betweat London and
Paris. 6. On its financial system, and the credit
which it enjoys, by which it may be enabled to tight
an enemy, not only with its past accumulation of
wealth, but even to anticipate its future gains.
7. On its military and naval strength, and how they
arc resp,,aively organised and conduacd. S. On thc
nature of its government, and whether the people
are satisfied with it, and anxious for its preserva-
tion : and in the last place, the power of a country
must depend on the charaaer of the people them-
selves ; and certainly, for the possession of every
useful quality that can dignify the human race,
the people of Great Britain and Ireland will not
yield to any nation that either ancient or modern
times can boast of.

These cursory hints must satisfy every one, that
if a war cannot he avoided, there is no reason why
we should be apprehensive of the c,,usequences, or
that we should yield to any unjustitiable demands,
for the sake of preserving a hollow truce or ideal
tranquillity. On the contrary, if peace can still be
settled ott a solid foundation, it certainly would oe
a circumstance more likely to promote the r..al hap-
piness of the human sp:xies (giving rise to more im-
provements in every useful Art), than almost Auy
event recorded in history.

THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURni, ANE.
TIIIS EVENING will prt.elited
DEAF AND DUMB.

Julio, 'with the original Fpilogue) Camp; Thrlf-
moo, Nlr. Wrooghtoii; St. Aline, Mr. C. Kimble; Emma°,
(fist time) Mr. Hartley; De L'Epie, Mr. rope: Dupre, Mr.
Powell ; Dominique, Mr. Swett; Pierre, Mr. Paltrier. Ma-
claine Frauval, Mis Pope; Marianne, with a tiring composed
by Mr. Kelly, Mrs. Mountain; Claudine, MN Sparks.
To which will be added, (11 permission of the Proprietor of
the Theatre Royal, Daymarkt”, and v.-lamely for the last
time this c..asun ),
TliE CHILDREN IN THE W 001).
Tc.,rlvortaw.wil be proiittivil a New Comedy, in Five
(iwvet perliaitieil; called The Marriage Promiae.

Tll AT R EIROI.IL, col/TNT-GARDEN.
EVENING will performed a New Comedy called
.101 ITT BULL;
Or, AN ENGLISITMAN's FIRENInf..
The taiiitiparellarader, h%
hlr. Lewis, MT. Marry, Mr. kawcat, Mr. Johnstone,
mr. H. Johnston, Mr. Wancliaml, Mr. Emery, Mr. Waddy.
Mr 4 Dayenirrirt, awl Mi.. Marriott.
11.4.• Proloivic In b••• spoken b' Mr. Bruntn.
With a Lydell Epiloyttc by Ar. Johnstone.
To which will be added,
St011:1) CHILD.
To.rno-ro-x, lulu> Still, tYllt Cl•amberinaid.