The National Register.
London, England, 1811-03-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

• NON;

shores of -the latter Circled by our fleets; And do
not both suffer most' materially from our blockade?
Your ports, once open like our own to receive the
wolth and produce of distant lands, now remain
unvisited by any flag, save that which from the
masts of my cruisers waves defiance to your 'bat-
uries and your boats. There industry has ceased
to exist, and poverty and discontent reside. The
Continent, panting after our goods and the pro-
duce of both Indies, and in vain collecting all its
might against us ; it is a prey to want, bankruptcy,
and ruin. It suffers in its most vital interests from
cur blockade ; why then, according to our own
argument, not remedy the evil at once, by
allowing us to occupy its kingdoms with our
troops ?—But you knew the weakness of that
argument, and only used it, because no one
would dare to answer it, and because you were cou•
s; ioua that sophistry unexposed always deceives the

vulgar. Your next is of a nature still less convinc-
ing and more ridiculous. How could you maintain
the Imperial gravity of your countenance when you
epresented as one of the advantages resulting to
France, from the conquest of her colonies, that the
Latter would become more closely united to the
Mother Country, and 66 more French," by being
wrenched from her grasp, and placed under Eng-
lish rule ! If we are such good preceptors, and can
!,0 well teach your subjects the duties of ti mem-
bers of the Great Nation," we may hope that in a
short time you will entrust us with a wider range of
instruction, and that -wherever rebellion raises her
head against your government, you will lay the dis-
trict, province, or state, under our political tuition,
to quell disturbances, and revive its loyalty and
attachment to your sacred person and your Crown.

Not satisfied with proving that your colonies
will fare better ia our hands, because, they will no
I,)nger be blockaded, and strange to say, " because
my Government finds no greater pleasure than
that of humbling every thing that falls under its
p,Aver," -you proceed to shew the enormous burden
vllich their support entailed on the revenue of
France, and the use to which the sums saved by
capture can be put. You tell the world that
.fartinique, Guadaloupe, tarbon, and the Mau-
ritius, furnished nothing t& the parent State, but
cost-sit upwards of tv.-entymillions per annum. These
twenty millions, you inien•us, will build ten.ships
of the line a year. But what use do you intend
making of these ships ? You are a Continental
Power ; canals pre--existing or newly formed, enable
you '-to hold uninterrupted communication with
everrpart of your Vast Empire, and the territories
of every vassal orally by which you are surrounded.
Your ships must thexefore be ipi-)lied to some pur-

147

pose not immediately connected with use o;olitineot ;
and I find it announced in your celebrated exclama-
tion after the battle of Uhl-I.—You wanted " ships"
you then declared, in or,lor to procure " Colonies,"
and Colonies in order :o obtain " Commerce."—
But how inconsistent and hard to be reconciled aro
your declarations of 1805 and of 1511. Commerce
which you then considered as the nerve of war and
the life of States, you have since rejected and
vain attempted to annihilate, because I would not
encourage the contraband of neutrals. Colonies,
which you then fought to conquer or regain, you
now deem injurious to your Empire in time of war,
because—they have all yielded to my power. Ships,
alone still form an object, to the acquirement of
which, you think undeviating attention should be
paid, and yet their chief, if not only use, wou,ld he
to reconquer colonies, or, according to your own
account, to make you a second time liable to art
useless expenditure of twenty million; a-year !
What, Mighty Emperor, is become of that system
of policy, which, more powerful than the sword.
was to rule the world ? It is vanished
lost in uncertainty. Your steps are wand,
your political views, as unfolded both bi
tions and your editorial pen, are not on
with inconsistency, but abound with err
rejoices at our occupying those Colonies,
could not defend on account of our naval sup,
because we " must garrison them skongly, and thus
weaken the mass of our force, and become vulne-
rable at a variety of point.." But you do not I%lh :et,
what is self-evident, that since you could not defog?
those islands because "our squadrons COILt MAD ded the
ocean," it is still less possible that you should be able
to attack them, when once theyoare in our possession
and turned into stations, rot for our military, •but
our naval force. The garrisons which we shall leave
in them will bn trifling, and will chiefly consist of
their own militia c, for such is the well-known
" turanng of our Government," that wherever tisao
plant our colours, the natives collect around them, .
and not only request the introduction c.f our laws,
but the honour of serving in cur cause. No extra-
expence will be incurred by disposing of our naval
means, already employed in bide kading those islands,
in their defence, and at the same time for • the
protection of our merchant versels ; and shotald,
not want their produce for our Lorne consuoripttp.n,
or that of our trade, you wh,) are so intimately ae, •
quainted with the art of impairing the resotirceF• cf
those Powers, wborn you one day call your allies
and the next your foes, must well know, ihat
cut off the most distant branch,of their supplies, :is
a wound deemed too trifling not to become ciatw-
rous, if not Sometimes mortal-.•
1 forgot, it is true, -thuißthe verylirtiee which
has called, this answer forth, you Ahreaten.me
a fleet of 1441 sail of the line an 4 V,o94icate4, wad- ,
plucking up a little of your former spirit, add
your Colonies will to be reco'nuc.red, toecause,

ne sworu.
away, (*Co
ii lering, ai .7;4';
y you
illy sta
-on. You
vinch yott
alperiority,