The Sun.
London, England, 1812-09-16 00:00:00

North of Europe, to take possession of the ports
op the Baltic, arid by fast-sailing squadrons is
burning' American vessels on the Atlantic, all ex-
pectations' of a free trade from France,- -.must be
worse than vain, ,

" NotWitlistanding the violence of the Bellige-
rents, were the restrictions of our own Govern-
ment remoVed', the 'Commerce of the United States
might- be extensive and profitable. It is wvll
known, that from, the gallantry of our stamen;
.if
merchant vessels were allowed to arbi and asso-
ciate, for self-fiefence, they would be able tore-,
pel many milawful aggressions. The danger a
capture would be diminished, and in relation to
one of the Belligerent&' at least, the risk, under
such circumstances, would soon be ineaStired by

insurance.
" The discussions of our Government,- in. rela-
tion to the British Orders in Council, gave a
rency to the opinion- that they did exist, kithout
any modification, according to the extent, of the
first principles on which they weroTissucd. And,
the French Minister, in his last communication on
this subject, made to the conservative Senate on
the .10th of March last, speaks of the blockade of
the 10th of
.May, 1806, as annihilatingthe rights
of all maritinie states, ald putting under inter-
diction whole coasts and empires',' and of the Or-
ders in Council of 1807, as though still subsist-
ing, and.that according to their principleS all 'ves-
sels were cbmpelled,to pay a tribute to sngland,.
and all cargoes a tariff). toy her customs: What'
the,. real extent .and the principle of the :BlOck-
ade of May, ISO 6, were, we have already ex-
plained.'
" With respect to the British Orders of 1807,
the trutib is, that -by:a new order issued on tbe2o6
April, LlBO9, they were revoked
.or modified,
the obnoxious tranSit duty called by the- French
Minister ' tribute and tariff,' was done away.
.The
new order of. April., 1809, which is now the sub-
ject of complaint, is littnited to all the ports and
places as far north as the river Ems, inclusively,
under the Government styling itself the kingdom
'of Holland, and all' ports and places under the
government of France, together with the colonies,
plantations, and settlements in the, posseSsiou of
those Governments respectively,. and all ports. and
places-in the northern parts of Italy, to be,reckon-
ed 'froth theports of Orbitello and: lies'aro, lad u-
sivelv. ,

"'The effect then Of tbe'British orders of block-
ade now in force, is to deprive us of the -commerce •
of France, Holland, and a part of Italy.; and they
leave open to us the commerce of all the rest of
the world.. What thatiS,- some estimate May be
formed by recurreace to the subjoined table, which
exhibits-the state' of our commerce during 1806
and 1807--the two 'list yearS: antecedent to the
operation of our system.- By that table it appears
that thevalna of ,the exports of our;domestic prd- •
ducts to'Frante,'Holland, and ltaly,was,• daring
thnsetwo years*, at an average only of about six
millions and a half oidollars. Whereas the ave-
rage
of our domestic ekports to all-other parts of
the world, and which are now left free, to us, not-.
withstanding the effect of the British Orders 'in
Council, exceed thirty-eight. millions ! SO ex-
taisive a commerce it is proposed to sUrrender for
the restricted trade -the French Emperor wilt allow
trade barthened by impositions, or harassed I
by vexations, from French doMination and French
Douanicrs, or Custom-house ocers, in almost
every port of continental Europe.
." As in the scale of commercial advantages
France has little tO-offerin return for the many
obvious hazards which". according to the wish of
her-Emperor, the United States are 'about to in-
-cur ; so, in the moral estimate of. national pro-
spects, there islittle character to gain, or conso-
lation to expect, in the dark scene of things on
which we-are entering.
" A nation like the United States, happy in its
great local relations, removed from the bloody
theatre of Europe; with, a maritime border, open-
ing vast .fields‘for enterprise—with territorial pos-
sessions exceeding every real want—its fire-side
safe—its Wars undefiled—ftom invasion nothing
tofearfrom acquisition nothing to hope— how
shall such a nation look to Heaven for its smiles,
wktle throwing away, as thoughthey were worth-
less, all the blessings and joys which. peace and
such a diStinguished lot include? With what
'prayers can it address the Most lligh, when it
prspares to pour -forth its youthful. rage upon a
neighbouring people,.from whoSe strength it has
nothing to dread—from whose devaStation it has
nothing to gain.?
" If our ills Were of a nature that war would ,
medy--=-If war would compensate any Ot our losses,
or removea...ny of our complaints, there might be
some alleviation of the suffering in the charin of
the prospect. But how will war upon the land
protect coMmerce upon the ocean ?- What balm
has Canada for Wounded. honour ? How- are our
mariners benefited by -a war, which exposes those
who are free without promising release to those
who are impressed?
" But it is said that War is deinanded by
..ho-
nour. Is national honour a principle, which thirsts
after vengeance, and is appeased only by- blood ;
--which, trampling on the hopes pf• man,- and spurn-
', ing the laws of (Tod, untaught by what is past, and
' Careless of-what is to conic, precipitates itself in-
to -any folly or madness to gratify a selfish vanity,
or to satiate some 'unhallowed rage? If -honour
'demands aavar with -trtland, what opiate lulls
that honour to ~sleep over the wrongs. done to us.
by France? On land, robberies, seizures, and
" imprisonments4yFrench authority;--at sea nil;
lage,-Sinkings, &rains; 'under French orders:—
These are notorious. Are they unfelt because

11. Value of articles of domestic. produce exported to all the

world:

In 1806.

In 1807.
\‘rllole Amount D. 41,253,727 Whole Amount D. 48,09,694

To Trance • 3,226,698
To 'Holla6d; - now ' •
part of France 5,609,994.
To Italy . 155,346

2,716i141

3,094,234
50,2!.;7

7,022,00$

t;,964,632

To England and
dep..todencies t 90.79,01..
To all other parts
of the world. ... 15,051,740

'27,915,077

14,719,889

34,231,791

42,634,960