The Sun.
London, England, 1802-08-20 00:00:00

REVIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIId.

(Continued from our Pater y the i3th.)

4 The extraordinary attention, • and large allot;
anent of force which the 'Northerliand Egytian Ex-
peditiOns • had reohired, did not prevent Ministers
from Maintaining unimpaired Our Empire of the Sea.,
Admiral Di cocso blockaded the principal ports of
Holland, and Admiral CORNWALL IS that of Brest.
Sir EDWARD PELLE W, with a light souadron,'
watched the lower ports of France in .the .Bay of
Biscay. Sir JAMES SAUMEZ continued' cruizing
before Cadiz, nd the Fleets of LorcliKEuria and
Ll j. HoßiA:st WARREN Scot;red with SO much vi-
gil-ance• all the shores of the Mediterranean, that the
skilful and wry' GAIt:THEAUME, who was consider..
ed as being the.best acquainted with its navigation,
and who had.bc:en irritruded to risk every thing in
order to throw succours into Egypt, completely
failed in his objed, and saved his squadron only by
sacrificing part of his transports. The adivity of
Gin frigates (-fleeted another important service in the
same quarter. - They repeatedly threw such' season-
able reinforcements of men and provisions into
Porto Ferrajo, that the French .finally failed in
gaiiiing possession of that fortress, the defence of
which- deserves to be reckoned among the most
brilliant exploits of the late war.
" The Fleets of the Enemy, confined to their own
harbours, afliorded no Opportunity to ours of any
signal triumph. Some French shipl.,having how-
ever ventured to put to sea, Sir JANIES'SAUMAREZ
sailed in pursuit of them, and forced them to take
shelter in the Bay of Algesiras, which however did
not proted them from the attack of that gallant
Admiral. If the complicated obstacles which he
experienced, prevented his complete success at the
time, he had a few days after an opportunity, of
which he availed himself with unexampled spirit, of
striking a blow, when the Spaniards paid dear for
the assistance which they had afforded to the French
Squadron.
" In order to complete the plan of Naval Blockade
just described, Admiral Po Le, who had brought
back the Fleet, no longer necessary in the Baltic,
*as sent to re.inforce Sir JAMES SAUMAREZ, and-
all anxiety was thus removed as to the two impor.
tam points of Cadiz and the Straits of Gibraltar. •
" "The object of these active measures was not
merely to maintain our accustomed command of the
Sea ; this great display of force was called for by a
motive still more imperious, that of defending our
Coasts from threatened Invasion. The French Go-
- venni-lent, having no longer to expea any co-ope-
ration, either military or political, from the Nor-
thern Powers, had now no other means of offensive
operations against us, than that of invading Portu-
gal,- and of attacking us at home ; and it engaged
ar the same time in these two projeCls, in the hope
• of thus being able, either to continue the War with
some sort of .equality, or to counterbalance the
weight of our just pretensions in the discussion of
the Terms of Peace.
".The Invasion of Portugal was much more prac-
ticable, titian that of Great Britain, and no time was
lost. in carrying it. into execution. The Cabinet
of Madrid, though little inclined to favour this ag-
gression, was forced to take an alive part in• it,
and while it assembled troops on the Southern fron_
tiers of Portugal, a French Army traversed Spain,
and posted itself on the opposite extremity. Be-
sides the general objeft of this enterprize, the Chief
Consul derived from it the advantage of finding
employment fora part of his troops, of supporting
them at the expence of Spain, and by their presence
of rendering that Court still more subservient to his
views.

" However accustomed BONAPARTE was to mili-
tary success,, he' can hardly he supposed to have en-
tertained serious hopes of efFeding the. Conquest of
this Country. It seems more probable that this
plan was merely to present so menacing a state of
preparation, that we could not, without imprudence,
neglect means as considerable to secure our defence ;
believing, as no doubt he did,, that these reciprocal
measures would fill the Nation with alarm, would
occasion new, and considerable expence, and render
us more compliant in the pending Negotiation. It:
is-prObable,•however, that had it ultimately broken
off, the Chief Consul would have continued his
'preparations without interruption till some over-
sight on our part, or other favourable circumstance,
had afforded him the opportunity of attempting this

hazardous enterprize with some prosped success.
"-lie that as it may, our Ministers were too sa.
gacious not to perceive, that the threats -of the
Enemy, though on the one hand -not to be-dreaded,
on the other were not to be despised ; and they
pursued a line of conduct equally remote from either
extreme. Without rEcurring to extraordinary mea-
sures,
.which might have disturbed the public trap.
quillity, and occasioned great expence, they gave
to the existing means of defence so judicious a di.
redion, that every possible case of danger was fore.
and adeluate . meant prepared. to oppose it.—
All the light Vessels along our toast were sect to
watch the motions of those of the Enerny, and the
Regular Troops throughout the United Kingdom
were stationed so as to be enabled. to ad,:ance in
Force, and with expedition, towards the various
pqints, which could admit a disembarkation.
' " The powerful support which might he ex:l'd-l-
-ed in case of necessity from the Militia, and the
•

different Corps of Volunteers was also attentively
considered, and eventually regulated. The good
sense of the Nation applauded the active, and at the
•••-
same time gtaded,• foresight of our Ministers, and
its loyalty- promised certain and cordial support.
Every where a di position was manifested to put
in execution the instruCtions given to •the Lords
Lieutenauts of ihe Maritime Counties forfransport_
ing into the interior, on the firit alarm, every thing'
which, might furnish Supplies to the Enemy, or
favour his advance into the Country. On the
'whole, too much praise c:annoche bestowed on the
gener.d system of defence which was advted.
ss as. at once effeetual and unostensible; it in Tired a
slight abd salutary.apprehension, in order to pre.
chide adegree of it afterwards, :vhich might have
proved
injurious.
It pointed out the danger, only
by shewing that it was little to be feared.-, , •