Star.
London, England, 1808-04-22 00:00:00

SlG'l.l.r.

EXTRACT OP A LETTER FROM AN ENGLISH 0114NTLEStAX,

DATED FEB. 26, 1808.
". Nothing, my good friend, has, astonished. me *so
much as to observe the phlegmatig siletice of British
journalists, and you among the number, with regard
to the island of Sicily. I have carefully looked into
all the newspapers that have fallen in my way, and I
have scarcely observed one solitary hint of its being an
object worthy your attention.
" In the present awful crisis, when the gigantic
strides of an usurper have annihilated the indepen-
dence of Europe ; when he has brought into action
all the resources of the Continent, to countenance a
monstrous system of confiscation and blockade, with
hopes of involving Great Britain in the common
rain, and adding one more kingly vassal to his nu-
merous suite—in such a time as this, every possession
we hold, whether valuable in a military or commer-
cial point of view, still becomes an object of our most
serious care—and if we mean to maintain our influ-
ence in this island, it must be done with that decidedly
manly vigour which proves our measures to be the re-
sult of system and reflection, not the mere effect of
hazard.

" Our troops were first landed in Sicily, to protect
a king in his retreat to an obscure corner of an impo-
tent monarchy • unable to defend himself, and unwil-
ling to be defended. They were afterwards found to
be insufficient—reinforcements were sent, but they
were still inadequate to the object. A large portion
of the unfortunate expedition to Egypt was taken
from the garrison of Sicay ; and this valuable island
was left, the greater part of a year, under the dispro-
portionate protection of six or seven thousand men.
It is well known, that there is no dependence to be
placed on the native troops; our soldiers, therefore,
are exposed for no useful purpose. Either let our
force be efficient, or let us evacuate the island.

That Sicily is an object—a great and very im-
portant political object—l believe none will deny—
but few are acquainted with the magnitude of its va-
lue. I shall, therefore, just notice its products, and
endeavour to point out its consequence.
•

Sicily has ever been the granary of the Mediter-
ranean. In a tolerably good year, it now produces
sufficient to maintain near two millions of persons
above its own population. Barley and beans are ob-
jects of considerable export. Oil, fit for our manufac-
tories, is produced in great abundance. Barilla, tho'
not so tine as that of Spain, is sufficiently good for
any of our purposes, and is exported in great quan-
tities. The soap and glass manufactories of France,
Genoa, Venice, and Trieste, were principally sup-
plied from this island. Shumac, a product of great
importance in our leather manufacture, is the best in
Europe. Silk is produced in great quantities. The
Levant and Italy being shut up, makes this island a
valuable resource. Salt is found in inexhaustible
quantities, is highly esteemed at Newfoundland, and
serves as a return cargo. Besides these very impor-
tant products, I must also notice, but merely as an
object of minor import, salmonds, manna, liptotice,
figs, raisins, and currants of Lipari, wine, brandy,
oranges,: lemons, nuts, pumice stone, cotton, hemp,
and tartar. But above all I must not omit the inex-
haustible quantities of sulphur and nitre, which are to
be found in this island. The principal places for ex-
porting these products, of which neutrals were allow-
ed to be carriers, were France, Genoa, Venice, and
Trieste, for the interior of Germany.
This island then appears to be in itself capable of
supplying us with those raw materials for our manu-
factures, of which our enemies are endeavouring to deprive
us ; and if the producing of them were sufficiently
encouraged, it might be adequate to all our wants.—
It is also an object of no small consideration as a vent
for our manufactures, two- millions of inhabitants
being almost entirely clothed from our warehouses
A considerable quantity of manufactured goods
are also smuggled to Naples—indeed, while the
blockading system operates, Trieste and the inte-
rior of Germany would be supplied by the same
means, as would Dalmatia and the Morea, perhaps
even Consi-antinople itself through the medium of
Zant and Corfu.

" As a military position it is certainly of the utmost
consequence. Malta, so highly prized, being almost
wholly dependant on this island tbr every kind of pro-
vision. The uncertain supply from the Barbary
States, never ought to be depended on—they would
be inadequate at the hest of times, and would proba-
bly completely fail if they were the sole resource.
Should the French get possession, they would
acquire four of the finest ports in the Mediterranean,
and plenty of timber for ship building. We should
be shut out from all hopes of annoying them in the
kingdom of Naples, and the possession of the ports
of Messina and Syracuse would enable them to ren-
dezvous any force they might destine for Egypt or
the Levant. It is most devoutly to be wished, that
some mode might be adopted to put this valuable
island entirely in our possession. As a colony it:
certainly would stand on a very different footing from
those we hold in the West Indies, and is not liable to
the objection of draining the mother country of her
population—for the same number of troops with
which we garrison the island (say twenty to thirty
thousand men) might easily be replaced by raising an
equal number of Sicilian regiments, which fgr the
greater security and utility should be employed on
some foreign service, whilst our troops protect the
island.

" There is certainly no part of Europe, where the
climate is more salubrious, as we neither suffer from
the extremities of heat or cold ; and what is idways
an object of great consideration, no army was ever
maintained at so small an expence.
" Under all these considerations this island is cer-
tainly an object of greater national impoitaace, than
perhaps any in our possession, but it becomes abso-
luxely'necessary we should call it our own. The diffi-
culties that arc at all times thrown in our way by the
present Ruling Powers; the nature of the government
which retains al! the evil: of the feudal system with-
out any of its advantages ; the weakness and debility
of every branch of administration, added to the
Avorst possible system of finance : he disi:obtent of
the people, who suffer all the horrors of the most ar-
bitrary despotism : all call aloud for some change;
and if. •,ve do not effect it speedily, dee French Krtaisdy
•
4' la a word the value of Sicily will not be known,
•• • •

until by fatal esperiefice we feel the mischiefs ef
French occupancy ; then shall we know it, and know
tto our cost. For myself, I shall have at least the
consolation of having contributed all in my power,
by endeavouring to open the eyes of my-country to
this important object—an object which certainly has
not met the consideration it so decidedly merits."