The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-11 00:00:00

7 7 77 7

,'+_ ~~

IRELAND.

DOMINION OF THE SEAS.

" Qui mare WV, cm amuse ej rents potiri,"
The following observations, which are ex.
tracted from Ms Duau Ersivz,vo Posr, ap-
pear so pregnant with good sense, that we do net
hesitate to recommend them to the attention of
our Readers :--
" THE EtPEDITION.

" Steering between the batteries of Opposition no the one
side and the shoals of Ministerial Paoegyric on the other,
we shall now stop to examine and detail a maxim of Cicero,
which bas been repeatedly quoted by scribblers who remem-
ber mfficient Lelia just lit render th tinselves ridiculous—
" Qui Mare &neat, nun seats( est reruns pottri," says the
famous Roman Orator t and from this observation, delivered,
as we shall explain on a particuldr occasion, has ignoranra
presumed to deduce an luference unwarranted by the text and
application of this adage.
" When Pompey had repulsed Ctesar from Dy rrachiam, Ci-
cero, to persuade the
_former to retain his position, used these
tekhrated words—" Whoever commends the sea, is matter
of the world;" and from this sentence, applied to the parti-
es/or ciecomstanc.s of this cis-. has the monstrous principle
been endeavoured 10 be established, that beets. nithont ar-
mies, are sufficient to deride the present mighty talent.

"As subjects of the British Empire. e could heartily *tell
to counted:wee this maxim, so couturier to our interests, and
so congenial to our hopes; but truth and experience both
oblige and insteuct us to draw a conclusion very dilbrent from
the premises contained In the observation which has here
provoked the discuniou. lo support of our °phobia, we
might quote immerse e xtracts from bob Ancient and Modern
History : but at this time we shall beg leave to propound an
Interrogatory—" If the command of the sea is so essential
to national greatness, how happens it that Prance, almost
nebula from that element, has r;sen to a dove, of fearful
sad gigantic greatness, onattainabis whim her fleets " com-
manded" the Channel*" It is for these who maintain as
opposite inference, to resolve the dilicellies in this very
stubborn statement. During the most successful aid victorious
campaigns of the Duke of Marlborough, when Britain
attained the Jimmie of her glory, the dominion of the sea
was still undetermined. The battle of Malaga was only a

drawn engagement, and if we at length secured the trident
of Neptu.te, we were indebted for our fortune to the eche-
meat pressure of our military successes, that obliged the
French to turn their attention almost czeluelvely to resist the
progress of otir armies.
" Let ns now apple this suiteMent to the situation of our own
times—Quantum mutates ab Jib Hectare! What will be now
advanced to instil' the truth of Cicero's observatiwo ? We
" command the sea" in the most ample signification; yet
strange to relate, and disastrous to reflect on, Me so far frost
befog enabled to " command ' on the land, th it the Continent
is subjugated by that identical Power, which" dart ndt chew
a cutter ith impunity on the ocean."
4* We may sail aboit blue Neptune, in somehrous and solemn
triumph ; we may carry terror thrisu%h the ishin-towns of
our implacable enemy; we ma, tali a fleet or destroy as
macaws; and, m minor objects, such exploits are deserving
our applanirs; not if we ca.aot meet Napoleon upon " the
tented geld," it requires wo deep skill in the consparisoo of
stations, to predict who shall arise victorious from this fearful
god momentous contest. We a ill atfirm, without the fear of
refutation, that the victory of Bayles) contributed more to
endanger Bonapart:, (Mao ALL our neva' successes combined ;
and, in despite of Cicero, or his shallow Commentators, we
will maintain, that though " the command of the sea" may
e pedite the destruction elan enemy, it never can ultimately
confer safety on a State •. The victory of the Nile was fol-
lowed by the din istrou: defeat of Marengo ; and if the for-
mer excited Austria to renew the contention, did got the lat.
ter leave ber ioamore ruinous condition than she fetter cape-
imsced before the " Glories of Aboukir ?" Let as sot de.
reive °arrive, ; we may capture the boStile fieeb, or entry
destruction throuo the naval estahlishments Of oar eaeusies ;
but if we are not able to meet in a military contest, it is idle
to attempt the DELIVERANCE or EUROPE. Like enspyrica,
we may palliate the appearance of the disorder, bat can se-
Vet abets RADICAL REMEDY."

• To thiv opinion we cannot give oar morualified assent.—
If the Arspectable author of this article means that in the
prrrent sitamion of Great Britain. the " command of Ma
Oman," unsupported by a large military force, cannot II14i0•
taia oar numerous and widely-extended foreign possessioin—.
we so fir concur with hint iu opinion ; —bat althougn " the
command of the sea" certainly will not amble as to conforr
Napoleon on the Goetinetu—yet so long Si we eaa afford to
maintain that force which easbles us' to command the pea"
—we apprehend that, with rousidasily et home, it certainly
does conter safety on Great Bittaia—and upon all her banter
foreign paranoia. That oer Joan/duo in the bast is inac-
cessible to the attack of Napoleon is nut our opinion—that is
certainly within possibility.

DISTILLATION.—We AM happy to perceive our
ideas on this subject begin to assume " a local ha-
bitation and a name." In addition to the counties
which have already evinced their determination to
examine this business, that of Sligo has added it.
self to the number resolved to arrest the baneful
and wasteful progress of a system, impelled by
unequal and injudicious " Regelattons."—(ON6-
lin Evening Post.)

We observe with much pleasure that the facili.
ties of travelling iu Irela!;,1 are rapidly increasing.
There is now a regular Mail Coach from Dublin
to Sligo, through Alitflinger—and the Peat-Riau
ters General have, by public Advertisement, in-
serted proposals for " conveying the Mails be.
66 tween Dublin and Denaghadeef by Belfast, in
" a carriage drawn by four horses." The Wen'.
sion of the Mail Coach system on this side to
Port Patrick in Scotland, would render the corn.
munication with the Sister Kingdom by that route
almost certain within an ascertained period—as
the passage across the Channel from Port Patrick
to Doneghadee is not more than about 17 miles.
The following carious and novel occurrence
took place at the late Assizes for Clonnsoll :—One
Thomas Cleary was brought to trial for It rape,
on the prosecution of Eleanor White, who, as it
appeared, had been a fortnight la his power ; the
girt seemed totally averse to prosecuting him capi.
tally, but willing that he should not escape with.
out some punishment, he joyfully agreed to make
her the mistress of his destinies, and, a Clergy.
man being at hand, they *ere instantly married in
the Court-house.

0,1 Wednesday 1150. Jones, alias If. Sinclair,
alias ✓. Snell, convicted at the late Old Bailey
•csaiuns of forgery, was esecuted opposite New.
gate. 1k addressed the pupukre in a speveh of
shunt um minutes, in which he acknowledged
the justice of his sentence, but declared, that ►rbe►t
l►e committed the ollenec for which he sue; rcd, ho
►ras ignorant of being a guilty instrument.