Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-02-18


be kept up between the two colonies, the
inand would furniih the continent with
provitlons and with wood. in which Egypt
is extremely defcient--the French army
might make defcents on the coats Of
Syria, and thus avoid long and denrnfive
marches over the burning FANS which
leparate AHA from Africa. rhe relources
which the Hand Of Cyprus affords for the
conquef of Egypt extend ALTO to its pre-
lervation they would coniderably facil-
itate and fccure the acduiition of coun-
try, which from its ftualich, is the key
and emporium of the commerce Of three
great divifions of the world, and of which
the Roman enlperors who were acquaint-
ed with its importance, were 70 jea!-
Gus, that they ftridly forbade the entrance
of it to lenators and general: who had not
obtained their exprefs permillion for that,
purpofe from an appreciation. thatthe
prodigious fecundity, and the delights Of
that beautiful and rich country might in
duce them to attempt ufurpation. Placed
On the route which veaeis from the north
of Greece mutt hold in order to repair to
Syria, and Egypt, the lAand Of Rhodes
would, in other hands, become an empo-
rum of very comfortable commerce
its ports would afford places a ihelter and
refrefhment,, and its proximity to the
COATS would render It nliarefs Of the
trade Of part Of Ala, aud it would parties
pate in that Of Egypt, and Of the other
neighboring countries: fifuation 70 hap.
py could not have remained unIefs but
under the government Of the Turks
under any ether it would become fertile
fource Of PROPERTY. While its petition,
its vicinity to a, long extent Of fea-coalt
and numerous Hands, and the good quail.
ity Of the wood which its foraRs furnilh
for thiP.buildng, neccaarily make the
people Of Rhodes a people Of navigators.
-feveral harbcurs invit. their commerce,
and multiply and facilitate its MEANS
Capes, which render the figure Of the
ifland irregular, form road-0eads, havens.
and bays, in which vefes can depofir and
receive their ladings, fupply ihem(elyes
with excellent water and proviions Of ev-
/ cry fort, iheltered fecure from the winds.A
The other Hands of the Archipelago of
fer alto confiderabie attraction to an enter
prifng and ambitious nation ike France,
which, is moi tefrained BIZ laws by which
the civilized world has been governed
hitherto. Ofthsfc undoubtedly the NOT
importantis Gambia, whole petition feenS
to infure the empire and commerce of the
Mediterranean. Contiguity to Europe,
Ala and Africa; and its grand and ipa-
cious harbors would render it for
midable petition in the hands Of pow
er that ri,editates plans Of conquea in
every portion of the old world. With tho
advantages TO be derived from the poiIei-
fion of theie ilands the French govern
ment is we'll acquainted even during the
reign Of Louis XVI. fcientiic men were
tent to explore the archipelago s Egypt
and the plan Of fubjugating the latter
country was conceived under the reign of
Louis XIV. and lay for whole generations
in the depot Of the invalids untouched, but
not forgotten. 1t was at length adopted,
and executed in manner that ailoniihed
Europe. Whoever maturely weighs thei,:
circumstances will not be diipofed to con-
fider the projects Of France with relpeet
to the Morea and the Levant, as chime
rical. During the administrator of Bon
aparte the republic has had her commerce
annihilated, and the mott valuable poiisf-
iions in the Welt-Indies LOFT to herfor
yer thofe who are acquainted with the
character of the frtt confuI, will naturally
conclude that he will endcayour to re-
move this lfigma, BY procuring to Franc.
fome comPenl4ion for her lofIes, and he
cannot feek for it any where with 70 much
probability of fucccfs, as 10 The tottering
empire of the Grand Seignipr.