The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-23
ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND:
SATURDAY, JUNE %, 1904.
VIEW OF THE PRESENT WAR.

OUT one opinion only can prevail rSfpecting the
extraordinary manner, in which it has been con-
Quoted. When the name of war falutes our
ears, our Imagination is almoft inftinctively rca
dy to delinedte icene of mitchell, defolation,
and murder, at which humanity revolts. In vain
thouid we peruie the annals of the prefent war
Tor the dIicovery of this complicated group of
evils. We bear ofno towns facked no PROPER
Gus countries laid detoate by armies; no pitched
battles OH land; & but few naval engagements.
At the commencement of the war, thefe con-
iequences might have been readily predicted. II
would not have been extremely difficult for
very humble politician, to have drawn from the
relative condition the two beiiisefent powers.
the following rude fketch of their military one
rations.
The power of France is exteuive on the continent
IS that of Great Britain ocean. The yaour of
ats republican generals and coniular chief has extended
the continent TAI influence of France beyond thoe limits
which the policy of lis Monarchs had icarcey dared 70
mediate I" The narrow Seas, the Fyrenees the Me-
diterranean, and the utnloh frontiers of Piedmont.
feeble idea of the limits Confolar France
armed with the iupport of Holland, Spain and Swift
zeEland, againt every opponent in the North, and
welding the new republics OF Italy again is enemies
In the South, of Europe" The maritime power or
Great Britain has perhaps incrcafed in unequal prouor
ton Far hyperion what it had ever been in the oh
prosperous period of the nation, it will DEFY COM
PARTON with the naval force of France any of the
kingdoms OF Europe 1t is too extravagant to IL
fert, that perhaps the whole maritime power Of
the two itrongeR and bravef nations in the
world, indifolubly combined together, would be in
fuihcient to wreit the trident from her handsDoes
not this relative condition of the tive belgerent natl
ons exactly defcribe what will be the general policy of
each In conducting the prefent war; What can the
power OF Great Britain accomplish on the continent
where France has acquired fuch exorbitant power !
what can France attempt on the ocean, where the ma
ies OF Britain ride triumphant not clear then
that the reiources of France mutt be principally exerted
on land And that Britain will direct her attention
to her navy, the mott ufeful nrument in the war
Let this general policy be purified into its fubor-
dinate branches
There are two points of aggreflion to which
the maritime power of England may be ufefiillv
directed. For there are two fources of proiperity
to which the continental power OF France cam
not extend its protection. | mean her colonies
and her commerce. Her principal colonies in
the Welt Indies, at the commencement of the
war, were the Hands of Tobago, st. Lucie, Qua
daioupe, Martinico, and precarious fettlenlen.
IN the Inflated st. Domingo. She pofieifed Cav
enne In South America, and Pondcherry in the
Eaft-lndies. The poiiefIion Of thefe colonies
might appear to hold out to the Enslifh govern
ment, the future fources of revenue & trade: but
the commerce of France afforded more immedi-
ate recompenfe to the valour OF her failors, & AN
irrehftible Indictment to the rapacity of her pri-
vateers. The commerce of France, though byno
means equal to that of England, extended to al
mott every feainthe civilized world & every wind
that blew waited to or from her ports, the trea-
lures OF other countries or her own productions.
The mott important part of the plan, therefore.
which 1t ieems the 1ntereft of England to adopt,
IN the prosecution of her military operations.
extend fn fbesc
MES, and 2diy. the interruption OF their trade.
france, though it fees in the more numerous
and wide fpread colonies of England, the mott
tempting objects for its ambition or rapsctv.
regrets the disappointment off its wiihes from the
want OF maritime power. Without filch a
power too, they would i'll vain attempt to iniure
eifectually the commerce of England by attack
ing 1T on the ocean. From the 1ea, there
fore, we turn our eyes to the continent
to enquire, whether there are no points on
which the Englifh are there expofed whether
the continental power of France will not there
furniih her with fome inftruments for the an.
noyance other enemy. a monetary reHeeti-
on may ferve to convince us, that although the
ocean may be open to the ihips of England, the
ports OF Europe may be fhut aganft them We
readily diicover how much the continental con-
nections OF France, may be made flibfervient to
the attainment of an object 70 pernicious to the
Engliih trade. With this indirect attempt I'D.
on her commerce, we might probably combine,
In our imagination, an attack upon the only ter.
ritory, except the fortrefsof Gibraltar, in Whole
fate the Englifh can be fuppofcd to be DIRECTLY
concerned onthe continent. meanthe hercdi-
tary dominions of the pretent line of their Mo-
narchs This tract ofcountry, iscertainIy entitled
by the contribution of the Germanc BODY, to a
complete exemption from the evils of the pre-
tent war ; as it belongs not to the king of En-
gland, but the Ele6tor of Hanover; and as the
prefent war is made, not upon the Ele6tor OF
Hanover, but upon the king of England. Yet
thu: theoretical diitinGton perhaps no longer de.
ierves any ferrous attention from the enemies OF
England as in practice, the diftin6tion has been
completely annihilated; as in practice the king
and legislature of England have once at eait, in.
vowed that country in war, and more than
once expended her own refources in the defence
OF thefeelectoral dominions. Had not eventbi,
policy been adopted, how could we expect that
the proyhons of the Germanic Contribution
would be reipe6ted by an ambitious General
who, without 70 plau6ble apretext, had violated
| the independence of 70 many other nations
| FOR the lois then, of their diftant colonies, VIZ
might naturally expect, that the French would
attempt to obtain fome compensation, by the
lnvaion and occupancy of the Electorate ofHan.
over.
Thus from an abfraet view of the relative Gitu.
| alton Of the contending parties in the prefent
war, politician might ealily conclude, that tho