Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-11-20
From the (Phila, REGISTER.


At a tins when foreign minister pra,e&
about his masters ability to blockade our
harbours, ], may be both instructive and
profitable TO consult tls records Gfb;story
10 ascertain what has been done by o,b.r
nations on similar occasions Of depreciation
and menace.
With this view, and without intend;,a
to assmilate the pigny power of nod-roo
Spain to the colossalsrerg;h fmona, Ill.
ehal France, in the reign Of Ch2 ,es he
eighth, or 10 compare there sol. ces Of the
United States with the slender nsanslof the
Florentine republic, lesson OF 6rmnes,
and magnanimity may be addueed from
the conduct of hatrepHblic, which ought
MOTTO be overlooked by our governmen,.
when the territorial boundary of our coup.
try (stiil remaining as Mr.. Jefferson says,
to be settled, and the Just claims of our az.
grievsd citizens are the subject OF conro-
versy with a nation, which in resort to
arms, we could instantly compel to coucede
every disputed limit, and to restore every
shilling OF our violated property.
Guicciardini in the history Of the wars
in Italy, when Charles the eighth OF France
invited by the republic IF Venice, Pope
Alexander the 9th, and Lodivico Sforza TO
enter Italy, and invade the kingdom Of
Naples, had progressed in victorious ca.
reer to the city Of Florence, thus describes
his entrance into that city, and his suisse
quens negotiations with those citizens,
who on the flight of Piero de Medici, had
assumed the direction Of the government.
The king made his entry in great
pomp at the mead OF his army, on horseback
the French and the Florentines wing
with each other in msgnifcence. His ma.
Jesty appeared like a conqueror with his
erected lance resting On his thigh. 4 tresty
was entered upon Immediately, bat was at
tended with seemingly insupera6lc difficult
ties: For besides the nmodsratc regard
orofrssed by many Of the kings followers
TO the name of P;ero ds 4Nedici, and The cx-
orblrants demands that were made for
money, Charles peremptofiiy required the
absolute dominion of Florence alledgIng,
that by coming into the town in the armed
manner he did, he had gained it lawfully
according to the rules OF war practlsed by
the ifernch.
At last he reeeded from this point. and
insisted only on leaving behind him certain
ambassadors, with gowns,ca!lcd in France
Doctors and men Of the rob !. This accord
ing to the French custom, would nave ere.
ated him for ever sort Of jurisdiction.
Bet the Florentines being determined st
all hazards to TO preserve their liberty ca
tire, warmly refaoed to submit TO ths de-
mand.
Both parties argued with grea: yehe-
| mence, yet neither was IL a condition to oP-
pose the other, or terminate The disputes
with the sword. As 70 the people they had
applied themselves time out OF mind. TO
mercantile affairs, knew littie Of military
exercises, and were in great awe Of SO pow
erful al king within their walls. with al
army composed Of different nations, who
might every instant fell upon them.
| On the other hand the French were APP
prehensive of the great number of inhab.
tants, who had shewn more resolution and
bravery the day Piero was attained than
could have been imagined besides it was
rumoured, that at the toll of the great bell
the whole country would rise and destroy
I them and every now and then one or O.
,her Of these whispers prevailing, eacn
side would run to arms, but never came 70
blows; nor did one party insult the O
Their.
The two parties in Florence were very
much exasperated, andnear coming TO al
open rupture: The king would not receas
from anv of his last demands, and the re-