Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-11-13
From the London Morning Chronicle.

ddili arrival of the experiment OF inVaSloll'
It is quite time that this triiilng With the
temper and feelings of a nation should have
an end. Itisworse than triRing. It's de-
stroying that on which the safety OF the ma
ton may ultimately depend. It IS not safe
TO accustom an army too much to false A.
larms in presence Of an enemy. Already
we see throughout the nation that natural
feeling Of doubt and listlessness which is
the consequence of expectation too ire
suently raised and disappointed.
In truth, these puerile arts ofkeeplng the
nation alive and alert, as is called, ougat
to be viewed in their proper right. They are
in themselves but sorry arts. and they are
chiefly employed by imposters aud mould
tebanks. In the present stasc OF affairs
and in this stage of the war, the public de-
fence of the country, in the most extensive
sense of the word defence, rests s0tth the go
Uernment.
Let them call in committees Of advice
and cooperation of coach masters and job
masters as much as to their proelglous
wisdom seems TO meet But it is to the
kings government, the ministers OF tie
crown, that we are to look for providen,
preparation and vigorous action. They
have had the means. Do they want mo-.
ney or men? Or what do they want that
they keep up SO lmPortunate csytheenemy
are coming? Why! If the enemy are
coming the government shouldbe prepared
with the public force to rePel them? Has
not tie government had time 20 dc so?
All the trivial arrangements and still more
Iudicrous public exhibitions that have late
" been made, must convince cool observ
ing enemy, accustomed TO danger, that our
ministers are mere novices, ignorant or
their situation, of the means OF encounter
ing their enemy, and destitute OF confidence
in themselves. Such absurdities uniform
" strike every foreigner, with che convic-
ton that we have no men of parts amongus
and that our government IS radically def
centin vigour and energy.
No wonder indeed that our minister's
are anxious to carry on war in JOINT So
ciety with Brook Watson and the Proprie-
tors ofcoaches, in and about the metropo-
lis. For many mortal months these are the
only war like operations worth peaklng Of
and this was the only way OF publishing
them. 1t certainly however shews the mo-
desty of the present administration III a,
favourable light, that they are willing TO
share the glories OF their vast military
conceptions with numerous persons VINO
have been invited 70 the honorS OF the sit
tings. Something like thsse foolerIes was
transacted at Paris by the lacobins at TIE
beginningof the last war, but with the fran
tick energy thatrendered them dangerous,
whereas ours are carried through with a
SOLEMN gravity that renders them corsu.
mately ridiculous.
In word, ministers are in complete
possession of the physical, financial and
moral energies of the country and will
not be enough for them to issue senseles
circular letters and convene trivial meetings
on the subject ofinvasion. What, are we
to hear of this and nothing but this? Is
not the war IN the hands OF minister's!
Did they not rush into the conduct Of 1t
nob ody knows how And are they not TO
be called to account for It's progress and
success Will il be sufficient answer tor
those who oiciousl5 and ,ntrusipcly came
into the management of the war, to tell us
the enemy won't come? Itseens we can
fight France singlc-handsd. IF 50 then,
ghy wait for France coming here F,ance
must conquer England by delay. It is for
ministers to prevent It. Ministers are re-
sponsible fer the danger as much as for the
criminal loss Of a battle or being surprised
BY invasion. They are bound to show Us
some change Of peace by pietory in this
war, which has hithertobe a war mac
tive audinglorous, and profitable only to
government contractors and the paper ma,