Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-10-20

[ er than In the westerneountry |; ana as the
! settlements of East Florida are not con-
| temptible either for size or population,
1--WE should probably meet with resistance
!. from the inhabitants alone, supposing them
TO be without the aid,of'an army more for
midable, and of longer duration than we
are at present aware OF.
J Upon the whole then, on the side OF the
1 Span;ards we might calculate upon finding
great regular force in full possession OF
1.-The country, and supported by indian alli-
(! ances. While on our part there would
only be disorderly militia collected with
lgreat expence, trouble, and delay, subject
to no dicipline, ignorant of the country,
perhaps sinking under its diseases; and
twhatis worse than all directed by govern
ment without wisdom, spirit or probity,
/ too ingnorant to know our resources too
parsimonious to use them and too pusil-
Luminous to act with courage, promptltude
or effect. What then in this their most
vulnerable quarter have the Spaniards to
dread?
Cuba has also been supposed by our
| ardent politicians to be withln our grasp.
| But we have neither an army to SO there
nor navy TO transport or thlther, nor
! funds requisite to such an expedition. We
| know what immense exertions were made
! by Great Britain in the year one thousand
seven hundred and sixty two (the most
hourishing period of her glorD to effect
its reduction, how long and vigorous WAS
its resistance though not in complete
state of defence, and how great the loss OF
| the conquerers. Since that time however
1t is understood to have been An object OF
| peculiar care and attention. A respectable
force both naval and military is now
always Kept up there, and while the
most powerful nations of Europe appear to
deem its subjugation impractlcable, is not
| the threat of our making any impression
| upon it, too idle gasconade to be seri-
ously adopted BY the American peo-
pie.
| Splendid visions have likewise been
! formed bv men of sanguine temperament,
| with regard to an attempt upon Mexico.
But without adverting to the probability OF
! defeat if the invasion was made, how are
we o get there? Not by sea, The supe-
riority of the Spanish navy would cause
The enemy to laugh TO scorn such an endea-
YOUR. And can any reasonable man sup
pose, that we could penetrate the wilds of
| Louisiana with an army, when We know not
| even the map of the country, and when as
| have before shown, we should be 10 a.
perpetual state Of alarm for the safety of our
southern and western settlements?
Thus incapable Of iniuring our enemy By
land, would the efforts of our privateers
alone, compensate as for the evils of war?
If Spain was possessed of fourish:ng
comm, rec, in the hands of individuals,
she certainly would in this respect, have
much to dread from the courage, enterprise
and activity Of our citizens: But while
our sails are unfurled on every sea, and
our ships are exposed in every quarter
to depreciation, ISIS notorious that with the
exceptions of hergalleons, she has scarcely
any thing upon the ocean worth the trouble
of seIzng. The vessels which convey her
treasures from America and India, are
powerful ships of war, ALWAYS guarded by
convoy, which if danger was unprecedented
would be considerably strengthened. They
are therefore utterly beyond the reach of
our crulzers; and even supPosing 1t posi-
ole that some of them might be captured,
they would only swe]lthe fortunes of some
particular prlvateermen, without confering
any benefit on the nation.
The last and cot the least weightv cbiec-
ton that shall mention to our prosecuting
The war withthe necessary vigour and ef-
feet, would be rne situation of our fnanc-
eS.
A.present TIE whole Of our national re-