Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-05-01

had either entered or departed from that
port. The channel feet had putinio Tor
bay on the 2=th' bul before he quiuedhis
station off 'Bccst, Admiral Cornwsllis dis ,
patchcda squadron consisting of the St.
George, of % guns, Hon. Capt. DE Cour-
cy, Spariiate. IS. Atlas, "a, Eagle "A. and
Veteran. ca, in search Of the Roctesort
ships; the commander Of this squadron is
moi named, but Gas Sir r. Calder had been
a few days before put in command Of the
ships off Ferro!) it is not improbable that
| il is under the orders of Adm. Cochrane.
1t is merely said that this detachment has
gone to the southwark. There is some
reason-to apprehend that the squadron un-
der admiral Graves did no, proceed for
the West Indies, az the Foudroyant, his
| flagship, was undergoing rcpaits on the
S3d February. The opponents OF the adj
minis,ra,ion are open in their censures Of
the inaitention of the ministry to the West
Indies, as well as FOR the Encouragement
of the navy department, in suffering these
squadrens 10 escape; and so great is-the
! alarm on the occasion, that every ship ca
pable of being put in commission has been
ordered 10 be got in readincss.
The dye for Portugal had not heen de.
termined ; but it seems very likely thatit
will decide on a war with England. hc-
tive negotiations were going on between
the court OF the Prince Regent and those
of Paris and Madrid the English had
been refused permission TO bring their pri-
yes into the 'ragus; and the address of,he
Prince of Peace had been published in the
Gazette of Lisbon: all these are strong
Indications, if not OF the real dispositions
Of that court, at least of The disposition it
IS forced TO assume. On the latter occa-s
| sion Lord Fi,zgei aid addressed note to
the Portuguese minister, in whchhe COM
plains Of this insult UPON the British go-
rcrnment in the following spirited mani
MGR.
repeat, sir, that anxious OF the good
opinion of this nation, canno; be indIffer-
ent 10 the sentiments it entertains of
mine and what would be its sentiments,
! ii q public Minister OF his Britannia Ma
tJes,y, witnessing, under the character &C
authepticity, the publication of those foul
| caiumnies with which the Msifes,c teens,
we're by his silence 10 admit, atleasttacitly,
! the reality OF The abominabIe crimes with
which has countrymen are reproached :
! What would be its sentiments if Minis
ter OF his majesty felt no Indignation at
The horrible charge preferred against the
English. OF suffering their prisoners OF war
! 70 die of hunger; or of compelling them
TO enter into their service against their
own country! finally, if he felt no indig-
nation 10 hear them denounced 10 all Eu-
rope as cbjeeas of universal deles,ation,
with the most shameful and aggrayating
ePithets, aud at the same time degrading
to tae ancien, and brave Spanish nation
Ito excite whose ailour il was sufficient
but to shew an cncrny), and injurious 10
tthe generous people against whom they
are directed No Sir, we do not starve our
prisoners to death I'VE do not force them
to take up arms against their country IF
Spain nouns the fate Of the unfortunate
persons who persisted al moment when
measure of precaulion dictated the neces-
sity OF OBTAINING certain ships Of war be-
longing to that nation oy the British cruz
scrs, do us, sir, The justice to believe, that
sorrow is as general and sincere in Eng
land; and that the mourning we wear is
at the bottom OF our hearts. No, Sir, our
hands are not stained with innocent blood
and we would readily shed some Of our
own TO restore to life the victims Of Cruz
Ell chance, which we constantly deplore.
"T'hcse, Sir, are the principal points on
which have to vindicate the outraged ho-
nor OF mr. nation, while | wait for the i'm
structions Of his Majesty with respect to
the exemplary punishment which he is ia
titled TO demand OF the Portuguese Coz
vernment, on the Editors or Printers who
! inserted in the said Gazette, no. doubt,
without its knowledge, libel SO prejudi-
cial TO the bonorof its angus, aliy.p
With respect TO the internal state Of Ea-
gland little is said. On the 18Th februa-
Try the Minister produced his Budget by
which it appears that the demands Tor the
current year amount TO no less than the
enormous sum OF $4,000. sterling of
which the ways and means furnish about
24,oo0o0ok and the remainder is TO be
raised by loan.
We are told in the Times that the Nfi-
mister intended TO raise, by loan, twenty
two millions and a half--To meet The in
terest. sc. of which, he proDoses an acdi-