Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-17


lin full security, as during time of peace,
devote themselves TO the terrible and PEE
rilous exercises Of war. We have, with.
out doubt, smaller navy than England ;
, but their number, when United and wise
, lily directed, is sufficient 10 strike mortal
blow to the enemy.
4 Spain drawn into the contest by provo
4 cations without pretext or excuse mas s'
/. en- to US Tor auxiliaries the disaPprooau-
on of Europe against an unjust agS fesS'o",
, the indignation of generous people, aiu
!, the forces of great kingdom. lnvu'ners'
bile upon our own territory, we have experi-
enccd that vigilance, SC an energy which Is
r-verat variance with itself, are sufficinttor
our security. Our colonies are sheltered
from all attack; Guadalupe, Martinique,
land The Isle of France, would resist an
lexpedition of tweuiy thousand men,
Our cities, our fields, our manufaeto-
ries, are prospecting the regular and easy
collection of the taxes altes,s to the ne.
yer failing resource of agriculture and of
| industry; commerce, accustomed during
The last ten yers TO dispense with the cost
Iy Intercourse with England, has taken
another direction, and finds in it commu-
nlcations more profitable, more indepen.
dent, and more safe. No new imposts;
no loans; debt which cannot increase,
but must diminish; an accumulation of
means sufficient to maintain during len
years the actual state of The war. Such
~ the position of France.
This war has been very little on the of
fensiye; but it has been far from inactive.
France has been secure. She has raised
up force until this day unknown. She
has planted in the very bosom ofthe enc
my's county. principle of inquietude
without remedy; and by prudence and
an energy unceasing she has secured for
ever the confidence OF the continent, a
little shaken at che outset of AN incendia.
~ war which might have set Europe in a
blaze, and whose progress has been ar
rested by the assduous efforts of watch
fulness, moderation, firmness, and wis.,
dom.
What is the situation of The enemy |!
The people are in arms and whilst want,
assisted by genius, has prompted us to
invent new species of marine, want and
fear have compelled the English cabinet
to substitute every where irritation instead
OF the ordinary weapons Of war. The
cabinet is divided between two projects,
these of invasion and defence. 1t is pro-
digal of useless intrenchments; it covers
the coasts with tortresses; it ircessant
ly builds up and takes-down its batteries
it searches for some method to arrest or
turn aside the course of the mighty tor
rent. II projects foundations on It's own
fields. The incidence ofthc cities is trans
ferred TO the camps, and the turbulence
% the camps is in the cities.
Ireland, the Indies, even the shores of
England, are an object Of perpetual and
indeterminatc disquiets1e. Whatever
aPpereains 10 EHgland is INCREASINGLY me-
naced by 1900 vessels which compose our
fiotilla, at present by sixty ships OF the
line, and by valoroas army co2,mauded
by the first generals OF the universe.
The most alarming of all menaces, would
it not be that of flexible patience, by
which We might persist during ten years
in that state of rest and of expectation
which would leave 10 our operations the
knowledge and the choice of places, of
time, and of the means of annoyance?
These considerations, and this contrast,
ouTHt, in my opinion, Ia have inspired the
English government with the wise reso.
hutton of making the 6rst advances to pre-
vent hostities; it has not done it. il has
; Lett TO the Emperor ali the advantage of
that honorable beginning. 1t has, howe
yer, replied TO the propositions which
nave been made to it and If we com.
pare this reply with the disgraceGllly cele-
. brated declarations of Lord CrenvilIe
!. IN the year 8, | must acknowledge it
u is not destitute of moderation and of
wisdom. have now the honor Of read.
ing 1t to you.
Letter from Lord Maigrape 10 HE ErceHeu-
ey M de 7saeyrsn1, B5nister Of Foreign
aGafrs.
ellis majesty has received the letter
which has been addressed 10 him bv the
chief of the French Government, dated
the I'd OF the present month.
n "There IS no object which his majesty
had more at heart than to seize the frat
: opportunity Of procuring anew TO his sub.
! jects the advantages Of peace founded
1 on basis not Incompatible with the ner'
{ naoent security aud the essential inter.