Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-07-06
FURTHER ADVICES,
From London Papers received at.the, office
of the Phil. True american.
LONDON, May s..

LONDON, May s..
This week has been full of eoniectures
and fears in the mercantile world. The
two principal objects of agitation have been
the escape of the Toulon feet, and the
proceedings of the French squadron in the
West. Indies.
Let us see whether the escape from Fou-
ION cannot easily be vindicated, at least so
far as relates to an accusation upon our 60
vernment, and the noble admiral who COM
nands on that station.
The French feet had already made a
motion of sailing up the Archipelago, and
renewing the attack upon Egypt. This ar
tihce had probably been refined, and deeply
laid, some ships with dispatches, fabricated
for the purpose of misleading the English
into an opinion of an attempt upon Egypt
had doubtless been thrown into the hands
of lord Nelson; at the same time his lord.
ship warrantably yielding to the deception,
pushed off for the coast of Sicily, lying in
wait for the approach of the enemy thro'
those narrow straits which they could not
pass upobserved.
The French seize the opportunity of the
absence of the British admiral, and a
strong Levant wind, which commonly
blows at this season of the year, to sail
down the Mediterranean whilst the fri
gates of observation at the mouth OF the
harbor are prevented by the same wind
which carries the enemy TO their destina.
ton, from conveying the intelligence of
their escape to lord Nelson, IN sufficient
time to overtake them or disconcert their
projects.
Thus their escape is reasonably account
ed for, nor can any want Of vigilance on
the part of his lordship and Jhe government
attach in these circumstances.
In respect to the West-Indies, it is as.
certained that the enemy had continued
their ravages upon the minor islands down
to the latter end of March, and no British
force had arrived in that quarter to oppose
them: that all the shipping in st. Kits
had been destroyed, and property captured
to a considerable amount. Ihls lntelll-
gence has naturally alarmed the merchants
and the hardness of admiral Cochrane IS
difficult to be accounted for. Not, indeed,
that there is much apprehension OF extern
sive injury from the present limited force
of the enemy in that quarter: they can
gain little but spoil, and that little must be
refunded; but it is feared that grand at
tack is meditated upon Jamaica; that such
is the destination of the combined feet now
out; that "a junction will be effected tor this
purpose with the Rochefort squadron IN
the West.Indies, which is merely an ad.
vanced guard 10 the main attack, and that,
by general co. operation. the French force
will completely triumph IL the West-ln.
dies.
Admiral Cochrane, therefore, when ne
arrives, will probably be compelled, Ike
Sir John Orde, to remit proceedings un.
I'll he is reinforced. And whence is this
reinforcement to come, and how will the.
enemy be employed in the mean time! ia
maica ha. no naval force, her military
means of defence are considerable, though
insufficient. Thus an attack would be We
nv hazardous, and this important settle
men, would have little other dependence
for her safety than race against time:
A feet to be dispatched from England
would be long in vi.ualling and preparing,
nd the seat Of our colonial empire might