Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-01

| was invited to t.skc such steps as she
night th;nk proper for the gradual al
yancemeot OF her views, without laying
herself under any obligation FOR the pro-
Isecul'on OF hostility, should there be no
continental CO operation agains, France.
On the other hand The French ca5iue,
appears noi 10 have been Indifferent or un-
Uniformed OIL the design; Cor the landing
OF the third Russian division at Cor Ia, was
The siynal Tor The march of a numerous ar
my into con.iuen,ai Sicily, and The occu ,
patton of the most commanding mari
Time positions on the hdriatic and in Gala
{ bria; and this force continued to he aug
lmented until the Russians ceased from
ianding their troops.
During this period. General Brune the
French ambassador 10 the Porte. had ex-
cited alarms in the Divan, and caused a
suspension of MEASURES which were appa-
lfcnuy Produced by the influence either Of
Russia or England. The Porte assumed
flort explicitly neutral, in consequence
of an intima,ion that dilTeren, conduct
would occasion wo French armies to take
Possession of the opposite shores OF the
)Dardanelles.
The Neapolitan monarch whose dispo-
siions cannot be supposed naturally ia
vorable 70 TIE views of France, was by the
awful presence Of French troops reduced
to the same course of policy as the Porte,
TO prevent the menaced occupation of in
sular Sicily.
BUTT will be asked how were operations
in this quarter 10 be conducted--and for
what end!
The obvious conjecture is that as Russia
could not be seduced by any tcmptalion in
the northern part of Europe and as the
fate OF her armies ia Holland, Italy, and
the Grsons furnished memorials too So
lemn to be disregarded, that the intention
OF aggression in the Mediterranean was
only meditated by the projectors of the
plan, as necessarily leading to more ge-
neral eventual war--while at the same
time, it was 10 disturb France al the point
most remote from Britain, and thereby re-
lease her from The intense restraint of a
lperpetually menacedinvasiono on the shores
of the channel
The negotiations to produce coalition
on the conurent of Europe have failed
! { obviously flor had there been any sue
cess or The prospect Of success, the inte-
rests ofthe cabinet of St. James we're too
much involved 10 conceal any measure
calculated to encourage their own hopes,
or to induce indirectly more favorable dis
positions IN other powers.
Failing in the effort /, engage Russia by
( negpciaiion, it is probable that the secret
4 erfeditios, ike that which sailed during
the last war with crcuYsiul powers-to
menace Ferrol, Cadiz, Sc and finally to
proceed for Egypt, that this exception
viii also sail with similar. powers; posi-
bly, the long Projected attack Of Dalrym-
pie upon Cadiz, may be attempted, or the
Information obtainedby Sir James Pultney
may be made deter use of; that after me-
nacing Carihsgena or bombsrtling it, f.
nally the troops may occupy Sicily: or be
thrown ashore on the A1orea as means OF
temptation to Russia.
No solid or durable service could result
to Britain from suclr proieet, 4, may be
said; but this remark would equally apply
TO the whole war, which is in fact an enter
prize undertaken to court fortune, which
however much il has Hattered, has con
stanily deceived the British politicians.
The end to be obtained then is the pro-
traction of the crisis Of her fate--and the
vain expectation that some sudden stroke
of fate Incidentally or accessoriIy, should
destroy the French power by the death OF
its present extraordinary chiefIaiD. The
operations then we consider as intended
for the Mediterranean--aud TO execute
such one or more Of a given number Of
designs as the circumstances OF the case
may encourage prospeetof accomplish.
ment.
The various squadrons in the ports OF
France and Spain, beside the convenience
and efficacy which the work OF naval con-
struction and repairs can be conducted in
various arsenaIs, extend also the sphere OF
political resistance * menace--while the
Foulon feet by its mancuvres, engages
the squadron under Nelson. the ports OF
Cadiz and Fcrrol engage the feet Of Sir
John Orde & Brest occupies wholly what
IS called the channel feet ;--mean while
the harbor Of Rochefort, left only 10 an
occasional cruise--enables France TO ex.
pose the vain professions Of those who af-
tect to cover the ocean---the colonies