The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-11-19

II
tive and able ally, is upon the point of taking
the Held. 1t was the early boh1 of Bonaparts,
that England iingle-handed, was no match for
France. Much and deferyedly as this boat has
been ridcued, itmu.t .nofse iiiguiGed, that, If
this ailsrtion had bren confined to ofienii ve
war, IN the preicnt power OF France, it was too
true.
Were England to venture a campaign in
france without allies, to fay the eait, il mutt
be Intellectual. The rei1urces OF England are
not equal to the fupport of IN army which pc
netrate the brazen frontier of the Frenc, repub-
lie. An army of so 900 men would be nothing
aSain!t the hotts of France, but AN army of 5o,-
600 men would be more than England could In
prudence fpare.
In theie circumfancest the Efforts of the MI
nittry have been directed to procure IN efficient
ally.-They have at length happily fucceedcd.
Whit England, con6ning he,ielf to what ihc
Is Intended by nature, predominant maritime
power, checks the colonial acceiiion, and auui-
hilstes the commerce of her enemy. the armies
CT Ruiiil are about to enter into her territories
and attack her empire in IFS centre.
This contedesacy, il is faii, cannot fail 70 re-
fore the former fate Of Europe, or at !eaIt re-
rduce the power of France from its dangerous
predouinance.
Let us not be accutci of unworthy defpair if
we venture to fufpend our aGent to this conciu-
iion. Ruilia is powerful :--G,anted but let
1t be granted ON the Other hand, al leaf granted
upon Politive proof, that France, TOO, is a pow
ertui nation; nation powerful beyond what
The Brit'h people, and thofc whole in:crca it
is to write TO fleafe them, are willing 10 acis-
nowledge.
In tee preitnt excellence oe military icisnce,
the event OF war has become almol a thin. oi
calculation Let us;examine the refources of
our enemy, aud thsie of our allies the GOLIATH
on and comparifon will lead us to a probable
conc.Htion.
As this is point OF the fra Importance, and
cannot fail 10 have proportionate ntereit, we
HAL en1eavour TO exhibi: it clearly and briefly.
AbrsctiDg from il, therefore, all other matter,
we iubEiit 1t under its feparare heads, and have
remarks and conclu6ons TO our readers-Eith
regard 10 the ref0urces Of France, as the anerti-
onS OF all our political writer's have been in cx-
act contradiction TO the truth of the cafe, tie
examination ot thefe a!itrtions will furniih us
with futahle order.
IN the irit place, it has been aferted that the
preisnt real itrcnGth OF France, that is TO iay.
ths Pecunary reiources, are inferior TO wi at
theywert under the monarchy that France j..
on the eve ct bankruptcy, and that mfsry and
poverty pcrvlde the PROVINCES
Tins We abio'utely deny, and upon the fol-
lowing brief reaons:
never exceeded 20 millions.
The revenue OF the empire uoon the copclu
non OF the iaa Year exceeded s6 millions.
90. 1 he nttrett OF the permanent debt Of the
trench monarchy exceeded ITS revenue more
man one third--io that the monarchy had in
tact nothiHS to bring forward asaina any extra
ordinary occurrence.
The intercit paid 10 tie prerert national Gre
dto:s of the republic does not exceed two mil
honS, leaving clear income of thirty -four mil
lions.
sd. The am ,unt OF the collection of the reve-
mes "f The monarchy was one fifth of the whole
revenue, tour 'nllions three hundred thoufsnd
pound, and the amount Of honorary pen.io1s
paid out of the revenue was upwards of TWO mil.
mons INK hundred thouiaud, leaving the whc,e
reyenus OF the fate about fifteen millions.
an. ihe amount of collection and peulions
pad out OF the revenue of the republic, is about
two m!lonG, leaving thirty-two millions to meet
the expence: of the governnent.--Th reader
will remember that this thirtv-two millions is
clear Of all debts; whereas the whole of the
fifteen millions, and one-thrd more, was due to
the creditors of the Ita,e and therefore not avail
abie to the fate one liyrc.
5th. And moit materially of all, the m omar
chy was taxed more heavily to produce twenty
millions than the republic is taxed to nro,.ur,
thirty ieven.-Sixteen millions of lie prefent ~.
venue were the fpoi's of the clergy and the few
daI rights, and have thus beer added to the IA
tiona income, without adding one penny TO The
former burtnens.-The only difference is, that
the landholder5 now pay TO the nation what they
formerly paid to the clergy and the Lords Of
the Senlories.-The land pays no more, though
the revenue gains the iiXteen millions
The concmhon from thele articles is briefly
this, that as the French monarchy was in drbt
ten millions beyond its income, and the prefe1t
empire has revenue ofth;rty-four millions clear
Of all debt, that the latter is richer than the for
mer, that is 70 fay, ftronger in pecuniary refour
ces TO the amount of thirty-fonr millions.
With regard to the relative aate of England
ard France, it is neceGdriy included in inc a.
bove; or, at leatt, 10 the following hort poiiti-
cal anitbefls:
France has no national debt-no matter how
it has been sbolihsd--.he has not at prefent a.
ny.
England has debt Of FIVE hundred millions.
France cAu lpare thirty millions without anv
extraordinary exer.ion, aoi in peace as well as in
war.
England has hretehed her taxation TO the rt-
mof, aud her ezcrtions are indeed wonderful.
Her ipn1t will fupport them during the war,
out in psace thcy mutt remit.
The taXes IN france amount to about twenty