Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-06-12

doo tue peCuhar SITUATION OF tue w est
Indies requires an intimidating Rect.
I The success of the Rochefort squadron
teaches US what may be done by agitatine
the British ministry with the Operations.
of different Fleets, all injuring their trade
at the same time-and in no one instance
has Bonaparte evineed such consummaie
policy in his attempts Of this kind.
Linois at this time sweeps the Indian
ocean, and captures vessels on their own
cossts without opposition. The Rochefort
Heet took from the West-Indies what they
chose, without hindrance--an we may
be assured that the French fleets will be
all at sea this summer. The consequence
WILDE, either the devastation OF the British
colonies, there being no force 10 oppose
them. or the disregard ofhome, by follow.
ing the enemies fleets which will insure
blopdshed or misery by an invasion.
We may expect to hear soon much in
teresting intelligence from the Yves, In.
dies. That the combined Fleets will steer
thither Immediately, there can be little
doubt-and the result cannot be OWNED.
The Ferrol fleet left it's station most pro.
baby Immediately as the intelligence of
Sir J. Orde having sailed from off Cadiz
reached them; and this would give the
French and Spanish in that harbor an OPP
portuuity of joining the other ships.--It
IS worthy ofremark, that Bonaparte has no
design of fighting upon the water in Eu
rope--aware that the most trifling defeat,
that the loss of one vessel only, would
dcrogate from his inanehce, and be a,
subject OF EMULATION to The British. He
cautions his admirals against an engage
ment. The loss of ten men of war in the
West-lndies would not affect the people
so much as the loss of,hree at home. The
plan therefore is, to draw from Europe
as much Of the British force as possible.
1t was never supposed tina, by sea con-
test the French would succeed in their
threatened descent. No-It was to have
in readiness large disposabie force, pre-
j pared for the Object at an hours warning.
The ihrea; of BoDapsrte has excited
more lively interest and more general
tremor, in England, than any circum.
stance during the present reign, and il has
been accompanied with more unpleasant
> eascts-lt has injured the commerce, di.
unfinished the manufactures, and shackled
The trade of the country it has caused
an immense increase Of the expenditure
ot the public money, lessened the real
produce OF is Inhabitants, and democrat,
lied he people in an astonishing degree
and being continued so long, Il has now
become subject OF fidicule more than
terror. This is another object which 30
naparte has in view To- weary The patience
of the British, to throw them OFF their
guard, aud by holding up The idea for so
long time, 20 exhaust their resources,
render them careless, and then TO attack
them--depending upon their own safety,
the ineficiency and the folly of the at
tempt. and the length Of time which has
elapsed since the in.imation was FIRST Civ
en-.
Conquest does not appear to be the OBJ
J-ct--it is to plumber The colonies and to
destroy their mercantile transanelions-
and in no way is this end SO likely 10 be
effected as by small squadroDs which, by
the celebrity Of their movements, levy con.
trIbuiions and disappear with the proceeds
before intelligence Of their arrival can be
sent and assistance given.
.'hOoiN VIC hOutOi ftcct reach the west
Indies, it will not be ipactiye--but as ii is
so much stronger, will attempt larger OBJ
jects than the vessels from Rochefort.
One grand design without doubt, is to
place the French Wesi-Indies in state
of complete defence-and by augmentinr
the French force, 10 enable them 10 car.
ny on that petty warfare which consists in
attacking and capturing the merchantmen
of England. There is much room TO
doubt If any means will be devised to bring
the French fleets 10 battle, unless in stu
alton where success on their part is reduce
ed 10 moral certainly. This has been
the principal consequence Of the present
war. The French have been employing
their money in constructing formidable
maritime force--whist the English have
been layishing theirs upon parade And
it cannot be doubted that the no,ilaat Bou-
logne is sufficiently large for any purpose
to which it NAV be applied--but it will
stay in port, continually increasing, until
the British shall have so Iesseped their
force on the different stations of the
French coast that it may assail them with
IMMUNITY; and the only mode by which
this can he performed, is BY separating
The English lleets--and so dIstrsGlibg that