Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-06-22
From tie Charleston Courier.

ment disgraceful, Circumstances, which took
place OFF the bar, on the fourth instant. is "a
theme which il is not grateful 20 dwell on !,
! IL gives Use to many unpleasant ideas, ma
ny hateful iofebodings Of what may be the
situation of this country, if the present adj
ADMINISTRATION persists ntheir economical
plan of having NO NAVY, or least such a
onea as is unequalt 10 the purpose of protec-
ton 10 our trade abroad, and of lettering
freebootcrs from insulting and robbing our
li,izens almost IN otsr very ports. 1t is
nevertheless alike our duty to offer our.i
IDEAS on paiafa! aswell as pleasing subjects.
more especially five presume TO hope that
any of our obsers ations may serve th-
cause we have embarked in, the cause of
truth and OF good government.
From the sample we,have recently had
of French spoilauon, there is 20 reason TO
expect that any thing shortcf absolute CO.
ercion win obligr such maraudefs TO re-
linquish so safe, and 50 profitable bust
ness. With respect TO the commander OF
the Two Friends, it is in vain for them TO
say that his papers were irresular. Is tito be
Supposed that, that gentleman IN whom to.
the vigilance, experiences, and knowledge
sef the complete seaman, is added mucE
useful experience in business can 1t be
presumed we say, that he should have in-,
complete papers! Even supposing foT.
an ipstant, that be were capable of direlic.
ton OF bis duty 10 others "a thing we are
by no means disposed to think possible he
could notbe supposed TO be wanungin what
was necessary to the protection OF MS own
properly his ship anda considerable part
of The. cargo. The idea therefore IS alb
surd and even if a consular certificate had
beenwanting the treaty between the Unit-
ed States and France declares and allows,
that free ships make free goods. ''* Il is
hence clears:hat the privateersman was de-
termined at alfeoents, to take the vessel.in
defiance of that provision, and in defiance OF
al law or justice.
Its position which will hold good a
gainst all the assertions of all the demo-
Gratis in the union, that a country with an
immense mercantile navy, trading TO almost
every part Of the known world, never can
protect the property of her citizens, assert
the honor of her flag, or. her own dignity,
without having at the same lime respect
able naval force !; more particularly when
fore On nations are at war. In proof Of this
POSITION, We adduce the situation OF this
Country at this times She has widely ex-
fen-led commerce but we assert that it is
not protected as II ought to be It cannot be
protected without larger navy. ifindeed
the world were 70 remain always at peace,
that trade might continue to extend without
Interruption. IN proportions 10 the increase
of population aud of wealth but as those
halcyon DAYS are not yet arrived when
sswar shall cease, and be no more heard
Off it becomes the people of an indePend
emit country, as this is, 20 have some check
ON the ambition, the cupidity ot natloR.,
or the avaricious yiliany of armed indIvi-
duals.
Its thought by some people that an i'm
mediate rise in the premium OF insurance
viii take place.
The annual trade of the United States
to and from Great Britain, which is almost
exclusively carried on IN American hot.
toms, may at the present day be SAT- ly
calculated a. twenty eight millions Of dol
lars.
The value of the shipping employed in
that trade may be called two millions
more; and supposing that the owners IN
sure their vessels out and home it would
form an item of four millions making a
sotal Of thirty two millions of dollars, near
" the whole of which Is insured, or in.
tended to be insured, at the different insu.
race Offices in London, Liverpool, sc. But
we are aware that some owners are their
own underwriters, also that insurance is
sometimes saved by ships arriving before
she letters ordering insura ce get to hand.
Allowing therefo.e for those deductions,
four millions, and call the amount twenty
J. eieht millions. of American property annu.