Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-06-18
coNr,NuED.

char the advantages winch va
.r;yes from the assistance OF nea'rais :" :,
rying on his colonial renalsraacs ssio os 70,
shrsesho-rils prosperity, and that the neu-
g tral flag can by 10 means cover him from
abe effects OF oar mara,me superiority.
in-the FIRST place the superiority OF our
spavy, which forces him as soon as war
breaks out, to employ neuuals in almost
every branch ofhis commerce, has the DO.
vious effect OF creating great shock 10
his mercantile affairs. Norhing is more
70 be dreaded in trading county, thaa
such sudden aud extensive changes as this.
Scarcely q merchant IN France but mus.
5eei the consequences Of cur instantly
transferring all the navigation Of the coun.
cry TO the hands of neutrals, and compel.
ling lis foreign imports and exports to be
carried on circutously, instead Of directly.
What should we not expect 10 this county,
AZ BY the sudden occurrence of any event,
our whole foreign, ADD part ofour eoasting
trade were thus new modled, and if 6y the
occurrence of another event, few years
@afterwas ds, it were as suddenly sdrawn back
20 its former state? We should unGoubted-
iy. trembie for The whole mass of eur com.
aneTcial est15!;7ament; and II France were
as mercantile country as England she toe
4wouiGsoe nearly ruined by so violent sue
@<cessiou of changes.
lnIhe second place, the total suspension
of the euemies navigation is ar injury of
: sae-greasess unouaentto his general power.
1tis precisely the sor, of injury most desi-
> 1able TO our owu Interests, and the natural
3 consequence of our naval superiority.
While neutral ships and seamen alone are
employed in carrying on the commerce Of
France her only nursery efemariiime pow
-er destroyed she loses her whole chance
%of gaining a navy; she can neither procure
"a stock. of merchant vessels nor breed a
race of sesmen to man her ships of war.
We are told indeed, the exclusion of her
seamen from trade gives her great COM
mapd OF recruits for her vessels of war;
bat is this any thing more than arnere tenn
porary supply !? When the English navy
: has taken or,destroyed the crews thus pros
: cured, or when, ina few years they have,
died out, whence are their places so6e sup
piled? The trade of France must revive, j,
must be established for some years, be,
fore her navy eau be placed co the footing
that Il had when the neutrals began 10 lend
her their assistance, by epgrosslng her to.
reign commerce. The ruin OF all her
hopes of ever acquiring maritime strength
is as efectuaily secured by our naval srpe-
periority driving her trade into neutrs!
hands, as ircould be by cur preventing her
from trading a, all. And lie. issbe remem,
hered that this is all the injury which tits
~oat interest to make her teet from the war
The destruction OF an anemy's trade rs
MOTTO be desired, In order i0 aaoihllaie his
national wealth. aRy the Individual pros,
perity Of his subjects we'ouEseives. gain;
by their progress In riches we Improve our
own and thongh his pebllc revenue mag
hbe augmented by the3ncrease OF his public
wealth, we must necessarily augment cur
ownrevenue By increase which our wealth
receives from his. lis tbs .'terra potens
armis'' ahat ave have 10 dread DOT the
sA' ubete slo6e," -ltis his progress 10 arms
mot in arts that is Formidable, and there
cannot be doubt thar an exPedient which
readers him richer and weaker; which
augments the opaleuce OF his people, and
makes them harmless 70 their neighbours;
which preserves their trade but stna,s the
growth Of their pavy, is OF all Others the
,conirivaucs best suited 70 our saserests.'
The Surrender ofElhe French commerce
faths neutral nauous, Is this expedieat.
ttpreservss s@haseVer Of that commerce
which is beneficial TO England, aud des
sroys whatever might injure %; it gives
us all the advantages of a rich neighbour
and all che security Of weak one
This is the reward of our unexanrped
naval superiority; it is the glorious fruit
OF our numerous victories; II Is & benefit
.,f i.s.IE Ii.