The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-10-21
CITE enquirer.
RICHMOND, EN- OCTOBER.
THE WHOLE COMMERCIAL worm
in oPpedhOn to
G r E AT-B RITAIN.
IN oppoGtion to

nc FORMATION OF r75,iS5. code is faid to be one
OF the objects OF the French government; and the
Ruian emperor is laid to have in charge the decla
ration of the principle. of the armed neutrality Of
i1oo-fo the northern powers, who are to fend de-
iegates TO Hanuburgb to ratfy the compact, after
winch It is to be formally received and recognize ed
by the iouthern federative fta,es connected with
France and the Sips Of ev.ry nation which refuf.,
TO accept IT, are TO be nterded from accefs to tb
ports Of all and every of the nations par,e, TO the
new maritime compaef-ths BATS of this conpaa is
20 Dc Jrseb!S' make r" ssOd, which was the ancient
| law of nations -.
The preceding paragraph furceA. a
t''e'''V" ~ the confederation of the United
states, on which zoe may be Ioou fnmmoned to
decide. Ii every nation is to be excluded from
ehe ports OF contracting Euyope, which does not
iuoicribe to the terms of the maritime CONTRACT.
u Is ciear mat our own country will be involved
IN the Application. Such compact is almoa
certain, if the war between France and England
continues. Nor ia 1t certain, that there will be
no iuch compact formed, ihould even the pre-
ieh' negociat'ons eventuate in peace. Is it not
clearly Bonaparte's nterelt, to make all the ne
ceiiary PTtphrafion5 for nezv war? and does
not the maritime confederacy deferve to be
ranked in that number!
Let US fuppofe, therefore, that the time il
rapidly. approaching, when general Turreau
man preient fuch project to our government.
Inc moment has, therefore, ALREADY arri4,ed.
when We ihould begin to inYeftieate the fub.
jed. '"e ''o-
But it 10 the humble province of the f.Hoay;uy
remarks to explain the nature of thi, MARITIME
cohleaeracy, not to examine the propri.ty of
our adoptinglt this particular moment. When
t iha,i nave been citablilhed, that Bonaparte
lnt9ncst 10 propoie 1t to our confederation, it
VIII then be time enough to bring it more in
contact with our nteieas. We f,aIl h,vr tiue
to examine the alternative before US: whether
10 ADOPT this proportion, on the a69yai7 ground
or ita faV0Hring neutral rights, or to reiecl il
on the ground OF its being calculated for the
Destruction ofthe Britiih nation which is now
represented as the only barrier that fcparate.
BonaParte from us and Bonaparte from uni.
vcrfa! empire.
1t is obvious that NEUTRAL safion5 have bpt
fqOo reiources aganft the maritime deipotiim
OF England; either to Rand alone, or to act
f:gefber and aabfR each other.
1t is upon this priueibt of j.int exertion,
that the maritime confederacy is bottomed.
IT is limply intended to fuppIy the fubtitute
of the n1ifeA trcnth of fcveral neutrals in the
place of the weakness Of one and in thi, point
OF view, the ancient Han/catie league NAV
be confdered as fyfem of maritime confe
deracy, though on very limited fca1e
Here neqU diftnction folicits our notice
Theie maritime confedoracies are either fuch as
are armed or iuch as are net fiIch as protea
their neutrality by mere force sfeross or fuch
a, protect them by ether no6es of eon,snl
Jon. Hence arifes the very marked diainc-
ton between an armed reufraiify, and an nm
armed nemrAhty.-We (Iail explain cab of
thefe, according to the bea authorities that we
have upon the fubie6t.
THE ARMED NEUTRALITY.
The mof important incident, which led TO
the formation OF this memorable confcderacy,
was the capture Of the Dutch beet under the
csmmand OF Count Byland, on the n of Jan-
nary 1880. Being informed that thefe I1ios.
lsden with timber and naval itores for the
French fervlce, were about to efcape the dan
ger which they apprehended from the Britilh
csuifers, by taking refuge under Count Bylard.
who with fmz fquadron of men of war and
friga'es was to eicort a convoy to the Medi.
terranean, the EngIfh Cabinet difpatched
Commodore Fielding with a proper force, with
orders to examine the convoy, aud to Ceize
fuch vef1els as contained articles, deemed con-
tisband. The effe9 was fuch as might have
been expelled. The Dutch ADMIRAL refrfed
permilion to (eareb the convoy; returned one
broad-iide in token Of the dignified privileges
which he Imported but feeling himfef in
danger OF being overpowered by a much fupe-
rior force, fruck bis colours. Mot Of the
Dutch veIel, eicaped into French ports bat
the few that remained with naval flores on
board, were detained. Count ByIand was then
informed that he was at liberty to holm his CO.
ours and prolecuie bis voyage. But the ral-
liant admiral refufed to quit his convoy, and
accompanied the commodore to Portsmouth,.