Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-07-05
FROM THE AURORA.
POLITICAL VIEWS.
40. VI


more true, though it is not generally so
conceived than that the pirasical states OF
Barbary, have been the destruction of the
commercial prosperity of the Italian
states. The divisions and civil distracli-
-ons, the ruinous effects offeudal ambition,
and the revolutions TO which that fair Dor
ton of,Europe was exposed by the igno-
rance and the riyalships and u.urpations
OF families, after the disruption of the en-
pire OF Chariemagne, and by the extirpa.
tinS wars on the pretext ofreligion under
the Guclphs and GhebeIines, no doubt
contributed their share TO the misfortune
and the decline of Italy in commerce.
Bur nrthing can be more evident, (aad i,
IS pertinent to the discussion which we
have undertaken) than had Italy been un-
der sisgle government, or had the little
governments into which it aas parcelled,
been only united under "a general deE.n.
sisc confederation, like Swisserland the
b&rbary piratical states could not have
trinmpicd In the ruin OF Italy and the
disgracefui plumber of Europe.
Italy appears now likely to obtain I'M.
der the dominion of the modern chief
OF France, the unity and power which she
lost by the imbecility of Bernard son of
Charlemagne; aud time aicnc can deter
mine whether Bonapar;e VIII suffer the
existence OF the Baibary states. or employ
them against other nations, as ,hey have
bcen employed by them. The current Of
events alone Can determine this issue.
out II Jorsane continues TO be as ausp,ci-
Gus as she has hlsherio beun the WORT,
viii be released fiom this reproach 20 ci-
vl''zanon' this satire on the pride and pre-
tended power Of nations.
ihst the commerce Of Italy will be PRO.
tectcd from molestation by Barbary. we
have already full assurance. The
nag OF France sails unmolested and with
out tribute--the Genoese had scarcely at.
hXed the seal OF union to the federal en-
pure, before hercap,i,e Citizens we're ,ibe-
rated. Italy will then furnish seemca and
eCna'aerre' under the haE OF France l.. us
zoos 10 the various countries and seas ce.
iebraled in ancien, history, generally
comprcbended under the DESIGNATION of
the LeVanf, or the inner bason of The Me.
diierranean let us pass in review with
snfhcient perspicuily, though without the
close detail OF systematic geography or
statistics. the scites ofcommerce, the de-
pots in which is placed th. Levant trade,
the quantity & quality ofthe mercantile pro j..
auctions, * assar as is practicable i'm brief
sketch, the multitude of articles & the pe.
neral distribution of the trade.
tbs difficult 10 classify the yarious nro
duclions which are dispersed from ,b-
Mediterranean throughout Europe if we
were to attempt discriminating European
Asls,ic, and African, there would arise
confusion, because the same kinds of mer-
chandize are brought from the three QUAR-.
tersotshe old world. a geographical cIa.si-
fIcGtioD will not do; we must therefore take
the subject up as it presents itself in a
miscellaneous way.
We shall first endeavor to enumers,e
the various countries, seas and rivers,
which boarder on the Mediterranean
coasts.
The countries and seas Sc rivers which
pour their tribute into that great reser-
voir.
The Quantities which the different ma
tons eTtorf from particular ports of the
Lsvant, & their imforfs into that quarter,
And hna'iy specification with niscel.
laneous notices of the various species OF
productions which compose the principal
portion OF that commerce.
The views we are now to take, em
brace none of the territories already &C.
cupied by or coded to France--tbe pur.
pose being TO examine how far the situa.
ton IS calculated to afford "shihs, colonies
and comnteTce"-s-, France. The shores of
modern Albania, (part of the ancient lily.
rlcum 1.-The theatre too Of Cesar's glory1
is The salient point-Epirus and Achaia
and the Morea-the gulphs Of Lepanto.
Coron and NapoTi di Romano, io the
Moreaj EDgia, NegropoD,, SaIonchi and
CoDtessa-on the shores of Europe pre-.
sent the outlines OF colon zafton.
Further on the bays Of rhasso and the
key and peninsula of Gallipoli--the Oar.
danelles, and sea Of Marmora, open by the
Bosphorous, the Black Sea into which the
tributary Siret and Prulh pour their
streams thro' the majestic Danube the
Dneister, the Bog, and the Helper, throw
their various riches into the Euxine, des.
tined to pass by the Dardanelles TO the
Mediterranean. On the Asatic shores
Trebisond and Shiope, Bursa, Smyrna
and the fhousands Of ,>or,, e. -