Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-11-20
STATEMENT
or TUE
SITUA7YON or TIE FREN CHI EN-
PRE-.
1906 AND 1907.
CConfinued J


on soil become stranger to all maritime
construction. Antwerp, which in the days
of its glory wa, but commercial port,
afterwards shut by a very blind or very
timorous policy, Antwerp which was re-
duced TO nothing, starts up as centre of
military marine. For the first time, ships
of74 and 80 guns are seen upon that part
OF the Scheld, IL are upon the stocks,
several have been launched, and after
difficult passage are safely and wiihou; ex,
ample arrived al Flushing. The stocks
ofthose that were launched were instantly
occupied by new constructions. People
locked from all parts of Belgium, from
the borders of the Rhine, If The Muse, 10
the Scheld TO view the magnificent sight,
10 enjoy this conquest made IN favor of
the ocean. How proud must Antwerp be
OF her new destiny! other ships will be
launched within few months, replaced
by like number, and whole squadrons
will sail from that port which had forgot
Ten that il even belonged To the ocean.
Finishing, which formerly afforded an
asylum Only to vessels of small d,mensi-
ons, has had its siuice erisvg, d, its basins
dsspencd, and can now receive whole
fleets.
AT Dunkirk, the western dixie has been
built anew, and the works ordered by the
decree Of the 2ath Nvose, year Is, are
almost finished
A Calais, the two dikes TO the cast and
ives have been rebuilt or repaired.
Al Cherbourg, The two moles are rails.
ed and the works are far advanced. In
the middle of the sea, the Napoleon bat.
terry, lined with cannon, defends the road
frum the winds an d the enemy.
At Rocbeicrt, an ingenious apparatus
is established, by means of VIII CHI, first
rate ships may come in and go out at any
hide.
The clesrirg Of the port Of MarseiIles,
so ardently wished for by the trading in
tcresl, is, AZ far as can be Judged by he
Soundings taken, already half accomplish.
ed.
Such immense works, undertaken al
the sumo moment, require both lime and
conslancy. But consIancy, which always
ensures success, belongs particularly to
government TO whom the conviction of
its streogth gives that Of its duration,
whoSe march IS inVarioble, because 1t has
bu, one end in view, and which in over
coming present difficulties, has its eye
always fixed upon the future. So many
works undertaken, go many more finished
would have been sufficient FOR the glory
Of mary Of the preceding reigns; but
III" emperor beho,ds in all these, beginnings
only, and these but beginnings amidst the
storms of war +; others in greater num-
bers are still TO occupy the leisure OF
peace; II is the sovereIgn's intention that
there shall be no part, even the most re-
mote, of this vast empire, but shall feel
the effects ri his government, by ameli-
orations Of which the infaIlible result will
be to augment the ease OF the people and
the prosperity of the state. He means
also that the zeal of the communes shall
be excited and their efforts seconded in
the amelioration of the cross roads here
the administration encourages what it can
not, what il ought not to undertake itself,
well knowing that these obscure and mo.
des undertakings having for their objects
the shortest and nearest communications
are not Of less importance 20 The FIRST
wants of the people than those distant
commun cations, Than those immense
undertakings, which, changing The direc-
ton Of the water, digging new beds for
rivers, and in some measure even lower
ing the tops of mountains, command the
just admiration and gratitude of the peo-
pie.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, in the FIRST
place, receives the benefit Of them o.
Their measures are no less favorable to it.
The draining of the marshes Of Con,eniin
and Of Rochiort, is in great forwardness
those Of Burgoing conhded to the heirs Of
the ancient concessionaries, promise to
cultivation a vast extent ofgrounds, and
will give salubri,y to the surrounding
country. This favor of governmel has
been granted from a well founded hope
that that important work will be speedily
executed. The present concessionaiies
viii make up by their activity for the los
ses which their predecessors have caused.
One example has sufficiently manifest.
ed Inc desire which government has Of
encouraging, in the rural communes, the
exchanges necessary 10 do away the in
compsclness Of pieces Of ground anglcd
into one another; IL has exempted from
the usual duties Of enlightenment, the
hrst commune Of which, by general con
cert, the in'- btants have execu'ed that
operation. IL such operations were &c
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