Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-02
December 4.
IMPORTANT STATE PAPER.
Declaration Of Russia against England.

The higher the value in which the EN-.
peror held the amity of his Britannia ma
jesty, the keener the regret he must feel
at the complete alienation of that monarch.
Twice has the emperor taken uY arms in
cause in which the interests Of England
were most Immediately concerned but he
has solicited to no purpose her co-operation
to produce the Accomplishment of her own
objects He did not require she should u
mite her forces with his he was anxious
only she would make diversion in their
favour. He was astonished that In the fur
theranCe of her own cause she herself
would make no exertion On the contrary.
she looked on cold spectatrix of the SAN
culinary theatre the war, which she had
herself k;ndled, and sent part Of her troops
TO attack Buenos-Ayres. Another portion
of her army, which seemed TO be destined
to make diversion in Italy, finally with
drew from Sicily, where it was assembled.
Hopes were entertained that they had ia
ken that step, in order to throw themselves
on the Neapolitan coast; but it was soon
understood, that they were employed in
taking possession Of Egypt
But what sensibly hurt the feelings of his
Imperial Majesty was, 20 see that in viola
ton OF the faith and express stipu!ations of
treaties, England annoying the maritime
trade of his subjects; and at what period
was this proceeding adopted !? When the
blood OF the Russians was flowing i'm the
glorious battles which accumulated and di-
rected against the arms of his Imperial
Majesty, the whole of the military force Of
his majesty the emperor of the French.
with whom England was, and still is, at
war
When the two emperors made peace,
his majesty, Notwithstanding his just eau
ses ofdispleasure at the conduct of England.
did not however refrain from endeavorine
to render her services. The emperor sti.
pulated in that very treaty that he should
interpose his mediation between England
and France and he accordingly made an
offer of that mediation to the king of G. B..
apprisng him that it was with wish TO
obtain honorable conditions for him. But
the British ministry, adhering no doubt to
the plan that was to dissolve and break off
all the ties between Russia and ENGLAND.
rejected that mediation.
The peace between Russia and France
was likely to bring about general peace,
but il was at this moment that ENGLAND
suddenly awoke from that apparent letba~-
~ in which She had slumbered but IL
was only to throw into the north fresh fire
brands, which were 70 rekindle, and have
actually kiBdled, the flames Of war which
She was not DESTROYS to see extinguished.
Her fleets, her troops appeared on the
Danish coast, to execute an act OF violence
of which history, so fruitful in example,
records noparallel.
A power distinguished for its peaceful
and moderate conduct, and for long and
cource of wise neutrality. and
who sustained, amidst surrounding monar-
chies, kind Of moral dignity, finds itself
treated as If il was engaged m secret plots,
and was meditating the downfall of En-
gland while the whole Of these imputati-
ons were only meant to justify the sudden
and entire spoliation Of that power.
The emperor, wounded in bis dignity.
woundcc in the affection he feels for his
people, wounded in his engagements with
the courts of the north, BY this act Of vic.
lence committed in the Baltic, a close sea.
the tranquility Of which has so long depend.
cd Oh the court Of St. James, and is reci-
Drocally qua rantecd by both powers, did
not dissemble his resentment against En-
gland, and warned her that he should not
-emain Indifferent to such proceeding
His majesty did not foresec, that while !
England, having successfully employed herr