Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-04
FRENCH DECREE.

As a supplement- TO the Milan decree,
there is in the official journal the following
circular letter, addressed by the minister of
the interior 10 inc chambers Of commerce.
" You are not unacquainIed, gentlemen,
with the late acts Of the British government,
that last stage of the oppression of the com
mcrce O: the werld: you know that il has
resolved to destroy the feeble remains of the
independence of the seas. 1t nov thinks
proper, that benceforth no ship shall navi-
gate the seas, without touching at its ports,
without tribute to its pretended sovereign
ty, and without receiving from it an igno-
minious licence.
Thus the ocean is henceforward only
the field of slavery: the usurpation of the
most sacred Of tho ri hts of nations is con-
summated, and this tyrannic yoke is to press
opoH them until the day of vengeance, or
until brought TO a due sense of moderation,
the English government will itself claim its
rage, and break the sceptre to which the
nations of the continent will never consent
to submit
ola am calling our common attention to the
important circumstances which must pow
eriully induce Us TO awakenyour patriotism
and your wisdom One would have magin-
ed that every obstruction and restraint that
clogged the course of the commerce on the
continent, had been exhausted; still howe
yer, they are going TO be aggravated by the
measures lately adopted by England--but
they will find or minds made up to struggle
against, and TO overcome this new mode of
We must not shut our eyes the con-
sequences. Importation and expor alton, al
ready SO much restricted, will soon be more
so Every thing connected with maritime
commerce; every thing that depends upon
II, viii row be liable to more difficulty, to
more uncertainty. There are however two
channels that still remain open.
The power of attacking every ship that
renounces the independence of its national
bag, by shameful submission 10 the British
sovereignty, and by navigating under Bril-
fish license, will open wide field to the
hopes Of our commanders. Such resource
will NOT prove, Intellectual, and French com
merce viii not devote uselessly to that sort
Of warfare which never lets courage, dex-
terity, and decision go unrewaTded.
eve have moreover to hope that neutral
ships viii elude the vigilance Of the English
the immense extent of the consts
Of the empire will favor and protect their
" These resources ought not to be UNDER
VdWcN3 nor counted Tor uOihIUg France
will submit to a temporary situation, which
can only change with time, and with new
eXertions: hut her enemy shall not deprive
her Of the main basis Of her prosperity, her
Internal communication, her relations with
The continent, where she no longer sees any
1ut friends or allies; her soil viii not be less
ertile, her industry will not maintain itself
hclcss. though deprived Of some materials
which it is not impossible to replace.
" To this last proposition, l am ratherl
anxious, gentlemen, to direct your attention
You have advice to give, ana examples 70
loid out TO commerce. You must already
oresec tie effect Of the privation Of certain |
more especially of cotton, and of
Ingredients for dying cotton, Of which a !
mantity has been stored in France, that
Which we shall derive from the Leyant, and |
bat which, at more distant period, we
hall reap frsm our indigenous culture, not
essayed, viii suffice TO sup |
ort, in great measure, our manufactures /
ui IN the expectation that some of them
iay experience privations, we must have
ecoursc, as far as possible, to hemp aud lax /
order to provide occupation for those ma
ltacrurers who would no longer bQ ep,ploy-l