Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1808-02-13
TLONDO'N]
From Bxa1's WEEKLY MESSENGER.
1lasssp3s of Mr.. Ross to AnaeYatG.

rensiun. Soae have very charitably conclud-
4e, ts,st the object Of his tourney lssto explain
recent proeee elings OF the Brush ministry
and that he is a kind Of avant courlersto the
sslate proclamation in the Gazette. Others
however. of which number We confess our
selves te, be, attach a reasonable importance to
: i ais mission. Thatit viii end in pension IS
~prefty certain, bat it had its origin, we pc
iieye IN a real and necessary duty
b. fore we enter at lsngsh into this subject
sit is expedieRt to clear the way, by making
sseur readers Acquainted With those peculiaf
OBSTACLES which oppose our perfect coa ass
ton with the u States--They have their
.osiginal source liz commerce bat OF what
nature Ills commerce IS We shall proceedto
exAap.
rs one OF the effects of a long war be-
Stwrea tie leading states Of Europe, that the
snatious vAich are exempt from their hostl-
Htics, become subservient to many mutual
fusesS to which they have been unaccustomed
previous u. their eispute-Ihe nature ofthei
quarrel necessarily Interrupts the immediate
commerce OF sne belligerent parties, and the
gneutral nations by the taelt PERMISSION Oh
both parties engage In some branches OF
trade which neither can shift without, and IN
in other branches, which both are deslrous to
prohibit
The mere interruption of intercourse by
war throws int Neutral hands the trace which
THE beligefegss4 nave been accustomed 70 cur
rys Or 0getpef, and the trade which each used
to carry on between tie other and third par
8 ties The admission of neutrals to the Tor
,ner branch Of commerce has seldom been
<oAiected to and, ii at alb this objection had
been directed against the other belllgerent &
not against the neutral.
The admission OF neutrals to the latter
branch ofcommerce has generally been re-
stricted to sucharticles as shall rot be deem
fl coatrabaal of war; but as these restric-
lions coultlbe nothing without the means Of
enforcing them, necessity and right claim
ed ehereupoa has arisen from this branch of
scomman cree, Sof searching neutral traders at
sea.
None of these points however. are at pre-
sent in discussion. Neither the right of
search limited to merchantmen, nor the pro-
Aibition of contraband mas for some time been
questioned. But branch of commerce 50
important in its extent, ano unequaliy be-
nihcialto bclligerents, has passed during
the course Of the war, into the hands of the
neutrals, that the British nation has been
clamorous with its. government to dispute the
neutral right and interdict the commerce al
together.
This commerce is that which France carri-
ED on with Der colonies by means of neural
conveyance, and. principally BY the cover Of
se> AmcGicanihag. j
aDn;h marine ofthe enemy SO completely
means II, that she has notweVen had tie
.coIonies wFp up that intercourse with her
o;nal eeoyern,was necessary for theirmo1il-
,,s,,ss :, IN much less to protect ier
was too dangerous with them Insurance
nor the insurer were Ms s..n lhe ielen :a
II this situation, il Baed TO run the risk X
France to carry on by the Se tns tl poll s,, o.
"a commerce which was worse 80 -
her cwn; and hence large P.;an 800 II b =.
colonial trade and much even of heEaSl1:
trade, has fallen into the hands of ne6~rs
tons and particularly of the Americans; ~
have the greatest facility of maritime carS
age and themost rising commercial system 0
the world
The principal branch of this commerce en-
grossedby the Americans, is that with tn.
French West India colonies and as thi
X trade during peace, was subject to the stric
rules of the navigation laws, (which are com
2on to all Europe) peculiar objection has
On takento its being suddenly laid open by
u5 nemy TO neutrals, during war for the e.
suen. Mrpose ofscreening it from our Jus,
nosuii.y And this interference ofthe Ame.
lens 70 as st the scheme of the enemy, has
pcen ueelnee'n Inconsistent with those relations
oineulra,ley wich that country has ALWAYS
protested to maAta,p ~
nose VINO enlaim against our suffering
s.s.. ,or Sontllqance of this gross abuse,
s.'aoS Us "i'h arguments which appear IRE