Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-02-09

resting. 1t supersedes all necessity for COM
ment on the strong measure (who now viii
be bold enough to deny its strength! y take n
by our government, whether adopted from
precautionary or political motives. Con
Spring events, over which it is true we
have no control, but which might have been,
and probably were, in the outline, foreseen,
will give to this measure great, perhaps
decisive effect The whole European world
may now he considered as at war with Bril-
tain, the issue of which may well fill her.
undauntcd as she is, with fearful apprehen-
sion. Principles are set up and demands
made, worth contendng for, and the most
solemn pledges given that these principles
VIII neyerbe abandoned & which certainly
will not be relinquished without a contest
still more arduous than any yet wagcd. Is
not this the precise moment for her to re,
lax in he / pretensions towards this country |!
We demand nothing but what is just-the
same freedom of trade which she has Away,
insisted on--and that very freedom, which,
IN the present crisis, may be essentia TO her
existence independently of the confede-
rated hostility OF all Europe against her,
she Is menaced with a severer scourge than
war. Atthe very moment, when she had
fattered herself with plentiful harvest, the
assurance OF which perhaps has grca. in
auence on the principles she has set up, as
well in point of time, as in regard to their
Iextent; at the very tire she calculated VI,
on the abundance of her crops to supply the
means OF carrying these measures into ct
feet, she is visited in her most vulnerable
point, with the most awful CALAMITY, which
can threa en- or befalla nato,i Famine al
ready stares her in the face. A letter from
Cork, dated November 81, says-ss a Sc
we're frost set in few days since, and to a II
appearance has destroyed more than half
of the potatoes. in consequence the price
has advanced from 3Os. to 5 I. per ton. -
Dat neal is not to be had, and wheat adj
vahcing; scarcity altogether is appre-
hended, and bad prospect of supply
If such apprehensions exised at the end
of November, to what degree may it not tie
expected to rise about the beginning of Fee
bruary, when the Information of our embar-
60 shall reach her; when she shall find
her stock OF provisions greatly diminished;
when she shall have suffer d severely from
the prohibitory orders, of her own govern
ment; when the stock ofraw materials for
her manufactures is gradually declining !;
when the want of the Ill-important article
of fax seed, mo where else to he sot) shall
have para!ised the labors of the farmer. and
presented a more dreary prospect To the
manufactured and when the prospect of
supply from this country-hitherto her con-
slant rel ance IN time of distress-shall have
vanished Will not Britain at such period,
yield to that principle which she has made
the pretext of all her invasons of neutral
rights, TO the principle of necessity, whose
existence, however incorrectly urged on
other occasions, can admit Of no question
under such circumstances We do hope
that she will, and that her own decided in
terest Will induce her to act wise, honor
able and just part towards us.
France, too, and all her allies, will most
sensibly feel the effects of the embargo; so
sensibly, we should hope, as TO be herself
willing, IN case England relaxes her con-
duct to neutrals, like wise to annul her re-
strictiuns. We are assured from a correct
commercial source that -four was in that
country, at the latest accounts, at ten dol
lars barrel, which is four dollars above
its average price since the accession of Ma
polcor.
At Bremen -four was ten dollars and a
half a barrel. and rice nine dollars At
Nantz cotton is said to be eighty cents per
pound, at Cadiz tobacco wenty dollars, at
Amsterdam sixteen dollars. Ibid.