Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-11-14

nee brave army at the sin rine of inter.
est and corruption and to give an opportu-
n'ty TO infatuation or intrigue, to the valua-
Die, the honorable, apDendage of Peer
agef Discontinue and mortific ation has
or will attend the. two armies TO which
the attention of the. nation is naturally a,
this time directed. How is It that the
bravest and best soldiers i'm the world,
while they are objects of admiration, are
TO be made the objects of compassion In
the accurscd policy adopted by corrup.
ted Ministry are all our disasters TO be at.
tri6uted! Thus our strength has been in.
paired, and our resources stripped, frit-
tered away by wanton and ridiculous
speculations-and thus the intriyues of
British Ministers have been devoted to
the kidding discord and distraction in
every portion of the continent, and the
conclusion OF each bloody act is made mem-
oraole and emphatic, by converting fer
tile pastures into tombs for slaughtered &
butcnered Britons
The situation of our brave countrymen
In SPAN is truly distressing aud while
our minds are agonized with the most
fearful suspense for their safety, our bo-
SONS swell with indignation at the ,reache-
ny OF the kings serv ants in thus SD jecting
the defence of the British empire to be
inundated on the altar of their own wick
edness, and of the nations weakness and
credulity While we feel indignant ut
the conduct of Ministers in sending out
expeditions, which to no rejecting man ev.
er held out any other prospect than what
has unhappily been realized, VIZ. the ex.
penditure OF an enormous treasure, and the
massacre of our best and bravest troops,
we Cannot but with the greatest compunc.
ton, deplore the creduhty OF the British
people In suffering themselves to be delu-
ded by every phantom held out by weak,
imbecIle, and treacherous Ministry, aad
in allowing their just indignation 10 SUBJ
fiict, by their hopes and anxiety for the
success OF another equally futile and de-
structive project. A few months back,
Britons were called upon to rejoice at the
skill and bravery manifested In the battle
and victory of Vimeira=sa v Glory winch
in the bon5astc language of the hireunss
of the day, fully compensated for every loss
before sustained, and (by the conquest of
Junot and his whole force which English-
men were deluded into belief must fol-.
lows was to prove prelude To the sal
walton of Spain zBut did this take place?
mo the convention of Cintra, like an
earthquake, destroyed the air-bult castles
of Ministers, and Junot and nj, army, in
stead of becoming prisoners to our force,
were safely conveyed, at the expense of
England, with the whole or their proper
tyy to the ports OF France! The indigna-
tion of the people at th,s overthrow of their
hopes and expectations, was but transient.
Ine English ttion, ever alive To iresI oo-
jects, speedily forgot the Cintra convention
in their anticipation of the glory which
was about TO adorn the 0rows of our w1r.
riors IN Spain. No sooner had the tidings
reached tnls country of the fate of the ev-
er TO be lanented, brave, OUT butchered,
Gen. Sir john Moore, and the emb,rkt
ton OF the rsmains of our army from the
shores OF the Peninsula, mAngled, dispiri.
ted, and sickIy, than the hopes of Engisn-
men were again delusively directed TO aus
tria. The powers OF the Archduke Charles
became the theme for the pancgyric of
ministerial hirelings, and the massacre of
our troops, and our disasters in Spain we're
forgotten in our rejoicings at the victory
gained by that general over Bonaparte him.
self in person, on the borders of the Dao-
ube. But the rejoicings on this, as on for
mer occasions proved but transtory, for
the visionary schemes of England were in
moment destroyed by the destruction of
the Austrian forces, * the subsequent ar.
mistice. The people, however, must not,
at this critical period, be allowed to re-.
feet on the downfall of the projects form
ed by the wisdom Of ministers. Their at
tention must again be turned to Spain, &
an enormous expedition fitting out against
the island of Walcheren and the Dutch
ports. The minds OF Englishmen are now
agitated by these events, ths victory of
Talavera fill eacl Mouth, and the loss of
six thousand Of our brave troops was eclip-
sed in the honor of remaining in possessi-
on of the field, yet this field we have since
/ been compelled to quit, leaving be hind all
our sick and wounded TO leone prisoners
of war to beaten and routed army -
On Englishmen! VIII you never demand
justice on the authors of your country's
misery and disgrace ?= rDe island of Wall
cheren is IN our possession, and what has
the possession of 1t cost this country !=S
what more must it cost US to retain it
Frantic and mad as the conduct of minis
ters has been, we hardly think they will
dare to authorise Lord Chatham to attempt
any further projects. Fort Lilo, from all
accounts, is Inundated so as to defy OUT
shipping from doing theirs any esscntia
injury.
Despairing Of being able to capture the
vessels in the Dutch ports, they are, it i
said, to be destroyed by the arrows OF TIT
ingenious Mr.. Congreve How dreadful
is this sanguinary state of warfare Wher
/ a II