The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-24
FRolTTyfg AURORA.
"nawAnk OF rHxIprs Of MAncH.s

II was s,grifcd to. Cesar that he should
"beware of the ides of March"-he was adj
vised To stay Al hone; Cesar was infatuated,
and the ides of March YES fatal to him.-
To our merchants we give the sa ne advice
--6czvurc ;sstay ar k2,re. II they slight it
md 80 abroad with their properly. ruin and
bankruptcy follows to those who are not opu-
lent enough to bear the shock-there is no
remedy nor relief; they will have to lament
their losses when 1t is ~toolate.
Look attic situation OF Spain & Portugal !;
we find he French have made rapid strides
towards the conquest OF those countries ; md
probably before any ship OF the U. States can
arrive in any port in Spain or Portugal, they
VIII be in possession, and masters ot the whole
peninsula. The right wing of the French
were advancing upon Andalusia. Their
power was irresistible. We are ia that an
army under the duke of Abrantcs (Junot) was
advancing towards Portugal; that victory
will equally at nd this army, there can be
very little doubt. The. British government
had themselves given mp every hope. but tina,
OF maintaining a war,of annoyance q mere
war of the Cevennes or La Venoee.
The colonies of Spain, at least the islands
in the West Indies, will probably follow the
fate of the mother country they possess nei-
tter intellect nor right ideas of liberty, to be-
come independent.
Can you IN safety venture your property to
those countryside Won not run a double
risk, that OF having your properly seized in
port, or of being captured by the British.
Should Napoleon succeed. and the British
be banished from those countries. as there is
a moral certainty they will; the -'itish will
then be jealous OF your trade to those colo
MES, as they are jealous OF YOUR prosperity
every where else-Ihey will capture every
xaceoi f,,,,J 49,, 49, -,:.i, H.. :.
of 1lth Nov. authorize tiff they did not,
new orders would be issued for the purpose
their officers are not ignorant of the policy
OF their government, and would NOS wait for
orders, but would seize first, and look for
orders afterwards.
viii you go for Sweden under the strong
presumption there is that, ere this, she has
snccumbed to the power of Russia, and that
her ports are shut against England-to St.
bartholomew, it is true, is but a short run /;
you may arrive there for q Short time in safe
ty; but once let that port be we'll supplied,
and the fate of ST. Eustatius attends it
General Provost and Admiral Cochrane, can
see IS far through a milestone as admiral
Rodney and geneval Vaughan. Remember,
mat only two or three days before the iHfa
nous capture and plumber of ct. Eustatius,
a frigate arrived from Holland, bringing
from the states general advice to the govern
ment, that all was peace, that every appear
ance OF difficulty between them and England
was settled and chat the first information
OF hostiiities was the arrival OF a flc.t and
army under admiral Rodney and general
Naughan-defence Ewls impossibie-and it
surrendered at discretion. The same fate
Will attend St. Bartholomews and the same
undiscr:minate piunder-every stiver's worh
OF property Will be taken and appropriated
ia the benefit of the captors-remember, Bri-
tain owns no respect for private property in
such cases-she has long since adopted the
precepts of Figaro, tina "what is good to
take is good to keep"
WHITTIER then viii you venture your pro
perty?. Will You go to Hollands! If you at
tempt this, lou will be there seized, even
should you escape British capture, for the
decree OF Holland says, they will admit of no
commerce. Look at it fairly."-And YOU
must not be surprised if from Madrid a ST.
miiar decree should have been issued, de
claring that there shall be no by
sea with the continent of Europe.
The policy OF France at the present day
as it regards herself, is a total reversal OF
all the received principles of political eco
nomy. As it merely relates to commerce
1t seems to be at war with Common sense
\ neutral vessel leaving the port Of Francs
is not permitted to take on board a cargo Of
French manufactures. This appears al
first sight very ridiculous, because at the
worst it could only leave British guineas o,
Spanish dollars in place OF the manufac.
lures, and in this sense it is contrary 20 the
maXims of commerce, and apparently o
common prudence. But look at it a little
closer. The chief of the French know.
that carries corruption with i
wherever it enters, and that to admit the
export is only to make an assurance upol
Illicit import I, he knows that TO accomplish
his object, there must be no trade within
the scope of his power by sea. He sub
jects the people of France to this new com.
mcrciai regimen. and can it be suppose.
that when he prohibits the export Of French
productions, hat he Will be more indulgen
to those who are independent Of his autho
rity? 1t is absurd to expect it, and The
whole of continental Europe will very sooI
carry on an inland commerce only.
Let the underwriters look to it also.-I
they make the premium equal to the risl
OF capture at sea and in port, no voyage ca,
afford it; if they fix it below the risks, Tn,
number OF captures that will probably tax,
place must inevitably ruin them, and if the,
are unable to paw the loss, the merchan
will be ruined-the banks will next feel it
i'll fact all classes will feel it.
Be7vare If the ides Of March,
FROM THE S4NE