Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-11-14
SPIRIT OF THE BRITISH PRESS
FROM THE LONDON WHO,
of Sept. 1909.

Another week has elapsed, and no kind
spark has been discovered to light the torch
of hope, and to kindle revjving Joy in the
almost paralysed feelings OF Brltons mo
generous radiance breaks upon the porten-
tous gloom ;==imbeciiiry. treachery, pro-.
fiigacyy md villainy, remain rivetted in
our councils, and direct the conduct of the
mcn, who, planted at the national helm,
are steering the vessel of England to the
Gulph of Dependency Ito the abyss of
horror and destruction S ok at heart,
detected and forlorn, we have no longer
patience TO comment upon the folly and
the iniquity manifested IN every action of
the ministry Co the Crown. When wrap
ped up in specIousnesS and we'll calculated
to deluie the ignorant, the creiulous, the
uaiaformed, il was our duty land we dis.
charge il with zeal and hrnness) to un-
mask deception, and, in its native defor.
nifty, to expose iniquity and guilt. The
lfalIacy, and the madness OF those measures
which unprincipled Adventures, habited as
ministers, resorted to, aggravated our Gen.
sure and reused our indign ,tion. When
! this daring gang, made hold by inpunity,
buried the weak or W cked proceed ngs
of their prsdec ,ssors in their own uapar =
alleled, desperate, aud infamous conduct,
awed by their power and ferocity, we dis
| charge our duty and remove the mask from
our unfortunate and deluded countrymen.
The baseness and deprav'ty wnich stamps
the characters of the abettors and contri-
vers of the Copenhagen conAagration was
but too apparent in the accused policy,
which, with premeditated guile Dispatch
ed our brave our valiant soldiers to be
butchered and destroyed upon the forbid
den shores Of Spain The voice Of patri !,
otism has been treated by the tools of pow
Ter and the adherents OF corruption, as the
raviugs Of the alarmist and the disaHcct-
ed but, amidst the whole tribe of slaves
and scoundrels>=,he whole pack Of mini
4 ions, who, like bees in the hive, iifes,
the court, and swarm about the Ministe.
rial Haunts, exists there one wretch tha
will not admit our language 20 have beer
prophetic, our fears to nave been i1st, oul
Edistrust of wickedness aud imbeciIity Il
have been we'll founded, our feelings justl,
aggravated, and our indignation well ap,
Piled it is a question Of some impor
lance to determine, whether the mis-
chieyous measures Of the public servant
have originated in weak ness or in guilt
and whether they are benceforth 70 b
regarded as fools or knaves That thei
characters must De stamped VITO one {
the honorable distinctions, we apprehenC
the basest wretch enlisted under their bar
= ners, will want impotence and temerit
to deny. 1t is, in our minds, a subject Of 81
rious consideration, whether the sending
second English army into Spain had II
origin In personal or National feelings :
whether our ministers, fron imbecl,ty
S cou d fancy that actual benefit night II
h suit from a second time exposing (und'
the same auspices that had proved fatal
one army our soldiers on the distract'
peninsula ;=swhether they could, IN the
v delirium trace in the all -subduug and p
c \ tent genius of the Convention kuigt
s qualities Of merit, which had no place
the mind, and consequently could not
. rect the conduct Of the unfortunate Moor'
q or whether they were sufficiently iniqu
/ Gus TO suffer the influence Of an upst'