Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-28

Upon the refusa! ofthis UBIQUITOUS demand,
Copenhagen WAS Immediately sacked, and
. prof. cate aud indiscriminate slaughter
of meu. women aud children ensued The
Dan sli iieet WAS iorcibiv seized, and borne
of in triumph. But, sir, with their unhal-
lowed trophies, the British bore of the dis
trusts and dc,estation of the world and
eft behind them the hatred and the enni-
~ of Denmark Do yen believe. sir, that
the British ministry or the British nation,
have gained any solid advantage by this
%antou display of energy Do you believe
sir, that the loss of character and the en-
nifty nj Denmark, is compensated for by
tue booty of the Danish feet which Great
Britain did not want! No, sir; the one
might excite in the nation thoughiless
and transitory exultation, but the others
are durable losses and stains, which time
itself cannot wipe away, SO long as history
shall remain TO record the acts of men and
O. nations.
The next effort to display this energy
makes it's appearance in Sweden. A ma
ton fighting for its independence against
all Europe, and protected from their law
less pawer more from inacccssibilty of the
country, its lakes, morasses, sc. than by
its resources and arms. Under these Cir
cumstances SIR J. Moore, great military
Chief, ssent to offer to thc king OF Sweden,
the aid OF British cooperation, probably
the admission of the British feet into Swe"
dish ports. How was this fatte;ing over
tafe received by, that monarch in the depth
OF his distresses, Sir, he instantly saw
the danger Of British perhiy, and he or"
dered the messenger to be conhncd-to be
incarceratcd; bu. fortunately for him, he
escapedin disguise and disgrace, For this
and other acts, the king ofS~eden has been
called mailman but, sir, this act, in my
judgment, serves to shew that he is a states
mah as well as a soldier. The British
perh1y towards Denmark, was the cause
and the Justification of his Conduct. He
had just seen the British upon false sug-
gesuen, seize upon the fleet of his neighbor,
Denmark ana he justly concluded that if
hs admitted British feet into his ports,
his feet would also be seized upon, and
borne eff whenever the convenience or in.
tcrest OF Great Britain should require it.
Here, sir, are seen some of the fruits of the
pcrhdicus energy practised upon Denmark.
Aud i'll the month of July, 1903, sir John
Moore returned to London, II give some
mysterious anG unintelligibe accoun. of
the disgrscelui issue OF his perfiious en-
bassy.
Aoeut the same time, those generous in
terposers in the affairs OF other nations,
sent fleet and army 70 Portugal, their
FIR end and ally, to aid the Portuguese in ex-
pelling'or subdu'ng French army, then in
thebosom of their country. These wretch
ed and devoted people, deserted by weak
and impotent government, left almost with
out the smallest Remittance of internal po-
lice, and struggling against French army
IN their bosom, hailed with -acclamat. ons
and joy the arrival of their generous deli
vercrs. AMI what happens I'm the
month OF September following, a convention
Tor the evacuation of Portugal is made by
In British aid the French. The Portu-
guest, the principals in the war, and the
aliiCs of Great Britain, not even consulted
and upon taking down the French standard
Of despet,sm, the Portuguese with indigna-
tiCn and as,onishment, behold unfurIcd in
its stead, the British standard of despo-
tism.
now find, SIR, from the London news-
papers Ny the last accounts from Portugal,
that formidable party has risen up "a
gainst the regency; or in plain English, "a
gaiRst Britisn insojehce and depotisnl for
sir, the cause OF the regency is the cause
OF the British; and IS not dis, the natural
consequence Of such conduct Yes, sir,
that miserable and devoted people are pro-
babiy divided III opnon. Tle one half
thinks the ,icspotism OF their French OPP
pres5ors the most intoerabie the other
half thar the despctisn of their generous
British deIigercrS still worse.
Spain is now also receiving the generous
interpretation Of tbis energetic aaninistrasi-
,og. The tragic scene in this deyoted and
commiseratca co;ntrY, is not yet closed, or
? at least not known here. But should not
be az all surprised to near by the very next
Intelligence, Which shil be waited from
that bloody scene Of action, that the gene
roos Britons have run away and lett the
Spanish patriots in the lurch, and have
forci.,ly borne away the Spanish feet as
slight reward for the generous aid afford
ed the patfo,s, Aid ifsucf should he the
fact, Mr.. President, do you rot believe il,
would be justified in this country! Yes,
sir, some Gid rule, or some new rule, or
some no rGle, would instantly be hunted
out for its justification. After so many ~
trocieus acts Of Great Britain, affecting the
dearest Interests of our own country nave
been justified, thrrei is no act she could per-
form towards other nat ons, which would
leave her without her advocates here.
ITO be continued