Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-04-11

We have waited with painful impati.
ence, to receive more minute information
upon this subject, bu we are very much in
ciined to believe, that we shall be Obliged
to wait for the bulletins of Bonaparte. The
british prints are always backward in re-
cording their own misfortunes. And upon
this occasion there can be no doubt but
that they will pursue their accustomed po-
hey. This can be the only cause which
prevented us from receiving accurate and
circumstantiai intelligence by the Rosa
mond. IL is an established fact, however,
that the united forces of Britain and SIP ain
have been vanquished, and it seems almost
equally true, that the destiny of Spain is
completely under the control of Bon apar
te.
The phrenetick passion of the Spaniards,
which has been dignificd by their friends
IN tins Country with the name of patriotism.
appears to have subsidized, and that they are
saluting their new dynasty, with arden.
and innumerable addresses. These are the
people OF whom it was said, th at they were
hghting in the holy cause ofpatriotism, and
that they were inspired with such feelings
that they never would submit. Behold :.
tney are now worshiring the conqueror of
their nation, We have always believed
-
and that , would be equally agreeable to
the common people of Spain, who are sunk
In degenerscy and who have always been
accustomed to the scourge of tyranny, ana
It's best auxiliary, religious superstition
Ono OF the Con equences which will result
from TINS revolu-ioni is, tl,at the nouisition
and It's tram OF evils will be Immediately
destroyed. "The torch of science will be
hghted," and the poor Spaniard, who
mas been hitherto involved in gloomy igno-
rance, will perhaps learn to estimate him.
self as rational being. These consequent
ces will be at least grateful to the literary
and philosophical members of society AS
TO the POLITICAL effec.s which may result,
we must wat unIIl we see the direction
which France and Great Britain will take
before we can decide. 1t is probable, how
over, that many OF the Spaniards may fly to
their settlements in South America, and
after the manner of the Portuguese, esta
dish government of their own and form
an alliance with Britain. Upon this SUBJECT
we present our readers with an extract
from highlands Letters, who seems to have
anticipated the present state of things.
"SpaiD ard Portugal, without their com.
merce and colonial possessions, would not
be SO valuable an acquisition as might be
imagined and it can scarcely admit of
doubt that France may derive greater adj.
vantages from her ascendency over the
Spanish monarchy, in the situation in
which 1t now stands, than she could from
its entire subguation. Whenever Spain
In her present state can, by ailuremenis or
menaces, be prevailed on TO espouse open
ly, or covertIy, the interests OF France, the
wealth and commerce of Spanish America
are virtually turned into the channels of
that nas:on, aud rendered subservient to
its designs; but in case of the annexa lion
of that kingdom to tine French empire, the
latter would lose all the support 1t can
now derive from the spanish empire in the
new world. The wealth of Mexico, Pc
ru, &c would take different direction
Whatever weight the annexation of the
European part of the Spanish empire to
France might throw into the balance on
the side OF that power, the scale would,
Notwithstanding, be found TO preponderat
on the side of Great Britain, which woule
unquestionabiy monopolizo the greatesu
part of the trade with Spanish Americat
without seeing It SO frequently interrupted,
by hostiiities, and the wealth of tn. An,e-
r'can mines so often converted TO the use
OF her enemies. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
France, by the accession of so great an ex
tent OF territory as the kiogdon of Spain.
would be ially counteroalanced by .he COM
nercial advantages that G.. Britain would
derive from such revolution, as the re-
movai OF the seat the Spanish goyernm mt
from Europe TO America. At present,
this Country, as has been already observed,
furnishes the greatest part of the manu-.
featured goods sent to the Spanish, as well
as to the Portuguese colon es, and a consi..
derabie part OF the treasures brought from
those countries is concentrated inCG Br,-
| tam but ewhole ofthis traffic with Spa.
nish America is carried on through the
| medium OF SPAN, as that with Portuguese
America is through the medium of Portu
gal Lisbon and Cadiz are the great
marts OF this traffic the central points of
! all the trade carried on between Europe
and the richest countries of the ne NJ world |:
and the merchants of Spain aud Portugal
are the agents through whose hands the
whoie must pass. 1t the seat of govern.
ment OF those two kingdoms should ever be
translated, the one to Brazil, and the O.
ther to Mexico or Peru, their commercial
system would assume a new form. Tie
trad.n vessels of all nations would then
VISIT the ports of those Countries, from
whence the colonial system now excludes
,hem. The trade with the Spanish, as