Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-25
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
ivIA NoRFoLK.l
LONDON, November 90.
THE STATE OF FRANCE.


than that in which France is, according to
the report of the French minister OF the III
terror. While Germany crouches at the
feet of France while Russia is in her tolls,
and Austria dares not raise a finger in hos
tility against her; while Italy owns her
yoke, and Switzerland expects every mo-
moment the death warrant tor her execu-
ton; while all seem brilliant without, every
thing within is in the greatest misery and
distress-her ports without activity, her
manufactures without employ, her mer-
chants ruined. In proof of this, we need
not have recourse to the statements OF ira
velers, or to writers that are hostile to
| France. We have the proof from the con-
fession of the French minister of the lnte-
rior; we have it from the French govern
ment itself. Let any one compare this re-
port with the report or exposition of last
year, and they will find that not one Of the
promises held out then have been fulfilled.
Amelorations are always to take place, and
that they never do take place. A year has
! elapsed, during which the effects of that
commercial interdict which Bonaparte has
adopted were to be severely felt BY U.s. Bat
what has been the fact that they have been
felt alone BY France, and that our revenue
and our commerce have increased during
that period What a picture, we have said,
of the state of France does this report
draw? Examine its features--there IS not
one that does not betray the paleness, the
wretchedness and the squaior of poverty.
Great Britain has drawn a line of circum-
valuation around her, and shut her out from
commerce or communication with three
fourths of the world. All our naval rela-
tons are at an end, our merchants, manu-
facturers, and consumers are exposed to
dreadful suferings--sufferings which are
now habitual to them--there is no remedy
but patience and resignation to them" his
is tie substance, they are almost the very
expressions Of the minister's report. No
thing remains FOR industry to have recourse
to but agriculture. But what will agricul-
ture do for those who have no market, who
cannot export? The encouragement to SOW
must arise from the knowledge that the
person who sows can sell. Bonaparte gives
them no market, no export trade, and agri-
culture cannot be Aourishing. 1t is evident
that it is not--that it is in distress. A lure,
however, is thrown out to the farmer--he
is promised " a project of the greatest utili-
ty, which is Indispensable necessary to the
prosperity of agriculture, and IS closely III
terwoven with national prosperity" This
project is "rural code" What! is this
which is declared to be so vitaiIy necessary,
still wanting? wanting to a nation that IS
depicted as essentially agricultural "--
This is ever the way with Bonaparte--He
is always promising to do such great things
for the prosperity of France, but never per.
forming. This rural code would, we should
have imagined, been the first thing thought
of by government that prot.sses to rule
over nation {" essentially agricultural,' !
that had determined 70 cutoff all commerce |
whatever. But no, the rural code is yet !
to come, and not step has bee. taken bat |
to call upon different authorities in France !
TO giDe their a7vice upon it, But the prin-
cipal Improvement of agriculture is to arise !
out of /" reorganization OF the repositories
for the breed of horses What mockery I
and triAing! the principal improvement is
to find the farmer a market for his commo-
ditv--other Improvements will follow of !
course.
But the state of commerce! sOur orders
of council, provoked by Bonaparte's de J
crees, have put final stop to it-nothing is I
doing--nothing is expected to be done.
C Give yourselves up to your miserable fate
we have ruined you past recovery; rot
and go to destruction" Such is the Ian
guage of the French government. They
talk of improvements in the weaving of cot !
ton--but where can they get their cotton to
weave Not a bale can be procured with |