The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-27


gold, we ourselves shall be unable to resist
n, power for any length OF time. Upon
such Il superstition, this conclusion is mate
rial: but rs think | shall be able To show
III my next letter such q supposition - not
bounded III truth, and that we have the abb
ity To 90 with respect to the commerce Of
France, with respect TO that fruitful source of
power TO her and t danger to us, that we
have the ability to do all those things which
are necessary TO our SAFETY, permanent rs well
AS present. and with a comparatively small
portion of eXpence.
When one looks at the navy of England
at the quarter OF million OF people whom
IN various ways it employs ; at the IS ca II
millions of money Ca fifth part, believe, ot
the rental ct the whole king'iom) that it an
nuaiiy costs when one locks at this wonder
fui power this mass of means, this focus of
tie fertility ot our soil and of the industry,
ingenuity, valour and patriotism Of the ma.
ten when one contemplates ali this, and
reads the history OF the war for several ears
past, one cannot help being struck win the
disparity between the meann and the effects.
For what purposes are all this prepa alton
and all the sacrifices which it tCcasions !?
what does tins Immense navy accomplish /?
II, TOR many years past, all its prizes and all
the mischief it has done the enemy were cs-
tlmated, they wou~ not amount to enough
to pay the txptnce of finding the nev> IN
water. lhe navy IS our defence. it NAV be
SAID but that Cannot he said. without aC-
knnwledsing, that are deiicirn. either N
strength on the Courage or the viii Ia defend
our Country by land - y the means OF mere
defence, either The army or he ravy mast
be considered as saperiiuuus or else We &C
know ledge ourselves TO be inferior To our
enemy In point o. Vainr or Of disposition to
defend our country. To consider the navy
as the means of nsre defence, is in fact, to
acknowledge, at once, that Napoleon has it
| In his power To put us 10 an cXpence of II
millions year, without any other expence
ON his part than that of paper and ink, com
posing paragraph in one of his Nom ours
! The navy. should re made the cans of an
Doyauce, the means of distress through the
empire of the enemy The taking or dcs
troyins ships at sea, the capture of colonies
Will avail US nothing, while the ever fertile
source OF naval power exists unhurt in The
| dominions of France.
| In war, as we'll as in every thing else.
those difficulties and d,ngers, of which we
can toresee no end, are powerful in Subduine
the mind in producing wearineSs disgust
reiaxation, cffscts, and finally, disposition
to give up the Contest, and beseeCh your
Majesty to consider, what prospect There is ,
or can be, of an end our difficulties and
dangers, while Napoleon possesses, untlis-
| turEed, the means of building and manning
ships of war, though England at the same
time, maintain navy at the eXpence OF
seventeen millions year what prospect
can there be o. peace and satcy 10 Eng land,
while France, insensible of the calamities
and almost OF the existence OF war, is able
to impose upon your Majesty's subjects, bur
thens. such as were never before thought Of
and which, with the duration OF war, must
/ 10 1t.1lN n tla... ~
appears evident, that unless our mode OF
| warfare be changed. unless our immense
| means be made use OF 20 annoy aud distress
| the enemy and particularly to cut his ma
val resources, we shall fall in this contest,
which is not only for honor but for iadepeu-
dence.
The facts which have stated relative to
the commerce carried ON in the domiDions
of Napoleon, are stated upon such authority
| that have no scruple in vGuching for their
truth. So minute, indeed, is my informant
on, that could have named times and places,
and other particulars, IL confirmation of
every fact relative to this commerce, that /
have stated IN general terms. That such
commerce SO extensive, so beneficial to the
parties concerned in it, forming so complete
| chain of connection between the several
countries whose means Napoleon must wish
| TO unite and bring under his controul, so fer
tile in all the means OF restoring or creating
vast naval power that such commerce
existed, Know that the people of England
could not have supposed possible, and We
rily believe, that your Majesty's Servants
were, in this respect, little better informed
than the nation at large; for to believe o.
therwlse. would be To suppose them guilty
OF heinous offence against their master a.
well as against his peoplc. TO believe that
they knew OF the existence of a commerce
carried an in the domnions of Napoleon, aud
employing, perhaps, 100000 mariners t,
believe that they knew of the existence of
such commerce while they were conrratu-
lating us upon the annihilatioD OF the mari
them of hypocrisy unparalleled in the hsto-
ry OF human deprayity. OF this knowledge,
therefore, | acqult ,hem, and shall be well
satisfied, ii they now, though late, adop,
measures to remove from us that danger,
which, If their present system be adhered
to, can, as far a, / can perceive, never ter
inmate but in the subjugation of our coun,ry
and OF coarse in the subversion CT your Ma
jesty's throne.
In NV next, shall endcavor to shcw that
the CoG,merce of France may be DESTROYED,
aid OF course, tnat her vast means al ere.
aung naval force, may be cut OFF The
real causes of Che nciiicienCy of our navy in
thiS respect, wihbe found tolie much dce per
than is generally Imagined. and " here am
sure youg Majesty does MOI suspect; because,
supported as your Maje2y would be, BY the
unanimous voice Of tho people. won uo,.4.s