The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-24
Gurope.
From Belle Weekly Messenger, Aug. 10.
PROGRESS OF THE EXPEDITION


The progress of the Expedition has not
oeen what was exPected-or at least, as far
as the details have reached this country
The truth appears to be, that the i.xpediti-
on had originally two objects-the one to
burn the shipping In the Scheldt, the other
TO act as diversion in favor of the Austri-
ans, and withdraw portion of the French
armies from the Danube. From the preci-
plate mlstortunes of the Austrians, the lat
ter winch was In part the main object of
the expedition, became impossible. So
great force however having been accumu-
lated, IL was necessary to attempt something.
Onoer these circumstances the Expedition
was sent-not so much on any precise OBJ
JeCt' as 10 attemPt or execute any thing which
may fall in its way. We are convinced that
dis is the true state of the case--Sc that the
expedition would never have been sent. into
the Scheldt, had il not been originally pre-
pared Tor more extensive objects.
when we say this, however, we are very
far from lmputing any blame to the govern
ment OF the country. The attempt to assist
Austria was polite and magnanimous. The
Ministry are not to be blamed that the Aus
trians were defeated before they could bring
their division into the field. The Ministers
are not to be blamed for the apparent DELAY
OF the Expedition. Whatever is long i'm
reparatioh-whatever is open to the eyes
OF all during every stage of this preparation
whatever is anxiously watched and impa-
tlently expected, will always appear long :.
and natural duration will be COMPOUNDED with
delay. Let justice be done to the Ministers
as we'll as to other men. 1t was impossible
that such an Expedition could be4coIlected
with greater dispatch. The shipping-the
Interchangeable artillery-the marching of
different regiments to one dehot--all these
things are not the affair of day or week,
and so much we deem it necessary to say,
that the CoLrsry has seldom if ever sent a
more complete Expedition than the one now
in the Scheldt. ~
Under such circumstances the people will
be grossly deceived if they expect too much
from this expedition. To attack the French
in Flanders is to seize the bull by the horns.
All that the expedition can be expected to
do, is, TO seize a town or two on the islands
OF the Scheldt, and by rapid march'up the
river destroy whatever shipping the enemy
may have collected.
AS to the precise poiut of the Expedition,
we believe that ministers themselves have
hs,ed upon nothing. The original object of
the expedition, as we have above said. was
diversion, and the plan proposed was then
To ourn, destroy and push forwards, so as to
excite alarm, aud to call off the French
troops from the Danube, by marching them on
a naked q iarter This diversion having be-
come impossible--the plan isnow, we should
suppose, merely to burn and destroy as far
as we Can with safety advance, and where
the perils exceed the work of the service to
retire
AS to the permanent possession of the Is.
land OF Wdicheren-we question both its
possibility and its utility.
In the first place, we believe it to be inn
possible. bscause the Channels which divide
IT from the other islands and the main land
o. Flanders are 50 harrow, tl,at il Viii be