Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-09-16

Suspensions OF arms being always de-
manded by the weaker side, it may be con-
sidered that, if granted, they are certainly
favorable to that side. The stronger has
much to lose, and the weaker much to gain
by time. So they are also almost always
solicited by the power acting on the defen-
siye, and if granted by the other, the ad-
1antage of attack, if not rendered equal,
the party which before had remained on the
defensive, has at least an opportunity OF re-
versing the warfare, if SO disposed. That
party too which fights at home, maintains
the war at much less cost, than its opponent,
and recruiting an army from home, by
troops which are to be sent to the enemy's
country, is itself equal to little warfare.
Every months delay to an invading force is
equal to a campaign of the defending army,
in respect to disafection, expence and NOR
tally.
There is some ambiguity in the transla-
items, especially as to the names Of places,
as well in the copy of the Armistice, as in
the French Bulletin giving an account OF the
battle for instance, cannot discover whe-
ther the Sachsengein Nhchwas taken onthe
commencement OF the battle, is or Is not
the same place which was to be delivered
by the Austrians to the French after the ar
mistice, called Sachsenburg. But it does
not appear that the French had any where
passed the limits OF Austria n ore thaa 3
leagues, and it is well known that this cir
Gle or territory extends but little way north
Of the Danube, or east of Vienna, where
the French had possessed the country before
the battle Of Elsing en- the ed May. The
town OF Gratz, and perhaps all but the ci-
tadels OF tie other places, had been taken
by the French previous to the last battle,
and those citadels were possibly On the point
Of BENG delivered up at the time she ar
mis1ice took place, together with I'll the
artillery and stores within them. Some
Austrian troops remaining in the I'yrol and
Voraberg, were i'll the rear Of The French
and separated from the main armv, as wei!
as from the duke OF Brunswick and The
archduke John. By the conditions Of the
a,mlstlce, al these scattered troops are saw
ed, and Will no doubt be united with enc or
the oiher OF the main divisions ct the Aus
TRANS and will with their stores enable those
divisions to hold very different and more
imposing front. This mus, be Of the more
importance to the srchduke, as re seems
constantly to have sought those positions, at
least Tor his own division, when he could
|, asst defend those countries on which lie
most relied, viz: Bohemia, Mo,avia, and
Hungary, and face either the French or the
Russian, accordingly as ne was attacked by
the one or The other, as well as to keep up
l. communication with Callicia and LalIna-
tia.
The delay obtained by the armistice is of
more Importance 10 the Austrans, in r. spe Ct
to the allies. IF the French could have O.
verrun Bohemia ard Hungary in July or
August, ard dictated peace, all which
doubtless lhey would have attempted, if it
had been thought practicable, after The Dat
tie of Wagram, they might have siIenced
al! opposition in the moth Of Germany, and
prevented the English from landing forces
in that quarter and at toe same time the,
might have sent powerful army aeains,
the Spaniards, As it is, no material OBJ
stacle can be thrown in the way Of the first,
and it is highly probable the French will
have been obliged to qui, Madrid, # not
driven out Of Spain entirely, before hostili-
ties can recommence on the Danube and the
archduke Charles gives up the present con-
est. Should this eventually happen, those
allies may occupy the conquerer, until Ser
many is recruited, renewing alternately the
contest, OF. as whist player would say, and
see saw be established, which will, after
calling out every trump, win the odd trick.
Afienat0 The hadttenatnce q Nations.