Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-02-16
TCoxTMUED.]

there were motions scarcely less ur-
gent than those sprlnging out OF the gene
raj plan Of conquest, to preciPta'e the at
tack on Prussia. Cent?, one of the -po!iti-
cal writer's Of the continent, has declared,
So mis- answer to d'Hsuterive; that nothing
bit the union ot Austria and Prussia could
arrsst the career of France, and save the
other states of Europe. The cabinets OF
Berlin and Vienna began to see the necss-
sity of an approximation. France felt the
expedisncy of dealing an immediate blow
in order TO dissipate the strength OF Rus'
sia, before Austria, after her recent dlsas-
fers, could collect the means or summons
up the resolution to cooperate IN plan
: OF mutual defence, which the course OF G.
vents pointed out as the only available re-
) source for both, natioas. To have left Aas-
sria and Russia at peace Tor length OF
time sufficient to heal their wounds, with
the scope for ambitious designs. and the
meaps Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT which the ex'
" tinetion Of Prussia afforded them, would
: have endangered the power OF france more
-&han aay merely possible union between the
: courts of Berlin and Vienna.
The growing power Oh Russia sindkd
an inc Unable jealousy in the cabinet and a.
mong the speculative po!isieian'ot France.
The close connexion of tie former with
Ensland--the exclusion Of France from
all share ia the negotiations. with the'Di.
van, ssrved to inaamS this jealousy, and
20 produce The most hostile feelings on the
aide of France. To estrange the house OF
Lorraine from Russia, to throw back the
latter into her. vast deserts"-so exclude
her altogether from an interference m the
affairs of Europe, was the favoritesystem
of the old regime ard it Will be found
that their successors can scarcely be AMI
mated by more favorable disposition. AS
much stress has been placed On the strength
OF Russia as a counterpoise to the power
Of France. /, shall add few remarks on
this subject. ..... ~. ...
%All my inquiries during my residence
abroad, concerning the true character and
amount Of the Russian means Of warfare,
led me to the conclusion that they are &C.
nerally much ovrsrated. Her maritnne
resources can be but Of little service in her
struggles with France ,--and, III fact, are
scarcely sufficient TO give her any rtputa-
sion for strength 90 the .ocean, A nation
possessing no distant colonies without
considerable fisheries, and with NO extent
Of coast TO familiarise the natives to the
dangers ofths ScsaR.--eannet easily Greats
a navy, calculated, TO render her iormida-
bic 20 the great maritime. stHtrs OF Eu'
Tsps. The rapid advances OF Russia, since
xhe reign Of Peter the, Gseat S her victories
over che Turks, ewing. however TO the
5gnorance and pusillanimi,y ofthe Ottoman
generals and to rho INSTRUMENTATION of their
srosps; her gigantic projects Of ambition,
and the vast compass Of her territory, Tin
reality, source OF weakness); have daz :
zled the eyes Of mankind, and produced
most exnsvagant hyperboles with regard to
her military and pettlaiary resources.
Upon these resources alone she must re-
Nv In her compe tition with France and
am well convinced that they viii prove in
sufficient for her rrssue. Iheve read,witsa
some attsntion, the opiuisps Of those who
wrste npoa the state of her finances and
the ehsraeter; of her isviss, before the
French revelations; and when consider