The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-10-18
From ske Belfast Monthiy Magazine.
monthly RETROSPECT OF POLITIC

!. From re Belfast Monthiy Magazine.
,HDNTHnY RETROSPECT OF POLITICS
An army of the same nation, has great Advan.
thRes over An array composed, or rather convea-
I'd from different nations. Thisis not apparent IN
common circumstances, but 10 almost always Ia
tally exempli6ed az seasons, particularly
the field ofbatlle. The machinery 10 well enough
pu: together to all appearance. and even serves
pretty well on common trials. but ON eStraordi-
nary conjunctures, il gets always ost Of order
end, the consequences are dreadful, by confidence
Granted and fostered where it falls, when most
wanted. An allied army never csn lie made TO
oct with sufficient celebrity. unity, and mobility
q the very critical time when all these qualities
ere most urgently demanded, and whenever VIC.
tory - suspended, the army that, it we dare use
the term, il hom6FenoRs, will decide the fortuae
Of the day, all other circumstances being suppos'
ed nearly equal. The experience OF All history
proclaims the radical uncertainty. and Imperfect
combination of principal and an auxiliary force
Even in the present war, many are the instances,
where this concealed Jaw in the organization OF
ahe army. was the primary cause of undue conf
dence, and in the day OF trial, the proxmate
cause Of failure. However well the Spanish or
Portuguese force may seem to have acted, when
placed in important situations, as on the funk of
the Britist, it almost always appears, that the
line Of battle cracked first at the junction of the
army, allied, but not assimlstes, either in Ian
guage. habits, manners, or mind, only artificial
IN comi,r,ses d INTO an uniformity OF appearance,
6y accidental occdrrences. One might suppose
Ehat in such Cases, lwSre there no danger Of be.
Ting outhanked,) it would be. well If The British
were always, of themselves, to bear the orunt of
the battle, and when the impression was made,
then the auxiliary force might do that service a.
1sainst aretreatins enemy. which they arc never
Ekeiy to do in the same line with the British,
the heat of engagement, and in the doubttuiis
sue of battle. We have always thoughts that re-
crtiting or embodying Portuguese or Spanish
army, discipliRing them, as is said by British
officers. and, preparing them to act with the Br,-
fish line in the field, was an experiment however
recommended by the alacrity of tue well paid
recruits and by the report of the parade, the
most pregnant with danger, by creating, We will
iloa say, military confidence, but ministerial
and perhaps anatnnal confidence in he Numbers
of tue combined army. For our parts, We hink
the only safe experiment in the day OF "a tie
would be made, BY, having at least as many Bri
fish as of French On the field, and .llscing he
Spanish and Portuguese, disciplined or undis,
ciplined, totally out of the enumeration. A cos-
Iitionof courts in a cabinet, and coalition OF
armies, in The field, are combinations, in their
very nature, most precsrious and uncertain, and
peculiarly so, from the temp atoms they Ioid out
in the beginning, which in the end prove, and
that TOO, saIden?y, delusory and destructive
After all the marches md counter marches, at
Ter the armies advancing and retreating, the af-
fairs in the Peninsula once more appear to ne
t1rawing to a conclusion. Bonaparte who IN
most cases ends means 70 accomplish what re
threatens. has given portentous wsrning"
q When half the families in Britain shall De IN
mourning, then shall peal f thunder put an
end 10 the affairs of the Peniasuls, the destnies
of the armies. and avenge Europe and Asia by
finishing this second punic war;. -
During the entire course OF this long prctrsct I
Ell contest, the general language of this retro
rpec., has been Responding, even when the Puo-
lie mind has been generally bGoyed up by hope.
u the most brilliant periods OF vaunted success,
fhe wnste of human life was great, and treasure
which Britain can i'll spare in her present de-
ranged state of finance, was profusely squander-
ed. For what purpose 1t is not prudent to
risk so much on an outpost, while our safety Is
at stake at home. The mania Of this war-loving
empire has been great, and vast exertions have
beea made by q venal press to keep up the delu
sion. In the view of some sober observers,
Spain and Portugal afford not ray of rational
End we'll founded hope, yet on this subject po.
pulsr delusion is still at work and in spite of re-
aerated disappointments, day dreams are still
ndulged.
AS if hostility with almost the whole of Eu-
rbpe was not sufficient to satiate love of war
which yet does not arise either from the magma.
siimity of true courage, nor even from the phan-
tom of chivalrous vain glory, but from sordid
aiiscalculating policy Of ministers seeking by
TOW ambition to cling to place by the appearance
of displaying affected vigour, and of people
wishing to domineer in the spirit Of haugh,iness
over their neighbours without possessing the
power. we have now the prospect of war with
4he United States of America. Matters were
IN such situation, and the irritation so great,
chat small spark was only wanting to kindIe the
sfame. The pernicous orders IN COUNCIL, bear.
ing so hard and SO unfairly on neutral commerce,
the naughty conduct Of British commanders on
meeting American vessels, and the impressment
of sailors from them under the claim of taking
British seamen, had reused spirit Of opposition
IN the American executive, and we believe in
decided majority of the people. AT this crisis
the President, an American ship of war, COM
ihsnded by Captain Rodgers met the Little Belt,
q British sloop Of inferior force, under the com
1nand Of Captain Bingham. They hailed each
other, end both refused TO answer first. The
captains differ in their statement, as TO which
vessel fred the FIRST shot, but an engagement
took place, in which nine of the British were
Killed, and q considerable number wounded. 1t
- probable that force will be sent out to de-
mand satisfaction The American government
may think they have also grave matters of CON-
plant against Britain for which satisfaction is
equally due, aud thus il is probable that the mu-
tual determinations which have long been the
subject Of negotiation between the two govern
rnents, and which produced a species OF midi
rect commercial hostility, will finally be given
70 the arbitration of the sword II is fsshiona.
BILE to treat lightly the capabty Of America to
resist or annoy the power Of Britain. But the
British government and people exactly argued
In like manner in The war of independence. The