Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-16

den has arrived at Altoona, from whence in all
probability he will proceed to join his family
N Switzerland. From Stockholm we learn,
that only one OF the murderers of of Cont Far
zen has been sentenced to suffer death the
others are to receive very slight punishment
BonatGrte's Naval PretarGtions.
The recent activity of the hotilla at Bou
lopue is not, we conceive, meant merely as an
os.entatious bravado to signalize the presence
of Bonaparte Our experience of the pro-
found and perseyering ability with which that
man pursues his schemes ofyengeance against
this country, renders it unwise in us, even If
the circumstances would warrant it, which
they do not, to presume that he does any thing
connected with the war against this country in
vain. The result of the conflict between Adm.
Baste's squadron and the Naiad, does not
leave much ground for alarm on the score OF
any thing that maybe attempted by the totllla
in the way of:invasion. But as certain por-
ton of our force and of our attention must be
occupied by that fotilla, while 1t Is so active,
it is more than probable, that 1t Is, and will be
kept stirring, to create diversion In favor OF
the more serious attempts that may be medl-
tated by different force in different quar-
ter. The fleet in the Scheldt Is probably the
real instrument of any scheme otlnvaslon pro-
ieeted either against Britain or against Ire
land, or Of any other grand enterprise distinct
from invasion that Bonaparte may have in
view. But it is by no means improbable that
without having himself any serious enterprise
=. Ia m
our attention and great part OF our force hx-
ed upon his movements and demonstrations
all along the opposite coast of the channel,
and thus prevent US from sending further re-
Inducements to our army in the peninsula
where he finds it very difficult any longert TO
overbalance our strength, In the way he has
hitherto done.
We regret to state, that the affairs of Sicily,
which we have long viewed with an eve OF
suspicion, have lately assumed the most I'M
favorable aspect, and there is every reason to
suppose that scenes of the most dark and
damning complexion in regard to the govern
ment of that kingdom will very speedily be
disclosed. The mission of Lord William
Bentick, it was hoped, would be productive
of the good effect of bringing back to a sense
sons principally entrusted with the direction
of its affairs, and of opening the eyes of its
misled monarch, to the imminent danger with
which base and wicked counsels have environ
ed his Throne. This hope, however, we Ia
ment to find, has been completely disappoint-
ed-for scarce had his lordship proceeded 10
the exercise of his important functions, when
he found the seeds Of vice had been SO deeply
sown, that it was impossible to eradicate them
from the polluted political soil, and that ev-
cry effort of his to apply remedy to the evil
must be vain and hopeless. His Lordship
reached Palermo on the Oath of July, and his
STAY of course must have been very short.
Such WAS the hostile spirit of the ruling par
ty in Sicily, that 1t was matter OF doubt whe-
Their his Lorlship would even be permitted
to land. Permission, however, was granted
and he landed on the 25th He lost no time
in proceeding to the business of his mission.
Private letters state that he not only rem0n-
strated with necessary 6rmness against the
more than suspicious conduct of the Sicilian
Government towards this country, but de-
manded that certain pledges of their good faith
should be given to as; and the answer he
received is understood to have been deCi-
sive of the blackes, ingralisuGe, not to say
perfidy, towards an honorable, generous, and
protecting ally. That there is something
rotten in the state" oil Sicily, is most clear and
certain Ut was the wish of Great Britain to
repair the defects, and to save the fabric from
ruin we fear, however, from the marked dis
like to British connection that has lately been
manifested, * the Punishment of those no.
bleS who are most attached 10 the British In
terests, that the crafty CorSican has contrived
to infuse sufficient portion ofpoison into the
mind of the SiCiiian government to effect the
expulsion Of every salutary quality from it,
and which, if no counteracting remedy be
permitted, must speedily accomplish the po-
li6cal dissolution q. that unfortunate king
dom.
IL Il