Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-02-11

whether France concur in that overture OF
not. the ministry are convinced, that there
is no means nore eficacious in weakening
the resources Of France. In fact those
measures appear to form the Fundamental
basis of the system upon which the present
ministry Pounds all lis principles and every
part OF its conduct, and it would appear that
so long as the war shall continue, it is only
from a change Of ministy that we may ex.
pect other measures and other views.
The minister then stated, that while ON
the one hand it was extremely uncertain
whether any declaration or even concession
on their part would be productive o fchang-
es Tor the better OH the other it would be
always impossible to rely upon ;neir stabI-
lily. and that, in all cases, any step which
should appear incompatible with the honor
and dignity of the English nation, would
be totally cut of ths question, even though
it might a..pssr reconclleablr TO its int.
res'.
HE undersigned endcayored to convince
the Minister, That ia this particular Case,
the true laterest and the permanent pros.
perity OF all commercial states, imperiously
demanded, tha. they should not look with
indifference at the critical situation OF Hoi.
land but Cooperate, On thc contrary, 70
avert the storm. He wen confined him
self to requesting a Conditional declaration
only but what he herewith transmits, was
al! thar ne could obtain. His general OBJ
s~ervation, and the information which he
has been able to collect lead 10 tie t How
ing conclusions
That the principal question Of peace or
war occupies hut impertrctly the public
mlnd /: that habit reconci!es it to the con-
tinuance Of The war. and that the conse.
quences, far from being felt at present, aye
rather favorable to the ~iuteres. Of individu-
ais
That the system Of commercial ~rrstric-
tons is inherent in the present ministry,
and Tor the same reason is the object OF the
criticism Of opposition =; tha, it is ,hen pro-
babe, that tor the moment, they will con
tInue to act, more or less, in conformity 10
that 81 stem, as well towards America as 70.
wards all other powers
That the English Ministry considers a
hrm adherence TO that svstena, as the best
means OF seriously affecting the resources
OF France, and of comb ting her system
OF intiusnce upon the continent, and that ali
a!tsmp's On the part of nations in hostility
70 the English government, to bring it back
to other ideas, will probably produce only
a %contrsry effect:
That notwithstanding, there ought not to
be inferred a fixed determination to re.
pulse every proposition for peace for il
even 'msgines that system to be the me-
thod OF bringing France more speedily to
seriously set about eaect;ng &c 40
dation &; besides, if there we're such a de-
termiastion, it would shew itself usdeS a
variety of shapes ; its eonduc, in the pre-.
sent occasion is founded ON tire conviction. |
that at this time the French gavernnsea.
has no serious views Of peace tt.as can CO.
inc'de with the principles avowed by the
t'nglIsh government, and that il is solely
occupied on executing its arrangements
with respect to Sp,in and Portugal. which I
arrangements vial always be the most srri. !
obstacle TO the success Of anv teaocis-
tons that may be comm-nced.
That among the considerations by which
the English ministry is influenced. at the
present time, those which r-laee to Holland
are viewed as extremely secondary, and
that the idea Of the ;mpessibaitv that any
Convention relative 90 that country can ey.
er, uncer the influence Of France. ereseot
any chance OF certainty TO EasIaad, unaess
connected with q general question, takes a.
way AL the iatesest which o,herwise tbst
country Of itself would not fail 60 sHspire:
so mach SO as TO induce the ministry to &c. ,
fuse 70 l'steo TO reasons extremely iapcr.
tsnt, which ought to incline thea to coz.
s'der hat question separately, aad under az
immediate point of view.
Inc undersigned perceivips in this state
thugs. 20 chance of success il thr us,,-
s'os steps, wh'ea the government of Ho;. ;,
land na'ehs be tempted to try, snsess those
steps oe specially supported by France, and
that thus, as TO that country, her fate n
wholly con"ecttd wi h The Question of q
-