Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-05-09
For the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
fR8EL.d--..So l.


nounce me dreaming mailman, or what is
worse, desperate incendiry; but hope !
am neither one nor the cther---An incendiary
/ know am not ms children, my. relatives,
nv connections, are ali here upon their ma
tive soil---their interest and feelings are all
American. AS 20 the other point, your read
ers must form their own conclusions.
NV object in writing is, to give my opinion
as to the course of measures, which the pre-
sent porte ntous situation of the world may
perhaps render it proper and necessary Tor
this nation to adopt and pursue. II my not
be irrevelant to this subject, to take a hasty
review of the situation of France and Eng
land, as they stand relative to each OTHER and
to ourselves. France, ever since the reign of
Louis XIVth commenced, has had but one
object in view, and this she has pursued with
a single eye however she may have been
checked by temporary dstresses, it has not
for a moment been lost sight of--the object is
no less than universal dominion. For this
were the bloody Wars of Louis X1Vth under
taken, and pursued until they bro't the Nation
to the very verge of ruin. Upon his decease
he was succeeded by feeble proalsate, too
much taken up with his pimps and harlots. to
further the grind object. The unsuccessful
termination of the war by which England
wrested from France, her American posses
s,ons, paralized her endeavors towards ior-
warding the darling scheme. Indeed France
had not at that time herself an idea of the trc-
mendous energies which she has since been
found to possess. Upon the rupture between
England and her then colonies, that event a
gain presented her with golden dreams OF
both present and future glory and advantage
she cXulted in the idea of humbling d vcto-
rious and hated rival. Sore and Inundated
by former defeats and chastisemcnts, she
stood aloof, dreadipg to display openly her
ernity, until assured that America was able
70 work out her own independence. She then
came forward with her Assistance, and through
her intrigues engaged al,nost all Europe in
the war. France herself enfeebled & impover-
ished bv this war, had no Cause to boast, al
though the ostensibe cause for which she had
undertaken i had succeeded.
Tire novel spectacle Of an infant nation ris-
ing against oppression and asserting the ma
tural freedom OF man, was not lost upon the,
world and the soldiers who had fought in
America, contrasting the freedom of those a.
mong whom they had lately been, with the
absolute tyranny which prevailed at home, ad.
ded to the ardent zeal OF the patriotic La Fay
cite, fame was kindled which did not end
until not only the monarchy itself, but every
vestige Of the ancient order of things was ut
terly DESTROYED. From the moment in which
Set of hereditary despots arrayed themselves
against her, France began to exhibit the po-
tent energies she possessed. For moment,
and but for moment, in time Of deep de-
preston, she declared that she did not fight
for conquest; but no sooner did the first
dawn of victory light upon her, than the de-
claration was forgotten. Nay, In the midst Of
the most frightful scenes of the revolution,
when the savages were with more than demo-
MAC fury cutting each others Threats by hum
dred and thousands, the main object OF France
as nation was not lost sight OF. In the midst
of war, the hero Of Italy, Sas sent to Egypt,
and although this expedition failed, it never.
thel.ss shows the ardor entertained whether
under king or republic, for the one d,rl-
ing object of Frenchman's hopes and wish
es. Bonaparte, now emperor OF France, and
master of continental Europe, has but one
stumbling block in the way. Remove the
ltlllSn IdttS VI PoI ~ it'so h'S tlaiiSo,
and every glorious, every extravagant dream
with which the fertile brain of even French
man teens, is fully realised.
Further the national characteristic of
Prenchman, whether in gold or in rags, whe-
Their on the throne or in a lazar house, is ma
tional glory; or rather he is actuated b. vani-
tv, as if the splendor Of the nation was partly
hi, own. From this failing it is, that he cares
no. by whom she is governed. Provided she
is great, he is willing to shout Vive lie Roi,
vive Ia Republlque, or vive PEmpereur. l
have now given such sketch of France, asI
think necessary to explain what shall in
future number advance as to her relations with
US. shall in my next number proceed to
take view of the conduct and objects of Eng
land; bring it down to the present time, and
then proceed to draw conclusions from the
review; affecting our own most vital interests.
ARBELA.