The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-11-05
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.
1t will not be inapplicable to the present
state OF things to insert in your paper the
| following extract of a letter from Mr.. Mon
roe, whilst ne was Minister Penipotentiary
at the French Court, to the Secretary of
State-lt will be found in the Cpd and 93d
pages of his View of the conduct of the exc
curive OF the United States, and bears date ::
PARIS, Dec. 3, 1894.
Britain Is certainly not in a condition to
embark IN war against US, tho we should
diSpossess her Of Canada she would. of
course, be less apt to do it if we ONLY placed
her troops beyond the Lakes !; her own land
| force was scarcely Ielt in the present war "a
| gainst France, nor has she been otherwise
| regarded than on account Of her feet, and
pecuniary resources, by which she subsidized
Prussia and other powers, but that force,
sInaii as IT was, is equally diminished, ana
the combination IN which she has been asso-
clated, appears not only to be completely
Toned, but Iii a great measure broken.-The
prospect now before her is, that Prussia.
Austria. and ali the other powers will ex-
irlcate themselves from the war, upon the
best terms they can, and leave her singly to
| support 1t against France: and that the lat
ter will be aided by spain. unless ii particu-
lar combination against tbs should prevent it
and likewise by Denmark & Sweden, ii
not directly, yet i'll a manner to produce a
serious eftect-Ihe prep0nderancc OF her
iieet, and the wanton & licentious use made
| Of 1T, have excited the disgust Of ali nations.
who would be pleased to see it reduced, &
the present is considered a favorable time
| TO reduce 1t. She likewise knows or Conf
IDENTITY believes, that it is the intention Of
rance to prosecute the war against her, for
the purpose OF breaking her maritime
strength, and Kidding the ocean from such a
lyrant; at home too she cannotbe free from
| dlsquietude. The total failure of her opera
tons IN this quarter has excited some unea-
| sIness III the public mind, and proportionally
| lesscned the weight of the court-t,Iis was
lately shown III prosecution against Mr..
Handy, and in which verdict was given
| tor the defendant-And should the French
take Holland (Which nothing but an inuntla-
| ton already commenced can prevent, if ever
| that CAM this sensation will, Of Course, in
crease. Thus circumstance, what have we
| to fear from her Will she, in her decline,
bring upon herself another enemy, who can
wound her SO vitality for let her merchants
&C politicians boast as they will of her resour-
ces, yet it is well known if the American de-
lnand was cut off, upon which she thrivcs
so much, that it would greatly diminish
her revenue, and impair her strength. How
is she enabled to support her engagements,
>'iN Stll VII hCT OpSIiIiOnS, Out ny COM
| merce! And lessened as this already is by
war, how could she sustain such stroke at
the present crisis From her Friendship
we have nothing to hope: the order Of the
| 9th November was war III fact, and that has
| since been modified according to circum-
| stances. Be assured she is Infinitely less
! disposed 20 such an event at the present
than at any preceding period. On the con-
| trary, if we only took possession of what we
are entitled to, she will readily Join with us
| in reprehending the conduct Of her own
oihcers, for having transcribed their Or
| ders."
a note of Mr. Mcnfoe's follows, which
! says, "my opinion was that We should take
q strong position III respect to England, and
| which would net only have put rs at case
permanently with France, avoiding in consc-
qucncc, all the variance and misundcrssand-
ing which has Since taken place, with that
| Republic; but BY obtaining from her the aid
OF her Resources against England, have COM
| Dandcd from the latter power, Gtwithout any
/ danger OF war, our own terms; nor would
! she in such an event have enquirsd too
strictly into the propriety Ct our re-paying
in kind to France the obligation we owe her,
III guaranteeing for her five million of dol
lars to be laid ont here in the purchase of
provisions"
Whether the Secretary of State entertains
the same sentiments at this time, is vet to
be tested if he does not, it would be well
Tor him TO reperuse this invaluable work Of
his own. Indeed ! know Of no WRITINGS bet =
ter calculated to make correct impressions
| at thus eventful period, and il is strongly re-
commended TO the notice of our public cha
racters, as well as 20 the intelligent part Of
our community.
ARISTIDEs.