Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-31

yor OF the unloh. Ou' ~ =, TT .f,.,,J 10
emperor is equally imperative. tiona''u
a shoot from the French TERRITORY !" ~.
txtes hsrtion Of soil necessary 80 eo'"u'es. -
farm of the fmtire," and "for MS insjcsty -. ~
leave in the power Of foreigners the nouns 'l.
Of the Rhine, the Meuse and the oo".iun
would he tantamount to submitting MS laws
70 their control" 1t therefore becomes ne
cessary for him " to advance to the Auyoef
sea" and 6 to associate Holland In the otess-
;nps. as she had been associated In the cara.
,rit;es Of his empire" The fate OF Portugal
Is no less mournful Lulled to repose by an
insidious treaty, nominally guaranteeing 70
her her neutrality during the continuance 0,
the war, she suddenly found herself associated
in all the horrors and cruelties OF the continen-
tai system. The commerce OF Great-Brltiin
was to be excluded from her ports. The sub
iects of her ally, enjoying within her terrific
rries the lights of hospitality, were to be ar
rested in the midst of their fancied security.
And no other alternative was offered than
war with either England or France Nor
could the most AFFECT compliance satisfy the
rayenous nav of ambition. At the very mo-
mept when the French DEGREES were about
to be enforced in all their rigor, within the
territories of Portugal, it was announced In
the imperial gazette "that the house OF Bra
eanz had ceased to reign" The decree was
already executed-3o,o troops were In the
heart of Portugal.t
If this picture of infamy and dcpravity can
be incomplete if there be yet wanting IL
CURE to occupy some vacant spot, let it be
taken from the history of Spain. That lii-tat-
-. L l., Ser h1rrh orr hn-
norable spirit. Associated by the weakness OF
its monarch and the vi!lainy of an influential
minister, in the schemes of Napoleon, it has,
in turn become the victim of that power which
itself had contributed to rear. The circum-
stances of its degradation, though fresh in the
memory of mankind, can never be too fre-
quently recorded. Its unfortunate monarch
had been betrayed by the Infamous Godey. no
doubt with view to subserve the interests OF
France, into formal surrender of his king
dom to his eldest son. But says late ano-
nymous historian I" the new king not being so
tractable as his father, the latter was obliged
by Bonaparte to make resumption OF his
crown for the purpose of transferring it to
that usurper. On this sub ect disputes arose;
and under the pre,ence of settling those dis
putes, it was proposed by the minister, the
infamous Godoy, and by them agreed to, that
the royal family should meet Bonaparte at
Bayonne. There the rebber and tyrant met
them and there he arrested hem, hekd them
prisoners, and COMPELLED them Under the terror
efdeath 10 tyaaasfer to him Tire erv~s ana 7rro-'
tle IF Shan."t
Here might close my testimony, and
rest satisfied with the result of my labors.
The ambitious and unwarrantable designs of
Napoleon admit not of a doubt But there
arc yet other subjects entitled to our consider
alton From his g systematic warfare on
commerce" and the unrelenting hate with
which he pursues his sole remaining rival,
perhaps some important conclusions may be
drawn. Surely Great Britain and commerce,
considered i'll themselves, are neither OF them
objects of such untowarI detestation. But
they are alike, obstinate and uncenquerable
foes to the establishment of a military despot-
ism. The first ardent III her love of liberty,
and powerful in the means of maintaining it,
scans with jealous eye every symptom of
approaching tyranny, and opposes with vi
gorous arm every actual or indirect violation
of her rights. TO await in silence the lnva-
sion of her own territory, would be to pro-
nounce her own doom. The most important
sprin:; in a machine may be rendered perfect
ly useless without being hed.-Destroy
some neighboring wheel, or derange the gen
eral system, and it avails but little to have
left the handspring entire. Great Britain is
in fact, member Of an extensive family, and,
luckily for mankind, is bound by self interest,
if by no other consideration, to protect it
&c even to the seventh degree of kim" from
injustice and contempt no wonder then,
that the existence of such power, while it
You r9W tereeiue that FIR these short
sketches ofthe histories Of Holland and Por-
tugai, an indebted to tie an number of" the
american ReUiezv." find sere ALLOW me to
ertress my satisfaction at The eralted terms in
zvhich you haze atoken Of the editor Of that
repiezr-our american Burke. You could nor
haze furnished me Nth a more satisfactory
hro9fo IF the h6e'uify Of your sentiments, eUen
on The subject Of tohtics-c subject zrAieh is
generally Suttosed 10 SET AberaAty IT sentiment