Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-08-29
Summary.
Enon THE ESSEX tsALEM)i REelsrEH.


French have returned to Portugal. A part
Of the English army had approached Lis
bon, and great efforts were made to render
that city more secure than IN any former
state. The disposition of the French forces
is stin doubtful, as our accounts are through
Portugal, and not from the positions of the
French army. In Oporto, in the northern
parts OF Portugal, an alarm was spread of
the approach of a French army, and of the
possession Of Almeida by the French, positi-
on well known in the former march Of the
French. and reduced by the French arms.
All Portugalis alarmed by the repeated in,
vasion OF th~ir country, and, by the rapid
5hovements Of the Frcnch,' and mo. circum-
'atances appear to check the French. till they
fapprpac. the fortifca.ions of the capital 1t
is essceediHgly difficult to give theresd a
mount Of the French forces after their juno
zion, though the number of 60, 900 be repcr-
ted at the last accounts. The English. with
their allies in arms, have been reckoned at
10000. though it is reported that their whole
loss in different actions in killed and woun-
;ded, and by disease and desertion since the
army left Lisbon, cannot be less than $4,000.
Wehaye never been disposed to underyalue
the courage of the Portuguese in the present
war;. but we have 50 seldom seen them with
advantages in any great actions, or in any
history of their achievements, that all special
hopes from them would be fallacious. After
so many defeats and ravages of their coun-
try, they must return to the charge with
few hopes, especially when their policy or
their religion can represent the events of the
war as equally uncertain to them whether
determined by the superior force of the
French or English. 1t is not represented
that any great action may be expected till
the French attempt to force the lines Of the
English at Lisbon. Andit is not improbable
that an entire change in the affairs Of Europe
must be necessary to oblige the French to
retire again from the possession of the king
dom Of Portugal.
The French In Spain are insens:biy increa-
sing their power, though great armies do
not command attention to their movements
II was conjectnred that the French could
not march the armies of Spain for the relief
of the army of Portugal, but the fact has been
announced, and it proclaims that the affairs
OF Spain are not so desperate as they have
been represented, and the reports may have
misguided those who believed them. The
French affairs are recovering in Catalonia
and upon the coasts of the Mediterranean,
and the siege of Cadiz is maintained. The
excursions from the mountains of the North
distress the country but make no great
change in the power OF the French in the
EpufThefp PROVINCES. And Che new OF tfie
change IN Portugal has already begun its ac-
zion upon the spirits of the FSpaniards, who
were encouraged by the retreat of the French
as much as they are now alarmed by the ap-
pearance OF their success and rapid move
ments- The French appear higher to a con-
quest OF these countries than at any time since
the invasion.
From some papers it is said that the Rus
slams and Turks have made propositions for
a treaty of peace. The terms which have
been named have beenexpressed so general
ly, the real advantages are as vet unknown.
1t is said that Servia is not to belong to the
Turks or Russians That part of the Rus
sian conquests are to be renowned, and part
to be retained, but the line of separation is
not given. 1t is agreed that Russia does not
retire within its former limits. The country
| OF Servia is open to the French in Dalmatia,
and some regard to the position of these new
neighbours may have determined the Turks
to abandon that country, If the armistice has
concluded with such articles of peace as have
been reported tous. The political relations
\ OF Russia in Europe have not changed. and
the war with France which was mentioned
with great confidence, had disappeared We
have net yet the arrangement Of the affairs
| ID Poland, and the final settlement may pro-
| VIDE for important changes in this part OF
| Europe. IL has been even limited that France
would make greater concessions to Russia in
| that country.
Something has been insinuatsd RESPECTING
Sicily, as though it NAV be transferred to the
! new King cfthe French dynasty by a secret
negotiation, and as though some movements
correspond to the design. About 80years from
the present time the SpaniaTds had Command
OF the two Kingdoms Of Sicily and Naples,
and soon obtained from the Emperor ccssi-
| on OF the kingdoms to that crown. II was
then the title OF King of both Sio;les was re-
assumed, which had long been neglected
| The French have loilg discovered an aversi-
on to the separation. which the insnlar situa-
tioa Of Sicily maintained. II any thing seri.
Gus IS 70 be attempted this season, it will be
soon known.
From all c0pjectures about the Internal
policy Of the Russian empire, we pass 10 con-
| sder the state OF commerce ia the North
And IL is beyond dO,ibt that our minister
! has been favonrably received in Denmark
that our vessels have passed the Sound, and
that no obstructions have been offered In the
| Baltic, 70 vessels passing to the ports of Rus
STA, and il Is expected that the commerce
| Will DC less restricted than the former state
Of these ports led us to imagine. Itis also
a!ilrn,d that the English adopted no system
| OF warfare with this commerce upon the en-.
Try Of our SHIPS into the Baltic. In Sweden
pacific disposition appears towards our com
meTce, and the English had committed m
hostilities on the ports Of Sweden which thcI
could commabd. Il may be expected tha
the state ot tie war on the continent vii
have general effect upon European affairs
In England the same policy seems to obtaiI
| a. has distinguished the late administrator