Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-03-09
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
THE ORDERS IN COUNCIL,
X I c III M O " ID,
MONDAY. MARCH 9, 1912.
For THE ARGUS.

: Illustrated by a Dery .4ncient Parsonage.
In the letter of Mr. Foster to Mr.. Monroe
Of the 18th of December 1871, there is trait
of British impudence, to which the public at
tcntion has not been sufficiently drawn. In
speaking of the effect of the orders in coun-
Gil, he treats neutrals with perfect contempt.
France is represented in the digCifed atti-
tude of an enemy worthy of being hated and
conbatted, whilst America, acknowledged to
be a sufferer, is declared to be SO, not by any
open hostility, but incidentally, Just as, in the
wars of the Giants, common men might be
trampled under feet; or, in the conflicts of
the bears, the pismires would be crushed by
the paws of those animals. Mr.. Foster, in
truth, respects American feelings as little as
his master does American rights, concluding,
we suppose, that those whom his sovereign
robs he may with propriety insult But, let
us look to the text. "This measure of reta-
liation it is wished (says the minister) should
operate on France alone -. its acting on neu-
trails, is an Incidental effect of it," If, in
deed, this were intended for serious remark,
it would be sufficient to reply, that an injury,
whether inflicted directly or incidentally, is
not the less an injury, for which the wrong
doer is bound to make PREPARATION. There is,
however, contemptuouS Indifference in the
phrase, admitting, to be sure, that America
no right to complain. Some admirers of Bril-.
tain have given Mr.. Foster credit for ingenui-
ty in diplomatic impertinence. In this APP
plause we might, perhaps, join, if we did not
happen to know that Mr.. Foster has stolen
this pretty conceit of Incidental injury. The
reader will be surprized at the antiquity of
the parsonage who first used it; for we can
assure him that it was no less a caviller than
the DeUR himself And herein Mr.. Foster
exhibits one faculty not always shewn by pla-
girsts, and that is, judgment in theft !; for
where should he resort for a gloss to al! sorts
of outrages, but to the author of all sorts of
mischief? But, let us hear his Satanic maies-
ty in his own style. In book w. of Paradise
Lost, the Devil is represented as gazing at
Adam and Eve and all the beauties of Eden !;
and after venting his spleen, among other
things, he says:
-" He'll shall nn fold,
To entertain you two, her widest gates,
And send forth all her kings; there will be
room,
Not like these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring; if no better place,
Thank him s0ho puts me 10th 10 this reveRpe
On g0R Vgho Sorong me not, far him rVho 1Uyongd.
And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as do, get public reason just,
Honor and eDlbiye with revenge iHkarY'd,
BY conqring this new world, coln6els me HoSo
To do Vohat else tho ddnIH'd should dbhoy."
The reader will now perceive that Croft
us, Pufendorf, Bynkershock, and the Abridg-
ments of the Law of Nations, are thrown a
side by the British; and that, as nothing in
the material world can justify their conduct,
they have gone on Of it for authorities in pal
liation of Their misdceds As Mr. Foster was
dealing in falschood ne did right in recurring
to fiction. IT, after stea.nig his ideas from
the Devils speech, lac had given MS Millions
commentary on it, there would have been no
cause of complaint:
ESQ spakc the Gcud, and with Necessity,
The yraHf's plea, eXcus'd his dev'iish deeds"
sf~-
We understand that the constitution of the
eighteenth state Of the Union, has been recei-
we'd at Washington. This state is to sc call