The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-08-07
English opinions oTMe VAR
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country, America has nothing to gain. In
opposition To this assertion it may be said,
with equal truth, that in n war with Amc-
RIGA. this country has nothing to gain, but
much to lose. Let us examine the rela-
tive situation of the two countries.-Ameri-
ca certainly cannot pretend to wage a mari
time war with us: she has no navy to do il
with. But America has nearly 1OO,O 900 as
good Seamen as any in the world, all Of
whom would be actively employed against
our trade in every part Of the ocean in their
last sailing ships OF war, many OF which will
be able to cope with our small cruizers
and they will be found to be sweeping the
West India seas, and even carrying desola-
ton into the chops OF the channel. Every
one must recollect what they did in the lat
ter part of the American war. The books
at Lloyd will recount it and the rate of
assurance at that time will clearly prove
what their diminutive strength was able to
effect i'll the face OF our navy, and that when
nearly one hundred pendants were hyins
on their coast. Were we then able to pre-
vent their going i'll and out, or stop them
from taking our trade and our store ships e.
ven in sight of our garrisons ?-Besides, were
they not in the English and Irish channel
picking up our homeward bound trade
sending their prizes into French and Spa
nish ports to the great terror and ANNOYANCE
OF our merchants and ship owners?
These arc facts which can be traced to a
period when America was in her infancy !;
without ships without seanen-withCut mo-
ney--and at 3 time when our navy was not
much less in strength than at present.
HE ANtERtEAN5 Will BE ToUNr TO BE
A DIFFERENT SORT OF ENEMY by SEA
THAN THE FRENCH.
They possess nautical knowledge with G.
guai enterprise 10 ourselves /; They will be
found attempting deeds which a Frenchman
would never think of and they will have
all the ports of cur enemy open,in which they
can make good their retreat with their boo
ty. In a predatory war ON commerce., q.
Britain would have more to lose than to
gain, because the Americans would retire
within themselves, having every thing they
want for supplies, and what foreign COM
merce they might have, would be carried ON
in fast sailing armed ships, which, as here
tofore, would be able to fight or runaway,
as best suited their force or inclination.-
Much is also TO he appreheudcd from the
desertiOn u our ame who will meet with
every encouragement in the United States,
by protecting laws made in their favor, per-
| haps large duuceurs offered for their disaf-
lection and it is well known the predilec-
tion which our sailors have for the AHteri-
can shores.-These are considerations which
BY far outweigh any advantages that ought
partially to arise from a few scattered pri.
zes that might be taken bY our cruizers.-
Theirharvcst seems much more ABUNDANT
under those wretched and impolitic reguia.
tons, called the Orders in Council, the ex.
%istencc of which gives rise to the presen'
differences between the two countries hat
drained our treasury, and is starving thou
sands Of our manufacturing brethren. 4
merica could sustain no possible injury, bu
internal taxation, from a war with this coun
try, which would bear any proportion T.
what we might feel from the circumstance
already mentioned, and which we woul
most seriously have to %apprehend /; for on
! ships, witltodt d large military force, durt