Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-28
DOM EsTIC.
From the 1urcra.

Nf'f E'AI ~AA-ICfNs
Mr.. D1ane--Hstory has been said to be
philosophy, teaching by example. II those
VINO are entrusted with the government al
nations were TO pay more regard to the sre.
cepts OK this practical philosophy and less tc
| the desire of experiment, the world you'd
not have SO often to witnes. the ruin Of .rea,
empires. But it aeems Unfortunately for
the happiness Of man> that though indivi-
duais may profit by the example of Others,
nsslans are too blind or obstinate To under-
sand that the same causes produce IL
same effects every where. IF the ministers
OF England had attended little to TIE his
tory otSpain under Charles Filth and Philip
II. without going farther back, they might
have seen the consequences resulting from
such a system of policy as they have pu,su
ed, and the world might have been saved
from experiencing It's missercs with her
In order to shew how closely the situstion of
England at the present moment, resembles
that of Spain under Philip H. and III. !
send you an extract form Robertson's Histo-
ny OF America, which may perhaps he of
advantage TO other commercial nations be-
sides England, to consult.
Philip, possessing that spirit of unccas-
ing assiduity which often characterises the
ambition ofmen ofmoderate talents-enter-
tanned such an high opinion Of his own re
sources, that he thought nothing too artluous
for him to undertake. Shut up himself in
the solitude otAIe Escarial. he troubled &
annoyed all tEe nations around him-He
made open war with the Dutch and ,he F,-
Glish he encouraged and aided a ye6elTous
JdcIi-n tn France he conquered Portugal.
and nlaiH!0fncd armies End ga,risens il, ia
ly, africa, and 6oth offhc Indies. BIZ such
multiplicity of great and complicated one
rations pursued,with ardor during the course
OF long reign, spain, was drained both Of
men and money under the weak admins
trston of his successor "a. =. 1917 the vi
gor OF the nation Continued to decrease and
sunk into the lowest decline, ry6ezr fhe incon.
sfderate 6igory If fkat monarch erhelled
at oHcc near a milton Of his n1ost i1d4skyf
Gus Sn6jccfs, az tie very time zgheli Me e.r-
HaHsted &fcte offte kingdom required se1re
extraordinary e.rertie7 u hokficeI zOisaoBa 70
augment IFS numbers and 10 reUtye is
sff'engfh. Early in the seventeenth century.
Spain felt such elimination i'm the number
OF her people hat from inability to recruit
her armies she was Obliged TO contract her
operations. Her fourishing manufactures
sVere .Jallen INTO decay. Her Heets, which
had been the terror of all Europe, were
ruined. Her ertcHSive foreign commerce.
Sea5 lost. TIE trade 6etSVeen different Harfa
WHeT oTvn donDlions mas INTERRUPTED, and
me shifs which atfeafted to carry n on
sDere taken andhLnndered by enemies zuhon
one once dcshfsed. Even agriculture, the
primary object Of. industry in every prosper-
GUS state, was neglected, and tne of the
most fertile countries in Europe hardly rails
ed what was sufficient for the support of It's
own inhabitants."
Ro6erfson's A'ncrica, vol. 4, hage7I, 2,
The above, Mr.. Editor, is so exact pic
ture OF Kingdom of Europe at the present
moment that It may be supposed to be writ
ten for her But if your readers will turn tn
the vol. and page mentioned above, they
vii md the passage as Ihave copied it
without the alteration or addition Of word.
Who, on reading it, but will say to En-
gland,
8 A4t'afo nonliae de te ta5Hla na,ratur."
HISTORICUS.