Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-04-30

LIvERfooL, March 81.
From the latest letters and papers which |
have been received from America. it is OBJ |
served that the cry for war, in that country has
considerably abated; that the threatening tone
both OF the government and the people is some
what lowered; and that the preparations eli
Their for offensive or defensive warfare, do not
proceed with any great alacrity. This state Of
affairs is attributed by some to the renewal of
negotiations with the British minister, in the
course OF which, it is said, proposal has been
agitating for framing a treaty, commercial and
political, on similar principles to that which
was formerly agreed to by our court, and az
forwards rejected by the American government
Others ascribe the decline of the hostile spirit
| IN the United States to the information which
has lately been receive there ofthe continued
depredations of the French on their commerce
and shipping, & the additional evidence which
has been forced upon them ofthe non-repeal oil
| the French anti-commercial decrees. We sus-
pect, however, that the suppostion of any
| change having taken place in the feelings OF
| the American public, is entirely without foun-
| dation. Ii the cry for war has really declined
| In that country, ii Is probably not SO much from
| any abatement of their inclination, as from a
| discovery of their incapacity to commence !,
war: at least an immediate war. The resour-
ces OF commercial republic are slowly and I'M
willingly brought into action, especially if the
war, which is about to be begun, is al
| most certain not only to waste their property
but to ruin their traffic. The public voice in a
democracy like that of America, is very clamor-
| Gus and very powerful, but when it once comes
to actual preparation, the sacrifices, which at a
distance were lost sight of in the storm of pas.
sion, become very alarming when they are be-
gun to be exacted. America is certainly We
ry prosperous, but as yet cannot be called We
nfrx-- al Il
to enormous riches; but she had done little
more than enter on that brilliant career, which
by the injustice and cruelty of the European
beliigerents, has been SD fatally interrupted
The costs of war are, in this age, so enormous,
that, till they are tried, they are scarcely Gre
dible. The Americans on entering into this
new and alarming state, are justly terrified at
the difficulties and Instructions which meet
them Mt every turn. IT is, therefore, in all pro-
liability, their situation and not their spirit
which is altered and when they arc deprived
| OF the hope which had been excited by an ex-
pectcd change in the councils of this nation,
there IS but too much reason to fear that their
former spirit will revive with degree of
strength sufficient to overcome every obsta-
Gle
No intelligence has been received from the
Peninsula in the course of the present week, of
sufficient Importance to require particular OBJ
servation
The debates in the two houses of parlia-
ment, since our last, have not been particular
ly important. The forbidden subject of fog
glng has ayain been touched on by sir Francis
Burdett; and we are particularly happy to
find, that though the baronets speeches on this
topic are derided the house, his opinions are
gaining ground in the army This savage and
lnhuman punishment is gradually growing into
disuse.
The siepe IF R,d.;os eo,., l..o-,.1,
lately. was expected to commence on the 3Oth
uit- General Hill conducts the important opera
ton. The first and sixth divisions of the army
were on the march to Badajos; and general
Graham was to have been at Abrantes, on his
way thither, about the end of the month