The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-06


answer could be given to it. In short, every
view that take of the matter, terminates
IN the conclusion, that our Cause in Spain
and Portugal is more desperate now than it
was a twelve month ago. -.
The speech talks of the RESOURCES and
exertions- of the Spanish nation, seeming
to take It for granted. that all the people of
Spain that, rot only the armies raised
amongst. the Spaniartls, and armed and
commanded by the government at Cadiz !;
that not only all these are ON our side, but
that he 7phoie oFthe heohie arc ais, on our
side, and that they abhor the French
Reader, most thinking" reader Do you
know, that there are eleven millions Of
these people? And do you consider that
ont OF eleven millions there ought to be
| about two millions of men capable of bear
ing arms' Do you consider, besides, that
the French, even at this time, are represen-
| ted as having only about hundred thou
| sand men in Spains And do YOU not won
der, then; doyou not marvel do you not
| think it passing strange, that these hun
dred thousand Frenchmen are able TO keep
possession of The greater part of Spain, in
| spite OF two millions of men able to bear
arms, who hold them in adherence, and
who are encouraged and abetted by all
those who are not capable of bearing arms |;
are you not wonderstricken, that these hun
dred thousand Frenchmen, having oppos-
ed to them population of eleven millions
with prodigionsly large Spanish army, to-
gether with all the Forces that we are able
TO send, not excepting the kings German
legion, are you not posed and puzz lied be-
yond description, to find out the reason,
that these hundred thousand Frenchmen,
| with all these forces opposed to them, have
| not been made into crows meat long enough
ago! Most thinking" reader, do not puzzle
yourself, do not pose yourself any longer
about the matter; but say with me, that
| there never was, in this world, e nation of
eleven millions of people that suffered the
army of any enemy, however numerous, to
remain for fonr years in the country, if that
nation were heartily disposed to drive them
out. Being of this opinion, see with no
pleasure that part of the speech which too
clearly points at further and larger de-
mands upon us for the CARRYING on of the
| war in Spain. l was in hopes, that the
| speech would have informed us of inten-
| tions on the part of the regent seriously to
set about the work of neace. for which the
present circum stances, though less favora-
Bile than when Napoleon last rendered the
| olive branch, are by no means unfavora-
BILE We are told that he is in imminent
danger in the north that he is in a state
OF great peril and, indeed, the regent
himseit has been advised to tell us, that the
enemy's presumptuous expectations have
been sisnahy disahfointed in Russia. This,
then, seems to me to be the moment for
proposing peace, that is. to say, if peace is
ever again to he proposed. But, instead of
this being the case, instead of telling us of
endcavors TO convert our own victories. and
the Efforts OF Russia into the means of pro-
curing us some little abatement of our bur-
dens /; we are told of fresh assistance want
ed from us, and for what Why, for no de-
Unite object; not for the obtaining of peace
mot in defence OF any English territory
attacked-not in support OF an English
right called in queston-but in support of
the GREAT CONTEST! AAd sha: IS this
great Contest? Why, we are told, that il
is the contest Z" which has first given to the
continent of Europe the example of perse-
vering and successful resistance to the pow
er OF France, and on which not ONLY the
independence OF the nations of the pc nnsu-
la, but the best interests of his majesty's
dominions, essentially depend. This is all
matter of opinion, as far as relates to the
best interests of his majesty's dominions
and my opinion is, that those interests would
be much better served by peace, in which
Spain would be left in the hands of the Bo-
napartes, as it formerly was in the hands of
the Bourbons, than by any exertions We are
able to make for affecting that which we are
pleased to call the deliverance of Spain.
And as To the ercmhie 90 The example
The example. which Spain has set to the
continent of Europe, what, to come to plain
Facts, is that example ? Why, it is this,
the example of eleven millions of people
suffering French army to remain in pos
session of their country for four years see
ing them in possession of the capital of their
country at this moment, and of four fths of
its provinces though that eleven millions
OF people have been supplied from England
with arms and ammunition sufficient for
equipping and providing of an army of six
thousand men though that eleven millions
of people have constantly had the assistance
Of pow srfal English feet, and of an Eng.
fish army, consisting Of sixty thousand
men this is the eramfte, which the con-
test in the peninsula presents To the CONT
nent ct Europe This is the example of
" snccessfuL resistance to the power OF
France" ia consequence of which success,
and Tor the sake of giving effect to which
erdDlhie, his royal highness the Prince Re-
gent calls upon the parliament tor assistance
in support of the GREAT CONTEST, out of
which the precious e.Camhke has arisen
The speech then goes on, according to
the report OF it that has appeared in the
newspapers, to speak of the affairs of
@weden and Russia, III the following
terms
" have great pleasure in communicate
ing to you, that the relations of peace and
Friendship have been restored between his
majesty and the courts Of ST. Petersburgh