Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-09

IN the Pacific Ocean, by the Essex frigate
had an immediate tendency to draw thithei
aportlon OF the British navy and as a
matter ut course, when the Essex fell into
their hands, the settlement on the Colum-
bll met with similar fate. But, aware
OF the impossibility Of ultimately Wrestling
1T from us, it appears from the Quarterly
tkeview that the government of England
would now be very happy to find the Rus
siann encrpachlng upur US in that quarter,
IN order that, By her iitrigues or her gti-
meas, she might some huw or other obtain
| possession of the Inlet. She we'll knows
that tie Russians and Americans are the
only strong civilized powers on the North
! West Coast, and that there is no other
possible way fce her to make any con-
esssts Oh that coast, than by exciting hos
Utilities between these powers. and then
ciandestirely working her way into the
the land. After .rernarhing his surprise
| that neither Spain nor England has view,
ed with jealous eyes the entertainments of
the Russians on the continent of America
the reviewer adds:
:. 1t would seem that more iud.cious
attention on the part of that government
(the Russian) to its extensive possessions
along the eastern coast of Asia, and bet
ter system of policy, &c. towards the set
Elements OF Ramschatka, would very soon
| ensure to it, for time at least, tie COM
pete command IF the North West Coast Of
.8inericd and all its fisheries and, 10Th
due management. The erclusire monopolq
ofthe far trade IN The China market"
Now, IN the first place I'VE should be
OIaH Tn ,.,l,N Eno,lanI -. l..
cept, IN regard to the latter. so far as her
>. American possessions wilt warrant her
in claiming) need feel any jealousy Oh the
ground OF Russian entertainments upon the
Americas continent Is the british go
vernment not yet content with the many
portions of the earth over which, In the
course of events, it has already been ena-
bled to extend its tyranny? England has
nothing to do with the '.tinent Of Ameri-
ca, except with that portion of it which Is
embraced by the Canadas and at least all
that part Of the North West Coast which
! is included within the ATTITUDES of the u.
States, we claim exclusively SIS our own
1t would seem, however, from the language
OF the reviewer. that she conceives it to be
her interest at present to regard with jea-
| lous eyes entertainments upon the CONT
nent oil America and very probably In
tends TO occupy all our territory on the
Pacific Ocean, if circumstances favor the
| project. This is the least that can be
! drawn from toe words Of the ministerial re-
| viewer, and from what has already trans
! pred on the subject, we believe him to
speak with tolerable accuracy the sense of
his government. But can we suffer this
valuable portion ofthe American continent.
| especially that part of it which lies direct
| ly at the back of the United States, to be
claimed and occupiec by contemplate
island beyond the Atlantic This would
be 6ridLing us indeed Canada on the
| North, Florida on the South, the Pacific
settlement on the West, and England on
the East Perhaps however, his Males
| tvs government considers us yet in the
Hight OF coOnists, and therefore, penetrated
with pa;ernal anxiety, deems it TO be its
duty to entertain jealousy of Russian en-
crOachments on cur territory, nasmuch as
these encroachments must necessarily have
a tendency to sever the belt so generously
intended to be drawn about us. ifthis be
| so, we have only to assure his Majesty's
government thatwe are perfectly able TO
help ourselves, and to resist all encroach-
ments whatever as may be clearly seen bv
referring to the events of the last l0dr.-
Upon the whole, by what we can gather
| from the ambiguous terms of the reviewer
it appears to be the wish of England.lat
some time or other, either to raise dis
| pute with. Russia or the United States Sc
parately, on account of the North West
Coast, or else to set these two powers Mt
variance upon the same subject, that in the
cad, as we said before, she may by some
means or other gain possession Of the splil.
And this is expressly stated for, saws the
reviewer, an increasing scarcity of pcltry
cannot fail to produce collision of inter-
ests, and disputes between England, Rus
STA, and the United States, which at one
time or other will probably terminate in a
war.
As to the hint thrown out for Russia, to
acquire by due management the com
plete command Of the North-West Coast
OF America, and the exclusive monopoly of
the fur trade in the China market, we trust
that too good an understanding exists be-
tween the Emperor Alexander and the 20
vernment Of the United States, To render
that hint OF any avail. There is plenty of
room on the extensive borders of .he Paci-
tic for the enterprizing citizens of both ma
tons, and we sincerely hope that, as here
toiore, they will continue 10 exist upon the
Grmesf footinO Of frieud sh;, p,ss;, 81