Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-10-14
FROM Tie Uwtea Stales' Gazette.

Extract OF letter from an English gentleman
| III London, TO an American gentleman in Phi.
ladalphia, dated Dist July, 1915
The war was a subject of much regret here ;
AZ least never met with 4 single individual who
did not lament it 1t is indeed sincerely to be
hoped that it may teach moderation to each par
| 'y' as 1t has shcwn that each may do the other
mich injury. Captain -, of ---- frigate
with whom had long conversation Just before
LETT Dublin, told me he had captured and des-
| toyed three hundred and twenty sail of Ameri
| can vessels on the 4 ferent stations upon which
he had been placed--The result of the war
! however, may be summed up in a few words-It
mas humoled the tone of our ministry and of the
| nation, and made the United s ates much more
! respec, ed i'll Europe. Success dazzles mankind
and few sit down patiently to Investigate the real
causes Failure or victory. Those, however
who do so will perhaps discover, that in every
instance of triumph, your vessels were stronger
and thecr numerically greater, as well as
nuch more select. 1t is notorious that ships
OF war count three classes of men able seamen
ordinary seamen, and landsmeni ard the proper
ton OF the former, in our very extended navy, of
course becomes small. Your ships contained as
far as am informed, all able seamen, al volun-
teers Our admiralty should have known the
enemy we had to deal with, and have distributed
our force accordingly; for 1T was quite obvious
TO all our officers who had seen your frigstes in
they were much more powerful vessels than ours
and better manned. Now that the game is over
we are building irgates exactly after. your model
They should have deem built sooner and manned
with prpne hands and as little IS possible left
TO chance. As tbs, the Charm of .nvincibllty ls
broken, and 1T will influence, in spite of every eff.
tort, the future contests between the two natl
ons though sincerely trust such contests are
tar OH. At Portsmouth lately Isaw on board one
or our crack frgates the new sights for cannon
adopted from your service. These in themselves
must If used in the action, have gwen y very con-
siderable advantage. 1t is no mean distinction
mat Americans are teaching at The present day
new system 10 England N naval affairs. The
war on shore seems nearly repetition of the re-
poiutlonary war, the history of which, one would
'hink had either made no impression upon our
ministry or never been read otherwise they
could hardly have been such ounces as TO COM
mt the very same errors-rhe most disgracefui
part OF tle war 10 us, as far rs can Judge, Was
the attack on piattsburg The first measure OF
the Canadian war onrour side, should nave been
the destruction of this place and of Sackett's
Harbcr before tine had been allowed TO stren, tn
EN- them, and more troops should nave been aliot-
ted TO the service. As for the affair at New-or-
leans We were already informed of The fatal re-
suit before the receipt of your letter. Surely,
our commanders ought 10 hay2 known what sort
OF fire might be expected from IN American ell
trenched force. Good marksmen who are cool
have an advantage almost incalculable IN such u
position, and 1T IS SAID that 500 of our men fell
on the trst fire without seeing an enemy to at
tack an return