Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-05-25
ID o Nj e = II q
From the National hntel1igencer.

from He Stuff0HA l'ilelngenccr.
It is stated, in the Democratic Press, that
there are in that city gen. lernen, who have heard
Mr.. Abbott, the Speaker of the British House of
Commons, declare, at Antwerp, that 60 the Minis
I" tiers of Great Britain had determined, in the
G. event of another war with the United States,
to send an army OF 10000 men, with such
" train of artillery, such fire ships. bombs and
" rockets, as would enable it TO DESTROY all the
principal towns on the sea board As the OBJ
eject of thus army would be to burn and not To
" capture conquer, IT would move with as
much ceeriiy as poss BILE" That such decla.
rations were made, we do not doubt, S nee the
fact is vouched for out, ii Is To De hoped, that
SUCH absurd IDEAS ars not enterta ned by Tie go.
vernmen' OF Great Britain, as sucn expression
from such authority would indicate The
system, has in fact, been already tired K; the de-
termination to pursue 1t during the late warwas
officially avowed IN the plsinest terms by the
Commander of the British forces our coast.
The success OF the exper .ment at Baltimore and
New Orleans affords rterIon, whereby its flu
ture efficacy may be judged of L. s undigni-
fled aud dculou, Member OF an Admins
tratrn processing an AK Gus wish 20 perpetllate
peace, to- be bossting, either at home or abroad,
what they will do when they go 20 va. again
Such die gasconadlng may subj ect him wli5 VI
ers ii TO con empt, but Can excite no ar rehen-
SONS IN those who are the subject of 1t. Il ;
ipiurious TO he COVE; nmtnt 10 winch he belongs
only because, beng attributed To them, as we
see ii IS, IL subjects them ID the &C .uSation of
duplc, y; of SpealIing two languages, oae OIL
cal and one confidential.
We are not sposed To attach much impor
lance to Mr. Abboty's declarations If We mad
not already learnt, that safety IS secured by ade
quate preparations against danger, such ntima-
ions, betraying the views of those at least who
III err hem, might be of use. Forewarned
forearmed," says an old adage, the quantness of
which detracis nothing from It's wisdom or truth.
On he subject of a predatory and devas ating
war, such as Admiral Cochrane was au horned
to menace during the late contest; such as
Admiral Sir George Cockburn would have de-
lighted to prosecute on the great scale he
commenced IN the Northern Neck OF Virginia,
and continued i'll this city; such as Mr. Abbott
IS SAID to have threatened-let us turn to the o.
pinions of Tho sages of the Revolution. From
tneir verihcation by the experience of Two wars
we may be instructed as to the event of the like
system, should third war inf rtunatey be bro I
about by the imprudence of such men as the Rt
Hon Mr. Abbott.
We find IN the memoirs of the excellent Dr.
Priestley, written by his own hand, the follow
ing re narkable passage 4" Ny residence in Lon
" don was the means of improving my acuuaIn-
% tauce with DIR. Franklin The d Inference with
" America breaK ing out at this time, our conver-
&c sation was chiefly of political nature III s
" advice TO the Americans was TO bear every
thing for the present, as they were sure IN
b" time to outgrow all their grievances as it
L" would not be in The PoHer fhe mother country
=" TO obbress then LOng.-He dreaded the war,
50 and of en- SAID that, 1T would be war OF ten
" years and he should not 1--we TO 5. e the end OF
ut That the issue 1voukd be avord6ie to lime
" RIGA he mevsr dgubfed. TIE ESGLIsH, he used
d" to saw MAY TAKE ALL OUR GREAT TOWNS, BUT
" THAT WILL Sor Owe THEM POSSESSION OF rHs
" COUNTRY"
DIR Fraukl n would have added, " destroy and
lay waste our towns, could he have imagined
that any civilized nation would ever avowedly
prosecute war of ire and devastation.
Extract from .fciu Cochrdne's Letter to the Sec
retary Of Sfdfe dated in the Paturent riUer,
.4ugust I3 1914.
&C. has become imperiotsiy my dYty, TO issue to
" the naVsi f0rce under my command order to
"destroy and lay vase, such owns and districts
s. ubon the coHst as may be fond dSSaiia6Le."
Republican .Nomind ion We understand that
the gallant commodore BARNEY has been unani-
mously ~ nns;- a. a canlidUe for congge by
the republican delegates of Prince George and
Anne Arundel counties, Md 10.