Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-05-22
Go la,p had The shepkeeping Islanders

=
hey bafled his plans. and so lohs ia
Inc promised the world to subdue them
that now be was resolved to crush -
|power OF Russia, or compel ITS assls'aiie
|for the destruction Of Great Britain. 20
this purpose the fnesf army, thaf per
|haps tie world ever saw, was soon co..
|lected under his eve. Russi4 must D.
|subdued the continent Of Europe would
then be almost wholly sabseryient 10 hlp
md England must inevitably submit
Ere political sages of the =. States fea-
Oily eo-operatel.i Having some they pre-
TENDED more, causes for war, and ere IT
was declared, the walls OF the Senate
chamber and the Representative hall e.
choed with prophetic Civilizations for ~
vision our orators aad statesmen saw the
pride OF Britain on the Bonded knee be-
tore them; the climed tights of ;he ma
|tion granted from cumpuision, and the
Territory of the union stretching to the
Pacific and over Nova Scotia and Cana
ida Northward 70 the regions of never
melting ice.
Before such combination we'll might
England tremble. The drum beats, the
armies march, the sword is unsbeathed.
and the cannon thunders. Napoleon an
lticipates a speedy and easy triumph
Already he thinks he sees Alexander
oueing for mercy, and Great Britain re-
|Ipctantly joining in the prayer. Already
his fingers seem TO grasp the sceptre Of
IIiritIess dominion. And already the wise
politicians, the patriotic statesmen, the
|philanthrophic ruiersof the United states,
are consulting with the mighty Inonasch
Iof France the terms ofpeace to be dictat
ed to the naughty Islanders, and crawl
ling up the colossal legs Of the imagined
victor, are claiming their right to par
take Of his joys and participate in ms slo-
Ify.
How sad, how sudden the Change
The proud Car Of conquest, directed by
lthe charioteer Of ruthless ambition, piano.
lplied in power, moves on, giitte' ing to
the morning rays oil cloudles. sky. 1hs
day IS to end in a splendor that shall
render insipid the records Of the worlds
past glcries. The little spot, that ap.
Ipeas ed harmless at distance. Assumes
an aspect dark and terrible, and rapidly
spreads over the whole face of the inaus-
lpicious heavens. Suddenly the artillery
of the clouds is opened: torrents Of iron
hail pour down: the thunder-bolts smlte
the distracted steeds /: the wheels sy
from their axles. frightened at the light
Ining's glare, the charioteer leaps from
his seat in the midst of the storm. The
5groans of the dying, the corses OF the
dead, the fragments Of the car, display
the mighty havock of the tempest. The
assigned duty of nature is performed :
t the tornado is hushed; and the nonarchs
and the people gladdened at the return
of serenity, gaze with delight on the
rainbow ofpeace that smiles through the
now cange.iess vapors.
Bonaparte is taken prisoner hy the
English and secured from the ProbabI-
lIity otagain deIuging the world in blood ];
$ and warning nations join in leagues O,
peace" The power Of the disturber OF
the repose of nations being ns more, his
obedient American rulers are glad 70
make peace, renouncing all the pretend
ed objects of the war & all their dreams
OF extended territory. Dating the war
the American navy humbled the mari
time pride Of her adversary, and her ma
val heroes acquired imperishable renown ::
miserable generals pursued miserable
measures, during great part Of the con-
test: the capital OF the union was invad-
led, and the commander in chief with
several of his ministers was near being
made prisoner. The latter part of the
contest was distinguished for valor and
was crowned with military glory. Tens
Of thousands Of lives were lost, and the
country suffered to the amount of hun,
ldreds of millions, and gained nothing,
unless it be just sentiment of the value
Iof wooden walls. and severe lesson.
never again to make war without prepa-
ration, without means, without just cause
or the probability Of success.
Through SO many years Of warfare,
AID with so many nations, Great Britain
was never discouraged. The vast reve-
nue Of tie empire, the affection of the
people to their constitution. the patriot
ISM and wealth Of the subjects, support
ed their government through all fhe;rI
trials. The sape attitude, haaghty. e.
rect and uoyielding, was maintained to-
the last. The debt of Great Britain has
immensely INCREASED; though it has not,
like the American debt. trebied IN three
wears. Heavy taxes and loans are the
II b 4. IL