Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-08


The Prussian flag has been altered by
Cabinet Order at Berlin. In future If Is to
consist of three bands without an Eagle
The two outer bands TO be black, and the
middle band, white.
Corn Erchonge, August 5.
Our market was well supplied with all
kinds of grain. The wheat trade was dull
at Mondays prices.-oats rather more IN
demand, and barley, peas, and beans, re-
main at the former prices.
Prices Of British Stocks IN London, Aug. D.
Three per cent. red. II 7-S 7S; 3per
cent. Consols, II 3-8 I-8; a per cents 81,
i.4l-8; Consols for account II 3-8.
Gen. Jackson's official account of the
capture of Pensacola vas received in Lon
don on the first of August. The London
papers abound in remarks and specuations
on the subject. Bells Weekly Messenger,
in announcing the capture, thus remarks F:
elm some of our former papers we have
had frequent occasions to call the attention
of our readers to the secret policy of the
Americans, and to those gradual, but not
insensible, approaches by which they were
moving 10 the attainment OF an important
object. We observed, that the character
of Franklin, and the early American revo-
lutionisis, was deeply impressed upon the
American government, and from their time
10 the present, constituted the characteris-
tic of the American as an executiye--so
natural is il TO imitlte the maxlms and nan
ners of those whom we are early taught to
admire. Now the characteristics OF Frank
lin were, a long and sagacious foresight
both of his object and the most suitable
means of attaining it-a slow, gradual. and
business-ike preparation and progress, and
a patient expectation of due seasons and
opportunities. By this prudence, as we
NAV see in bis life and writings, he moi on
ly secured all his objects, but procured
them at the least cost and with the least
risuue. And such is the character OF the
present American government. They have
long. and manilesty, retained an important
object within their view ; they have been
upon the watch for the due time, OF secu-
ring IL, duu tue ua'c u"SnSN ai"N ''H> ~
have at length arrived.
'It is unnecessary TO say, that this object
is the occupation of the Floridas. The vast
continent of America, as laying in the At
lantic Ocean from north to south, is natural
" divided into two great parts, OF which
the north extends from the Pole to the Gull
of Mexico, where the narrow isthmus OF
Darien connects il with the southern part.
Now, from north to south, the whole almost
of this northern portion belongs TO the nj
ted States, except only the provinces OF the
Floridas at the southern limit, which thus
intercept the u States from the sea coast
of the Gulf of Mexico. II IS, therefore, a
very main object with the government of
the United States TO procure these provin-
ces, and thereby not only procure a strong
natural boundary, but TO gain valuable
line of sea-coast for their back provinces.
The greater part OF our public writers, in
deed, seem not aware OF the extent OF the
Gulf of Mexico, when they write of It as of
a mere indenture of the sea into the land,
instead of a vast sea extending nearly
twelve hundred miles inwards from the At
lan,ic Ocean. Now the coast OF this Gulf,
adjoining to the province OF the United
States, Consists of the provinces of the Flori-
das, which commence with the Gulf upon
the Atlantic, and co-extend with it from
east TO west, till il reaches the isthnus of
Daren at its western extremity. The Gulf
then flows along the isthmus of Daren about
a hundred or more miles, after which com.
mences the Mexican empire, being the
coast opposite to the Floridas:
GO E., h,i,r Io....,t... a..
points are sufficiently evident. In the first
place, the value OF the Floridas to the Uni
ted States and secondly, their importance
to Spain. To the United States they will
at once afford natural boundary, and a
long line u; sea coast and navigable harbors,
where they are most wanted. TO the royal
government of Spain, the value of the Flori-
das is, perhaps, still greater; il is barrier,
so long as il continues, between Spanish
South America and the United States, and
opposes such a long and wide space OF wood
ami uncultivated land, as eifectualy 10 pre-
vent the dangerous intercourse between the
subjects of despotic monarchy and the
free people of the United States. 1t is, in
tn 4 nse, the best defence of Spanish A.
me- ID, and the strongest security OF Next
co.-The possession OF it by The United
States, will bring that active people imme-
diately into contact with this feeble empire
and the Americans, having such prize at
:neir feet, and with 50 many occasions Or
seizing it, will readily avail themselves Of
it. Ii we add to these reasons the present
actual situation OF the Spanish American
provinces, it will be unnecessary to add
any further explanation, why the royal
government of Spain should put SO high
value ON the unculivated deserts OF the
Floridas.
"Such, therefore, have been the actual
reasons which have induced the American
government to the present act OF Seizure aud
capture. The pretexts are, indeed, very
different, but are OF no farther curiosity than
as matters OF future history. We have no