Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-04-25

have il in contemplation, 1t The Aus'f'aEs
should overrun Naples and force govern
ment upon that kingdom, to shake oil their
connection With them. and place themselves
under the protection of Great Britain. IL
is fact that the British have a naval force
in the neighborhood. for what partlcula:
purpose we do not pretend to say. lha'
the Sicilians will come under the Austrian
woke with extreme reluctance There is very
little room to doubt. And that their insuIar
situation gives them many advantages tor
maintaining their Independence, against
Austrian invasion and conquest, over those
of their fellow subjects on the main land.
A moderate navalforce, would be sufficient to
prevent their invaders from landing troops
upon their island; and tine protection OF a
naval power like that Of Great Britain,cou!d
easily defend them against all attacks SINH
lar 10 that meditated'by the alliedsovereigns
against the independence OF the Neapolltan
cominions,
Sicily is one of the finest islands in the
world; and in the hands of free and lnde
pendent people, would probably become
one Of the most ealthy and aourishing.-
It would seem to be an extravagant project
on The part Of the British government, at
least, but extravagant things are sometimes
accomplished; and il this should take place
it would not be more extraordinary than o.
theirs that have happened.
The policy Of the British government in
modern times has been, to obtain important
insular and other colonial stations, by means
OF which they can extend and protect their
trade throughout the globe. They have a
long time time held possession OF Gibraltar,
at the entrance OF the Mediterranean. and
in later times, they have obtained Malta,
and the command over the lonian islands at
the entrance Of the Adriatic. They have
also, Vie southern Africa the Cape OF Good
Hope. of the coast OF Terra Firma Trini-
dad, ST. Helena between the continents of
America and Africa, and HeIigoland in the
German ocean. Sicily. from its proximity
TO the Italian coast, as well as from its in
,rinsc value. would add fine colony to
the lis, they already possess.
There may be other reasons for desire
on their part to obtain more absolute and
indisputable command of the Metiterrane-
an. 1t has been supposed for considera-
bic time past that Russia, having secured
the control of the Black Sea, and having all
earnest longing for Constantnople and the
rest of Turkey in Europe, is anxious to OBJ
tain foo,hod also in the Mediterranean. In
the Austrian Dee laration, it is stated, that if
the .Neapolltans make TOO stout resistance
for the Austrian forces, the Emperor ofRus-
STA will lend his aid in subduing them
Should things reach such crisis as to re-
quire the united strength Of these two pow
ers to force the yoke upon Naples, and its
conquest by their joint exertions be the con-
sequence, Francis, extremely deslrous Of
becoming maritime power, might easily
conclude to take Naples for his share of the
booty, and Alexander, SicIIy-a distribution
of territory that Great Britain would not
heartily approve. Austria, touching the
water only upon the Adriatic, is very much
under the jurisdiction of the British, they
holding the Ionian islands. But, if the
former would obtain in complete sovereignty
the kingdom OF Naples, so far as it lies on
the continent, they might soon turn their
attention to "ships, colonies and commerce"
and cause the British much trouble 10 main
tain the superiority they now hold, by me ans
Of their stations in the Mediterranean. TIE
Russians 100, so long as the Turks remain
masters of the outlet from the Black Sea,
will be held in check by the latter. But
should the time ever come when they are
able to crush the Grand Seignors's power,
and despoil him ofhis European dominions,
with their immense resources and advanta-
ges, they may easily become formidable on
the ocean. In that case, station in the
Mediterranean would be OF the highest i'm
pOrtance to them.
These maybe consideredwild specu'a'ions
probably they are so--but this is a chan
gable world, and one Of the most strongly
marked features OF modern times is, yora-
cious lust of power and dominion in great
nations, regardless of the rights and privi-
leges Of smaller ones. There is too much
reason to believe, that under the pretence OF
guarding against innovation, and providing
for their own security, the great powers OF
Europe nourisb an extravagant spirit IF ag.