Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-31


he remarked in the words oil Sir Thomas
Cochrane, commander OF the British
squadron in the Antilles, such a loss to
the Colombians, IS tantamount to victory
The frigate contracted for in Eng iand
will. Notwithstanding the difficulties OF the
loan of Mr.. Tea. but which we understand
are already preliminary settled among
the principal parties, come out without
delay to this, the contractors have pieds'
ed themselves. AnG when we reCollect
that the Spanish vessels will be dogged
by superior French Naval force in those
seas. j, is to be confidently presumed that
the Spanish Commodore Laborde's laurels
will soon fade, and that SPAN will gam
nothing by this expedition, but an addl-
tional expense to her treasury.
From BePs Weekly Messenger, AprI q.
A report has just reached, and we
fear upon good authority, that our go.
vernment has received an intimation
that the emperor Alexander totally dis
approves of the conduct Of the British
Government in I's recent negotiations
with France, in regard to Spain; and,
being of opinion that such negotiation
has q direct ten"ehcy to weaken all the
efforts Of France, abd to confirm what
he is pleased to term the audaclty OF
the Spanish Cortes, he (the Emperor
Alexander) deems it necessary to poti-
fy, that he shall support the French
King with the whole forces of his en-
pire and, to that end, he has ordered
the march of Russian army towards
the Netherlands. A corps darmie of
81 900 men is Immediately to be as.
sembled at Dantzic and. it is under.
stood that this corps will be instantly
marched forwards The emperor A.
Iexander expressed it as his decided
conviction, that the French cause is the
cause of all crowned heads and that
unless a common effort be made to ex
tirpate revolutionary principles and
pratices, there will not be monarchy
in Europe.
We understand that the effects of
the Spanish revolution upon the Rus.
sian domiDions in Poland, have led to
this decisive step on the part of the
Russian Emperor; and that. under the
panic of apprehension of the result Of
these doctrines, he is resolved to make
a direct alliance and an avowed cause
with the King Of France in the war a.
gainst Spain.
Now it is impossible to forsee, that
this measure of the Russian desPot
NAV lead to the most important results,
and that it becomes the duty OF the
British Government to take oelibe
rate survey of it's own situation, and OF
the probable cost and possible issue
of it's neutrality under such circum-
stances. The question in word con-
sists of two points: the fret, what
would it CO st us in our own immediate
sacrifces to 60 to war and whether
the possible good Of such war be g.
quivalent to this cost! The second
point is, what will be the possible re-
suit of our remaining at peace-how
will it affect our future condition.
As to the first Of these questions,
we have no hesitation in saying. that
the country cannot 20 to war on a great
scale, without q most enormous e4-
expence both in money and
suffering so great, az to render 1t
point of prudence to avoid it at every
event short Of incurringa greater peril
in future. We cannot afford war for
mere principles We cannot afford
war from sy mpathy or generosity to "a
brave and free people suffering under
Three years war would
fix US with three or four millions add.
tional taxes upon the peace which
should conclude it.; and where and
whence are those taxes to come? We
may borrow the principal; aud the eS-
penditure fthe principal amongst US.
so long as it lasts, may invigorate trade,
commerce and Acknowledgements me-
chanics will be employed. and there
will in every thing, be larger con.
sumption. But this will necessarily
cease with the peace, and then the com.
munity must pay the reckonlng-must
pay the annual interest of the one hun
dred and forty millions by which the
debt will be augmented. This will be
the cost of war: the replacement of
the taxes which have been recently re-
moved, or of others still more burden
some.
On the other hand, let us look to the
second question, what will be theevent
of our remaining at peace? the event
will be this: first, that the Spaniards
will be overwhelmed; secondly, that a
most abominable and atrocious princi.
pie will be established, SO far as the
continent is concerned, in the law of
nations, namely, that it is the right and
hn n q