Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-10-26
From tie London Weekly Express.
THE pICISSlTUDES OF COM
MERGE.

Phoeniciaus, the Tyrisps, the Caceha.
gsnians. the Egyp.ians. have tafien In
succession from the summit ofcommer.
rial greatness into absolute inslgnih-
canoe, and, with the exception E-
avot. are all now utterly extinct! The
srhe once formiGable Hanseatic League
-Veaice--Ge aoa---sll suceesslSeiy
controlling the commerce. of Europe.
are desenerate1 into dependent States,
and cosnnsrce now holds her seat In
an island at the western extremity OF
Europe That any one state should a.
..oain ACQUIRE that Commercial Mono.
Ia5o!y, of which history furnishes re-
pested Instances, we're Inconsistent
with the enlightniDg progress OF Soc's-
". local position, natural rssourees,
and superior industry and activity,
may long preserve ssceDdaney. but it
must henaefoIth be expected that AN
civilized nations will participate IN the
benefits resulting from the interchange
OF commodities.
The establishment Of commerce has
ordinarily resulted from combustion
ofthe industry and enterprise OF indl'
viduals whose views aud Interests are
best consulted by protection on.y-free
from interference ny their Govern
ment. LIE, us alone, was The sensible
rsnly of the French merchants. TO
whom Colbert rendered shs masked
aid of his Government; and II has long
beena received axiom, that the too ac-
tive Interference of any Governmentls
preiussicial to commerce. In opposi-
ton to this principal. Mahommed Ally
next to Napoleon, one of the mostsx
traordinary men of the present age
has undertaken the restoration OF T..
sypt,sn Commerce through his per-
sonal fundamentally as merchant /!
il is unnecessary to detail the events
BY which, from very obscure station.
he has acquired ths dignity and pow
er of Pacha of Egypt, over which it
may suffice TO say. he reigns with un.
disputed sway; and although not open-
ly ayowipg Independence, yet, in effect.
wholly disregardiDg the Turkish Go
Yernment.
The surprising fertility Of Egypt, is
perhaps more universally recognised
Than that of any other portion of the
Globe. For more than three thousand
wears the lands, inundated by the annu.
al overflow of the Nile, have contisued
50 produce the usual crops without any
artificial restoration, by manure or o.
aherwise-the natural irrigation of the
Nile still serving to maintai the pro-
dactive power, without any perceptibIe
Smpoverishment, or dimuRition of fer
tility.
Such are tho soil and climate. thar
Egypt IS alike fertile in productions Of
the torrid, and the temperate zones.
Wheat, barley, maize, millet, rice, and
pulse of every description--tropicai
and European fruits; flax, silk, and cot
ton; the vine; the olive. and the sugar
cane: are all Of Indigenous growth in,
Egypt, and susceptible OF culture 20 the
highest perfection. Yet, from the OPP
pressive and detective natuIe of the
Turkish Government, Egypt has for
CGntuEsOe OoCn oOR' OceV0 W WV
lowest pointin the scale of Nations.
The loss of her Coloeies, both in the
West and Esst Ia dies. at the commence.
ment OF the revolutionary war, induced
the Directory To contemplate the an
Dexasion OF Egypt, IS Colony of
France--a project which had been me-
ditated by successive Ministers, from
the tina of Louis the XIV. In whose
reign it was first suggested. Placed
ID a central position--the communities
ton between Africa. Europe, and Asia,
are more speedy and convenient than
OF any other point of the Globe. In
Egypt, France would not only
have indemnitied herself for the loss of
St. Domiego aud the Mauritios, but a
field for intrigue with the Asiatic Pow
ers would have been opened, which
might have rendered her occupation of
Egypt the seversst blow that could have
been Inflicted on Great Britain.
ButXhe attempt to restore Egypt to
what sRsoDce wss-the granary of SUR
I rounding Nations-was reserved for o.
shsr hands: whether success be des.
tined for Mahommed Ally time alone
can shsw. Egypt unquestionably en-.
joys tranquility: the traveller who ex-
plorss the stupendous remains on the
banks of the Nile is now in perfect Sc
curity. encouragement is given to srti-
eles of every description: the army is
raised aud disciplined after the Euro
G. h