Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-06
From the New York Gazette.
ESTIMATE OF THE POWER OF ENGLAND.

ESTIMATE OF THE POWER OF ENGLAND
Some four years ago the Able DE PRADT
published comparison between the powers OF
ENGLAND and Russia, in which he recommend
ed The minor powers of Europe to choose The
protection OF the former. To these mighty RI
walls he gives the future dominion of all EUROPE,
and throws France and Austria, with al! their
power, into the rank Of secondary states. Al
The present crisis Of foreign affAirs. the Abbe's
estimate of the power of England is worthy Of
the deepest attention. He first places her
strength in her population, as compared with
her extent and her insular situation, which pro-
,ec,s her from the incu, sions Of her enemies.
During the great connections Of Europe, when
hostile legions occupied again and again the
capitals OF the nations, England, while taking
an active pant in all great confidential opera
tions, was carrying on manufactures in her
well-guard ed island home, gathering into her
hands the commerce of the globe. She pros
pered on the troubles Of Europe, and she has
lost by It's paci6catioD, for the continental pow
ers have been able to turn their attention TO
manufactures and agriculture. 1t is her inte-
rest no,0 that general commotion s'.ouid take
place; with all her embarrassment she can al
ford 10 take part in the struggle, and she will
be gamer byit
The Able Justly considerable most admira>
bic feature in the finances of England to con-
sist in this-"that they do moi depend upon
mines Of gold and silver, but upon the Industry
of her people," The history OF the world OIL
fers ample proof that true, solid national
wealth does not consist in the possession OF
diamonds, gems, aud the precious metals
During the uninterrupted period of war from
1908 to 1915, the revenue Of ENGLAND remain
| Il (.t ny O0OI
| had she possessed the same ad ages in ex-
tent and population with FRANCE. her annual
income would have been l5O,ooO,oool.
AUSTRIA, with t,oice the population OF Eng
| land, and with Three lines her number oil acres,
can only raise an average revenue of 10000
COOL; while SpaIN,wirh her riches soil, with a
population nearly equal, could moi, when In
posse ssion Of the Iand of silver and gold, raise
more than 1000 ooo per annum. So mach
for moral causes In ENGLAND the imposfs on
The soil amount 10 one eleventh OF the govern
ment expenses, in FRANCE they form one third,
and in the other European states The proper
lon is yet greater. The produce of the Eng
Iish Custom II use is greater than that OF all
the other Custom. Houses in Europe.
Look mex, at the chain of insular and militia
ry posts with which England has girded the
earth. In her North American colonies, the
port Of Halifax is both a naval and military
station. Amongs, the Bahamas she has a
strong post al New Providence, and by her
possession Of Trinidad she may command the
entrance OF the Oronoko. In fact she possess
Is all the means Of defence and attack in the
American Archipelago. In he South Allan
,ir is ST. Helena, which England has selected
and occupied, says VI. De PRADT, vas sort oil
Stepping between America and africa,
between Europe and Asia" place OF anchor
age and rrfreshm for vessels returning from
India, and for all traders in the Southern seas.
She Ia, possession the Cape of Good Hope,
of New Holland, and Of other stations in the
vast Southern Archipelago. In Europe, she
watches every sea. Gibraltar, The key Of the
Mediterranean, is hers; by the possession OF
Malta, she checks Italy, Africa, and the Lee
want. From Corfu she can open or close the
Adriatio, and blockade when she pleases the
only three ports in the possession OF Austria,
viz Venice, Trieste, and Fiume.
From the Isle Of Jersey she can intercept the
navigation of France; from HeligoIsnd she
commands the mouths OF the ELBE and the
WISER, and holds Sweden, Denmark, and Rus.
sa, in check In fact she has her stations oil
observation every where on the globe, and the
communication between them is easy and safe.
We have condensed these views from The
Able De PRADT's publication. We consider
The suhjec, of such interest, that we shall re-
sumo it