The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-11-07

Sentinel.
EXTRACTS PROM LATE FOREIGN PAPERS.
From Belrs London Weekly Messenger.
POLITICS OF EUROPE.
Aggrandisnmeni Of Russia IN the East, and The just
potiey Of England as regards H.
Having lived ourselves nearly the whole Of three
reigns aud from duty and business, public wn-
ters having been very observers Of all the great
political events during the last forty or fifty years, we
think we may fairly put in some claim 10 enlille our
selves TO The credit aud authority OF long experience
will say therefore al once that the result Of our own
observation Is resoue and determined aversion TO all
speculative wars, and most fixed and irremovable con-
ylcon that the first object Of country should
be keep ourselves clear Of all continental nirgues
and disputes. We think. and indeed we know, that
the resources Of the British empire are most amply
sufficient Tor defence, and that we have such an IN
dependent strength, and such inherent and unassalabe
means, may laugh all inrgues and coniede-
races which may openly secretly he contved against
US Our navy can AZ all times clear the seas before
us, and render invasion by competent iand-army
moral mpossiblity The same navy, by the power OF
extinguishng all marine but her own IS most ample
security against any insult injury directed towards
navigation or commerce. In what way there
FORE enemy TO reach US as 10 render II necessa
ny for be socilons for safety against any pos
sibe confederAcy of foreign powers in plain words,
amongst themselves!
We know, indeed, that two answers are generally
made to this question the first, the danger Of COM
merce,he second, the danger OF our empire IN India.
Upon the first Of these heads the argument generally
adduced in the following words - is true" they
say, that the OF our empire are very vast
that the revenue from excise only exceeds the sum
total Of the Of the richest kingdom IN Europe
that the receipts Of and post Office exceed
the whole income of the Russian empre,-and finally,
that our navy and dock yards much accumulated
capital in wealth and efficient strength, that 1t would
require at least two centuries for any other power
Europe sngy perhaps, for all the powers in Europe
together, to come up with IN these establishments
But what it is demanded, the maser-root Of all this
power and strength What is 1t which feeds this WIDE
spreading British oak this worthy emblem and repre-
sentative Of our empire Is II not the wealth which
results from our SHIPS commerce, and colonies Is 1t
therefore first object with TO protect this chan
mel OF revenue IN all ITS main and principal streams
And what becomes Of very considerable portion oil
this commerce, if Russia DC allowed 70 shut Us out OF
the Black Sea"
Upon the other part Of the subject, the usual argu
men also is, that the menaced aggrahdsement Of Rus
STA cndangers Indian emplrethat the conquest OF
Egypt would bring the Emperor Nicholas upon our In
dian frontier Do we forget is asked, that the last
English expedition against Egypt which flushed with
the expulsion Of the French from that country, was I'M
dertaken the express entreay of the East India d.
rectos, seconded by the strong personal recommends
ton OF George H. himself TO Mr. Pitt So strong wss
the persuasion Of all in those times that the fate
Of Egypt and India indssolubly connected with
each other and that those who possessed the
try would be very shortly master Of the desnes OF the
other. Such the arguments Tor our jealous super
vision Of the objects and designs Of foreigners amongst
each other.
To both Of the arguments think that suficien,
answers may be given. 10 tho first should reply,
that it is very old sophism 10 confound the most IN
| IF
Importance aud attributes Of its whole, and thus to
transfer the differences and conclusions the par,
which in truth only belong TO the whole There can be
no manner Of doubt but that the immense power oil
the British empire in very great part owing to It's
fuurishng and extensive commerce, and to that abund
ant revenue which this active trade distributes amongst
us through its overlooking channels II any ntrigues
OF conederacics Of foreign nations could therefore affect
the whole or any material part OF this commerce. they
would unquestionably destroy the mascr-root OF our
national greatness, and might bring the the
ground. But how very small is the portion Of our
merce which they can by any possibility affect If
British general commerce be divided into twenty parts
it will be found that nineteen parts out of the twenty
consists Of the Of Great Britain with her
colonies, the United States Of America and Germany.
The other twentieth trade between France, Rus
sa and Turkey, and about onewentieth part Of this
twentieth scarcely one hundred thousand pounds in
the WHOLE is with the Turkish ports the coast of the
Black Sea- Such, therefore, regards our commerce,
is the utmost possible extent of our loss. And even
this portion may fairly be diminished by taking the
account that part of the supply, which, in despite Of
Russia can always ponI into such ports and along
such a line OF coast.
As to the second Of these arguments the danger Of
India, admit that time the position Of Napo-
leon in Egypt excited very strong degree of alarm for
the ei1ec, this neghborhood OF power hostile
and so active But believe the general opinion
Is, that as in no period Of known history the Egyp
tan kings and rulers extended their power
J,J,o ,ha ard tpiicS oT1a
that the natural barrier Is strong aud physically
impossible by large armies as to render the most
reasonable OF all things any apprehension that the pos
session Of Egypt would necessarily lead to the invasion
of India We believe that this is the received aud
established opinion Of all practical men.
The sum of the argument therefore, appears to to
to this,--that supposing that the Emperor
Nicholas enterains all those designs with which he
charged by the political writers OF the day, we do not
such amount OF danger to any real and important
interest Of the British empire to justify in involv
ing ourselves too deeply in the affairs which now
proceeding between Turkey and Russia. 1t is, indeed,
always our interest, as well duty, TO employ
influence and character TO maintain the present general
and universal peace, both because the continuance Of
such state OF peace is most conducive TO III
eres,s being the greatest commercial dealer in Eu
rope and secondly, because fire, which, when
kndcd may catch and spread very far beyond the
spot where II first burst out Beyond these consdcra
tons, it is fixed opinion that should act wisely
in keeping clear Of this ground Of quarrel We should
do well remember that other parties Austria and
Prussia, for example, are more Immediately concerned
and have reason to dread The aggrand izement of
Russia, il IS surely their business than ours TO
take the lead in this affair, and to the large ex.
penscs Of their own national defence. Most earnestly
therefore, do trust that those rebrals OF mischief
the party writers OF the day, may excite our own
cabinet to such costly and perilvus ntermcddina
The precise point in concst between the European
ihn paEtn