wilmington gazette pudlis1ikd wkk:;lv uv allmand hall tuesday january 1 1805 roti ix o nr 1 olicv of russia cecdtd but those who are best acquainted with ku;.sia confess tlic absurdity of attempting to raise u great and commanding naval force in a sea that is frozen up six months in the year and manning that navy with hoots the events of an hundred years and the steady prosecution df a political system which in the hands ofa great power alwajm ensures success bus effected peter's objects and not only brought russia into the black s<.a but given her the entire dominion of it the navigation of that sea connected with the na^gaiiob of the mediterranean a:i*l commerce which russia may carry on must by decrees give her that navy which she coveten and with it utmost all the olhi r ob jects of her ambition in the soutl i'..;»,t f europe shv soon may have th wiioui sources nf the ti:rk ; h ni;.rii>e nee fur from being despicable she wtli w\h h.mc faci lity yniii the influence she dtf'ires her in fl nc in the north vas acquired by bloody war i which s!u gained o".n iratively nrt'.liiii but reputation at»d expi fience a more splendid ruwurd awaits her i she con tinues to pursue her obvious pokty in the black sea and mediterranran not to he assumed that russia is animated l>y tliat ill interested ze that lias been ihi putctl to her doubtless it is a desirable thintf that tin power of franca should he reduced but will tliat feeling prompt russia to acts when her losses would lie her oun and the advantage redound to her liv^is or her enemies if austria will not move will russia move further lhan her twti interest dictates f it is not to in-hil^e political reveries tiif construction ot which requires sonic small collection of materials and knowledge hut it is downright lolly and igaoraoce to talk f ijiusia landing tnen in liolsusn drivftig th'j french out of hanover and such lil.c wjstfrditttfs ws have constant warn til bui readers against pujinj an sttwftion to these fooleries ; and it our mmis'v esfpect to create a div'wicn in he nwlh of kurdpc by inc.-tns of russia atiil sweden tli-v v il shew themsehtb grossly ignoruni of the ni ms the interc-i and the i.'mn ol that l power with which * y nre desircub tf cori i federate fn tin preceding part of this arti e we have endcuvoui-.d to shew * at there ivab very litili probability of russia in in any considerable efforts by sea or luiui against i france i the north mill that her policy would be to strengthen 1 r position n the mediterranean bidding icfiuncc to'ltu'hds tilily ol her oppom nti ■ it is-evident ih.it the french government i entertains much hiore nppr hemion -,(' the ! lomtcciucncen hi;!i may result from v.its-iv i being permittii to pursue her b'cht'tites i ng^randis ment in thnt quarter than from liir exi-1-ii..ns in the xur.'i buonaparte is ; luliy seilfcible thut he cannot directly by i force of arms prevent the completion ol j the desi^na which the occupntibn of tie se ; veil ls!.i!n!s has bc r un ili retfts are block i aded u ; . in toulon untl r,o irnpeilinient cx | iats in the iiidtfinrte ex'ten&it n <>■ ire russian forcci t;i the ionian islands if uic turks coi til ue to srant a free \,: ss:is^j through the \ bosphoilia niiii ihe dardanellesf ; lii order therefore to put a stop to the . growing power apcl intluencu of the r'us i si..t.s 111 vhe fnnisii sea and the aduci-nt : country the french cjovernment set is to j employ every effort t prevuil upon thecirand seignior to shut the p:.*8ap;c ot the bos ; phcrous it perhaps may be i:nl>te«l how ever whether the turkibli qovcran>tuu id ■ venture totloso lluu pas*age vafi't!;rpiitc«.l . to the russians not from ignorance of the i druiger with whit i the concestiit n w.i preiy ■ runt but from i conriction thfct it might i be extorted b'y force the turks have now : fallen into an abject terrour of'thc kussinn ; power and thnuprh they cunnnt doubt the i viewh of that nation they are willing to i ]!■!•<(' ase 3 respite at the expence t-ven of ' increasing the uirther cfa"nger if the l"ui!:s ' v.tre to declare that no mote russian fhips i and rroops shpirld pnss the bosphorous l!ii i iia it may be easily imagined would not j quietly mili'iiit to that interruption he'f ■ ms it is tiil object f ihi i'rcr li : u.nkiit hoyvevet'i to stimulate the porte to thi measure trusting that thty should ! he it 1 j 1 e to sup cr t their ancient ally in her ■ lvsistiiih-e were russia to attempt main ; turning this advantage by force i the turks ol themselves ire little able to resist the power of russia v i-.i^ii in the j event of a war would perhaps lie brought ! directly against the capital itself indeed j an p.ttuc.k upon can&lantinople by s>ea ami | land which the ruifcitrm could make would i in all probability be successful as the i uik i ish government is in no respect prepared j to resist it the french indeed would j supply them with officers but tie turks are too stupid ap.vl presumptuous to be uided by them it was in constantinople t!::it the greek empire was overthrown by the bar barians of the cross and crescent while the i provinces were a prey to anarchy and ctn i fusion the present stu'.c of tlie turkish empire justifies the rorppurison the rus sians by their fleet in the black sea might , even reduce constantinople by fttmine by i intercepting the supplies which conic frr.in the provinces on which it i ikw in :< great measure forced to depend since disorder and civil war have raged in those from which it formerly derived its subsistence iuit in case the turks should frrni a dread of the russian power still continue to every facility for the extension of that power which they know threatens their ry existence the french government have nr;t failed to employ every act arid suggestion to ' alarm the court of vienna respecting the russian establishment in tne ionian islands and its probable consequences it certainly ', wears a suspicious appearance ihat rubsia i should be collecting so great a force in the | islands of the ionian sea it is ridiculous to suppose that these forces arc meant t attack the power of prance in lialy and to preserve the allies o russia there — unless the uniiies of austria were to occi'ipy the , french else when all the troops russia ! could at present land in italy would ironic j diately be defeated that c«niwi be the i object the court < f vienna n<<i or.ly must i entertain seme jcaloii • of a iluwsian tuh lislin.mit in the mediterranean <■:• on i!.c snore ol greccei uhn.li pitluiuy inteiftrta with iis own marititte prc»pecu i ut it can not be indiili i-i-i.t lo live i-oit.ibiliry of utl uttfick on constantinople it»»lf either now uv at >,( r,ic future peri'd when runsin u united andcon»oli(lau*d ;!..■ ureot meant now within her rrucli in n er slio:t tm vil the tirec ian ij|undi,wilh their lupply i f tca nien c will he at the djtpi>i>i.l cl ru&su it v considered veiy don tlul pohty of joseph ii to conrtu bo fur with tic views o t';ll;;w inc ill her | !> lr ( fovtl tll|-o ii i ||. e ttirjcish i!;.'i f to rxducu 10 itn;jotcrce nn 1'iwm by wh^ni the ii-.t,ii:in mohmiciiv iiiid so often been n,n,,ltt yitititi a luir lirc;.(';!i c ci \\\ uctiin vi.s ha i s > i lifk ai»«i witci bui i in vi r t un 1 c ' lit iuu . i t i 1 bouse t mirit ih't f,r.n (.! ihu turk i-.li piiw.r in lurppfi find vliji it probubly iis inoyl vulun lu possession tu be irantfur red to ij-ussiu m stgur il.c el<lt : r states in liis niitc-s nn i i a r'i i tlt-bi in mt nn.iiv iiiat he haa frctjuuitly hti id juscph il ty " i'hal i!.i.i,;;li ai..!ii.t i mi of'.en been ;:• imniinr'it iljn-t :• ! ■•• ill ■ tin bui ■. it would be in a n worse state il the hussiatj unnneu v>.t coiisuintim u'a ( i i.-ultrint indeed that riissin ir i bcighboiirin power to austria considering her t power and unbounded nmbition il canr.ot be ibe inter est or pplicy oi austria lo connive t ai:y accjdibiiioiis tha't would render her still r.c formidhblf it therefore is us nun h the imetcbt of austria is <■! france»to vrutrh t!.u utom'hv power ol rusbio l'he vjev s ot'am biii'ju which uic imtuial to every rrent m..i and which the limise of austriu hnn il ways chcrishet mat now take a utw ii rcction the kxs of the nelhurlunris iih rendered nil acquisition in ihr.t qifarter irr posnible france oncl pifi^iu v nevci suffer lit u obtain nny f.u-ther or t h •..-. considerable atcehsion ( i territory in l.^i many the turkit.li empire on eviry iidu prt l-nt tempting booty p.i'i ru;,m i i!:-.r rival of burh views and v : !! oppose them unless some plan of pnititi n cun i e atljuau 1 to s..ii-ly hoth in ill 1 s;i:i manner au i.'riu tmin naturally ft si bi my exclusive plan fii concji im wliicii russia may t i niertnin m thu rxpense of the turkish eni{)iic that ihc french kv volution ha over thrown ilie ancient system of the balance of europe t'i its foundations is a truth uni versally acknowledged ; and the oscillations which have taken place in the policy of al most every state since that event sufficiently pro.e that none of iherti yet ivis settled itielf in its new situation anil regained uquiltbi ium a few ream ugo all europe was leagued against france prussia ho never scon de viated into a suspicious neulraliu — russia entered into the v»r in a passion and left it in a pet shu brined an intimate union with the ruler of france to adjust the new terri torial arrangement and political influence o.';lie qefipiinic i5oiy and now we see rus sia and prance f>ill»n bate open hostility to the indulgence of whirl in deeds of arms physical obstacles seem ulone to interpose some of the french politicians liave much recoiii ineniled u steady and constant alliance between france nnd liu&sia as calculated to secure ilie tranquiiity of kurope both in the north and south by equally coutroaling the powers that influence in each hut that sys tem though perhaps it might answer ex tremely well in quiet times sc after a state of power sc possession to which european nations havcbeeniecoueiled by the time & habit is not likely to succeed when a general discontent prompts every one to covet k pursue some ob ject to change or improve its situation far less v ill it succeed when bath or one of the^parties is actuated by a violent and insatiable spirit of nmbition france is now animated by that spirit the french government is not disposed to secure the repose of europe and its own acquisitions by forbearance but by action it i not ill the nature of things that the french government nt present should be inactive ; indeed if it were to descend to that system its neighbours would by mistak ing quiet for imbecility soon rouse it again to activity all ambition of conquest and aggrandisement is impelled by two princi ples li i-j in its own nature active and stir ring ; but a-i it always excites jealousy and ill-will it always hits enemies ready to take advantage of its indolence or want of fore sight thus a conquering power is in a certain view of the case always acting in self defence even when it attacks we do not be!ic\c that the fienr.h government dare cease to lie restless turbulent nd offensive the moment it adopts a pacifick system it will be assailed in its turn and forced to de lcn'1 itself because in it pacifick system would its neighbours discover a favourable opporturi'y to regain or to inquire our situation in india afford an apt illustration of this necessity no enlightened statesman ever ex;:.'<ts o\ir vast empire there to be long t peace the moment we cease to do mischief we shall be called to account for what we have dune our moderation will lie weakness so thai we must be in perpetu al hostilities with thu enemies we f.nd or make even during the wild and extravagant ca reer of i'.ui the mediterranean v;;s rho grand object with which the war ngaiuitt france wan connecteu il was i italy th:»t the russian army was s<'nt the l'.u ■■ i n fleet was sent tf this medilerranemi ]'.■■•> sian troops were scat to naples i in kin^s of sardinia and naples wert lake i r.dei t ■ protection of hur-si the fa-nieol i.isi w n spread round every hhoveol'the medil irrai on thnt her reputation mighi pr • rie ati ' ciliti.te her comiiiioti tlu s ime onn ■ ■ . with italy and the states of the an has since assiduously and a ■ iy been maintained there can b no du ht there fote that tt russ'tu having ob •■' an establishment in the archipelago fio n ■■ ; ich she can influence il the adjoining (■« unlrivb of circere is determined tu exti nd and c.'ii solidate her power in the south i ! europe she now will send forth her re a and i iviics by the soi:th instead ot tlie north and her name will ri«.e if a splend'our roi nd tlu bhores of the euxine mi ! the mediter ranean which it could never have guiiied in the black and inhospitable lti^i s f liie baitick in tliis respect the vievvi of piussia cuist i i of k;\me t.'ith ti.o l i.'t a'.is i i.i mio tnust be led to oj-.poic uvpry acquisition ol husbtui fr»r « liicli slvc rt'l ttwb i>u t-t y:v»-k-r,t bornnse sh erb'eady itch i he p^pondefance < fknssiy in ihe polimckb i ihe nuv'ilu the war between linp j and france has aflbrtled to t'ussia every uh ility mie could have desired for t'.ie attainment of her end she has strengthened nnd fortified her vi i tion in such a manner us to im defiance to u coup e'e main t would require a power ful expedition to dislodge her but there is little probability that this country would per inil france to dislodge russiu ir.-.m jin im portant position in which she wished to establish herself our fleet in the mediter ranean therefore is the russian fleet under itl protection uusmji completes lier de»igns in tlic greeciun ir-lint's nor do vc con ceive that our fleet in the mediterranean is ill employed in that service we enn nn tici;>rttc no danger to our intvrests from the growth of a power in the fcoutlt-east of l'.ii rope which in all probability n>iist always be ihe rival of france for greatne'sn and do minion it is an ascepdy'ney which in the present circumstances of europe c.*i nei ther prove injurious to our conymerciul ncv poli ic.i interests thoviph for rea«ons viiich i,l be mentioned it will tend for the iiio ment 10 dektt'oy every chance of an efficient continental confederacy against france it irwiy not hurt piw future interests but it will i<n serve our present purposes there is every reason to believe hoivover that minis tevs htvenot been aware of the consetjuences ot the uussian scheuicb in t!ic archipelago nor have they been insensible how this country w.s indirect promoting tf.eir suc cess if thtii there bo any reason u appvehend rfiat.rubsia stiti entertains those is iili i |- views til ambition which the overthrow of the turlsi'.h power is to satisfy and whi(.ii her present conduct seam to countcni'iict there in little doubt that austria bn<l pn ssiu both will concur wit r'ranct in ( pposinr her it is evident indeed tliat tlie french inent has laboured atid not without stu*ci!ks to alarm the jealousy of thecouit of viei na kussia persist ii thcte schen '.. which manifestly r-.i at the very heart cl the turldsh f.mpire it w.culd no r sur prising lo find austria opposing her by force oi arms it muy therefore be the policy of france to instigatu the turks to a rupture with russia in order to give employment to the arms of the latter ; and knowing too that in cuse she were to be successful austria would interfere to obstruct r complete triumph and the entire gratification of her ambition it is evident therefore that france and russia are not likely to as;re in sharing the government of the rest of europe buona parte indeed there is reason to believe has deceived the emperour of rusm.i as to va rious stipulations which to 1 ."!-' the condi tion of their momentary union but we doubt much whither russia either seriously expected that the king of-sardinia would bo restored or obtain 1 an adequate indemnity but the french government has probably disappointed tnt expectations of russia in points of which the public is ul present but imixi i'ei'ly informed if however he french government las not kept rood faith with the court oi st peters bu.'gh in p'o'notin tlie objects of its ambi tion tlic ministers of russia have shewn con siderulilo dexterity in piirtniinr its policy the esti^uihhincnt of the repuhlick of the seven islands which lms in fact become a run si in colony was a poster stroke and it hii been verj skilfully followed up uuona p'lrtc never c6mniit(eu a error th'an in colicurrinj in thai esuidlishment for rus sia tie h.is biueily repented of it und there was a time when he meditated that occupa tion of the republic of the seven islands >.'•; i !!>'.-!:• under ilic favour of the present circamstunevs of liorbpe has so happily ef ;' ■ til ii wi;i e remembered that in the report of sebawiiani which with iuconceiva bl ■ m liiu-m buotittpurtu ciiii-.ed lo be pub i .' i ih.it vapouring coxcomb pive an dc cniiiit of his reception at ohe of the islands and of t!v favourable dupoi iiionofthe natives in ivc ivs t i'rcnch thi ■ piifhle pubtica ii.iii.ol the french designs w-uld have in i'nred riiiviij l anticlpulu iliem bad not l!ie cn ni of feteisbuf been already suflictently disposed miiny oir.'tin ■ ' ini.i's have conruited to ill v the extrttft anxiety with which russia ii i.t.kiinvl to tdvance ber position lo tl e 8ouihi kxpefhrncc has shewn th.it the sdietne of i'cu r ic rout of t iblishing n ■ ■ it navul power in the bailie his lui cd li i ainnit ib only irreat d'm"u () : that fil|nr hwbhrimi wuirh bas failed ; it in ;. • r thai ■ ' tv be did m li-»t nature and dtcun>fct4ticiii auow.dj ut he partly uc we sh;.il rot at p;?s<.nl enter into inj ex amination how far the anus of france mid austria or how far a french army with ilia concurrence of austria inarching ijy the shores of the adriatick might oppose thu designs of russia in the moves or even ile fend the turkish empire bhmild it be at tacked on any other side we have no doubt however that every effort would be employed to compel russia to abandon her pity that enquiry however at prtbent might appear unnecessary if however the i nssi;«u government be sincere and disinterested in the licsiility which it prnfcs«cs to the system and princi ple o aggrandisement pursued l>y france it will jive no room for suspecting the puriiy of its intentions while russia continues to pursue object of atnbiliob which ha other powers f europe must naturally op poue it is in vain to expect that they will confederate with her to act against france her professions therefore ore voin and nu gatory si c in effect confirms and strength ens that power against which she avows hostility 1 he suspicious cotuluct of russia in the mediterranean is one cause among others why austria cannot be expected to cooperate in a war against fnmcc ii linn the empcrour alexander means to exi-k the force ol his empire in the timsc ot independence and of europe let him dis claim nl personal view — let him hold forth grounds of conduct in which other nation would concur grounds f wor on which it would be ul'"i<jiis to luccrcd and in the maintenance of which ntn failure would le freefromcfttgracei 2 on sforn.c/wmiclt some conjecture tooi that unless the grand seignior uftords every facility tojihe russian project — uh'k'^s tif gives thun the entire command of the bosphorus the links will be aiu.d°.ed and tne magnificent icws of 1'uter and catharinfl may be realised tlie russians bav a port and a depot in the archipelago awe ihey may altuck constan tinoplu on every side at any rate the overthrow <>', the turkish power in europe is inn deferred even if the present favoura ble opportunity were to be lost it our view of the rubject then be corrr-t t lie whole object of russia in the event uf a war with france will be to strengthen and confirm ber position in the archipelago and l>y consequence extend her influence anil authority in the morta wjthout risking any thinji lo the shock of war and battles she will reserve ber force and her resources for that quarter in which france is likely to excite opposition to ber views and where too she hu mokl solid advantages to acquire we have ever bean of opinion ttqd are still that hiissia will not ht present attempt to luiix iiny lorc.'s to act in the north or o the northern frontiers of france it would be riskini every thing and nothing to gabl but reputation which may be belter acquired i i another qnarter not to mention the want of til i ialrcwuruet.thehopeletsncti of shaking the miliury power of i'rance unaided ; it is v vi '■' . l , of storage for h.-u.l at this office