312 GIBRALTAR: ITS ADVANTAGES TO ENGLAND. 



For, to regain the integrity of her territory, and to banish the hateful 

 spectacle of a foreign flag triumphant on her soil, that country would 

 probably cede the rich, and, as lying in the range of her other West 

 Indian possessions, to England, the invaluable island of Cuba. The 

 depression of our sugar islands, and the advantages enjoyed by Cuba in 

 a virtual though felonious continuation of the African traffic in slaves, 

 renders its possession to the crown of England of paramount import- 

 ance. The five thousand troops now in garrison at Gibraltar, would 

 more than suffice for the military occupation of the entire island of 

 Cuba ; and being supported by the island itself, or indirectly by the 

 vast addition of commerce and revenue resulting from so fertile a 

 possession, there remains no comparison between the sum of advantage 

 derived from this addition to our West Indian empire, and the retention 

 of the barren and useless fortress of Gibraltar. 



And though Gibraltar should return to the dominion of Spain, it has 

 been shown, that in the width of the straits, our vessels of war or com- 

 merce may at all times enter the Mediterranean without danger from the 

 forts ; and by retaining possession of the island of Malta, we enjoy a 

 position for our squadrons to rendezvous, water, and refit, at a spot more 

 central in the Mediterranean, and nearer to the shores of Turkey, 

 Greece, Egypt, and the other great trading countries of Africa and 

 Southern Europe. When the government of the United States, without 

 possessing a single harbour or an acre of territory in the Mediterranean, 

 yet maintain a powerful display of vessels of war in that sea, it is 

 apparent that an extensive reduction of our military establishments in 

 that quarter of the world, may be made without injury to our commerce. 



The Ionian Islands are also a dead weight to this country. These 

 islands may be very advantageously sold to the government of the 

 United States ; for the people of that country have long been solicitous to 

 obtain some permanent possession in the Mediterranean ; and where the 

 service of watching the piratical powers of Africa and Greece, can thus 

 be effectually performed by the Americans, it is highly expedient that 

 Great Britain should co-operate in an object mutually advantageous to 

 all civilized nations. Jealousy of our transatlantic brethren is now 

 happily disappearing, and identity of interests is daily becoming more 

 apparent, and we should certainly rejoice to see the Ionian Islands, 

 useless to ourselves, pass into the dominion of the United States. 



At a time when extensive changes are forthcoming in the policy of 

 this country, these remarks, though opposed to the prejudices of the 

 day, may be found to be worthy of impartial consideration. 



