ay 
involve America in the fate of the minor 
European powers; and that they would 
not be at a loss for causes or pretences 
in the private conduct of her citizens, or 
in the public proceedings of her govern= 
ment, which would stimulate all those 
acts of aggression, spoliation, and in- 
sults, which have evinced the implacable 
enmity of those two powers; their envy 
at her increasing commerce and pros- 
perity, and their studied desire and secret 
machinations to compromise her peace, 
independence, and ylory. 
‘This state of things has originated two 
parties, viz. the friends of peace, and 
those of war.’ The party for war is again 
Split into two factions, viz. the English 
and the French. The friends of peace, 
at the head of whom is the government, 
are certainly the most numerous,/ the 
most enlightened, and respectable. It 
is difficult to appreciate the relative 
strength, influence, and wealth, of the 
two factions. Perhaps an insight may 
be obtained by contrasting their opposite 
qualities. Ifthe English party be more 
™mercantite and wealthy, the French is 
more numerous ; if the former have more 
good sense, the latter shews more viva-~ 
eity.and activity: if the English have 
the influence of wealth, the French has 
that of agreeable qualities, which mask 
its superior skil] at intrigue, foresight, 
‘combination, and effect. At all events, 
‘the unjust causes of England and France, 
which they respectively defend, their 
mutual recriminations, their appeals to, 
and abuse of, the federal government, 
are calculated to give it considerable un- 
easiness and alarm, 
The consequence will be, that she will 
find great difficulty in deciding upon the 
cause she has to pursue. The spoliations 
and aggressions upon her commerce will 
continue and increase; it is highly pro- 
able likewise that the events of the 
war will shut up the continent against 
England; and though France may not 
wish to prevent America from trading 
with the continent, yet it will be under 
limitations; she must not todch at a Bri- 
tish port, nor import upon the continent 
British manufactures. The policy of 
England will render this impossible to 
America, from her maritime superiority. 
England will force America to bring her 
cargoes to British ports, and through 
at custom-houses, before she is per- 
Mitted to re-export them to the conti. 
nent. If America submit to this, her 
independence is a dead letter, as she 
will sail across the Atlantic to acquiesce 
© Mowrary Mas. No, 210, 
Astronomical Query: 
199 
in and embrace a species of taxatino 
more degrading and tyrannical than that 
on account of which she encountered 
and waded through a revolutionary war. 
And if she do not submit to it, her com- 
merce is neutralised. The only wise 
course which she ean now, and must 
then, pursue, will be to close her interes 
course. with the belligerents, till they’ 
listen to the voice of reason. She can 
do better without their manufactures 
and their empoisoned luxuries,, than they’ 
can do without her flour, rice, and timi- 
ber. Let her withhold. these: precious 
necessaries but for a short time, thougts 
many, American merchants may be ru- 
ined, the West Indies will cry out for 
bread, the belligerents will be brought 
to their senses by famine,’ BT ae 
America shall preserve the lives of her 
citizens, her territorial riches, . heF 
peace, independence, and happiness. | 
It will likewise be a powerful stimulus to’ 
her domestic manufactures. | But the 
reverse of this picture is to be dreaded. 
It is to be feared, from the influence of 
the two war factions, even in the national 
councils, and from the fluctuating events 
of the war, that the negociations with 
the belligerents will necessarily partake 
of a double-faced policy: she will have 
to conciliate both; and in the attempt 
she may find it impracticable. Her 
policy will be oscillating, she will make 
laws and abrogate them; and thus, by 
being the butt of the implacable hatred 
and envy of the belligerents, she will 
become the scorn and contempt of her~ 
self and the world. 
- ——a—— 
To the Editor of the Monthly 
sIR, 
if is a striking peculiarity that our 
moon always presents nearly the same 
face towards the earth; and it has been 
ascertained that the satellites. of Jupiter, 
and the largest of those of Saturn, are 
similarly circumstanced as to their re- 
spective primaries: whence, it seems 
reasonable to infer, that the case is the 
same with all other secondary planets ; 
and such appears to be the opinion of our 
best astronomers. 
At first it might seem that this must be 
disadvantageous to the minor planets, as 
one half of their sarface can never re-— 
ceive any benefit from the light reflected 
by their primaries; while all parts of 
those primaries enjoy, successively, the 
beautiful and useful light afforded by the 
secondaries. It can scarce indeed be 
doubted, but that the inhabitants of ong 
R hemisphere 
Magazines 
