‘ 
36 Propositions for the Introduction, of Sicilian Wines. [Feb. 4; 
that they have rashly expended their pow- 
er in endeavouring to defend that which 
is untenable: it is secondly injurious to 
the character of our fleet and army, who 
are not allowed the merit of daring to face 
the enemy. It is unnecessary to make 
any further comment on this subject; let 
us proceed to give such a description of 
the situation of the island, relatively to 
the neighbouring -continent, in order to 
shew the false ground of this absurd no- 
tion, and hence to point out what advan- 
tages may be reaped from it, as long as 
the present situation of public afiairs 
requires that it should remain under our 
protection. 
The Island of Sicily is divided from the 
Italian shore in the narrowest parts by 
the Streights of Messina. The Point of 
Pelorus, which runs out in a narrow 
neck, is that which approaches nearest 
to the Continent; the streights to the 
southward gradually widen. ‘The whole 
tract of country on the Sicilian shore is 
occupied by a chain of excessively high 
and rugged mountains, except a narrow 
slip of land on the sea beach, not an hun- 
dred and fifty yards broad in some places, 
whilst\n others the mountains are termi- 
nated by precipices running out into the 
sea. ‘The whole of this strong chain of 
posts, backed by mountains rising over 
mountains of amazing height, forms the 
surface of the district of the island to- 
wards Italy. The harbour of Messina, 
capable of holding a very large navy, with 
the anchoring ground, which extends 
northwards above ten miles, is on the 
Sicilian shore, whilst the opposite side has 
neither harbour for ships nor any safe an- 
chorage, arising from the depth of water, 
the rapidity of the current, and various 
other considerations. From the Bay of 
Naples to the Port of Taranto, the whole 
coast of Italy has not one single harbour, 
whilst the convenient Port of Messina 
affords shelter for any number of ships 
destined to defend the island. Now it is 
evident, that should the French meditate 
an expedition to that country, there are 
but two methods for them to attempt it; 
the one, to depart from some distant 
port, as Toulon or Naples, &c. or to 
build a flotilla on the opposite shore. In 
the first case, the safety of Sicily may be 
considered as on a footing with that of 
any other part of the world which we de- 
fend; and any argument urged on this 
ground would be equally applicable to the 
Isle of Wight, or Ireland or Jersey, &c. 
é&c. but the principal grounds of the pub- 
lic apprehension being founded on its vi- 
cinity to Italy, let us turn our attention 
to this subject. It is urged that the French 
forces may be transported in boats and 
landed on the opposite side. In the first 
place, these boats do not exist, but they 
may be built; green timber may be cut 
in the mountains five andtwenty miles off, 
and roads must be made through the same 
for its transportation; they will be buils 
on the sea-shore, which is a deep sandy 
beach, and all the gun-boats, galleys, 
frigates, fire ships, &c. of the British 
fleet, wall have the civility to look patient- 
ly on without offering them the least mo- 
lestation! This would be a farther accu- 
sation of apathy and stupidity. against 
our forces and their commanders, which 
it can hardly be said that they deserve, 
But let us even suppose that all our at- 
tempts to burn these boats were to prove 
fruitless, let us ask how many will be ne- 
cessary to transport a sufficient number, 
with their ammunition and provision, to 
overpower the British force? From the 
nature of the currents, the point where 
they will land will be very precarious, and 
as the whole operation may be plainly 
seen, how would they hope to make this 
little voyage without annoyance? Let us 
suppose that they have got over in spite - 
of the current, which sets so many differ- 
ent ways—an immense army of men are 
to jump on shore, and form on a beach so 
narrow that two thousand men will not be 
able to stand, and this without any hin- 
drance from the British artillery playing 
on them from the heights, as well as the 
thunder of our men of war, gun-boats, 
&c. &c. As the French could not tind 
ground to stand upon, so it is not proba- 
ble they would perform evolutions with 
ten thousand men, where two would not 
have room. 
During the civil wars in Rome, in the 
time of Octavius, Mare Antony, and 
Lepidus, Sextus Pompeius had seized on 
Sicily. The western empire was the > 
share of Octavius, whilst Antony went to 
Asia, and the coast of Africa was allot- 
ted to Lepidus, . 
The posts occupied by Pompey were 
precisely those at the present of the Bri- 
tish troops. As long as Pompey had the 
superiority at sea, it was in vain his ene- 
mies could attempt to land. The empire 
held by Octavius was precisely the domi- 
nions and dependencies held, by Bona- 
parte; whilst the coast of Africa, filled 
by warlike inhabitants, co-operated with 
him under Lepidus, When Agrippa beat 
the 
