of the French Directory, to exclude our Manufactures and Produce from that Country, even if they could be carried into execution, can have but little effect on the general Commerce of Great Britain.

This point will best be ascertained by the following Comparative Statements:

The average value of our Exports to all Countries, in the years 1791 and 1792, was 23,746,7901.

Of these Exports, the proportion of British Produce and Manufactures, was 17,507,4291.

The average value of our Exports of Merchandize and Manufactures to France in these two years, was 1,179,770l. which is not a twenty-second part of the whole of our Exports.

The average value of British Produce and Manufactures exported to France in those two years (which is included in the before-mentioned sum of 1,179,7701.) was 659,9561. which is not a twenty-sixth part of the whole of the British Produce and Manufactures exported.

It appears, from hence, how very small a proportion of the whole of the Produce and Manufactures exported from this Country in those two years, France took from us; though these Exports to France far exceed the average amount of the Exports to that Country, from the commencement of the Commercial Treaty of 1786 to the year 1791.

In the year ending the 5th January 1797, the value of our Exports to all Countries, was 30,424,1841.

Of these Exports, the proportions of British Produce and Manufactures, was 19,102,2201.; and though we were during the whole of that year, as before stated, at War. with France, Spain, Holland, and Flanders, the value of the Exports of British Produce and Manufactures then exceeded,

6

exceeded, by 1,594,7911. the average value of those exported in 1791 and 1792, when we were at Peace with France and all the Countries before-mentioned, and though the quantity of our Exports, in those two years, was increased by the extraordinary circumstances which we have stated.

And this increase of 1,594,7911. in the value of the British Produce and Manufactures exported, is greatly more than double the value of those we ever exported to France in time of Peace, and when our Commerce with that Country was in its highest state of prosperity.How contemptibly small is the whole of these Exports to France, compared with the general Exports of this Kingdom! — And how trifling then is the loss which our Merchants and Manufacturers are likely to suffer, even if it were possible to deprive us of all the advantages which we have ever derived, from articles exported for French consumption !

After all we have stated, on the many important points which these Paragraphs of the Morning Chronicle have brought under our consideration, and obliged us thus to discuss, it is time now to enquire, what can have been the object of the French Directory, in the Measures they have lately adopted against the Commerce of Great Britain and Neutral Nations? As we are decidely of opinion, for the reasons before stated, that this Measure cannot have the success which they expect from it, we may fairly suppose that they are no less ignorant than presumptuous, and by no means acquainted with the true state of the business.-Perhaps they mean nothing more than a Menace, and their Friends and Agents in Great Britain are called to their assistance, for the purpose of alarm and intimidation.-Let

them however recollect, how frequently, and with what little effect, they have played this game already.

The Members of the French Directory, and their Co. adjutor, the Writer of the Morning Chronicle, must entertain a mean opinion of the spirit and capacity of the People of Great Britain, if they can, for a moment, suppose that these frequent repetitions of the same Menace, can make any impression upon them. The truth, however, is, that this Measure is aimed much more at the Commerce of Neutral Nations, and particularly of the People of the United States of America, than at the Commerce of Great Britain. It is but a part of that System of Plunder, which has hitherto been the favourite object of the French Government, for the purpose of maintaining their Armies, and of supplying their Treasury with something, which they call Revenue, and perhaps something corruptly for themselves. They have long plundered their own Country, and every part of the Continent, of which they could get possession by means of their Armies. For the truth of this assertion, we confidently appeal to the Inhabitants of Flanders, and Holland of Venice, and its Territories of Milan-Genoa-the Papal Territoriesand even of a considerable part of Germany.

But there are some Countries at such a distance from the Territories of this French Republic, that they are out of the reach of their Armies; there are others (such as

This is no longer a matter of question; at least, one of the Directory (MERLIN) is now well known to share with the Masters of Privateers (whom this uprincipled Decree has let loose on the Commerce of the world) in the produce of their piratical depre

dations.

E.

Great

Great Britain) the internal resources of which are so great, that the Directory cannot reasonably hope for any they have all, however, commu

success against them: nication with the Ocean, where they carry on an extensive Commerce for the mutual benefit of Mankind. It is to the Ocean, therefore, that these Directors, or rather Pirates, propose now to extend the same System of Rapine and Plunder; it is there that they hope, by the Capture of the Ships of Neutral Nations, contrary to every principle of Maritime Law, to make them feel the effect of their power.

They have practised this System to a considerable degree already; but they now openly avow it, and endeavour, by proclaiming their intentions, to impress terror on all those Nations hitherto at Peace with them, who are not disposed to become the Slaves of their Power, or the Tools of their Ambition. We can assert, from good authority, that the People of the United States of America have already Claims upon France to the amount of at least 3,000,000l. sterling, for the Capture and Detention of their Vessels and Cargoes, and for Debts which the Directory have refused to pay, though contracted under their Authority, for provisions and other articles of indispensable necessity furnished to them - The French Government wish, therefore, to quarrel with the American States, in order to have a pretence to cancel all these Debts, and to continue also their System of Plunder.

But the Directory say, that this measure is directed against Great Britain, as the Tyrant of the Ocean; and so, in effect, says the Writer of the Morning Chronicle, in the Paragraphs to which we now reply; the Reader will judge from the principles of Maritime Law before stated, as professed by Great Britain and France, which of these two Powers is in fact the Tyrant of the Ocean.

It is evident that France would be the Tyrant of the Ocean, if she had Naval Power sufficient to carry her Menaces into execution. Neutral Nations may rejoice, that she does not now possess that power.-Great Britain, by her Exertions, and by her repeated and splendid Victories, in the course of the present War, has so reduced the Naval Power of her Enemies, that she is now able to provide Security, not only for her own Commerce, but for that of Neutral Nations. The British Government has a right, however, to expect that these Neutral Nations shall afford assistance in a Cause that is common to them all:- but whatever they may determine, fortunately for them, Great Britain is placed, by the blessing of Providence, in such a situation, that, as she never means to be herself a Tyrant, either by Land or Sea, she may justly assume the title (for, by the greatness of her Naval Power, she is enabled to act the part) of PROTECTRESS of the OCEAN, against all the Threats and Efforts of the French Directory.

PRIZE OF DULLNESS.

WE promised, in our last, to award the PRIZE of DULLNESS, if possible, on this day; and indeed had done every thing which depended on us to be as good as our word. No pen can describe, no heart can conceive, the unwearied patience with which, in the honest execution of our duty, we laboured through the crude Mass of Stupidity before us. At length, however, we thought (in the words of the old Philosopher) that we descried land, and

were