Virginia Argus

VIRGINIA ARGUS
RICHMOND
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1806.

Our readers will perceive by an extract from a late London print that the measures of Congress, so far as they respect our foreign relations, have been received with a lively interest in Britain. The publications in the prints of that country are, however, too partial, to enable us to form an unequivocal opinion of their effect. Taking usually but hasty and imperfect views of the measures of our councils, we may expect much precipitation and error of judgment. This, aided by the sensation likely to be produced by any decided steps towards a system of commercial resistance on our part, may, in the first instance, give the public opinion a complexion rather unfriendly to a full and prompt accommodation of differences. The fallacious indications too of a serious division in this country at the period of their latest American dates, with a natural apprehension of the course of our negociations with Spain, & that more was meant than met the eye, may induce the British ministry to procrastinate their negociation with us; a disposition, likely to be strengthened by the expected arrival of Mr. Pinckney. The author of 'War in Disguise,' has issued a new work, entitled 'Observations on the Speech of the hon. John Randolph,' the object of which is, we understand, to animate public opinion against any important concessions to this country. Under these circumstances it becomes the American people patiently to wait the issue of the measures taken by their government. Although nothing has yet occurred to impair our expectation of an accommodation; it becomes us, standing upon the strong ground taken by the legislature, to be prepared for a less favorable issue, should Britain, either from systematic error, or from the misrepresentations of parties among ourselves, refuse to acknowledge our indisputable rights. Let it be recollected that, in such an event, the act passed by Congress is the first leading step in a system of measures well calculated to awaken her from her delusive dreams; and that it was expressly adopted as a measure equally fitted for producing a change in her conduct, or for standing as a part of our permanent system of commercial regulations.—Nat. Intel.