The Moniteur contains the following article: "Since the English call the late operations of our squadron in the West-Indies plunder, it is but just they should know that this plunder will not be over so soon as they think. We flatter ourselves even that ere a week has passed over our heads, intelligence from every part of the world will announce to the English commerce other events of the like nature. We shall then print, perhaps, a little work composed under the eyes of Mr. Pitt, and published by his orders, a short time before the first hostilities, in order to establish the propriety, the advantages and the necessity of the perpetuity of the war against France. This perpetual war then appeared suitable, advantageous, and necessary to British rapacity, and to that pride which was even then misplaced, and now nothing less than ridiculous. The proud, the powerful, the circumspect English, hear the departure of the French fleet when it has taken Dominica; of the departure of the Toulon squadron when it has passed the Straits; they will hear no more of it for some months. Lastly, they have not heard of the second Rochefort squadron, sailed a long time since, and which the English frigates came to watch and observe not more than eight days. We shall say nothing concerning several large frigates which have been sent out of our ports, to which the English may attach little importance, but which will strike them a blow on those coasts they think hardly known to our seamen. They have been dreaming that there is no longer any wood in our forests and arsenals, that there exists no longer a maritime population on our coast; let them learn, however, that there are no less than 50 men of war on our stocks, all of which will be ready for sea in 18 months. Were all the squadrons which the Emperor has sent forth to perish, after having laid waste the English commerce, great fleets are preparing, and numerous young men are ready to man them: it would be easier for the King of England to be crowned King of France, in Paris itself, than to disinherit the Great Nation from the commerce of the world. It is not that we entertain the haughty idea of preventing England from being a great powerful nation, but we wish to share with her the commerce of India and America; and we will not suffer the English to have any possession in the Mediterranean, Gibraltar excepted. If the English ministry purpose sending forth secret expeditions to those possessions which are too weakly garrisoned, to what point will they direct their forces? To the coast of Africa where they are null? To the island of Ceylon, where they will be but few in proportion to the danger? To the coasts of Coromandel, Malabar and Bengal, where they will also be insufficient? To Jamaica, where they will also be inferior to the want? To Canada, to Surinam, Demerara, &c.? We do not entertain the ridiculous pretensions of conquering every where; but we wish every where to destroy our enemy, to destroy his commerce every where; to be in short the strongest wherever we please to present ourselves. The Insurance Companies will do well to augment their rates from day to day, for, until peace be signed, they will have pretty pickings. We inform them thus publicly, that there is not an important part of the vast ocean, where French ships are not cruising. But the conditions of the peace we are speaking of are simple; the peace of Amiens, the whole peace of Amiens, nothing but the peace of Amiens; France will never sign any other."
