Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

COINCIDENCES.

The Connecticut Mirror observes, "that the movement of France towards Russia, the seizure of Amelia Island, and the laying of our embargo for 90 days, have all happened precisely at the same time." We have before remarked, that many of the imbecile and preposterous measures which characterise the times, might be resolved into personal or party motives, yet the embargo being proof against this test, was most probably a shoot of foreign growth. We must be excused for considering the disavowal of the seizure of Amelia Island by the army and navy as fallacious. Gen. Mathews is the undoubted and undeniable agent of the executive, and it is idle to say that men of military rank and standing as respectable as those of Col. Smythe and Commodore Campbell, would so far forget their duty and tarnish the honor of their personal character, as to invade a peaceable neighboring colony, in combination with a set of outlaws and desperadoes, such as mustered under the banners of the ruthless Ludowick Ashley. Yet it seems they are to be disgraced by a disavowal, which, if they submit to it, will, if we are not mistaken, tarnish their reputation in a high degree. Thus we therefore look for some further light to be thrown by those officers upon the dark transaction. We take, for granted, therefore, that its real character was an unauthorised invasion by the land and sea forces of the United States, and not a rebellion; for it is stated, that not a single native and but 15 naturalized Spaniards were employed in these tumultuary proceedings: and we also take for granted, from the date of the occurrence, that it is intimately connected in character with the policy of the embargo, which unexpectedly and unaccountably stopped the transmission of supplies to Spain and Portugal. These inferences being just and admitted, another very naturally follows, viz. that the embargo and the invasion of Florida, are part of a co-operation with Bonaparte for subjugating mankind. This alliance with France is the most painful apprehension which can torture the breast of a patriot, but its existence is expressly avowed in substance by Mr. Grundy, one of the leading ministerial members of the house, who declared we were bound by France, and can only liberate ourselves by going to war on her side.

The cause of imposing the embargo may be further traced by the publications in the French papers, which preceded it in date, wherein it was called the "universal system." Except as to Great Britain and her allies, who are the objects at which it is directed, it is indeed become an universal system, embracing the rest of the universe. We have it in its plenitude, hermetically sealing our ports, depriving us of foreign supplies for our habitual necessities, destroying the value of our domestic produce, and ruining the inhabitants of cities. Russia having presumed to deviate in some degree from the rigor of this universal system and manifested further a temper disposed to throw it off, the "Great Emperor" appears to have determined to settle the point all over the world, disdaining to suffer any part of his commands to remain longer uncomplied with. His myrmidons are therefore marched to the Russian frontiers, and behold we find an embargo following close in before our eyes as suddenly as the miraculous guard.—We are thus rendered free from animadversion, and if we moreover go to war for "the liberty of the seas," we shall certainly lay up a store of merit, which peradventure may seriously entitle us to those displays of imperial gratitude so copiously lavished in Holland, Switzerland and Germany.

It will really strike the attention, that the novel application of "Universal System." given to the prohibition of trade by Bonaparte, "as applicable to the United States before our embargo was imposed, but that the anticipation of what would be immediately enacted, is no more to be wondered at on this occasion, than that it was confidently stated at Paris and Amsterdam, that an embargo would take place in America immediately before the former one was got up in 1807. Fed. Rep.