Virginia Argus

From the Baltimore Patriot, May 24.

On examining the British Naval Chronicle for the last two or three years, we find that its language, which may be considered as expressive of the national feelings of England, has undergone a great revolution in relation to America. Prior to the capture of any British vessel of war by our brave tars, the Chronicle affected to underrate and despise us as an enemy; it seemed or affected to consider us as beneath serious notice, and our hostility unworthy of any great preparations on the part of England to repel. By degrees, the Chronicle writers have treated us with greater respect; and now, although its pages breathe a bitter and malignant resentment towards America, obviously produced by our naval victories over the wooden walls of old England, they speak of us as a brave and formidable maritime rival; they urge their Government to build and equip such frigates and sloops of war as will be a match for ours, to man them better, and to drill and exercise them in the manner of the Americans; they are even willing to be instructed by us. Yet, we observe, with all their new respect for us, they persevere in asserting the falsehood, that our navy never triumphed over theirs, without having a superior force in every particular. Beat them as we may, Englishmen will be Englishmen still; they will boast at the very moment they are flogged, and arrogate to themselves a national superiority in every thing. We do not wonder, after perceiving the incessant stream of falsehood which flows thro' every page of the Naval Chronicle, that the people of England entertain unfounded notions and preposterous prejudices against this country, as well as ridiculous ideas of their own superior qualities in comparison with other nations.