Alexandria Daily Advertiser

PHILADELPHIA, October 21.

Very Important!

From Cadiz, Aug. 17.

The situation of our market has experienced very little change since my last, but the political situation of this country is very much altered indeed. When I wrote you last the war with England was expected every instant; now we are given to understand, we are on the best of terms with Great Britain, and perhaps on the eve of hostility with France. This sudden change in the politics of the cabinet of Madrid arises from the conduct of Bonaparte towards Spain in the sale of Louisiana to the United States. It appears the cession of that province by Spain to France was under certain conditions, many of which have not been fulfilled, and others glaringly violated. A person of good information has assured me that remonstrances have been made to the First Consul upon this head, with a vigor and energy that was not to be expected from a government generally supposed subservient to the will of France. And similar representations are to be made by our minister in the United States to your government, as it is insisted, that by the non-fulfilment on the part of France of the conditions on which she was to have Louisiana, She has neither the right to possess it herself, nor to sell it to the United States. This revolution in the European affairs may produce the most important consequences. Conjecture is afloat about the destination of the small fleet arming here, of six seventy fours and eight frigates; but the general opinion is that the Havanna will be its destination, with the view of blockading the Mississippi, in case your government ratifies the treaty with France. The militia of this kingdom is in motion. It is supposed the king will make a general review at Valladolid. The nature of the other military preparations evidently shews that they are directed against France. It is the general opinion that Great Britain will second the efforts of Spain for preventing Louisiana encreasing the already too extensive territory of the United States, and that Spain in return has pledged herself for the defence of Portugal against France.

Time will shew what will be the result of this. But, depend upon it, that some great events are brewing upon the continent of Europe.

We are indebted to the friendship of a commercial gentleman for the foregoing very interesting and important letter. Its contents will awaken in the mind of the American Administration a train of new and delicate reflections. It will be important to enquire; before we give our ratification to the treaty of Louisiana how far our possession of it under a French Grant will involve us in points of controversy, perhaps in actual warfare with the nations of Europe.

We hope and trust, that our government has enough to ascertain the right and title of France to a sale of the territory, for its possession; or if unfortunately this intrinsic point has been overlooked, it is not now too late to rectify the inadvertance. It is not yet too late to avert a collision of many interests early dangerous to our prosperity and repose which the above writer goes far in observation. In corroborating the president's late message occurring the to us Spain took in remarkable treating silence outraging of prevails the accession as our rights, as well the part. which of Louisiana a as to her participation in making the cession.

It does not appear, from the information given to congress by Mr. Jefferson, that satisfaction or explanation has been required of Spain : nor does it appear, that she has been acquainted with or consulted on, the transfer by France to the U. States of her former territory. It is therefore very probable that Spain has been rather terrified with, if not swindled, by the First Consul; and that the latter, conscious of the injustice of the tenure by which he would hold Louisiana, has been willing to get rid of it on the best terms. Hence as this letter observes, spirited remonstrances have been presented to the French government by the court of Madrid; and similar representations ordered to be made by their resident ministers here. Amidst these circumstances of intricacy and injustice, what will be the situation of our government?— It will be that of extreme delicacy and peril.—To escape the danger, will require the timely exercise of uncommon prudence, firmness and wisdom.