Star. — London, England, 1807-12-07 00:00:00

AMERICA. FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, OCT. 27. This day at twelve o'clock, the Prefident of the United States communicated, by Mr. Coles, his Secretary, the following Mel age to both Houfes of Congrefs : TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES. " Tuefday, October 27, tBo7. og Circumftances, fellow citizens, which ferioufly threatened the peace of our country, have made it a duty to convene you at an earlier period than ufual. The love of peace, fo much cherifhed in the bofom of our citizens, which has fa long guided the pro ceedings of their public councils, and induced for. bearance under fb many wrongs, may not infuse our continuance in the quiet purfuits of indultry. The many injuries and depredations committed on our commerce and navigation upon the high feas for years pall, the fucceffive innovations on thofe prin ciples of public law which have been ellablifhed by the reafon and ufage of nations as the rule of their intercourfe, and the umpire and fecurity of their rights and peace, and all the circumftances which induced the extraordinary miffion to London, arc already known to you. The inftrudions given to ' , our Minifters were framed in the fincerell fpirit of 1 amity and moderation. They accordingly proceeded in conformity therewith, to propofe arrangements which might embrace and fettle all the points in difference between us ; which might bring us to a mutual underflanding on our neutral and national rights, and prqvide for a commercial intercourfe on conditions of tome equality. After long and fruitlefs endeavours to tffed the purpofes of their miffion, and io obtain arrangements within the limits cf their in. ftrudions, they concluded to fign fuch as could be obtained, and to fend them for confideration ; can• didly declaring to the other negotiators, at the fame time, that they were offing againft their inßrudions, and that their Government therefore could not be pledged for ratification. Some of the articles pro poled might have been admitted on a principle of compromife, but others were too highly difadvan tageous ; and no fufficient provifion was made againft the principal fource of the irritations and collifions which were contiantly endangering the peace of the two nations. The queftion, therefore, whether a treaty Atould be accepted in that form could have admitted but of one decifion, even had no &data tions of the other party impaired our confidence in it. Still anxious not to dole the door againft friendly adjuftment, new modifications were framed, and further conceffions authorifed than could before have been fuppofed neceffary and our Minifters were; inftruded to refume their negotiations on thefe grounds. Oa this new reference to amicable dif cuffion we were repofing in confidence, when on the sad day of June loft, by a formal order from a Bri• tab Admiral, the frigate Chefapeake, leaving her port for a dißant fervice, was attacked by one of thofe ve ff els which had been lying in our harbours under the indulgencies of hofpitality, was difabled from proceeding, had feveral of her crew killed, and four taken away. Oa this outrage no commentaries are neceffary. Its charaifter has been pronounced by the indignant voice of our citizens with an ern phafis and unanimity never exceeded. I immediately, by proclamation, interdided our harbours and waters to all Britifh armed vefels, forbade intercourfe with them,and uncertain how far hoftilities were intended, and the town of Norfolk indeed being threatened with immediate attack, a fufficient force was ordered for the protedion of that place, and fuch other prepara tions commenced and purfued as the profpedt render. ed proper. An armed veffel of the United States was difpatched with inftrudions to our Minifters at London, to call on that Government for the fatisfac• tion and fecurity required by the outrage. A very Mort interval ought now to bring the Rawer, which thall be communicated to you as loon as received : then alto, or as fuon after as the public intereft thall be found to admit, the unratified treaty, and proceed. togs relative to it, than be made known to you. 46 The aggreflion, thus begun, has been continued on the part of the Britifh commanders, by remaining within our waters in defiance of the authority of the country, by habitual violations of its jurifdiaion, and at length by putting to death one of the perfons whom they had forcibly taken from on board the Che fapeake. There aggravations necetfarily lead to the policy, either of never admitting an armed veffel into our harbours, or of maintaining in every harbour inch an armed force as may conlirain obedience to the laws, and protect the lives and property of our citizens againft their armed guefts. But the expence of Inch a (landing force, and its inconfiflence with our principles, difpenfe with thole courtefiee which would neceffarily call for it, and leave us equally free to exclude the navy, as we are the army of a foreign power from entering our limits. •' To former violations of maritime rights, another, is now added of very exteafive effed. The Govern• ment of that nation has iffued an Order interdiding all trade by neutrals between ports not in amity with them. And being now at war with nearly every Elation on the Atlantic and Mediterranean fear, our needs are required to facrifice their cargoes at the firft port they touch, or to return home without the benefit of going to any other market. Under this new law of the ocean, our trade on the Mediterra- nean has been fwept away by feizures and condeni nations, and that in other (Cu is threatened with the fame fate. t• Our differences with Spain remain Hill unfettled; rneafure having been taken on her part, fince my laft communications to Congrefs, to bring them to a dole. But undsea . Rate of things which may favour reconfideration, they have been recently preffed, and an expedation is entertained that they may now foon ke brought to an iffue of Tome fort. With their fu jets on our borders no new collifions have taken p 1 ce, nor teem immediately to be apprehended.— T our former grounds of complaint has been added a very fetious one, as you will fee, by the decree, a c py of which is now communicated. Whether this d tree, which profeffee to be conformable to that of t e French Government of November 21, 1806, bere t fore communicated to Congrefs, will alto be con - f rmed to that in its conftrudion and application in . riation to the United States, had not been after. rained the date of our laft communications. There, however, gave reafon to exped filch a conformity. " With the t they nations of Europe our harmony has been uninterrupted, and commerce and friendly intercourfe have been maintained on tbdr Waal footing. " Our peace with the feveral States on the mall of Barbary appears as firm as at any former period, and as likely to continue as that of any other nation. 66 Among our Indian neighbours in the north wefiern quarter, Come fermentation was obfetved, Coon after the late occurrences, threatening the con tinuance of our peace. Meirages were laid to be in terchanged, and tokens to be paging, which ufually denote a nate of reftlefsnifs among them, and the character of the agitators pointed to the fources of excitement. Meafures were immediately taken for providing againft that danger; inftrudions weregiven to require explanations, and with affurances of our continued friendfhip, to admonith the tribes to re main quiet at home, taking no part in quarrels not belonging to them. 46 As far as we are yet informed, the tribes in our vicinity, who are moll advanced in the purfuits of in dultry, are lincerelydifpofed to adhere to their fliend fhip with us, and to their peace with all others.— While thofe more remote do not prefent appearances fufficiently quiet to jufiify the intermiffion of military precaution on our part. 66 The great tribes on cur booth weftern quarter, much advanced beyond the others in agricultural 'and houfehold arts, appear tranquil and identifying their views with ours, in proportion to their advance. ments. " With the whole of thefe people, in every quar ter, I !hall continue to inculcate peace and friendthip with all their neighbours, and perfeverance in thole occupations and purfuits which will belt promote their own well being. " The appropriations of the ht feffion, for the defence of our lea ports, towns and harbours, were made under expeeation that a continuance of our peace would permit us to proceed in that work ac cording to our convenience. It has been thought better to apply the fums then given towards the de fence of New York, Charlefton, and New Orleans, chiefly, as molt open and molt likely firtt to need protetlion ; and to leave places lets immediately in danger to the provifions of the prefent feffion; " The gun boats too already provided have, on a like principle, been chiefly affigned to New York, New Orleans, and the Chefapeake. Whether our moveable force on the water, fo material in aid of the defenfive works on the land, should be augment ed in this or any other form, is left to the wifdom of the Legiflature. For the purpofe of manning thefe vetrels, is fudden attacks on our harbours, it is a matter for confideration, whether the feamen of the United States may not juftly be formed into a fpecial militia, to be called on for tours of duty in defence of the harbours where they (hall happen to be—the ordinary militia of the place furnilbing that portion which may confift of landfmen. " The moment our peace was threatened, I deemed it indifpenfible to fecure a greater provifion of thole articles of military (lore. with which our magazines were not fufficiently furnifhed. To have ;awaited a previous and fpecial fanilion by law, would have loft occafions which might not be retrieved. I did not hefitate therefore to authorife engagements for loch fupplements to our exiting flock , as would render it adequate to the emergencies threatning us : and I tr: it that the Legiflature, feeling the fame anxiety for the fafety of our country, fo materially advanced by this precaution, will approve when done, what they would have feen fo important to be done, if then affembled. Expences, alto unprovided for, arofe out of the meaty of calling all our gunboats into aaual fervice for the defence of our harbours, of all which accounts will be laid before you. " Whether a regular army is to be railed, and to what extent, moil depend on the information fo shortly ezpeEted. In the mean time 1 have called on the States for quotas of militia to be in readinefs for pre fent defence ; and have, moreover, enciuraged the acceptance of volunteers, and I am happy to inform you, that thefe have offered themfelves with great alacrity in every part of the Union; they are ordered to be organized, and ready at a moment's warning, to proceed on any fervice to which they may be cal led, and every preparation within the executive power has been made to infure us the benefit of early cur dons. " I informed Congrefs at their Taft Seffion, of the enterprifes againft the public peace, which were be lieved to be in preparation by Aaron Burr and his affociates, of the meafures taken to defeat them, and to bring the offenders to juflice. Their enterprifes were happily defeated by the patriotic exertions of the militia, whenever called into a6ion, by the fide lity of the army, and energy of the Commander in. Chief, in promptly arranging the difficulties prefent ins themfelves on the Sabine, repairing to meet thole suiting on the Miffiffippi, and diffipaung before their explofion plots engendering there. I than think it my duty to lay before you the proceedings, and the evidence publicly exhibited on the arraignment of the principal offenders berme the Dille ia Court of Vir. ginia. You will be enabled to judge whether the defed was in the tefi'mony, in the law, or in the admi nifiration of the law ; and wherever it (ball be found, the Legiflaturc alone can apply or originate the remedy. _ _ _ " The framers of our conflitution certainly fup• poled they had guarded, as well their government againft deftruaion by treafon, as thcir citizens againft oppreffion, under pretence of it ; and if theft ends arc not attained, it is of importance to inquire by what means, more effedual, they may be fecured. - . " The accounts of the receipts of revenue, during the year ending on the gosh day of September lati, being not yet made up, a correB fiatement will be hereafter tranfmitted from the Treafury. In the mean time it is afcertained that the receipts have amounted to near fixteen millions of dollars; which, with the five millions and a half in the Treafury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us, after meeting the current demands and interell incurred, to pay more than four millions of the principal of our funded debt. Thefe payments, with thofe of the preceding five and a half years, have extinguifhed of the funded debt, twenty five millions and a half of dollars, being the whole which could be paid or purchafed within the limits of the law, and of out contraas, and have left us in the Treafury eight millions and a half of dollars. A portion of this turn may be confidered as a commencement of accu mulation of the furpluffes of revenue, which, after paying the inlialfunts of debt, as they (halt become payable, will remain without soy fpecific objea. It may partly. indeed, be applied towards completing the defence of the tzpoffd points of our country, on filch a fcale as (hall be adapted to our principles and j circumftances. as This object is doubtlefs among the i firft entitled to attention in fuck a Aate of our finaaces, and it is one which, whether we have peace or war, will provide fecuiity where it is due. Whether what thall remain of this, with the future furpluffec, may be tatefully applied to purpnfes already autholifed, or more ufefully to others requiring new authorities, or how other wife they Mall be difpofed of, are quer tions calling for the notice of Congrefs ; unlefs, in deed, they than be fuperfeded by a change in our public relations, now awaiting the determination of other:. Whatever be that determination, it is a great confolation that it will become known at a moment when the Supreme Council of the Nation is affem. bled at its poll, and ready to give the aids of its wifdom and authority to whatever courfe the good of our country thall then call us to purfue. 41 Matters of minor importance will be the fob. jet% of future communications ; and nothing thin be wanting on my part which may give information or difpatch to the proceedings of the Legiflature, in the exercife of their high duties, and at a moment fo interefting to the public welfare. " Tuefday, Odtober 27, 1807. " TH. JEFFERSON." jofeph B Varnunt was chofen Speaker, and Pa. trick Magruder, Clerk. Of 217 votes, General Var• nunt had 59, giving him a majnity of one! The Hall of the Houfe of Reprefentatives was on this day opened, for the firft time. THE EVENING STAR. LONDON. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7. PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK: 3 per Cent. Confols, Ihut—for Jan. amount 64 Reduced 63+—Ornnium prem..—Excheq. Bills, 3s. prem. PRICE OF STOCKS ON SATe R DAY. 3 per Coat. Rut 624.1 India Bonds par is. dlf. 3 per C. CODE MID T h at Imp. An. 74 4 per Colt. kit Excheq. Bills. IS. se. pr. 3 per Cent. Navy (hut I Cone ler aec. 634 6 4 Long Ana. i7l 13-t6 1. s6+ Mr. Prefident Jurcason's Meilsge on opening the Congrefs of the United States, given in the pre ceding columns,defervesthc attention of our Readers. —ln force points there is an evident want of can dour in this Addrefs. The Prefident alludes to the public ads of our Government refpe6ing the com merce of the two countries, without once glancing at the outrages committed on their trade by the French, though NA P 0 L lON'S famous Decree of block ade had been publifhed before our Government adopted any of the ads Co difagreeable to the Ame cans, and though he could not be ignorant that Cc venal American veffels had adually been condemned as prizes by the French for having touched at a British port. His account of the affair of the Chefapeake is equally fubjea to the charge of ambiguity. He mentions the four feamen taken out of the American (hip, whom he [Liles part of her crew, and ht dif tinaly Rates it as an additional aggreffion, "that one of there four feamen was put to death. He avoids faying whether they were or were not American fub jeas, and he takes no notice of the proceedings and verdia of the Court Martial. He brings it forward in this way, before he has learned whether the Britifb Government jullifies the aa of its Officer, or dif. claims it. His condudt will appear precipitate, and his language hulk, when the KINQ'S anfwer to his remonftrance Ihall arrive in America. A profpeEl is held out of an adjoßment of the dif ferences with Spain, becaufe, 4 4 though no meafures 46 have been taken on her part to bring them to a " dole, yet under a Rate of things which may fa. 64 your reconfideration, an expalation is entertained 64 that they may loon be brought to on jfue of fome " fort." How different the language which America holds even to Spain, from that which fhe has thoughc proper to adopt in her relations with this country ? And what is Rill more fingular, her harmony with the other States of Europe is Paid to have been uninterrupted. France then may feize American Cps, and caR her Citizens into prifon, without de. Rroying the harmony fubtilling between the two Countries ! It is not a little fingular that the Treaty offered by the late Minifters, and which, it has been affirmed at home, conceded to the Americans the beft rights of England, is by the American Government cha raelerifed as a Treaty 4 4 highly difadvaatageous to 64 , America—and in which they had (lipulated for, 4 and maintained all the principles which had been 4 4 the caufe of thofe irritations and collifioss which 44 fo frequently endangered the peace of the two 41 nations." The American Oovernment continues to preferve a rigid fyftenl of economy, which, is highly commen dable. The Prefident Rates, that after difcharging all the NatiOpal Debt which could be paid or pur chafed within the limits of the Law, they have a furplus in the Treafury of Eight Millions and a Half of Dollars ! A Member of the American Legation at Paris is' arrived in London, and confirms the report we have heard, that Bomarstra demands peremptorily that the American government fball break with Englana or with France. He leaves them no alternatiire; and we tuft that they will have no difficultj in their choice. Mr. Mew's, of Manchener.fquare, it appointed to a miffion to`the Court of SmallWm, - and will leave town in a few days for Sweden. PORTUGAL. The Alban cutter hAs a l ived at nlmouth, 11.1 fourteen days from off Li;;Jon. On the loth, zotlr, and 211 t ult. the was chaced off the coati of P..rtugal by five line rdf battle (hips, one of them difmafted.— She was obliged to throw her guns and anchors over board, to facilitate her cfcape. Lieutenant WEIR concludes that the men of wt. were French, becaufe. the fignals made by the cutter were not anfwered by her purfuers. It is poffible, however, that the me' (Altar, which were purfuiag a Southerly courfe whets the cutter left them, may have been Sir SIDNEY SNIT 11 ' 9 The Alban was not (offered to enter the port.— When the came away it was underfto od that there were in the Tagus 21 fail of the line, Ruffians and Pot tuguefe, and the latter were reported to have beer, taken potreffion of by the Spaniards. Goya:1171:m received difpatches by the Alban, but we have no learnt any thing refpaling their contents. THE EXPEDITIONS. On Saturday Rear Admiral Orway Lailled his flag on board of the Gtmay, of 98 guns, at Portf mouth, and went down to St. Helen's to take the command of a fquadron of fix fail of the line, viz. Gl-ty, Spencer, Mars, Valiant, L'Hetcule, and Su petb, of 74 guns. The fquadron which was to have been commanded by Admiral Kvars (who reaped on account of bad health) has dropped down to Sr. Helen'., and will fail immediately with fealed orders, to be opened 30 leagues to the weflwaid of the Lizard. .Lifban and the lqediterranean are their deflinatinn. The 4th Battali(•n c,f the Line (King's German Legion) have embarked at Portfmonth for foreign fervice. The 32d, soth, and 82d Regiments, expee to receive orders to embark when tranfprts are ready. The xsoth alto embark as 11th day at Pottf mouth. The whole force is Paid to be 15,000 men, and that will require 200 tranfports. DUBLIN, DECEMBER 3. An ezprefs arrived to Government this morning. but on what account we have not been able to after. t in. The Messrs frigate, on Monday morning, made the fignal 'for the tranfports with the troops on board in Cork harbour to get under weigh. She proceeds , with the expedition. The defiination of this force is kept in the iiriaefl fecrecy. The 63d Regiment embarked on Sunday morning, and proceeds with 'the fleet. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has ordered a fupply of 4o carts laden with copper coin to be fent to the forces in the Southern di trill. The Shaw, Captain DAWSON, who failed from this port on Wednefday the 24th ult. with a cargo of provifions, and 400 volunteers from the Wax militia for regiments of the line, weathered the molt tre, mendous fiorm'of wind and fnow' that has been re membered for many years, and on the evening of the third day, after molt painful paffage, he happily brought his veffel, with his cargo and paffengers, fafe into Fifgard in South Wales, from whence when refitted he will proceed to his original deftination, Liverpool. The Lark packet, for whofe fafety fo much anti. ety has been excited, is arrived in Fifgard Roads, on the coati of Pembrokelhire, South Wales. The Loch. nell Liverpool packet WAS fafe at Beaumaris on the 24th ult. The report circulated on Friday, on the authority of a letter from Bridal, refpeaing the decapitation of the Duke d'lttrattrano, and the Marquis Da LAS ASIAVILLAS, as vi6tims to the Pataca of the paacs, is now entirely discredited in the city, The 22d Regiment which had mutinied in India, as formerjy Rated, hat, it is faid, been feign watts without pay. 'The ad battalion of the 62d regiment have arrived at Portfasouth, on their route to Weymouth. Captain SCOTT, of the &rear frigate, was brother to Mr. SCOTT, the Counfel, who was erxering Lin coln's-inn-hall on Friday morning, in the courfe of his profeffion, when he received the fad news of his Brother's melancholy fate. Captain Scorr was an officer of high reputation and great pronsife in the navy ; he is well known to have diftinguifhed him fell in the last war, both in the Weft Indies and Mediterranean, as Firft Lieutenant of the Solebay ; and, we underhand, nothing can be more flattering and confoling to his friends, than the high charades given of him by Sir JAMES SAVMAREZ, in his letter to the Admiralty upon this calamitous event. His de. votion to the fervice to the left moment, and the ex ertions of himfelf and crew after the (hip (truck, are beyond all praife. The Spnrknoy Ruffian frigate, and the Wilhelmina Rorefhip, lately feized at Portfmoutb, had received orders from the Ruffian Ambafrador to fail,and were preparing to get under weigh, when our armed boats furrounded them. They are very valuable prize:. The frigate has on brard 17.0,000 ducats, soo,ooo dollars, a quantity of plate, and a cargo of copper and naval flora. The Itorefhip is dee* laden nth navel hoses. The Spurkney is a fine large fri• gate, of so guns, thirty eypounders on her main deck, and 375 men. The Officers and men are feat on board the PUISSANT. Captain Giotto' HARRIS, of the Baracouta floppy had lately charge of a convoy in the North Sea, when a large privateer, of greatly fuperior force, attempted to cut off one of the thins. The Baracouta inftantly made fail, and Captain HAWS ordered the Matter to run her dole to the privateer. The order being obeyed, the Baracouta poured a broadfide into the privateer, which was fo well direfled, that the enemy went to the bottom. Captain GALWAY, who was Lord Ng:Jose's Fiat Lieutenant at the battle of the Nile, 4 appointed to the command of the Antelope, of so guns.