The National Register. — London, England, 1818-01-11 00:00:00

JAN. 11. PARIS, JAN. 3.—The Journal des Debars, contains a very interesting letter *Dm Timis, in Persia . The author, Colonel Mcrcher, is one of those officers who in Itils accompanied Buonaparte as far as Torbay, and who were then sent with Savary, Due de Rorie, to the island of Malta. Having lett that island, he re turned by several circuits to France Soon afterwards be left his country a second time, for Persia, accompanied by a Mameluke of the Imperial guard, WIIQ acted as his interpreter. The letter of Colonel Mercher could not be inserted in the Journal des Debuts entire, because of the censorship. The following is one of the passages of the letter, word for word:—" It is very possible that we shall have a war with Russia, for the hereditary Prince, Abbas Mirza, has told me that he will never consent that one inch of territory, or one single subject, should be celed to Russia The Prince is of my own age, about 26 or 28 years old, tie most handsome man 1 have ever seen, a great lover or the sciences and the arts. He is a passionate lover of war, in which he has already gained some success : in fine, the blood of Gengis Khan still flows in his veins. I wish he may attain success. lam sure he is worthy of it." The letter likewise speaks of the jealousy which exists between tae French and English officers at the Court of Twirls. KING'S HEALTH.—S.lturday week a quarterly meet ing of the King's Council was held at Windsor, and the following report was given in by the physi cians " Windsor Castle, Jan. 3. " His Majesty has passed the last month in a very tranquil man ner and in a pod state or bodily bealli, but His Majesty's disorder remains unchanged." BIRTH-DAY OF THE PRINCESS CIIARLOTTE.BUI two and twenty years passed on Wednesday, since the birth of a Princess, whose private virtues endeared her to our country, and whose early and irreparable loss is now universally lamented. We are assured that his Royal Highness the Prince Regent has it in immediate contemplation to institute a Welsh Order, similar to those of St. Andrew and St. Patrick, consisting of twelve Knights Companions, be sides the Sovereign, We hope in a few days to be able, to lay before our readers an accurate list of the distin guished personages on whom this new dignity is to be conferred. The Installation will probably take place oa the Ist of March, being the festival of St. David, the tutelary Saint of Wales. It is a sin g ular coinci dence, that at the time of the death of ter lamented son, the Duke of Gloucester, Queen Anne was occu pied in the arrangement of a similar Order. The inten tion, from what cause we have been unable to learn, was subsequently abandoned ; but many original do cuments relating to the subject are still preserved in the library of Jesus College, Oxford.—Morning Paper. Papers have arrived from Boston (N. E.) to the 29th of November, and from New York to the 3d ultimo By the latest advices from Chili, inserted in them, it appears, that the Patriots were in possession of the whole of that province.—lt is stated in a Boston Paper, that Mr. Cobbett means to revisit this country in about year, or sooner, should a General Election take place ; as he intends to offer his services in Parliatnent to some city in the interior of the kingdom, to the inhabitants of which he had pledged himself to return on such an emergency. We know of no city or town that would not willingly dispense with Mr. Cobbett's redeeming his pledge. It would be a libel upon the good sense of our countrymen, to suppose, that a man who, in their turn has lavishly panegyrised, and scurrilously abused our public men of all parties, could any where, in these realms, pick up a dozen independent votes.— These Papers merely repeat what has already reached us through the medium of the Baltimore Journals, re specting the losses from the late hurricane in the West Indies, the rumoured successes of the Patriots on the Spanish Main, &c THE BERKELEY PEERAOF.—A whisper is in circu- Laical, says a morning paper, that it is intended to bring the question relative to this peerage again before Parliament. The only reason for such an application must be the discovery of new and important witnesses. We know not that this discovery has been made, but rumour confidently asserts it, especially to an elderly witness, weose absence was frequently spoken of dur ing the examinations. An Eminent Chancery barris. ter is said to have the conduct of the affair. The young Earl, who is now come to age, has never cele brated his majority. It is reported, indeed, that he regrets the dicision which counteracted the wish of his father, and that his affection for his elder brother is such as to render the prospect of the application here spoken of matter of pleasure to himself. Whatsoever may be the merits of the main question, upon which we do not pretend to be informed, this disposition can be viewed only with approbation and esteem. The celebrated chemift Berzelitts has been raised to the rank of Nobility by the King of Sweden, on account of his great talents as a chemielphilosopher. Hia Ma jesty, on conferrina , this dignity on the learned protes tor, we hope-presenled him with an income sufficient to maintain it. LONDON HOSPITAL—An election took place, on Wednesday, of a Solicitor ; the situation having be come vacant by the death of Mr. Wright. The result of the pull was as under : Mr. Lang 373 I Mr. Pear:e 94 Mr.Heallsrsea Ist) THE NATIONAL ItEGL,,TER. AMERICA. PRESIDENDS ME.4.4AGE TO CONGRESS. On the 2d of December, the President transmitted a ruesvage to both houses of C ongress , w hi c h, lik e a ll the other American State Papers, is of great length, and infinitely more augmentative than similar produc tions of the Old World. This State Paper divides itself into two branches A view of the Foreis t' m relations of the Unit e d St a t es . 2. Of t h e i r domestic eireumstasices. In the preamble the President takes u rapid viow of the internal prosperity of the Republic. "At no period of our political existence (says he) had we so much cause to felicitate ourselves at the prosper ous and happy condition of our'countrv. The abun dant fruits of the earth have filled it with plenty. An extensive and profitable commerce has greatly augmetaed our revenue. The public credit has attained an ex traordinary elevation. Our preparations for defence, in case of future wars, from Which, by the-experience of all nations, we ought not to expect to be exempted, arc advancing under a well digested system, with all the despatch which so important a work will admit, Our free Government, 'blinded on the interest and of of the people, has gained, and is daily gaining, strength. Local jealousies are rapidlY yielding to inure generous, enlarged, and enlightened views of 'national policy For advantages so numerous and highly important, it is our duty to unite in grateful acknowledgements to that ' Omnipotent Being front whom they are derived, and in unceasing prayer that he will endow us with virtue and strength to maintain anti hand them down in their utmost purity to our latest posterity." Front these topics he immediately turns to Great Britain, as if she were connected with them all. He states, that by common agreement, after some negocia tion, the British and American naval armament on the Lakes was to be reduced—on Lake Champlain to a single vessel—on Lake Ontario to one—Lakes Erie and the upper Lakes to two—to be armed with one cannon only : and that all the other vessels, of which exact lists were to be interchanged, should be forthwith dismantled. The force kept up was to be applied exclusively to in ternal purposes: and the arrangement to stand good until six months* notice on either side of a wish to dis solve it should have expired. On the disputes lately existing between this country and America, he says : " I have the satisfaction also to state, that the Com missioners, under the fourth article of the treaty of Ghent, to whom it was referred to decide, to which party the several islands in the bay of Passamaquoddy belonged, under the treaty of 1783, have agreed in a report, by which all the islands in the possession of each party befoie the lute war have been decreed to i . The Commissioners acting under the other article of the treaty of Ghent, for the settlement of the boundaries, have also been engaged in the discharge of their re spective duties, but have not yet completed them.— The difference which arose between the two Govern ments undet that treaty, respecting the right of the United States to take and cure fish on the coast of the British provinces north of our limits, which had been secured by the treaty of 1783, is still in negociation.— The proposition made by this Government, to extend to the colonies of Great Britain the principle of the convention of London, by which the commerce between the ports of the United States and British ports in rairupe had been placed on a footing of equality, has been declined by the British Government. This sub ject having been thus amicably discussed between the two Governments, and it appearing that the British Government is unwilling to depart from its present regulations, it remains for Congress to decide whether they will make any other regulations, in consequence thereof, for the protection and improvement of our navi gation." The negotiations with the Court of Madrid are spoken of in a less measured strain. They do not seem to prosper. The alleged crimes of the Spaniards against American commerce have never been redressed; and Spain is aocused of studiously spinning oat the diplomatic intercourse upon the matters under discus sion. Having spoken of the strict neutrality hitherto observed by the United :'totes towards the contending parties in Smith America,. he alludes to hostile acts of privateers sailiug under the patriot flag, he states, that to " obtain correct information on every subject in which the United States are interested ; to inspire just sentiments, in all persona in authority, on either side, ot'our friendly disposition, so iisr as it may compert with an impartial neutrality ; and to secure proper respect to our commerce in every port, and from every flag, it has been thought proper to send a ship of war, with three distinguished citizens, ahmg the southern coast, with instruction to touch at such ports as they may find most expedient for these purposes. With Lite ex isting authorities, with those in the possession of, and exercising the sovereigcity, must the communication be held ; from them alone can redress far past injuries, committed by persons acting under them, be obtained: by them alone can the commission of the like in future be prevented" Amelia Island is claimed as belonging to the United States by geographical poaitiou ; sad Cialvestown, on the Gulph of Mexico, is contended for as American ground, by virtue of the Kirgain tbr Lousiana, Smug. glint;, and. various descriptions of irregularity in the unauthorised captors of these two posts, are added as a collateral justification of the order: which have been issued to seize them on the part of the North American Government. The relations with Europe remain un. changed ; and peace has been preserved with the states of Barbary, and with the Indians. Thus ends that portion of the message with which foreigners are os tensibly and directly concerned. It then passes to a view of the financial concerns of the country, which, we must confess is favourable enough to excite something like envy in the breasts of the inhabitants of the old world ; it alludes to the pur chases of land lately made from the Indians, and dwells with a confident hope on the advantages likely to re. suit from the measure, by a giving greater degree of sc• curity to their frontier. The President next adverts to the great advantages whicF. arc to be derived to commerce from the making of good roads and canals, but at the same time gives it as his opinion, that, by the constitution, Congress has no power to establish such a system f improvement : he, however, recom mends to the Stats, the adoption of an amendment to the constitution which shall give to congress, the right in question. On the progress of their Insnufactures and public public buildings the Meesage has little to boast: it considers the time is arrived, when something decisive should be done towards completing the desert city of Washington. It recommends the surviving officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war to the protection of the country, and concludes with the following para graph, which must be highly consoling to the feelings of the inhabitants of the United States:— " It appearing in a satisfactory manner that the revenue arising from imports and tonnage, and from the sale of the public lands, will be fully atlegnate to the support of the civil government; of the present military and naval establishments, including the annual au•,mtentation of the latter, to the extent provided fur, to the payment of the interests on the public debt, and to the extinguishment of it at the times authorised, without the aid of internal taxes; I consider it my duty to recommend to Congress their repeal. To ims pose taxes, when the public exigencies require them, is an obligation of the most sacred character, especial), with a free people. The faithful fulfilment of it is amon:r the highest proofs of their virtue, and capacity for self-government. To dispense with taxes, when it may be done with perfect safety, is equally the duty of their representatives. In this instance we have the satisfaction to know that they were imposed when the demand was imperious, and have been sustained with evemplary fidelity. I have to add, that, however gra tifying it may be to me, regarding the prosperous and happy condition of our country, to recommend the repeal of these taxes at this time, I 'shall nevertheless be attentive to events, and should any fu ture iminergency occur, be not less prompt to suggest such measures and burdens as may then be requisite and proper.' In addition to the message we have received the pro.. ceedings of the House of Representatives on the 3cl ult. on which day Mr. Clay brought figwanl the case of the British officers immured in prison at Philadelphia ; by what appears pretty clearly from the speeches delivered on the occasion, to have been a stretch of power, rather than an enforcement of law. Mr. Clay was followed by Mr. Serjeant, who confirmed his statement in all its parts. Both these members bore testimony to the cor.. rect deportment of our unfortunate countrymen, and both were restrained by a mere sense of decency from giving expression to their sentiments respecting the conduct of Judge Washington. Mr. Clay's amend ment which went to ihquire into the law of the case was carried without opposit►on. There are occasionally in the American papers adver.• tisemenis, offering rewards for the apprehension of run away slaves, marked. with letters imprinted bya.red4tut iron on the shoulders, breasts, or cheeks ; but of all the instances -f abominable cruelty and injustice, perpetrated " as the law directs," the following is, perhaps, the most striking:—A poor fellow wh , declares that he is a free man, is seized and cast into prison by nobody knows who ; the owner, " if any," is desired to release him ; but if he has no owner, that is, if he be what he de clam himself, a free man, he will be sold to defray the expense of his imprisonment N o ck e .—waseammitpd to the gaol of Frederick county, Mary. land. the 29th of September last, as a run-away, u mulatto man who calls himself William, five feet ten inches high; had on when corn mined, an old blue cloth coat, striped lim ey vest, tow-linen panta loons and !.hirt, fur hat about half worn; he is about 39 . yclus says he is free. that he was nutnumitted by Phillip I .ove, Reistar. town, Baltimore county. The owner (if any), is desirous to release him, otherwiv lu• »is be Add,* his insprisonmastrees,,,, ght. law di rec:a."—(,Cgaed. &c.) An ordinance has been passed in the city of Savannah, br which any one who teaches a man of' colour, either a slave or free, to read or write, or causes such person to be so taught, is subjected to u line of 30 dollars for each offence ; and every person of colour who shall keep a school to teach reading or writing, is subject to a tine of 30 dollars, or he imprisoned ten days, and whipped 39 lashes. Behold the enlightened policy of the free people of A.nierica!