The National Register. — London, England, 1811-07-14 00:00:00

15 •Alo " N° 185. THE • • • ••••••••••,•••••10. PRICE 9d. SUNDAY, JULY l4, 1811. POLITICAL .1)ISQ ' No. 171. SECRET TREATT.IETWEEN PRANCE AND AME- RICA. ~ , The secret nrrangement between France and America, which we traced in our last Number, out of a particular sentence in NAPOLEON'S speech to the Legislative Body, has now received its full, and, we may say, official confirmation. A know ledge of its existence is betrayed in many parts of Commodore Romans's account of the action with the Little Belt, which has just reached us, and Abe principles until then covertly acted upon by the American Government, have, in con sequence of that dacument . and the occasion which gave it birth, been since openly avowed, as will be seen, by the following extract Little Belt, - approbation of the United States, and that the request of the Corn znodore, for an investigation into his conduct on the occasion has not been axeded to; his known candour and honour precluding any doubt of the correctness of his statement of the circumstances of the affair, and we assert that it may confidently be expected by our Naval Commanders, that in sup porting the dignity of our flag, they will be rewarded with the applause of the American Government." Here beside the false assertion that we began the attack and therefore rendered it the duty of Com modore RODGERS to repel and chastise our causeless and rash aggression, we are officially informed that the conduct of that officer, has met with the unqua lified 41 approbation of the PRESIDENT of the United States;" who, it appears, was even so fully bent on fulfilling the terms of the treaty with France, that, although he knew this was a transaction on which the fate of war and peace depended, he refused to make any inquiry into the business, relying entirely on the statement of one man, which in matters of such importance ought never to be received without being questioned and verified. This, at best, would prove the PR ESIDEIsIT guilty of anunpardonable ference to the interests of his country and of roe— CLXXXV. • - - both of whom the levity of his conduct must in- volve into a war. But other causes may be pointed out, beside indifference, for his preventing an in. quirt' into the origin of this affair. Such an investi gation must have brought to lirht the secret ar rangements formed with NAPOLEON, and deprived the United States of even a pretence, although most futile and unfounded, for joining the leagued Powers of the European Continent in hostilities against us. Should the flames of war speedily blaze on the American shores, the PRESIDICNT will tell the walla that we are the aggressors, and impressing that be lief on the minds of the citizens of the United States, who are not acquainted with the mysterious , transactions of their Government, will induce them to bear more patiently the privations and immense losses to which a state of hostility 'with this country ts;ast expose them. The justice of the cause, how.. will decide the fate of the contest. When Sir a squaZron, small .4k*rpailtd - with the dertiands not only an reparation for the offence corn- Izers, it is possible that the PRESIDENTmay feel the folly of his conduct,but it will then be too late to recede. He is no longer bound only by secret treaties, he has caused it to be pub licly announced, in almost the very words used by NApoLrom, 1g that Commodore Rodgers has only sup ported the dignify of the American flag, and that in so doing, the Naval Commanders of the United States will be rewarded with the applause of the American Government." After such a declara tion, it is no longer in his power, without standing in the face of the world self-convieted of wilful falsehood, tending to plunge his country into all the horrors of war, to make the apology and give the reparation which will be required. Nothing short of the dismissal of Commodore RODGgItS from the American service can satisfy offended 'Neutrality and appease the manes of the brave saitors whom his unprovoked aggression has destroyed. But how can the PRESIDENT, who has rewarded him pub. licly with his 44 approbation and applause," now alter his language and degrade '64 the supporter of the dignity of the American flag." This decision of the merits of the most important question that has ever arisen between this Country and the 71;104ed States, on a partial and interested state ca .10 4 71* NiVr c r lWWitapcyfftt juNg 3. ever, will decide the fate of the - that giadoirtit Camino- Joaptt Tomtit, at the head of- ore Romans, in repaint 4/01 ttesdistit trialibow. ilk l when • ack so causelessly and rashly made on the United whole of the American Navy, de lutes frigate President,, by the British ship of war inquiry but a signal reparation fl .ittle Belt, has the approbation of the President of witted on one of our cruizers, it e„11..,,chL REGISTER Our Vilna, etongitution, ant) tato. NA.TioNAT..