The Sun. — London, England, 1804-04-09 00:00:00

F ;OM THE DUTCH PAPERS': CONSPIRACY AGAINST BONAPARTE. THE CHIEF YUSTWE's REPORT TO THE FIRST CONSUL. CITIZEN FIRST CONSUL, I think it my duty to separate from the infornia tion respefling the vile Conspiracy, which public jusice will shortly bring to public view, and punish, those pieces of additional correspondence, which, in this great affair, and, as far as concerns the police, is but trifling ; but in its political point of view, seems to me of a nature that cannot fail to open the eyes of Europe to the despicable charafter of the kn g lish Ministry, the meanness of its Agents, and the miserable expedients it has recourse to, for RC- Complishin g its views. . An English Minister is accredited at a Court bordering on France: the manners of the people at. tach distindions and privileges to this place, and Mnot without reason. The residence of a Forein inister i s every where designed for the ascertai g n.. ing and maintaining those bonds of friendship, con fidence and honour, that unite States, and whose preservation constitutes the glory of a Government, and the happiness of the people. But these are not the views of the diplomatic agent , - of th e British Government. I shall lay be fore you, Citizen Consul, the dire& correspondence which Mr. DRAKE, the English Ambassador to the Elect or of BAVARIA, has held for these four months With agent s sent heart o f the , paid, an d employed by him in the Republic. This correspondence consists Of ten original Letters, written in his own hand. I shall also lay before you th instruEti on wh that Gentleman is charged toe distribute s to hic his agents, and an authentic account of the sums already paid, and of those promised, as an encouragement and reward of crimes, which the mildest laws every Where punish with death. (See th e Instrudion, and Nos. t, 3, s, 7, and 9, of the Correspondence.) It was not as the representative of his Sovereign that Mr. DRAKE came to Munich, with the title of Plenipotentiary. This is mer e l y hi s ostens ib le cha jratterl, a pretence for sending him: the genuine ob ef.l of his mission is to recruit for agents of intrigue, revol4 and assassination ; to stir up a war of plun der and Murder against the FrencloG ozernment, and to etuna the neutrality and the dignity of the Go verninent where he resides. • It is premised, though Mr.DI/AKE appears °Sten aibly as a public charader, he is in reality (as his private instrudions prove) the secret Ditedor of Engliih mach i nations on the C ont i nent ; the sinews of which are gold, corruption, the foolish hopes of those concerned in the plot, and of all the ambitious people in Europe. His aim. is plainly pointed out in the eighteen Article-B'6f Insteuftions with which Mr. DRAKE I - unlit/he s his Agents, and which form the first of the Pieces added cis this .Ikeport. • Nos. 2 ' 7 ' °, 9' and 13, of these .Instruaions, remarkable. are sufficiently Art. 2. The principal point in view • -overthrow of h being the t e Present Governmen , one o f the r in .ciPal mean s of accomplishing this is, the o b. taini g 'l c a ...nowied •e o f the Enemy for ge n i me- p l ans this purpose, it is of the utmost importance to begin by establishing a correspondence in the different bu 4reau „" t s, jot the o b ta i n i ng particular information of he plans, b ot h as to the exterior as well as to the interior.—The knowledge of these plans sug gests Th e best mode of rendeling them abortive, and Ole want of 'success is the Must effedual means of discrediting the Government, the first, and most important step towards the end proposed. 7. To gain over those employed in the powder. mills, so as to be able to blow them up, as occasion allay requite. • 8. It is indispensably necessary to gain over a certain number of Printers and Engravers, that may be relied on, to print .and execute every thing that the Confederacy inlay stand in need of. 9. It is very much to be wished, that a perfe& k..nowletige may be gained o f t h e s i tuation of the utffirent parties in France, and particularly in Paris. ase t lt i s well understood, that every means must tied of th to d isorganize the armies, both i n an d ou t e -Republic. Thus you s',.e that the real objeds of Mr. DRAKE'S mission are , t o bri o lie, to wow g fire and fl ames i nto t h e R epu b. u Ph e Powder-mills, to procure trusty Printers and Engravers for the purposes of forgery, to penetrate into the heart of every Assembly, to arm one party against the other, and, in fine, to dis. Organize the armies. But, happily, this ev il • •notso p owerful genius is in its means, as it is fertile in illusions and sinister it s ; were it other w i se, rencethere would be an end of Society. Hatted craft, gold, and a total indiffe as to the m , means employed, are neither want ing to Mr. DRA KE , nor t he i mmora l po licy of the - Government whosetosse s . % Agent he i s . B ut t h ey d o n ot F power enou g h to shake the or anization of rance, whi c h i s of the strop g found at i on in the affe en g nature, having its ftions orthirtv milli ons of Ct tizens cemented toh b ter and inter est , and ani mated y the ir jo i nt strengt h nius of t h e G b y the wi s d om an d ge overnment. Those who consider nothing of any va l ue b es id es gold, whose to yonl abilities consi s t i n l ow i ntr i gue , are not able conceive the strength and power of a combination of circumstances, the result of ten years of sufferings, and ten , c years of viftories, of a co ncurrence of ev ents, and of the establishment otot noble ''ration, founded on the dangers and efforts of a glorious war, and a terrible revolution. In the tnidst of these means, Mr. DRAKE sees nothing but opportunities for intrigue, aryl the efforts of spies " During my stay in Italy," he says to one of his correspondents, (Munich, Jan. 27. No. 7) " I had connexions with the interior of Prance should continue to have them, as I am at this moment, of all the English Ministers, the nearest to the Frontiers." This is his pretence for exercising his utmost en neavours for the overthrow of France. But his means are no better than his right. He ha s agents i n whom he dares not confide. His doubtful correspondents write to him 'via Switzer_ land, Strasburg, Kehl, Offenburg, and Munich. He 1115 subalterns in these cities, to take especial care f his correspo n d ence . H e ma k es use o f forge d Passports (No. 835) of fiditious names, of symia thstic . . . . •, (No. 1) These are the modes of commtinication through which he transmits his ideas, projedi and rewards; and, by these Mea ns , h e is i n f o rmed of the Schemes planned by his orders for raising insur, reaion, in the first place, in four depaitifients ; (No. v.), for raising an army, increasing the num ber of the disaffeded, and overthrowing the Consu lar Government. These efforts and promises are too mad, and the vile miserable methods employed are too dispropora tioned to the difficulties of the enterprize, to give any uneasiness as to their success. But it is not with regard to what may occasion fear, nor with a view of punishing, that the operations of that inte rior arrangement, called the Policy, aas; its prin. cipal ()Ned is, not alone to prevent crimes as that.. of the exterior is to confine ambition, but to re move even the very occasion of vice and weakness. In those countries that are the best governed, there are always to be found certain persons who suffer themselves to be led astray by a sort of 'innate inconstancy. In the best regulated commonwealths' there are to be found perverse and weak men. It has always been considered by my predecessors as a duty to watch over such persons, nor in the vain hope of rendering them good, but to stop the deve. lopment of their vices ; and as on thii head all civilized nations have the same interest to watch over, and the same duty to fulfil, it has always been a received maxim, that no Government should stif fer a Standard to be created, around which hirelings of every country or profession might gather, for the purpose of planning a general disorganization, and much less should they permit an infamous school of bribery, and recruiting, to the prejudice at once of the fidelity, constancy, affeetions, and conscience of the citizens. Mr. DRAKE had an agency at Paris; hut other Ministers, the instruments of discord, ai.d exciters of mischief, like him, may also have agencies. Mr. DRAKE, in his Correspondence, unmasks all those that exist in France, by the very measures he takes to deny that he knows any thing of them. " I repeat (says he " Nos. 4, $, 6,8, and 9) that I have no know " ledge of the existence of any other society besides " yours. But I repeat to you (he observes in several " places) that if there does, I do not doubt but that " you and your friends . will take the necessary " measures, not only not to embarrass one another, " but to he mutually serviceable to each other." In fine, he adds (Munich, Dec. g, 18o3), with a brutal fury, and worthy of the part he plays, " It " is of very little consequence by whom the beast "' is brought to the ground, it is sufficient that you " are all ready to join in the chase." Pursuant to this system, on the first breaking out of the Conspiracy that now employs the hand of Jtivice, he writes : " If you see any means of ex ." " triCating any' of Geotic c's associates, do not fail to make use of them ;" (No. 9), and as his evil genius is never discouraged, even -in• his disgrace, Mr. DaAtt will not have his friends give them selves up for lost in this unexpeaed reverse of for tune. _ _ 44 I earnestly request you," he writes (Munich, 25 h Feb. 18o+, No. , 9), " to print and distribute " a short address to the army immediately (both to " the dicers and soldiers): The main point is to " gain partizans in the army ; for I am thoroughly " persuaded, that it is through the army alone that. " one can reasonably hope to t; in the change SO " much desired." How vain these hopes were, h sufficiently ch. ratterized by the striking unanimity, that prevails evety where, now that the danger is discovered with which France was menaced. But the attempt to commit a crime, the bare idea of which is an outrage to humanity, and the execu tion of which . would not only have been a national calamity, but, I may add, a calamity for ail Europe, demands not only a reparation for the past, but a guarantee for the future. A solitary, scattered banditti, a prey to want, without harmony, and without support, is always weaker than the laws which are to punish it, or the police which ought to intimidate it. Bur if they have the power of uniting, ‘ , if they could car respond with each other, and the Brigands of other countries ; if in a profession the most honourable of all, inasmuch as the tranquillity of Empires and the honour of Sovereigns depend thereon, there should be found men authorized to make use of all the power their situaiion affords, to praEtise vice, corruption,, infamy, and villany, and to raise from out of the refuse of human nature., an army of assas sins, rebels, and forgers, under the command of the most immoral and most ambitious of all Govern ments, there would be no security in Europe for the existence of any state; for public morality, nor even for the continuance of the principles of civili zation. It is not my duty to discuss the means you may possess to secure Europe, by guaranteeing her against such dangers. I content myself with inform ing and proving to you, that these exists'.at Munich an Englishman, called DRAKE, invested with a di plotnatic- charaCter, who, profiting o 1 this guise, and of the vicinity of that place, directs darks and cri minal efforts to the heart of the RepUblic ; who re cruits for agents of corruption and .rebellion ; who resides beyond the environs of the Town, that his Agents may have access.to him without shame, and depart, without being. aposed ; and who diretts and pays men in France, ch,rged by him with pav ing the way to an overthrow of the Government. This new species of -crime, escaping, from its nature, the ordinary means of supprssion which the Laws put in my power, I must confine myself to the unmasking it to you, and pointing out to you at the same time, the sources, circumstances, and consequences. Health and Respell, . REGNIER. INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN TO M. D. L. The subtance of these Instrudions is as follows : I. M. D. L. must immediately go to Franc::,. and witho%t penetrating as far as Paris, must find an opportunity of coo, versing with his associates, whom he must inform that, having the highest opinion of their prudehce, the purity of their intentions, and their patriotism, they may be tumished with pecuniary assistance, to enable them to overthrow the e resent Government, and the French Nation ; to chtiseti4 torn of Government most likely to assure its hapjnes and tranquillity ; a point which ten years experience- ought to have rendered very obvious. 11. NI. D. L. must scale upon a goneral plan with his Associates—containing, T. he particulars as to the mode of execution which they intend auccessivcly to alopt.. a. An estimate Of the probable expence; without losing. 4 c ,„ xot of vcon , imy. , . the prr,bahlel period When it may be necessary to vane 4" the sum in question. 1 4 • Al . 1)".. L,. will ,remit gooj. sterling, to enable them to cotrimcnce their operations : whenever this soot is ex pended, or nerAY so, the same atnoutt will be again furniih ed by M. L. . • I V. tt is wished, tliat a gulletin should be made ouf of all thoSe interesting events that occur, on which the Freiich Papers are silent, as Also of all those that take place its the . Sea-ports and the Army. The associates to give a very ex ad account of their hopes; and of the success of their opera tions. These Bulletins Must be numbered very exactly, that, in case it Shobld happen that any one of them should be mislaid, or withdrawn, it may be immediately perceived, and notice given to the Society. These Bulletins must also be written according to the na ture of their contents, partly with black ink, and partly With: sympathetic ink, for which M. D. L. will give them the receipt. Those of which part is to be written with sympathetic, will be marked by a small spot of ink, made as if by chance, at the top of the first page of the letter. it is absolutely necessary that M. D. 1.. and his associates procure the means of being; informed of every thing interesting that passes in the departments of the ditthrent .Ministers, as well as in the Senate, in Council, in the interior of the palace, sec. &c. for should these bulletins not be exact, confidence might take the alarm, and be weakened. V. M. D. L. will be himself the centre point of the cor respondence. VI. As soon as M. D. L. has agreed with his companions on all these points, he shall immediately go to the place of his destination. • . • REAL NAMES OK PERSONS. PICT L T LOOS PiItIKE.G. f..c•Ot. - 7 - -- - -.., ‘. ,iiiierf• - • - ;..- •Alternatel y - ' A./ , r_i.'; ) ' ( • , Cl.i.t. 1. 1 • -, • • • -.; I.) A•bard; . A lternately • -- ( 1,,, , g,a.tc1. ) AuoStru. '" - : - .., ...... . -, ill., Pelirrier: . . Bertitier . - - , .. , . ,W. • Diemb , :y. ' lioutt!oirial, ' - l' ...' ' i .... M. ;13r.t.e. :-. tioniparte - ~... .. ;- ~ , 41,./...,iteler. t fiutialvqtg.• . - Machtmel , - ,i i a:l4 •ne ;74 Sliaro Bonvalie Lutsel:l ' ; - L. A41 4 , , i. • • I.loluwarre lase,A , . - C. //.,mont. • • Cliaris I.Arclt,;iike - , - .11i. Dye!,,,, Cont.W,(Prjrice ofi -", M. 4.yo l ehr, Erolierur of GOrulank - M. lit'Ll•ai• • . . ' • Et - opal - or of kussii - - • Af. BNichirfasi. .Kellermarin - - -. )M. 111;rir,.• Lattis XVI Ii .. - - .10f. Z.:care. Ni as iii - '' - • - ' Ai. Ainind: 'Moreau • - ': - s : - Af Ifiescow,;. l) lcliegiu , - -: - M. Sc,va,ivie., -, , Tallcyrand ' .; - .1t1; Grenia . hi. M.D.L. F icTi:rovF .1 - glc;;s. . - . Rheims. RAA't NAtiEiciEplyiEs. .Arbois . - - Batlle Besansion Bologne Chambery Curse (Lai Feri - ra Flotenee - Geneva Landau Legnotn London Lyons Mantua - Milan Modena • • Pails i.kyn [The] Roille - 't :.. ~ •.; : Turin Venice Verona Vienna f Tours. The Upper Pe., 7gran. - - Berlin. •- llescuron, —11 T . • ' 5a!i7 . 11111 . . tiwirdea • - 111,1g:tiler. bfgoirtatil. • Nctetcs. • , - D; esien„ - Chi • , • Atirmq,,i. • • Um. . 1.70-enc. :_: . +, _. J ~, REAL N4MIS OF 0113ECtS. FIFTITIOUSzIi.rdzst Ambassador - Euglish [the Governrhent] - M Th 1-'a . .7 The k ac x:. 6. Money ' - ' . .. The Basil. Armistice ;* _.. The Cbgript. ..• , Legislative Body - - The Ptysicitms,.. Courier [the] - - - The Ille, thanalze. Jacobin 1. a] - - .. A Man of Litters. Insurrection [a] - -. -4 •IllanirfiLQ , o). Letters or Dispatches ..' • The Newstape•-s. Officers [the] - - The Dcmc4tict. Peace.[lne] - - - - The Pot. : Police pile] ... , 1 1W'. yailledt. Prefect [the] - - • M. L..:,libei t. Proclamation [a] . •' - . A Drumm,: -, Re-establishment of Royalty The nequ; Calendar [tht:l - - - . . 4.... 4 e [ the ] _ • .:. Me Resoi-t. Conservative Senate [the] The Bank. Soldiers [the] : - , , '.- Abe I.,44opirers. Tribunate [ttic. Consuls the] - - '-. - , . - The Ar.lisze. Thre.e. - .. The • Family. i i • Provisions [the - The Ll:ensile. t -. , „ The Agent, M. D. L. having been sent from England to livatia, there to reoive Mr. 6k Ais's instrutaion befure he commenced his operationson. flounced to him by a note arrival at Martial ; to which he received 'an answer, which we think highly proper to print, becaUse it is Written in „his own hand, and signed by shim; . and because the whole of the following Correspondence, which we ' here present to our Reader's, is frOin .the same hand .. 4tR, ! .s-, . I atri extremely happy to hear or. 'your 'a arr i v al this City;' and shall be very happy:to - see you as soon . as convenient to you: You Will do the the hontitlr tti stay and dine with me, if four otelOCk . be e.onve. nient to you. Your very obedient servant, Monich, Friday Morn. FRANCIS.DRAKE. „ . The -Agent being arrived in Paris, immediately saw that there was nothing to, he done; however,. he did not cease to .supply Mr.MaAKE with Letters and Bulletins for his money, but he also let the Police into the secret of this , Correspondence. • .• .(Tc: he continued). • • 't ... • ADD ITT ONS TO TH E INSTRUCTIONS. I. It appears more eligible, that M. D. L. should go to Pdtis, or the environs, where the Police• will have it less in their power to watch one who knows how to conceal himself, than so any other place, where every new face is taken mirk< of, • and where every Mayor is informed of all arrivals, arid makes a merit of giving notice thereof, besides the suspicion which in.,iy• arise from coming.and going, and the carriage of letters, which may also eventually be intercepted. • It is also much better to speak to each persOn separately, as t':e freedom of conversation allows of much which might not so conveniently be committed to writing. . The object of M. L. D.'s journey being the overthrow of the present Government, the best means of ededing it is, to obtain d knowledge of the plan of the Enemy. • For this purpose it is of the. utmost consequence to establish a coati &alai correspondence with the different offices, for gaining ea_ exact knowledge of all plans, both within and without file' Republic. The knowledge of these plans will furnish the best means of defeat, and their failure is a certain means of discrediting the Government, the first and roost impo rant step towards the end desired. For this pUrpose means mast be devised to obtain certain intelligence in the Se— cretary of War and Marine's Offices; as also in those of Foreign Affairs and public worship ;• means Must also be found to know what passes , in the Secret Commit tee. which is supposed to be established at Saint - Cloud, and composed of the Consul's most confidential friendse- These notices ought to he given in the form of bulletins, ac- • cording to the InstruCtions of the President of the Commit- • tee, and sent with all possible expedition to M. D. (1)a AKE) in the manner agreed on. Care must be taken to give an account of the different projeas, that B . . . . may have with regard to Ireland and Turkey, aid of the plots of the Irish refugees. These points ace most particularly tee, commended to M. D. L. as the first and roest important in the beginning ; also of the removal of troops; vessels, those building, and all the military preparations The letters to be addressed to a friend at Strasburg; and from thence to be brought by hint to the Post-office at Kali.' When there is a great dear to be written, it may.bcdone on the batik Of one or more maps, with sympathetic ink, or on. the margin of 'books. printed upon paper well sized, taking care to make a mark with ink where the writing begins: . this must be sent by a post-roach,. addressed to raladame; F a atecx,..or Messrs: PAPELIEK and Co. at Strasburg, with a letter signed with the mine of some bookseller, where they will request the correstiendent to forward it to Mr.. U. These Cotrespoodents being in the. habit of executing commissions for M. D. \ willoiever have the smallest sus- picion of the affair,.. these being common articles' in trade; but this must never be, done; except when• there is a great deal to write, or when the : quantity of paper would other wise be so considerable, as to atiraken suspicion at the post office, and then M, D. must he informed of it -by letter. This mannea of sending, has nothing remarkable in it, as the paroels will always he marked A. B. with a letter fur Mad. Faaetex. ur Messrs, Parzeizit. 111. Care must be taken to furnish IL4. with an esti mate of the necessary expenees, making the dernatal as tarly as possible, and explaining the different objects. M. D. must be informed of the fictitious name of the person in whose favour the Bill of Exchange diust be drawn ; and 111. D. will take care to procure one where his name will not appear, and which will not be liable to any suspicion. IV, To render the correspondence more secure, fiCtitiotis mines !Mist be used, even with the sympathetic ink ; also for the names of the towns, which must be taken one fOr ano ther, according to the list marked A. V. That no suspicion may arise from the same name be ing always used, M. 0. L. will agree with - six at least of his faithful friends about changing it. This measure is indis pensably necessary in case of sickeiess or accidents. Each of these Gentlemen in waiting must very exadtly citeserye_ the order of the number of the first •series, as it one per son alone had written. That which is intelligible (i 4. ria)( , ), must be relative to commerce, or the arts and sciences, and. must appear as if it was an account of the novelties in Paris. It the Government is spoken of, it ,must be in a favourable manner. Care must he taken that what is written with the sympathetic ink may not be too small. The nutnbers must always be written with it, and never plain, to avoid sus picion. VI. M. D. 1. having received from M. V. the • receipt for the sympathetic ink, must destroy the bottle, 'that he may not bring any thing into France that can occasion the least suspicion, and must write his private instructions on blank paper in his pocket-book at the end of his travelling expellees ) &c. and most destroy all papers as well as pass ports which can throW the least light upon his destination.. VI I. One may, with the associates, buy over those em ployed in the powder-mills, for the purpose of blowing them up, as may be found convenient. VII I. It is above all necessary to take into pay some printers and engravers, who can be relied on, tor th-; purpose of printing . w hat the Association may find necessary'. 'I X. It is very desirable to be informed of the' state of parties in France, particularly. in Paris, and of the probable result of the death of 13. X. For the present, nothing must be talked of in the Corn , Mittte, except to those who are known to be welt disposed, at,least till something certain is known is to the intentions of the King, and the general disposition of the People, after which, pew InstruCtionS must be sent, tending to the pro posed end; and which assist be calculated according to the, tokens received. Xl: The greatesecircurnspe6tion must be used, particu larly in the first movements, and in not, speaking without the greatest reserve, to avoid the treachery of false brethren, who might profit thereby; to las' claims to the favour of the Go veronica. In no case must any thing- be.contided except to men of the greatest prudence. One means of soundioe toe opinions of doubtful persons, is naturally to 'observe that, if • •it is impossible to have a Republic, it seems 'more simple, and just, to restore the antient royalty,'than to devote one's self anew to the despotism of estranger, XI I. M. D. advises M. D. L. not to leave France without pressing necessity, on.account of the difficeilty Of passing and repassing the fronti :rs. XIII. It is well understood, that all possible means tnust be tried to disorganize tlie armies, both within and without the Republic. XI V. Endeavours . must be made to establish a more di rect correspondence with England, - by way of Jersey • or from some point of the French Coast. Some way iniefil .aleo oc fouled to establish a correspOndence, via (-Holland and Eh-lb den. in the mean while, when any thing. very interesting' . occurs, the Letters may be addressed to Mr. H IC W• 00 D, un-• der cover to Messrs. Ha rtsE Eat and Cu. at Hustan ; but' as this way becomes more uncertain, care must thriabe taken' to send a duplicate to M. I). lii caseit - should be peSeible to eommunicate with the Commander or -jersey,. M. 1). will write Meier a tialitions name, and the Governor of Jer e seyayill receive. instruCtions from the English•Gernment. V. M. I). L. will give M —O.- as soon as possible, the Address which M. I). writing tehim at Paris. XVI. Al 1). L. must address the Letters for the present to Mr. Delreme, rtyle.rl;;tique a Munich. XV IL • M. D. 1.. - will account M. O. with the marks by which lie :nay understand the paragraphs published in the ae,• es . Francais. XVIII• In case it should he necessary to send any of the _ A sericielas tosaa. D. notice of it roust tie given to him before need, and his answer must la; waited for at. Augsburg, in which M. D• will appoint the piaee of reilliezvoue. CORN 'E2CIIA.ArCE, APRIL. 9. There is a _good supply of. Wheat here today, and but few prime samples .; this artiele not being ha much demand, sales ate hetvy, .at a, rediidion of is. and 25. per quarter; Earley - is also in good supply ; and rather cheaper ; Beans fnii rs. l o w e r ; Pease at little variation ; Oats arrive -in tolerable plenty, and likewise sell at less price; Flour in full quantity. Wheat 27$ a 333 a 526 od Tick Beans -24 s a 31s on Fine ditto -53 s a 55s 6d Oats - 17$ a los a 22s oil Rye - - - ZIS a 3os od roland ditto 23s a 246 no. Barley - - as a 23s od Rape Seed .! - 351 a 3111, Nlxl4 - - - 48$ a 54$ od Fine Flout -‘ 4os a 44$ od Wn4e Pease 32$ a 39$ od Seconds 311$ a 4 0 $ G 4 Bemis ‘ - -28 s a 34s od Tttoma.s PEARCE BROW M, Esizi is appointed by the .Duke of BEDFORD, .Deputy Recorder of the Borough of ~Bedford, in did room of the late Mr. GOTOBED. ----- In an American Paper the following article is given under date, Salem, February to.—" While Captain SAUN DE as, who arrived at this Port yester day, was at Surinam, the Dutch Commodore, BLo TS VAN TR ESLONG, sent a party of men on board his vessel, who took from him one man and. two ap prentices, whom the Commodore refused to restore.; giving no other reason for keeping them, than he wanted men. The conduct of the Commodore had rendered him universally obnoxious. Of 117 men on.noard the Frigate, ninety-seven were said to be pressed from on board American vessels, who of course were much disafft to d. The British Schooner IVetley, with 'l7O volunteers, was off the place, .with the design of cutting her out--a desperate en terprize—as she would have a strong Fortress, cal led Fort Braam, and the Frigate was under the heavk guns of Fort Amsterdam, where the Dutch, aware of the Design of the British, had stripped :her of her sails, &c. to render it the more difficult of execution." A Bill fur the gradual abolition of Slavery has passed the Legislature of Pennsylvania, which is now engaged in a proposition for altering the Con stitution of the. - United States. In the S.*ace of New Jersey a Bill has been passed, declaring . - )at all per sons of colour born in slavery, after the Ist of July next, shall he free ; the males on attaining the age of 25, and the females it years.