The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-09-04 00:00:00, page 2

by their passions ; ,«M ’M qaarrel, or <
rather the Which America
haa withue, it mote dedncible from pri
vate pique ;■ from ah undefinable resent-
J ment, and an unavowed jealousy, than
• any substantia! and legitimate subjects of
complaint. To the remonstrances and com
plaints of America, the government of this
country, under successive administrations,
have turned an attentive and a respectful
ear—Placed, from the nature of the war
fare in which we are engaged, under very
extraordinary circumstances, it may safely
be affirmed that Great-Briuin has shewn a
’ mildness, and a forbearance, end a Uaity
k ’ towards America, acting •uofuciouoly as
she has done, of which noexample could be
[; • produced. We have uniformly held out tv
her the right hand of fellowship; and in
atead of pertinaciously adhering to our own
views of soy question ofpolitical discussion,
♦hich has arisen between us, we have re
ferred »o those of the American government.
Jn private disputes it may ba laid down as a
fundamental maxim, that the man who is
most angry, la most in the wrong; and
trying the dispute bptween our government
and that of America by this test, it will be
geo* that England has been patient of in
juries and Insults almost beyond example ;
whße America has been prodigal of anger
beyond all precedent. Uho #ar we wage
is for our existence, and therefore, if any
Irregularities occur in it, they are to be
•aciucd by the necessities of our circum
stances ; but the jealousy and alarm of
‘ she African government is called forth
by no Mph circumstances. We arc their
natural ally. No dreams of conquest, or
gg , subjugation enter our minds; but we feel
* satisfied that whatever contributes to their
prosperity must be ours. Ac
cording to the comments of the American
State Paper, offence is taken that Mr, Jack
ecn is not marked with his Majesty’s dis
pleasuas, for the part which he took in
1 the negotiations at Washington; but no
case is made out that Mr. Jackson did not
adhere to the limits of his Instructions, or
il that in his communications with the Amc
rican government, he exceeded the bounds
\ to which a diplomatist should confine him
’l Ik self We should bare looked upon Mr.
/ Jackson as a most injured individual, had
j\ r / not his Majesty’s government held over
him the shield of their psptcctton, for-when
♦« remember the with which he
vaMa.. rrCel *ffe. J " A«ei|R. the disposition
sAcb apprtflW in the pnbllck mind of the
United States to vilify and traduce him, it
would have been a soft of Aling and abet
\ ting oa the part »jb:«rttish Minister,
* hod they not espSffif his. Cause, and at
. the siSne time that they recalled him, ex
4/ onspted him from the stigma of a recall.
! The character of England is . gone when
she permits injustice o be done to the I
meanest of her sous, much less to one of
her pubtick functionaries. How the dls
s pute between us and the United States will
1 j end, it is impossible for os to foresee ; but
it seems to us a sort of unnatural quarrel,
or rather antipathy* In which the real inte
rests of America have nothing to do, but her
passions, the ill blood of a former war,
Oto trace, or hostile recollection of which
prevail Acre, prevail there, which urges
her on to her present measures. America
j boasts of her freedom—is England en-
i slaved-? Does not England stand, at this
hour, the last stay of the old world against
i that most deplorable of all tyrannies, a
mflitary despotism I The eery’ struggle in
which she is engaged, ought to be to Ame
rica a cause of forbearance..
In private life, what man of feeling
would mge upon another oppressed with
difficulties? And in this crisis of the ci
l At . vilizedwarld, why should America press
Wfe upon WiTl she gain any accession of
diould the code Napoleon be adopt-
♦ her ? A ’ f gr as lhe man ’•
* concerned, England is ode of the outports
I of Ametica ; and that America should for
I an instant entertain an hostile thought to-
IgHr wards her, seems to us almost impossible-
I Does America desire our destruction ? We
E_* cannot believe it; and we feel we cannot
** better close this article than by quoting the
swords of an eminent American writer,
lately cited with applause by Lord Ellen
borough, which, though oar readerajnay
have seen before, they will scarcely fail
with pleasure to see again. After alluding
‘ ' to the prejudice, which prevail in Ameri-
ca against the British people, and in which
the writer ingeniously confesses he partici
pated, until a more Ultimate acquaintance
with our virtues made him sensible to our
worth, he says, “ It appears something not
less than impious to desire the ruin of this
people, when you view the height to which
they have carried the comforts, the know
» ledge, and the virtue of our species; the ex-
tent and number of their foundations of
charity ; their skill in the mechanicks, by
the improvement of which alone they have
conferred inestimable benefit on mankind ;
the masculine morality, the lofty sense of
indepcncU ncc, the sober and rational piety
which is folnd in all classes; the impar
tial, decorous; and able administration of
a Code of laws, than which none more just
and perfect ha* ever been in operation;
their seminaries of education, yielding
more solid and profitable instruction than
any other whatever ; their eminence in
literature ai>d science; the urbanity and
learning of their privileged orders ; their
deMSetativw assemblies, ifluslrdted by so
many profound statesmen and brilliant ora- •
tors, fit is worse thdiA ingratitude in us
not to sympathise wttb them in their pre
sent struggle, when We recollect that it is
from them we derive the principal merit
of our own character, the best of our own
institut km, the sources of our highest en
joyments, jgnd the light freedom itee(f
which, if they should destroy, will not
long ehed ite radience over thio coun
try. *
foreign 3ntt!
Monday bis Royal Highness the Duke
of Cumberland underwent the operation of
having one of the wounds in bis head open
ed, from whence a fracture from the skull
was taken; it was about an inch in length,
and a quarter of an inch wide. The opera
tion was performed by Mr. Home.
The ship Boyd, from Botany Bay, which
put into New-Zealand in distress, was
taken possession of by the inhabitants burn
ed, and 30 hands that were on board her,
killed and afterwards eaten by the savage
natives.
(Letter from an officer to a friend in London.)
*• His Majesty's ship Spartan,
Malta, 16th May, 1810.
“ My Dear Friend— -Aware that an old
messmate, (particularly a, once Spartan,)
will derive some gratification, from die
particulars of our recent glorious contest,
I willingly avail myself of the first convey
ance to enable you to participate in the
feelings of your old shipmates. On the Ist
lost, we, in company with the Success,
chased into Naples A frigate, corvette, brig
and cotter. On the 2d, from a supposition
on the part of our truly gallant Captain,
(Jahlee Brenton,) that these fairweather
birds wouhl never put to sea, whilst me
naced by two British frigates, heoidered
the Success, (being a junior ship,) to part
company; the manauvres succeeded, and
on the following morning, at day-light, the
enemy's squadron was with pleasure de
scried standing towards us, in a regular
line of battle. It was not in our nature to
run! but, agreeable to our usual system, as
well as their astonishment, we made sail
for them ; and being aided by a light
breeae, were enabled, about forty minutes
after seven, to commence against “ fearful
odds,” what our gallant brother tars on
this station, as well as the conquered foe,
acknowledge to have been one of the moot
brilliant actions ever fought by an English
i frigate. The battle took place off Naples,
and was commenced within pistol shot by
the French frigate Ceres, of 24 guns, she
being th* l*ading ship, th® ime,
and after a truly trying, yet, thank God,
glorious contest of two hours and ten mi
nutes, (during which time the awful scene
was witnessed by his mock Majesty, Murat,
and the whole population of the proud city
of Naples,) we succeeded in capturing the
brig L’Espervoir, by our brave fellows
gallantly boarding her, in face of the ene
my’s whole force, who were like unto our
selves, almost torn to pieces. When we
had approached this ** host of foes” suffi
ciently near to be distinctly heard, we wel
comed with three cheers, which was pro
posed by our gallant Captain, and given by
our brave tats with heartfelt sincerity for
the honour <f our beloved Country and our
glorioue firefeeeion.
“ From the officers whom we have taken
prisoners, we have been assured that
our cheering tended forcibly to unnerve
their seamen, as it taught them to believe
we had, in the first instance, decided on
death or victory ! Our loss has been severe*
—ten brave fellows killed, and twenty-two
wounded ; yet when I refer to the annex
ed, unprecedented superiority to which
we were opposed, you must think with me,
that those heroick Britons could never
have fallen oq a more glorious occasion.—
Among the killed I have to deplore the
death of that gallant youth, Mr. Robinson,
master's mate, whom you, as an old Spar
tap, must recollect; and in the list of
wounded the name of our truly heroick
and distinguished Captain, unfortunately
stands conspicuous. He was dangerously
wounded by a grape shot, about the middle
of the action, standing on
the capstan, and by his judicious mangea
vreing and gallant exampiejimbibing a con
fidence of success in every officer and man
around him. He was wounded in the left
side, and has since suffered almost inces
sant pain, with becoming fortitude; but I
am happy to add, he is now pronounced
out of danger, and the ardent prayers of
his officers and brave crew, continue to be
offered up with seamenlike sincerity, for
his speedy restoration to the service of bis
country ; with whom his seal, ability and
heroism must ever stand unrivalled ! and
by whom, if genuine merit wants not ad
mirers he will, no doubt be amply reward
ed. He has already received the order of
Knighthood and of Merit, from his Majesty
the King of the two Sicilies, which no doubt,
will be followed on the part of our good
Sovereign, (God bless him,) by the Order
of the Bath, and an advquute pension to
support it. We have just learned by afl »g
oi truce, the enemy's loss to have been se-
Gallant Action in the Mediterranean.
LONDON, July 9.
[igence.
precedent, 154 kMpd, and 316
wotshded. s
four’s, truly, JAMES DUNN. Purser.
k Xnglieh force.' French fir*.
Guns. Mm. Guns. Men.
nZ: M S
Espervoir, 8 98
Actaills, 12 120
7 Gun-
Boats, 7
, ■ nna, with
* forty men
n each 380
Total, 38 258 Total, 97 1078
The first escaped, the second was dis
masted, and third taken.
DUBLIN, July 14.
Many foreign papers, and a great num
ber of private letters have arrived, the
contents of which, in their substance, will
be found in Mother part of our paper.—
The princiA interest of the foreign pa
pers are theroose hints which they contain
of the active execution of the league be
tween the Emperours Francis, Napoleon
and Alexander. It is not usual with the
foreign Editors to speak out upon these
heads; the Liberty of the Press Is still
move narrow iq France than in England,
and the has its eye and its at
tention every Where. Enough, however,
may be collected even from the loose hints
and detached paragraphs, So lead to a con
clusion that there is a general expecta
tion on the Continent, that a campaign is
meditated in Moldavia, and Wallachia.
CADIZ, June 28.
Letter from the Patriot General O'Don-
•• Mont excellent Ser —Cowardice, and
the most unexampled perfidy, have given
up to the enemy the important fortress of
Lerida; and its infamous defenders, wound
ing, by so base a conduct, the reputation
of the gallant army of Catalonia, have
made themselves liable to the publick exe
cration and to the contempt of the enemy
themselves. *ln the last orders whi'h the
general commanding at Lerida received
from me, I warned him, that the circum
stance, of the town having fallen into the
enemy’s hands, would never be admitted
as an apology for not defending the castles
to the last. This so unexpected an occur
rence has surprised me beyond the power
of expression; but U does oo* damp my
spirits, exalted as they are by the sacred
love of my country; nor should Y. E. de
spond, or despair of the salvation of the
principality. ■ It has yet many and strong
places left, which I will entrust to officers
of tried patriotism, valour and loyalty. It
has an army left, which is at once disci
plined, familiarised with the dangers of
war, and anxious to defend a principality
which supports and sets a high value upon
it. And, lastly, there remains the un
changeable valour of the heroick Catalans,
the effects of which the enemy have re
peatedly felt, and recently again In the
noble resistance of the brave and unfortu
nate inhabitants of Lerida. While we
persist in the noble determination to de
fend our country to the last, and so long
as we have men, iron and money at our
disposal, there is nothing lost, and moun
tains will supply ths place of fortresses to
eternise the war. These are the senti
ments of my heart, and by them will my
conduct be guided to my last hour. As it
is just that government should assist this
deserving principality in tbe bloody contest
it maintains with such distinguished gal
lantry, I have directed the first Adjutant-
General of this army, Brigadier Loper, to
proceed to the Isle of Leon, for the pur
pose of laying before his Majesty the pre
sent state of the principality and soliciting
the assistance they stand so much in need
of, and to which it has stronger claims
than any other province of the monarchy ;
and I think it expedient that the Board
should appoint one of its Members for the
same purpose.
May God, &c.
(Signed) HENRY O’DONNELL.
•* Tarragona, May 19, 1810.
”To his Excellency the President and
Members of the Superiour Board of this
Principality.”
RITSSELVILLE, (Ken.) July 31.
A LATE INDIAN ENGAGEMENT.
A MANUSCaiPT containing the following
statement was handed the editor on Tues
day by a gentleman from Livingston coun
ty, and he had heard it confirmed by other
authority. If this should be true we much
fear that our red brethren will continue the
hostility they have commenced.
A* a Mr. Pryer was descending the Ohim
River with a boat load of wiskey. he was
so unfortunate as to get his boat sunk in a
violent storat, on the 28th ultimo, near
Wilkinsonville. When he had by his ex
ertions regained some barrels of his whis
key, there came 15 Mowhawk Indians and
some squaws and children In canoes, who
abused Mr. Pryer, and took twelve barrels
of whiskey, put it in their canoes, and de
scended the river. Mr. P. then returned
to Fort Massack, and informed the com
manding officer of the treatment he had
received. A sergeant and twelve men were
despatched with him iu pursuit of the In-
nell, to the Provincial Junta.
23p the jnatfr.
They fcwnfl theoum lh« banker
the MbaiselppLMwffiaty mile* above the
mouth of the Ohio.’When the chief dis
covered Mr. 1\ he threw his knife and at
tempted to Mr. P. was making >
the best defence .he could, when the ser
geant raised his gon and shot his anttgo- i
nist, and ordered a fire on the rest—they
killed four, and wounded as many more—
the remainder fled precipitately to the
wood. This combat took place on the 13th
instant.
NEW-YORK, August 27.
CIVILIZATION.
When we compare the conduct of the
people of foreign countries with our own,
as respects intercourse between nations,
we regret that our citisens make so mean
a figure in the scale of civilivation. That
• a nation which claims to be the most en
lightened in tbe world, and which declares
it to be her interest and inclination to main
tain peace with all mankind, should violate
the rights of hospitality and transgress the
laws of civilised societyj rather a para
dox. But that such is the Case is a melan
cholly fact. What a difference between
the treatment of an American Minister in
England and an English Minister la this
country ! Our Minister in London meets
with the most marked attention from every
class of people. He is invited to all their
pleasobe parties, and has an honourable
place assigned to him at their feasts. And
though known to be of that party in this
country which bears inveterate hatred to
the British nation, nothing is ever thrown
out against his government in his presence.
No newspaper in the British dominions
ever dared to print a word of abuse against
him. In fact, had he been a Minister of a
government in the 'Strictest alliance with
the British he could not be more respected.
How have we treated the British Minister ?
Long before Mr. Jackson placed his foot
upon our shores, his character was attack
ed with the most violent and brutal abuse,
with language that would disgrace an oys
ter-stand, in every democratick paper in
the United States. He was called a rob
ber and murderer, and it was declared
that a man who should grant him the rights
of hospitality would be an enemy to his
country.. This virulent and cowardly war
fare is still kept up in the democratick pa
pers, to the everlasting disgrace of our
country. Was a person to judge of the
state of society in the United States from
the conduct of the democrats towards Mr.
Jackson, he would suppose that we were
in a more degraded staae uf barbarism than
were the savages who preceded us in this
western continent*
August 30.
EOAT RACE.
Yesterday morning, between 10 and 11
o’clock, another (and we trnat the last)
race was rowed between the boat below ing
to the office of the New-York Gaactte.aud
that of the Evening Post. The race was
from Paulus-Hook to Whitehall, a distance
of about two miles and a half, and was
rowed in IS minutes upon slack water,
with four oars and a setter—the wind was
a fresh breeze from the southward and
eastward, directly ahead. Publick notice
having been given of the intention to row
th?se famous boats again, a large con
course of people assembled on the battery,
at the hour appointed to view the race;
and we may say with truth, that they were
highly gratified with judicious and hand
some rowing. The boats were side and
side, till they came nearly opposite the bat
tery, when that of the “ Gazette” received
a little additional strength from her oars
men, and came out about three lengths
ahead of the “ Post’s boat.” On the ar
rival of the Gazette's boat into the slip,
her friends lifted her bodily out of the wa
ter, with the oarsmen and setter on their
seats, and carried her through the street to
the corner of the battery, amidst the huz
zas of the populace. The purse was 880
besides other bets to a considerable amount.
The boats are each 21 feet in length.—
That owned by the Evening Post was built
by tbe Messrs. Chambers; and the one
owned by the Gazette was built by Mr.
John Ba pt is, whose skill I* his business is,
perhaps, superioor to any in America.
In the trial between these boats on the
14th Instant, Mr. Chambers imputed the
loss of the race to a want of judgement in
the person who steered his boat, which cir
cumstance gave rise to this trial. In this
instance Mr. Chambers steered the boat of
his own building ; and we are told is now
convinced that his boat cannot row as fast
as that belonging to the office of the New-
York Gazette.
I The Gazette Iraat was rowed by John
M Burbank, Thomas Parmiton, Willian Ky
w ker, and Thomas Dixon, and steered by
master John Parmiton, a smart lad of
* i fibout 13 years of age, weighing only 67 lbs.
We have on our files the decree of Bona
parte relative to printing in France. As it
is long, we have thought proper to give a
summary of its contents. Thia is a pre
cious morsel for the friends of the Empe
rour. It is a part of what Duane would call
the continental eyttem—n system which
is to reduce mankind to a state "of bar
barism, that tyrahis can more easily rule
them. The system of democracy in this
DARK AGE.
cmSMMA hanfl to Bont-
parta’saJßem A tyranny to Europe. Igno
rance is supported, and knowledge and
civilisation are disregarded and discour
aged. The most ignorant and abandoned of
mankind are raised to places of offices and
trust, while the enlightened and candid
are neglected and oppressed. Our govern
ment have not yet suppressed information
by interdicting the press, but the people
have done every thing to keep themselvea
in ignorance which they can possibly do.—
Democrats will read nothing in federal
papers ; they will take no pains to com
pare dates, or to fled whether what they
read is true or false. When people are
thus determined to be ignorant, what is the
use of printing ? When a man is determin
ed that he will not receive information, it is .
of very little use to lay it before him.—You
may talk to him, and print for him, he will
still be ignorant—An ignorant man is easily
led astray—he envies the man of enlight
ened mind, and would sooner vote for an
unprincipled blockhead, than an honestand
upright man of talents and learning. This*
kind of system leads to riot and anarchy
anarchy leads to absolute despotism, and
ignorance fits tbe people to bear that des
potism. So that we find our country not
so far behind tboce of Europe in the road to *
darkness as many may imagine. We are
ignorant, violent and headstrong !—wo
have no respect for any thing great and
noble among mankind; and we warn noth
ing but a Bonaparte to reduce us to as
complete a state of slavery, as that undec
which all Europe now groans.
The following is a summary of Bona
parte's decree for the suppression of print
ing. The reader will perceive that the
number of presses allowed in France is nut
sufficient to supply the people of France
with school books, so that reading and
writing will soon be confined to a few in
that devoted country. Tbe American may
reflect if he pleases, on the conduct of this
upstart tyrant; he knows that this is the
government of which the majority of the
people in the United States are so very j
fond. This is the government which all
good democrats wish to support. And this
is the government in favour of which we
shall, in all probability, go to war io less
than a year. r
The business of printing and bookselling
is declared to be under an inspector-gen— f
eral assisted by six auditors, subject to bis
control, and other subordinate agents.
The number of printing-offices after the
Ist of January, 1811, 9 to be reduced >
throughout the empire; the number in Pa
ris to be sixty; each office in Paris is re * r
stricted to four presses, in the.deparrmentl
to two each. The printers whose offices
are suppressed, to receive an indemnity
from those continued. Printers and book
sellers to produce vouchers of good charac
ter, receive a patent and be sworn. In
filling vacancies preference is to be given
to families of deceased printers. The min
ister of police, prefects of departments
and special censors are auxiliaries to carry*
this grand engine of despotism into effect
The censor examines, erases and reports; "V
the prefects and minister of police sus
pend, and the director-general decides up
on the publication of any work. If any
work be commenced and the publication
thereafter be prohibited, the printed sheets
to be seized, and the types composed, as
the printers would say, thrown into pie.—
A duty of fifty per cent, ad valorem on all
French and Latin books permitted, to be
imported. No books printed or re-printed
out of France, to be imported without a
permit. Copy-rights secured to authours
and their widows during liie< and to their
children for twenty years. Copy-rights
transferable. The first volume of ©very
work -imported, to be stamped. Every
work licensed to be printed, to have affix
ed on the title page, the name of the au
thour, if known, and the name of the
.printer,—An amission of the latter incurs
fine and confiscation. Each printer to de
posit five copies of tbe works he may be Hr
censed to publish for special purposes, in
the prefecture of the department in which
he resides, and.in Paris in the prefecture
of the police. Printing, bookselling, type
founding, bookbinding, and all connected
therewith, are comprised in the decree
and subject to future dispositions. There
are many other minute* of minor conse
quence which we have omitted tu notice.
DEMOCRATICK CIVILITY.
We are informed by a gentleman of rev
spectability, that Mr. Jackson, who is now
on his return from Canada, while travelling
through the State of Vermont, arrived at
the close of the evening at a small.village
where there was but one publick bouse.— %
This was previously occupied by a compa
ny of democrats, who on discovering it tq
be the British Minister, and to shew their
hospitality and friendship, refused him even
admittance, and reduced him to the alter
native of* either travelling on to tbe next
town, a considerable distance, in a dark
night, or sleeping in his own carriage in
the street. Thu tatter of which we are
mid he preferred.
King Louis flhs abdicated the throne of
Holland, disgusted probably by the tyran
ny of his brother. Tbe people of Holland
w ill now have the full benefit of that liber-