United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-06-18 00:00:00, page 1

^^^^^
. Original Letter.
—o—.
Tn the following letter from 1 young gentleman
of cztenfive information and fupericr talents
nor, in Europe, will be found many interest
ing and inOruaive remarks upon the present
crisis of political affairs on the other fide of the
Atlantic. [Ga-. U.S.
Edinburgh, April §, 1803.
^r 4&&&&<frK tt frrem&r
JL) presume you will Lave heard that
the political horizon of Europe is again
darkened by clouds which portend the
immediate renewal of a deflating war.
Ere the billows had completely fubfid
td of a dorm of unexampled fury and
deration, we fee a new temped arising,
which threatens dill more violently to
Agitate the ocean. Caridfity like yours
will be directed to afc&tain the causes
which have so fudJerfly operated such
important changes. But the proximate
grounds of the policy from which they
proceeded, are so completely enveloped
in ministerial secrecy, that nothing has
yet transpired even from '^e sapient
conductors of the London prints, except
unfatisfaftory conjectures, and contra
dictory reports.
To the unsettled and ill-balanced state 1
in which Europe was left by the arrange-|
ment, of the late treaty of peace, we !
may without hesitation afcribc the more 1
remote cause of these warlike afpe&s ;
but doubtless some subsequent occur
rences have inflamed the irritation which
already existed and hastened the present
awful crisis. It will be recollected by;
you, that the peace was opposed by,
many of the most enlightened ftatefmenj
of this country, on the principle, that|
rhe overgrown power and immense ag
grandisement of Francestotally Subvert
ed that equipofe in the relations of the
European dates# on which the soundest
policy for morelhan a century past has 1
placed theirreciprocal protection. Even :
those who defended the peace, did it
with a conviction, that many facrifices
were made, and that it premised only
a temporary continuance. They acted|
from a desire to terminate a war, which'
had been conducted on principles too
fubtile and refined to be generally un-;
derftood, and cbnfequently, to receive
that unanimity of support on which fuc-|
cefs depends. To oppose the diffufionl
of French principles was a motive of'
war to ° equivocal to be comprehended
or approved by the mats of the people.[
All, however, concurred in the senti
ment that it was imphffible peace could
be preserved, whilst France held so dis-j
proportioned an influence, and equally;
agreed that political wisdom dictated /
the renewal of hostilities for the putpofe'
of destroying so dangerous an afeehdan- ,
cy s whenever a favorable conjuncture
Ihould occur. Ido not fay, that a dec
laration as explicit was made.in Parlia
ment ; but I assert it was the Sentiment
which not only ptevailed in the house,
but which pervaded the whole nation.
In this temper of mind we detect, then,
a predisposition that would require no
very Strong provocation to excite to ac
tion. Such a provocation has been giv
en, and a forbearance not to be expect
ed has hitherto preserved tranquility,
for We have feed, “ ere the ink was dry
or the wax cold," of the preliminary
ftipufetions, that they were violated on
the part of the French government, by
the annexing Piedmont and the Isle of
Elba, the acquisition of Louisiana, the
exercise of a controling authority over
Holland, by the daring ufdrpation of
the Supremacy of the Cifalpine Republic
by Bonaparte, and finally by his arbi
trary interposition in the affairs of the
virtuous and unoffending Swiss. Can
these proceedings admit of any other
conclusion, than that an attrocious am
bition has premeditated a design dan
gerous to the fafety and independence
of all Europe ? and which all Europe
is called upon to refill ; but which this
wonderful little “ feagirt" fpotfeems at
this time alone to have the wisdom and
courage to oppose. By heaven! I
flory ih having descended from an
Englishman. They have a nobleness
and generosity of individual and nation
al character possessed by no other peo
ple of the world.
But though these (cries of agpreffions
which I have mentioned certainty-hare
considerably influenced the recent de
terminations of the cabinet of St. James,
hili they air.not to be confidcied as the
direct and . dicient enufe of the existing
—AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR.
~'— —■— 1 ■' —==•—=—_—_—=__——— - -_-_ 81. -rj— i ■ami* 4m
Snitch States
Portsmouth
— ■ — — I — 4 — „-___-__,
PORTSMOUTH, N. H. Printed and Published every
^ XIII.] SATURDAY, JUNE i8,'18%"
Os ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL)
prosperity, RELIGION & MORALITY are indispensable ,
SUPPORTS WASHINGTON'S Legacy.')
T—. BWI I^, ^
=_+tlr— =-— --»- ... . . _____ I ..._.
hdftile appearances. It is more gene
rally believed theyare occasioned by
the peremptory refufal of Britain to e
vacuate Malta. This post was to be
relinquished according to the treaty of
Amiens ; but it is now alleged that
France can very ill exact a compliance
with the flipulations of a treaty, the ob
ligations of which She ha; so utterly dis
regarded. It is moreover urged, and
which cannct be controverted, that a
±ia;, cea?& to b€ obitgator, when the
relative Situation of the contracting par
ties differs from what it was when the
contract was made. Have not the rel
ative circumstances of the two countries
been moll materially altered since the
period of forming the treaty, by the
vast acceffon of territory which France
has acquired, and by her. more e%ten
fiye, indirect influence ? Besides you will
recollect that the Stipulation respectingj
Malta was prcvifional ; that is, if Ruffa 1
would consent to guarantee it. New,;
as that power has positively refufed to
do so, and as evidently, in Europe, no'
other guarantee could be procured that ;
would not be under the influence of
France, what can Britain do else but
retain it. Every consideration of right
and policy forbids it to be relinquished.
I For were She to evacuate it, there is a
I certainty of its being virtually or abfo-
Ilately poSTeffed by her enemy, which
i would open the way to the invasion of
Egypt, and expose her Indian possessions
to the danger of annoyance, if not of
conquest. ;.I
I hive dwelt the more on this point,
; as I am persuaded it is the fubjed of j
ithe pending discussions, and from a wish•
Ito give you the probable vindication that
will be published by Britain to the world,
in the event of a renewal of hostilities,'
You are however to give to my commu
nications no greater confidence than
you may suppose they merit, as convey
' ing only the mod plausible and best
supported conjectures .which prevail
here.
Ori the very intereftihg question of
the probability of peace ot war, I am
Ifare you willeagerly Solicit information;
but we yet remain in such entire dark
ness even as to the causes of the mifun
,derftanding, that any conclusion from
premises so uncertain and imperfect,
I you mud be sensible will be liable to
I extreme fallacy and deception.
If we look to the unparallelled exer
tions employed to prepare and'equip
the navy for service, and like wife to the
equally active arrangements in the ar
my, we Shall certainly be disposed to
Iconclude that war is inevitable and will
;very Shortly be declared. Ever since
Ithe melfage from the'throne, the pref-
Ifmg of Seamen and the commissioning of
Ships has been unremittingly continued-
The militia have been ordered out, and
the most prompt and effectual .means
are used to recruit completely, the regi
ments of the regular service. But some
hopes are yet entertained by a few, that
the matters in dispute may be amicably
adjusted. Couriers are daily passing
between the two countries ; but the
contents of the dispatches which they
convey are not allowed to trah'fpire.—
We have nothing reSpeCting thejffue of
the negotiation entitled to credibility.
The papers are filled with speculations
but founded alone on conjecture. Os
this, however, you may be certain, that
there has long existed h^re a discontent
at the terms of the peace (I mean a
jealoU'fy of the preponderance which
France was foffered to retain) and that
the insolence and ovetSearining spirit
togetlfer with the implacable animosity
manifested by Bonaparte on every occa
sion against this country, have irritated
it into so hostile a disposition, that noth
ing can retrain it from burning into
open war, but fubmiffiori on his part to
the claims now urged, aud the best
pledge given of a future amicable in
tention. The vile and treacherous po
licy that he has so long pursued, of at
tempting to embarrass the commerce
and injure the finances of the country,
by exciting a conflant a^rm, by pro
voking to frequent armaments and then
obviating an actual rupture by protrac
ted D^gociatfons and ultimate concef-,
lions, hasbeen completely detected arid
will no longer delude. If affairs can
not be $ fettled to promise a lahu;g;i
peace (which can hardly be expe&ed t
in the present state of Europe) Mar will
inevitably take place, The minister
who Should now by an imptrfeß Com
promise offend the passions and preju
ety -<%F^^&„a&jffi^
dices of the nation, would probably, in
its present temper 'ofe his head. There
is with me, then,kttle hope of the pre
fervation of peace. That Bonaparte
will retra&, as far perhaps he is now
required, cannot b^fyeaed from his
character, and I ha^w that the ministry
of this country dire not recede.
Couriering therellfe that war is un
avoidable,let usfperdlate on the proba
ble consequences :— And firft, I will
endeavor to expose die error of a very
prevalent notion in America ; that
Great- Britain was nearly reduced to
Bankruptcy by tte expences of the late
war, and demonstrate to your entire fat
isfaftion, (if you will accredit my State
ments) her competency to refeme and
maintain the contest. It is so far from
being true, that the war diminished the
national wealth, it did not even check
! its augmentation. It is ertabhShed by
I the cleared evidence, that both the ag
;ricultural arid commercial capital of
the country was increased during the
!period. The rent and price of lands
;were nearly doubled, and the exports
and imports were nearly in the fame
proportion ; and what further eftabliffi
es it, is the very sensible melioration in
the credit of the people. This increase
of affluence, I am told by those who are
competent to decide, is very obvious in
every grade of society. If then, at the
conclusion of a. war of unprecedented
facrifice and expense (which tho° gene
rally dirtinguifted by the moll glorious
land fuccefsrul atchievements, was yet
marked by some of the heaviert losses
j and misfortunes) we find that instead of
• the prosperity of the nation being unfa
vorably affected, its resources bad flour
ished and multiplied beyond example,
! we cannot entertain a fufpicioh of her
adequacy to fuppoft the threatening
war, nor any reasonable apprehension
of the event, if it be conducted with sa
gacity and discretion. Taught by ex
perience the futility of attempting to
make any impression on the continental
polfeffion of France, it is to be hoped
that so expensive and ineffectual a mode
ot warring with theenemy will be aban
doned, and that alone every energy will
be confined to the navy, and thus, at a
comparatively inconsiderable expense, a
fleet will be maintained .equal to the
command of the ocean, to harrafs the
;coarts of France, to burn many of her
towns, to Seize her colonies and naval
ports, and finally to destroy the remains
of ty& nav,, and utterly to annihilate
her commerce 4 ; thtisraifing still higher
that naval foperiofity of which France
is now so envious. Where then, exists
the grounds of so much terror of the
" mighty nation ?" It is true that the
phantom of an invasion has again been
railed to frighten and deter. But none
except the weak and the timid can ever
have an apprehension from this Source.
If Bonaparte Should in the delirium of
resentment, or the intoxication of vain:
glory, have the mad temerity to make
the attempt, let us confider the chances
of success; Is it presumable that an at,,
my of ^ny force can effe& an invasion,
when watched by a navy so rifllant and
powerful ? but admit,ting (which is
granting almort an fmpodibility) that
an army' of force 4 Should land, we are
to recoiled the numberle, disadvantag
es with ,which they wou^ have to con
tend ; cut off from their country, and
without the means of foppit or rein
forcement, they must; even if primarily
fuccefsfal,be speedily vanquished by the
walling of their riembers. „ But this j,
I th^ most unfavorable conclusion. Are
I we not father warranted in concluding
that Briliffi valor, when animated by
the call of patrioiifm, and inflamed by
every passion which can give energy to
exertion, will not for a moment be re
filled ? History records many examples
which will justify the conclusion I with
to exprefs.' In Grecian Story we read
of a Thermopylae; a Marathon and a
Salimis ; the exploits of a Leonidas; a
Milriades and a Themirtocles.. The
Swiss, meagre in resources, & not more
powerful in numbers, have exhibited
exertions not inferior ip brilliancy or
glory. Not teill the hidory of our own
country less enforce the iinftrudive ad
monitirin, that a people when routed by
an attempt to seize their rights, their
i liberties, and tlrf iridepeutier.ee of their
, country, are capable of exertions not co
be tortured bz any ordinary. Standard
of calculation.•
I fee; therefore,in the threatened war,
conlequencCThemoffruincusto France,
and nothing which can materially affed 1
the interest of Great-Britain. The for-!:
mer will be impoverished almost to ai
degree of beggary by the total fufpen-il
fion of her reviving nianufa&ures andh
commerce, whilst the latter will increased
her capital by sweeping the trade of thel
whole world intc her ports. It is true,<
the national debt (that “ Center, as<
Jefferfon calls it, but which 1 confider |
as the bed band of political Ibciety)wil^
be augmented ; het in no way pn>pnr(
tioned to the vast accumulation cf na-i
cicnal wealth.'\
A debt becomes oppressive not from<
its positive amount, but when it exceeds.
the means of paying it. It is a thing 1
entirely relative. The debtof England I
can never, then, be seriously burthen-/
some to whatever amount it may attain, <
if the national wealth proceed in the i
fame ratio of increase. Not one half oft
the present sum could have been fcp-1
ported by the nation fifty years ago. |t
kou fee that I hav^ drawn nothing)
to my support from a supposition of a 1
coalition on the Continentagainft France, r
I think however such a coalition may I
be made. Russia has betrayed recently, I
some jealousy of France, in consequence,
of detailing an intrigue of Bonaparter
with the Porte for part of the Levant t
poffettons, and it is highly probable that,
Austria and Switzerland, under their,
recent infu ts anJ losses, would not be<
averse to enter intc any efficient coali-}
tlon. , .J
Permit me to direst your attention to I
the more immediate concerns of he 1
country. And here, Sir, we Shall find 1
the mod ardent parriotifm, and thel
warmed loyalty, the one aroused by the i
present crisis, and the other called forth 1
by the late conspiracy against the life ofl
their King. In Parliament a unanimtl
it, never before witnefed. All parties
seem to have buried their dirtiodionsc
and animosities,and to have united their 1
exertions for the gcncTnl ^rd. H« vrnrl
Should be declared, I believe it would i
meet with the most universal fupport.<
There is but one point on which any<
diversity of Sentiment prevails. It is t
an opposition to the present ministry,
as being incompetent to the present con.
janßure. The recai of Mr. Pitt is clam-i
oroufly demanded. Many rumors are
in circulation about a change of Minis
try. It is laid that the king has aiTerted
to the coalition < fany parties, provided 1
Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox be excluded fronts
the Ministry. He can tolerate neither 1
of them. So various hre the rumours'
upon this fubjeft that it is impossible tof
fay what will really take place. We l
hear of Lord Moira, Grey, Sheridan, 1
and Several of the old ministry comings
;into office, The voice of the nation,^
which So vehemently calls for Mr. Pitt,<
must however be obeyed.,; It is even (
said that this is already determined, & 1
that the: Earter recess of parliament is'
the time fixed for his resuming his for- 1
mer offices. , I
The fubjed of cur difference with'
Spain has excited much interest in this <
country.—The lad intelligence which 1
reached us was, that C.ongrefs were de- 1
bating with doled doors, and that Gen. 1
Smith had declared he considered the'
country on the eve of a war. Letters'
from Madrid published here, mention 1
that the conduct of Spain towards ys'
proceeds entirely from the inftigation <
of France. Is the matter considered in (
this light in America? - (
•*** ll, *WWß>—*** —lß* M.KW>^*— *******"""l
, From the Plritadclp»ia Gazette. €
: /From New Orleans.(
May §, t 803—" Our. situation here<
is truly unfortunate in t!fe,prefent crifis<
of affairs. Every t kind of pufineh is)
nearly suspended, owing to thegerieral 1
distrust and apprehension which prevail. 1
Every one looks for the worst, and is
preparing accordingly,. Would to Ged<
out fears might not be realized. I fend 1
you the enclosed document. It was 1
signed by a considerable number of the|
inhabitants ; some from genuine feel,;
ings, others from courteff, feme from
far,and a variety of other inducements. 1
. ADDRESS 1
Os the French Inhabitants efNe^-Crlcani Y
to, Lauffat, Colonial Prefeß, in anfaer
to bis Proclamation fifth 6tl: Germinal,
Iltb yerti .
CITIZEN PREFECT, \. - 4
France has done justice to our opin
ion, by believing in the unalterable at
tachment which we have pj^fayed for
her. Thirty-four years reign of a fo
reign power hare not weakened in our
&m U R A t.adv^ N MENT, FIFTEENTH YEAR. .
, ®rattfa arid'
Advertiser.
Saturday Morning, by Willem & Dahl. Treadwell,
Price one dollar and fifty cents per ANN. [Na.J"
r_r?ADVFRTr c FViFNT^ / - , , r
v verted— Commv
) ^cation: ^fo^W^-^% acknow^
EDGED,
minds the close love of our native land,
'and now in returning under her flag,our
joy is equal to the furrow we felt when
Forced to Separate from her. Happy
ithe natives of Louisiana who have lived
Ilong enough to be witnesses to this re
^unron^whxh they have never ceased to
dehre, and which is the accomplishment
of the:r dearert wishes. in an age so
pregnant ,nh : jjAonifbing events, no
Tibfrr.ae have happened things of
greater r.d#gnhu<e, morevreiya&w,and
mere memorable ; but nothing perhaps
risers so interesting, so moving a Scene,
as that of victorious and triumphant
France, holding put her protesting aim
to children that had been torn from her
bread by weakness and prevarication,
& offering to Share with them the fruits
of a glorious peace, which terminated
in so brilliant a manner, the most bloody
and most terrible of revolutions. You
have Signalized, citizen prefer, the re
|turn of the French government, by a
genuine proof of her benevolent views.
Your proclamation of the Sixth of this
months by which youraonounce them,
Has penetrated us with gratitude for
her paternal care. The firft favors of
the republic are felt ; the happy choice
of thechief which the places at our head,
the honorable reputation of whom has
^already reached us ; the chosen troops
I which She fends to guard our home, are
certain presages of the happiness and
prosperity which She is preparing for us.
I We offer to her in return, our submis
sion, our obedience, and ourlove ; and.
we swear tb prove ourselves deferring
her name. She would probably place
less value on the homage of our fidelity,
if She saw us leave without any Symp
toms of Sorrow, the Sovereign who has
loaded us with favors, during the time
he . has reigned over us.
That culpable indifference does net
exirt in our hearts ; the regret of losing
him occupies a place with chejoy of re
turn+Kg <o ^BOTr'mrtTre ±m+n#rf f+7b4 i±-
is by retaining an eternal remembrance
of his goodaefs that we mean to Shew
ourselves worthy of the favors and at
tachment of the Frencn Republic-
Neu-Orleans,the — Germinal, I I tbjear,
(Signed by a number of the principal
inhabitants.),,
LOUISIANA ;
Weare not speaking at random when
we fay, it is generally known in France,
that one bf the most ridiculous propo-,
futons wh ; cb ever fell from the feverilh
fancy of a new politico philofi pnico
fantaftic, has been made by, the Amer
ican Executive to the. Conflate—and
has not only not met with any serious
entertainment from that body, but on
the contrary excited much merriment
among them,at the expense of this coun
try, and no little contempt .for its: ru
lers. And as merriment is contagious
the, fan has reached London itfelf,
where it has a<ftually overcome th;
phlegm of John Bull, and made him
roar with obstreperous mirth in every
coffee-boufe.—Some there will net be
lieve it ; others pretend not to believe
it^by way of toffinty out the ball .of
mirth ; but many make, it the topic of
difeourfe. The word of it is, thgt it i%
laid, (with what truth we cannot /take.,
upon us to affirm) that our President
has backed bis propositions with two
draughts, one on his banker, the other
on his eloquence ; but as one was near
er to his owp economical nature, and
the other fairer in his Self complacent
eye, than they were to the expiation!
or talle of Talleyrand, they only.fer-p
ed to heighten the ridicule very confide
erably. The Consulate think it enough
Ito profit by the cofmopohtan cant of
the day, but nothing is further from:
them than any intention to pradife it.
These being their norions/it will cost
our readers very little to behive, that a.
foreign state paper, piofefygto have,
for one of its objects the advantage pf
Fran,Co,laboring to (hew them that, the
proofed arrangement,though advanta
geous to America was miraculously so
to France, recommending it to that
modert difintererted body (who are,
rf known to be so apt to let flip out of*
4 their fingers any thing that may be.
, turned to advantage,) not to ,be blind
to their own interest, but to close with:
the proposal—that such a paper, wo
-fay, would not be very likely to excite
- any other emotion than contempt,or to
receive any other return .titan ironical
.thanks or open derision. It will readi
ly be considered Efficiently probaFe