United States oracle and Portsmouth advertiser — Portsmouth, N.H., 1801-11-21 00:00:00, page 2

an acknowledged benefactor to this very people
who were now called upon to decide his fate—
,one who had been devoted to their service and
went about among them doing good; and there
was this favorable circumstance, that the people
generally were not previously prejudiced against
Jesus, but had a high veneration of his charac
ter. It was but a day or two before this, when
as Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole multitude
Shouted hi^ praises and cried aloud, " Hosanna
to the son of David " —We will now examine
the pivot on which tne opinion of the populace
turned. The crafty enemies of Jesus, perceiv
ing that the people were to decide his fate, imme
diately exerted themselves to prejudice and poi
son their minds by falsehoods. The sacred text
fays, " The chief priests and elders persuaded the
multitude,th*t they Should ask Barabbas and de
stroy Jesus." This artifice Succeeded. The
fickle multitude were turned by the breath of
flattery and Hander, as easily as a vane turns by
the wind. Accordingly, when Pilate immedi
ately after put the question to them, " Wheth
er of the twain will ye that I release unto you ?"
they said" Barabbas." Pilate faith unto them
" What Shall I do then with Jesus which is cal
led Christ ?" they all said unto him, " Eet him
be crucified." —The Governor appears to have
been astonished at their choice, begins to query
with them. " Why ? What evil hath he done ?
This Barabbas who Hands before you is a mur
derer and certainly guilty of death ; but what
evil hath Jesus done ?" This was an unanswera
ble question, and they did not attempt to an
swer it: but like some disputants, who when
bard preffid, will ratfe their voices instead of
Strengthening their arguments, " they cried
' out the more, faying, Let him be crucified." —
This was the " voice of the people," which po
litical fyeophanrs bllphemoufly fay, “ is the
voice of God."
The Empress Catharine one day ask
ed Printe Alexander, the reigning Em
peror of Ruflia, whom he would wish to
resemble most, Alexander the Great,
Constantine the Great, or the great Fre
deric ?—" Do not frak to me offch men,"
replied he, "their glory cofl too much blood;
my model fall be Henry the IFth of France,
mho, being compelled to lay siege to Paris,
sent provisions through fubterraneous paffa
gee to bis revolted fubje&s."
The {lability of our Constitution depends
upon the correct information and the virtue of
the people.—ls the sources of public and private
information might be fufliciently numerous &
pure ; if al! newspapers might be the vehicles of
truth; if there might be in every part of the
country a fuffirient number of good fchools,and
of fret fcbcols for the inftrndlion of the children
of poor people ; and if public and private virtue
might mark the characters of the several classes
of the people, there would be a happy profpea
of the eventual triumph of rcpublicanifm. Our
mild and happy form of government might be
permanent and lading , and millions yet unborn
might enjoy its inestimable blessings. But on
the other hand, if the Sources of public informa
tion should be corrupted; if newspapers should
become the vehicles of falfehood and Slander,
lor the purpose of destroying the good and ad
vancing the bad; if the education of children
and youth should he neglected ; if the morals
cf the people Should be corrupted ; if elections
should become gambling matches; if patriotism
itfelf Should become a bye -word, by reason of
the conduct of its hypocritical profeffors in press
ing after the loaves and fifties of office : If this
should be the Rate of things, ic would but too
seriously indicate approaching ruin.
HISTORICUS.
Fi < cob-web Speculations are fallacious : but
real /^% always fpc^k the language of truth.—
From the faithful page of history,we may learn
wisdom.
4/ the upright man cannot use bimfelf, and therefore
cannot juffieiently guard againf in others.".
These remark, of the learned Do^er are
funded not in theory, but in substantial 66k.
1 hey are not the deductions of abstruse and fal
lible reasoning= but are incontrovertible truths
declared and cflablifhed from age to age by the
impartial hiftory of man. An honed mar a
real patriot being incapable of vile arts and in
trigue, is exposed to be undermined and sup
planted by the Ay knave, who will use lying,
calumny, and any infamous methods whatever
to gain his ends. The former stands on open
ground with his bafom birred while the latter
fculks behind a tree, and from thence throws
his envenomed darts, nr perhaps stabs him in
the manner of an afl CTn, When calumnies
are forbad with great subtlety, industry and
confidence,and though clearly confuted, are still
perlifted in and repeated with the fame bold
nd? and effrontery, the v ry bell characters
may. ten time, be tarnished by them. Integri
ty, talents and patriotism, are no security against
this “ peddence that walketh in darkiels"—
Crafty and.wicked men,Oy poisoning the sourc
es oi public information, may inflame the peo
ple with rdentment even ugainft their bed
friends and benefactors. —And indeed this has
been often done.—The ancient democratic Re
publics of Greece afford divers remarkable in
fiances of this kind ; some of which may here
after be particularly noticed. At present, I
Shall fcle& an instance to our ptirpofe from a
book which though toolittle read, is much more
universally known, than the hiftory of Greece,
the hiftory of the trial and condemnation of
our faviour, which is equally affecting and in
ftruSiye, gives a mod driking specimen of
popular delusion. The cunning, malicious
priests of the Jewish nation had formed a refo-
Jution to destroy Jesus, hecaufe he had openly
erpofed their hypocrisy and was diminishing
their influence. Pursuant to this plan, they ar
rested him and brought him to trial before Pi
late the Roman Governor ; and, through their
violent and overbearing importunity, obtained
his condemnation. Pilate, however, being con
feious of the innocence of Jesus, as well as of
the malice of his accusers, and wishing to save
his life, had recourse to the following expedient
for that purpose.—-It had be^n customary that
the people at their great annual feftival, had
the privilege of obtaining the release of any one
condemned criminal, for whose pardon they
chose to solicit. Pilate, availing himfelfof this
cudom,biought forth Jesus, and together with
him, one Barabbas a notorious culprit, who had
been guilty of insurgency and murder: and
then he demanded of the multitude which of
them two he ftould release. Here was an im
mediate appeal to the people, who (as flatterers
fay) can do no wrong; and whose voice has
been pronounced to be the voice of God. 0i
the one hand stands a mifereant, cAnvifted of
the enormous guilt of murder ; on the other
hand, there stands one of a spotless character—
EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.
We have the pleafiire at last to an
nounce that the PRELIMINARIES
OF PEACE are SIGNED between
I 4 RANCE and BRITAIN ! contrary
to the general expectation. We have
already Rated, that, about five or fix
weeks ago, the English Cabinet, desir
ous of drawing the Negoefation to a
conclusion, gave in a project as its ulti
matum, resolved to make a Peace on
that basis, or break off the Treaty
within the month of September, that it
might be ready to lay before the Par
liament, at its meeting, a report of the
efforts to put an end to the war. Ea
ger hopes were entertained for the ef
fect of this Step, and the funds rose ; —
butßonapane metit withcoldnefs,made
new demands, and occasioned delays,
which destroyed the hopes of those
who had been the most Sanguine. Min
isters continued to press him ; the
form of a Preliminary Treaty was sent
off early lad week to Paris, with an as
surance that unless it was acceded to,
the negociation mull close. One half
of the Cabinet Ministers had no ex
peflation of fiiccefs : peace was des
paired of; and hence arose the many
reports of the Negociation's being
broken, or on the point of a rupture.
The general expectation was, that of
peace there was no chance. All the
newspapers of yesterday morning, e
ven those pretending to be in the confi
dence of Ministers, as well as those
which are really so, having no hopes
of peace, from the language held a few
days ago, spoke of a rupture of the ne
gociation as inevitable. Even the Cab
inet Ministers, who dill entertain some
expectations of futcefs, agreed, a week
ago, that Peace, or an attempt at in
vasion, must take place before Christ
mas. Under these circumstances, when
we heard on Wednesday, and Thurs
day, Peace spoken of with confidence
as being near at hand, we could not be
lieve in so happy an event. The an
swer of the First Consul received on
Wednesday, however, to the aftonilh
ment of all, closed with the proposals of
our Government. A Cabinet Council
was held, and an express sent off to his
Majesty, whole Sanction returned next
afternoon. The silver box, never used
since the peace with America was Sign
ed—was sent to the Lord Chancellor
at five o'clock, for the great seal and
his signature, and the consent of all the
other Cabinet Ministers being obtained
—at seven o'clock, Lord Hawkefbury
and M, Otto signed the Preliminaries
of Peace in Downing-ftfreet.
The conditons of this treaty are not
Mr. Hunter, jun. the meflenger,who
carried the letter, reached the'manfion
house about 8 o'clock; but his lord
ship was at his country feat at Clap
ham. Mr. Hunter immediately pro
ceeded thither, and remained at his
lordship's all night, returning to Lon
don with him early yesterday morning.
The intelligence, which had not trans
pired in any public circle, on the pre
ceding night, burst round the whole
town before 9 o'clock in' the morning.
The Lord Mayor went in person to
Lloyd's Coffec-houfc, and read the
letter, which was afterwards post
ed at the bar and at the Strfk Ex
change. To these places crowds flock
ed, and the greater joy and agitation
prevailed. The very men who a few
days before declared peace could only
be an armed truce, that war was less
dangerous than peace with such an en
emy, were now seen shaking hands,
smiling, and congratulating each other
on the conclusion of the treaty! The
funds, the three per cents, which had
been at 59 1-2 the preceding day, rose
to 66; and the omnium, which had
been at 8, rose to 18.
HAWKESBURY.
To the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor.
" I have the Satisfaction of informing
your Lordship, that the Preliminaries
of Peace between Great Britain and
France have been signed this evening by
me on the part of His Majesty, and by
M. Otto on the part of the French gov
ernment. I request your Lordfllip
would have the goodness to make this
intelligence immediately public in the
city.—l have the honor to be, &c.
Downing-Strect^ea. 1.
PRELIMINARIES of Peace be
tween his Majesty and the French
Republic, were signed last night at
I.ord Hawkefbury's office, in Downing
Street, by the Rt. Hon. Lord Hawkef
bury, one of his Majesty's Principal Sec
retaries of State, on the part of his Ma
jesty, and by M. Otto, on trie part of
the French Republic.
The flawing communication cult also
made to the Lord ATayor, and at Lloyds.
Downing-Street, Ofl. I, 1801.
My Lord,
Since our left, numerous arrivals have furnifhed
the following. HIGHLY INTERESTING
NEWS from Europe.
0
SIGNING of the PRELIMINA
RIES of PEACE.
Important News.
Extraordinary Gazette.
London, oct. 3, ißor.
Much praise has been given to Min
isters for the secrecy with which they
have conducted the negotiation. We
give them no such praise. It was their
duty to have made the public under
stand Something of its progress. Mer
chants and commercial men are so deep
ly interested in the event, that some in
formation was necessary to enable them
to conduct their business with fafety. A
fewindirect communications to the pub
lic could have done no injury to the
treaty, or injury of any kind. The si
lence maintained by Ministers, and the
prevailing opinion that negociations
would fail, will perhaps, ruin several re
fpe&able houses, and 'prove a cruel
misfortune to many worthy men. But
we acquit Ministers of mifcondtid in
this respect, until within these three
days. We believe they had no expec
tation of peace till Wednesday, and
having nothing good to announce be
fore that time, they preserved lilcnce.
If it be contended that this secrecy has
prevented individuals from gambling
in the funds, we fay no. Certain per
sons have known of the progress of the
negotiation, and, within two days have
made fortunes by it.
The feelings of every man yesterday
received a Shock, influenced Strongly by
either hope or fear, or both. The pres
ent peace involves the interest of every
one, more than any ev^nt that ever be
fore occurred.—The rich man who
draws his thousands from the Indies,
and the poor man who derives his loaf
from his labour, feel with equal awe
this crisis in their fate. But whatever
may be the alarms with regard to the
future, the earlier the peace Js made,
the less will be the difficulties with
which we muff Struggle. We regret
that peace was not made two years ago
when Buonaparte offered it : we regret
it was not made four years ago when
the people of England called for it ; —
we regret that the war ever commenced
—and it would be easy to Shew that we
have not only totally failed in the real
obje& of it, but that our losses have ex
ceeded our gains. But at the present
moment such thoughts are unseasona
ble. The public joy Shall not be damped.
We hail Peace, even late as it comes,
and feel a confident hope that the coun
try poffeSfes the means of overcoming
all its difficulties, under a wife admin
istration of affairs. The patience, the
industry, and firmnefs of the people are
great, and authorize any favorable cal
culations founded on their conduct. —
Even Ministers, we hope, are convinced
of the folly of attempting to conquer
France, and may seriously improve the
opportunity now afforded them of re
pairing their errors. We Shall not be
iurprifed to fee Mr. Pitt extolling " the
child and champion of Jacobinifm,"
and palliating his ads of—tyranny—
we would have said yesterday ; but we
muff now keep a wary guard upon our
language. France is perhaps almost
our ally, and the pillory will be the re
ward of those who dare calumniate
fully known. It is said that they guar
antee the integrity of our three Allies,
Turkey, Portugal, and Naples. Os
course Egypt will be evacuated both
by French and English, and Madeira
restored. France guarantees to these
three of our Alfies their dominions ;
but it seems our Allies the Stadtholder
and King of Sardinia, as well as the
French Princes, are abandoned to
their fate 1 The Pope's territory is to
be eaveuated, Malta is to be restored to
its ancient Knights ; Minorca to be re
stored to Spain ; and Porto Ferrajo
evacuated. So, we gain nothing in the
Mediterranean, or in Europe—while
France gains all Holland, and Nether
lands, a large part of Germany, Swit
zerland, and two thirds of Italy! In
the Welt-Indies, the only conquest we
are to keep is, as we are told, Trinidad.
The Cape of Good Hope is to be made
a free port, and Ceylon is to be ceded
to this country. We Shall offer no o
pinion upon the conditions until they
are better authenticated. A copy of
the treaty signed by Lord Hawkefbu
ry was on Thursday night dispatched
tn Paris, where it will arrive this night;
and the ratification is expe&ed back on
Monday night or Tuefday morning,
when it will be ratified by the British
government also, and published we
hope in an extraordinary Gazette.—
Ministers will feel the propriety of
making it instantly and officially known
—since the fate of so many men will
be decided by the nature of the condi
tions. Parliament will be immediate
ly summoned to meet within fourteen
days, for the dispatch of business, the
preliminaries will be laid before it, its
fandion obtained, and in the midff of
the general joy, a loan will be raised to
an unexampled extent, as government
is known to be in want of an enormous
fam of money. Parliament will then
be adjourned to meet after Christmas,
and receive the definitive treaty. In
the mean time we underhand Joseph
Bonaparte is expected in London to
have the eclat of negociating and sign
ing that treaty. But it will be rather
an instrument of form, than of real im
portance, we presume, as the prelimi
nary treaties between this Country and
France have usually been adopted for
the definitive.
Bonaparte however,was urged to con
clude this treaty by other motives than
the conditions offered. Factions were
forming against him at Paris, taking
peace for their ground, and he was o
bliged to have a large body of troops
in that city. Alexandria, too, which
he made an article of barter in the ne
gociation, he knew had surrendered, &
he wished to obtain something under
pretence of giving it up. Mr. Mel
witz, servant to Lord Elgin, arrived
yesterday with dispatches from his
Lordship, dated Constantinople, Sept
6, Rating that Gen. Hutchinson invert
ed Alexandria the 17th of August, af
ter the flotilla of French gun boats had
been destroyed, and some batteries be
tween Lake Mareotis and the Shore.
Menou,on the 2id, sent a flag of truce,
demanding an armistice of three days,
which was granted, at the end of which
Alexandria will be given up.
On Wednesday the funds rose two
or three per cent, on the purchases
made ; and the reports on the Stock
Exchange were, that Preliminaries
would be instantly signed. The fame
occurred on 1 hurfday ; but these re
ports having proved falfe before, were
not generally believed, and those in the
secret made the greater advantage of
them. They Shewed, however, that
some men in the Alley knew what
"was going forward. A number of po
licies on the peace have also been done
at Lloyd's within these few days ; and
we could name individuals who have
made fortunes there independent of
what they mull have realifed in the
funds. So much for the secrecy of the
negociation. The public have been
deceived, and a few men have made
fortunes. While we are on the fubjeft
of the funds we must remark this ex
traordinary fa&. Last Monday was
twelve-month,a report Wrongly prevail
ed, and was much believed, that a plan
ofa naval armistice was agreed upon
by M. Otto and Lord Grenville, and
that it was gone to Paris for Signature.
On this report the 3 per cents, were
fold as high as 67. Yesterday, with the
signing of the Preliminaries of Peace,
published in the London Gazette, in eve
ry man's hand, they did not rife at any
time higher than 66 and a half, though
much bulinefs was done, and a great
deal of money came- to market. To
what can we impute this heaviness of
Stecks ' Is it the effect of the increase
of the national debt, or the profped of
an enormous loan, and of financial dif
ficulties of the utmost magnitude which
must be encountered in adjusting a pa
cific system ? Or do the mercantile
men feel apprehensions for the com
merce which the war has enabled us to
monopolife ?
On the 16th inst. a m< flage was sent
to the First Chamber, with the new
Constitution. The Directory did not
alk the advice of the Chamber, but
merely notified what they had done.
Violent debates took place. Upon a
division there was a majority against
the Directory, of 28 to 26. A com
mittee was appointed to report upon
the message. Their report was favor
able to the principle of the new Consti
tution's being submitted to the people.
But when the report was taken into coh
fideration, it was negatived by 27 to 25,
and the measure was agreed to be de
ferred. In this date of affairs the Di
redory published a Proclamation dif
folying the Legislative body, and re
quiring the people to give their votes
upon the New Coyftitution on the ill
of O&ober.
The new Constitution consists of 108
articles. The Directory are to be a
bolished, and the Executive power is to
invested in a State Directory of 12
The Humburg mail was received
this day. A revolution has taken place
in the Batavian Government. The
Dutch Legifluture has been DIS
SOLVED BY THE DIRECTORY,
[4 /a mode de Bonaparte] and a new
plan of Constitution has been Submitted
to the people.
Do they fee a diminution of the rev
enues and resources of the government?
Do they fear that the channels of out
wealth will be diverted to oilier quar
ters ? Undoubtedly, this is the mod
awful moment at which this country
ever arrived. 'No peace was ever made
under circumflances of so grave and
ferions a nature. It has been the pe
culiar chamber of this war, that it has,
by the forced circulation of paper mo
ney, instead of gold, the monopoly of
commerce, &c. created a date of things,
favorable to its own exigence. The
nation has been brought to a habit of
body by violent stimulants, which may
render it dangerous to return to its for
mer sober course. On this fubjed, un
doubtedly, great anxiety must prevail.
A nine years war has changed our na
ture so much that we cannot contem
plate the reform even of our vices
without uneasiness.
r,Another overturn in Holland.
Bonaparte. We may with fafety ad
mire his exalted genius, tho' we cannot
compliment him on the principles or
the practice of his Government. What
a change has he effected in the situation
of France ?
LONDON, SEPT. „.
Efflian zlfoirs.
LONDON, OCT. I.
T .°n£, details from Egypt occupy several
columns of the Monittur. Ifthey contain no
new fafts, they arc neverthelcfs interesting, in
asmuch as they possess us of the French official
account of the causes that led to the surrender
of Cairo. Gen. Belliard's letter is full and ex
plicit, and we have no doubt that the State
ment he gives of the difficulties of his Situation
is correct. Yet he well knows the immense
importance which Bonaparte attached to the
poffeflions of Egypt ; and our r< aders will dis
cover in his narrative, an apprehension that the
Chief Consul, will disapprove of the surrender
of Cairo without a battle. Os what use, how
ever, would refiltance have been ? The utm oft
exertions of valour would have been unavailing
and reliflance would only have aggravated the
milcries and the privations to which the army
were exposed. Belliard lays, that Gantheaumel
arrival with his reinforcements would have pro
duced a great change in the flare of affairs.
Every account that is received from Egypt men
tions the mifunderftaudings that have taken
place between the French Generals. The wane
of a Commander of talents and of vigour in all
probability, produced these bickerings . Menou
is not a man fit for such trying circumflances.
He divided his force when he ought to have
collected and concentrated it. He direded his
whole attention to Alexandria, when he should
have fixed and established himfelf at Cairo.
In Alexandria, however, he is determined
upon maintaining himfelf to the foft extremity..
He may prolong the period of his furrender
until winter, but he can have no hone of mak
ing the English raise the siege. All the private
accounts from Paris, defcribc Bonaparte as ex
tremely indignant at the conduct of the cam
paign in Egypt. General Regnier demands a.
court martial ; and it is said that a Serious in
quiry will be instituted as soon as Mcnou rt
turns.
Mr- Melville, Lord Elgin's private feerctary,
arrived this morning with difpatebes from his
Lordihip. It is rumoured that Alexandria has
surrendered
PORTO FERRAJO.
The Paris Monitcur cf Sept, ;8,
relates that Ad. Warren debarked,
2500 Swiss troops on the iflandj of EL
ba, together with sailors and marines,
to ad in concert with die garrison of
Porto Ferrajo. They were at 6rft fuc
cefsful, and took a battery ; but at
length (fays the French paper) verc
repulsed, and intercepted in their 1&
treat too English taken prisoners avd
ioqo of the foreign corps killed. A
British frigate difmafted, and 10 gun
boats taken.
LONDON, OCT. 2.
It is impossible to express the tumult/
of joy that prevailed in every part of
the metropolis as soon as the intern
gence of peace transpired. Lloyd's
GERMANY. HAMBURG, Sept. 22.
Ihe l urkim Empire is advancing
rapidly to that dissolution which has
been so long predicted. Insurrection
has not been confined to one province,
but has broken out near Conttantino
ple, at Andrianople, Philippopoli, Nis
sa, and other places. The populace
have risen upon their Magistrates, and
much blood has l)een flied. Several
Governors have been forced to fly, and
revolt is spreading in the mod rapid
manner. We dread the consequences
of a revolution in a country Situated as
Turkey is—where there will be no
other rallying point or common prin
ciple than that of destroying the Gov
ernment. No fydem will be prepared
to replace that which is destroyed, and
it is to be apprehended that anarchy
will pervade the whole empire.
It is now known that the principal
object of Duroc's embafly to Peterf
burgh was, to endeavor to obtain the
Emperor's consent to an invasion of
the Turkish States, and particularly
Greece, for which the army of Italy
was to be employed. But the refined
politics, and the vigilance of Lord St-
Helen's, has rendered Bonapartes
plans and Duroc's endeavor fruitlefs.
The present Emperor, however, too
well understands his true interests to
permit this plan of the French, which
would be more, or less an attack on his
own empire, to be put in execution,
notwithstanding it was already nearly
contented to by his Father, who was
weak enough to listen to the French
flattery. As this idea must be given
up, the soldiers from this Army of It
aly are upon their furloughs.
OCT. I.
The change in the Dutch Govern
ment is noticed in the Moniteur, which ,
has published the Proclamation address
ed by the Directory to the people up
on transmitting the plan of the new
Constitution to them. The conduct
of the Executive Power in dissolving
the Legislature is a violation of every
principle of justice; but the time is
part when such proceedings excited the
indignation of the people.' The Dutch
viewed these changes with the utmost
indifference ; not the flighted dilturb
ance took place ; the public cared
neither for their executive nor their le
gislative authorities ; they let them
quarrel, and fettle their disputes as they
plealed. The Monitieur, with an anx
iety not likely to remove ful°picion,i
lays, “ that the French General and
the French Ambassador, in Holland,
did not in any reSpeCt interfere with the
bulinefs, nor did the French Govern
ment prescribe any preliminary meai
ure.''
persons, one of whom is to go out vor.
ly. The Legislature is to coniiuof
35 members, and the Republic is to be
divided into eight departments.
Seeds oj Keiot^ton :n 1 uncy.