The Rhode-Island American, and general advertiser — Providence [R.I.], 1810-07-31 00:00:00, page 2

wMt-h France meant to fiut upon her de
creee t he added, that he wan convinced
that even now, menenrce of actual hostility
would be adopted againet France, without
heeilaiion, ehould, facet-Britain relax; in
her ordi re eo ae to ifford the United Staten
an opportunity yf doing it with honour ;
but that it would b«-hnpossibte that they
afauid single out France at an oppnnwd.
stifle Great-BritaAn. contrary to her own.
dectaratfaM,. enforced her order* before
toy acquieaecfa* fa.tfa P* rt of ifa Uaurd
Stales i» the F«Mtoh decreet had been
proved,** „ { >
“ He hcknowledrtf it might be dif
ficult fofalßg on p state of bostility between
tbit cdwjfiry and (A'eftt-Britaia ufpn the
grounds ef any subsisting d ! .lfrrei*e«*» but
tfat he was defirous that an um
demanding sfautf prevail between tfa torn
wxmtrie*. which, eg e pretent state of their
relafans wou|d entirely prevent.”
44 He «Mbd« the* he »»» afraid the ir*
ritatfam which war* Ufaly j lO •* produced
If capture under fa MfaMy’s Orders in
Council tqjght lead togrrieat cuatcquencet,
which Ip mO4 he etwtod depiwcMe, aahe
was unwjUkf to tee the United States
thrown into an alliance he thought
already too powerful for tfa Interest of the
world. He did act pretegd to entertain
any partiality tppatfa England fac consid
ered that the interest of the United States
waa thc same at the present moment with
that of Great-Britain.’’
“These sentiments as expressed tome
By Mr. Ryfart Smith, arc, 1 believe, Very
Sincere. I fave beep much acquainted
with htaa, and cannot | ttyuk be mistaken
in the opinion which I fai>e formed of hi>
disposition and feelings tygn that subject.”
, Afa ! poor misptkcp ||r. Eitkine,; <•
loon might you eftpett fttf oduce any im
possible result, in nature at induce any bo
dy to bklicve that, Robert Smith supposed,
in the event of any concessions .on the part
of Great-Britain thnt * war with France
could reasonably be expected. What wa»
tfajcsult afar tfaarrangemcot of April
was concluded, and when it was supposed
the British government would ratiiy it i
Was any indication of war with France
euggeeted ? No such thing. The demo*
crate exulted, at bringing/he British Lit*
upon his marrow hones, w* extracting his I
fang*;. their papers insq||ed that nation,
and laughed at their mifater. War with
France was not only not mentioned ; but it
was considered Mill further removed from
forsooth, we had humbled the
British spirit and the British nation.
The following are extracts from a com*
municuuon, dated February 15, 1809, from
Mr. Erskine to Mr. Canning, and is the
oecond despatch published in the last lu-.
telligenccr. .
*• As the ruling party perceive that it
would not be in their pgwer to carry the
Eastern States along with them in a war
yrith Great-Britain, on the grounds of any
subsisting differences between the two
Countries, they hope that the frequent cap
tures of the vessels belonging to the Eastern
States, which are likely to take place in
consequence of his Majesty’s Orders in
Council continuing in operation, may excite
Irritation in the minds of the people of those
States and lead them to take a part in the
next Congress in any measures which
plight be pointed against Great-Britain.”
toould have been inotantty declared again »t
France, u/m* Grgfr ßrithin’e ge taxing
her ordcre, which ne eaid ' were moved fir
fore the United Staten had an ofift >rtttjity
of atcertuidlng ifttrjtwthtiori
** The weight and influence of the East
ern States, has bean sufficient to force the
ruling party to abandon their favourite
system of Embargo, and that too without
the t‘painful alternative" of President Jef
ferson, of war being substituted ; but I
doubt extremely how far they could compel
the Congress and President into a war with
France, unless the United States could be
called upon to assert its neutral rights by
the temporary removal of his Majesty's
Orders in Council to give them that oppor
tunity."
** This vast majority would enable the
President elect, and bis party to resist the
solicitation of the four Eastern States,
should they urge the next Congress to sin
gle out France as an enemy, because the
same power which has proved incompetent
to enforce an illegal, oppressive and*ruinous
law, would still be sufficient to withstand a
requisition to wage a war, which however
just, would not be likely to be attended
with any profit or advantage."
"It is true that a non-intercourse law
may be considered by the Eastern States
as very objectionable, but as it Would be
rather a nominal prohibition than a rigor
ous enforcement, a resistance to it would
be less likely to be made, and of less im
portance if it should take place."
“ The ultimate consequences of such dif
ferences and jealousies arising between the
Eastern and Southern States, would inevit
ably tend to a dissolution of the union,
which has been for some time talked of,
and has of late, as 1 have heard, been se
riously contemplated by many of the lead
ing peopkrtn the Eastern division."
It will be at once perceived, that Mr.
Erskine was too easily cajoled into any story
which the intriguers at Washington might
Invent, to have been either a useful or
dignified representation of the British na-
jMßnfiany."
. Tm. .. » ... ... ...
Fok Th. 8h6,. ; 81.. D
It is a difficult ttote to ceav fever. <«■»■
. v inca where'tfa mind faalready predewr*
mined. M I meet the Chief fast tor
of ths Court oTOaMsan Plea* in the faaith
fald Rank, and ahmild there VaH him* that
he was nearly related to JMn Horrid late
president ef the Gleaester Rank, perhaps
|a. would remenrfnr. to say it waanot so:
fat should I tell him that Harrie bad been
often ueea al bin. hofae, the Judge might
say yea, no, Jdnn<fe«elkct—-whotold you ?
i\ utay be yo. NeW.aH this may hnve>»
eocaning, and a refyronca to * IWr. Come
fuict." it would Mm he a hard taak to
convince this Judge' that a five dol
lar Bank Bill, worth nothing, wto once
given to a poor widow woman, and afters
wards refused again by the same person
who passed k. It would, perhaps, be * dif
ficult matter for Timothy Wilmarth to re
collect, the fifteen dollars of the Dexter
baftk, which uwgexttbtmged for board nt
the same house; But it ngplA be.very easy
to tocoHect that these bill* pre ttill kept as
uemrntoee of the honeety attached to ccr
t diguitarice of,thia State. It wouid be
a,hard master for Qbfhdiah Fenner, son-in
law to James Aldrich, to recollect who it
was that went all over the country pur
chasing stock with the Glocestcr bills, andt
who the red faced man was, that directed
. these purchases. It would be a difficult
task for Nathan Brown to recollect who, it
was that ftawned a horse-shoe forayiW
rum— but it would not be difficult,for him*
to recollect that Aldrich should swy that a
horse- shoe shall be the refireeentative cA
the lt would not be difficult to
recollect that Joel, on the 4th qf July, cried
out fucr»ecutian,flar»ecuiion, don't you eee
it—l told you »o—look, there *tio again ;
or that he and Juot-aeo Peck should be
united io the murder and dressing of calves.
It would be difficult for the democrats to
i ecollect that Jamee Aldrich is at the bead
of their party. These things are all dif
fcult to be recollected by these men, and
it fully shews us the truth of the observa
tion “ that the memory of man is treacher
ous.” Tha. when we do not wish to recol
lect we can easily forget. With all our
forgetfulness, however, I hope it will be
recollected that Mr. Rickard Jackson,
jun. is still a candidate for Congress. It
will be remembered that he is a.man weii
qualified for that station ; that he possesses
from observation and study, a full and ac
curate knowledge of our political situation,
and that, if elected, he will serve us with
fidelity and seal, do justice and honour to
the State, and add glory to himself. On
the other hand, it will be recollected that
N. Brown is his opponent, a man whose
Commercial and agricultural information
is as nothing, and whose talents are con-,
trac|ed tffa confined. I trust the ensuing
election will fully dvince that the people
Mill recollect that Mr. Jackson has served
them with fidelity for the two last years,
and that AC Brown has no right, no capa
city, no, information to qualify him for the
important station of Representative to the
twelfth Congress.
Houin America. The government at home
o)Ald have ne cWfaqfa in Me 44 echool
boy" letter** jbunjfad jppoß vague conjee
dres, and fadranJte from the’
<u< mbers of A unsettled administration.—
When such “ namby fiamby" dbrninupka
tions wero i printed by the British govurn.
ment, they mast hayr M once perceived
that unlike of Denmark,
poor Mr. Erskine 2 maa more easily play,
ed upon than a pipe” by the Rosencrants
and Guildenstcrnof the American Cabinet.
When a man commences ecoundrd, he
is seldom satisfied with his character, until
it is sunk to the very depths of baseness.—
This seems to be the governing principle of
" Vindex," a writer in the Phenix- But as
he has discovered signs of contrition in his
last communication, I hope he will escape
the hangman's noose, although he is a zeal
ous member of thie "Beaver Tribe, No. I.*
He complains most bitterly that I would
not consent to give up my name. I had
two reasons for refusing.—One was, I con
sidered that any other Indian had as good
a right to demand my name as " Vindex,"
unless he first declared himself the authour
of that piece to which I replied.—The
other, which was the most powerful, was a
fear that some of my friends would censure'
me for " having words" with u person so
famous for his ruffian when
ever he becomes a gentleman, and applies
in a proper manner, my name shall be at
his service.—Why the little man, who ap
plied to the Printers for it, put on the gar
ment, is certainly singular, unless it suited
And if it suited well, he has no moral or
religious right to complain of the man wh<>
made it—And he wcaild not complain un
less he had leagued with the Prince oi
darkness, to wage eternal war with Hit
'ruth —He has taken the liberty to call in-
< " villain and coward And wheiefon ?
Because 1 had the resolution to expose his
For Txk Rhodr-Islawd Amiricaw.
.. —....—. This fellow i methinks he has no
drowning marks upon him ; his complexion is
perfect gallows. Shaketpeare,
ALFRED, jun.
“Out of thine own meeto Ask thou be oon-
> demned.'* n* *. ,a i «.w ’
*Vtadex,*'tK hte Irst'plaM esmy. de-
Mikl »Mpk k
dium of this paper, had “ poured their gall
IntoTtEe bosoms,of the fair I” and “ that
from their lips hiid ibbfa faard sentiments
the meet shocking and barbarous.”—Whaf
man of common-foose will Jay, that this is
‘not charging them with the utmost malig
nity? Thus has he, written, and he hds
been heard lo confirmation, iu
the presence of more than one dr two wit
nesses, that a lady had faid “ with all the
rancour imaginable,” that she would be
“ witting to wairti her Hands in the heart’s
blood of Tammany jifart.” Now the little
sniveller endeavours to screen himself from
merited contempt by a Tecantation; by say
ing it was not fitodnicDtlen “ tolnjdte the
characteu of d feffikto; 1 thaf he
pressed himselfwarnfly- that hi' never
presumed any Atnake* bbnld entertain such
sentiments for mes Met in ber henrt.**—-
But his wMnMT wittnot gave
of extenuating his OTime, fol mightily
gravater.k*^Vfal?i" not his intention to
injure the character ef « single female F*
Why, then, <}id fa send pbroad in tfa world
an whicK in thee/Wrfr of his
recantation, fa acknowledges to fav* boon
innocently made ? Why did fa give it a
newspaper circulation ? ■ Was m
a ftraiec to'our females, or a reproach f
Was it done ** in the true ofurit and true
honour qf a manF* Who is “-villain"
now ? With hita, lam •• willing to submit
it to the award of Juitfoe.”—But he says,
that he “ expreeeed himae(f warmly."—U
ten days is not a sufficient time to cool his
passions, I think* that they must be of end
less duration.—The observation, which he
has dressed up with to much malignity,
must have been made on the fourth day of
July.—lt Was published in tfa Phenix on
the fourteenth.
■o other chastisement, than-that of being
hyndsonfrly wiped down with an “oaken
It seems that he “ thought it necessary
to produce the strongest instance, that had
come to his knowledge of the evil tendency
of the publications In The American." What
is this strong instance of corruption ? Why
as he confesses, an harmless observation—
If then The American has had no other
dreadful effect but this, why did he attack
it with so much Virulence ? Why yelp so
horridly his war song ? His yenom recoils
back upon himself. But I will leave him
tohisown reflections, ardently wishing that
he may become a 44 repentant publican,”
and “ go and sin no more.”
A Defender of Female Honour,
P. S. lam autfarieed tossy, that “.V in
dex” asserted a falsehood, when he said
that one of The American Editors told
the other, 44 it was well known that their
authours were never to be made known ”
w x are informed that on the 24th June,
1810, the United States’ brig Vixen, Lieu-'
tenant Trippe, carrying 14 guns, on her
way to New-Orleans, under orders from
our government, near the Bahamas, was,
in a wanton and unprovoked manner, fired
into by the British sluop of war, the Moselle,
Captain Boyce, rating 20 guns, 32 pound
ers—a 32 pound shot carried away the
main boom of the Vixen, within a short dis
tance of Colonel Poindexter, a Member of
Congress, who, with his family, had taken
passage on board on his return from Con
gress ; and a splinter from the boom wound
ed slightly Mr. Rodney, son of the Attor
ney-General of the United States, who
likewise was on his way to New-Orleans.
The subjoined extract of a letter from a
gentleman of great respectability on board
the Vixen, to his friend in this city, will
give a detail of circumstances ; and on the
conduct of Lieutenant Trippe, we will for
bear to make a comment, because, in our
war with Tripoli, this officer signalized
himself; but more especially as we are in
formed that he has been ordered by the
Secretary of the Navy to repair immedi
ately to Washington* for the purpose of an
inquiry into his conduct, in not returning
the fire of the Moselle.
" On the 24th instant, (June) on occur
rence took place which was equally un
pleasant and unexpected. The character
of the affair, however, corresponds with
the treatment which we have so often re
ceived from the British naval commanders
on former occasions. The M<wclle, a 20
gun brig, carrying 32 pounders, was laying
at anchor under the Stirrup Ray, near the
Bahama Bank. The Vixen approached
her under full sail, with her pendant and
vnrign hoisted. The commander of the
Moselle hoisted French colours, exhibiting
<>cveral private signals. Captain Trippe,
on perceiving a boat which he supposed
wished to speak his vessel, hauled up and
'etched the officer, who requested him
’i» go down to'the British vessel. With
his request Captain Trippe declined a
compliance, furnishing the officer, at the
WASHINGTON CH Y, July 23.
ce in circulating a falsehood.—But I
i ikb the highest meed of praise.—Or
id not, all his impertinence, all bls foul
BifHr.gsgKle Jbute, W_ouH gain him
25p ttje taailitf.
same time, withtfa name oftfp vmpl and
her deutinatioa/ Captain Royce, who cam- j
madde the a shot at u* as we
passed, which Captain Trippe considered
as an intimation that be wished <o speak
with ue.—Several musket bails were fired
from tfa 'boat into the vessel ; and at the
very memeut tfa British officer was polite
ly Received a* board tfa Vixen, and befdve
im? nwu tffiATD * tnc.«norMO<i■ to oi tne ixpi}
w*» given by Captain Trippe to the
message which was delivered; Captain
Bdftt firdff a rouhd shot, whfch came over
the quarter deck, and penetrated the main
faom o( tfa Vixen, Captain Trippe Imefe/
diately discharged the British officer, aM
prepafad for action. JThe English brig
slipped her cable, and got under wxy» ® e ”
Racing an attack on our vessel So soon as
she approached witbm a proper distance,
Captain Trippe despatched at boat w«b his
first Lieutenant, to demand of the British
offitferaaexplanation of Ms conduct; who
lent his Lieutenant on boatd the Vixien,
with various apolqgies, whph were not un
derstood ip * satisfactory. manner; and
Captain Trippe addressed a note to Cap
tain Boyce, requiring a written statement
of the reasons which fad induced him to
fii e two shots at his vessel. Captain Beg ce
teturaed for answer, that fa Mcogniaed,
with pleasure, the existing amity between
tfa two countries, and was extremely sorry
for having fired M Uto»that the reasons
which indueed him to fire, were that he
could not distinguish our colours, and saw
no preparations'far taking in saM—that he
had been informed that (wo French priva
teers were fitting out in the United States,
and supposed wjc.mighc probably, be one of
them. He also pledged bis honour that his
shot was not aimed at our vessel. —-Thecx
planation was deemed by Captain Trippe,
sufficient to prevent any further conflict;
and we instantly made sail * nd proceeded
on our course.—The injury which we sus
tained was trifling.—Mr. Rodney’s son was
struck-by a splinter from the b6om, which
occasioned his mouth to bleed a short time.
No other person was touched.
The conduct of Captain Trippe in this
affair was highly honourable to himself, to
the American navy, and to his country.*—
The Vixen was prepared for action with
the greatest promptitude and order, and
the explanation demanded in a madnet
which left no doubt as to his determination
to vindicate the honour of the national flag,
or parish in the attempt. The official as
surances of Captain Boyce could not be
questioned in an official form, but I feel the
most perfect cdhvfction that he knew tht
Vixen to be an American man of war—
that he fired the second shot directly at the
vessel, with a view of provoking a return
of the fire, and thereby furnish him filth
an excuse for going into action with a. ves
sel of infertour metal, and then shift the
responsibility from himself by declaring
that his shot was fired through mistake,
and without any intention of injuring the
vessel. I was on deck and saw the gun on
the forecastle of the Moselle, levelled di
rectly at the Vixen, and was not more than
three feet from the place where the shot
struck the boom.—The insolence of this
transaction is not more remarkable than
the meanness displayed by the British com->
mander, in forging excuses for his con
duct.” National Intelligencer,
Th 4 Intelligencer of yesterday morning,
gives us the basis upon which the late ru
mours were founded, respecting the ren
counter between the Vixen and the British
brig Moselle. Lieutenant Trippe, who
commands the former, is not excelled in
gallantry by any other officer in our or any
other navy. We mention this, because we
believe that the extract from the National
Intelligencer, has the strongest possible
colouring against his gallant spirit, and re
specting the defiance of the British officer,
which he is pretended to have submitted to.
The writer is probably a Mr. Poindexter,
the delegate from the Mississippi Territory,
a man published at the seat of government,
a few weeks ago, as having dishonourably,
eloped from his debt, for subsistence and
amusement at Washington, and for which
he was sued at Philadelphia, on his re
treat. w
Nobody was materially injured on board
the Vixen, and the Captain of the Moselle
immediately gave a handsome apology for
his mistake., He had the command of a
vessel appointed to watch for the French
privateers, one of Which be supposed the
Vixen to be, and so many of which have
been lately fitted out with impunity, have
smuggled, plundered and otherwise abused
our ports and citisens. When seized, one
has been restored by efiecial order of the
Executive, out of fear and complaisance
to the authour of the Rambouillet decree.
Captain Trippe would not, we may con
fidently say, submit to be dishonoured.—
If he were present, the Intelligencer would
not dare to publish the unfounded and ma
licious comments It has. They are a proof
not of the passiveness of Lieutenant Trippe,
but of the base malignity of the Editor and
his patrons, who thrive and profit by every
invention and aggravation, which may em
broil the citisens against Britain, and ex
tenuate the foul misdeeds of Bonaparte.
Bal, Fed, Kefi,
BALTIMORE. July 24.
THE VIXEN. '
The brig I<MW» RyfaglM Amphion.
arrived ibis morning fmro Jdend of Sy it,
bring accounts to Ist of Juntt—No seizures
had tfaen place oLAmcriffitn property m
Denmark; nor had they heard ot the block
ade of Elsiaeur.
The French Rambouillet decree has
bouu officially published ta the Dutch pa
pers. thus Jixfrig brytod doubt the hostility
wMBk sortie dmAtfff£-Markets fiifll, ex- -
cept for sugar, which Wus enpoyragh*
VVahave seen Hambuig letters by these
vessels—they afford no news.
Fm»w reru Aburir ox ,£vkqpm.
• ■ Tbit morning arrived *» this port tfa
ship Captain 6«ufth. in d*y*
from Revs! jn Russia, and $2 from Elsineur,
with a valuable .cargo of fafep. iron and
duck, to Messrs. Minturn Mid Champlin,
owner*. By the pollteneta and attention of
Captain Smith we have beep favoured with
the following mercaetile informalioa.. foe
which he has 6uv sincere acknowledge*
ments, and for which lie deserves the
thanks of the merchants throughout tfa
United State*.,_ i Capi. fefoiins that
the Prince of Augusteuburgf Crowe Frinfa
of Sweden, died suddenly MaySdthwr 89tfa
jn consequence of wtifch fill ebtamumoatton
between Denmark. end Swede* Waataop
ped for two days. Whether the Mince Mt
like other northern great mpi, by poisoner
strangling, or died a natural death, wu do
nt* learn. Captain also favou?4 x
ed us with a copy of tfa " IriMructions for
Pan|»h privateers*” granted on the 10th of
March. 1810, and translated and printed i*
English st Copenhagen on the 28th of the*
S ime month. ExtMCtt from instruc**
tion* have already been'publuhed in this
country, but ae the whole document is im*
portaot tO the mercantile interest, we shall
eadeaAwr to give It entire to-morrow.' ■>
HH.ii » . i ./ . . • * •>
BLOCKADE OF THS BALTIC*.
There appears to be some myMery io.
the fate English Orders for the blockade
of the ports of the Baltic*.. We find in
the London papers an extract of *n Order
for the blockade of the port of Elrfhear—
Captain Smith who arrived here this
noprt left Eftineurthe fagjbuing of fuhe, #
when no (ffijefade had xakrtn Rlaco; but R
ippears that Admiral Saumares was, about
that time blockading Gottenburg. Tho
circumstance had created some uneasiness
among the merchants in London, who ap
pear to be as muph in the dark, as to thu
real intention of the English cabinet, as Wo
are in this country. Captain Smith in
forms that there was a large British fleet "
in the two Belts, consisting at 40 sail of the
line, and as many frigates, No one kne<
for what purpose they won sent there.—.
He says that the Russian mercMinn at Re- ‘
vai expected a war with France. It is pro
bable that the next arrivalafirom Englaril
will clear up thi* ssistary andtarteg w some *
news of importance.
Captain Bowler, of the ship Globe, left
Cadiz the 2d June.—At that time it was re
ported that a battle had been fought (about
the 25th of May) between the French, and
English and Portuguese armies; and that
the former were defeated.— (Two weeks
later accounts from Lisbon inserted under
the Boston head, contradict this report]
Capt. Bowler also informs, that the Com
munication between the besieging army of
Cadiz and Madrid war cut off; and that la
consequence of hearing of the defeat of the
French in Portugal, and of an expectatioa
that the English and Portuguese armies
would come in the rear of the French be
sieging army, preparations were making aC
Cadiz for a sortie, which was to take place
on the 2d of June.
That so severe was the bombardment of
Matagorda from an opposite fort, that the
French had dismounted their cannon ah
that place.
The people of Cadle were in very high
spirits, and in full, expectation of getting
rid of their invaders.
Flour had been selling for 10 dollars;
but the recent arrival of 4 American ves
sels had reduced the price.
Six thousand troops had recently ar
rived ; and when Captain Bowler sailed
transports were beating in.
On Monday last, a man by the name ef
Braid, aged about 30 years, and of a genteel
appearance, was apprehended a nd'com
mitted to Bridewell, on a charge of forgery.
He had passed several checks on the dif
ferent Banks, to booksellers and store
keepers, which he exchanged for goodse—
The checks were in the names of W. & R.
Bruce, R. Bruce, J. Frost, and others.
A fire broke out in the city of Williams
burgh, on Tuesday night, the 17th Instant,
which consumecl 4 or 5 dwelling houses mg
Lowbov, June 1,
A letter from on board the Implacable,
74, states that Baron Kolli ha* been
cuted in sight of our shipping in Qniberoa
Bay, and the body left suspended for two
days. This circumMance does not occa
sion any change in our sentiments, tfa|*
this Baron was an agent employed by tfa
French, to entrap, and then to betray our
government.— 44 Dead men tell no tales. 44
July 26.
FROM CADIZ.