The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-07-22 00:00:00, page 1

We read that the ten kings (hould give
their power to the beatt who Ihould oppose
Chris's kingdom—-—and we fee the pre
diaion fulfilled. But where do we read
that Christ or his apostles foretold, or dire&>
ed that the Kings of the earth Ihould make
any Vws or orders, more or fewer, refp<&-
ing his kingdom ? Or that he has made them
church-officers ? So far otherwise is the case
that the new testament (peaks aloud from
beginning to end,'that Chris's kingdom is
founded on the truth ; and having a founda
tion totally diverse from the foundation of
their kingdoms, it seeks no alliance ; it nei
ther interferes nor coklefces with them—lt
stands immoveable on its own balls, inde
-Ipendent of them all. The smiles and frowns
of kings and great men are as inconsequen
tial to this kingdom as the smiles and frowns
of beggars. Its laws more immutable than
those of the Medes and Persians, need no
supplementary, explanatory, or emendatory
ads. They fear no infurre&ions ; they ad
'mit of no repeal ; they can neither be im
paired or strengthened by earthly powers,
a^ing separately or in combination.
The power of this kingdom operates on
the mind,where external force does not pen
etrate. The effed is conviction, purfua
fion, understanding ; followed by willing o
bedience. Human laws can conflrain and
controul external aaions : they can make
hypocrites' in abundance, but hot a Jingle be
liever. He who require the heart, car:
reach, convince, and command it: And al
though men are ready to dream of adding a
new force to the laws of Christ, by enabl
ing them over again in a new form, they
might as well dream, of creating the world
over again ; or of moving the heavenly bo
dies by mechanical powers.
In the usurpation of Christ's prerogative,
in the attempt to set up chriftianity by dim
of worldly motives ; we fee a counterfeit,
1 ' a meer external religion, which under a dis
guise is the very reverse of that holy relig
ion. We behold the rife and reign of that
man of fin who has exalted himtelf above
all called God ; but who is now wafting
away,and soon to Be destroyed by the bright-
X ^ nefs of the coming of the son of man. Had
' it not been for the pernicious principle of
the interference of worldly power with
,thrift's kingdom, the Great antichrift could
nover have risen to his height; But the
scripture touft needs be fulfilled.,
Thus it appears from the nature of Christ s
11
That ancient kingdom in Canaan was a
church. The only true national church in
deed that ever wdsin this world. Another
cannot be. The 'tings of Israel and Judah
were church-offi- rs. They had much to
do refpeaing the appointed worship of the
God and king of Israel. To them it belong
ed to maintain this in its purity. They
were God's vicegerents in a true theocracy.
Types of the greatMeffiah, and called God's
—That church watf e f en ded by the sword
which Jesus Christ sys difeharged as useless
jn his kingdom. Inthat church the spirit
of God came upon men, eminently quali
fying them to fight his battles. By faith men
became heroes,mighty men of valour,fubdu
ed kingdoms, and wrought righteousness—
But what has all this to do with modern
Jlates, ruled by the Lords of the gentiles.
^ho has created these into theocracies ? Are
men now laboring to abolilh a heavenly
Kingdom, that they may build up again, what
God has put'down, as having answered its
defen?
ANOTHER ground on which the au
thority of magistrates in matters of re
ligion has Keen contended for is this, that
%he kings of Israel and Judah are commend
ed in the Scripture for exerting their pow
erin fopport of religion. And it is added,
thateven heathen kings are spoken of with
apparent approbation, on the fame account.
However true the fad may be, the conse
quence by no means follows. Before the
inference can be drawn a proposition must
be assumed which is the deep and poisonous
front of antichriftian error. It is this. That
Jesus Christ has a kingdom, as to which the
kings of the earth, and rulers of Rates now,
stand in a like relation, as the Jewilh kings
and rulers did to the old earthly kingdom or
church of Israel. A position as falfe as it
is true that Christ's kingdom is not of this
world.
NUMBER 48. —VOL. I.]
©e inquirer, SO, 4,
For the REPUBLICAN LEDGER.
" WHEN YOU SHALL
The Republican Ledger.
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THESE DEEDS RELATE,, SPEAK OF THEM AS THEY ARE ; NOTHING- EXTENUATE NOR SET DOWN OUGHT IN MALICE."
MR.PRINTRR,
I have sent you the above case, which I
request you to print, as 1 think the decision,
tho' quite contrary to the mode of (fondue
adopted in these iflapds, refle&s much honor
and difeernment on the judge of this court ;
and I am happy to find that a decision of
such importance to the owners of privateers
had been previously countenanced by Sir
Wm, Scott, whose judgment and abilities
are of a tranfeendant nature. —It must be
A DECISION interefling to the Commanders
of His MajeJly's Ships, and to the Owners
of Privateers, duly commissioned.
AT a court of Vice Admiralty, in the
island of Nevis, on the 21st of Feb. 1800,
came on the cause of the Salem, an Ameri
can vessel, captured by a French privateer,
and which remained in the custody of the
enemy for eleven days ; but before ihe could
reach the island of Guadaloupe, was seized
and captured by the Diana privateer and
brought into the port of Nevis for adjudica
tion.
The master of the Salem, with agent for
former owners, claimed, offering one 3d of
the value of the vessel and cargo as salvage
to the owners of the Diana. —The captors
claimed the whole : the Salem having been
in possession of the enemy eleven days, which
made the vessel and cargo the actual proper
ty of the enemy.
The advocate for the captors made use of
strong, though short arguments, declaring,
66 that there was no law of nations, treaty,
or Britifli ad of parliament exiting, that
could afford a fliadow of solid foundation for
any claim being interposed : That from the
moment of her capture, she had become
French property ; and the claimants well
knew, that had the vessel reached Guada
loupe, they must have given up every pre
tension to the property in quellion :—That
fortunately, the Diana had fallen in with
this their quondam vessel, and retook it from
the enemy." ,
The arguments adduced by the claimants
advocate, were founded on the precedents of
some courts of Admiralty in these islands,
where American Laws and Regulations re
fpeaing recaptures made by their commis
sioned (hips of war were adopted, and ad
vanced to be a guide to a Britilh Court of
Admiralty for political reasons.
The court gave judgment that the captors
were entitled to the whole property. —An
appeal was prayed for touching two thirds
of the vessel and cargo, which was granted.
The proper officer of the court was then di
redfed by the Judge to fell the Salem, her
tackle, apparel & furniture, and the goods,
wares and merchandizes therein laden, and
to pay over one third of their value to the
captors agreeably to the salvage offered by
the American agent, and the remaining two
thirds to be secured pending the appeal.
kingdom, that no argument for worldly
powers intermeddling with it, can be drawn
from the conduct of the kings and rulers in
the abolished church of Israel. And as lit
tle can that interference be juftified by the;
example of heathen kings, who exerted
themselves in the support or promotion of
the Jewilh religion. He Who appointed in
ternal worldly power to defend or support
the worldly church, might, and did when he
pleased, make external power contribute to
the fame ends. Some of Nebuchadnezzar's
decrees refpeaing the fear of God, appear
to.be solemn confeffions and exhortations,
enforced by no temporal fan&ions. So of
the proclamation of Cyrus, who was a, type
of the Messiah. And it may fuffice to fay
here, that the decrees of such kings refpea
ing the earthly church, which were enforced
by temporal fanaions, are no more recorded
as examples to be followed now, than like
doings of the kings of Israel and Judah —
Both kinds are striking events relating to
the church, and recorded for our instruc
tion. No hint is given of their being pre
cedents for modern rulers, but there is much
evidence that they are not. The story of
Jonah, of the heathen king of Nineveh and
his people is most wonderful! There was
much striking figure in it ; and the grand
inftru&ion it contains is opened to us in the
New Testament. But the Jewid) notion
of a worldly kingdom for.the Messiah has a
fafcinating influence to blind the mind, as to
this and like inftru&ion.
From the Sr. Christopher Advertiser.
of June 17, 1800.
• TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1800.
evident to common sense, that when an A
merican once becomes captured by the
French, that the property immediately is
changed, and that no subsequent recapture
by a Brftifh ship of war or privateer can al
ter her fituafion ; the property, once loft,
must be forever loft to the original owners ;
nothingtout being retaken, by an .American
ship of wartcan reinflate the former owners.
In regard to the policy of giving a salvage,
as pradifed two often, I cannot but con
demn the measure ; for, to speak my can
did sentiments, no English court has a right
to take cognizance of any American usage
or custom, but to conform only to the laws
of England. Neither, in my humble opin
ion, are the Americans entitled to that leni
ty they in general receive : It is true that
the American erwifers do annoy the enemy,
and thereby are of some utility during the
war ; but it was felf-prefervation, added to
felf-intereft, that induced them originally to
fit out ships of war. Their prizes and re
captures ought not to find admission at an
English port, but should proceed with them
to the continent, and there undergo the A
merican adjudication. Besides, the severi
ties lately infliaed on the British, who wish
ed to become settlers in America, should o
pen the eyes of every intelligent being, and
cause an adoption of equal fcrutity on every
and any American who resides in the Brit
ifh colonies. It was with abhorrence and
indignation I recently heard from a gentle
man of undoubted veracity, it was required
by the United States, that on becoming a
fabje& of America, a man must not only
take the oaths of allegiance (which is deem
neceffary and) always willingly complied
with) but theyexa& a solemn renunciation
of that allegiance you owe your king and
country. —Whit ! can an Englishman bred
and born, who nas enjoyed every felicity un
der his sovereign, renounce and abjure him 7
Forbid it heaven, that there could be such
an alien. Can the child forget its duties to
its protesting parent aud turn savage r As
Rich only,, I account the man, who would,
for any private emolument, abjure his King
and Country.
If this scrutiny, this test of fidelity is so
necessary previous to being a settler in Ame
rica, with what caution should an Ameri
can be admitted or become a resident in an
English colony r But strange to tell, too
muQi indulgence is evinced to every stranger,
and ,the oaths of allegiance deemed a fuffi
cient security, not only for his admission to
a cdony, but qualifies him to enjoy those
privileges which an a& of Parliament pre
clude, unless by a certain time of residence.
I might here extra& some articles from the
treaty of commerce between America and
England, and particularly, refpeding the co
lonies, but the treaty can be easily turned to
and perused. Those of the 23d, 24th, and
25th articles will carry correction with
them.
Extrema fa letter from a gentleman in:Philadel
phia, to his friend in this town, dated Jul, 2,
“ Philadelphia at present enjoys good health,
and there has not been o^e alarm of the fever a
mong us—^e are favored with delightful retrefh
ing ihowers, and much thunder and lightning : I
hope the Lord will have mercy on ns, ahd favour
us with health thro' the year; his goodness, per
haps, may lead us to repentance. Our water
works are progressing, and it is tho't that in a lit
tle time, we shall enjoy the purest water. There
has not been known for many years so great a
profpe&of success to the husbandman. The locusts
hate been among us in abundance, and their noise
in the city and country has been very great—l7
years ago, when they appeared, or some of the
other seasons of their appearence, health ,nd plen
ty crowned the inhabiting those years."
The sentiments of any individual is then
meant for the benefit of the crown, the
king's Ihips, the owners of privateers, and
the colonies in general, though they may
not accord with those of some men, will
neverthdefs have just weight with every se
rious observer. And lam of opinion, that
any vessel in the predicament of the Salem,
nay, not under such favorabll circumstances,
of eleven days possession by the French,will
ever undergo a similar fate, viz. condem
nation in toto.
Should the praaice of still allowing a sal
vage he continued, notwithstanding my im
potent remarks, I ardently hope that the
captors will conftantl,. appeal for the re
mainder; and I can venture to predi& suc
cess, without pretensions to any other mer
it, but the suggestion of plain sense : for o
therwise, the Americans would be on a bet
ter footing than the English themselves.
ANGLICANVS
June 4th, 1800..'
[I DOL. 50 CTS. PER ANNUM.
Gen. Melas having .been informed that
Gen. Berthier was advancing from Dijon,
with the greatest part of the army of refcrve
byway of Canterberry and Geneva, march
ed with the greater part of his army to join
the corps under Field Marshal Lieut. Keim,
Rationed near Mount Cenis. to oppose Berg,
thier with united forces. Before Genoa re
left only a strong corps of observation.
By a courier who arrived here lalt night,
we have received the previous information
that Gen. Lifnitz had totally defeated the
French reinforcements, amounting to 30,000
men. The action took place near St. Gia
como, and lasted the whole, day. Gen.
Paltry, who had gftAtly distinguished him-
Llf on several occasions, is said to have been
mortally wounded in this adion. This
news, however, requires further confirma
tion.
Considerable bets were laid here yester
day, that before twelve o'clock to-morrow
night intelligence would be received here of
the surrender of Genoa.,
MILAN, MAY 1.
Gen. Melas, on summoning Mallena to
surrender the city of Genoa, wrote to him
in the following terms:
" GENERAL,
" Fortune has not crowned your bravery,
which entitles you to my esteem, and to that
of the whole world. With but a small
number of men, you was forced to give way
40 my exertions, and you did it with honor.
But 1 think it is time to listen to the voice
of humanity. '.Gen. Suchet has yefterda,
been defeated at St-. Giacomo, and you have
no longer to resist my forces. You will
be. accountable for the blood that ,hall be
Ipilt hereafter, and you will complete the
miferics ol a people who have already fuffer
ed so much.
0 MAY 10.
I he Court Gazette of this day contains
the following :
A report from Gen. Melas, dated Seftri
di Ponenti, April 25, Rates, ffiat since the
last events nothing of consequence had tak
en place refpeaing the blockades of Genoa,
Savona and Gavie. Field-? fhal Lieut.
Elfnitz has not been troubled by the enemy
since the last affair, in his position of St.
Giacomo."
r Rffil VIENNA, MAT 7.
Gen. Melas reports, from Seftri di Po
oonti, under the date of the 23d and 24th of
April, that 00 the morning of the 23d, three
weak columns of our troops alarmed the en
emy at Polcevera in their infolated strong
portions, and drove them clbfe to the walls
of Genoa. On that occasion, we made pri
soners a chief of brigade, 5 officers, and 80
privates, and took two pieces of cannon
In the evening of the fame day the enemy
attacked the advanced posts of Gen. Hohen
zollern and Gotteniheim, whonftthey re
pulled at firft but they were again driven
back the fame evening!
" The city is exposed to the greatest cal
amities ; it is menaced by pillage and all the
horrors of war, if the country people ihould
enter it with fury in their hearts, without a
capitulation having previously been conclud
ed. I cannot entirely answer for my vi&o
rious troops. Listen to the voice of hu
manity, and facrifice the glory of having de
fended yourfelf to the last drop of blood, to
the true glory and admiration which no one
will then deny you. I offer you the most
honorable capitulation which a warrior of
your character merits, to prove to you the
esteem and the molt perka refpe& with
which I am, &c.
"Head Quarters at Genoa, April 21.
"GENERAL,
'' I have received Qe letter which yoti
have done me the hon,r to write to me, and
by which you offer rne an honorable capitu
lation. Gen. lam not yet reduced to that
situation. I have still a fufficiency of troops
to enable me to defend myfelf, altho'.Gen.
Suchet may have been beaten; which I have
good reason to believe is not thecafe.
, "MASSENA."
Latest Foreign Intelligence.
By the Merchant, Capt. Kncx, from London. Papers to May a,
The conveyance of the battering artillery
to Genoa has been greatly retarded by the
heavy rains. On the 25th of April, Gen.
Suchet made a new atterhpt to dillodge Gen.
Elfoitz, and open a,communication with
Savona and Genoa ; but notwithUandin^
AFFAIRS IN ITALY.