Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-04-03 00:00:00, page 2

am+te-SY^.^^ r ^ •• •-.<• ^q. • /
ft Suffer me my dearett, brother, as the only an
' Twer that I can properly give you, to recal to your
memory what passed upon the fame fubjed soon
after his Majesty was graciously pleased to place
me at the head of the army; and I have no doubt
that with your usual candour, you will yourfelf fee
the absolute necessity of my decling it.
In the year 1795, upon a general promotion
takin g place at your instance I delivered a letter
from you to his Majesty, urging your pretentions
to promotion in the army; to which his Majesty
was pleased to anlwer, that before ever he had ap
pointed you to the command of the toth light dra
goons he had caused it to be fully explained to
you what his feotiments were with refpeft to a
Prince of Wales entering into the army, and the
public grounds upon which be never could admit
of your considering it as a profeflion, or cf
your being promoted in the fervicß And his
majesty, at the fame time added his positive command
and injunaions to me never to mention this lulye&
again to him, and to decline being the bearer'of
any application of the farce nature fliould it be
proposed to me; which menage I was of course
under the necessity of delivering to you, and I
have constantly made'it the rule of my coridu&
ever since, and indeed I have ever considered it
as one of the greatest proofs of affedion and con
sideration towards me on the part of his majesty,
that he never allowed me to become a party in,
this bufioefs.
Having thus dated to you, fairly and candidly,
what has parted, I trust you will fee that there can
be no ground for the appreheufton expressed in the
latter part of your letter, that any dur can attach
to your charader as an officer—particularly as I
recollea your mentioning to me yourfelf, on the
day on which you received the notification of
year appointment to the 10th light dragoons, the
explanation and condition attached it by his Maj.
efty, and therefore surely you mud be fatisfied that
your not being advanced in military rank, proceeds
entirely from his majedy's fentimeots refpe&ing
the high rank you hold in the state, and not from
any impression unfavourable to you.
Believe me ever, and with the greatest truth deat
eft brother, your most affectionate brother,
(Signed) FREDERICK.
His Royal Highness Prince of Wales.
, . My BEAR BROTHER Brighton, oa<9,
I have taken two days to confider the contents
ofyour letter of the 6th ind in order to be as ac
curate as possible in my answer which muff ac
count to you for its being longer perhaps than I
intended, or I could have wished.
I confide entirely in the personal kindness and
affection expressed in your letter and am, for that
reason, the more unwilling to trouble you again
on a painful fubje& in which you are not free to
ad, as your inclination I am sure leads you. —Bu f ,as
it is not at all improbable, that every part of this
transaction may be publicly canvassed hereafter, it
is of the utmost importance to my honor, without
which I can have no happinefsfhat try conduct in
it shall be t.vriy represented, and correctly under
flood. When Fmade a tender of my services to his
Majesty's ministers, it was With a just and natural
expectation, that my offer would have been accep
ted, in the way in which alone it could have been
most beneficial to my country, or creditable to my
felf; or if that failed, tost at lead (in justice to me)
the reasons for a refufal would have been diftindly
slated, so that the nation might be fatisfied, that
nothing had been omitted on my part,& enabled to
judge of the validity of the reasons assigned for such
refufal. In the firft instance, I was referred to his
Majesty's will and pleasure, and now 1 am infor-;
med by your letter, that before he had appointed
me to the command of the 10th Light Dragoons, *
he had caused it to be fully explained to me, what -
h,fentiments were with refped. to a Prince of
Wales entering into the army. , t ?
It is impoffibif my dear brother, that I fhbuld
know all that parted between the king & you ; but
I perfectly recollect the Ratement you made of the
conversation you had with bis Majesty, and which
ftrialy corresponds with that in your letter now be
fore me. But I mud, at the fame time, recall to
your memory my positive denial at that time, of
any condition or stipulation having been made, up
on my firft coming into the army ; and lam in
possession of full and complete documents, which
prove that no terms whatever were then proposed
at least to me, whatever might have been the inten
tion, and the communications I have found it ne
ceflary fubfiquently to make, have ever declaimed
the evidence of such a compromise at any period,
as nothing could be more aVdfe to my nature, or
more remote from my mind.
As to the tonverfation you Rubied in 1796,when
the King was pleased to appoint me to futceed fir
Wm. Pitt, I having not the most flight recolleaion
of its having taken place between us. My dear
brother, if your date is right, you must be midaken
in your exact t< fms or at kaR in the eonclufion you
draw from it ; for in the intimacy and familiarity
of private conterfation, it is not at all unlikely that
I fliould have remembered the communication you
made me the yeaftefore ; but that I fliould haveac
quiefeed in, or referred to a con)promife which I
never made, is utterly impossible.
Neither in his Majesty's letter to me, nor in the)
correspondence with Mr. Addington, (of which
you may not be fully informed) is there one word;
nor the most distant allusions to the conditions sta
ted in yeur,letter ; and even if I had accepted the
command of a regiment on such terms my acquief
cetice could only have-a relation the ordinary situa
tion of the country and not to a case so completely
out of all contemplation at that time, as the proba
ble or projected invasion of this kingdom by a for
eign force, fufficient to bring its fafety into quediou
When the King is pleased totell me, " that fliould
the enemy land, he fliould think it his duty to set
an example in defence of the country , that is, to
expose the only life which for the public welfare;
ought not to be hazarded. I refpea and admire the
principles which di&ate that resolution ; and as my
heart glows with the fame fehtiments I with to par
take in the fame danger, that is with dignity and
effea. Whenever his Majesty appears as King, he
ads and commands ; You arc commander in chief
others of my family are high in military station & e
ven by tit lad Brevet, a considerable number of
junior officers are put over me. In all these arrange
ments the Prince of Wales alone, whose interest in
the event yields to none but that of the King is dis.
flQc'i emitted,his ferricfs reje^td. So that its
fad, he has no post or station whatsoever, in a eon
teft of which the fate of the crown and the king,
dom may depend.
I do not, my dear brother, wonder, that in the
hurry of your prefect occupation these considera
tions thould have been overlooked. They are now
in your view, and I think cannot fail to make a
due impression. v
As to the rest, with every degree of esteem possi
ble for your judgement of what is due to a Soldier's
honor. I must be the guardian of mine to the ut
melt of my power &c. &c. r.
His Royal Highnetsthe Dake of York.
[To he concluded next Saturday.]
The London “ Sun," a paper opposed to Mr.
Addington's administration, on tin 1 7th of Feb.
mentioned that the following arrangements for a
new Administration had been confidently handed
about, viz.—Mr. Pitt to be the firft lord of the trea
sury and chancellor of. the exchequer ; Ld. Melville
firft lord of rhe admiralty; Mr„ Fox^ Secretary of
Bate for the foreign department; Ld. Moi,a,fee. of ,
State for the war department ; Mr. Grey, fee.of ftae
for the homedepartment ; Sir W. Grant,lord cha* ?
cellor § Earl Roftin, president of council ; Ear)
Spencer, lord privy Seal ; Earl of Chatham, mg,
general of the ordnance; Marquis Cornwallis,^ y
mander in chief ; Ld. Cathcart, lord lieut. oy,',
land and commander in chief; Gen. Fitzpatrick,
sec. at war ; Mr. Canning, president of the board
of controul ; Hon. S. Percival matter of the rolls ;
Hon. T. Erskine, attorney-general; Mr. Adams,
solicitor general; Messrs. J. Stede and Wm. Dun
das, paymasters general.
LONDON, FEB, If.
A* opinion prevails that when Bonaparte
hears of the illness of our Sovereign, he will
jidge it a proper time to make his hostile visit.
But Britons would have a new motive foj spiri
ted resistance. Such has been the anxiety of
ministers, since the sickness of the Kind, that
they have some nights kept horses harhefred to
convey the intelligence of any unfavorable change
. Feb. 16,
It is said, that when all the gun-boats, intend
ed to be employed in the expedition, are col
lected at Boulogne, where they are to rendez
vous, they will amount to 1500.— 16 battalions
of Dutch infantry are held in readiness for em
barkation,,,
New contributions are almost every weak le
vied oh the freed people of Hanover,
It is said that the diftraded date of Egypt has
occasioned all the Commercial Agents to leave
Alexandria except the French, to wbof@ intrigues
some of the commotions are afcribbd.-
A Letter from Bremen, dated Fell .1, fays : —
" A curious diplomatic or conful^r dispute has
taken place here; on the 29th of December lad,
our Senate celebrated the Jubilee of the Syndic de
Post. O£all the commercial agents refilling here
no one was invited to the great dinner given on
the occation, except Citizen Lagan, French Vice
Commissary. The other Consuls, the Auftrain,
the British (Mr. Heymen.) the Prussian, Danish,
&c refected this and on the loth of Jah. sent a
note to the presiding Burgomafler compiraing of
the diftmaion fheWn to the French Vice Com
missary, and requiring an explanation. The Sen
ate replied they could not notice the demand made'
by the Did Coofuis, (who are all merchants and
citizens of Bremen.) Upon this, the Coofuis feut
another note tothe Senate, declaring that they foynd
th mfelves obliged to lend an account of the trans
action to their refpeaive Governments."
Dutch Equipments.
On the 14th there were laying in Nieu Diep,
5 fliips of the line, some frigates and about 60
large trxnfports, capable of containing five or
600 men each ; all ready for sea.—Troops were
arriving in great numbers at the Helder, Texel,
and places contiguous. It was understood that
this armament was to carry 40,000 men. The
Dutch were unwilling to embaik. The froft had
become severe which might retard the failing..
A few persons were convided at Paris of con
triving a curious inftrufae&t for the deftru&ion
of the First Consul.
Our squadron off Boulogne were becalmed
for about an hour on Wednesday morning. A
number of gun boats prepared to come out to
attack it ; but a breeze Springing up, they re
turned to the inner harbor.
Robber of Quality.
A robbbery of an extraordinary nature was late
ly committed in Paris ; it confined of a fine coro
net of emeralds, the property of a Madame Demi
doff, and the robber proves to be the Countess of
Schwiecheit, a young and beautiful Lady from
Hanover. She had made herfelf acquainted with
the place where it was kept, and at a ball given by
its owner the Hanoverian Lady contrived to purloin
it. The theft has been proved and the beautiful
thfef was cohduaed to prifpn. Her youtn&tmk
in life, have induced many persons to felicit her
pardon, but it is generally believed that Bonaparte
will leave her to the punishment to which file has
been condemned; The love of play, and to repair
the immediate loss of 50,000 livres, impelled this
lady to commit the offence.
LUCIEN BONAPARTE.
'According to Les Nouvelles a la Maino, of
Nivofe, an XII. No. I. Lucien Bonaparte's in
cognito suite consists of one Secretary, one Phy
sician, one Surgeon, three Valets de Chamber for
himfelf, and two Valets de Chdmbre, with three
Chambermaids, for Madame Lucien ; four Cou
riers, four Grooms, and fix Livery Servants.
He has four carriages drawn by eight horfes,and
two by fix horses. His travelling expences are
calculated at the rate of one thousand louis in
the day, and he intends to be abfeat three months
in Italy ; but fliould be receive, as he expels,
invitations from the Emperor of Germany and
the King of Prussia, h 4 will spend three months
more in Germany. He is addressed by his suite,
&c. with the appellation of Monfeigncur, or his
Excellency; and not hjs Highness, as was re
ported.
A-c^wTratfed-by-MTN.Sawyer, of V\iltox,
was lately killed which weighed 1029 lbs.; had
121 lbs. of tallow, exclusive of that on the quar
ters. A cow raised in the fame town, and killed
2 years since, weighed 1025.'
^— =^— ^— =efet^^
.. ADDRESS
of the Committee of the town of Ports
mouth, in the State of Neze-Hampshire,
appointed to receive, and ftTribute Dona
tions, to the fuffevers by the" so
To the numerous benevolent Citizens of
this and the other States, who have contributed
to the relief of the fufferers by the Fire in Ports
mouth. I:
WITNESSING, and feeling for the distress I
▼ of our neighbours in that part of the town
which was so suddenly desolated, we once dd
dreffed you on that fubjeft —Your prompt and
liberal relief, in various infiances anticipated our -
statement of the case. Your condud has evinc
ed that on information of the distress, you has
tened to alleviate it.
Permit us once more to give fcqpe tl our feel
ings ; and in behalf of the relieved fufferers, and
of the town, and in our own behalf, to acknowl
edge the debt of gratitude.
As a trust was reposed in us, we were bound
(at the expence of considerable labour, and much
close attention) to difeharge it, in such manner
as our consciences fliould point opt ; that we
might be able to account for the didributtorf, to
the candid and impartial. All fucl^will confider
the difficulty of the Talk, the liability to err,
especially in a complicated business, and the dif
ference between a complex view of the whole,
and a view of a part only. We are confident of
your candor, and we feel that you have a claim
to know the general ground on which your boun
ty has been distributed.
The loss by the fire as estimated at the time,
wks considerably above 200,000 Dollars, exclu
sive of what was insured. Donations, in money
and provisions received for the relief of the fuf
ferers, amount to 45,200 Dollars.
„ Among,the fufferers was a considerable
number of the very poor, widows, orphans, and
persons whose means were very scanty. Many
such were dislodged, and loft nearly their little
all. Such were particularly mentioned by many
of the Donors; they were considered by us as
the objeas of immediate attention.. .They were
relieved according to their refpeaive cases. And
at an early period, they received nearly the a
mount of their losses, so far as these could be as
certained by a careful enquiry., ~ „.
A second class confided of trades-people, and
others in small, and some in straitened circum
stances ; of widows, orphans, and aged people ;
whose losses bore a very considerable proportion
to their whole property. The cases were much .
diverfified—And this class has received such fums,'
as in our judgment, bore a just proportion to their °
refpe&ive losses, and circumstances, and to Jie
bounty to be distributed. We adopted hereto
general rule of dividend; but considered thq =4es
as on their own merits, taking a view 01 me
whole.
To a third and numerous class, confiftimg of
the wealthy, we have distributed nothing. Al
though their losses witte greet, they are left to
bear their own burden, which we trust they will
do patiently ; while their fellow-citizens who
have it in their power, chearfully and largely
take part in the burden of the indigent fufferers;
as their contributions from the firft evince.
In compliance with the wishes expressed by
many liberal donors, we have endeavoured to
keep the good of the town in view, and to exert
such influence as we justly might, towards
guarding against a similar calamity. This im
portant objed has engaged the attention of ma
ny liberal citizens, and has been promoted by
their public spirited exertions ; co-operating with
measures taken by the town—the streets have
been widened - mtich for the time, has been done
and much more is about to be done, in build
ing with brick, and fire proof. And the exer
tions of the mote wealthy, in this way, notwith
standing the checks experienced, afford a prof
ped that the central part of the town may rife,
Phoenix like, fairer from its allies !
We can dply in conclusion, reiterate our
warm acknowledgments to our sympathizing
benefactors : all entitled to the thanks of the
town ; while the liberality of some cities, towns,
societies and refpedable individuals has out
gone all expectation.
"JOHN LANGDON.„
DANIEL HUMPHREYS,
NATHANIEL ADAMS, .
James sheafe,
• JOHN GODARD.
Portsmouth, March, 26, 18^
The public spirited Printers of Newspapers, especially
in Philadelphia, New-York and Boston, are requeued to
affiG in the conveyance of our information and acknow
ledgments to the addressed, by givings f° re £ oin g 3 P lace
i^ th^r prep^. -_^__ -
By the latest Mails.
~ ' ' Natchez, Feb. 13.
Melancholic Accident.
On the night of the 16th of lafl month, ^ Mr.
Alexander M' Kee was defcendibg the Mississippi
in Kentucky boat, while lying too near the Iron
banks, file took fire in his absence, and before be
could render any assistance was entirely confuted
His wife and three children were unhappy viPims
tothe flames. MrM'Kee had embarked all his prop
erty, for the purpole of killing in this city.
Boston, marGm 16.
LATEST FROM EUROPE.
By the arrival at Philadelphia, of the Pigou;
Capt Collet, from London, dates have been
received to the 18th Feb. two days later than
our previous advices from that place-fl he ex
tradswe are furnifhed with from the Philadelphia
Drifts, almost wholly relate to the indisposition
of the British King. By these it will be seen
that his Majesty was bfficiall, reported to be
put of danger ;" but riotwithftanding this, capt.
Collet informs, that at the moment when he left
England, it was wifpered, that the King was
dead : but that for political reasons, it was kept.
''Thlverbal ipfotmalioi which capt Collet fur
ther brings, Rate, that from the great prepare,
tions making in France, the people of England!
really looked for a speedy vitit; and were pr&>
pared, at all points, for the necessary falutation^
London, feb. 18.
To all enquires made at Sc James's in ths
course of last evening, and they were extremely
numerous, the answer was that his Majesty con
tinued in the fame state as he had done for the
'previous day and night.
We understand, that at the reccommendation
of the Cabinet Council, Sir Lucas Pepys and Dp
Reynolds were called in to attend his Majesty.
} It was yesterday very generally expeded that
.Ministers would lad night make some commu*
nication to both Hcufes of Parliament,refpeding
the state of his Majesty's health, but it is now
underwood, that Ministers, wishing to afeertain
the precise nature of his Majesty's diflemper,
and - whether it is likely to be of a lingering na
ture or otherwise, have postponed this communi
cation to Monday or Tuefday next. Mr. Fox,
Mr. Pitt, and several other distinguished mem
bers were present.. .
His Majesty in the course of yefterftay mor
ning enjoyed much refrelhing sleep, and was
. better, and, we understand, afterwards pattool;
of some refrefnment. ..
His Majesty's pulse, which we understand was
on Thursday night at 110, had yesterday mor
ning fubfided,in consequence of the repose which
he had enjoyed (the firft for several nights,)
to 80.,
It was in consequence of this happy change,
it is foppofed that no communication was yester
day made to either House of Parliament, as bad
been generally and confidently expeded.
The Bulletin was not delivered out quite so
early this day as yesterday; and the crowd of
nobility and gentry, waiting with anxiety at St.
James', to learn the state of his Majesty's health,
was if poflibly, greater than on any preceding
day since his indisposition.
.It must rejoice every loyal heart to be inform
ed that our beloved Sovereign is now considered
to be in no danger.—We may, therefore, in
dulge a fond hope that in a few days his Majes
ty will be restored to his wonted health. No
language can describe the general joy which was
manifested by the numerous enquiries this morn
ing, when fliewn the following
BULLETIN.j
^ Bth February 1804. '
!His majesty is much the fame as yesterday,
^nd we do not apprehend him to be in danger.
(Signed) # ' 6 L. PEPYS,
^H. M. REYNOLDS,
“F. MILMAN,
“W.HEBERDEN.”
,^ A • . MARCH 28.
03 By the Pigou and r^'^ Chie c drived
at Philadelphia and Nt ::^a P. lon ac
counts to the 22d Fel ..'it ^ved.
OBY these accounts, it appears, tha he
King of dreat-Britain pg.
the 21st Feb. Whetlv Q not
does not appear by th, ^ ' ft re
perts fay,the King'sf m 1 y)had
returned under very alarming circumstances ; &
that Dr Simmons, of Sr Luke's had been Ad
ded to the attending physicians. No communi
cation of the King's illness had been made to
Parliament ; nor was any change in his Miniftr,
contemplated'
£, The warlike preparations inereafed ia
extent and vigour ; and the movements on the
French coart, were the most a&ive and menacing.
OAn alarm of infurreftion had been given in
Dublin but proved to be unfounded.
Late from France.,
Capt. Giles arrived at Beverly on Saturday last fr@m
Bordeaux. He left Bordeaux the 7th and the river the
21st Feb. He inform, that 40 Gun Boats failed from
Bordeaux for Fluihing (as it was said) 4 days before he
failed ; —and that another expedition of Boats was prepar
ing at Bordeaux. These Boats arc from 60 to 90 tons
burthen, pole top-mast, and very heavily rigged, some car
rying one, and others two very heavy pieces of cannon.
Capt. Giles expeded that an embargo would be ordered
at Bordeaux, soon after he failed.
The preparations for the Invasion were aftoni&ingl,
immense, and would exceed belief, except to an adual eye,
witness. Capt. G. firmly believes that the invasion will be
attempted.—No commissions are now granted to Priva
leers, on account of the scarcity of seamen, as was conjec
tured.
From St. Domingo.'
By capt. Treadwell from Port-au-Prince vie
barn, that an attempt of the British to make some
commercial arrangements with the Commander in
Chief, bad failed! The English, it is said, declined
acknowledging the independence of the island, and
wiflied to obtain a preference over the Americans
inthe wade. The blocks ate particularly friend),
to the people of theU* States, and it is supposed have
ihade some overtures to our Executive refpe&ing
the eftablidiment ofa commercial intercourse with
them. —Gem Deffalines had feot Proclamations to
be published in the American papers, to invite the
return of the people of colour who had emigrated
from the island, and promising to defray the expen
ses of their passages thither. These proclamations
were on board vessels which were captured by
French Privateers. Several vessels had been armed
and manned for the pufrpofe of protc^ing Ameri
can vessels trading at the island. The price of cof
fee throughout St. Domingo had been fixed at 2§
sous per lb.—Flour at Port-au-Prince was at 20
dolls.—There wereFiveAmerican vessels at Port-au
Prince, and two at Gonaives.
A letter has been received from an officer of the 4
Philadelphia frigate., dated at Tripoli, and written
the day after her capture. He fays, when the ene
my firft boarded us they behaved remarkably well
but when the rabble got on board, they immediate
ly proceeded to plunder.—The capt. was robbed
of his watch, money and epaulets, but the latter
the Bnfoaw had returned to birc. While proceed
ing for the fliore in their boats some of our officers
had their vests and cravats taken from them. We
are now in the house which our consul inhabited
and are upon our parole. The Bafhaw declares
that he will only conferit to out being rnfotned#U