Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-08-28 00:00:00, page 2

We are however pleased that one work of this
Description has rescued itself from the general stigma,
and given real reputation to the Country. The
Medic d Repository is conducted by gentlemen of
,skill and science; and with its present resources,
with the same discernment and industry which have
hitherto distinguished its progress cannot fail of be
•ing a valuable addition to a medical library as a gen
eral deposit for the rare and -useful discoveries in
the science to which It is confined ; itd >mprises the I
researches and experience ol the most eminent I'hy -
Brians and Surgeons in this country. Inscriptions
of real diseases, new methods of cure, inventions
and improvements of surgical instruments, and every
means of facilitating the practice, and preserving
the most invaluable blessings of life which this coun
try has yet offerded, may be found collected in this
work. Its merits have risen, as it has been more
widely circulated ; and being now beyond the de^
pressing influence of “ want of patronage," its fu
ture merit cannot be doubted.
Connected with the professional department is
4 the review of American publications on Medicine
Surgery, and the auxilary branches of science."
Titis will assist the practitioner in obtaining a cor
rect view of the state of his profession, and direct his
judgement in the selection cif useful and necessary
publications. This part of the work is managed
I with ability and discernment, and bears the traits of
candor and impartiality.
It is satisfactorily established that, previous and
subsequent to the acceptance of the challenge, Mr.
Burr was in the daily habit of shooting at a mark.
On the 4:11 of Jalv, (after the challenge was accept
ed) he dined with the Cincinnati Society in compa
ny with General Hamilton. There is every reason
to believe that before he left home in the forenoon
of that day, he practised shooting at a mark in his
garden. Every member of the Society remarked
when lie entered the austerity of his countenance,
which was preserved during the day. Gen. Ham
ilton was cheerful, arid favoured the society with a
song.
Nothing can more clearly manifest the desperate
purpose of Mr. Burr than this daily practice, espe
cially when we consider how sensible he must have
been that General Hamilton was dragged into the
interview. ,
Mr. Burr, however, was not only intent upon cal
culations of certainty as to the life of his antagonist,
but -also as to the preservation of his own.
The extract from the London paper above quo
ted, in regard to the resistibility of silk, appeared
in the Morning Chronicle about ten days previous
to the fatal interview. We know that Mr. Burr
practised shooting at a mark, but we are not sure
that the Morning Chronicle quotation was "hut" in
to his hands and that he tried the experiment of
shooting at silk in order to ascertain how he could
best preserve himself from the ball of his illustrious
victim, in case he fired. . Facts, however, warrant
conjectures very unfavourable to Mr. Burr.
After the challenge was accepted Mr. Burr wrote
a note to his tailor, Mr. Francis Davis, requesting
that he would make him a silk coat, (having alrea
dy the under garments of silk,) by Monday evening,
and adding that unless it was then brought home it
would be of no use, as on Tuesday morning byfour
o'clock he was to leave town ! Special directions
were given to make the coat unusually large. It
was made according to order and delivered to Mr.
Burr on Monday evening. In tills coat, which was
black, he killed Geh. Hamilton.
In a conversation which I had with Mr. Sheiffe
lin on Saturdy last he told me that the pistol, when
the accident happened, had the usual charge of pow
der ; he mentioned a middling sized thimble full.
Dr. Burrows has the ball in his possession. The
netting and the ribs of the stocking are very dis
tinctly impressed upon it. This is proof of the re
sistibility of the silk. Now for the application of
these facts.
jj^Mr.Cheetham, in the Watch-Tower, of the 7th,
at the close of his remarks on the correspondence
between Gen. Hamilton and Mr. Burr, and th e
interview that fatally succeeded, has the following
extraordinary statement ;—
Mr.Shieffclin had on ordinary ribbed white silk stock
ings. On examining the wound,it was discovered,that
although the ball entered the foot about half an inch
no: a thread of the stocking was broken ! The im
petus given to the ball extended the threads where it
hit, but the stocking was wholy unbroken as if the
accident had not happened. The part which the
ball hit was forced into the foot and made a sort of
bag for it. After separation from the stocking by
cutting, the piece (or the bag, if I may so express
myself,) end the ball were taken out together. I
have now in my possession the part of the stocking
which the ball struck, and which any one may see
by calling at the office. The circumference of the
ball is distinctly marked upon it ; but within this
there is not the least fracture of the stocking.
WE shall now notice some of the circumstances
Appertaining to the interview.
' The following paragraph, taken from a London
paper, appeared in the MorningChroniclc of this city
about a month ago.
A singular circumstance. —^' A pistol loaded, was
fired inadvertently against a young woman, in Man
chester ; the ball struck against her breast, but hav
ing a silk handkerchief on, it did her no other injury
than producing a violent contusion. This produced
the following wager ; that a ball would not penetrate
a dog if covered with a silk handkerchief.— The
trial was made along shore,near Liverpool,a few days
ago, with success, und although repeated several
times, produced no other effect than bruising that
part where the ball hit. Singular as this map appear,
we are assured by our informant, that it is a fact,
and that no ball will penetrate a body clothed with
a silk garment."
We have an instance in our own city corroborative
of these facts.
About a fortnight ago, several gentlemen went
over to Brooklyn to shoot at a. mark for a trilling
wager. Mr. Sheifferiu, Druggist in Pearl-street,
was one of the company. The parties stood ten pa
ces from the target. Mr. Sheiffelin had fired seve
r d times with accuracy. He again took his position
to fire. His pistol was loaded as usual,, and while
waiting for the word, hung pendant, with the muzzle
below the knee ; the ball, of course, was not more
than twenty inches from the foot. In this position
the pistol was accidently fired. The ball struck the
tp of the foot near the ancle. Surgical aid was ob
tained. Dr. Burrows was the professional gentleman
sent for.
t^ Subscriptions for the above valuable work are
received at the Bookstore of THOMAS Sc WHIP
PLE MARKET-SPARE, Newburyport, where med
ical and other gentlemen may obtain it immediately
after the publication of each number, on the same
terms as of the Publisher in New-York.
* The dorl was fought on the following Wednev
The public will reason upon these facts for them
selves and draw their own inferences.—l cannot,
however, conclude without expressing the satisfac
tion I derive, from the 'prospect th:it the perpetra
tor of this deed without a name will in some sort
be punished.
From the Political Register.'
VIRGINIA hewing, % by dint of her black regret
Station,acqvityftcow^ ascendant inCongress,
has been cnablUßp giv^ hw to the rest of the Un
ion, and is now practising every mean to secure and
.rivet her supremacy. With this view she appears
to have inlisted the secondary characters of every
other state, who conscious that their talents give no
pretensions to lead, are content, most submissively,
to follow in the train of the Ancient Dominion.
ABOLITION OF THE SLAVE TRADE.
IT is a subject of sincere satisfaction to every
humane and enlightened man, that the infamous traf
fic in human flesh, which has so long disgraced this
kingdom, is at length to be abolished, and that the
perseverance of its zealous antagonist has been ulti
mately crowned with success. For this charitable
intrepidity, this pious self devotion to a cause which
had to struggle against the opposition of a jealous
commercial interest, Mr. Wilberforce deserves
praises much above our powers to bestow ; but it is
not to tliis unintermitting enterprize alone, but in a
great measure to the complexion of the present times
and circumstances, that this gentleman is indebted
for his triumph, and it is these circumstances which
we propose to examine.
The situation of St. Domingo is a subject of awful
example and importance to our West-Indians Colo
nies ; an immense Black Empire is about to rise in
the bosom of the Atlantic Ocean, and the freedom it
has recovered it will be zealous to communicate to
its much oppressed and afflicted brethren. Here is
the example and the danger. The slaves may rise
upon their masters, and abolish the colonists them
selves, a turn of fortune may change the conditions of
the servitude, and tyrannny be felt by those who were
so lately oppressors.
Our humanity, therefore, which had so lately yield
ed to our interest, is now become our policy ; and as
it is best to prevent a danger by careful anticipation,
our politicians have foreseen the hazard, and have
provided against the consequences.
When St. Domingo had become organized, it would
have been in the power of ans enterprizing Black
General to empty armies of his countrymen into our
settlements, and take vengeance upon the planters ;
nor without maintaining a powerful force in each of
the colonies could we have prevented the success of
such enterprizes.
When such motives of immediate danger incur
red with general compassion, the cause of humanity
had a better chance ; but there are still some who
object to the policy of the measure, and foresee in
the complete abolition the ruin of our West Indian
trade.
The sugar trade is now almost u holly in the hands
of England ; the rivalry of France is at an end by
the loss of St. Domingo, and the possessions of the
other European powers are too trifling to mention.
Is it likely, therefore, that these powers will have
the audacity to continue the trade after England
shall have abolished it ? The apprehension which
in part has influenced her, will apply doubly to
weaker and less intrepid nations.
Granting, however, that the trade should be con
tinued in the face of a formidable Black Empire,
and under the discountenance of cur own coloniews
Hence the appointment of such a cabinet as forms
the actual administration of the United States, and
hence the selection of the present and future IJ,^
tenants to our most illustrious Commander in Chief.
Were it necessary to elucidate this position, it
could not be more aptly done than by a reference to
the letter whicli was written by the present Vice-
President of the United States to Gen. Smith, dis
claiming ('notwithstanding their equal vote) all
competition with Mr. Jefferson to the chair ol gov
ernment; We pretend not to account for such car
cession, neither is it for us- to voucli its sincerity—
but if it was the result of previous compact the par*
ty making it has been grievcously dealt with. Tie
humiliation of such individuals, however, is no com
pensation for the insult offered to the national suft
rage. The States owe it to themselves, and to 3
whole confederacy, to shake off this dependeQfl
Virginia neither contributes as much in peace,
could furnish equal means in war, with several 0%
er States, to c mmon support and defence.
And yet on a comparison of the Offices held under
the the general government, by the citizens of the
other States with the Offices held by citizens of Vir
ginia, it will be seen how little the claims of the oth
er States, to share in the benefits of the Union, are
regarded: While Virginia gives
The Salaries paid from the Treasury of the Unit
ed States, to citizens of Virgina, amount to upwards
of seventy-six thousand dollars, per annum.
To citizens of Massachusetts, eleven thousand,
New-York twenty-three thousand,
Connecticut, three thousand,
Pennsylvania, about ten thousand,
Or less than one seventh what is paid to citizens of
Virginia ! !
Whether facts, as strong'as these, in addition to
what Mr. Jefferson has done, by taking all employ
ment in the public service from the Mechanics of
die middle and eastern States are indicative of gross
partiality, and whether this exposition will operate
my change of opinion towards our Task Masters,
remains to be seen..,.We have dene our duty in plac
ing them fairly before the people of the V. States,
The President of the United States.
Chief Justice.
Associate Judge.
Secretary of State.
.ambassador to Great Britain,
Governor General of Lpuish ha,
Auditor of the Treasury,
Commercial Agent at Paris,
Collector of Louisiana,
with many others of smaller note.
MASSACHUSETTS gives
The Secret try of War,
Attorney General,
An Associate Judge.
NEW-YORK gives
The Vice-President,
Ambassador to France.
CONNECTICUT gives
The Post-Master General And,
PENNSYLVANIA (neglected PennsylrcMa)
gives
The Secretary of the Treasury,
Part eyor, and some subaltern places.
From Bell's Weekly Messenger.
London, JUNE 3, 16(14.
FOREIGN AR TICLES.
:::$:!• 00-^:::
it likclv to monopolize the general supply of the su
gar market ? It must be an absurdity to think sol
We hate already sufficient hands to cultivate our
plantations, and in cutting off all future supply we
r compel the merchants to be humane and tender of
those they have; and it is well ascertained that if
the propagation of the Blacks had not been checked
by the oppression they experienced, there would
have been little occasion of an annual recruit from
I the coast of Africa. But the planters saw their ad
vantage in having them " fresh and fresh" from the
general granary, whicli answered their purpose
better than that of encouraging marriage, and the
education of children, regulations of humanity whicli
must have required great care, attention and ex
pence.
We have now steered the proper course between
sudden and precipitate emancipation, and what is
termed by cur cooler politicians " gradual aboli
tion." 'The former would have created a scene of
disorder similar to that in St. Domingo, when the
French declared a general exemption from servi
tude ; a piece of policy in which there was neither
justice nor humanity. It was cruelty to the planters
and the blessing was too sudden and intese to the
slaves, as it met them in a state of moral inaptitude
for the reception of liberty.
Fredom must be introduced by soft and gradual
means amongst them ; their minds must be cultiva
ted in order to receive the benefits of civil rights and
so to enjoy them as to make them useful and ihdusu
trous citizens ; but a sudden flood of liberty breaking
in upon them at once would be the most misplaced
and dangerous benefit any Government could bestow.
All men are not fit to be free, and though liberty
■like light, should be a blessing common to all,there
■ are minds for which the one is too powerful, and eyes
I for which the other is too strong—
It is rather difficult to say from which power the
commerce of the United States suffers most —from
the French or English ; but in cruelty the French
far out do every thing English.—An arrival from
Gaudaloure has just informed us, that Capt. Mans
field, of Salem, on suspicion of being bound to St.
Domingo, had been captured by the French, and the
Captain and mate for three days were lashed in the
lee scuppers, and treated in the vilest manner ;ard
ou their arrival at Print-Retre committed to jail.
" Omriee denique idcirco legum servi sumu^, ut
liberi essejiassimus."
So far as to any immediate proclamation of liberty.
In respect to those who talk of gradual abolitio n
if they mean any thing but a subterfuge, we shall an
swer that delays are more dangerous in this case than
in any other act of policy. Whilst we coax and hu
mour our humanity, and ptf off our conscience to a
settlement on some future day the hurricane may
break loose, the vast Levanter may swim the deep,
and a gradual abolition may be converted into an
instant destitution of ourselves.+
It is said, the office of High Admiral of France
will be reserved for Jerome Buonaparte, whose mar
rige is to be cancelled, as it had net received the
Emperor's consent and his rights restored to him.
Madam Jerome Buonaparte is daughter to a Mr.
William Patters ^ t native of Ireland, who went
to America many years since from Belfast and has
accumulated a large fortune by commerce in Balti
more. ———
Extract of a letter from Berlin dated June 4,
FRENCH PROJECT.
" Citizen La Foret, in announcing to Baron Hard
enburg, Bonaparte's Imperial dignity, presented a
plan for dividing the European Continent into four
grand Empires, or those of France Austria, Russia,
and Prussia ; and that no other Soverign should be
permitted, in future, to assume the Imperial title.
Hanover was again offered to us, to concentrate bet
ter our possessions, ahd to make our Population near
ly as great as that of Austria, &c. The absence
of our King has prevented any determination from
being taken ; and probably at his Majesty's return,
this scheme, with a hundred others, proposed lately
by France, will be declined ; at least such is the
common opinion here.
——# ?:& »
PARIS, JUNK 22.
Gen. MOREAU has been ordered to be deported
to America, (probably Guienna.) On the 21st he
left the Temple for Perpignon followed by his con
sort ; anti will probably embark from some port in
Spain.
COMPIEGNEU JUNE 17, 1804.
The Emperor arrived here at 11 o'clock on Sat
urday night. This morning at three o'clock he was
op horseback, and manoeuvred the dragoons of the
camp on foot until noon. In the evening he recei
ved the Constituted Authorities, visited the School
of Arts and Manufactures, and manoeuvred the cav
alrv until! night. —^——
AMSTERDAM, JUNE 29, 1804.
The Empress Josephina is shortly expected at
Brussels.
DY THE LATEST MAILS.
4>* •O^ #^ «="
NEW-ORLEANS,JULY 7.
Thesnakes of Democracy and Uproar, are shew
ing their crests in this government. Choice spirit from
the Westward and Northward are daily arriving
among us, and each one has his apple of discord
ready to throw. We have our LIVINGSTON, nursed
in the hot bed of hubbub, to take the lead in any
measure of pith and enterprize.—We only want Mr.
Burr to settle with us as a leader, and then we
shall be fitted and prepared for any work, be it what
it may. This teritory is destined to make a noire in
the states, cost what it will.—We mean to petition
to Congress to repeal their law respecting this gov
erment—that the French language be preserved
in all our public proceedings ; —that we be immedi
ately acknowledged a State, with power to chuse
our" own officers, and make our own laws, &c.
A letter dated Tripoli, April 4, mentions, that the
crew of the Philadelphia were in good health, that
the officers had received permission to ride occasion-
Iv in the country, accompanied by a Dragerman:
but they were not allowed to visit the Consuls.
We deprecate such weak and Inhuman policy
and it is our wish that the abolition of the trade may
instantly take place and measures as instantaneous
as prudent should be taken to ameliorate the con
dition of the Negroes we have in hand, and the ben
efits of civil liberty should be communicated among
them as fast as they are capable of enjoying them,
LONDON, JUL IY, [BO4.
The "KING—We have extreme satisfaction in be
ing able to stats that the Physicians have announced
hisMajest, 's entire recovery ; and on Wednesday he
held a grand Levee at the Queen's House, which
was attended bv the Foreign Ambassdors, and all
the Ministers of State. Their Majesties still con
tinue to make daily excursions in the vicinity of
the Metropolis with much apparent benefit.
NORFOLK, AUG. 7, 1804.
Washington, aug. 17.
An Article of some micro t vhh be found in the
from New-Orleans papers. Many people think it
very strange that Mr. Livingston, against whom,
there exists a judgenrait iQizv/te hundred thousand
dollars of public money, should be permitted to go
at large without molestation, and even to busy him
self in fomenting discontents and exciting seditious
proceedings against the very government, upon the
spoils of which he has been so effectually fattened.
talc -Perhaps it will never
be proved that this same Mr. Livingston has in h^
possession a certain letter, which Mr. Jefferson wilt
never induce him to publish, by being over import
tfmate with him about public money, The tim'd
may come when we may speak more intelligible
upon this subject.—For the present, verbum sat faft'
ienti.
Letters have been reiceived here from Cadiz and
Madrid, dated the 12th and 20th June ; which state,
Thatthe Convention between the'United States and
Spain, on the subject of indemnification for Spanish
Captures" HAD NOT BEEN RATIFIED by the
Court of Spain, they add the cause assigned for the
refusal to ratify, is that " Circumstances are so alter
ed by the accession of Louisiana,that they cannot in its
present state" —The letter-writer adds, " If things,
are to go on in this way, I would rather be an Al
gerine than an American.—l thought it was humili
ating enough to have agreed to the Convention, with
the exclusion of the French captures ; but I suppose
the Spaniards thought they had been too indulgent
to a nation which had so long and completely lost
sight of its own dignity, and the interests of its cit
izens—ls our government does not take some deci
sive steps we shall never get a shilling from the Span
iards." 1
NEW-YORK, AVGUST 18, 1804.
The captors of the ship Eugenia of this port, have
entered a plea, for the restoration of the ship &. cargo
on the ground of the illegality of the re-capture by
American citizens.
Within these two years past, the feelings of the
A: ican public have been lacerated by numerous
recitals —(some of which no doubt are correct) —of
th: assignee and barbarity of British and French
cr uzers towards the commerce and seamen of the
lifted States ; and yet Mr. Jefferson—who is paid
for and whose duty it is, to seek the proper redress
and remedy, remains as silent as a wax image on
the subject.—Hundreds of American vessels have
been attacked, captured and condemned by French
privateers and British cruizcrs; and hundreds of our
countrymen are now pining perhaps dying in loath
some jails, and yet Mr. Jefferson, in his safe retreat
at Monticello, hears the tidings without emotion :—
American seamen are murdered, and the families
of Capt. Atkins, and others, lately deceased, at Gua
daloupe, and elsewhere, are hr tears ; yet Mr. Jef
ferson—whose only duty it is to prevent or remedy
the evil—preserve's a philosophical silence on the
subject.—He thiks the black " cultivators # of the
soil are the only people of God," —and is therefore
indifferent what becomes of those who plough noth
ing but the ocean.
BOSTON, august 22.
On perusing the French papers, we see nothing
expressive of the smallest dissatisfaction at the r&
We are informed, that Col. Barclay, the En
glish Consul General, has drawn up representation
of the business^ and has forwarded it to Mr. Merry
the English Ambassador now at Philadelphia. This
subject Will now become a national question, a full
and liberal discussion on the part of the two govern
ments is expected. The right of British cruizers to
block, up as it were, our seaports will also no doubt
be a subject of investigation.
The officious Editor of the National Intelligencer^
after having plumply denied, that Mr. Jefferson
ever signed the address to the King of Great Britain
presented by Congress in the year 1775 : has ra
his last paper acknowledged, that “ it was signed
by all the Members, and of course by Mr. Jefferson.
After this acknowledgment, extorted by the fear
of detection which he knew awaited his lie, this
silky-milky opoloigist endeavours to fritter away
the circumstar,ce ; by saying, “ that the address was.
no otherwise signed by Mr. Jefferson but as a mat
ter of form, which implies no approbation of it."
What a precious apologist this Mr. Smish is.—So
really, Sir, you think that the signing an instument
implies no approbation of it ? We wish to ask, whe
ther this wise editor deducted his assertion from
any part of the printed records of Congress ; and al
so whether Mr. Jefferson's signing the Declaration,
of Independence, was a mere matter of form which
implied no approbation of it ? He has just as much
proof of the one as the other. But the first lie has
traversed the rounds of the Jacobin prints, and affor
ded its quota of abuse of the Federalists ; and we
shall now see whether the conductors of those papers
have honor or honesty enough to publish the acknow
ledgment. Not one in ten will.
NEW-YORK, AUG. 21.
Colonel Barclay, the British Consul-General, has
requested the insertion bf the following letters from
the Captain of His Britannic Majesty's ship Lean
der, on the subject of the reports made by the Reve
nue Cutter, of having been fired at from said ship.
The public ought to receive with caution ex-harte
reports.
Leander, Wednesday, 15th Aug.
MY DEAR SIR,
THE enclosed letter relates to the circumstance
of the Revenue Cutter,of which I have no doubt you
have heard ; and I have no objection to my name being
published with the explanation, since it is certainly
the ieverse of our wishes to give any just foundation
for complaint. Men of sense ought to consider our
situation, and the nature of our duty, cooly, before
they complain violently. I am,&c. &c.
(Sined) ALEXANDER SKENE.
H. M. S. Leander, Aug. 24.
Sir—lt was reported to me that a French priva?
teer was passing near His Majesty's ship, and on
examination, the vessel did appear to carry a large
French pendant, without an ensign. The boats
were immediately armed, and a gun fired to bring
this vessel to. She hoisted American colors ; we
tired no more ; and the boats were instantly recalled.
This little incident, I am grieved to find, has been
construed into premeditated insult to the American
notional flag ; than which, nothing can be further
from my intention, or more directly contrary to the'
sentiments of the British government, and the par
ticular orders of the Admiral under whom I have
the honor to serve.
1 beg, Sir, that you will not suffer such misrepre
sentation to gain ground, without contradiction and
explanation. It is cruel and unjust to put the very
worst construction on every act of the British officers
and the British nation, who must, in the end, be
found the natural and firmest friends of America.
I am, Sir, &c.
(Signed) ALEXANDER SKENE.
, PHILAD. AUG. 20. 1804.
UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.
I%:ADELPpiA, AUGUST If.