Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-08-30 00:00:00, page 2

iblv, if put on an equal footing with those
of Great Britain, and that thus they might
have to purchase them a fccond time, they
confined their high offers to settlers in Great
Britain. The Nantuck^s, left without re
fou ce by the I fs of their market, began to
think of removing to the Britrlh dominions :
some to Nova Scotia, preferring fma ler ad
vantages, in the neighbourhood of their^ an
cient country and friends ; others to Great
Britain postponing Country and friends to
hi^h premiums. A veffcl was already ar
rived from Halifax to Nantucket to take off
some of those who proposed to remove ; two
families had gone no board and others were
going, when a letter was received there,
which had been written by Monficur Ie Mar
quis de la Fayett to a gentlemam in Bolton,
and transmitted by him to Nantucket. The
purport of the letter was to dissuade their
accepting the British propdfals, and to aflur^
them that their friends in Prance would en
deavour to do something for them. This
instantly suspended their design: not another
went an board, and the vellcl returned to
Halifax with only the two families.
“ In fad the French government had not
been inattentive to the views of the British,
nor insensible of the crisis. They Gw the
da ger of peamitting five or fix thousand
of their belt seamen exiting tobe transfer
red bv a single ttroke to the marine strength
of their enemy, and to carry over with them
an art which they possessed almost exclufjve
ly. The counterplan which the set on foot
was to tempt the Nanruckois by high offers
to come and fettle in France. This was in
the year 1785. The British however had
in their favour a sameness of language, re
ligion, laws, habits and kindred, 9 families,
of 33 p^f°ns in the whole came 0 Dun
kirk ; so that this project was not likely to
prevent their emigration to the English ef
taulilhments, if no hing elf- had happened."
He then Rates the measures connected
with the adoption of the friendly arret of
December 1787, until he reaches the period
of tne prohibiting arret, of September 1788.
To obtain the revocation of this arrette, he
proves the great importance of the whale
oil to the consumption and manufaaures of
France, her inability to supply herfelf with
it in fufficient quantity, and the extreme ex
pense at which even her present partial sup
ply was effected. Enforcing these ideas,
he fays :
“ The manufaaures depending on this
article cannot maintain their competition
againff those of other countries, if deprived
of their equal means. When the alterna
tive then shall be prefenied of letting them
drop, or opening the ports to foreign whale
oil, it is presumable the latter will be adopt
ed, as the lefler evil. But it will be too late
for America ; her fishery, annihilated dur
ing the late war, only began to raise its
head on the propped of market held out by
this country. Crushed by the arrette of
Sept 28, in it's firft feeble effort, to revive, it
will rife no more. Expeditions, which re
quire the expense of the outfit of vessels, and
from nine to twelve months navigation, as
the southern fishery does, mod frequented
by the Americans, cannot be undertaken in
file reliance on a market with little or no
warning. We muff accept bread from our
enemies, if our friends cannot furnifh it.
This comes exactly to the point to which
that government has been looking. Sie
fears no rival in the whale filhery but Ameri
ca of which she is endeavoring to poflefs her
felf. It is for this obje& she is making the
present extraordinary efforts by bounties &
other encouragements ; and her success so
far is very flattering. Before the war she
had not one hundred vessels in the whale
trade, while America employed 309 ; in
1686, Great Britain employed 151 vessels, in
1787 286, in 288 314, nearly the ancient A
merican number ; while the latter is fallen
to about 80. They have just changed places
then, England having gained exactly what
America has loft. France by her ports and
markets holds the balance between the two
contending parties, and gives the viaory,
by opening and (hutting them, to which she
pleases. We 'have still precious remains
of seamen educated in this fifhery, and capa
ble by their poverty, their boldness and ad
dress, of recovering it from the English, in
spite of their bounties. But this arrette en
dangers the transferring to Great Britain
every man of them who is not invincibly
attached to his native foil. There is no
other nation in present condition to maintain
a competition with Great Britain in the
whale fifhery. The expence at which it is
supported on her part seems enormous, 255
veilels, of 75,436 tons, employed by her this
year in the Northern fifhery, at 42 men
each ; and 59, in the southern at 18 men
each makes 11,772 men. These are known
to have cost the government 151. each, or
17b 5801. in the whole, and that to employ
the principle part of them from 3 to 4
months only. The Northern ships have
brought home 20, and the Southern 60 tons
of oil on an average, making 8,640 tons ev
ery ton of oil then has cost the government
201. in bounty. Still, if they can beat us
out of the field and have it to themftlve,,
they will think their mony well employed.
If France undertakes solely the competition
against them, the must do it at equal ex
pence. The trade is too poor to support it
felf. The 85 (hips necessary to supply e
ven her present consumption, bounded as the
Engilfh are,will requite a facrifice of 1,295-
200 livres a year, to maintain 3,570 lea
men, and that a part of the year only. And
if the will push it to 12,000 men in compe
tition with England, she must facrifice, as
they do, 4or 5 millions a year. The fame
number of men might, with the fame boun
ty, be kept in as constant employ carrying
stone from Bayonne to Cherbug or coal from
Newcastle to Havre, in which navigations
they would be always at hand, and become
as good seamen. The Englilh confider a
mong their bed sailors those employed in car
rying coal from Newcastle to London.
France cannot expert to raise her fifhery,
even to the supply of her own consumption,
in one year or in several yars. Is it not bet
ter then, by keeping her ports open to the
United States to enable them to aid in main
taining the field against the common adver
sary, till (he ihall be it a condition to take
it herfelf, and to supply her own wants r"
After taking other interefling views, Mr.
Jefferfon closes his observations in the fol
lowing terms :
" Whether then we confider the Arrette
of Sept. 28, in a political or a commercial
light, it would seem that the United States
should be excepted from its operation. Still
mure so when they invoke against it the am
ity subsisting between the two nations, the
desire of binding them together by every pos
sible interest and coi #> eaion, the several ads
in favour of this exception, the dignity oi le
gislation which admits not of changes back
wards and forwards, the interests of com
merce which require steady regulations, the
assurances of the friendly motives which
have led the king to pass these ads, and the
hope that no cause will arise to change either
his motives or his measures toward us."
This memorial had the desired effe&, and
on the 7th December following an Arrette
passed, excepting Whale and other fifh oil
. and also whalebone, the product of the fish
eries of the United States from the prohibi
tion contained in the Arrette of the 28th of
September.
By these means were our fisheries at that
period saved from total ruin. H%d Fiance
not interposed there could have been no re
lief, as our own government possessed no
means of affording it, and as England had
put into active aperation a system for their
deftruaion. But one alternative would have
been offered to our fi fherrnen ; —the aban
donment of their profeffion,or emigration to
English or French settlements. In either
event they would have been loft to us, with
all the future benefit, national or local, at
tached to their pursuits.
The above statements exhibit the fenti
thents of Mr. jefferfon antecedent to the ad
option ofthe federal government. His re
port, as Secretary of S'ates, in 1791 shews
his subsequent opinions.
This report was the basis of all that was
afterwards dope by the government for the
encouragement of the fisheries.
It presents an hiftorieal view ofthe fifher
ies from a remote period, exhibits the diffi
culties they have had to struggle with, their
great importance, and the absolute neCeffity
of governmental encouragement.
The writer then obfeiv.s:
" This rapid view of the cod fifhery ena
bles us to diecern under what politicy it has
flourished or declined in the hands of other
nations, and to mark the fad, that it is too
poor a bufinejs to be left to itjelj, even wtb
the nation the mofl advantngeoufoftuated."
Latest Foreign,
Hamburgh, JUNE 22.
The Emperor of Russia was to leave Peter
fburgh on the 4th inst. for Wyburg. The ob
ject of his journey,which will occupy only e
leven days, has not yet transpired.
The Hanoverian army have already deliver
ed over to the French 460 pieces of artillery,
besides 39,000 muskets, & 5000 holster pistols.
It is reported that some French privateers
have captured seven English merchantmen
in the North Seas.
NAPLES, JUNE If.
The following Ordinance has juftbeen pub
lished : " In consequence of the declaration
of war which has just taken place between the
French Republic and the King of England, the
King preserving a perfed neutrality, orders
that none of his fubjeds enter into the service
of one or other of the belligerent Powers."
HAGUE, JUNE 28.
General Dumonceau, the day before yester
day, established his head quarters at Harlem.
Notwithstanding the promises made by the
English Government to ours of not interrupt
ing theffifhery in the North Seas, some English
pirates this morning captured off our coasts
upwards of 60 filling boats, and thus besides
the loss of the boats have deprived us of 200
excellent seamen.
On the evening of the 25th an extraordinary
meeting of the Government was held, in con
sequence of this proceeding. The result of
then deliberation was, that the Council ofMa
rine immediately dispatched orders to all the
ports to lay an embargo on the fifhing boats.
Notwith (landing the vigilance recommend
ed in our ports, there have been difeovered at
Rotterdam several difaffefted persons who
were recruiting for the sea & land forces of the
King of England. They have, however, effec
ted their escape. Orders have been given to
the conflituted authorities to watch ftridly the
condud of those who are dill fu&aed of hold
ing intecourfe with the enemy. Q
Preparations are making in Zealand for the
recepion of Bonaparte. Several yachts,intend
ed for the accommodation of himfelf and his
suite, are to repair to Breckeus, where they
are to wait for the purpose of conveying them
to Brussels.
MARSEILLES, JULY I.
The plague continues its ravages at Malta,
It is said to have been brought from Alexan
dria in a Ragufan brig, which left that port
the end of November. The cold prevented it
from being so prompt and general in its effects
as it is at present.
—o—
— JULY 3.
The Mafler of a Ragufan vessel, arrived at
Genoa, has deposed, that cff Cape corfe he fell
in with an Erglifh convoy of 17 fail, fleer
ing for Gibraltar, and having on board the
English troops who were in Egypt.
Their Prussian Majesties weie expected at
Charlottenburg on the 28th ult. on their re
urn from their tour through their new pefftffi
ons.
The eleven vessels defcribedoff PortoFerrago
are English, not Barbary corsairs
We are assured that the Prussian Minister
at London has offered to the British Govern
ment the mediation of his Sovereign, and that
he received in reply that the mediation of
Prussia would be accepted conjointly with
Russia.
LONDON, JUNE 2t.
The new Plan of Defence, as laid before
Parliament last night,is to procure an addition
of 50,000 men to the Land forces of this coun
try. Os this augmentation of the army, the
mode to be adopted in its levying, is in the
proportion of
31,000 for the counties of England.
3.000 for London & the Tower Hamlets,
6,000 for Scotland and
10,000 for Ireland making in all
50,000 men,
who are all to be chosen by ballot. This
difpofeable force is to serve in any place of
Great Britain and Ireland, orin the Ifla,ds of
Jerfy and Guernsey. It is to be raised by a
ballot, on the principle of militia ballot.
Every man from 18 to 45, with certain excep
tions, is to be liable to the ballot, and fubfli,
tutes allowed. The army is to be put under
the command of officers appointed by His
Majesty. The officers are to be taken frorp his
half pay lift & when that is exhausted, from
the marines, from East-India officers and fen
cible officers.
A letter from Holland fays, that 20,c00
passes have been delivered this last fortnight
forAmerica, Russia, Denmark and Sweden ;
and 5000 more demanded, which want of
time prevented them to expedite.
The London Gazet e contains an order in
Council prohibiting the exportation and allow
ing the importation of corn, provisions, &c.
till the 30th September next. Naval Stores
are prohibited for 6 months longer from be
ing exported.
JUNE 24
The Batavian army, and all the military
means of the State, are now officially declar
ed to be at the disposal of France. An army
of reserve, to which has been given the name
of the Army of England, is now forming at
Daventer, under the command of General
Deffolle; and the number of troops already
assembled between that place and Flushing is
estimated at little short of 80,000 men. An
encampment is immediately to be formed upon
the Downs nearDunkirk,and several regiments
are Rationed between Calais and Boulogne.
More troops are under orders for the fame
quarters ; and there is very little ccubt of the
whole being destined for the meditated attack
of this country.
JUNE 2%
There are strong grounds for believing that a
negociation,the principle of which was firft, sug
gested by Bonaparte,is now carrying on between
our Government and the Court of Madrid.
Spain is extremely desirous to preserve a drift
neutrality during the war : and the First Con
sul has agreed to abstain from any attack on
Portugal, as well as from all pecuniary requisi
tions, if our Government consents to recognize
the neutrality of Spain.
Three French luggers, under American col
ours, entered the Elbe on the 9th infl. and re
ceived at ftade a number of guns, for the pur
pose of of attacking any British vessel, Or Seiz
ing any foreign bottom having British proper
ty on board.
Letters from Guernsey, of the zzd, state
that serious dispositions have been made along
the French coast, for an iavafion of those isl
ands ; The principal force was collected at
St. Malo. Sir James Saumarez, has made the
most judicious arrangement of hisfquadron to
defeat the enterprize; and the troops, &c.
Were held in constant readiuefs for fcivicc.
Extrafl of a tetter from a Midhifeman of
the Ranger floep of near dated on board
the Commerce of Philadelphia, 27'b
June, 1803.
"We have taken an Amercan ship
from Rotterdam, and bound to Phila
delphia, loaded with Swils emigiants,
gun-powder and flints.
" On Friday, at /three o'clock P. M. were
ordered to take pcff ffion of all the French
fifhing boats. The wind was unfavourable, so
that the Ranger only tock three; the squadron,
however, captured thirty, every one of which
carried ten flout Frenchmen. They told us
Bonaparte was at Bologne on Friday. They had
only come cut an hour previous to their being
captured, consequently could not be mistaken.
He is surveying the coast, and I make no doubt
nt he saw our English cruizers taking pof
b<ffion of the boats, as we were so close to the
jlaud that the batteries fired upon us."
—0
. July 11.
It, is not improbable that letters of
marque and repriftls will in a fltort time
be issued against Spain. Government has
we are affiired receiver authentic into# ma
tion that the wifbes exprefled by tleCourt
of Madrid to preserve 3 drift neutrality,
have been completely frufirated by the
positive injunctions of Bonaparte, who
requires every possible exertion on the
part of Spain to co-operate in his views
against this country, by the affifttT.ee of
her navy. In confcqtiehce of this requisi
tion, officially communicated to the Spah
ifli Government, orders were sent to the
Commandant ot the Marine at Cadiz, to
prepare ten fail of the line with all pcfli
ble dispatch for sea, and they are now ac
tually equipping at tie Jfle de Leun in
that harbour. The intelligence reached
Goveinnct on the 25th ult. and meafines
were immediately adopted by Earl St.
Vincents to Ureugtheu pur fleet in theMe
ditteridnean. It was in confcquence of
that determination, that the Malta and
Canopus, of 80 /uns, and the Sceptre and
Conqueror, of 74, were dispatched for
the Straits aft 1 uefday from the Channel
Fleet. They will probably pot into the
Tagus, or cruize between Lisbon and Gi
braltar until reinforced by some other ves
sels from England. Jhe blockade of Ca
d;z and Ferrel does net seem very diflant.
Not" itl standing the departure of these
four (hips, Admiral Cornwallis's force is
adequate to th accomplifoment of e\ er,
objeft we have in view. El (quadron.
Which is now cruizing in different points
before Brest, confide ot sixteen tail of the
line, and the port of Rochefort is block
ed up by three more under the command
of Sir Edward Pellew.
Tie Secretary to the Ruffian Embassy at
Paris is arrived in town. There can be no
doubt that he is charged with propositions
of importance, relative to negociation.
He was probably the bearer of the dis
patches received yelterday.
Lord Hawke (bury gave a dinner jcßer
day at Coombe, to the Portuguese Am
bassador and several of his friends.
In the event of invasion, the King, it is
Rated, will take the field in person, and
will be assisted in the corduß of the war
by a Military Council HisMAjESTY cer
tainly w ill, in the course of the Autumn,
review the various camps near Leucon.
Ten regiments of the line are to le im
mediately filled up with recruits, raised
from the Army bl Reserve, and ten bat
talions of these recruits are to be added to
these regiments, so that the regulars will
be augmented about 20,000 men.
The plants be brought forward by the
Secretary at War for improving the de
fence of the country is said to relate to
the training to arms of the whole popu
lation of the State. All males ftom. 15 to
45 are to be called out on let days to learn
the life of the mufquet and the outlines of
military evolutions. If this can be done,
as we apprehend it may, without materi
ally interfering with the occupy ticu of
those who muftgain their livelil ood by
their industry, i l nu ft in the Li% heft de
gree contribute to our defence in case of
invasion. When the nation has learnt to
defend itfelf, every soldier is dp able
for every purpose. By such inurtaion
the country w 11 acquire c< 1 fidepce in h
felf. To physical (Irengti which u ft
ever be foperior to the phytic^! Ef; h
of an, invader, ue frail acd the spirit of
a warl ke nation. Tlcn. indeed, it is
impossible to doubt for an iufUnt of our
complete triumph, Arnold the w hole ar
mies of France reach our (bores.
The Lot dor Gazettee of Saturday con
tains a Prock motion for granting tie dif*
tribution ot prizes during tie present war.
It differs from former pro< L motions of a
similar nature, in refpef lto tie eighth
part granted to the Flag, or Flag Officer,
who dull ©Dually be on board at the tak
ing of any prize, or fha||be dirtying or
asking therein. It also contains address
es to His Majefly in support of the war,
from Briltol, Bury,Nerwieb, and Gaeta
fey.
The following ink lligcnce has been re
ceived from Falmouth, u Inch w e ccn,mu
nicate on no ot ler authority than the ac
count itfelf affords. We can only express
our hope that mere authentic inform&ticß
may soon enable ns to confirm the truth of
it :—"Tuefday last a pilot, belt nging to
Hellfioue in Cornwall, boarded a Prussian
galliot, from Adcant, with salt, which
vessel had the' morning before been hoard
ed by ft me persons I elouging to a Guern
sey privateer, returning from a cruize,
which persons said, that Admiral Cotn
vallis had taken the convoy from St. Po
mingo, including tie men of war."
The plan of the expedition against this
country, will it is said, in letters from
BrufTels ; receive much r'evelopc ment Item
the tour which Bonaparte is making along
the coast.
Bonaparte arrived at Dunkirk on the
2d, where he was to remain feme days.
The Mayor took occafior, in offering hm
the keys of the town, to remind him that
he had refufed them in 1793 to the Duke
of Yerk, at the head of 40,000 men.