Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-12-13 00:00:00, page 2

rience forbids the hope that this can be bro't to ma
turity without the aid of time, and the most earful
: attention : But our exertions Ihall be uniform for .
the promotion offo desirable an end,^
' We participate in the regret with which your
: Excellency beholds the scourge of war again laid
on some of the nations of Europe : But while the
calamities which the conrendingparties are infill
ing on each other, awaken our sympathy, they can
scarcely fail to awaken our fears; of the difficulties
tq which, even an honest neutrality is incident, we.
have had former experience. It must be guarded
only with caution, but with vigour ; the irk Secu
rity against aggression being an attitude calculated
<o repel.it. j
The Several fubje&s, to which our attention has
been or may be called, (hall receive our molt fe
,rious confideratiot) : And we trust our exertions
will be found in unison with those of your Excel
lency, for the promotion of the general,Welfare.
Messrs. Hutchinson, Alexander, Cummings,
Wentworth, Worthen, Kent, Shepard, Leavitt,
Furber, and .Prefcut, were appointed a committee
to wait on his Excellency the Governor, and pre
sent him with the foregoing answer to his cammu
' nicatiob. ' I r
Foreign Intelligence, .
• % #rf LONDON-,SEPT. 2%.
The fame weak and wavering system in the Ad
gniniftration of our affiars, of which we have so of
<ten of late had oc,Cafion to complain, unfortunate
ly still prevails. We understand that various de
cisions have taken place refoeaing the couduewhich
it becomes our go^rnment to hold towards the.
court of Madrid, and that even up to this time notlp -
jog is permanently fettled upon the fubje&. Nothing
xan be more plain than that, with the Treaty exit
ing between France and Spain, the latter cannot be
neutral, and yet our ministers are flittering them
helves that they have obtained the Neutrality, and
even the good will of Spain ! We du not want to
make Spain our enemy, but what we contend for
is that, placed as (lie is, flie must be either our ene
my or our Ally.—Can it be endured that the peo
ple of this country shall be told, though Spaid tup
plies annually to France a large sum of money to
carry on the waragainft us,that because foe does not
supply fllips and men, and because forfooth her
Ambassadors tell US that the laments the war, and is,
pacifically disposed, that therefore we are to cotifid
'er her as ftriaiy neutral! Indeed Mr. Ak)ingoo,this
is carrying what you and your colleagues call concili
ation a little too far ! It was not formerly the cuf
\om of England to submit to degradation under
plausible and Specious terms. Complacency,mild,
nefs, and all the half virtues,on w hichyou and your
colleagues pride yourfelvesfo much, are not the true ^
and sterling charaaeri^ics of Englishmen—they are
not the qualities which placed us upon the proud
eminence on which we have long flood, and if ev
er there was a moment in which they were inappli
cable, it is at the time when you seem determined ~
to trust to the effed of them alone.
, — —0- • ~,
LONDON, OCT. 4.'
Accounts from the Hague of the aid, fay, that
at Fluking, official intelligence has been receiv d
from Paris, that the First Consul will Speedily be
there. The Dutch government, by command from
Paris, no doubt, have fixed upon their principal
Rations for the gun-boats; &c. now budding in
Holland. The firft division, comprehending the
armament ;n the Ems and the Zuyder Zee, are fr o
assemble in the Texel. The second comprehending
those in the Waal, the Sech and Meuf, are 0 as.
Kemble at Helvoetfluys.. The third, comprehending
those in the Scheldt & neighbouring rivers & canals
are to alfen.bU at Flushing. Each of them is to he
commanded by a Vice- Admiral, and the whole ac
cording co report, are to be under the dire^i n of
Ad. De Winter- In fad, it appears to be the means
of conveyance, and not of troops, that will now be
the obflacle. They will form at the c^rrip at St.
Omers and neighborhood 45,000 men. Lodgings
are already prepared for the First Consul and the
minister at war. In the mean time,telegraphs are to
be conftruaed between Paris an* all the principal
ports for the benefit of quicker correspondence.
The Paris Journals allo state, that at the fame time
the attempt of invasion is made from the coasts of
Holland and Flanders, it will be tried dfo from the
ports of Brittanny & Normandy. There are many
troops at Bred, & welook with particularanxiety to
that quarter,as Ireland in all probability,is the 6bjea,
and we deem it more probable that a fleet of ships
should reach the obje& of their destination, th;,
thaf tire gfyboits should be able to waft any for
midable body efinv^ders to the English there.
The French military preparations in Italy are at
tributed, in letters from thence of the Bih of Sept
to a defigri of seizing upon the Morea,6y way
of compensation for Malta. Perhaps such a
scheme is in agitation. Unless some views be Bill
Entertained either against the Turkish empire,
Greece, or Egypt it is not easy to explain the ob
je& of naval equipments and the forming of an
army of embarkation. The Moniteur contains
a long account of the diftarbances in Egypt,from
which it is evident how much the fate of that
country interests the First Consul ; and perhaps
it may be conjectured that its fate is not a little
influenced by his intrigues. Indeed the state of
Egypt is such that the Porte has no authority
there ; and is not likely soon to recover it. The
rebellious troops and the difpoffefled Beys unit
ing from a force which the Porte has little
chance of subduing. In consequence of this state
of things, which there cannot be a doubt is ow
ing to the machinations of the French ailing up
on the perpetual pre-difpofition to muntiny in the
Turkish armies and provinces, many of the mem
bers of the Turkish government have openly de
clared at Constantinople, that the retreat of the
English ffanr Alexandria has been extremely un
fortunate for the Grand Seignior. They would
be very glad again to fee an English garrison
there, but such an event would be cenfidered by
France as a declaration of war, though in fad,
if France has an opportunity of seizing Egypt, the
ceremony of adcclaration of war wouldnot be re
garded.—France rather wants the means than
the indication to take possession of Egypt ; or
perhaps of the Morea. The conquest of the lat-
ter, however, might embroil the First Consul
with Russia, which has long had prior claims to
that country. We should not be greatly surpri
sed however, if,while our troops are kept at home
by the menaces.or invasion, the First Coafulwere
to strike some blow in the Mediterranean ; Mal
ta he connot hope ever to take, as it can only be
taken by a sea blockade or treachery within. At
present the fleet in Toulon is watched py Lord
Nelfcn. 4t is said to have put to sea, but after
.bring out a few hours returned on the English
squadron bieng descried. Such at least is the ac
count in some of the Paris papers. Wewifh the
enemy would come out. „ ,
While the letters from Confantinople by the two
mails which arrived on Sunday, announced noth
ing but differ in every part of the Turkifo Empire,
'thofe of the 25th of Auguft;a fortnight later received
by the mail yeferday,fate that the Turkish faces have
obtained afgridl victory over the rebel ^bdulWecbab.
The Turkiflo forces wereled by the Pacha of Acco,
Dgetzar. But it ma, be questioned whether Dgez
.zar be not at formidable an enemy to the Port, as the
rebel he has defeated. 1
It is mentioned in the Pari; papers that .General
Angereau has aPually gone •to Bayone to fufrintend
the formation of the army afembling theref*f a
uowed purpose of ever awing Spain. <-, ~ ,/,
The Fretch funds ere rather lower than *, were
feme titye ago. They are „fr. 80 c.
British funds, 3 per cent confirm ^^.
Omnium 10 1.4 dis. ^ <'
Journal of the operation of our fatilia.
On Wednefd^y, September 28, at 10 A. M- the
fyadron laying off Cap? Blanknez the Autumn
rode filial for°fome luscious vessels being in the
E. 6. E. quarter. The Leda, then Commodore,
immediately threw out a signal for the Bloodhound,
Archer, Conflict, and a hired cutter to chafe. In
about an hour the Ancher made the signal for 26
fail of the enemy in the E. S. E. quarter and in
fifteen minutes after made a signal that the envoy
sere comingout of port.
At half past eleven, the Archer,Conflia, and the
hired cutter, being within shot of the enerny, began
to fire upon them—in a very short time after the
Leda, Autump, and Bloodhound, got within foot,
when a general and heavy fire was opened by them,
which was returned only by a few guris now and
4hen from a galliot armed brig, a very heavy fire was
kept up from the cliffs on fliore a
This kind es running fight continued along
Chore all the way to Boulogne roads—the that fell
very thick among the enemy, and mull have done
them much mifehief—though none of them were
taken, there is every reason to think many of them
were disabled —at any rate our flotilla gave the ene
my a specimen of what they might expea, if ever
they are so rash asto venture beyond the reach of
the guns of their own batteries.\
The Difeovery and Tartarus, in consequence of
their heavy failing, did not come up before the
enemy were abreaftof Cape Grifnez, but they then
made up for loft time, by throwing some very well
dirt&ed shot among 'hern.
the French flotilla consisted of t cutter, 1 galle
ot, and 31 luggers very full of men. The Englifli
(quadron was coropofed of 1 frigate, X fl%p, 2
bombs, 3 brigs and 1 cutter.
September 29. —?At 6 A. M. the signal was made
to chafe is the Eaftquarter, and to clear for a&ion.
At this time a number of the enemy's boats were
observed coming from the Eastward—it ow fell
calm, and the enemy anchored in the Bay between
Cape Griznez and Blanknez. About half past ten
a breeze Springing up, they all got under way agrin,
by which time, opr squadron was abreast of them.
. We then bore up; and at half past it, the signal
being made to engage, a heavy fire immediately
commence ', bat Ihe enemy's gun.boats did not re
turn a fingte fliot.— The batteries and mortars on
Cpe Gribez, however, made up for their fileice,
and the rid£ keeping the squadron for a confideribic
time abreast of the Cape, gave the enemy a consid
erable advantage. They, threw their shells exceed
i"gly chic k, and one of them unfortunately fell on
board the Leda, but providentially not a naan was
hurt, nor did the vessel sustain any material damage.
The Difeovery and Tartarus bombs threw their
fhelh with admirable precilion; leveral of them
fell direaly oh the foot whence the enemy's shells
proceeded, and seemed to throw them into a yod
deal of confufion.
About twelve o'clock two of the enemy's beats
run afiiore among the rocks @t Cape Griznez accor
ding to every appearance totally dilabled ; the ftft
puffied on, bat in a very Shattered condition, and
the wind again failing, we were not able to annoy
them so much as we wiflied, for the calm confin
ed till about four o'clock, when they came to an
chor in Boulogne Roads.
As the squadron had still kept within foot of them
' we had now a favourable opportunity .to recom
mence our operations, and fqch a.he^yy canno
nading as few ever wit^effed was begun on both
fid.es. For above an hour the enemy continued
throwing (bells from every quarter. I once count
<d ten tiielli in the air ax the fame time; toe gun
boats in the Roads kept allo.au incessant fire; and,
as you may well suppose, our squadron were net
behind hand With them. We returned shot for
fliot with as much brifknels as possible ; and the
Autumn in particular kept up a conflant and well
direded fire which did considerable execution.
They may boast of having escaped from one
port to another, but they did not reach the place of
their destination till they were in a very (haltered
condition.—l observed boats coming from the
(bore to take away the wounded and avast number
of carts were employed upon the beach in the fame
service.
From what I have seen, I will venture to fay,
that the French boats are as much adapted to cr.ofs
the channel in the threatned invasion, as a London
watermen's w berry is to make ayqy age to the Cape
of Good Hope. If their terrible armada, wbichis
preparing to assail our little Illan'd, be composed of
no better vessels then those we attacked, we have
very little to fear. Should our flying squadron be
ohly apprized of their departure from their coast,
our vessels will have nothing to do but to. run them
dowp. There are a few brigs in Boulogne, but they
are very inferiour toour small cruizers. From the
specimen given them of the reception they will
meet with, they will not be very ready to come
from under the proteaion of their own batteries,
at is however certain, thxt great preparations are
making in every part of the coast and in the neigh
bourhood of Boulogne in particular An amaz
ing number of temporary huts havfcbeen ereded,
which, I imagine, are intended far the reception of
the troops to be embarked, and I make no doubt,
that if they come it will be very soon, but they little
think what kind of reception is prepared for them.
They may faeak along in a daQardly manner; from
one port to another, under cover of the night or
close to their batteries, -but they cannot cross the
.channel, whereihey will not escape the vigilence
of our cruizers, or the vengeance of gallant teamen.
~——o
HAGUE, SEFT. 6.3
1 see Admiral Story, and the Officers .of tbefhipf"
belonging to the Batavian fleet who joined the Englifb
fleet in the invasion of North Holland, have been cited
Before the Military Tribunal . •but not having appear-,
cd, the grater part being now employed in the. English
Marine service, the Batavian Government As about
to pronounce sentence against them, by which they will
be fubjeß to perpetual banishment, and certain death
if they re-appearrin the territory of the republic.
All Marine Officers belonging to the drips in the
Texel or the other ports which are ready for ser
vice, have received orders to repair on board. The
fame orders have been received by those who com
mand the gun boats, and other light vessels.
SEPTEMBER TO.
It appears that the Dutch captain Swedenryk
who had been dilpatched to give intelligence in
the Dutch colonies of the probability of a rupture,
has returned to Europe, after having touched at
the various settlement of the Republic. He re
ports that he found every where the strongest at
tachment to the mother country; utmost harmeny
and the most decided determination to refill any
attack which might be mede against them.
TORBAY, OCTOBER 2
We were much alarmed yesterday afternoon h, re
by the appearance cf a very large fleet off to the
southward and westward of the Berry ; they appear,
ed to be upwards of too fail ; and when challenged
by the officers of the (ignals at the Berry Head, did
not aufwer them ; consequently the drCms of the
Royal Cornish Miners (a barracks at the Berry)
b,t to arms-; the draw bridge at the fort was drawn
up, the Sea Fescib'es began to aiLmble, every one
eager to meet and rcpulfe the Corsican Tyrant ;
but soon after the £ee twas discovered to be our
friends, and suppose it is the residue of the Jamaica
and Leeward Island fleet, reaching to the eastward,
on-their larboured tack, with the wind to the north
ward. —4 —
HAMBURGH SEPT. 23.
An express arrived here yesterday, brought the
news of the capture of two French cutters at the
mouth of the Elbe, by one of the Englifli frigates
Rationed there. The particulars, which are not
made public, are, asl have them from good au
thority, as follows : —The English Captain received
private intelligence, that these two vessels, were to
drop down on a certain day to Cuxhaven. ^The
Erench came down as expected and lay to close
finder some batteries, which they have ereded there,
no English being in fight. Soon after two Englifli
boats appeared with a few men who passed near the
French, and fired on them with small arms, provok
ed at this insult, one of the French vessels failed to
wards the boats witlithe intention of finking them ;
but the Englifli frigate appeared, and cut off their
retreat. The French Captain defended himfelf
bravely, but was soon t^ken ; and the English then
manned their prize, and with it took the other
vessel also.—These vessels are remarkable fine
cutters, carrying rS guns each. Besides the guns
which are new, and of extremely elegant workman
fllip ; and the other materials employed from the
Hanoverian floret, they have cost together 1 50,000
marcs, or io,oool. flqrUng.,
By the latest Mails.
CHILLICOTHE, (OHio) NOV. 12.
IMPORTANT.
Ihe following letter from the Department of War at
the city of Wa^ington, to bis Excellency the gov
ernor of this State was received by the lafl
night's mail.
Wafliington City, O&. 31.
Si?
There being reason to furpea that the officers of the
Spanish government at New-Orleans may decline
or fefufe to give pofftffi<m of the country of Louisia
na, ceded to the U. States by the French Republic,
and which Congress have by law authorifed the
President cf the United States to take pofTeffion of,
and the President having judged it expedient to pur
fitch measures as will inlure the pofleffiun, I have
therefore been directed by the President of the
United States to request your Excellency to assem
ble with the least possible delay, Five Hundred of
the militia of the State of Ohio, including a suitable
number of officers, and cause the fame to be formed
into a Regiment of eight companies, to ^ enga
ged to serve four months, unless sooner difeharged,
to be mustered in companiesand ready to march, if
called, by the 20th of December at farthefl Rafter
having been to mustered in companies by suitable
persons appointed by your Excellency, the men
may return to their homes, but must hold themfclves
in readiness to join their companies and march at
the fliorteft notice. Each officer and ioßier will be
entitled to pay from ;the day they fltall receive or
ders and march to join their relpe^ive regiments,
until difeharged. They will be entitled to thefame
pay as regular troops in,the service of the United
States. I have the honor to be, Refp.afuliy,
Your humble ferv.lv,
H. DEARBORN.
To bis excellency Edward Tiffin, ?
Governor of the state of Ohio.)
We understand that, the, provisional army is
so be composed of 500 mounted volunteers from
the Miffifippi territory, to join the regular
troops frem that Territory , and to proceed im
mediately to New. Orleans, to take possession of
Louisiana : in the mean time the state of Tennessee
is to hold in rewind, to march at a moment's
warning 2000 Volunteers.
Kentucky, 4000 do.
Ohio, s°o do'
Miffifippi territory, 5^ do.
• < & '™"' E ' T °"' Nov? 7'
The ccocaor of this port has made a proper re^
presentation to government of the piratical and io
fulting conduct of the commander of the French
letter of marque Nancy, otfthis harbour; and there
cannot exist a doubt of the exertions of the Execu
tive that he be properly punished. He ought to be
made to feel that the days of Genet have not return^
ed ; arid that he must not exped to find (upperters
and abetters in federalifts ; as his countrymen in
those diys didin the democrats.
We are happy In learning, that the Secretary ts
State, has inftruded the leveral Collectors, to re.
quire of all Masters of American vessels, on oath,
what outrages have been committed by the cruiz^
ers of the belligerent powers on board their vessels
and upon the persons of our citizens, by impreffment'
or otherwile. This measure, besides affording the
President authentic information of any infradion of
out rights, will prevent the publication of the nu
merous hearsays and reports which have so often in
fulled and irritated the public mind.
~ h PHILAD. NOV. 6. '
The Commissioners, Efoim Kirby, fhomas Rol
% and Robert Williams, who w^c appointed by the
President for hearing and determining all disputed
claims glands in the Mifffippi Territocy ; wheth
er under grants from Great-Britain or Spain, or by
actual settlement, left Louisville, (K) the latter and
of Oa. on their way to Natchez.
It seems that the report of Mr. Dawson having
been nominated as governor of Louifana is erro
neous. Perhaps he is to be merely the ntfenger, to
carry to Mr. Penable the commiffon of bis appoint
ment. —0 —
From Leghorn, July 20.
“ Enclosed you have a copy of a note I have
received two days ago from the consul of the
United States, by which you will observe that
Gen. Olivierg the French commandant here has
clearly expressed to Commodore Morris that
this port was considered in the fame light as if
belonging to the French Republic, and conse
quently fubjeft to the decree of the First Consul,
of the tlb Meffidor iith year, by which all
British merchandize and colonial produce was
prohibited in the French ports, and fubjeft to
qonfifea ion under whatever flag it may be im
ported. I understand that commodore Morris is
gone to Florence on the business, with a memo
rial to her majesty to endeavour if possible to have
the arbitrary decree recalled, or rather to pre
vent its extension to this port. I sincerely wish
he may succeed, though I very much doubt it.
In the mean time, great attention should be ob
served in accompanying every article with a cer
tificate from the French agent, Rating that the
property is not the produce of Britain or her
colonies. —o—
— AUG. 20.
"Six,
“ I am just favoured with a letter from Com,
modore Morris, Rating the conversation he had
with General Olivier on the fubjeft of the Arrete
of the First Consul of the French Republic, th^
Ift Meffidor, I ith year, and of which the follow
ing is an extract :
The late arrete considered neutrals laden whol
ly or in part with British manufactures, bound
to any port of the French Republic, fubje&ed to
confiscation, and this port was considered as a
port, of the French Republic."
- - L^NcasTER, Nor. 26.
The Aurora has acknowledged, that a difpoftio:
btfile to the occupation of Loufana bad been evinced
by Spain, and its Ambassador near our government ?
The Federalists never have said more or less than this ;
yet they have been abused Qe pickpockets for the afer
tion. They have never condemned, but have applauded,
every meajure of the Executive on the fubjeP, that has
fawn like energy ; — They have ever been the advo
cates of efficient government ; and the, think, had
Cen. Wilkinson been ordered to take possession of New-
Orleans last winter, the United States would have sa
ved ten millions of dollars.
-The United States Frigate Adams has arrivedat
IVafhir.gton. A letter received by her and dated Tu
nis, Sept. 8, mentions the favorable afpedi of affair's
q,itb refpeß to the Moorifo powers, but fates that the
Bey bad refufed to receive Mr. Cathcart as Consul 0?
Charge des affairs. This refu/al appears to have fc
riginated in personal confderations ; and not from
any disposition unfriendly to this country.
BALTIMORE, NOV. 2§.
The Prefdent has nominated to the Senate, Abra
ham Venable, of Virginia, to be Governor of Loui
siana..
, It is said, Mr. Madison, and Lawyer Lincoln
have given it as their opinion, that Louifana canndt
be incorporated into the Union of the United Slater,
^without an alteration of the Confitution. But as
this instrument, like a "nose of wax," can be moulded
into any form the "triumphal majority" ma, cbocf€,
there is no doubt it will be altered accordingly.
o
ALBANY, NOV. 22.
Extrafl of a letter from a gentleman in New-Tors,
to his friend in this city.
" You will have heard, before this can reach
you, of the daring violation of law,by the duel be*
tween R. Swartwout brother to the Marlhall, &
Richard Riker, Deputy Attorney-General of the
state, at Hoboken, on the 14th inst. I have not
learned precisely the cause of the quarrel, nor the
Rate of Mr. Riker's wound in his leg which he
received the faft fire. It is said to be bad, but
some days must elapse before the consequence ft
certainly known. Mr. Swartwout being a Bur
ite little was necessary to call forth the vengeance
of a Clintonian ; and indeed the latter is grown
fohaughtyshaving all power, that no man of &
party,dareslook awry, or so mtich as speak. ,
" The serious and receding part of the citizen!
are greatly affeded and alarmed ; That an o§
cer (worn to execute the laws should boldly tra^&
grefs them, andbe supported by the Council ts
Appointment (for it is thought that they Will
continue him in office, not promote him) is 1
symptom of an awful degeneracy of manners,.
When to this added the coEfideration that fom^