Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1805-04-30 00:00:00, page 2

To his Excellency M. D'^rujo D'^revedo, &c.
.'Lisbon, Jan. 25, 1805.
Slß—Did 1 net entertain for the Portuguese na
tion the highest respect, I should, perhaps, pass o
ver in silence the indecent publication which has ap
peared in the supplement to the Gazette of Lisbon
of this day, of an article under the title of Manifes
to of the Prince of Peace, dated Madrid, the 20th
December, 1804. But anxious Sir, as lam to pos
sess the good opinion of a loyal nation, which is es
teemed by mine, it is just that I should protest in
on official and ostensible manner against the inser
tion of so base a libel as that to which I allude,
more particularly, as the Gazette of Lisbon is the
only journal circulated in Portugal ; as it is publish
ed under the sanction, and subject to the controul
of the government; and as it is the course marked
with an official character, which gives credit with
the public to every thing that appears in it.
I repeat Sir, that, anxious for the good opinion
of this nation, I cannot be indifferent to the senti
ments it entertains of mine ; and what would be its
sentiments if a public Minister of his Britannic
Majesty, witnessing under the character of authen
ticity, the publication of those foul calumnies with
Which that Manifesto teems, were by his silence to
admit, at least tacitly, the reality of the abominable
crimes with which his countrymen are branded ?
What would be its sentiments, if a minister of his
Majesty felt no indignation at the horrible charge
preferred against the English, of suffering their
prisoners of War to die of hunger, or of compelling
them to enter into their service against their own
country ; finally, if he felt no indignation to hear
them denounced to all Europe, as objects of univer
sal detestation, with the most shameful and aggra
vating epithets, and at the same time, degrading to
the ancient and brave Spanish nation to excite
whose ardour it was sufficient to be but an enemy ;
and injurious to the generous people against whom
they are directed. No, Sir, we do not starve our
prisoners to death ; we do not force them to takeup
arms against their country. If Spain mourns the
fate of the unfortunate persons Who perished at a
moment when a measure of precaution dictated the
necessity of detaining certain ships of War-belonging
to that nation by the British cruizers,do us, Sir, the
justice to believe, that that sorrow is as general and
sincere in England; and that the mourning we
wear is at the bottom of our hearts. No, Sir, bur
hands are not stained with innocent blood ; and we
would readily shed some of our own to restore to
life the victims of a cruel chance, which we con
flantly deplore.
These, Sir, are the principal points on which I
have to vindicate the outraged horfor of my nation,
while I wait for the instructions of his Majesty with
respect to the exemplary punishment which
he is entitled to demand of the Portuguese Gover
nor, on the Editors or Printers who inserted in the
said Gazette, no doubt, without a knowledge, a li
bel so prejucial to tlie honor of its august Ally. I have
the honour to be, with the highest consideration,
your Excellency's See.
Rob. S. Fitzgerald.
merest chance, attracted the notice of an experi
mental farmer. After so many years absence from
its indigenous soil, and hanging above three, expo
sed to the weather, the sheaf was examined, and on
ly three ears were found in a sound state.
The grains of those were sown in the garden of
the farmer, and their produce, in the following year
evinced the most astonishing prolifickness ; the
culture has been carefully continued for the last
four years, and there are now actually some hund
reds of Irish acres planted with this invaluable
grain. The mode of culture is by drill and dibble,
'ihe straw is a strong reed not hollow, but filled
with a nutritious sap or pith, which renders it as a
provender for horses, or neat cattle, equal to oats.
This straw bears not, like European wheat, a single
ear, but a clurap of many ears , and the grain,
large and full, yields an unusual quantity of the fin
est flower ; and so much is the seed now in demand
through Ireland, that the original cultivator has ac
tually sold it at the rate of ten guineas the stone.
Lon pap.
The French Minister M. Talleyrand, has
transmitted a Note to the Turkish Ambassador at
Paris Haleb Effendi, of which Marshal Brune, a
shbrt time before his departure from Constantinos
ple, delivered a Copy to the Reis Effendi. This
note expresses surprise at the refusal of the Porte
to acknowledge the Emperor of the French ; since
France has ever been the oldest and most sincere
friend of the Porte. The causes of this conduct are
then adverted to, and it is ascribed to a faction in
the Turkish Ministry, inimical to the true interests
of the Empire, which has had the art to procure the
rejection of all advantageous propositions on the
part of France, and to connect the Porte with ano
ther. power. In conclusion, it is asserted, tliat the
present conduct of the Porte is inconsistent with its
former Mussulman dignity, which would never
suffer it to render itself dependant on, and subject
to, any foreign power without well founded motives.
Qn the communication of this note, the Reis Effendi
declared, that with respect to the refusal of the ac
knowledgement of the, Emperor Napoleon, the
Porte had been guided by the protestations of the
other powers.
LONDON, march 3. From Constantinople we
learn that the Divan has evinced a degree of unex
pected firmness in refusing to acknowledge Bona
parte as Emperor of the French, tho' pressed to it
Dy a very crafty note ofTalleyrand,who ascribes their
former refusal to a faction in the Turkish ministry,
inimical to the peace of Europe, and the interest of
the oldest and most sincere ally of the Porte, France.
The Reis Effendi is said to have returned in an
swer to this very peremptory and laconic ; that the
Divan were not to be directed in their intercourse
with Foreign Powers by any other motives than
those of their interest and their honor, and that the
Porte, in refusing to acknowledge the Emperor
Napoleon, has been guided by the protestations
of other Powers, and regard to its own essential
interests.
FRENCH courier has brought the intelligence,
that the French Ambassador Brune has at length
quitted Constantinople. He left behind him M.
Parendier, in quality of Charge d'affaires. He
had frequently demanded of the Sublime Porte, the
acknowledgment of the Emperor Napoleon I.
which the Porte pertinaciously refused.
Correct accounts from Constantinople, dated
Dea 30, 1804, state, “ That Marshal Brune, the
French Ambassador, received last week the courier
he expected from Paris, who brought him positive
orders to leave Constantinople, if, within the space
of four days after the receipt of his dispatches, the
Ottoman Porte should not formally acknowledge the
Hereditary Emperor of France. Receiving no
satisfactory answer, he left Constantinople on the
13th of this month.
—__®«—
it? TURKE Y AND FRANCE.
_ STATE PAPER.
VIENNA, JAN. 19, 180'5.
New-York, April 10.
Suicide.—On the evening of thq 21st ultimo,
'Captain Matthias Rider, of the schooner Clarissa
and Eliza, from Jamaica, shot himself on board his
vessel, at Charleston, in the presence of his mate.
A coroner's inquest was held on the body the same
evening, and brought in a verdict of Lunacy.
Captain R. formerly resided in Wellfleet, (Mass.)
and has a wife and family in Buckstown, Maine.
- APRIL 17.
Mr. John Randolph arrived in this town a few
days since. We are informed that he is re-elected
a member of the next Congress. Mr. Randolph
will in a few days embark for France for the ben
efit of his health, which is in a low state ; he ex
pects to return before the next session. We sin
cerely wish him a complete restoration to healtli ;
and hope the refreshing breezes of the Atlantick
and the pure Zephyrs of southern France, while
they may embrace and strengthen his body, may
have a cooling and salutary effect in restoring an e
quanimity of mind ; but alas 1
Caelum, non animum mutant, qui trans mare cur
rurtt. Virg. pap.
SPEECH OF GENERAL FERRAND,
To the soldiers and inhabitants, on the walls of
Saint Domingo, in presence of the Brigands.
French Soldiers,
and Inhabitants of St. Domingo !
It is here you must remain—-It is here you mt:st
either fight er perish—lt is here that the All Pow
erful God has marked out the place for vengeance
—lt is ' here you ought to revenge the manes of
your fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters wives, chil
dren and friends, who all perished by blood thirsty
'hands—by the monsters who surround us ! It is
here you ought to shew what the valor of a chosen
few are able to perform against a number of assas
sins I—lt is here where the field is chalked out for
victory !
Do not be frightened at those cannibals ; they
appear only here strong by treacherous murder,
against those who are not able to defend themselves
—But what can their numerous cohort do against
brave soldiers and a place fortified by nature and
art ? Soon you will see them dispersed and fall at
'the foot of the ramparts.
They will perhaps tell j/ou that they have .con
quered every town in St Domingo, though they
, were fortified and defended by very brave troops.
Pure illusions 1 They to be called conquerors !—
They only conquered those towns which were sur
rendered to them by treachery and treason—none
sure was taken by true force, except St. Jago ;
which though ill fortified and defended by a hand
ful of inhabitants, has shewn what valor could do
against such enemies. Eighteen hundred of those
barbarians have bit the dust, and ye shall soon
give a good account of the remainder of their ar
my. I
Inhabitants of St. Domingo ; I do not know, if
your misfortunes can bear a comparison to the dire
ful necessity which forces us to give battle, having
no place for a retreat, on one side Surrounded by
brigands—on the other the sea ; having not one
single vessel either to fly or to escape to, no alter
native offers but victory alone.—l repeat it again,
it is here you must perish or conquer 1 Have cour
age now, let us fight and victory will be our lot.
Boston, April 24,
EUROPEAN ARRIVALS.
Since our last, the Galen, and Packet, have fur
nished our regular files of London papers to the
6th of March.
At the last dates, a report was predominant,
that Bonaparte had made another pacific proposi
tion to the British King ; and had prevailed on
Prussia to back it with a recommendation. There
was not any positive evidence of such an overture
had been made :—But the Ministerial papers de
clared, the interposition of Prussia would have but
little effect, as Prussia is considered too much un
der the influence of France ; and too little inter
ested in that due balance of power which alone
can render peace durable.
^rdm France we have nothing very important—
Great activity, it was said, prevailed in the Naval
Depots, in fitting squadrons for various expeditions.
The Emperor Napoleon was making preparations
for his journey into Italy ; though it was said, he
would previously visit the camp at Boulogne. The
talk of invading En,md was again in the months ,
of even grave and reverend Senators. The French
Financiers copy Mr. Pitt in their financial arrange
ments.—They have their Judgets-^their land tax
fiftoll tax, and door-anefauindow taxes.-=The
estimated expense of the year 1805, beside the con
tributions of tributary states, is about 28 millions'
sterling. The French funds were rising.
In England, the Premier appeared to move on
in one road, in one pace. An enormous loan of
23,500,0001. sterling had been effected, at less than
6 per cent, and with the utmost ease. In the con
tract therefor, Mr. Pitt expressly declared, that of
the sum wanted five millions would be for continen
tal uses—meaning thereby, a subsidy to foreign
powers. @ Notwithstanding the rumor of peace,
preparations for active and offensive war, were
making.—An expedition, of considerable strengtli
was in preparation ; which some contended was
bound to Portugal ; and others, that its object was
against some important Spanish settlements in
South-America.
The British garrison, at Gibraltar, weakened by
sickness, had been reinforced ; and no fears were
entertained, of any attack from the Spaniards ;
though it was said ah army was assembling at St.
Roch, to invest that fortress.
Another bill had been brought into the British
Parliament, for the abolition of the Slave Trade.—-
It was advocated by Messrs. Wilberforce, Bare
ham, Fox, and others ; and opposed by Gen. Tarle
ton, Gen. Gascoigne, and others ; when the ques
tion, shall the bill have a second reading, was neg
atived 77 to 79. The bill was therefore lost.
There is no truth in the report of the arrival of
a second French fleet, in the West-Indies. The
Rochefort squadron, we learn, by a short arrival
from St. Thomas', bad sailed from Martinico, for
the city of St. Domingo, to reinforce general Fer
rand's garrison. This is probable.
It is certain, that Rear-Admiral Cochrane Was
dispatched by Admiral Cornwallis to the West-In
dies, in search of the Rochefort squadron, in Feb
ruary last.—His force, according to Steele's List,
far March, was composed of the following ships,
Northumberland, 74 guns, Rr. Ad. Hon. A. Coch
rane, Capt. George Tobin ; Malta, 84 guns, Capt.
W. Granger ; Ajax, 74, Lord Viscount Garlifs ;
Colossus, 74, Capt. J. N. Morris ; Montague, 74,
Capt. R. W. Otway ; Repulse, 74, Hon. A. K.
Legge ; Terrible, 74, Lord H. Paulet ; and the E
gyptienne frigate, 40 guns, Hon, C. Elp. Fleming
—Admiral Cochrane touched at Madeira, and St.
Jago ; and was spoken, by an arrival in this port,
on the 30th March, in iat, 13,10 n, 48 ;—about three
= BY THE MAILS.
WEST-INDIA AFFAIRS.
days sail to windward df Barbadoes. The first
vessels from the West-Indies must bring accounts
of his arrival in those seas.—He lias no troops on
board ; —but it is probable he will seek Mihessis in
the harbour of Santa Domingo, if he should have
escaped from Fort-Royal.
Our accounts respecting the sailing of a British
squadron, in search of the Rochefort French fleet,
are now confirmed. Admiral Cochrane, whocom
mands the squadron, consisting of six ships of the
line, was spoke on the 30th March, in lat. 13, N.
48 E, steering for Martinique.
-Intelligence has been received at New-York,
via Baltimore, stating, that the British squadron
under command of Admiral Cochrane, had arrived
in the West Indies, and was blockading the French
fleet at Fort Royal, Martinique.
It has been confidently reported during the week
that Bonaparte has not remitted his efforts to fix
upon the British Cabinet the stigma of rejecting all
overtures to pacification, and persisting to continue
the war in spite of the willingness of France to o
pen a negociation for concluding -it. These intrigues
for pacification are very masterly political strata
gems, and have something in them of artifice and
cunning beyond even the usual stretch of the Cab
inet of St. Cloud. The Emperor ofthe French per
ceives the industry with which England is beating
up for allies in all parts of the Continent, and is de
sirous to forestall her in the market, not by con
verting the powers to whom she applies into neu
trals, or warlike auxiliaries for herself, but by in
fusing into them a prejudice against the cause of
England, and representing that there is noticing
which Great Britain and her allies can hope to con
quer by arms, which he is not willing to bestow
upon them by friendly negociation.
Whilst w£ therefore are hunting abroad for as
sistance to prosecute the war, the Emperor very
cunningly attacks us with confederacies to recom
mend and awe us into peace ; for upon whatever
motives he may desire it, we are persuaded his,
sincerest wish is peace. Not, indeed, that we woffd
insinuate any miraculous conversion of' his mind,
or that it is not occupied, as usual, with plans for
the subjugation ofthis country—that its destruction
does not, as usual, supply the vision of his morning
dreams, and compose him to his evening sleep ; but
that he finds it convenient to change his plan of at
tack, and revert^ to the more secure and tried
means of pacification.
Bonaparte has ever found peace the most favora
ble time of conquest, he then continues his destruc
tive progress unchecked and unobserved, and whilst
the rest of Europe is lulled in the slumber of inac
tion, and lays down it^head in confidence upon the
faith of treaties and guaranties, he spreads the net
of a relentless despotism around her, and destroys
her freedom and independence in the moment of
imagined security—
Excipit incautum, patriasque obtruncat ad aras.
Who but recollects the fearful interval between the
Peace of Amiens and the breaking out of the pre
sent war ? In that interval, Bonaparte obtained
more than by his success at Marengo, or that of his
rival, Moreau, at Hohenlinden. During that fatal
period, he established himself in the sovereignty of
France ; he established himself First Consul for
life, with the right of naming his successor ; he ex
tinguished the hopes of the Royalists by the form
whicli he gave to the new constitution ; he posses
sed himself of Italy and Switzerland ; he rivetted
the chains of Holland and Spain, and was prepar
ing to give a very formidable character to his mar
itime and colonial exertions.
We made war with him—and what has he done
since ? He has been crowned Emperor ! but this
has added nothing to his real power ; for so long as
he exercised dominion over the faculties of the
country, it was of little consequence what title he
should give himself.
It is thus evident that he hopes to do more by
peace than by war, and if we had suffered him to
give his own, interpretation of the word peace, he
would have kept terms with us as long as we liked
This is precisely the state of things which he de
sires; he wants us to recall our fleets into harbor,
to remit the mercantile obstructions of the sea, and
raise the siege of the coast ; for it cannot be dis
sembled that the severest mortification he has hith
erto experienced has been the extensive blockade
we haye undertaken of the whole line of coast from
Hamburgh to the Bay of Naples.
At present, if we are to believe the Members of
the Tribunate, and the representations of Talley
rand, the war with England is only thought effec
tive as waged against her finance. It has been
sufficiently proved how unlikely it is that any deficit
or disturbance in our finances will co-operate with
the views of Bonaparte. This hope he must give
up, and revert to his old stratagems of pacification,
which, if he can enforce by any means, his success,
though tardy, will be secure.
It is reported that our Secretary of Foreign Af
fairs has received a very important communica
tion from the Prussian Minister ; it is likewise re
ported that the King of Prussia has evinced a de
sire to second the negociation made by Bonaparte
for peace, and has recommended to our Cabinet a
reception of the overtures.
That the King of Prussia should endeavor to en
force these proposals, is not at all incredible, be
cause it is the object of Bonaparte to persuade all
the continental powers that he desires peace with
England, and Prussia is well known to be immedi
ately within the reach of his influence.
The King of Prussia has, doubtless, been con
sulted by the English Cabinet, on the means of re
trieving affairs on the Continent, and it is general
ly believed that his language held out no hopes of
his co-operation. Indeed when we talk of restor
ing the balance of power. We make a proposal to.
the continental States which they are not likely to
relish,& in which they cannot join ; for a restoration
of the destroyed balance would not fall heavily
upon France alone. Who has destroyed the bal
ance of Europe more than the King of Prussia, by
the partition of Poland ? Who more than the Em
peror of Russia, by the present possession of the
Republic of the Seven Isles, and abridgement of the
Ottoman consequence, which was so necessary for
a balance in the scale ? Who again, has destroyed
it more than Austria, by annihilating the Republic
ofVenice, and thus, instead of leaving Italy to bal-L
ance itself by the opposition of its own little Repub
lic and Kingdom, converting it into a kind of com
' monage to be shared amongst every kingdom who
could get possession.
When we talk, therefore of restoring the bal
ance of Europe, we hold a language equally unplea
sing to friends and foes, and amuse ourselves with
an impracticable theory.
All we can attempt are specific and defined pur
poses, such as the restoration of the independence
of Holland and Switzerland,& there conquest of the
Netherlands ; but these are plans in which Prus
sia has no interest; or, if she has any, can only have
one opposed to the claims ts Austria.
ADMIRAL COCHRANE'S SQUADRON.
NEW OVERTURES FOR PEACE.
It is very probable therefore, «at Prussl
recommend peace, because in fact, she has al%t a
detached interest from the quarrel. Prussia is a
new power ; the balance of power was never made
with any reference to her ; at the period when
that system was established, Prussia was never be
gotten or dreamt of ; ,ve may even venture to say
that she owes her present eminence to its perpet
ual infractions ; she has cribbed from one and con
quered from another, and lived upon the common
booty of all.
If Prussia, therefore, has joined to recommend
the overtures of Bonaparte, we can only say that it
is so far unpleasant as it makes us utterly despond
of all assistance from her, and, at the same time,
involves us in the disagreeable dilemma of sacrifi
cing the essential interests of the kingdom, or re^
jecting her proposal.
Our Ministers, therefore, have now a call upon
them for diplomatic dexterity, and Lord Mulgrave
will have as fair a field for his genius as he could
wish.
{Thefollowing, letter from a learned man and ad
mired English writer, contains mana useful re
marks, and may serve as a specimen of epistola
ry composition for the imitation of car youthful
readers.] [Minerva.
From the late Dr. Goldsmith, to a young gen
tleman who had formerly been his pupil.]
I HAVE thought it adviscable, my dear young
friend, to adopt this method of giving ray thoughts
to you on some subjects which I find myself not dis
posed to speak of in your presence. The reason of
this, you will yourself perceive in the course of read
ing this letter. It is disagreeable to most men, and
particularly so to me, to say any thing which has
the appearance of a disagreeable truth ; and, as
what 1 have now to say to you is entirely respecting
yourself, it is highly probable that, in some respect
or other, your view of things and mine may consid
erably differ.
In the various objects of knowledge which I had
the pleasure of seeing you study under my care, as
well as those whicli you have acquired under the
various teachers who have hitherto instructed you,
the most material branch of information which it
imports a human being to know, has been entirely o
verlooked ; I mean the knowledge of yourself.
There are indeed very few persons who possess at
once the capability and disposition to give you this
instruction. Your parents, who alone are perhaps
sufficiently acquainted with you for the purpose, are
usually disqualified for the task, by the very affec
tion and partiality which would prompt them to
undertake it. Your masters, who probably labour
under no such prejudices, have seldom either suffi- •
cient opportunities of knowing your character, or
are not so much interested in your welfare, as to
undertake an employment so unpleasant and labo
rious. You are yet too young and inexperienced to
perform this important office for yourself, or indeed
to be sensible of its very great consequence to your
happiness. The ardent hopes of extreme vanity
natural to early youth, blind you at once-to every
thing within and every thing without, and make
you see both yourself and the world in false colours.
This illusion, it is true, will gradually wear a^ay
as your reason measures and your experience'll
creases ; but the question is, What is to be done
in the mean time? Evidently there is no plan for you
to adopt, but to make use of the reason and experi
ence of those who are qualified to direct you.
Os this however I can assure you both from my
own experience and from the opinions of all those
whose opinions deserve to be valued, that if you
aim at any sort of eminence or respectability in the
eyes of the world or in those of your friends ; if
you have any ambition to be distinguished in your
future career for your virtues, or talents or accom
plishments, this selfknowledge of which I am speak
ing is above all things requisite. For how is your
moral character to be improved unless you knfy
what are the virtues and vices which your natural
disposition is calculated to foster, and what are the
passions which are most apt to govern you ? How
are you to attain eminence in any talent or pursuit,un
less you know in what particular way your powers
of mind best capacitate you for excelling ? It is
therefore my intention, in this letter, to offer you a
few hints on this most important subject.
When you come to look abroad into the world,
and to study the different characters of men, you
will find that the happiness ofan individi# depends
hot, as you would suppose, on the advantages offor
tune, but principally on the regulations of his own
mind. If you are able to secure tranquility within,
you will not be much annoyed by any disturbance
without. The great art of doing this consists in a
proper government of the passions. In taking care
that no propensity i$ suffered to acquire so much,
power over your mind, as to be the cause of immod
erate uneasiness; either in yourselves or others. I
insist particularly tn this point, ray dear young
friend, because if I am not greatly deceived, you are
yourself very much disposed by mature to two pas
sions, the most tormenting to the possessor, and the
most offensive to others, of any which afflict the
human race ; I mean pride and anger. Indeed
those two dispositions seem to be naturally connec
ted with each other ; for you haveprobably remark
ed, that most proud men are addicted to anger, and
that most passionate men are also proud. Be this
as it may, I can confidently assure you, that if an
attempt is not made to subdue those uneasy propen
sities now, when your temper is flexible and your
mind easy of impression, they Will most infallibly
prove the bang and torment of your whole life.
They will not &ly destroy all possibility of your
enjoying any happiness yourself but they .will pro
duce she same effect on those about you, and by that
means you will deprive yourself both of the respect
of others, and the approbation of your own heart ;
the only two sources from which can be derived any
substantial qpmfort or real enjoyment.
It is moreover a certain principle in morals, that
all the bad passions, but especially those of which
we are speaking, .defeat in all cases, their own pur
poses ; a position which appears quite evident on
the slightest examination. Fer what is the object
which the proud man has constantly in view ? It is
not to gain distinctions and respect, and considera
tion among mankind ? Now it is unfortunately ^he
nature of pride to aim at distinction, not by striving
to acquire such virtue and talents as would really en
title him to it, but by labouring to exalt himself above
his equals by little and degrading methods ; by en
deavouring, for example to outvie them in dress, or
shew or expence, or by affecting to look down with
haughty superciliousness on such as are inferiour to
himself only by some accidental advantages, for
which he is no way indebted to his merit. The
consequence of this, is that all mankind declare war
against him ; his inferiours, whom he affects to des
pise will hate him, and consequents will.exert
themselves to injury and depress hinff; and higsu
periors, whom he attempts to imitate will Ridicule
his absurd and unavailing efforts to invade what
they consider as their own peculiar province.
If it may with truth be said^ that a proud man
MISCELLANY.
O::::^