Virginia Argus — Richmond, Va., 1810-09-21 00:00:00, page 2

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RICHMOND,
FRIDAY. Ssptkmbkji 21, 1810.
Mxtract of a letter, from llrm. Lambert.
Esq. dated, Washington Ctfy, Sept.
4, iafo.
*l A singular phenomenon will take
place at Richmond, on the lfth Sep».
1811: the Sun will be annular ly and
very nearly centrally eclipsed by the
Moon, at 2h 5 l-2m p. m. ppparent or
solar time. What is meant by an an
nular ecltpse, is, that the apparent or
visible diameter of the Sun will on that
day, he larger than the Moon’s, and a
ring oflight will appear round the dark
body of the Moon (from which the
name or designation is derived) at all
places where the eclipse will be central
cr nearly so. In latitude 37° 35’ 44”
and longitude 77° 21* 25” west of
•Greenwich, "which is vei v neatly the
geographical position of Richmond, I
■make the eclipse to be central, when
th»* apparent time at Greenwich will
' he 7h 15m p. m. The centre of the
Moon’s shadow will pass from the N.
"West to the South East, and go off in
to thr Atlantic Ocean near Ocfacotk
inlet, in North Carolina. If the wea
\thir should prove favorable For obser
vation, this eclipse will afford one of
the best means for ascettaining the
longitude with precision, iu different
p ;rts of the United States. The be
^ ginning and end ought to be observed
with the greatest possible accuracy, by
a watch or clock beating or she win j
seconds, and the error of the v. atch for
apparent or solar time, should be care
fully ascertained by several sets of al
titudes of the Sun, taken with good
stx'onta or quaurants, the tormer be*
i::g preferable. No opportunity of^Ms
kind should be lost, whenever it hap
pens, for such means occur but seldom,
and a nobler and more important use
should be made of them than merely as
cbj<*ct3 of curiosity. The correct so
lar time of the beginning and end, is
all that is wanting for the calculation,
provided the latitude of the place shall
have been previously ascertained with
sulhcrsr.t accuracy.”.
TOR THE ARGUS.
A writer in the National Intelligen
cer of the I4’h inst. who subscribes
w I't&nhlin,” tells us that we are al
most daily struated with “the clam
or that ve are a degraded nation.”
XVt are sorry to see in that print a
•pert etual effort in on; way or mother
to reconcile us to any situation, how
ever dirginreful. It seems the fun
datrcrrtal argument at Washington,
that every thing happens for the best !
A pious reflection, certainly,* but
v b ch goes to unnerve *11 »xt:r ion, and
to make us a nation of Monks, or of
sham.philosophe rs.
What isitthni constitutes the char
ei^tir of a nation? Whr.t, but the wis
Wcm cf its counsels and the valor of
vats arms? Justice, doubtless, is an
vlttrihute of character of inestimable
value; but justice is general in its na
ture and not particular. A nation
must be just to itself as well as to o
thers ; else it does not act with jus
tice, hut with injustice. The fmt of
all duties in a government is justice to
i»s tun cit zenr. Because we suffer
all sorts of indigr ities ; because w»
are j Rtirndy resigred to evety kind
of outrage; are w-e. therefore, a lust
rat'.oo ? No. We suffer villainy to
ti t rnrh wirhcuf encfe vc.ring to check
ir, and fr y ’hat means forfeit all our
claims to the reputation of a juct na
tion.
Besides, what is simple justice,
W» hoot the power of enforcing it?
Ask the Judge who .presides on the
1 bench what would become of the
l law s arc) of his ov n dignity if it were
• not for the sheriff and the hosse comifa•
tvs ? Ncgcciations, treaties, all tlc
1 rive their v.due from the power which
tx rs:ico pads forih to maintain them.
What trani frctitr’on of power hav^vt
i given ? None, Volumes hove been
v lit cn | l>ut not even n iron hna been
armyed. The Militia are not even
organised.
a citwast is ’drawn between
selves ami other rations, and the
lPln spondent of the National Intelli
g rctr consoles himself wi h the idea
that 41 France is ruled by a monstrous
illffotimn,” and that 44 &rglaml is
weighed down by her foreign posses*
scon*.” 'l hi* is all idle gasconade. It
is »he despotism” of France tha
makes her powerful ; and it is the
44 foreign p sscsvons” of Frglandtbat
constitute t)<e of her empire.
J) s.olve ♦ l*v dripoiittin « I France,•find
she r* verts ;o her limits which existed
sjndci ^'he House ot Bourbon, or to
igWsjTMvl curta l liiitain
iieinn possessions, reduce her
tin ?.nd Ireland ulo.u, and
she would become almost contempt!,
bio.
The more “ monstrous” the despo
tism of France, the mere terrible will
she be to other states ; and the more
extensive the jurisdiction cf ErglanjJ,
the more with her present principles
of action, she is to be guarded against,
it is because England and France art
profligate that we would fort’lly our.
selves against them. The provident
shepherd always secures his fold when
the country is over run with wolves.
When the hawk is abroad the hen
shelters her brood : if our legislators
have not the wisdom of sound statsc.
men, why do they not follow the in
stinct ol birds and beasts ? The more
we hear of danger, as things go now,
the more we are soothed with a lullaby ;
and the correspondent of the National
Intelligencer performs his part with
vivacity in the “ Hush ! tny dear, lie
still and slumber !” He puts us in
mind of an old maid in an arm' charir,
who protests that the -wicked men are
so odious there is no bearing with
them.
It is not true that “ the glory of a
nation consists in the virtue which
characterises itVirtue is amiable,
but not glorious. We cannot alter the
nature of things. Imbecility will be
contemptible, let us be as virtuous as
we please; and the very blessings
which Franklin” boasts that we en
joy, must rely for' duration on the
measures taken for their security.
Perhaps we spend too much time
upon a writer, who does not appear to
understand the force ofh’i3 own words.
He tells us that we act magnanimously
because we do not redress our wrougs
—that we are the “ Queenof N cutrala,”
when we do not exercise n aincrlt- men '
tral right in perfection. Thi^reminds
U3 of the compliment paid to Major
Sturgeon by the lady, to whom (quoth
she) Alexander zoos a drum-boy l It
would do very w< H for irony, ii it wete
! uot certain that “ Franki n’* is serious;
but the print in w hich he appears, more
than the force of his own remarks, tn
jmltd him to notice; for the National
i Intelligencer eqjoys a certain reputati
on which will give currency, fora sea
son, to the moct silly notions.
From the New-VorlX Mercantile Adver.
ti$tY.
Joseph Gaits, juA. on whom the
proprietorship of t! )dNational Intelli
gencer has devolved, A a young man
of very respectable talents, whose pub
lic and private virtues have procured
for him the esteem of all whose good
opinion is of arty value. He was brought1
to this country from England by his
father 16 or 17 years ago, when a
mere infant before he could have im
b.bed any political prejudices, before
he could have formed any local attach
ments, and before the passions usually
begin to shew themselves. His father,
whose ardent love of liberty deprived
him of a fortune and made him an
exile, and against whose moral cha
racter calumny itself has not dared to
utter a syllable of reproach, has doubt
less educat'd him in his own princi
ples, and implanted in his heart a
I high regard for the country of his a
| doption, its laws and its government.!
j He has executed the office of stenogra
pher to the house of representatives,
during the tv/o last sessions, with
great ability, and with great credit;
and has exhibited, during the whole of
his editorial career, such feelings on
political subjects, wherein the honor
ft* i
ma tuuuuy LuntcrncU) as uc
came an American citizen, sensible ol
his rights, & not negligent of his duties.
To stigmatise such a person, with the
iharacter of an 44 English Renegado,”
as was impudently done in the Evtn>
ing Post of Monday, argues either a
total ignorarce of the man, or a mind
* Xircom lj Jaundiced by de pravity and
baseness of character.
[From the Trenton True Americas.]
The following curious circumstance* nre
cerutlru tons hy servers! respectable citi„
zrns of this county,, and published at their
request ;s=a
On the 3d of July last, as a number of
men were raking bay in a meadow be.
longing to Daniel Thatcher in ibe upper
p-irt of this county, they raked up a num
ber of Snake’s Egg*. Daniel F'elt, who
Was one of 'he company, tork up ; ae of
the ’‘gg*, and said be WvUhl swallow it
lor 25 cents. This being promised h»m,i
lie instantly swallowed it accordingly. In*
weal three quarters of an hour he begr.nl
to complain of feelirg sick, and wcr.t to I
the hoove, when he took sutcevaivt ly three !
pints ot warm water, a pint of sweet milk, j
156 drops of Antiffi'.nial wine, and a
spcrnlul of sweet oij-wno enable him to
thiow the egg off his so mach—hut in
vain. He continued to complain of gnaw,
ing nt his stonu’ch until the morning o»
the 27th Aug. when be vomited up a live
snake, believed to be a pilot, seven inches
loop 1 The snake died »oon after it was
!discharged,but is presetved in rum. Fils
j is of opinion there are »»a considerable
Ji.tt.uhcr” of snake* rot his stomach—an
this it rendered probable by the fact, that
thore c,,gs which v.ere broken open had,
tac’u six or fccvtn } ceng snakes i«u
Edward Si. Loe Livermore, esq.a
federal representative in Congress
from the district »n Massachusetts;
comprising Newburyport, has decliu- j
ed a re-election.
•rrima
We have concluded in this day’s 1
paper, the excellent Oration on Go- j
vernment, by our esteemed / young
friend William R. Roane. ■ ■ —It will
amply repay an attentive perusal*
FKOM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENT EH.
Not a day passes over our heads
that we are not almost stunned with
the clamor that ive are a dt graded na
tion ! There are those who, if we ap
preciate their motives by their actions,
think it criminal to defend the charac
ter and uphold the reputation of their
country. *2 hey vie with each other in
terms of reproach and obloquy - the
strife is not who shall do the highest
honor to the nation, but who shall
most liberally contribute to produce a
conviction that it is degraded.
If we are indeed degraded, it must
either be incur character rela-ivcly to
the world ; or it must be in the inter
nal administration of our affairs.
Are we at this day to be told that
our character, weighed in the balance
with that of ary other nation on earth,
would kick the beam ? Let us con
trast it with that of either of the two
great European nations, between
whom and ourselves comparisohs are
mo6t frequently drawn. In the result
of the comparison Americans will find
a motive for exultation rather than
self.de basement.
France, ruled by a monstrous des
notlsm. AWnllrtTO ir.tr cnrrr^aivplir anrl
rapidly <m its vortex the nations ol
continental Europe ; a stupendous Co
lossus, bestriding nearly one-fourth of j
the habitable world ; with one hand
beckoning neutral commerce into her
ports and with the other plundering it
without mercy for the support of im
perial splendor, thus setting at defiance
all the princ pies of right and justice
heretofore professed to be regarded a
mong nations ; with a military force
proportioned to the extent of her con
quered domain, yet trembling at the
influence of the pre-sand shackling it
and freedom in restrictive fetters—
I Does she aflord the briliant picture
with which oiir more humble destiny
|is invidiously contrasted?
Kngland, also under a monarchy,
weighed down by her foreign posses
sions—her extremities too weak for
her emaciated trunk to support: her
nobility and enormous hierarchy sport
ing in luxury and extravagance whilst
general bankruptcy stares them in the
face ; engaged in a warfare with her
deadly enemy, most humiliating, how
ever it may be dhguised— destined to1
see her every effort ingloriouly relin
quished or ending in defeat; burthen
ed with a national debt of eight hun
dred millions;the complaints or mur
murs of her distressed population
checked only by legions of foreign
mercenaries sufficiently numerous to
keep a people in awe ; and in this state
of unnatural and artificial strength in
sulting and plundering whom she can,
seeking no other justification than such
as necessity, the tyrant’s plea, affords
— Is this the glorious state of national
character or prosperity which our dis
contented politicians sign for ?
13 it in comparison with these nati
graded? The glory of a nation con
aists in the virtue which characterises
it, and ensures to it the good opinion
of wise and discerning men. Unless
it be acknowledged that justice and
freedom are degraded by a compari
son with violence and despotism, it
must be acknowledged that the United
States stand in the foremost rank of
nations, is there a man of wisdom or
discernment, who look3 fairly at the
thing, thit will not acknowledge that
we have reason to be grateful for the
fciiuaiicn in which we find ourselves,
when compared with any other nation
in the world? It may be saft-ly affirm
ed dial there is not at this moment a
nation in existence, t/ilh whom, tak
ing every thing into view, any consi
derable portiou of the people of tbit
country would agree to exchange situ
ation-’. We may covet the army of
France or the navy of Hritain~-But
do we want the one coupled pith the
monstrous military despotism which -
it supports j or the other with ilie isr»«, j
mense public debt and official profliga
cy appended to it? That which con
tributes to the splendor of Kurepe j
would not contribute to our happiness 1
—for f licity is not to be found tj the J
posses'iou of riches, armies or navies. I
/’ne true object of g vernment is at
tained, and our situation elevated in
comparison with that of oth;r nations,
it nothing which thty have and we
want could contribute to our happi
ness.
On.the other hand America e*hi
bits to the world the spectacle of a na
tloft nv.gr»an» no isly actirg according
to the precepts of justice, uninfluenced
by the contagion of example. Is it no
thing to our credit that the TJ. States
alone are neural amid the warring
strife of all Christendom ; that she alone
has had the firmoess, as far as in her
power, to keen aloof from a contest in
which Europe has been shaken to iis
centre? If even the principles of
national justice are again Regarded,
m iugre tile gloomy predictions of the
prophets of this day, the United States
will be hailed with gratitude and res
pect as the Queen ol Neutr.ds,
We arc not then a d graded people.
What though it were true, as we are
told, that France frowns and Britain
sneers at our neutaality. Qf what
value are the frowns or sneers of
those who confessed, on the plea of
necessity, disregard for every principle
of honesty or justice? Their friend*
ship or esteem, ruled as they are by
principles the reverse of those which
characterise a great or just people, can j
be of no value.
Instead, then, of launching forth in
to a sea of undefined theory in search
of Utopian objects, let us learn to res*1
pect ourselves. We must do that be- j
fore we can expect to secure the res.
pect of others.
FRANKLIN.
Washington, Sept, 5, 18 io.
Boston, Sent. 12.
f ROM THE PATRIOT.
AN APOLOGY.
Since the publication of Mr. Ers
kine’s letters, the public cry has been
loud and unceasing against Mr. Galla
nu. x imve paiu some attention 10 me
charges brought against him, but do not
see the bearing ot these cha-geB upon
him exclusively. Did our constituti
on contemplate any thing like a British
minister, I should most heartily rejoice
in finding the man on whom might
shoulder our disgrace and make nim
the scape-goat ot our resentment, tvtn
at the expense of his sacrifice ; for it
is better that on should he sacrificed
than that a whole people should perish.
But our constitution knows but one
responsible person iti the administrati
on—The President. The root of the
evil lies either in the ■constitution itself
or in a bad precedent which has grov.n
up under it. A manifest deviation
from its letter, and as i believe from its
spirit, began und* r the administration
of our first president.
Whether it were the modesty of ge
neral Washington, or the insinuating
art3, intrusive impudence, or selLGat
tered vanity of others-—or all together,
that gathered round him a board of
Cabinet Council, unknown to the con
stitution and without responsibility ip
the people-—these are points which I
will not discuss in detail. But the pi ac
tice which was introduced under him,
and has since been pursued, certainly
involves ptiuciples and facta of the ut- ,
most importance to the nation.
The practice, good or bad, put the
first President of the U. S. in peiticoats
during a gieat portion oi his ostensible
administration, and encumbered hin
successor with enough of privy coun
cil from St. James* to have perplexed
the wisdom of Solomon and exhausted j
the patience of Job. This charm w as j
broken by hi3 successor, the first mo- j
ment that presented an opportunity, 1
without hazaidincr the deenest nation, i
al interests.
I: would havebeen well had Mr Jeffer
son pursued the high road pointed out
to him by the constitution, especially
as it had been cleared of its encumber
ing nuisances by his predecessor. Per
haps, however, he found it necessary
to have masters of ceremony at the
hack stairs.
If ever there was a ti me which (more
than another,) requit ed both the rulers
and ruled of America, to recur to the
first principles of their independence, I
which breathed the spirit—and of their j
constitution—which gave the form of I
a nation j and to look back with an im-,
partial eye lor the great purpose of pro- (
fiting both by the wisdom and the er
rors of former times--lh.it tira£ has now
arrived.
Mr. G*s informal error, if an error
he has committed, merely by indulging
In a free conversation with a foreign
miuister on the subject of his embassy, j
lias precedents under each preceding
administration. In substance he cer
tainly partakes deeply of what Mr. £.
calls, the cold ungiacious manner in
which our rights have been conceded.
But let it be remembered that no admi
nistration under our free and admira
ble constitution ever maintained the
rights of the nation and its citizens,
with dignity, energy,or ar.y thing short
of disgrace, unless supported by the u
aion and energy of
THE FEOPLE.
MORE FALLING OFF.
Messrs. William Steelman, and Ja
bez Upham have resigned their scats
’o the present tangress ; ard Edward
St* Loe Livermore declines a re-elec
tion to the ntx'. All Federalists. ,
■ « ■■■ ■■■!■ \
Kkw.Yohs. Sept. 14.
MERINO SHEEP.
Last evening arrived at this port, the
ship Broker, from Ayamonte, and the
•*rig Adamant, from Lisbon, with 2TO
Merino Sh“ep. The Broker lost K>4,
and the Adamant 40, on their pus
sage.
We are indebted to Captain Pren
dergast, of the ship Ann, for the fol
lowing statement:—.
44 The ship Sally, captain Scott, of
Boston, wa* taken up by Geueral Ar m
strong in April last, to fcor.vev him Sc
his family home ; and sov certain was
the General of getting the S lly, tnae
he entered into a written agreement
with Mr. S. V. S. Wilder at Paris for
the ship. - -—I saw a copy of the agree
ment ; the substance of which w<js that
the ship was to proceed fro.n St. Se
bastians, where she lay sequestered, to
B >rde tux, there to take the General
and suite on board. Mr. Ridgeway,
line American Consul at Antwerp, and
his family, were also to embark in the
Sullv. The captain relied so firmly on
the agree .tent, that he kept. all his
crew on board; nor was it until a few
days previous to the Ann’s sailing that
’ e knew his Gte. All the sequestered
vessels, the Sally excepted, were sene
from St. Sttba^tians to Bayonne. She
wa l; It, expecting daily a permission
to go to Bordeaux; when an order was
received for the Saly to go to Bayonne.’
A few days after her arrival there, the
captain received a letter from Mr.
Wilder, informing him that the Gen.
1 - • It »
UITLIIUCU leaving L'MUIC lUCSC SlJt.
months ; and that the agreement must
he considered as void.
M The order for preventing all fo
reigners front leaving the country
without special permission from the
minister of police at Paris created
much uneasiness amongst the Ameri
: cans. The reason for its being issued
was reported to be in consequence of
fire having been set to the palace dur
ing the late fetes, by which the lives
of the imperial family were endanger
ed ; but tnis story obtained little or no
credit.
41 William D, Patterson, E«q. the
American Consul at Nantes, received
a na e from the French G ivei-nmcut,
informing him that he was no louger
recognised in that capacity.”
Nkw-York, Sept. 13.
LATEST FRO Vi PORTUGAL.
Last evening arrived at this port tha
hrig Krck'ano^ King, in 37 days from Lis
bon with 130 VJertno Sheep. Capt. King
sailed from L sbon on rhe 8th of August^
and informs that nothing new had occur.,
red—No general battle had beau fought^
and all was quiet in Lisi>on*r—A British
Colonel had been kil-d in a Skirmish with,
the French.
Admiral Keates arrived at Cadiz on thw
27th of July to take the command of iho
English wnich consists of 8 ships of
the line, 4 frigates, 6 gun.brigs, 4 bumbo,
ketches, a nu.nb ’r of gun-boats, and 40 or
50 transports. The Spanish naval force
there consisted of 6 sail of the line, 4 iri*
gates, and* 3 prison ships.
The price of Spanish wool in England
is 15s per ib. It takes 2 lbs. of wool to
make a yard of cloth -=nhe .price of the
cloth is 38s per yard=8s only for profit, aod
the expence of manu acturemg.
Pni^AUELPHiA, Sept. 15.
LATEST FROM LISBON.
Capt. Lack, of the s hr. Daphne, arri
ved last evening from Lisbon, which he
left on the 11th August, report# that ru*
action had occurred since the affair
between gcncr .l Crawford ant! general
Lot son. A general action was expected
on the lSth, being the birth fifty of Bona
parte, who had given positive orders to
Madsen a to he in Lisuon by the 30:.h Au*/'
gust, and be crowned king of Portugal,
ANOTHER DECREE.
We are indebted to a friend for a copy of
the following Frtuch deer*’*, received
in tiiis city from a gentleman of charac
ter and iutelligeBCe.!=U S Gazr
Decree of July 5, 1810 —Th rly Ameri
can vessel* may import into France cot
tons, fish oil, die wood, salt fish, cod fiib,
skin# and furs:
They may 'Xpirt wine, brandy, silk,
linen, cloth, jewels and other produce of
ouf manutacturcs.
They cannot sail from any other pore
than Charleston and New York, and must
bring a Gazette of the day of their depar*
ture^ that is, ho American Gazette, be
sides a cemhcate of ?he origin of the pro
duce, from the French consul, in winch r
thrre will be a sentence in cypher.
The French merchants who send' fir
these Americans must §r** ve that they are
in partnership with the heads of (he manii.
tacturcrs ot Paris, Rotten and other cities.
Baltimore, Sept. 18.
The premium of a million ol Lane*
i offered by Bonapart, to the -constructor
of the best machine for spinning f) ix,
: has been claimed by a mechanic at
Aug*hurg, named John Frederick
Ueinle. This*machine is a sell opcr«
atingoue.