Virginia Argus — Richmond, Va., 1810-07-27 00:00:00, page 1

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V1IlTH*J A FREE P'ESS MAINTAINS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF TIIE PEOPLE. > fNo
11 ~**^*^7' - ■ - i.I — ' ■ ■ ■ * •' ( ■ — ■ -■ — ->Jr _ ^ * 1
- ^UMONDt—Pented (o» Tobsoav. and FE.DAYS.J By SAMUEL PLEASANTS, JuM,or, Pester to tub Commo.-wbaatu.
. [/W Hollar, Per Annum-Paid in Advance.^ FRIDAY, J U L T 27, 1810. ~ ^2 1-2 \
Gun Poivdery
Warranted of a Superior quality in Kegs
and Cannisters.
English Refined, in Casks and Kegs
Sale by D. J. BURR.
—WANTED—
A quantity of Willow wood for which a
liberal price will be paid. A negro lad
will be taken apprentice to the Cooper’s
trade. t f.
*T*HE OWNER of a hhd Tobacco laying j
in Deane’s Ware House and inspected I
in the name of Joseph Jennings as wlov
described is requested to come forwa/L&c
claim the 'same, otherwise it will besold
agreeable tq Law in that case made and
provided.
Deane’s No. 672. 1268. 168. 1100.
SIMS & GAULDIN.
Inspectors Deane’s W s.
July 28ib, 1810.
Thorough, bred Horses for Sale.
ON the 25th September next, at my
Plantation in the county of Fluvanna,
.. called Upper Brenco, will be offered for
Sale to the highest bidder, on a credit of,
12 months my stock, of
Blooded Horses,
consisting of two Stallions, one 6 ye^SA old
last spring and distinguished by his syft:es»
ful performances ou the turf—^the dfiter 3
years old, of high form and great beauty
several brood Mares, two very elegant
yearling Colts, and two Fillies—p.II of the
most approved crosses and genuine bloou
as will be shewn on the day of Sale by
authentic pedigrees in the possession of
JNO. H. COCKE.
N. B. About 40 head of sheep will al.
so be offered for sale a; the same time.
J. H. C.
wnm * T*—l.
UNPUBLISHED LETTERS
of Mr. Erskine, late British En
voy—^Concluded.
&No. 1(X
Dispacth from the Honorable David
Erskine to Mr. Secretary Canning,
dated Washington, 16th March* 1809
—received ISth April.
Sir,
Since the arrival in the Delaware
river on 10th inst. of the Ainer can
dispatch vessel the Union from Eng
land and France, I have had an in
terview with the President (Mr. Mad
ison) and the Secretary of State (Mr.
Robert Smith) who expressed their
sentiments to me very freely relative
to the intelligence which was bro’t by
that vessel.
The President observed, that the
alteration in his majesty’s Orders in
Council by the recent order which had
been communicated by you to Mr.
Pinkney, suspending u the operation
of the arts as to any duties on expor
tation granted by the said acts as far
as relates to articles being the growth,
nrndnrc.nr msniifariit nre of onu /-our.
try being in amity with his majesty,”
&c. did not in fact remove the objec
tions entertained by the United States
against the orders in council in anj
degree worthy of notice. That they
still violated the neutral rights of thh
country, as they made it necessary
for American ships to pass through
England, which was not only an in
fringement of the independence of
the United States, but was completely
destructive of their commerce, since
the American vessels were prohibited
from going to the continent after they
had "beon forced to touch in Eng
land.
He remarked also upon the circum
stance of Russia and Denmark being
comprehended in the operation of the
orders in council, which he said was
assuming a new principle, as the or
ders had been hitherto rested upon
the ground of a right of retaliation,
whereas Russia and Denmark have ne
ver issued any decree violating neu
tral rights. He complained severely
ol this, and went over the same argu
ment upon these poins which he had
made use ol while he was Secretar
^ot State, and seemed to be greatly dis*
appointed and vexed that no change iu
the relations ol the United States with
the belligerents seemed likely to take
place bclore the meeting of the new
Congress in May next, as he foresees
j the serious difficulties aud embarrass
mints in whicn the United States will
be then involved in determining upon
the course of conduct wnich it will be
^ CXV did^t to pursue, as it is univer
sity tnougut that the non-intertioursc
law cannot last longer than the next<
session of Congress, and it will become i
necessary at that time either tt> aban
don ail idea of resistance, or to deter
mine to adopt measures of hostility
against both belligerents, which could
not be carried in the last Congress and.
therefore are still less likely to be a
doptd in the new, which will consist
of a larger number of members averse
to such a desperate and unavailing
course.
The Secretary of State (Mr Robert
Smith) repeated the sentiments which
he had often expressed to me, when
Secretary of the Navy, of regret that
his majesty’s government seemed not
to believe that the. United States would
resist ' the decrees of France. He
thinks the correspondence between the
American minister at Prais (Gen
eral Armstrong) and the French go
vernment, prove the determination
of this government, not to submit to
them. He declared to me also that
he knows that war would have been
instantly declared against France, up
on Great Bi-itain’s relaxing her orders,
which he said were issued before the
United States had an opportunity of
ascertaining the illegal interpretation
which France meaut to put upon her
decrees; he added, that he was con
vinced that even now measures of ac
tuai hostility would be adopted against
France, without hesitation, should
Great Britain relax in her orders so as
to afford the United States an- opportu
nity of doing so with honor; but that
i- would be impossible that they should
single out France as an opponent, while
Great Britain contrary to her own de
clarations, enforced her orders before
any acquiescence ch the part of the U.
Slates in the French decrees had been
pioved.
He acknowledged that it might be
difficult to bring on a state of actual hos
tility between this country and Great
Britain upon the grounds of any sub
sisting differences, but that he was
desirous that an amicable understan
ding should prevail between the
two countries, which the present state
of their relations would entirely pre
vent.
He added, that he was afraid the ir
ritations which were likely to be pro
duced by capture under his majesty’s
orders in council mii\ht lead to serious
consequences, which he said he should
deprecate as he was unwilling to see
the United Slates thrown mto an alli
ance which he thought already two
powerful lor the interest of the world.
He did not pretend to entertain
any partiality towards England, but
considered that the interest of the
United States was the same at the pre
sent moment w ith that of Great Bri
tain.
These sentiments, as expressed to
me by Mr Robert Smith are, I be).eve,
very sincere. I have been much ac
quainted with him, and cannot I think
_• .. . . _
iuiov.a».tu in tuc upimon wnicri 1
have termed of his disposition and
feelings upon that subject.
Both the President and Secretary
of S.ate are I understand, much of
fended at the appointment of admiral
Berkley to a high command, pending
the serious complaint preferred against
aim by the United States ; they have
not mentioned the subject to me, as
no authentic account of the fact has
been yet received ; but I expect to
hear strong representations upon the
subject^ should it prove to be well foun
ded*
As I have already had the honor to
convey to you my sentiments upon the
subject of the non-intercourse law, in
several preceding numbers of my dis
patches, as also upon the general as
pect of affairs in this country, I will
not trouble you with any further re
marks, but beg leave to refer you to
the enclosed extract from my No. 12.
which was sent in his majesty’s pack
et with the mail of last month as it con*
Aains my opinion upon those topics,
which are unchanged.
I his dispatch, as also my Nos. 14
?.nd 15, will be carried to Kngland in
the American dispatch vessel Pacific,
which will sail from hence in a few
days with a messenger, Lieut. Head :
another vessel is going at the same
time to France, witn a messenger and
dispatches. Mr. Coles the private se
tretary of the late president, is to be
:he bearer of them.
(Inclosure referred to in No. lO.)
^Washington, 15th Feb. 1809.
As the ruling party perceive that
it would not be in their power to car*
ry the Eastern states along with them
in a war with Great Britain, on the
grounds of any sybsisting differences
between the two Countries, they hope
that the frequent captures of the ves
sels belongin g tgjthe Eastern states,
take place in con
sequence of his majesty^ orders id
council continuing in o^lfSkion, may
excite irritation i^> the ^ffflds of the
people of those states, and lqgl them
to take a part ii\fFthe next Congress
in any measures which might be poin^
ted against Great Britain.
1 continue to be firmly persuaded
that Mr Madison, who hajs now been
pronounced to be the next' President,
would most willingly se^e the first
opportunity of recommending • to the
next Congress to assert the neutral
rights against France, should his ma
jesty deem it to be just or expedient
to cause his orders in council to be
withdrawn in consequence of a deter
mination being evi Ted by the United
States not to submit to the aggressions
of France. And I conceive that it
is not at all improbable that he might
authorise Mr. Pinkney to make a com*
municati m to you to that efTec^, as he
has frequently in conversation said to
me, that no hesitation would be felt
in this country of entering upon hos
tilities with France, if she did not re
ca: her decrees, but he always added,
that it was impossible the U. States
eould take such a step while his in*,
jesty’s orders were in force, because
their justification could only be at
tempted upon the grounds that the U.
States had acquiesced in the decrees
of France, which he uniformly con
tends has never been the case.
It is evident to me that he will he
supported in this sentiment by his own
1 party in Congress, and in the county
i generally so far as to prevent his fed
jing himself compelled to single out
j France as an enepty, while his majes
I ty’s orders in council continued in
(force ; but I am perfectly confident
j that it would be impossible that they
j could bring on a war with England, un
■ less it should be occasioned, as I have
| before mentioned by an irritation pro*
j duced in the minds of the people ol
the Eastern states, by the losses which
I might be sustained by them in their
ships and commerce by captures under
his majetty’s orders.
The weight and influence of the
Eastern states has be^n sufficient to
• force the ruling party to abandon their
favorite system of Embargo, and that
| too without the “ painful alternative”
of President Jefferson of war being
sub tituted ; but I doubt extremely
how far they could compel the Con
gress and President into a war with
j France, unless the United States could
be called upon to assert its neutral
rights by the temporary removal oi
nis majesty s orders in council to give
them that opportunity.
It appears by the result of the state
of the votes tor President and Vice.
President which was declared in the
Senate yesterday, that Mr, Madisor
had 122 votes out of 17J, and that al
the votes, except three in the Southen
and Western states, were in his favor
besides Pennsylvania ; and that twe
thirds of the votes of the state of New
York were given to him. He had al.
so all the votes of Vermont, but tha
was in consequence of the votes being
given by the legislature of that state
which happened to be democratic
besides having nine out of twelve vote:
of the State of Maryland.
This vast majority would enabli
the President elect and his party tc
resist the solicitation of the four Eas
tern states, should they urge the nex
Congress to single out France as at
enemy, because the same power which
has proved incompetent to enforci
an illegal, oppressive and ruinous law
would still be sufficient to wiihstanc
a requisition to wags a war, which
however just, would not be likeb
to be attended with any profit or ad
vantage.
It is true that a non-intercourse lav
may be considered by the Hasten
States as very oojectionabie but as i
would be rather a nominal prohibitioi
than a rigorous enforcement, a rcsis
lance to i; would be less likely to b
I made, & of less importance if it should
rake place.
j .Jhe ultinriAite consequences of such
I differences and jealousies arising be
tween the Eastern St Southern states,
would inevitably tend to a dissolution
df the union, which has been for some
time talked of, & has of late, as I have
beard, been seriously contemplated
bv many of the leadiug people, in the
Eastern division.
I will not however trouble you with
any observations upon that important
topic at present, but confine myself‘to
the consequences of the measures a
bout t© be adopted in Congress, affect
ing bis majesty’s interest.
Whatever may be the motives of the
Congress for the passing a non-inter
course law with England and France,
I conceive that great advantages mav
be reaped from it by England, as she
has the command of the seas, and can
procure through neutrals any of the
produce of this country, besides the
immense quantity which will be bro’t
direct to Oreat Britain, under various
pretences ; whereas France will ob
tain but little, at a great expence and
r’s.", aud will only get that little in
consequence of the high prices in their
markets.
} This measure will operate in so par
tnl and discouraging a manner upon
the Eastern states, which are commer
cial, that it would not be submitted to
very long, and its effects in prevent
ing the introduction of British manu
factures WOUlil bf friflinrr •*a I
would be smuggled into the country
with the greatest facility, since the
people who alone could interfere with
effect, would encourage such a traffic
between his Majesty’s dominions in
Canada, and the adjarent territories of
the United States, and in various other
ways.
Another advantage arising to Great
Britain irom the non-intercourse law
would be, that the interdiction of snips
of war from entering the porta of the
United States would be general, in
stead of being directed solely against
his Majesty’s ships. The non-impor
tation law would be also general, and
the consequence would be, that his
Majesty’s subjects would get a great
quantity of goods into the Unite.:
Slates, but French subjects could not
introduce any.
Should his Majesty deem it pro
per to consider the non-intercourse
law in the light of a municipal regu
lation, which the United States had
a right to establish, aud not as a mea
sure of hostility, I am persuaded that
it would nut be in the power of any
party in this coun ry,even if they wish
ed it, to bring oa a war with Great
Britain.
(Signed)
D. M.ERSKINE.
mm :«H — ■
CALAMITIES OF WAR.
The subsequent extract presents an af.
fectu'g picture of the calamities of war
and should be read oy all those who are
apt to treat sue.”, horrors with levity.
Truly on this subject m iy it be said.
“ He jests at scars, who never felt a
wound.”
_ “ Soon after the arrival of Bennigsen at
i: SConigsberg, [in 18031 I received a letter
. Train a friend thereof which I send you an
, extract to give you who know noth ng ot
the horrors of war, some little idea of the
» miseries attending there dreadful scenes,
’ ** As soon as the roads were safe, my
curio*.ty prompted me to visit the memo,
rable scene of action at Eylau. Most ter.
. rible, indeed had the iron hand of war
stampied its baneful trace upon these u;t„
» tortnnate districts. Here the peaclul
, peasant, who reads no news.papers, noi
; knows even the name of Bonaparte, i
( scared from his quiet abode. both friend
and foe seem to have united to make him
leel to its full extent his wuefui iot—1 i.t
; Russians, who are encamped to the extern
, of 5 or 6 miles tound Kori’gsberg, to mak
them fires in this coni weather unroofeu
snd broke up the huts of all the neigh.
1 oourmg villages. Every kind of provision
f swept away ; and what made its los.
more modifying was, that live times a*
, much was wasted as was made proper us*
of. This naturally enraged all the pea.
• sants against the Russian), not consider* n>
I that these poor soldiers themselves weri
, hall dying with hunger. Nor were thO)C
, peasants near the French quarters more
fortunate ; for they also, without consi.
lering the wretched situation of these mi.
serahle people, looa whatever they could
nnd | and in passing Jassau, the rector o;
I which place had fled to Kontgsberg, they
l employed h..r who.e pious library to bon
vheir Kettles. l'ne rector’s sister, con.
rined by ttie R lieu mat ism, c<>iild not e».
cape. t>iie lay *«u a little g&rret.sBf:iotur
: oatmeal mixed with mulled show was be.
—g._aa8
fore her,and ttys for eight day*, hid been
her only sustenance. We g*ye her n.
®mall portion of our travelling stock and
joy and gratitude beamed through her tears. •
1 he nearer we came to Eylau, »he few
sr marks of devastation we found ; and
though there were no provisions *o be had
any Where, yet we saw at least human
faces ; for the other villages we passed
through were all deserted, nor had the
houses here been so much damaged, which
gave us some relief after the varioua
scenes of misery we hud. gone through.
In the totally desolate village of K'e-iisaua. '
gertion we once more found the terrific
picture of war, but misery, indigence and
distress, I first saw io the extreme atEy.
Uu itself. Parents were there already so
far reduced as to be forced to bury the.r
literally starved babes in their gardens.
Bread, meat, wme brandy, Salt or tobac.
«o, were no where to be found. Poor
emaciated, hollow eyed spectres were
craw ling about the streets covered with
rags like the most pitiable beggars. To
enter their houses on account of cue stench
of their dead bodies was scarcely possible
—and even my essence of vinegar was
not sufficient to defend me in their church
_»I never should have believed without
seeing it inyselt that human nature could
have borne such an excessive degree of
misery. The place had cruelly been g ven
up to plunder, in short, every thing was
ruined, den troy el, laid waste. Nut a door
nor a window nor a cupboard was remain,
mg. This indeed was the less extraurdu
nsry, when we consider that the town had
been twice in the possess on both of the
* reach and Kussuns, and thus, twice were
the streets streaming blood. The comba.
tants even followed each other into the
very houses. From the highest to tho
lowest oi the inhabitants they were all
robbed of every thing they possessed and
simple water, with, a scanty o fano*
mouldy bread, w.s all uiey had to keep
life together. Many died thro’ (ear, ma
ny from ill treatment and many were sick,
troin the painful recollection of the past,
“ Overpowered by such dreadful scenes
of calamity I deemed it even a relief .o ga
and com mplate the horrors of the field.
Howsoever mangled, mere 1 found many*
of my fellow creatures ; yc» these li.‘eles«
bod.es hau at least surmounted their suf.
feriugs ; but the unfortunate inhabitants
ot l'.ylau were yet languishing on towards
the more excruciating death of huuger^
This would certainly have been their dis*
mul lot, as the whole surrounding district
was equally bereft ot every mean ot sub*
distance, had tney not soon received fiow
fkonigsberg the most destraole relief and
refreshment, besides clothing, linnen, and
every necessary a.ttcle to repair ai d make
their dwellings tolerably comfortable.
Had I firsr v.vedthe field of battle, this
hideous, unusual sight which I hope nev*
er to see again, woulu have undouatedly
-hocked me more than it now did / af.er
having my mind so deepiy harrowed up
with the late dreadful scenes, i must re*
peat that the signt of the field, frightful :.s
it was, witn from 1 '2 to 15,03b Slaughtered
victims strewed before me, was yet a re*
liet. Here were fragments of drum*,
carts, horses, saddles, cloaks, nats, nur*
ness, b.oken inu kets, pistols, and otner
arms innumerable, all in contusion^ scat*
tered aaoui Russians, French and1 Pius*
sians, there all lay together. * It was is
truth a woeful sight.”
From the Boston Palladium, July 17
By capt. Hobcs, of the schr. Kegu
lator arrived yesterday from Hatilax,
we received papers to the 3d iujt.
All the regular troops at Halifax
have been ordered to Portug d. The
7th regiment had sailed, .<ud the 23d
was held in readiness lor embarkati
on.
1 he American ship Pigou, from
Philadelphia for Oldenburg, wiiose
detention has already been mentioned
in the papers, arrived at Halifax June
21. This we presume, is the ship al.
luded to in the letter received in town
yesterday.
DattoNj (OirroJ June 28.
The fo lowing melancholy occur
rence happened near Troy, Miami
county, on Sunday the 17th inst. A
ooy bet we :n nine and t-n years old,
the son of Mr. Joseph Bsed e, was
found in an elm tree, suspended by
the neck. It wus s uppojwd that ;n as
cend in* the tree, and a tempting to
force himself between the trunk and a
»ranch that grew almost perpendicular,
\e lost hit foot hold, and was ciught
iy the neck b tween ihe trunk of the
<ree and the branch. One of his arm*
'us confined, ar*l being thus unable to
extricate himself his own weight soon
dioakad him to death—Ihe chili’s
narents were at meeting about two
ailes off. His younger b others were
it the house, which was near; thsv
• card the noise and ran to the tree, ^
rom tiience to the meeting {htttbeforc
.he unhappy parents could come to his
relief, their child was no mure.
Printinc., in ad ir• various branene*,
neatly executed at the Argu* J i. ,B,