The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-12-06 00:00:00, page 2

irnmmmmw,. i» ' m ■
jpasscs without deserters orprisonet s coming
fn.
Every thing remains tranquil in the north
of Portugal, according to the las; despatches
that I have received.
My last intelligence from Cadiz is to the
4th inst.
1 have the honor to be. &c.
WELLINGTON.
■£/. Quarters, at Prro negro, 20.7i October,
1810.
His Excellency
Don Miguel Pereira Forjaz.
Oct. 30.—The enemy continue to front our
line, with the exception of Loison’s division.
Vrhich has advanced towards Thomar ; their
object is probably to reconnoitre, and to pro.
cure provisions, of which the army of Mas
sena is in great need. To supply the almost
entire want of flour, they make use ot corn
in the following manner-They boil ii in
the grain, or pounded as well as they can,
and when boiled until it is sof.;*'"d, they
make a kind of cake, which, even without
salt, and without leuvening it, they throw in
Xo the fire, or into ovens, as may he most
convenient, and then eat it. Miserable mode
•f subsisting * The cattle which could not
wholly be taken away, although the large
droves which pastured on the banks rf the
Tagus were sent to the southward, are now
Consumed, and there is in this resnect an
extreme scarcity-The inhabitants of the
central country situated between the two
roads of the Tagus, and the sea coast, did
not put their cattle within the line, perhaps
because they erroneously supposed that the
enemv would not advance so far as the Sierra
'tie Monte Junto ; but their quantity was not
great, and the enemy’s army consumed what
there was in the first 15 days of their staylin
'our vicinity.
A part of ottr troops, which left Coimbra,
entered Ob'.dos ; and in that quarter and on
tiic’side of Hamalhal, whither some British
cavalryUavegone.it is impossible for the
enemy to make excursions, or procure pro
visions. In a word they are reduced to
subsist on what is afforded by the lands
along the Tagus, from Villafranca to Tho
mar.
It is for this reason that th~ enemy have
•attempted several times to pass to the
Southward of the Tagus but always without
success.
Extract of a letter from Lisbon, dated Oc
tober 30.
“ Our political situation is very critical, as
the enemy are but 6 leagues from us. Strong
hopes are nevertheless entertained that he
oaunot penetrate further. A battle is nm
r.icntly expected, which will for a timede.
ride the fate of Portugal. In all the affairs
of out-posts and skirmishing, the Earl of Bu
$aco, (late Lord Wellington) has so far deci
dedly gained the advantage, and inspired the
Seoplc with great confidence of his ability to
eep the enemy at bay.”
'f.xtraci rf a letter fro-n a respectable gen
tleman in Lisbon to another in Philadel
phia, dated
Lisbon, Oct. 30, 1810.
*• Soon after I wrote to you on the 4;h
•and 6th insr. an embargo was laid on all the
shipping indiscriminately, until it could be
ascertained that the British and Portuguese
vessels were adequate to receive all those and
their property, who nrvght be desirous of
leaving the country in case an evacuation
should be found to be indispensible, as Lord
Wellington was then retreating, and Masse -
na following by forced marches, until both
armies came within six or seven leagues of
this city, where they still remain within
sight of each ether. VVe had.hewevcr yes
terd.iy an official account that Gen. Loisou
had fallen back with his division as far as
Thoinar, and people begin now to be appre
hensive that the Freudi will get off without
a general nction By every account it ap.
pears it at the French aimy connot exceed
55 to 60 COO men. and the combined army
under Lord Wellington is estimated at 90,
000 The latter has chosen his ground, and
T.lassena has been fortifying himself within
sight, and I am told in a very strong positi
on but in great distress for provisions. The
combined army is well supplied with every
thing from hence ; you, therefore, may sup
pose, what an immensity of mules, waggrns,
&r. are constantly on the road, i have been
<*ut twice to head quarters, and found the
roads sothrong, that I had sometimes diffi .
culty in passing. I was fortunate enough to
get a billet and was well lodged, which some
of n y ft iends who went out of curiosity could
not brag of.”
(* rom the Philad. Coffee House Looks. J
ANOTHER LETTER DATED
'* Lisbon, Oct. 31, 1810.
“ The French arc within a league or
two of this city, and every thing is in confu
sion.”
Nj w.York, Nov. 28.
From l.inbon.—Arrived this forenoon
the ship Mount Hope, Breese, in 30 days
from Lisbon, will! Spanish wool and GOO
Merino sheep. The Mount Hope had 1000
on board when she sailed, but lost 400 on
the passage. From general Derby, pas
senger and owner of said ship, we have re
ceived the following:—
We left the Tagus on the ifth of Octo
ber ; the accounts Iicing from (he city of
Lisbon to the evening of the 2Gih, at which
time, alt the shipping, strangers as well as
Portuguese, were under an embargo, and
order* d to reserve a fourth pan of their ves
sels for the accommodation of passengers
and effects, tire freight and passage money
to be paid by government, as they were in
expectation of a battle that would decide
the fate of Portugal. The embargo had
been on from the 7ih of Oct. General I)cr-,
by obtained permission for the ship Mount
Hope to sail, on condition of her taking 15
passengers to the Western Inlands. Lord
Wellington, after the battl_- of the 27th
F*pt. on the he:ghts near Coimbra, thought
proper to retreat lohis inner lines, in order
tt» hr prepared tor the defence of Lisbon —
On his quitting Coimbra and Figuera, all
Ihe army stores that could not he removed
were destroyed, and the inhabitants order
ed to d* s;roy such provisions as could hot be
carried away, and to drive off their cntle
This retreat wnsefTrcted but with very lit
tie loss. In a f.-w nays the French had ad
duced and to. k their situation in fiont o'
»v- British lines, occupying Villa Franca on
e Tagus, trotr thn»f.e to the sea, about
j t ■•!«•*. The ling, s i lint is from Alver*
S.tbrr.l Kuna ike. to the sea, hot (hog
munication with Ptniche, a Pres
, let* a is m ide. very s rong, as is alsc
v i le British life of dcMnCe. During
* r 'i«.nt fro > l'« iob a, the Frccbge.
with his aid, v.erc taken pn
soners by the British horse, they being out
in reconnoitring The British gun boats
annoyed the French at Villa Franca. A
shot from one of them had taken off the
head of a French general, while recoanoi
tering. Nothing of importance had occur
red in the lines since the arrival of the
French, though it was said that gen. Mas
sena had promised his soldiers three days
plunder, should he succeed in getting into
Lisbon. At the bai'le of Coimbra, the
Ficnch made an attack with nineteen thou
sand men on the left of the British being
pi iucipally Portuguese troops with British
officers, and only ten British regiments;
but they were repulsed with heavy loss.—
I 1 he English estimate their loss with the
Portuguese lo be about 2000 that of the 1
French 5000. in killed, wounded and pri
soners. After the French got possession of
Coimbra, they made it a deposit of their
sick, wounded. &c Col. Trant. taking j
advantage o* this circumstance, and having
the command of 20.000 men, principally ;
militia, in the neighborhood of Oporto, ad |
vanced rapidly and icgained possession of
Coimbra and Figuera, making prisoners of
about 5000 Frenchmen, who were sent to
Lisbon ; a part of them had arrived at Lis
bon and were embarking for England—Col.
Trant then took measures to obstruct the
retreat of the French as far as Leira. It
was also stated that other bodies of militia
were in the rear of the French. The trans
ports had all their sails bent and some in
quietude in the city lest the French might
cross the river at Abranca, and come down
on the opposite side and annoy the shipping.
Just before leaving Lisbon, information was
received that the patriots in Spain had re
captured Seville, with four regimeuts be
longing teethe French, two of them Ger
man and two of Spanish, enlisted under Jo
seph Bonaparte. Th*> Cortes had also for
bid the son of the Duke of Orleans assum
ing any command, and had ordered him to
quit Spain immediately.
Extract of a letter from Copenhagen,dated
October 9.
“ A French Consul passed through this
city last Sunday, on his way to Gottenburg,
and it is expected that some alterations
will take place in Sweden, in the commer
cial way. in consequence. Bernadotte, the
newly elected Crown Prince of Sweden, is
hourly expected here, on his way to that
country.”
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in
dotrniburg to hit correspondent in Z?o«
ton dated October 11.
A French Minister arrived here on the
9th, appointed by the Emperor. It is ex
I pectrd some alterations will take place re
I spotting Amei ican property—the prevail
ing opinion, however, is, that it will be safe
through the winter.
^Domestic.
Washington, November 29*
Our Navy, although small, is actively use
ful. We have heard, with great pleasure,
! ot many instances of truly laudable conduct
1 on the part of our navy officers, and of the
effectual assistance they have afforded to our
merchant vessels in distress.
The active exertions of Commodore Rod
gets, in assisting several merchant vessels
in the harbor of New York, during the late
gale ot wind, are already known. But for
the assistance afforded them by theCommo i
dore, it is said several of them would have
been inevitably lost.
The following letter addressed to Oliver
//. Perry, a lieut. in the Navy, command,
ing the U. S. schooner the Revenge, will,
it is hoped, afford pleasure to our readers,
j JYat. Int.
Savannah, Aug. 10. 1810.
I SIR.
The Ship Diana of Wiscasset having
1 arrived at this place in safety, and sailed
| again upon her destined voyage, we avail
ourselves of the opportunity to inform you
thereof, and to tender to yourself and to the
gentlemen of the squadron in the river St.
Mary’s, under your command while there,
in behalf of ourselves and of Messrs. Moses
Carlton, jr and Abiel Wood, jr. owners of
said shin, our and their warmest thanks for
the zeal and anxiety manifesiedby you and
them for the honor and prosperity of the
American flag, evinced in the case of that
ship. And we particularly request that
this our letter of thanks for the services
rendered on that occasion, may make a part
of your despatches to the Secretary of the
Navy, as an evidence of the high sense we
entertain ot the readiness evinced to protect
the trade and commerce of the country :
We should feel a delicacy in requesting you
‘ to transmit this to the Navy Department,
, were you alone the subject of it ; but we
trust you will not permit your delicacy to
wit bold it, since it is intended not only as a
mark of respect to yourself, but to Lieut.
1 Hoyt, to whom we feel much indebted, and
to all the other officers whom you had the
goodness to permit to aid in restoring that
ship to the honor of th* American flag.
We cannot close this letter of thanks with
j out availing ourselves of the opportunity to
! express our admiration of the firmness and
decision, properly tempered with modera
tion, evinced by you, when it seemed pro
vable, from the reports in circulation, that
I a hostile course might have been adopted
[ against the Diana, then under your prmecti
on, (reports which, though then credited,
it now appear® were ill founded) and of the
complete state of preparation, witnessed by
j the writer of this, in which you constantly
held yourself to rppel any attack upon the
sovereignty of the U. S.
We remain, sir,
With great respect,
Vt Your obedient srivants,
SAM. & CI1. H.OWAND.
O IT. Perry, Esq.
Of the U. b. bch’r Revenge.
Washington, Dec. 1.
With regard to the course that is likely
to be pursued in resptet to onr foreign con
cents, it would be unadvised to speak with
confidence until *lhe light shall be shed upon
them which usually flows from the commu
nications of the Executive. The informa
tion, either negative or positive* recently
received from England, must serve in n
great degree to shape the course most fit to
he pursued. The government in all its dc
partments, riels in the public confidence, and
more firmly consolidated than perhaps at
any former period, will be vigorously supj
ported by the opinion or the arm of the peo-j
pie, accordingly as one or both shall be re. j
quit i d. AteasUret of nerve are unqnesti
j otiably locked for, and will be universally
j tailed with joy. And if such a atauc of1
things stall exist as to catl for them, they i
will have the excellent effect of proving the
unanimity of the people, or of drawing a
line between the true friends and enemies of
their country.
Other topics of vast magnitude will occupy
the attention of Congress, whose sittings,
considering the short time allotted, cannot
tail to be highly interesting.
From the present state of that part of the
Territory of the U. S. included within the
limits ot the district of country known by the
general appellation of West Florida, arise
considerations of some importance, though
perhaps not requiring any immediate act of
the legislature. The interest which all our
readers doubtless feel on the subject of our
South Western frontier, will make them
look with anxiety for the information on this
head, which the communications from the j
Executive may be expee'ed to present.
Whether the charier of the Bank of the
U S shall be renewed, or whether a Nati_
onal Bank on a different plan shall be esta..
blished. will present a subject for solemn
consideration; a subject, which, on a close
inspection, will be discovered to involve all
the monied, commercial, agricultural and
manufacturing interests of the nation.
But, towering above all other topics, we
hope to see that respecting internal
improvements receiving the early, live
ly and uuremitted attention of the Legis.
lature.
On every other point, much doubt and
darkness hang ; on this all is luminous.
Be our foreign course what it may, the
great improvements of the country should
be pushed with equal zeal. If our foreign
relations are unembarrassed, we shall en
joy the amplest means of promoting the per_
manent interests of the nation ; and if they
are embroiled, we shall have to seek in their
promotion an indemnity for our foreign pri
vations. If we remain at peace, we shall
enjoy the blessings of plenty and comfort,
furnished us by teeming fields and good
roads and canals; if we arc driven into war,
we shall discover the competency of our in
ternal resources lo wage it with effect against
our foes.—Aur. Int.
Mew-Yqrk, November 27.
PATRIOTISM OF AMERICAN MILITIA.
The 25th of November, 1783. is an inre
resting epoch rn the annals of our coun
try. On that day. the last oj the merce
nary troops oj Britain, abandoned our
shores by evacuating the City of \. York*
This interesting event, has always been
celebrated by our fellow citizens generally,
in a manner suitable to the occasion. Yes
terday appointed for celebrating the 27th
anniversary of this important eera, the se
vcral military corps oj this city assembled
at an early hour to perform their accus
tomed duty ; but in consequence of the
very unfavorable state of the weather the
soldiers were dismissed without being
marched from their places of muster, ex
cepting the patriotic batlallion of Repub
lican Greens, commanded by Major Fran
cis M’Clurc. This corps marched out of
the Park to the from of Mechanic Hall,
there they complimented that distinguished
citizen of America, General Armstrong,
by performing the standing and marching
salute in a true military style ; after which
they marched to the battery, where they
fired a feu de joy, had yankee doodle plau
ed by their excellent volunteer band, and
gave three cheers in honor of the day.
Pub. Adv.
A letter from Gotrenburg advises that
the King of Denmark was about to issue
a Decree allowing the capture of all ves
sels. having on board French Certificates
oj Gtigln.
FROM THE BALTIMORE AMERICAN. ‘
COM MUNICH TIO \.
The Federal Republican of Saturday last,
contains some observations on Dr. Logan’s
late visit to England, in which he is stated
to have gone at the special instance of the
President, and to have carried with him an
indemnity from this guvei nment to shield
him against the operation of the law passed •
on the 30th January, 1799, subjecting Ame
rican citizens to fine and imprisonment for
interfering without authority from the exe
cutive with foreign governments.
The writer of this article, though wdl
acquainted with Dr. Logan, and applauds,
as much as any body, the honorable and hu
mane motives which induced him to form &
execute the intention of using his best ef
forts to restore harmony between his in
jured country and the nations ot Europe;
of whose disinterested patriotism many
proofs have been afforded, but it is confi
dently believed that lie never did communi
cate to the President his intention of going
to England on public business, or receive
any other document from the government
beyond a passport which every citizen of
the United States is entitled to. It is said,
and believed that I)r L. informed the Se
cretary of State of his intention of going to
England, and offsred to take charge of any
commands that the government might have
for their minister there; and that a dispatch
was sent to his care, as it would have been
by any other respectable passenger. It is
admitted that Dr. I.ogan has shewn to a few
of his most intimate friends, a letter from
the President to him, but it does not con
tain a single word on the subject of his going
to England, nor is there any evidence from
the letter itself of the President’s knowing
that he had any such intention.
JUSTICE.
The Fedcralitta of New York, .
. Ts‘
Thoae oj Philadelphia.
The Correspondent who lately com
municated to the editor, the information that
a number of Federal gen-lemcn had joined
with some others to compliment General
Armstrong with a public dinner, is happy
to find that that iiilnrmation was incorrect.
Having just seen a list ot the subscribers to
the dinner, lie can with great satisfaction
assure the editor that not the name ot a sin
gle federalist is to be found among them._
A. Y. liven. Post.
The gentlemen of this city, without res
pect to political distinction, contemplate
giving gen. Armstrong a public dinner, on
his arrival here.—Phil. Gaz.
orthy of remark. — We arc reqtics*
led to mention, that Mr, John Chase, of Sa
latoga, raised and gathered this Season, five
thousand five hundred and sixty .nine bush
tls Potatoe* ' \-—\Valerford Guz.
- ■ ... -i. . i. i i —
BLANKS,
OF EVERY nKJC'IIPTIOV,
FOE IS/ltrF AT TIIIH OFFICE. ,
inquirer.
^RICHMOND, DECEMBER 6 1810.
Virginia legislature.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES,
Tuesday, l)eceuil>er 4.
Tlift House met, at 12 o’clock.—The Speaker
proceeded to appoint commituvs of Privileges
uixl Elections, of Propositions and Grievances, of
Courts ol Justice, of Claims, of Finance, ami the
Armory Committee. The former clerks to the
four first committees were re-apppir tod, by the
House, without opposition.
On motion, the Rules of the last session were
adopted
The following Communication from the Cover
nor was then read.
On motion, the resolution for abolishing the of
fice ot the Sergeant at Arms, hud on the table
yeVerday, was taken up, ami curried, without
debate. Ayes 81, Noes 78.
Several petitions were presented and rettd—af
ler which, a motion was made to suspend tha*
rule of the House, which forbids the agitation of
the same subject fence, during the same session
—with a view of re-considering the Vote of the
House, on the resolution respecting the S. at A
Messrs. Preston (Rockbridge,) Monroe, Black
bum, fiollmg and P. Johnston, argued in favor of
it, and Mr. Mallory opposed it. The question,
was at length taken and carried by a majority of
one only. The question was then put a second
time on the original resolution, and lost, A. 6a N
95 So that the House lias decided, to retain
the office.
Yesterday, the House proceeded to the ap
point ment of Sergeant—9 candidates—Colonel
Journal*, of Albemarle, an old Revolutionary offi
cer, was elected on the 2d ballot-Various Pe
titions were read—and among the rest, one from
the Upper Country, requesting a new arrange
ment of the Chancery Courts
COMMUNICATION
From Governor I yler to both branches
oj the Virginia Legislature.
Richmond, Dec. 3rd, 1810.
The Honorable,
7'he Speaker, and
Gentlemen of the ——
i n/w ii, tne honor of addressing you
once mine in the character of the Kepre
sentatives of the People of Virginia: In which
high and responsible station 1 salute you.
' Another year has passed away without
any material alteration in our concerns with
foreign nations until lately. Jt is now pro.
claimed by the proper authority, that the
Emperor of France has repealed his retali.
atmg decrees, which have proved so injuri
ous to our neutral rights, falling equally se.
v» re on the innocent and fair tradei as on
ih< se who have degraded the character of
Americans by purchasing lictnet-s from G.
Britain lor the use of the ocean, that gteal
high way of all nations, which no power on
earth has a right to interdict. But while
we lament the hat'd late of some, wt* can.
not sympathize with those, who have fallen
victims justly to their own temerity. That
measut e however, which indiscriminately
involves the innocent with the guilty, can
never stand the scrutinizing eye of justice,
that sublime virtue, which being in itself
immutable, cannot vary its measures to suit
circumstances, but must he the rule by which
every act of man or nations is tested.—
Whenever this sacred standard is general,
ly departed from, power alone must govern
all things. A fatal and deplorable state of
human affairs !
On the part ot G. Britain no apology is l
now left lor a non-compliance with her pro j
mise to repeal her Oidersin Council (p>as. !
sed, as it is also said, by way of retaliation
for rh<» ...,i a5:i... j.„._> _
, ” * •••• •»•••%.• 4iAiiuii utui i n ucifou
ever r ranee should repeal the hitter_
I hese nations speak to the world as if no
peopie C' uld hear, see, feel or understand,
hut themselves : As if America had not been
continually groaning under oppressions of
every sort, and a never ceasing invasion < f
her national rights ever since her act of in
dependence : And as if adjudications, inr
pressments and paper blockades had not
been too notorious to leave any doubt with
respect to the firs: aggressor. But we have
lost sight ot our injuries in the unavailing
attempts at negociatinn. while thousands of
our suffering fellow citizens are imprisoned 1
and cut off lrotn their country and dearest
connections. Much have we. I fear, to an-'
swer for on this account. It is now to be
seen what we are to expect for our com-1
nrierce (and this must he little indeed, if we
|udge from the answergiven to our Minis
ter at St. James’s bv Lord Wellesle\,) since 1
it is only to be restored to what it was pi e ;
vious to the French decrees; leaving it, I sup- i
pose, still under the influence of the new
blockading system. All these abominable
encroachments on our rights might have
been adjusted long since, but for the facti
ous spirit so unfortunately prevailing among
many of our countrymen ;—a spirit which
has ltd to indiscriminate opposition to eve
ry wise and energetic measure, and has
gone a great way towards involving the U,
Siates in civil discord. This unfortunate
ly too clearly proved the baneful effects of
a disunion of sentiment-and a too great
love of money, the prevailing passion of the
tunes, which would saciifice the very inde.
pcndence of our country for a price —for
a mean and degraded commerce——a com
merce which never increases the w* alth ef
any nation without bringing into it a due
proportion of the vices of other countries.
It produces also what is called in polite cit
Cles, citizens of the world, the worst citi
zensin the world-who, having no attach
ment to any country, make themselves wings
to fly away with, from impending danger._
Commerce is certainly beneficial to society
in a secondary degree, but never should it
have the ascendancy over the agricultural
and manufacturing interests. These are our
primary objects Commerce also begets a
predilection for every thing foreign, and i«
too apt to engender contempt for things of
eur own. It permits an interfetence of fo
reigners with our government and its mea
sim s, which no country but ours ever will
Rufi r to that degree which we have expe
riciicerl. 1 hose characters, however, should
know that a day of retribution may come,
#ui(l he wliocannot honor onr principles be
cause a slave to prejudice, should at least
enjoy the blessings of our freedom and hos
pitably in silence, or choose a clime more
congenial to his feelings and sentiment*.
*' l ,lc Wor!tl »9 HU before him, where to
seek a place of rest.”
Such people fail not to intermeddle with
our country s affairs; contending for the
superiority of foreign governments & fashi
ons, and endeavoring to subject the very
people who foster them, to foreign domioi
on, while, nevertheless, they are suffered
with unexampled lenity and forbearance, to
go on increasing their wealth anti fictitious
a
consequence, under tlie protection of lav?*
for which they have no respect, but whicn
o»»ght to be regarded by them with pious af
fiCtion apd unbounded gratitude.
It is a consolation to reflect, that what we
havy so much regretted, the interruption of
Our commerce, will and must turn cssenti.
all* to our advantage, by directing our at
tention to domestic manufactures, ihe only
true ground upon which a nation can be in
dependent and happy «. tor can he be sai(l
to be truly independent, whose meat op /
clo tthing hang on other's favor f Y
Can we not be content to wear a coat of
our own manufacturing, though not so fine
ly and handsomely wrought * Or must it
be touched with the finger of a foreign ar.
t:st to make it pass current among the Beau,
ntonde?
It is lime to yield up the contemptible bu
siness of retailing foreign ideas ami senti
ments, of nhreds of goods and scri/ia of ha •
ter, to the extent which has hitherto exis
/Agun, jjv encouraging the spirit which is. ^
nfcw prevailing for internal improvements,
v;g : Canals, public roads arvj machine ties,
almost for every art, a great part of our 11.
hors will be applied that way, and ot c airs®
lessof our produce will be for ekportaMOn,
while a great part yvill find a ready roal
sumption within ourselves ; and thus bv j*
reciprocity ot services and supplies our
wealth will continue to increase, and our
citizens be diverted from seeking their for
tupes on a tempestuous sea. made more pe
rilous by the present state of the old world *
amt the strength of our governments will be
Consolidated, wliiqh after all are the freest
and happiest that ever did exist since th®.
hist institutions of civilized man, and may
truly be styled “ i he most stupendous 'no*,
numentsof human invention.” Hut aP these
Improvements must have for their foundai’
non a good system of education and a gene
i diffusion o( knowledge. The ereat ein®
ploynicnts of civil and military office*, must
of necessity be confided to some, while the •
rest of our citizens are engiged in their or*.
dma*y occupations. l'hese are important
tmsts, ami should be placed in wise and.
vutuous hands But h »w will a succession
ot such men be kept up without the aid of
^{jisiuuve patronage the very senti-,
inents as welt as services of each individtj
al belong »0 the public The sacred trust
ed superintending hi,d rightly directing U.osd*
sentiments by providing and maintaining a
wise* system of ins ruction, cannot be neg
lected without deservedly incurring the se
verest reproachesj , /
l he pi t s n- education of our country iy ■
ton superficial. The talents of our citi^
zens evaporate in long speeches, wherea*4 *
it is not the multitude of words, but the
se se expen sed by them, that marks the
m ,n of talents. It is nor ihe parade of self-,
conceit and affectation of genius whicu dis
plays 'he truly gn ar. man, or constitutes the,
U"t‘‘Ui citizen ; ou; the extensive informati
on, and sound judgment, together with cop
ied, discreet and moral conduct ; all whirl*
Can only be obtained from honest, learned
and skillful instructors of youth. F.»r want
of these the actual useful arts and sciences^
are too much neglected pmong us. and the
great trust ot the public happiness for a
gts to come, in this immensu republic de
plorably jeopardized.
Great indeed is that trust when we con
sider, that our American domain is rapidly*
expanding to so vast an extent and through
so many climes and widely separated regi
ons. Soon too, we may expect to see South.
America assume a station in the scale of
nations and become allies of live U. S_.
It will require all the efforts of genuis and
virtue to stand a the helm of our poli ical
veisel and conducr her safely through storm*
"‘,K*U i„«y arise to impede her progress_
. cm® !‘°L a/rtrrf of such S'eat men 4*
have filled the C hair of State— I: becomes
our duty, therefore, to cultivate and bring
into li e, such plants as discover a propensi
ty to blossom fairly and vigorously : nor
should we shrink from the undertaking up.
on the ground of expense, for what compa
rison would that bear with the advantage*
arising from a wise application of our funds
to the all-important event ? It would be a*
grains of mus ard seed with the starry regi
on, nr as a taper with the sun in Us m -ri~
dtan lustre. ' . /
Anotner great and irreresting object bef r© v
us is the opening our rivers, and improving &s
extending.their navigation to the remotest:
corners ot our State. No count tyr* furnish
ed with more natural advantages than out 's,
and yet how feeble are our effort* to advance
them compared with those of our Northern.
•.ster States--The trade of this stare ist
carried to Maryland and Pennsylvania bw
means of tbeir superior exertions -A
considerable revenue might he drawn flora
thc-e sources by the Commonwealth's be««
coining a partner in associations and cotapaw
nies for the purpose of promoting scheme*
ot improvements, which should he hmher
assisted where their funds arc .n dequate to
accomplish the obj ct in view. It is believ
ed also. that a con-, derable intercou: ;r would
take place be ween this state and .hose of
I ennessee and Kentucky, if they were met.
with a liberal policy.
The subject which I am now about to ani
madvert on is of the highest importance to
society ; and the interposition of the Legis
lature is indispensable.—How my ideas may
be appreciated by your Honorable body. i»
yet to be determined.
The jurisprudence of the state is certainly '
not in the most desirable situation ; par- ,
ticularly as to the Court of Appeals. —Tco t.-,
much delay in the .administration of justice,
is a great evil, which every dav’s experi- '
ence proves, and yet a too speedy course
ouid be injurious—•• summum jus summa
injuria: our habits and customs have mark -
ed out a middle path, a principle of motley
ration which ought not to be suddenly de
parted from.—Many seem to think that no
remedy can be found for the want of a regu
lar. uniform and sufficiently speedy course
of Justice—I differ widely from those who
think so. In the first place the Court of
Appeals ought to be augmented in the nutn
ber ofits Judges to add weight and dignity to
their decisions, and should not be employed
in sifting a cause to find the points in con
troversy - I hose points should appear na*
ked and clearly stated before them, so that
the law may be pronounced in a reasonable
time.— I here should no appeal be allowed
othat Court as of right-but on a *,otinn
lor a supersedeas or writ of error, let the.
Judge or Judges say whether a further con
sideration is necessary, and act accordingly.
—Secondly, the law should be amended and
entorced. which very wisely prohibits any
iawyer who was employed in the first in -
stance, from being concerned in any appeal
horn the county or district courts -This
provisi n has grown obsolete and has !|« n
overlooked by the courtr. From thisr-ust,
in a great degree, rbe Dpttyet fiat Iftgn