Virginia Argus — Richmond, Va., 1810-07-27 00:00:00, page 2

%m\$.
RICHMOND,
TUESDAY, July 2r, 1810.
The reader will fiud in this day’s
Argus n more detailed account of the
rencontre between the British brig of
warned the Vixen thuti appeared in our
last. As the Secretary of the Navy
has ordered lieut. Trippe round to
Washington, with the intention (as it
would seem) to subject his conduct to
n formal scrutiny, we shall be silent on
the subject, so far as it relates to that
officer. In relation lo the behaviour
of the British commander we will just
remark, for the benefit -of the federal
istsy that, much as is said of Bona
pane’s treatment of his vassal king
doms, it would be difficult to cite an ex
ample Vrhere he has behaved in so in
suiting a manner as the British have
to the United States. Considering
the unresisting condition of the Ame
rican union, the government of Greac
Britain is really too severe upon us !
It ought to have some mercy, seeing
that xve do not even kick ! It is con
trary, even to the boxing laws of Eng.
land, to beat us xo/wu-ioe aredown'l
It is probable there will be a great
shew of spunk in relation to the beha
viour of lieut. Tripp#, and perhaps bv
none more than by such persons as Mr.
John Randolph. W« warn, liowrver,
the opposition, and particularly the a
postate*, not to press this subject too
far ; nor attempt entirely to ruin a
poor, brave, meritorious young officer,
for conduct which is more fairly at
tributable to cettain members of Con
gerss. When those who hold the purse
and sword of the nation display want
of presence of mind and want of manly
resolution, how is it to be expected
that subordinate officers will take upon
themselves a reaponsibil ty which does
no» belong to them ? When the very
spirit of the nation has been palsi.d
by yielding to factious turbulence in
one quarter, to peevishness in a second,
and to ignorance in a third; whrn
those who make laws for us only enact
such as disgrace us ; when the best,
interest, the vital honor, the very blood |
of the nation has been abandoned by ;
the supreme authority in rhe state ; in 1
the name of all that is consistent let
not a solitary victim be selected for a
sacrifice—a ’scape-goat for the real
culprits. JLet Trippe be dealt with ac
cording to the custom and rules of our
navy, and if he merits reprimand or
heavier punishment let him receive it;
—-but let not those who are much more •
guilty than he is endeavor to escape
by dealing towards him with too great
severity.
The Secretary of State left Wash
ington City for Baltimore on Monday
last*
A new republican print has just
been iiBUe^at Philadelphia, called the
Evening Star; and it displays ta
lents and a temper which, we hope,
will be useful in these times and the
trying period which is certainly com
ing. We consider that the success Or
failure of representative Democracy
materially depends on the energy of
free presses for the four or five years
approaching ; and therefore, every ac
quisition of that kind ought to be
warmly cherished.
Communication.
D1F.D— At his feat in Manchester, on
the 17th of July, at 12 o’clock in the day,
of o severe -ndisnofition of ten days
HENRY L BISCOK. It rmy *i h truth
be said, that society has suvained a trulv
lamentable loss in this wo-thy ci’izcn, he
was a true friend, and indulgent wafer,
and administered to the wants of tn nee
dr, he possessed asympf hetic’OulihAi
ver permitted him to turn thr dtvres'ed
from his door without comfort—The e few
observaih ns are made by a man. who was
long and in ima'ely acquain ed with the
Herded, both in bis public and private
character*
A FRIEND.
HARVEST.
It gives us pleasure to record the
fact of the very excellent erops of
Wheat, which, as far as our iofortnati.
on extends, have been made in this
state the present season. The quanti
ty is abundant, and the^uality, we are
told, excellent; and what gives a real
value to the. productiveness of the
crops, and thus affords additional gra
tification to the farmer, is the fine
prices which wheat now bears, and iu
all probability will continue to sus
tain.—The crops of Oats too are by no
means behind-hand ; and the Corn, in
its present incipient state, promises
amply to reward the toils of the hus
bandman, We continue to be furnish
ed with seasonable rains, and the best
results as regards all the productions
of the earth, may be fondly anticipa
ted.—There is also a superabundance
of Fruit of every discription ; the trees
literally bend beneath their loads. We
may with truth sav such a season has
not been witness- d for many jears.
Ought we not to lift up our voices to
the Almighty in grateful acknowledg
ments for these manifold blessings ?
While the fields of Europe are de
luged with blood, ours are made sub
servient to the interest, the comfort
and the happiness of man. W’tte o
ther nations are groani-’g beneath the
iron hand of despotism land paying a
dulation at the footstool of lawless am
bition, we repose in peace and liberty,
under “our own vines and fig-trees,
with none to make us afraid.”—Might
one not be justified in say ing that we
arc the chosen people of God ?
Petersbg. Intel.
Mr. .Cooper, the distinguished and
justly celehrated tragedian, sailed
some two weeks ago from New-York
to Liverpool, in the Hannibal. Pre
vious to his departure we ascertained
f'om himself that his visit to England
is but a temporary one, that the prin
cipal object of it is to engage actors
and actresses, aad thit it is not his in
tention to play during his residence
there. His connection with Mr. Price
in the management of the house re
mains as it was, and he proposes to
return by the opening of the theatrical
sea-on. To those who can appreciate
excellence like Cooper’s this intelli
gence wid Oe grateful.
American Citizen.
LATEST FROM F.NGLAVTJ.
From a Pos.sc'pt to the Boston CcU-j
tinri of the 18th inst.
Last evening a'rived he-e Hi- brig j
Richmond, Cap Johnson,*42 days from
Kt'stol, England—who pnli e y favoured *
us with I.oori n papers to 'he 2d Jure.
The news, fiom ^pain and Portugal is ;
not so la e as we have received direct—
The French papers continued full ol ac
counts Freich vi61ories '-ver ihe Sp? n
»Rh ‘ feheis*’’ On the 30th May a fleet
with te;nfrt'Cemen s for Spain and Portu.
gal <a;>ed horn Portsmouth*
Napoleon and h s Empress were to re
turn to Pa' a fom their northern tour the
30th May.
An a tempt had be*n made >o a'sassi
nate the D.ikt ol Cumbs'land, (5th son
of the k ng) in his tleep, by an Italian ta
let, named Seillii.—Vlie Duk- rece ved
eight or ten wounds from a sword.— But
wresting it from the assassin, the latter
ran into his chamber, end cu his 'hroat
with a razors which occasioned his itrme.
diate death. The pttpere are fil'ed with
particulars c,f this hurt id transition.
Btird»t remained in he T«wfr._Par
(lament it was exptfled would be pro. J
rngued the 19.h June, when be w.ipld be J
libeia'ed. The papers are sileni respect,
ing him.
We find very little mention of Am.ri. !
can affairs.—The Ca'liohc question iti the j
trn.raon* had biei* nega'ived 2134o 109. j
11** Duk<; of Albuquerque had arrived
in London, Minister from the Spanish •
Urgency.
The Briiish kipg was at C*tir> the ISih
May, in good health. he p ncess Arne. j
Ii« whs convalescent. Mr Wmdbatn »ay
dengero'i.ly ill.
The po t of Elsineur had b-?en declared
to be in a r/ate of h'oekud
A letter from ’ana, d ted May 24 says 1
- A mitigation r f ihe seventy of the 1
dreree for the confiscation of American
pr» party, you know, is not to be expect,
ed "
Ship News —Cap ain Johnson spoke.
July 15 Cape Arn bearing W. by N. 42
leagues distant, br.g H < oibal, 50 liou t
out. July 14 chooner A61ive, Hath., 3
we«k:t from He'.’on on a fi-.h m» voyage,
nearly full j then on Cape ■* * >ie Bank.
The William Tell, from No foik in 35
days ; and brig Eagle, 86 days from R.
Island, at Falmou h. The Hcratdi of
Philadelphia, was abandon'4 at s«a on the
26th April, being in a sinking state.
Boston, July 19.
Received bv the Richmond from B is
tol Ji;rv London date* to June 2.
CONTINEN TAL NEWS.
v London, May 29.
A vessel which left Ostend on Sa
turday last, brought letters from the
['Continent up to that date. They re
la'e the following interesting fact
When Bonapart1* & his Suite were visit-’
ing the docks & harbor of that place,
on Sunday the 20th inst. he observed a
ship standing io, and waited till it had
<a t anchor. On the master's anding,
he was ushered into the presence of
the Emperor, whose rank was not re
vealed, and who enquired from what
part of the world he came ? Alarm
ed at this question, the 'master stated
that he came from Norway, and that
his vessel was laden with wood. “ You
do not tell me the full, (replied
Napoleon) let me see your licence ;
you are from England.** Fearful lest
the production of his licence should
subject his ship and cargo to sonfisca
tion, the trader still hesitated, when
Bonaparte, penetrating into the cause
of his apprehension, assured him that
it was unfounded.-*-The licence and
the ship’s panera were then produced
and surrendered, and the master re
ceived orders to attend in two hours
at the Imperial Hotel, when the sur
• prise occasioned by his discovering
that the person with whom he had
conversed was (he fcfnpero- had subsi
ded, he was chj2ely questioned by Na
poleon on the s»*te of British com
merce. The latter tri. d fo ascertain
the motives which could induce our
Government to object to taking from
France a portion of our imports in
w ne and brandy? When his curio
sity had been satisfied,he returned the
licence and papers, ard allowed the
vessel to unload & take on board a car
go of wheat. After this, according to
the report ot the Captain, Napoleon
lurm. uy announced totne uia-nbero'
Commerce at Ostend, his determina
tion to sign no more licences for im
ports, unless England would consent
to receive wi.ies and brandy ; in which
case, he was willing to grant licences
to enable vessels to proceed directly
to a British port anti thus secure to
both Governments the reciprocal ad
vantages of a circumscribed trade.
Recent advices from Holland state,
that great quantities of Colonial pro
duce had been seised, and a consider
able addition had been made to the
French force in that country . A let
ter dated May 15, mentions that the
whole of the Americjn propefy which
had been detained there, and which
amounted to more than two millions
o* dollars, w-as to be sold os Urn 15th
of next month, under the decree lately
published at Paris, in the same com*
m 'nication it is mentioned that the
like pioceeding is to be adopted 1a all
the pom of of Flanders and Holland.
Another letter from Schowen, of the
1 rth instant, observes, that the decree
just alluded to is carrying into execu
tion wiih the utmost rigor, and many
ships in that harbor and in the neigh*
borhood were in consequence put un
der sequestration.
Letters from Frankfort to the 2>lst
ult. have been received. An Esta
fette from Leghorn had brought intel
ligence, that some additional ships la
den with colonial produce had been
taken possession of by the govern
ment at that port, but not without the
apology- that they' were English'in dis
guise. It was again ru noured, that
the daughter of Lucien Bonaparte was
to be elevated to the rank of a Princess,
and to be married to a Foreign King,
supposed to be Ferdinand of Spain.—
.rvuvices iroin \J3naourgn, mention a
variety of regulations regarding the
new Custom Houses in the Westpha
lian territories. Jerome’s officers are
ordered to permit the introduction of
colonial produce, sanctioned by the
proper certificates of origin. A de
cree has been published to prevent the
admission of English goods, and gene
rally to prevent the infraction of the
commercial system adopted on the
Continent.
Letters of the date of M'ly 21, were
yesterday received from the South of
France, which state that reinforce
ments to the amount of seventy.five
thousand men, 15,000 of which weie
of th» imperial guards, had passed
through on their way to Spain. Their
route was through Saintes and Angou
Icme. Massena was to he vested, with
the chief command of this force, by
the efforts of which, and the French
troops already there, he is understood
to have pledged himself to effect the
complete subjugation of the country.
They also state, that in virtue of the
decree of the 23d March, which was
only promulgated a few weeks back,
all American vessels and their cargoes,
detained in any of the ports of France,
Holland, Italy, or any other place oc
copied by French troops, had been 6- j
nalty condemned.
It is stated in recent accounts from
Amsterdam, that a strong sensation
has been produced in that capital in
consequence of the severity of the
French Agents. It is asserted, that
the M rchaots, under the present elf*
cumstaaccs, are afraid of negociating
bills upon England, and that any tra
ders suspected of being concerned in
the importation of contraband good'
into Holland, are to be tried by a Mi
litary 'Commission, by the authority
of the Duke of Rcggier.
The Emperor of Aus‘ria has issued
a decree, prohibiting, after the 6th of
June, the importation of coffee, except
under special licence, and paying a
duty of 60 florins per quintal. Upon
the publication of this decree^ coffee
instantly rose from 6 fl. 30 k« to 9 fla
rins the pound.
May 30.-—We received the follow
ing important letter from Paris yester
day morning t—
** Paris, May 24. «■ -The fate of
Turkey is, we believe, decided, it is
understood that a treaty has been in
contemplation some time, and is now
about to be executed, between the
Courts of Paris, Vi inna, and Peters
burgh, for the expulsion of this Ma
hometan intruder from among the
Christian nations of Europe. The
Couriers that pass and repass conti
nue very frequent, and almost daily.
<4 You have received most probably
before this time the Decree published
h-re on the 13th. Is is not an unex
pected blow, and it will be a very se
rious ont, considering the immense
quantity of American property in this
country. As to a mitigation of its
severity, you know it is not to be ex
pected.
“ The buz respecting a peace be
tween England and France, hi3, like
other unfounded rumours, died away,
and we no more expect it now thau we
did belore it was mentioned.’’
Letter* frnfri PI pmiaVt TO1
ments of France, sta:e, that a courier
was dispatched from Antwerp, by the
Emperor in person to the Emperor of
Russia, with an important communi
cation, supposed to relate to their mu
'ual designs for the subjugation of the
Ottoman Empire —From Antwerp
we are informed, that by an Imperial
Decree, published there, all colonial
produce in the towns of ^reda, Bcrgen
op^Zoom, Hezoghasch, and others,
ceded to the French, is to be seques
tered Sc sold immediately. The Direc
tor of the Douauiers of that city ad
dress d a circular letter tor this pur
pose to the Agents under his orders.
We arc happ\ to learn that a Trea
ty of Commerce has been arranged i
wi'.h the Ministers of the Prince re
gent at Rio Janeiro. The sti >ul »tions i
were brodght over by M Hid, who !
left that capital on the 14 h of Feb*
The engagement not being yet ratified,
we cannot state the particulars, but this
much we may be allowed to say,
from the most sati&fac'ory authority,
that this adjustment is likely to be of
great utility to both parties.
, Vienna, May S.
f The following is a copy of the an
swer returned by the Archduke C harles
to the letter from the French Empe
ror, accompanying the insignia of the
Legion of Honor:—
“Sire—Your Majesty’s Ambas
sador has delivered to me the va
luable insignia of the legion of honour,
and the agreeable leuer with which i
your majesty has been pleased to ho- j
nor me. Deeply impressed with this
distinguished mark of your majesty’s
regard, I hasten to transmit to you the
expression of my gratitude, which can
oniy ue cotnpaiea wun me admiration
excited in me by the great qualities that
characterize your majesty. The es
teem of a great man is the richest har
vest in the field of honor; and I have
always been anxious, Sire, to merit
that of your majesty. I pray your ma
jesty to accept graciously the constant
wishes which I cherish for your wel
fare, and the highest consideration
with which I have the honor to be,
Sire, your majesty’s most humble, and
obedient servant and cousin.
“Charles, F. M.? 1
Attempt to Anta*»inate hit R. H. the
Dukr of Cumberland.
A valet of his royal highness, named Jo.
seph Seillis, An Italian, who was a confi.
rirntial servant, and had lived 12 or 14
years w th the Duke, concealed himself
in a closet in his bed lorni at St James’*
Palace, on the night of the 30.h of May,
for the purpose of assassinating him. Ho
was armed with a broad sword and a ra*
aor, and remained quiet till a quarter be.
fore three o’clock,, w‘ien he came to the •
Duke's bed side, who was n a profound
sJeep, from which be w>s roused horribly
by two violent blows on the head, which
were ’mm* diatrly followed by two other*
accompanied by a hissing kind of noise.
There was a lamp and taper burnmg in
the chamber, and by its light he perceiv.
ed a letter, which lay upon his table, com.
p'e'ely covered With blood. This imme
diately struck him with the idea that there
was a murderer in the room, and he sc.
cordmgly struggled aa quickly as ne c >uld ,
out of bed. Ai this moment a naked sa. !
bre was dropt upon tne floor, and he per
ceived the figure of a man flying into the '
yeliow room, ard escaping on towards the
apirtment m which Seillis slap;. Hs went \
down stairs, aroused his page, and gave i
me alarm through the house of murderers, 1
On returning up stairs, he found the sword j
i which had h-en dropped, was his own re
gimental sabre, anti also found a pair Of .
I slippers belonging to SeiUD. Seillls & ,s 4
one of his ovn vale's, and had never in* ^
curred his displeasure, nor coultl he ima
gine any motive likely to prompt him to
this extraordinary attempt.
. He seems from the wounds received by
his Royal Highness, ti> have begun in a
most savage manner, to have cut at hi*
Royal Highness in different parts—for the
Duke has tbe front of his leg cut, a wound
in his arm, one ori his forehead, and ano^ •
ther on his check, supposed to have been
done by the razor, after he had closp.l with J
the assassin.' He lias also one of hit little J
fingers nearly cut off. It was some time,
as the villain cut at him with such quick
ness, before he could extricate himself
from the bed. A nerjean ’s guard imme
diately come to the door, which was of
pened quickly by the Porter, and the
guards rushed up stairs. There they found
the Duke faint with loss of blood, which
was streaming from his wounds. After
having conveyed him to las bed, they went
in search of the assassin, having taken
care to prevent all possibility of his es
cape. They searched tile Dake’a Cham*
ber and closets without effect. But it
seems, as soon as he heard the Duke open
the window and call for assistance, he
retired’ to a water-closet and cut his throat
with a razor in such manner ta nearly to
seyer his head from his body. He was
quite dead. ,
Messengers were instantly dispatched
for surgical aid, and to the Prince or
wales. The Prince came immediately,
and as we have already said, is gone to
Windsor. His Royal Highness has be-n
attended .by Surgeon Home and Surgeon
K.eaterf who, upon inspecting the wounds,
have declared them to be by no means
dangerous and have issued the following
Bulletin j *
BULLETIN^
His Royal Highness is not considered
in any danger, and is yis well as can be
exnvctrd und.*r the pecqliur Circumstances
VI SUV> VUPVll
(Signed) “HOME.”
'litre Duke had dined wth a party of
friends at Greenwich, and had returned
to town late.
An ill-founded jealoHsy is reported to
have been the cause of the Valet’* con
duct.
Crowds of th<* Nobility are calling hour^
\y WIth enquiries relative to his Royal
ivghn*'ss. }
On his ^oyal Highness extricating hi u
serffmro the attack of the villa-©, aid
getting out of Ivs lifdarocm, he exclaimed
aloud toh*s valet, in waiting, repeatedly.
Neale, Neal'*, I am murdered • I arn
murdered'” Netle, who wts sleep-ng in
un adjoining room, got up instantly ; and
the Duke nformeil h;m of the particulars
and sa d, t.he murderers were in his bed
room. Nr ale armed h.mself w th a poker,
and lie and his Royal H ghness proceeded
along the passage ; when Neale stepp-d
upon the sword with whicn the Duke hid
been attacked, which was one of tne
Duke’s, ar.d had been sharpened withhi
these few days.
His.Royal H-gh.iess, supported by Neale
(it bein' necessary, from the copious dis
Charge of blood,) proceeded to alarm the*
house. Tie lun eteeoer was the first
who came out. The Duke and Neale
without the least susplc oti„ knocked at the
ass ts-dn (Setllis’s) door, who it is supposed
mistook what was said, v a. that, Seilhs’
the Duke h»s been murdered,” for “S*i|y
Iis, you have murdered the Duk- as he
wa3 heard making a noise t and it was
then supposed he concluded he w is de
tected, as he was lie rd openi ig a draw
er, in wbich was the razor with which he
cut his own throat. Tne iaz ,r tormeriy
bemnged to the Duke, out had been (riven
toSeillis lately. °
Cleveland Row, and the i ©mediate vi
cmity of the Palace^ acoesiibe to carria"
ges, was covered with straw, ar.d every
possible precaution tiken to prevent any
noise that could d sturb his Royal High
ness. As Ills wounds are numerous and
sever©, amounting to eight or nine, con
siderable apprehensions of fever are of
ShUIis had 1 vcd with the Duke about 10
years hut had once left him and lived
with Mr. Manners, the gentleman we un
derstand, ef that name, who m rried the
Duchess of Roxburgh. He soon, however,
returned to his Royal H.ghness’a service
and became so great a flVorite of his
master, that he and his family were ac.
comnaodatecj wi:h lodgings over the gate
way, leading into the Ki ohen.court from
Cleveland row ; from which there wa* a
communication with the Duke’s suite of
apartments. Hero they were supplied
with coals, candles, fcc. from his K »yal
Highness** establishment. H s Royal High
ness had also si far extended his favours
to this man, as to condescend to become
sponsor to one of his children, on which
occasion he prevailed on pne of his royal
sisters to stand with kirn. In consequen ts
Seillis became in some sort an object of
particular attention to all the branches of
the royal family, from whom he and his
children received many little presents an l
marks of notice.
It ha* since hern ascertained that Seji.
lis slept for the last four nights in the roo a
which lie occupied when in waiting, al.
though it was not his turn of duty, *nt
his wife’s apartments were contiguous
I hi* deviation from his usual practice
having been mentioned to him, he excused
himself by saying that some of thechddreo
were ill. He w p seen in the Duke’s h;l
room at eleven prfock w<th some lumen in
his hand, although he had no business
there it not being, as we before observed,
his turn to attend. In a closet in the ro in,
there was also found, a pair of slipper*,
which were known to be H“i!|is’s ; rron
which ci reams ance it is inferred that he
uad concealed hi nseU there for the pur.
poue ot effecting this horrid design.
No reason has been assigned sufficient to
account in the smallest degree for mis
accumulation of crime and ingratitude, it
is said that the deceased had oeen in a
dispute with one of hu fellow .servant*
imd that it was left to the determination of
ais Royal Highness, who deemed against
dim.