Norfolk gazette and publick ledger — Norfolk [Va.], 1806-03-24 00:00:00, page 2

THE PUBUCK LEDGER.
TO SHEW
THP. VERY AGP. AND BODY OF THE TIME,
11IS FORM AND PRESSURE.
MONDAY EVENING, MARCH C4. If-f.fi.
Py the ship Sheffield, Captain Carpenter, in 2S
days from Bordeaux, and the ship Susan and S,.rah,
Captain Marncr, in 2S days from the same port, v.e
have received our regular file of the Motiitcnr to the
13th of last month with other Paris papers ; andcapt.
Murr.er has politely favoured us with Paris paper ,
to the 14th and Bordeaux papers to the Kith of Febru
ary. This last arriv ' brings us London :id\iees,
via Paris, to the Cth of I-'eb. thirteen days later than
the inteiliecncc teceived :it Charleston,
Anxious to lav the mo«t interesting articles before
our readers. we have not been able to give tlie p i
pers rut re th •. curs’ rv view. f] lie intelligence
fr ini Lender will he regarded as important, as lead
inr; to a general peace. The chance of administrati
on in Eneland is the most complete, < f any chancre
that was ever made. It is composed of men of ta
lents and itiPttencc, tho’ adverse politicks to the late
administration. When w e take a ret lew of the pre
sent -dmit.i it ration, we must calculate tiiat a peace
will follow, at the san e time we do not believe it
will he a disgr. reful peace, and if the war is to con
tinue, the administration is sui h a one from its talents
and ii.fhti m c, as t ill inspire confidence, and call
f,.rth the mighty resources of the nation. It was ne
ver cur opinion th.it the late administration, was
linatiiu to this rnunti y, Lut very < crtainly the le.id
3nc^ memhers < f the present, have always been con
sidered as ] eculiarly fiiendty to this country, lienee
we calculate with certainty, upon an honourable ter
mination of all our disputes with (ircat-Britain.
The emperour Napoleon, liail returned to Paris,
v. e do not observe the day on which he arrived, but
it w is bef ire the 2Gth of J :nu try.
The ctnperntir of Austri t, li id returned to his ca
pital, his brothers were also at Vienna. We have
received the difinitivc treaty between France and
Austria, which we, shall publbh m cur next. No
thing definitive is sclth ee,i Fi alii e and Swe
den find Russia, a:i 1 'h ussia appears to have been
r dreed in n vrrr ecpii vocal .situation with France,]
but the Paris papers .assert that matters hive been
temporarily rdjuVcd, and that difinitivc arrange -
me rits wid shortly follow.
Bavaria, and Wirtemburg, aie erected into King
doms, and in addition to their farmer possessions, j
certain parts of the Atistri m dominions are added, j
as will be seen by the treaty between France and I
Atn tria.
Buonaparte has hr a formal declaration, given (in
cace of failure of heirs of : is I,oh; ' the Kingdom ot
Italy to hinge! c, the son of tint empress ;.,this state
paper we shall give us set n-as tr tml.ated. This
p iaac his married the princess royal of the new
kingdom of Bavaria. The Kingdom of Naples is ad
ded to the Kingdom of Italy, Buonaparte has pro
nounced its fate in an addt ess to his army, which he
lias oj tiered to take possession of it: The Biitishand
Hessian* had evacuated that country.
The Roclifnrt scpindrt n returned to Rechfort on
the Crtli of January, after a ernize of J48 days, on
which event the Flench are much elated.
Having among other papers, received a file of the
JoLKNAt. ntt ComMitRCK, wc are enabled to pre
sent our mere mtile friends with an account of the
arrivals, Etc. o;‘ vessels to the various ports in France,
and at Leghorn, which will bo found under the ma
rine head.
Wc this day present our readers with a part of
Mr. Kandoi.Pit’s speech on Mr. Gregg's resoluti
on, which is all that has been received by us. The
remainder we look for, by tlie ensuing mail. It L
our opinion that when advices are received at
Washington, of the change of administration in
England, that the hostile measures, which have late
ly been agitated, will he suspended, until the temper
of the present administration is known, this we have
observed in another place, will, there is every reason
to suppose, be friendly to this country*
Captain Chase, of the ship Huntress, arrived
this morning in 4» days from Liverpool, lies favour
ed us with London papers to the 2Tth January, but
the intelligence they contain is not as late by 10 days
as our papers by way of France.
We are indebted to a gentleman foi^fcic official
account of the action Ml-St. Domingo; it was receiv
ed by Captain Dru.a.n >m! f> ;.n Ch irleston.
ninth" congress
UNITED STATES.
HOUSE OF RF.l’UFSENTATIVE5.
Wednesday,-March 5.
Debate on Mr. Gregg’s Resolution,
C Continued.)
Mr. L Randolph. I am extremely afraid, sir,
that so far as it may depend on my acquaintance with
details o nnerted with the subject, I leave verv little
right to address you, for in truth, I have imt yet
»e'en the documents from the treasury which were
called for some tune ago, to direct the judgment of
this house in the decision of the question now before
you ; and, indeed, after what 1 have this day heard 1
no longer require that document or any other docu
ment—indeed 1 do not know that I ever should h ave
required it—to vote on the resolution of the gentle
man from I’giinsylviinia. If I had entertained am
doubts they w mkl have been removed by the style in
which the friends of the resolution have this morning
di-c.ussed it. 1 am perfectly aware, that on entering
upon this subject, we go into it manacled—handcuff
ed and tongue-tied ; gentlemen know that our lips
are seMed* on subjects of momentous foreign rel.iti
ons, which are indissolubly linked with the ( re-.ent
question, and which would serve to throw a great
light on it in every respect relevant to it. I will
however endeavour to hobble over the subject as well
ps my fettered limb3 and palsied tongue will enable
tnc to do it.
1 a in not surprised to hear this resolution discuss
ed bv its friends as a war measure. They say fit is
true) that it is not a war measure ; but they detrnd
it on principles which would justify none but war
measures, and seemed pleased with the idea that it
limy plan c the lorci unner ot war. If war isTiecos
sary—if we have reached this point, lit us have
war. Hut while 1 have life, I will never consent to
those incipient war measures, which in their com
mencement breathe nothing hut peace, though they
plunge us at last into war. It has been well observed
oy the gentleman fi run Pennsylvania behind me (Mr.
J. Cl •) ) that the situation of tins nation in lr'Jd, was
in every respect different from that in which it
finds itself in loco. I.ct me ash, too, If the situation
of Jang land is not since materially changed i (ien
tu iuen, who, it would appear from their language,
li ive not got beyond the horn-book of politicks, talk
ot our ability to cope wijh the British navy, and tell
nsnj the war of our revolution. What was the si
tuatmn ot (>. Britain then i She was then Contending
lor tne empire of the Britisli channel, barely able to
maintain a doubtful cipirditv with her enemies, over
wuoan she never gained the superiority until Hod
111 v’s victory of the 12th of April. VVliat is her
present -itna ion ! The combined fleets of France,
> ’pain aim i I o] land are 1 is-ip a ted, tliev no longer ex
i-(. i am not surpi ised to hear men -ulv ncate these
wild opinions, to see them goaded on bv a spirit of
mercantile avarice, stia.inirg their feeble strength to
c.x itc the mdi' i, to war, when they have reached
tins stage of mf ituati n, tln.t we aic an over match
for Ci. Britain on the ocean. It is mere waste of
j time to reason widi su. h persons. They do not de
I s,-,Te tbii»g like serious refutation. The proper
1 arguments for sum statesmen are a strait waistcoat,
1 room, water gruel, nml depletion,
t *las always appeared to me that there arc three
; touts to be considered, and maturely considered be
h re we can be prepared to vote for the resolution of
t:.c gentleman from Pennsylvania. First, Our abi
lity to contend with G. P.ritain for the question in
1 dispute s Secondly, The policy of such a contest;
and Thirdly, In case both these sh di be settled affir
matively, the manner in which we can with the
greatest effect, re-art unmi mid unn»i.> .,.1,,,...
h.'irv.
Now the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr.
Cl owninshiekl) has settled at a single sw cep, to use
one of his favourite expressions, not only that we
re capable of contending with G. Ilritain on the
ocean, bnt that we are actually her supeiionr.
A hence does tne gentleman deduce this inference ?
llecause, truly, at that time when G. Britain was
not mistress of the ocean, when a North was her
prime minister and a Sandwich the first lord of her
admit ally, when she was governed l>y a counting
house administration, pnvateeis of this country
trespassed on her commerce. So, too, did the cruiz
ets of Dunkiik at that dav SuflVein held tlie maste
rv of the Indian seas. Hut what is the ease now 1
l)o gentlemen remember the capture of Cornwallis
on land because lie Grasse maintained the d; mi
nion ol tlie ocean i 1 o mv mind no po‘dtmn is more
cU-.ithan that it we go to war with Great Britain, i
Charleston mid Boston, the Chesapeake am! the Hud
son will oe invested l>v British squadrons. Will you
call on the count dr Grasse to relieve them, cr shall
we apply to admiral Gravina, or A Imiral Ville
ncuve to raise the blockade ? But you have not onlv i
a prospect ol gathering glory, and what seems to I
toe giiitie.nmi from Massachusetts, much dearer, I
profit,#by privateering, Inst you will be able to make 1
a conquest Jot Canada and Nova Scotia, Indeed >_|
1 hen, sir, we shall c.aUh a Tarter. I confess, how- j
nei, I have no desire to see, the Senators and Re- I
pre:.ent..tives ol the Canadian french, or of the to. •
las and i chigoes of Ni va Sooti., sitiing on this finnr I
01 t'‘c "tl.rr Home—l'o see them becoming 1
members Id the union, and participating equally in j
our pohtiral rights. And on tvhr.t other prir.ei’.'lc '
would the gentleman from M i s.olmsetts lie for in- '
cm pointing tl.r.se prov inces with us ? Or on what
otlii r principle could it be done under the con-tituti
f n i If tue gentleman lias no other bounty to oiler us
lor going to war, than the incorporation of Canada
and N.iva Scotia with the United States, lam for
reiiiuihiiiL' at pence.
W hat is the question in dispute ? The cnrrvine '
tr.-.df. What put of it ? The fair, the honest k the
n>cnil trade that is engagrd ia earn ing our own pro
(iiiction to foreign markets, and briu^ht^ back their
proc'ncti ms in exchange. No, Sir. It is that earn ing
trade which covers enemy’s property, and carries the
cotlec, the sugar, and other West India products, to
the mother country. No, Sir, if this great agricul
tiiral nation is to be governed by Salem and Boston,
New Wk |and Philadelphia, Baltimore, Nor
tolk and Charleston, let gentlemen come out andsav
"° \ a,"‘ 'L,t a committee of publick safety he appoint
cd h om those towns to carry on the government.—
I, tor one, will not mortgage my property and my
1 Mei tv, to carry on this trade. *1 he nation said
SO seven \ ears ago.—I said to them—and I sav now.
It is not for the honest carrying trade of America,
but for this mushroom, this fungus of war—for a
ti ade which as soon ns the nations of Europe are at
peace, will no longer exist, it is for this that the spi
rits of avaricious traflick would plunge us into war.
I am forcibly struck on this occasion by the recol
lection of a remark made by one of the ablest [if not
the honestest]j ministers that England ever produc
ed. I mean Sir Robert Walpole, who said tint the
country gentlemen [poor meek souls !) came up eve
ry year to be sheared—that they laid mute and pati
ent whilst their fleeces were taken off—but that if he
touched a single bristle of the commercial interest,
the whole stye was in an uproar. It was indeed
siie iring the lvog—“ great cry, and little wool.”
But we are asked, are we willing to bend the neck
of England ; to submit to her outrages ? No, Sir, I
answer, that it will be time enough for us to tell gen
tlemen what we will do to vindicate the violation of
our Hag on the ocean, when they shall have told us
what they have done, in resentment of the violation
of the actual territory of the United States by Spain
the true territory of the United States, not your
new f.mgled country over the Mississippi, but’the
good old United States—part of Georgia, of the old
thirteen states—where citizens have been taken, not
from our ships, but from our actual territory. When
gentlemen have taken the padlock from our mouths,
I shall be re alv to tell them what I will do, relative
to our dispute with Britain, on the law of nations, on
contraband, and such stuff.
1 have another objection to this course of proceed
ing Great Britain, when she sees it, will say the
American people have great cause of dissatisfaction
with Spam. She will see by the documents furnish
ed by the President, that Spain outraged our terri
tory, pirated our commerce, and imprisoned our
citizens ; and vyill enquire what wc have done ? It
it true, she will receive no answer, hut she mus
know what we have done. She will see that we have
not repelled these outrages, nor made anv addition
to our army and navy—nor even classed the militia.
No, sir—not one of your militia, generals in politicks
has marshaled a single brigade.
Although 1 have said it would he time enough to
answer the question which gentlemen have put to me
when they shall have answered mine, yet as 1 do not
,ike long prerogations 1 will give them an answer
now. I w ill never consent to go to war for that which
I cannot protect. ] deem it no sacrifice of dig
nit) to say to the I.eviuthan of the deep—we are
unable to -contend with |oujinjour own element, but if
vnu come-within ouracttial limits■wcwTlI shcdcur last
l‘l0B blood in their defence. In such an event I
would feel, not reason, and obey an impulse which
never has—which never cun deceive me.
Prance is :.t war with England—suppose her pow
er on the continent of Europe nu greater than it is
on the ocean. How would she make her enemy feel
it . 1 here would he a perfect non conductor between
them. So with the Imbed States and England—
she scarcely presents to us a vulnerable point. Hot
commerce is now carried on for the most part in
fleets—where m single ship, they are stout and well
armed very different front the state of her trade
dm mg the American war, when her merchantmen
became the prey of paltry privateers. Great Bri
tain has been too long at war with three most power
lul maritime nations of Europe not to have learnt
how to protect her trade. She can afford convov to
it all—sue nas 900 ships in commission, the navies ot
her entnues are annihilated. Thus this war ha1
preset.ted the new and curious political spectacle of
a regular annual increase (and to an immense n
monnt) of her imports and exports and tonnage and
revenue, and all the insignia of accumulating wealth,
whnst m every former war. without exception, these
have suffered a greater nr less diminution. And
wherefore r because she has driven France, Spain
and Holland from the ocean. Their marine r
more. I vertblv believe that t»n English ships of the
line would, not decline a meeting with the combined
fleets nt those nations. 1 forewarn the gentleman
from Mnssachtiscts and his constituents of Salem
that all their golden hopes are vain. I forewarn then’
<1 the exposure of their trade beyond the Cape of
Good,Hope (or now doubling it) to capture and con
fiscation—of their unprotected sea port towns, ex
posed to contribution or bombardment. Are we to
lie legislated into war by a set of nr,on, vvho in six
weeks after its commencement may be compelled t>.
talc refuge with us up in the country. And for
what’ A mere fungus—a mushroom production of
war in Europe, which will disappear with the first
return of peace—an unfair trade. For is there u
maa so credulous as to believe that we possess a ca
pital not only equal to what may he called our own
proper trade, hut large enough also to transmit to
the respective parent states the vast and wealthy
products of the French, Spanish and Dutch colonies ■
’ 1 is beyond the belief of any rational being_But
this is not my only objection to entering upon this na
tal warfare. 1 ant averse to a naval war with anv
nation whatever. I was opposed to the naval war
°f the last administration, and I am as ready to op.
* . *vai U1 l,lc p1 '-t-iii .unmmsirauoii,
S|1<HI"1 they meditate such a measure. VVh.it .’ .,hah
this great Mammoth of the American forests'leave
his native clement am] plunge into the water in a
ma<! rente.st with the shark. Let him beware that
his proboscis is not bitten off in the engagement. Lit
him stay on shore—and not lie exriteii Uv the mnsi ]<■>
and periwinkles on the strand, or |.<diticnI hears, in
a boat to venture on the perils of the deep. (t,.|’t!e
men say will yon not protect jour violated rudit's '
and 1 say why take to water, where you can neither
hg.it nor swim. Look at France—see her vessels
stealing lroin port to port on her own ccasi_am! re.
member that she is the first military power of the
earth, and as a naval people second r nlv to F.mriam!.
lake away the British navy, and France to-morrow
is the t> rant of the r 'can.
Tins In ings me to the second point. flow far is it
pohtirk m the United States to throw their weight
mm the scale of France at this moment;—from
whatever motive to aid the views „f her gigantmk
ambition—to make her mistress of tiie sea and hind_
to jeopardize the liberties of mankind. Sir, von
may he,p to crush (J-re.it-Hrit tin, von nun- assist 1 i
breaking down her naval dominion'; but von eniuv t
succeed to it. 'Fhe imn sceptre nf the 'ocean wi’!
pass into his bands who wears the iron crown of the
and. \ on may then expert a new code of maritime
law. Where will you look for redress' 1 can to"
tnc gentleman from Massachusetts, that there is no
thing m. his rule ofthree that will save us, even al
though lie sir add ou t-do himself anil exceed the h
nancial ingenuity which he so memorably (!is*>hycti
on a recent occasion. No, Sir-Let the battle of
Actlunl o»ce fought and the whole line of x»u
coast vyi.l be at the mercy cf the conqueror. The
Atlantic, otepand widens it is, will prove just as
good a barrier against his ambition if directed .,g..inst
you, as the Mediterranean to the power of the Cn -
sars. I)o 1 mean (wlien I say so) to crouch to the
invader No—I vyiJl meet him at the water’s edge,
and light every inch of ground to the mountains
from the mountains to the Mississippi. But after
tamely submitting to an outrage o„ your domicile,
will yon bully and look big at an insult on vour f;. e
ol)(/0 miles off? ’ J
nlR’ s‘m * nave a yet more regent reicon a-iins1
Soll1S 1° war, for the honour of the fl .g in the narrow
seas or any other maritime punctilio. It sprirre
trommyaUatrirnc.it to the principles of the cnvor-l
rnent under winch I live. I declare in the’tVc of
oay that this Rovernment was not instituted for the
purposes of offensive war. No. It was named (to
use its own language) f,r the c'.nrno* defence and
the general welfare, which are inconsistent vvitl, , f.
tensive war. I call that offensive war, which goes
out of juris,hctmnttnd limits for the attainment or
proticuon of objects not within those limits and that
jurisdiction. As m 179d I was opposed to tiiis spe
cies of warfare, because I believed it would raze the
constitution to the very inundation, so in 1*06 am I
opposed to it, and on the same grounds. No sooner
do.you put the constitution to this use, toa test which
it is by no means calculated to endure, than its in
corr,potency to such purposes, becomes manifest and
apparent to all. I tear if you go into a foreign war
tor a circuitous unfair earning trade, vou will come
out without your constitution. H ue not vou con
tractors enough yet in this house ? Or do voii want to
be over-run and devoured by commissaries and all
the vermin of contract. I fear, sir, that what are
ca led. the energy men will rise up again-men who
will burn the parchment. We shall be told that our
government is too free—or as they would say weak
and inefficient. Much virtue, sir, in terms. That
we must give the Ptesside.it power to call forth tii
resources of the nation—that is to filch the last s'lif
bog from our pockets, to drain the last drop of blood
trom our veins. I am against giving this power to
any man be him who he may. The American pen.
pie must either with-hold this power or resign their
liberties. There is no other alternative. Nothin
but the most imperious necessity will justify such a
grant—and is there a powerful enemy at Join
.. . . » at jinn
\ou may begin with a first consul—from that
cioors
7 .- 'O*- «• niottuipyui-IFO
Chrysalis state he soon becomes an emperor. You
have your choice. It depends upon your election
whether you will be a free, happy, and united pen
pie at home, or the light of vour executive majesty
shall beam across the Atlantic]; ill one general blaze
of the public liberty.
For my part I never will go to war but in self de
fence. 1 have no desire for conquests—no ambition
to possess Nova Scotia—I hold the liberties of tin
people at a higher rate. Much more am I imlispes
ed to war, when among the first means for earn inr
it on I see gentlemen propose the confiscation d
debts due by government to indiv iduals. Does a bo^
na fide creditor know who holds Ills paper ? Dare a
ny honest man ask himself the question ? >Tjs h ire
to say whether such principles are more detestably
dishonest than they are weak and foolish. What,
sir, will you go about with proposals for opening a
loin in one hand, and a spungc for the national debi
in the other. If on a late occasion you could uot bur,
rr,w a! a lets ra'e ef interest t’.rn ? per ccr.t. when
t *c ^.veninient avowed that they w< ul'l p.y ii,e h,sc
slihiini; of the pubork ability, at v. hr>t piice do you
expect to raise money with an avowal at these ncta
n“l,s "V find help u» : it' these ate your ways
at.d means of carrying on war—if V(,ur fmmeesars
in the hands of sucli a chancel In of the exchequer!
because a man e in take an oh.se. cation, and keep .1
log-bo. k and a let konbv , can mn.g.te a cock b tat
to the West indies ..r the K ; •, sh ,11 he aspire to
navigate tin* great i t Ssel of state, to stand at 'die
helm of i'uhiitk enumils? -A> ,,r,... „>.ra crc/ iJum.
—W hat are era-am; to war far ? For the earn
mp; trade. Already y on possess seven ei.ths of it.
V h ,t ,l' the ehjert in dispute : The lair ii mest trade
tint exchanges the product fur our soil for foreign
avticies la- home consumption? Not at all. You
are called upon to sacrifice this nere.1.sary branch of
vour navigation and the great agrirnitural interest,
whose handmaid it ix—to jeop .rdize vour host in
terests tor a riremtous commerce, for the fraudulent
protection ot belligerent properti under veur neutral
t3..g. \\ dl you he goaded by the d, earning ralcula.
aoi.s 0. insatiate avarice to stake vour all for the
pimc, turn of this trade. 1 do not speak of the pro
bna.eebeets ot war on the price ol our produce—
heverely as we must feel, we may scuffle throuell
it. I -peas, ot Its reartum on the constitution—v'A,
may go ", war tor tb.i- excrescence of the car- in
tram—and make peace at the exp; m e of the ccm
stilutimi. Your executive will lord it over you, and
feu must make the fce.-.t terms with the rnaquermir
tact y u can. Imtthe gentleman from Pennsi lean, *
(.Mr. hi egg) tells yeu that lie is tor acting in thi.-,a*
in ad things, uninfluenced In Hie opinion *f anv mi
mvtcr v,!i.,tcver—ihiaagH, „r, | presume, domestic.
I yo'p point 1 am wall.Hr to meet the gentleman, am
unwmuTg to he do tab d io by any minister at In me
I or abroad. Is he w illmg to net on the same indc.
j pendent n oting > ] have before protested, and I a
gam protest ag on-t secret, irresponsible, over-rul.
mg m mem e. i he hi st .questnui I asked when 1 saw
the ;■ nti'Mimn s res a,,,,..,, was, •• ls ,|ljs the
smeot 'heeabmet Not of ,nn;MI declared cubi
net, but o, an h.vmI, e, inscrutable, unconstitutional
caon.. t—wit.nan re, ponv u!m unknown to the con
f..i. ” ! *“ * o-U-.. '..“is ii.doence—rf men
“ ‘I'‘”K ' !t' tc. t..ia house, which, ahhomdi
tney do net appear m, iho joiirn d ,, govern its deri-i.
ons. Sir, the h.-.t question that I asked c.„ the sub
fect of I.HUsh re! .lions was, wlvt is the opinion of
.UP c....met .— U hat measures will they recommend
to Cam., i ess • ( W . u wnowiiigihat whatever me .surer,
we might t lir lee, most execute them—and therel
tore mat we slmuid have their opim n on the subject)
— Vic answer was (and Iron, n cabinet minister'too)
!h:rr ,, n; l ,:i;e •• ,r::j < Subsequent c:r
. one, it.res, Sir, li ar given me a personal know
len-e 01 tire lacr. It needs commentary.
(rt> lit C.-lKTIN'fj.ll.)
Charleston, .March H.
NAN AC N JCTOltV.
NAVni-e inAAv.lt,, the i.olit.-nr^ of l,i» Hritnnnick
M 1Uv;v " < 'UisnL I' f* \ J a min Moudik, Ksn. f,>r
the J. .! c. e. i,, let ter from Admire! (he 11 k a n - ,
Cotiiainim; an scCount of the action between the
hm,',J ' feet;, cfl'tlic citv of St. Demin
, the 6th of February list.
11..- letter was ]>iit on board the brig Janf., captain
lie nt. amved ties morning from Cork, who felt
'\"'n ,!lc Northumberland, outlie .Tth tilt, in
l..t. en 54, I mg. 6.J—Admiral Cochrane inteml
ct. 11 make lor Jlaiuhx to repair, havitw his main
mast shot nwav about ten loot above the' dirk, and
ins nuzen-rn tst oonsidtTriblv injured.
An oiur er of the Not thumherlaud informed captain
Hunt, tint tills si,ip sustained the greatest injury
in the actr n, having laid along side the Frem li
Admiral of ICO guns. The Northumberland is a T4.
copy.
•A or: !iumb<frlund. cJT S:. Do:)ii-;gif
1 > /i Fehruarxj, 18’Gu.
"=J‘8 I have murh satisfaction in communicating
to yc.ti, that tlie enemy's squadron, lately ani.'d
trom Prance, named in the margin* which vice-ad
miral Sir John Duckworth nnit ill pursuit of, from
St. Christopher's, un the first, have been taken or
destroy ed.
liiey were discovered at anchor off the town of
St. Dominro, on the morning of the tali. As the
Biitnh squadron advanced, they got under weighs
anti attempted to escape lay running down along Pie
shore, to the S. S. \V. Imt were frustrated in the
prompt measures adopted lay the vice-admiral."
A little alter 10 in the forenoon, they were head,
ed by the advanced part of the Kriddi squadron, and
brought to close action, 'i he Superb, carrviurr t*h
J. Duckworth’s fhg, leading, followed bv tire 'Nor
thumberland, Spencer and Agamemnon. The Icc
linc consisting of the Canopus, hearing the flag of
rca.r-adinir.d 1. iui,, the Donnegal and Atlas coinin'
up to lccwatd. J
1 tie action began by the Superb fit ing on tlie Alex,
antler, the leading ship of the enemy’s line; the Nor
thumberland, taking up the Imperial, the second
slop, when the action soon after became general.
1 he Alesamler, being disabled, drnpt astern, anil
about 11 o’clock struck her cotours, having lo-t ail
her masts. 1 he rear ships of the enemy closed t-»
support their admiral m the Imperii 1, and about a
quarter past eleven, one of them, the Jupiter, struck
to^tlic Donegal. 1 lie Brave also submitted soon aftci .
I he Imperial used every means to escape, but
filming that impossible, she ran on shore near Point
P.daiifiiic. about 10 leagues S. \V. of St. Dominro,
and w .is followed by the Diomede, where ther
stranded, and were afterwards set on fire by the fri".
gate of the squadron. The enemy all landed from
the Imperial, but the Captain of the Diomede was
brought ofi with above 100 of her crew, the rest had
got on shore.
I he loss of the enemy has been very severe.—
Bv a fl ig of Truce which came off to request per
mission to send supplies to their wounded, I was in
formed that the Imperial had about TOO killed and
wounded.— l'Le Diomede a great manv. The three
snips Captured have also suffered severely, making
the total loss of their squadron to be 1,800 or 2,0CU
men.
I am happy to say that the loss of the British squa
dron has been comparatively, small, not bearing
any proportion with that of the enemy.—The total
killed and wounded not exceeding 200 or 220, of
which this ship had one hundred.
I enclose a copy of the thanks sent to the ships of
the squadron, by Sir John Duckworth, previous to
Ins departure for Jamaica, where he went to refit :
the prizqs having preceded him tlqe dav befor#,
1 he frigates and corvettes effected their escape
during the action, hut I hope they will vet be met
with by a squadron I have rent in pursuit.”
I have the honour to be, Sir,
\our most obedient servant,
ALEX. COCIIRANE.
• Imperial, ldo guns, bumf.
Alexander, 84 cafitured,
Nravf* 84 cc.fitured.
Diomede, 74 dtxtroued.
Jr PITER’ 74 ca/iturrd.
Fraternite 4b esca/.ed.
Comet, 4o esca/ied.
A Corvette, SO esco^ci/,