The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-07-23 00:00:00, page 4

From Norfolk^ June 30.
1 ‘Yesterdayafternoon \vc were gratified
with the sight ot tour gunboats equipped
nnd under way for the defence of the
Narrows, in case any attempt should be
made to enter this harbour by the
British.
I oo much praise cannot be given to the
apirit and patriotism of the captains and
nearnen ot the port on this occasion.
On Sunday evening only, a deputation
from the committee waited on captain
Decatur with a request that the gun
boats might be prepared for action.
At this time, no rigging was over head,
no sails bent, arms or ammunition on
board, but such was the persevering la
bour, and ardent exertions of our seamen,
that at four o’clock the y sailed, readv
victualled, manned, and in every respect
prepared for action, and under a com
mander who will never he taken all a
back, or shut his eyes at the squall.
full/ 1—This day commodore Ste
phen Decatur,jun. hoisted his broad pen
dant on board the U. S. frigate Chesa
peake, in the place of commodore Bar
ron. Capt. Gordon continues in com
mand of the ship.”
On the 3d of July commodore Dou
fchtss, ol the English squadron, address
ed ii letter to the mat or of Norfolk, de
claring that if the resolution of tht N >r
tolk committee prohibiting the commu
nication bet we* n the British consul and
the squadron was net wmwdiatehi an
71 ufivd) he would not permit nnv vessel
to pass in to, or out from, Norfolk; that
it was in his pou cr to obstruct the whole
trade of the Chesapeake; and that it
rest u with the inhabitants of Norfolk
cither to engage in a war, or to remain
on terms of peace-On the same day
Douglass brought up his squ tdron, and
formed in line of battle,u itliin two miles
of Hampton, and sent his tenders to
round in a direction for Norfolk. Com
modore Decatur kept his nun at their
quarters all night, apprehending an at
tack. A French frigat- lying at Norfolk
offered to co-operate with Decatur, and
the two commanders pledged them
selves to each other not to strike their
colours.
On the fourth rf jruft/ the mayor re
plied to commodore Douglass, inform
ing him tiiat the American people were
not to lie intimidated by menace ; that,
seduced by the false shew of security,
the v may sometimes be surprised and
a.lightered while unprepared ro resist
a supposed friend,—but that this delu
sive security was now passed forever.
He then, in bold and decisive language*,
makes the following declarations: ~a The
hitc occurence has taught us to confide our
safetij no longer to any thing hut our own
force. Wc do not seek hostility—nor do
we avoid it. We are prepared for the
-worst you may attempt, will do what
soever shall be judged proper to repel
force, whensoever your efforts shall ren
der any act of ours necessary.”
X he mayor communicated Douglass’s
letter to the executive ol the cominon
wealtli. The executive council unani
mously declared that the state was in
vaded, and have accordinglv called out
and put in motion the requisite military
force to repel any attempt of the British
to land. In the City ol Richmond, one
troop ol cavalry, three companies of in
fantry, and two ol militia, volunteered
their services to march to Norfolk. Ge
neral Mathews, the chairman of the
Norfolk committee, was appointed to
command the troops.
A sailor who got off from one of the
British vessels on the 3d of July, stated
that they had come up to demand their
casks and water ; that the ship from
which he escaped, had not more than a
month s water on hoard, though they all
had six months’ other provisions, and
that it was said on hoard the ships, that
B their demand was refused they would
destroy Hampton; for which purpose h
says they had put a 32 pounder on board
eacn of two pilot boats they had pur
chased, they had also fitted anumber of
their boats St barges with 4 and 6 poun
d rs and swivels, and had ordered a
number of picked men to he ready to
man them on a signal being given.
From Washington Citij, °/a hi p,.
‘bMr. Ersk ine,the British minister, lias
arrived—declares the late aggression !
unauthorised—a id is about to forward
an immediate d:-patch to the British
officer commanding at Hampton.
Orders have been issued from the war of
fice to the governors of the several states,
making a requisition of one hundred t/wu
sandmilitia, to he ready to take the fi< Id
at a moment’s warning, and authorizing
the acceptance of volunteers. Young
men ol America / rally round the stand
ard of your country, and prepare your
selves in case ol n» ccssitv, tooverwhi lm
with irresistible energy the violators of
your rights!
ithin a very short time, between
sixty and eighty gun boats, fully equip
ped,will be stationed at the most expos
ed points of the United States to repel
ny aggression that may be offered.
All the lieutenants in the navy and ^
midshipmen are ordered to repair to
Not folk. Those who were in this
neighbourhood have already set off.
A schooner freighted with arms and
ammunition, left the navy yard two davs
since for Norfolk.
1 he president received yesterday,and
again last night, dispatches from Com
modore Decatur, which state that Nor
loik was blockaded by the British squa
dron that they prevented every thing
lrom passing either in or out, and had
declared their determination to adhere
to this measure until the people of Nor
iolk should rescind their resolutions_
that the boats of the squadron were
sounding ahead, and the commodore
expected them up with the first fair
hi eeze, in which case he hoped to be able *
to give them a warm reception.”
William W. Howell,
Ao. 20, -North 3a street, a lew uoors
above Market street, Philadelphia,
HAS FOR SALE
A general Assortment cf
IIARDWA R E,
'■Inch he offers on reasonable terms,
lor Cash, or at the usual Credit.
NOTICE.
Thf. Subscribers earnestly request
those indebted to them, to pay their re
spective accounts, by the first day of
August next, otherwise suits will be
commenced indiscriminately, without
iurther notice.
i hey have on hand a neat assortment
ol seasonable GOODS, which they will
sell remarkably cheap tor cash.
wi r , SAM. & B. BEALL.
\v heeling 20th June, 1807.
HIlMP and TAR.
PHI, In gin si price will be given for
good merchantable Hemp and'Tar by
MICHAEL GRAHAM,
” ho has on hand a general assortment of
DRV GOODS & GROCERIES,
iv'ith Cordage of all sorts and sizes',
nt his Store, opposite John White.
Wheeling, March 12, 1807.
W H E EL 1N Gy ~
(OHIO COUNTY V1RGIK1A,)
I rintkd by Alexander Armstrong.