Norfolk gazette and publick ledger — Norfolk [Va.], 1810-09-24 00:00:00, page 2

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To the axcomplishrosot
?*4trHie object* of this ejJHero, it *pfieatt |j^'»r tbt
» >• commerce of tbeTJnited State* ie to be excluded
f from the e(iutine®i>f Firhpe. The Berlin dFciee,
^ was publi
d in Mt htl, ij a comment up
is to be fo&d Tn the celebrated
/ " m/th# text whiel
The exclusion
,Tb-rlin decree'of November, !80S.
“#jmf our Xfssels from the ports of that degraded and
.'if' despicable wretch, called thl King ot Prussia, but
* m.ire'prOperly Bonaparte's valet, can be no great
> ^ evil, .though it serves to prove the hostility of Na-,
' I: p«Feon, and the meanalfc of t brother. Denmark
. v (foar Denmark!) has also adopted (he fame sys
v- \ te(it Upon the same principle, and at the same corn
s' *■• ■ - , * • r* ’ > •
mand. Sweden and Huss*^ it is probable have re
, . *eiyed and obeys/} their master’s commands to the
I s*4fc*ame effect before this day. What are we to doun
dbr these circumstances h To answer this question
•, ' t«t us suppose a case. Suppose by this day’* mail
E j*e were to receive aolhcnttck advices, that, at the
ir
request of the British government, our ships were
excluded from the extensive dominions of Spain and
t'!;f Tdcttigal j-*AVhat Woujd Le done in such a case, is
5 Ifpit ter predict. Yes,’a general Lur^ of
hnbgaation Would be heard. It would be remem
bened that one ‘of otir great causes of complaint
t against the British government, was, the restric
' ting our trade with all pqrts of the world. Now
• V that Napofeon restricts or.excludes oqr commerce,
aj, " *e hear not a murmur ofcompb.im, from those,
who, for the > temporary disgrace, if not the ulti
V<V§M* rain af this country, have the direction of
nur national concerns, -
Events are daily occurring, which serve to" de
monstrate tbe truth of what was said at the time,
v'j that pur Embargo, and OUT Non-Intercourses, were
; y JWtU of this famous continental system :—well
^ bright Mr. Gardenier say, “ the hand of Kdpoleon
/' it. at fits thing-well (tho’ sarcastically) might
<,*• Wf.- Canning observe, that if our Embargo teas not
„ f PVt of Buonaparte's plana against the commerce
i. i lf England, it came very much in aid of those plant.
Jt writ be remembered by every one, the applauses
■' which the Emptiour of France bestowed upon oar
.Embargo-System ;---while we were acting in confor
mity to his wishes, W not by bis orders, we were a
j&y peoplebat, when we presume to exercise tbe
■ ilfyiit which tvtfy independent nation will exercise,
o' thip Tyrant under takes to punish us by plundering
«’*nd confiscating all the property, which comes
within his reach, and by restricting our commerce
, ^ >*th those nations, who are so base and degraded,
as to become the passive instruments of hisahu
^ < tnioable injustice. History will record, and pns
t^ity will view with astonkhment, the patience
^ Jk'llh wlllch a people, so feelingly alive to what
.V j-iver concerned^tbeLr honour and their interests,
v?, submitted to disgrace and ruin, when inllk-ted by a
V'Tyrant'sfhandi >Tbe conduct of a great part of the
:#fer is td’Uf so-rmacemm table, that we should
be almost templed to believe in magick spells and
iircantations,., if, we Ijnd not witnessed* the decepti
ons and aits which have been practised to produce
: 1^”temper ih’thls nation, that bas brought disgrace
hpoR it« *ntk may'ln its ennsequenree bring down
the rain of our government, and dually ‘produce
loss of otsr freedom and i ndependmee.
•ihat. deadly: hostility against Great-Britain;
i^icb, for purposes too well known to he noticed,
““oatered, and diffused, with a seal and an activity,
thy of a better Cause, we are to ascribe our sub
titission to the will of France. If men would dis
yjassiodtttely cousidvr thjs subject, and listen more
> t« the dictates ef policy end reason, and less to
prejudices, it is impossible' that they could
^ -^longer reiuaingpnder those delusions, which have
.pmipUated the nation into measures as disgrace
? Sh«y hawe been ruinous. Let ns suppose
r 'MBjM JMigiarnKM humbled as low as Prussia, *JoJ
^ laud^oruay olber sastal state m Europe now is,
~dr'atihe most malignant jacobin would wish.
,««*#} th*u>« our situation ) We shall be
* A ■ f fold' in the lofty strains of an anniversary oration,
“t*1* of a nation of Fret men in arms,
,5 i Woul(Tapp«l tb«. nu-rrinary it^ions of despotism.—
Alas! we forgettbat w# should be half conquered
, "iy prev^ns,i|p^toat submission (in which if w%
/ continue)} m« should nbtj as H»* eloquent
1 '-A«'ES predicted, raise an arm. :'44^
k • tytttw.ijQm Who affect to believe, and endea
vour to'persuade ethers, thet the Emperour of
egaiost our cuuntry. We
•re not surprisedat any thing which »• profligate
fartisan of faction, ehpuld iay; !id cover hie treu
*onajj4ode«gn*, hut we art astonished at" the cret
dalUyof honeal hut deluded converts. We expert
. -^thwi Bnuneparte would treat as with justice and
moderation!—Up*-nwb*t, we atk, ia this expect
s£ * tetion (bunded 1 From what Has happened, we m*£
furm «»me judgment of whet wilt Wppen, im4*r
f .^limiler l*ok.ntBnunapartaV««lt
t» ell^;afh«e Wood ' had:
>Sbj»^red inff;
i PAffiirfl «))»«• pa At ns«n> •. sihso ' S • ad J
f , biSccffers, whose cndtmesco wos raihtd, epd wheat
vi valuoble eolonies were* Jenp&tfiaedi, and alttb gw?
0 .WN to.T^ghpCf^i^:
Holland, wfthse sufkripgs iMfip caiust,'iehdld"e*^
ifi&ymiim' baseness war
"J»v!'*efiaS -;'J
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net rietfae4*d. Tn H|ai rounlry, neither the
mission of the people^ nor the tie* of blood.- vt
connected hjdir with., the Sovereign, who he had ap
pointed over them^formed any barrieriiiiil}* wajs>
0 hi* ambitious ahdiniqwitous designs.
Bat why.should we wander in the devious paths of
ir■-**’■
conjee ture, when we can trave|'|j|(he high road «f
fact? Why trouble ffljkrselces With speculations,
when proof is furnished? Why should we eUgUire
what Buonaparte would do, when we see what he
(tcfuallt/ doa. He commanded us to make war up
on England-—we adopted an embargo and a non-in
tercourse, dad he whs satisfied—We continued
them until disgrace and ruin stared us in the face,
when we relinquished them. Fired with indigna
tion,’that unlike those wretchedstates, who have ru
ined themselves to gratify him, we chose to exercise
our independence, and consult our own interests—
Buonaparte confiscates our property, orders us to
beexrlnded from the commerce of all that put of
the world, where his influence extends, and in one
word has made war upon us. We s*y he has made
war upon us, berause he commits every net of hos
tility, (hat in the present situation of the tworoun
tries, it is in his power to commit. He has not in
vaded our country, and for reasons which have no
connection with his justice or moderation.
1 he time has arrived, when we should assume
the tone of an independent nation, a longer suhniia
sion may plunge ustnto inevitable ruin and disgrace.
We should discharge those prejudices, which hue
been so injurious. We ought not longer to load
with terms of reproarh, those, who taking a com
prehensive view of the situation of the world, have
endeavoured to slop the progress of a most impoli
ttek prejudice against a nation, who defies the ty
rant’s rage, and stands between-*! and pis iron des
potism.
aticirvtri ui inc DHuivian minister, ti'hjrn we
have copied from the Federal Republican, i^ducu
ment that will be read with merest and attention.
Mr. Jackson and his suite) sailed from New
York, in the Venus British Frigate, the l6ih inst.
It would seem by thevnurse of events in Europe,
that Bonaparte had become sirk of his. relations t y
blood, and his first marri.ige, and had resolved to
rid himself of them as last as possible. The first
‘Empress, the far-tamed Josephine, was dismissed
with a handsome income, and with an imperial ti
tle. Of the latter she had been stripped already ;
and it would not be surprising if the dower should
be very much curtailed. Ii is not impossible that
his Imperial and R-.y.il M j-siy is becoming, like
some othrr great men,—* sn'.ject of what is vulgar
ly called “ petticoat government.” The female pri
vy -counselliar, appears to have great weight at the
board, and probably the political affairs of the old
icorld, whatever may be said^of the new, will, for
a while at least, be under the influence of a woman.
S'range stories are related in the newspapers of the
late King and Queen of 11 .Hand—the former is said
i>> have hleinily run away from his throne, and the
latter to have been poisoned. Whether these stories
"re true oi false, we pretend not to say. But when
we hear that Fotrche is dismissed from his office in
the police, because he voted Ur the death of Louis
the XV I. and that Bonaparte has ordered a monu
ment to be erected to the memory of that monarrh,
we are prepared in the next place to hear any thing.
, It is not impossible that the sovereign of Europe be
gins to think meanly ot pltbun blood, and highly
of the neuronal.
As for the young Empress, she will do well to
recollect the history <>l her aunl, the beautiful Maria
Antoinette. It is about forty yeirs since she was
m.irmd to the Dauphin o| France,afterwards Louis
the XVI. The reception of that princess when she
arrived at Pans, by the court of Louis the XV. was
splendid, and highly flattering. A^, a fete made in
honour of tbe marriage, shortly alter she ranched
the French capital, by some untoward event, a
number of people lost their lives, and multitudes
were wounded. If the present empress poss< sses
hut a small portion of that superstition which be
longed to her great ancestor, tbe celebrated Maria
Theresa, tbe parallel which might easily he run be
tween her own circumstances, and the history of the
late queen of France, would fill her mind with gloom
and terror. One thing she ought to watch with the
utmost solicitude, and that is—the portentous coun
tenance of her blood thirsty husband. Let the aw
ful story of the prisoners at Jaffa, “ like lead
SINK DEEP WITHIN HER soul.” [Co«. Mirror,
The writer of the following letter arted several
year* as minister resident of the Batavian republiek
in this country. He i* a man of talents, of,uncom
mon erudition, and of a calm and penetrating judg
ment. Having been for j4 or 15 years a careful
observer of the politics! occurrences of this coun
try, with. |he assistance of those superior lights
which bis station afforded him, be impartially prol
nounces upon the administration, which has de
graded and mined our country, such a sentence, as
will prove an anticipation of the award of posterity.
Would to God! that it wfre also avowed ty the
blinded, part of our countryiijgq, before it is too late.
Americans bate hue a ndBr presented to thmi
by a stranger of disrefilniemf iii which they may
see the image oftheir ruhrs in that hideout furm,
m wliirh alone, the faithful pencil of truth can poor
tray them. ’• r
Mr.-tan Polawn la sheltered froftitn< suspicion
ot any undue motive id spiking us he Hoes, A re,
PUM>< an by principle us well as profession, and ibe
ri prt*epUUve of n revolutionary government once
subordinate to France,-hut note extinguished ■with
»o many others «>f her satellite*, he Wes swayed by
every impulse of political » Amity and personal «w»i
ne*iojTj not to defame the governing party, who, he
must have been conscious, could not, among Uieir
other crimes. fee suspected of a wont of cordiality
towards the yi*,ws wCdcsigntjOf j^sm Hisje*
pugnanre In England w^t entorced to, bis Coo versa*
tions, with alt the keep feelings which belong tt
him, who however erranedusldat Infested tbedowD*
M*# Lis country tv ktr attune*., p- - ' ■;:
'—" -■>*- -• • * — --- '■ -- w
- • *
R fw' •'• • :• " ‘,^7;* -■ \/--i ■
In conveying informtfion to u officer of the
Dutch government 10 ItlSta of the highest rank, wi
‘would scarcely think of Irwtinfg lh* character, *nd
p«)lury of our administration with wantntr injustice
jknd coBttinjfly. Far, whatend wnald it itnsWr ?
^MarshalDutndeli if -/personally unkowo to them
and they to him : it Would not therefore be for the
gratification ofhis spletn or that of the writer.—
Considering, however, that the slenaer remains of
the Dutch commerce to India is carried oh exclu-®1
vlifely by the intervention oft he American flag and
American merchants, it was of some importance to
him to learn the true state of our relations, the pro
bability of engaging 111 the war or avoiding it, and
the means which would conduce to each result. His
correspondent had not been able to resist the proof
of the impotence and selfishness of those'upon whom
the destinies of this country depend; he could not
shut his eyes upon the glaring arts which they put
>n execution to fortify the tenure ,.f office ; he saw
honour and country sacrificed with unpitying eager
ness, in order to direct the popular breeze*Jte com
pared tie havock which they made of its interests,
with the catastrophe at home, the handy work of
demagogues of the same stamp, operated through a
similar progress of cowardice, penury and private
machinations. He therefore wrote to his corres
pondent in eifcct that nothing manly or honourable
was to he expected from a people led so blindly by
men whose measures, when they did not center in
themselves, would be prescribed by chance or fur
red upon them by despair. These conclusions were
drawn without a knowledge of the striking facts,
wlneh have since clinched tbein.
At the dole ofhis letter, Mr. Van Polansn could
not be apprised, that the icfusal to receive the Spa
nish minister, the dismissal ol the British, the calm
submission to Cudore’s letter, the Rainhoillet de
cree, and the endless confiscations and imprison
ment, which followed, would he crowded in the
compass of the ensuing year. This we have seen,
though he had not, when he wrote “ National hu
miliations experienced for many years are nothing,
hut the main question w ith government and its sup
porters is, how ihall we keep our placet ?”
It would garry us beyond our limits, to descant
upon every passage, which in this important lettei
claims attention. We cannot, however, refrain from
1 areiy referring to the apt exposure of the policy
and measures of the Executive, In surrender the in
terests of New-England and the mercantile part of
the union, by abandoning the colonial trade. From
this, it seems probable, they were only prevented
by the prrmaiure disclosure of their schemes und
the bullying ot the minister of France, whose in
terest was many ways involved in keeping up the
rljirn. The Dutch minister, whose language re
sembles that of personal privity, expressly imputes
the intention to make the surrender, and in behalf
of the Dutch colonists, “ hoped" that it would be
prevented by the circumstances alluded to.
It will be expected that we should explain bow
the letter fell into nur hands. This reasonable cu
riosity, we are willing to gratify. It was put on
board an American vessel bound to Tonningen,
which was cupturedand carried into England ; and
it was produced upou trial in the court of admiralty.
Thence this extract came mto our hands, through
an American gentleman. Fed. Rep.
Extract of a Utter from R. I. Van Polantn, to Mar
shal Daendeh, Gnvernour General of Dutch In
dia, dated A'tu York, August 20th', 180J).
Intelligent- v was-received here on the 21«t July,
of adeciaratiun having been made by the English
government, that her minister in America, in Ins
negotiation of a provisional engagement, entered
into with the American government in the month «,f
April, ol the piesent year, had exceeded his in
structions, and that Hollaud, the island of Watcher
ren, the sea coast to the south of the Wesei, as well
as trance, the coast of Itulv in the power of the
French, the French and Dutch colonies, were agaiu
declared in a state of blockade—Hereupon followed
a proclamation of the Presidenlof the United Slates
on thepth inst. renewing the suspension of the A
merican trade to England and her colonies, whereby
the disputes between the two governments are not
only again revived, tot the following amangsl other
concessions now openly* demanded from the United
States of America on the part of England, viz.—
The relinquishment of all trade to the colonies uf
the enemies of England—With France affairs are
on no better footing ; all American property conti
nues sequestered in France, American merchants are
every where captured and carried into port hv French
privateers, in Italy and the states of the Church—
also American ships and cargoes are laid under se
questration, a measure adopted likewise in Holland,
with regard to all colonial produce, which is put
under the king’s lock, for the purpose of detention
till after a general peace—In Tonningen alone, A
merican ships and cargoes, are as yet left free;
though the Danes and English have captured A
meriran vessels destined for Sweden. The horizon,
therefore, cannot be more gloomy for American
maritime commerce. Their navigation to South
America and certain Spanish and Portuguese ports
of Europe,still continues uninterrupted; but the on
ly port left them in the West-Indies, is St. Bartho-1
lumew's belonging to Sweden.—Negotiations were,
it is Hue, commenced in the beginning of last
month, between the .American minister at'Paris
and M. de ilautrieve, hut it is regarded as a mere po
litical mancevrc to embarrass the negotiations with
England, and it is expected that on the part of France,
in this negotiation there will be again made the former
or similar propositions, which have aheady been deem
ed inadmissible, as incompatible with strict neutrality.
People begin now to be pretty generally impressed
with the belief, that it will be no longer possible
for this country to adjust her differences with one of
the Belligerent powers, without incurring the hos
lilitjr of the other—that neutral rights cannot he
otherwise protected than by force of arms, and that
the time they had for preparing themselves for that
purpose had levirf passed m inactivity—The only
mean of extrication from this equally* difficult anti
humiliating situution.wpuld be fhat of rhusing be
tween France and EngjtSjWUbtit thedissentions ex
•isting here wiH pot app^. The faction at present
m power, i* too well ctmmnced, that a war with Eng
land, would introduce' into governmdfifht now pros
'***' * W tOtUit pir^l tokttileratwn
*n*a xva* mot 4 demand oftke Britiak government,
l*l {jTolH*t<vy offer of tUfmtrvcm mfontniration,
through Mr, Brtkint. The ttriicr of the letter pin
caiktmalUr efmrfoby^viea in tie acfuel—
£n. t*D. &CTHX.
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jr£L> SSZy'fcMfe.
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rffei'..
f&+i&*r Mii4 &&ye*tt of tie‘nation dnhci^,Wr
tea—A war drub Trane#Would dejmv# the ‘prevJi!-.»
mg far linn of mmy.pl tbetf adlWents, and giii* ris#
u» cmweciidni wib England which in thf wrtirer
tarn issue of-War,. rt .ia wished to avoid.—A'eftono^
humiliations experienced for to many years art cohst
ilertd as nothing? but the main question with govern
meat outfit, supporters is, tod shall we keeptnfrpla
cesf The opposition against llie general enib-.rgo,
«hicb was brgipning to ifeawn tbe w^leiica of
government,has taught it lit thebody Jf
tinn will not long submit ’fo losses and saccifief s,
and that although parliamentary declaimers tnay '
hlustei about fighting all the world, and hasaVdlng
their lives and fortunes, for the.honour 4$f} rights
of their country ; yet if it really rome to pass, the
disasteis of the country would soon be thrown oo
the governours, end the
is of the present)
jrnsj
faith dr
rous state, ascribed to thi
fr ignorance, bad^_
corruption. Hem e the passive conduct of the hit*
preside nt Jefferson, which will doubtless be
ed by the present president us lonans.possible, tho’i
a doubt arises now mope forcibly than before, whe
ther it be longer practicable. The merchants b*v«
got rid of the major part of their goods and receiv
ed others in return, and the once overflowing gra» *
naries of tlm country people are now nearly empti
ed, in consequence of whi h, the- nation will -f#
somewhat more reconciled in the government for a
considerable tinie to ram*. ■ y+~y %
1 thought it necessary to enter into this iancita
statement of the political situation of this nation,
:/i order to shew your txefrUcuey what hopes may ft#
entertained of the government of the United Stales
bans inclined, or indeed * »<>,• Xr .
.ng inclined, or indeed ever deemed capable of Caus
ing vs neutrality to be properly respected. The pas
sive ad servile system of government, however dig
nified by its partisans with the epithets if pacffich
and just, has too long and pointedly manifested its
weakness, to dread any thing else therefrom, than
that in a moment of confusion unrl despair, brought
about by foreign and intestine d’ffererices, it muyl
in spite of itself, rom$*.lo resolutions, which’ in
their consequences, might give rise to an open rup
ture with France or England. Even ’should gdv
rnment he able to avoid this, one may easily fore
ee, from what has already occuired, that not—
withstanding all treaties, and tfie customary pit-.
tests and complaints on this side, th« A met icon
/In #laa -.‘J. t L. A • _! .i.
commerce will remain still the sport of one; of
both the belligerent powers. It has been laidrinwfi
},y the English ministry tm, various occasions
during Ibf present war, that & neutral nation can
enjoy no more rmimercial rights in time of wari
than are permitted her in »eace; and that
therefore trading to the colonics of fftv ;oemies
which were shut to her in time of peace, does not
belong to the neutral rights of America, and was
ouly permitted by England thro’ indulgence ; Lot ft
was only lately that it was formally insisted tipott
by tbe British government, as one of the prelim it
nary conditions to a reconciliation,, with ■ America;
that this trade should be given up by theTKueri
cans.
The present prmdrnt of the United Slates, and
secretaries of state and ffnancit, constituting the ma
jority of the American ministry, have already stated
to the English minister in America, that they were pre
pared on this side to make that sacrifice. » • , <- j-J ■
1 be southern and western slates would lose noth
ing by it, and it is there that tbe principal strength
ol the pievailing faction exists. The Cuuntry inte
rest in-all the slates would also but inconsiderably
- —-derablr
suffer by it, and tbe only opposition mad* to it
would be that of the eastern states. I have there
fore reason to apprehend, that the president of the If.
States was inclined to yield to the demand of England,
though, l at the same time entertain hopes that the
seasonable notification thereof, and the circumstance
under which the same took place, connected with the
timely interposition of the french minister in Ameri
ca, wilt effect an alteration in the disposition of the
Anurirtin ral,in/>f * X- :V*
The Fiench government sacrificing'livery thing
to the great project, of whichthe principal features
■re no secret, doe* not in the least suffer itself to he
impeded therein, by the commercial interest* df
France and her allies. It considers them wla tem
poraiy sacrifice, indispensible to the accomplish-‘
roent of its grand object, the humiliation and weak
ening of England. , Thcie existed, notwithstanding,
at the commencement if this net, a moths for pre
ferring peace with America, via, the interest of the
French colonies— hut all trans marine possessions of
France are fallen into the bands of the English,ex
cept Guadaloupe, Mariegalante 'and the Hie of
Franck which are under effective blockade. -France,
so long as the piesenl system with regard to foreign
commerce, is perseveredjnr has no other inteiest
in the preservation of place with America,' than so
far as hef political interests will not allow of, (his
country’s forming a closer connection with England !
—but she knows how reluctant America would he
to proceed to such a connection, and that, were she
even to resolve on it,'and to break with Francs, the
least concession upon her part wooli again shake
such resolution and delay its execution. England,
on the other band, has a real interest,- for various
reasons, in prese|^ng peace with Amt lira; bat
she calculates upon the defchcelessness of'.this na- ’
tioo and upon civil distentions, and the weakprta
of the government which is a tansequfjtce there- »_«
of,—her present omnipotence at sea. makes her look
down with contempt upon a nation, whose,sea roast.
and mercantile towns are protected by nothing but
incomplete fortifications, and whose navy consists
ol seven frigates-—England know* also by expert -
eoce, bow passively this government hears hnr iH-.
treatment, and thinks she has only to tske cate
that she does not ton oftep exceed the measure
thereof, and if that happens, to offer negotiations
and indemnifications.- *
There are persons who conceive that the present"
suspension of commerce with England wiH be tha
only means of bringing her-to reason, but so long as
a neutral part is ..pea, the English will by that
channel get American produce and introduce Eng
lish manufactures into America. America will there- '
fore be obliged to. sell her produce clieapcr vnd psy
dearer for her supplies. Thy. English navigation -
: would moreover, be beoefitted by ifjfIt is the avow- '
«d opinion of all who bay* distinguished themselves
as statesnun io this rounlry, that America will not V:
be able (o adjost her defences with the twopriu- -
cipal parties in Europe on permanent grounds; nod •
should it be accomplished-with the one, it would
involve a state of hostility with thf uthar.j For
mal declarations of war, art not nxpecteiCTrioai ei
ther party, tat (and this is the important point of
*** 1 take uf-poUacrf W*Ms) fjjfffftfa ft ,