The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-12-31 00:00:00, page 4

same. Suppose that by some miracle,
we should be snatched from the preci
pice at this time, can we flatter ourselves
With an eternal exemption from the ca
lamities of war ? Shall we flatter our
selves that that will he allowed to us,
which never yet was allowed to the
most favoured people, an uninterrupted
peace ? Ii not. are we willing, can we
answer it to our country, if without'
present • xperience, we subject ourselves
to be caught again in the same condition
we are now, without fortifications? L
we were to delay vigorous measures, we
might continue to delay until the pre
sent temper of the nation was frittered
away by negociations and discussions
running into endless details. Why should
not that happen again, which had hap
pened already? Had not the actual ter
ritory of the United States been invaded
by Spain; and had it not been negot iated
vmd treated up m year after year, till at
last perhaps there remained not more
than one in fiity of our countrvmen,who
remembered that we had at this verv
moment, a just cause of war against
Spain ?
Sir, (continued Mr. Gardinitr) now
is the propitious moment. At this cri
sis e very one will join us in advocating
the necessity of fortifying our ports and
harbours. The nation will now bear to
have large appropriations made for tills
great and important purpose. Our
means (he added) are in the wealth, in j
the resources of pur country* and in the
stout hearts oi our countrymen. Let us ;
go on then to the work ; for once let the
national treasure be expended lor the !
national defence. Ii’ we do not i nter
Upon it now, we probably never shall.—
We shall continue to wait like the eagle
in the fable, wfto did not build a house
when the sun shone, because then be did
not want it j nor when tlu storm raged,
because then he could not do it.
Mr. G. concluded with moving, in
or to try the sense of the house, to
fid up the Ida ik with four millions.
Mr. Quincey mention* i that seven
hundred anil fiiiv th . isand dollars h !
not average more than 1 7,000 do1 x: i. i
each place enumerated in the t o t -
requiring fortifications. ITe (nought
< a*.. place would require more th . i ;»i
Vk. .iteen thousand dollars.
Mr. iiloti .. - :id th : g *' re had
predicated their urgumem 1 suppo
h\:. , that the sum of 750,000 d 1
was tb whv1 t-.um intend, - .,n
plieu for the purposes of defence, i n.
was not the case. Many millions had
been heretofore app ropriated for fortifi
cations. It was known that cannon and
other implements necessary for fortifi
cations, had been paid for and convey
ed to the places where fortifications
were to be erected. The proposed sum
was only intended to defray the expen
ses of the naked walls. The system of
fortification embraced gun boats also.
The sum of four millions might be call
ed lor, but not for this species of forti
fications alone. The gun boats intend
ed to form a part of the system of de
fence would cost, to build and employ
them, two millions, five hundred thou
sand dollars. The Secretary of War
had given to the committee a general
statement of what sums of money might
he required for fortifications within cer
tain distances, to wit:
For New-Orleans, 8 60,000
Georgia, S. & N. Carolina, 252,000
i he Chesapeake & its waters, 160,000
Delaware bay and river, Jer
sey and New-York, 211,000
Connecticut oc lihode-Island, 31,000
Old Massachusetts, New
Hampshire and the Dis
trict of Maine, 135,000
Other places not mentioned, 25,000
Making altogether S 874.000
A number of members expressed an
opinion that it would be better to leave
the blank unfilled, until a hill should be
brought in ; and Messrs. Blount, Ma
sters and Cj trdiaier, withdrew their re
spective propositions. The report was
then agreed to without a division.
1 A’ T E L L ! G ENCE.
London, Nov. 12.
We stated in our yesterday’s paper,
that all friendly communication betwtcn
this country nd Portugal had now fi
| nailv terminat d, and to day we are sor
ry to confirm this account by inserting
tit • following Proclamation ofthe Piince
K j nt, brought ov r by the Am’-:land
' packet just arrived at Falmouth, in 11
UrtV'6 from Lisbon : —
Edict v / the Priri-r Re gen* of P rtugal.
T iving a’ a y s been my gr ?t st so
li... . .e to pr rvc within m Uomini
onr» during the present war, the most
perfeci i utrality, upon account of
th ' >»vl*dge.l ben fi.s resulting
* : •••n. It b i ho»v. Vi*r in si
er, and considering besides bow desi
rable a general pacification is to human
ity ; I have been pleased to accede to
the cause of the Continent, in uniting
myself to his majesty the Emperor of
the French, King of Italy, and to his
Catholick Majesty, with the view of
contributing as much as in my power to
the acceleration of the maritime Peace:
wherefore I am pleased to order that the
ports of this kingdom shall be imme ii
aicly shut against the entry of the ships,
as well of war as merchantmen, belong
ing to Great Britain, See. ike.
Given at the palace of Masoa, the 20th
October 1807, bv order of the Prince
Regent our Sovereign.—That all per
sons mav have due notice, it is order
ed that the edict be publickly affixed.
J. F. Ludovice.
Lisbon, Oct. 22, 1807.
The Danish fleet has been added to
the list of our navy, 8c letters of marque
were issued on Friday.
Sir Sidney Smith has left town to
take thi: command oi the secret Expe
dition with which he is intrusted. He
will hoist his flag on board the Pomnee,
and his force will consist of 6 sail of
tin line and 5000 military.
Letters f om St. P< ersburgh, of the
G.h ult. i*v -ntion the important circunv
stance,: rd Leveson Gower had direct
1 ed -sir Stephen Sharp to acquaint the
British Merchants, residing in the Rus
sian ports on th-j Baltic, that in reply to
ti.e proposal of his, Count RomanzofF
h . informed him “ hat he must decline,
ui I r the existing circumstances, to en
ter into any n. gociation for the r< n wal
j of the treaty of commerce with Grcat
Britain.
i n•• o jj ci 01 ivir. nose s inission, we
are given to understand, is to propose to
America a compensation for resigning
the colonial < arrviog trade of hr net, by
suspending o tr ow t a ivigation L i vv in
favour of America anil permitting her
to trade unr s rictedly in the produce
of our W st India isl nds.
Gen. Whidocke [who commanded
the English troops in in • unsuccess ul ,
attack on lluero; Ayres] was on Mon
day last put under arrest, prepar it ry
to his trial by a court martial. Pie
charges will b pr<-'< rr;d against him y •
Sir Samuel A ichimuy. 1 hey amount
to sev> nt.en.
Tin hips of the line.goir. «• -i'on the
,cci * expedition, are all in i a ’"mess
.r s biing. They arc at ibyrnomn.— J
dir. iight imantry of the German legipn .1