Norfolk gazette and publick ledger — Norfolk [Va.], 1810-04-30 00:00:00, page 2

from tit Virginia Argot.
Mk. Pix*»ey.—An opinion very generally pre
vail* that this gentleman it not qualified fur his si
tuation at the court oi' St. James. It is pretty nta
nifeft, that be hat not, ou all occasions, maintain
fd the dignity and republican spirit of the United
Sidles in bis correspondence with Binish minis
ters. We cannot avoid recalling to ntind the tame
ness with which he replied to i rertun letter of
Canning’s, which letter perverted tbn conversation
between them, and insinuated that Mr. Pinkney
Mid'not adhered to the truth in his narrations to
bis own goverjjjneot. Upon such an orraaton, we
Should have w*in much better pleas- d to have seen
•nr minister speaking in a tone of decision and with
that dignity which belongs to the character of the
fe*j|i representative of this country abroad, in»tcad
•( running into the “ whining cant of effected mo
deration,’' as he did. And what, in the name of
common sense, could hav> prompted Mr. Pirtknet
to make the sp- et h did at the sheep show froln k
in England? If the prises had not been distribut'd
before his speech waa made, the United Slabs
would unquestionably be entitled to a premium fur
the exhibition of so capital a ram lotah a! lie show
ojsheep. If at that moment Mr. Pinkney bad hud
a treaty in his pocket, made upon his own terms il
.would have hee» degrading to his government thus
to get opal a rnqHiiou fei|t of English subjects,
and, like a decn<gogtte, harr.tngue the guzzlers.—
There is another (him* that we do not approve in
the conduct of Mr. Pinkney, namely; that he
should permit his lady so tar to depart from the
republican siinplrrily enjoined upon hitv and her
by his station of minister of the United Slates, as
to appear on the birth day of the queen of England,
arrayed in “ geranium velvet, embroidered silver
drapery, festooned with bullion rope and tassels—
train of geranium velvet, embroidered in silver—
•ltd head-dress of feathers and diamonds.” When a
own is appointed to » puhfick office* it is his duly to
conform to the peculiar nature of that effue, and
to make his private conduct comport with Ins pub
lish function*. W- should as soon expert to see a
clergyman mount the pulpit with regimentals as to
tee the lady of a minister of the United States at a
foreign roert bedecked with thamoud*. We Ihink
that #e dan now begin to perceive n/iy Mr. Pink
ney is so hepiaiscd in London by « certain set of
persous—it b, we apprehend, because he is lii.ts
•cd to English manners, English luxury, and, above
all, to English tuistoeraep. He should be cautious,
lest, from the ciirmneUnre of hie having been no
toriously a poor man, suspicions should arise as to
th«|ource of those funds with winch those festoon
"id bullion- ropes, and above all those ilia
monfyti were purchased. We . ov* very little doubt
blit Wbijilsthe English hius and weakr.es* ot Mr. Pmk
hey Ttay^pry much occasioned that delay in the
MjtWtioefftMW difftrences with England, which
ia a circuihftonce of so much regret to this nation
* in gCOeWil.* Arid we are confirmed in this opinion
the more, .from ness lately received from Europe,
thsrt Mr. Pinkney has afforded facilities to certain
Individuals inLoudou to proceed to the European
continent, ur^gjr the character of American agents,
bet in fact to recover the property of Br't;sh rner
- chants »#raei| jn the jnrts of the alfi s of Franec.
Anfong other ugcnt^j-this description is one Joy,
tfiiijgs'iWprctty well depicted by the
whose proceedings
Aurora, the editor of which very respectable and
. intelligent paper calls hint Jay.
.Mdf iiM;'-: --’
IK*—Yr»twrd*y morning, George Lotah,
»le iubakunt, and many year* on*
ilderimn nF (his Borough.
' . i-i CIRCULAR
Of fht Aon. Jawti Bnsktnridgt, to hit Constituents.
- IWsmunoton, April 17!h, J8IO.
S|K,
* The Session of renpress now drawing toarh.se.
£K
I hasten to. gHs you a* full end corner a vtr.w of
the inoit prominent prnceed'ngs qi that body, as tin
compass of a letter will permit.
Aft be fiiinmenccnint of the session, oar fo
feign relutpn* wore a critical «nd aborning aspect,
and seemed to call forth* united wisdom, dei hum and
Armness of the gnvecnmvnt; and lor the unequivo
cal a\d ol every member in the union. With F.ng
lattd especially, our efj.iirs were represented by
(Muqp! of the lending advocate* ©f the atkninistraii
Oh, V> have arrived at that crisis, at which there
t*is no alternative left, but war or submission ; and
however much I deprecate the calamities of war
, with any nation, and more particularly with one
tj*hp is struggling for her own preservation in a
most unequal contest with tbe tvrant of continen
tal £ur||f -jet if tlie above opinion bad been enr
s i fact, 1 should have felt no difficulty in choosing be
those two alternative?. But upon a critical
arttul examination of the new causes of dif
ibat had *Uiseu between the funcl'*narie3 of
governments, it afforded mu much eoosola
liomfbHod, that in my humble opinion the crisis
did oof call lor an appeal to the last report ol nati
ons, and that it was not incompatible with the na
tional honour and sovereignty to abstain from the
Adoption of any hostile measure which might de
' ‘ feat tbs assurances given by the president of the U.
, Stsl^S to the Bnpishgovernment, of his undlminish
* td desire to arron#ipd|tte the muses ol misunder
standing ou terms of mutual furndship and iutc
rnt. llencjgbt was, as well as from other obvious
^CjMtfidsrglioM,. that t It It no d IKculty ia condemn
ing the puUcy of introducing into congress a reto
lotion reprobating in terms of abuse the conduct.of
British mm st^r. However correct the opinion
maybe, that onr secretary of stale received indig.
.mitics from minister, tt ip not less true, that rc.’
dress for lite tfjdni was instantly sought by the pie.
.- aidant indittmusing him, and it certainly did not
comport with tba digaitv, wfcteh ought to ebarae.
tutivfsof a.free and enlightened
-the champions ol tb* secretary
cr-pwtak'Og *C an ssiRpir of, bo
«Sd \he aMiustcr of a fdrsiga
% past which 1 jfbaad myself bou
us occasion, I (pat* hard charged
if my country
«<t concern, nor am 1 surprised tjrf& foj political
enemies should employ such (tflElu witbdraf
the confidence vrf my constituents'from aij^ yet
lr>«$eroi*i*itg teodtecy of tbit spirit of denunciati
on itcrfi political pniat of view, it it matter of deep
regret, and (or thehonour of my country ought not
to pat* without notice and animadversion. The
government of the United States it a government of
ihecks and balances; the powers given by it are
divided hetweto three separate and distinct depart
ments, executive, judiciary and legislative. T« the 1
first belongs the power of executing the laws ; to
^he Second the power of expounding ; and to the
third the power nt making them. And the pre
sident has no mr.re the power oi making laws than
t tie legislature has of ex pounding or executing them.
He is no more tne government tnan the ether o*
prrtment*. To the congress alone belongs the
'power ol declaring war, raising money and provid
ing for the common defence and geneial weilare ;
and if it be true that a memi.er of that body, who
shall not unite with the president in whatever-me*
sure he may recommend, or approve all theexecu
lire acts he may perforin, nhandont hit government,
the representatives of the people are reduced to the
liumliU condition «f Register) of his edicts, and the
whole powers of the government are toncentiat.-d
in bis hands. If this be republican doctrine, 1 t on
fess that I am notone. I had been led to believe,
that as your representative, I stood upon higher
and more honoai.sble ground, than the mere instru
ment ol executive will, and that upon all qu. slions,
and more especially those in whieh your dearest in
terest were involved, [ was seenred by the conslitu- I
lion, in the independent exercise of my poor judge
ment, and upon that principle I have acted, and
will continue to act, as long as I have the honour of
being youi representative, regardless of the abuse
that may he heaped upon m« by the believers in ex
e-utive infallibility.
• uuic«ujgc»uri3 inai n«Tc l’ctu
made during the present session, to hurl this ustiin
into a wac with Great Britain, have hitherto beeB
frustrated, and as I he whole tenor of my conduct has
been opposed to that measure, it affords n« much
consolation in being able to nay that the latest in
telligence from that country confirms me in the be
lief, that war may be avoided and all our differences
adjusted on terms of reciprocal interest. The speech
of the King of England to his parliament breathes
the spirit of conciliation towards this nation, not
withstanding the diplomatirk mUrtourse between
the two countries had been suadenly and unexpect
edly interrupted by the dismissal ol his minister.—
While he says he sincerely regrets this event, he has
however received the 6t>nngcst assurances from oor
l'residnt through the Ameriran minister, that the
U. States are desirous of maintaining friendly rela
tions between the two countries, whr h be will meet
with a cortfspoiiding disposition on his part. lf»w
those who have been unremitting endeavouring to
precipitate us into a war with that country, can
excuse then.selves to their constituents, when it is
now manliest that our differences can he settleu
without the effusion of blood ami on terms ton, com
patible with the honour of both nations, is left to
their ingenuity to explain.
With France, the other nation, whose outrages
on our commercial rights have long been the sub
ject of cur just complaint, the condition of our just
relations does not correspond with my wishes, or
the repeated attempts that have been made to induce
her to respect o«r rights. Kegardicss alike of the
laws »l nations, and the farth of treaties, her em
peror in open defiance of both, lias wantonly cap
tured, condemned amt bornt our peaceable ships ;
robbed nod crmlly treated them on the ocean, and
when overtures of amicable accommodation are
unde, in stead of retribution, oor overtures are con
t-mpously rejected, liy/the latest intelligence from
that country, w« have good ground* for believing
that American property to an immense value,, and
under the aafeguard of a solemn treaty lias been
seized in the pons o! France, Spam and Italy, by
order of the ernpei or, which is understood to have
piorecdid from hi* wrath against its for our not
making a roromon ranse with him, in the war a
grtiust England. Indeed, advices are now received
oi measures adopted on his part, insulting oar i»de
pen viice and violating all that is respected a
oiotij_6t ci viliacd nations. Tbe letter of the French
minister of foreign affairs to the American am .as
g.idor requires no comment with any mail who feels
for the honour oi his country. The measure of in
jusUce is now full. What nation on earth, except
our own, would have so patiently submitted to ag
gression iffter aggression ? for 17 years we have
been insulted as well as plundered. During that pe
riod wt have, with most wonderful apathy, given
up our defenceless cinnincrrc, an easy prey to tbe
piratical cruisers of thet nation—We have patient
ly submitted to insult after insalt. Our forbearance
may have excited contempt, but it has not satisfied
the spirit of rapacity. We have received stripes on
our knees and have not yet risen. It has
been our lot to sustain greater outrage* and vi
o'ence, thun perhaps, hasever before fell to the lot
of an unoffending nation. Such as cannot fail to
excite in the breast of every American the strong
est sentiments of disgust and resentment. What
may be the issue of toe efforts of the government to
restrain the repetition of those enormities, or for
the adjustment of our differences with a power so
regardless of what is due to its own honour or our
rights, is impossible for me to predict.
On tbe third of January last, tbe President by a
message recommended the passage of laws authoris
ing him to rail out a detachment of one hundred
thousand militia, and for raising a volunteer force
of tweoty thousand by enlistment. Ou this recom
mendation a bill originated in tbe Senate for raising
such volunteer furre, and a majority oi that body
having voted for expunging so much of it at re
spec tell the bounty to be given (which in the aggre
gate would have amounted to near one million of
dollars) the bill has remained nhacted on ever since,
and I presume will not be taken up again this ses
sion. On the same rerommendatiou a bill origi
nated in the boose of representatives, authorising a
teUrhntenl of one hundred thousand militia. A
mongst other thing* contained in this bill, if provid
ed that volunteer* might be accepted in lieu of
drafts, who were to be runvrnod add encamped ten
day* in each year, for the purpose pf being insiruet
adiu discipline and camp duty; to receive pay and
rations, and %fc th* elope edihe service 1* be entitledi
to « mask*! and equipments as a beunty; to hold;
— ** —"4-* -* n moment’s Warning to
be employed out
Utflpd $tate*-I votbd *j
gainst this bill became I thought it would subject the
mill tin tube harassed unnetrtsarily.as lfe«i rmi^
<*>d not justify t baiter *ssity of placing ikH a fet'd
m tin hands of the exwatiar; because it would
product » waste of ugar three millions of dollars;
because the rnosiitufion forbids the employing
the militia without the hmits of owF tesnlory;
and because I was apprehensive, from the zeal
manifested by the'friends of the bill, in retaining
the clause authorising tbd'President to employ them
out of our territory, that tbejr object was to effect
the conquest of Canada.
The militia constitutes the physical force of the
country, and not to be placed at the disposition of
any government for purposes of conquest. They
are d> signed for nobler purposes, the preservation
of order ; the deience of tbe liberties c*f tbe country
against domestic k violence nod invasion. They
never wer* intended to be used as tbe mere instru
ments of ambition for despoiling others of their
rights, but for the sacred duty of defending their
’vn. And in this light they were evidently viewed
by the authors oi the constitution, or they would
n"t have limited their use to tbe exc Iosive purposes
i/J executing the (oils, suppressing insurrettims, or
repelling invunorn, nor would they have provided
•ha* Officers should derive their commissions from
.the states. If the venerable sages, who trained
thni instrument, had intended to give to congress
s i monstrous and s" dang“rousa power, they would
have s.>id ,o in p’airr and intelligible language.—
But they have carefully and studiously avoided it,
“S |3 niuudest Irom the whole structure of the in
strument. Ti e bill lies in the senate, and l eoler
ta'n sluing liopesth.it it will not p iasio 'hat body.
1 he embargo and non inteicnur**'- laws have so
completely drain'd the treasury, that it will be ne
cessary in order to preserve ibe ;<ubKck credit, to
borrow a boo' four miliums of d'dtars for the service
ol tbe present year. While on the one hand it is a
matter of d“-|> rep-f, hat we heve bilb o from a
state of prosperity in oat fitrcncrulaffbirsunparallolled
■n the uunats ol any n mon, to a state of insolvency ;
it is-probably foi tun tie on the other hand, as it
lias contributed to keep us out of war. That we have
ieen saveu front tie calamities of a bloody nd un
necessary war, is a rnaiter of comfort to the real
lovers of peace, and seems to he a providential n>
tetferrnce of heaven mour behalf.
Ettorts art making to retrench the publrck ex
penditure ly reducing the army, and f am in great
hopes that object will be accomplished before the
session closes. I ought to have said the remnant
of the army left to us after the ravages of diseases
in the pestilential climate of New Orleans, where
about nine hundred of our fellow citizens inglori
onrly perished.
Such, sir, are the leading subjects of legislative
considerations which have been agitated during the
session ; and such the part I found mvself constrain
ed, in the exercise of my best judgment, to take.
The propriety of my conduct is cheerfully submit
ted, under the persuasion that it will be viewed
with the indulgence due to the vnyerjections of our
nature.
Your obedient servant,
James breckenridge.
Nkw York, April 23.
As several erroneous publication* have appeared
in the newspapers respecting the vessels destroyed
in Cadis, and desirous a true statement should ap
pear, I think proper to publish the following :
| !• P' kg S. Folger, master n» the brig Young
Soldier, lately arrtved at New York, and bring hi
said place in a gale of wind that commenced on
March 4lb, and continued until March gih, 1810,
in which gale a number of American vessels and o
thers, «ve?e driven on shore at the east side of said
bay, and were destroyed by fire, do hereby give it
as my opinion and the opinion of the people at Ca
d'z, as near as I could ascertain thr same, that the
vessels that had a cargo or part of a cargo on
i board, which the English knew would 1 p beneficial
I to the French, their enemy, they deployed; and
that the French destroyed all they could get access
to, and kept in possession the officers and crews o'
all that remained on board at s«.id time : and I be
1.eve it is Dot ascertained in what manner they were
treated, as all communication from said part of
said hay was entirely cut off.
I lurther think much honour is due to -admiral
sir J*hn Purvis, commander of the British flee’t then
in C.idiz, for his noble exertions tor the preservation
of the American shipping in said gale; And I fur
ther say not.
PF.LF.G S. FOLGER.
Nnolork, Aprils1st, 1810.
Those printers that have inserted the other
publications, are requested to publish the above.
P. S. F.
Salem, April 20.
By the arrivals yesterday from Smyrna and Pa
lermo, we .learn, that all commercial enterprises
in that quarter continue extremely unfavourable._
The war between the Turks and the Russians con
tinued, supposed to be with no advantage to the for
mer. The Russians had a strong naval force in the
Black Sea. Neither English nor American ves
sels were suffered to pass the Straits of Constanti
nople into that sea. The accounts from Naples,
respecting the condition of American property and
American citizens, is worse and worse. Even in
rases where the property has been cleared by the
courts, and the decision confirmed at Paris, or
where a •aiuprom.se has been made between the
raptors and claimants, still it is seized and seques
tered by the government; and the crews of the ves
sels are offered their choice, to go into prison, or
enter on board French privateers ; and, strange and
paridoxiral as it may seem, many choose the latter,
in hopes theieby of getting clear of our dear Jriench
the French, by being captured by our imettrate joes
the British 1 A British eruizer is off’ Naples, giving
information to as many Americans us she can meet
with, of the hazard ol entering that port, and ad
vising them to take another course. The general
system of the French, the champions of the free
dontn of the sea*, is, to plunder, burn, sink and
destroy whatever Americau vessels they meet with
upon the ocean ; nod to seize all American pro
perty they caa lay their baud' on, in port.
P Philadelphia, April 23.
LATEST FROM CADIZ.
b We era informed by a respectable gentleman
%om Cadiz, which place be left the 2«d March,
that it hi believed the crew* qf the American ves
atii#en| «ffeo» the gale bitween ti* 4th
•nd $th March, were made prisoners by the French
I®# marched to Seville. That the crews of the
Sparnah. and fugues* ahi* of war which went
oo shore, weiMpken off by the British boats, who
M#*'* M s ‘a ^ #r,V'M th«r
falling into the hands of the FrencSi That them
were.still eleven sail of Spanish and tensinl of jjrj.
tisb men of war before Cadis. That tie' British
bad rendered every possible assistance to the Ame
ricans, and lost several men in their humane at
tempts, while the French barbarously burnt the
American vessels and cargoes as fast as they came
ashore. That admiral Purvis had s-nt word to the
French, that if they persisted™ making,Spaniards
work on their fortifications, after that notice the
first dag> saw them at work he would blow up a
ship with French prisoners, the second day ano
ther, and so progress. The consequence was, the
French immediately retired,,and the fort is now in
the possession of the British. Ad«#ri.l Purvis then
sent a message to king Joseph, intimating that an
less he furnished water for the French prisoner*
they most do Without. A quantity of water is now
daily .tent, sufficient to supply the whole British fleet
Our informant says, that 200,000 men oaunot'
conquer Cadiz.
lyommtmtcarcdjor the Renter.
[Our rpadets are already in possession <*f tfe prto
rip^i particulars of the drstrncm e storm that took
plare at Cadiz between the 4th and 9th.^f Ust
plinth—the write! of the following fetter (under
date of the 11 th) after stating the i,mi. «5an addst
“ The English admiral, John Child Purvis, He.
serves infinite credit for his generous and Vnevo-,
leut exertions during the storm, and' partkpkrly
towards our countrymen his exertions wertt uure*
n,itied ; be distrihu'ed upwards ni thirty icables
and anchors; and his boats were continually out
notwithstanding it was so noistermi*. I„ s^CourI
mg one of our vessels, one of his h,lats W(lt. wnk
mid the men, 10 or 15 m cumber, with owe lieuts
nant, all perished !
“ The whole of theopposite roast, from fort St.
Catharine to the Carrarcas recovered with wrecks.”
^ April 24* ' , .
The Committee of Congress now sitting to en
quire into the conduct of gen. Wilkinson will not be
able to conclude the investigation during the pra
s»ot session. Although they have been pretty inde
fatigable, such a mass of evidence is daily develop
log, that they have agreed to make report, jn part
in the rogrse of this week, and to ask leave to u*
again. Newman, who says he was employed byr
" llkumin m some of his secret projects, is at Wash
ingtun, and has been or will he examined by the
committee. J
B<u/mro*E, Anri! 24.
COMMUNICATION.
[From a repectabl* source.]
Extract of a letter from a gentleman „f Ttracitr
and well know respectablity now in Cadif, to his
friend in Baltimore, received by this morning’s
New Y. rk n ail, dated 6
«TK r s. ‘tCA°;z- March 9,181.0.
me french seem unwilling to attack os,-, and
as yet continue on the defensive, keeping their ad
advauced posts in sight of the Isle of Leon. What
their future plans may be cannot he ascertained, la
the mean time, we are possessed of lho follow mo «.
greeahle information: that Malaga, Marhella, Ks
t '0< na, Alf’esirus, San Roque, Farifa ere free front
t eir enemies, in eonseque nee of the people n these
and other adjacent towns having risen en mass*
and killed the greatest part of the French found
therein. T„ th,s place and the island w• have a
bout 25 000.effective troops of the line, chiefly Spa
niards, with some English and Portuguese, which
will not only 1 e sulficient for the defence of this for
trpss, but also to had sarcours or undertake new
enteiprues in other points. The new government
(the council of regency) inspires cnnfaleere, and
the junta of Cadiz, in runim-oii with «(*t with
great activity and efficacy fur the independence And
welfare of this rll-faied country. With perseverance
toe fruit of their labours wilt he obtained, aud whilst
we have a good government, we have uo right* to
despond." _ - ■■ ■ ' '
A letter from Naples, of the 17tk March rer*jv„
ed at Salem, says that the cargoes of, thrAtaeViraw
vessels condemned there had sold a( a high price.-*
The coifee sold for a silver ducat peir, .popnd. .The
proceeds of the whole are estimated, at least, at five
millions of ducats.
Badajox, Feb. 10, 111*. >
ADDRESS OF ROMANA.
“ Spaxiahds ! .
“ It will appear idle and supeifluous to address
you, when so many proclamations have, been issued
in order to keep you steadfast' in the ardent fbve of
your country; but in a, time so pregnant wrth dit-.
asters, of which the vilegovernment which we bava
had is the cause, I am induced to take up my pen
in order to shew you that the consternation ip which
the invasion of Andalusia and the unexpected sue*
cess of our enemies^eem to have thrown you, does
not partake of the heroic dame of libctly, with
which you have been heretofore animated. 1 tell
yeu the truth : Never can we be subdued by a fo
reign power so long as the spirit of patriotism end
thf appellation of Spaniard^ subsist among as,-^
You have only to take a view of the Peninsula ; sur
rounded on almost all sidrs by the sea ; divided by
rugged mountains, fortified by maritime placet, ma
ny of which are impregnable ; these are the rocks
on which the infamous cohorts of the tyrant who
lay waste our country will often meet destruction.
Protected by the great and generous English nation,
who united with the brace Portuguese, (who are our
brothers and one with us) »iil never forsake us;haw
is it possible that a thought of your being reduced
can occupy your minds ? No: Never Spaniards.—
Courage and Constancy. Suffer not yourselves to
be dismayed by past misfortunes which are the ef
fects ol former evils ^d misconduct. To arms!
Sp;n#ards ! be animated by courage and constancy.
Resume new valour. Despise the cowardly, pusil
lanimous wretch who dares epdfavonr to dishearten
you : May this noble Pi ooinre produce new end
illustrious defenders uf our outraged country and re
ligion, and may it, he the instrument of the resto
ration nf our independence and of our beloved 'sove»
reign Ferdinand; and since the people—this rung.
nauioimis Spanish people—desic** Jibert^jd* us o
ntle and fight .in. concert ja so tflorious a (%ee
Ilelying upon which ! conclude with fhg assurance
that I am ready to shed the last drop of my blood
in jour defence.
' MARQUIS DE LA jROM VSA.*’