National gazette. (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 1793-05-04 00:00:00

National Gazette.
By P. FRENEAU: Published WEDNESDAYS and SATURDAYS, at THREE DOLLARS per annum.
NUMB. 54 of Vol. II.]
SATURDAY, May 4, 1793.
[Total No. 158.]
From the (Boston) Columbian Centinel.
SINCE the certainty of war between France and Great-Britain, party-spirit has begun to revive among us, and those who were open enemies to American Liberty, in the late war, are now bawling, fe-rociously, against the glorious revolution of our magnanimous friends, the French! A revolution which does honour to the human race! A revolution, which has nobly overthrown the haughty seat of regal des-potism, feudal tyranny, and hereditary usurpation; and put under its firm foot prelatial VILLAINY, benighted SUPER-STITITION, and the most degrading ecclesi-astical OPPRESSION!—A revolution, which bids fair to emancipate the whole world of man, from the iron yoke of IGNOR-ANCE, blind BIGOTRY, and the most hu-miliating BONDAGE! and on their ruins, to establish MANLY FREEDOM, useful KNOW-LEDGE, fair TRUTH, and universal BE-NEVOLENCE! In the course of this revo-lution, it is however, greatly to be lament-ed, that some horrid cruelties have been perpetrated, by lawless and savage mobs, and which every friend to true, rational freedom and society, must execrate; but which none but aristocratic and monarchi-al villains will dare to impute to the French as a Nation.
With our own eyes, have we seen, and notwithstanding the old prejudices, so care-fully intilled in our minds, in our earliest years, by our British Mother-in-Law, we were compelled to admire the uniform de-cency, exemplary good conduct, and bene-volent, gentle manners of the French, who were among us, during our late struggle for PEACE, LIBERTY, and SAFETY; and on the other hand many of us can still re-collect, with indignation, the old brutal-ities, overbearing intolence, and outrageous conduct of the arrogant, imperious, surly, selfish Britons, while we were a province to those haughty islanders.
From the samples of both nations which were formerly among us, we have had a fair opportunity to judge of each, and I think truth will justify us in asserting, that, from our own observation of the several people, cruelty is not the distinguishing cha-racteristic of the polished Nation of France; whose people, in general, are as superior to those of Britain, as civilized society is to a savage life.
One of your late correspondents, Mr. RUSSELL, would persuade us to meet half way this nation, who are now at war with France; but, until they have complied with the late treaty of peace, delivered up to us our frontier posts, from whence they derive an immense fur trade, and from thence assist the hostile tribes of Indians with warlike implements and supplies, for the destruction of many of our defenceless settlers; and also pay for those negroes their military nobles stole from our south-ern brethren, in the late war, and strictly, in all things, comply with the treaty, no honest American will I trust, meet them half way. They had a right to shut their North American and West India ports against us, and they exercised that right pretty rigorously. It will not be for their advantage, now they are at war with France, to keep us any longer out of these ports; and therefore, doubtless, while we are neuter, (as I hope we shall continue) we shall trade on equal terms with them, during this war.
Those, who are friends to monarchy among us, (of whom are the whole heavy troop of aristocrats, the black band of to-ries, the sishering gang of speculators, and some few pulpit drummers) pretend to de-plore the fate of the late king of the French, and attempt to blast, with their venomous excretion, the whole Gallic Nation. That the unhappy Louis was guilty of Treason, and attempts against the liberties of the people of France, the National Conven-tion, (by a majority of six hundred and eighty-five, out of seven hundred and twenty-one) decreed, and from the evi-dence produced against him, I think de-creed justly; but whether the state of their nation demanded the immediate punish-ment inflicted upon that perjured man, is what we, at present, cannot properly de-termine: we must, and ought to wait un-til we can have authentic documents, and a full state of facts, through some other medium than the corrupt and polluted channel of a British newspaper, before we would finally judge of the expediency and propriety of this measure. Already however, we see addresses to the National Convention, pouring in, approving of the execution of the faithless king: of whose
GUILT, I think, we have sufficient proof. He had sworn before the people, to sup-port and defend the constitution of his country, as altered and amended: Yet he refused his sanction to the decree of the National Convention intended to banish from France the refractory priests—those pests of the nation, those arch traitors to the civil and religious rights of the people: He held a treasonable correspondence with the proscribed aristocratic tyrants—and he remitted money to pay his guards who had deserted to those tyrants, at Coblenz, in order to invade their country, and subject the emancipated nation again to his lawless will.—When his palace was forced, a pri-vate closet, like the hypocritical TOM HUTCHINSON's, was found, fixed in a se-cret part of the wall, and, in that closet were found the evidences of his guilt—his treasonable conduct and designs. There was an iron door to this closet, the key of which was produced and shown him, on his trial; and being asked, whether he knew that key? he equivocated; he would neither own or disown, that the key so produced, was his key. The penal code of the French, ordains DEATH the punish-ment for treason, and the law, like the deity, is no respecter of persons. In the case of any other than an anointed Trai-tor, every one would say, the evidence is plenary, is satisfactory—let the law have its course, and freely cut off, from the so-ciety he had sworn to protect, a perjured traitor!
FREEMAN.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The Address of Cardinal Zelada, Secretary of State of the court of Rome, to the President of the French National Con-vention.
MR. PRESIDENT,
THE sovereign Pontiff, overwhelmed with the profoundest grief, on account of the two unfortunate events which hap-pened in this capital on the 13th inst. and which has caused the death of M. de Bas-ville, charges me to send you this address, and to beg you to put it before the Na-tional Convention. Sharing all the affliction of his holiness, I have myself hardly strength enough to conclude this letter, and to assure you of the most respectful con-sideration in which I have the honour to be, Mr. President,
Your most humble, and most obedient servant, (Signed) CARDINAL ZELADA.
Pope PIUS THE SIXTH, servant of the servants of God, to the National Assem-bly of France,
Rome, January 14, 1793.
Citizen Representatives,
“Deeply afflicted as we shall be all our life time with the greatest truth, at the murder, execrable forever, and impossible to foresee, committed in our capital on the body of our most honored and most illus-trious son in Jesus Christ, the French citi-zen Basville, by a monster misled no doubt by the completest folly, and worthy of death; we have taken the mourning usual in greatest calamities, and commenc-ed personally the most austere fast equal to our sorrow, and not ceased to beg pardon of the supreme being, supplicating him to deign to make known to us the wretch who has rendered himself guilty of so great a crime.
“Only consulting ourselves, obeying the first impulse of our heart, as likewise the duty prescribed to us by religion, humanity, the right of nations, and our personal con-sideration of the most high and most puif-fant republic of France we do not lose a moment to manifest to her the whole ex-ent of our affliction, which it is probable we shall not long survive; and to intreat her, with eyes bedewed with the bitterest tears, not to impute to a whole people, lit-tle enlightened in some respects, weak and defenceless, the crime of an individual wor-thy of a thousand deaths.
“To our grief greater than any human expression can make known, we join with the sincerity we profess in all our ac-tions, the affliction we feel that our old age, our infirmities, and the distance of places, do not permit us to go to prove to the wor-thy representatives of the said most re-spectable republic of France, our senti-ments such as we have expressed them.
“We therefore charge in a special manner the most deserving citizen, whom we have known and distinguished in the three jour-
nies he made to our capital, to go the in-stant our extraordinary messenger arrives, to bow down before the most respectable National Convention, to intreat them in our name, not to use against a people, a great part of whom bemoans highly the murder, which we shall forever deplore, the forces which are in the power of the most high and most puif-fant republic of France, nor to exercise upon them the ri-gour which a great and offended nation has a right to exercise.
“Submitting ourselves, in case the most respectable republic should deign, by the organ of her worthy representatives, to receive with some regard our present ad-dress, and to consider at least in her justice, in the magnanimity which characterises her, that the murder which we will be-wail during the few days which providence has reserved to us, and in which the au-thor of all truth knows, that neither we nor our government have taken even the least indirect part, submitting ourselves to compensate partly if possible, that too fatal event; we have resolved.
“1. To send a prelate of our court, charged to manifest afresh all our sorrow and to claim the happy effects of the ge-nerosity of the said most respectable repub-lic.
“2. To inflict the justest punishment on the wretch, whom we will not call our sub-ject, author of this homicide.
“3. To cause the havoc made in the palaces of the French academy and the con-ful to be reimbursed.
“4. To banish from our capital and ter-ritories all Frenchmen, non-resident before the French revolution, and suspected of emigration.
“And finally, to grant to other French individuals, every safety and protection, so as we claim, and dare fully and entire-ly to hope them in favour of the said prelate, our subject, on his entering the territory of the French republic when he shall go to fulfil his mission before the most worthy national convention, for whose happiness and that of the whole republic of France, we pray, and shall not cease to pray to the supreme bestower of all grace.
By order of his Holiness, (Signed) CARDINAL ZELADA, Secretary of State.”
Paris, March 11. The people here as each other—Why have not our generals published an official account of the affair at Aix-la-Chapelle? Why are not the let-ters from the commissioners in Belgium read in the Convention? The generals of the enemy have published pompous accounts of the advantages they have gained—why do not our ministry endeavour to destroy the fatal impression which the relations of the enemy may have upon the French youth, an impression which must be very unfavourable to the recruiting of the ar-my.
We are assured that the sitting of last night was very interesting to the commit-tees of the Convention.—More than eigh-ty persons were present. Danton and Gen-tonnet set out this morning for Belgium.
The dispatches from Gen. Dumourier are of the utmost importance. A very serious action took place on the 13th, between Brus-sels and Louvain, the details of which will probably be laid before the Convention to-morrow.
Leyden, March 11. The letters from Cologne of the 4th of March, state the loss of the French, in the action of the 1st, to be 6,500 men, and 45 pieces of cannon; the Imperialists had 350 killed, and 253 wounded. They do not, however, vouch for the authenticity of these particulars.
The following is said to be a correct statement of the forces of the combined powers now acting against France on the Rhine, viz. Under the command of the Prince de Saxe Cobourg and general Clair-fayt, 38,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry; prince Hohenloe, 35,000 troops; count Colloredo, near Manheim, 26,000; general Beaulieu, 14,000; general Wurmsier, in the Brisgau, 35,000; besides 30,000 Croats now marching through Germany to the same destination; making in the whole, 180,500 troops; which number, the addi-tion of the Prussian armies, and the army of the empire, make above 300,000 effect-ive men. It is also said, that Custine's army is reduced to the last extremity by sickness and want.
Bois le Duc, March 9. It is confirmed, that the French evacuated the country of Kuyk on the 6th, the day before which, the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt, comman-dant of Grave, had come out with thirty
horse, to drive away some French hussars, who wanted to make themselves masters of Sluys, but they retired before the prince came up with them; he, however, took some waggons loaded with oats and hay destined for the French troops.
We learn from Heusden, that the French evacuated the fortress of Doevers on Tues-day night, in so much haste, that they threw two pieces of cannon which they found there into the water; that fort was then again taken possession of by our troops who made a French out-post of 10 men prisoners, who had not timely notice of the retreat of their countrymen. Prince Frederick of Orange entered Heusden with about 2,000 Anspach troops, which have filled that place with military.
We have received verbal accounts from Bois-le-Duc, that the French are assem-bling in the neighbourhood of Diest. We also learn, that they are forming an army on the Hesde, near Breda.
Liege, March 8. The Austrians made themselves masters of this place on the eve-ning of the 5th. An arch of the great bridge having been broken down by the French, the duke of Wirtemberg was not able to make his way thither sooner.
The Prince of Saxe Cobourg has demanded from this city 600,000 florins by way of present to his army, and all the towns which were so imprudent as to re-ceive the French will undergo the same fate. Remonstrances have been made to the prince on this subject, but he replied that he could not depart from his demand.
The Hulsans have seized several waggons loaded with silver plate, and 45 ounces of gold plate: taken from the cathedral, have been in part seized near St. Tron. The plate of the chapter of St. Peter, was luck-ily forgotten.
Last Sunday, three French priests, seven emigrants and three citizens were mas-sacred by the Patriots.
Frankfort, March 9. Koningstein sur-rendered to the Prussians yesterday; and the late French garrison which occupied that fortress, consisting of about 440 men are arrived in this city.
Dort, March 15. Intelligence has just been received from Williamstadt, that the garrison made a sally, with 45 men only; that they spiked three eighteen pounders, which were in the battery under the dyke, killed 20 Frenchmen, and took nine prison-ers, without losing a single man.
Hague, March 15. It appears, by recent accounts received here, that 48 pieces of cannon were taken at Liege, and very large magazines of hay, corn, and above 40,000 mules.
March 17. Intelligence is just received here, that the French have raised the siege of Williamstadt, evacuated Klundert, and retreated towards Antwerp, after setting fire to the village of Moerdijk, and to their own batteries, and leaving some cannon behind them.
Portsmouth, March 19. The ships in the harbour are stripped of every man for the fleet at Spithead, which, to the number of nine sail of the line, with frigates, &c. are ready for sea on the first notice from govern-ment, which is every hour expected.
The French force in the channel from the best information that has been received consists of two three deckers, six other ships of the line, and six large frigates, among which is the Proserpine, of forty guns, which one of the early intelligence prints asserted to have been captured some days ago.
Vienna, March 2. A courier arrived here yesterday, at four o'clock in the after-noon from Peterburgh, with the official account, that the empress of Russia had ac-ceded to the coalition of the powers of Europe, and that a fleet of ten ships of the line are soon to quit the ports of her ma-jesty, in order to join the Spanish squadron, and to act in concert with the Spaniards against France. Count Katsimouky, min-ister from Russia, in a conference yesterday with the vice-chancellor, count Cobenzel, officially communicated to him this resolu-tion of the empress his mistress.
It is asserted, that the chevalier Gazotti, ambassador from the republic of Venice, has notified to our court, that the Senate of Venice had acknowledged France as a Republic; and that in consequence, they accepted of a minister from that nation. That Venice, however, according to her adopted system, will always observe the strictest neutrality.
Maastricht, March 3. In the seven days bombardment of this place we have been fortunate enough not to lose more than four emigrants and about five of the gar-

riso, besides 23 men wounded; we do not yet absolutely know how many burghers have been killed, but we have reason to believe not more than of the garrison. The number of damaged houses is great, but not so much so as might be expected from the quantity of bombs thrown into the place. Some country people report the loss of the enemy to be great. Our prisons are full of Frenchmen.
Venlo , March 11. The bombardment of the enemy has considerably damaged our houses, but less so than at Maestricht, where more than 1400 have suffered considerably from the siege, which seems to have aimed more at destroying the edifices than taking the place.
Helvoetsluys , March 16. Yesterday morning at day break, a gunboat got over from the island of Over-Flackey, with a Dutch ensign and forty men, who surprised a battery which the French had erected within pistol shot of the fort, and killed 20 of the enemy. — The Dutch then spiked the guns of the battery, and got off without the loss of a man, though the French line immediately advanced upon them. — About 4000 French are before this fortress, and not, as has been reported, the whole army of M. Dumourier, whose head-quarters, during his stay, were between Breda and Williamstadt, from whence he came daily to attend the bombardment.
It is universally believed here, that Brussels is re-possessed by the Austrians without loss.
The first column of the Hanoverians are hourly expected to arrive before Haerlem. Breda is still in the hands of the French, and they are fortifying it with additional bastions.
London , March 23. A letter received this morning by a respectable house in this city, states, that his majesty's ship Bedford, of 74 guns, has been taken by the French. We hope this intelligence will turn out to have originated in some misapprehension, but serious alarms are entertained for her safety.
The earl of Mansfield died at Caen Wood, on the 15th March, in the 89th year of his age. — Lord Stormont succeeds to the title and estates.
Mr. Hope of Amsterdam, who is now in London, received a letter yesterday, which he considered of so much importance as to transmit it to the minister. It stated, that a report had reached Amsterdam, that the prince de Saxe Cobourg came up with the French armies between St. Trou and Louvain; engaged them, and gained a complete victory; in which the French loss was estimated at 12,000 men. Their armies were totally routed and dispersed — This news wants confirmation.
[In continuation from our last]
Enumeration of the Extirpations of Man, since the introduction of Fanaticism.
THE Hebrews were the first fanatics in the world, that we know of. If we can possibly give credit to their own annals, they alone may dispute with the Spanish conquerors of the new world the glory of being the greatest destroyers of mankind. If we make a calculation of all the infidel blood which they boast of having shed from the famous plagues of Egypt to the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, we may without danger of error, estimate the effects of this carnage (which continued for 1500 years) at five millions of lives. Besides these, they destroyed of their own nation, in obedience to their prophets *****.
[Here our correspondent proceeds to enumerate the various victories, defeats, massacres, murders, &c. recorded in the scripture history, as the effects of fanaticism, which for obvious reasons we pass over. — The numbers, however, at these different periods slaughtered, stand thus — 23000 — 24000 — 42000 — 150,000, and 2,000,000, making in the whole, 2,239,000.]
The Jewish massacre of the Romans in the isle of Cyprus, and in the Cyrenaic, cost the lives of 220,000 Romans. The world, however, which had been so long proscribed and laid waste by the Jews, was now fully avenged. In the capture of Jerusalem there perished of that nation 1,337,490 men. The revolt of the Messiah Barcochebas was the occasion of 600,000 men losing their lives by the sword or torture.
The persecutions which the synagogue has undergone from the days of the emperor Adrian till our times, that is to say, for 1500 years; without exaggeration, makes the number of Jews that died of famine and wretchedness, that were hanged, drowned, burnt, &c. to be 3,000,000.
The establishment of the Mahometan religion, and its propagation by the Caliphs, by means of fire and sword, cost Europe and Asia at least 3,000,000 of persons.
The massacre of the Manichees in Persia, the place of the worship of Ariman and Oromaz, was the death of 200,000 men.
The massacre of the same sect in the Greek empire by an edict of the emperor Theodore, deprived 100,000 men of existence.
The schism of the Donatists, the quarrel about consubstantiation, the dissensions of the Iconoclasts (according to Trenchard) destroyed 360,800.
The seditions occasioned by priests who
for many ages disputed the possession of the patriarchate and St. Peter's chair, annihilated at least 20,000.
The massacre of St. Brice, at the lowest estimation, 50,000.
The cruades against the Turks, on the lowest calculations, 2,350,000.
The crusade of the Teutonic knights, who ravaged the countries bordering on the Baltic sea, 100,000.
The cruades against the Emperors, 300,000 — The massacre of the Albigenes, 100,000 — The great western schism 50,000.
The fanatical war of the Hussites, occasioned by the council of Constance, 150,000.
The establishment of Christianity in America, which according to Las Casas, had occasioned so early as in his time the destruction of 12,000,000 of Indian natives, without reckoning those that perished since his days from the same causes as formerly.
The civil war in Japan, in the last century (occasioned by the plots of Catholic priests) 300,000.
The day of St. Bartholomew, 100,000 — The massacre of Marindol and de Gabrieres, 18,000 — In the massacre of Ireland 200,000 — Besides all these, there have been at least one million extirpated of the Vaudeville at different periods; and Don Louis de Paramo reckoned 100,000 persons that had already fallen victims to the inquisition in 1589; and we may fairly treble the number for the two centuries that have elapsed since his time.
The total number, then, of human individuals that have been sacrificed to the cruel spirit of fanaticism, without reckoning those who have perished of misery, vexation, hunger, wounds, &c. received in flying from the vengeance of religious persecutors, amounts to, ***** — but my hand trembles while I write, and my bosom heaves with sighs — Yet I must go on; the miseries of past ages must be brought to light, that renovated man may behold what his race has been, what it still is; but what it ought not to be in future. The total amount then of these miserable victims, is thirty-three millions, ninety-five thousand, two hundred and ninety persons.
Ye base worshippers of despotism! ye cruel fanatics, if the recital of so many horrors cannot work a change in your degenerate souls, go to the field of battle, view the bleeding victims of ambition, whose miseries death has not yet terminated; reflect what must be their ideas at those serious moments, when tortured with agony, but yet retaining the breath of life, they are carried in waggon loads from the field of battle to the hospital. View them in the hospital, where they are huddled together; see what they undergo in order to preserve a languishing existence; and if all this cannot move you, go to the ramparts; observe well the springing of the subterranean mine, which instantly blows thousands into non-existence; or to those huge ships on the ocean, which in the fury of engaging, allow only a moment between the life of the devoted victims of royal ambition and the most excruciating of all deaths.
We might lead the mind to many other scenes of horror, but it is time to draw the veil over such sanguinary prospects. Who is the man that dares to worship despotism, which is the original cause of all these excesses, or obey the mandates of fanatics who submit by the blood of their fellow men! Let us repeat to the world what Zoroaster said to the people of the east;
"Citizens, Love each other as brothers, forget injuries; people, suffer the light of science to shine upon you; ye men of wisdom, extend the reign of truth to the ends of the world; men, learn that the fairest gift of heaven to your species is Liberty ."
The great legislator who appeared at the commencement of our vulgar era, said, in effect, no more to men than that we should love God more than ourselves, and men as ourselves.
When reviewing the pages of history, and endeavouring to discover the crimes of philosophers, I thank God that among such as occur, I do not find that they have ever stained the earth with the blood of their fellow men; on the contrary, I see them in every age and country persecuted by the tyranny of kings and the fanaticism of priests; and all, like Socrates, when drinking the poisoned draught, telling the world that religion does not consist in opinions which must be believed , but in precepts of morality, which are to be practised ; that the end of every public institution is to secure an attachment to country; to render the father more dear to the son, the wife to her husband, and above all to persuade men that liberty and equality can alone constitute the happiness of society.
Philadelphia, April 25.
To the FREEMEN of AMERICA,
Fellow Citizens,
THIS is an awful crisis, the present period is pregnant with the most important events. Freedom and tyranny, dreadful as contending elements, are struggling for pre-eminence, and the issue seems doubtful; amid this scene of desolation, carnage, and horror, we are as yet permitted to place ourselves under our own vine and our own figtree; but how long this indul-
gence will be granted is not within the compass of our calculation to determine. France is fighting the cause of mankind, and the political happiness or misery of the world depends upon the issue; perhaps I would not be wrong in asserting that even our political existence is involved in her fate. What security have we that the same combination of tyrants would not confederate against us to exterminate liberty from the face of the earth; should France relapse into her ancient despotism, should Great Britain, after having contributed to the destruction of her liberty, and after having secured her neutrality, renew her claim to the United States (and many more improbable things have happened) with the forces and treasures of conspiring tyrants, to whom are we to look up for assistance? America kindled the flame of liberty in France, and tho' it should be smothered for the present, if not extinguished here, the sparks may again fall upon tyranny, and tyrants well know this and may take means to prevent it; the same reasons that would justify an interference in the government of Poland, and of France, the same motives that would induce such interference there would operate with equal effect here. The argument of force can only be answered by force, and in such a contest we should be found unequal . That power & not right is the logic of monarchs; that the interests of monarchs and the people are distinct; that it is their will to suppress every opposition to their will, no one conversant in the affairs of men will deny: if then they have the power to interfere in our government, will it not be the same right which they had to interfere in Poland, and partition that devoted country? I repeat, my fellow citizens, that France is armed in the cause of mankind, and that her revolution is the pivot on which your liberty turns. I will not take into view the indirect means which may be used by European tyrants to sap the foundation of the edifice of liberty; tho' corruption is a worm as certain and as deadly as the Austrian and Prussian legions. Corruption renders the king of Great Britain as absolute as the emperor of Morocco or the grand Signior! Can you then in a cause which is yours, which is the world's be indifferent spectators of the struggles of France? Can you censure the unavoidable excesses of a gallant nation, heated by the conspiracies of tyrants, and urged by their robberies to the commission of acts which it would deprecate in the absence of convolution? can you tamely bear the rejoicings of Britons among us, the rejoicings of some of our own citizens, at the defeats of our gallic brethren? Shake off your insensibility, arouse from your lethargy, and tho' you cannot march armies to the assistance of your brethren, at least convince them that you feel an interest in their cause by your conduct to their enemies among us, and by your affectionate conduct to their representatives here, and by the expressions of joy or sorrow on their victories or defeats.
AN OLD SOLDIER.
May 3d, 1793.
PHILADELPHIA.
SATURDAY, MAY 4.
Wednesday, being the 1st of May, the officers of the 4th regiment of Philadelphia militia, in uniform, and wearing the national cockade, dined together at the seat of Mr. Freeman; at the head of the table was placed the cap of liberty, bearing the devices of the French and American flags entwined, surmounted by a dove and olive branch: when, after drinking success to the friends of freedom, governor Mifflin, &c. and singing a number of patriotic songs, and having spent the day in the utmost good cheer, they retired.
On Thursday afternoon arrived here the French frigate L'Ambuscade, from Rochefort in France, but last from the offing of Charleston, where she landed M. Genet, the new ambassador from the republic. On coming opposite to this city she fired a salute of fifteen guns, which was returned by the artillery on Market street wharf — The vessels in general along the wharves had their colours flying in honour of her arrival, and an immense concourse of spectators attended to testify their joy at the sight of this first visit of a ship of war from the free and independent republic of France. This fine frigate mounts 40 guns (Thirty 16 pounders and 10 eight pounders) and is manned with 300 men and 30 boys — Her principal officers are, Citizen Bombard, Captain — Citizens, Bremon, Bourneuf, Lepine, Menu, Renel, Lieutenants. She is ornamented with many republican emblems. Her head and figure on the stern have caps of liberty — the fore top gallant mast is also crowned with the Liberty Cap. The motto on the top armours of the fore mast is — "Enemies of equality, reform or tremble!" — On the main mast, "Freemen! behold we are your friends and brethren" — on the mizen mast, "We are armed to defend the rights of man."
By accounts from the south westward, companies of armed Indians are hourly
crossing the Ohio into Kentucky, and other parts of the United States east of that river. The Shawanese, it is said, are particularly active in these expeditions, and are supplied with ever necessary for offensive warfare, murder, and plunder, by the British in Canada.
The governor of Pennsylvania on the 29th ult. issued his proclamation exhorting the people of this commonwealth to observe strictly the injunctions in the proclamation of the President of the United States of the 22d. of April, ult. and enjoining all officers of the commonwealth to be vigilant in preserving and recommending to all citizens an impartial conduct towards the belligerent powers, &c. — To, on the same day a second proclamation was issued by the governor, prohibiting all citizens, or others of this state, from making any expeditions into, or near, the Indian country north of the Ohio, till the result of the treaty to be held at Lower Sanduski on the 1st of June next shall be fully known.
The capture of the French frigate la Felicite (as published in most of our papers) by a British frigate, and said to be carried into St Kitts, proves to be wholly without foundation. The Felicite was in Baletterre harbour in Gaudaloupe, on the 4th of April, the latest date from those parts.
Arrived here on Wednesday evening about six o'clock the ship Il Collante, Joseph Fiscovich, Esq. commander belonging to the republic of Ragusa, in the Gulph of Venice, of 650 tons burthen, pierced for 42 guns, and carries 22 ditto; she left Cadiz the 10th day of October last bound for this port, which she could not make, after which she bore away for Martinico, from which place she took her departure the 2d of April. The Il Collante fired thirteen guns as soon as she dropt her anchor, in honour of the United States, and was answered by the prize brig little Sarah. — The colours exhibited by this ship is a representation of the pope, with his hook, keys and mitre, on a white field.
Extract of a letter dated Marseilles, Feb. 17.
"Some French vessels dispatched from this place to the United States last summer, are returned with wheat or flour, but the quantity was so small or trifling for the great consumption of this and other neighbouring places, that we are actually in the greatest need, having provision scarcely for two months, for this place only, and nothing to provide the neighbouring ones, who cannot obtain from this one charge of wheat or a barrel of flour; prices have risen of course — New-York wheat has been sold at 75l. to 80l. per charge, flour 75l. to 80l. and 85l. per barrel; none remains unsold; the first arrival will obtain 5l. to 10l. more, and God knows what price they will offer in two or three months, 110l. perhaps 120l. per barrel. — Fortunate they will be if they find to purchase."
"In the present circumstances if you remain neutral, your trade and vessels will procure to the United States large benefits; now the duty on tobacco, in American vessels, is reduced, and at a very small difference from that imported in French bottoms. Foreign vessels may be purchased by the French — The Americans are allowed to trade freely with the French West-Indies — The French not going this year to the Newfoundland fishery, your Baccalao will obtain great prices this fall and next winter; and I am confident that the prohibitive duty imposed on foreign Baccalao will be moderated as it has been during all the last war; your ships will be the carriers of all the belligerent powers; and now I could freight here fifty American vessels, and the shippers or their insurers here would make a very trifling difference between your colours and the Swedish or Danish ones, on account of your war with Algiers — thirty dollars freight per ton only to go to Philadelphia, are offered to me on American bottoms."
"Tobacco is worth from 65l. to 75l. per ql. marc taken in the entrepot; Carolina rice 45l. per ql. of 60lb. English; Baccalao will obtain 55l. per ql. of 90lb. next fall. The French armed vessels which will be in number in the Mediterranean sea, will always take under their protection, the American vessels they may meet."
Extract of a letter from Wilmington (N. C.) dated April 15.
"In regard to France, I hope ten years lapse of time, and our commercial connections during that period with another nation, have not so far relaxed our former rigid republicanism, as to cause even a temporary coldness towards our old ally and friend in the day of distress. Of some it may be justly said, on the present call for national gratitude, that
Interest calls off all her speaking train, And all the oblig'd forsake and all the vain; "
And I well remember how a number in our public councils flood affected some time since on occasion of only a vote of congratulation to the national assembly. But what can we expect of men, who have been and obstinately continue, advocates for the doors of an American Senate being shut? A measure so inconsistent with all my ideas of liberty, that I could mention

some (and from an adjacent sister state too) that ought to have been impeached and expelled the House of the S—te, who voted directly in opposition to the instructions of their constituents, and thereby set the people at defiance. When I take an attentive view of mankind, and the pliant ductility of so many among us; when I see how giddy a poor creature often becomes the moment he is placed among the public servants of the nation, I immediately combine in my idea of man, wolf, fox, monkey, and ass, and am half tempted to with that philosophers, instead of employing the midnight hour for the happiness and freedom of their species, would leave them to those tyrants, who in every age have laid it down as an axiom, that man for his own good should be governed by a rod of iron."
Through misinformation we mentioned in our last, that the ship Grange had been dismissed by the French frigate. It now appears from authentic accounts, that on the 25th of April, the Grange was lying at anchor near the Brown Shoal in the bay of Delaware in 13 fathom water, with a pilot on board, her distance from the nearest land 12 miles, when the Ambuscade frigate, coming in from sea, made prize of her in that situation. According to Vattel's Law of Nations , a cannon shot, or one league from the coast, is part of the territory of a neutral country, and therefore within that distance no capture is lawful—and any vessel taken in a bay, whose entrance may be defended by fortifications, cannot be considered as legal prize: According to these rules then, the Bay of Delaware, except within three miles of its coast, must be considered as high sea.—The Grange arrived here last Wednesday afternoon.
The ship Industry, Calfon, from Havre-de-Grace, was drove on shore near Lewes Town, in the hard gale on Friday April 26. Ten passengers were drowned in an attempt to reach the shore in the long-boat. The sloop Betsey was also lost in the same gale, on Shrewsbury beach, near Sandy-Hook, in her passage from this place to New-York, with the Tontine Coffee-House furniture on board, and other property—one person drowned, and the captain much hurt.
Extract of a letter from Leeds, dated the 9th of March, 1793.
"You would hear by the last packet of some considerable failures in London, and that many more would soon follow—you will hear of them too soon; we have, since that time, had such a crash among our country banks, as was never before experienced or known in any country.—This has destroyed all confidence whatever here and in London: So that unless we received considerable sums now due to us, it will not be in our power to send the whole of our orders even to our best friends."
All communications from England agree that the wanton and impolitic war entered into by that nation against France, is a war of the king and his courtiers aided by that part of the nation who are influenced by court favour or terrified by court threats. The volunteer Irish are upon the point of revolt, but whether the spirits of the Hibernian populace are not too much broken to attempt any thing great without strong external support, is a question a short time will decide.
With the government of England and the landed and monied interest, the war appears popular; but the manufacturing and commercial interests have expressed their disapprobation of it; and though the most violent and forcible means are used to stifle every sentiment of revolution principles, yet the spirit of reform, tho' damped, appears not to be extinct; and is visible in shapes, which tho' less formidable than before, are nevertheless sufficient to excite alarm and suspicion. An invasion of the island is feared; and to prevent it, the militia are embodied and line the coast opposite France—The standing force is daily augmented; and many independent corps of volunteers have been raised: The fleet at Spithead , Feb. 26th, amounted to fifteen sail of the line, besides frigates; and were daily added to; and a general impress to man them had taken place. We do not learn that many privates had been fitted out—probably from the want of men.
"M. Ternant, who is succeeded by M. Genet as minister from the French republic, has received from the executive council of that country the offer of a considerable rank in their armies. His patriotism will no doubt prompt him to accept it.—His military talents promise usefulness to his country in that line. He was a distinguished officer in our army during the late war, and he headed the patriots of Holland in their last attempt to effect a revolution in that country. He carries with him the best wishes and esteem of all those who knew him on this side of the water."
"The Alligator British frigate, Capt. Coffin, of 28 guns, was spoke with, the 27th of April, by a vessel that arrived at New-York on the 29th."
Among the various reports mentioned in the letters received from New York, it is
said, "That the duke of York is dead of his wounds in Holland;" and that Mr. Gouverneur Morris, American minister at Paris, had been killed in a popular tumult. But it is probable that neither of these accounts is true.
Extract of a letter from Cadiz, March 16.
"This place is thrown into the greatest consternation and confusion by an order which our government has issued for the immediate removal of all the French, preceded by an attachment of their effects.—There are many opulent merchants here of that unhappy nation, who must be ruined by this measure."
A letter from an American, dated London, 2d March, 1793, says, that there are great quantities of American wheat at London, Bristol, and Liverpool, under the king's lock and key; all of which might have been shipped with prospect of quick market and good prices in November and December last to France—But every cargo attempted to be shipped to France was then, and is now stopped by order of government; this must be a great loss to the Americans, and prove fatal to those houses in England who have it as a security of debt. He further notices that England is too powerful a kingdom to lodge grain for a market, as is evident in the present case.—The Congress ought to get privileges for that purpose, established at Lisbon, Hamburgh, Ostend—being states that would not dare so to use the Americans—He further mentions that at present the British will not allow sail cloth to be exported to America and that it is reported the British cruisers have got orders to seize all American ships for France with grain.
Glasgow March 2, 1793
THE war with France is now entered into.—Men by sea and land are raising at no allowance; 45,000 additional sailors have been voted by parliament, the militia of England called out, amounting to 33,000 men, 8 new regiments of fencibles to be raised in Scotland, about 6,000 men; 150 new independent companies have been raised amounting to 7,500 men—300 companies of 100 each, to guard the sea coasts amounting to 15,000 men and to be able to maintain and support these, four millions sterling is to be borrowed—our three per cent stocks are down at 71, and already bankruptcies are begun, and within the last three weeks those in London amount to between three and four million—there are two West-India houses failed for immense sums, and an American house. Our manufacturers are discharging their hands very fast, but the recruiting service takes them up, and engages them for soldiers.—The banks here are turned now very nice to whom they discount—money 4 months ago could be got at four per cent, upon heritable or landed security; now it cannot be got under five per cent.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Bristol, to his friend in this City, dated March 13.
"The present state of this kingdom is truly deplorable; owing to the vast quantities of PAPER in circulation here, and the insufficiency of SPECIE to redeem it: The bare idea of a war with France before the declaration of it took place, occasioned failures in this city, and London, to the amount of near six MILLIONS; and three of the most eminent merchants of this city have put an end to their existence, after being reduced from affluence to beggary and want.—There have also several banks stopped payment; the Cheapside bank (a city in Wales) has stopped; and you cannot get cash for even a five guinea note; and there seems to be no confidence from man to man."
Mr. Pinckney, the ambassador from the United States at the court of London, has, we learn, officially informed the government of Great Britain, that in the war now commenced, the United States are desirous to observe a strict neutrality. This information, we further learn, gave much satisfaction to the English nation; and Lord Dorchester was appointed ambassador from Great Britain to the United States.
By a vessel arrived in the Chesapeake from the Mediterranean we learn, that the French squadron under Admiral Trugnet, in those seas, had captured a Spanish 50 gun ship & five frigates.
Such a variety of reports, rumours, and surmises, relative to the affairs of the belligerent powers, are retained in European prints, that we forbear to take up the readers time or attention, by inserting many things of this kind in a paper whose scanty limits will but barely allow us, after doing proper justice to the affairs of our own country, to mention in the briefest manner, the foreign genuine events of this uncommonly prolific period.—That our readers, however, may not remain uninformed of the most recent intelligence from Europe, in addition to that under our foreign heads, we briefly sum up what came to hand by the last arrivals, and in general bears marks of authenticity.—Matters were coming fast to a crisis in Ireland: the northern volunteers were to assemble at Londonderry
on the 16th of March; in consequence of which notice, the British commanding officer in armed them, that if such meeting should take place, he would formally demand a surrender of their arms. The volunteers however replied, "that they should meet as usual."—The British had drafted away nearly the whole of the regiments composed of Irish troops, and put foreigners in their place. In the north these foreign troops were 18,000 strong, besides great forces in other parts of the island, particularly at Dublin. The Austrian army on entering the Netherlands published a general pardon to all who had been in arms against them in the Brabantine provinces. His imperial majesty had acknowledged the eldest brother of the late king of France as regent. The French army under Gen. Dampierre evacuated Aix la Chapelle on the 2d of March, without loss, except of four cannon, and the imperial troops entered it the following day.—On the 5th the Austrians took possession of Cleves—Besides these two places, the French had evacuated Mazyck, Roermonde, Fort St. Michael, and raised the siege of Maastricht—Gen. Dumourier left Brussels for Liege on the 12th of March, to repair as much as possible the defeat a body of the French troops had sustained near Aix la Chapelle—There was every reason to believe that the French would be able to retain the country and city of Liege. It was ascertained, that in raising the siege of Maastricht, the French only lost 20 men. Dumourier had written to the Convention that the French would soon be masters of the Rhine. On the 7th of March the Convention declared the republic at war with Spain, and measures were taking to increase the army near the Spanish line to 100,000 men. Volunteers were every where collecting rapidly in the northern departments of France; it evidently requiring a new effort of the nation to maintain the liberty of the Belgic provinces, who had united themselves to France, against the despotic troops. The Prussian commander had intimated to lord Auckland, British ambassador in Holland, that the army of the Prussians would not cooperate with the British forces lately sent into Holland, under the Duke of York, unless England joined in an unlimited confederacy for the restoration of the old French monarchy, and the other objects of the great contracting powers, particularly the dismemberment and partition of Poland—from this fact it was apprehended that England must soon be either a free republic or a despotic monarchy.
New-York, May 1. In the afternoon, yesterday captain Wray, of the ship Holderness, arrived in this port, in thirty days from Hull, and 25 from the Orkneys. He brought no papers, but relates an account of a severe engagement between General Dumourier and the Austrian army, on the 16th and 18th of March, in which it is said Dumourier was beaten, with the loss of between 11 and 12,000 men, himself wounded in the thigh, and one general officer killed. The captain says this account was published in the London Gazette, and was generally believed.
The battle commenced on the 16th, and held the whole day; on the 17th there was a cessation, and on the 18th the Austrians again attacked, having received a reinforcement of 12,000 cavalry, which decided the battle at the close of the day, in favour of the Austrians, though it appeared in favour of the French in the former part of it. The Captain adds that Dumourier has still an army of 80,000 men, and has retreated further into the Netherlands—that the field of battle was between the Meuse and Breda—that the French still held Breda, but it was a question whether the retreat of the French garrison there would not be cut off. Our informant could not tell how many men the Austrians lost, nor who commanded them, but it is presumed that it was Gen. Clairfait.
On Tuesday afternoon last, were interred in the family vault in Christ Church yard, the remains of JOHN COXE, Esquire, aged 61.
Of this respectable citizen it may be truly said, that in every pursuit and station of his life, he was active, intelligent and just. All his enterprizes, both public and private, were marked with vigour and decision of mind. In domestic life he was affectionate—in friendship ardent and sincere—in benevolence unbounded. The disorder which put an end to his life, was painful and tedious, but it served to evince that the passive , were not surpassed by the active qualities of his mind. He was patient and resigned, and finally yielded his soul into the hands of his Creator, in full assurance of entering upon the possession of that life and immortality which were brought to light by the gospel.
To the EDITOR of the NATIONAL GAZETTE.
I HAVE been searching with indefatigable industry for these many years for an honest and liberal Englishman. Notwithstanding all my labour, till this day I have not been able to find such a character, either in propria persona , or as portrayed in his writings. The phenomenon, however, this
age of wonders has at length brought forth, and with the highest satisfaction I transmit you the evidence on which the discovery rests, aware, that unless supported by the clearest and most positive proof, such a departure from the laws of nature would be disbelieved by many, and be doubted by all.
Extract from Mr. Erskine's Defence of Mr. Paine.
"After animadvertting on the uniform conduct of Mr. Paine, and the inconsistency of Mr. Burke, and taking a retrospective view of the sentiments of Mr. Burke during the American war, so contradictory to those which he now avows, Mr. Erskine proceeds:—
"Gentlemen—In that great and calamitous conflict, Mr. Burke and Mr. Paine fought in the same field of reason together, but with different successes. Mr. Burke spoke to a parliament in England, that had no ears but for sounds that flattered its corruptions. Mr. Paine, on the other hand, spoke to a people—reasoned with them, that they were bound by no subjection to any sovereignty, further than their own benefits connected them; and by these powerful arguments prepared the minds of the American people for that glorious, just, and happy revolution ."
"Gentlemen—I have a right to distinguish it by that appellation, because I aver, that at this moment, there is as sacred a regard to property—as inviolable a security to all the rights of individuals—lower taxes—fewer grievances—less to deplore and more to admire, in the constitution of America, than that of any other country under heaven. I wish indeed, to except our own, but I cannot even do that, till it shall be purged of those abuses which, tho' they obscure and deform the surface, have not as yet ( thank God ) destroyed the vital parts."
Ecc. Signum!
To the Public.
WHEREAS in the present situation of French affairs in Europe, it is to be wished that every friend to mankind would interest himself in seconding the efforts of the defenders of liberty, the armed citizens and soldiers of the French republic. To advance this benevolent design as much as possible, the PATRIOTIC FRENCH SOCIETY of the friends of liberty and equality in Philadelphia, animated at all times by those liberal sentiments which laid the foundation of their society, did at their meeting of the 30th of April last, resolve to open a subscription with a view to purchase flour and other provisions, to be offered as a donation, and sent to the republic of France.
In consequence of the preceding resolution, the society have deposited in the hands of the Editor of the National Gazette, No 209 Market-street, at Mr. Bache's printing office, Mr. Claypoole's printing office, and at the City Tavern, a subscription book signed by the President and Secretary, sealed on every sheet with the Society's seal, in which shall be entered the free gift of every person who wishes to contribute for this purpose.
The different printers in the United States, as friends to mankind, are requested to insert the above invitation in their papers and to encourage the friends of France in the Union, to open subscriptions upon similar plans in their respective cities and towns, the proceeds of which, as soon as filled, to be remitted into the common flock, in some central place, which shall be fixed as soon as a certain number of subscribers have handed in their names.
By order of the society. P. BARRI RE, President. A. C. DU PLAINE, Sec.
INTIMATION
Respecting James Fairweather, sometime in the fourth brigade of British artillery.
DAVID FAIRWEATHER, late seaman in the Pleasance of Edinburgh, North Britain, having died in the month of November last, the aforesaid James Fairweather, his only son, succeeds to his father's heritable and personal estate, which is considerable. His relations are anxious if he be alive, that he should immediately return to Edinburgh, and on applying to Mr. William Whyte, writer, in Charles street, Edinburgh, he will be put in possession of his father's estate. The aforesaid James Fairweather, it is believed, was left at New-York, in North America when the British army evacuated that city. It is requested that any person who has seen or heard of him since, or knows of his present residence, or of his death, will transmit any intelligence concerning him to Mr. Robert Campbell, bookseller in Philadelphia, or Mr. Samuel Campbell, bookseller, in New-York. Any shipmaster or other person, who will bring the said James Fairweather to Britain, or advance him money for that purpose, will be repaid by Messrs. Campbell, or Mr. Whyte. If the said James Fairweather be dead, his children if he left any, are entitled to the aforesaid succession, on proving their propinquity.
May 4. 3t
STRAY MARE.
CAME to the plantation of William Williamson, late of Little Britain township, Lancaster county, on the 10th day of last April, a small Bay Mare, a natural trotter, about 13 hands high; she was then advertised and since appraised. The owner is once more desired to come, prove property, pay charges, and take her away, otherwise she will be sold in two months from this date, by MARGARET WILLIAMSON. March 25, 1793. 3t 2aw