Virginia Argus (Richmond, Va.), 1807-08-29 00:00:00

VIRGINIA ARGUS.
[XVth YEAR.]
A FREE PRESS MAINTAINS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE.
[No. 1384.]
RICHMOND:—PRINTED (ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS) BY SAMUEL PLEASANTS, JUNIOR, PRINTER TO THE COMMONWEALTH.
[Four Dollars Per Annum—paid in Advance.]
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1807.
2 1-2 Cents Single.
TRIAL OF Aaron Burr
TUESDAY, August 18.
Examination of Commodore Truxton.
Mr. Hay. Were you present when the court delivered their opinion relative to the order in which the evidence is to be introduced? A. I was. I know nothing of the overt act. Q. Does your testimony relate to the taking of New-Orleans? A. I know nothing about the taking of New-Orleans. My conversations altogether related to the Spanish territories; to the settlement of lands; to digging a canal on the Ohio, and building of boats.
Mr. Hay then observed, that he had no questions then at present for Commodore Truxton. Mr. Wickham. Then, sir, I hope I may be permitted to ask Com. T. 1st. whether he had not many and minute conversations with Col. B. and 2ndly. whether those conversations related to treason. Mr. Hay objected to Mr. Wickham's putting those questions and said if the gentleman expected by a contrivance of this sort to exclude the witness, he would ask him a few questions. Mr. Wickham insisted on his right to examine the Witness as the Council for the U. States had relinquished him. Mr. Wirt. The court knows that there are two indictments against the accused. The witnesses have been summoned promiscuously; and it is not possible for the prosecutor to know the particular point to which every witness is to testify. From what Commodore Truxton has said it appears that his evidence related to the misdemeanor. But if he be suffered to come in on the present case, ought not his examination to be free and complete? Mr. Hay. Upon recollecting the substance of Commodore Truxton's testimony, I cannot but believe that it applies directly to the present occasion. It bears most strongly upon Gen. Eaton's testimony. From Eaton's evidence, the treasonable project and the misdemeanor were intimately connected. Of course what goes to establish the one of these projects, will so far contribute to prove the other.—Had you not several conversations with the accused, upon the subject of the Mexican Expedition?
Commodore Truxton. About the beginning of the winter of 1805-6, Col. B. returned from the Western country, and came to Philadelphia. He frequently in conversation mentioned to me certain speculations in Western lands. These conversations were uninteresting to me; and I did not pay much attention to them. Col. B. observed, that he wished to me that he wished to get the navy of the U. S. out of my way, as he had something in view, both honorable and profitable which he wished to disclose to me. I considered this as nothing more than a desire to get me interested in land speculations. These conversations were frequently repeated; and sometime in the month of July, 1806, he stated that he wished to see me unseated from the navy of the U. S. and to think no more of those men at Washington; that he wished to see or to make me (I do not recollect which) an Admiral, as he contemplated an expedition into Mexico, in the event of a war with Spain, which he thought inevitable. He asked me if the Havana could not be easily taken in the event of a war. I told him that it would require the co-operation of a naval force. Mr. Burr observed, that might be obtained. He pursued the enquiry as to Carthagena and La Vera Cruz; what personal knowledge I had of those places, and what would be the best mode of attacking them by sea and land. I gave my opinion very freely. Mr. Burr then asked me, if I would take the command of a naval expedition. I asked him, if the executive of the U. S. was privy to or concerned in the project. He answered me emphatically, that they were not. I asked him that question, because the executive had been charged with a knowledge of Miranda's expedition. I told Mr. Burr, that I would have nothing to do with it; that Miranda's project had been intimated to me, and that I had declined any agency in those affairs. Mr. Burr observed that in the event of a war, he intended to establish an independent government in Mexico; that Wilkinson, the army, and many officers of the navy would join. I replied, that I could not see how any of the officers of the U. S. could join. He said that General Wilkinson had projected the expedition, and that he himself had matured it; that many greater men than Wilkinson, were concerned (or would join); and thousands to the westward.
Mr. Hay. Do you recollect, whether he said that Gen. W. had seriously joined in it? A. Yes, he said so; and many greater men.—Mr. Hay. I will ask you, sir, whether at that time, you were in the service of the U. S.? A. I was declared not to be. Mr. Hay. I wish not to wound your feelings, Commodore, by my question; but it is necessary to account to the jury, for the application which was thus made to you by the accused. Did you not feel yourself hurt at this declaration? I certainly was hurt at it.
Mr. Burr asked me if I would not write to Gen. Wilkinson, as he was about to dispatch two couriers to him. I told him that I had no subject to write on; and declined writing. Mr. Burr observed, that several officers would be pleased at being under my command. He spoke highly of a Lieut. Jones, and asked me, whether he had not sailed with me. I answered him that he had not; and that I could give no account of him, as I never had seen him.—Mr. Burr observed that the expedition would not fail; that the Mexicans were ripe
for revolt; and that he was incapable of any thing chimerical or that could lead his friends into a dilemma. He showed me the draft of a perogue, such as plies between Powles's Hook and New-York; and asked me, whether they were adapted to the Mississippi river and the waters emptying into it. I gave my opinion that they were. He asked me whether I could get a naval constructor to make several copies of the draft. I spoke to a naval constructor; but he could not make them as soon as they were wanted, and I returned the draft. Mr. Burr told me, he wanted those boats for the conveyance of agricultural products to New-Orleans, and in the event of a war, for transports. I knew they were not calculated for transports by sea, nor were they calculated for carrying guns; but having determined not to have any thing to do with the Mexican project, I said very little about the boats. But in the latter end of the month of July, I told him there would be no war with Spain. He seemed very sanguine, that there would. He said, however, if disappointed in that, that he intended to make a settlement of the Washita lands and was about concluding the bargain; that in one year he would have 1000 families about him who would constitute a charming society; that in two years there would be double the number; and that being on the frontier, they would be ready to march immediately, whenever a war took place. I have endeavored to narrate the substance of these several conversations as nearly verbatim as I can recollect. I may not have done it exactly; but as nearly as possible I believe it is correct.
Questioned by the Prosecution. Mr. Hay. Did these conversations take place after the declarations that you were no longer in the service of the U. States? A. The whole of them.—(Col. Carrington, one of the jury. Did they take place in July? A. Yes, I observed to him, there would be no war, though I thought there was great cause for it.)—Mr. Hay. Had you expressed your dissatisfaction at your being declared out of service? A. Yes; frequently.—Q. I believe that you made some publication on the subject? A. I did. Q. In 1805 were you in the service of the United States? A. The misunderstanding between the secretary of the navy and myself took place in March 1805. Q. Your first conversations were about building bridges, settling lands, &c.? A. Yes; when Col. B. first returned from the westward. Mr. M c Rae. He did not express to you his designs respecting the Washita land, till he had discovered your aversion to the Mexican project? A. He did not. Early in the conversations between us I had declined all agency in the Mexican project. The conversation about the Washita lands was the last; but he had previously spoken about speculations, in Western lands generally. Mr. Wirt. Did he say at the latter end of July that he was about concluding a bargain for the Washita land? A. I think so. Mr. Hay. When he proposed to make you an admiral, did not the thought strike you; how he was to accomplish this?—Mr. B. denied that Commodore T. had said that Mr. B. had promised to make him an admiral.—Commodore Truxton. Mr. Burr told me he wished to make or to see me one, I do not particularly recollect which was his expression. He said there was a formidable navy to be established.—Mr. Hay. From what quarter of the world was the expedition by sea to go? A. I do not know. I did not ask him, where it was to go from. Mr. H. Did you not understand that you were to command the expedition by sea? A. Yes; but I declined and asked no questions particularly on the subject. Mr. Baker. I understand you to say, that the navy was to have been erected after the government was to be established? A. Yes. After speaking of establishing himself in Mexico and creating an independent government, he said he intended himself to provide a formidable navy, at the head of which, I understood, he wished me to be. Mr. M c Rae. Did he not talk of a naval expedition against the Havana? A. I told Burr that the Havana could not be taken without a naval force. He said, that could be obtained.
Cross Questioned. Mr. Burr. Did I not say, I had never seen Lt. Jones? A. I do not recollect that. You spoke highly of him. Q. Do you not recollect I stated, if there was a war, that private enterprise and private expeditions would be lawful? (Mr. Hay objected to the question because seemingly intended for the jury.) Q. Did I say that the officers of the army and navy would probably join? A. I think you said they would join. Q. Did I not often talk several years ago about naval concerns? Had we not frequently talked together about your dismission from the navy? And did I not say that it never was the intention to reinstate you? that you were duped by Smith and others? That they had no serious intentions of serving you? Was not that the reason, that I wished to unew you from the navy? A. You did state those facts. Q. Do you not find that I was right? A. I know that. Q. Did I not often talk to you about the settlement of lands? A. You did. Q. Were we not intimate? A. Yes. Q. Was there any reserve between us? A. None. Did you ever hear me say anything about dismembering the union; or seizing on New Orleans? A. Never. Q. Did I not tell you it was my intention to grant commercial privileges to the U. S. in case of a successful expedition to Mexico, and that I wished always to have a friendly connection with this country? A. You did. Q. Did I not say that the perogue would be useful for the conveyance of agricultural products? A. Yes; and in war for transports. Q. Had
you reason to doubt my intention to settle lands? A. If there was no war, I took for granted that such was your intention. Q. If there was a war, and Mexico was invaded, and the government favored it, would you not have joined me? A. I would have got out of my bed at twelve at night, to fight against England, France and Spain, if my country had called. Mr. Wirt. Was his declaration concerning a friendly connection with this country, founded on the idea of his establishing an independent empire in Mexico? A. I so understood it. Mr. M c Rae. Did he speak of any commercial speculations in which he was about to engage; of any commercial establishments he was about to form? A. He spoke of the settlement of the Washita; and the bringing down of agricultural produce. Q. Were the remarks which he made on your relation to the navy, calculated to fill your bosom with resentment? A. My bosom was already full enough, but certainly Mr. Burr spoke in concert with my feelings. Mr. Hay. Could an expedition at sea be made as effectually against La Vera Cruz from any other port in the western country, as New Orleans? A. New Orleans would be a proper place for preparing an armament; but no vessel of burden could sail from that place. The expedition might be carried on more conveniently from some part of the Atlantic States; but in the Western Country there is no port better than New Orleans. Mr. Parker, (one of the Jury.) Did you understand for what purpose the two couriers were sent by Col. B. to Gen. Wilkinson? A. I understood, that there was an understanding between them about the Mexican project. Mr. Burr. Are there not preparations now making in Philadelphia, in contemplation of a war with England? A. In New York there are. Mr. M c Rae. Are not the preparations going on openly? Has any commander been appointed independent of the government? A. No. Mr. Botts. Can ships be built secretly in a corner of a room? A. No.
Examination of Peter Taylor. Mr. Hay. This witness will directly prove the connection of Mr. Burr with Blannerhasset, and his connection with the crime itself.
Peter Taylor.—The first information I had upon this subject was from Mrs. Blannerhasset, when Mr. Blannerhasset and Mr. Alston were gone down the river. The people got much alarmed concerning this business, and Mrs. Blannerhasset sent me to Lexington after Mr. Bl. with a letter to prevent Col. B. from coming back with him to the island. I went to Chillicothe, but I did not find Mr. Bl. there, and I then went on to Cincinnati. I was directed to call at Cincinnati at Mr. John Smith's, where I would find Mr. Bl. I called at Mr. Smith's Store; where I saw his son. I asked if Mr. Smith was at home. He said, yes. I said I wanted to see him. His son went and told him, a man wanted to see him. When Mr. S. came out, I enquired for Col. Burr and Blannerhasset, to see whether he could give any account of them. He allowed he knew nothing of either of them. He allowed I was much mistaken in the place. I said, no; this was the right place; "Mr. John Smith, Store keeper, Cincinnati;" says I, "Don't you recollect a young man who came here, some time ago for Col. B's top-coat?" (great coat?) I said, "I have lived with Mr. Bl. for three years." When Mr. Smith heard me talk so, he took me up stairs to talk with me. He wanted to know the news our way. I told him the people had got alarmed about what was in agitation; that I knew not what it was, but they talked about the settlement of lands. He seemed surprised. He asked what was said about Gen. Wilkinson. I said I knew nothing about it. He asked me, if I would carry a letter from him to Blannerhasset. I told him I would carry any thing, so it was not too burthensome. So he sat down and wrote a letter. He asked whether I wished to drink, for he had chastised (charged) me not to go to any tavern, lest the people should be sifting me with their questions. I drank; and then he showed me a tavern, and told me to go, to get my horse fed by the hostler, but not to go into the house. I asked him where I should find Col. Burr and Blannerhasset. He said, he expected they were at Lexington, at the house of a Mr. Jourdan. He gave me the letter which I carried. When I got to Lexington, it was Saturday about 1 o'clock. Mr. Jourdan happened to be in the Street and knew me. He said, "Peter, your old master is not in town." But he said, he expected him either that night or to-morrow early. He asked me, what news, and I told him. I asked him, what I was to do with my horse. He said, that he was to be put at the Livery Stable. He then went up stairs, and opened a door, and beckoned his hand, saying nothing. When I went in, there was Col. Burr. Col. Burr wanted to know, what was the news in our parts. I began to tell him, that my business was to prevent Col. Burr from going back to the island. (Q. Did you not know Col. Burr at that time; A. I did not. He had been on the island three times; but I did not see him.) When I told Col. Burr that, says he, "I am the very man, involved in this piece of business; and you must tell me all you know." I said, "if you come up our way, the people will shoot you." I told him it was my sincere opinion, that it was not safe for him to come up our way. I told him that I had heard several declare, that they had rather shoot him than let him alone. He seemed surprised, and wondered what the people had got in their heads. I told him I could not tell; and then I told him about the land settlement, but the people said all that was a fib, and that he had something else in his head.
Then Col. B. asked me, what letters I had. I said, two, one was from Mrs. Blannerhasset, and the other from John Smith, of Cincinnati. He asked me, if he might open the letter from John Smith, for he expected it was for him. I told him I supposed it made no difference between him and Blannerhasset, and he might. He broke the seal open, and showed me that there was a letter inclosed for himself. He asked me about my wife, and after some talking, I asked him whether I was at liberty to go down stairs. I went down and left the open letter with him. I then went to Mr. Jourdan, and asked him whether I was to stay at his house or go to a tavern. He said I was to go to a tavern and he would pay for me. Mr. Jourdan wished me to go next day to Millersburg after the saddle-bags, left there by Mr. Blannerhasset. I went and left Mrs. Blannerhasset's letter with Mr. Jourdan, expecting Blannerhasset to get there before me. I got back on Monday by 1 o'clock; and there Mr. Blannerhasset was come and preparing to go home. We started and got ten miles that night. We stopt at a tavern. I went to see after the horses, and he went into the house. There were people in the house, who wanted to know his name. He told them, his name was Tom Jones. He came out and told me, the people in the house had asked and he had told them his name was Tom Jones, and I must mind and make no mistake, but call him Jones too. So he passed by that name, till we got to the mud-licks.—He then told me he was known where, and I must call him by his own name. (Q. When did these things happen? A. All this was in October, 1806, I believe.) He then began at every tavern that he came to, to enquire for young men, that had Rifles; good orderly men, that would be conformable to order and discipline. He allowed that Col. Burr and he and a few of his friends had bought 800,000 acres of land, and they wanted young men to settle it. He said, he would give any young man who would go down the river, 100 acres of land, plenty of grog and victuals while going down the river and three month's provisions after they had got to the end; every young man was to carry his rifle and blanket. I agreed to go myself, if I could carry my wife and family, but he said he must have further consultation upon that. As we rode together, I began to think, and asked him, what kind of seed we should carry with us? He said, we did not want any, we should find every thing where we were going. (Mr. Wirt. Of what occupation were you on the island? A. A gardner Mr. Wirt. I put this question, that the jury might understand his last observation.) I urged that subject to him several times; at last he made a sudden pause, and said "Peter, we are going to take Mexico; one of the finest and richest places in the whole world." He said that Col. Burr would be the King of Mexico, and Mrs. Alston was to be the Queen of Mexico, whenever Col. Burr died. He said that Col. Burr had made fortunes for a great many of his family if he had made nothing for himself; but now he was going to make something for himself.—He said that he had a great many friends in the Spanish Territory; 2000 Roman Catholic Priests were enlisted in his corps; that those Priests and the Societies which belonged to them were a strong party; that the Spaniards, like the French, had got tired of their government and wanted to swap it. He told me that the English also were friends in this piece of business, and that he was the very man to go to England, on this piece of business for Col. Burr; that he had been a friend of Col. Burr in this business, and had befriended him more than any body else. He asked me if I would not like to go: I said I should certainly like to see my friends there. Then asked him what was to become of the men, who were going to settle the lands he talked about? Were they to stop at the Red river, or to go on? He said, "you'll see how I'll fix them, when I get them far enough down the river." If they did not conform to order and discipline, he swore by God he'd stab them. I was astonished: I told him I was no soldier, and could not fight. He said, it made no odds; he did not want me to fight; he wanted me to go and live with Mrs. Blannerhasset and the Children, either at Natchez or some other place, while he went on the expedition. I talked to him again, and told him, the people had got it into their heads, that he wanted to divide the union. He said, Col. Burr and he could not do it themselves. All they could do was to tell the people the consequence of it. He said the people there paid the government upwards of 400,000 dollars a year, and never received any benefit from it. He allowed it would be a very fine thing, if they could keep that money among themselves, and make locks and build bridges and cut roads.—About two weeks after I got home, he sent me to Dr Bennett's, of Mason county with a letter. He wanted to know, if Dr Bennett wouldn't sell him the arms belonging to him for the Militia, if he could sell them and keep himself out of danger; if he could, he'd give him a draft upon his friend in Kentucky for payment; if he could not, he must send him word, where they were kept, and he would come and take them away in the night. I was not to give the letter to Dr Bennett, until the Doctor promised to deliver it back, for me to burn it; for Mr. Blannerhasset told me to do so, and said it contained high treason. I did as he had told me and burnt it. The Doctor said he was unacquainted with the plot, & couldn't join in it.
Questioned by the prosecution. Mr. Hay. When did the boats leave the island? A. It was contemplated to sail on the 6th of December; but they did not come till 10th (Sunday) & they sailed on the Wednesday night following. Q. How many boats were there? A. Four. Q. How many men from the boats came ashore? A. About 50. Q. What did the men do, who did not belong to the boats? A. Some were packing meat; and some were packing other things. Mr. M c
Mr. M c Rae. Who went off on Wednesday night? A. Mr. Blannerhasset and Mr. Tyler and the whole of the party. Q. At what time in the night? A. About 1 o'clock. Q. Did all that came down to the island go away? A. All but one, who was sick. Mr. Hay. Had they any guns? A. Some of them had. But I do not know how many there were. Mr. J. B. Shepard (a juryman.) What kind of guns; rifles or muskets? A. I do not know. Q. Were there any pistols? A. I saw none, but Blannerhasset's. Q. Was there any powder or lead? A. Both: I saw some powder in a long small barrel, like a churn; but I was so employed, I could not notice particularly. Some of the men were engaged in running bullets; but I do not know how many. Mr. M c Rae. Why did they leave the island at that hour of the night? A. Because they were informed that the Kaskaskia militia were coming down there.—Q. Did you carry some boxes to the boats? A. I carried a half bushel of candles and some brandy; several boxes were carried, and a great many things of which I knew nothing. Mr. Hay. Were you on the island when they went off? A. Yes. They held a council at the foot of the pier, to determine which was the best way to go. Mr. Blannerhasset said, if he went in a canoe he would be an easy prey. I said to them, "best stick together." And so they determined to stick together. They went off in great haste. Q. Why did they go in a body? A. I suppose for security.
Cross Questioned. Mr. Wickham. You saw Gen. Tupper and Mr. Woodbridge that night? A. Yes. Q. Was Col. Burr there? A. No: I did not see him. Q. Did you understand whether he was in that part of the country at that time? A. I understood not.
WEDNESDAY, August 19.
Examination of Gen. John Morgan. Sometime in August last, about this time twelve month, my father put a letter into my hands, signed Aaron Burr, in which he said that himself and his friend Col. Dupieister would dine with him the following day. My father requested me and my brother to go and meet Col. Burr; which we did, about 7 miles distant. After a few words of general conversation, Col. Burr observed to me, that the union could not possibly last, and that a separation of the states must ensue in 4 or 5 years, as a natural consequence. Col. Burr made many enquiries of me, relating to the county of Washington; particularly the state of its militia; the discipline, arms, accoutrements, and the character of its officers. These conversations continued some time, besides other things which I cannot recollect, because I did not expect to be called upon in this way: after traveling some miles, we met one of my workmen, a likely young fellow. Col. Burr said he wished he had 10,000 such fellows. At my father's table, during dinner, Col. Burr again observed that the separation of the union must take place inevitably, in less than 5 years.—(Shall I give the answers that were made? Mr. Wirt. Perhaps it may serve to connect your narrative better.) I recollect that it was my father who answered him; God forbid! Col. Burr in the course of conversation observed, that with 2 or 300 men, he could drive the president and congress into the Potomac, and with 4 or 500 he could take possession of the city of New-York. After dinner, he walked with me to my brother's mill; and in course of the walk spoke of war and military men, and asked me if either of my brothers had a military turn. On our return, after I had introduced him to my brother, Col. Burr said he wished he could see him at the head of a company of grenadiers; he was a fine, stout looking fellow. These circumstances induced me to speak to my father: I warned him to beware of Col. Burr, told him that in the course of that night, Col. Burr would attempt to have an interview with him; and would make a requisition of my brother Tom, to go with him & that I suspected something was going on. The next morning I rode with Col. Burr to the town of Washington, about 9 or 10 miles. We had much conversation, principally on military affairs; and on the state of the militia.—Col. Burr urged the necessity of attending to military discipline. He told me, that in New York, the exertions of a single person (Mr. Swarzwou) had brought about a great effect. He asked me if I thought I could raise a regiment in Washington county, or whether I could raise one with more ease in New-Jersey. (Mr. Wirt. You have lived in New Jersey? A. Yes.) At Washington, we took a walk; Col. Burr, Col. Dupieister and myself; down the town; and I pointed out to him the house where Mr. Bradford lived, who had been at the head of the western insurrection. He enquired about Mr. Bradford. (He was at Baton Rouge as I believed.) I told him his son was in town, and Col. Burr expressed a wish to see him. Col. Burr mentioned to me, that he had met with several, who had been engaged in the western insurrection; and particularly a major in the north western territory (whose name I do not recollect) who had told him, that if he was ever engaged in a similar business, he pledged himself it should not end without bloodshed.—He said that he was a fine fellow. It was on these circumstances, that I advised my father to apprise the president of the United States, that something was going forward.—[Continued on 4th page.]

Trial of Aaron Burr.
MONDAY, August 24.
CONTINUATION OF THE SKETCH OF MR. M C RAE'S SPEECH.
He observed he was not a little astonished at the confidence of success expressed by the gentleman who had made the motion; but supposed that confidence proceeded from his feeling a sincere wish for the success of the motion, by dwelling on which he had at length convinced himself that it ought to prevail. But none of the authorities cited by him had supported the points for which he contended.
The grand position relied on by Mr. Wickham, was that, the accused not having been present at the commission of the overt act charged in the indictment, no evidence can be adduced to prove his connexion with that overt act; and he had said that neither by the constitution or laws of the United States, the laws of England, nor usage, the prisoner could be convicted.
It will be sufficient, said Mr. M c Rae, to have recourse to the laws of England and the constitution of the United States upon this occasion; for usage has nothing to do with the question.
The definition of treason in the federal constitution, is in the following words: "Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court."
Mr. Wickham admits that the words of the Statute 25th Edw. 3. concerning levying war are the same with those of our constitution, but says the construction of the constitution ought to be different from that which in England has always been given to that statute. I think it of no consequence to the present enquiry whether the United States as such have a common law or not, and whether the common law of England is to be resorted to or not. If the construction of a statute in the same words with the constitution of the United States is reasonable, the same construction ought to be applied to the constitution; otherwise not.
Can it be said that a man cannot levy war against the United States without being personally present?
Mr. M c Rae was about to speak of the evidence which might be adduced to prove that Aaron Burr, although not present at Blennerhasset's island, at the time charged in the indictment, did in fact levy war against the United States at that time and place; when Mr. Martin interrupted him and objected to his saying any thing about the evidence which had not been heard. Here a desultory conversation took place for a few minutes; the counsel for the United States declaring that they were ready to introduce the evidence if permitted; and Col. Burr and his counsel objecting to the evidence being admitted and insisting that nothing should be said concerning it. But the Chief Justice said that Mr. M c Rae had a right to suppose the existence of any evidence which could by possibility be adduced to prove the prisoner guilty, as the motion was to exclude all evidence. Mr. M c Rae proceeded—can any person doubt, after hearing the testimony of Gen. Eaton, Commodore Truxton, and the Mores, as to the treasonable intentions of the prisoner. The credibility of all those witnesses is unimpeached; and Eaton's evidence is immediately to the point. [Here Mr. M c Rae took a review of the evidence which had been introduced.] Suppose, in addition to all this, we can prove that the man who came to Blennerhasset's island came thither by Aaron Burr's direction; that he was waiting for them at the mouth of Cumberland; that he had sent them orders to fly from the island without delay, since "the Philistines" would shortly be upon them; that they joined him at the mouth of Cumberland, and put themselves under his command; and were then all armed: suppose it should be proved, that, afterwards, when a body of militia were coming to search his boats, he sunk all the arms in the river, for the purpose of concealing them; would any rational person doubt that he was guilty of treason? We have authorities to show that, even in England, he would be considered as a principal traitor and indicted as such. Those authorities prove that a person who enlists men for a treasonable purpose; who acts in concert, and in league with them; and though not on the spot, acts elsewhere; is a principal traitor; and that all these are different overt acts of the same treason.
But Messrs. Wickham and Randolph have introduced certain authorities, on which they pretend that we must rely, and have attacked them as arbitrary and oppressive; as springing from the cruelty of judges like Lord Coke, whom Mr. Wickham declared to have been without bowels, and Mr. Randolph without a heart. I will read one of those cases (Throckmorton's case 1 St. Tr. 60) to show how differently constituted the court who tried Throckmorton was from this court; how widely dissimilar the situation and treatment of Aaron Burr during this trial has been from Throckmorton's before the commissioners who tried him; and to demonstrate that that case has nothing to do with this.
Mr. M c Rae then read a large part of Throckmorton's case; from which it appeared that no counsel was allowed him; books were withheld from him; he was not listened to by the court; and confessions of others were read as evidence against him without proof of his connexion with them. He strongly contrasted with those tyrannical proceedings, the advantages which Aaron Burr had enjoyed during this prosecution. Whereas Throckmorton had no counsel, Aaron Burr has six, most able and learned in the law; one of whom is attorney general of the United States; a third for many years filled the same office in Virginia, and the prisoner him-
self was once attorney general of the state of New-York. Throckmorton was allowed no books; but Burr has had the use of cart-loads of them, both in and out of court. Instead of not being listened to, himself and his counsel have had unrestricted freedom of speech, and have taken unexampled liberties with their opponents and with the government. And, (so far are they from permitting confessions of others to be read in evidence against him,) they are now endeavoring to exclude altogether any testimony on the part of the prosecution. Mr. M c Rae observed that the counsel for the United States never thought of drawing any authority in their favor from that case; and that such an intention ought never to have been attributed to them.
Mr. Wickham has also referred to cases where accessories after the fact were indicted before the conviction of the principal; and insinuated that we were obliged to resort to such cases in support of this prosecution. But we do not rely upon any such cases. No part of the evidence goes to prove Aaron Burr an accessory after the fact. He was the Alpha and Omega, the body and the soul of this treason; not an accessory at all, but a principal; and the chief among all the principals.
Mr. M c Rae proceeded to answer the authorities which Mr. Wickham had adduced in support of the positions contended for on behalf of the prisoner.
Post. p. 9, and 22, had been cited to show that a man cannot be indicted for an overt act unless he were personally present. He observed that those cases rather shewed that, after proving the overt act laid in the indictment, additional overt acts might be given in evidence to shew the quo animo of that which was proved; not that proof of the personal presence of the accused was necessary to charge him with the overt act of levying war. The question whether such actual presence be necessary did not occur in those cases. Lord Dalmerino's case (5 St. Tr. 665) had also been relied on; but Mr. M c Rae insisted did not apply. The only real question in that case was, whether the offence could be proved on a different day from that laid in the indictment. Although Lord B. was not at Carlisle when the town was taken, he was admitted to be a principal in that treason; because, (independently of other overt acts proven against him,) the fact of his having been at Carlisle afterwards with a body of men, was also proven.
10 St. Tr. 430, & Hob. 98, were quoted to show, that, if an act not criminal by the common law is made so by statute, accessories in such case are to be judged of in conformity to common law principles. Mr. M c Rae said that he had not read the case in Hobart; but the passage referred to in the state trials was only the argument of a lawyer and not the opinion of a court. But this question, said he, is unimportant in this case. We may surely admit that common law principles do not apply to this case. We are willing to rest it upon the constitution and the act of Congress. The whole question depends upon the true interpretation of the words "levying war."
Mr. Wickham has asked, "If accessories in treason are to be punished, why did not the act of Congress provide for it?" We answer, it was unnecessary, as to those concerned before the fact; because all such are principals in levying war. As to accessories after the fact, we cannot tell why they were not provided for. But who, in the eye of the law, can be more guilty than he who plots, contrives, enlists men, and furnishes money and provisions for carrying on the war? Is the constitution framed to punish only the poor instruments employed by the author of the treason, and to let the man who was the body and soul of the whole enterprise escape? He has also argued that the language of the constitution is strict, and omitted to notice accessories, on purpose to guard against the machinations of bad men in power, who might be disposed to mark out their victims and oppress them with accusations of constructive treason. In conformity with this idea, he has stated a case in the abstract; that government might wish to sacrifice a man in Georgia; might accuse him of being concerned in an insurrection in New Hampshire; might drag this innocent man a thousand miles from home, and punish him for a crime which had never been committed.—Permit me, also, said Mr. M c Rae, to state a case in the abstract. [Here he drew a striking contrast between the situations of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Burr, without mentioning the name of either; presenting on one side the portrait of the chief magistrate of a free people, enjoying the almost unanimous esteem and admiration of his countrymen, secured by the wisdom and excellence of his administration, and having nothing to dread from competition or rivalry; and, on the other, that of a man, of great abilities indeed, but void of political integrity, who by his own intrigues had totally lost all popularity, and fallen so low that he never could rise again. He then asked, whether more danger was to be apprehended that such an exalted character would wantonly and needlessly oppress one so fallen; or that a man in the desperate circumstances of the latter would attempt treasonable machinations against the former?] In such a case, there could be no motive for cruelty. This imaginary danger of oppression never did and never can exist in this country.
The constitution of the United States was not intended to punish any innocent person; but it ought to be construed so as to preserve itself from destruction, and to prevent the guilty from escaping. Yet, according to this doctrine, the principal offender is to be considered as an accessory; and, because the constitution and act of Congress say nothing about accessories, is to escape punishment altogether.
Mr. M c Rae referred to a passage in Post. 362, in which certain examples were quoted from Scripture History, to show that, according to the decision of the Supreme Being himself, the person who advises or procures a crime to be committed is emphatically considered as the perpetrator. He admitted that there seemed in the authorities cited on the other side, to be a distinction between the case of accessory and principal; but the great point in dispute, said he, is whether the prisoner is an accessory or principal. To show that even in common felonies, persons not personally present, may be so in the sense of the law;
and therefore, may be principals in the crime; he cited Post 353, 354, 1 Hale 459. Post. 349, and 350, where it is stated to be sufficient for an individual who is absent, to be of the same party, and upon the same pursuit with those who are present; consenting to the same design; and having the same expectation of mutual defence and support. Applying the doctrine to cases of treason, he appealed to 2 Dallas 355, 356, and to the opinion of the supreme court of the United States, in the case of Bollman and Swartout , in which the doctrine is laid down that "all those who perform any part however minute, and however remote from the scene of action, & who are actually leagued in the general conspiracy, are principal traitors." This part of the opinion, he observed, was not extrajudicial; but related immediately to the point which was in controversy, in that case; and appears to have been formed and pronounced with great deliberation; for in different shapes, the same sentiment is several times repeated.
It is unnecessary now, said Mr. M c Rae, to notice authorities or arguments relating to the mode of indicting accessories, or the necessity of a previous conviction of the principal; because this is not a case of accessory or derivative treason.
Mr. Wickham, however, says the indictment is defective in not inserting the word "public," in support of which doctrine he cited 8 St. Tr. 219, and 9 St. Tr. 243. [Here Mr. Wickham observed, that he had already conceded that the insertion of the word "public" was not necessary; he had only contended that it ought to have been inserted, on the present occasion, because this indictment was against a man who was not present when the treason was said to have been committed. The war ought to have been stated to be "public;" otherwise it could not be presumed that he had any notice of it. Mr. M c Rae said he had understood his argument differently, and was prepared to shew from Vaughan's case, 5 St. Tr. 17, and John Hamden's case, 4 St. Tr. 208, that it is not necessary that the war should be public .] Another objection was that the names of the accomplices of Aaron Burr ought to have been inserted in the indictment. [Mr. Wickham again explained; and declared that he had not stated the indictment to be defective in itself; but, since the fact had appeared in evidence that Aaron Burr was absent at the time of the act charged to have been treasonable, the indictment ought to have given him full information of the nature of that act, and of the persons by whom it was committed. Mr. M c Rae said he certainly understood the gentleman as contending that the names of the accomplices ought to have been inserted, and that the omission rendered the indictment defective: he had even cited five cases in support of that doctrine; viz: 1 St. Tr. 279 and 307; 2 St. Tr. 281 and 291; and 4 St. Tr. 132. The C. Jus. said that Mr. Wickham had stated his argument correctly. Mr. M c Rae to shew that the forms of indictments for treason do not require the insertion of the names of accomplices, referred to nine cases, which he had examined, in opposition to those cited by Mr. Wickham; viz: 6 St. Tr. 60, 229; 5 St. Tr. 17; 3 St. Tr. 987; 4 St. Tr. 208, 142; John Fernley's and William King's cases, 1b. and lastly, Fries's case.]
The last point made by Mr. Wickham had been that the overt act of treason had not been sufficiently proven. Mr. M c Rae cited 5 Bac. 121; Vaughan's case, 5 St. Tr. 37; Foster 208, 218; and 1 East 67, 68, in which the doctrine is laid down that the assembling of men, armed with weapons offensive and defensive, with a treasonable intention is treason, tho' nothing be done; and the case of Bollman and Swartout to shew that actual violence and arms are not necessary to constitute treason; an assemblage of men for a treasonable purpose being sufficient. He observed that "arms" were only an evidence of treasonable intention; and if that intention can be otherwise proved "arms" are not necessary. He contended too that the counsel for the U. S. were not bound to prove, in the first instance, every thing necessary to explain the nature of the overt act at one place; because overt-acts, at other places, may be proved, by way of explanation, or aggravation; in support of which he cited Post. 9 and 22; 4 St. Tr. 607, 696, 722; 6 St. Tr. 286, 287; 1 East 121, 122; 1 Dallas 35. This, however, said Mr. M c Rae, is a question proper for the Jury to decide. If the court undertake to determine whether the overt-acts, they invade the province of the Jury . Let us suppose that the court should give their opinion that the evidence has been sufficient to establish the overt-act; would they not take from the prisoner his privilege of a trial by Jury ? To shew that the Jury have a right to find their verdict upon the law as well as the fact, and to determine what amounts to the overt-act of treason, he cited 1 East 66, 67; and some expressions used by the Chief Justice himself, in his opinion lately delivered, on the subject of the order in which the evidence on the part of the U. S. was to be introduced.
(A sketch of Mr. Wirt's speech in the next Argus.)
LATEST PROCEEDINGS IN THE TRIAL.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26. Mr. Botta continued his discourse (commenced the day before) until after two o'clock.
Mr. Hay began his reply, but did not finish it.
THURSDAY, Aug. 27.
Mr. Hay concluded his speech, shortly after twelve o'clock; and was followed by Mr. Lee on the part of the prisoner; who spoke till nearly three; when the court adjourned.
The speeches of Messrs. Botta, Hay and Lee, were all ingenious and learned. That of Mr. Hay was peculiarly argumentative, and closely logical. Sketches of the substance of these important speeches will be prepared, and inserted in the Argus as soon as possible.
FRIDAY, August 28. The court met at the usual hour; the whole of the sitting, till half after 4 o'clock, was occupied by Mr. Martin, who had not
concluded his remarks when the court adjourned.
FOR THE ARGUS.
THE celebrated Junius observes that "the people, seldom err in their opinions; in their sentiments, they never do." I believe the remark to be strictly true, with regard to those spontaneous, sincere and ardent effusions of indignant enthusiasm, which are not elicited by the machinations and artifices of governments or popular leaders. Such is the sentiment which has been excited in the bosom of America, by the recent wound inflicted by British arrogance and injustice, on the peace and honor of our country; an act combining in itself every characteristic of injury and premeditated insult, and possessing not one feature of remote or plausible palliation. In this state of things, it is not surprising that the minds of the people should have yielded to the first impulse of nature and feeling, and not have waited for the slow operations of the understanding, in a dispassionate investigation of our rights, or a cold calculation of the magnitude of the injury. But it is certainly matter of surprise, that persons, whose information and situation in life, entitle them to be the instructors of those who are less fortunately endowed, should become the instruments of propagating error, or themselves the subjects of delusion.
The misapprehension which seems to prevail in regard to our present complaint against Britain, and which must be removed before a due estimate of the injury can be made, is this: The seamen on board the Chesapeake who were claimed as deserters, are said to have been American citizens forcibly impressed into the British service, and this circumstance, is considered by many as an important, if not a necessary part of the injury. In the preliminary remarks of Gen. Lee to the militia of the fourth division, (which are otherwise, not without merit,) it is admitted, "that, if Americans, voluntarily enlisted, the refusal of our government to deliver them, when re-claimed, would have been unwarrantable, altho' the reprisal would have been even in that case, unjustifiable." This was certainly a pardonable mistake on the part of Gen. Lee, although the admission would go farther towards an extenuation of the outrage than perhaps he was aware of; for if the deserters being actually British subjects would excuse the reprisal, a belief on the part of the British commander, that they were so, would in some measure, palliate the wrong, on the ground of upright intention. But what shall we think of the Columbian Centinel, who basely asserts that "if Great Britain (he might have said good Britain) acted under a belief that she had sustained a wrong, her conduct was perfectly justifiable." This latter assertion admits of no answer; but should the people of Boston, acting under a belief that they had sustained an insult, bestow on the writer a suit of tar and feathers, I will not pretend to say that their conduct would not be perfectly justifiable.
In order to be apprised of the high and impenetrable ground of right and justice, on which we stand in this controversy, it becomes necessary to enquire, what are the reciprocal rights and obligations of sovereign independent states, in regard to the subjects or citizens of one, taking refuge within the limits of the other, and who had previously offended against the laws of the former.
The case is somewhat new with regard to deserters, but nothing is more common than for offenders against the laws of one sovereign to seek an asylum within the territories of another; nor is any thing more certain that such an asylum is effectual, against any claim or demand made by the former sovereigns of such offenders, for crimes committed, previous to their exile, of however deep a dye. It is not necessary to defend this principle of asylum, by proving its dependence upon reason and natural justice: it is sufficient that no part of the law of nations has been more universally acknowledged, or considered as less questionable. The asylum of foreign territories, is not peculiarly confined to any age or country, or even a creature of the modern, improved code of civilized nations; it is co-eval with the history of man and co-extensive with the habitable globe. It is not founded in local custom or superstition, like the asylum of certain temples among the ancients, or of some churches in modern Roman Catholic countries; it has pervaded all the variety of religion, climate and custom to which mankind is subject. Rules of action, thus early and universally adopted by men, must be intimately connected with the principles of justice or humanity, altho' we may not at once, have it in our power to point out the connection. At all events it must remain as part of the common law of nations, until it is repealed by the statute law of treaties.
I will not pretend confidently, to point out the cause or origin of the above rule, lest by assigning a wrong one, I should weaken the authority of the rule itself; but by way of conjecture, I will offer the following reasons, in order that the reader may be prevented from considering a refugee as beneath the regard or protection of society, and not entitled even to the privilege of remaining an exile from his country.
One obvious consideration, which commonly seems to point out as a reason why sovereigns should have no right to reclaim an offender within a foreign jurisdiction, is, the total incapability of such fugitive, to commit a repetition of his crime against that sovereign, whilst he remains in the condition of an exile. One principal object of the institution of capital punishment, the removal of the offender, is completely fulfilled, so far as his own country is concerned. So much for the right of the offended sovereign to reclaim. What right or obligation appertains to the state with whom the fugitive has taken refuge, to make a forcible surrender of him. In the first place, as the laws of that country have not been violated, it is an affair with which she has nothing to do. In the next place, charity enjoins us to presume the probability of past innocence or of future reformation, in an unhappy exile from his native home. Hard indeed, would be the lot of humanity, if the frail tribunals of man should arrogate the attributes of omnipotence, be capable of hurling their vengeance throughout the habitable globe, and of leaving neither to the innocent victim of persecution nor to the unfortunate violator of the law, any refuge on this side the grave; and would the penitent be without hope, and the persecuted, his place of rest. It must also be confessed, that there is something harsh and grating to the best feelings of our nature, in consigning to the wrathful punishment of an offended master, a wretch who has sought our protection, and fled to us for safety, with the officers of death, and the blood-hounds of criminal justice at his heels. It is repugnant to the good old virtue of hospitality, a virtue which should be cherished with peculiar solicitude, since it retrogrades with the advances of refinement, commerce and selfishness. Even the savage Arab, (by profession a robber,) will protect the traveller who has taken refuge in his tent. But to return to the subject of deserters.
* See Vattel's law of nations, Book I. Chap. XIX. Sec. 232. It will be observed, that the words by profession, are of place—ble to each class of offenders.
A deserter differs from other species of offenders in this respect only, that the one has committed an offence against the military code of his country, the other, against its municipal laws. One is liable to the summary trial and prompt punishment of a court-martial, and the other is amenable to the tribunals for the ordinary and regular administration of justice. And do any of these points of discrimination exclude the deserter from the benefit of that asylum which a foreign territory so liberally extends to other unfortunate captives? On the contrary do they not doubly entitle him to it? The law of nations recognizes some exceptions to the doctrine of asylum, but desertion is so far from being enumerated among the excluded offences, that they are in their nature so entirely different, as to afford strong reasons why it should not be comprehended in the exclusion.
The offenders excluded from asylum are, poisoners, assassins and incendiaries by profession, and also pirates. These not only ought to be given up to the offended justice of the state in whose territories they have committed crimes or depredations, but may be exterminated wherever they are seized. Here we see evident traces of the policy which dictated to nations, the propriety of making the exclusion. It is not for a solitary offence committed against the sovereignty of a particular state, which subjects them to be treated with more than ordinary rigor. It is when by the frequency and notoriety of their crimes, their existence becomes dangerous to all nations and to society in general, as well as to the country where their crimes were committed. In this case, it becomes the interest of all men to exterminate them. They are what is termed hostes humani generis , and the sovereign who gives them up to merited punishment, or inflicts it himself, consults his own safety, and not the wishes of another. Of all classes of offenders, deserters are the farthest removed from those who are termed the enemies of the human race . Desertion is no crime against society in general, but only against one nation, and only against the military regulations of that nation. Of all offences, it is the most entitled to indulgence and commiseration, particularly from the British navy; and if that navy continues its system of violence and depredation, and its progressive assimilation to the character of Pirates, it will itself merit the title of an enemy of the human race , and that the most formidable too, which the world has ever known.
If a foreign deserter, by placing himself within our jurisdiction, acquires a claim to our protection, and is exempt from the claim of his former sovereign, does he lose any privilege, or incur any new responsibility, by enlisting on board a public armed vessel? With respect to the nation in whose service he engages, I answer yes; with respect to any other, No. If, on the one hand, he is bound to obey implicitly the commands of his superiors, and to risk his life in defence of his adopted country, that country, and the government of that country, become pledged by the strongest and most inviolable ties, to protect him. I am far from approving of the practice of enlisting deserters. I deem it highly reprehensible in an officer to accept of the services of any persons as defenders of his country, who have not motives of attachment to that country. Those who come to us in so questionable a character as that of deserters, are peculiarly objectionable. But this is a question between the officer and his own government; no other has a right to complain. If an officer merits censure for admitting a deserter on board his vessel, he would merit tenfold execration for surrendering him to the mercy of a British court-martial, to the murderers of Jonathan Robbins and the acquitters of the murderer Whitty.
There is one general apology for all the oppressions and wrongs, inflicted by Britain, which her friends from London to Halifax and from thence to Philadelphia, never fail to re-echo, upon every new act of provocation; that is, the interest which the whole world has, in the maintenance of the British navy. It is remarkable to observe the progress which this pretext has made, in undermining pre-established usages of mankind. First of all, the British people complain of the exorbitance of taxes, and of the practice of impressment, which they allege to be inconsistent with liberty. The answer is, your existence depends upon your navy, and your navy must be supported by impressment and taxation. Immediately, the ships of war become the receptacles of wretchedness and slavery, and the nation groans beneath a load of debts and taxes. Do the Americans complain of the plunder of their commerce and the impressment of their seamen; it is said that these too are necessary to the support of their navy, and the wonderful discovery is made, that the navy of England is the bulwark of safety to all mankind as well as to herself. Last of all, the desertion of four seamen from that navy is an evil of a serious nature, that the best established rights of neutrality must be rudely and violently subverted, in order to recover them. If there are Americans to be found to re-

echo this language, their sympathy for the sufferings and wrongs of their country, as well as for the violated rights of all mankind, must be totally extinguished, and can only be alive to the supposed injuries that may befall a swollen, piratical and domineering navy. Suppose one of these gentlemen should be told that it was absolutely necessary to tolerate and even encourage the depredations of the wolf, in order to keep off those of the fox; that it was necessary for his farther safety, to lay aside his guns and hounds and appoint Mr. Wolf guardian of his sheep-fold, who although he might make rather free with his mutton, would effectually guard him against the encroachments of lesser animals. His self-interest would immediately dictate to him the absurdity of such language. He would know that if he gratified the advocates of the wolf, the fox would put in his claim to the custody of the poultry, and he would soon have all the vermin of the forest upon him. He would know that he must depend upon himself for the protection of his property, upon his hounds, his steel traps and his spring guns. The English navy the protectors of our safety! The utmost protection we could expect from them, would be such a one as the English squires extend to their game, they would keep us for their own sport and emolument. By the bye, if they are so solicitous to protect us, why do they not assist us in exterminating the Corsairs of Barbary? Instead of acting the part of efficient, defensive allies of those enemies of mankind, by attacking and disabling one of our ships in the commencement of an expedition undertaken for the avowed purpose of suppressing them.
But the general and irrefragable answer to all arguments, however forcible, which are founded on expediency in opposition to right, is, that they should be applied, at a different time and on a different occasion. If it were made a question, whether an article of treaty should be adopted, stipulating for the mutual surrender of deserters from the service of the respective nations; it then might be relevant to urge (although it could not be urged with truth) that the frequency of desertion from the British navy, had become seriously alarming, in consequence of the facility with which deserters could make their escape and obtain a sanctuary on our shores, or on board our vessels. That it was due to the good understanding and friendly intercourse, subsisting between the two nations, to adopt some regulation calculated to prevent a recurrence of the evil, and providing an adequate remedy for future cases. Not one of these positions would be true in the present state of things: but if they were true it might be proper to provide by treaty for the restoration of future deserters. Even a treaty, could not be made to affect cases of previous desertion, since our constitutional places laws and treaties on the same footing, and expressly forbids the enactment of ex post facto laws.
Until some conventional regulation shall have changed the law of nations as well as the present municipal institutions of this country, our Executive authorities are not only under no obligation to make a coercive restoration of fugitives of any kind, when demanded by a foreign government, but a compliance with such demand is impossible, without a criminal usurpation of power. It is well known that, except for a special clause in the constitution, no power would have existed to transfer fugitive criminals, from one state to another; and even that power is not vested in the general government. When the Czar of Russia demanded of the British government to send him the heads of the persons who had arrested his Ambassador in the streets of London, it excited no surprise; because the Czar was ignorant that there existed in any country, a system of law paramount to the will of a despot. It would not be matter of surprise, should one of the piratical despots of Barbary, demand of our government, the restoration of his fugitive slaves. But the regular, limited government of a civilized and enlightened nation, boastful of her freedom, which professes to be like our own, a government of laws, ought to know, that the Executive authority of this country is only competent to enforce existing and established regulations, and not arbitrarily to create them. To a person possessing the feelings of an American, it is truly nauseating to hear persons in the characters of American printers, who should be the vehicles of correct information to the public, and have the effrontery too, to stile themselves Columbian Centinels , prefacing their stupid, insidious apologies for the British outrage, with such nonsensical reservations as, IF the seamen were British subjects, IF they were demanded of the President, IF he refused to deliver them up, and IF Great Britain believed them to be British subjects, &c.; when they ought to know, that after granting all their ifs and as many more as they could invent, the attack on the Chesapeake would still be as far removed from any standard of just and honorable conduct, as their own writings are, from truth, candor and common sense.
A COLUMBIAN CENTINEL. But not of Boston. Albemarle County, Aug. 22, 1807.
We may learn the use that will be made in England, of the fraudulent publications in the British Gazettes of this city and Boston, from the language of the British prints in Bermuda, Nova Scotia, and Canada. The Bermuda paper gives the U.S. Gazette of this city, as an authority for saying that the seamen taken out of the Chesapeake were British deserters and mutineers. Yet every one knows that this is totally false and that every one of them is an American. Although it is well known here, it is not known abroad, that the Gazette called the U.S. Gazette has no pretensions to the title, that it is like a pirate under false colors, and is anything but American. It is not known abroad that it has always been and now is supported by British influence, or its efforts might be easily understood. But it is by this very spurious title, and character, that it pays its employers—quotations from it are thought by the ignorant to have the character of those, which would be taken from the London Gazette or any other official paper, and thus the people of England are gulled into a belief that their interests are paramount to any other in this country. It was on the authority of such prints, that a Canadian printer informed his readers, that we were so much distracted among ourselves as to be an en-
emy to any invader; and it is to the existence of such prostituted and polluted Gazettes, all our difficulties are owing.— Aurora.
We know no way more effectual to evince the devoted attachment of many of the federal papers to England, and to the government of that country, than the occasionally publishing abstracts from their papers. The people of America, knowing as they do, the dispositions and conduct of the government of England towards this country, from the day of the declaration of independence to this day, will read with surprise the boldness and audacity with which facts are contradicted and our enemy defended in the following paragraph extracted from the Boston Centinel , that mirror of Tory principles, supported by federal subscribers.
On the great topic of controversy between the U.S. and G. Britain, we have made diligent search and enquiry. We cannot find or learn anything in the proceedings of the English government, or conduct of the English People that does not bear the most pacific aspect towards this country. A war with us is deprecated by all orders of men, and every thing but the sacrifice of the national honor, would be conceded to preserve a good understanding. And are assured from good authority, that all the treaty differences in dispute will be amicably and satisfactorily adjusted, if the government of the U.S. desires a friendly adjustment. This disposition, we are assured, did not arise from any fear of the consequences of war, but from a desire to prolong the blessings of peace and good will.
Mr. Belsham has now put a finishing hand to his great, and we trust, immortal work, "The History of Great Britain," from the Revolution to the Peace of Amiens; by the publication of a series of State Papers & official Documents, illustrative of every volume. This able work, in connection with the History, of Mr. Hume, perfects a series of our National History, from the earliest records of these islands, down to our own time.
(Lon. on paper.) In Philadelphia, notice has been given of a supply of Blue Cloth for the soldiers, to encourage the domestic resources to which we may hope to apply in times of danger. This spirit to create an energy in our manufactures, and to assist our native productions has not been awakened solely by the present alarm. To encourage the raising of flax and hemp, Connecticut has by law exempted all lands on which they are raised from taxation, and has given a bounty of 10 dols. a ton upon all hemp raised in that state. Our wool is not neglected. Two sheep from Smith's island at Arlington, afforded a fine fleece, soft and white, and the sheep were wild. The wool resembled Spanish wool, but the sheep yielded three times as much. These sheep are confined only for the shearing, and have the range of the whole island. Of Cotton we are assured that already the U.S. States export 38,000,000 weight; and we can raise in vast amount.—Essex Reg.
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—On Saturday morning was drowned at York, Mr. JOHN HENRY, merchant, of Richmond; this gentleman was bathing, having got beyond his depth, and being unable to swim, he was drowned. He was a worthy and honorable man, much esteemed by his friends and acquaintance, and by whom he is sincerely regretted.—Norfolk Ledger.
For new advertisements, see 4th page.
FROM THE PUBLIC ADVERTISER.
ON THE QUESTION, WILL THERE BE WAR?
EVERY one asks, will there be war? The answer to this is easy, which is, that so long as the English government be permitted, at her own discretion, to search, capture, and condemn our vessels, control our commerce, impress our seamen, and fire upon and plunder our national ships, as she has done, she will not declare war, because she will not give us the acknowledged right of making reprisals. Her plan is a monopoly of war, and she thinks to succeed by the manoeuvre of not declaring war.
The case then is altogether a question among ourselves. Shall we make war on the English government, as the English government has made upon us; or shall we submit, as we have done, and that with long forbearance, to the evil of having war made upon us without reprisals? This is a right statement of the case between the United States and England.
For several years past it has been the scheme of that government to terrify us, by acts of violence, into submission to her measures, and in the insatiable stupidity of attempting this she has incensed us into war. We neither fear nor care about England, otherwise than pitying the people who live under such a wretched system of government. As to navies, they have lost their terrifying powers. They can do nothing against us at land, and if they come within our waters, they will be taken the first calm that comes. They can rob us on the ocean as robbers can do, and we can find a way to indemnify ourselves by reprisals, in more ways than one.
The British government is not entitled, even as an enemy, to be treated as civilized enemies are treated. She is a pirate, and should be treated as a pirate. Nations do not declare war against pirates, but attack them as a natural right. All civilities shown to the British government, is like pearl thrown before swine. She is insensible of principle and destitute of honor. Her monarch is mad and her ministers have caught the contagion.
The British government, and also the nation deceive themselves with respect to the power of navies. They suppose that ships of war can make conquests at land; that they can take or destroy towns or cities near the shore and obtain by ter-
ror for terms they please. They sent admiral Duckworth to Constantinople upon this stupid idea, and the event has shown to the world the impotency of navies against cannon on shore. Constantinople was not fortified any more than our American towns are now; but the Turks, on the appearance of the British fleet, got five hundred cannon and a hundred mortars down from the arsenals to the shore, and the blustering heroes of the navy seeing this, fled like a hound with a rattle at his tail. The gallant people of Norfolk and its neighborhood have sent Douglass off in a similar manner. An Indian who studies nature is a better judge of naval power than an English minister.
In March, 1777, soon after taking the Hessians at Trenton, I was at a treaty held with the five northern nations of Indians at East Town, in Pennsylvania, and was often pleased with the sagacious remarks of those original people. The chief of one of the tribes, who went by the name of King Lastnight , because his tribe had sold their lands, had seen some English men of war in some of the waters of Canada & was impressed with the idea of the power of these great canoes; but he saw that the English made no progress against us by land. This was enough for an Indian to form an opinion by. He could speak some English, and in conversation with me, alluding to the great canoes, he gave me an idea of the power of a king of England by the following metaphor.
"The king of England," said he, "is like a fish. When he is in the water he can 'wag his tail. When he comes on land 'he lays on his side." Now, if the English government had but half the sense that Indian had, they would not have sent Da'worth to Constantinople, and Douglass to Norfolk, to lay on their side.
Accounts from Halifax state, that admiral Berkeley has alledged in writing, that "his orders (to Douglass) were not issued until every application to restore the mutineers and deserters (as he calls them) had been made by his Britannic majesty's minister, consul, and officer, and had been refused by the government of the United States."
If this account be true, it shews that Berkeley is an idiot in governmental affairs; for if the matter was in the hands of the British minister, who is the immediate representative of his government, Berkeley could have no interference in it. That minister would report to his government the demand he made if he made any, & the answer he received, if he received any, & Berkeley could act only in consequence of orders received afterwards. It does not belong to subordinate officers of any government to commence hostilities at their own discretion.
I now come to speak of the politics of the day as they arise out of the circumstances that have taken place.
The injustice of the British government, and the insolence of its naval officers, are no longer to be borne. That injustice, and that insolence, grow out of a presumption the British government has set up, which it calls " the right of search ." There is not, nor ever was, such a right appertaining to a nation in consequence of its being in war with another nation. Wherever such a right existed it has been by treaty, and where no such treaty exist, no such right can exist, and to assume the exercise of it is an act of hostility, which if not abandoned, must be repelled until it be abandoned. The United States cannot even cede such a right to England, without ceding the same right to France, Spain, Holland, Naples, Italy, and Turkey, or they will take it, and the United States must take the consequence. It is a very difficult matter, and requires great political wisdom, for a neutral nation to make a treaty during a time of war with one belligerent nation, that shall not commit her with the other. The best way then, since matters are come to the extremity they are, is to resist this pretended right of search in the first instance. The U.S. States are able to do it, and she is the only neutral nation that is able.
We are not the diminutive people now that we were when the revolution began. Our population then was two millions and a half, it is now between six and seven millions and in less than ten years will exceed the population of England. The United States have increased more in power, ability, and wealth within the last twenty or twenty-two years than she did for two hundred years before, while the states were British colonies.
She owes this to two things, independence and the representative system of government . It was always the ill-judged and impracticable system of the British government to keep the colonies in a state of vassalage. They never were to be of full age that she might always control them.
While the United States have been going forward in this unparalleled manner, England has been going backward. Her government is a bankrupt, and her people miserable. More than a million of them are paupers. Her king is mad, and her parliament corrupt. We have yet to see what the present new elected parliament will be—There is one man in it, whom I proudly call a friend, from whom there will be great expectations; but what can one honest independent member do, surrounded by such a mass of ignorance and corruption as have for many years past governed that unfortunate nation.
The great dependence of England has been on her navy, and it is her navy that has been her ruin. The falsely imagined power of that navy (for it was necessary it should be amphibious to perform what was expected from it) has prompted the ignorance of her government into insolence towards all foreign powers till England has not a friend left among nations. Russia and Sweden will quarter themselves upon her purse till it becomes empty, and then very probably will turn against her.
Depending on her navy she blockaded whole countries by proclamation, and now Bonaparte by way of justifiable retaliation has blockaded her by land from the commerce of the western part of the continent of Europe. Her insolent and imbecile expedition to Constantinople, has excluded her from the commerce of Turkish Europe and Turkey in Asia, and thrown it into the hands of France—and her outrageous conduct to us will exclude her from the commerce of the U.S. By the insolence of the
crew of her navy she is in danger of losing her trade to China; & it is easy to see that Bonaparte is paving his way to India by Turkey and Persia. The madness of the British government has thrown Turkey into the arms of France. Persia lies between Turkey and India, and Bonaparte is forming friendly connections with the Persian government. There is already an exchange of ambassadors. Bonaparte is sending military officers into Persia, and will with the consent of its government, raise an army there and attack the English monopoly in India—If France holds her connections with Turkey and Persia, England cannot hold India.
It is in this wretched chaos of affairs that the mad government of England has brought upon herself a new enemy by commencing hostilities against the United States. She must be ignorant of the geography of America, or she would know that we can dispossess her of all her possessions on the continent whenever we please, and she cannot, with safety, keep a fleet in the West Indies during the hurricane months. Bonaparte will find employment for every soldier she can raise, and those she may send to the continent of Europe will become prisoners. There never was an instance of a government conducting itself with the madness and ignorance the British government has done! This is John Adam's stupendous fabric of human wisdom!
That the British government will disown giving hostile instructions to Berkeley I have no doubt. It is the trick of old governments to do so, when they find themselves wrong and pay some scape goat to bear the blame. But this will not be sufficient. The pretended right of search and the impression of our seamen must be abandoned. Three thousand of them have been impressed by British ships to fight against France. The French government has shown a great deal of patience in not complaining of it, for it is a great injury to her, and must be redressed or worse consequences will follow.
I have said in the former part of this essay, that it is a difficult matter and requires great political wisdom for a neutral nation during a war to form a treaty with one belligerent nation that shall not commit her with the other. I will now give an instance of it.
In 1794, Washington sent Mr. Monroe as minister to France, and John Jay to England, and gave them contradictory instructions—By the treaty that existed between the United States and France, " free ships made free goods ." So that English property on board American ships, was protected from seizure by France. John Jay made a treaty with England, which Washington and the stupid senate of that day ratified, by which free ships did not make free property, and that French property on board American ships could be seized by England. This of consequence reached the free article in the treaty with France, and she availed herself of it, and the United States lost the carrying trade of both nations. There is a jesuitism in Jay's treaty, which says, that the question whether free ships make free goods shall be taken into consideration two years after the war. It is now more than two years since that war, and therefore it forms an item with the matters to be now settled with the English government.
The British government have been so long in the habit of insolence that she has not the sense of seeing when the power of being insolent ceases. She ought to see that the power of France by land is far superior to her power at sea. France, by land, can blockade the commerce of England out of Europe and India, and the English navy can do nothing to prevent it. Of what use is it to " rule the waves ," if you cannot put your foot on shore, if it was a contest for fisheries, the most powerful navy would decide; but as it is a contest for commerce at land, it is land force that decides, and navies are out of the question.
If the British government were wise, she would cease the pretended right of search of her own accord, for it brings her into endless trouble. It makes all nations her enemies. Every nation detests the piratical insolence of England, and none more so than the United States. The spirit that is now raised, cannot be appeased until reparation is made for the past, and security given for the future.
COMMON SENSE.
BOSTON, August 19.
Prince JEROME BONAPARTE is to be created Grand Duke of Hanover.
NEW-YORK, Aug. 21.
New-York, Aug. 20, 1807.
Sir,—Considering the present state of the U.S. States & G. Britain, I deem it my duty to make public a circumstance which occurred yesterday, about 4 miles from the land, and about 10 to the southward of Sandy Hook.
While lying to and hawling the mainsail out upon the boom, the English Packet, capt. John Boulderson, came along about 1 mile to windward and fired a gun without shot ; in 10 or 12 minutes afterwards she fired another gun with shot , which from my own observation, passed over our stern about 50 yards: the boys who were on the end of the boom employed in hauling the mainsail out, aver that they could have thrown a stone to the spot where the shot struck.
As I understand the Packet called at Halifax, and therefore knew the situation of the two nations, it might
have been expected that some delicacy would have been observed to our national sovereignty, and to our pilots within their jurisdiction, but it appears that they are so anxious to be at us that all occasions are tho't proper and used without ceremony.
My countrymen will make their own reflections on this subject. Some may think that only one shot fired, & that about 50 or 100 yards off, is not very serious, and might from courtesy be passed over; while others recollecting the fate of Pierce , who fell by a random shot, may suppose this notice not sufficiently vindictive: to both be it said, that I trust the time is not distant when this and other wrongs from the same quarter will find an opportunity to be nobly redressed. I have only to add my regret that any pilot should be found to bring this ship in after having been informed of the above particulars. I am, sir, &c.
WASHINGTON MORTON. The Editor of the American Citizen.
Mr. Fulton'stream-boat left the North river on Monday between 1 & 2 o'clock in the afternoon; at 10 o'clock in the evening she was opposite Tappan; between 2 and 3 o'clock on the following morning she was seen 6 miles beyond Newburgh, and at 6 o'clock she was seen by the Cornelia opposite Poughkeepsie; performing her voyage without sails, and in opposition to the wind and tide.
Mr. Fulton's ingenious steam-boat, invented with a view to the navigation of the Mississippi from New-Orleans upwards, sailed on the 17th inst. from the North river, near the state prison, to Albany. The velocity of the steam boat is calculated at four miles an hour; it is said that it will make a progress of two against the current of the Mississippi; and if so it will certainly be a very valuable acquisition to the commerce of the western states.
PHILADELPHIA, August 24! The subjoined extracts of letters will be read with interest by all descriptions of our citizens.—We pledge ourselves for the authenticity and correctness of that which has been communicated for the Register .—It establishes the opinion we have heretofore expressed on this subject.
Extract of a letter received in town from a gentleman at Halifax, dated Aug. 8th. "Respecting peace or war with the United States, opinions here in general are, that matters will be amicably adjusted. They are however not without their fears. I assure you, and with good reason—I have breakfasted and dined with admiral Berkeley, and had more than once an opportunity of hearing him relate many particulars respecting the unhappy dispute with the United States, particularly the causes that brought on the unpleasant business with the Chesapeake; which he assured me might as well have happened in the Mediterranean (where she was bound) as here, as he had no doubt but that the same orders were sent out there.—The ship of war Milan , 44 guns, sails this day for the Capes of Virginia."
Boston Chronicle.
PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.
[COMMUNCOMMUNICATED FOR THE REGISTER.
"NEW-YORK, August 22.—We have, from our friends at Halifax admiral Berkeley's account of the affair of the Chesapeake, sent on at the instance of the admiral for us to make what use of it we thought fit. It varies little from what we had previously understood.—The only thing of moment we learn by it is, that the measure emanated from himself—that it was not of his government—strong hopes are entertained that the matter will be accommodated."
AUGUST 25.
THE FLORIDAS.
It has been reported, for some days past, and we think with great probability of correctness, that both the Floridas have been ceded to the U.S. We sincerely hope the information may be true, as great advantage must result to us from the cession. The colonial depredations, committing by England, may have hastened an event, that must have ultimately taken place, though otherwise it might have been retarded to our disadvantage.
BRITISH OUTRAGE.
Capt. Reading, arrived at Portsmouth, from Point Petre, Guad. informs, that on the 29th June, off Deserada, he was brought too by the English armed brig Dominique , from Dominique, and ordered on board with his papers &c. that during his way to, and while on board, as well as on his return, (after detention of two hours) they continued firing small arms at his schooner & several shot went through her sails, entered her spars, and other parts of the vessel. Upon complaining, capt. R. was told he might think himself well off they did not sink his vessel.
PETERSBURG, Aug. 26.
We understand that Thomas Bolling Robertson, Esq. of this place, is appointed Secretary of the Orleans Territory.
Mr. Robertson having accepted the above appointment, a new election must consequently take place for a delegate from this county, to fill the vacancy occasioned by that gentleman's removal.
Blank Books, Of various kinds for sale at this Office.

(Continued from 1st page.)
Questioned by the prosecution.
Mr. Hay. Which way did he go? A. I saw him leave Washington for Wheeling.
Mr. Burr. You spoke of a letter from me to your father; do you know whether he wrote me, some time before, a letter of invitation to his house? A. Yes: He had written about a year before, to you, at Pittsburgh; that letter is yet unopened in my brother Tom's bureau.
Examination of Col. George Morgan. Col. Morgan was proceeding, when Mr. Burr objected to this kind of evidence, consisting of conversations and previous declarations.
Mr. Hay. If the gentlemen will only wait, they will find that other circumstances will come out to prove the materiality of this testimony.
Col. Moran. (The father of the last witness) — There has been a long acquaintance between Col. Burr and myself: He had introduced to my notice two of his nephews by the name of — and a third by the name of Edwards, Pierrepont Edwards.
I don't recollect saying any thing on the subject; but it struck my mind very forcibly that all was not right. He said, with 200 men he could drive Congress with the President at its head into the river Potomac; or that it might be done; and he said with 500 men he could take possession of N. Y.
Cross-Examined. Mr. Burr. Are you certain that I came down in the night? A. Yes. Mrs. Morgan said Col. Burr is coming down. Now, you'll have it. Q. What sort of a book was the one I had in my hand? Was it bound? A. It was not so large as this; I do not recollect whether it was bound, as it would not be very polite in me to take particular notice of such things, when gentlemen are at my own house.
General Morgan was then called in at the request of the prisoner. Mr. Burr. What was the situation of your father, about the time of my visit? A. He had lately had a fall, which had done him considerable injury.
Mr. Burr. Do you recollect that the probability of a Spanish war was mentioned? A. It was a general subject of conversation.
(Testimony to be continued.)
BANK NOTES LOST.
LOST about the 11th or 12th instant, on the road leading from Morton's ferry on Staunton river in Charlotte county to the Double bridges in Lunenburg county, NOTES of the Bank of Virginia, of the following names, numbers and dates, viz:
I will give Ten Dollars Reward to any person who will deliver the above property to Capt. Little Joe Morton of Charlotte county, or the subscriber living at Halifax courthouse.
William Roberts. 22d August, 1807.
AT a quarterly Court continued and held for Prince Edward county, August the 19th, 1807.
William Whitworth, Compt. Against, John Spaulding and his wife, John Burton, John Ward and his wife, Robert Burton, Thomas Wilson and his wife, and Anderson Burton by John Redd his guardian, and Osborne Lockett, executor of James Scott, dec. Defs.
The defendant Robert Burton, not having entered his appearance and given security according to an act of the General Assembly and the rules of this court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that he is not an inhabitant of this state, on the motion of the complainant by his counsel, It is ordered, That the said defendant Robert Burton, do appear here on the first day of November next, and answer the complainant's bill, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some one of the public newspapers printed in the city of Richmond for two months successively, and also posted at the front door of the courthouse of this county.
A Copy, Teste, Benjamin Watkins, D. C.
United States Court, fifth Circuit, and Virginia District, May term, 1807.
Robert Berkeley and Julia his wife, late Julia Carter, daughter and devisee of Robert Carter, deceased, Pls. Against, George Carter, acting executor and devisee of the same Robert Carter, Priscilla Mitchell and Robert Mitchell her husband, Betsy Landon Ball and Spencer Ball her husband, Harriet Lucy Maund, Sarah Fairfax Chinn, John Tasker Carter, Sophia Carter, Harriet Peck, John Peck, Emanuel Peck, Tasker Carter Quinton, an infant, Hugh Quinton, guardian of Tasker Carter Quinton, Francis Jones, Thomas Jones, Sarah Jones, Elizabeth Jones and Jane Jones, infants by Walter Jones their guardian, Defs.
The defendant Sophia Carter, not having entered her appearance, and given security according to a rule of this court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that she is not an inhabitant of this district; on the motion of the plaintiffs by their counsel; It is ordered, That the said defendant do appear here on the first day of the next term, and answer the plaintiff's bill, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some one of the newspapers, published in the city of Richmond for two months successively, and posted at the front door of the capitol in the said city.
A Copy, Teste, Wm. Marshall, Clk.
United States Court, fifth Circuit, and Virginia District, May term, 1807.
John and Jane Backhouse, administrators and administratrix, de bonis non of John Backhouse, deceased, unadministered by Rebecca Backhouse, deceased, and Jones, executrix, &c. of Gabriel Jones, deceased, Pls. Against, Robert Paxton, administrator, de bonis non cum testamento annexo of James Hunter, deceased, unadministered by Patrick Home, deceased, Joseph Ennever, administrator of Adam Hunter, decd., James Hunter, son of John Hunter, deceased, who was heir of Adam Hunter, deceased, and Robert Dunbar, Defs.
The defendant James Hunter, not having entered his appearance, and given security according to a rule of this court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that he is not an inhabitant of this district; on the motion of the plaintiffs by their counsel; It is ordered, That the said defendant do appear here on the first day of the next term, and answer the plaintiff's bill, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some one of the newspapers, published in the city of Richmond, for two months successively, and posted at the front door of the capitol in the said city.
A Copy, Teste, Wm. Marshall, Clk.
United States Court, fifth Circuit, and Virginia District, May term, 1807.
Luke Tiernan, Pls. Against, Mary Brent, widow of George Brent, Daniel Brent, Robert Brent, John Cook, Bailey Washington, William Brent and Robert Brent, Mary Brent and George F. Brent, infant children of George and Mary Brent, Defs.
The defendants Daniel Brent and William Brent, not having entered their appearance, and given security according to a rule of this court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that they are not inhabitants of this district; on the motion of the plaintiff by his counsel; It is ordered, That the said defendants do appear here on the first day of the next term, and answer the plaintiff's bill, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some one of the newspapers, published in the city of Richmond for two months successively, and posted at the front door of the capitol in the said city.
A Copy, Teste, Wm. Marshall, Clk.
United States Court, fifth Circuit, and Virginia District, May term, 1807.
John Dixon, Pls. Against, Edward Rumsey and Peter Hoffman and son, Defs. In Chancery.
The defendants, not having entered their appearance, and given security according to a rule of this court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court, that they are not inhabitants of this district; on the motion of the plaintiff by his counsel, It is ordered, That the said defendants do appear here on the first day of the next term, and answer the plaintiff's bill, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some one of the newspapers, published in the city of Richmond for two months successively, and posted at the front door of the capitol in the said city.
A Copy, Teste, Wm. Marshall, Clk.
AT a meeting of the society of Cincinnati at the Capitol in the city of Richmond, on Thursday, the 28th day of May, 1807.
Resolved, That a general meeting of the society be called on the second Monday in December next, to meet at the capitol in the city of Richmond, to take into consideration, and make an ultimate destination of their funds.
Resolved, That the standing committee be directed and vested with the power of converting all the funds of the society into money, which shall be laid up in stock of the Bank of Virginia; but the said committee are not authorized to act under this resolution until after the said second Monday in December next.
Signed, JAMES WOOD, President. Attest, SAM: COLEMAN, Secretary.
FOR SALE,
THAT most beautiful and healthy situation, known by the name of HALLSBOROUGH, or HALL'S STORE, lying on the Buckingham road, seventeen miles above Manchester. Also another valuable TRACT OF LAND, in the lower end of Powhatan county, containing two hundred acres more or less, with good improvements, and there is no doubt of a great quantity of COAL being on this land.
The subscriber will give a great bargain in the said lands, as he wishes to move to the Western country. For terms apply to ZACH'Y HALL. August 25th, 1807.
A Valuable Plantation,
In the lower part of the county of Middlesex, and was formerly the property of the late Col. Wm. Churchill, dec. It contains 200 acres, and is beautifully situated on the river Pianketa, about five miles from its mouth; about one fourth of this Land is cleared, the residue is covered with a valuable growth of pine and oak timber, and the soil is as good as any in that part of the country. It enjoys the advantage of an excellent spring near the House, and the finest Fish, Oysters and wild Fowl, may be had in the greatest abundance in their respective seasons. The improvements on this Land, are inconsiderable, in consequence of its being for many years past in the hands of tenants. Young Negroes will be taken in part, or for the whole of the purchase, and a good and sufficient title will be made the purchaser, and possession given on or before the first of January next. For terms, apply to Joseph Carter, jr. near Chowning's Ferry, in the county of Lancaster. If the said land is not disposed of before the 4th Monday in October next, it will then be offered at public auction, to the highest bidder in Utrabanna.
JURIAH HARRIS. August 5 1807.
Twenty Dollars Reward,
RUN AWAY from the Subscriber, living near King and Queen courthouse, on the 26th of July last,
A NEGRO MAN,
Named NELSON, about 26 years of age, and about five feet four inches high, very sturdy made, very black, and hath a down look, he has a scar on his breast, and another on his ham, he pretends to tell fortunes; he had on when he went from home, a pair of checked pantaloons; it is probable, he will be dressed well, as he has a plenty of money, which he took from me on the day of his elopement—he's been for some time in the county of Essex; but I have been informed he has gone to Richmond county. Any person that will deliver him to me in King and Queen county, or secure him in any jail, so that I get him again, shall receive the above reward.
RICHARD EUBANK, jr. August 22, 1807.
Sales at Auction.
ON Tuesday the 1st of September next will be sold, without reserve, on the premises, the BRICK HOUSE & LOT, the property of Alexander Blackwood, in Adams's Valley; Also, FOUR NEGROES. Terms made known on day of Sale.
PROSSER & MONCURE, Aucts. Aug. 24th, 1807.
In King William County Court, July 27th, 1807.
Christopher Tompkins, Complainant, In Chancery. Against, Thos. Reeves & John Temple, defers.
THE defendant Thomas Reeves, not having entered his appearance and given security according to the Act of Assembly, and the rules of this Court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, that he is not an inhabitant of this country. On the motion of the Complainant by his counsel, It is ordered, that the said defendant Reeves, do appear here on the fourth Monday in November next, and answer the bill of the Complainant; and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some newspaper published in the city of Richmond for two months successively, and posted at the front door of the Court house of this county. And it is further ordered that the defendant Temple do not pay, convey away, or secrete any debts by him owing to the other defendant, Thomas Reeves, until the further order or decree of this court.
A Copy Teste, Robert Pollard, C. C.
*** TICKETS in the Second Class of the William and Mary College Lottery for sale at this office.
LOAN OFFICE, State of Virginia. June 8, 1807.
NOTICE is hereby given. That in conformity with the provisions of the act making provision for the redemption of the whole of the public debt of the United States, books will be opened at the office of the commissioner of loans for the state of Virginia, on the first day of July next, to continue open until the seventeenth day of March, 1808, inclusively, the fourteenth last days of each quarter excepted, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions for such parts of the old six per cent. deferred six per cent. and three per cent. stocks, as may, on the day of subscription, stand on the books of the said commissioner of loans.
Those proprietors of the old six per cent. and deferred stocks, who may subscribe, will receive in lieu thereof a new six per cent. stock, equal to the unredeemed amount of the stock surrendered, redeemable at the pleasure of the United States, under a proviso however, that no reimbursement shall be made except for the whole amount of any such new certificate of stock, nor till after six months previous notice; and the proprietors of the three per cent. stock who may subscribe, will receive in lieu thereof, a six per cent. stock, equal to sixty-five per cent. of the amount of three per cent. surrendered, redeemable in the same manner as the new six per cent. abovementioned, but not reimbursable however, without the assent of the holders, until after the whole of the new six per cent. (given in exchange for old six or deferred as abovementioned) as well as the whole of the eight per cent. stock of the United States, shall have been reimbursed. It is also provided that in every reimbursement which may take place, a preference will be given to those creditors who may notify their wish to be reimbursed; and that if the applications to that effect shall at any time either exceed or fall short of the sum then applicable to that purpose, the priority of payment shall, so far as may be necessary, be determined by lot.
The present stockholders who reside in any part of Europe, and may assent to that modification, may, at their option, receive the interest accruing on the new stock, either in the United States as heretofore, or in London, or Amsterdam, at par; in which last case the interest will be paid there by the bankers of the United States, six months subsequent to the day on which the same would be payable in the United States and subject to no variation; nor to any other deduction than a commission to the bankers, of one half per cent. on the interest thus paid.
JOHN PAGE, Commissioner of Loans.
NOTE.
Proprietors of 1000 dollars nominal six per cent. stock, subscribed before the 1st October, 1807, will be entitled to receive, 649 62 of new six per cent. subscribed between the 1st October, and 31st Dec. 1807, 644 37 If subscribed between the 1st January and 17th March, 1808, 619 08 Proprietors of 1000 dollars nominal deferred, subscribed before the 1st October, 1807, will be entitled to receive, 855 78 If subscribed between the 1st October, and 31st Dec. 1807, 853 62 If subscribed between the 1st January, and 17th March, 1808, 831 42 Being the unredeemed amount of the old stock on the 1st July, and October, 1807, and 1st January, 1808, respectively. Proprietors of 1000 dollars three per cent. stock will be entitled to receive 650 dollars of new six per cent. Wm J. P. Com'r. Loans.
C. Parlasea & John M'Conachy, CARVERS & GILDERS,
In the second Tenement of Col. Mayo's new building on the Main-street. Beg leave to inform the ladies and gentlemen of Richmond, that they have on hand, an elegant assortment of Looking Glasses, Pictures, Prints, Barometers, Thermometers, Microscopes, Telescopes, Silver and Tortoise Shell Spectacles, and all other articles in their line.—Windows and Bed Cornices done on the most reasonable terms.
PROFILES
Cut by John M'Conachy, and painted by L. Remoult, who also takes Likenesses in Miniature. Price of cutting the profiles, 25 cents; for painting them 3 dollars, and of miniatures 16 dollars. N. B. No likeness, no pay.—Specimens of the manner of cutting, shading the hair, painting &c. may be seen at the said store. Richmond, July 30, 1807. w2m
Ten Dollars Reward.
RUN AWAY from the Subscriber, on the 28th of April, a Negro Man JOE, and Woman named FANNY, but called by the black people FANNY KENNY, which eloped on the 14th of June. The man is a bright mulatto, about 28 years of age, straight and well built, and has a very brisk walk, and is a very handy, sensible fellow—about 5 feet, 8 or 10 inches high—The woman is so light, that hardly any person would take her to be a slave—She has blue eyes and straight sandy colored hair, and if her skin was well kept, she would be taken for a white woman—her right forefinger is off at the first joint, and has a large scar on her left arm, occasioned by a burn, and has a very brisk walk, about 20 years of age, and had on when she went away, a white Virginia Habit, and as they are Brother and Sister, it is likely they will get together, change their names, and pass as free people. Any person that will deliver them to the Subscriber, in Hanover county, or secure them in any Jail, so that I get them again, shall receive the above reward.
BENJAMIN BOWLES. June 13, 1807. N. B. I forewarn all owners or masters of vessels from carrying them off.

VIRGINIA ARGUS EXTRA.
[XVth YEAR.]
A FREE PRESS MAINTAINS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE.
[No. 1384.]
RICHMOND:—PRINTED (ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS) BY SAMUEL PLEASANTS, JUNIOR, PRINTER TO THE COMMONWEALTH.
[Four Dollars Per Annum—paid in Advance.]
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1807.
[12 1-2 Cents Single.]
Pursuant to Law, the Executive have caused the several Companies of Artillery and Troops of Cavalry, to be allotted by entire Companies into Divisions, from one to ten for a regular routine of duty as follows:
1ST REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Clement Carrington of Charlotte.
The companies in this regiment raised in the 4th and 12th brigades, compose the first battalion commanded by major James Callaway, jr. of Franklin; those raised in the 11th and 15th brigades compose the 2d battalion, which is commanded by major Thomas Read of Charlotte.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    George Waller, jr. Henry 1 12 2  John D. Richardson, Charlotte 1 11 2  James Williams, Dinwiddie 1 15 3  Isaac Aaron, Pittsylvania 1 11 3  Daniel Weisiger, Chesterfield 1 4 4  Mark Anthony Bedford 1 12 6  Francis Robertson, Lunenburg 1 15 6  James Meng, Prince Edward 1 11 7  Edward Peagram, Brunswick 1 15 9  Samuel Hughes, Patrick 1 12 9  Benj' W. Winston, Campbell 1 12 9  James Wall, Greensville 1 15 10  Emanuel J. Leigh, Prince Edward 1 11 10  
2D REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Wm. R. Fleming of Goochland.
The companies in this regiment raised in the 1st and 3d brigades compose the first battalion, commanded by major John Stevens of Culpeper; those raised in the 5th and 6th brigades compose the second battalion, commanded by major John Bro- naugh of Fauquier.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    William Harper, Fairfax 1 1 1  Mann Page, jr. Spottsylvania 1 1 1  James Weaver, Fluvanna 1 3 3  John Bishop, Culpeper 1 1 2  John Hamilton, Loudoun 1 5 5  John Edwards, Louisa 1 3 5  Samuel Chiles, Caroline 1 1 5  Charles Hume, Fauquier 1 5 6  Warner Lewis, Goochland 1 3 7  John Stith, King George 1 5 10  
3D REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Alexander King of Hampshire.
The companies in this regiment raised in the 7th, 13th, 17th and 19th brigades compose the 1st battalion, commanded by major James Taylor of Montgomery; those raised in the 10th, 16th and 18th brigades, compose the 2d battalion, commanded by major James Singleton of Frederick.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    David Long, Harrison 3 10 4  James P. Preston, Montgomery 3 19 6  Samuel Beck, Ohio 3 10 7  John Heiskell, Frederick 3 16 7  James Dailey, Hampshire 3 18 8  George Peckenpaugh, Monongalia 3 10 8  James Chipley, Shenandoah 3 7 8  Thomas L. Preston, Rockbridge 3 13 9  William C. Boyer, Botetourt 3 13 9  Almarine Marshall, Wythe 3 19 10  James Withroe, Washington 3 17 10  
4TH REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Robert Goodwin of Southampton.
The companies in this regiment raised in the 8th and 9th brigades compose the 1st battalion, commanded by major John Lewis of Gloucester; those raised in the 2d and 14th brigades compose the 2d battalion, commanded by major Samuel Coleman of Henrico.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    Taliferro Hunter, Essex 4 14 1  Daniel Butts, Southampton 4 8 1  Reuben Madison, King William 4 14 3  Humphrey Dabney, Richmond City 4 2 3  Skaife Whiting, Gloucester 4 14 4  Bathurst Jones, Hanover 4 2 4  Richard Corbin, King and Queen 4 14 5  Peter Nestell, Norfolk Borough 4 9 5  William P. Pollard, Ditto. 4 9 7  George Price, Isle of Wight 4 8 8  
1ST REGIMENT OF CAVALRY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Philemon Holcombe of Prince Edward.
The troops in this regiment raised in the 4th & 12th brigades, compose the 1st battalion, com-
manded by major Peterfield Archer of Amelia; those raised in the 11th and 15th brigades compose the 2d battalion, commanded by major John M'Rae of Petersburg.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    Peter Garland, Henry 1 12 1  James Wilson, Mecklenburg 1 15 1  Charles Betts, Lunenburg 1 15 1  William Ruffin, Brunswick 1 15 2  William Calloway, Franklin 1 12 2  Edward Carter, Pittsylvania 1 15 2  Rolling Branch, Buckingham 1 4 3  Thomas Nelson, Mecklenburg 1 15 3  John Fitzgerald, Nottoway 1 4 3  John Swann, Amelia 1 4 4  Beverley C. Stanard, Chesterfield 1 4 4  Thomas Gholson, Brunswick 1 15 4  Francis B. Cox, Halifax 1 11 5  Daniel Brown, Franklin 1 12 5  William Bowden, Dinwiddie 1 15 5  James T. Johnson, Pittsylvania 1 11 6  Harry Heth, Chesterfield 1 4 6  William Irvine, Bedford 1 12 7  Thomas Miller, Powhatan 1 4 7  George Hannah, Charlotte 1 11 7  Joseph Sandford, Halifax 1 11 8  Archer Womack, Prince Edward 1 11 8  Robert Pegram, Dinwiddie 1 15 8  Greensville Penn, Patrick 1 12 9  James Otey, Berford 1 12 9  James Jones, Campbell 1 12 9  Dennis Kelly, Campbell 1 12 10  John Lackland, Cumberland 1 4 10  William L. Womack, Prince Edward 1 11 10  
2D REGIMENT OF CAVALRY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Thomas Mann Randolph of Albemarle.
The troops in this regiment raised in the 1st and 3d brigades compose the 1st battalion, commanded by major John T. Woodford of Caroline; those raised in the 5th and 6th brigades compose the 2d battalion, commanded by major Thomas Hunton of Fauquier.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    John Rouzie, Madison 2 1 1  Richard Tompkins, Caroline 2 1 1  Zephaniah Turner, Culpeper 2 1 1  Stacey Taylor, Lo. Mount 2 6 2  Charles Burrus, Amerst 2 3 3  William Smith, Orange 2 1 3  James M. Robertson, Stafford 2 5 4  Samuel Carr, Albemarle 2 3 4  Charles Quarles, Louisa 2 3 5  Robert B. Payne, Fluvanna 2 3 5  George Kemper, Fauquier 2 5 6  William Armistead, Amherst 2 3 6  William R. Smith, Fauquier 2 5 6  Nichlas Osborne, Loudoun 2 5 6  Stapleton Crutchfield, Spottsylvania 2 1 7  Regen Wilcoxen, Fairfax 2 6 7  Clifton Garland, Albemarle 2 3 8  John H. Peyton, Prince William 2 5 8  William Bolling, Goochland 2 3 8  Charles Tutt, Loudoun 2 5 9  Francis S. Jones, Culpeper 2 1 9  Nathaniel Grigsby, Fauquier 2 5 10  John G. Stewart, King George 2 5 10  
3D REGIMENT OF CAVALRY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Henry Bowyer of Botetourt.
The troops in this regiment raised in the 7th, 13th, 17th and 19th brigades, compose the 1st battalion, commanded by major Robert Grattan of Augusta; those raised in the 10th, 16th and 18th brigades, compose the 2d battalion, commanded by major Alexander Shield of Rockbridge.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    John Lewis, Bath 3 13 1  Richard Shanklin, Monroe 3 13 1  Samuel Baker, Frederick 3 15 1  Charles Chrisman, Rockingham 3 7 1  Jesse Bennett, Kanawha 3 13 2  Joseph Kerr, Ohio 3 10 2  James Barnett, Montgomery 3 19 2  Jacob Beeson, Wood 3 10 2  Robert Beatty, Lee 3 17 3  Amos Ballard, Grayson 3 17 3  John Davis, Monongalia 3 10 4  William Steele, Augusta 3 7 4  Archibald Lyle, Rockbridge 3 13 4  James P. Thompson, Tazewell 3 17 4  James Hite, Berkeley 3 16 5  Jacob Baker, Washington 3 17 5  Job Robinson, Harrison 3 10 5  John Mathews, Augusta 3 7 5  James Thompson, Wythe 3 19 6  Eben Taylor, Frederick 3 16 6  Frederick Spangler, Rockingham 3 7 7  James Ward, Wythe 3 19 7  Joel Ward, Berkeley 3 16 7  John Morgan, Shenandoah 3 7 8  Andrew Hamilton, Botetourt 3 13 8  William Byars, Washington 3 17 8  
  William McKinley, Ohio 3 10 9  John Madden, Frederick 3 16 9  Alexander Sayers, Wythe 3 19 9  Magnus Tate, jr. Berkeley 3 16 10  Henry Hull, Pendleton 3 18 10  Loyd Gardner, Brooke 3 10 10  
4TH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY,
Commanded by Lieut.-Col. Larkin Smith of King and Queen.
The troops in this regiment raised in the 2d and 14th brigades, compose the 1st battalion commanded by major Tunstall Banks of Essex; those raised in the 8th and 9th brigades, compose the 2d battalion, commanded by major William Ball of Northumberland.
   Names of Captains. Counties. Grand Divisions. Brigades. Regiments.    Rowland Holt, Surry 4 14 1  William Digges, Warwick 4 14 1  John Temple, King and Queen 4 14 2  George W. Boothe, Gloucester 4 14 2  Elliott Muse, Middlesex 4 14 3  John D. Watkins, New Kent 4 14 3  Zorobabel Ames, Accomack 4 9 4  George W. Banks, Essex 4 14 5  James W. Murchaugh, Norfolk 4 9 5  Richard Edwards, Northumberland 4 14 6  Joshua Port, Southampton 4 8 6  Armistead Currie, Lancaster 4 14 7  Beverley Robinson, King William 4 14 7  William Peters, Sussex 4 8 7  John Finnie, Accomack 4 9 7  John H. Peterson, Prince George 4 8 8  Richard E. Parker, Westmoreland 4 14 8  James Riddick, Nansemond 4 8 9  Richard Coke, James City 4 2 9  Benjamin Sheppard, Henrico 4 2 9  Vincent Branhams, Richmond 4 14 10  William Ayre, Northampton 4 9 10  Robert B. Taylor, Norfolk 4 9 10  
The allotment of the companies of Grenadiers, Light Infantry or Riflemen raised within the Battalions, Regiments, Brigades, and Divisions, into divisions from one to ten for a regular routine of duty, by the Executive, is as follows:
FIRST DIVISION.
 COUNTIES.
Brigades.
Regiments.
Companies.      

FOR SALE, Opposite Colonel Mayo's new Buildings, 4th, 3rd and 2nd floor Antigua Rum in hds. of the crop 1805—Imported early 1806 New England Rum in hds. and barrels 1 pipe very Superior Holland's Gin Rye Whiskey in barrels Loaf and Brown Sugar in Ditto Coffee by the barrel or bag Beef and Pork in barrels Irish Potatoes in ditto, suitable for table or planting Potomac Shad and Herrings, Stone Lime in large and small casks. And a general assortment of GROCERIES, &c. &c.—which will be sold low for Cash, good paper, or exchanged for country produce, by JOB GREENE. Richmond, 27th May, 1807.
NOTICE. THE books, papers, and accounts of the late mercantile firm of McCredie and McMillan, of the city of Richmond, being now in the possession of George McCredie, one of the Admrs of John McCredie, deceased, who was the surviving partner of McCredie and McMillan. Therefore all those who are indebted either by specialty or otherwise, are requested to make immediate payment to George McCredie, or make such other arrangement as may be most conducive to the interest of the said concern, as well as to the debts thereof. It is expected that due attention will be paid to this notice, as it is desirable that a close should be immediately made of the transactions of the above mentioned firm. NANCY MCCREDIE, Adm rs . JAMES PENN, GEORGE MCCREDIE, Adm rs . Manchester, 20th June, 1807.
Five Dollars Reward. STRAYED or Stolen from the subscriber on the 21st inst. two Mules, to wit: one black stud Mule, shod all round, with a long switch tale, no other mark recollected. Also one mare Mule, of a bay color, with the end of her tale cut off, only shod before, I believe rather poor. Whoever will deliver the said mules to the subscriber in the city of Richmond, or give such information so that I get them again shall receive the above reward. JOHN TINSLEY. Richmond, June 24th, 1807.
Lesueur & Saunders Are now receiving and will constantly keep a large supply of Bar-Iron & Castings, Of superior quality. Feb. 2d, 1807.
PRICES OF Nails, Brads & Springs, MANUFACTURED at the Penitentiary, and for sale by NICHOLAS HALLAM, agent for the Commonwealth, a few doors above the Swan Tavern, Richmond.
CUT NAILS. Wholesale. Retail. 5d. 12 1-2 cents. 13 1-2 cents per pound. 4d. 11 1-2 12 1-2 6d. 10 1-2 11 1-2 8d. 10 11 10d. 9 1-2 10 1-2 12d. 9 1-2 10 1-2 20d. 9 1-2 10 1-2 CUT BRADS. 8d. 9 1-2 10 1-2 10d. 9 10 12d. 9 10 20d. 9 10 WROUGHT NAILS. 6d. 12 13 1-2 8d. 11 1-2 12 10d. 11 12 12d. 11 12 20d. 11 12 Spikes of all sizes the same price as 50d nails.
CUT SPRIGS. 3d.—50 cents per thousand—4d. 67 cents per thousand—6d. 84 cents per thousand. Also, for sale as above, a variety of Plantation Utensils, such as Plough-Irons, Harrow-teeth, Axes, Wedges, Chains, &c. SHOES Of all sizes made of the best materials, may be had on the most reasonable terms. Where also may be had a general assortment of well chosen GROCERIES. May 13, 1807.
FOR SALE, At public auction, on the 15th day of Sept. next, that valuable tract known by the name of WHITE HALL , in Goochland county, the residence of Col. John Payne in his lifetime. To enter into a minute description of this seat would be superfluous, as it is supposed no person will purchase without first viewing the premises; suffice it to say it contains 600 acres of GOOD LAND. The dwelling house is spacious and elegant, with a suit of excellent and convenient out buildings, extensive and productive APPLE ORCHARDS, &c. The terms of sale will be one third in two years, the other two thirds in annual payments, next succeeding the first. Bond with personal security will be required for the first payment, and a deed of trust on the land to secure the two last. At the same time will be SOLD, the STOCK OF CATTLE, &c. &c. together with sundry articles of HOUSEHOLD and KITCHEN FURNITURE, on a credit of 12 months; bond and security will be required. SMITH PAYNE, One of the Ex rs of JOHN PAYNE, Dec. And the only acting Executor of ROY PAYNE, Dec. July 31st, 1807. N. B. The land will be shown by Mr. George W. Payne who lives contiguous thereto. JUST RECEIVED, AND FOR SALE ON LIBERAL TERMS, 1000 Sacks Liverpool Salt. JOHN TOMPKINS. 24th July, 1807.
Gloucester Low Grounds. THAT valuable and convenient TRACT OF LAND, containing 348 acres, lying upon Severn River, in the county of Gloucester, and advertised for sale by the subscriber in January last; not having yet been disposed of, notice is hereby given, that the same will be sold, on the premises, to the highest bidder, on Tuesday, the 8th day of September next. The purchaser will take possession the first day of January next, but will be allowed the privilege of seeding about eighty acres, now in corn. Terms made known on the day of sale, and as accommodating as possible. Persons wishing to view the land will apply to Mr. Sterling Seawell, who resides upon the adjoining premises. JOHN L. SEAWELL, Executor of JOHN SEAWELL, Dec. July 22d, 1807.
TO RENT, FOR A TERM OF YEARS, OR ONE YEAR, A VALUABLE FARM In the upper end of Hanover county, and at present in the occupancy of John Hay, Esq., containing 260 acres. There are perhaps few tracts of land that combine more advantages than this. It is well adapted to the cultivation of corn, wheat & tobacco; has a full operation of the first quality of meadow land upon it, & lies within 30 miles of the city of Richmond. The uncommon fertility of the situation, the nature of the soil, the happy proportion of wood, arable and grass lands, together with its vicinity to the best market in the county, all serve to render it worthy the attention of any industrious farmer who may wish to settle himself in this way for life, as it may be obtained for any term of years. The buildings are sufficient for the accommodation of a small family, and for all plantation purposes. The premises will be shown by the present occupant, and the terms made known, upon application to the subscriber residing in the county of Orange. DAENBY MINOR. July 19th, 1807.
FOR SALE. MY LANDS in Cumberland county, lying on Appomattox river, joining the lands of Messrs. William & George Skipwith; this land is equal if not superior to any land in Cumberland county, off James river, it contains 607 acres, one half of which is covered with fine timber of every description. There is on this land a decent dwelling house, and between four and five hundred bearing apple trees of choice fruit. One third of the money will be expected when a title is made, the other two thirds may be divided into two annual payments. Mr. Jeremiah Baker or Mr. William Skipwith will show the land to any person wishing to become a purchaser. FRANCIS EVES. Chesterfield, June 3, 1807.
Notice is hereby given, THAT the following negro slaves, to wit: Rachel and her two children named Edmund and George; Charlotte, Judy, Davy, Janey and Violet, or so many of them as will satisfy the balance due on a deed of trust executed by Benedict Crump to me as trustee, for the benefit of Robert Christian, and transferred to Thomas Claborns by said Robert Christian; will be SOLD, on the 21st day of September next, at New Kent courthouse for ready money. JONES R. CHRISTIAN, Trustee. August 5th, 1807.
WILL BE SOLD, For cash, at the front door of Triplett T. Ester's tavern, in the town of Charlottesville, on the 7th day of September next, being Albemarle court day, one
Tract or Parcel of Land, Containing 723 acres, be the same more or less—adjoining the lands of George Dovers, Thomas Garth, &c. & lying on the waters of Ivy Creek; conveyed to me in trust by Robert Draper, to secure the payment of a debt due Brown, Rives & Co. and for other purposes, as in said deed mentioned, which was recorded in the district court of Charlottesville, at September term 1805. The balance due said Brown, Rives & Co. under said deed is only one hundred and seventy six pounds, thirteen shillings and ten pence, with interest on the same from the first day of August, 1806, till paid. Being only interested as trustee, will only convey the title in me as such. Fleming Turner, Trustee. Milton, August 8, 1807.
For Sale, MY PLANTATION, IN the county of Hanover, containing by an old survey, 660 acres. I suppose one third part thereof is timbered land. There is upon it a two story Dwelling House, built out of the very best materials, neatly painted and has two large rooms and a passage below stairs, and five airy lodging rooms and a passage up stairs; the above house is sixty feet long and twenty two and a half in width. The out houses of every description are such as are calculated for such a dwelling house and plantation; and are all in good repair. The yard and garden are well enclosed; The plantation is under good fences, and there are upon it between five and six hundred grafted Apple Trees, which bear choice fruit, and 1200 good Peach Trees. There is also an Ice House, brick in the best manner, and ponds of pure water in the neighborhood, from which a plenty of the best ice can be had. The above plantation is about eleven or twelve miles from Richmond, and in as healthy a neighborhood as any in this part of the country. If I should meet with a purchaser for this plantation I will also sell all my Furniture, which is such as the house above described will require—also, all my Stock of Hogs, Cattle, and sixty or seventy head of prime Sheep. I will also sell 1500 acres of LAND, in the county of Goochland, about twenty five miles from Lewisburg, and half a mile of the state road leading to the Great Kanawha; this Land is all timbered, and was located in the year 1782, in the name of Andrew Hamilton. Any person who wishes to purchase the above property, may know the terms by applying to the subscriber residing on the plantation, in the county of Hanover. WILLIAM TRUEHEART. Aug. 15th, 1807.
TO BE RENTED, And possession given in ten days; FOUR large, elegant and commodious STORES, in the most central and busy part of this City. To them are attached elegant, airy and extensive accommodations for the families of the tenants. JOHN MAYO. June 20.
TO BE RENTED, A HOUSE in Manchester, now in the possession of Edward Johnston. For terms, enquire of him on the premises. 23d July, 1807. Blank Books, Of various kinds for sale at this Office.
Messrs. Robert King and Charles Croighton and Robert King, James Thompson and Thomas Ravenel, John Edie, Conrad Laub and William Davidson, executors of James Short, deceased. TAX-MASTER, THAT I shall proceed to take the following depositions, at the times and places hereinafter mentioned, to be read as evidence in two suits now depending in the Chancery Court for the Richmond district, in which I am plaintiff and you are defendants, to wit: The deposition of Abner Newman, on the fifth day of September, 1807, between the hours of ten in the morning and sun set of the same day, at the dwelling house of said Newman, in Mecklenburg county, and on the tenth day of September, 1807, between the hour of ten in the morning and sun set of the same, I shall proceed to take the deposition of John M. Rose, at his dwelling house in Buckingham county. ROBERT H. ROSE. August 4, 1807.
Manchester Turnpike Company. NOTICE is hereby given, that an adjournment of the general meeting of Stockholders has been made to the first Monday in next month; when it is expected the members generally, will attend either in person or by attorney, duly qualified to act for them. JAMES BRANDER, Clk. 31 August, 1807.
Advertisement. BY virtue of a deed of trust, executed by Thomas Appilbury, recorded in the court of Fluvanna county, to the subscribers for the purpose of securing the payment of a debt due to Duncan McLaughland and Co. will be sold at Kendall Lee's Tavern, in the town of Columbia, on the 12th day of September next, to the highest bidder, for Cash. Five Negro Slaves, Eight Harnessed Cattle, two Horses, one Mare, three Heifer Beds and Furniture, sixteen Hogs, with the increase of the said Female Slaves and Stock, since the year 1793, or so much thereof as will be sufficient to raise the sum of three hundred and thirty three pounds one shilling and ten pence, with interest from the fourth day of February, 1793, and costs, charges, &c. Robert Hill, Green Peyton, John Timberlake, Robert Sharles, Trustees. Florence, August 2, 1807.
FOR SALE. My tract of Land, In Powhatan county, containing between nine hundred and a thousand acres, and lying within two miles of the courthouse, and on both sides of Pine creek. This tract of land would be sold entire, otherwise laid off in lots to suit purchasers. Any persons inclined to purchase, it is expected will first view the premises—any further description is deemed unnecessary. For terms apply to the subscriber, living on the premises. SAM. BASKERVILLE. Powhatan, Jan. 4th, 1807.
J. W. Dennis & Co. HAVE received from the Northward, a second supply of SHOES, Well assorted, and of superior quality.—ALSO, a few boxes of LEMMONS of 28 doz. to the box, warranted to be large and sound. Richmond, Aug. 6, 1807.
Fifty Dollars Reward. RUN AWAY from Reuben Clopton, when living in King William county, in the year 1791, on the first of January, A Negro Man, By the name of NEPTUNE, who formerly belonged to the estate of John Hales, dec. living then in the lower end of Henrico—he is a tall, portly fellow, troops in his shoulders, or you may say round shouldered high forehead, his hair parted up each side of his forehead, flat nose, large white teeth, draws his words when he talks, or rather talks through his nose, and has a scar some where in his face, about forty-five years of age—it is supposed he is now passing as a free man in the city of Richmond, as he thinks himself secure. There never has any efforts been made to apprehend him—he has a wife at John Hales, dec. living in the lower end of that county, and a mother—perhaps he may be harbored there. Any person, that will deliver him to William Clopton, in Cumberland, or secure him in any jail, so that I get him again, shall receive the above reward. ELIZABETH CLOPTON. Cumberland county, Aug. 14, 1807.
WILL BE SOLD, At public auction, on Monday the 31st day of the present month, at the subscriber's store, in the town of Columbia, the whole of The Stock of GOODS On hand, on a credit of six months for all sums above five dollars, the purchasers giving bonds with approved security, bearing interest from the date, if not paid at the time. Also, will be Rented, for one or two years, the STORE, HOUSE, and LOT, now occupied by us, adjoining the tobacco warehouse. This house is built of stone, is large and commodious, with a spacious store room and two counting rooms, and well calculated for the accommodation of a family, unconnected with the store and counting rooms, with a smoke-house, garden, &c. Herdson & Moon. Florence, August 8, 1807.
TWO NEGROES, A Woman about twenty seven years old, named GIL, of a yellowish complexion and of a common size. The boy about nine years old, named ISAAC, of a very black complexion, has a scar over his right eye, and an impediment in his speech. I will give ten dollars reward, to any person who will deliver the said Negroes to me or secure them so that I get them again. JESSE WOODSON. Aug. 3, 1807.
A Bright SORREL MARE, five or six years old, four feet 10 or 11 inches high, a star on her forehead, left fore foot and right hind foot white; valued the 23d day of May, 1807, to eighty dollars, taken up by William Taylor, Cumberland county, at the mouth of Little Guinea. Newton Ford, Notion Goodwin, John Brown.
A Copy—Teste, MILLER WOODSON, D. C. August 14, 1807.
TO BE RENTED, A HOUSE in Manchester, now in the possession of Edward Johnston. For terms, enquire of him on the premises. 23d July, 1807. Blank Books, Of various kinds for sale at this Office.
Mr. STEPHEN WOODRUM. AS you are not an inhabitant of this State, and have no agent known to me, you will take notice, that on the 12th of next month, I shall at the store house of Messrs. Carter and Booker, of Prince Edward county, and state of Virginia; proceed to take the deposition of James Ming and others, on the 19th of next month, at the house of Peter Francisco of Buckingham county and state of Virginia, the deposition of Joel Watkins and others; on the second and third days of October next, at the house of Robert Porter, of Wythe county and state of Virginia, the deposition of said Robert Porter and others, and on the 29th and 30th of October next, at the house of Edward Trabue, of Bourbon county and state of Kentucky, to take the deposition of Robert Trabue and others, to be read as evidence in a suit in chancery now depending in the county court of Prince Edward and state of Virginia, in which you are complainant and I am defendant. ANDREW PORTER. Prince Edward county, Aug. 7, 1807.
WILL BE SOLD, For cash, at the front door of Triplett T. Ester's tavern, in the town of Charlottesville, on the 7th day of September next, being Albemarle court day, One Negro Woman By the name of Violet, one Negro Man by the name of Bob, one Negro Girl by the name of Nancy, and one Negro Boy by the name of Bartlett, conveyed to me in trust by John Randolph, to secure the payment of a debt due Brown, Rives & Co. Martin Dawson, Trustee. Milton, August 8, 1807.
Ten Dollars Reward. RUN AWAY from the Subscriber, on the 20th July, A Negro Man, Named TONEY, about twenty two years old, five feet, six or eight inches high, well made and very likely, speaks rather quick and short; had on when he went away, an osnaburgs shirt and hemp rolls overalls, but carried with him a grey casimere coat, with lappels, a swansdown waistcoat, and a pair of overalls of dark corduroy, large cord, and an old sweat coat of drab colored frize; he was raised in Powhatan county, and it is very likely that he may be about Mrs. Chasteen Cock's, as he formerly belonged to that estate. Any person, bringing said Negro to me, in Charlotte county, or securing him in any jail, so that I get him again, shall be entitled to the above reward of Ten Dollars. JOHN THOMAS. Charlotte county, Aug. 4th, 1807.
NOTICE. ALL persons having claims against the Estate of the late Thomas Comer, dec. are requested to come forward with the same legally authenticated by the first of September next, as a division of that estate will then be made among the Legatees, and no claim will be received after that day. Archer Comer, Adm r . with the will annexed. Halifax, 6th August, 1807.
To be Rented, THE PLANTATION CALLED RALEIGH, On which the late Thomas Pleasants lived, at present occupied by William Dandridge, Esq. The terms may be known on application to the subscriber in Powhatan county. SAM. PLEASANTS, For the benefit Of the Legatees of TH. PLEASANTS, dec. August 13, 1807.
JOHN ALCOCK INFORMS he has just received in addition to his former stock, a general assortment of Hardware, and Cutlery, amongst which are the following articles—Cross Cut and Mill Saws, London Spring, Casted and German Hand and Pennell Saws; Dovetail Saws, Compass and Tennon Saws; Bow Saws with and without frames, Brass and Iron Chamberdoor Locks, Brass and Iron Desk, Bookcase, Drawer and Chest Locks, Spring Latches, Japan'd and Polished Iron Thumb Hatches, Brass Butts, Cast Iron do. H. Hinges, Casted and Common Plane Irons, Brass Mounted Squares and Bevels, Brass Mounting for Cabinet Furniture, Curtain Rods and Rings, Brass Escutcheon Pins, Brass Nails, Brass Dividers, Camille Stand Keetches, Bell Cranks, Brass and Iron Caudlesticks, Bellmetal Kettles and Spice Mortars, Brass Cocks and Horse Fleams, Brass Inkstands with Instruments, Hooks and Eyes, Gun Screws, Spectacles and Spectacle Cases, Spring Lorcets, Knives and Forks, Ivory Handle Tables and Deters, Casters, Table Bells, Table and Tea Spoons, Screw Drivers, Bed Screws, Carpenter's Hammers and Pinchers, Shoe Pinchers and Knives, Shingling Hatchets, Brick and Plastering Trowels, Drawing Knives, Cooper's Axes, leg assortment of Files and Rasps, Gimblets assorted, Hones and Oil Stones, Razors and Razor Cases, Watch Seals, Keys and Chains, Steel Knitting Pins, Screwplates different sizes, Brace and Bits, Combs, Ivory, horn, and Iron, with and without Cases, Hames unplied, Do. Plated Hooks and Eyes, Do. Plated all over, Plated Bridle Bits assorted, Plated Moulding, Silver Mounted Whips, Plated Curbs, a few elegant Fowling Pieces, Powder Horns, Powder Flasks, Japan'd Copper and Horn Shot Belts, Cut and Wrought Nails, Wrought Brads of all sizes, 2 dy. 3 dy. and 4 dy. Nails, Saddler's Tacks of all sizes. Also a large quantity of well assorted Bar Iron, & Steel of different qualities, Wire Meal, Wheat, and Lime Sieves. Any of the above articles will be sold at the most reduced prices. N. B. I still continue my Cabinet Manufacture in the same House adjoining the Fire Insurance Office, where I have on hand a large quantity of elegant and well made Furniture. Any person wishing to purchase, I will thank them to call, and I flatter myself they will have no reason to find fault of the prices nor quality, for I warrant my work to be of good materials and well executed, and I hope from my knowledge and assiduity to business, to gain a public patronage. Also keeps on hand best quality Windsor Chairs. All of the above goods will be sold low. Richmond, August 16th, 1807.
MATTRESSES. Can be had on very short notice, MATTRESSES of all sizes & kinds, agreeably to order, in the large corner white house, opposite the Old City Tavern, two squares below the Market Bridge—BEDS made & MATTRESSES repaired.—Horses TAILS & MANES pushed. Ino. S. Pleasants.
BLANK BONDS for Sale at this Office.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, sc. TAKEN up by Dickerson Jennings, 15th June, 1807, a SORREL MARE, with a blaze face, the left hind leg about half way up white, and the left fore foot has a little white on one side of it; she is about four feet five or six inches high, appraised to twelve pounds ten shillings. Copy, THOMAS READ, C. C.
LAND FOR SALE. By virtue of a deed of trust executed to the subscriber by James Meriwether, due to secure the payment of a sum of money due to John Poindexter, will be sold on the nineteenth day of September next, at Lanassa courthouse to the highest bidder, for ready money, A Tract of Land Lying in the county of Louisa on the waters of Deep creek, adjoining the lands of Col. Thomas Meriwether (near Harwood Goodwin, and others, containing four hundred acres the same more or less. David Bullock, Trustee. August 14th, 1807.
Twenty Dollars Reward. RUN AWAY from the estate of Reuben Clopton, dec. in Cumberland county, January 29th, 1807, A Negro Man, By the name of HARRY, between five and six feet high, 24 or 25 years of age, his complexion darker than otherwise, has large full eyes, his two fore teeth grows wide apart, and has a large flat nose—I believe he has a scar on his left arm where he was inoculated for the small pox, when he lived in Henrico—His clothing I expect he has changed, which would be useless to mention. I expect he is in Richmond or in the lower end of Henrico, where he also was raised, as he formerly belonged to the estate of John Hales, dec.—he has a wife in Prince Edward county, at Jesse Michaux's quarter, where it is likely he also may be harbored.—Any person that will apprehend the said Negro, or confine him in any jail so that I get him again, shall receive the above reward for the same. WILLIAM CLOPTON. Cumberland county, August 14, 1807.
Encouragement of Literature. BY AUTHORITY. Scheme of a Lottery, FOR THE BENEFIT OF ST. MARY'S COLLEGE, of BALTIMORE.
Dollars. 1 Prize of 30,000 1 do 15,000 2 do 10,000 in 20,000 2 do 5,000 10,000 5 do 1,000 5,000 10 do 500 5,000 20 do 200 4,000 100 do 100 10,000 150 do 50 7,500 7000 do 12 84,000 7291 Prizes, 190,500 Stationary Premiums 24,500 14209 Blanks.—Not two to a Prize. 215,000 21500 Tickets, at 10 Dollars each, 215,000 Arrangement of Stationary Premiums, Viz. 1st arrangement Blank, Dollars 500 1st ditto after 2,000 are drawn, 1000 1st do after 4,000, 1000 1st do after 6,000, 1500 1st do after 8,000, 1500 1st do after 10,000, 1500 1st do after 12,000, 1500 1st do after 14,000, 1500 1st do after 16,000, 1500 1st do after 18,000, 1500 1st do after 20,000, 1500 Last drawn Blank, 10,000 Dollars 24,500 15 per cent. on 215000 Dollars, is 32,250 Sum to be raised by the Lottery, 30,000 Expenses of the Lottery, 2,250 32,250
THE prevailing disposition to encourage the progress of Literature, the peculiar favor which ST. MARY'S COLLEGE has enjoyed, and the many splendid chances offered to adventurers by the above Scheme, induce the Managers to anticipate a rapid sale of the Tickets. The Drawing will commence as soon as a sufficient number is sold to authorize it. The Managers have given bond to the State in the penalty of sixty thousand Dollars for the faithful payment of the prizes, which will be paid, subject to a deduction of fifteen per cent. thirty days after the Drawing is finished.—Prizes not demanded within a twelve-month from the completion of the Drawing, will be considered as a donation to the College. TICKETS to be had of the Managers, or of such persons as may be authorized by them.
WILLIAM DU BOURO, JOHN TESSIER, LUKE TIERNAN, ROBERT WALSH, WILLIAM LORMAN, ALEXANDER M'KIM, HENRY WILSON, SAMUEL STERETT, JAMES M'HENRY, SAMUEL HOLLINGSWORTH, LEWIS DU BOURG, PHILIP LADRESON, TICKETS in the above Lottery for Sale by GALLICO, RICHARD & Co.
FOR RENT, and possession given on the first day of October, three large and convenient Rooms, fronting the street, in the upper part of the house at present occupied by Carrier B. Page, Esq. These rooms are well calculated for offices and may be had on reasonable terms. Also the cellar under the store of J. W. Dennis, & Co which has lately been fitted up as a store and is rendered more comfortable than usual, there being a good plank floor. For terms apply to Benjamin Dennis. Richmond, August 20th, 1807.
ANDREW STEVENSON has been commissioned by the Governor and Council of Virginia, Notary Public, in and for the district of Richmond. He takes therefore the liberty of saying, that all business confided to him, shall meet with the most marked attention, and dispatch. Richmond, Aug. 14, 1807.