The recorder, or, Lady's and gentleman's miscellany (Richmond, Va.), 1802-04-03 00:00:00

THE RECORDER; Or, LADY'S AND GENTLEMAN'S MISCELLANY;
Printed by HENRY PACE, and JAMES T. CALLENDER, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, and published every SATURDAY Morning. Subscription Two Dollars per annum.
SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1802.
THE Subscribers to this Paper, who have not yet paid their Subscriptions, agreeably to conditions of Subscribing, are respectfully requested to forward the same to this Office. Numbers have not yet paid any money since their commencement of receiving from the first Number of this Paper, although the terms were one half Year in advance. We can only say, that those Gentlemen must see the propriety of our discontinuing to forward their Papers any longer, if the money is not immediately remitted, which can be done by the means of Bank Notes, by letter. The little Profit arising from this Paper, on account of the quantity of original matter contained in it, renders prompt payment necessary. The Post-Masters, who have Subscriptions on hand, are respectfully requested to forward the same, as above mentioned, or many Subscribers who have paid, will otherwise be in danger of having their papers discontinued.
AT a Meeting of Republican Freeholders, of the City of Richmond, at the House of Mr. Solomon Raphael, on Wednesday, the 31st of March, 1802, ROBERT MITCHELL, Esq. was chosen Chairman; and GEORGE DUNLEVY, Secretary.
THE MEETING not being so full as was contemplated, Resolved, THAT the same be adjourned till WEDNESDAY, the 7th Day of April next, to meet at the CAPITOL, in this City; at which Time and Place it is requested, that the Republican Freeholders of the said City do meet at the Hour of FOUR o'Clock in the Afternoon, to take into their Consideration which of the Candidates they will support at the next Election of Members of the General Assembly.
Resolved, THAT the foregoing be published in next Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday's Papers; and also in Hand-Bills. ROBERT MITCHELL, Chairman. GEORGE DUNLEVY, Secretary. (Attest.) Richmond, April 1.
A FORMER advertisement, upon this subject, had appeared in some of the Richmond papers. It was dated March the 30th, and invited the Republicans to meet on the following day. That handbill had mentioned Mr. Charles Copeland, as an admirer of Adams's administration. These last words have produced a long and warm answer in the Virginia Gazette of yesterday. The writer considers this expression as a scandalous attack upon the whole personal and political character of Mr. Adams. When the gentleman has leisure to cool, he will surely be convinced, that these words do not extend so far. The writer in the Virginia Gazette vindicates Mr. Adams on the ground of a kind of encomium upon him, which has lately been pronounced in the house of representatives of congress by Mr. Macon, the speaker of that body. We beg leave to observe, that America did not contain a more inflexible antagonist to the whole administration, of Adams, than Mr. Macon. Wherever opposition occurred, Mr. Macon was always in the front of it. The reference of the handbill to Mr. Adams, was as slight and gentle, as words could make it. Hence, there is in this instance an utter misapplication of print and paper. Mr. Macon is quoted as a counter authority to the handbill. Every atom of his conduct demonstrates that every syllable of that piece would receive his most unqualified approbation.
CHARLES SMALLWOOD, TAYLOR,
RETURNS his respectful Thanks for Favors already conferred on him by a generous Public, and begs Leave to inform them, that he has
REMOVED
His Business to the Street leading up to Shockoe Hill, next Door to Crouch and Welcher's CITY HOTEL, where all Orders committed to his Care will be thankfully received. Every Article in the above Business executed with neatness and dispatch, and on the most reasonable Terms.
A PERSON that is well acquainted with the Branch of Gardening,
Wishes to employ a great Part of his Time with two or three Gentlemen, in or near the CITY of RICHMOND, or MANCHESTER, by Way of superintending their Gardens.
For further Particulars enquire of the Printer. RICHMOND, Jan. 21, 1802.
WM. M'CAY, CLOCK & WATCH-MAKER, MAIN-STREET, RICHMOND,
RESPECTFULLY informs his Friends, and the Public in general, that he continues to carry on the Clock and Watch-Making Business in Part of the House occupied by JAMES COLLETT, Breeches Maker, where all Orders from the Country will be punctually attended to.
A Variety of Watches, Watch Chains, Keys, Trinkets, &c.
The Laws of Virginia,
TO BE PRINTED By SAMUEL PLEASANTS, Jun. And HENRY PACE.
AMONG other numerous and important Improvements in the proposed Richmond Edition of "The Revised Code of the Laws of Virginia," the following will be particularly attended to:—The Act of Assembly, for convening the Convention of this State, in Order to discuss the Question of the Federal Constitution;—the Law, respecting the Acceptance and Ratification of the Federal system;—the Laws concerning Canals, the Patowmack, the James River, and other Companies.
This edition will also comprehend the Compact with the State of Maryland, respecting the River Patowmack; and that regarding the Boundary between Pennsylvania, and Kentucky; with other Additions, too numerous for Insertion in this Place.
It has already been stated to the Public, that this Work will cost only SIX DOLLARS, elegantly bound and lettered, in one large octavo Volume.
Revised Code.
THE Publishers of the new edition of "The REVISED CODE of the LAWS of VIRGINIA," had advertised that the Subscription for this work was to close on the first of March. They have since found it advisable to keep the Subscription open till further notice, as a number of copies of the printed proposals, which had been sent into the country, for the purpose of collecting Subscribers, have not yet been received back; and while the editors are accepting of lists of Subscribers from different parts of the State, they do not consider it as proper to decline the acceptance of Names in Richmond.
It has already been observed, that this edition will be rendered much more valuable than the former, by the addition of the Statutes of a public nature of EIGHT Succeeding Sessions. In these, a considerable number of the Laws, inserted in the former edition have been revised, altered, or repealed. The whole will now be comprehended within a single volume, whereas the possessors of the former edition can only have recourse to them, at the expence of purchasing the entire sets of the Laws of all the former Sessions; of which an immense majority are of a private nature. Of course, these are totally uninteresting to magistrates, or lawyers; and besides the expence of the purchase, they are of a very unmanageable bulk.
CALEB WILLIAMS.
[Continued from our last.]
HER jailor officiously followed her from place to place, and served what was now the hour of rest. Good night, child, said this saucy girl, in the act of retiring. It is time to lock up. For the few next hours the time is your own. Make the best use of it! Do'ce think you can creep out at the key hole, loyey! At eight o'clock you see me again. And then, and then, added she, clapping her hands, it is all over. The fun is not sure to rise than you and your honest men to be made one.
There was something in the tone with which this slut uttered her farewell, that for a moment suggested the question to Emily, What does the mean? Is it possible she should know what has been planned for the few next hours? If she does, what will become of me then? But her manner of speaking was very unlike that of detection and reprimand! With an aching heart she folded up the few necessaries she thought proper to take with her. She then listened, with an anxiety that would almost have enabled her to hear the stirring of a leaf. From time to time she thought her ear was struck with the sound of feet; but the treading, if treading it were, was so soft, that she could never ascertain whether it was a real sound, or the mere creature of the fancy. Then all was still, as if the universal motion had been at rest. By and bye, she conceived she overheard a noise, as of buzzing and low muttered speech. Her heart palpitated; she said, Am I betrayed? Am I the dupe of base artifice and deceit? Presently she heard the sound of a key in her chamber door, and Grimes made his appearance. She started, and cried, Are we discovered? did not I hear you speak? Grimes advanced on tiptoe with his finger to his lip. No, no, replied he, all is safe! He took her by the hand, led her in silence out of the house, and then across the garden. Emily examined with her eye the doors and passages as they proceeded, looked on all sides with fearful suspicion, but every thing was as she herself could have wished. Grimes opened a back door of the garden already unlocked, that led into an unfrequented lane. There stood two horses ready equipped for the journey, their bridles hung to a post, not six yards distant from the garden. Grimes pushed the door after them. By Gemini, said he, my heart was in my mouth. As I came along, I saw Mun, coachy, pop along from the back door to the stables. He was within a hop, step, and jump of me. But he had a lanthorn in his hand, and he did not see me, being as I was darking. Saying thus, he assisted Miss Melville to mount. He troubled her little during the route. On the contrary, he was remarkably silent and contemplative, a circumstance by no means disagreeable to Emily, to whom his conversation had never been acceptable.
After having proceeded about two miles, they turned into a wood, through which the road lay that led to the place of their destination. The night was extremely dark, at the same time that the air was soft and mild, it being now the middle of summer. Under pretence of exploring the way, Grimes contrived, when they had already penetrated into the midst of this gloomy solitude to get his horse abreast with that of Miss Melville, and then suddenly reached out his hand, to seize hold of her bridle.
I think we may as well stop here a bit, said he.
Stop, exclaimed Emily with surprise. Why should we stop? Mr. Grimes, what do you mean?
Come, come, said he, never trouble yourself to wonder. Did you think I was going to take all this trouble for nothing? your whim? I faith, nobody shall find me a pack-horse, to go of other folks errands, without knowing a reason why. I cannot say that I much minded to have you at first; but your ways are enough to stir the blood of my grandad. Far fetched and dear bought is always relishing. Your consent was so hard to gain, that squire thought it was surest asking in the dark. A'said however a' would have no such doings in his house, and so, do you see? we are come here.
For God's sake, Mr. Grimes, think what you are about! You cannot be base enough to ruin a poor creature who has put herself under your protection!
That is all bother. Ruin! no, no, I will make an honest woman of you, when all is done. Nay, none of your airs; no tricks upon travellers! I have you here as safe as a horse in a pound; there is not a house nor a shed, within a mile of us; and, if I miss the opportunity, you shall call me spade. Faith, you are a delicate morsel, and there is no time to be lost!
Miss Melville had but an instant in which to collect her thoughts. She felt that there was but little hope of softening the obstinate and insensible brute in whose power she was placed. But the presence of mind and intrepidity, so peculiar to her character, did not now desert her. Grimes had scarcely finished his harangue, when with a strong and unexpected jerk she disengaged the bridle from his grasp, and at the same time put her horse upon full speed. She had scarcely advanced twice the length of her horse, when Grimes recovered from his surprise, and pursued her, inexpressibly mortified at being so easily overreached. The sound of his horse behind served but to rouse more completely the mettle of that of Emily; whether by accident or sagacity the animal pursued without a fault the narrow and winding way; and the chase continued the whole length of the wood.
At the extremity of this wood there was a gate. The recollection of this softened a little the cutting disappointment of Grimes, as he thought himself secure of putting an end by its assistance to the career of Emily, nor was it very probable that they should find any body to interrupt him there in the dead and silence of the night. By the most extraordinary accident however they found a man on horseback in wait at this gate. Help, help! exclaimed the affrighted Emily! thieves! murder! help! The man was Mr. Falkland. Grimes knew his voice, and therefore though he attempted a sort of sullen resistance, it was feebly made. Two other men, whom by reason of the darkness he had not at first seen, and who were Mr. Falkland's servants, hearing the battle of the reoncouter, and alarmed for the safety of their master, rode up; and then Grimes, disappointed at the loss of his gratification, and admonished by conscious guilt, shrunk from farther parley, and rode off in silence.
It may seem strange that Mr. Falkland should thus a second time have been the saviour of Miss Melville, and that under circumstances the most unexpected and singular.
To be continued.

THE arrivals from Europe continue deftitude of news. The London prints tell us, however, that a coach has been bought at London for Madame Buonaparte, and when the last advices came off, it was lying at Dover, on its way to Calais.
The same prints have arrested Moreau, Massena, and Macdonald, for a conspiracy against the first consul. They have likewise placed an embargo upon all ships in French harbours. In the very next paragraph, they remark that these reports want confirmation. This is a professional phrase for expressing that they know these tales to be downright falsehoods. It must likewise be very interesting to the people in Virginia to hear that the king of Prussia has promised that he will very soon acknowledge the title of the king of Etruria; and that sometime last winter, a body of French dragoons marched through the city of Rome, in their way to some other place. About three months ago, the first consul was setting out from Paris, upon his way for Lyons; and, what is yet more interesting, relays of fresh horses had been prepared upon his route. Lucien Buonaparte is going to be married; and so is the son of Madame Buonaparte by her former husband. There's news for you!
We select these articles from whole pages of others, which are all of equal importance to the merchants of Richmond, and the farmers over the mountains. So much for Europe.
LATEST ADVICES FROM ST. DOMINGO.
PHILADELPHIA, March 23.
Captain Cummins, arrived yesterday from Port Republican, failed from thence the 22d of February in company with the Schooner Philip, Leaning, for Baltimore. Left at anchor in the harbour, the Foudroyant, 80 gun French ship. Same day saw two ships of the line standing in for St. Marks' point. On the morning of the 23d saw two other ships of the line off Gonaives, and discovered both that and the town of St. Marks in flames. On the 26th fell in with and was boarded by his majesty's brig the Pelican, of 22 guns, who was then cruising for information. After giving him all in our power, we were permitted to proceed. By what we learnt from him, it appeared that the English were somewhat jealous of the French having such a number of vessels in those seas, as he informed us there were then at Kingston 15 sail of battle ships.
Capt. Cummins further informs, that on the 20th of February, there was a detachment of troops left Port Republican, and it is supposed were ordered to join general Le Clerc, at St. Marks. It was the general expectation at Port Republican, that they would succeed in a great measure in routing the army of Toussaint, who was at Gonaives.
THERE has come to hand a large collection of news from Europe. Most of it is equally devoid of probability and importance. The blacks are giving way in St. Domingo. A selection from the whole, with a continuation of minutes of congress, are deferred till next paper.
HOME NEWS.
WE are happy to hear, that there is a probability of the speedy reduction of St. Domingo to the power of France. On this point, very serious doubts had been entertained by the best judges. It defended by Frenchmen, St. Domingo would be invincible. Some districts of the island are fortified by nature. St. Domingo contains one mountain which can be seen at the distance of forty leagues at sea; and which is perhaps the highest land in the Atlantic ocean, excepting the peak of Tenerife. The inland country abounds with rich valleys which are surrounded by mountains, and accessible only by defiles, where ten resolute men, well provided with field pieces, might repulse forty. But then the blacks have to deal with the conquerors of the Alps, with the soldiers who chased German armies through the passes of the Tyrol; and who pitched Suwarow and his Russians over the rocks of Switzerland.
THE cession of Louisiana to France will be attended with very serious consequences to this country. The French are now masters of the navigation of the Western waters. Tennessee and Kentucky cannot send a single barrel of flour to the West Indies, if the first consul chooses to forbid them. At least, they cannot send it by the Mississippi, which is tantamount to an absolute prohibition. It is long since great numbers of American families removed from the federal side of the river to the Spanish territory. The policy of France will prevent emigrants with every possible temptation to persist in this practice.
THE printers and booksellers of Philadelphia, Alexandria, George Town, Washington, and several other places, have had meetings for opposing the new tax, which is proposed to be laid upon the importation of types. We wish them all manner of success.
WE have received a letter from a person signing himself a citizen of the infernal world. He complains bitterly of an act of the last session of assembly, by which a very large sum of money has been remitted to Benjamin Winston. We cannot find leisure to make those enquiries which our correspondent requires; and he can hardly suppose that we are to interfere with the decisions of the assembly in such an abrupt manner as he seems disposed to do. We have been too much indebted to their liberal patronage ever to speak or write of them in terms inconsistent with the highest respect. We are sorry that it is not in our power to comply with Mr. Citizen's wishes; but we shall be happy to hear from him upon some more advisable subject.
A LARGE collection of papers has appeared in the Virginia Gazette, under the sanction of David Meade Randolph, late Marshal of Virginia. Their object is to prove that this man did not break his oath of office by packing the sedition jury in this city. Randolph was turned out of a place worth twelve hundred pounds a year for his behaviour, on that occasion; and there we are willing to let the story rest. All farther scribbling is useless. The public opinion has long since been fixed beyond the chance of alteration.
We shall bestow but a very few words, and these once for all, on one of the Washington editors. He continues, as usual, to rail at the writer of this article. We consider his knowledge, his talents, his character, and his situation, as beneath our notice. We are sorry to have taken up even these few lines either with him, or the ex-marshall. They are welcome to do their best and their worst.
But as Mr. Randolph has discovered so much solicitude to find out what motive tempted Mr. Jefferson to discharge him, we shall try to gratify the gentleman's curiosity. We shall do this by republishing an instance of the most capital adroitness that ever deformed the annals of the federal government. Here it comes; as copied from the Petersburg Republican of the 4th. and 7th. of May, 1801.
(FROM A SCOTS CORRESPONDENT.)
PUBLIC PLUNDER.
Or, an account of the seizure and sale of the Sloop Dolphin, of Petersburg.
IN the first volume of "The Prospect Before Us," there is a statement of the condemnation and sale of the Fair Play Schooner boat of Norfolk. This transaction exposed the negligence and rapacity of the federal officers. Here comes another egg from the same nest.
In summer, 1793, William Wright, sole owner of the Sloop Dolphin of this port, went to the West Indies, and left, as her master, a black man. The Sloop was to trade between this port, Norfolk, and Richmond, until the return of Mr. Wright, who expected to get back within six months. About the end of that year, the master permitted her papers to run out. Information was given, and the Sloop seized, while she was upon her return to Petersburg. At this time the Dolphin was empty, so that she could not be charged with the offence of smuggling. Indeed this never was alleged against her.
Mr. Samuel White of Petersburg, agent for Mr. Wright, applied for redress to Mr. Randolph, the marshal. By this officer he was referred to collector Heath, to make up a composition would require an advance of an hundred and fifty dollars; a sum, which Mr. White was not willing to give. As the case was a very hard one, and as the owner himself was daily expected to return from the West Indies, the collector gave Mr. White permission to run the vessel for a twelve-month from the 21st. of January, 1794. Just before the expiration of that time, she was seized by the marshal's orders, and upon the 20th. of January, 1795, was libelled before the federal district court. Mr. White, agent for the owner, did not attempt to make any defence. He had not once heard from Mr. Wright, since his departure from this country. It was thought proper, however, to postpone the cause, until the next federal court, which would most likely be held about the end of May, or the beginning of June 1795. The Sloop was then condemned, as the owner, although publickly advertised for, did not appear. Upon the 24th. of October following, the "Dolphin, her rigging, tackle, apparel, and furniture," were sold by Samuel G. Adams, the deputy marshal, to Mr. White for twenty dollars!
When first seized, the Dolphin with her furniture, could have been sold for about three hundred and fifty dollars. She had one deck, and one mast. Her length was forty-five feet three inches, her breadth fourteen feet three inches, and her depth seven feet four inches. She measured forty tons, and a fraction. Hence the timber alone, considered only as
fire-wood, must have been worth upwards of twenty dollars. Mr. White assures me that the iron work alone was afterwards sold for fifty-three dollars, and two thirds. So great was the attention of this deputy marshal to the discharge of his duty! With such facts embattled by thousands before him, can it be an object of sorrow, that president Jefferson hastened to discharge this band of spoilers?
When the Sloop was taken into the custody of the deputy marshal, he directed her to be tied to one of the wharfs. She lay there until a fresh broke the rope that fastened her; and cast her ashore near the market. She remained in that place, until another fresh brought her back to the wharf. She was once more fastened. A third fresh carried her right over the top of Blandford bridge, and sunk her in the marsh above it, to the utter disturbance and astonishment of the bull-frogs. An hundred people in Petersburg must remember to have seen the Dolphin sticking there. In consequence of this kind of management, her tackle and timbers became rotten; yet, after all, it appears that, upon the day of sale, she was positively worth at least eighty dollars. What would you say to an apprentice in your store, that should sell your sugar at three pence a pound, instead of a shilling? This is your deputy marshal! I have a receipt in his own hand writing, for these twenty dollars.
We shall now enquire what expense was disbursed by the federal government in the course of this sale; and seizure. The bill paid for the sale of the Fair Play may serve as a faithful guide. The mileage, in that case, for executing one citation, came to twelve cents and two thirds per mile. As Petersburg is twenty-five miles from Richmond, the charge for the Dolphin would, upon the same principles, come to three dollars and eight cents.
  To citing the master, as charged in the bill for the venue of the Fair Play. 3 8   The Dolphin, from the time of being first libelled, upon the 20th of Jan. 1795, was kept, previous to the sale, till the 24th of Oct. following, an interval of two hundred and seventy-eight days, the two dates inclusive. At a dollar and an half per day to the marshal, this amounts to 1 30   Mileage on the decree 4 17   To advertising the citation of the owner, and the sale of the Sloop. These two articles might upon a moderate guess, come to fourteen dollars. 14 0   To commission, at three per cent upon the 20 dollars. 60   Total 439 26 
In this estimate, I have been guided by the various items of the account presented by the deputy marshal at Norfolk, in the case of the Schooner boat. Hence, within a very few dollars, or most likely within a few cents, the calculation must be correct. What expenses of court, the government might incur in obtaining the decree cannot here be stated; and therefore they shall be kept out of the score.
And now, behold! four hundred and forty dollars expended in the acquisition of twenty! that is to say, twenty-two dollars in quest of one! Instead of four hundred and forty dollars, it is evident that the deputy would have been glad to dispatch this business for ten. There could be no use for citing the master. He was a slave. There seemed as little use for citing the owner, for Mr. White, when he complained of the hardness of the case, was told that the owner, by his long absence from America, had lost his right of citizenship.
The mileage, the commission, and the dollar and an half per day for keeping the Sloop, were altogether so much money cast away. Of the twenty dollars that she sold for, one half went to the informer; so that government lost by the bargain four hundred and thirty dollars.
And now let me ask, whether it is not proper that such things should be known; and whether any candid man will blame the president for the dismissal of such public officers?
So says the Republican; and not one word of the story ever was, or will, or can be contradicted. It is even much stranger than the strange affair of The Fair Play, which, in summer, 1799, rung through so many newspapers. Of that story, David Randolph himself, unasked, and unblushing, told us that every word of it was legally true. This was his precise expression; and we marked it more particularly because upon a former occasion, when talking of this matter to Mr. Meriwether Jones, the marshal had employed the very same phrase of legally true.
We do not wish to trample upon the peace of any man's mind; and least of all to meddle with Mr. Randolph. But if folly (and we are well entitled to use a much harsher word) wantonly rushes upon its own detection, it must abide the consequences. We cannot be blamed.
After the plain unvarnished tale* of such a
* Shakespeare.
transaction, we believe that there is not a man upon earth, who will condemn Mr. Jefferson for setting the marshal about his business. We are concerned at hearing the president daily and hourly censured for actions that merit praise; and surely this discharge was an action of that kind. It is eminently probable that a diligent search in the marshal's office would bring forward an hundred other transactions like those of the Fair Play and the Dolphin. Why does Mr. Randolph attempt to defend a post that is untenable? Why does he once more compel us to crush infirmity? When there can be no resistance in the field of battle, there can be no reputation acquired by the victory?
Was it not, in the first place, a most barbarous stretch of power to confiscate an empty vessel, on the self evident blunder of a black? Was it not the height of negligence to suffer the Sloop to tumble up and down the river, and finally to stand by, and see her rotting, for months together, in the marsh? Was it not scandalous to charge four hundred and seventeen dollars for such a kipe of keeping? and was it not quite as unaccountable to sell her for a fourth part of what she was worth? If citizen David can answer these queries to the satisfaction of the world, we shall make him welcome to inarl as much and as long as he pleases at the injustice of Mr. Jefferson. What was to have become of those hundred and fifty dollars which Heath wanted from Mr. White as a composition? Was Randolph to have run blacks with him in the division of the booty? Is a federal custom house to be converted into the den of Cacus, or the cavern of Gil Blas? Does the country give six or seven thousand dollars per annum to the collector for exploits of this kind? Or do you fancy, Mr. Randolph, that the discharge of such public officers as Heath and yourself, can injure the character of the president? Setting aside your absolute destitution of abilities for writing upon any subject but the fees of your late office, the accusation is in itself absurd. Mr. Jefferson to be condemned for your dismissal! Were ever mortal ears invaded with such another sound! You shall as easily, Sir, extinguish Vesuvius in a tub of water, or batter down the pike of Tenerife with rotten eggs! Mr. Randolph! You have courted this rebuff. Good bye, Sir! Take a friend's advice. And let the world hear as little as possible about you.
NOTE. * This is said to be the amount of Mr. Heath's perquisites. The place is an absolute sinecure, as the collector is often absent from Petersburg for months together.
A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE POST MASTER GENERAL.
"THE Recorder" of last Saturday contained some remarks upon Mr. Granger's letter to Mr. Hobby. It was therein proved that this letter avows doctrines more destructive to the press than even the sedition act itself. The latter confined its operations to visible actions, such as reading seditious writings to a third person, and publishing your own opinions. But the former attempts to go much farther, to substantiate the fable of Momo, and to plant a looking glass in the breast of every man, through which, as through the dungeon of Dionysius, you are to watch the most secret recesses of his soul.
At the same time, we also pointed out the futility of the new doctrine that a newspinter is above all other men, the most unfit and unworthy to be trusted as a postmaster. That it is in the power of such a printing postmaster to injure his brethren, shall be granted; and he may likewise defraud a merchant by picking bank notes out of his letters. But merchants, and his brother printers, have eyes quite as sharp as his. And if he dares to tamper either with bank notes, or with newspapers, he has the utmost chance of being brought to an immediate and painful reckoning.
We have long had an evidence in this city of the futility of Mr. Granger's notion. Mr. Davis, printer of the Virginia Gazette, has been postmaster since many years, previous to the adoption of the federal system. There have been complaints against him; and so there would have been against the angel Gabriel, if he had become postmaster, instead of Mr. Davis. But, upon the whole, the business, perhaps, has been very well conducted; and especially of late years.
A thousand accidents will often retard the arrival, and sometimes the punctual delivery of letters and newspapers; but if Mr. Davis had made a practice of suppressing the packets addressed to his brother craftsmen, they would
NOTE. * There still remains in Sicily an artificial cavern, wherein the smallest whisper reverberates with an echo. This work is said to have been the contrivance of Dionysius. Tradition adds that it was designed for his state prisoners; and that his palace was built above it. By this means, he became master of what ever passed under ground.

instantly have applied to the post master general, and to Mr. Habersham they might often have applied in vain.
This tremulous apprehension of newsprinting postmasters can easily be traced up to its real source. During the twelve first years of the federal government, a great number of federal editors had been put into the post office; and it is like enough that some of them, as well as other postmasters, abused their trust. The object with Mr. Granger is to get rid of all federal postmasters, as fast as he can, whether they print newspapers or not. But he had not the courage to tell them this in a frank manly manner. It was necessary to go round about the bushes, and come in by the back track . For this purpose, our Connecticut field marshal broached the new doctrine of expelling all newsprinters from the post office; and it was under this pretence that he wrote his impeachment of Hobby. He mistook this gentleman for a painter. But the same propensity for blunders which led him into that mistake produced another, which betrayed the secret. He gave an additional reason for the dismissal, and this was that notable one of associating and corresponding with federal characters. If this last crime was sufficient for authorizing Hobby's discharge, the accusation of newsprinting might have been spared. Or if newsprinting was enough, the guilt of corresponding with the executive might have been kept out of the way. Both sides of this impeachment were very weak, and, as the summit of rashness, Mr. Granger placed himself between two fires at once. He had not talents capable of that ambiguous dexterity which admits of ten different versions of a single sentence, which, in a word, means anything or nothing. But it is the nature of hypocrisy to drop its mask. On the contrary, truth stands always firm and erect under the assaults of hostility, or the frowns of fortune. She requires no tenderness of investigation. She disdains all subterfuges. She grovels not in the kennel of petty artifices. She watches not for transient popularity, which is to be purchased at the expence of future detection and contempt. She looks forward to the impartial judgement of that day, when the head that is then thinking, and the hand that is then writing, shall have mouldered into dust.
The canting stile of our man of letters , at once insolent and mean, hypocritical and unguarded, demonstrates that he cannot soar to sentiments like these. In a language, therefore, which descends to the level of his intellect, it may be pardonable to inform him that "cowardice is always despised; and deceit universally detested." Mr. Jefferson, soon after his accession to the chair, turned out the marshal of Vermont, whose behaviour in the sedition case of that state so eminently deserved this mark of distinction. We understand that the president hath since expressed his regret for having chosen a successor quite as worthless as the former marshal. It is to be hoped, or at least to be desired, that he may not have cause also to repent his choice of the successor of Mr. Habersham.
We should not have addressed our readers a third time on the adventures of Mr. Granger, if a fresh epistle of dismission had not seemed to require it. Mr. Davis has received his discharge. In a letter upon this subject, Gideon observes that he can have no reason to complain of dismission, as he has received, in the course of his service, fourteen thousand three hundred and eighty dollars, and thirty-nine cents. This letter, with an answer from Mr. Davis, is on its way to the press. The answer observes that the amount of the sum received was of no concern to Mr. Granger; that all the money came to no more upon a medium, than fourteen hundred dollars a year; and of this sum, a large proportion had gone for assistance, and house rent; besides the personal attendance, the labour and risk of Mr. Davis himself. This makes a part of the contents of the correspondence.
Now it must be observed that Mr. Davis has not been a gainer, but a loser, by the last three years of his possession of the Richmond post office. A short retrospect will illustrate and prove this assertion. On the 9th of January, 1799, the assembly of this state passed a law, by which a person holding an office under the federal government cannot, at the same time, hold another under the state. The act, as we conceive, is in itself extremely proper. But—mark the consequence to Mr. Davis! He had, for many years, been annually chosen printer to the commonwealth; and this law reduced him to a distressing dilemma. He was either to give up the office of federal postmaster, or to forfeit all possibility of being re-chosen as state printer. By an act of the 22d. of January, 1798, the salary of the state printer is fixed at two thousand seven hundred dollars per annum. Nine hundred dollars would cover the expences of this duty. Here then is a clear in-
NOTE. * Within the last thirteen months, we have seen some capital specimens of this kind of decomposition. † A line from Johnson's Rambler. ‡ A postmaster is obliged to find security to a considerable amount.
come of eighteen hundred dollars a year, and for what we can tell, Mr. Davis might still have kept it, by quitting the post office. The fourteen hundred dollars arising from the latter has been cost in his face , as the phrase is, enormous sum there fell to be deducted four or five hundred dollars a year for a clerk, drudgery. The rent of a decent post office cannot, in Richmond, be rated at less than an hundred and fifty dollars more. Here then you have a remainder of eight hundred dollars, for which Mr. Davis was to give a great deal of personal attendance. On the contrary, as public printer, he would have much less to do; and that little could have been done by one of his journeymen. Indeed, besides these eighteen hundred dollars of clear money, Mr. Davis, as public printer, made considerable sums by jobs for the assembly. The birth is, in whole, worth about three thousand dollars a year. This he gave up in order to preserve another that netted not more than eight hundred. In a word, he found his income reduced by two thousand dollars per annum, or upwards. Henry Fielding has a chapter in Tom Jones to prove that an author will write the better for being acquainted with his subject. The postmaster general does not form an exception to this common rule. In his own state, perhaps, in Hartford, or New London, Mr. Granger may find eight hundred dollars per annum, an inexhaustible revenue. But in Richmond, it is very possible to spend thrice that income without approaching to the luxury of Lucullus.
Mr. Gideon supposed, no doubt, that he was pleasing Mr. Jefferson by this extinction of federal postmasters. He is but little acquainted with the delicate feelings of the president, with his professed principle that no man shall be dismissed from office on account of his political opinions . Has he forgot the memorable declaration that We are all federalists; we are all republicans! a declaration that made the tears of joy gush down the cheeks of all parties. After this irrevocable exposition of his own political creed, with what surprise must the president discover such an intolerant behaviour in his own postmaster general! Does not the whole of Mr. Jefferson's first speech tell the world in the plainest terms, that, in future, he shall feel exactly the same proportion of kindness and attachment for his friends and for his enemies, for the persons who reviled, and the patriots who made him president. This magnanimous and sweeping sentiment runs through the whole speech; and it has afforded the greatest and most universal satisfaction to all parties, from New Hampshire to the Natches. But here comes Gideon Granger, like Sampson in the temple of the Philistines, or like a blind bear dancing in a china shop. Brandishing his club of reformation , this Hercules breaks down the goodly fabric of social intercourse , and scatters the brands of discord, after and farther than if they had been fixed on the rumps of Sampson's three hundred foxes.
We have, on a former occasion, explained the cause of our particular solicitude upon this subject. We are impatient to vindicate the president from the degradation of being concerned in these removals. No person could ever have suspected him of writing Granger's letters. To borrow the words of Addison, these pieces their great original proclaim . But the federal newspapers might have hinted that this general of six months standing , as Hannibal termed a Roman consul, can be nothing but a mere cat's paw in such extrusions; and that the puppet receives its movements from a master behind the curtain. This is what the enemies of the new administration have said, and what every true republican must and will firmly deny.
The successor to Mr. Davis is Mr. Marks Vandevall, a gentleman of the fairest character. At the election of April 1799, he voted for Mr. Marshall. He is a federalist; but want of candour has never been attached to his name. He accepted of his new office with unaffected indifference. We have good reason to believe that one of the republican members of congress applied for this situation. He met with a refusal. This gentleman has always been remarkable for his adherence to the republican party. In summer, 1798, and upon a very critical occasion, he stood upon the floor of congress in a minority of eleven members. At that day, the republican bark was in some danger of foundering; and in this mortifying division of the house, our unsuccessful candidate for the office of Mr. Davis might well have voted with the majority, without incurring a charge of apostasy. But he had resolved to stick to the last plank of the vessel; and if his duty should require such a sacrifice, to plunge to the bottom along with it.
NOTE. * Vid. His letter to Hobby. † Vid. his hymn.
ON DOGS.
THERE is no quadruped, whose fidelity and other virtues, have been so much celebrated as the Dog. As early as the days of
Homer, this subject was thought worthy of the taste and genius of a poet. In the remaining works of Ossian, the sagacity of this animal, his attachment to his master, his sorrow for his death, are all very frequently described with that tender and picturesque simplicity, which distinguishes this inimitable author. I love all dogs, says Ossian, for they are kindest creatures. They never fawn on those they do not like.
In descending from the lofty regions of verse to the plain high road of prose, we meet with some deductions from this general panegyric. It is to the dog that must be traced the most shocking distemper that ever polluted the human frame, a distemper that bids absolute defiance to all sorts of remedies.
Dr. Buchanan, author of the Domestic Medicine published, some time since, a treatise on the bad disorder . He therein says that some persons pretend to cure it without mercury; but that all these cures were just like those for the bite of a mad dog; to wit, they were successful only in cases where the disease never had existed . Dr. Mead, the most famous physician of his day, has indeed affirmed that he cured above a thousand patients, and that he never knew his remedy to fail, even in a single instance. Part of it consisted of bathing in salt water. But it is clear that where the disease has fairly broke out, the application of the remedy is impossible; and the truth seems to be that the doctor never had a real case of hydrophobia before him.
Much has been said of a certain stone possessed by a person in Virginia, and which is held up as an infallible specific. We have heard an opinion as to this point, from an able practitioner in Richmond. He believes the whole story to be an imposture. Some years ago, a statement, was made in the British house of commons that there were then thirty three persons in the public hospital of Manchester, affected with the canine madness.—
But this calamity, although the most terrible is not the only one, with which that species of animals has afflicted mankind. The house of commons, in 1766, went upon the subject of a dog tax; and the number of dogs in England, as well as the quantity of whole-some victuals which they consumed, was found to be enormous. Some millions sterling were annually wasted in this way. At the same time, it came out that they destroyed vast numbers of sheep; not to mention the mischief which they commit in the course of hunting hares and foxes.
In England, if a man keeps a dog that is troublesome to passengers, he can be immediately compelled to lock him up, or to muzzle him; otherwise the master will be punished, and the first person who is molested by the dog has a right to shoot him. We are sorry to say that in Virginia, there is no law which obliges the owner of a mischievous dog to keep him secure. The only recourse for the party endangered or injured, is to maim or kill him. This is certainly an unfortunate omission in the laws of Virginia; and we submit it to the wisdom of the next assembly, whether it would not be worth their while to interfere with some regulation upon this head.
There is no part of the world more infested with dangerous dogs than Richmond. The greater part of those animals are extremely ready to bite passengers, especially after sun-set. Powder and ball could not be better employed than in the extirpation of such vermin. A short time since, as a young man was passing by a house, a little below the Methodist chapel, a dog came running after him, with open mouth, and all the appearance of a design to bite him. With commendable presence of mind, the lad instantly shot him; and if he had served every snarling cur in Richmond in the same way, he would, according to the French phrase, have deserved well of the republic .
FOREIGNERS.
A CORRESPONDENT, in one of the counties over the mountains, informs us that he is candidate for a seat in the next general assembly. His professional abilities have raised him to an independent fortune. He has long been a justice of the peace, and has served the commonwealth in other capacities, both civil and military. His manners are popular. His character is unimpeached. There is only one circumstance that can induce a possibility of his being outvoted. Can you guess what that is? The candidate was born in Europe .
It may indeed be answered that this gentleman has resided, for almost twenty years, in Virginia; that he is the husband of a Virginian wife, and the father of six Virginian boys and girls. To the majority of readers, it will also be a recommendation that our correspondent is a republican . By this term we do not mean one of those infidels that waver with every shift of wind. He was a republican of that awful time when truth and destruction walked side by side, when republican printing offices were so frequently beset or assaulted with conspiracies and mobs.
As we cannot hear of any reason but that above mentioned for the rejection of this gen-
tleman, we cannot forbear to feel an interest in his success. For this we have two reasons. One is the individual merit of the person; and the other, the ridicule that would be reflected on the election, if a proper candidate should be repulsed on account of his being born on the other side of the herring pond.
In the late struggle, the victorious party should remember the vigorous exertions which were made to serve them by persons of foreign birth. Only six offenders were tried under the sedition act; and of these, four were foreigners. Lyon was an Irishman; Cooper an Englishman; Duane a Canadian of French and Irish extraction; and the person at Richmond was a Scotchman.
It is sometimes remarked by Americans, though but a few of them, that it would be much better for the country if no foreigner were suffered to reside in it. Although such politicians are too ignorant, as well as too illiberal, to deserve a formal answer, yet we cannot help informing them that a great part of the commerce of the United States is carried on by the weight of foreign capitals. For instance, look at Richmond, or Petersburg. The farmers in a great part of this state would be sensibly affected, by their absence. This observation implies no want of respect for the people of America. The latter cannot do every thing, at the same time, in a continent three thousand miles wide, and which has not acquired even a fortieth part of its adequate population. The merchants and manufacturers of England, all England as she is, are never ashamed of publishing the advantages which they draw from the commerce of this country. An American artist of eminence in his profession, Mr. West the painter, for instance, is sure of meeting with a hearty welcome in England. Dr. Franklin's discoveries in electricity were not despised by the Royal Society of London, because they came from the son of a tallow-chandler in Boston.
The French republic owes much of her military greatness to the talents of other nations. Macdonald, Massena, Moreau, and the first consul, and especially the three last of these, are the most celebrated officers in the French service. Of those four, one was the son of a Scots highlander, the second was a Piedmontese Ensign, and Buonaparte himself a Corsican Cadet.
History is full of similar examples. Prince Eugene, a French abbe, was refused a captain's commission by the king of France. He went into the service of the emperor of Germany. He became the most famous general that the house of Austria ever had. He reduced that very king of France to the last extremity. And, as Frederick the great says in his Memoirs , he was in fact emperor. In the next age, count Saxe, a native of Courland, commanded the French at Fontenoy, where his talents gained a great victory. But it never once came into the heads of the French nation to disparage or despise count Saxe, because he chanced to be born in a distant country.
In our days, Neckar, a Swiss and protestant, was made prime minister of France. The people did not reproach him, as our federal wits reproach Albert Gallatin, because he was not, by birth, a Frenchman. On the contrary, he grew very popular. And it was by his plans of economy, that France was enabled to assist this country during the revolution.
It is, by the way, with the worst grace imaginable that the federal party upbraid Gallatin with his being a foreigner, when it is recollected that a multitude of the most independent and respectable of their own partisans are merchants of foreign birth, and trading in American sea ports upon the basis of foreign capitals.
Even the great Alexander Hamilton himself, the most active man of the whole party, is a native of the West Indies. This did not hinder a former president from making him secretary of the treasury; and why should the very same kind of choice which they approved of in one of his predecessors? What makes it a greater crime to be born in Geneva, or indeed in Cassararia, than in the island of St. Croix? Prejudice apart, we cannot see where the preference lies.
If these observations have not already stretched too far, we beg leave to subjoin some remarks extracted from "The American Annual Register for 1796," a book published at Philadelphia, some years ago. They bear a connection to the present subject; and are as follows:
IN this debate, on the 2d of January, 1795, Mr. Hillhouse said, that if Mr. Giles "would so modify the amend-
NOTE. * We had, at the same time, several other very odd trials, such as those of Luther Baldwin, of David Brown, of Abijah Adams, of Thomas Frothingham, an Irish journeyman printer, at New York, and of Jonathan Robbins. But these did not proceed under the sedition act, as far as we recollect, but under the common law of England.

ment as wholly to exclude that class of foreigners, or any other, from ever becoming citizens, so far as to elect or be elected to any office , he would most heartily join in giving his vote for it." In a subsequent speech, the member repeated this idea. He conceived, he said, that Americans could legislate for themselves, much better without any assistance from foreigners. Many other very cold compliments were paid to emigrants in the mass. Mr. Vans Murray, declared his extreme indifference whether any more of them ever came into the country. He was afraid of their contaminating the purity and simplicity of the American character. General Smith of Baltimore spoke much about the danger of people from the British islands becoming spies, and entering into plots against the government. Mr. Fitzsimons, a native of Ireland, and then member for Philadelphia, at length rose, and asked whether the gentleman really meant to say, that all the foreigners who came into this country were ready to act as spies ? Mr. Dexter founded the alarm about the jacobins from France and England overturning the American government. The debates on this naturalization bill became at last extremely tiresome. So little attention was paid by members to each other, while speaking, that it was often impossible to hear them on account of the intense noise of subordinate harangues. In one of the latter, a gentleman spoke as follows: "Why, we are growing worse than useal . We have got five or six lawyers among us, who would talk on about nothing till the day of judgement." Indeed their amendments upon amendments very often got into such a labyrinth that it was utterly impossible for the most expert taker of debates to have told what the House was disputing about, or what they would be at. —
We return to the quotation from Mr. Hillhouse. The appearance of America would not be much improved by the absence of those foreigners who have settled in it. About one half of the adult citizens of Philadelphia were born in Europe. To exclude them, as Mr. Hillhouse by implication recommended, from being elected to an office, and even from the right of voting, would be the most pitiful and improper scheme imaginable. It would be the certain way to erect a formidable foreign faction in the heart of the country. It would place the United States in a similar condition with Spanish America. In that country the natives of Old Spain enjoy exclusively all offices of trust. They have numerous privileges above the creoles. This distinction produces a mutual animosity, and European supremacy supports itself between the jealousies of the two contending parties. —
It is strange that a member from Connecticut should make this churlish proposal. Above any state in the union, Connecticut has rained down emigrants to every point of the compass. They are welcomed as fellow-citizens in every State, and they ought to entertain liberal sentiments on this subject. The citizens of Philadelphia, think very differently from Mr. Hillhouse. For six years they were represented in Congress by an Irishman. He has been succeeded in the two following elections by an Englishman, who carried the day against a native American. In the fifth Congress, the county of Philadelphia is to be represented by an Irishman, who, as already noticed, was chosen without solicitation, by the spontaneous preference of a large majority of electors. The American revolution could not have been effected but for the assistance of foreign emigrants. Those from Ireland were of the last importance to the cause. They were fighting for America by sea and land, while Benedict Arnold was burning storehouses in Virginia, and while tory Butler, at the head of a gang of Connecticut refugees, was destroying the north-western frontier of Pennsylvania. While some of the representatives from that state are so much scandalized at French cruelty, they would do well
to remember the conduct of part of their own citizens in the last war. The settlers at Wyoming were turned out into the desarts of Northumberland by their personal acquaintances from one common state. Some women in pregnancy were delivered in the woods. The tories exceeded, in savageness, even their confederates the Six Nations. This trait is given on the testimony of a native of Connecticut, who was present when his countrymen came to attack an infant settlement planted under the auspices of Connecticut itself.
Thus much for Mr. Hillhouse, and his amendment. The extreme indifference professed by another gentleman about emigrants coming over can hardly be sincere. Mr. Vans Murray has a literary turn. He is fond of reading, and his stile announces that he has studied the English language with diligence and success. Take away all the Scots and Irish booksellers from Philadelphia, and the member could hardly supply his library. With three or four exceptions, the whole trade-centers among foreigners. The case is much the same both in New-York and Baltimore. If emigrants had never done any other service to America, the importation and reprinting of so many good books should entitle them to respectful notice on the floor of Congress. To them Philadelphia has been largely indebted for its superior progress in printing. The first regular office for book printing in the city was established by Mr. William Young, a native of Scotland. This took place only twelve years ago, and the plan was regarded as chimerical. Before that time the trade was almost entirely, if not altogether, carried on as it is now in Lancaster, Alexandria, and other places, by printers of newspapers and almanacs. Mr. Young hath since done ten times more in the way of printing books than any person had attempted before him. He has likewise built a paper mill, an undertaking of the highest advantage and utility to the United States. His success has been so closely followed up that Philadelphia has now about thirty offices exclusively for printing of books. This gentleman according to some of our legislators, might as well have staid in Europe. He is not fit to be entrusted as an alderman, or even with a vote for the choice of one. The Encyclopaedia has been republished, with valuable additions, by a Scotchman; who has also reprinted above an hundred other useful books.
A splendid bible, at twenty dollars per copy, is now in the press by two Englishmen. Guthrie's Geographical Grammar, at sixteen dollars, was reprinted by an Irishman. About one half of the work was written over again, and innumerable blunders corrected in the rest of it, at an expence of a thousand dollars. Two young men, one of whom is from Ireland, gave America her first edition of Shakespeare. Are not the United States indebted to such citizens? Are they to be told that they were welcome to have staid in Europe? Philadelphia has not forgot the day, for it is but lately past, when four booksellers had a consultation about the printing of Dilworth's Spelling book.
Of the five daily newspapers printed in Philadelphia, the first and second were set up and conducted by two natives of Ireland, who served during the war in the American army, and who by industry and perseverance have acquired ample fortunes. Englishmen are proprietors of two other prints in this city. The first stenographer in Congress was Mr. Loyd, an Englishman, the second Mr. John Carey, an Irishman. When the House of Representatives wanted a person of that sort, they sent to Petersburg in Virginia for a Scotsman. Thus it goes, and yet emigrants are to be despised. America, is under no necessity to court them, but it is just as improper to slight them. Of the two principal historians of the revolution, the one, Mr. Gordon, was a Scotsman. When Congress in summer, 1794, shut up six snuff mills in this state, two of them belonged to a Scotsman. The plan of the bank of Pennsylvania, which defrays the current charges of the government
of this state, was drawn out by an Englishman. An engineer to superintend the Delaware canal has, it is said, been got from England. The astonishing improvements in labour-saving machines will one day be transplanted by emigrants from England to America. Of the importance of these the reader may judge by the following extract of a letter from Edinburgh, dated the 20th of August, 1795.
"We have made great improvements in labour-saving machines. Our linen yarn is now spun by water, and our women weave. In short we manufacture almost double the quantity of this kind of goods that we did formerly, and with fewer hands." The writer of the letter is a person of veracity. This invention alone would shew what useful lessons in political economy remain to be acquired by the United States. Many persons in this country, are willing enough to slight emigrants without legislative exhortation. Some of these people were lately travelling on foot across New-Jersey. They were refused a drink of water. The reason assigned was that it had been brought from a considerable distance, and the carriage of it required trouble. One of the emigrants fell sick, was refused assistance of any kind, and had almost perished for want of those common offices of humanity which are to be had among the Creeks and Cherokees. Some time ago, a gentlewoman from England, with her two daughters, arrived by the stage coach, in a certain city that shall be nameless. On alighting at the inn they asked for a dish of tea, but it could not be got. They found their way to another inn, where tea was procured, but it was hardly drunk when they were told that the room was bespoke, and they were a second time turned adrift. Some gentlemen from England were supping in a tavern where they called for cheese. The answer was that the house had none cut. Ask for a bed and you are sometimes answered with this question: Do you intend to stay a fortnight? These things which do sometimes occur, are perhaps polite and hospitable, but they look very odd to a person just arrived from the old country.
As to the contamination of purity and simplicity , the hazard is not great.
MARENGO, OR, THE CAMPAIGN OF ITALY;
[Continued from our last.]
UPON these tidings, the Consul mounted his favorite charger at eleven o'clock, and made great haste to the field of battle. Both cannon and musketry, on certain points, began now to be heard, and to approach nearer and nearer to us. We were sorry to see so many, both of cavalry and infantry, retire into the rear, wounded by the fire of the onset. The enemy's line was extended to the space of two leagues: for, it is necessary to remark, that the Bormida, though generally rapid and deep, was nevertheless fordable at several places. The enemy was particularly tenacious of its position near the bridge; but the principal point of action was at San Stefano. From this point the enemy could gain Voguera, before we could, and thereby cut off our retreat. They, therefore, incessantly directed their attention to this weak point. By twelve o'clock we were well convinced we had the whole Austrian force against us, and that they now, in good earnest, accepted the challenge which they had declined the day before.
Our General was now satisfied of the measures he had to pursue. Orders were given to the disposable troops in the rear to come forward; but the corps under the command of Desaix was still at a considerable distance. The left wing under the command of Victor began to give way; and we perceived several corps of infantry retire in disorder, as well as platoons of cavalry pulled back. The firing drew nearer; in the centre a dreadful discharge was heard
and ceased all at once on the Bormida. I was in an inexpressible anxiety, yet still I ventured to flatter myself that our troops advanced; on the contrary, however, I saw them in a few minutes after returning with but too much haste, carrying the wounded, on their shoulders. On the part of the right wing also, I saw, with concern, that the enemy gained insensibly upon us.
Buonaparte advanced in front, and exhorted to courage and firmness all the corps he met with: it was visible that his presence re-animated them. Several soldiers were observed to prefer absolute death in sustaining the retreat, to the displeasure they might give him in being a witness of their flight. From this moment his horse guards no longer continued as before, near his person; but, without being at any great distance from him, took an active part in the battle.
A cloud of Austrian cavalry debouched rapidly in the plain, and formed themselves before us in battle array; masking several pieces of artillery, which did not long delay playing to the destruction of our ranks. General Berthier, who, at no great distance, had his eye upon the movement of this column, was briskly charged by a part of it, and was forced to retire upon us. Murat, at the head of the dragoons, took them in flank, protected the retreat of our infantry, and preserved the right flank of Victor.
The foot grenadiers of the Consular guard now came up, in the same state they have always been beheld on the parade. They formed up in the most orderly manner, in subdivisions, and advanced against the enemy, whom they met with not an hundred paces from our front. Without artillery, without cavalry, to the number of five hundred only, they had to endure the brunt of a victorious army. But, without considering the smallness of their numbers, they kept advancing, and forced every thing to give way in their passage. The lofty eagle hovered every where around them, and threatened to tear them to pieces. The very first bullet which struck them laid three grenadiers and a fourrier dead on the ground, being in close order. Charged three times by the cavalry, surrounded by the infantry within fifty paces, they surrounded their colours, and their wounded, and in a hollow square exhausted all their rounds of cartridges; and then, with slow and regular steps, fell back and joined our astonished rear-guard.
Notwithstanding this our army fought retreating in all parts; the center gave way, and the enemy out-stretched us, and turned our right wing. On the right especially, it was obvious they had the superiority in an eminent degree. On the left they might have reached our head-quarters before we could. The garrison of Tortona, discovering the almost routed condition of our army, made a sortie; and we were surrounded on every part.
The Consul, who was all the while in the center, encouraged the remains of the gallant corps which defended the road, and the defile which it crossed, shut up on one side by a wood, and on the other by some busy vine-yards of lofty growth. The village of Marengo flanked this cruelly memorable spot to the left.
What torrents of blood were shed in that place! what numbers of brave men perished there! Invincible courage had unceasingly to struggle against numbers of the obstinate foe perpetually increasing. Our artillery, in part dismounted or taken, had but little ammunition. Thirty pieces of cannon, actively served by the enemy, cut in two both men and trees, the branches of which in their fall further crushed to death those who were before wounded, and who had sought an insecure refuge under them.
In short, at four o'clock in the afternoon, I have no hesitation in saying, that in a line of five miles, or more, there did not stand six thousand infantry to their colours, and only six pieces of cannon could be made any use of.
To be continued.