The enquirer (Richmond, Va.), 1809-12-26 00:00:00

The Enquirer.
VOL. 6.]
RICHMOND, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1809.
[No. 69.]
Published by Thomas Ritchie, nearly opposite the Globe Tavern, Richmond, Virginia.  CONDITIONS: —Five dollars a year, to be paid annually in advance. Those who wish to be considered as annual subscribers, must hereafter designate it at the time of subscribing, otherwise their papers will be discontinued at the expiration of the first year. No paper can be stopped until all arrearages have been paid off.—Good acceptances, in Richmond only, will be received in payment. The same rule as to Advertisements.
FOR SALE AT THIS OFFICE:  The 5th Volume of the ENQUIRER, compleat, bound in boards.  VIRGINIA DEBATES, in the Convention, bound in calf, sheep and boards.  BURR'S TRIAL, for Treason and for a Misdeemeanor, in boards—By D. Robertson.  LETTERS on the Subject of the CATHOLICS. —By Peter Plymley—from the 11th London Edition.  BLANKS, for Lawyers, Clerks, Sheriffs, Constables, Merchants, &c. &c. which will also be printed according to any form exhibited, at the shortest notice.
THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED,   A New Theory,   OF   THE DIURNAL ROTATION OF THE EARTH:  Demonstrated upon Mathematical Principles, from the properties of the Cycloid and the Epicycloid.  WITH   AN APPLICATION OF THE THEORY,  To the explanation of the various Phenomena of the Winds, Tides and of the Stone and Metallic concretions which have fallen from Heaven upon the surface of the Earth.  By JOHN WOOD,  Author of Elements of Perspective, printed in London, in 1799. December 14.
WANTED for the ensuing year, a male House-Servant.—For one who is active, industrious and honest, liberal hire will be paid. Apply to the Editor of this paper. December 14.
PURSUANT to the will of the late Ralph Wormley, esq., will be sold on Tuesday the 9th of January next for cash, at Urbanna, about fifteen or twenty SLAVES, belonging to the estate of the said deceased, and consisting of men, women, and children.  ELEANOR WORMLEY,  Administratrix with the will annexed.  JNO. CHEW, Administratrix. Middlesex, December 19.
I HAVE REMOVED TO RICHMOND.   BENJ. DOTT.  October 31.
A SWEEP STAKE of four hundred dollars will be run for the third of January, over the Fairfield Course, four Horses entered.—An elegant Dinner will be provided on the field.—Horses will start at 1 o'clock. December 23.
BANK OF VIRGINIA. —The Stockholders are hereby notified that the first Monday in January, is the day appointed by law for a general meeting, for the purpose of choosing Directors of the Bank and the several officers of Discount and Deposit.  JOHN BROCKENBROUGH, Cashr. December 12.
BENT CREEK, 19th Dec. 1809.  Messrs. Taliaferro & Patterson, Mississippi Territorial.  SIRS: —You will take notice, that we shall, at the Compting Office of Messrs. Higginbotham, Brown & Co. in this place, on the first Thursday in January next, proceed to take the deposition of Andrew White to be read as evidence in a certain matter of controversy in chancery, depending in the county of Buckingham, wherein we are plaintiffs and you are defendants. (Signed)  THO. HIGGINBOTHAM & Co.  December 23.
NOTICE. —In a former advertisement, I requested all persons indebted to the estate of Mr. Thomas Nicholson, dec'd. to pay off their respective debts, and I invited all persons who had debts due to them from that estate, to make them known to me and receive payment. I intend at the expiration of one month from this date, to divide among the residuary legatees of Mr. Nicholson's last will, all the money in my hands belonging to that estate.—I therefore earnestly request, that if any one has now a claim for debt against the estate that they will exhibit it to me forthwith and receive payment, and I beg and intreat of those indebted to the estate to pay off their respective debts without delay.  C. COPLAND, Executor. Richmond, December 23, 1809.
THE SUBSCRIBERS having connected themselves in the AUCTION BUSINESS —Offer their services to the Public, at their Auction Room, opposite the Bell-Tavern, to carry on a RETAIL NIGHT AUCTION:  Also to sell in the day all kinds of Goods, Wares and Merchandise, Lands, Houses and Lots, Negroes, &c. or any other kind of Property which may be entrusted with them. They will at all times consider it their duty at all times, faithfully to observe the interest of those who may honor them with their confidence.  STILL & BROOKE.  December 23.
N.B. BARTLETT STILL individually will transact business, as a Tobacco Broker and Commission Merchant, to buy and sell all kinds of Country produce; Also Bank Stock, Notes, &c.  WINGFIELD ACADEMY. (Forks of Hen- over) At this place will be taught, the ensuing year, the Greek, Latin, French, and English Languages; Geography, the use of the Globes, Belles Lettres, Geometry, Arithmetic, Book-keeping and Writing.  EXPENCES.  Board, Tuition, Washing, Bed & Bedding $ 32 per annum. Board, &c. exclusive of Bed & Bedding 30 per annum. In either case quarterly payments in advance will be required. For eligibility of the institution, the subscribers wish the appeal to be made to its patrons and scholars for a long series of years past. The school will be opened the 10th of January, and closed the 10th of December. Small boys will be lodged in the dwelling house of the subscriber.  PETER NELSON.
CHEESE, HATS, SALT-PETRE, GUN-POWDER. —A consignment of Coloured Cheese of superior quality, in casks and boxes, just received. A large and general assortment of gentlemen's Silk Beaver and Fur HATS.  English refined SALT-PETRE,  F and FF glazed and rough GUN-POWDER.  FOR SALE, BY—  D. J. BURR.  December 1.
LE TELLIER—DENTIST. —Has removed to the corner house between the Swan and Washington Taverns, where he is practising in the various branches of his profession, i. e. setting artificial teeth, cleansing, plugging, extracting, &c. &c. N. B. A line or servant directed to Mr. Le Tellier at the above place will be attended to. December 19.
AT the request of Mr. Robert Turner, we shall proceed positively to sell on the 6th of January next, at 11 o'clock A. M. on the premises, for ready money, to raise in the first place, about $1200 to discharge a deed of trust held by Mr. Daniel Couch on the property, and the residue for other purposes; all the HOUSES & LOTS late the property of Daniel Couch, situated on the cross street leading from the Bell-Tavern to May's bridge, now occupied by Andrew H. Hutton, Samuel Bell and others.—The Houses and Lots will be sold separate, that is, a tenement at a time.  PROSSER & MONCURE, Auctioneers. Richmond, December 16.
FEMALE EDUCATION, will be continued at Monticello the ensuing year, under the direction of Miss Terrell; who will teach reading, writing, arithmetic, drawing, grammar and geography. The School will be opened the 15th of January. Terms—for board & Tuition (each finding her own bedding and candles) $100 per annum, paid quarterly in advance. The most satisfactory testimonials of Miss Terrell's qualifications as a Teacher of the above branches of Education may be seen below. Particular attention will be paid to the morals and manners of Pupils placed at this School. It may be proper to add too, that they have before them an example of domestic economy, and steady industry in the boarding apartment.  HUMPHREY HILL.  Caroline, Dec. 16, 1809.
CAROLINE, Dec. 20, 1809.  WE the subscribers have this day attended an examination of the Female School, at Mr. Humphrey Hill's, under the Tuition of Miss Matilda Terrell; we have paid particular attention to the progress and attainments of the pupils, in Reading, Writing, Drawing, Grammar and Geography, and with pleasure we profess that we have received impressions highly favorable towards Miss Terrell, in her official capacity. At the same time from our acquaintance with the family of Mr. Hill, we cannot hesitate to say, that a gentle and favorable situation here offers itself to the public patronage; in a word, such a one as we, in the case of boarding out daughters, should deem every way eligible.  PETER NELSON.   ANDW. BRODOUS.
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD. —Run away from the subscriber on Sunday night the 24th of September, 1809, ISAAC, a negro man about 29 years old, rather an undersize, and moderately spare, a kind of hoarse, lazy voice and looks, apt to compel you to repeat before he will give a direct answer, small eyes and ears, a yellowish black complexion, 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, rather stoops forward from the hips and a kind of hitch in one hip, if well observed when walking, and by which description he was once discovered, when running away, and put in jail, although he disowned his name and master and affected to be a free man born, has been severely whipped, has a scar a little over his right eye, and the appearance may be seen on the body, of the small pox, and a lump as large as the finger on the fore part of the right shoulder and left arm, a little below the shoulder, and on the back, especially on the right side under the shoulder blade, supposed to be by whipping; also a scar on the left arm by inoculation. He originally when a boy belonged to John McClary at Little York, then to Wm. McClary or near Hanover Town, then to Joseph Dupee of Lunenburg, then to his son William in Charlotte, and then to James Camp of Nottoway, of whom James Dupuy, junr. bought him, and of whom I got him. He, I understand, has been once in York jail as a runaway, and Richmond and Nottoway jails, and while he was the property of James Dupuy, junr. he ran away and spent some time in Richmond and in Hanover, where he fell in with a James Mastiloe, as he said, who was moving to Greenbrier, and he was going with him when he was taken up and put in jail in Charlottesville, March 1804, then he disowned his name and master as stated above, and said he was born free and would be free in about a year, makes some pretensions to religion, particularly while in jail in Albemarle (Commissioners of the tax might probably make some discovery of him.) Masters of vessels and all other persons are forwarded carrying him out of the state, although he may probably change his name, &c. The above reward will be given, besides all fees, for apprehending him and securing him so that I get him, and notifying me thereof, or delivering him to me in the upper end of Nottoway county.  ROBERT DICKENSON.  December 23.
EDUCATION. —The subscriber offers his services to the public for the ensuing year to instruct boys and young men in the following branches of Literature, viz. Reading, Writing and Spelling the English language with propriety—the Latin and Greek Languages, History, Geography with the use of the Globes, the Elements of Natural Philosophy, the Elements of Geometry with practical surveying, Arithmetic, Vulgar and Decimal with Algebra. The price of board, tuition, washing, bedding and fuel, will be an hundred dollars for the term, paid quarterly in advance, to commence on the fifteenth of January and expire on the tenth of December next, with the usual vacation. He hopes from his success, experience and diligence in his profession, to obtain that share of the public patronage which he merits.  THOS. NELSON.  Humanity Hall, forks of Hen- over, Dec. 13, 1809.
GERMAN OENBURGS, to sale by the hand or piece, by the subscriber, at his house, near col. May's Bridge. December 1.
HUMANITY HALL, forks of Hen- over, Dec. 13, 1809.  JAMES INNES.  December 1.
Domestic.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Dec. 1st, 1809. SIR,
I have the honor of transmitting to you herewith paper A, in duplicate, which is an exhibit of the vessels of war & gun-boats at this time belonging to the navy of the United States; distinguishing the number in commission prior to the passage of the act, entitled "An act authorising the employment of an additional naval force," passed January 31st, 1809; the number fitted out under that act; the whole number now in commission and prepared for service, and the number in ordinary, and where.
By this paper it will be seen that the act of 31st January, 1809, has been fully executed. The number of vessels of war and gun-boats now in commission, and the actual state of those not in commission, will also appear, it is hoped, in a satisfactory form. Paper, No. 1, in duplicate, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the appropriations made by the act of Congress of 3d March, 1809, for "repairs of vessels;" for contingent expenses; and for clothing of the marine corps respectively. Paper, No. 2, in duplicate, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the sum of 150,000 dollars, transferred by your order, agreeably to the act of Congress, entitled "An act further to amend the several acts for the establishment and regulation of the treasury, war, and navy departments," passed March 3d, 1809, from the appropriation made by the appropriation act of 3d March, 1809, for "provisions" to that of "repairs of vessels."
Paper, No. 3, in duplicate, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the sum of 25,000 dollars transferred by your order, agreeably to the provisions of the act above recited, from the appropriation made by the appropriation act above recited, for "provisions," to that of "contingent expenses." Papers, No. 4, in duplicate, which is an exhibit of the warrants drawn upon the sum of 2,500 dollars transferred by your order, agreeably to the provisions of the act above recited, from the appropriation made by the act above recited for "quarter masters' and barrack masters' stores for the corps of marines," to that of clothing for that corps. The sum transferred in aid of the appropriation for "repairs of vessels," may appear large; but pursuing the spirit of the act of 31st January, 1809, it was determined that the repairs made should be thorough and complete. In doing this the disbursement have certainly been heavy. The price of naval stores, greatly and suddenly enhanced, has greatly contributed to swell them to their present amount. One very consoling circumstance for these heavy disbursements arises out of the fact, that all the vessels repaired, especially the frigates, have been so much improved in their armament, their other fittings, and their sailing, that the most experienced practical men pronounce them to be, at this time, greatly superior in all respects, to what they were when first fitted out from the stocks. The contingent expenses have also been unexpectedly great, arising principally from the very heavy disbursements at New Orleans.
The appropriation for marine clothing was found inadequate to the objects for which it was made, in consequence of the advanced price of cloths and woollens. I have the honor to be, With great respect, Sir, your most obedient servant,  PAUL HAMILTON.  The President of the U. States.
(A) Exhibit showing the state and condition, at this time, of the vessels belonging to the Navy of the U. States, and of the Gun-Boats.
Whole number, at this time belonging to the Navy of the United States.
FRIGATES. —Constitution 44 guns, President 44, United States 44, Chesapeake 36, Congress 36, Constellation 36, New York 32, Essex 32, Adams 32.  SHIPS. —John Adams 20, Wasp 12.  BRIGS. —Hornet 20, Siren 16, Argus 16, Vixen 14, Nautilus 14.  SCHOONERS. —Enterprise 12, Revenge 12.
CUTTER. —Ferreto 10.  BRIG. —Oneida, classed with g. boats 16.  BOMBS. —Etna, Vesuvius, Spitfire, Vengeance. 170 Gun-Boats, including Brig Oneida. In commission prior to the passage of the act of the 31st Jan. 1809. Constitution, Chesapeake, Wasp, Hornet, Argus, (Bombs) Etna, Vesuvius, and 22 Gun Boats at New Orleans. Fitted out under the act of 31st January, 1809.
President, United States, Essex, John Adams, Siren, Vixen, Nautilus, Enterprise, Revenge, Ferreto. Whole number now in commission and ready for service.
Constitution, President, United States, Essex, John Adams, Wasp, Hornet, Siren, Argus, Vixen, Nautilus, Enterprise, Revenge, Ferreto, (Bombs) Etna, Vesuvius and 22 gun boats at New Orleans. In Ordinary.—Chesapeake, at Boston; Congress, Constellation, New York, Adams and 9 gun-boats at Washington. These frigates in ordinary, require repairs before they can be sent to sea. Thirteen gun-boats at Charleston. Three of these gun-boats have been put in commission for the Georgia station. Wilmington, N. C. 4; Norfolk 21. One of these employed occasionally, and fitted as a watering boat. Baltimore 10; Philadelphia, 20; New York 54; Westerly, (R. I.) 2; Norwich, (Con.) 2; Boston 1; Portland 9; Lake Ontario 1; Lake Champlain 2.
This is brig Oneida.
All these gun-boats in ordinary, are in a state of preservation. Bombs—Spitfire at Norfolk, and 14 at New York—require repairs. Of the gun-boats at New Orleans, No. 13 has been condemned, and is now used as a bulk; and Captain Porter, in a letter dated 25th August, 1809, observes, that five others, viz: Nos. 14, 16, 17, 20 and 21, will in all probability be condemned as unfit for service in the ensuing summer—having been built of raw materials.
From Relf's Philadelphia Gazette.
TO FRANCIS JAMES JACKSON, ESQ.  Ex ambassador from His Britannic Ma-jesty to the U. States of America.
SIR—In the first moments of that perturbation, from which the most accomplished diplomatist cannot at all times be exempt, and into which even a person of your experience may be excused for falling, on the sudden occurrence of a crisis so unexpected and embarrassing as your late discomfiture, you were indiscreet enough to allude to the constitutional liberty of the press in this country, as a charge against the executive government, which your complaint implies that department might correct. You should have recollected, that when an ambassador is most disconcerted, that he ought to appear the least disturbed; that by the law of the land the executive cannot interfere with the press, and that when the first consul of France, with whose annual you have such special reason for being familiar, laid a similar grievance before the British ministry, he was told, that the courts of justice were the only means known to the law for punishing such offences, that Peltier was convicted by a jury, and sentenced by my Lord Ellenborough, not by Mr. Addington or the King. These things you should have known; for they would have saved you the mortification, which every man, particularly the envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary from a mighty kingdom, ought to feel, when he so far forgets himself and his station, as to be betrayed into undignified and unavailing querulousness. It is too true, that the press in this country is dabbled in licentiousness; and though you were egregiously incorrect when you made this circumstance a ground of official complaint to the executive, yet all temperate Americans must deplore the scandalous calumnies, that are daily poured forth upon your nation, mission and person. But it is not the freedom of the press has taken with you, that have made it odious in America. That you may not return impressed with a belief, in which it is to be lamented you came among us, that party is the only index to opinion in the United States, or that certain violent newspapers are the organs of the sentiments of the great body of sober and reflecting people. I take the liberty of addressing you in the language that is almost universally held, relative to this controversy, by those native and genuine Americans, who, with a natural and decided preference for the English nation, are at the same time alive to the rights of their own; and always are alike indignant at all foreign aggressions whatever. It may, perhaps, notwithstanding your patriotic zeal, somewhat assuage your disappointment, to know that by this respectable class your instructions are more blamed than your conduct; and it is highly proper, that you should be apprized of the independent and honorable motives which govern them in this juncture.
Your nomination created some suspicion and much clamor. Peremptorily refusing to ratify the terms proposed by one minister, after they had been accepted and effectuated on our part, recalling and disgracing that minister, and appointing another who had been used to treat with fleets at his heels, were not indications of a very friendly disposition on the part of England. Notwithstanding these omens, the mass of the American nation prepared to accredit you as one of the most distinguished members of that corps, which, in the states of Europe, is as regularly trained, formed and distributed as armies and navies—aware that you were yet reeking from the discharge of a most detestable duty at Copenhagen, but hoping that your employment on several such exigencies, was rather in the course of your vocation than optional, and that the fame of such achievements preceding you here, would have the effect rather to soften than aggravate your tone—and with an honest confidence trusting that you were selected for your superior talents and veteran skill, and coming to negotiate, if not to conclude, an accommodation. The Americans are a simple, peace loving people, little versed in diplomatic sophistry. Peace and plain dealing are emphatically their policy, inasmuch as one is the source, the other the only safeguard of their prosperity. Whoever therefore was declared by a few unimportant individuals of the insolence and bad faith upon which your embassy was grounded, the government, with a large majority of the country, were disposed to receive you with hospitality, and anxiously desirous that your terms might be tolerably amicable, and your tone tolerably decent. With such terms and such a tone there was a temper to be satisfied; and it is notorious that the belief was very general, of your having entered upon discussions, which promised an arrangement. After indulging a few weeks in these flattering expectations, it was understood with amazement, and regret, and indignation, that you came three thousand miles, with a magnificent appointment, without authority to adjust any one point in dispute, and with orders to couch your communications in the most imperious and offensive style of the new phraseology of diplomatic correspondence. You came, as you have yourself declared to our government, expressly to do nothing; and in doing that nothing, you assumed a tone of contempt and defiance. Under such circumstances, you should not be surprised that it is the sense of nine tenths of the American people, that as your mission was meant to be futile and your language unbecoming, the government consulted their dignity, and the dignity of a nation, too long patient of outrage, when it deranged you from your functions, and discarded you in its presence.
But while such is the sense, and the decided and enthusiastic sense of nearly all the
people of this country, it is matter of the most painful regret with many of them, that the representative of a great and glorious empire, himself a man of talents and a gentleman, should have been obliged to incur the predicament, into which you have rather marched, than fallen, which, notwithstanding the challenge of your letters, and the fair warning you received of its imminence, seems to have been as unexpected by you, as it certainly must be inauspicious to the future relations of the two countries. You find America's endurance may be tried too far.
Unfinking men, who condemn in the mass, and calumniate wherever they can, do not distinguish between your constituents and their instrument. They attach an odium to your name, which the more discerning know you do not deserve. When Mr. Jefferson retired, it was said the main obstacle to an accommodation was removed. But they who conceived such hopes did not know Mr. Canning. Doubtless you were ordered to hold the front you did. Those rhetorical flourishes and polished invectives, with which your letters abound, are perfect imitations of Mr. Canning's school, which has substituted such baledrashed for the stately and respectable garb, in which, until this day, diplomacy, however hostile was invariably clothed. When, besides the utter success of their enemies, the unfortunate people of England, in a short lapse of disaster, were deprived of Mr. Pitt, Fox, Nelson, Cornwallis and Thurlow, fate seemed to have declared against them, and also ever since, distraction, ignorance and malversation have possessed a cabinet heretofore filled with talents, integrity, and public spirit. One of the last struggles of the last of these administrations was to dispatch you to this country, with instructions, which, if not questioned, you have rigidly conformed to. The result is what must have been desired, though perhaps was scarcely expected by the king your master, and his late ministers. And you are too high spirited a man to blame the Americans, if, by every thing short of insult to your person, they shew their detestation to such insidious and dastardly measures. Your predecessor, Mr. Merry, an able and maladroitness old man, to whom it was said Mr. Jefferson had been ungracious (at least Mistress Merry said so) was received in Philadelphia with a hospitality, intended to compensate for the rudeness he complained of at Washington. Mr. Liston was a great favorite, and Mr. Erskine was always welcomed with a kindness much more than merely polite. You are the first British minister from whom the hospitalities of Philadelphia have been withheld, and you are personally the best entitled to them. You must therefore ascribe the comparative isolation from society in which you are suffered to live in this metropolis, notwithstanding the elegance of your retinue and manners, to that feeling of unanimous indignation against your employers, which the disclosure of your correspondence has roused. Though you came fortified with letters of introduction and all the attractions calculated to make your company desirable, yet you cannot but applaud this repulsive nationality, however disagreeable you may find its effects. We know how to separate Mr. Jackson from his instructions:—But his representative has cast so deep a shade over his private character, that Americans of all parties, not caring to draw the distinction, are reluctant to dispense those civilities, which, but for the part it has been his due to act, they would have been proud and forward to shew.
After lingering here a little longer, in a situation unworthy your rank and accomplishments, you will return to England, with the sorry satisfaction of having performed an odious service in the letter of your command. Unless you go to Algiers, Ispahan or Tombuctou, there is now no friendly power left in whose capital a conspicuous residence may snatch you from comparative insignificance in the environs of London. But at all events you will have the satisfaction to find Mr. George Canning, who, with no stronger claims than a petty genius and the consistency of faction, attempted to hold the reins, which Pitt could hardly manage. You will find him once more in his proper place, not at the privy council board but at the desk of the Anti-Jacobin, writing perhaps an additional canto to the Loves of the Triangles. You may assure him that his mission is fulfilled; and that if his artillery failed of its effect on his enemies, it answered, under your direction, at least for the purpose of driving off his few remaining friends. While Mr. Smith's share of the transaction was managed with calmness and perspicuity, you, in the full spirit of your instructions, were superb, contemptuous, confused, insulting and belligerent. The blunder you committed with respect to the oral communications, and the petulance you gave into, when you complained of the newspapers and demanded your passports, were to be sure departures from the lofty line of your orders. But they may be pardoned in consideration of your excellence upon the whole. You certainly effected your rejection in a shorter time than almost any other diplomatist could have attained that primary object. But you must tell that sophomore in politics, to whom you owe the honors of your embassy, that dictation, however it may become his haughty pen, is not adapted to conciliate a free and intelligent people, who had the hardness to send you home in disgrace for faithfully executing your commission.  GANGANELLI.
BALTIMORE, December 21.   Interesting to the Merchants.
[The following communication from a merchant of this city, relative to recent condemnations at Halifax; and the fact, that British emissaries in our sea ports, give false information, in order to procure the capture of American ships by British cruisers; the fact, that congress seems to sleep over our wrongs; the fact, (a consequence of the former) that Mr. Jackson has granted protections to certain British merchants, taken together, will inspire merchants with reflection, and bring them to a pause. At present, (as for two years past,) congress is either asleep or time]

or unwise, to adopt efficacious means of coercing England to render us justice. By arming, however, you might somewhat lessen the evil, or bring it to a desirable crisis, which would terminate vexation and submission together .— Whig .]
BALTIMORE, December 19. CASE OF THE SUSQUEHANNA.
MR. IRVINE. The capture and condemnation of this vessel, affords a memorable instance of robbery under color of foreign orders in council, and a solemn warning to the government (if it had none before!) to lose no time in resorting to efficient means for the protection of our fair commerce. Perhaps a more undisguised case of fraud and tyranny, was never exhibited, even in a British prize court, than in the condemnation of the Susquehanna. A concise narrative will best explain both.
The ship Susquehanna, John Brown, master; a new ship on her first voyage, sailed from Baltimore Sept. 3d, bound to Tonningen; owned by Mr. James Biays of this city, and cost to her for sea upwards of 20,000 dollars. Her cargo consisted of articles noted below, with the owner's names. The papers and documents were all regular, accompanied with the usual bona fide American property, and the cargo principally domestic produce. She proceeded on her voyage until the 29th same month, when in lat 39, long 46, was captured by the British ship of war Swiftsure, captain Conn, and ordered to Halifax. The captain and crew were taken out, and put on board the schooner Thistle, and arrived at Halifax in company with the ship the 22d of Oct. where the ship was libelled.
The brig American, of Baltimore, that had been captured some time before, bound on a similar voyage, was tried by Judge Croke, a few days after the Susquehanna arrived, and was condemned. He said the ship might be considered as in the same condemnation, but the captain insisted on a trial, which was granted: When the court met, the attorney for the captain insisted that the capture was illegal, and which he would prove. The Judge replied, "that he would not hear one word on the subject, as he had made up his mind!" And, so, condemned both vessel and cargo, together with costs 1055 dollars, to be paid by the claimants!
The captain of the Swiftsure shewed the Judge a letter, which he SAID he had received from a friend in Baltimore, purporting to contain the names of vessels said to be French and Dutch property, and the Susquehanna one of the number. The ship and cargo were sold; the former for $18,500.
Of the letter produced on the trial, or rather the condemnation, of the Susquehanna—what should we think?—Whether it was forged for the purpose at Halifax; or, was really written in Baltimore, by a lying agent of Britain stationed and skulking among us, the injury is the same to
AS AMERICAN MERCHANT. Cargo of the Susquehanna. Domestic Produce. 416 bks. Tobacco. 5931 lb. Tobacco stems. 92 bales Cotton. 9 do. Peltry. Foreign Produce. 86 bags and 5 hlds. Coffee. 9 boxes Sugar. 9 hlds. and 50 bbls. Sugar. 50 boxes Segars. 16 tons Loogwood. 34 do. Fustick.
SHIPPERS' NAMES. John Goodard, C. F. Kalkman, Labes & Co. Basil S. Elder, John Trimble, F. K. Gavery, P. H. Torme, Stewart and Montgomery, John Goodwin, Goodwin Hutchins & Co. Geo. C. Muller, Frederick Focke, A. Seekamp, John Sperry, Hollingsworth and Sullivan, James Williams, Thomas Poulton, George F. Warfield, and James Biays.
N. B. The subjoined extract of a letter, with its inclosures, from the counsel for claimant at Halifax, to the owner of the Susquehanna, in Baltimore, will give more explicit information to those who can feel for the manifold wrongs heaped upon this country, its independence and commerce.
Halifax, 31st Oct. 1809.
SIR, "At the request of capt. Brown, master of the ship Susquehanna, lately sent into this port for adjudication, I enclose you a short statement of the difficulties in which the ship and her cargo are involved by the severe construction which the judge of our court of vice admiralty, has thought fit to put upon the king's order of the 26th April last; under which, no doubt, you and the shippers of the cargo have undertaken the voyage in question."—The brig American of your port, having been tried and condemned upon the very same grounds which will be adopted against the Susquehanna, I have submitted to you the treatment she has met with, that it may be communicated to the many merchants who must, of course, be interested in what I conceive to be a fair, legal trade warranted by the express orders of our own government."
"If we were still animated by the spirit of '76, how would our indignation take fire at the arrogant pretensions of a British king to regulate our commerce—and tell us, to what port we MAY go; and what we MAY carry thither,—and what we shall not?"— "O tempora!"
COPY OF DECREE.
Next Session Court of Vice Admiralty. Thursday the twenty third day of (L. s.) November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & nine— Before the Worshipful Alexander Croke, Doctor of Laws, Judge and Commissary of his Majesty's Court of Admiralty for the province of Nova Scotia, and the maritime parts thereof, and for carrying into effect the several provisions of an act passed in the forty-first year of the reign of his present majesty, for the better regulation of the prize courts in the West-Indies, America, &c. And also to hear and determine all and manner of causes and complaints as to ships and goods seized and taken as prize, specially constituted and appointed in the courthouse in the town of Halifax. Present, the honorable Charles Morris, notary public and registrar.
The ship Susquehanna, John Brown, Master. Our sovereign lord the king, against the said ship and goods laden therein taken and seized by his majesty's ship of war Swiftsure, John Conn, Esquire, commander, and brought to Halifax, and also against John Brown, the master and claimant of the said ship and cargo. Stewart prayed the claim by him given to be admitted and the ship and cargo to be restored as claimed. Unluckily prayed the said claim to be rejected and the said ship and cargo to be condemned.
The judge having heard the said claim and proofs read, and the advocates and proctors on both sides thereon, rejected the said claim, and by interlocutory decree, pronounced the said ship and cargo to have belonged at the time of the capture and seizure thereof, to enemies of the Crown of Great Britain , and as such, or otherwise, subject and liable to confiscation, and condemned the same as good and lawful prize, taken by his majesty's ship of war Swiftsure, John Conn, Esq. commander—and condemned the claimant in costs.
A true copy, CHARLES MORRIS, Registrar.
The American, Worthington, Master.
The captors urged for the condemnation of this ship and her cargo, upon the ground of her having on board a certificate of origin authenticated by the French and Danish consuls, her voyage being from Tonningen. It became the sole question in the cause, whether the king's order of the 26th of November, 1807, was still in force so far as it respected the condemnation of vessels on board of which the certificate of origin should be found, and the property of the person on whose behalf the certificate was put on board. On the part of the captors it was contended, that the order of the 26th of November was in all respects in full force, except as to an alteration of the general blockade, which by the order of the 26th of November, 1807, is therein particularly defined and limited, and that no other alteration of the 26th of November was either expressed or intended by the order of the 26th of April, but that, on the contrary, the late order of the 26th of April completely recognizes that of the 26th of November with the alteration before mentioned. On the part of the claimant it was insisted, that by the express words of the 26th of April, the whole of the order of the 26th of November, is revoked except that part of it which relates to the blockade of the enemy's ports and the trade with his colonies; the words of the order of April being, that "his majesty is pleased to revoke and annul the several orders therein mentioned except as is therein after expressed." The claimant further contended that nothing is after expressed in the order of April; but, what relates to the general blockade, and the trade of the colonies, and that the provisions of that order are evident proofs of its meaning, and serve clearly to shew that, if his majesty intended to have kept in force that part of the order of the 26th of November, relative to the certificate of origin the order of April would have so expressed itself. It was also observed for the claimant that, altho' the order of the 26th of May mentions that of the 11th of November, it invariably talks of it as altered by the order of the 26th of April. The court, however, was of opinion with the captors, and a sentence of condemnation of ship and cargo was pronounced by the judge, who admitted there was an obscurity in the order of the 26th of April, a satisfactory explanation of which might be obtained by an appeal on the part of the claimant. The ship and cargo were owned by the same person, and her cargo consisted of Martinique and Havanna sugars.
THE SUSQUEHANNA,
Brown, Master.
This ship and her cargo will be prosecuted upon the same grounds with the American, a certificate of origin having been found on board of her, but it will be contended on the part of the claimants that her case is a different one. She appears by her papers to have been bound to Tonningen and a market, and by the letter of instructions to her master, to have been going to any port in the North of Europe, to which by a fair construction of the king's orders she could be allowed to go. Her cargo is altogether on freight and owned by a number of different shippers; it consists, among other articles, of tobacco and cotton, neither of which can be the produce of the colonies of our enemy, and both of which are the native productions of the American states. The whole cargo, it is true, is included in the certificate of origin, but the sole object of that certificate is to ascertain that the colonial produce is not British. A question will therefore arise, whether the tobacco and cotton can be affected by the decision in the case of the American.
N. B. It was observed by the judge in the case of the American, that it might be made a question whether Tonningen is not to be considered in a state of blockade independent of the order of the 11th of November, as it was declared so to be by a proclamation issued in October, 1807, which the judge had no knowledge of being revoked!
From the National Intelligencer.
Collector's Office, Norfolk, December 13, 1809.
SIR, Observing that Mr. Jackson, the late British Minister, had lodged a formal complaint with the government for an insult offered by the citizens of Hampton, to an officer belonging to the Frigate Africaine, and magnifying this insult into a demand for passports of safety for himself and family, I conceived it my duty to make immediate application to the Collector of Hampton, with a request that he would have the facts relative to this transaction fully investigated, and certified. I have this morning received from him the inclosed documents, which I hasten to transmit to you.
I have the honor to be, sir, with very high respect, Your obedient servant, LARKIN SMITH. The Hon. Robert Smith, secretary of state, Washington.
To David Bredie, Esq. Collector of the Port of Hampton.
HAMPTON, Dec. 12, 1809.
SIR, I received your note of the 11th inst. respecting the conduct of the British officers from the Africaine frigate while in Hampton. I consider it an incumbent duty, being thus officially called upon, to give such a narrative of facts as may tend to an elucidation of the conduct of one of the British officers, the effect of which has, I presume, given rise to this enquiry. The day previous to the sailing of the Africaine frigate from Hampton Roads to Annapolis, conveying the late British Minister, a few of that ship's officers were on shore at Hampton. Returning home, I was informed by the citizens that during my absence one of the officers had in a very disrespectful manner, entered my house and was seen shortly afterwards retiring precipitately. The officer being pointed out to me, I accosted him in presence of the other officers nearly as follows. "You have taken the liberty, Sir, to offer an unprovoked insult by entering my house in a disrespectful manner. What were your motives for such conduct? The rights of the citizens here are held sacred and no man is suffered to infringe them with impunity. You, Sir, have been permitted with the rest of the officers to walk in our streets unmolested. It is strange, considering the political situation of the times, that you should be among the first to insult the citizens of Hampton."
The officer attempted to extenuate the offence by saying that he did not mean an insult. I afterwards left him and the other officers in company with several citizens who were expressing their indignation at his conduct. Shortly after the return of the frigate to Hampton Roads I received several verbal messages from the same officer, requesting permission to make me a personal apology for his recent conduct. I returned him this answer, "that the citizens of Hampton considered the indignity offered to me as a general insult, and that if he wished to apologise to them also through me, I was
willing to hear what he had to say on that subject." Accordingly the officer was introduced to me at my office, by the name of Jackson, and after acknowledging that he did enter my house, made the apology required: he then observed that he was fearful upon a future investigation of this subject, that he might sustain much injury, as he had reason to expect a public trial on his return to England.
In order to correct misrepresentation, I must here remark, that during the continuance of Mr. Jackson in my house, he was not seen by any of my family, except servants.
I am Sir, with respect, your obt. servant, ROBERT ARMSTEAD. Eliz. City County, to wit.
I do hereby certify that Robert Armstead appeared before me, Charles Jennings, one of the commonwealth's justices of the peace for the said county, and made oath to the truth of the within statement. Given under my hand this 12th day of Dec. 1809. CHARLES JENNINGS, J. P.
Not long after a commotion in the town of Hampton in consequence of the indiscretion of an officer whose name was Jackson, belonging to the ship Africaine, in entering in a very disrespectful manner the private dwelling of Mr. Robert Armstead, a citizen of Hampton, I happened on board the said ship: Mr. Jackson, the officer before alluded to, observed to me, that he was desirous of an introduction to Mr. Armstead, (whose private sanctuary had thus been violated) for the purpose of expiating his fault by an apology. Soon after the aforesaid conversation, Mr. Jackson, the officer alluded to, came on shore, and pursuant to his wish I introduced him to Mr. Armstead, whose forgiveness in my presence he asked as well as the forgiveness through him of the citizens of the town—after which conference with Mr. Armstead, the aforesaid officer accompanied me into the country to a militia muster, where, after regaling himself with the persons attending the said muster, he expressed the greatest satisfaction at the civil and hospitable manner in which he had been entertained.
RICHARD H. SMYTH.
Richard H. Smyth personally appeared before me, Charles Jennings, a justice of the peace for the town of Hampton and county of Elizabeth City, and made oath to the within certificate. Given under my hand this 11th day of December, 1809. CHARLES JENNINGS, J. P.
GENERAL REUBELL.
We understand, that a letter has been received in this city from General Reubell lately in the service of King Jerome of Westphalia, but now in England, stating the reasons of his leaving the continent. The General says, as they were informed, that his orders were to take the Duke of Brunswick Oels, and that if the citizens of Brunswick attempted to favor the Duke's escape, that he should deliver the city up to an unmitigated soldiery for pillage and plunder. This commission, from motives of humanity, he would not execute, and in which he was so strongly supported by the citizens and soldiery, that Jerome did not dare to have the order of arrest executed for fear of a counter revolution.— Balt. American.
NORFOLK, Dec. 15.
General Reubell and family, Mrs. Bronfield and family, and Messrs. Hoffman, Mitchell, Drayton, Poole, &c. came passengers in the Justina—November 19th, lat. 49, 20, long. 17, 30, was boarded by the French national brig Geniris, capt. Lagrave, 7 weeks from Norway—Detained the ship two hours, and probably would have destroyed her, had it not been for the female passengers—On this occasion no one will deny but that French gallantry superceded French injustice—The captain of the brig informed captain Howe, that his instructions were to destroy every American vessel from British ports, and that he had captured sixteen during his cruise—Previous to capt. Lagrave's permission for the Justina to proceed on her voyage, capt. Howe was obliged to pledge his honor that in the event of his falling in with a British cruiser, he would not intimate any thing relative to the Geniris—Captain Howe supplied the brig with fresh provisions—Spoke, Nov. 20, lat. 49, 30, long. 20, ship Rodney, Horvey, from Liverpool for Boston, 8 days out.
Extract of a letter from New Orleans, November 6.
"Some time ago, a French national vessel came in here in distress, got permission to take in provisions and to refit. She sailed—met with a gale in the gulf, and came back again in distress. Last week, while she was laying under the guns of Fort Plaquemine, an American made his escape from her, and claimed the protection of the fort. When they went down from here, this man had taken his passage in her for the Balize, and was afterwards forcibly detained on board.—He made the discovery that she was not in distress; that she had a large sum in specie on board, and a quantity of indigo taken from a Spanish schooner. The officer ordered her to be detained, and sent an officer up with the information. As soon as the captain saw this officer depart, suspecting something, he manned his boat, and by rowing night and day got up to town before him. On Saturday he reported to the Custom House—made a very pretty story, that he was taken by a Spanish vessel, who put the indigo and specie on board, and that he afterwards retaken. A custom house officer was sent down to see that nothing was landed. What is to be done with her I know not. His object certainly was, to rob in the Gulf, and make this his place of deposit, and no doubt intended to smuggle the indigo."
"We have had several arrivals of the distressed fugitives from St. Domingo, under the law of congress in that case provided. The vessels have been libelled, but expect to be released by government: But observe the evil likely to arise from shewing too much lenity. There is now a vessel in the river from Jamaica, with a number of slaves and some free people of color, all driven from St. Domingo. The Secretary of State was down, saw some of the negroes on shore, and heard them speak English: on enquiring, they told him they had never been in St. Domingo. A trade is no doubt carried on in this way—Slaves are purchased and covered as the property of the unfortunate French."
PHENOMENON.
There is, at present, in Paris, residing in the passage which leads from la rue St. Honore to the Thuilleries, a youth of about 13 years of age born on the banks of the Ganges named Delorme , whose formation is very extraordinary, without either being hideous or monstrous. Besides several black spots scattered over his limbs, one half of his body is white, resembling that of an European, the other half black and shaggy, resembling a goat. His mother assures, that in travelling in India, at the commencement of her pregnancy, she was pursued by a parcel of savages black and of a frightful
figure. He has moreover the power of throwing forward his stomach, and to cause his shoulder blades to project so as to form two kinds of wings, which circumstance has given rise to his being nicknamed "the flying angel."
He has been examined by several men of skill, and particularly by Mr. Dubois, who assures us, that his structure and double color are merely the sport of nature. He speaks German and French and has an ear for music.— Abeille du Nord.
DAVID STONE is re-elected Governor of N. Carolina.
Dr. Alexander Campbell , a decided republican, is elected a Senator of the U. S. for the state of Ohio, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Dr. Tiffin.— Nat. Int.
Thomas Jefferson , late President of the U. S. was on the 18th of September last elected a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at Warsaw.— Id.
Congress.
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, December 20.
The bill to prevent the abuse of the privileges and immunities enjoyed by foreign ministers, within the United States, was read a third time and decided by Yeas and Nays, as follows:
Yeas —Messrs. Bradley, Candler, Gaillard, German, Giles, Gilman, Goodrich, Gregg, Lambert, Leib, Lloyd, Matthews, Meigs, Parker, Pope, Robinson, Smith of Maryland, Smith of New York, Sumpter, Turner—20. Nays —Messrs. Hilihouse and Pickering—2.
So the bill was passed.
The bill to revive an act entitled "An act for the relief of the refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, and for other purposes," was referred to Messrs. Bradley, Goodrich and Lloyd to consider and report thereon.
The bill from the House of Representatives for the relief of Wm. and Elias Rector was read a first and second time, and referred to Messrs. Pope, Meigs and Bradley, to consider and report thereon.
The President communicated a letter from the Secretary of War, on the subject of fortifications. Whereupon.
On motion of Mr. Smith of Maryland, the galleries were cleared, and it was agreed that the report be read with closed doors.
Ordered that it lie for consideration.
Mr. Gaillard presented a petition of a number of inhabitants of Washington, praying to be incorporated for the purpose of completing certain roads.
Referred to Messrs. Gaillard, Brent and Bradley.
December 21.
Mr. Anderson appeared and took his seat. Mr. Pope from the committee to whom was referred the bill from the House of Representatives for the relief of Wm. and Elias Rector, reported the same without amendment; and it was ordered to pass to a third reading.
The bill for the relief of Joseph Sumner, Simon Philpson, Wm. Hanson, Archibald McCall and Isaac Clason, was committed to a select committee composed of Messrs. Smith of Maryland, Lloyd and Bradley.
Agreeably to notice given, Mr. Bradley asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill "making further provision for the corps of engineers;" and the bill was read and passed to a second reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DEBATE.
ON THE JOINT RESOLUTION.
Approving the conduct of the Executive in relation to the refusal to receive any further communication from Francis James Jackson.
TUESDAY, Dec. 19.
In committee of the whole, Mr. Bassett in the chair.
Mr. Rhea (T.) expressed a hope that now no objection would be made to the passage of the resolution. The only objection yet made, as far as he had understood, was a doubt expressed by some gentlemen as to who was the first who suggested the project of enforcing the laws of the U. States by the navy of Great Britain. An insidious attempt had been made to palm it on the administration of this government, which had failed to be proved. It had next been attempted to fix the stigma on Mr. Pinkney. This also had been disproved; and when they came to the bottom of the business, by the message yesterday received from the President, it had been found that the whole affair had arisen from the suggestion of that renowned and famous politician Mr. Canning, and to have proceeded from the same source as all our difficulties for years past.
Mr. R. was decidedly in favor of the resolution. Let me ask you, sir, said he, who have an interest in the adoption of this resolution? Every individual in the U. States, I reply. The President of the U. S. in his official capacity, is a Representative of all the citizens of the U. States. Every citizen then is interested in his acts, and in supporting them when there is occasion. It is the duty of every nation, like individuals, to adopt those things necessary to its own happiness and interest. Will any one deny that the adoption of this resolution will have a happy effect on our union as a people and respectability as a nation? Mr. Jackson did not make his offensive remarks in his individual character, but as the Representative of the King of Great Britain. So far as we know, the conduct of Mr. Jackson may be traced to the source whence he derives his authority; and although Mr. Jackson were to be punished for his conduct by the British government as Admiral Berkeley was, by being recalled, yet no doubt we should soon in the same manner, hear of his being appointed to another mission. That however is the care of his own government; self preservation is our duty. I am confident that no attempt will be made to justify Mr. Jackson in his conduct, or to palliate it. It could only be palliated on the principle of invincible error, or invincible ignorance, which will not be pleaded in excuse for him. His offences had the full appearance of predetermination, because he persevered in it though warned to desist, declaring that he was only asserting matter of fact. Now, when the whole evidence on this case is examined, his facts appear to be bottomed on his own suggestions from beginning to end. I impate
every thing that he has done to the source of his power—and thus a question arises between this government and that of Britain. In such a case I shall justify my own government, because I believe it to be in the right, and I think the administration has made a noble stand in behalf of the offended dignity of the nation; and I hope the resolution before us approving of that conduct will meet the unanimous consent of the Committee.
Mr. Potter said, as he was called upon to vote on this resolution, he felt it his duty to give his reasons for so doing. He deemed it of some importance to examine the origin of this business and to take a view of it through its different stages to its final conclusion. It appears, said he, that after the U. States had laid the embargo, the Executive instructed our minister in London to inform the British nation that it was not meant in hostility to them, but as a mere innocent municipal regulation of our own. Whatever they may have thought of it at that time, they soon found that its features were materially changed, and that it was a script of all its innocence and held up in this country as a coercive measure, and such an one as, if continued and rigorously enforced, would soon bring that haughty imperious nation to a sense of its duty, and that she would be compelled from motives of self preservation, to do us justice. Notwithstanding they may have suffered some little inconvenience at first, their sullen misery seemed to complain.
After hearing nothing from them, and suffering very much ourselves, our minister in London I believe was instructed to barter away this innocent regulation of ours for their great system of national policy, their orders in council. This attempt failed, and all we got for this offer were the insolent sarcasms of Mr. Canning, which were too much for any American to bear. Our administration, thus, finding that our commerce was ruined and of course our revenue at an end, our expenses increasing and our Treasury exhausting, and having already seen the fate of a former administration which resorted to loans and direct taxes to support this government, and like prudent mariners wishing to avoid the rock upon which a former administration had split, was anxious to find some plan to extricate this country from the very serious difficulties it was then laboring under; and their good sense led them all to the same remedy, and about the same time—for we find all the heads of departments although not altogether, yet separately and about the same time in conversation with the British minister on the same subject, and holding nearly the same language—and what was the result of all this? It appears that Mr. Erskine communicated what he honestly understood to be the meaning and intentions of our administration to Mr. Canning, who then transmitted to him the despatch of 23d January, containing those three propositions which he had supposed would be acceptable here and would form the basis of a treaty. This, sir, is the manner in which this difficulty originated, and it would have been well for the parties in this conversation, as well as for this country, if this conversation had been reduced to writing; for it appears that when Mr. Erskine received this despatch, he did not discover any thing in it more than he expected from the information he had given to Mr. Canning, but, when he offered it for Mr. Smith's consideration, he found for the first time that he had misunderstood our government, and that those terms were not only inadmissible but insolent. Now, sir, it is clear that the despatch of 23d January did not authorise Mr. Erskine to make the settlement which he agreed to, nor does it appear that he was asked by Mr. Smith if he had any other instructions different from those; nor does Mr. Erskine at that time pretend that he had any. The inference to be drawn is conclusive; that he had not; because if he had previous instructions that would have authorised the settlement that he made, they certainly would have authorised him to have made the settlement contemplated in those conversations, which was of importance to his nation, without waiting for the despatch of January. As he did not do it, it is clear in my mind that he had no power before; that the despatch gave him none; and it does not appear that he had any afterwards.
Now, sir, what was the duty of our government under all circumstances to have done? The parties are now in the same situation as to powers as before this despatch arrived, although Mr. Smith informs Mr. Jackson that he understood that Mr. Erskine had two sets of instructions to regulate his conduct, and that upon one of them, which never had been communicated to himself or the public, rested the justification of the terms finally agreed upon. This I gather from the following sentence in a letter from Mr. Jackson to Mr. Smith:
"You have informed me that you understood that Mr. Erskine had two sets of instructions, by which to regulate his conduct; and that upon one of them, which had not been communicated either to you or to the public, was to be rested the justification of the terms finally agreed upon between you, and him."
Pray, sir, how did Mr. Smith understand this? He says it was not communicated to him nor the public. How came he by this information? Was it not the duty of Mr. Smith to have demanded of Mr. Erskine those powers before this settlement was made and finally agreed upon—Because it was the opinion of all parties, that before the despatch he had no authority, and that gave him none, and it has never been pretended that he had any subsequent instructions. As this agreement was on our part honestly and immediately to be carried into execution, it was his indispensable duty to have seen the powers of the British minister. It might have been otherwise if it was not to be carried into execution until ratified by both nations.
Now, sir, if it is proper to compare small things with great—and I do not know but common sense is the same in all kinds of business—suppose a gentleman should come to me to sell me your real estate, and we should converse about the terms, and when it was found that we probably could agree upon the price, he was then to observe that he would apply to you for a power to make the deal, and our bargain is suspended for him to produce it; and that, when it is produced, the terms are altered, and it contains no power to convey—what would be the conduct of a prudent man about to pay his money down? He would wait until another power was obtained from you, authorising the conveyance, or for a deed executed by yourself, placing no reliance on his responsibility. Would he go upon the existence of a power which in the first instance never had been even pretended, the existence of which had never been communicated to him or the public? No, sir, he would demand

the sight of this invisible, wonder-working, miraculous power. Now, sir, in what do these two cases differ? I presume at the time of their conversation, the first thing to be attended to was to see which could outdo the other in politeness, in professions of personal respect, and then in professions of a sincere desire of their respective nations to do each other justice, and to terminate in an amicable and friendly manner all former differences, which led to the conversation which was the origin of this business; and when both parties were together, nothing was wanting but a power in Mr. Erskine, which, when it came was found incompetent. If, therefore, he had no power in the first instance, the despatch gave him none, and we hear of none until after the disavowal; and then he talks of the spirit of his several letters of instructions.
Let us now, sir, examine the documents for the insult alluded to in the resolution before us. It really seems to me that our government had heard so much of the insolence of this Mr. Jackson, that they expected to be insulted, and anticipated it, and dismissed him to prevent its occurring in reality. I cannot for myself see any insult that is offered to our government. It appears that Mr. Jackson was urged for the reasons of the disavowal, that he stated it was entered into without competent powers and in violation of particular instructions. He was urged again and made the same answer. The question would admit of no other, unless he had acknowledged that it was entered into with full powers in Mr. Erskine to do so, and that the British government had dishonorably refused to ratify it. Mr. Potter quoted the following as the offensive passages in Mr. Jackson's letters:—
"I have, therefore, no hesitation in informing you, that his majesty was pleased to disavow the agreement concluded between you and Mr. Erskine, because it was concluded in violation of that gentleman's instructions, and altogether without authority to subscribe to the terms of it. These instructions, I now understand by your letter, as well as from the obvious deduction which I took the liberty of making in mine of the 11th inst. were at the time, in substance, made known to you; no stronger illustration, therefore, can be given of the deviation from them which occurred, than by a reference to the terms of your agreement."
"I have shown, that that agreement was not concluded in virtue of a full power, and that the instructions given on the occasion were violated."
"When I informed you, that the agreement concluded here in April last, had been framed in deviation from the instructions given for the occasion, my explanation was intended to apply to both parts of that agreement; that nothing, required by the most scrupulous accuracy, may be wanting. I now add, that the deviation consisted in not recording in the official document signed here, the abrogation of the President's proclamation of the 2d July, 1807, as well as the two reserves specified in the paper of memoranda enclosed in my official letter to you of the 27th ultimo. There is another motive for the disavowal of this part of the arrangement, considered to be so strong and so self-evident upon the very face of the transaction, that I am not commanded to do more than indicate it in the manner I have already done. By this forbearance, his majesty conceives that he is giving an additional pledge of his sincere disposition to maintain a good understanding with the U. States."
"I must beg your very particular attention to the circumstance, that his majesty's ratification has been withheld, not because the agreement was concluded without a full power, but because it was altogether irreconcilable to the instructions on which it was professedly founded."
"Indubitably his agreement would nevertheless have been ratified, had not the instructions, which in this case took the place of a full power, been violated."
In all these passages, Mr. Potter said, he could see no insult.
For my own part, (said he,) I do not believe the English want to settle with us at this time, although they may have wished it formerly; because all our restrictions on our commerce operate in her favor. Our embargo taught her a lesson, that she never ought to have known; though I believe it was laid on from the best of motives. It taught her the infelicity of our own government to carry it rigidly into execution; and it taught her the value of her possessions in America, and that she could do without us, and that our sufferings by the measure were greater than hers. The non-intercourse operates exclusively in her favor, because we carry our produce half way for her to neutral ports, get the market and sell it to her merchants for half price. The growers of the produce have to pay two freights instead of one. And again—British goods are smuggled into this country by speculators belonging to no nation, and restrained by no laws. The government receives nothing for duties, and the people get goods for no less money. Even our own vessels, taking out a coasting licence, can go direct to Great Britain, notwithstanding the prohibition of the non-intercourse law.
We have been insulted and plundered for fifteen years past by the belligerent nations, and, to be sure, sir, we have borne it with christian patience, upon the principle, I presume, that it is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong. When we have been smote on one cheek, we have turned the other. When they have taken our cloak, we have been ready to give up our coat, and to ask what they would please to have next. We have declared many years since, if my memory serves me, that we were the most wise and enlightened nation in the world, and at another time we have seriously declared that we would not submit. Notwithstanding all this, when we have been insulted by one nation we protest, when by another we remonstrate, and when a national ship is attacked in our own waters, in sight of the smoke of our chimneys, we issue a proclamation; and last of all, when many gentlemen think that we have been grossly insulted by a foreign minister, that stain is to be wiped away by the force of a joint resolution. If an individual finds fault with one nation's abusing us, his remark is immediately met by observing that other nations have abused us as much. If we apply to France to do us justice, she says we must resist the orders in Council of Great Britain and restore the freedom of the seas. If we apply to Great Britain for justice, we are told that we must resist the Berlin decree. We have been expecting justice from those nations because we were just ourselves; but national justice and honor are now out of the question with these nations, and avarice, ambition, and power are substituted in their room. It is not enough for us to fold up our arms and consider, because we are just and honest, that we are the peculiar favorites of Heaven, and are to be entirely exempt from the calamities that are now overwhelming the civilized world. We must prepare for the worst. I would make a firm and temperate declaration of our neutral rights, and I would demand of France and England a recognition of them. In the mean time I would permit the merchants to arm in defence of those rights, acting only in the defensive, instructing them in such manner as that no act of theirs should commit the peace of the country. This, sir, would replenish your treasury and prevent the necessity of resorting to loans and direct taxes. The merchants have already become very rich by the commerce of the country, and they know how best to manage their own affairs. If they should lose a few vessels carrying to market the surplus produce of this country, it would be no loss to the country. What the merchant lost, the farmer would gain; the property would all be in the country.
Eugene—Well done! There is some spirit in this! Mr. Potter will not have the thanks of his party, for this war tone!—Eng.
As to this resolution, I am against it on general principles. I never did vote for a resolution of approbation or for an address under any administration, nor ever will. If we can have resolutions to approve, we can have them to disapprove; and it ought to be a sufficient consolation to the President, and I presume it is, to be known that he squares his conduct by the constitution, and that it meets the approbation of his own conscience. But this I presume, is to be held up to convince foreign nations that we are not divided and will stand by our government. At the last session this business of approving was considered anti-republican, and the minority could not then be permitted to approve the President's conduct. It was then of no importance to be unanimous; but now it seems as though every thing that was near and dear to us depended on the passage of this joint resolution. I have known one President ruined by addresses and votes for approbation; it was then held up that a minority was opposed to the administration, and that we were abroad considered a divided people; and the President was addressed from states, corporations, and societies, from all parts of the United States, approving every thing he had done, and pledging their lives and fortunes to support him in any thing he might do. Instead of his taking this as a mere compliment that cost nothing, he took it all in earnest; but as soon as his constitutional period of re-election came round, the people soon convinced him of his error, and dismissed him from office—which gave him such offence that he has declared war against himself, his own conduct and administration, and has even extended his resentment beyond the grave, and charged almost all the unpopular acts of his administration upon one of the greatest men the world ever knew, and who is not in existence to answer for himself, when there was not one of those acts during his administration but what, if he had refused his signature and approbation, could have been negatived as there was not a constitutional majority to carry any of them without his approbation. Perhaps the same thing is to be urged now as was then—a division among the people and the necessity of uniting. There is no division among the people now; there was none then; the division is between the ins and outs . The ins want to keep in, and the outs want to get in, and the division is not so much among the people as it is among those who want the people's money—and they now understand this thing very well, and have found that the question never has been in reality, how much of their money should be spent, but who should have it—not how the government should be administered, but who should administer it; and not how many officers should be created, but who should fill them. That there are parties in the U. States, cannot be denied, and that it is for the interest of the people that it should be so, is equally true; and I could wish, let whatever party may have the ascendancy in the U. States, that they may have but a small majority, which will make them more attentive to business and more circumspect in their conduct, knowing that a few changes may place them in a minority—but I consider it otherwise whenever a party come into power with an overwhelming majority.
This resolution has for its object not only the approbating of the President's conduct, but the reprobating of that of a foreign minister and convicting him of a gross premeditated insult. Mr. Jackson only persists in asserting what he knew himself, and that was, that Mr. Erskine had no other instructions than those of the 23rd of January, and that the settlement made was not without authority but in violation of those instructions; he does not say that our government knew or did not know he had no other, but merely states what he knew himself. For my own part, I consider his dismissal as a hasty, imprudent measure, although I could have seen no great good to be derived by his staying, as the terms held out in the despatch to Mr. Erskine could never have been submitted to; but as his stay in this country could have done us no possible injury, and his dismissal, and in the manner it was taken place, and the way we are now following it up, may have a tendency to precipitate us into a war unprepared, which I consider one of the greatest evils that can afflict any nation, I think it would have been well to have extended our patience & forbearance in this respect a little farther.
(Debate to be Continued.)
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20.
Mr. JOHNSON from the committee of claims reported unfavorably to the petition of Edward Turner and Thomas Brickell. The reports were severally agreed to.
Mr. LOVE reported a bill to authorize the removal of slaves from one part to another of the District of Columbia. Twice read and referred to a Committee of the whole.
The bill for the relief of William and Elias Porter was read a third time and passed.
Mr. LOVE reported a bill to amend the charter of Alexandria: which was twice read and referred to a Committee of the whole.
Mr. POINDEXTER reported a bill extending jurisdiction in certain cases to the territorial courts and for other purposes. Twice read and referred to a committee of the whole.
Mr. JOHNSON from the Committee of Claims, reported a bill for the relief of John N. Stout; which was twice read and referred to a committee of the whole.
Mr. JOHNSON made an unfavorable report on the petition of Betsey Beall; which was read and concurred with.
Mr. MOSROW from the committee to whom was referred the bill from the Senate in addition to an act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland in the state of Maryland to the state of Ohio, reported the bill without amendment; which was read and referred to a Committee of the whole.
Mr. SOUTHARD reported a bill prescribing the mode of taking evidence in cases of contested elections, &c. which was twice read and referred to a Committee of the whole.
A communication was received from the Secretary of War, stating the situation and state of the different fortifications in the U. S.
Objection was made to the reading of this paper on the ground that it would afford official information to the enemies of the U. States, if they have any, of their weakest points.
A question was taken on the reading of it and carried in the affirmative.
After it was read, a motion was made by Mr. Troup to print it. The motion was supported by himself and Mr. Updegraff, and opposed by Messrs. Talmadge and Livermore; and negatived, Ayes 32.
The report was referred to the committee on fortifications.
On motion of Mr. Love.
RESOLVED, That the Committee on the District of Columbia be instructed to enquire into the expediency of amending the act for establishing a turnpike company in the county of Alexandria, in the district of Columbia.
RUPTURE WITH MR. JACKSON.
The House again in committee of the whole on the resolution from the Senate.
Mr. EMOTT concluded his speech against it.
Mr. GAILSON & Mr. Ross spoke in favor of it.
And at half past three, on motion of Mr. Updegraff the committee rose and obtained leave to sit again.
A message was received from the President of the U. S. by Mr. Graham enclosing a report of the Surveyor of the publick buildings.
And the House adjourned.
night as 1.034 to 1. At one hour P. M. and one hour in the morning the difference of the velocities is as .032 to 1.
He next proceeds to discover the effects which this difference of velocity in opposite points of the same parallel of latitude, produces upon the matter of the globe, and the fluids which surround it in every diurnal rotation. It is first demonstrated that from this difference of velocity; bodies at the equator at one hour P. M. are lighter than at one hour after midnight by \frac{1}{9375} of their weight; that is, a body which at one hour P. M. would weigh 9374 pounds, at one hour after midnight, would weigh 9375 pounds.
"The effect (he says) which this difference in the gravity of bodies produces upon the matter and fluids on the surface of the globe is 306 times greater than the effect produced by the attraction of the moon, and 1372 times greater than any effect produced by the sun; for Sir Isaac Newton has demonstrated (Prop. 37. Book 3d. Princip.) that the force of the moon is to the force of gravity as 1 to 2871400; and the force of the sun to that of gravity as 1 to 12868200. But the effect produced by the difference of velocity in opposite points is to the force of gravity as 1 to 9375; wherefore it is 306 times greater than the effect produced by the moon and 1372 times greater than the effect produced by the sun." From this fact it is demonstrated, that any effect produced by either the moon or the sun upon the fluids which encompass the globe, is so trifling as not to be perceptible to the senses, or even by accurate experiments.
The following remarkable conclusion is also drawn by the author from this fact, viz. that the density of the earth is 250 times that of the moon. "For (he says) Sir Isaac Newton has demonstrated, in Cor. 3, Prop. 37, Book 3d. that supposing the force of the moon to be such as to raise the tide 45 feet at Bristol, her density would be to that of the earth as 11 to 9. But since it has been shown that the waters of the ocean are acted upon by a force 306 times greater than that of the moon; therefore the density of the moon is \frac{1}{306} of what Sir Isaac Newton supposed; or the density of the earth is to that of the moon as 9 to 11 or as 250 to 1.
This immense difference between the density of the earth and that of her satellite, naturally draws us to another conclusion, viz. that the density of the interior parts of the globe is much greater than those near the surface, and that probably towards the centre of the earth, there is matter whose specific gravity as far exceeds the heaviest metal known as that of the latter does the lightest gas. For if the whole globe was composed of platina, whose specific gravity is 20.356, the moon must necessarily consist of some substance, the specific gravity of which would only be the \frac{1}{12} of water. But as it is not probable, the specific gravity of the moon is less than that of water, the interior parts of the earth must have a specific gravity of at least 12 times that of platina."
The third book is divided into three chapters. The 1st chapter explains the effects of the cycloidal motion of the earth upon the Atmosphere. The following article contains the general result of the investigation.
"From the pressure of the atmosphere, supporting a perpendicular pillar of quicksilver, between 28 and 31 inches high; it has been calculated that the pressure of the atmosphere on the surface of the whole earth is equal to about 11642019840000000000 pounds. But since it has been demonstrated, that the atmosphere is expanded into the form of a spheroid by the rotation of the earth about its axis, of which the greater diameter is in the direction of the centre of the earth and the sun, it follows that the waters of the ocean must be more pressed at six hours before noon and six hours after noon, than at any other period of the twenty-four, because then the least expanded or densest parts of the atmosphere press upon the earth."
This excess of pressure, at six hours before noon, and six hours afternoon, will cause the waters to rise at those places which are ninety degrees of longitude from those parts of the Globe that have six hours A. M. or six hours P. M.; or which amounts to the same thing, the waters will be higher at noon and midnight, owing to the pressure of the atmosphere, than at any other time. The particular height to which the water will rise, owing to the unequal pressure of the air, can only be calculated by the Barometer with any accuracy. I have stated, that General Roy first observed, that the mercury in the Barometer was always lowest at noon and at midnight. The mean of this diurnal variation in the mercury has been estimated at \frac{1}{60} inch, or about the \frac{1}{60} of a column of quicksilver. Therefore as it is known, that the pressure of the atmosphere is equal to 33 feet of water, it follows, that the waters at noon and at midnight, owing to the unequal pressure of the air which surrounds the globe, ought to be the \frac{1}{60} of 33 feet, or \frac{1}{2} inch higher than at 6 A. M. or 6 P. M."
The trade winds and other phenomena of the atmosphere, are explained in the same chapter, upon the principle of the cycloidal motion of the earth.
In chapter 2d, all the phenomena of the tides are investigated at considerable length. The author demonstrates that they are produced from three causes, 1st. the cycloidal motion of the earth; 2d. effusions from the polar regions; 3d. the pressure of the atmosphere.
The first, he finds, causes the waters of the ocean to rise twice every day, 13.44 feet. The effusions from the polar regions he calculates raise them five feet, and the pressure of the atmosphere 6 \frac{1}{2} inches.
The effusions from the poles are demonstrated to arrive 51 minutes later every 24 hours, and as the tides are partly caused by these effusions, he demonstrates that they also will be about the same period later. The phenomena of the spring and neap tides are also explained in the same chapter.
Chapter 3d. is entirely occupied with the application of the cycloidal motion of the earth to the explanation of stony substances, which have fallen from the heavens on the face of the earth.
These are supposed to be volcanic productions, which he demonstrates will fall at a greater or less distance from the place of projection, owing to the cycloidal motion of the earth, according to the height of projection,
and the angle which the line of projection makes with the horizon.
It seems, that the Federalists, in congress, have now taken their stand.
For a time, they seemed to be at a loss how to act. In the Senate, Messrs. Pickering and Hillhouse, Goodrich and Lloyd, were dumb, but voted against Mr. Giles's resolution. Their arguments were not connected—their spirits were not rallied—they 'would and they would not'—they had neither the spirit to desert nor justify Mr. Jackson.
In the H. of R. the party set out with skirmishing and bush-fighting—with calls for papers, which were either inefficient or had nothing to do with the matter . At length, their powers were mustered—the trumpet sounded—and Messrs. Porter, Dana and Key, stepped in the foremost ranks—to interpose their shields between Francis James Jackson and the public indignation.
Really their's is an arduous cause—the indiscretions of the British minister have reduced them to a sad dilemma—to fly from the British cause and interests, or support the administration—was a sad alternative—but their feelings were so much enlisted on the side of Britain, that it was impossible to resist—they winced—they dodged—they curved—but they were at length bound to the stake—all their sophistry, their ingenious logic, their quicks and their quiddities, are to be called out—false glosses are to be put on—and the whole subject is to be wrapt up in masks, in artificial disguises, & all the labored lore of diplomatic study. Their brains will be buffeted in the attempt to justify a foreign minister, who deserves no advocate among the American people.
Such is the effect of party spirit! To such deplorable lengths may politicians be driven by the hate of their opponents, by inveterate prejudices, and the inordinate hopes of recovering their lost power!!!
COMMUNICATED.
DEAD—On Friday morning the 15th instant, at half past 8 o'clock, Miss MARY FOSTER, the daughter of A. Foster of this City, after a lingering illness of several months which confined her to her room—Eighteen days before her death, on Wednesday night, the family were waked up to see her die, and they came into her room, she was praising God aloud and clapping her hands, crying glory, glory, glory to God, I am happy, happy—Jesus is precious to my soul, I am not afraid of death—she continued in this happy frame through the day—at night the family were again called to see her die, when she broke into praises to the Lord, and although she was struggling with death, yet at intervals, recovering a little strength, she shouted the praises of God loud enough to be heard in the street, and asked all around her to sing praises to the Lord in cheerful animating strains, and thus she continued till a few moments before her departure, when without a sigh or a groan she fell asleep in the Lord—O! what a rare and emulous example for the rising generation!!
Richmond Theatre.
On this Evening, December 26, 1809, will be presented the celebrated Comedy, called
Wives as they were, AND MAIDS AS THEY ARE.
To which will be added (for the first time here) a new Comic Pantomime, called
The Devil on two Sticks, or, THE MAGIC CHAMBER. (With new Scenery and Decorations.)
HANOVER COUNTY.—The subscriber intends to continue his SCHOOL in the neighborhood of Col. Wm. Truett, Mr. Edward G. Sydnor, &c. the ensuing year; where he offers to teach the English Grammar, Reading, Rhetoric, Writing and Arithmetic. The price for tuition will be $15 payable at the expiration of the term; which will commence the 8th of January, and end the 15th of December. The thin population of the neighborhood does not warrant an expectation of getting a full school without boarders, he is therefore authorized to say that Mr. Sydnor who resides on a healthy situation & very convenient to the school, will take boarders at $6 per annum. The utmost attention will be paid to the moral conduct of the children, as well as to their advancement in learning. The number of Scholars shall not exceed twenty.
BOWLING STARKE.
We the undersigned do willingly declare that so far as we have seen or heard, that Mr. Bowling Starke has conducted his school with a great deal of attention and propriety.
Given under our hands this 21st of December, 1809.
Wm Truett, Bille Talley, C. Littlepage, Patrick Anderson, Wm. Gardner, Edward G. Sydnor, John Gardner, Wm. White, December 26.
VENI, VIDI, VISI.
THE Fair & the Brave, the Statesman and the Philosopher having already unanimously acknowledged the unrivaled exertions,
A. C. D'LA VIGNE, Imperial Artist & Controller General of Fashion, whose astonishing performances have petrified whole hosts of puny opposers, and caused even E-v-y to bow reluctantly by at his Shrine; Has the honor of informing his friends (i.e. the civilized world) that he continues his operations at the
TEMPLE OF APOLLO. Where the inestimable partners of Mankind, may embellish those charms which enslave the world—and man, the lovely master of created beings—display all the loveliness of masculine beauty—but
"Let Hercules himself, do what he may, The Cat will mew, and Dog will have his Day." December 26.
WILLIAM W. DICKENSON has received, and offers for sale 25 Crates Earthen Ware, 4 Cases English Glass ware, consisting of Decanters, Porter, Wine and Champagne Glasses, Liverpool Salt, loose as in Sacks, also 13 Casks N. B. Rum, 200 pair coarse shoes, Sool Leather &c. &c. December 26.
EDWARD G. SYDNOR. December 26.
WANTED TO HIRE for the ensuing year, a Female SERVANT who has been accustomed to the house, and is a good Seamstress. A recommendation of character will be required. Apply at this Office. December 26.

For the Enquirer.
A NEW HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.
A friend has put into the hands of the Editor, the subjoined plan of the work. It is understood to come from the pen of a native of Virginia; but the form and conditions of the publication are not yet fixed. The author has been personally conversant with most of the public transactions which he relates, from the beginning of the American revolution to the close of the History.
THE PLAN OF THE WORK.
The early history of Virginia must, from its novelty, have been very attractive. The state, in which man was found here, was unknown in Europe, except from speculation, exercised on facts, too few and too imperfectly understood, to become the groundwork of philosophy. A soil, fresh from the hands of nature—animals, peculiar in kind, species and variety—vegetables, with qualities unexplored—minerals, exhibiting forms and combinations, not before observed; and a climate, coinciding with none of the calculations, fitted to that of the old world in the same latitudes—produced phenomena, which went beyond the then existing theories.
But at this day, many of those subjects have been discussed with so much precision, as to exclude every hope of favor to an attempt, which should result in nothing more than a mere change of attitude. This work, therefore, will be divided into epochs; each presenting some prominent feature in the affairs of Virginia, and the whole of them comprehending our entire history. It will be detailed, however, only where it may excite a degree of interest.
The public archives, in their present condition, afford scarcely any light, until the revolution, which gave birth to independence, and even until the year 1782, until it was finally acknowledged. To the printed narratives, prior to those periods, and to some scattered documents, which have escaped the ravages of time and of war, the appeal must now be made.
Difficult as the task may be, to transplant into this history the events of the American Union, yet they will be incorporated in such a manner as not to incumber it with the recital of any, to which Virginia may not have borne a marked relation, or attached a particular feeling. It will be attempted by narrating the influential measures, and in describing the important actors, so as to correspond with the expectation of him, who reads in quest of useful information. It would, indeed, have been omitted altogether, after the appearance of General Washington's life by Chief Justice Marshall, were it not impossible to view Virginia in an insulated situation, from the assembling of the first Congress in September, 1774, to the close of the war. A naked abridgment would be a piracy on that work; while the pursuit of a plan equally extensive would be a repetition, not venial.
The first epoch commences with the character of discovery, granted to Sir Humphrey Gilbert by Queen Elizabeth, of England, on the 11th day of June, 1578, and embracing the dissolution of the proprietary government in the year 1624.
The second, terminates with Bacon's rebellion, as it was called, in the year 1676.
The third, embraces the opposition of the house of Burgess to the exaction of Governor Dinwiddie, in the year 1752, of a pistol, as a fee on every new patent for land.
The fourth, reaches to the stamp act in the year 1765, with which will be connected the declaration of Independence, and the war which followed it.
The fifth, ends with the adoption of the Constitution of the United States.
And the sixth, contains an illustration of the influence of that Constitution upon Virginia, and her general history from the time of its operation in the year 1789. Here too, the federal transactions of the United States may properly hold a place, upon the foregoing plan for recording their revolutionary ones.
Some topics, which regard to chronology may not suffer to be interwoven at full length, upon the first mention of them, but which leave not their due impression, when occurring in fragments only, will be examined in separate essays.
The principal of these are: 1. Religion. 2. Literature, arts and sciences. 3. Government. 4. The Laws. 5. Natural History under many of its principal heads. 6. Manufactures. 7. Commerce, Coin, &c. 8. Population. 9. Military Force. 10. Manners and National Character. 11. The Aborigines, as far as facts will justify.
It is impossible to avoid a biographical sketch of men in legislative, executive and judicial departments, and in various professions. But this will be done with a temper superior to partiality or personal acrimony, and adapted to display examples for the observance of the Statesman, the Judge, the Lawyer, &c.
Important public papers will be collected in an appendix.
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
MONDAY, Dec. 18.
The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, containing an estimate of the probable expense of erecting a forge at the manufactory of arms which was read, and on motion, ordered to be referred to the armoury committee.
An engrossed bill "Concerning Randolph Harrison," was read a third time and a blank therein filled up; and passed.
An engrossed bill "To suspend the operation of part of the act, entitled, "An act authorizing John Wm. Lamb to erect a dam across Banister river," was read a third time; and passed.
An engrossed bill "Concerning the Dismal Swamp Canal Company," was read a third time; and passed.
An engrossed bill "Concerning the town of Marsden in the county of Hardy," was read a third time, and several blanks therein filled up; and passed.
A petition was received from a number of the inhabitants of the town of Lynchburg, praying an alteration of the days for holding the courts of the said town; and referred to the committee appointed to bring in a bill "To alter the court days of certain counties."
A petition was presented and read from Doctor John Adams, of the city of Richmond, praying compensation for a horse lost by the petitioner whilst acting as surgeon to the detachment of militia in service at Norfolk and Portsmouth in the year 1807.
Mr. Madison presented, from the committee of Propositions and Grievances (to whom it had been committed) the following resolution, without amendment:
Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Wythe and Washington, praying, that all that portion of the said counties, contained within the following bounds, to wit: Beginning with a line to be drawn from the Tazewell county line where it leaves the top of the Little Brushy mountain, to the South East of the Gordon mountain, and to continue along the top of the Little Brushy mountain, until where the mountain is broken by the Laurel Fork, at Gen. Tate's gap, thence from the most westwardly peak of the said mountain, at the gap a direct line to the Tazewell line, where it commences near Tumbling creek, on the Clinch mountain, may be added to, and made a part of the county of Tazewell, be rejected—Agreed to by the House.
Mr. Cabell, from the committee for Courts of Justice, made the following report:
The committee for Courts of Justice have, according to order, had under their consideration a memorial from certain free people of color, to his Excellency the Governor, referred to the said committee with the Governor's letter relative thereto, and have come to the following resolution thereupon:
Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the said memorial, praying that certain alterations may be made in the laws concerning free negroes and mulattoes, be rejected: The said Resolution being read a second time, was agreed to by the House.
Mr. Cabell, from the committee for Courts of Justice, made the following report:
The committee for Courts of Justice have, according to order, had under their consideration the petition of Mary Webb, widow and administratrix of William Webb, dec'd, and have come to the following resolution thereupon:
Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the said petition, praying that an act may pass authorizing the petitioner to dispose of certain land lying in Lunenburg county, whereof the said William Webb died seized, and to apply the proceeds of the sale towards the payment of his debts, and the support and education of his children, be rejected: Agreed to.
Mr. Cabell, from the committee for Courts of Justice, made the following report:
The Committee for Courts of Justice have, according to order, had under their consideration the petition of Elizabeth Stacy, to them referred, & have agreed upon a report, and come to a resolution thereupon, as follows:
It appears to your committee, from sundry affidavits produced to them, that the petitioner's husband, John Stacy, very soon after his intermarriage with her, which happened only about twelve months ago, manifested towards her not only a want of affection for her, but a brutal disposition, behaving towards her in the most unfeeling and cruel manner; that in consequence of being ill treated by her husband, the petitioner has been compelled to leave him, and to depend upon her father for protection and support.
It further appears to your committee, that the petitioner is the daughter of very respectable parents.
Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that the petition of the said Elizabeth Stacy, praying that an act may pass divorcing her from her said husband, be rejected—Ordered to be laid on the table.
Mr. Cabell, from the committee for Courts of Justice, made the following report:
The committee for Courts of Justice have, according to order, had under their consideration the petition of Henry Mace, to them referred, and have agreed upon a report, and come to a resolution thereupon, as follows:
It appears to your committee, that in the year 1803, the petitioner intermarried with a certain Sarah Bates; that the said Sarah after living about two years with her said husband, eloped from him, and has not since returned; that she is now living in adultery with another man, and since her elopement that she has lived in that situation with different men.
Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of the said Henry Mace, praying that an act may pass annulling the aforesaid marriage be rejected—Laid on the table.
Mr. Cabell, from the committee for Courts of Justice, made the following report:
The committee for Courts of Justice have, according to order, had under their consideration the petition of Drury Fletcher, to them referred and have agreed upon a report and come to a resolution thereupon, as follows:
It appears to your committee, That since the intermarriage of the petitioner with his wife Sarah, which took place about nine years ago, the said Sarah has eloped from the petitioner, and after living some time in adultery with a certain Edward Milburn, a man of bad character, went with him to a neighboring state, wherein they now live together.
It further appears to your committee, that the petitioner in the neighborhood in which he resides, is considered as a man of unexceptionable moral character; it also appears that the said petitioner, before his said wife eloped from him, behaved towards her as a kind and affectionate husband; and that the said Sarah made an acknowledgment to that effect after she left her said husband.
It further appears to your committee, That the petitioner has assigned as a reason for applying to the Legislature to annul his said marriage, that he wishes to join a religious society, and is apprehensive that he will not be admitted as a member thereof, whilst he remains united in matrimony to his said wife.
Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of the said Drury Fletcher, praying that an act may pass divorcing him from his aforesaid wife, be rejected—Laid on the table.
ces have, according to order, had under their consideration sundry petitions to them referred, and have come to the following resolution thereupon:
1. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that the petition of sundry pilots of the state of Virginia, praying that they may be authorised by law, to demand pilotage of all coasting vessels drawing over eight feet water, is reasonable.
2. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that the petition of the president and directors of the Lower Appomattox Company, praying certain amendments to be made to the act incorporating the said company, is reasonable.
The first resolution being read a second time, a motion was made to amend the same, by striking out at the end thereof the words "is reasonable," and inserting in lieu of them the words "be rejected," and the question being put on the proposed amendment, it passed in the negative. Agreed to by the House.
A motion was made that the House should come to the following resolution.
Resolved, That a committee be appointed on the part of this House, to enquire and make report thereon, concerning the conduct of the minister plenipotentiary of his Britannic Majesty, Francis James Jackson, in his negotiations with the Secretary of State; and that the said committee do further enquire and report, whether the Executive Government, by interdicting a communication with the said Francis James Jackson, has acted with a due regard to the character and dignity of the government, and for the interest of the people of the U. States.
On motion, Ordered that the said resolution be laid upon the table.
WEDNESDAY, December 20.
An engrossed bill "To amend an act, entitled an act, to reduce into one the several acts concerning mills, mill dams and other obstructions of water courses," was read a third time, and several blanks therein filled up, and passed.
On motion, Ordered, That the committee of Privileges and Elections be discharged from further consideration of the petition of John Pitman, to them referred, and that the said Pitman have liberty to withdraw his petition and documents.
Mr. Preston, from the committee to whom was referred the petition on that subject, made the following report:
The committee to whom were referred the petitions hereafter mentioned, have, according to order, had the same under their consideration, and have come to the following resolutions thereupon:
1. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that the petition of sundry persons, complaining of certain proceedings of the court of Greenbrier county, relative to a part of the road leading from the upper navigation of James river to the upper navigation of Kenawha river, & praying that the provision may be made by the legislature for compelling the regular attendance of hands to work on that part of the said road, is reasonable.
2. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that the petition of sundry other persons in opposition to the petition above mentioned, be rejected.
The first resolution being read a second time, a motion was made to amend the same by striking out at the end thereof the words "is reasonable," and inserting in lieu of them the words "be rejected," and the question being put on the proposed amendment, it passed in the negative—Ayes 52—Noes 98.
The second resolution being read a second time, was agreed to by the House.
EDWARD HALLAM
HAS received by the last arrivals from Europe, and for sale next door above the Eagle Tavern—a fresh and general supply of Garden Seeds, viz.
CABBAGES. Early York, Early Sugar Loaf, Early heart-shaped, Drum Head, Green & 1 Yellow Savoy. PEAS. Early Frame, Early Hot Spur, Canadian, Marrowfat, Glory of England, and Blue Prussian. SNAPs. Early six weeks, Early China Dwarf, Early Speckled, Early Dun. LETTUCE. Imperial, Brown Dutch, Grand Admiral, Mouse Ear, and Ice. RADISH. Salmon Purple, White and Black. CUCUMBER. Early Frame, Long Green, and Pickley. Large White Indiv. November 24. Solid Celery, Round Spinage, Pepper Grass, Early Spring, and Winter Cress. Double Pot Mary-gold, Pot Marjoram, Blood Beet, Orange Carrot, Spring and Winter Turnips, and White Mustard Seed. BEANS. Large white Kidney, Cranberry, Speckled and Arbou. CORN. Early Frame, Do. Canadian, Do. Sweet, Do. Silesia. Little Dwarf Clover, Large Red, do. and Timothy Seed. Also Fifteen Tiers Rice, Ten Boxes Sperm-ceti Candles. wtf
EDUCATION.
THE subscriber intends to continue his school in the Forks of Hanover, the ensuing year—where he offers to teach spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, the use of the globes, rhetoric, natural philosophy, geometry, and the French language. The price for board, tuition and washing, will be $75 payable half yearly. The term will commence the tenth of January, and end the tenth of December. This school will be critically examined in June and December. JAMES BYARS, jr. November 21. w8t
HIRING OF NEGROES.
WILL be hired publicly in Milton on the 2nd day of January next, near a hundred Negroes belonging to Mrs. Sally Carter, among them are three valuable carpenters—those persons who are now in possession of said negroes, on hire, are earnestly requested to send them to Milton the day before the next hiring. WILLIAM ANDERSON, Agent for SALLY CARTER. Milton, Nov. 17. wt2dJ
ENOCH SULLIVAN, has removed his Shop and business, to the same house occupied by Wm. McCay, wagen-maker, opposite Mr. Wm. Cook's. December 1. w4w
IN CHANCERY—Northumberland County Court, 15th November, 1809. James Smith, plf. Against Elizabeth B. Baker, Virginia Baker, Walter Baker and Samuel Blackwell, defts.
The Defendants Elizabeth B. Baker, Virginia Baker and Walter Baker not having entered their appearance and given security according to the act of Assembly, and the rules of this court, and it appearing to the satisfaction of this court that they are not inhabitants of this state, on the motion of the plaintiff, It is decreed and ordered, That the said defendants appear here on the first day of March Court next, and answer the bill of the plaintiff, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted for two months successively in some newspaper published in the city of Richmond, and posted at the front door of the courthouse of this county. Attest FLEMING BATES, c n c December 7. w8t
FLEMING BATES, c n c December 7. w8t
VIRGINIA: At a Superior Court of Chancery held at the Capitol in the City of Richmond, the 7th day of Sept. 1809.
William B. Giles acting for the benefit of the representatives of John Tabb deceased, Plaintiff—Against John Poinsett, Jim Valentine Meriwether and Nelson Harris, Defendants.
THE defendant Valentine Meriwether 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 motion of the plaintiff by counsel, It is ordered, That the said defendant do appear here on the first day of the next term, and answer the bill of the plaintiff; 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 Capitol in the said city. A Copy. Teste, PETER TINSLEY, c. e. November 3. w8w
VIRGINIA to wit:—At a Chancery District Court held in the city of Williamsburg, the 13th day of July 1809.
William Evans, Thomas R. Evans, Sally Evans, Peter and Elizabeth his wife, Thomas Evans and Dice Evans infants under the age of twenty-one years by Thomas R. Evans their next friend, Harry Gardner and Stephen Prince and Elizabeth his wife, Plaintiffs—Against William Blake, Thomas Evans, senior, John Evans and Thomas Evans, junr. Defts.
The defendant John Evans 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 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 bill of the Plaintiffs, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some newspaper of the city of Richmond for two months successively and posted at the front door of the former Capitol in this City. A Copy. ANTY ROBINSON, c. e. Nov. 11. w8s
IN CHANCERY—Northumberland County Court, 13th November, 1809.
Joseph Rogers, plf. Against Elizabeth B. Baker, Virginia Baker, Walter C. Baker and Homer Webb, defts.
The Defendants Elizabeth B. Baker, Virginia Baker and Walter C. Baker not having entered their 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 they are not inhabitants of this state, on the motion of the plaintiff, It is decreed and ordered, That the said defendants appear here on the first day of March court next, and answer the bill of the plaintiff; and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted for two months successively in some newspaper published in the city of Richmond, and posted at the front door of the courthouse of this county:—And it is further ordered, That the defendant Webb retain in his hands any money he may have belonging to the estate of the late Doctor Corban Baker, till the further order of the court. Attest FLEMING BATES, c n c w2m
EDUCATION—The subscriber proposes opening a Boarding-School, on Wednesday, the 10th day of January next, at the late dwelling of their father, the Rev. Matthew Maury, in the county of Albemarle, where they will instruct Young Gentlemen, in the Latin, Greek, French and English Languages, upon the following terms: Their price for board will be eighty dollars, for tuition, $33 1/3, and for washing & mending $12, payable half yearly, each boarder finding his own bedding. The qualifications of one of the subscribers have been proven by five years experience in this line of business. The other has been educated in the same School, and wants nothing but a few months experience to render his qualifications fully equal. The advantages of the situation are manifestly great, it being in the heart of a healthy and polished neighborhood, and far removed from every incentive to vice and dissipation. The subscribers, deeply impressed with the great importance of the duties which they have assigned themselves, pledge all their powers for their performance. They have a tolerably extensive and well selected historical Library, which shall, (during the winter months,) be used under their superintendence, for the benefit of their pupils. Should any of those gentlemen, who have patronized the labors of F. Maury, at the Green Springs, in Louisiana, choose to place their sons or wards with the subscribers, their bedding, books, &c. shall be removed to their place gratis. Communications directed to the subscribers, Lindsay's Store, Albemarle county, will be immediately attended to. THOMAS W. MAURY, FRANCIS F. MAURY. September 12. wtf
THE SUBSCRIBERS having connected themselves in Business under the firm of MURPHY & CRUMP, Offer For Sale, in the store lately occupied by Mr. Wm. Temple, four doors above the Bell-Tavern: A general and well selected Assortment of GROCERIES, CHINA, GLASS, & STONE WARE, which they will sell low for cash or exchange for country produce. They also tender their services to the public as COMMISSION MERCHANTS. Any business committed to their care will be attended to with all possible dispatch. WILL: MURPHY, JOSHUA CRUMP. Richmond, December 7. 2w3w
FEMALE SCHOOL.—Frances T. Hughes will open her School for the reception of Young Ladies, on the second Monday in January next, in the house lately occupied by Mr. Thomas Nicholson three doors east from the Bank, in which she will teach the following branches of Education: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, English Grammar and Geography—Terms of tuition, for teaching Grammar and Arithmetic $8 per annum—those who may learn the other branches $6 per annum—Boarders will be received at $45 per annum including tuition, finding their own bedding—an extra charge of $5 will be made to those who may furnish with bedding—payments to be made quarterly in advance—No scholar will be received for a shorter term than six months—nor boarder less than a year. Nice clothes will be taught to those who wish it.—From a liberal public she hopes to meet with encouragement correspondent to her exertions. Richmond, December 16. 3w4t
NOTICE—Will be sold to the highest bidder, on Friday the 29th day of the present month, at the late dwelling of captain Benj. Johnson, dec'd. of this county), a quantity of Corn, Fodder and Shucks; also some Hogs and Geese—and on the day following (at the Saw Mill,) a considerable quantity of Plank. Six months credit will be given to the purchasers for all sums above five dollars, on giving bond with approved security, with interest from the date—For five dollars and under, cash will be required: and on the last mentioned day the Saw Mill belonging to said estate, will be rented for the year 1810, and possession given the 1st January 1810. Further particulars will be made known on the day of renting. NAT. PERKINS, Adm'r of BENJ. JOHNSON, dec'd. P. S.—It is earnestly hoped and requested that all persons having claims against the said dec'd will make them known on or before the 1st of January next. NAT. PERKINS. Henrico, December 14. 2w4t
FOR SALE—By virtue of a decree of the Superior Court of Chancery for the Richmond district, pronounced on the 21st September, 1809, will be sold on the premises, on Saturday the 30th of this month, to the highest bidder, the BRICK HOUSE & LOT OF GROUND adjoining thereto, situated on Shockoe Hill on the main street leading to the turnpike road, and at present occupied by Mr. Joseph Carter as a Grocery—The sale is made to raise a sum of money, interest and costs, due from John B. Wm to James Gowan, assignee of James Innes, as particularly mentioned in said decree. JOHN F. PRICE, Commissioner. Richmond, December 9.
JOHNSON AND REAT.
JEWELLERS & SILVERSMITHS.
AT the crescent sign, opposite the Eagle Tavern—Have just received an additional supply of Articles in their line, (which with their former stock will render their assortment very complete) consisting of—
Pearl Ear-Rings, Ear-Rings & Drops, Breast-Pins, Bracelets and Finger-Rings. Jet Breast-Pins, Bracelets, Ear-Rings & Necklaces, tortoise-shell Combs of the most approved patterns, gold Watch-Chains, Seals and Keys of the latest patterns, Ear-Rings, Finger-Rings, Breast-Pins, Bracelets, Buttons, Lockets and Miniature Settings. Silver Tea Pots, Coffee Pots, Sugar Dishes, Slop Bowls, Cream-Pots, Cans and Goblets. Table-deskets, tea and salt Spoons, soup, to dry, cream and mustard Ladies, Salt-Spoons, Thimbles, Coral & Bells, Tea Tongs & Punch Cups, silver mounted Dishes, Swords and Sash Buckles. Plated Casters of various prices, Candlesticks, Fruit Baskets, Tea-Pots, Sugar Dishes, Cream-Pots, Salt-Stands, Table Spoons and Tea Spoons. Block tin Tea Pots and Tea Caddies, together with sundry other articles too tedious to enumerate here, all of which they offer on moderate terms. Orders for work strictly attended to. The highest price given for old silver and gold. December 7. 2m
TWO hundred NEGROES for sale—Will positively be sold at Christopher Owen's Tavern, in the town of Urbanna in Middlesex county, the above quantity of Negroes belonging to the estate of Philip L. Gwynne, Esq. of Brandon, dec'd. among which are, House Servants, Cooks, Carpenters, Blacksmiths, Coopers, &c. &c. and also 4 ox Carts with Chains, &c. and 24 of the most valuable Oxen belonging to said estate.
Thirty of the above Negroes will be sold for cash, the balance with the Oxen, &c. will be sold on a credit of nine months, the purchaser giving bond with approved security. The Sale will commence on the 2d of January next, (if fair, if not, the next fair day,) and will continue from day to day till all are sold. The cash sales will commence on the first day. All legal creditors are requested to purchase the amount or any part of their respective claims. ROBERT WEST, Administrator, &c. of PHILIP L. Gwynne, dec'd. Woodville, Gloucester Co. Nov. 28. 12m
NEW STORE.
THE Subscriber is now opening opposite the Globe Tavern, a general assortment of amongst which are: Piece and Fancy Goods, Superfine and Common Broad Cloths, Do. do. Cassimeres, Do. do. Coatings, Flannels, Fancy Vestings, Red and Black Bombazetts, Worsted, Cotton and Silk Hosiery, Ginghams, Cotton Shirtings, Irish Linen and Dowlass, Fine and Common Printed Calicoes, Velvets Cords, Umbrellas, Threads, Sewing Silks, Extra long White and Colored Kid Gloves, White and Colored Habits, do. Cambick Muslins, Plain and Laced Mulls, do. Spider Net, & Fancy Craps, do. Knotted & Sprig Linens, do. do. Diagonal and Veined do. do. Elegant Worked Dresses, do. do. Ditto Silk Shawls and Handkerchiefs, Black plaid and plain Colored Lustreings, Plain Silk and Fancy Cut Velvets, White Satin and Craps. JOHN WOOD. November 14. tf
FASHIONABLE BOOT & SHOE-MAKERS.
THE Subscribers next door above Messrs Prosser and Mincourt's Vendue-Office, just from Philadelphia have commenced the manufacture of Laces and Shoes, of the most fashionable shapes, neatly and faithfully made out of the best material, selected with much care and attention in Philadelphia—Those who may favor them with their custom may rely upon being neatly fitted, and promptly attended to. Orders from the Country shall be duly executed and are respectfully solicited. And they trust that by their assiduity and attention they will merit a share of patronage in the line of their profession. CAMPBELL & PAUL. Three or four good Journey men will meet employment as above. November 14. 2m
BY virtue of the last will and testament of Robert Means, dec'd. will be sold to the highest bidder, on Wednesday, the 3rd day of January next, if fair, otherwise the next fair day, the LAND AND PLANTATION belonging to the said Robert Means, dec'd. in the upper end of Henrico county, containing, according to the deeds, three hundred and seventy-three acres, & lying on the Three-mile road, about a mile and a half above the short Pump. There are, on the premises, a two story dwelling-house, having two rooms below, with a passage, and two above, a granary, stable, kitchen, and an orchard of apple and peach trees. The lands will be sold according to the deeds, and the sale will take place at the dwelling-house. The terms will be, one half of the purchase money to be paid at the end of twelve months, and the other at the end of two years, from the day of the sale: The purchaser to give bond and approved security, with a deed of trust upon the property, to secure payment of the purchase money. DANIEL CALL, Executor of the Testament and last Will of ROBERT MEANS, dec'd. November 24. rls
THE subscribers offer for sale, a very general assortment of GROCERIES, which they will dispose of on moderate terms, for cash, country produce, or approved paper. Also, 62 Kgs F and FF Brandy Wine Cans Powder. WHITE & SHELTON. October 19. wtf
THE subscriber intends to continue his school at Mr. William D. Taylor's in the Forks of Hanover, where he will teach youth to Read & write the English, Latin and Greek Languages, and will also instruct them in Geometry, History and Arithmetic. Mr. Taylor will furnish board for ten pupils at seventy dollars each for the term, to be paid quarterly; but where the pupil finds his own bed and candles, a deduction of five dollars will be made. The price of tuition will be twenty dollars for the term, to be paid quarterly, which will commence the 9th of January next and end the 10th of December. HENRY ROBINSON. December 21. 3w4t
THE subscriber intends to continue his school at Mr. William D. Taylor's in the Forks of Hanover, where he will teach youth to Read & write the English, Latin and Greek Languages, and will also instruct them in Geometry, History and Arithmetic. Mr. Taylor will furnish board for ten pupils at seventy dollars each for the term, to be paid quarterly; but where the pupil finds his own bed and candles, a deduction of five dollars will be made. The price of tuition will be twenty dollars for the term, to be paid quarterly, which will commence the 9th of January next and end the 10th of December. HENRY ROBINSON. December 21. 3w4t