The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-12-18 00:00:00

AMERICA.

staw-with, elev. 9.
Captain Cropsey, of the schooner MeerAerter,
arrived from St. Croix, Basic-End, informs, that
the British bad cot out all the Danish shipping at
West-End, St. Croix and likewise several Ameri-
cans that had Daisial property on board, and were
beating up with them to Tortola; that they were
under apprehensions of a visit from thenn at Besse-
. Eod—in conyquence at which, all American vessels
that had taken in cargoes, were discharging them.
Congress are new met on the extraordinary
call of the Executive. The• interesting events
which have recently occurred, have excited the pub-
lic expellation to an unusual pitch ; and there is
every reason to think that this expetetion will be
fully satisfied during the session. For a crisis in
the affairs of our country has undoubtedly arrived
which cells for decisive measures. Should the wan-
ton aggressions committed on our rights, and the
;emits offered to our national chaltufter, be unre-
dressed, the American spirit cannot, will nut, rest
swished. What course shall be pursued will test
with the wisdom of the representative body. To
them exclusively the Constitution assigns the high
power of declaring war, of
.granting letters of
marque and reprnat, of raising and supporting
armies, and of prov:ding and maintaining a navy.
To the same body is likewise assigned the power of
regulating commerce with foreign natio),s, and of
laying and colleting duties. imposts and excises.
Whether the former or the latter of these means
of coercing our enemy will, in such an event, be
pursued; whether the violated honour of the na-
tion shall require a dared resort to war, or sltall
seek a surer reparation through the medium of
eommel cial regulation sr restriltion, or a total
sen-intercourse, it will rest with the immediate Re-
relenUatives of the people, and of the State Go-
Winlffients, to pronounce. It is fortunate. at a crisis
so solemn, when the measures taken may have ulti-
mo,e divas of the greatest consequence, that the
voice of the people *ill be clearly expressed by
Representatives, recently chosen, and who may be
therefore presumed unequivocally to speak their
sentiments. These sentiments hare been already at
sae point audibly expressed by the people. An
unanimity. almost without parallel, has manifested
their indignation, and their determination to have
reparation. They have not, however, but in a
very few cases, ti)likrtaken even to recommend
that cootie of nii.isures, which it will be the
policy of this country to adopt, provided the
temper of Britain shall be hostile. This has
been most properly lilt to the government. and es-
pecially the kgislaiive department, which will not
only possess the meant of forming a correct judg-
ment, but likewise, from its organisation, be more
competent, dispassionately to weigh the interest) of
the country, and deliberately to 'deft those insuu-
meats, either of offence or detente, which events
and a sound policy shall requite. Nothing cal be
move Awned or ill-founded than the charges made
on the other side of the ocean against the condo°
of the American people on this occasion. Out-
rageous as were the insults we received, and ere
wrongs Whiffed upoe us, the sensation they pro-
duced, though deep. was calm and solemn. Not
an instance of turbulence or riot marked the eller-
veuente of the public mind through the wide ex-
tent of the union. Its feelings were. it is true.
plainly and forcibly expressed, but altogether un-
mizei with any dietation to the government. v.:.ich
was. and still is, left free to adopt such measures as
if a; all diem best. A different course might have
been pursued, without the least encroaatimesst of
public opinion on the legitimate powers of the Ito-
vernmeot For is is the prerogative of every Arne-
sican eitie.n, unreservedly to'espressl.is opinion of
pirolic men and public measures ; not only to ap-
prove or condemn what is done, but to recommend.
as forcibly as reason and let can urge them, such
measures as he thinks best for his country ; and it
is the duty of the government, whenever such ex-
pression clearly announces the national will, to obey
it. But although this is the prerogative of every
American, although it is the indefeasible right of ■
republican, yet, in this instance, such has been the
singular, and, we will say, the illustrious display of
circumspeftiomand of confidence in the wisdom and
virtueot theconstituted authorities,that there lass been
an almost universal forbearance to suggest any defi-
nite measures of redress. No doubt was entertained,
nor is any doubt now entrtaioted by the people, of
dmio.ammisugagias le adopt

what shall be best; and it may not be going too far
to say, that there are few men in the Union that
woad not, were the alternative offered to them, ra-
ther that the government should decide than them •
selvei."—(Nat. ha.)
Toll 4 Eteellency Btigadier•Greteut James Wilkinson.
sta....When once Wig chain of infamy grapples te a knave'
every, new link creates a fruit sensation of detestation and
hear. As it enjoiny or precipitately unfolds itself, we be-
' held in each succeeding CallneYillll, 1111.1 arising (slit the same
virrupt and contaminated Mire!, the sante base and de-
generate conduct. 1 coul•1 net have *unissued that you would
have completed the catalogue your rime•, by adding to the
guilt of trealhere, forgerti, and peri.ni, the accomplishment of
cowardice. But every succeeding day presents yen in a new
light to the public, awl plunges you still deeper in crime and

. _
ignominy.
Having failed In two different attempts to procure an inter-
view with you, such as no rntleman rf honour could refuse,
I have only to pronounce and publish you to the world as a

Coward and Poltroon.
One word more before I take my leave.-a-Thia is a critical
moment in the life of your Esteell.tney. Your reputation is
gone for ever, and vow lite totters on the verge of dissolution.
As you cannot pretend to the esteem of any man living, yen
should have sought a momentary reputation in the applause of
even your enemies. loss should hare twin brave, end died taw
a roan. Your enensie. would then have forgotten the wrongs
you had done them. Your country would have been appeased,
and even Judas forgiven. You should have considered that
there 14 same small merit even in a villain's bravery : it was all
you were supposed to possess this side the grave. You should
have made much of it—it might have weed to wipe away
some portion of the stain which your treachery and turpitude
have fitted upon your character. S. SWARTWOUT.
Richmond, Oct. gl, 180 V.
I certify, that, on the lath of October, 1807, between the
hours of four and five, p. n. at the Washington Tavern, in the
city of Richmond, 1 was on the point of walking out from my
lodgings, when a knock waa heard at the door ; I asked the
person to walk in, who proved to by Israel Smith, who was
this day discharged from the Circuit Court of Virginia. He
asked fur General Wilkinson, who was in the romn, and to
whom I sheared him. He asked for a private interview. Tire
General replied, that he had no secrets, and 'if he had any
thing to communicate, he could do it where he was. Smith
drew a letter from his pocket, and handed it to thu General,
who asked from whom it cane! Smith again observed, that
if the General would go in private, he would tell hum ; the
General repeated, that he had ua secrets, and requested Smith
to inform him from whom the linter mime Smith said, from
Mr. Swartwout. The General handed hack the letter unopoot-
ed, arid requested Mr. Smyth to inform mr, Swanwout, that
he held no correspondence with Traitors or Conspirators. At
this Ult/Itlelit I step' out of the room, and heard no more.
SILAS DINSMI)RE.
We certify, that we were present at the interview between
Mr. Smith and General Wilkinson, es crated above by Mr.
Dinsmore, and pledge ourselves that his nhrrativo is lureslly
craved en far as it goes. We further certify, that when Dins-
more left the room, Mr. Smith asked General %Vilkinson if he
meant his observations to apply le T'ie Genera' ob.
served that be (Smith) might do as he plemeda-and added.
these are me quarters, and there is„tbe door ; please to walkout..—Mr. Smith retried. T. H. CUSHING,
JOHN FOWLER.

PNILADEL•IIII) NOV. 7.

Several of the British prints, in announcing the
arrival of the ifretttge. state the existence of a ru-
moar, that the American Government had required
an answer to their representations within four Jays,
and deduce from this circumstance their anti-pacific
temper. it may be satisfadory to state, that this
rumour is altogether unfounded. No such de-
mand has been made, nor has any definite time been
prescribed for receiving an answer. It is true, that
a prompt answer is expeilted, and there can be no
doubt Fn: that. if the British klinistry wish to main-
tain peace between the two centuries. a prompt an-
swer will be girds.—(Bat. latelligencer.)
Nev. S.

Extra& of a letter from a Gentleman at Bout-
deaux, to his father in this city, dated Sept. 8, 1807:
" The Emperor of France leaves no stone unturn
ed to ruin Great Britain. There are at present no
less than 100,000 men marching through this place,
on their way to Portugal°. I think Spain is in-
cluded
in their ohjee : and shall ha much surprised
if the present King is not dethroned. It appears
that Lucien is to be the Kih of Navarre, which
will comprehend Biscay, Navarre, and Catalonia ;
Portugal to be given to Spain in lieu. It will not
end there."
The following particulars of the attempt upon
Judge Robins, of Maryland. are from Poulson 's
Deity Aghtrtiser. of the 27th Oetober
:
On Sunday morning, the 18th instant, on hie re-
' turn from Caroline County Cowl, Judge Rollins
was shot through the body by some unknown
as-
sassin, at about three miles from Denton, in company
with Josiah Bayley, Esq. in separate carriages a
gnu was discharged, containing IWO balls, one of
which passed through near the shoulder blade and
came out at the left breast; the other ball greeed
his ear : from the dirglion, the person must have
advanced into the road to ire. and retreated un-
der cover of a thick wood. With the assistance
of Mr. Bayley, Judge Robins was able to reach
the residence of a gentleman in the neighbour-
hood, with the los, of much blood, where. we
understand, his wound was examined, and natter-
ing hopes are entertained of its not being mortal.
Circumstantial evidence is strong against a certain
—, who some time since made his escape from
Worcester county, to avoid the penalty of the law,
to the stale of Delaware, where it is understood he
has changinti tante. He some time since wrote
a very insulting letter to Judge Rosins, for his vi- •
gilance is having him hrt,tight to justice, in
which he threatened the Judge with vengeance—to
strengthen said suspicion, it has since been awe:-
taimd. that a stranger has been lurking about Den-
fin, during the Coast. with a pair of pistols and a
gun, who frequently inquired of the servants when
the Judges would go home ? The citasens of Dela-
ware would do justice to society. to be vigilant in
Ludting out such a charadar.—Great credit is due
the citizens near where • the deed was perpe-
trated, for their alacrity in pursuing the perpetrator.
which we hope may be crowned with success,
I by bringing to condign punishment so hardened a
1111 villain.
I a itnitiCitilliVaoll, OCT. 511.
14€14nriay anti Dtatressimg !—On Monday. at 12
o'clock, the house for merlyieloging to Mts. Carter,
in this towh, was discovaed to be oa fire. The
corpse of William Stallard, the more recent pro-
prietor. had not been sent to his earthly home, when
a sick and mourning family were driven by a new
calamity, with the remains of a parent and a hus-
band, from the solitude of their sorroars, to weep
under the next hospitable roof, over their compli-
cated misfortunes.
The•itolse was on an erelt.ence. ami a strong
wind from the north-asst blew the flames into
ae iway ut the town. 1.. tlai cnwse of A dew huisr•
• chime-15 not Gi503.12/ east oyez 1

e

three of the best improved F vare., with part of
two'others, were stripped of all their improvements,.
The rapid►ty of the fire, in the horrors of its devas• '
tation through houses highly combustible horn the
operation of the late drought, the consternation that
prevailed, destroying concert and presence ..f mind
in most of those who were laboriously attire, the
incompetency of the engines to perform their offices
with full effect, prevented maay of the sufferers
from saving a great proportion of their moveable
property. Tbc upper tobacco-warehouses, with all
the tobacco stores, were consumed. A Bake of
burning m,ttter was thrown on the roof of the Bank
house. which stood at the distance of two streets
from the general conflagration, and so furious was
the progress of the flames, that all the books, papers,
and money, in the vault, were of necessity exposed
during the whole of the fire to its glints, but have
since been recovered entire. Happily, no human
life was lost.

THE BRITISH PRESS.

LONDON,

FRIDAY. DECIMISR Is.
WAR WITH TURKEY.

We may now consider Turkey as added to the
long list of the enemies •f England. At nine
o'clock, last morning, a telegraphic coining-
nication was received at the Admiralty, annonnt.
ing the arrival of Sir ARTHUR PAQET, after
an unsuccessful mission to the Ottoman Porte. The
ship haviag come from the Mediterranean, was im-
mediately put under quarantine, and His Excel-
lency, of course, was not permitted to land. Three
of the Lords of the Admiralty were therefore
obliged to sign a memorial to the Lords of the
Council, requesting that the quarantine might be
takes off. A meeting was accordingly held, and
the vessel was released, to enable Sir ARTHUR
Note to' come to London. Ile is expeaed in
town this day, when it is supposed his report of the
total failure of all his means to conciliate the Turk-
ish Government, will be followed by leostllities
that power.