The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-04 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

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several other places, have presented strong memorials
against the Non-Importation Act which the policy of
Jefferson has never enforced, though left at his discretion.
These memorials, which discover such a marked aversion
to any rupture with Great Britain, have been rejected by a
majority ; but at the same time, some violent Resolutions
against Britain have been rejected with equal firmness.
The Report on the affair of the Chesapeake was very in-
temperate ; but the junction of the great opposition
orator, Mr. RANDOLPH, formerly the staunch friend of
Britain, with the advocates for war, shews his opinion
that the American Government is inclined to pacific
measures. It is, indeed, said that our wise abandonment
of any pretension to search ships of war, has entirely done
away the ho►tile feelings of the American Government :
and in this case we need not fear the foolish violence of
those demagogues who would vainly attempt to wrest
from us ev en the right of searching merchantmen.
There is one circumstance which we cannot pass unno-
ticed. Lord ERSKINE, it seems, bad some time ago, front
what motive we do not presume to conjecture, invested a
considerable portion of his property in the American funds.
When his son was appointed American Ambassador, this
very circumstance was stated as one of the causes of that
appointment, as it was supposed his interest in America
would render him more anxious to preserve amity between
the two countries: a dangerous and impolitic principle,
which might often set the interests of an Ambassador in
direct opposition to his duty to his conntry. It appears
that Mr. ERSKINE, alarmed at the discussions between this
country and America, had recently transferred his father's
property in the American funds, to secure it at all events.
This circumstance, which so impolitically indicated his ap-
prehensions, excited in the demagogues a desire not to let
such a prey escape them; and a motion was accordingly
made by one LYONS to prevent such transfers of British
property in the American funds. The motion was ne-
gatived; but the evident impolicy of this s::dden transfer
by our Ambassador was not removed.

The Couriers passing and repassing through France, to
Count STARHEMBERG, have excited much attention, and
en rise to innumerable reports. To us they only seem
to indicate that Bonaparte is tittle anxious to force Austria
into hostilities, which cannot possibly do us any harm.
The stay or the departure of Count STAHREMBERG is an
object of equal importance.
Sonic letters have been published, which passed between
Gen.. WHITELOCKE, and laNiaas the connuander at Buenos
Ayres. They are chiefly remarkable for the utter igno-
rance of the s►tuation of the enemy which the English Ge-
neral displays. On the 4th of July, he summoned General
LINIERS to surrender, with great professions of his own cle-
mency; and on the sth, LisriEns with equal professions,
returns the same summons, to which General Nirnerr-
LocKE, now better informed, finds hiieself obliged to
consent.

A vessel, which• arrived yesterday from the coast of
France, brings the topics of conversation at Charante and
Bourdcaux. These arc a meditated repudiation of the
Empress JosF.entNE, and a marriage of BoN.teAnTE with
a sister of the RUSSIAN Emeeiton ; to which is added a pro-
ject of giving I.vcleN I3oNarA rure. the Crown of Spain, and
indemnifying- the Prince of Au tiTtililAS sith that oti'ort;:gal.

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