The National Register.
London, England, 1817-01-06 00:00:00

rtwe : of what consequence is it to the famished wretch,
whether his nest neighbour hat, or has not corn, while, by
tlysie ineaut or other, he Cannot pew iire it either for himself
or his fancily; es.cessive high price, and real dearth, are to
Ili one and the same thin::: we know the symptoms of the
malady, and we with, like our fathers to aprly the known
remedy of a prohioitiou of e•port. Will the plan which the
government has proposed effect that object? 'ln a country
Sthete the great esports are made by tea, Validh abounds in
riveis and ports, together with canals And toads which facili-
tate 4' unanunicAtion with those ports, the prohibition of tx-
r--i hy Lind is illusory; the remedy it therefore nugatory,
:in l w.:.;(1 he absolutely nullified if Fiance were to permit
r. nexpor.e:osi to one territory, which could. not benefit ns.
In voting its adoption I shall not be suSpeeted of viewing
an it !:..inair remedy ; the shipwrecked mariner lays
11..11 of the first piank within his reach, and I must view. the
plan Ni only a pre!ailc to other more efficacious measures,
which the goveininent will surely hasten to present to the
goatee.'

A long debate followed, in which some of the Dutch
members speaking in favour of the general freedom of
exportation, the audience in the galleries displayed the
greatest impatience, and uttered loud murmurs of dis-
approbation, which obliged the President frequently to
call then► to order.

The Minister of the Interior, who was present, an-
swered the objections of several Members, especially
those of Mr. Reyphins. His Excellency gave the
.Chamber the assurance, that his Majesty had not suf-
fered a single circumstance to escape, to obviate the
•vil ; and that he was persuaded, that if the measure
did not produce the desired effect, his Majesty would
hasten to propose another. The debate being termi-
nated, the President put the question upon the law,
which was adopted by a majority of 72 votes to 2.

AMERICA,V PAPERS.

_ ~_

WASIIIN6TON, DEC..l.—Thin day, at 12 o'clock, the Presi-
dent of the United States transmitted, to both Houses of Con-
gress, the folio% ing Message by Mr. Todd, his Secretary :
Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and of the House of
Representatives,

In reviewing the present state of our country, our atten-
tion cannot be withheld from the effect produced by peculiar
seasons, which have very generally impaired the annual gifts
of the earth, and threatened scarcity in particular districts.
Such, however, is the variety of soils, of climides, mid of pro-
ducts, within our extensive limits, that the aggregate re-
sources for subsistence are more than sufficient for the aggre-
gate wants; and, as far as an economy of consumption, more
than usual, may be necessary, our thanktidness is due to Pro-
vidence, for what is far more than a compensation, in the re-
markable health which has distinguished the present year.
Amidst the advantages which have succeeded the peace
of Europe, and that of the United States with Great Britain,
in a general invigoration of industry among us, and in the
Ntension of our commerce, the value of which is mme and
more disclosing itself to commercial nations, it is to be re-
gretted that a depression is experienced by particular branches
of our manufactures, and by a portion of our navigation.
As the first proceeds, in an essential degree, from an excess
of imported merchandise, which carries a check in its own
tendency, the cause, in its present extent, cannot be of very
long duration. The evil will not, however, be viewed by
Congress, without a recollection, that manufacturing estab-
lishments, if suffered to sink too low, or languish too long,
may not revive.after the causes shall have ceased; and that,
in the vicissitudes of human affairs, situations may recur, in
which a depeodance on foreign sources, for indispensable
supplies, may be among the most serious embarrassments.
The depressed state of our navigation is to be *set ibed, in
a material degree, to its exclusion from the colonial ports Of
the nation most extensiVely connected with ns in commerce,
and from the indirect operation of that exclusion.
Previous to the late Convention at London, between the
United States and Great Britain, the relative state of the
Navigation Laws of the two co tarries, growing out of the
Treaty of 1791, had given to the British nay ration a material
advautage over the American in the intercourse between
the American ports and British ports in Europe. The Con-
vention of London equalized the laws of the two countries,
relating to those ports: leaving the intercourse between our
ports and the ports of the British Colonies, subject, as before,
tq the respective regulations of the parties. The British
ernment, fo r cing , now, regulations which prohibit a
trade between its Colonies and the United Stales, in Ameri-
can vessels, whilst they permit a trade in British vessels, the
American navigation loses accordingly; and the loss is one-
suenteil I.y the advantage which is given to the British com-
petition over the American, in the navigation between our
ports and British ports in Europe, by the circuitous voyages,
enjoyed. by the one, and not enjoyed by the other.
The reasonableness of the rule of reciprocity, applied to
one branch of the commercial intercourse, has been pressed
on oar punt, as equally applicable to both branches; lint it
is ascertained, that the British Cabinet declines all negocia-
hen on the subject; with a disavowal, however of any dis-
position to view, in an unfriendly light, whatever counter-
vailing regulations the United States may oppose to the re-
gulations of which they complain. 'I lie wisdom of the Legis-
lature will decide on the course which, under these circum-
Matters, is prescribed by a joint repo d to the slakes ble
rela-
tions between the two nations, and to the just interests of the
United States.

I have the satisfaction to state, generally, that we remain
in amity with foreign Powers.
Au occurrence hem, indeed, taken place in the Gulf of Mex-
ico, which, if sanctioned by the Spanish Government, may
make an exception as to that Power. According to the re-
port of our Naval Commander on that station, one of our
public armed vessels was attacked by an overpow cring force,
under a Spanish Commander, awl the American tlms, with
the 61ficers and crew, insulted, in a manner calling forptompt
reparation. This has been demanded. In the mean time,
frigate and smaller vessels of war have been ordered into
that Gulf foe the protection of oar commerce. It would be
inrroper to omit, that the Representative alai', Catholic al„.
jesty in the United States lust no time in giving the strongest
assaranees, that no hostile ardor could have emanated from
his Government ; and that it will be as ready to do, WI to ex-
pect, whatever the nature of the case, and the friendly rela-
tions of the two countries, shall be fonnd to require.
The posture of our attain with Algiers at the present 1910-
ENVis not kpOwu. The Den drawing pretcats (rein cir-