The Sun.
London, England, 1818-03-27 00:00:00

IVILLIAM COBBETT.

HAREvsßußcti, Fns. 4.—Cobbett is here ; but.
the papers do not state -correz.tli the object of his
petition ; it has nothing to do Asith the suit of
Dr. Rush. The object of his Memorial is of this
nature Cobbett publisheil.an article cnncerning
the Chevalier Yrnjo, sarcastic, but trot libellous,
though it certainly meant more than it expressed.
M'Kean was the Chief Justice at that period, and
seeing his son-in-hi at•acked, rte caused process
to be issued, requiring hail of Cobbett, to appear
and answer an indictment, and mean time to keep
the peace. Bail was 'given. A bill was hi ougl,t
before the Grand Jurv,.who returned the bill igix-
xamits. • After this gnashing of the suit, wh,ch,
of course, put an end to it, upon another appllca-•
lion conccr nipg Yrujo, a process was issued for stt
forfeiture of recognizance upon the bail given in
the suit gnashed.
FRB. 19.—The Se late this day resumed, its.
Committee of the whole. the consideration of the.
Report in favour of Wm. Cobbett ; when rho
Committee rose they reported against the Report
of the Committee, and.the question on agreeitt
to the Report of the Committee of the whole
was decided by Yeas And Nays, as follows—Yeas
20, Nays 9. •
As soon as. the Senate bad decided against the
claim of Mr. Cobbett, who was- present in the
gallery, he imniediaiely carne forward and pre-
sented to the Speaker a letter, which was read be-,
fore the Senate as follows, viz.—

TO THE HoN. THE SENATE AIKT) HOUSE OF REPHESI.NTATIVEs OF
THE COMMONWEALTH OF FEINNsYLvANIA, IN GE.NEUAL AI—
sENBLy MET:

THE PETITION OF WILLIAM COOBETT, AN ENGLISHMAN, Tillg
19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1816,

'Most respect fully sliewct h,
That your Petitioner has heard,. with inexpressible sur-
prise, that the Senate of the Commonwcalih has rejzcted t
petition lately presented to that honourable hudy by your pe-
titioner; that seeing the flagrant. e,:ormity of the injustice of
which he complained, he confidently hopes that such rciee-
tion has arisen, from sonic great misunderstanding as to the
circumstances of his case: that lie, therefore, must respect-
fully, but roost earnestly prays, that the Cloilourahle the Se-
nate will, without loss of time, be pleased to pertnit him to
appear in .pesson at the har of their Honourable House,
there to, support the prayer of his said petition ; that he
feels the inure confidence in the malting of t his respectful re-
quest, sitee it appears that his petition has been opposed upoa
argnments . drawn from the laws and usages of England,
where similar requests under similar circumstances are never
refused : and he finally begs leave to be pemitted to stoic
(which he dues with the roust profound respect), that a sense
if dirty towards his own ,belored CoHntry and his S•ouruign.
Ins love of tenth and jaA.iice ! ! his attachment to real, and.
his hatred of sham freedom; are the principal motives of this
his most respectful Petition:

IVM. COBB ETt

The foregoing petition- was laid on the table.
On Thursday WI Cobbett sent a .petiliort
to the Honse 'of Represent,tires, praying. that his
case, which had been defeated in the Seeatr,
might be •itiVest.igate'd by the House: The peti-
tion, we arc infortned, was considered rather in-
decorous by tie Members. Antang.or her things,
he says, ." England Iris had her ..I,•ffries, and
Pennsylvania her M'Keams," and, by invidious
comparisons, made• out that APKcan was the
worse Of the two—expressions not very palatable
'to many of the triembe'rsr:. be that -as it may,
Without Wailing l'.(ir`redt,•eision on his petition, he
took stage-ininiedi!iiteely after,. and left- the town.
-[AS Mr. Coblreti-tras- returned to Ploladelph'a,
we presume he had no hope of•being permitted to
plead his cause at the hat of,the Senate. It mad
have been an indulgence heretofore unknown in
our Legislathrej- • ' •••

A Court-MaiGi ii:ertibhil at 'Portsmouth on
ll'eOnestiay, on hoard syip Qoetil
eltiaOtte, tor the CFI lif a I.!) JAisto. A writutt
Njuttasv , late of his I\l:ijesty'. ship -Spey';'t
elnsiues prefeiretl against hitit'by Aritoiral PLANIP No
on the z•t.l-11cirtil sstatitny, when th, charges hut
being proved, he was thost Italy 'acceltted.

! .; ,

UNIT ED STATES.

(T)onz The National latelligencer.)
TZEPORT ON COLONIAL TRADE.

ITOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEn. 9.

Report of the Committee to whom was referred
iiett rirt of the President's Message which re-
le:es to the Commeicial latercotirse of the
United States with the 13ritish West India
Isliteds and North American Colonies, awl also
o.t the petition of sundry inhabitants of differ-
ent parts of the District of Maine, on the saute
subject.
The Committee to whom was referred that part
of the President's Message which relates -to the
commercial intercourse of the United States with
the British West India Islands and North Amen
rican Colonies, and also the petition of. the inha-
bitants of the different parts of the district of
Maine, on the saute subject, report, That, by the
statement marked A, annexed to this report, it
appears that the average amount of duties upon
merchandize, annually imported into the United
States front the British West India Islands and
North American colonial possessions, from 1802
to 1816, excluding the period from theCoininenee-
ment of the restrictive system to the termination
of the late war, exceeds two -millions of dollars.
TI value of this merchandize upon which these
ditties accrued is supposed to be equal to seven
dollars per annum. The statement 13
shows, that the average annual amount of ex-
ports to the same places, principally of domestic
production, up to 1817, excluding the time of the
oeeration of the restrictive system, and the con-
tinuance of the war, have exceeded 6,500,000
dollars. The statement C shows that in the
year 1815, the tonount of duties on merchandize
imported in American vessels from the British
\Vest India Islands and North Amesican colonial
possessions was, to the amount of duties on mer-
chandize imported- in Et Irish vessels,-as one to
fonr ; in 1816, as one to five and a Ina, or two.
to eleven. Taking the ratio of 1816 as the-basis
of calculation, and "it is believed to- afford the
safest and most solid, as past experience shows a
constant d:minution of the ansctunt of ditties on
goods imported-in vessels of the United States, it
is estimated, supposing the same proportion exists •
in- the exports,- that American vessels are used in
the transportation annually of 2,177,924 dol-
14rs' worth of merchandize, and British vessels
11,322,070 dollar's worth of the most bulky or-
tides of commerce, one half of which are of the
growth, production, or manufacture of the United
states. This inequality in the advantaies of this
commerce, to the Injury of the navigating interest.
of this canonry, arisrs front the rigorous enforce-
ment of. the colonial system of Great Britain as
to' the United States, while it is relaxed to all
other nations who are friendly to the British em-,
pine, and have colonial possessions. - The portion
Of the commerce which is carried on in American
vessels arrises from accidental and temporary sus-
pensions of the systems which the Governors of
the islands, &e. are permitted, under the pressureiof
dire necessity, to direct—an employment for out
seamen and vessels, precarious and momentary,
rather irritating and tantalizing than profitable.
This intercourse. appears to the Committee
the worst possible state as it regards the navi-
gation of the United States, while it is in the hest
for that of Great Britain. Justice and policy
on the part of- every wise Government,
its best exertions to secure to its own citizens a
perfect eqtedity,in the transportation of toe: chat

(Ike Ivirb the people. of every nation respectively
with -woom it has commercial intercourse. Some
Governments are governed by a.pulicy more con-

. _
tracted, desiring to give to their navigators the
exclusive tr.nsportation of their native products,
while they desire to participate in carrying the
rod;fetions. of other countries. The Committee
arc satisfied that the United States will never be
governed. by the selfish views of- the. hitter class,
but ti;isr that it- has-not been, nor will it ever be,

re;ardlcss of the just motives Ott the to:trier ;
far 'it is a duty to protect the navigating int.crcst.
This duty can be perforated- in relation to the sub-

jeer of this Report, by a conveutional fitipulatioo
with Great Nitain, formed upon the basis of re-

ciproeity, or by legislative Acts, operating exclu-
sively against the British navigator engaged in
this trade. With the first mode this "louse bas

no Ituther concern, ►han to know that ttw other

branch of the Government has performed its ditty.
Repeated and hitherto unavailing applications
have been made to the British Government. Jr is
not, however, surprising that they have been un-
successful, since no adequate motive at present
exists to induce Great Britain to arrange this in-
tercourse by convention.. The offer contained in

the articles annexed to this Report, the most ra-
tio►►al.and reciprocally advantageoua of any ever

made, may be 'considered as dictated by a spirit of

Accommodation, whic)i, under the pressure of

adequate motives, might he fostered into a deter-
mination to grant all that we could reasonably

tisk, or they be expected to yield. 'llethreefirst

articles, with some practicable motlific.i,t ions,
would, by the adaptation of our commercial laws
to tic stipulation contained in them, cot:finiug

the commerce strictly to those articles which
Americans were permitted to carry, would place

the trHde upon as favourable grottuils as could be

expected. It would, no doubt, in-a short time,
be followed by a complete abandonment of the
residue of the present jealous system of exclusion.
The Committee cannot, however, but approve

the prompt .rejection of this proposition; since
these articles. are connected with another.ahoge-

they inadmissible, without a departure (rpm what

they deem the settled• policy of this. country, in

relatiot► to the trade with the Indians within its

Jurisdiction. The British Ministry having assur-

ed this Government that, these articles were all

dolt could be granted, consistent, with .their opi-
nions of the best interests of the_British empire,
thele is no longer any hope of effecting this de-
sirable object by negociatjon. It remainsfor Con-
gress to determine what course is to b.e pursued, , It
it—were possible to. separate the interest of one
class. of the commtunity from !bat of another, it

must be obvious that, however t4cal to the navi.

owl., the present state ot,things is not injurious
to the cultivator. of the ;soil. The productions -of
his labour are carried with facility to a ready

market, and he receives in return all tbose arti-
cles which taste and habit have, rendered necA-
sary to his -comfort. But this .separation is
impossible, and the necessary connexion be-
tereeo the two interests is apparent, when it
is remembered, that the competition of Ame-
rican with lot eign navigation is essential to
keep the ex pence of transportation, always
paid by the cultivator and consumer. If this
iit-
,lury is not now iippat cot, it will ultimately be felt
when the total ruin of the naeig 'Hog interest will
deprive us of the power to remedy the evil. The
Committee forbear to press those important con-
siderations of preparation for national defence so in-
separably connected with the inquiry. They feel that
there is on this point but one sentiment among
the Representatives of the People and in the Na-
dolt. • Experience, prudence, gratitude for the
glory sited upon, our country, .and the confident
and .lelightfol anticipation of, future renown, all
conspire to ensure the necessary sacrifices for the
nreservation and interest of the seamen of the
United Slates. This object, so far as it may
lie promoted by a participation in the cont-
mercial intercourse with the British American
Colonies, may.he effected by a trifling and tern-
put ary sacrifice of the _interests of agriculture.—
A slight knowledge of the situation of the British
West India Colonies authorizes the position, tWat
a commerce *with the United States is essential to
their prosperity, if not to their existence. The
best market for the sale of their snrplus products
is•__ found bete, while the grain, provisions, and
lumber, articles of the first_necessity, received in
returts, are pi beat ed on terms infinitely more 0-
vantageous than they are to be had for their use
in any other part of the world. But for occasional
supplies of those articles front the United States,
some of the islands wo;,ld be deserted by their-in,
habitants, or a change produced in thk it agrictl-.
tnrc, ruinous to their commercial interest. The
people of the United States are in a very different
situation. The British West India market is con-
venient. but not necessary to their accommoda-
tion. All the articles imported from them can
be procured • abundantly, upon terms equally ad-
vantageous, from other quarters. 'The annexed
tables, marked D• and E, show the amount of
imports of the chief articles of their product from
the British West- Indies, &c. and the proportion
it bears to the whole amount of imports of similar
articles from other-West India Islands, &c. Many
of these can be, and are procured from other quar-
ters of the world, with which commerce in Ame-
rican vessels is not restrained. The demand for
all can he supplied without a recourse to t be British
West India Islands, and a supply from other toar-•
ters will be obtained by toe employment of Ame-
rican vessels and American 'seamen, iu common
with the vessels and seamen of the country from
which it may be brought. The Only danger to
be apprehended is, that the cultivator, losing
the British West India. market for the sale
of Iris exports, would lose with it the ability
to procure the commodities lie formerly receiv-
ed in return. The extent of this danger de-
pends upon the correctness of the Position laid
down—that this commerce is essential to the Bri-
tish :West India Islands, and only convenient to
the United States. If the necessaries of life can,
only be, or are procured on terms infinitely more
advantageous here than any where else, it follows
they will still be carried to the British IVest Indies,
it not directly under a Convention between the two
Governments, circuitously through some mutually
friendly port. It is perfectly true that the Nest

/mild Islands are capable of producing all that is
necessary for their own subsistence ; but this
must be at the expence of their commercial

importance ; the abandonment of the most
profitable, for, to them, an unprofitable cul-
tivation. The general use and consequent
high juice cif West India produce will ensure
a,confinuance of the usual course of agriculture,
and will, as heretofore, operate as a bounty upon
the growth of bread stuffs in the United States,
In favourable ,seasons and in. peaceful times,
Europe affords a surplus of huthan ailment, atilt
supplies arc to be fouhd on the- African coast of
the Meditcrranein ; but these come loaded with

he increased expeocts ao,dthc dangers of the

I lengthened transportation of heavy articles. In
the event of one of those desolating tempests, of
but too frequent occurrence inithese otherwise fa-
: roared regions, destroying, in" an instant the la-
bours of a life, and scattering the hoards collected
by p:udence for the subsistence of the colony, the
distance It ont these places of relief renders timely
assistance to the on fort un at e impossi bl e. Tie North
American colonies cannot furnish these necessary.
supplies. The navigation of the principal river
which cart ies the greatest portion of her stores to
the ocean, is closed the better part of the year, and
is not practicable at that season which is usually
walked by these calamities. It is believed, too,
that by far the lrrgest portion of the.apparent exw•
ports of Canada of bread soars, and even of lumber,
&c.- are carried. front the United States. There
must be at all times a dependence, to a certain ex- •
tent,: upon this country. And it
,a conventional
relaxation is not produced by a prohibition of•this
direct intercourse, or the imposition of such
charges as shall amount almost to prohibition, it
follows that.the trade will be circuitous. In this
event, the export trade, instead of being carried
on exclusively in British bottoms,- will be prose-
cuted itt American vessels, and the vessels of that
foreign nation in whose ports the parties may, by
tacit arrangement, meet for the exchange'of their
commodities The return cargoes, if of British
growth, under the Navigation Act of the
United States, be brbught wholly in American
vessels.

The only question remaining to be examined,
is as to the mode of effecting this. desirable result
—By total prohibition of all intercourse or by
burdensome charges on the trade, if confined to
British vessels ? The Corntr►ittee believe that the
latter is to he preferred, and have accordingly re-
ported a Bill.- There is•no essential difference be-
tween them, except as the one or the other is
more or less inconvenient in its" execution. The
effect of Onerous ditties is more slow, but equally
certain the pressure will soon be felt, and "the
beneficial consequences gradually follow. The
stream of commerce will easily and naturally flow
into the desired channel, without. the risk of those
dangers xvhiclf It sudden and violent effort to divert
it might produce. A short time will prove the ,

efficacy of this arrangement, and justify its con-
tinuance, modification, or abandonment. It is
recommended too by its facility of execution. It
requires no further alteration in the existing
laws. It is not necessary to arm; for its enforCe-
'trent, the petty officers of the customs with powers
dangerous and odious to a free people.
For further and more detailed information on
the subject of this report, the Committee refer the
Elouse to document marked F, furnished from
the Department of State.

[Accompanying this report was the Bill which
has been already announced in The National In-
telligeneer, by the title of " A Bill supplementary
to the Act regulating Duties on Imports and Ton-
nage ;" and the several statements, the substance
of which is noticed in the body of the report.
There is also a statement furnished from the De-
partment, and presumed to.be the production of
an intelligent American merchant, on the practi-
cal effect of the existing commercial treaty with
Great Britain.]