Star.
London, England, 1811-09-11 00:00:00

•

quired to remove the difficulty of the b.
to believe, against evideace and notorious
the French Decrees are repealed ; and subscriu,
this falsehood, he is in addition, to retrluVllP the Ordet s
in Council. While all this is required of Mr. Foster
nothing ►s demanded of Mr. Serrurier ; we hear not
a word of him ; and, to give the finishing stroke to
the deception attempted to be practised upon the
public, and to heighten the audacity of the Executive,
it is almost confessed in so many words, that Con-
gress is convened, and the rupture with Mr. Foster
was occasioned by that Gentleman's not taking it for
granted that the French Decrees were repealed, and
making an arrangement upon this absurd and erro-
neous presumption."
BALTIMORE, JULY 30.
The National Intelligencer, when conducted by its
former Editor, was distinguished for decorum of lan-
guage and expression of American feelings. Under
the present Editor, it has become a vehicle of un-
blushing misrepresentation of the conduct of France
towards the United States. On the 15th of June, in
opposition to well-authenticated information of the
daily outrages committed on American vessels by
French cruizers that have left France since the 2d of
November last, and had accidentally escaped the
cruizers of England, that paper asserted that France
had complied with 64 the letter of our law," which
required that the Berlin and Milan Decrees should
cease to have operation so far as they related to the
United States. Notwithstanding the high degree of
indignation felt and expressed at the time by all Re-
publicans, uninfluenced by foreign attachments, at so
shameful a misrepresentation in a paper at the seat of
Government, the usual channel of official communi-
cation, its Editor has again the hardihood to insult
the American people by repeating the assertion, ac-
companied with the observation that we do not
often sport our opinions on slight foundation, or sub-
stitute for facts the result of vague conjecture." It
is true that certain vessels have been permitted to en-
ter their cargoes in France ; but it is no less true, that
the same vessels were no wise involved in the opera-
tion of these Decrees: they sailed from this country
direct to France, under positive assurances of a
friendly reception; instead of which, on their arrival,
they were placed in a state of suspense, and detained
at a great expense for several months : and because
these vessels were not added to the plunder of Napo-
leon, the Editor of the intellizencer boldly asserts,
" not only that the Berlin and Milan Decrees are re-
scinded as to us, but that their recission takes date
2d of November last, on which our proclamation wall
issued: it is thus reduced to a certainty that France
has complied with the letter of our law of Novem-
ber, 1810 ;" when at the same time he knew that the
vessels mentioned in the letter of the Duke of Bas-
sano were unconnected with these decrees. In the
Duke of Bassano's letter there is not the slightest in-
timation of remuneration for the American vessels
burnt by the cruizers of France, since the 2d of No-
vember, or restitution of a single American vessel
that has been captured and carried into France after
the 2d of November; thus reducing it to a certainty
that France has not complied with our law of May,
1810.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN OF RE-
SPECTABILITY AND INFORMATION, DATED WASH-
INGTON, JULY 21, 1811.
" 1 regret that I c.in give no satisfactory answer
to your enquiries. The Administration. appears to
be deeper than ever under French influence.' To
me there is now little prospect of a settlement with
j Mr. Foster, and GOD only knows what will be the
consequence. Smith's publication seemed to embarrass
them for a while, but they appear now to be quite
callous. In short, they have no sense of shame left,
if they ever had any ; and that thick-skulled Gales,
who is their mouth-piece, continues to assert that Bo-
! naparte's decrees, violating our commerce, are re-
' pealed, although no person pretends to believe him.
All persons agree, that it is very disgraceful in the
Administration to make such assertiuns, as it cannot
alter the true state of things ; and falsehoods, that
nobody believes, might as well not be told : but wick-
! edness and ignorance necessarily accompany each
: other.

The present ill-advised and anti-neutral non-im-
portation law, does not appear to affect the people in
this quarter so much as those of the south, owing to
the high price which flour has borne (thanks to the
Portuguese and Spanish Patriots) ; but we fear the
operation upon your eastern folks( the sturdy yankees)
will be too oppressive to be q tietly endured, and that
you will be driven to the direful necessity, and, I
conceive, no imaginary necessity, of a separatioti.—
A traveller says the thing is much talked of in Con-
necticut ; and I should not be surprised if a Conven-
tion was called. You know my opinion has ever been
strongly against that fatal measure; but I am sensi-
ble, man cannot always bear insults and injuries with-
out resentment. No man has more pointedly repro-
bated the Virginia politics than I have ; and I believe
• throughout Maryland they are detested, as the de-
struction of commerce is as injurious to Maryland as
to New England.
Madison has shewn himself wholly incompetent
to the administration of the Government, except upon
Virginia principles. You know he is a link timid, l
wavering, prejudiced man ; and that hatred of Eng-
land and bias to France, render him a very unsuitable
person to have any concern with the Government at
so critical a juncture. Even his friends, or those who
have been partial towards him, appear to give him
up—and I much doubt whether they will again sup-
port him as a candidate for the Presidency. It is cu-
rious, and at the same time a melancholy fact, that
we should have had hut one man in all things suita-
ble for a President,. and there should have been a,de-
terioration by grades in every successor. Mr. Adams
was a very considerable grade below Washington—
Jefferson much below Adams—and Madison themost
miserable of all. But, upon reflection, it seems as if
. we ought to pray for his continuance, lest the
should come next. It is the better opinion here, that
French intrigue and influence will prevent a settle-
ment with Foster, and that a war with England must
° be the inevitable consequence ; of this there remains
no doubt, since the information given by Mr. Pinkdey.
And what a wretched situation would such a war
produce I This you can more easily imagine than I
can describe. New England would say; ""
0 Virginia, are thy fruits, and we will no
suffer yos to rule over us—we will separate."

'! . ti,

ITOM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
DOWNING-ft/MEET, SEPTEMBER 10.
His Royal Highness the Prince Regent hash been pleased, in
the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, to appoint Lieute-
nant General Sir George, Frew st, Bart. to be Captain General
and Governer in Chief in and over the Provinces of Upper and
Lower Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Islands
of Prince Edward and Cape Breton.
His Royal Highness. the Prince Regent bath been pleased, In
the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, to appoint Lieutenant
General Sir George Prevost, Bart. to be Commander of his Ma-
jesty's Forces in Upper and Lower Canada, Nuva Scotia, and
New Brunswick, aad in the Islands of St. John, Cape Breton.
Newfoundland, and the Bermudas.
ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, SEPTEMBER in.
Copy of a Letter from Captain Ferris, of his Majesty's ship
Diana, addressed to Rear-Admiral air Thomas Williams, am'
transmitted by Admiral Sir Charles Cotton to John W
Croker, Esq.
Sl:t—l have the honour to inform you, that while
standing towards the Cordovan:Light-house, in com-
pany with his Majesty's ship Semiramis, in the after-
noon of the (24th inst. I discerned four sail inside of
the shoals at the mouth of the river Gironde, under
escort of a National brig of war. I meditated either
their capture or destruction, which could only be ac-
complished by artifice and promptitude, without the
sacrifice of many lives. Stratagem was used, which
had the desired effect, as they sent a vessel with pilots
:ci our assistance, and I anchored after dark the two

ships midway between the Cordovan and Royan,
under whose guns the brig had taken refuge, and
close to the brig stationed for the protection of the
several convoys passing either wky. I dispatched
three boats under the orders of Lieutenant Sparrow
(second), Lieutenant Roper (third), and Mr. Holmes
Master's Mate, from this ship, seconded by four boats
under the orders of Lieutenants Gardner, Grace, and
Nicholson, and Mr. Reneau master's mate, from the

Semiramis, to capture or destroy the convoy thee an.
chored up the river, about four miles distant, but the
tide prevented their accomplishing it until late in the
night, and at day-light, finding the captured vessels
with the boats far up the river beyond the two brigs,
I determined to attack them with the ship, but not
without using the same artifice as the preceding night
to prevent suspicion ; and so convinced were they of
our being friends that the Captain of the port, Mon-
sieur Michel Auguste Dubourg, Capitaine de fregate,
and commanding the in-shore brig, came on board to
offer his services, and was not undeceived until he
had ascended the quarter-deck. The Diana laid the
outer brig on hoard, and Lieutenant Robert W. Par-
sons (First Lieutenant), Lieutenant Madden, First
of the Royal Marines, and Mr. Mark G. Noble boat-
swain, headed about thirty seamen and marines, (as
many as could be spared by the absence of the boats)
and succeeded in gaining possession of his Majesty's
late gun-brig Teazer, mounting twelve eighteen.
pound carronades, and two long eighteen-pounder
guns, commanded by Monsieur Alex. Papineau,
Lieutenant de Vaisseau, with a compliment of 85
men, and without loss on either side. It adds to the
lustre these officers and men achieved, the humanity
they displayed to the overpowered captives in putting
them below without the force of arms and an unne-
cessary effusion of blood. It was at this time that
alarm was given and the batteries opened their fire
upon .the ships, when Captain Richardson in the Se-
imiramis, in a manner which characterises the officer
and seaman, pursued, drove on shore, and burnt, un-
der the guns of the batteries, the French national
brig Le Pluvier, mounting 16 guns and 136
whose Captain, I have before spoken of, was d=
ed on board.
Having obtained to the utmost the object in view,
I anchored in the Gironde, out of gun-shot, to repair
the damages sustained by the different vessels, u hen
I was rejoined by the boats and the captured convoy,
a list of which I have the honour to enclose. The
services I received from Captain Richardson, the
Officers and ship's company of the Semiramis, merit
my warmest acknowledgements, and I should be
committing a great injustice to the Officers and ship's
company I command, were 1 not to speak in terms
of the highest admiration for their steadiness and zeal
throughout the whole affair. And could I add
stronger encomiums to one than another, it would be
from the great assistance I received from Lieutenant
R. W. Parsons and Mr. David Bevan: the Master,
whose unremitted attention in piloting the ship in thr
most intricate navigation, greatly tended to insure
the object of pursuit. I also enclose you a letter I
received from Captain Charles Richardson, narrating
of
his attack dpon the brig, and enclosing a list '
wounded in the affray ; and I regret to add that I
Jost one man overboard, after the brig was in our
full possession. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) W. Faants, Captain.
His Majesty's Ship Semiramis, Royan Roads, August 26.
Sils—l have the honour to report to you, that as
soon as the Diana ran on board the enemy's outside
brig, her consort, at anchor in-shore of her, imme.
diately cut her cable and made sail for the beach,
near the battery of Royan, where she grounded. I
followed in to five fathoms, anchoring with a sprin I
the broadside was brought to bear on the enece
brig, and bow guns on the battery, within
shot of both.
After engaging some time, I found the guns of the
enemy's vessel almost silenced, and perceived the
boats haul up to quit her.
At this time the barge, pinnace, and cutter re-
joined me : I ordered Lieutenant Gardner with these
boats immediately to board the enemy, which was
gallantly effected after receiving his broadside. She
proved to be the French national brig Pluvier, of le
guns and 136 men, commanded, pro tempore, by
Lieutenant Page de St. Waast.
The prize being fast on shore, the ebb tide running
most rapidly, and my own ship in only 20 feet water,
I found it necessary to take the remainder of her
people out and burn her, which, when completely
effected, I made all sail to join you.
I have but to add in this little affair, my officers
and ship's company behaved entirely to my satisfac-
tion ; and I feel much indebted to my First Lieutenant
Gardner, Second Lieutenant Grace, and Mr. Reneau
Master's Mate, commanding the boats, for the hand-
some manner in which they ran alongside the enemy.
Lieutenant Taylor qi the Marines, and Mr. Brick-
wood, Purser, being the only Officers on board, were

a war of the greatest use, the tormer commanding the main
than I deck, and the later the quarter-deck guns.
hate the honour to be, Sta.
Totesa;se
(Signed) C. RICRAIRINIOND Captain.
r. 8. Inclesedis the Berseetee Lietof the wends&