Star.
London, England, 1811-01-16 00:00:00

11.1.1111110•"-- •

IIIIMW•m---

AMERICAN PAPERS.

, ,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, DECEMBER L
No business was done ifs-the House to-day until
welve o'clock, At which time the President's message
was received. The reading of the message and ac-
:ompanying documents was continued about two
tours and a half, when Mr.Trtoup moved to dispense
Nith the further reading of them on account of their
rreat length.
Mr. Prrxtx objected to this. Some of the docu-
ments might not be very interesting, but others might
5e of the highest importance, and he wished to hear
hem read. He referred particularly to the corres-
pondence of General Armstrong and the documents
relative to the taking possession of Florida, which
last circumstance, he said, was perfectly new to him
until this day. The documents were certainly volu-
minous, but for that reason they would require the
more time to be printed, and it was important that
the House should know their contents as soon as pos-

alum.
The SPEAKER put the question on Troup's motion,
and it was lost. The reading of the documents was
then resumed, and continued for about an hour more,
but the House adjourned before they were gone
through.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.

Whereas the territory south of the Mississippi Ter-
ritory, and eastward of the Mississippi, and extending
to the river Perdido, of which possession was not de-
'vered to the United States, in pursuance of the
treaty concluded at Paris on the 30th of April 1803,
has at all times, as is well known, been considered
and claimed by them, as being within the colony of
Louisiana conveyed by the said treaty in the same ex-
tent that it had in the hands of Spain, and that it had
when France originally possessed it :
And whereas the acquiescence of the United States
in the temporary continuance of the said territory i
under the Spanish authority was not the result of any
distrust of their tide, as has been particularly evinced
by the general tenor of their laws and by the distinc-
tion made in the application of those laws between
that territory and foreign countries ; but was occa-
sioned by their conciliatory views, and by a con&
dente in the justice of their cause, and the success of
candid succession and amicable negotiation with a
just and friendly Power :
. And whereas a satisfactory adjustment, too long
delayed, 'without the fault of the United States, has
for some time been entirely suspended by events over
which they'had no centroul ; 'and whereas a crisis has
it length arrived subversive of the order of things
under the Spanish Authorities, whereby a failure of
the United States to take the said territory into its
possession may lead to events ultimately contraven
mg the views of both parties, whilst in the mean time
the tranquillity and security of our adjoining territo-
ries are endangered, and new facilities given to viola-
tions of our revenue and commercial laws, and of
those prohibiting the introduction of slaves:
Considering, moreover, that under these peculiar,
and imperative circumstances a forbearance on the
part of the United States to occupy the territory in
question, and thereby guard against the confusions
and contingencies which threaten it, might be con-
strued into a dereliction of their title, or an insensibi-
lity,to the importance of the stake ; considering that
in the hands of the United States it will not cease to
be a subject of fair and friendly negotiation and
jtutrrlcntn t
Considering, finally, that the Acts of Congress,
though contemplating a present possession by a fo-
reign authority, have contemplated also an eventual
possession of the said territory by the United States,
and are accordingly so framed as in that case to ex-
tend in their operation to the same
Now be it known, that I, J. Madison, President of
the United States of America, in pursuance of these
weighty and urgent considerations, have deemed it
right and requisite that possession should be taken of
the said territory, in the name and behalf of the Uni-
ted States
W. C. C. Claiborne, Governor of the Orleans ter-
ritory, of which the said territory is to be taken as
part, will accordingly proceed to execute the same ,
and to exercise over the said territory the authorities
and functions legally appertaining to his office. And
the good people inhabiting the same, are invited and
enjoined to pay due respect to him in that character ;
to be obedient to the laws, to maintain order, to cherish
harmony, and in every manner to conduct themselves,
as peaceable citizens, under full assurance that they
will be protected in the enjoyment of their liberty,
property, and religion.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the Seal of the
United States to be hereunto affixed, and signed
the same with my hand.
S.)—Done at the City of. Washington. the 27th day of
October, A.D. 1810, mid in the 35th year of the inde•
pendence of the United States. (Signed)
JAbfts MADISON.
By the President, R. SMITH, Secretary of State.
[The Proclamation for taking possession of the
Territory of Orleans was accompanied by a Letter
from Mr. Secretary Smith, stating, that force should
not be employed against the Spaniards who might
be in possession of any particular place, but that re-
ference should be- made to the Government of the

United States.]
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 11.
The following letter, dated November 15, 1110,
from our Secretary of State, to our Minister in Lon-
don, was among the documents read in Congress os
Wednesday last, communicated for The Commercial
Advertiser.
MR. SMITH TO MR. PINICNEY.
" Sir—From a view of the conduct of the British
Government, in relation to a Plenipotentiary Succes-
eor to Mr. Jackson, as presented in your several corn.
munications, including even those brought by the
Hornet, nt which date, and on which inviting occa-
lioq the subject does not appear to have been within
tle attention of Government, the President thinks it
improper, that the United States should continue to
be represented at London by a Minister Plenipoten-
tiary. In case, therefore, the appointment of a succes-
sor to Mr. Jackson, of that grade, shauld have taken
place at the receipt of this letter, you will consider
your functions as suspended, and you will accordin&ly
. ritke your leave of absence, charging a ht .person
with
the atfairs of the Legation.
ft Considering the season at which this Wu-nail*

~~~

7

~..

_ y

... . ~ : ~

. . •.

~_

~. > ..

•
t

'

,

. •

FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE.
DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 14,1811.
A Dispatch, of which the following id a copy, was yesterday re.
ceived at the Office of the 13aF1 of Liverpool, addressed to his
Lordship by Lieutenant-General Viscount Wellington, dated

Cartuo, Dee. if, 1111111:
Mx Lion--The enemy still continue in their posi-
tion at Santarem, in which no alteration of copse-
, quence has been made siace I addressed your Lord-
tip on the 15th instant.
I They continue to collect boats on the Zezere, Over
which river they have now two or three bridges.
IThe enemy -have they'll themselves on the Lower
Coa, according to the last accounts from General Sil-
-1 vein, but not, in his opinion, in'such force as to pass
that river. The reports which I had received of the
march of the troops of the 9th corps towards Madrid
have not been confirmed.
The last accounts which I received from Cadiz are
of the £l,th instant.—l have, &cc. (Signed)

WeLLDIGTOIif.
The following Extract of a Dispatch from Lord Viscount
lington, dated Caruso, December 29, 1810, bat been received
at the Once of the Earl of Liverpool.
Since. I addressed you on the 22d instant, f have
received reports that the enemy's troops-which had
retired from the Lower Beira, in thr erd °Mar and
beginning of this month, had crossed the Coe at Al-
meida, on the 15th and Ipth instant, and had moved
into Upper Beira, by the roads of Pitthel and Train°.
so, and of Alverea and Celerico.
I have not been able to ascertain exactly the strength
of the body of troops which have entered by this iron-
tier, but it is stated to be 16,000 or 17,000 men, and
consists, I should imagine, not only of Gardanne's
vision, but of some, it not the whole of the troops of
the 9th corps.
By the last accounts I have of these troops, the ad-
vanced guard had arrived at Maceira, in the valley of
Mondego, on the 22d, and their progress has not been
rapid. But it they have continued their march, they
ought by this time to be in communication with the
enemy's post in the neighbourhood of Thomar. •
General Silveira had retired with his division of
troops to Moimento de Beira ; but be and General
Miller and Colonel Wilson were prepared to act across
the Mondego upon the flanks and rear of the enemy's
troops, the whole of which it appears, were marching
on the left of that river.
No 'alteration has been made in the position of the
enemy's troops in front of this army, excepting that
a detachment of between 2 or 3000 cavalry and in-
fantry had moved into Lower Beira, across the Ze-
zere towards Castello Branco, probably with a view
to gain intelligence.
By accounts from Estremadura, it appears that
Generals Mendizabal and Ballasteros have had some
success in their operations against a French division
belonging to Mortier's•corps, which had been statio-
ned in LTerena, They have obliged this division to
retire from Guadalcanal with some loss.
(For the remainder of the C*zette see the last Page.

P.IALIAMEN7'ARr PROCEEDINGS.