Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-12-20
A BLooDLEss VICTORY.


The following inteNig ence was comuati-
+ nicated in letter 10 the Editors of the
Boston Gazette,
Dafed al Saln Oh Saturday, Sesf-
!" The Messenger, capt.. Burlington; ar
rived here last evening from Amsterdam.
Lett the city on the goth and tha Texel
on the 22d Och, At the Tcxel he recei.
we'd the Amsterdam papers, from which
was read to him an account that Bonaharfe
had surrounded and taken PRISONERS $4,000
.dusfrians. There was no account Of any
battle from which this event resulted. You
will therefore perceive, that though it is
probable the hostile armies have come in
10 contact, this must be very Imperfect
account of the circumstance"
No further particulars have reached us
ofthis novel * strange event.--Boss. Gaz.
Capt. Luckett, of the schooner Inland.
who arrived at Alexandra in . days from
Cape Francois. informs, that three days
before he sailed, boat belonging to one
OF the British fiiga,rs efuizing off shere,
came in, and the purser informed, that a
brig ofI4 guns, fIom Gonaives, supposed
TO be the Orion, OF Baltimore, had fallen
in with two French privateers in the Cal.
cos passage, and after desperate engage
ment had been captured, and every per-
son on board massacred.
! Inthe George Barclay arr;vedin Hamp.
ton Roads, from Liverpool, came passen-
| ger, Col. John Mercer, late one Of the
Commissioners for the United States at
Paris, and Secretary 10 the Embassy 10
/ France.
! Since the era Of the leading political d.
visions subsisting IN the United States,
public opinion has, at no time, been so un.
equivocslly expressed as in the designa-
lion of those who at present administer
1 out general concerns. From the memo.
rable period of the British treaty to the ter.
mination OF Mr. Adams's sill more memo.
fablc administration the scale OF powel
turned upon balance. The British trea.
~, aided By the mighty influence OF the
name Of Washington, went down butby 8
bare constitutional majority in the senate
snd by Jingle vote in The house Of re.
representatives.; Mr. Adams became presi
dent OF tie United States by majority o.
only three electoral votes, one ob:ained by
accident, another by fraud, and the last b.
an eleelor voting in direet opposition e
the will Of his constituents. In the nous,
of representatives, so equi-poissd were
parties, that IL required the greatest exer
lions, and even some sacrifices, to insure
bare majority 10 favor Of that ill-conceiv
ed and clumsy shapeo system OF mea
: sures, which have since received from al
Indignant nation the sppellollon OF th,
reign of terror. During the heeting mo
ments OF this gentleman's power, suci
E was the chaos of the cabinet, if the phrss
be allowed, that nothing bat the pressur
{ Of external danger, and the spproschin
{ period of a new election enabled him [
, preserve his seat. Again the name {
: Washington was forced irto the politics
, scene, and high Offices coferred on me
1 previously the avowed enemies ofthe me'
I sures pursued. But all this machiner
r was fruitess. Power thus obtained, an
S supported BY such expedienls, became
I very day rnoie aud more feeble and pr
( carIoUs; until, alter a stormy period
4 four years, during which the most vindI
b tive feelings were kept IL constant aeiI'
: ", and theacountry held in an amphib'o
D state OF neither peace nor war, the u
: was turned, and The present sdmiuistra