Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-30
FROM THE AURORA.

AN article appeared in Rclf's Gazette of
Saturday evening, which from the nature
OF the circumstances to which it relates, we
think proper TO copy and to notice.
FROM THE PHILADELPHIA GAZETTE.
An act marked with singular presump-
tlon and arrogance occurred in this CITY YES
terday afternoon. A Delaware pilot who
had been boarded off tie Capes by British
cruiZer from Halifax, and entrusted with
packet directed to the British minister,
Mr. Erskine, s. endorsed by admiral Berke-
ley, yesterday reached town; on his way
to deposit the packet in the post Office, he
tell into conversation with person oppo-
site the Aurora Office, to whom he Showed
the packet. This person, upon hearing the
circumstance, took possession of the pack
ct, and delivered it To the editor of the Au-
rora, who has since fused to deliver it I'M.
alledging that he had forwarded it to the
President of the United States The pilot
has made oath to the circumstances Of the
case. Mr. Erskine is now in this city.
"Mark how plain tale WILL set them
down''-a person whom the editor never
saw before nor since, presented a packet,
concerning which The explanation agrees
generally with the above account of its re-
ceipt, but differing in some hariicuIars-it
was stated to have been put on board an
American vessel, accompanied by abuse 8,
menaces If it was not delivered, with ma
ny oppro5rious epithets of Yankee rascal
and the like, by British armed shin.
Why or wherefore this paper should have
been brought to the editor, sitting quietly
in the bosom of his family, was not to he
accounted for. But it was put into the edi-
tors hands, and there remained no other
consideration for the editor how to act, but
that he should at once defeat artifce if
there was any northumberland take care
that if it was really no impo5ture "thc man
Shonid haze his mare"
The thing looked very suspicious OIL its
outside; it appeared TO be, and perhaps
may turn out to be, what the editor sus-
poets, pamphlet, or couple of English
newspapers for there was not even a seal
upon tit was superscribed Gin his Bri-
fannie majesty's service" and addressed
to the ambassador of Great Britain.
For Mr. Erskine as private gentleman,
and rs the son OF the late chancellor of En-
gland, there can be no motive for disres-
pect or even the want Of respect. But the
editor of this paper has neither the Dioffyr
nor the means, of information, which Mr..
KEY has to know where the British ambas-
sador holds his occasional residence.
But if the editor did know, and he did
not know until three hours after he had dis
patched the packet to the seat of tho gene.
raj government, the usual and the proper
residence of all ambassadors, yet nc should
not have acted otherwise than I've has done
and which he would do tomorrow with the
knowledge of Mr. Erskine's presence. ifhe
should be presented with packet in the
same way.
That there should be no mistake in the
motives, they shall be very fully, explicitly.
and unreservedly explained.
1t is well known both from the conduct Of
the agents and the corrupt adherents ofthc
British government, that the AURORA Is
particularly obnoxious to them. One Of
their cmissarics, who from his E-ehne, in
the affair is competent evidence, has Dub.
licly declared, that the H,lrora under the
direction of its present editor, has cost M~
british government upwards Of n ruHfog
stCrGiHg This million must have been laid
out in some vay in the United States, for
1t is pretty evident that it hssnot been laid
OFT promoting the ACRoaA-otherp r:n-
ters must know.