Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-05-09

of this very useful building was saved. We
are sorry TO remark, that many were pre-
vented from gong 10 the FIRE, owing TO the
toll keeper of the new bridge exacting pay
ment-On such an occasion, we think the
gates should be thrown open, aid suggest
the propricty OF such directions 20 the Keep
er.
On Monday morning frame house at
the entrance OF the race field, was burnt
down,==rherc is no doubt but this fire was
the act of some diabol.cal incendi1ry, IS The
house was uninhabited.
=, -----<ss:s - Szs.-----
FROM THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENcEK.
-
The following is that part of the trial of
Sir Home Pohhanl, to which we referred
IN our last paper, as proving the p&rticipa
ton ofthe British administration In Nh
rd1da's Erhediio1.
In hi. defence sir Home Popham saws,
81 trust l shall be able to shew, that The
direction received was not only such as,
under the circumstances, was fairly admis-
sible, but such as the ministers, under
whose orders ! sailed to the Cape of Good
Hope, fully warranted by their concurrent
opihlons, 1T least by the concurrent opini-
ons of those who were understood by all to-
hold the leading influence in that admnis-
that an expedition to South America was
favorite object of Mr.. Pitt, that he had
1t in contemplation, and actually took some
steps to carry itinto execution in the course
of his former administration but that he
never lost sight OF il, being only restrained
from attempting the execution Of it By po-
lincal reasons, which no longer existed,
when felt it my duiy, for the interest of
my country, to proceed from the Cane of
Good Hope upon this long projected expo
dition. In The course OF the year1S a
change occurred in the government OF the
country; soon after which was apo MED
TO the Antelope IN The Downs, for the bur-
pose ot blockadng The harEor OF Bou,CgHc,
IN the abserce # admiral Louis. While
commanded that ship, lord NfelUilie then
h''Sf lord Of tie admiralty, correshonQed
with me on fhe sWoect ot -1qtraa az y ftan,
and ON my coming 10 iown IN me n,onlh IF
ocfo6er IN that yeef az SvhicA /.r7rod ne
hro6a6iEty eta SlanisA qUu,. maj iacreos-
ed his [ordshih directed mr. 10 consult a.
gain zcith gen. miranda, and 10 digest mn
tHeas on the suoIecE Of an e.r1seaiti1n a.
ga'nsf the Shd71Sh seEttemeH!8 az So1lh
.1Hne77cQ, IN tie form q u nenlozr. To The
best Of my recolleCtun, Gel Vol-eti this CO.
cnmcnt TO ord Melville, on tie 10Th of Oc-
tober5 1904. Shortly after, / was d.rCctcd
to attend MIR Pitt, at Wimu. eden, ii order
that ne might converse " til NE On the ya-
rlous points cOmpreheuded III my nemcir.
in the month of December, 1904, | was
sent for by his najesty's ministers To Deal,
and atthe same time the DIadem, to which
shIp was appointed, was put ia commits
sion ior the express purpose OF my proceed
Ing IN her on che intended expedition TO
oouth America. Various circumstance 5,
however, occurred to retard the execution
OF this project but with the exception of
the short interval of peace, it had never
been relinquished, from the moment when
the idea was first suggested. These facts,
as far rs lord Melville was concerned, his
lordship will substantate. In Iuly, 1905,
received an account Of the wtak state of
the garrison of the Cape OF Good Hone,
and also learnt that strong squadron was
expected there from France.
Conceiving that the Capture Of this set
titment, VIII le il would materially contri-
butte to promote the interest Of my country,
might likewise afford facilities to the pro-
Jected conquest OF the Spanish Dependent
cies on the East coast OF South America
which was main object in the mind of
Mr. Pitt, J Immediately proposed to him
that an armament should sill without de-
lay for the attack Of the Care. This pro-
PoSdi was dCCtuSu tOj ana, III the course OF
a lew days, received my instructions to
proceed in the Diaden, as commanding of
hoer of all his majesty's SHIPS and vessels
destined for that service. Mr. Sturgis
Bourne, then one Of the secretaries OF the
treasury, was present at the conversation
ia which here allude, and will currobo.
rate my account Of what passed on the &C :
casicn. On the 2sM Of lulu, 1906, Itook
Fn0t fcGUe Of Mr.. rim, gUifh zvhoDi I had
a long conOerSatioH on the o,fefnal 6,ojecf
Of an erhcdition 10 South Imc1-ica. MIR.
Pitt informed me that, from the negotiate
on then pending with Russia, it APPEARED
that the emperor Alexander was extreme
~ anxious to attach Spain to the coalition,
and that until that matter should be deter
mined, he (Mr. Pitt) felt a delicacv in re-
gard to the commencement Of hostile one
ratlons in South America but that, as
soon as possible after such an overture
should have been rejected bv the Spanish
court, 1t was his Fixed intention to enter ON
the original project, and attack Spain in
that distant, but most vulnerable quprter.
l lament extremely that any proceeding
should have made it necessary for me 10
state these particulars relative to the cal
culations upon Spanish alliance, but the
fault isnot mine. Any thing that serves
Shcw the value attached by those from
whom ! derived my appointment 90 tbat
tNans. Co. 3 ...s.-