Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-15
FROM THE AURORA.
THE NEW EpocHA.


The laws for establishing an embargo, ap-
pear to be yet deficient, n-as-much as no
regulation was made concerning American
vessels, then in foreign seas. Had there
oeen clause declaring the registers and o.
ther 2u'henticating papers, possessed by a.
ny American vessel, to be invalid and null,
and of no effect, which vessel should not
have returned to the u. s within period
proportioned to the distance or length Of
her voyage, the measures would have been
more effective, and our neutrality and cur
neutral character have been better esta
biished and respected.
Bur III this neTo efiochd, when nothing that
has happened could be well foreseen from
any experience of former times, il is no, so
much matter OF surprize as of regret, that
I the sagicity OF congress did not pc ceive the
defect, and foresee the wsnt of some such
provision
There are advices from London and
from Paris in this city, which are of very
interesting and decisive character, as to the
views and dispositions of the two govern
men,s towards the u. S.
Whether the dispositions of France arise
from profound policy or disposition foun
ded on an enlarged liberality, or on any O..
ther better or worse motives, is not so ma.
terai to this nation at this moment, as to
| Know that no muister az Paris has been
! treated with more openness and unreservc
than gen. Armstrong, nor is any govern
ment IN Europe spoken of with expressions
! OF greater !lperallty. Indeed there appears
10 be perfect acquaintance with the in
trigues s. corruption of GreatRritain, s. her
commercial influence inthe sea ports of the
| u. s.
4 M l,t a.,
or relations, conversing with gentleman
who tarried few days with gen. Arms
| rongs alking OFT the case of a vessel detained.
expressly sad, that the French government
were in full possession Of the evidence, thai
the American flag was used by the British
| government to -irtw supplies of brandy for
IT'S ieets, from France To draw silver bull
lion from Spain and Portugal To draw raw
! silk from the Genoese and Floren.ne coasts,
! and from Sicily, and to smuggle the British
( manufactures, and carry back remittance
! from Frarce to England.
| Eie stated further, that vessels Of this
description were employed to Carry spies to
| the continent, and TO br ng back TO England
the reports oftheir deliberations, and that
/ many persons acting actually as spies were
sent out under the name of supercargoes.
! The American gentleman upon this OBJ
served, that such acts of the British govern
ment, or Of British merchants, could not be
attributed to the American government !:
/ nor ought the honest flag and fair Ameri-
can trader to be condemned indiscriminate-
ly with them.
/ 1t was admitted that the case was hard
! one-but show rs it possible to diScrimi-
nate your own commercial agents cannot
! determine which are the true or which
| the false papers all tile forrnalities, and
even the hand writing Of your publick Off
! GERS appear equally perfect and alike; we
| have no alternative bur the total and indis-
| or inmate exclusion of every vessel that
has been III England, and their condemna-
ton if they enter our ports" He added,
/ you see that vessels bearing foreign am
bassadors, our allies, are not admitted from
England"
| This discourse, which has been repeat
ed to as much more at large, took place a
very short time ago; aud it was stated that
the French government was perfectly
ware "that the acrmony and hostility a.
! gaiust France, which appeared from the
| American presses, was not of American,
but OF British produc ion which at one
period, before it was properly understood,
had excited some dissatisfaction, but had
lost its Importance with Acknowledge of its
true origin.
1t was alleged in London, that decree
had been issued at Bayonne, by the French
emperor, for carrying into port aud detain-
ing every vessel found at sea, bearing the
American flag, after the 2Sth of April.
/ This decree IS reported to have been ac-
companied by some explanations of lis
Cause and views; but are not more dis
tinctly or intelligibly reported than those
OF the Milan decree were on the FIRST adyi-
ces but it IS said to have alleged, that as
the American government had laid an
embargo on all It's merchant vessels, that
vessels which carry that hsg now, have Ell
Their abandoned the laws Of their country
lire in open opposition TO them--are en-
ployed in the service Of the enemy of
France--or are enemies disguised under a
neutral hag-and are therefore to be
brought into port.
There can be very little doubt from the
spirit Of CHS report, that such decree
has been ISSUED, AID there can be as little
doubt that it will be acted upon and we
presume that instead Of being taken by the
enemies Of the public peace, as another
proof OF the wisdom and discretion of our
government in laying the Embargo--that