Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1808-10-10

the American nation. -But Mr.. JEFF
| ferfon has Ihewn himftlf too mach
the fave Of Bonaparte, has been too
partial to all his ambitious fchemes ;
and too inimical TO England, TO re-
ceive any token of refped from En-
g;iih patriots, sf1embled to honor the
Deputies of lhofs Patriots who are
fhedding their blood freely, to eman-
cipate their country from the fangs
of the tyrant, whom MIR. Jeferlon
delighteth 10 honor The following
is Sir Francis's letter:
To tie Ediss, " ID. MoRNiuc CHRONICLE.
SIR,
If the dissatisfaction which followed the
toait gave at the public dinner laff week, by
manv luppofed TO have been The PRECEDENT
# The United States" but actually " The
PRECEDENT and United States of Ame,ieo," had
been confined to the company prefent, |
fhoud have confdered any blame that might
have attached to me fully removed by the
general appreciation exprefed afterwards at
my conduct but as it has excited much OBJ
ferva,ien. | mult requelt your Indulgence to
iniert a few lines in publication of myielf.
! have always confdered it TO be the duty
of Chairman TO act with impartiality and
propriety, and not 10 introduce any toal at a
public dinner in a clandeRine manner. To
prove that | had no fuch intention, the toafts
were printed, with tranflation, for the in
formation of the viiitors, and distributed az
the table at which | fat, although | believe,
they were only partially circulated at the 9TH
err tables All the friendly Governments, with
their REFLECTIVE SoVereigns, were given in
regular fuccefion--Spaia, Portugal, Srgs1ez,
Sicily, concluding with Aneriea. My ftuztion
was public one it was not permitted for
me TO indulge private opinion or feeling
ltrid impartiality and correct proprety de-
manded that (hould propofe, and not omit
AmericG, with whom we are in amity and
tina, country on an equal
footing with the rell An American Minif-
ter Is here-we have Minilter in Aseyica--
a (fate of peace muf therefore be fnppofed TO
eIil I; and IL would have been prefumption
for me, in the Chair of 70 Respectable an az
fembly, and in the prefence of his Maielfy
Minilfe-s, to have decided whether the pref
cnt fate Of the connexions between the two
was more or lels friendly Under
thefe circumstances, ! muf coafefs thar feel
neither doubt nor difficulty in referring my
conduct to the judgment of every difpaiIion-
ate perfon. To acculations of party motives.
or felf intereffed meanBefs, I can oppofe with
confidence long life pafed under the eyes
of many who were prefent and Aatter my
feif, that its uniform tenor renders il unne-
ceiIary for me TO enter into any further de-
fence am, Sir, your mon humble fervant,
FRANCIS Barring.
HW-Sf,eet, ing. IL, 1903.
Though it is matter of fome re-
greet that Sir Francis Barring, by indif-
creetly propoGng the health Of the
Proficient of America as toaft, at
the Meeting which did 70 much hon.
or to the city of London on ThurE-
day lat, fhould run the hazard Of
diiturbing IT'S harmony, yet as no
fuch effect was produced, we are not
altogether forty that Sir Francis did
70, as the PRECEDENT of the United
States will now have a full oppor-
tunity Of knowing how his conduit
and character are appreciated in
this country A few political PAM
phlets againlf him might be conGder-
ed as the refult of private pique and
disappointment, but as the whole
world cannot produce more refpec-
table, enlightened, and liberal body
than thoie who competed that Meet
ing, he will fee how his character is
etinated by men who are above all |
narrow prejudices, and would not
fuffer any perfonal considerations to !
prevail over enlarged views of ma
tional policy. That Mr.. Jeferfon
has. upon many occaGons, acted !
with an evident holfllity towards this |
country cannot be denied-that this
country has made every overture to
the United States for the preferva-
ton Of harmony, confident with its
proper character, will alto admit of
no difpute. Nay, it may fairly AMI
truly be faid, that Great Britain has
fhewn greater fpirit Of Cancellation
to America than ihe had right to
expect, and that no other nation
could politely think Of requiring.
Still, however, nothing could foften
the determined diilike which Mr..
Jefftrfon has manifeaed towards
this country; and not ia;is6ed with
that, he has fhewn as evident fub-
ierviency to our unrelenting foe. 1t
was right, therefore that Mr. J.fer-
ion fhould know that he is NOT mere
ly an Object of cenfure 70 orr marty