The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-07-01
NETWORK, June 81.
Very late and IMPORTANT q!

ICfy tutc uNu tNIfOTtQNt
The ship Hantonia, Capt. Dolan, arrived
at this port yesterday in the short passage of
IS days from Cork.
BY this vessel the editors of the New-York
Gazette have received Cork Papers to the
18th May, containing London dates of the
9th.
The Usage arrived in England the 3oth
of April from France. OF the reception of
our demands on the French government will
be detailed below. Bonaparte, it seems, has
absolutely refused to revoke the DEGREES a
gainst English commerce, as far as relates
10 this country, and demands the closing Of
our ports against G. Britain, until maritime
peace
The following are the important particu-
lars.
LONDON, May 8.
The Usage is at length arrived with Mr.
Nourse, Mr.. Lewis and Mr. Morgan. They
left L'Oricnt on the goth and arrived at Fai-'
mouth last Saturday. Mr.. Lewis is the
bearer of the dispatches to France: Mr.
Nnurse Of the d::pa.ci!; &c III this Country
Fhey arrived both at Mr.. Pinkney's last
night.-The Usage, after her arrival at L'O-
rient on the 22d of March, was seized, be-
cause it had transpired that she had been
spoken by a British cruizer off that port. 1t
was only in consequence of the repeated re-
presentations of Cen Armstrong, that ss q. :
was finally released, and permitted to pro-
coed to England. Mr.. Nourse was not suf-
feTed III the first instance TO land. but after
remaining on board the Usage for about a
week. and it being stated that his health was
greatly impaired BY the VOYAGE, he was suf-
tered to go on shore and reside in the town
of L'Orient, but on no account was he to be
permitted to visit Paris. Mr.. Lewis, who
was the bearer of dispatches to the Anne
ricah minister there. could not procure
leave to proceed to Paris until after four
DAYS ~t.s
The intelligence brought by these gentle
men, is said to be strongly indicative Of a
war between America and France. Some
OF the last American papers had Informed
us that Bonaparte had declared his declara-
tion to have 10 neutrals that the oaly con-
ditions on which he would continue at peace
with the United States were that they should
shut all their ports against British shipping
OF every description and suspend all inter-
course with England for that in fact, he
would have no neutrals. Mr.. Lewis was
sent III the Usage with an answer to that de-
claration, and with a demand, according to
report, Of the abandonment of the decree of
the 21st November, 1906. Bonaparte refu-
sed this demand in tue most positive man
ner, and Gen. Armstrong was informed, that
the Declaration made to the American Co
vernment, u1ight be Considered as the Ill
timatum from which France would not de-
part.
In consequence of the probability Of a
speedy rupture, many of the Americans in
France had applied to the French Govern
ment for passports to leave the country, to
every one OF whom the request was refused
M Morgan, the gentleman before named.
made his escape on board the Osase. The
conduct of the French government towards
American shipping is severe in the ex-
treme.
It's added, that General Armstrong in his
last conference with the French Minister
stated,tthat as his instructions by no means
extended to the objects proposed by France,
he must Request, passports for himself and
all American citizens in France, who might
choose to return to their owr coiiDtrv.-
After repeating this application several
times, the request of General Armstrong
was refused.
The Usage spoke the Admiral of the
Brest Fleet OH her way from L'Orient.-
Previous to her departure from Torrent
the Captain was informed that he must NOT
return to a French port after visiting Eng
land. under pain of certain forfeiture of the
vessel, and imprisonment of the crew.
Another London paper says " The day af
ter the arrival of Mr.. Lewis at Paris. Gen
Armstrong requested an audience with the
French minister, & gave him to understand
that he had received important dispatches
from his government, who, anxious to pre-
serve with the belligefent states perfect
neutrality, had instructed him to PROPOSE tn
the French government, the revocation of the
DEGREES against British Commerce as far as
1T related to America, adding, that England
wouldbe required to make the same e2ccp-
ton in her favor ; the answ err il appears made
to this just and equitable proposal, was
that in the present situation of affairs M
terms of compromise could be listened 70
that the American government was ALREADY
IN full possession of the unaterable detcrr,i
nation of France, who would not perm;t a
Neutral State--and from which resolution,
| she would, on no account, reCese--and the
| French minister further observed, that cnjess
the American ports shoald be closed against
Great-Britain, until a Maritime Peace could
be obtained~-France and America npst he
considered to be at war with each other" II
| appears that several interviews took blace
after this, but the French government wcre
lhexoiablc--and Gen Armstrong was rot i
BILE to obtain the least alteration in t6cir ".