Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1810-10-01

now ak credit for a mere opinion
uufupported by facts bur the fate
OF American atlirs in the North of
Europe explains the object of Mr.
Adams's milton as obviouhy as
though his converfation with MIR.
MadiiOn, before his departure, had
been frhfully pu6liihed in the Ma
tiOnal 4 = chcer.
Let abufed, inlulted and betrayed
Americans attend to the circumitan-
ces which have taken place with ref
pe6t to cur trade in the Rullian and
Danlfh dominions, and fee whether
the iniquity of our cabinet, and the
bafe purpoles for which this man was
employed, are not efficiently evident.
If they are not, we with fome friend
of the government to offer US an ex-
PLANTATION of appearances and facts,
which ihall be satisfactory, or at leat
plauhble, and Giiiipate our impref-
t:ons.
Why was Mr.. Adams fent to Ruff
fla? Was there any treaty in agita-
ton {? We have heard OF none. We
know Of no occaflion for any Was
American trade fuftring from any
vexaticus proceeding of that govern
ment, for which he went TO feek re-
lief l his as never been and could
never be pretended. Ihe Rufians
were our sriends-they treated US as
fuch-they welcomed US to their
ports, when our government choie to
let Us go and they permitted no en-
barraiincnt TO molctt our lntercourle
with them.
The Britilh, no doubt, availed
themielveo of the practice, common
to brIligerents, of affirming the ueu-
trail character, and traded to Ruflia
under our flag, or under the protec-
non OF iimulated papers. 1t was as
much the deiire OF RuiIia as the
Eng!ifh, for it was no fecret. 1t was
a benIit to both, and the practice
was attended with this advantage to
| Americans While the Britifh enjoy
ed a portion Of trade to Rullia, under
our flag, it was the means Of keeping
the Baltick open TO US. RuGa was
England's avowed enemy and unlefs
! Tome advantage was TO be obtained
by intercourie, in Tome fhape, it
would have been her interen and her
unqueitionab!e right, to have ihut
up the channel, and deprive her en-
envy OF AL trade from without. The
kutiian5 were anxious for commerce
both with England. and the United
States. Whether the property then,
under our flag, was Britiih or Amer
lean, 1t was equally fate. No invef-
legations were made-pp alarm ex-
iited-no Americans were wrongful
! ly ic!zed, on the pfefumption that
The property was Engliih, becauie
there was no deiire, if il were Eng
liih, to detect the fact. In this fate
OF things what part does Mr.. Adams
act He foon made trouble enough.
Rufia had been Obliged, owing to
her political relations, TO keep up ap-
pearances with France. Her laws
were lcvere againlf the Britifh, but
as there were no French armies in
Peterlburgh, fhe could wink at al
evaiion OF her laws, which her inter
eft 10 much required. But Mr.. Ad-
ans foon fuppiied the place of a
French army, and French cufom-
houie officers. In the true ipirit Of
Bonaparte, and aQuated, for ought
we can conceive, b. no motive but
TO iu5lerve bis views Regardless OF
the perplexities in which he might
involve many Of his innocent coun-
! trymen and the probability of MS
cauhng the Britilh 10 lhut the Baltick
/ againit as, if he fucceeded in top
ping their trade with Rufla; he
went to work as informer general !;
that Bonaparte might have evidence
enough againit Alexander, if the
I" continental fftm' was any longer
evaded there; declared the papers Of
large number of apparently Amer
lean veticls fictitious, and they con-
frquently were feized. Bur LEFT he
might not frike deep enough at the
commerce of England, a nation
which be hates TO frenzy, his iulpi-