The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-01

produce OF their INDUSTRY. lnrow any I'M
pedinent in the way of this barter, and
you prevent the sale of your own commodi-
ties by preventing the remission of their
price.
In word, the i'll effects of this system
are experienced in the daily decay of our
commercial prosperity. The boundless
consumption of America, the gigantic de
mands Of her increasing population, open
ing new markets in the deserts, and civil
ling savages into taste and sense OF the
conveniences of polished life, and thus raj
sing up new customers for English goods in
provinces where the English name has
been scarcely heard OLA market. we
say. like this, and which we can now have,
is worth the rest of the trade of Europe put
together.
Extract of letter from Mr.. 1dcnfs. mi
MISTER from the u. States, at the court
Of Sc. Petersburg, TO friend in Bos-
ron.
You have quoted paragraph which
some papers in America copied from an En-
glish publication, accusing me of being a
Ineddling advocate for the exclusion of A
merican vessels from the Russian ports--
shall not boast to you how many American
vessels have been, by my exertions alone,
admitted into the Russian ports, and which,
them There are documents, public and
private, on this subject, which need not
display before you The official papers
have been and will be received at the de-
partment of state and there willingly leav =
them Neither is II necessary for me to tell
you that not one American vessel has, to
my knowledge, been excluded from Ruse
sian port since my arrival here.
Russia and England being at war. the
Commercial intercourse between them is, of
course, forbidden and neither English YES
sells nor English subjects, are allowed to
come into the Russian territories. You al.
ready know, that one OF the eXpedients by
which the English have attempted to evade
these prohibitions, was by presenting them
selves as Americans, with forged passports
and ships papers. The Russian govern
ment admit, universally, every American,
recognized as such by the American minis
ter or consul. This business, since have
been here, continues, as it was before, to be
transacted by Mr.. Harris, the consul, who
never fails. however, to consult me, and
take my opinion in every case susceptible of
a question. ! had not been here a week,
before / was asked to authenticate a paper,
purporting to be a passport of the mayor Of
New-York and an eminent merchant of
this city, sent me in writing his guarantee
that the man named in the passport was q
nafive citizen of the U. States. The pass
port was forged in London, by Jew named
Van Sander, who has Kept there shop for
neutral papers, for several years and the
man named in it, was Liverpool trad +,
who had never set his foot in the United
States. You very naturally perceive, that
/ not only refusedthe Authorization desired
of me, but that did not entirely suppress
q sentiment of indignation at the imposition
that was attempted to be practised on me in
the guarantee.
"Wlthin fortnight afterwards, two ships
entered with false registers of the same
Van Sanders fabrication. They were de
eected by Mr.. Harris, who laid the papers
before me, and who duly informed the Rus
sian government, that they were forged. -
The vessels, with their cargoes, were confis-
Gated, and their papers delivered to Mr.
Harris, who has sent them to the department
of state, In this, ne act d entirely with my
countenance and appreciation, which, under
a weight of mercantile influence, existing
here IN favor of these frauds, was undoubi-
edly useful, If not necessary to him. Ger
tainiy, did let it be iderstl cd by all the mer-
chants of ST. Petersburg, and of the other
Russian ports, that forged fafers. pretend
ed to be American. should find neither con-
nivance nor mercy from me, whenever they
should come TO my knowledge and altho'
LniS on SnPt'NiSiy
did not recommend me TO the favor of En-
glishmen, nor even to the merchants in ST.
Petersburg, do most sincerely believe, that
had it not been for it, the real American
flag would long before this have been exclu
ded from the ports of Russia, as it had been
from those OF Denmark and Prussia.
I" have had no more forged passports,
with guarantees, sent to me to be authenti-
Gated, and only two or three more of Mr.
Sanders registers have appeared in the Rus
sian ports, during the present year. They
have met the same fate with their prede.
cessors. But the story, that examined all
she papers of vessels myself, or that ever
meddlcd with them, unless at the request of
Mr. Harris, or the Russian government. or
Of the persons TO whom the papers belong,
is mere fabrication, totally destitute of
Ruth.
"My real offence therefore, has been in con-
sributing TO the exclusion of persons. vessels q
cargoes really English, but coming with
forged signatures ard seals Of the public of
fees OF my country.
:" In speaking of the mercantile influence
here in favor of these frauds, it may be pro
per to explain myself further. The mer-
chants of st. Petersburg are almost all to
reigners Great numbers of them are En-
Elsh, orconnected with English houses
Their business is almost exclusively com
mission business They universally detest
n 4