The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-01-15
NIAGARA FRONTIER WAR.

Jotosuiag e:rtraet of a letter. doied lie
roy, Gennrssec counfy, ~. /. Dec. 80.
T" On the 18Th insl. at q O'Clock, A. NJ. +;
hriny ot small arms was heard at lie vision
in the direction OF Fort Niagara, which con
tinued at intervals until abou, O'clock
when salute OF 20 guns was fired at the
Fort, about which time the people os Lew
iston were informed that the Indians and
British had crossed the River tn or three
miles below, aud were coming up---at Lew
.ston was stationed q small militia force
(say at the ieast calculation th,rty or forty
men) there was also one piece Of flying ar
ellery; but this force (withoat even NJ
tempting to make stand to Che K the adj
valce Oh tue enemy, in order that the IA
miles might eScape) latsthe held piece aud
ted Nth precipitation.
"The enemy (oniy ;fps fhdians OF horse.
back) overlook some OF the rear teams. a
bout two miles from Lewiston, and would
m doubt have taken or massaCred a number
OF families, had it not fortunately happened
that at the moment of their corning 10. one
or their number was shot from his horse.
and few of the Tuscarora Indians Gt teine
near their vi!iage) raised the war-whooo, at
which the British Indians Tell back, SO that
many of those in the rsar owe their safety
not TO force sent To protect them, but to
the Tuscarora Indians.
The British Indians killed at, and near
Lewiston. eight or ten of the inhabitants,
who when ipund, were ali scalped. with the
exception Of one whose head was cut CIT :;
their bodies were in mangled state; one
with ms entTuiLs taken out, and heart mig
sing; the bodies were stripped and part of
them buried; among The bodies found W rs
tina. OF q BOY ten or twelve years old, strip
ped and scalped.
The buildings at Lewiston and for re-
verai miles trcm thence on the ridge road
were burned, as were also the mills aud
other valuable buildings Belonging Il a. Por-
ter, esq. ard others at Manchester, (Niaga-
ra Falls) and Fort Schl loser.
+" he enemy wento3ly destroyed much
properly SUCH as horses, cattle hogs and
sheep, by shooting. and leaving them there
they happened To tall
From Fort Niagara nothing that can he
relied on has been received, only that the
fort is III possession f the Bctish.''
PEACE.
Tie advices by the mail Of Yesterday
furnish no farther evidences Of a decisive
nature On this Important subject. Ii is pro
per that the public should be cautioned a.
sainst the various reports in circulation,
which, IN most Instances. have no other OBJ.
lect than to subserve partial and persona.
purposes.
he inforEa alton conveyed to the nation
through the columns CT The Latethgencer.
comprises. we bclsve, the whole substance
of the late dispatches. Assurances that
these dispatches are of different character
from hat represented in the Washington
print, nave, however, been so often repeat
I'd, ana IN 50 Imposing manner, that the
mass CT he Community entertain a firm De
ieE that Reace will speedily ensue-as if
the prelImlnaries had alceady bsen settled
and promulgated.
Without expressing a decided opinion of
the great question which gitateS he public
mnd, it may not be amisS 10 Suggest to on,
readers, that some circumstances veroom
Tor suspicion, that the pleasing idea of .
speedy restoration OF amity with Great
britain has been too Gag, rly seized and
pren'atureiy cherished.
The British dispatches speak Of commu
nication through the Russian court to our
ENJOYS, relating to negotiations win fhjs
country; but although flag of truce is
sent expressly TO appriZe our government
that such communications were made, size
BRINGS no animation that any terms had
been submitted TO the American Commissi-
oners, nor OF the principles which Great
8ritaiH will recognize as The bass of an ar
rangemen. Ia any distinct propositions
were offered in Rsssia, as some reports
nave stated, the British Ministry would no.
nave tailed to communicate them to the Sc.
CT, tary Df State by the Byanl6ke, s.nce the
necessity for tile voy age If that vessel could
artist only from an apprehension OF the de
lay or inability Of our Commissioners to
transmit, III due time. dispatches TO this
country.
he inference is Irresistible, that Great
Britain has made a DIe { naked offer OF ne
goci0GcH WITH .his country, wish at consen-
ting to any suPuations, or resigning anv
pretensions whatsoever.
The conviction tbat peace will speediIy
ensue, must be founded on The suppositi,n
either that notwithstanding Great Britain
has made no assurances 10 that effect. she
H. wiling 20 renoUnce the arrogart claims
which produced the war, or that cur 90.
yernment is determined t. grapple peace on
any conditions, however ruiuous and dis
graceful.
We can End 40 grounds for adopting the
first Of these positions. The active prepa.
rations making by the enemy in Canada
Florida, and Bermuda, for hostile coerati
ors againstus, afford no evidences of her
intending speedily to accede to rhcse lust
terms Of compromisH which she is ,gare
we have always been wiiliag to accent
nor do VIC find any indications of a favon-a
bic disposition in the late speech Of The
Prince Resen', wherein, after commenting
on the war With tbs country, he assures
Parliament that he viii steadfas.ly maintain