The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1815-03-15
FOREIGN alioCELLANl.
COGBElT,
TO TIE EARL or LiFERPOOL,


ON rug AMeNrcAS WAR.
NJ L2ra---In tue n".icaa newspapers !
have seen an article headed . British Bother.
aiionS," IN which ariicle are noticed in most
ludicrous, but most provoking manner, all the
wise observations .',ade in England as to the
cause of our ships being beaten by those OF
America. AT the close of The article, the
writer states wha, We rc-ards as,hc vro, Cause;
bat which statement l will, tor my heaifh's
sake, refrain f!om repeating IN your Lord
| ship. But If els slucy Republican gave the
tile ur Bofhrrotion 10 our former puzziags
upon this head, what will he say now, when
the question is become ten thousand times
more mbyoied'than ever
The speeches attributed TO the Ohhosi:ion,
upon this subject, present matter worthy of
public observation. Mr.. Horner lays tho
blame of the failure on the Lakes E-
rie and Ciamhiaia he attributes those me.
morable victories of the Americans, 20 the
Ministry. He complains that you and your
colleagues loft our naval commander, TO con-
teai with a plG suhcuori'y fIsrcc. The,
American Off i;iil accouo, ,in both cases makes
the sa2er.oeiiy vi Tie force on our side sod,
as TO Lake Chamttain, Sir George Provost
himself gives rs \ superiority OF Sspcn guns.
policy of ascribing every disgrace TO The Min
listers, and every success 10 the commanders.
OF its flagrant in Justice there Can be no doubt;
and, il appears to me, that It's folly is not much
more questionable. Wellington was made
Duke Tor his success but, according to the
present way of thinking, or of talking, the
Secretary of the War Department should
have been 81 ide Duke, and Wellington re-
maia"d what he wa; and the Lords Of the
Admiralty should have aad ALI che riDbons,
stars, and titles that have been bestowed on
naval commanders. If TO the command ders
belong me praises Of victories 10 tnem also
belong, upon the face of the matter, the
blame Of defeat.
Much reliance appears to be placed by the
Opposition, on the circumstance of Captain
Barclay having been honorabiy acquitted by a
court martial. For, say they, If he was pro-
vidcd with force equal to that Of the Amer.
leans, he must have been guilty; and if he
was not, the Ministers are to blame. They
| take this sentence of the court martial, ,thcrc-
/, fore, as proof Of the guilt Of the Ministers.
| But is j, no, very evident that this conclusion
is false /! Captain Barclay might be as brave
a man as ever existed he might have acted
with wisdom equal 10 his bravery he might
have had. superiority OF guns and men he
might have been defeated yet he might be
| perfectly free FROM any blame, and might, on
the contrary, merit honors and rewards; still
the Admiralty nigh. deserve no ccnsure
whatever. The Americans nigh, have ADLER
seanen; they might, from their superior
bodily strength and agility, be able TO fire
| quicker Than we they might fire with an un-
herd of degree of resolution and escernes |;
they might be animated by feelings unknown
10 the 5osoms of their advcssarics. What
is it 10 become maxim, that whenever one
| of our commanders is defeated, there must
| be crime either in him or IN the Ministry |!
| Must he be punished or they condemned |?
| Must he be their accusefs, or they be ms sc-
cusers THIS would SOON introduce very A.
micsble sors of connection between the COM
maoders and the Ministry.
! The truth is, my lord, ths, there is a de-
gree of modification and Of shame attached
10 these naval victories of the Americans,
that drives meo, aud particularly naval men,
I who have all tho mass Of the people with
them, to all sorts o: follies and inconsistcn.
cies. They do not know what to say or to do
in srder to get rid of this insupportable NOR
uGca,icn. Sometimes Johnny Bull says tc
J,nathsn, "y,u have Go some English SAILOR:
in your ships"-" May Oc so," says Johua
s,hln I" but you have got all English sailors