Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-15
Foreign Intelligence.
BY TIE ParvArEER HARRY.
SALEM. Fesruary, 7.

SALEM. Perjury, z.
On Sunday afternoon arrived here the
prvatecr brig Harpv, captain Nichols. of
Baltimore, from 4 cruise of 95 davs ~ The
coast ne Ireland, in the British Channel. Re
Prom one Of the przes (the WIN
and A'f-ed) Caot Nichols obtained London
papers to the 2sth of Move uber, with which
he has very ob'iginglv favoured us, and
from which we have made number OF Sc
lectinns, as be'ow.-This vessel sailed fro m
London the 1st of December, AMI from
Portsniorth th- 2s.h b. the payers IL apr
pears that the CONGRESS OF WEN,
MA were engaged in arranging states and
territories and se'tling the peace of e..
rope and that the COMMISSION ERS
ATGHEN'r still continued their uegotia
tions for ne oe between England and Anne
RIGA. On this most interesting subject,
Cant. Drisd lie (of the Wn. and Alfred)
stated. that petitions had been sent to the
Prince Regent from The cites of Liverpool
and Glasgow, signed by thirty thousand
hersous, praving him tn conc ude a pE.ACE
WITH AMERICA anil that it was the
general expectation that this happy event
weu'd soou take place. c 'pt, Nichols
boarded two PortuEuese vessels which left
Lisbon the 6th ofJ1nuIry and made par.
ticular inquiries of them respecting the me-
gotiati0ns at Chen. End Vienna: of the for
mer. they could give no information :-of
the latter. they stated, that the Congress
C ntinued it's sessions, but did not know
that any thing had transpired.
The English papers contain masy OH
ciaI American Documents am,ng them.
the Report of the Committee of Ways and
Means, stating our 2ecuniary necessities,
and proposing nav taxes-OatiaS' Report,
exposing the 'leDlorabc state of the Urea"
sury-Gen Winder's ID vision ORDERS, after
the retreat of the British from Baltimore -
Gov. Chistenden's proclamation TO the Yer.
mont Militia-Commodpre Macdonough's
and General Macomb's accounts of the de.
struction Of the British heet on lake Caam
plain, and the retreat of their army from
Piattsburra. Os these last the English says
-" Candot obigss us to al ni-, that the
despatches of both the American comman-
ders are written in plain, manly stvle, with
very lttle appearance OF eXagger2siou, and
with none of that violent and vulgar abuse
of the English, by which many American
officers have not intellectually cDlrtsd the
favor OF the own goyevnB ent." Fhe same
paper which contains the dispatches ot our
commanders. has also those of Sir George
Provost. and Captain Prins, OF the British
army and navy. Sir George, after stating
previous movements by land and lake, till
the battle which terminated in their defeat.
says.
ct isnow. with deep concern I inform
your Lordship. that, Notwithstanding the
Intrepid valor with which captain Downie
led his flolla into action my most sanguine
hopes OF complete success were, not long
afterwards, blasted, by combination, as
it appeared 20 us, Of unfortunate events, to
which 1aval warfare IL peculiarly exposed.
Scarcely had Hi, VI .jesty's troops forced
passage across the SaTanac, and ascended
the height on which stanI the eneDy's
works, when had the ex IRENE morti6oa
ton to near the shout of victory from the
enemy's works, in consequence of the Bril-
fish flag being lowered on board the Conf
ance and Liniet and to see on gun boats
seeking their safety in fight. This unlock
ed for event depriving me Of the co'operaS
ton Of the fleet, without which the further
prosecution Of the service was become i'm
practicable, l did not hesitate to arrest
the course of the troops advancing 70 toe
attack, because the most complete success
would have been unavailing, and the pos
session of the enemy's works offersd no
advantage to COMPENSATE for the loss we
must nave sustained in acquiring possession
OF them.
The letter Of Captain Pring is transmit
ted by Sir James Ye1. who expresses his
belief, that Captain Downie was urged, e
his ship hurried into action before she was
in a fit state for it and his opinion, that
here was not the least necessity for the
squadron giving the enemy such decided
advantages by going into the bay to engage
then--th1t even success you'd not have
assisted the troops IL storming the bate
ries whereas had the troops taken the
batteries first, it would have obliged the
Americans to quit the bay, and given the
British squadron fair chance.
We have inserted Captain PrinS's letter
entire, among the other articles copied
from the papers. It is extremely interest.
ing, Coming from An officer who fought with
great bravery, and giving detail which
may afford a comparison in many particu.
lars with the accounts Of our own comman-
Ioro