The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-08-14


or our honor, would be advanced by our en-
enabling gang Of iyrants, who are contir-
ualy robbing and insulting US, to subjugate
you and, therefore 10 every undertaking,
which does not tend TO the abridgment Of tho
known yishfs os our country, and which co
tend 10 give to freedom power TO struggle
against, and hnally to overcome despoiism,
we most cordially wish you success.
am, Sir,
Your most o5edient servant,
WM. CoBPSTr.
P.S. This very minute ! have received q
letter from gentleman in Sussex, whom I
never had the pleasure to see in my life,
informing me that accident has put into hie
hands, and that he has forwarded to me, pars
OF tie gifdfd rofes made use of in the vessels
engiged IN the ever memorable fight on rhe
Serttnine river, which ropes will, ss soon
as possible, most assuredly send TO you.
Perhaps you may have forgotten the piece of
NaIaI History here referred to. In ! 8l4 when
the kings our allies, were in England, thero
wa; ses-fght in miniature contrived, in or
der to give them an idea Of our prowess.
The scene was largo fond in one of tho
paris near London. Here vessels were
erefcd, guns put on board of them and every
thins else done that was calculated 10 giyo
The thing an air Of reality. The .Ergish
Fleet and the american Fleef came 10 action
in fine style the contest was upcommonly
obstinate but, at last, hoor Jonathan was COM
PEELED 10 haul down his 6i,e Of strited bu7-
ting" and (" submit to your gallant and mag
unanimous tars." At this result of tho com.
bat, not less than perhaps two hundred thou
sand voices mado the air ring with shouts
OF triumph while, at very nearly the same
moment, whole squadron of real English
ships were hauling down their colors to am
inferior American squadron, commanded By
Commodore M'Donough, on Lake Cham
plain We who really love our country, do
not think her honored 10 victories like tha, Of
the Serpentine river nor, though We are
always sorry,o hear of any of our countrymen
being defeated, when we consider them
merely as our countrymep, can we lament az
their overthrow and humiliation, when we
consider them the tools of desposism, employ
ed In the work of destroying liberty abroad,
in order TO enable that despotism more firmly
10 rivct tho chains about our own necks.
TO Mn. VIM. COBBETT, BorLrY, (Exc.)
Washington, July %, 1916.
SIR-Messrs. Gales & Seaton, editors Of
tho National In,elligencer, did me tho favor
yesterday to send me copy No. IL, vol. 80,
OF your Register, eontaing lettcg addressed
10 me, which read with much attention, and
felt myself gra,6s and fauered by tho notice
you have taken Of me.
had previously read the Review to which
you would have drawn my attention, and allho'
unasquainted with tho name Of the author,
untifH waa made lvnown to me by your letiors
Iwss fully persuaded il was tho producties
Of one Of those pensioned writer's, who have,
for some time past, been employed to blaeken
our ha,ional character, hoping, thereby, to
make that oftheir own county appear, by The
contrast, more fair. consider myself used,
in this instance, only as Making.horse.
In the course Of MY narrative, have told
some truths, and expressed some feelings re-
specting the conduct and character of British
naval officers, which has drawn on me their
resentment, as well as that of the Reviewers.
My reasons for making known those truths,
and expressing those feelings, have not yet
been satisfactorily explained BY me, and to
you, sir, give an explanation, a. the first,
and only Englshman, who has ever, to ny
knowledge, expressed his disapproba,ion of
that system Of persecution which has been
pfactised against ME, from the commence
msnt CT hostilities 10 the present moment.
You, sir, have seen your prints teeming
with abuse against me--ycu, sir, have been
my only advocate in England. Ihave silently
borne the insults that have been heapcd on
me, although have seen myself hung in Ell
gy beside our venerable and highly respected
chief magistrate every epi,het that. could
disgrace ond add infamy 10 the character OF
msn, has been most boun,ifully Iavishcd on
me I have been cowardly deceived, and
basely attacked, while confJipg in the neu-
traity of port, and in the word Of a British
officer, and while he professed TO me gratit-
ude ond Friendship. have been cruelty ar
rested in my progress to my country, while
eou6ding in the sscred ehssseierof a flag Oh
truce, wantonIy insulted in my own feelings,
and witnessed the insults to which my bravo
officers and men we're subjected, whose