Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-02

bout 1900 for the whule country; but TITS pfoDa-
bly TOO bigh-a thousand would be nearer the 'fuu"'
and this fact took tine pains to state referring
to authorities, and carrying my communicative
in person TO two of the journals neither OF "hlcn
would make the correction. We Americans are
constantly accused of not making the worfa ac-
ouainted with our own condition. and then OF
complaining that the world knows nothing about
us. These are no: the first, by 80 instances, III
which have been made to see that Europe must
have such information as suits her own views, OF
she would rather do without it altogether.
The mis- -statenents of Captain Hall and other
European travellers. are met and coniuted by ac-
tual statistics, derived from authentic sources;
and in touching upon the last war, the author
mentions some interesting facts which have como
under his own observation
In the course of many long, and Tree, ana
friendly conversations that have had with En-
pIishmen, since nv last arrival in Europe,
have been told distinctly, that they, liberal men
on most subjects, thought our declaration OF
war in 1919 BETRAYED particularly hostile spirit
to England, especially as il came when she was
struggling for the freedom Of the world, against
all The world. and with all her energies. Now
I think you will agree with me that this latter IS
the vulgar opinion Of England on the point IN
question.
As to the declaration of war, what were the
facts? We complained Of depredations on our
commerce, and Of the lmpressment OF our sea-
men. On these puints we negotiated f~enfy
uears without effect. Your orders III council
were continued, and England still took our sea.
men, making any lieutenant IN her own service
q Judge of the national character Of the mau.-
will tell YOU an anecdote. About fve-and TWEEN
ty wears since, first visited England We made
the channel in snow storm, and ran into ST. He
lens road and anchored in thick weather. When
it cleared up. we found ourselves lying IN shore
of an English feet. remember the character
of our crew perfectly, and as it was no bad cpl
tome of our men.of war and others in that day, |
will give it to YOU in detail. The captain and
first mate were Americans, the second mate was
Portuguese. shipped only for the outward pas
sa"e. The cook was an Americ an negro. and
the cabin boy an English lad. We had ten be-
fore The mast; of those. five were American born,
one was Scotch lad whose family had em'grat-
cd when he was child, one was Prusslan. one
was a Spaniard, one Dane, one an Enslishman,
who had been wrecked on our coast. and was
working his passage hume. The weather was no
sooner clear, than boat showed of from one OF
the ships, and pulled towards US. We hid the
Engishman in an empty cask, and the rest OF the
crew hunted up their evidences ct national Cha
racter. Wewere soon boarded and fife crew was
mustered Much the finest man. and much the
abest seaman we had, the first mate excepted,
was man from New Jersey, named Cooke. The
lieutenant picked him out by instinct. Cooke
produced the usual American protection " This
will not do" said the Lieutenant, 81 can buy
one of these for two dollars in New York. -
| N Al. .lass bal ,.rodn OF
Their document. He had a certificate of discharge
from the British frlgate Cambrian, signed by her
captain. &. P. Brresford. think, on account OF
his having satisfactorily proved that he was na-
tire citizen of the United States, after having
served in that ship some eighteen months, if my
memory does not fail me. The lieutenant was
staggered at this. Looking about HIM. and hear
ing 50 much broken English in answer to his ques.
tons, he soon fastened on another man. the Sc
conf, best of our crew This man. whose name
was Gaines, was native of the city of New York.
He too brought forth his protection. but it was
not needed. Games had served long in the ship
and the officers inlerfered warmly in his behalf,
when the lieutenant very cody answered that he
would not have his trouble for nothing, and COM
PEELED the poor fellow to 90 with him. We ask
ed the name of his ship, and he gave US one.
pointing to vessel towards which his boat how
ever did not steer. We could never find Gaines.
Our ship soon went up to London. when Cooke
asked me to 90 with him to one of the public Of
fees to get some prize money for his service in
| Cambrian. We went. and on account OF some
formality, Cooke was required to leave until next
dav, his certificate of discharge, which contain
ed the dates of the period Of his service. re-.
member the countenance with which he entered
the street as if it were but yesterday. " Here
am without paper, and six feet high" he said,
'.for they have kept my discharge in this Office.
and the Lieutenant, who impressed Gaines, car
ried OF with him my protection. +" | knew the
latter fact to be true. In less than an i!our he
was carried off from before my eyes by press
gang. never heard of him afterwards, for all
attempts to trace him were frutless.
This is strong case; and fifty introduces the
grave suggestions in the following observations
upon question of the most serious national con.
Germ:
"Of all the questions between the two coun-
tries. that of impressment is the most serious,
and it is the one which the wise men of both
nations ought to consider, now there is an
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