Vecomes the nation, and which the nation feels; believing as we do, that however unequal may be our naval strength, our enemies have nevertheless vulnerable points within our reach, through which we may be able to strike them vitally."

Extract from the proceedings of the citizens of West Chester, July 4, 1807. "Resolved unanimously, That we shall consider the government of Great Britain as having forfeited all claim to the friendship and hospitality of the government and people of the United States, until ample and proper satisfaction be made; and in conformity therewith, we do solemnly pledge ourselves to maintain the strict observance of the proclamation of the presi dent of the United States, by every means in our power.

"Resolved, That we shall at all times, be prepared to encounter all hazards, te maintain the rights and independence of our country with our lives and our fortunes; and that we will support the administration of the general government in every proper measure which it may adopt, in the alternative of a coerced retribution of our wrongs, or in calling forth the energy and resources of the people at this important crisis."

Extract from the proceedings of the citizens of Lewistown and its vicinity, July 10,

1807.

"Resolved unanimously, That the repeated aggressions and violations committed by Great Britain against all neutral nations in general, and particularly against the persons and privileges of our citizens, as a free and independent people, have excited in us just abhorrence and indignation; that the late outrage by the Leopard ship of war against the Chesapeake, we consider as a premeditated insult to our government and national character, and wearing so barbarous an aspect, that longer patience would degrade the name of Americans.

" Resolved unanimously, That if upon the meeting of Congress, it shall be found necessary to resort to hostile measures against Great Britain for the attainment of justice, we will cheerfully submit to any deprivations, or hardships attendant on a state of war; and we will make every exertion to perfect ourselves in the military art, and equip ourselves to oppose the base and coward'y enemy of our country."

Extract from the proceedings of the citizens of Alexandria, June 27, 1807. "Resolved, That the tyrannic conduct of the British nation on the ocean has justly rendered her odious among all civilized powers.

"Resolved, That we view the late savage and dastardly outrage committed by the Leopard British ship of war on the United States frigate Chesapeake with due indignation."

Extract from the proceedings of the citizens of Wilmington, Delaware, July 4, 1807, the venerable John Dickinson in the chair. "Resolved, That we view with the strongest sentiments of indignation and abhorrence the late unprovoked, lawless, and ferocious attack made by the British ship of war Leopard upon the frigate Chesapeake, and the daring insult offered thereby to the flag, the government, and the people of the U.

States."

Extract from the proceedings of the citizens of Baltimore, June 30, 1807. "Resolved unanimously, That we view with indignation and horror the wanton attack lately made upon the Chesapeake frigate by the British ship of war, Leopard, by which many of our fellow-citizens have been killed and wounded, and the government and flag of our country most grossly insulted. "Resolved unanimously, That we have perfect confidence in the wisdom and firmness of the administration to enforce satisfaction for an outrage glaring and injurious to the honor and dignity of our country.

SO

" Resolved unanimously, That we will with our lives and fortunes support the government in all such measures as they may adopt on this momentous occasion, to obtain redress and satisfaction for the outrage aforesaid.".

Extract from the proceedings of the citizens of Philadelphia, July 1, 1807. Joseph

Hopkinson, esq. secretary*

"Resolved, That the conduct of Great Britain towards the United. States, has been too often marked by hostility, injustice, and oppression; and that the outrage committed by the Leopard, one of her ships of war, under the express orders of one of her admirals, upon the Chesapeake, a frigate belonging to the United States, is an act of such consumate violence and wrong, and of so barbarous and murderous a character, that it would debase and degrade any nation, and much more so, a nation of freemen, to submit to it. "Resolved, That we will support the administration of the general government in all and every measure which may be adopted by them, to avenge the wrongs our country has suffered from Great Britain, and to compel the most rigid retribution; and that to attain a full measure of justice from her, we pledge ourselves to make any sacrifices, and to encounter any hazards.

"Resolved, That by the laws and usages of nations, a national ship is always exempt and free from examination or search, by any foreign vessel of power.

Resolved, That this premeditated outrage is considered as tantamount to a declaration of war on the part of Great Britain, and as evincive of an irreconcilable hostility to this nation.

"Resolved, That we entertain a confidence, that the government of the United States will adopt the most decisive and vigorous measures to obtain reparation for the injuries and wrongs sustained from the government of Great Britain."

Extract from the proceedings of a meeting of citizens of Pittsburg, held July 10,

1807.

"Resolved, That the late outrageous and hostile conduct of the officers of the British navy, to the flag of the United States on the coast of Virginia, has excited our highest indignation.

"Resolved, That it is the duty of every true American to aid the government of our country in all measures having a tendency to protect its best interest, its honour and independence."

Extract from the proceedings of the citizens of Norfolk, June 24. "Resolved unanimously, That we view the unprovoked, piratical, savage, and assassin-like attack upon the Chesapeake with that horror and detestation which should always attend a violation of the faith of nations and the laws of war; and we pledge our lives and our property to co-operate with the government in any measures which they may adopt, whether of vengeance

or retaliation."

Extract from an address of a committee appointed in Norfolk, to their fellow Citi

zens, dated July 11, 1807.

"The last deed of savage ferocity, unparalleled even in the naval annals of Britain, awakened the sentiment of abhorrence in every breast. Every voice was loud in its call for reparation, commensurate to the insult; British insolence and barbarity had reached the ne plus ultra. They had the unblushing effrontery to claim the ights of hospitality, while their hands were crimsoned and smoking with the blood of your countrymen; even at the instant they had declared war, in sight of those shores from which, not many years past, their discomfited and recreant myrmidons were driven with disgrace; in sight of those monuments, which fill your breasts with a holy and aspiring admiration for the valour and triumphs of your forefathers. The nation was unexpectedly plunged into war, and yourselves the first exposed to its ruthless blast. The choice of tame submission or resistance was forced on your consideration; with one voice you declared that your ancestors had wrested their rights, their liberties, and independence from the suffocating grasp of British tyranny, by the sword; and that you, their posterity, had resolved with it to defend and to perpetuate the hallowed patrimony."

*To readers at a distance from Philadelphia, it may not be amiss to state, that Mr. Hopkinson is and has always been as decided a federalist as Harri son Gray Otis, Timothy Pickering, or Josiah Quincy.

Extract from the proceedings of the Citizens of New York, July 2, 1807. "Having received, with the most lively indignation; authentic information, that on the 22d ult. an attack, unwarranted by the known usages of nations, and in violation of our national rights, was made off the capes of Virginia, on the United States' frigate Chesapeake, commodore Barron, by his Britannic majesty's armed ship the Leopard, captain Humphreys: the citizens of New York, assembled in general meeting, deem it to be their duty to express their opinions on this fresh outrage offered to their national sovereignty by the navy of Great Britain.

"Resolved, that we consider the dastardly and unprovoked attack made on the United States' armed ship Chesapeake, by his Britannic majesty's ship, the Leopard, to be a violation of our national rights, as atrocious as it is unprecedented."

Last in the long list, let me take the liberty of offering to the world the sentiments of the citizens of Boston, in town meeting, held in the court-house.

Boston, July 10, 1807.

"Whereas it appears, by a proclamation issued by the president of the United States, that a most wanton and cruel outrage has been committed upon the United States' frigate Chesapeake, by the British ship of war Leopard, in which our citizens have been wounded and murdered, and the flag of our nation insulted and violated. And whereas it is the duty, as well as right, of the citizens of a free country to express their readiness to support the constituted authorities in the measures they may adopt for national redress of an injury so barbarous in its nature, and so unprecedented in its execution: therefore,

" Resolved unanimously, That the late aggression, committed by a British ship of war on a frigate of the United States, for the avowed purpose of taking from her by force a part of her crew, was a wanton outrage upon the persons and lives of our citizens, and a direct attack on our national sovereignty and independence; that the spirited conduct of our fellow citizens at Norfolk on this occasion, before the orders of gov ernment could be obtained, was highly honourable to themselves and to the nation.

" Resolved unanimously, That the firm, dignified and temperate policy adopted by our executive at this momentous crisis is entitled to our most cordial approbation and support.

" Resolved unanimously, That with all our personal influence and exertions we will aid and assist the constituted authorities in carrying the proclamation of the president of the United States, in every particular, into full and effectual execution.

" Resolved unanimously, That though we unite with our government in wishing most ardently for peace on just and honourable terms, yet we are ready cheerfully to co-operate in any measures, however serious, which they may judge necessary for the safety and honour of our coun try, and will support them with our lives and fortunes."

Besides the above meeting, there was another held in Boston, at Faneuil Hall, on the 16th July, 1807, at which John Coffin Jones, esq. acted as moderator. John Quincy Adams, Harrison Gray Otis, Wm. Eustis, Christopher Gore, Charles Jones, John C. Jones, Thomas H. Perkins Jonathan Mason, and John Warren. esqrs. were appointed a committee to prepare a report, which contained the following resolutions

Rosolved, that we consider the unprovoked attack made on the United States armed ship Chesapeake, by the British ship of war Leopard, a wanton outrage upon the lives of our fellow-citizens, a direct violation of our national honour, and an infringement of our national rights and sovereignty. Resolved, that we most sincerely approve rove the proclamation, and the firm and dispassionate course of policy pursued by the president of the United States, and we will cordially unite with our fellow-citizens in affording effectual support to such measures as our government may further adopt, in the present crisis of our affairs.

To those unacquainted with the solemnity and regularity of the proceedings in Boston town meetings, it may not be improper to state, that there is probably no town in the world whose public meetings are conducted with more propriety and decorum-and that these resolutions may be regarded as full and as fair an expression of the sentiments of the citizens of the town as ever was given.

I have already offered a few reflections on the charge of French influence, so universally alleged against Mr. Jefferson, and so generally believed by the federalists throughout the union. At the period of passing these resolves, he had been in office six years and four months, out of eight years of his presidency. And, behold, the town of Boston, after so long an experience of his conduct in this dignified and arduous office, passes on him the highest encomiums for his "firm, and dispassionate course of policy," at a crisis of the utmost delicacy. What a contrast--what a contradiction between this panegyric and the never-ending abuse, the remorseless virulence, with which he has been assailed from that period to the present, in that town, by men, the major part of whom were probably at the meeting, and concurred in this vote of approbation! Alas! alas! what a poor, miserable, contemptible, senseless animal is man! To how little purpose is he endowed with that proud, distinctive faculty, called reason, of which he makes so little use!

It is due to justice, and the spirit of impartiality which I have studiously laboured to preserve throughout this work, to state, that previous to the sailing of the Chesapeake, Mr. Hamilton, the British consul at Norfolk, had made repeated official demands of these four seamen, which demands were repelled by the officers on board the Chesapeake, with the concurrence and approbation of the cabinet at Washington. This refusal led to the orders issued by admiral Berkeley, then at Halifax, to Captain Humphreys, to take the men by force.

It is also due to justice, to state, that as these men had entered voluntarily on board the Chesapeake--and as Great Britain steadily refuses to surrender foreigners who enter her vessels voluntarily the claim made for these four sailors was not justified or warranted by her own practice.

The following account of three of the four men thus seized, is extracted from a letter written by commodore Barron, to the secretary of the navy, and dated April 7th. 1812. It arose from the requisition of the British Consul at Norfolk, for the delivery of these persons.

"William Ware, pressed from on board the brig Neptune, captain Crafts, by the British frigate Melampus, in the bay of Biscay, and bas served on board the said frigate fifteen months.

"William Ware is a native American, born on Pipe creek, Frederick county, state of Maryland; at Bruce's mills, and served his time at said mills, He also liyed at Ellicott's mills, near Baltimore, and drove a waggon several years between Hagerstown and Baltimore. He also served eighteen months on board the United States' frigate Chesapeake; under the command of commodore Morris and Captain James Barron. He is an Indian-looking man. "Daniel Martin was pressed at the same time and place. He is a native of Wes-port in Massachusetts about thirty miles to the eastward of Newport, Rhode Island; served his time out of New-York with captain Marrowby, in the Caledonia; refers to Mr. Benjamin Davis, merchant, and Mr. Benjamin Corce of West-port. He is a coloured man.

"John Strachan, born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Queen Ann's county, between Centerville and Queen's-town; refers to Mr. John Price, and Pratt, Esq. on Kent island, who know his relations. Strachan sailed in the brig Martha Bland, captain Wivill, from New-York to Dublin, and from thence to Liverpool. He there left the brig and shipped on board an English Guineaman. He was pressed on board the Melampus off cape Finisterre; to better his situation he consented to enter, being determined to make his escape when opportunity offered. He served on board the frigate two years. He is a white man, about five feet seven inches high. "William Ware and John Strachan have protections. Daniel Martin says he lost his after leaving the frigate."

While the American mind was festering under the atrocious outrage perpetrated by Capt. Humphreys, the British government issued a proclamation, directing the search for, and seizure of subjects on board neutral merchant vessels, of which I subjoin the two principal paragraphs.

"For the better execution of the purposes of this our royal proclamation, we do authorize and command all captains, masters, and others commanding our ships and vessels of war, to stop and make stay of all and every such person or persons (being our natural born subjects) as shall endeavor to transport or enter themselves into the service of any foreign state, contrary to the intent and command of this our royal proclamation, and to seize upon; take, and bring away all such persons as aforesaid, who shall be found to be empioyed or serving in any foreign merchant ship or vessel as aforesaid: but we do strictly enjoin all such of our captains, masters, and others, that they do permit no man to go on board such ships and vessels belonging to states at amity with us, for the purpose of seizing upon, taking, and bringing away, such persons as aforesaid, for whose discreet and orderly demeanor, the said captains cannot answer; and that they do také especial care that no unnecessary violence be done or offered to the vessel, or to the remainder of the crew, from out of which such persons shall be taken.

"And in case of their receiving information of any such person or persons being employed, or serving on board any ship of war belonging to such foreign state, being a state at amity with us, we do authorize and command our captains, masters, and others commanding our ships of war, to require of the captain or commander of such foreign ship of war, that he do forthwith release and discharge such person or persons, being our natural born subject or subjects; and it such release and discharge shall be refused, then to transmit information of such refusal to the commander in chief of the squadron under whose orders such captain or commanders shall be then serving; which information the said commander in chief is hereby strictly directed and enjoined to transmit, with the least possible delay, to our minister residing at the seat of government of that state to which the said foreign ship of war shall belong, to demand reparation for the injury done to us by the unwarrantable detention of our natural born subjects in the service of a foreign state."