In consequence, sir, the vessel and the part of the cargo of which the ownership (te pour comple) is proven, will be given up to the proprietors; and as to the other articles of the cargo, which are not accompanied with the same kind of proof, the ne cessary time and facilities will be given to establish the fact of their being American property, conform. ably to the ancient rules. vessels was necessary in order to prevent their car- But it appears that plunder and not safety was the object for which they have thus disgraced the imperial flag. For his excellency will probably have learnt from Brest, where the frigates en ered, that the twenty boxes of spices, and other articles taken from the Telegraph, were smuggled on shore, and it is said, were sold for the benefit of the equip age of the Medusa. Thus is the property of citizens of the United States seized, condemned, and sold by officers in the imperial navy, who became at once captors, judges and venders of the property of unoffending neutrals. Such disgraceful violations of every principle on which nations consent to live in peace, ought never to go unpunished, and surely in this case they will not. Accept, sir, the assurance of my high considera Signed, THE DUKE OF BASSANO. Legislature of Connecticut. his excellency governor Griswold: HARTFORD, May 18. On Tuesday morning last, his honor lieutenant governor Saith, laid before both houses of the legislature,the following unssage from Gentlemen of the council, Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of the house' of representatives. As a serious indisposition, with which it has pleased heaven to afflict me, has prevented my meeting the general assembly at the commencement of the present session, and making a communi cation, as usual, on such occasions; but as my health is now inproving, I have every reason to hope that it will still be in my power to take a part in the public councils, before the close of the session. In the mean time, I have thought it my duty to inform his honor the lieutenant governor of my acceptance of the office conferred upon me, and to take the qualification required by law. It is, however, with satisfaction I reflect that my absence can make no important change in the business of the session. The wisdom of the legislature, and the talents of his honor the lieutenant go vernor, will direct your deliberations to their proper objects, and have no doubt that the public business will be accurately dis patched. Under such circumstances, it will not be expected that I should make to you a detailed communication on our public af fairs; but feeling, in common with our fellow-citizens, a deep in terest in the novel and critical situation of our country, you must The undersigned, therefore, most earnestly calls on his excellency, the minister of foreign relations, as the official guardian of public right, to lay a state I ment of this outrage before his majesty in such a point of view as shall produce a speedy compensa tion to the captains Holden and Bayard, and the owners of the ships and cargoes, for the losses they have sustained; and his majesty will doubtless take measures to avenge the dignity and signalize the justice of his government, by punishing such a crime in a manner to prevent its repetition. The valuation of the Dolly and her cargo, and of the Telegraph and her cargo, is herewith enclosed; the delay in obtaining these valuations has retarded, for some weeks, the presentation of this letter, and the undersigned cannot but indulge the hope that his excellency will now give as early attention to the whole of the case, as its importance manifestly demands. The undersigned begs his excellency, &c. &c. [Enclosed in No. 9, of 16th March.] Translation of a letter from the duke of Bassano to Mr. Barlow, dated allow me to observe, That the last six inonths do not appear to have produced any important change in the hostile aggressions of foreign nations on the commerce of the United States. Nor can the conduct of the two great belligerent powers of Europe, towards us, be distinguished in prin ciple; unless, indeed, the proceedings of the one, in destroying the property of our merchants on the ocean, without even the semblance of judicial proceeding, has given a deeper shade to the profligacy of their depredations. Such, however, has been the character of both, that no circumstance can be discovered which will justify a preference in favor of either. Still, and the conflicts which agitate the world, the true interest of the United States remains the same. That interest is not pronoted by any project of foreign conquest, but must arise from pursuing just views towards foreign nations-by organizing the national force, and particularly, by directing our great national ef forts to the increase of that which is alone adapted to the defence of our maritime rights-and, by cultivating a spirit of justice and decision, which foreign nations must honor and respect. Such a system of policy, it is confidently believed, will, under the smiles of heaven, ultimately restore the United States to their rank among the nations; give stability to our government; and real security to every fair pursuit in which we may be engaged. It is also with regret I have to observe, that the plan of commer cial restrictions, which was formerly adopted by our government, has not been abandoned, but its rigor has been increased by a new interests. PARIS, 15th March, 1812. SIR-I have had the honor of informing you that the case of the ship Bellisarius was terminated, and that I had advised the minister of commerce of the intentions of his majesty. It having been ascertained on the first examina tion of this aflair, that the ownership (le pour comple) of a great part of the cargo was not proven and this irregularity, as well as the insufficiency of the papers on board, being a formal contravention of the rules of navigation generally adopted and established, at all times, the decision to which this point of the cargo might be liable, had at first ex tend beyond it. But on a circumstantial report which I had the honor of presenting to the emperor his majesty, who likes to carry into the examination of all the affairs on which you address me friendly dispositions, has ordered that the different questions which were submitted to him should be separated, to the end that a decision may be had in the first place on those which present themselves under the most favorable aspect. embargo. Few events could have more effectually injured our The productions of our country, which for a consi though of the first necessity, in consequence of their redundanderable time had composed the great bulk of our trade, al cy, were useless to ourselves, but of great value in foreign mar kets, and had produced a commerce of great importance to both parties. But this profitable trade has been abandoned; and even if the measure was to be viewed as the precursor of war, yet it ought to have been considered that such a precursor can only be neces sary for a short period, and where no other notice of the danger can be given, and that in this case, every person concerned in foreign trade, had been long apprised of the danger, if any existed; and branch of the export trade, down to the last moment of peace. that the interests of our country demanded a continuance of every But amidst every embarrassment, which has attended this sys tem of our government, we have the consolation to observe, that zens to the union, and to the constitution of the United Statesit is attended with new proof of the attachment of our fellow-citi an attachment which no embarrassments or privations can shakeevils which we have experienced, has been by pursuing measures and that the only redress which has been sought for the serious warranted by the constitution. Under such circumstances, it is still to be presumed, that govern ave system, and abandon every project connected with it. ment will at last perceive the pernicious tendency of the restric The business, which it became particularly my duty to perform, resolve of assembly, authorising an additional supply of field ord has been executed, according to the best of my judgment. The nance, has been attended to by the quartermaster-general, and my consent been given to a contract for that purpose, in the manner pointed out by the legislature. The authority given to the captain general to prescribe an uniform dress for the militia, has also beca States: ecuted with the greatest attention to economy, of which the ing view of valuable manufactures in the United subject was susceptible. It is, therefore, to be hoped, that the mili tia will soon obtain an uniforin dress, which shall fully answer the object proposed, and which shall at the same time be durable and attended with little expence. "Some most valuable information is derived from It will, however be observed, that the general order has been con- these returns, incomplete as they are. Under the fined strictly to dress, as no authority was given to prescribe any head of sheep, we learn that Vermont contains a hadges of office, which are so necessary to mark the rank of officers stock of 450,000 sheep; Massachusetts, 399,182; It may, therefore, be an object of sufficent importance at this session, to authorise a general order for this purpose, and at the Connecticut, 400,000; and Pennsylvania, 1,469,918. same time to define the description of infantry officers, who may These papers contain a more distinct and interestdo duty on horseback. Although I have nothing new to recommend regarding the ing exhibition than we ever had befo e of the salt militia, yet the great importance of this body of men, and the ne-petre manufactured in the United States. Thus cessity of devolving on them so much of the defence and security Virginia prepares 48,175 pounds; Kentucky, of the country, may render it proper that the subject should be exmined by a respectable committee, at every session of the assem-301,937; Massachusetts, 23,600-making nearly bly, and such improvements be inade in our laws, as experience half a million of pounds of home made hitre, as shall point out. The order of the president of the United States, grounded on good as that usually brought from foreign ports. It an act of congress, for detaching one hundred thousand militia, is alleged, the quantity may be increased to any dehas been promptly executed in this state; and it is presumed that sirable amount. it will be found on this, as on other occasions, that every attention The connection of this with nuhas been paid to the laws of the union. merous manufactories of gun powder puts us quite The fiscal and other important concerns of the state, have been at our ease as to the nitrate or potasb, and to the conducted with their usual success; and although the legislature may find something to amend, it is presumed that no radical change means we possess of compounding it. can be necessary. Without entering into detail, the business of the session is confided with perfect confidence to the legislature-together with an assurance, that they will receive every co-operation which may be necessary; and also the prayer of every good man, that their et forts for the public good may be crowned with success. May Session 1812. ROGER GRISWOLD. Legislature of New-York. “The manufacture of straw is eminently worthy of notice. In Massachusetts, where the forming of bonnets from that material seems to have first begun, the yearly amount of the sale is not less than 551,918 dollars. The manufacture of straw bonnets has been since undertaken in Connecticut, and produ ces the yearly value of 27,100 dollars; and it is worthy of remark that the labours of two women in New-Jersey in the same way, vielded them 150 dolls, amounting to the sum of 579,228 dollars for [As many of our numerous friends in the state of New-York may desire a record of the proceed the single article of straw bonnets. ings of the senate on the bill to incorporate the "Nor is the preparation of sugar from the juice Bank of America, we copy the following from of the maple tree unimportant. Of this domestic the Columbian, being a letter to the editor from sweet, Ohio produces in 12 months, 3.033,806 lbs. Albany.] Kentucky, 2,471,647; Vermont, 1,200,000, and Saturday, May 23, 1812.-There has been but East Tennessee, 162,347; making a quantity of little business done in the house to-day; but nearly seven millions of pounds in these States only, the senate has had a nine hours session, wholly wherein the returns may be conceived to be greatly taken up with the bank of America. The bill final-within the truth. ly passed a few minutes before 8 in the evening, and was returned to the house, then also in session. It has now to pass the ordeal of the council of revision, progress that is worthy of notice. The combs for before it can become a law; and I find that its oppomarket, are estimated at 70.000 doils.; Massachu instance, which Connecticut prepares annually for ments have some hopes that it may stick there.-setts, 80, 624; and Pennsylvania 6,240; equalling The following is the division on the final passage a sum of 156,861 dollars. of the bill: "Works in horn, ivory, and shell have made a Affirmative.-Messrs. Arnold, Bishop, Haight, Hall, Hopkins, "I may mention too the abundance of copperas Humphreys, Livingston, Lewis, Martin, Paris, Platt, Phelps, which W. Tennessee and Vermont afford. The quanRich, Smalley, Smith, Stearns, Taber-17. Negatived.-Messrs. Bruyn, Bloodgood, Cole, Carll, Gilbert, Hub tity yearly from the former, is stated at 56,000lbs; bard, Root, Rouse, Sanford, Tayler, Townsend, White, Wilkin, and from the latter 8,000. The quality of these suldruggists and dyers may be supplied to any demand phates of iron is declared to be very fine, and that they may make. Yates-14. Of the nine hours that the senate was in session, gen. Root, of Delaware, occupied the floor about six, in long and diversified speeches on every incidental motion that arose. After the motion for re"The quantity of ardent spirits annually distilled committing the bill was lost, Judge Tayler moved appears, by the returns, to equal the prodigious to add a clause to the bill, by way of rider, for con-amount of 23,720,000 gallons! The extraction of fining the operations of the bank to the city of New brandy from peaches, of an alkcoholick liquid from York. This was negatived. General Root then cider, and of whiskey from rye, and even maize, is moved to postpone the question, on passing the carried to this alarming excess. The products of bill, to Saturday next. This was also negatived; the distilleries are chiefly consumed amongst ourafter which the main question was taken. The selves,though a portion of the latter is converted to gin friends of the bill said but little; nor was much said before it reaches the humane stomach. While thereby its opponents, except Mr. Root. fore we observe the increase of these home-made In the course of the day, a great number of divi.fluids, we must reflect on their inebriating efects. It sions were called on motions to adjourn-but all cannot be disguised that their intoxicating quality rethe motions were negatived. American Manufactures. commends them to such general employment. Nor ought it to be concealed, that in a country where a gallon of this maddening stimulus can be bought for half a dollar, a gill may be obtained at retail for three cents and the seller at the same time double his mo Dr. MITCHILL (says the American) has compiled ney. The fondness for this bewitching beverage from the returns made to the treasury department by and the repugnancy to an excise upon it, raise in the marshals,deputy marshals and other persons,pur- the mind a curious association between the free use suant to the 3d census law, the following interest of it and of political freedom-and it deserves the consideration of all the thinking part of society how (ty was American, and of course bearing a neutral This was not the case, as Mr. John far disease, idleness, immorality and other mischiefs character. incidental to strong potations may not degrade free- Bell, of Petersburg, was a partner with Bell and Co. dom to rudeness and something worse. here, who were interested in the goods. The under"The number of water and horse mills employed writers were therefore ignorant of the risk. It was in spinning cotton on this exhibition, amounted to in fact, sending British property, cotton and tobac 330, in the month of August, 1810, and working co, into the enemy's mouth. 100,000 spindles. These, on an average, will spin Lord Ellenborough observed, that the evidence annually between 4 and 5,000,000lbs of yarn; and that did not prove that Bell and Co. of London, had any yarn would be sufficient to weave 18,000,000 yards interest whatever in the goods. of cotton cloth, three quarters of a yard wide and this is wholly independent of what may be spun in private families although it makes part of what is wove there. "The fulling mills returned amount to 1630; and the wool carding machines going by water to 1835. "The number of looms returned exceeds 330,000, and the total number of yards of cloth made of wool, cotton and flax, as returned, exceeds 75,000,000. "Gun powder mills are enumerated to the number of 207, and though some of them are small they prepare yearly 1,450,000 pounds of gun pow der-530 furnaces, forges, and bloomeries are enumerated. "The paper mills amount to 190." Important Law Case. COURT OF KING'S BENCH, GUILDHALL, Jan. 15. Adjourned sittings, before lord ELLENBOROUGH and special jurors. BELL and OTHERS V. REED. This was an action on a policy of insurance, ef fected on goods shipped on board the Imogen, bound from Petersburg in Virginia, to any port or ports in the Baltic, with liberty to call at any port in the British channel. The first count in the declaration stated the property to belong to John B.ll, of Petersburg, Virginia; and the second placed the interest in certain merchants resident there. Mr. Garrow then argued, that Mr. John Bell, of Petersburg, though domicilated in America, could not divest himself of his allegiance to the sovereign of this country, of whom he was the subject. Now if he sent the goods for sale to Elsineur, as it was manifest he did, since the advice of Balfour and Co. who resided there, was to be taken on the subject, it was trading with an alien enemy, which he, as a natural born subject of the crown of Great Britain, could not do, without a license from the British government. It was, otherwise, a contravention of his allegiance, and he had no right to recover. Lord Ellenborough expressed his readiness to save this point, which was accordingly done. The attorney-general, for the plaintiffs, said that the partnership alleged to exist between John Bell, of Petersburg, and Messrs. Bell, of London, was proved, from the evidence, to have been only for the purposes of factorage. Messrs. William and Walter Bell could not be considered as principals, but simply as agents. They had no more interest in the cargoes than any gentleman of the jury. They had merely entered into the partnership to procure consignments, on which they received commission. As to the circumstance of an American vessel touching at Falmouth for orders, it was not surprising that a neutral should do so, for the purpose of receiving information as to the state of the market, &c. in the place of destination. The evidence of the captain went clearly to prove, that the vessel proceeded to Elsineur, not to dispose of her cargo there, but to wait for orders. Lord Ellenborough said, the case resolved itself into a very narrow compass. With respect to the It appeared from the evidence, that the goods point which had been reserved, and which would were shipped by John Bell, of Petersburg, who hereafter undergo full consideration, he had no he was in partnership with Messrs. Bell, in London,itation in stating the law peremptorily. If a Bri and a Mr. Beasley, who resided in Hamburgh.tish subject, domicilated in America, for the purMr. John Bell, and Messrs. William and Walter poses of commerce, performed any act, by which Bell were the plaintiffs in the present action. Prior he contravened his allegiance to the sovereign, he to the period of the vessel's sailing, Mr. John Bell was as amenable to the law, and as liable to the pedispatched a letter to Messrs. Bell, in London, de-nalties of such act, even though his life were affectsiring them to effect an insurance, which they ac-ed, as if he resided in this country-Whether the cordingly did. The ship on her passage touched at act executed in the present case, was or was not ilFalmouth, pursuant to order, and was there direct legal, was a question for future discussion. Under ed, by the house of Fox and Co. to proceed to Ham- all the circumstances, the jury had better find for burgh. Instead of going thither, the Imogen went the plaintiffs, subject to the ultimate decision of the to Gottenburgh, where Mr. M.Neagh, the agent point reserved. of Beasley, resided. On the 13th of April, 1811, Mr. Beasley wrote to Mr. M Neagh, desiring him to send the first of his vessels, which he named, This case was precisely similar to the last. and among them the Imogen, that should arrive at Gottenburgh, immediately to Elsineur, to wait for verdict was taken for the plaintiffs, subject to the orders from the house of Balfour and Co. there. The above point-Whether a British subject, domici Imogen, which arrived first, was dispatched aced in America, can send goods to any enemy's port, cordingly, and was taken off Elsineur by a Danish not being furnished with a British license, without privateer. On the 12th of August following, she was departing from his allegiance ?” condemned in the prize court at Copenhagen. For this loss the assured now sought to recover. Mr. Garrow, for the defendant, contended that the policy had been effected under a misrepresenta tion. The underwriters conceived that the proper Verdict for the plaintiff. Bell and others v. Burton. A [The decision of lord Ellenborough differs materially from the opinion of the late lord Kenyon, on a similar case, in which he decided that a British subject had a right to become a citizen of another country for all the purposes of trade.] Orders in Council. aily repealed, and the commerce of neutral nations be restored to it, accustomed course. "Ar a subsequent period of the war, his majesty, availing him At the court at Carlton-House, the 21st day of April, 1812, pre-self of the then situation of Europe, without abandoning the sent his royal highness the Prince Regeut in council. principle and object of the orders in council of November, 1807, Whereas, the government of France has, by an official report, was induced so to limit their operation, as materially to alleviate communicated by its minister of foreign affairs to the conservative the restrictions imposed upon neutral eoaumerce. The order in senate, on the 19th of March last, removed all doubts as to the per-council of April 1500, was substituted in the room of those of Noseverance of that government in the assertion of principles, and vember 1897, and the retaliatory system of Great Britain acted no in the maintenance of a system, not more hostile to the maritime longer on every country in which the aggressive measures of the rights and commercial interests of the British empire, than inconeneiny were in force, but was coufined in its operations to France sistent with the rights and independence of neutral nations, and and to the countries in which the French yoke was most strictly has thereby plainly developed the inordinate pretentious which imposed, and which had beco:ne virtually a part of the dominions of that system, as promulgated in the decrees of Berlin and Milan, France. was from the first designed to enforce. The United States of America remained, nevertheless, dissatis And whereas, his majesty has invariably professed his readiness fied; and their dissatisfiction has been greatly increased by an arti to revoke the orders in council adopted thereupon, as soon as the ice too successfully employed by the enemy, who has protended sant decrees of the enemy should be formally and unconditionally that the decrees of Berlin and Milan were repealed, although the repealed, and the commerce of neutral nations, restored to its accus-decree effecting such repeal, has never been promulgated; altho Boined course. the notification of such pretended repeal, distinctly described it to His royal lughness the prince regent, (anxious to give the most be dependent on conditious, in which the enemy knew Great Bri decisive proof of his royal highness' disposition to perform the en-tain could never acquiesce; and although abundant evidence has gagements of his majesty's government) is pleased, in the name since appeared of their subsequeat execution. and on the behalf of his majesty, and by and with the advice of his But the enemy has at length laid aside all dissimulation; he majesty's privy council, to order and declare, and it is hereby or now publicly and solemnly declares, not only that those decrees dered and declared, that if, at any time hereafter, the Beria and still continue in fore, but they shall be rigidly executed until Milan decrees shall, by some authentie act of the French go- Great Britain shall comply with additional conditions, equally exvernment, publicly promulgated, be absolutely and uncondition-travagant; and he farther announces the penalties of those de ally repealed, then, and from thenceforth, the order in council of crees to be in full force against all nations which shall suffer their the 7th day of January, 1807, and the order in council of the 25th flag to b, as it is transf in their cod, "demtionalized.” day of April 1809, shall, without any further order, be, and the In addition to the disavowal of the blockade of May 1806, and same are hereby declared from thenceforth to be wholly and abso of the principles on which that blockade was establishel, and in futely revoked; and further, that the full benefit of this order shall addition to the repeal of the Brisish orders in council--he demands be extended to any ship or cargo captured subsequent to such au- an admission of the principles, that the goods of an enemy carried thentic act of repeal of the French decrees, although antecedent to under a neutral flag, shall be treated as neutral; that neutral prosuch repeal, such ship or vessel shall have commenced and shall perty, under the flag of an enemy, shail be treated as hostile; that have been in the prosecution of a voyage which, under the saidrus and warlike stores alone (exclusive of ship timber and other orders in council, or one of them, would have subjected her to cap stores of naval equipments) shall be regarded as contraband of ture and condemnation; and the claimant of any ship or cargo war; and that no ports shall be considered as lawfully blockaded, which shall be captured or brought to adjudication, on account of except such as are invested or besieged, in the presumption of their alleged breach of either of the said orders in council, at any time being taken, [en prevention d'etre pris,] aud into which a merchant subsequent to such authentic act of repeal by the French governship cannot enter without danger. meat, shail, without any further order or declaration on the part of By these and other demands, the enemy, in fact, requires that his majesty's government, on this subject, be at liberty to give in Great Britain, and all civilized nations, shall renounce, at his arbievidence in the high court of admiralty, or any court of vice-admitrary pleasure, the ordinary and indisputable rights of a maritime ralty, before which such ship or cargo shall be brought for adjudi- law; that Great Britain, in particular, shall forego the advantage. cation, that such repeal by the French government had been, by such authentie act, promulgated prior to such capture; and upon proof thereof, the voyage shall be deemed and taken to have been as lawful as if the said orders in council had never been made saving, nevertheless, to the captors, such protection and indemnity as they may be suitably entitled to in the judgment of the said court, by reason of their ignorance, or uncertainty as to the re-to which the arms or the influence of the enemy can extend. peal of the French decrees, or of the recognition of such repeal by his majesty's government at the time of such capture. of her naval superiority, and allow the commercial property, as well as the produce and manufactures of France, and her confuderates, to pass the ocean in security, whilst the subjects of Great Britain are to be, in effect, proscribed from all commercial inters course with other nations; and the produce and manufactures of these realms are to be excluded from every country in the world, "Such are the demands to which the British government is summoned to submit-to the abandonnent of its most ancient, eHis royal highness, however, deems it proper to declare, that, sential and undoubted maritime rights. Such is the code by which should the repeal of the French decrees, thus anticipated and pro-France hopes, under the cover of a neutrd flag, to render her con vided for, prove afterwards to have been illusory on the part of the merce unassailable by sea; whiter she proceeds to invade or to enemy; and should the restrictions thereof be still practically en- incorporate with her own dominions all states that hesitate to forced, or revived by the enemy;-Great Britain will be compelled, sacrifice their national interests at her command, and, in abdica however reluctantly, after reasonable notice, to have recourse to tion of their just rights to adopt a code, by which they are required such measures of retaliation as may then appear to be just and to exclude, under the mask of municipal regulation, whatever is Decessary. British, from their dominions. And the right honorable the lords commissioners of his majesty's The pretext for these extravagant demands is, that some of treasury, his majesty's principal secretaries of state, the lords come these principles were adopted by voluntary compact in the treaty missioners of the admiralty, and the judges of the high court of of Utrecht; as if a treaty once existed between two popular coun admiralty, and the judges of the courts of vice-admiralty, are to tries, founded on special and reciprocal considerations, binding only take the necessary mensures herein as to them. shall respectively on the contractiu, parties, and which in the last treaty of place appertain. between the same powers, had not been revived, were to be regarded as declaratory of the public law of nations. CHETWYND. IMPORTANT DECLARATION. "It is needless for his royal highness to demonstrate the injustice of such pretensions. He might otherwise appeal to the practice of London, April 22, 1812.-This morning the following declaration Frane herself, in this and in former wars; and to her own esta was published by his majesty's government: blished codes of maritime law: it is sufficient that these new do "The government of France, having by an official report, commands of the enemy form wide departure from those conditions municated by its minister for foreign adairs to the conservative on which the alleged repeal of the French decrees was accepzoś senate on the 10th day of March last, reinoved all doubts as to the by America; and upon which alone, erroneously assuming thes perseverance of that goverment in the assertion of principles, real to be complete, America has claimed a revocation of the and in the maintenance of a system, not more hostile to the British orders in council. maritime rights and commercial interests of the British empire, His royal highness, upon a review of all these circumstances, than inconsistent with the rights and independence of neutral na feels persuaded, that so soon as this formal declaration by the gs. tions; and having thereby plainly develop d the inordinate pre-vernment of France, of its unabated adherence to the principles tensions, which that system, as promulgated in the decrees of Ber-and provisions of the Berlin and Milan decrees, shall be made lin and Milan, was from the first designed to enforce; his royal known in America, the government of the United States, actuated highness the prince regent, acting ia the natue and on the behall not less by a sense of justice to Great Britain, than by what is dog of his majesty, deems it proper, upon this formal and authentic re to its own dignity, will be disposed to recal those measures of long publication of the principles of those decrees, thus pubnely to de-tile exclusion, which, under a misconception of the real views and clare his royal highness' detevanination still firmly to resist the inconduct of the French government, America Las exclusively ap troduction and establishment of this arbitrary code, which the go-plied to the commeree and ships of war of Great Britain. verment of France openly avows its purpose to entrce upon "To acelerate & result so advantageous to the true interests aĹ the world, as the law of nations, both countries, and so conducive to the reestablishment of pert e From the time that the progressive injustice and violence of friendship between them; and to give a decisive proof of his round the French government, made it imposible for his majesty any highness' disposition to perform the engagements of his majesty's longer to restrain the exercise of the rights of war within their government, by revoking the orders in council, whenever Che ordinary limits without submitting to consequences not less ruins French deerees shall be actually and unconditionally repealed? ous to the commerce of las dominions, than derogatory to the His royal highness the prince regent has been this day pleased, is rights of his crown, his majesty has endenvored by a restricted and the name and on the behalf of his majesty, and by and with Ce moderate uge of those rights of retaliation, which the Berlin and advice of his majesty's privy Council, to order and declare Milan decrees necessarily called into action, to reconcile neutral That if at any time hereafter the Berlin and Milan decros states to those measures, which the conduct of the caculy had ren shall, by some authentic act of the French government, publi dered unavoidable; and which has smajesty, has at all times pro-promulgated, be expressly and unconditionally repealed; tuMEL fessed his readiness to revoke, so soon as the deerees of the enemy and froin thenceforth, the orders in coduri of the 7th day f which gave occasion to them, should be formally and uncondition January, 1807, and the order in coung) of the 26th day of Apr, shall without any further order, be, and the same hereby are de fortune to render myself extremely useful to the clared from thenceforth, to be wholly and absolutely revoked; and commodore, who was but little acquainted with further that the full benefit of this order shall be extended to any ship or vessel capturel subsequent to such authentic act of repeal military operations. It was to me he was indebted of the French decrees although antecedent to such repeal, such for the plan adopted by him when the squadron ship or vess I shall have commenced, and shall be in the prosecu tion of a voyage, which, under the said orders in council, or one of came in sight of New Providence, and I also under. them would have subjected her to capture and condemnation; and took to moor the squadron in a proper birth to exthe claimant of any ship or cargo which shall be captured at any ecute our enterprize. ime subsequent to such authentic act of repeal by the French government, shall, without any further order or declaration on the On our return from New Providence, we took two part of his majesty's government on this subject, be at liberty to armed vessels one of which was loaded with bombs, give in evidence in the high court of admiralty or any other court and fell in, near Rhode Island, with an English man of vice-addraity, before which such ship or vessel, or its cargo, shall be brought for adjudication that such repeal by the French of war, called the Glasgow, carrying twenty-four government had been by such authentic act promulgated prior to such capture; and upon proot thereof, the voyage shall be deemed guns; but, notwithstanding our superiority, both and taken to have been as lawful, as if the said orders in council in point of force and sailing, the commander in had never been made; saving nevertheless to the captors, such chief suffered her to escape, after having many men protection and indemnity as they may be equitably entitled to, in the judgment of the said court, by reason of their ignorance or killed and wounded, both on board the Alfred and uncertainty as to the repeal of the French decrees, or of the re the Cabot. The squadron now entered the port of New Lon peal by his majesty's government, at the time of such capture. "His royal highness however deems it proper to declare, that should the repeal of the French decrees, thus antisipated and prodon, in Connecticut; and Hopkins, on receiving vide for, afterwards prove to have been illusory on the part of the intelligence that the English frigates had been driveney, and should the restrictions thereof be still practically enforces, or revived by the enemy, Great Britain will be obliged, en from Newport, took advantage of the darkness however reluctantly, after reasonable notice to neutrál powers, to of the nights to repair to Rhode Island. have recourse to such measures of retaliation as may then appear to be just and necessary." Westminster, April 21, 1812." Paul Jones. A council of war having dismissed the captain of the Providence, one of the ships of the squadron; the commodore gave me orders in writing to take the command of her, and to escort some troops that were proceeding from Rhode Island to New-York, As the time is coming when such men as Paul Jones with a view of serving under general Washington. was, will come into fashion, the present is a pro- After this, I received instructions to escort a con. per season to make his character and conduct voy of artillery from Rhode Island to New York, better known to our readers. The following in- for the defence of which it was destined. On this teresting narrative is translated from a French occasion, I had two different engagements with manuscript, written by himself. the Cerberus frigate; the first for the protection of While we condemn the author for his egotisms, we the vessels under my command, and the second for must make great allowances, on that account, the preservation of a vessel from St. Domingo, laden for the splendid success that attended his enter with naval stores for the congress. In the course prizes, and estimate his vanity by the reasons he of my service between Boston and New York, I had to be vain. Few even, perhaps, circumstanced had also many actions with ships of war under the as Paul Jones was, would have praised themselves command o lord Howe; but on these as on form. less than he has done in this sketch; which poser occasions, I was enabled to preserve my convoy, sesses the singular merit of being substantially and I at length arrived safe in the Delaware, August correct in all its parts, so far as we are informed 1, 1776. of the matter. On the 8th of the same month the president of At the commencement of the American war the congress presented me in person, with the com (during the year 1775) I was employed to fit out the mission of captain in the marine in the United little squadron, which the congress had placed un-States; this was the first granted by congress since der commodore Hopkins, who was appointed to the declaration of independence, which took place the command of all the armed vessels appertaining on the 4th of July of that same year. to America; and I hoisted with my own hands the Orders had been given for the construction of American flag, on board the Alfred, which was then thirteen frigates: but, as none of them was yet readisplayed for the first time. dy, I proceeded to sea alone, on board the Provie I at the same time, acquainted Mr. Hewes a mem-dence, which was a vessel of but small force, as she ber of congress, and my particular friend, with a carried no more than seventy men, and twelve small project for seizing on the island of St. Helena, by cannon. When in the neighborhood of Bermudas, means of our little squadron, which would have in-we fell in with the Solebay, and her convoy, from infallibly rendered us masters of part of the home-Charleston; she was a thirty two gun frigate, and ward-bound East India fleet; and as the congress, formed part of the squadron under admiral Parker. at that time, proposed to appropriate two thirds of I was of course desirous of avoiding an engagement the prizes to itself, they would have thus been fur- with such superior force: but, as my officers and nished with the means of carrying on the war dur-men insisted that it was the Jamaica fleet, as it was ing several years but an event of a more pressing necessary to command by means of persuasion at mature prevented this scheme from being carried in this epoch of the war, the result was a serious ento execution, gagement during six hours, which, towards the The cruelties and vexations at that time exercised close, was carried on with pistol shot. A desperate by Dunmore, in Virginia, determined the congressmanoeuvre was the sole resource left me; I attempt to detach the squadron against him; but Mr. Hop-ed this, it succeeded, and I was fortunate enough to king displayed neither zeal nor talents upon this oc-disengage myself. casion, and lost so much time that his squadron was A short time after this, I took several prizes, and frozen in the Delaware. then sailed towards the coast of Nova Scotia, on After a delay of two months, the squadron was purpose to destroy the whale and cod fisheries in at length disengaged, and set sail for New Provi-that neighborhood. When near Sable Island, wẹ dence, the principal of the Bahama islands. There tell in with the Milford frigate, carrying thirty two we found a large quantity of artillery, mortars, and guns, with which it was impossible to avoid an en other implements of warfare, of which we stood gagement. A canuonade accordingly took place, greatly in want in America; and I had the good from ten o'clock in the morning until sunset; but |