commissioners in 1806 expressly declared, after an, of the United States, it may be proper to remark, attentive consideration of the suggestions brought that whatever the declaration of the United States forward by the commissioners on the part of Ame- may have asserted, Great Britain never did demand, rica, they were unable to surmount. that they should force British manufactures into Whilst the proposition, transmitted through the France; and she formally declared her willingness British admiral, was pending in America, another entirely to forego, or modify, in concert with the communication on the subject of an armistice was United States, the system, by which a commercial officially made to the British government in this intercourse with the enemy had been allowed under country. The agent, from whom this proposition the protection of licenses, provided the U. States was received, acknowledged that he did not consi- would act towards her, and towards France, with der that he had any authority himself to sign an real impartiality. The government of America, it agreement on the part of the government. It was the differences between states are not interminable, obvious that any stipulations entered into, in conse-has as little right to notice the affair of the Ches:quence of this overture, would have been binding peake. The aggression, in this instance, on the on the British government, whilst the government part of a British officer, was acknowledged, his of the United States would have been free to refuse conduct was disapproved, and a reparation was r or accept them, according to the circumstances of gularly tendered by Mr. Foster on the part of his the moment. This proposition was therefore neces-majesty, and accepted by the government of t sarily declined. United States. It is not less unwarranted in its al After this exposition of the circumstances which lusion to the mission of Mr. Henry; a mission unpreceded, and which have followed the declaration dertaken without the authority, or even knowledge of war by the United States, his royal highness the of his majesty's government, and which Mr. Foster Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf was authorised formally and officially to disavow.of his majesty, feels himself called upon to declare The charge of exciting the Indians to offensive mes. the leading principles, by which the conduct of sures against the United States, is equally void of Great Britain has been regulated in the transactions foundation. Before the war began, a policy the connected with these discussions. most opposite had been uniformly pursued, and proof His royal highness can never acknowledge any of this was tendered by Mr. Foster to the American Blockade whatsoever to be illegal which has been government. Such are the causes of war which have duly notified, and is supported by an adequate force, been put forward by the government of the United merely upon the ground of its extent, or because the States. But the real origin of the present contest. ports, or coasts blockaded are not at the same time will be found in that spirit which has long unhappily invested by land. His royal highness can never ad-actuated the councils of the United States; their mit that neutral trade with Great Britain can be marked partiality in palliating and assisting the ngconstituted a public crime, the commission of which gressive tyranny of France; their systematic endeacan expose the ships of any power whatever to be vors to inflame their people against the defensive denationalized His royal highness can never admit means of G. Britain; their ungenerous conduct to that Great Britain can be debarred of its lights of wards Spain, the intimate ally of G. Britain; and their just and necessary retaliation, through the fear of unworthy desertion of the cause of other neutral eventually affecting the interest of a neutral. His nations. It is through the prevalence of such counroyal highness can never admit that in the exercise cils that America has been associated in policy with of the undoubted and hitherto undisputed right of France, and committed in war against G. Britain. searching neutral merchant vessels in time of war, And under what conduct on the part of France for the impressment of British seamen, when found has the government of the United States thus lent therein, can be deemed any violation of a neutral itself to the enemy? The contemptuous violation of flag. Neither can he admit that the taking such the commercial treaty of the year 1800 between seamen from on board such vessels, can be consider-France and the United States; the treacherous seize ed by any neutral state as a hostile measure, or a ure of all American vessels and cargoes in all har justifiable cause of war.. bors subject to the controul of the French arins ; There is no right more clearly established than the the tyrannical principles of the Berlin and Milan right which a sovereign has to the allegiance of his decrees, and the confiscations under them; the subsubjects, more especially in time of war. Their al- sequent condemnation under the Rambouillet decree, legiance is no optional duty, which they can decline, antedated or concealed to render it the more effec and resume at pleasure. It is a call which they are tual; the French commercial regulations which renbound to obey; it began with their birth, and can der the traffic of the United States with France alonly terminate with their existence. If a similarity most illusory; the burning of their merchant ships of language and manners may make the exercise of at sea, long after the alleged repeal of the French this right more liable to partial mistakes and occasi-decrees-all these acts of violence on the part of onal abuse, when practised towards vessels of the U. France produce from the government of the United States, the same circumstances make it also a right, States only such complaints as end in acquiescence with the exercise of which in regard to such vessels, and submission, or are accompanied by suggestions it is more difficult to dispense. But if, to this prac-for enabling France to give the semblance of a legal tice of the United States, to harbor British seamen, form to her usurpations, by converting them into be added their assumed right to transfer the allegi-municipal regulations. ance of British subjects, and thus to cancel the ju- This disposition of the government of the United risdiction of their legitimate sovereign, by acts of States, this complete subserviency to the ruler of naturalization and certificates of citizenship, which France-this hostile temper towards Great Britain, they pretend to be as valid out of their own territo-are evident in almost every page of the official corry as within it, it is obvious that to abandon this respondence of the American with the French go ancient right of Great Britain, and to admit these vernment. Against this course of conduct, the real several pretensions of the U. States, would be to ex-cause of the present war, the prince regent solemnpose to danger the very foundation of our maritime ly protests. Whilst contending against France, in strength. defence not only of the liberties of Great Britain, Without entering minutely into the other topics, but of the world, his royal highness was entitled to which have been brought forward by the government look for a far different result. From their common origin-from their common interests-from their pro- Recapitulation of the Stocks belonging to the Nury fessed principles of freedom and independence, the Pension Fund. United States were the last power, in which Great United States Stocks, 120,998 09 89,703 10 $210,701 19 Accompanying the report of the Commissioners of the New-York, New-Jersey 3 15 2 2 21 1 ment which accrued for 1812. Protector Together with 16 others of inferior force destroyed at Penobscot; with 44 sail of armed sloops, schoo60,102 60 ners, privateers, &c. The number of privateers, armed vessels, sloops, schooners and cutters (private property) are almost innumerable, and which the re 14,260 00 *Hussar, after famous, for taking the La Ven geance. Burnt in the Delaware. Bon Homme Richard sunk gitandolph blown up. corder says would fill a small volume. Total taken his company; but much more dreadful was the by the English, 104 vessels. The number of guns slaughter on board the Terrible. When the enemy boarded, they only found one scene of slaughter, Bi and men cannot well be ascertained. Those captured by the French, from the English, were lence and desolation. Of 200 men only 16 were found as follows: GUNS. NAMES. 64 Gronoque 50 Ceres 50 Wesel Fannibal Romulus 44 Senegal Iris 32 Alert Richmond 32 Alligator Montreal 32 York Minerva 32 Thunder (bomb) 20 Vulcan (fire ship) 20 Quebec 24 508 GUNS. Those captured by the Americans are as follows. GUNS. NAMES. 44 Atalanta 20 remaining, and the ship so shattered as scarcely to be kept above water. The following are the remark Jable names of the officers of the Terrible. Captain 18 Death, lieuts. Spirit and Ghost, boatswain Butcher, 16 quarter-master Debble, launched out of Execution dock, London. 16 14 12 I find that upon record, in the same paper from 14 which the above was copied, that La Vengearce was on January 10, 1778, taken by the Hussar frigate of 28 guns and 220 men, La Vengeance having 400:The Hiussar had. 9 killed and 9 wounded, La Ven44 geance 170 killed and wounded. 8 14 32 Abstract of a statement furnished the Senate of the 508 United States by the Secretary of the Treasury, on ~2681the 5th ult. of articles of the produce or manufac ture of the United States exported to the dominions of Spain for one year ending Sept. 30, 1812 ToSpanish European ports on the Atlantic 4,527,452 Do. in the Mediterranean GUNS. 16 16 16 ·Teneriffe and other Canaries Manilla and Phillipine islands The Floridas English ships lost besides, in various ways, during that 40,302 351,965 30,703 97,703 58,202 152 period. NAMES. GUNS. NAMES. Royal George. Ramilies Hector 100 Supply. 74 Glasgow 74 Swan GUNS. 201 26 18 74 Spy 20 74 Burnt at Rhode-Island. 74 Flora 38 Sterling Castle 64 Juno 32 Somerset Terrible Augusta 70 Lark 74 Orpheus $2 32 1,052,652 — lard, 28 262,961 bushels Indian corn, 32 Falcon 18 529,214 barrels flour, 32 Kingfisher rye and Indian meal, 28 Lost in the West-Indies, 23,188 and kegs of ship bread, 28 October 10, 1780. Mermaid 28 Phenix 44 Liverpool 28 Andromeda 28 Vestal 20 Laurel 28 Pegasus 16 Beaver's Prize 18 Mercury 20 Scarborough 24 Ferret 14Meal Castle 24 Pomona 14 San Vincent 16 Merlin 18 Victor 16 Cruiser 8 Barbadoes 16 Savage 8 Camelon 16 Blond 21,776 tierces rice, 141,117 lbs. cotton, 1,035,601 soap and candles, 101,243 galls. spirits from grain, Proceedings of Congress. IN SENATE. Friday, Feb. 26.-The bill better providing for supplies for the army, &c. was read a third time and 14 32 Passed. The bill to alter the time for the next meeting of congress, was read a third time and passed. 15. On motion of Mr. Pope, the senate agreed to re consider their vote of yesterday, pastponing the bill regulating the employment of foreign seamen in the service of the United States. Whole number lost by the British during that pori od, which we have any account of, about 83 sail. December 23, 1777, captain Death, of the Terrible privateer, of London, was killed in an engagement The with the Vengeance privateer, of St. Maloes. Mr. Lloyd's motion to postpone the same to May, annals of mankind cannot shew an effort of more desperate courage than was exerted under the command having recurred, was decided as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Bayard, Bradley, Dana, Gaillard, German, Goodof captain Death, (and he might have added such a strange combination of names so extremely charac-rich, Gregg, Hunter, Lambert, Leib, Lloyd, Pope, Reed, Smith of Maryland-15. NAYS-Messi's. Bibb Brent, Brown, Campbell of O. Campbell teristic.) He had in the beginning of his cruise made a prize of a rich merchant ship, with which he was of Ten. Crawford, Cutts, Franklin, Giles, Howell, Robinson, Smith The bill was then ordered to be read a third time returning to England in triumph, when he had the of N. Y. Tait, Taylor, Turner, Varnuni, Worthington-17. fortune to fall in with the La Vengeance, much his YEAS-Messrs. Bibb, Bradley, Brent. Brown, Campbell of O. superior in force, 36 to 26 guns. The Terrible's amended, by the following vote: prize was soon taken and converted against her; but Campbell of Ten, Crawford, Cutts, Franklin, Giles, Howell, Pope, so unequally matched, captain Death maintained a Robinson, Smith of N. Y. Tait, Taylor, Turner, Varnum, WorthNAYS-Mestrs, Bayard, Daña, Gaillard, German, Glinan, G furious engagement. The French captain and hsington-19. second in command were killed, with two-thirds of rich, Gregg, Hunter, Lambert, Leib, Lloyd, Reed, Sinith of Na. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. tution, praying that an allowance may be made thera Wednesday Feb. 24.-The following were the yeas for the loss of the British frigates which they had and nays on the bill for altering the next meeting of assisted to capture, and had destroyed in obedience Congress, on its final passage: to the orders of their commander-Head and ordered to lie on the table. YEAS-Mess Anderson, Archer, Bacon, Bard, Barnett, Bassett, Mosely, Nelson, Newbold,Newton, Ormsby, Pickens,Piper, Pleasants, Porter, Potter, Quincy, Reed, Richardson, Ringgold, Rhica, Ro vessels of the United States. bertson, Roane, Roberts, Rodman, Sawyer, Sevier, Seybert, G. Mr. Calhoun also reported the following bill, from Smith, J. Smith, Sturges, Taggert, Talliaferro, Tallman, Troup; the same committee. NAYS-Messrs. Baker, Bleecker, Boyd, Brown, Burwell, Carr, A bill prohibiting the exportation of certain articles The President's message to both houses of Congress, communicating the British order in council, inserted in our last, was as follows To the senate and House of Representatives of the United States. therein specified in foreign ships or vessels. Be it enacted, &c. That no foreign ship or vessel shall be permitted to clear out or depart from any Port or place within the United States or the territories thereof, having on board any staves, lumber, horses, mules, asses, neat cattle, sheep, hogs and every species of live stock and live provisions whatever (sea stores excepted.) I lay before congress copies of a proclamation of the lieutenant-governor of the island of Bermuda, continuance of this act, take on board any of the.. Sec. 2. That if any foreign vessel shall, during the which has appeared under circumstances leaving no articles above enumerated other than provisions and doubt of its authenticity. It recites a British order in council of the 26th of October last, providing for vessel and the cargo on board shall be wholly forsea stores necessary for the voyage, such ship or the supply of the British West Indies and other co-feited and may be seized and condemned in any court lonial possessions, by a trade under special licenses, of the United States having completent jurisdiction, and is accompanied by a circular instruction to the and every person concerned in such unlawful shipcolonial governors, which confines licensed importations from ports of the eastern states exclusively. ment, shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding dollars, nor less than dollars, nor less than dollars for every such offence. tribution of penalties. Sec. 3. Prescribes the mode of recovery and dis Sec. 4. Limits the duration of the bill to the 1st of July next. The bill was twice read, and referred to a committee of the whole. The government of Great Britain has already introduced into her commerce, during war, a system which, at once violating the rights of other nations, and resting upon a mass of forgery and perjury, unknown to other times, was making an unfortunate progress in undermining those principles of morality and religion which are the best foundations of national happiness. The policy now proclaimed to the world introduces into her modes of warfare a A motion for an indefinite postponement was ne system equally distinguished by the deformity of gatived-75 to 41. its features and the depravity of its character; hav-sideration of the bill to prohibit the use of foreign Saturday, Feb. 27-After other business the coning for i's object to dissolve the ties of allegiance, licenses was resumed-it was finally ordered to a and the sentiments of loyalty in the adversary nation, and to seduce and separate its component The retaliatory bill from the senate, (after debate,} third reading. parts the one from the other. The general tendency of these demoralising and disorganising contriwith the amendments, was ordered to a third readvances will be reprobated by the civilized and ing christian world, and the insulting attempt on the virtue, the honor, the patriotism, and the fidelity of our brethren of the eastern states, will not fail to call forth their indignation and resentment; and to attach more and more all the states to that happy anion and constitution, against which such insidious artifices are directed. The better to guard, nevertheless, against the effect of individual cupidity and treachery, and to turn the corrupt projects of the enemy on himself, 1 recommend to the consideration of congress the expediency of an effectual prohibition of any trade whatever by citizens or inhabitants of the United States, under special licenses, whether relating to persons or ports; and, in aid thereof, a prohibition of all exportations from the United States in foreign bottoms, few of which are actually employed, Whilst multiplying counterfeits of their flags and papers are covering and encouraging the navigation of the enemy. February 24th, 1813. JAMES MADISON. The house then resolved itself into a committee of certain articles in foreign bottoms. Some amend the whole on the bill prohibiting the exportation of nents made, but no decision had. the power of retaliation in certain cases thereinThe bill giving to the president of the U. States mentioned, was read a third time. A motion was made by Mr. Quincy to adjourn lost, 56 to 16. The bill was then passed by the following vote: And the house adjourned at 6 o'clock. Monday, March 1.-The bill to prohibit the use of foreign licenses on board of vessels of the U. States, Thursday, Feb. 25.-The house was chiefly occupi-was read a third time and passed, by the following ed on the bill to authorise the Secretary of the Trea-votes: sury to remit certain fines, forfeitures and penalties, Blackledge, Brown, Burwell, Calhoun, Clopton, Crawford, Davis, YEAS-Messrs, Anderson, Archer, Bard, Barnett. Bassett, Bibb, which finally passed-ayes 57, nays 43. Dawson, Dinsmoor, Earle, Findley, Fisk, Goodwyn, Green, GrunFriday Feb. 26-Mr. Clay, (speaker) laid before dy, Hawes, Hyneman, Kennedy, Lacock, Little, Lowndes, Lyle, ; house the memorial of the seamen of the Consti-New, Newton, Piper, Pleasants, Pond, Rhea, Roane, Roberts, KoMacon, M'Coy, M'Kim, Metcalf, Mitchill, Morgan, Morrow, Nelson, bertson, Sage, Sawyer, Sevier, Seybert. Shaw, G. Smith, J. Smith, the committee that he had no further communication Stanford, Taliaferro, Troup, Turner, Whitehill, Willans, Winn. NAYS-Messrs. Bigelow, Boyd, Carr, Champions Cheves, Chit-to make, the house adjourned sine die. tenden, Davenport, Ely, Emott, Fitch, Gold, Goldsborough, Gros The SENATE rejected the bill to prohibit the use venor, Kent, Law, Lewis, Moseley, Newbold, Pith Potter, Quit of foreign licenses, and the bill prohibiting experta. ey, Randolph, Rodman, Stuart, Stow, Sturges, Taggart, Tailmadge, Tallman, White, Wilson, Wright. tions in foreign bottoms, by not taking them up.-They also postponed the bill imposing an additional duty on foreign tonnage. The bills making appropriations for the support of the army and navy for the year 1813, were read a third time and passed. Several bills were lost in transitu between the two The bill from the senate "the better to provide houses-among them the bill to an end the naturalifor the supply of the army of the United States," zation laws, and the invalid pension bill. &c. was read a third and passed. Mr. Goldsborough, after observing on the propriety of the house having all the information on foreign affairs, which was accessible; and remarking also, that they were much in the dark in respect to our relations with France, moved the following resolution: Events of the Sar. MILITARY. As well to supply the place of those whose period of service has expired, as to strengthen the army "Resolved, That the president of the United under Harrison, considerable reinforcements are States be requested to cause to be laid before this marching to the frontiers, from Ohio and Kentucky. bouse the French decree purporting to be a repeal of Five companies, completely equipped, had na arched the Berlin and Milan decrees, referred to m his letter from the neighborhood of Cincinnati for Duyton, of the 4th of November last; together with such onwards. It appears ascertained, however, that information as he may possess concerning the time the general is strongly forfed at the Rapids, and and manner of promulgating the same; and also that no movement may be at present expected. any correspondence or information touching the re- The recruits for the 14th reg. of U. S. infantry Iations of the the United States with France, in the enlisted in Baltimore and its vicinity to the amount office of the department of state, not heretofore of nearly 400 men, have started for Buffalo. Their communicated, which in the opinion of the president col (Winder) has also taken up his march for that it may not be incompatible with the public good to communicate." This resolution was adopted by the house, by yeas and nays:-Ayes 102-Nays 4. The amendments of the senate to the "bill regulating the employment of foreign seamen in the armed vessels and merchant service of the United States," were again taken up and agreed to. place. Letters of a late date from St. Johns, mention that all the disposable force at Halifax and St. Johns, has been sent on to Quebec. Lieut. Larabee, of the 4th regiment, who lost his arm at the battle of Brownstown, has been promoted to captain. Extract of a letter from colonel Macomb, commandThe bill making an appropriation of $5000 for ing at Sackett's Harbor, to general Dearborn. certain alterations in the hall of the house of repreSACKETT'S HARBOR, 9 A. M. Feb. 22, 1812. sentatives, was passed through a committee of the "I have this moment received an express from capwhole, and ordered to be engrossed for a third read-tain Forsyth, informing me of the enemy's having ing. succeeded in driving him out of Ogdensburgh, yesThe house agreed to the amendments of the se-terday morning at 9 o'clock. It was not done withnate to the general appropriation bill. out a severe contest, in which the enemy suffered Tuesday, March 2-The bill to prevent exporta- very considerably. The enemy attacked in two cotions in foreign bottoms, &c. was so amended (40 lumns of about 600 men each, at about eight o'clock to 35) as to include all articles of the growth, pro-in the morning. The captain reports twenty men duce or manufacture of the United States. After killed and wounded, among the latter lieutenant much debate it was finally agreed to and passed; 59 Baird; and from the coolness with which his rifleto 45. Certain bills for the better organization of the army were also passed, as was a resolution requesting the president to present medals to the officers of the Constitution for capturing the Java. men fired, that the enemy must have lost three times that number. The captain retreated with a his force to Black Lake, about nine miles this side of Ogdensburgh." N, B. The enemy had more than double the numWednesday, March 3-This being the last day of ber under captain Forsyth. There were no stores of the 12th congress, was a very busy one, though not any consequence at Ogdensburgh. much business of importance was done, which may Copy of a letter from brigadier-general Winchester, be noticed if it shall appear necessary, more in de- now a prisoner of war, to the secretary of war. tail hereafter. There was an evening sitting which MALDEN, Jan. 23, 1813. continued until nearly 12 o'clock. The thanks of SIR-A detachment from the left wing of the the house were given to the speaker, on which he North-Western army, under my command, at Frenchmade a handsome address to the members-the pre- town on the river Raisin, was attacked on the 22d sident sent a message containing a roll of the per- inst. by a force greatly superior in number; aided by sons holding offices under the United States, &c. it several pieces of artillery. The action commenced was ordered to he printed-the bill to encourage the at the dawn of day; the piquet guards were driven destruction of armed vessels of the enemy was final-in; and a heavy fire opened on the whole line, by ly passed, ayes 50-another message was received which a part thereof was thrown into disorder; and, from the president enclosing the requested docu- being ordered to retire a small distance, in order to ments touching our relations with France. A com- form on more advantageous ground, I found the encmittee waited upon the president to inform him that my doubling our left Hank with force and rapidity. the session was about to close, and to know if he A destructive fire was sustained for some time; at had any further communication to make-after length borne down by numbers, the few of us that which a call of the house was had, and only 64 mem-remained with the party that retired from the lines bers were present-the bills that had passed were submitted. The remainder of our force, in number received from the president, and being informed by labout four hundred, continued to defend themselves |