tious paper from one bookseller to another, or to a private customer of the former, which the porter neither has read nor can read, nor in any degree knows the contents of them. In this case the porter would certainly be a publisher of this paper; but yet, I presume, would be allowed by all the world to be guilty of no offence whatever by so doing. I shall be glad to hear your opinion upon this subject.-A CONSTANT READER.-3rd Dec. AMERICAN STATES. timation, that it had been transmitted to the British plenipotentiary here, in order that it might receive full consideration in the depending discussions. This communication appears not to have been received: but the transmission of it hither instead of founding on it an actual repeal of the orders, or assurances that the repeal would ensue, will not permit us to rely on any effective change in the British Cabinet. To be ready to meet with cordiality satisfactory proofs of such a change, and to proceed, in the mean time in adapting our measures to the views which have been PRESIDENT'S SPEECH TO THE CONGRESS. disclosed through that minister, will best -Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the consult our whole duty.-In the unfriendHouse of Representatives,-In calling you ly spirit of those disclosures, indemnity together sooner than a separation from and redress for other wrongs have conyour homes would otherwise have been tinued to be withheld; and our coasts and required, I yielded to considerations drawn the mouths of our harbours have again from the posture of our foreign affairs; witnessed scenes, not less derogatory to and in fixing the present for the time of the dearest of our national rights than your meeting, regard was had to the pro- vexatious to the regular course of our bability of farther developements of the trade.-Among the occurrences produced policy of the belligerent powers towards by the conduct of British ships of war this country, which might the more unite hovering on our coasts, was an encounter the national councils in the measures to be between one them and the American fripursued. At the close of the last session gate commanded by Captain Rodgers, of Congress, it was hoped that the suc- rendered unavoidable on the part of the cessive confirmations of the extinction of latter, by a fire commenced without cause the French decrees, so far as they violated by the former; whose Commander is, our neutral commerce, would have in- therefore, alone chargeable with the blood duced the government of Great Britain to unfortunately shed in maintaining the horepeal its orders in council; and thereby nour of the American flag. The proceedauthorise a removal of the existing ob-ings of a Court of Enquiry, requested by structions to her commerce with the United States. Instead of this reasonable step towards satisfaction and friendship between the two nations, the orders were, at a moment when least to have been expected, put into more vigorous execution; and it was communicated through the British Envoy just arrived, that whilst the revocation of the Edicts of France, as officially made known to the British Government, was denied to have taken place, it was an indispensable condition of the repeal of the British Orders, that commerce should be restored to a footing, that would admit the productions and manufactures of Great Britain, when owned by neutrals, into markets shut against them by her enemy; the United States being given to understand, that, in the mean time, a continuance of their Non-importation Act would lead to measures of retaliation.-At a later date, it has indeed, appeared, that a communication to the British Government, of fresh evidence of the repeal of the French decrees against our neutral trade, was followed by an in Captain Rodgers, are communicated; together with the correspondence relating to the occurrence, between the Secretary of State and his Britannic Majesty's Envoy. To these are added, the several corre spondencies which have passed on the subject of the British Orders in Council; and to both, the correspondence relating to the Floridas, in which Congress will be made acquainted with the interposition which the Government of Great Britain has thought proper to make against the proceedings of the United States.-The justice and fairness which have been evinced on the part of the United States towards France, both before and since the revocation of her decrees, authorised an expectation that her Government would have followed up that measure by all such others as were due to our reasonable claims, as well as dictated by its amicable professions. No proof, however, is yet given of an intention to repair the other wrongs done to the United States, and, particularly to restore the great amount of American With sure was made requisite by several mur- property seized and condemned under edicts, which, though not affecting our neutral relations, and therefore, not entering into questions between the United States and other belligerents, were nevertheless founded in such unjust principles, that the reparation ought to have been prompt and ample.-In addition to this and other demands of strict right on that nation, the United States have much reason to be dissatisfied with the rigorous and unexpected restrictions to which their trade with the French dominions has been subjected; and which, if not discontinued will require at least corresponding restrictions on importations from France into the United States.-On all those subjects our Minister Plenipotentiary, lately sent to Paris, has carried with him the necessary instructions; the result of which will be communicated to you; and by ascertaining the ulterior policy of the French Government towards the United States, will enable you to adapt to it that of the United States towards France.-Our other foreign relations remain without unfavour-hold of our territory, of measures which, able changes. With Russia, they are on the best footing of friendship. The ports of Sweden have afforded proofs of friendly dispositions towards our commerce in the councils of that nation also. And the information from our Special Minister to Denmark, shews, that the mission had been attended with valuable effects, to our citizens, whose property had been so extensively violated and endangered by cruisers under the Danish flag.-Under the ominous indications which commanded attention, it became a duty to exert the means committed to the Executive department, in providing for the general security. The works of defence on our maritime frontier have accordingly been prosecuted with an activity leaving little to be added for the completion of the most important ones; and, as particulary suited for co-operation in emergencies, a portion of the gun boats have, in particular harbours, been ordered into use. The ships of war before in commission, with the addition of a frigate, have been chiefly employed, as a cruising guard to the rights of our coast; and such a disposition has been made of our land forces, as was thought to promise the services most appropriate and important. In this disposition is included a force, consisting of regulars and militia, embodied in the Indiana territory, and marched towards our North Western frontier. This mea under existing circumstances, have the character as well as the effect of war on our lawful commerce.-With this evidence of hostile inflexibility, in trampling on rights which no independent nation can relinquish, Congress will feel the duty of putting the United States into an armour and an attitude demanded by the crisis, and corresponding with the national spirit and expectations.-I recommend, accordingly, that adequate provision be made for filling the ranks and prolonging the enlistments of the regular troops; for an auxil iary force, to be engaged for a more limited term; for the acceptance of volunteer corps, whose patriotic ardour may court a participation in urgent services; for detachments, as they may be wanted, of other portions of the militia; and for such a preparation of the great body, as will proportion its usefulness to its intrinsic capacities. Nor can the occasion fail to remind you of the importance of those military seminaries, which, in every event, will form a valuable and frugal part of our military establishment. The manufacture of cannon and small arms has proceeded with due success, and the stock and resources of all the necessary munitions are adequate to emergen cies. It will not be inexpedient, however, for Congress to authorise an enlargement of them.-Your attention will of course be drawn to such provisions, on the subject of our naval force, as may be required for the services to which it may be best ad pted. I submit to Congress the seasonableness, also, of an authority to-angment the stock of such materials as are imperishable in their nature, or may not at once be attainable-In contemplating the scenes which distinguish this momentous epoch, and estimating their claims to our attention, it is impossible to overlook those developing themselves among the great communities which occupy the southern portion of our own hemisphere, and extend into our neighbourhood. An enlarged philanthropy, and an enlightened forecast, concur in imposing on the National Councils an obligation to take a deep interest in their destinies; to cherish reciprocal sentiments of good will; to regard the progress of events; and not to be unprepared for whatever order of things may be ultimately established.-Under another aspect of our situation, the early attention of Congress will be due to the expediency of farther guards against evasions and infractions of our commercial laws. The practice of smuggling, which is odious every where, and particularly criminal in free governments, where, the laws being made by all for the good of all, a fraud is committed on every individual as well as on the State, attains its utmost guilt, when it blends, with a pursuit of ignominious gain, a treacherous subserviency, in the transgressors, to a foreign policy adverse to that of their own country. It is then that the virtuous indignation of the public should be enabled to manifest itself, through the regular animadversions of the most competent laws. -To secure greater respect to our mercantile flag, and to the honest interests which it covers, it is expedient, also, that it be made punishable in our citizens to accept licences from foreign Governments, for a trade unlawfully interdicted by them to other American citizens; or to trade under false colours or papers of any sort.A prohibition is equally called for against the acceptance, by our citizens, of special licences, to be used in a trade with the United States; and against the admission into particular ports of the United States, of vessels from foreign countries, authorised to trade with particular ports only. -Although other subjects will press more immediately on your deliberations, a portion of them cannot but be well bestowed on the just and sound policy of securing to our manufactures the success they have | attained, and are still attaining, in some degree, under the impulse of causes not permanent; and to our navigation, the fair extent of which it is at present abridged, by the unequal regulations of foreign governments. Besides the reasonableness of saving our manufacturers from sacrifices which a change of circumstances might bring on them, the national interest requires, that, with respect to such articles, at least, as belong to our defence and our primary wants, we should not be left in unnecesary dependence on external supplies. And whilst foreign governments adhere to the existing discriminations in their ports against our navigation, and an equality or lesser discrimination is enjoyed by their navigation in our ports, the effect cannot be mistaken, because it has been seriously felt by our shipping interests; and in proportion as this takes place, the advantages of an independent conveyance of our products to foreign markets, and of a growing body of mariners, trained by their occupations for the service of their country in times of danger, must be diminished. The receipts into the Treasury, during the year ending on the 30th of September last, have exceeded thirteen millions and an half of dollars and have enabled us to defray the current expences, including the interest on the public debt, and to reimburse more than five millions of dollars of the principal, without recurring to the loan authorised by the act of the last session. The temporary loan obtained in the latter end of the year 1810 has also been reimbursed, and is not included in that amount.-The decrease of revenue, arising from the situation of our commerce and the extraordinary expences which have and may become necessary, must be taken into view, in making commensurate provisions for the ensuing year. And I recommend to your consideration the propriety of ensuring a sufficiency of annual revenue, at least to defray the ordinary expences of government, and to pay the interest on the public debt, including that on new loans which may be authorised. I cannot close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled, my confidence in a wise and honourable result to your deliberations, and assurances of the faithful zeal with which my cooperating duties will be discharged; invoking, at the same time, the blessing of Heaven on our beloved country, and on all the means that may be employed in vindicating its rights and advancing its welfare. (Signed) JAMES MADISON. Washington, Nov. 5, 1811. being a person professing the Roman Catholic Religion, was then and there unlawfully appointed, by the said persons so then and there assembled, to act as one of the Representatives of the said Inhabitants of the said District in the said Committee, to be so thereafter held as last aforesaid; and that the said Edward Sheridan, then and there, with force and arms, knowingly, wilfully, and unlawfully, was one of the persons so then and there unlawfully assembled, and then and there acted as Chairman of said Meeting, and then and there, as such Chairman, proposed as a question to the said Meeting, whether the said Thomas Kirwan should be so appointed or not, and, on the said question being so put, the said Thomas Kirwan was then and there so appointed by the said persons as last aforesaid, and so the said Jurors say that the said Edward Sheridan, in manner last aforesaid, then and there acted at and in the said appointment last mentioned, to the great encou ragement of riot, tumult and disorder, to the evil example of all others in the like case offending, against the peace of our said Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, and against the form of the Statute in that case made and provided. IRISH CATHOLICS. (Concluded from p. 704.) Committee so proposed to be formed; and that the said Edward Sheridan then there, with force and arms, knowingly, wilfully, and unlawfully, was one of the persons so assembled, and then and there acted as Chairman of the said Meeting, and then and there, as such Chairman, proposed as a question to the said Meeting whether the said Thomas Kirwan should be so appointed or not, and on the said question being so put, the said Thomas Kirwan was then and there so appointed by the said persons as aforesaid; and so the said Jurors say that the said Edward Sheridan in manner aforesaid then and there acted at and in the said appointment to the great encouragement of riot, tumult, and disorder, to the evil example of all others in the like case offending, against the peace of our said Lord the King, his Crown and Dignity, and against the form of the Statute in that case made and provided. And the said Jurors of our said Lord the King further present and say, that Edward Sheridan aforesaid, so being a person professing the Roman Catholic Religion, together with divers other ill disposed persons professing the Roman Catholic Religion, on the 31st day of July, in the year of our Lord 1811, at Liffeystreet, in the county of the city of Dublin, met, and assembled themselves together for the purpose of appointing five persons to act as Representatives of all the inhabitants professing the Roman Catholic Religion of and in a certain district there situate, commonly called the Parish of Saint Mary, in a Committee of Persons professing the Roman Catholic Religion, to be thereafter held, and to exercise a right and authority to represent the Inhabitants of Ireland professing the Roman Catholic Religion, under pretence of pre-of Lardizabal and Zayas, joined to the paring Petitions to both Houses of Parlia- divisions of Villa Campo and Obispo, ment, for the Repeal of all Laws remain- commanded by O'Donnel and Miranda, ing in force in Ireland, by means whereof forming the army of Valencia, united any person professing the Roman Catholic with the guerillas, composed a corps of Religion is subject to any disability by rea-20,000 infantry and 3,000 cavalry. On son of his religious tenets, and of thereby procuring an alteration of the said matters so established by Law; and that at and in the said Meeting, so then and there held, one Thomas Kirwan, then and there, OFFICIAL PAPERS. SPAIN. French Dispatches. Marshal Count Suchet's Account of the Battle and Capture of Saguntum, 26 Oct. 1811. MONSEIGNEUR-Your Serene Highness has been informed, by my preceding reports, of the difficulties encountered in forming our approaches before Saguntum, in consequence of the nature of the ground. We succeeded, however, after twenty days labour and fatigue, in making a practicable breach; but during this period General Blake had time to summon to his aid Mabi, General in Chief of the Army of Murcia, with the. whole of the force which the insurgents had disposable, amounting to 6,000 men.-The division called that of Albuera, under the orders the 24th of October this corps advanced, and took post on the heights of Puch, supporting its right on the sea, flanked by the English fleet, and its left resting upon Livia. Blake perceiving that Saguntum was on the point of falling, and that the battery of eight 24-pounders which I had constructed, would soon decide its fate, marched up to me to give battle and oblige me to raise the siege. I directed Generals Balathier and Bronikowski, with six battalions to continue the blockade and the works of the siege of Saguntum; General Compere, with fifteen hundred men, observed the road of Segorbe, and served as a reserve to the troops of General Chlopiski and Robert, destined by the defile which leads from Giletto Betera, and to occupy my right.The next day, on the 25th, at seven in the morning, I reconnoitred the enemy. The heights of Puch, and those which covered the road to Betera, were defended by artillery and infantry. At eight o'clock my sharp. shooters were briskly driven back, and from that moment I was convinced that I had to contend with far different troops from those of Valencia. Some strong columns outflanked me on my left, under the protection of some English vessels, the enemy's troops filled the village of Puzol, which I had quitted; 6,000 men attacked my right, which were full a league from Finding myself thus outflanked on both sides, I formed a determination to penetrate the centre of the enemy. Scarcely had I quitted a height, which I considered convenient to favour my at tack, when 1,000 cavalry, and 6,000 infantry, came to occupy it in my place. The hussars of the 4th charged with valour, and though three times repulsed, returned again to the charge. The fire of nine 24-pounders, which were battering in breach at Saguntum, could not repress the enthusiasm of the garrison of Saguntum, which observing a movement in their view in which they believed they might soon take a part, went so far as to throw their caps into the air, and cry, "Come on to victory!" This first effect was checked by our infantry, which arrived in columns on the line of battle. I ordered Gen. Harispe to attack the enemy. He advanced with Gen. Paris at the head of the 7th of the line; the 116th, and 3d of the Vistula, coming after with their arms on the rest, deployed under a heavy fire of grape and musketry, like troops accustomed to conquer. The brave 7th carried the breast work with the bayonet, repulsed the enemy and pursued them. Our artillery occupied the breast-work, but the enemy returned to the charge. Our artillerymen were surrounded and sabred. Gen. Boussart St. George, chief of a squadron, at the head of the 13th cuirassiers, vigorously charged 1,500 cavalry, which General Caro, brother of Romana, brought up with great resolution. The conflict was long, but the valour of the hussars and cuirassiers triumphed. The Field-Marshals Caro, Governor of Valencia, and Almoyer, who came from Cadiz, were wounded and made prisoners by Quarter-Masters Bazin and Vachelot, of the hussars. Six pieces of cannon were taken.-During this time the enemy was making some progress on the left; some pickets of our cavalry were obliged to fail back by the Spanish cavalry. General Palombini, at the bead of four battalions, received them with the greatest coolness; the 2nd light, and the 4th of the line, Italians, by a well served fire, repulsed the charge, and covered the field of battle with dead bodies. In directing the division of General Harispe to the centre, I ordered General Habert to move with his corps upon the great road, and to take possession of l'uzol. He had in front the division of Albuera; he caused it to be charged first by two battalions of the fifth light infantry; a very brisk cannonade was kept up on both sides; General Montmarie, with the 16th of the line, supported the 5th; the action was maintained with great slaughter; the enemy defended themselves in the houses of Puzol, through the windows, and from the roofs; a body of Spanish cavalry shewed an inclination to turn our troops, and to advance by the great road of Valencia. The General of Cavalry, Debort, received orders to overthrow the enemy with the 24th dragoons; he executed this operation with the greatest valour, and drove back the enemy beyond the Albalate, without suffering himself to be impeded by the fire of some battalions which were placed in ambush; he took on the road one howitzer, one 4-pounder, and 30 artillery men. Nevertheless, the enemy, though far outflanked, defended themselves still in Puzol, and had not abandoned the heights of Puch; the 16th of the line vigorously charged them from street to street sword in hand; the 5th light infantry succeeded in surrounding 700 of the Walloon Guards, and made them lay down their arms.-General Chlopiski, to whom I had entrusted the command on my right, very seasonably perceived that it was of consequence not to suffer himself to be outflanked. He ordered General Robert to attack and follow up the |