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326

THE WEEKLY REGISTER-N. CAROLINA: BRITISH STATISTICS.

It is with patience and confidence that the United States have expected this exemption, and which they believed themselves entitled by all those considerations of right and promise, which I have freely stated to your lordship. With what disappointment,| therefore, most thy learn that Great Britain, in professing to do away their disaffection, explicitly avows her intention to persevere in her orders in council, until some authentic act hereafter to be promulgated by the French government, shall declare the Berlin and Milan decrees are expressly and unconditionally repealed. To obtain such an act car the United States interiere?

Would such

an interfirence be compatible either with a sense of justice or with what is due to their own dignity? Can they be expected to falsify their repeated declarations of their sausfaction with the act of the 5th Aug. 1810, confirmed by abundant evidence of its subse que at observance, and by now affecting to doubt of the sufficiency of that act, to demand another which in its forin, its mode of publication, and its impor, siall accord with the requisitions of Great Britain? And can it be supposed that the French government would hsten to such a proposal made under such circumstances, and with such a view?

Winds, therefore, I can perceive no reason, in the report of the Fre..ch minister, of the 10th of March, to believe that the United States erroneously assumed the repeal of the French decrees to be complete in relation to them; while aware that the condition of which the orders in council is now distinctly made to depend, is the total repeal of both the Berlin and Milan decrees, instead as formerly of the Berlin deer only; and while I feel that to ask the performance of this condition from others, inconsistent with the honor of the United States, and to perform it themselves beyond their power; your lordship will permit me frankly to avow that I cannot accompany the communication of my government, of the declaration a 7 orders it, council of the 21st to this mouth, with any felicitation of the prospect which this measure presents of an accelerated return of amity and mutual confidence between the

two states.

It is with real pain that I make to your lordship this avowal, and I will seek still to confide in the spirit which your lordship in your note, and in the conversation of this morning, has been pleas ed to say actuates the councils of his royal highness in relation to Americk, and still to cherish a hope that the spirit will lead, upon a review of the whole ground, to measures of a nature better calculated to attain this object, and that this object will no longer be made to depend on the conduct of a third power, or contingencies over which the United States have no control, but alone upon the rights of the United States, the justice of Great Britain and the common interests of both. I have the honor to be, &c. JONA RUSSELL. (Signed)

North-Carolina.

of

By his excellency Wm. Hawkins, esq. governor, captain-general and
commander-in-chief over the state of N. Carolina, a proclamation.
WHEREAS I have received from the secretary
state of the United States, an authenticated copy of
an act of congress, app oved the 18th of June inst.
declaring WAR to exist between the united kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and the dependencies
thereof, and the United States of America and their
territories. And whereas it is the indispensable
duty of every state in the union with all the means
in its power to co-operate with the general govern
ment in carrying on the war with the utmost vigor
and activity. I have therefore thought proper to
issue this proclamation, hereby requiring and en
joining all officers civil and military in the state of
North Carolina, according to the duties of their
respective stations, to be vigilant in supporting
their country through the contest in which she is
at present engaged: And further, I do hereby ear-
nestly exhort all the good citizens of the state to
abandon party prejudices and distinctions and to give
their united and rigorous support to such measures
as may be adopted by the constituted authorities,
as well for mitigating the evils of war to our own
citizens, as to make it effectual against the enemy;
and for restoring the blessings of peace upon grounds
compatible with the honor, dignity and indepen-
dence of the United States.

IN testimony whereof I have caused the
great seal of the state to be hereunto
affixed, and signed the same at the city
(L. s.) of Raleigh, the 30th day of June, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twelve, and of the Inde
pendence of the U.States the thirty-sixth.
WILLIAM HAWKINS.

By his excellency's command,

WM. HILL, Secretary of State.

An Account of the real value of Exports from Great

BRITISH STATISTICS.
Britain in the years 1805, 1806, 1807, 1863, 1809, 1810 and

respectively-distinguishing generally the countries to which the goods were exported.

An account of the number of vessels, with the amount of their tonnage, and the number of men and boys
employed in navigating the same, (including their repeated voyages) which tored inwards and clear-
ed outwards, at the several ports of Great Britain, from and to all parts of the world, in the years 1800, 1807,
1808, 1809, 1810 and 1811-distinguishing British from foreign.

1811,

"IV.LO.L

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FOREIGN.

YEARS.

Ships.

Tons.

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12,110 1,482,412 11,213 1,436,667

Men.
88.963

3,792

4,087

612,800 680 144 Ships. Tons.

Men.

Ships.

Tons.

Men.

31,346

15,90

1808,

11,303 1,311,966|

82,617

1,926

15,64C

13,231 1,095,623 98,157

1809,

12,656 1,539,573

95,796

4,922

38,255

[blocks in formation]

13,557 1,609,088 102,900 12,908 1,522,692 94,740

687,130 6,876) 1,176,243 3,216

17,578 2,298,800 134,681 16,124 2,209,872 128,897 60,094 20,433 2,785,331 162,994 34,157)

1266'78

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

19,731 2,764,647 168,583

12,774 1,507,333 06,739 3,350 096,232 37,262 16,124) 2,203,585 134,001

London, 29th April, 1812 }

J. E. WILLOUGHBY, Bec, General

[blocks in formation]

13,80 1,634,400 105,272
15,274 2,056,013)
17,029 2,230,002 139,779
15,605 2,053,713

124.129

1. 1,131

1810,

13,090 1,624,120 107,713 6,641 1,138,527 60,870

1811,

Gustom-House,

*post

Outwards.

[blocks in formation]

pounds.

pounds.

pounds.

sounds. ↑ pounds.

pounds.

1805,

20,435,940

6,400,363)

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17,547,213

5,813,650

3,259,834 3.111,748

1,136,955) 11,146,939 8,557,186 51,169,131

53,028,881

1807,

15,420,514

7,032,272'

3,555,392

1308,

13,983,123

7,971,094

3,718,813'

1909,

27,190,337,

[blocks in formation]

5,765,464 3,117,075
7,565,599
18,537,204 7,210,699 3,053,971
24,224,567

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Guernsey,
Jersey

Annual average of ys. 2

ending with 1807, 3 y 17,801,232 6,415,428 3,308,991 1,278,248 12,136,811 10,599,514

Custom-House,

as with

South America. ed to the hopes of the nation, and to the heroic deeds of her loyalty and patriotism; the cortes have The following account of the reception of onresolved that the constitution shall be promulgated consul general to Chili, &c. cannot be but grati on the aforesaid day, the 19th March. fying to every one who duly appreciates the value In the public session of the antecedent day, two of a good understanding with nations with whom original manuscript copies of the constitution were our relations are likely to be so interesting read by the deputy secretaries of the cortes, and the infant states of South America. It is pleasing they are signed by the deputies nominally appointed to learn that the government of Chili accepts with for that object." Afterwards a deputation confrankness the hand of fellowship which the governsisting of twelve deputies went in three coaches ment of the U. States has tendered to it. Nat. Int.with all the royal household to the palace of the Translated from the Aurora of Chili of March 2. regency of the kingdom; the royal Spanish and Walloon guards being drawn up in the palace, did This was a day of great gratification to the real the necessary honors of the deputation; which then friends of the country, from the solemn reception of presented to the regency of the kingdom, one of col. Joel Roberts Poinsett, consul general of the U. the original manuscripts of the constitution which States of North America, appointed by James Mais to be recorded in their archives, as also the decree, dison, their present president, to the supreme go ordering it to he published and circulated. vernment of Chili All the corporations assisted at On the morning of the 19th all the deputies of the this ceremony, their unanimous vote having pre-cortes made the profession of faith and took the ceded it. oath prescribed to them.-At half after ten the re

SANTIAGO, 24th Feb. 1812.

pow

The consul took his seat, and the president, adgency of the kingdom proceeded to the conventional hall of the cortes in two coaches and took the dressing himself to him, said: "Chili, Mr. Consul, by its government and its oath according to the formula established by the corporations, recognizes in you the cousul general cortes. of the United States of North America. That After this solemn act, the cortes and the regency er attracts all our attentions and our attachment. of the kingdom repaired in a body to the church, You may safely assure it of the sincerity of our the troops being previously drawn up on both sides friendly sentiments. Its commerce will be attend. of the way, and a solemn mass was celebrated as ed to, and your representations directed to its pros- thanksgiving to the Almighty, and divine service was perity, will not be without effect. This is the uni terminated with a Te Deum. versal sentiment of this people, in whose name I address you."

ANSWER.

In the afternoon the constitution was solemnly promulgated in four different places in this city, being the residence of the court and government; for "The government of the United States has en the accomplishment of this act, the regency had the ministers of the au trusted me with its commission to the most excel disposed that the governor, lent government of Chili, to give an unequivocal dience of the district, and four individuals of the city proof of its friendship and of its desire to establish assembly, four heralds, and other persons whom with this kingdom commercial relations reciprocal- the governor might invite, in order to render the ly advantageous. solemn seal more splendid, should assemble at three "The Americans of the North generally take the in the afternoon, at the hall of the city assembly. greatest interest in the success of these countries, This being done, the procession was accompanied and ardently wish for the prosperity and happiness by an escort of cavalry in advance, and by a comof their brothers of the South. I will make known pany of each of the different military corps in the to the government of the United States the friendly rear, and from thence they proceeded to the palace, sentiments of your excellency; and I felicitate where the governor received from the regency the elf on having been the first who had the honorable original constitution through the secretary of the charge of establishing relations between two gene department of Gracia y Justicia. rous nations, who ought to consider themselves as friends and natural allies."

Spanish Constitution.

mv

Having arrived at the first place appointed to promulgate the constitution, where the portrait of our august sovereign, don Ferdinand VII. was placed under a canopy, the governor, ministers of the audience, city assemblymen, secretaries and heralds, ascended the stage, and arranging themselves in Promulgation of the constitution of Spain; from the a file below the canopy, the governor delivered the Gazette of the regency of Spain of the 14th May. constitution to one of the secretaries, who placed it The political constitution of the Spanish monar immediately in the hands of one of the heralds, who chy, being sanctioned by the general and extraordi- read and proclaimed it in an audible voice. nary cortes, they have de creed that its promulgation The solemn act having been performed with the shall be made with modest simplicity, but at the same formalities at the other places appointed for same time with dignity, and that while it is worthy the promulgation, the procession repaired to the of that great object which is to establish the prosper palace and the governor returned the constitution ity of the nation, so might it be adapted to the cir- to the regency through the minister of the department cumstances in which she is situated. And consider-of Gracia y Justicia, and also the testimony drawn ing that the duty of the promulgation of the con up by the two secretaries, of its having been pro stitutional code will be ever memorable in the an claimed and published with the formalities pre-cribnals of our nation, it is proper it should take place ed to celebrate with dignity this day of glory for the on the most notable day of the holy insurrection, Spanish nation.

the 19th of March, the anniversary of the sponta A more gratifying spectacle has seldom been preneous abdication of the crown by Charles the IV.sented, than was exhibited on this interesting occaon which day his son, beloved by all Spaniards, sion. The universal demonstration of joy in the King Ferdinand VII. of Bourbon, ascended the sympathising multitude of thousands of citizens, throne, and the arbitrary regimen of the former go-gave an interest to the whole scene which words vernment fell forever, and a spacious field was open- I would but faintly express,

The War in the Peninsula.

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 207.)

beheld the force of the enemy, it is said that he was dismayed, and perceived, when too late, that he had committed an error which could not be re

The Spaniards derived great advantages from thetrieved. The French state their force at 21,000; favorable issue of this battle. It opened a road to the Spaniards make it 44,000; the usual number of Salamanca, and at the same time compelled the a corps is 23,000, and the Spanish account is thereFrench to evacuate it. Three days after the battle, fore most probably nearest the truth. The disposi (21st Oct.) the duke del Parque crossed the Tormes tion of the Spanish army was not judicious.towards Ledesma, while he pushed on a column in Areizaga had arrayed it in two equal parts, one a contrary direction, as if he meant to reach Sala on each side of the town, which thus divided his manca, by Muniguela. When he arrived on the line: his second line was so near the first, that if heights to the north of Salamanca he was informed the first were thrown into disorder, there was not Most of the cavalry were that the French had evacuated it, and were retreat room for it to rally. ing towards Toro, laden with plunder from the stationed in four lines upon the right flank, a dischurches. Once more in the possession of Sala position neither imposing in appearance nor strong manca, the Spaniards were enabled to direct their in reality. The artillery was upon the two flanks. The action began about seven in the morning, and attention towards their grand object-the recovery of Madrid. As long as the duke del Parque could general Zayas, a young officer who had often distinretain possession of that city, he could co-operate guished himself, attacked the French cavalry with with the army of La Mancha; and if a junction of the advanced guard and drove them back. Between these armies were effected, the French could scarce-eight and nine the cannonade began. Mortier havly be expected to oppose their march to the capital. ing reconnoitred the ground, resolved to make his It was, therefore, highly important that they should chief attack upon the right wing, and, after having be driven from Salamanca, and for this purpose cannonaded it for a while from a battery in his centhe French gradually accumulated a force of nearly tre, he ordered Leval, with the Polish and German 20,000 men. But what they could not, probably, troops to advance, and turn a ravine which extendhave done, of themselves, the Spaniards incautious-ed from the town nearly to the end of this wing of ly did for them. The duke del Parque, elated by the Spanish army. Leval formed his line in comthe victory he had recently achieved and anxious to pact columns; the Spaniards met them advancing co-operate with the other army, in the proposed along the whole of their right wing, and Mortier advance on Madrid-quitted a position where he himself admits that his first line wavered. It was could have defied his enemies and crossed over to speedily reinforced; the Spanish artillery was well the right bank of the Tormes. Here he encoun- served, and four regiments displayed a resolution tered the marshal Kellerman (duke of Dalmatia) which has never been surpassed: 450 men of the who was posted there with a very superior force 5th regiment of Seville were in the field; these were Nevertheless the young duke offered him battle.- the men who behaved so nobly with sir Robert The armies met at Alba del Tormes, and the action Wilson at the Puerto de Banis-and only 80 of them terminated in the total defeat and dispersion of the were accounted for when the day was over! The Spaniards. The troops, disdaining all order and first battalions of guards, which was 900 strong, left But the controul, fled in every direction, leaving in the upon the field 14 officers and 450 men. hands of their enemies 15 pieces of cannon, six right wing was broken, and a charge of cavalry standards, 10,000 muskets, upwards of 2000 pri- completed the confusion on this side. The left wing stood firm and cheered Areizaga as he passed them; soners, and about 3000 killed."

The army of La Mancha, was not more fortuan able general might yet have secured a retreat, nate than those of the right and left. The officers but he was confounded at the disaster which he and men were resolved to force their way to Madrid ought to have foreseen, and quitted the field, orderand never to cross the Sierra Morena, until they ing this part of the army to follow him. Lord Machad effected that object. It was commanded by duff, who was with the Spaniards, then requested general Areizaga, and was connected with the ar- the second in command to assume the whole commy of the duke del Parque, by that of Estrama-mand; but while he was exerting himself to the utdura, under the duke of Albuquerque. The plan most, the French cavaky broke through the centre, was to cross the Tagus at Aranjuez, and to pene and the route was complete. Never indeed could trate directly to Madrid, leaving one division to the Spaniards have been defeated in a more unfortu watch Toledo. The operations of their chief army nate situation; they were upon an immense plain, engaged the hopes and expectations of all Spain: exposed to the pursuit of cavalry, where they were no expense had been spared to prepare it for the followed and cut down on all sides. Victor, who field and it had been five months under discipline. crossed the Tagus at Villa Mensigar, pursued all The troops were full of ardor and felt the greatest night. So rapid was the flight of the Spaniards, confidence in their leader: and the purpose to be and so great their fear of being overtaken, that they attained was calculated to excite their warmest feel- passed the Guidiana and fixed upon Duymiel as a ings. To oppose them Joseph once more quitted place of rendezvous for those who should be so the capital, attended by the duke of Dalmatia, the fortunate as to reach it. The whole of their artilleduke of Treviso, the duke of Bellano, and general ry was abandoned. A great number of prisoners Sebastiani, the commander of the cavalry. The were taken, among whom were three generals, six duke of Bellano was dispatched across the Tagus colonels, and seven hundred inferior officers. Up. near Faente Duanna, to intercept the retreat of the wards of 40,000 muskets were found on the field: their loss in killed and wounded, as may readily be Spaniards, if they should take that direction. Aware of the inferiority of the Spanish cavalry supposed in so flect an army was comparatively small in skill and discipline, the French endeavored to that ofthe French, according to their own account, entice them into the open plain. For this reason did not amount to 400 men; but the country people they were suffered to pass the Tagus without oppo- represent it at 6000. Half that number is probably ition. But fortunately the manoeuvre was perceived near the truth, for Mortier himself admits that the by the Spanish general who recalled them, and Spanish fire both of artillery and musquetry was posted his whole force at Occana. When Areizaga most tremendous. Thus at the close of the year

1809, the armies of Spain were completely dispersed, themselves, would teach them to investigate and and her strongest holds in the possession of her ene-direct those resources with prudence and energy. my. Some of the causes of these misfortunes are A relaxation of domestic government and indolent obvious. They had too much confidence in their confidence in the aid and activity of strangers, the own strength, they were ignorant of the force and marquis thought, had endangered all the noble and movements of their enemy: they were neglectful of virtuous objects for which Spain had lavished so that particular mode of warfare, which was adapted much blood: and until some change should be to the nature and circumstances of the Spanish effected in the distribution or application of the troops. Add to this, that the supreme and central jun- military resources of Spain, and the state of its ta was chiefly composed of weak and feeble characters army, no British force could attempt with safety to who had been chosen, not on account of their personal co-operate with Spanish troops on Spanish ground.* merit, but by the influence of great families. They The greatest aid, the marquis said, to be expected were not qualified to rouse, combine and direct the by Spain from an English army, should be confinenergies of the country. The abilities of many ed to that kind of occasional concert and co operawere slender,and the patriotism of some was hollow. tion which lately took place between the forces They fought to aggrandize themselves rather than to commanded by sir Arthur Wellesley and those unpromote the weal of the country. So conscious do der the orders of general Cuesta. In case of a Brithey appear to have been of their own infidelity, tish army of 30,000 men being employed in a camthat they were more afraid of domestic disturbances paign in Spain, they should be assured in the first than of external riots. This is evident from the place, of being provided with the means of movejealousy with which they watched the public jour-ment, and with necessary provisions. Should it benals of the country-suffering nothing to be pub. come necessary for them to retreat, the supreme lished that was calculated to enlighted the minds of command of the Spanish army should be vested in the people. As to the invasion of enemy, they the English general. seemed to have relied almost entirely on their allies The disposition of the people was in general, fafor protection. But even of this, they did not enjoy vorable to the great cause in which the nation was the full advantage for the want of sufficient concert, engaged, and the great mass of the population in as was fatally evinced in the retreat of sir John Spain, certainly presented means for organising a Moore. The British ministry was not insensible of powerful government, and elements for the formathe ignorance and imbecility of the junta, and they tion of an excellent army. But in the higher and were aware of the importance of rousing the nation. in the middling classes too many traces were to be The marquis of Wellesley was nominated as ambas- found of French intrigue, and of its success. In sador extraordinary to the junta in May; though those two classes a disposition was perceived to he did not arrive at Cadiz till the last of July--two watch events, and to keep terms with the party that months after his brother had taken the field,and pre- should ultimately prevail in the struggle. Many cisely at that moment when that general, for whom of this description, if they received no favours from he had come to concert a plan of operations, victo- government, at least were never molested by it.— rious in battle, but defeated in the war, began his Thus no pains were taken to form one public opiretreat in Portugal. The delay of this appointment nion, to cultivate and exalt public spirit, and to diis ascribed to some private contentions about the rect its energy to great national objects. The popgreat offices of state, one of which was sought by ulation of the country had not yet furnished the the marquis, and he subsequently succeeded in ob-proportion of recruits demanded by the dangers of Laining it. the country; nor could any accession of numbers

The new ambassador was received with every avail without a change in the organization and discimark of kindness and respect. He explained to the pline of the army. Many officers of the army in the junta, the nature of the instructions which he bore, most important stations, made no secret of their and he offered such advice as seemed proper, in hostility to the cause of Spain and her allies, and such a manner as neither to alarm the jealousy, were not sufficiently watched by government. On nor offend the pride of the Spaniards. The British a review of the principal events of the last camarmy was in great distress for want of provisions, paign, it appeared to the marquis, impossible to acowing partly to their having been frequently inter-count for the conduct of some Spanish generals cepted by Cuesta, who, on the arrival of the mar and other officers, on any other hypothesis than quis was recalled-and partly to the exhausted that they had concerted their operations with state of the country and the indolence of the ma the French, instead of coming to an understanding gistrates. That the British should return to Por- with the English generals. tugal, excited the utmost terror and alarm, and In order to vindicate the independence of Spain, such was the confidence reposed in them, that even it was necessary,not to depend merely upon that after their retreat to Badajos, the marquis of Welles general spirit of resistance which animated the bulk ley received several notes from the junta, urging the of the people in the provinces, but to concentrate British to advance again against the enemy. The and direct that spirit in such a manner as to call ambassador was well assured that it was a common forth with effect the military resources of the counthing for whole divisions, and even corps of Span. try, and to form an army which might give time iards to run, on the first appearance of danger, to Spain, with the assistance of her allies, to estab without waiting to give or receive a shot. The evils lish the restoration of the government. The nomiwhich were the consequence of such conduct, they nation of a central junta, was no doubt the first were willing to ascribe to the British or to any other step towards the consolidation of public authority; eause than their own want of courage and discipline. but the constitution of the supreme junta was not The apprehensions which arose from the retreat of founded on the basis of union among the provinces, their allies, were somewhat dissipated by the mas- and still less on a just and wise distribution of the terly manner with which that retreat had been elements and force of government. There was not conducted: and the intelligence of a renewal of hitherto any confederation among the provinces. hostilities between France and Austria afforded new

gleams of hope. The marquis hoped the retreat of * Despatch from the marquis of Wellesley to Mr. the British army, by compelling them to rely upon Canning, Seville, 2d September, 1809.

The excutive power was weakened by a distribu- | quently made a truce with each other, and drew DEI? tion of it into a number of hands, in an assembly enough to converse: the French soldiers would too numerous to possess unity of design or prompthen give his half-starved enemy a draught from his titude of action; and yet, at the same time, too lim-leathern bottle-and when they had drank and ited and narrow in its constitution to be considered talked together, they returned to their posts, scoffed as the representative body of the Spanish nation. at each other, proceeded from mockery to insist, The central junta were neither just representatives and often closed the scene with a skirmish. The either of the crown, or the aristocracy, or the peo- only disgraceful circumstance which occurred dur ple; they neither possessed the properties of an ex-ing the whole siege was the desertion of ten officers ecutive council, nor of a deliberative assembly.in a body, two of whom were men of noble birth; It was principally in this body, and among the offi- they had been plotting to make the governor capitucers under its employment, that an animosity was late, and finding their intentions frustrated, went perceived against the British government. Very dif- over to the enemy in open day. Except in this inferent from this was the general wish of the people. stance the number of desertions was very smati: At some moments of danger and alarm, the junta though during the greater part of the seven months seemed to be impressed with a conviction that it siege, the rain had collected into stagnant pools, and was their duty to choose a regency, to assemble the the pestilential vapours which arose were rendered cortes, redress grievances and remedy abuses. The more noxious by the dead bodies which lay rotting question of a regency was discussed in the junta amid the ruins. During all this time scarcely a again and again, but the discussions on this sub woman had become pregnant: the very dogs, beject ended always in an adjournment: the meeting of fore hunger had consumed them, ceased to follow the cortes was put off to a distant period; the cry after kind; they did not even fawn upon their mas ing abuses in the administration of justice, the colters; the almost incessant thunder of artillery lection of the revenue in all the principal branches seemed to make them sensible of the state of the of the government were continued.-In short, the city, and the unnatural atmosphere affected them as Supreme junta thought of nothing so much as how well as human kind. It even affected vegetation. to preserve their own power to the last extremity. In the gardens within the walls the fruits withered, The marquis of Wellesley, in a conversation with and scarcely any vegetable could be raised. See the Don Garay, held at the desire of this statesman, affecting account of the siege published by Samarecommended the appointment of a regency, the niego. speedy convocation of the cortes, and that the act of the junta for appointing a regency and convok ing the cortes, should provide for the correction of abuses, and the suppression of arbitrary exactions in both Spain and the Indies: and also that the same The count de Maurepas about this time intimated act should declare the general principles on which to me, that his majesty had resolved to confer some concessions were to be made by the colonies for distinguished mark of his bounty and personal es securing to them a share in the representation of teem on me; this proved to be a sword, mounted the Spanish empire; and, above all, that the first with gold, on which was engraven the following care of the regency should be to reform the whole flattering motto: military system of Spain.

Paul Jones.

(Concluded from page 318.)

VINDICATI MARIS

LUDOVICUS XVI. REMUNERATOR

STRENUO VINDICI.

Upon the whole, he was of opinion that, in all events, even the very worst to be apprehended was, that the disposition and character of the Spanish nation would prolong the difficulties that the French The hilt was of gold, and the blade, &c. were had met with from their first attempt to subdue that emblazoned with his majesty's arms, the attributes country. The grand obstacle to the deliverance of war, and an emblematical representation of the of Spain was, beyond all doubt, the state of its own alliance between France and America. The most government; but still, even if the faulty state of christian king, at the same time, transmitted a most government, so favorable to the success of the admirable letter to congress, in which be offered to French arms, should be continued, a long interval decorate me with the order of military merit. All of time must elapse before a French government this was extremely flattering, as Louis XVI. had could be established in Spain, during which inter- never presented a sword to any other officer, and val, events would happen and circumstances occur, never conferred the cross, except on such officers which might be improved for the advancement of the as were invested with his majesty's commission. British interests, both in Spain and her colonies.* The minister of the marine, a short time after NOTE. In the brief account of the second siege this, lent me the Ariel, a king's ship, carring of Gerona, contained in this chapter, (p. 206 anfe) twenty guns, with which I sailed, October 8th, we omitted to state that the city was governed by 1780, for America. The wind was at first favorable, camp-marshal D. Mariano Alvarez, an officer, emi- but I was soon after in danger of foundering on the nently worthy of the critical situation in which he Penmarks-and escaped only by cutting away my was placed. We should also have mentioned the main and mizen masts. As soon as the storm abated, conduct of marshal Augereau with some commen we erected jury masts, and returned to refit; in short dation. Gerona was not made the scene of such it was the 18th of December before I could proceed brutal acts of outrage and cruelty as were displayed for Philadelphia. at Zaragoza. Nor was there any of that individual During the voyage, I fell in with an English animosity which characterized the street fighting in that city. When the citizens were almost worn down by fatigue and famine, the out-centuries, fre

Despatch from the marquis of Wellesley to Mr. secretary Canning, Seville, 15th September, 1809. Included in the correspondence relative to Spain and Portugal, laid before parliament.

twenty gun ship, called the Triumph, and partly by stratagem, and partly by hard fighting, forced her to strike her flag; but, while we were about to take possession of her, the captain, taking advantage of her superior sailing, made off, and escaped.

On my arrival in America, the congress, on the representation of the Chevalier de la Luzerne, pass. ed a law to enable me to accept the military order of

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