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'&>; hvh&Vabic appellation -offotA, ^ppCftrec! still nhore strikingly to
>vsgc. *H« Was not <d&fe£tecl with be cnit of the room* Hr .then look
'tlsAt object /for which monarchs so
■bitch sruperior to him in power con-
fyKHUrd Hvith'«o much eagerness, nnc
ffttV deliberation on the matter ;■
'nlrftYt time, ht rejected it with a mag-
iiTmrTnity and disinterestedness Unless
■lingular than admirable* The king
v>2'TSjTfflids Ambassadors, sensible ot
the advantage which Ills recommcn-
datioli rff thtir masteT would produce,
se'.W him a large sum of money as,
ifrfc first token of that prince’s grati
tude
lint he who had greatness of mind
to tehl.se a crown disdained to re
ed up to the ceiling, and called out
in his otyfi voice, “ What are you
doing above ?” to which an immedi
ate answer was given, which seemed
to he in the room above, u I am com
ing down directly.” The same de
ception was practised on the suppo
sition of a person being under the
floor, who answered in the unilsual,
Inlt a very different voice from the
other, that he Was dowrt in the cellar
putting away some wine. An excel
lent deception of the watchman cry
ing the hour in the street,?* approach
ing nearer the house, till lie came op
great*. Much entertainment Was af-
orcltd by the subject, which was ta
ken from the late times of anarchy
md convulsion in France 5 whertthe
owest, the most ignorant part of So
ciety was called upon to decide the
fate of a whole people, by the ener
gies of folly and brutal violence; The
same remark may be applied to this
debate-, as to other scenes, re
ceive a bribe, and Vipon their intreat- posite the window, was practised,
ing bis leave to distribute part at'Out attention was directed to the
least of the sum among his courtiers, street, by the marked attention which
he replied, that he c6uld not prevent Fit/. James himself appeared to pay
them from accepting what should be to the sound. He threw up the sash
offered, but whoever took a single and asked the hour, which was im-
lloiin should be dismissed next morn- mediately answered kri the same tone,
ing irum his service. but clearer and louder ; but upon his
shutting the window down again, the
VENTRILOQUISM.
Watchmail pro re ded less audibly,
Of the celebrat' d Mr. Fitz J amus. and ail at once the voice became ve-
-— tv faint, aed Fitz James in hi; natu-
Prorti the Port Folio.
The “ busy indolence” bf London
has often, of late, been much engag
ed by the marvellous feats of Mr.
Fitz James, one of the most aston
ishing performers that has ever Con
founded the ignorant, or edified the
philosopher. For the following ac
count of his wonderful talents, we
are indebted to Mi*. W. Nicliolsoil,
the scientific tfditof of the Journal
of Natural Philosophy, Chyiuistry,
and the Arts. VVliat gives to this
article th^gratest Weight and inter
est is, that Mr. Nicholson, a philo
sophical remarker, was an t) e witness
oi the prodigies, which he describes.
I have now the satisfaction to give
Borne account of the performance of
JVIr. Fitz Jantes, one of the first
masters of the art of ventriloquism;
who, in addition to his very striking
powers as a speaker and an actor,
has the candour and liberality to ex
plain the nature of his performance
to his auditors. I was present a few
•Veilings ago at a public exhibition,
Which continues to be repeated at
Dulaw’s in Soho Square ; and though
tny account of what I saw and heard
canot but he very imperfect, and far
from exciting the surprize, which
the actual performance produces, it
tnav nevertheless, he of utility to es
tablish a few principles, and remove
fiomc errors respecting this art.
After a comic piece had been read
by Mons. Volange, Mr. Fitz James
who was sitting among the audi
cnee, went forward, and expressed
his suspicion that the ventriloquism
ral voi esald, “ he lias turned th.
corner.” I11 all these instance!*, as
well as others, which were exhibited
to the very great entertainment an;
surprize of the spectators, the acut;
observer will perceive that the direc
tion of the sound was imaginary, and
arose entirely from the well-studied
and ski!fill combinations of the per-
fontlcr. Other scenes which were
to follow, required the imagination! to
he too completely misled, to admit
of the actor being se en. He wen
behind a folding screen in one cor
ner ol the room, when he counter
feitedthe knocking at a door. Om
person called from within, and wa
answered by a person from without
who was admitted, and we found,
mm the conversation oi' the parties,
that the latter was in pain, and de
sirous of having a tooth, extracted
The dialogue and all the particulars
ol the operation that followed, wouh
require along discourse, if I were to
ittempt to describe them to .the rea
der. The imitations of the natuvu
ind modulated voice of lire operator,
encouraging, soothing, and talkm
with Id's patient, the confusion, ter
ror, and apprehension of the suffer
er ; the inarticulate noises produced
by the chairs and apparatus, upon
the whole constituted a mass of
sound, which produced a strange, hut
comic effect. Loose observers, would
not have hesitated to assert, that they
heard more than one voice at the
time ; and, though this certainly
could not be the cr.se,- and' it did not
appear so tome, yet the transitions
were so histnntancolis, without tin
k
ting an adjustment with one of thements, he didl not refrain fromhtfpu-
oVincipal belligerent AatioCS, highly Nations on this, which required that
important in itself, and still more so, no further communications should be
as presaging a more extended accom-Teceived from him. The necessity
modation. It is with deep concern,'of this step will be made; known to
I am now to inform you, that the his Britannic Majesty, through thq
favorable prospect has been oVer-JMinister Plenipotentiary ol the U-
cloudvd, bv a refusal of the British nited States in London. And it
eminent to abide by the act of would indicate a want of confidence
s pecting! its'Minister Plenipotentiary, and by due to a govefniheiit which so well
tooth drawing t namely that the’its ensuing policy towards the Uni-understands and exacts what becomes
quick and sudden transitions, and ted States, as seen through the com- foreign Ministers near it, not to infer )
the great difference in the voices, munications of the minister sent to that the misconduct of its own Re-
gave the audience various notions, as replace him. .presentative wi ie\iewe in
well with regard to the number of Whatever pleas may be urged for same light, in which it has been re
peaters, as to their positions and a disavowal ot engagements formed garded here. The British govern-
the directions of the voices. by diplomatic functionaries, in cases ment will learn, at the same time,
where, by the terms of the engage-'that a ready attention will be given
intents, a mutual ratification is rcser-Jto . communications, * l
DOMESTIC.
through any
. . ved ; or where notice at the time may channel which may be substituteej.
From the National Intelligencer of have been given of a departure from! It will be happy, it the change in this
November 25.
[instructions ; or in extraordinary ca-
The following letter, said to be] S es, essentially violating the pririci-
addressed to the British consuls, islples of equity ; a disavowal could not
taken from the Independent Ameri-'have been apprehended in a case,
can. We are authorised to say that where no suen notice or violation ex
its contents so far as they contradict isted ; where no such ratification was
the article published in this paper
on the 13th inst. relative to the
cours.* of the negotiation between
our government and Mr. Jackson,
arc unfounded.
Washington, Nov. 13, 1809.
(Cihculah)
Sir,
I have to inform you with much
regret, that the facts it has been my
lutv to state in iny official corres
pondence with M'. Smith have been
Icemerl by the P.-.sidcnt of the U-
nited States to afford a sufficient mo-
respect should be accompanied by f »
favorable revision of the unfriendly-
policy, which has been so long pur-'
sued towards the United States.
With France, tiic other otiiigerentl
whose trespasses on our commercial
rights have long been the subject of
reserved ; and more especially where
as is now in proof, an engagement, our just remonstrances, the posturq
to be executed without any such ra
tification, was contemplated by the
instructions given, and where it had,
with good faith, been carried into im
mediate execution, 011 the part of the
United States.
These considerations not having-
restrained the British government
from disavowing the arrangement, by d .-nce of our Minister at Paris, noVrf
virtue of which its Orders in Coun-jlaid. before you.
cil were to be revoked, and the event
uithorisino: the renewal of com'mer-
of our relations does not correspond
with the measures, taken on the part
of the United States, to effect a favor
able change. The result of the seve
ral communications made to her go
vernment, in pursuance of the autho
rities vested by Congress-in the Ex
ecutive, is contained in the corrcspon-
tivs for breaking off an important ne- c,al intercourse having thus not taken
gdciation, and for putting an end to P lace M nec ^ saril y 0iiC:ira2a ( l ues '
ail co 111 manic admit whatever with ine t,ou ol f c l Llul * nd , W"
Jtance, wnether the act prombiting
is the minister charged with that ne-
gociation so interesting to both na
tions, and on one most mate rial point,
of which an answer has not yet even
oeen returned to an official and writ
ten overture. One of the facts al-
;uded to has been admitted by the se-
:retary of state hi nisi if, in his letter
:o mu of the 19th October, viz. that!
the three conditions forming.the sub
stance of Mr. Krskinc’s original in-
ructions, were submitted to him bv
that rentieman ; the other, to wit:
that intercourse was not to be consi
dered as remaining in legal force
This question being, alter due deli
beration, determined in the affirma
By some of the other belligerents^
although professing just and amicable
dispositions, injuries materially af
fecting our commerce have not beCn
duly controlled or repressed, tn
these cases, the interpositions deem
ed proper on our part have not been
omitted. But it well deserves the
consideration of the Legislature, how
far both die safety and the honor 9$
the United States, would involve
difficulties. With a view to dimin
ish these as much as possible, the in
structions from the Secretary of the.
Was to be performed by the voices of,P :m * c between them, that the
persons concealed under a platform,Jnolion might \ erv easily he genera-
tvhich was covered with green cloth.* ‘ lc n 11KM * d tbc sclccn sa *
Replies were given to his 6bserva-j l,!> ‘ u ' d die .spectators that one perfor-
tions, apparently from beneath thatj’-’-'^^ ^'- 1 ^ L '” ctt,v<; " b'de.
Stage; and he followed the voices! i ne actor then proceeded to shew
that that instruction is the only one in- ;
which the conditions were prescribed! lreasur ^’ now luid bcfore Y°u, were
to Mr. Erskine for the condusioti! trar,smiUed to the Collectors; ot the
of an arfan -ement on the matter to| cevtnd P orts * B in permitting 3ri-
1 which it rela'e'd, is known to me byi tish vessels to depart, without giving
the instrucdoiTs wlicich I have mv-! bonds . not to P rocccd to their own
self receive I. In stating the'se facts, ? 01 ts ’ d should appear, that tne tenor
and in adhering to them as my du-! ot Ie S :d authority has not been strict-
ty imperiously enjoined me to do, iu!^ r P. ursued , d ^ to be ascribed to the
order to repei the frequent charges, anxiou . s desire which was felt, that
of id faith which have licen made a-j no indlvlduals should be injured by
gainst his majesty’s government, I so u, doreseen an occurrence : And
could not suppose that offence would ^ r<d J °. n dlc of Congi-ess for
be taken at it by the American go-j 1 ! 1 " e fl u hable interests oiour own ci-
vernment, as most certainly nonej llzcI l s ’ to ado P l whatever further
could he intended on my part ; and P rov * SIons ina y he found requisite
this view of the subject has been made f or a S cnc nd remission of penalties
known to Mr. Smith. But as I arn involuntarily incurred,
informed by him, that no further! The recall of the disavowed Mi-
communication will be received fiom'nister having been followed by the
mage; auu uc muuw«i me voice.-,- . , i . . communication win oe received irom ni ster navmg ncen roilowed by the
with tin; action and manner of a per-] 118 specimens of his art ns a mimic, mo< f conceive that I have no alter- appointment of a successor, hopes
son, whose curiosity was much exci-, ;r ‘ Kl !K IV l;K- P°" x ' 1 ' llc had acquired nat j ve ] e f t which is consistent with were indulged that the new mission
fced, making remarks in his own v<Jice! ovor dlc niuscles <d his faee
and answering rapidly and immedi-i bld at> strange as the modulations ot
atelv in a voice which no one would vo * ce * several instances, he
have ascribed to him. He then ad-
-f dressed a bust which appeared to an
swer his questions in character, and
after conversing with another bust
in the same manner, he turned a-
round, and in a neat and perspicu
ous speech, explained the nature, of
. the subject of our attention ; and
from what he stated and exhibited
before us, it appeared that by long
practice he had acquired the faculty
of speaking during the inspiration of
' the breath, with nearly the same ar-
. ticulation, though not so loud, nor so
. variously modulated, as the ordinal )
Voice, formed hv expiration of the
indulged mat me new mission
die king’s dignity, but to withdraw ] would contribute to alleviate the dis-
altogethcr from this city, and to waif' appointment which had been pro-
elsewlure the arrival of his majesty’s duced , and to remove the causes
commands-upon the unlooked for which had so long embarrassed the
caused the opposite muscles to act
• , ,1 ,1 , * , /mans m this country. I mean in °ns. It could not be doubted, that it
m. rtlr ami lau ghter, the o.h.r , intm . al lo , nake mv wooM a, kast be charged with con
appeared to be wcepmg. About 8 , acc of rts idcnce, where you will ciliatoty explanatkrniolthestep ,Wch
Sona, hec"nl!7™« Sll 1 '"' '° r " “ r ‘' «• yonrltod be’en taken, and with proposal,
.1 • , v . , , icommumcations to me, as I shall be to be substituted for the rejected ar-
Sh,S' tSTa S ntd™^ ’’>■ «**** ofrangemeht. rieaconablenatter*
, a lts . “ nd S^. 1 ol the ,nd1 ' ,du *,his majesty s mission. s:.l ns this pvnpp ( nt; nn „r„o t.
al, totally altered him. In one in- J ' j. ,- m
stance he was tall, thin and melaricho-;.'g* lne( j v ‘ ’ C *
ly ; and the instant afterwards, with ^ b
F. J. J ACKSONw
no greater interval of time than to
pass round behind the screen, he ap
peared bloated with obesity and stag
gering with fulness. The same man
air. The unusual voice, being form-i nDolbcr d,nc exJribited his face sim-
cd in the cavity ol the lungs, is vervil dt ‘* unallecti <1, and void ot character,
different in effect, from the othcr.T and dlL ' moment it was cover-
Perhaps it may issue, in a great mea
sure, through the trunk of the indivi
dual. We should scarcely he dispo
sed tO ascribe any definite direction
to it ; and consequently are readih
led to suppose it to come from tli
cd with wrinkles expressing slyness,
mirth, and whim of different de
scriptions. How far this discipline
inav be easy or difficult, I know not,
hut he certaiuly appeared to me, to
h*> lar super, vr to the most practised
place best adapted to what was saiil.j nui:,LU ° l ‘ lc countenance I have e-
So that when he-went to the doorj' 1 * 1 ^-seen.
and asked, u Ave you there I” to a! During this exhibition he iinitqtcd
person, supposed to be in the pas-| dle sol! nd ot an organ, the ringing oi
sage, the nnswe/.m the unusual voice'* 1 bed > lbc noises jiroduced by the
was immediately ascribed, by the'8 reat hydraulic machine of Marie,
audience, to a person actually in the: and dle opening and shutting of a
passage ; and upon shutting the door, snu fl-hox.
and withdrawing from it, when he His principal performance, howe-
turned round directing his voice to ver, consisted in the debates ofA</'/-
the door, and said, “ Stay there uli ter re, in which there were twenty dii
1 call > ou the answer which wa- fe-rent speakers, as is asserted in hi-
lover and well adapted to the sup advertisement ; and -certainly th
posed distance a,.a obstatie iuterpv- number of different voices was ven
We have been informed from the
of important dispatches from Mr;
Jackson." It is supposed the packet
cannot be got ready for sea before
Thursday or Friday next.
Mr. Jackson intends to spend the
w inter in this city, but will not, it is
said, leave Washington till after the
meeting of Congress.
Neiv~Tork Gaz.
President’s Message.
Washington City, Nov. 29.
The President of the U. State;
this day communicated, by Mr. Cira
ham, the following Message to Con
gress :
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and
of the Ilf use of Representatives
At the period of our last meeting
I lud the satisfaction oi conununica
live, a Proclamation to that effect was,the American flag may he consulted,
issued. It could not but happen, by adequate provisions against thit
however, that a return to tiiis state of collusive prostitution of it, by indi-
things, from that which had followed viduals, unworthy of the American^
an execution of the arrangement b\ name, which has so much favored
the real or pretended suspicions, un
der which the honest commerce of
their fellow-tfitizens has suffered. ‘
In relation to the powers on the
coast of Barbary nothing has occur
red which is not of a nature rather
to inspire confidence than distrust,
to the continuance of the existing’*.-
mi tv. With our Indian neighbours,
the just and benevolent system, con
tinued towards them, has also preser
ved peace, and is more , and moire'
advancing habits favourable to their
civilization and happiness.
From a statement which will be
made by the Secretary of War,' it
w ill he seen that the fortifications-on
our maritime lronticr arc in many*qf
the ports completed ; affording the
defence which was contemplated, and
that a further time will be required
to render complete the works in the
harbor ot New-York, and in some o-
ther places. By the enlargentsirt
ol the works, and the employment?
of a greater number of hands at the
public armories, the supply of small
arms, of an improving quality, ap
pears to be annually increasing, af a
rate, that with those made on private?
contract, may be. expected to go far
towards providing for the public ex
igency.
1 he act of Congress providing Jor^
the'equipment of our vessels of war '
haying been fully carried into exe*
cution, I refer to the statement of
the Secretary of the Navy for the in-’
formation which, may be proper' on
that subject.' To that statement is
added a view of the transfers of ap
propriations, authorized by the .act
ot the session preceding the last, & of’
the grounds on which the transit*
were made. —
Whatever may be the course of
your deliberations on the subject of
our military establishments, I should
fail in my duty in not recommending
to your serious attention, the impor
tance of giving to our MUitia^.thc
great bulwark of our security, and rt-,
source ot our power, an organization’
the best adapted to eveutual situati
ons for which the United States
ought to be prepared.
The sums which had been previ
ously accumulated in the Treasury,
together with the receipts duriM the
year ending on the 30th of Septdjn-
ber last (and amounting to more*han
nine millions of dollars) have enabled'
us to fulfil all our engagemenSnd
to defray the current expences^Xgo-
veniment without recurring ^any
loan. But the insecurity '
merce, and the consequent dimum-
jtion ol the public revenue, will pre<>
sal as this expectation was, it also has
not been fulfilled. F rom the first of
ficial disclosures of the new Minister,
it was found that he had received no
authority to enter into explanations
best authoriy, that the British pack-relative to either branch of the ar-
et now undergoing repairs here, is rangement disavowed; nor any au-
ordered to sail as soon as possible to thority to substitute proposals, as to
carry out Mr. Oakley, who isTearer that branch, which concerned the Bri
tish Orders in Council: And final-
lv, that his proposals with respect to
the other branch, the attack on the
frigate Chesapeake, were founded on
a presumption, repeatedly declared
to be inadmissible by the U. States,
that the first step towards adjustment
was due from them ; the proposals
at the same time, omitting even a re
ference to the officer answerable for
the murderous aggression, and assert
ing a claim not less contrary to the
British laws, and British practice,
than to the principles and obligations
ot the United States.
1 he correspondence between the
Department of State and this Minis
ter will show*, how unessentially the
features presented in its commence
ment have been varied in its pro
gress. -It- will show also, that forget-
.ing the respect due to all govern-
