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of peace, and in the contention be
tween tliat state and .South Carolina,
I.as not been questioned
The. counsel for the plaintiffs rest
their argument on • a single proposi
tion. .They contend .that, the* reser
vation for the use .of the Indians, con-
t ained in the proclamation of1763,e*-
r.epts the lands on the western waters
irt.in the colonies within whose
hounds they would, otherwise have
■I «en, and'thatjhcy were acquired by
the revolutionary war.- All acquisi
tions during the war, it is contended,
were made by the joint arms, for the
joint benefit of the United States, and
not for the benefit of any particular!
state.
The court does not understand thi
proclamation at it is understood b\
the counsel for the plaintiffs. The
reservation for the use of the Indians
appears to be a temporary arrange
ment suspending, for a time, the set
tlement of the country reserved, and
the powers of the royal govcmoi
within the territory reserved, but is
oo't conceived to amount to an alte
ration of the boundaries of the colo
ny. If the language of the procla
mation be, iu itself, doubtful, the
commissions subsequent thereto,
with exultation to the revealed pro
mises of his Creator, when he shall
be greater than the greatest, and hap
pier than-the happiest of mankind
What a change insuch-a mind might
not be wrought by such a merciless
publication* ?
• “ But it seeing, this is an Age of
Reason, and the time and the persons
are at last arrived; that are to dissi
pate the errors which have over
spread the past generations of igno
rance. The believers in Christiani
ty are many, but it belongs to the
few that are wise to correct their
credulity. Belief is an act of reason,
and superior reason may, therefore,
dictate to the weak.
In running the mind over th
long list of sincere, and devout Chris
tians, I cannot help lamenting, thai
Newton had not lived to this day, t<
have had his shallowness filled up
with this new flood of light.
“ But the subject is too awful f
irony. 1 will speak plainly and d."-
rectly. Newton was a Christian
Newton, whose mind burst form
from the fetters, cast by nature upon
our finite conception; Newton, who
science was truth, and the foundation
of whose knowledge of it was philo-
which were given to the govenors of sophy : not those visionary and ar
Georgia, entirely remove the doubt.
The question, whether the vacant
lands within the United States be
came a joint property, or belonged
to the separate states, was a momen
tous question which, at one time,
threatened to shake the American
confederacy to its foundation. This
important and dangerous contc
has been compromised, and in
compromise is not now to be disturb
cd.
It is the opinion of the court that
the particular land stated in the dccla
ration appears, from this special ver
diet, to lie within the state of Geor
gia, and that the state of Georgia had
power to grant it
Some Difficulty was produced by
the language of the covenant and of
the pleadings. It was doubted whe
thcr a state can be seized in fee o
lands subject to the Indian title and
whether a decision, that they were
•sized in fee, might not be constru
ed to amount to a decision that their
grantee might maintain an ejectment
for them, notwithstanding that title.
The majority of the court is of opi-
nion tliat the nature of the Indian title,
which is certainly to be respected by
all courts until it be legitimately ex
tinguished, is not such as to be abso
lutely repugnant to yizin in fee on
the part of the State.—Judgment af
firmed with costs
ELOQUENT DEFENCE OF RELIGION.
SrEECH of the now Lord Erskine up
on the trial of Williams, for pub
lishing Paine's Age of Pcason.
“ The defendant stands indicted
for having published this book, which
I have read from the obligations of
professional duty only, and from the
reading of which I rose with asto
nishment and disgust.—>For my own
part, I have been ever deeply devo
ted to the truths of Christianity, and
my firm belief in the Holy Gospel is
by no means owing to the prejudices
of education, but it arises from the
fullest reflection of my riper years
and understanding. 11 for ms, at this
moment, the great consolation of a
life, w hich, as a shadow, must pass
away ; and without it, I should con
sider my long -course" of health and
prosjierityi perhaps too long and too
uninterrupted to be good for any man,
as the dust only which the wind scat
ters, and rather as a snare than as a
blessing.
“ This publication appears to me
tojbc as mischievous and cruel in its
probable effects, as it is manifestly il
legal in its principles; because i;
strikes at the best, sometimes, alas !
the only refuge aud consolation a
midst the distresses and afflictions of
the world. The poor and humble,
vliom it affects to pity, may be stab
bed to the heart by it-. They have
more.occasion for firm hopes beyond
the grave, than those who have grea
ter comforts to render life delightful
I can conceive a distressed but vir
tuous man, surrounded by children
KaAingup to him for bread when he
has none to give them, sinking under
the last 03}’a labour, and unequal to
next, } ct atfl. anticipating with
rogant presumptions, which too oftei
usurp its name, but philosophy rest
ing upon the basis of mathematics
which, like figures cannot lie—New
ton, w’ho carried the line and. rule to
the utmost barriers of creation, and
explored the principles by which al
created mutter is held together and
exists.
But this extraordinary man in tin
mighty' reach of his mind, overlook
ed, perhaps, tt^ prours which
minute investigtmon of the created
things on this earth might have taughi
him, of the essence of his Creator t
“ What shall then be said of Boyle
who looked into the organic struc
ture of all matter, even to the brut
inanimate substances, on which th
foot treads. Such a man may be sup
posed to have been equally qualified
f with Mr. Paine to “:look up throu
Nature tp. Nature’s God.” Yet thi
result of all his contemplation was
the most confirmed and devout belie*
in all that which the other holds jn
contempt,, as despicable and drivel
ling superstition.
“ But this errour might, perhapi
arise from a want of due attention to
the foundations of human judgment
and the structure of that understand
ing which God has given us.for the
investigation of truth l
“ Let that question be Answered
by Locke, who was to the high
pitch of devotion and adoration, a
Christian : Locke, whose office ivas
to detect the errours of thinking by
going up to the fountains of thought,
and to direct into the proper tract
of reasoning, the devious mind of
man, by shewing its whole process,
from the first perceptions of sense tc
the last conclusions of ratiocination,
putting a rein upon false opinion, by
practical rules for the conduct of hu
man judgment.
“ But these men were deep thinkers
only, and lived in their closets, un
accustomed to the traffic of the world,
and to the laws which practically re
gulate mankind '
“ In the placer, where we now sit
to administer justice, above a centu
ry ago, Hale presided ; whose faith
in Christianity is an exalted commen
tary on its truth and reason - , and
whose life was a glorious example of
its fruits in man, administering hu
man justice with a wisdom and purity
drawn from the pure fountain, of the
christaio - dispensation, which has
been, and will be, in all ages, a sub
ject of the highest reverence and ad
miration.
“ But it is said by the author, that
the Christian fable is but the tale of
the more ancient superstitions of the
world, and may be easily detected by
a proper understanding of the mytho
logies ol the Heathens..
Did Milton understand- those
mythologies ? Was he . les>- versed
than Mr. Paine in the superstitions
of the world l No ; they were the
subject of his immortal song ; and
though shutout from all recurrence
to them, he poured them forth from
the stores of a memory rich with all
that man ever knew, and laid them
in their order as the illustration ol
ha: real‘and exalted u-tli, the utt
But it was the light of the body
only that was extinguished 5 the ce
iestial light shone ir»ward, and ena
bled him .to “justify the ways qi
God to man.” The result ’ of hri
thinking yvas nevertheless'' not the
same as Mr. Paint’s. The mvsteri
ous incarnation ofour Blessed Savi
our, which the work blasphemes • in
words wholly unfit for the mouth ol
Christian, or for the ear of a Cou
f Justice, Milton made the grand
conclusion of the Paradise Lost, the
rest from finished labours, and the
ultimate hope, expectation, and glo
ry of the world:
• A virgin is hi* Mother, but hit Sire,
The power of the molt high ; he (hall afeend
The Throne, bareditary, and bound hia
reign
With.Barth'** wide bound*, hi* glory with
the Hear’ns.”
“ Piety has found
Friend* in the friend* of fcience, and true
prayer
Ha* flow’d from lip* wet with CaftsKan
dew*.
Such was thy wifdom, Newton childlike
fage !
Sagacious reader of the work* of God-
And in his word fagaeiout. Such too t bine,
Milton, whose genius and angelic wins*,
And fed on manna. Aiid fuch thine, to
whom
Our Britilh Thvtni* gloried with juft canfe
Immortal Hale! for deep difeernment
prais’d,
And found integrity, not more than fam’d,
For fanflity of manners undefil’d.”
An address was moved ifFTjoth
Houses as usual, which was only an
echo of the speech from the Throne;
to this the following amendment*
was moved in the House of Lords :
“ That we have seen with the ut
most sorrow and indignation the ac
cumulated failures and disasters of
the last campaign, the unavailing
svaste of our national resources, and
the loss of so many thousand .of our
brave troops, whose distinguished
and heroic valor has been unprofita-
bly sacrificed in enterprizes, produc-
dilficulties in rec
cnce w had
ntuaiin: of the lands mentioned ioconfiU nce the hour when all tears questionable sc Jfce cf that fervid ge- have extracted the Speech oftheBri- certainly duTappc
the plaintiff’s declaration, in such shall be wiped from the eyes of afttic-mius, watch cast a. sort ol shade upon tisa^ King to Parliament,
manner that their lying within the li-tion, bearing the burden laid upon all the other wgias of man : v -
i n its of Georgia, as defined inthehim by a mysteijous Providence 1 .* He pafiM the hound'* of Aiming fp*ce,
proclamation of 1763, in the treaty which he adores, and lookingfoi ward Where angel*tremble..while, diey. gage . f
' - ■ - - • Hr few, fill bl.*ft<d w.itWnc.efs of
Ht clos’d his life in endlef* light.” •
exist greater
ing the differ- -
stnsist d between
them ; but even upon this point the
obstacles to Sh union did not appear td
be insuperable. One of the gic&t-
leading points of difference respecting -
America arose upon the ordters cf
council, which the tw» noble lordshad
represented as most impolitic, and ad*. -
being big with ruiii to the.commer.ee- /t
of*this country. Fortunately the poli
cy or impolicy of the orders in coi)q?
cil then no longer remained a qurs-
tion of theory; it had been determined *
by the evidence of fact*. So fur fra.il
live not of advantage, but of lasting.having ruined the commerce of At *
injury to their country—-enterprizesjeountry, as had been confidently pre
marked only by a repetition of for-'dicted, they had been productive of
mer errors, tardy, and uucoinbined,;thc most beneficial consequences. lie .
incapable in their success in aiding was now happy to have it in his power
our ally in the critical moment of hisjto state that the trade ol this country -
fate, but exposing in their failure his in the last year, that is to the quar*
majesty’s councils to the., scorn and'ter ending in October last, was, not
derision of the enemy. 'only greater than it was the year be- /
“ That we therefore feel ourselves fore, but than it even was in the most ;
bound to institute, without delay, prosperous periods. The export of;7
such rigorous and effectual inquiries manufactures and oHoreign produce '
and proceedings as duty impels us^ast year exceeded, by seven millions,'
to adopt, in a case where our coun-our trade in the most favofable peri-,
try has been subject to unexampled ods of peace, and by ten millions ’*
calamity and disgrace.” that of any year of war. He did cot
A similar amendment was made moan to say that there was ngt o*"
in the House of Commons, with the ther circumstances which had ope-.
addition of the following words: 7 rated to augment our commerce, but'
FOREIGN.
Philadelphia, March 29.
By the Satellite, arrived here this
morning from St. Batholomews, we
have received Antigua papers to the
9th inst. from one of which we have
extracted the following London ar
tides* which have never before ap
peared- in American papers, and be
speak a very favorable sentiment in
regard t,o our relations withh Eng
land. ...
LONDON, January 18
Lord Wellesley and Mr. Pirikney
have had several conferences
the subject! bf the Ending differ
ences with America, and theiT div
f c us si ops had-assumed the most ami
cable aspect,.when the fate dispatch
es from Paris suspended their in
tercouipse, by creating occasion for
Mr. Pinkney to apply to his govern
ihent for fresh instructions.
fanuary IQ.—The return of the
John Adaqi»‘ American frigate, is
now ascertained to have been in con
sequence of-bad weather only & the
report that yyas engrafted upon that
circumstance, of her having been vi
sited by a British cruizer, turns out
to have been the ingenious device of
a speculator in American produce.
fanuaty 19.—The presentation of
Mrs..Pinkney at Court yesterday, of
all the. days-in the year, is looked up
on as a favorable augury of the ami
cable views _pf the American minis
ter in regard to the pending negoti
ation between- this conntry and the
United States, which is still actively
carried on between the Marquis Wel
lesley and Mr. Pinkney.
It is said that government have
resolved to send out a new minister
to the United States ; and that this
measure has "been adopted through
the active influence of the Marquis
Wellesley—The report of a treaty
between France and America beingl
bound
inent , ... „
jured people, to institute without de-;culated to ruin the trade of this conn-*
lay,” &c. -try, in the orders of Council, as lh$v
In the House of Lords the votcs. no ^ l ol "ds had contended.” J
;re We observe nothing worthy of no- '
For the Amendment, . 92 tice “» lin >' oi OuPoUitr papers. ■ Pri-;
Against the Amendment, i44jvate letters say, that the cabinet of^
Majority for Ministers, 52 EngWnd ,s disposed for an amicable;
In the House ol Commons the adjustment with the U. S. and assert
votes were ( with confidence that a new minister
For the Amendment, 167 wiU be sentout to this country. ■
Against the Amendment, 263 ****^"**""*"7"^ ~ ~» ' —*
Majority for Ministers, 96i © iW iHi S T J[ C •
Itwill be seen by the speech, the Philadelphia, M^ch^aT^ ^
notice which is taken of American; Monday being the birth day of the
affairs. I he debate in both Houser, Emperor of Russia, the RussianEn- '
was very animated, and ot too great,. ap and had the front of •
length tor this day s natx.-r—was l-.„ .i-.....n:_L :n . ,, *
tor tms days paper was his dwelling illuminated by a transpa-
principally confined to the war m representing the cities of St. Pc
Europe-Little was said upon A-' tcrsbu d Archangel, and an A**"
raer.can affairs, but as our reader^ mcrican vessel in fu if sail the vvho V
may ».sh to knot, evtm tta, little, surraoutued by „ cro>m a „ j ^
we wtll insert tt—Mr. Whitbread,| A .. Some citizens stopping*, loot l
“a ?T?‘ T ? at the transparency took'ip! nutio, '
h ir0,n Mr- CiQnin S- that the putting of the crown occi the
remarked: . American ship and colors was linpro-”-
per; this notion ripened into an opini* V
on that it was intended as an insult,
The next respected America ;
and here he could not help expres
sing his surprise, that the right hon.
gentleman who had last spoken, had
abstained from explaining why in the
last session he had withheld from the
House a document, which went to
the complete justification of our late
minister in that country. He was
glad to.hear, by a passage in his nut- 1
jesty’s speech, that our affairs with
America were in a train of accom
modation ; but the right hon. gentle.-
man opposite is deeply responsible
for the tardiness with which that ar
rangement had been entered into.”
A ministerial Member remarked :
“ To the affairs of America it
might be indecorous lor him in their
present situation to advert, nor should
he, after the observations of his ma
jesty’s speech enter ‘into any inquiry
as to the conduct of the. ihinisters.
If the honor of the nation were at
stake, however we might regret the
and the ferment became general. A-
bout this ppjnj of t}me a young man^
an officer in the U. S. service, came
up and imbibing all the indignation of
those around him, he discharged two
pistol balls through the transparen
cy.
He was apprehended this morning, ;
and bro’t be tore Alderman Keppele, '
who on motion of the District attor-
nev, bound the officer over, himself
in 3000 dollars, and two sureties in
1500 dollars each. In the course of * '
the examination, the officer with cha
racteristic boldness and strong feeling, •
declared, that he thought it his duty
as an American officer to bringdown
all crowns.
. New-T.rx, March 30.
Captain Burger, of the ship John
and Edward, left Lisbon on the 5tli
ol February, and informs us that
revival of hostilities, or the iniurv of ! .i,„ t* 1
our trade, it could not be a matter f > st -
hesitation. But of the effects a war 1 ?" if f * f u^’ b * V,n & .
with America might produce uponj^" ^ Bona ''
rnminon.. ^ iki. rn ,.., ni parte was at the head of ap army of
county, 'veil00,000 men, who were
td there to replace Mr. Jackson.
The London Courier of January
23, sat s—“ The American Consul,
Mr. Forbes,- we understand, has re
tired from Hamburg to the Westpha
lian territory',Apprehending some in
sult or violence from the inhabitants
of that city. • Their indignation was
excited by hishaving denounced four
American vessels that arrived at
Hamburg wi'ji American papers, but
which in fact sailed from an English
port. The vessels were seized and
sequestrated, and will no doubt be
condemned.. This interposition was
warmly resented by the whole com
mercial class.”
the commerce of this
might be able .0 form some judg-^ jpaii
ment from tormeT experience. Dur- ! ,.,; n r * • ( Portugal. Lap-
ing the embargo, the' amount of the^ e „e^l'Tanc “th"^^^r “V"?
|exports to, and imports from the U.'F ren -h wonlH h ' ^ bel,ev f d tb e
... 1. , “rench would be in possession of
. 1 . The British army
counterbalanced by the
actually concluded at Paris is not be
lieved ; but, whether it is concluded
or not, common sense requires that
we should forthwith send a minister!.,;.* j o. ‘ - ■ rrenen
to America, as some one wa, expect- i*> April.
NORFOLK, April 2.
Bv the snip Portia, Captain Tabb
we have received London paptrs t<
rhe 24th January,‘from which we
carried on by our merchants to
Spain. England desired 1 neither
peace nor war, but she would suffer
no indignity, and make no qnbecdln-
ing concessions. With every engine
of power and perfidy against us, the
situation of this country had proved
to Bonaparte that it is invulnerable
in the very point to which all his ef
forts were directed. The accounts
of the exports $*f British manufac
tures would be found to exceed, h\
several millions, those of any former
:eriod.”
■Mr. Perceval (the Chancellor of the
Exchequer) remarked :
“ With regard to America, there
* The amendment, the Norfolk Herald
ays, w»» moved hy Lord Grenville, wli
nade a it oil eloquent fpe.ecb, which take*
up e'ffcf column* of the Globe.
men, and expected to have as many
more in March. A squadron of gun
boats had gone up the Tagus to pre
vent the French from crossing. A
number ot the inhabitants of Lisbon
had emigrated to the Brazils.
Import of Cotton Wool into Great-
Britain in 1809.
United States
Neutral ports, as per "J
Non-Intercourse law j
Other ports.
138,602
17,184*
284,596
Total 440,382
'Die weekly consumption of this
irticle, in England, Scotland & Ire
land, is estimated at 7150 bales, or
371,800 per annum. During the last
year a considerable quantity oi Bra
zil cotton was exported from En
gland to-.thc Continent.