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NEW-YOP.K, July 3.
GENERAL MEETING.
jit a general meeting of the citizen* of New-
York, had in the / iark, on Thursday, July 2d,
1807 —the hon. lit IVirr CttSfON was
unanimously called to the chair , and general
Jacob Mom Tom, was unanimously appointed
secretary oj the tree mg.
Having received*, with the most lively in
dignation, authentic information, that on the
32d ultimo, an attack, unwarrantable by the
known usag.es of nations, and in viola ion o( our
national rights, was made oil the capes ol V ii
ginia, on the Ui ited Mates’ frigate Chesa
peake, commodore Barron, by his Britannic
Majesty's armed ship the Leopard, captain
Jiuniphlies—The citizens of New-Vork, as
sembled in general meeting, deem it to be
their duty to express their opinions on inis
fiesli outrage offered to their national sove
reignty by the Yiaw ot Ci eat-Briiain.
Hesolvt and, That it is, and has been, the poli
cy of our government, ant! the wish, Because
ai is the inteiest of oui citizens to Ire at peace
with all the world.
Resolved, I hat although we cherish pc.ee
with the greatest set urity, yet that we hold
ourselves ready, at the call of our government,
to resist all iof.imt— “*4 h,y
~1 vioja..onpf-iu -afona l honor
Resolved, I hat we consider the dastardly
and unprovoked attack made on the United
States’ armed ship, the Chesapeake, by his
Britannic majesty’s ship, the Leopard, to he a
violation of our national rights, as atrocious as
it is unprecedented.
Resolved , That we are determined to main
tain the lights and dignity of ou” country with
our live:, and fortunes, and that we will sup
port our government in whatever measures
it iiihv deem necessary to adopt, m the present
crisis of affairs.
Resolved, That whatever difl’c ences of opi
nion may exist among us on our merely local
concerns, yet that we love our country and will
cordially unite in resisting the attempts of any
nation to invade our tights, or tarnish our na
tional honor.
Resolved, That the offending ships at Hamp
ton roads have wantonly viola l ed the laws of,
and forfeited their title to national hospitality.
Resolved, T hat we highly approve the spi
rited and patriotic conduct of our fellow-citi
zens at Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton.
Resolved , That wo deeply lament the death
of those of our fellow-citizens who fell, and sin
cerely sympathise with those who were woun
ded on hoard the Chesapeake.
DE WITT CLINTON, Chairman.
Jacob Morton, Secretary.
PHILADELPHIA, July 2.
We experienced great satisfaction in attest
ing to the order, dignity, and manliness of the
proceedings of yesterday’s town-meeting. The
Cnucomso r>f niizens was unexampled in this
city. A respectful attention to the proceedings
ol the chair, was every where observed. Rich
ard Rush, lisq. and Walter Franklin, Esq. each
addressed the assemblies in a feeling and ani
mated manner; which was succeeded bv enthu
siastic bursts of applause. Ihe meeting tlier
dispersed in the most orderly manner. The re
mainder ot the evening was marked by the satin
laudable spirit of patriotism and order. It is
indeed by such a demeanor, that the national sen
timent will be made to How harmoniously in one
channel.
feeling of the citizens of the first congressional
district ot Pennsylvania.
On Wednesday afternoon, July Ist, the citi
zens of the first congressional disiiict of Penn
sylvania, composed of the citv and county of
Philadelphia, and county of Delaware, met,
pursuant to notice, in the state-house yatd
in the city of Philadelphia. No time or occa
sion has ever here witnessed such a concourse
of people.
Mathew Lawler, Fsq. was called to the
chair, and Joseph Hopkittg, Esq. appointed sec
retary.
Dr. Michael Leib opened the business of the
meeting, and after some appropriate observa
tions offered the following resolutions, which
were tin nimously adopted.
Resolved , That the conduct of Great-Britain
towards the United Stated, has been too often
marked bv hostility, injustice and oppression ;
and that the outrage committed by the Leop
ard, one of her ships of war, under the express
oulers of one of her admirals, upon the Chesa
peake, a frigate belonging to the United States,
i-, in act of *„ct, uounumate violence and wror.g,
an l of so barbarous and murderous a character
tn.it it would debase and degrade any nation
and much more so a nation of freemen to sub
mit to it.
Resolved , That we will support the adminis
tration of the general government in all and
every measure which may be adopted by them,
to avenge the wrongs our country has suffered
from Great-Britain, and to compel the most
rigid retribution ; and, that to attain a full
measure of justice from her, we pledge out
selva's to make any sacrifices and to encounter
any hazards.
Res.deed. That the sentiments of thts meet
ing Im* made known to the President of the
U died States, as the spontanious etiusions of
cu beenien, on an occasion, when silence and
indifference would betray a want of patriotism,
it not a treasonable disposition towards the best
interest of our country, and the sacted t ight of
this nation.
1 he following resolution was then offered
nd adopted unanimously.
Resolv'd, That until the general govem-
Bptnt shall have adopted &uch.mcu>uicsasiuay
he suggested^) 1 their spirit and wisdom, we will
discountenarice all intercourse with any of the
vessels of war, belonging to Great-Britain ; ant
that we will withhold front them all supplies
or assistance which may be necessary to thc-it
aid and snbsistance.
Charles Biddle- esq. then proposed the fol
lowing resolution, which was adopted unani
mously.
Resolved unanimously, That the citizens of
Not folk and Hampton, and its vicinity, deserve
the thatiks anti applause of their fellow-citizens
thfought the union for their gallant, manly and
patriotic conduct at the pi csent momentous
crises.
The meeting then agreed to appoint a com
mittee. of correspondence, for the purpose of
holding a communication w th our fellow-citi
zens in other parts of t he United Stdtcs, relative
to objects of this meeting. The following gen
tlemen wete appointed :
Matthew Lawler, Charles Biddle, Paul Cox,
David Lenox. Thomas Forrest, Richard Dale,
Wallet Franklin, George Clvnter, M. Leib.
Thus I.eiper, Francis Gurney, James Engle,
Joseph Ilopkinson. George fiat tram, l'dwrrd
I ilghtnan, William Linnard, Michael Btjght.
A vote of thanks was passed to the chair
man secretary —and the meeting adjourned
in perfect oi<t e r.
Ordered, that proceedings of this mee
ting hr published in ,\| the papers of the city.
MA I THE W Law I T.R, Chairman. ’
Joseph Hofkjnson, Sec'ry .
NORFOLK, July 8.
Our last noticed the correspondence between
Captain Douglas and the Mayor of our Bo
rough. We are enabled to present our readers
with the following report made to the mayor,
together with the second leuerof captain Dou
glas.
Norfolk, July 5, 1807.
Sir—ln pursuance of your request, 1 this
day went down to the British squadron lying
in Hampton toads, lor the purpose of deliver
ing the letter with which I was charged to cap
tain Douglas ; on arriving along-side his ship,
the Bellona, I was invited on board, received
by captain Douglas himself at the gang-way,
and conducted to his cabin, where 1 found as
sembled all the captains of the squadion. 1
immediately informed him that you had yes,
terday received a letter from him, the answer
to which 1 had been requested to deliver, and
placed it in his hands. He lead the letter ve
ry attentively, and then handed it to captain
Hardy, from whom it passed to the other cap
tains in succession. W hen they had all pe
rused it, captain Douglas observed to nte, J
presume sir, you are acquainted with the con
tents of this Icier I toal him I was perfect
ly so. He then stated that his letter must have
been misapprehended, that it contained no ex
pression of menace which lie recollected- and
that it certainly was not Itis intention to use
langna e which could be construed to convey
such ieleas : he referred to captain Hardy, say
ing, that lie had shewn him the teller previous
ly to its being sent, and had requested his opi
nion as to ns sentiments ; captain f lardy con
curred w ith captain Douglas in the opinion and
objects of the communication. 1 then remar
ked to them the particular expressions in the
letter, which 1 considered as the language of
threat, and adverted to the circumstance of the
words “ immediately annulled,” being under
scored. He said that this underscoring must
have been done by bis clerk, without his direc
tion, and had escaped Itis observation ; but
again as tired me upon Itis holier, that if any
expression in the letter wore the appearance ol
a threat, it was not intended to be so under
stood.
Captain Douglas next adverted to the con
clusion of the letter, in which the alternative of
pe.ice or war is left to himself—He said upon
this subject, that he hud no orders to commit
any act ol hostility, and that there was no man
ftom whose intention or wishes such an object
was more remote. That he was anxious to
preserve the relations of amity, which had ex
isted between the two governments, and that
no art of his should lend to interrupt their har
mony, unless he was ordered by bis superiors
to perform such acts, in which case, as an offi
cer, he must do his duty. He repeated, how
ever, that he had at present no such orders, nor
did he expect to receive such. lie stated that
he had it in charge generally, to guard his flag,
and those under its protection front insult or as
sault of any kind, and that this in all situations
he must unquestionably do. But that any fur
ther measure he was not at present authorized,
nor was it his intention to take. I here stated
to him the many insulting menaces, which had
been communicated in Norfolk, as coming from
hi-n. He positively denied ever having utter
ed any such—declared if they had been used
by any ol bis officers, that thev were unautho
rised, and disapproved of by liiin, remarking at
the same time, that lie hoped all who knew
him, would do him ‘he justice to believe, that
he was not in the habit of using the language of
threat—He here too again referred to all the
officers to say, it they had ever heard him at
any time, even while speaking confidentially
to them, utter such expressions, and they uni
ted in declaring that they had not.
A desultory conversation then took place be
tween captain Douglas, the other captains, and
myself, which continued nearly an hour, in the
course > f which many remarks were made,
which had no reference to the subject of your
letter, or w ere in any way connected with it ;
these, sir. I have already communited to your
self. and to all my fallow-citizens, with whom i
I have conversed upon this subject ; but as
they are not connected with the subject of 1
your letter. I presume it would be unnecessary
again to detail them here. In the course of •
this conversation, I described to them as well
as 1 was able the sentiments w hich universally
prevailed through the country at this time, the
cause from whence it proceeded, and the ef
rects it would produce, provided any effort on
their part should be made to oppose the pub
lic resolves, as to intercourse or supplies. I
explicitly declared that we had as yet received
no authority from our government to proceed
to acts of aggression, but that we wete autho
rised, and were prepated for detente- and for
the protection of ourselves and our property ;
>o prove which I placed in the hands of captain
Douglas, an extract from the letter of governor
Cabell, to brigadier general Mathews, which I
had made for ihat purpose : I concluded by
warning him again not to send any of his offi
cers or people on shoie, for that if he did, the
arm of the civil authority, 1 did not believe,
would be able to protect them from the ven
geance of an enraged people ; that this might
lead to consequences which might possibly be
yet averted, and if he w as sincere in the senti
ments he had exptessed, he would he anxious
to prevent such results. Captain Douglas, and
all the captains declared, that they were aware
of the present state of the public feelings, and
depleted the circumstance which had excited
it ; tkat they did not intend to expose any of
their people to the resentment of ours, which
they could conceive was highly inflamed ; that
as to supplies they did not want any at present,
but when they dii, they should not attempi tu
procure them in any way which would excite
the opposition of the citizens of this country.
Upon the subject of intercom se, he did not
expect to hold any w ith the people of this coun
try, nor was there any occasion for it. He on
ly wished to be permitted freely to communi
cate with the accredited officers of his govern
ment here, who had been formally received
and recognized by our executive, and whose
functions he presumed none but the govern
ment had the right to put down. As to the
particular manner in which this communica
tion might be carried on, it was a matter quite
in ifferent to him. He had no objection to that
being regulated by ou selves, in anyway which
is judged proper, and that he would certainly
puisne the mode which might be suggested
as most agree file to us, provided the channel
ot communication was kept free and open. To
this I stated, that I had no authority horn any
person to enter into any engagement with
him, but that as an individual 1 would state,
that the letters he had forwarded under cover
to you had been safely delivered, and that
therefore, 1 ptesumed any other dispatches of
a like kind would be treated in the same way ;
but upon tins subject, 1 could only refer him to
you and your associates for information. He
then stated that he would to-day write an an
swer to your letter, which lie should fotward as
before, and I left his ship, captain Douglas a
gain repeating The substance of what I have
already stated.
From the moment I approached the Bellona,
to that on which 1 left her, my treatment from
captain Douglas and all his officers, was mar
ked by as much attention, politeness, unci res
pect as any gentleman ever received from
others My particular friend, Mr. James
l’aylor, juu. accompanied nte on board the
British ship, for reasons that will at once sug
gest themselves to you, when you remember
the delicate and entbanassing situation in wnich
1 might be placed, lie remained on board the
whole time with me, and was a witness to eve
ry thing which passed. 1 have read to hint
this communication sir, in order to ascertain if
my recollection was correct, and he accords
with me in every statement here made.
1 have forwarded a copy of this letter to the
governor of Virginia, and to the federal execu
tive, believing that at this time it is the duly of
every citizen to keep his government wen in
fouued ol every thing which may be useiui.
1 am respectfully, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
L. YV. TAZEWELL.
To Richard E. Lee, esq. mayor
ot the borough ot Norfolk.
His Majesty's ship Bellona , Hampton Roads
July 6, 1807.
Sir—l have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt ol your letter ol the 4Ui inst. in answer
to mine of the preceding day, requesting that
the British consul might be restored to its
powers.
As every circums'ance relative to ‘.he above
communication was so tolly discussed in pre
sence of the gentlemen deputed by the magis
tracy of Norfolk, as bearers of dipatches, 1 have
only in addition to remark, that as far as i am
individually concerned, every exertion shall be
used that can, consistent vith the honor and dig
nity of the British flag, tend to an amicable ter
mination.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
J. E. DOUGLAS.
Richard E Lee, Esq. Mayor of
the borough of Norfolk, Vtr.
A letter from a gentleman in Richmond to
his friend here, states, that the express which
was sent off on Saturday last, in consequence
of commodore Douglas’s first letter, arrived
there on Sunday evening, upon which the Rich
mond Cavalry and Artillery received orders to
march for this place immediately.
From another source, we understand that
1000 militia were ordered to repair for this place.
July 10.
On Wednesday evening two of the British
ships (the Triumph and the Melampus) jest
Hampton roads, and went down to the capes ;
the Bellona and the Leopard remain as before.
We have not understood that the proclama
tion of the president has been officially commu
nicated to the commander of the British ships,
altfiovgh we belie"? that fie is informed of it,
but nvst probably waits an official notification
be fore he departs, if he means to depart. This
notifiation will probably be given this day.
It it very evident from subsequent events,
that oantmodote Douglas reprents the letter
which he addressed to the mayor; he may
have lirther and more serious cause of regret
on this subject. YVe were never more dis
apponted in the result ot any affair, than we
were :n the present case. Ihe spit ited, and
at the same ‘inte discreet answer returned by
the mayor, placed the British comntadder in a
situation the most awkward that can be suppo
sed. He and and not appear to be sensible at first
of the high and responsible ground which he
was about to assume. To blockade a port of a
neutral and friendly power, and to detain its
v essels going out and coming in, would be no
less an act of hostility, than if a force had been
landed, and a fort or post tetained. Neutrals
submit w ith much reluctance to the exclusion
of their commerce to belligerent ports by block
ade ; force and not right too often settles the
question, ‘l'he British commander from his
acknowledgment to Mr. Tazewell had no or
ders to commit acts of hostility, but in defence
of his flag; he therefore could not execute
what he menaced in his letter of the thiid,
without doing what he w'us not authoiized ; he
did not appear when he wrote to recollect the
act was an act of liuauiUy. Sensible now { his*
error, he wishes to give an explanation to his
letter, which it is not susceptible of. No one
can mistake its meaning, and it was in this
way we were mistaken, for when we read his
letter, we concluded that hostili ies were to fol
low. The limitation of hostility prescribed in
the letter, had no weight with ns, tor when hos
tility begins, it is not for one party to deter
mine its limits.
It however is evident, from the result, that
commodore Douglas has conducted himself
upon this occasion without any credit to him
self, or honor to his country. To threaten with
a view to intimidate, does not furnish the evi
dence of understanding or coin age. If this
affair concerned the future fate and reputation
of captain Douglas only, we should not perhaps,
have noticed it in this way ; but there is some
reparation to be made for the insult, and for the
consequences which have folk wed. The ex
ecutive of the state, considered from the letter
of commodore Douglas, that hostilities would
commence immediately, and accordingly, or
dered a military force to repair to this place
and Hampton. The public expense, the in
convenience to citizens, many of them engaged
in important and useful avocations, brought
upwards of 100 miles fmm their places of resi
dence, and the particular injury done to this
place in various ways, all demand reparation.
It is some consolation to reflect, that the con
duct of our magistracy upon this occasion, has
been marked with so n.uch prudence and firm
ness.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
FRANKFORT, (on the Oder) May l.
The passage of the French troops, to join
the grand army, continues without interruption.
Towards the latter end of last week, the de
pots of the regiments of which it is composed,
and the greater p.rts ot the conscripts for 1807.
have passed the Oder. All the troops, which
are in motion, have received orders, by ex
press sent from the Imperial head-quarters to
hasten their march as fast as possible. This
day the regiment of French hussars of Cham
beraut, went through this city.
MUNICH, May 10.
Hopes of peace are still entertained , but
many people are persuaded, that the cabinet of
Petersburgh is not seriously disposed for peace,
and will try the fate of another battle, in which,
it is more than probable, that its forces will be
vanquished. If this should take place, Russia
w ill at once lose the rest of her old ]- uropean
troops and the remnant of her military tepu
tation. f
FR ANKFORT, May 14.
Letters from Hamburg mention, that the Eng
lish have sent a cutter direct to Petersburg, with
■ fresh subsidies, to avoid another sequestration
on the part of the king of Sweeten The mis
understanding between the monarch and the
emperor Alexander, is constantly raising to an
higher pitch.
All the news, received from the places in the
occupa.ion of the belligerent armies, do not de
stroy the hope of negotiations being still cur
ried on ; but the latest intelligence seems ra
ther to confirm the possibility of mutual ap
proaches, which may fix the general tranquili
ty of Europe. It is thought that the check
sustained by the English before Constantinople,
will deter the cabinet of St. James’s fiom all
enterprizes on the continent, and render it
sensible of the necessity of peace, both for it
self and its allies.
BERLIN, May I.
The following article is from an authentic
source :— According to recent accounts, Russia
endeavors to add daily reinforcements to her
army, and the king of Prussia also employs
the rest of his troops to re-conquer his lost
kingdom. It is said, that England will send
a fleet to the Baltic, and make a descent on
some point of the continent, which is still kept
secret. Swedish troops and veescls are like
wise to be in readienss for a debarkation. But
the genius of Napoleon knows the move
ments of his enemies, and the heroism of the
conquerer at Austerlitz and Jena, guarantees
the successful result of the war which Russia is
visibly desirous of prolonging,