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FROM LATE LONDON PAPERS.
In our expeditions, almost solely owing to
the incapacity 01, our governors, this country
has frequently been humbled ; but never has
shebeen so familiar with disgrace a# Within
these few month* It is now, for the first time,
tli.it the ‘spirit of Great-Britain has been oblig
ed to>iuccumb to the genius of Turkish taciics,
•and pine before the predominance ot Mussul
man arms.
When admiral Duckworth failed in his at*
tar,k upon Constantinople, and scarcely esca
ped. with a fugitive ambassador, horn being
sunk in the streights of the Dardanelles, we
told the public that consequences which they
. did not expect would attend this Turkish tri
umph If our readers will refer to the Mes
senger of April the 26th, they will find the fol
lowing paragraph.
Speaking of our flight, from Constantinople,
we thus proceeded s—“ It may be added, that
the Turks will lie animated by their unexpec
ted success to efforts beyond themselves. We
have seen the cflcct of this principle, in the late
vigorous resivance of the South American
Spaniards The lecapture of Buenos Ayres
inspired them to acts worthy of their ancient
renown. The Turks arc not naturally a cow
ardly nation; they aie ignorant, bigixted, and
without discipline. Their bigotry lias hither
to prevented them from a .strict union with anv
European nation. Perhaps it is not a very
wise policy to introduce a state of things in
which this bigotry ui.l gradually give way to
more immediate considerations. We may
pet hjps throw them so completely in the hands
of I' - ranee, that it will become impossible to se
, ver them in future. The Venetian states might
be rendered more complete by the acquisition
ol some of the Southern Provinces under the
present dominion of the Porte.”
May we not now demand, of our readers
whether we have predicted lightly !—we have
f.cen a British commander fall into a Turkish
ambuscade—we have been out -generat’d by a
race of men who were the contempt of all the
military of Europe ; and who knows but that
our brave soldiers, ere this, may be compelled
to a most galling captivity—that they may be
compelled, in the arrogance of unexpected con
quest, to walk with their arms pinioned be
hind them, to take possession of an enemy’s
galley, and tug at the oar under the sign of the
Ottoman crescent.
Heaven avert from us this disgrace ; but it
is not improbable.
We have scarcely yet experienced the fu 1
effects of the fatal incapacity of the late minis
ters—we have drunk deep enough ; but some
dregs yei remain—the distant thunder is rol
ling onward: ; every moment brings it nearer
to us—Our root is unthatched ; our stack of
cliimnies beat down ; our doors are unbarred ;
our windows are open—and, what is worse
than all, our spirit is consuming away under
muhiplied disastets. Let us then beware of
the next clap—Heaven only knows from
n hence it will come, and whether or no a gal
lant (olonel, now out on another expedition,
inav not be the next conductor.
How is it we tail ? iJur soldiers neither want
bravery nor discipline, nor, commonly, do our
officers Want talents, or judgment. I lie con
i’iv.nice, the lolly, are all at home. Our ex
peditions co nmonly tail from some misman
agement or another in the different boards and
departments of stores ami supplies. The gen
tlemen who preside at these boaids are so in
tent upon their pensions and their profits, that
they never have any time to think of their bu
siness. At lluenos Ayres we weie within an
arc ol failing for want of powder ; at Constan
tinop'e we were put to the route for want of
land troops; and at Alexandria we have been
beaten for want of biscuit. Our troops Wanted
prov lsions, or they would not have ventured
an attack upon Rosetta. W hat then is the
conclusion ? Why, that government not hav
ing supplied them with necessary stores, the
whole burthen of the disgrace must fall upon
their shoulders—and yet, good lord ! what
swarm of contractors we have 1 we have bis
cuit-bakers, clothes’ contractors, and powder
dealers, enough in all conscience:—we see
them daily sporting at their country villas, and
shining in their equipages through our streets;
and yet not one ol t ietn can lie found to do
their duty. They are ready with nothing but
their votes—it is really a monstrous insult up
on the common sense of the country that vve
should trace so many of our grievances to tins
vermin rare. \\ e may lose every object of
an expedition, because a worthy city-baronet
should not chance to draw his own in time—
but so it is—the rat that gnawed the bell-rope
brought down the steeple about the congrega
tion's ears.
The Hamburgh mails and French papers
have reached us this week in unusual abun
dance, and the intelligence they bring is of no
common interest.
Dnnizic is at length in the possession of the
French—vve were prepared to expect it, but it
js not on that account the less calamitous—the
capitulation took place on the 20ih, and the
garrison, the dower of the allied army, justify
♦heir surrender from the total want of warlike
ammunition, and provisions for subsistence.
It was supposed that the Prussians, or the
Russians, would have made some attempt to
prevent the fall of this city ; but no other at
tacks were made upon the French than those
petty and unsuccessful efforts of the 15th and
16th ; and thus, whether from the superior
force ol Bonaparte, or his generalship ; or
whether, as is more probable, from the weak
ness and unskilful conduct of the allies, the ci
ty ol Dunizic, the strong hold of the Baltic,
and the only remaining post of strength in that
part of Prussia which the French did not pos
sess, has at length fallen into their hands, and
the w hole face and prospect of the campaign
has been changed.
Will not a question here be put, which may
involve some imputation upon the conduct of
Great-Britain ? \\ ill it not be demanded, what
have we been doing, whilst Dantzic has been
suffered to fall into the enemy’s hands ? Was
it not one ol those objects of the war vv hich,
from being accessible by sea, should have been
more particularly the concern of Great-Bri
tain —ls it were not judged expedient to send
an expedition thither or a fleet, was it not al
ways in our power to supply the city with pro
visions and ammunition—and not, whilst Eng
land was the mistress of the ocean, to suffer the
best town of our allies to capitulate from want
of those succours which vve possessed abun
dantly, and could convey with ease ? Was it
thought to bear more upon the primary and es
sential objects of ilie war, to storm the passage
ol the Dardanelles, and scatter, with our grape
shot, a few painted mosques and huts on the
shores of Constantinople—was it wiser, or did
it discover more of the hearty zeal of partici
pation in the common cause, to attempt bully
ing the Turks, than to succour Dantzic—to at
tempt to steal some petty conuting-housc ad
vantage, and compel the easy residence of our
factors and merchants at Constantinople, in
preference to can ying our assistance and co
operation to that p int which was the common
focus of hostility, and upon which hung the
fate ol the campaign—perhaps the destiny of
Europe ? Was Alexandria, because it was a
mere British object—a tiling that would tell
better at the Exchange, as opening an avenue
to speculations in commerce, and new ruin—
was Alexandria, vve say, tube preferred to Dant
zic—a mere out-post ol the way, to • city in
the heart of it ; or were the waters of .he
plata more favorable to a gala and a triumph ;
more adorned with golden sand, alius piuze
money, than those of the Vistula, which over
flowed with bitterness ?
The imputation of this scandalous neglige'x:e
on the part of Grcat-Britaiii, iu other wads
the loss of Dantzic to the allies, must be shired
we believe, equally between the late and pre
sent ministry. Both, we are persuaded, cculd
have prevented ii—neither did. We have heard
of a story which is somewhat applicable in this
case.
A poor fellow, being much indisposed, but
in no danger, at first calls in a coxcomb 1 a
physician, who gives him medicine that much
abated the chances of nature, and threatened to
bring him to death’s door. The physician is
dismissed, and another (as great a coxcomb) is
summoned in his place. Instead of tailing im
mediately to counteract the treatment of the
first, he stands still, rubs his hands and does no
thing. “ You see,” says he, *• the state that
this pretender has reduced him to, and he now
wants me to bring him round. Bu;, no ; if he
dies, he proves my opponent a fool in the face
ol the world ; il lie recovers, I only get hall
the credit. My place in the public “opinion
is worth more than my patient’s life ; so let the
first medicines take their course.”
Here is an illustration of the conduct of the
late and present men.—Our present ministers
will not consent to takeoff the heel-taps of their
predecessors; they wish them to pay the whole
reckoning of their folly, and they will not ex
ert themselves to counteract the operation of
those counsels which they disapprove, iest, by
engrafting something better on a bad scheme,
they should lose the chance of a more com
plete exposure of their rivals, and give them a
title to share with them in success.
However it may be, whether from our fault
or not, Dantzic is gone. . The French are now
in a fruitlul country, and may receive supplies
both by sea and land. An immense force is
set at liberty by this capitulation, and the
strength of the main army will be augmented
in proportion. 1 here will now, vve believe, be
no general battle ; at least the allied armies
can have no interest in offering one. If they
were not strong and confident enough when so
large a detachment of the enemy wasoccupied
in the siege ot Dantzic, how ran they venture
it when this force is released ?
\V e dread any intelligence of more fighting
in Poland. A general battle must, in all pro
bability, be the ruin of the allies. An armis
tice, or a negotiation, is the only way to get
out ot the scrape. We speak this from our
most mature t eduction ; it is useless to deceive
the public.
In the British Court of Admiralty, (Doctors’
Commons) on uie 3d of June, the right honor
able Sir William Sco t, proceeded to the adju
dication of the following case :
Holla, Collin, master. This American
ship, laden with a cargo of hides, and bound
from Montevideo to New-York, was seized (on
the g-ound of a breach of blockade) in the Riv
et Plate, on the 29th November, 1806, by bis
majesty’s ship of war Medusa, and carried,
first to Maldonado, and afterwards brought to
the fiver 1 hames. The court, in this case,
was ol opinion, that there was a competent au
thority to impose a blockade, and accordingly
condemned the ship and cargo.
The High Court of Errors and Appeals for
the state of Pennsylvania, have lately held their
sittings at Philadelphia. Os seven causes,
which came up to them from the Supreme
Court, they have reversed the judgments giv
en in live. 1 his is, perhaps, among the most
striking instances that can lie adduced of the
uncertainty of the law, and must painfully af
fect every man who properly appreciates’ the
importance of a clear and certain svstetn lor
the administration of justice —All?. lit.
FROM THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
THE DESPERATE AND DEPLORABLE SITU
ATION OE ENGLAND.
A writer has ai last appeared in F.ngland, of
sufficient talents to discover, and candor to un
veil, some truths which demonstrate the deplo
rable, the desperate situation of that country.
He is the same person who lately attempted
to vindicate the maritime usurpations claimed
by that nation, in opjiosition to the common
sense of all mankind, and common lights of ail
other nations, entitled “ war in disguise.’” He
has at length, not only opened his own eyes,
but appears willing to afford equal rays of light
to all other persons, in another work, entitled,
“ the dangers of the country.” The whole work,
extending to 142 pages of small print, deserves
the serious consideration of every politician,
as well as philosopher. There is scarcely a
page which does not contain something im
portant or interesting; and the whole exhibits
a picture of that ill-fated nation, which cannot
fail even now, when our indignation is raised to
an enthusiastic height, to excite our commis
seiation.
How truly deplorable the interior of F.ng
land, is may be inferred from the following
extract:
“ There is indeed an attachment to the land
that gave us birth, which depends on no elevat
ed sentiments. For my part, lam not assum
ed to avow a love for the very soil itself; a
weakness w hich has made me shed tears at
bidding it a long adieu ; which has made me
view it with transport at my return, indepen
dently of the thought of every rational object
ol attachment comprised in the endearing name
of country. I blush not to confess that in a
distant climate, the expectation of death has
been embittered by the thought that my dust
would not mingle with my native soil. But
the patriotism that deserves ‘he name, is com
posed of nobler elements. It is a filial sense
ol honored duty, animated by reverence lor all
that is excellent and amiable in the society to
which we belong. It looks back on the glory
ot our ancestors, it looks up to tiie dignity of
the tlnone, it looks round on the wise and be
neficent institututions, the mild and equitable
laws, the freedom, the happiness, the viime by
which the social edifice is adorned ; till glow
ing with a generous enthusiasm, it exclaims,
this is my beloved country! I received it
from my fathers; I will defend it with my
blood; I will transmit it unimpaired to my
children!
“ If such patriotic feelings at this awful mo
ment be peculiarly seasonable and important,
let them not be chilled with the sad reflection,
that t/us same beloved country is polluted by the
most sordid and barbarous crimes ; that though
dear to ourselves, she is a curse to a great por
tion of the globe ; that her wealth generates,
and her power maintains a greater mass of hu
man wretchedness and guilt, than even the pes
tilent ambition of France, perhaps than all the
other political crimes of the age.”
II the conduct of the British government and
her Dundasses, Cochranes, YVhitbies, Hum
phries and other pestilent and infernal scourges
has not cured the last of her admirers, of their
mistaken regards and zeal; if there yet re
mains an insulated, / larricidal American, who
would rejoice to see his country crouch to
British insolence and injustice, let him coun
tervail il lie can—these plain confessions, these
voluntary declarations of a writer, whose ardent
attachment to that country, and whose lamen
tations over her miserable destiny can neither
be doubted nor mistaken. If George the third,
all malignant, stupid and obstinate as he is,
should ever cast his eyes upon these quotations,
and retain one drop ol the milk of human kind
ness in his bosom, he will surely, at that same
moment, order the sword of desolation and
wretchedness to be sheathed for ever. He will
stop the effusion of human blood. He will dry
up the tears ol the care-worn and war-worn world
and will cause his heralds to proclaim, far and
wide, Peace—Peace.
Yet, if George and the demi-devils , who are
his confidential counsellors and agents, shall
shut their ears against the admonitions of truth
and justice; if the nation is 100 heavilv en
shackled to stand erect and break her chains,
then it will behove all other nations to with
hold and interdict with that miserable country,
all further intercourse ; not only to deny to
them the common priviliges of civilization, but
to shut their ports and ex-pel them ii om their bavs
rivers, anchorages and coasts. Great-Britain
has pretended to a pre-eminence, an audacious
pre-eminence, over all other nations ! Anil will
the other nations tolerate a complication of
crimes, of insolence, of injustice connected
with such internal misery, as have excited
these eloquent denunciations? Will they long
er open their ports and arms to those “ whose
wealth generates, and whose/tower maintains a
greater mass of human wretchedness and guilt,
than all he other fiolitical crimes of the age ?”
Oh, no! we have been compelled to draw the
sword of defence. It is now brandished with
defiance. Every bosom is animated with feel
ings which can be appreciated only by those
who unite a love of liberty with a love of coun
try ; and we will support no other intercourse
with those who have polluted their own country
by the most sensual and barbarous crimes. Who
have by their nefarious conduct, rendered the
British nation a curse to a large portion of other
nations.
Harsh and dissonant as this language mav he
to the ear of a Briton, he must hear it, not mere
ly because it is the language of truth. The
Britons must t>ear more, they must prepare
their minds to hear that their native island will
be interdicted by the civilized world, that all
other nations will form a social and federative
compact, not merely to support the freedom of
the seas, but to treat that nation as pirates and
free-booters, unless they will, speedily make
reparation for past injuries and give ample se
cui itics and assurances that they will become
a party of the social and philanthropic league,
and consent that the ocean shall be free, and that
the American colours shall protect, not only the
vessel, but every person und every thing whch
a vessel wearing those colours shall contain.
A VIRGINIAN.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA,
yfr'HENS, July 23, 1807.
On the 19th day of this month, the board cf
Trustees convened in the apparatus chamber,
from whence they retired to attend the nume
rous assemblies convened to hear a sermon ad
dressed to the candidates for degrees, by the
reverend Hope Hull.—On Monday the 20th,
at 10 o’clock, A. M. a procession was formed
at the north end of the avenue extending from
the north part of the college through Front and
Baldwin streets. The procession, conducted by
Mr. Waddle, sheriff of Clark county, moved
in the following order, viz. 1 he students of the
grammar school—the freshman—sophomore
and junior classes—the candidates for the first
and second degree—the board of trustees, the
secretary, and the president and executive of
ficer of the college. The academic exei rises
were performed (on an elevated stage under a
spacious arbor erected on the north front cf the
c6lleee\ in the following order, viz :
1. A prayer by the reverend Hope Hull.
2. The Declaration of American Independence, read
by Mr. Tutor Lewis.
S. A La-in Salutatory Oration 3gainft party spirit,
by James Meriwether.
4 A French Oration in support of Dr. Price’s opini
on, that the proper business of education is “ to Uadi
how to think,rather than what to think,” by John Al
len.
5. An Engliih Oration advocating the of the
ancient languages, by Thomas Greer.
e. A Comic Dialogue, by Hamilton, Greer, Meigs,
O’Neal, Rutherford and Meriwether.
7. An Engliih Oration in defence of the liberty of
the Teas, by Samuel Wil iam Mtigs.
8. A Greek Oration on Education, by Thomas
Hamilton.
9. An Engliih Oration on Agriculture, by George
Putnam.
10. An Engliih Oration in favor of a palfive com
merce, by Jofph Woodruff O’Neal.
11. An Engliih Oration in favor of an adlive com
merce, by William Rutherford.
12. A Comic Dialogue by Greer, Hamilton, Meigs,
Meriwether and Rutherford,
13. A Poetic Oration by James D. Jackson, candidate
for the degree of A. M. on the powers of the mind, and
the advantages of a liberal education.
14. The Valedictory Oration by John Douglas
T he picsideul tueti, with the public consent
of the board, conferred the degiee of Bachelor
of Arts on John Alien, John Douglass, Thom
as Greer, Thomas Hamilton, Sniuel \\ illiatn
Meigs, James Meriwether, Joseph Woodruff
O Neal, George Putnam and William Ruther
ford.
The degree of Master of Arts was conferred
on Gibson Clark, Ebenezer H. Cummins,
William H. Jackson, and Thomas Irwin.
The degree of Bachelor of Arts was confer
red on the reverend John Hodge, master and
principal of the grammar school in Athens ; and
the reverend John R. Thompson, Bachelor of
Arts of Columbia College, Nevv-York, was ad
mitted ad uendum.
The exercises were concluded with prayer
by the reverend Hope Hull.
In the evening of Monday and the forenoon
of Tuesday, the board attended the exercises,
in elocution, of a select number, amounting to
twenty-one, of the young gentlemen of the
three lower classes and of the grammar school.
Major Nicholas Long, Major Elijah Clark and
E. Simpkins, esq’rs. who sat as judges of merit,
declared the preference due in the following
order, viz.
In the Junior Class, to John Davies.
In the Sophomore, to John Atkinson,
In the Freshman, to Robert Scott,
In the Grammar School, to Thomas Morel,
John Gunn and Robert Billups.
A numerous, respectable and elegant audi
ence appeared to be highly gratified with the
transactions of the occasion. In the valedicto
ry oration an honorable and affecting mention
was made of the loss sustained by the state of
Georgia, in the death of that illustrious, sincere
and efficient ft iend of science and liberty—the
honorable Abraham Baldwin.
It is said that the case of MWeill vs. Bright ,
See. which has lately been heard between the
supreme judicial court, in this town (Boston) is
more important in its principle:!and consequence
than is generally known ; as it involves a con
sideration ol the validity of the confiscation cf
estates of absentees. The cause, we under*
stand, has been fully argued. On Saturday,
Julv 18, the argument was opened by Mr.
Williams, in behalf of the demandant., who
claims as heir of Archibald M‘Neill, the absen
tee ; and by the solicitor general, in behaif of
the tenants, who are in possession under the
commonwealth, holding the premises as a
confiscated estate. On Monday the attorney
general closed the arguments for the tenants,
and on i uesday, Mr. Dexter closed on the part
of the demandant. As this case has drawn in
to discussion some of tht principles of the re
volution, and the commonwealth is interested,
to an immense amount, in the consequences cf
this decision, it is hoped, that when the court
have decided, a faithful report cf the *argu.
nients of the counsel and the opinions of the
judges will be laid before the public.
It is extremely difficult to overcome old and bad ha
bits. An inftruttive story is told of a man who used
always to stop at a certain house to take a dram. He
formed the resolution to pass without flopping, and
on his way, said to himft-lf, “ Stick to it, resolution !
flick to it, relolution.” After he had passed, he said,
“ well done, resolution! Come back now, and 1 will
treat you !” Baraxce