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cal position in tho Neighborhood of the United
States, have always been among the frimaiy in
ducements of tlie United States for urging to
Fpnln the expediency to the interests of both na
tions. that Spain should cede them fora just and
suitable equivalent to the U. States.
In the letter of the 28th of January, 1805, from
Messrs, l’inkney ami Monroe, to Air. Cevidlos,
the following passage stands prominent among
the arguments used by them to that effect.—
s *‘ Should Spain (say they) not place a strong
force in Florida, it w ill not escape your excellen
cy’s attention, that it will be much exposed to
tfic danger of being taken possession of by some
other power, who might wish to hold it with ve
ry ditl’erent views toward* Spain than those which
animate the government of the Uniteif States.—
Without a strong force being there, it might even
become an asylum for adventurers and freeboot
ers, to the great annoyance of both nations.”
You know, sir, how far the events thus anti,
eipated, and pointed out so early as in January,
which operated against them, in return. From
an imperfect view of the provisions of this act.
which can be fully understood only by collating
it with tiie general system and the particular pro
visions of the acts imposing discriminating duties,
part of which only it proposed to repeal, the go
vernment of the Netherlands, and others, appear
to have understood it as offering a total repeal ol
all discriminating duties, as well of tonnage as
upon merchandize of every description, without
distinction of origin. The power of the pre
sident was however, restricted by the terms ol
the law. The laws of the Netherlands imposed
discriminating duties of tonnage, and on merchan- j
dize imported in foreign vessels, but without any
distinction with regard to the origin of the' fi)4 -
chandize. Wiien therefore, they revoked their
discriminating duties so far us respected the U-
nited States, they considered themselves, by the
act of congress of the 5,1 of March, Ibl5, entitled
to a total repeal of the discriminating duties in
the United Mt..tes. operating, against them, not
the Netherlands, is ol immediate urgency
regulation in favbr ol the vessels ol the United
States there having already been more than a
year in force, iu tlie confidence that the corres
ponding measure on the part of the United States
would have been adopted of course, by virtue ot
the act of Sd March, 1815.
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
Baltimore, March 17.—Captain Frazier,of tu
brig Fox, arrived at this port on l-unday last from
Trieste, states, that on the 12th Feb. the Uuik of
Gibraltar e. n. e. distant two nr three leagues*
was fired at from a frigate—instantly took in a ij
our light sails, hauled the courses up, and backed
the main topsail; whilst in that situation, was fi r .
FOHRinN ed at three times from the frigate, without she*
— —— 1 ing colors, though the Fox's (lag was flying some.
London, Jan. 12.—It is said that ministers j time before she was fired at, each shot ^aassiD-
have agreed with the governors and^ directors ol j ne!lr U8 • but not being able to account for sucj
1805, to the prudent forecast of Spain, have been j °>dy the tonnage .duties, hut tlrose upon merchan
realized. Pensacola lias been occupied by an >-1 dize, whether ot the produce or mainitacture ol
tlier power, for the purpose of carrying on war] Ike Netherlands, or of any other country, lhis
from it against the U. States, and Amelia Island was liowe rr not warranted hy the.act of the 3d
has been occupied by adventurers to the great j March 1815. nor could it be stipulated by
annovance of both nations, ami ofall others en-j treaty, .tliout involving consequences affecting
the commercial relations between the United
States and other countries. The revocation ol
the discriminating duties upon merchandize lin
ing danger of them, which had been so long be- j ported in vessels of the Netherlands, would be of
fore distinctly foreseen, had made it the duly of j little avail il limited to articles the produce or
the executive government, in the case of such a; maiutacture of that country, the principal part
contingency, to take the temporary possession whose exportations consist of the produce ami
of the country, which might be necessary to as niaiiufaetu'eof others. Put on the other hand.
gaged in lawful commerce upon the Gulf Mexico. I the commercial relations between the U
Before these events occurred, the congress of| * ’ , ’ 1 -
the United States, aware of the great and grow
the bank, to introduce a bill into Parliament to
continue the i '.ti iction of cash payments for two
years inure, from the month ol July next, at,
which time the present restriction expires! If
this be true, which we apprehend it is. the public
will consider it as a proof that all the calcula
tions of the Chancellor of the exchequer have
completely failed, and his system is proved to
be deceitful. While there is an unfunded debt
of seventy-live millions, and the public owe the
bank so enormous a sum, the treasury must yield
to the mandate of the blue parlour, and the con
sequence will be, that speculation in every arti
cle’, fictitious prices, and the export of capital
for the benefit of our rivals in mannlactuce and
commerce, will go on to an increased extent.
vert the Injuries that must result from it. Ame
lin Island was taken, not from the posses-ion of
Spain, but of those from whom she had been e-
qually incapable of keeping or of recovering its
possession, and who were using it for purposes
incompatible with the laws of nations and of the
United States. No purpose, either of taking or
of retaining it as a conquest from Spain, has ever
if that distinction in our navigation and revenue
laws, should be broken down with respect to one
nation, it could be with difficulty, ifat all main
tained with regard to any other.
l'he other difficulty which occurred in the ne
gotiation, related to the admission of vessels of
the United Slates to the colonies of the Vtlier-
lands, il not upon the same footing as into tt
been entertained, and unless ceded by Spain to j p»»rts of the Netherlands in Europe, at leastupon
the United States, it will be restored, whenever j that of the must I ivored nation. To thi- it was
the danger of its being again thus occupied and i objected by the plenipotentiaries of the Nether*
misused shall have ceasei?
amis, that certain favi
granted by them
It is needless to add, that the proposal, that the! other nations themselves possessing colonies,
United States should take any further measures ' or the equivalent of similar favors conceded in
than those already provided by law for prevent- return, which could not be conceded to a nation
ing armaments hostile to Spain within the terri-! possessing no colonies, and therefore notena-
torics of the United States, is inadmissible. The j bled to concede the equivalent. The same ob-
measures already taken, and the laws already jection having been made by the British govern-
j meiit to the admission of vessels ol the United
States into their colonies, it appears to deserve at.
existing against all hostile armaments witlii
jurisdiction, incompatible with the obligat^^^
neutrality, are sufficient for its preservatiunPMI I tention how far the principle itself is justifiable at
ntinue to be used, as! b u ' v tor the U. is. ought to acquiesce in it. The
iMHn n' 1!
the necessary means will contiu
they have been, tu carry them faithfully intu ex
edition.
I have the honor to be, with great considera- j possessing colonies more or less significant, a
^ various grounds on which it appears obj
Itionable. 1. Beca me all the other maritime states
tibft, sir, your obedient and very humble scr ant,
JOHN’ QUINCY ADAMS
NEGOTIATION WITH HOLLAND.
•Tp the Senate and House of Representatives of the V. S.
Ill the course of the last summer a negotia
tion was commenced with the government of the
Netherlands, with a view to the revisal of
the commercial treaty existinjjBfetweeii the two
countries, adapted to their present circumstances.
The report from the secretary of state, which
I now lay before congress, will shew the«.obsta-
clbs which arose, in the progress of the confer
ences between the respective plenipotentiaries,
and which resulted in the agreement between
them to refer the subject to the consideration of
their respective governments. * As the diflicul
ties appear tu4b of rffcature, which may perhaps
for the present be more easily removed by re
ciprocal legislative regulations formed in the
spirit of amity and conciliation, than by conven
tional stipulations, Congress may think it advisa
ble to leave the subsisting treaty in its present
state, and to meet the liberal exemption from dis
criminating tonnage duties which has been con
ceded in the Netherlands to the vessels of the
U. States, by a similar exemption to the vessels
of the Netherlands which have arrived or may
hereafter arrive in our ports ; commencing from
the time when the exemption was granted to the
vessels of the United States. I would further
recommend to the consideration of Congress the
expediency of extending the benefit ol the same
regulation to commence from the passage of the
law to the vessels of Prussia, Hamburg and Bre
men ; and making it prospectively general in
favor of every nation in whose ports the vessels
of the United States are admitted on the same
footing as their own.
JAMES MONROE.
March 1$, 1818.
Department of State, March 17, 1818.—The
Secretary of state has the honor of submitting to
the. consideration of the president the correspon
dence herewith enclosed, between the envoys
extraordinary of the United States at the court
of the Netherlands, and the plenipotentiaries
appointed by that government for the purpose of
renewing and extending the commercial treaty
already existing between the two countries. The
failure of this negotiation is to be attributed prin
cipally to two obstacles which arose in the pro
gress of the discussions between the respective
plenipotentiaries ; one proceeding from an essen
tial principle in the commercial regulations of
this country, and the other from a principle of
like character iu the kingdom of the Netherlands.
The law of 3d March, 1815, authorising a par
tial repeal of the discriminating duties which o-
perate against foreign shipping, and the merchan
dize imported in them, required, as a condition
of tiiat repeal, the abolition of all discriminating
or countervailin'- duties of any foreign nltion to
whose ail van tag? it should enure, so far as tin*
Operate to the disadvantage of the United St ites :
and on this condition the acts of tho U. States,
imposing discriminating duties* were declared to
classification, however general in terms, which
applies by way ofexclusion, to the United States
alone, is manifestly a measure savoring of hosti
lity to them, as much as if it was applied to
them by name. 2. Because the U. States not
only, by the constant and unparalleled rapid in
crease of their own population, but by the great
enlargement of their territory, and the admission
ol new stales, producing almost all the articles
ot European colonies in this hemisphere, afford
to all the commercial nations of Europe an equi-
valent similar in principle, anJ infinitely more
valuable than the mere admission to two or three
small islands of the West Indies, which is all
that some of the European states can grant for
access to the colonies of the others. 3. The U.
States have a just claim to a tree trade with most
of the West India islands, founded in the occa
sional indispetisiblu necessities of the latter. If
the United States should exercise their unques
tionable right of meeting prohibition with prohi
bition, the very existence of these islands would
be in jeopardy whenever they should be visited
by those hurricanes which so frequently happen
among thetn. It would bo ungenerous, and scarce
ly reconcilable to the principles of humanity,
should the United States avai’ themselves of those
calamitous occurrences to stop on their part, the
intercourse which at all other times is interdict
ed to them. By the laws of nature, no society
can be j usti liable in adopting measures towards
another state, which may compel the latter to re
taliate in scll-delence, bv measures incompatible
with humanity ; yet such is the character of the
intercourse permitted by several of the European
nations between their colonies in the West In-
di es and the United States. Thus .we have seen
within the last half year, the exclusion of our
vessels from the ports of several West India Isl
ands, and their re-admission announced almost
in the same gazettes. That re-admission how
ever, is limited to the time indispensible for sav
ing the colony from famine and utter desolation.
There is something so glaringly unequal and sel
fish in these alternatives of arbitrary interdiction,
and of compulsory intercourse, that it is believed
the nations of Europe, possessing colonies, can
not fail ol being ultimately made sensible of it,
and of consenting to establish an intercourse up
on principles more permanent aud more favora
bly marked with reciprocity. *
In the mean time, as the government of the
Netherlands have placed the vessels of the Uni
ted States, arriving in their ports, in regard to
tonnage duties, on the same footing w ith their
own, it is believed to be consistent with sound
policy to extend tiie same principle to the ves
sels of the Netherlands arriving; in the ports of
the United States. The same liberality may be
extended to the vessels of Prussia, Hamburg and
Bremen, who, by virtue of the like regulations
in their respective ports, have claimed the bene
fit of the proffer made in the law of 3d March,
1815. As an act of Congress is necessary for
the purpose, perhaps the most expedient course
would be to make it general, and, limiting its
operation to the tonnage duties, or charges upon
vessels, to declare tjiat no other or higher duties
. St. Petrrsburgh Dec. 10.—It is said that a
proposal has been made to the government, in
order to put a final stop to the ruinous and de
testable contraband trade, without the use of vi
olent measures, which are, besides, always in
sufficient, to open negotiations on the basis of
the Holy Alliance, of which the result would be,
“ that every power that takes a part in the Holy
Alliance, should have to provide that no goods
should be conveyed from or through its territo
ries, to those of another state, in which those
goods are contraband.” As cheating, cunning,
and covetousness,-the chief motives of the smug
glers, on tiie one hand, and, on the other, the
scandalous inclination of the consumers to ex
travagance, and directly opposite to the spirit of
Christianity, commercial treaties, concluded on
this principle, would certainly be the only means
conformable to this spirit. The lawful inter
course of the different nations of the earth would
lie secured by them.
Madrid, Dec 18.—By the Royal Decree, which
ordains a levy of 18,000 men a year, for four
years, to replace the military who have received
leave of absence, it is remarked that a great part
of the exceptions consecrated by the ancient or
dinances are no longer maintained in this levy.
The nobles are to be drawn by lot, and to serve
as distinguished soldiers or cadets ; cut, if they
will be exempted, th y shall pay a sum of 20,000
rials. Orders have been issued fur the drawing
of 1818, of 17.850 men, from the unmarried, be
tween 17 and 30 years of age.
The Wurtembergh Elephant.—The Elephant
formerly in the Menagerie of the king of Wur-
tenibergh and since purchased bv a private indi
vidual, recently made a whimsical escapade on
h s way from Dresden to the fair of Leipsic. A-
bout day .reak he succeeded iu removing the
beams that confined him within his moving prison,
walked unobserved by his keeper, and quietly
took the road to Pirna, whilst the poor keeper
and his caravan took that of Leipsic. Some pea
sant women on their way to the market of Di es
den observing the enormous animal moving to
wards them, and having never before seen an el
ephant, ran off in the greatest consternation, a-
bamloning their carts, with provisions of various
kinds for the market.—The elephant came up,
and comfortably regaled himself with a plenteous
breakfast of bread, butter eggs, &c. which he se
lected with great taste, and even some economy ;
for, whilst he devoured, he took care to commit
no waste. The keeper soon discovered his loss,
came back, out of temper and out of breath, and
easily induced the elephant to return with him
fur the purpose of edifying the good people at
the fair of Leipsic.—French Paper.
London Jan. 26.—A Treaty has been conclu
ded between this country and Spain by which
Spain consents to the abolition of the slave Trade.
This important instrument was signed at Madrid
by Sir H. Wellesley and M. Pizarro, the Spanish
minister of State, on the. 23d September, and
ratified at London on 22d October, and at Ma
drid on 21 November last.—The Spaniards are
prohibited from going to the North of the line to
purchase Negroes from the date of the last rat
ification ; and they are prohibited from gain,
to the south of the line for the same purpose
from and after the 30th May,1820,when the Slave
Trade is to become altogether extinct. The
penalties are confiscation of property, and trans
portation to tlic Pliillippine Islands.” Foreigners
importing Negroes or Slaves into the Spanish
Colonies are subject to the same penalties.
London, Jan. 27.—The death of the right lion.
George Rose, has occasioned considerable diffi
culties in the proceedings on the opening of the
session this day. By that event his son George
11. Rose, is become clerk Af the Parliament, that
place having been granted to him id reversion on
the death of his father ; but Mr. Rose is now ab
sent on a foreign mission, and consequently not
in a situation to sign the orders of the house, as
his duty requires. It is supposed that the Lord
Chancellor will sign them in the absence of the
clerk, and that the difficulty will be got over in
that way.
Flic Paris papers of Friday have arrived. The
Monifeur contains an official despatch from count
Carra St. Syr, dated Cayenne, the 18th of Nov.
announcing the restoration of the' colony of
French Guayana on the 18th of that month. The
21st being the anniversary of the death of JLfiyis
xv5, it was observed as a strict holiday, and reli*
comluct, we set all sail, and stood on our course-
the frigate then for the first time shewed Port/,
guese colors, and made all sail in pursuit ol as
still keeping up a fire from her bow chasers; oiiu
shot passed through the Fox's maintopgal| an (
sail; at 4 p. in. finding the Fox out sailed him
wore round, and stood towards Gibraltar bay.
Vienna, Dec. 19.—This government, in order
to open to the produce of Austria an outlet be
the Adriatic sea to the United Stales of Ainerf.
ca, has issued orders to the Baron Charles de
Stunner, to proceed to Philadelphia, as Austrian
Consul General. His appointments arc fixed at
24,000 francs in specie, besides a persona! salary
of 12,000 francs, and 10,000 ducats for an outfit.
Paris, Jan. 20.—Thomas Levillain, who __
at work in one of the galleries of a marie pit 4
the depth of thirty metres, was suddenly euclo*
ed by the falling of the earth. Immediate as.
sistance was afforded by the mayor of the com.
outlie, but the work was long and dangerous,
For eight days the laborers persevered, atm 04
the ninth, they had'the satisfaction to hear tiia
unfortunate man’s voice,apparently at a distance,
imploring assistance, but tne echo of these sub
terraneous caverns dispersed the voice, and em
barrassed those who were seeking for him. At
length, on the 13tlS at two o’clock in the morn
ing, after twenty-four hours’ constant labor, they-
arfived at the gallery where the unfortunate nt»
was inclosed, and where he had remained nine
days without nourishment, deprived of air, aid
enveloped in a night which had seemed to him al
most eternal. lie was still, however, in a state
of strength that enabled him to express his jo/
and gratitude towards his deliverers.
Hague, Dec. 25.—A courier has arrived hertf
from Rome, with despatches. Lucien Bonaparte
had not quitted that capital, as reported in tho
English Journals.
DOMESTIC.
TERR IBLE EXPLOSION.
Wilmington,(D.J March 21.—Abouthalfpnsi
nine o'clock, last Thursday morning, the people
of Wilmington were alarmed by a severe shock,
which in some respects resembled an earthquake,
and which was so violent as tu induce some U
fly precipitately from their houses. Immediate
ly a fleecy column of smoke opposed to the sun
(which under other circumstances would Lave
been a beautiful spectacle) indicated the Fatal
cause of the concussion, it being in the direction
of Dupont’s extensive powder works. In about
15 minutes after, another and sharper explosion
took place, which it seems was the. blowing up of
the magazine, then opened for the purpose of
loading waggons for the transportation of poivdor.
Curiosity, and a desire .‘0 be usfcful, attracted
crowds of people to the awful scene (at a distance
of 4 or 5 miles)—In a short time, rumor* with
her hundred tongues, warned us of the expected;
and almost inevitable blast of 30 tons of powder,'
already said tube surrounded by fire, which, it
was apprehended, would shatter the houses 4,
Wilmington. The panic spread and increa/ed),
the inhabitants rushed from their houses intu the,
streets, and some hardly thought themselves safe
after crossing the bridge. The consternation
was such as might be expected from the sudden
menace uf bombardment by an enemy’s lleeb-
All business was fur a considerable time suspend
ed ; and a mixture of personal apprehension and
anxiety lor the probable sulferers at the mills, oc
casioned a general agitation among the citizen*.
It was not until late in the afternoon that the con
tradictory rumors were resolved into any thing
like a consistent account of this dreadful cabin*
ity. The plainest matters of fact (as is usual in
moments of alarm) were differently conceived
by various persons who observed them at tiie same
time. The general result appears tube, that J
explosions, in instantaneous succession occasion
ed the first shock ; which it is said destroyed up 1
wards of 20 persons. The second, before weir
tinned, destroyed several and increased the de
vastation. When the unfounded apprehend 03
of the expected great explosion had subsided,^
multitude of citizens witnessed a scene uf havocs,
probably unequalled by anv occasion of die kind
111 this country. From 25 to SO persons were,
killed, some of them scattered in fragments,iuj
various directions, to a great distance. Sererd 1
were badly wounded, some of whom it is suppo*
ed will recover. The buildings for a considera
ble distance were very much shattered, 'fl*
house of Mr. Dupont (who wits absent) though at
some distance, was considerably injured; but.
fortunately, the family escaped without material
injury. ” .
An attempt tri dcECrilre this awful scene, had
we even the fullest information, would hurrah
The eliect ol the explosion of some ions of pew-,
der, hurling the stone buildings and flaming timf
bers in every direction, sweeping men, aniuisK
houses and trees before them, can better he con
ceived thin told. We shall hereafter give suck
simple facts as may be useful or interesting; *»•
deavoring to avoid the editorial sin of spmni»(f
out horrible descriptions, and racking * e nerve*
of others for the sake of selfish profit or t'j? **
musement of lb?