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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?