4317 POLITICAL REGISTER-Neutral Commerce. cour to Mr. FoxMr. Pitt, at the end of a MFORA twenty years varfare, this knuckle down to his rival! Thus acknowledge him his master! Alas! these persons do not know Mr. Pit yet; and still less do they know of his underlings, who would not only excuse, but justify, and even applaud, such an act; and, they themselves would chearfully take their places; move downwards, and eat their crust in quiet, under the inferiors of Mr. Fox.-No, no: it is by Ho meatts impossible, or improbable, that Mr. Pitt will make the proposition; but, I think it quite impossible, that it should succeed. It would, even in the spring of 1804, have been very doubtful, whether the Opposition ought to join him; but now, there can be no doubt at all. The proceedings of last winter have put it out of the power of any one to join him, who wishes to have any share of the confidence of that part of the people, who disapproved of the conduct brought to light by the reports of the naval commissioners.So hard is Mr. Pitt pressed, however, that I shall be very much deceived, if he does not try the scheme. views will be somewhat of the same sort as those which he entertained last year; but, The did not succeed in them then, and he (will not now. He was then compelled to seek the aid of the Acklingtons, after hav-; ing tried the Opposition twice; but, as there are no Addingtons now left for him, His tone and attitude will be lower than before. Last year there was, his creatures told us, an insurmountable 'obstacle, in a certain quarters to the admission of Mr. Fox," It would be curious enough, if His that obsidele were now to be overcome! Let the public mark the sequel; for, if it be true, that the parliament is to meet for dispatch of business early in November, the scheme, which, from the softened tone of the Pitt and Melville papers, is certainly on foot, must be tried very soon; and, I do not think that the Pitts and Melvilles will a second time endeavour to divide the Opposition. In the mean time, the " Honourable Charles Long" (the gentleRight man who conveyed the forty thousand pounds of the naval money to Mr. Boyd) is, we are informed, appointed Chief Secretary in Ireland, in lieu of Mr. N. Vansittart, who was appointed to that office, but who resign ed with his friend Mr. Addington, now Lord Sidmouth. This is as if should be. Where there are Pitts and Melvilles and Huskissois and Cannings and Old George Roses, there should be nobody of another stamp. They are made for one another; 4 and, it is much better that the nation should [432 go on under their clutches exclusively, than that others should come and take a share with them. When they, deft to themselves, will bring matters to a close, we can calcu! late with tolerable accuracy; but, if they putation of others, there would be no princiwere to be propped up by the talents and re ple whereon for us to calculates eg eid LORD MELVILLE- Some fresh com PUBLIC PAPERS. The undersigned Minister of State and NEUTRAL COMMERCE. --Letter from the Consuls of Neutral States resident ut Gadiz, to Admiral Collingwood; dated Cadix, July 23, 1805. SIR,- In answer to your excellency's letter of the 19th instant, directed to the neu tral consuls residing in this port, we beg | leave to assure you sm the most honourable manner, that none of us have received any kind of information from our respective ambassadors at the Court of Saint James's, nor from those residing at the Court of Madrid, respecting the notification of the blockade of this port, and San Lucar, under date of the 18th April ultimo, which your excelleney iso pleased to mention Your excellency bertainly knows, that at the same time that Danish, Swedish, and Imperial vessels sailed from this port in ballast, not being able to find freights, other vessels of the same, and other flags, especially Americans, sailed with cargoes to sundry places, and that we would have prevented them doing so, had we had any idea that other dispositions besides those Contained in Vice-Admiral Sir John Orde's letter, were about to be adopted by his Britanaid Majesty's forces. As the vessels of oar respective nations are loaded, and having come into this port without the least notifi"cation from any of his Britannic Majesty's ́vessels, we flatter ourselves that your exce!lency will not hinder their going with their own and neutral property to their respective destinations. In this your excellency will do an act which will evince the justice with which the English government and its naval officers treat the property of their neutral friends. Your excellency will please to ob( serve that there are neutral vessels actually in this bay, that arrived about the middle of May, at which period it was impossible they could have known the official comraunication which your excellency alludes to of the 18th of April. Inclosed we hand your ex cellency the original documents of the Porfuguese schooner, alluded to in our fornter letter, for your excellency's government.We have the honour to be, &c. &c.-Signed by the Portuguese, Danish, Prussian, Imperial, United States, Russian, Consuls and Agents. A Dreadnought, off Cadiz, July 25, 1805. with them. If there were any impediments to the regular notification of the measure by, the respective ministers, I am sorry for it; but the appearance of the squadron off this port, and their having, in view of it, turned off to other ports al neutral ships which ap proached with the purpose of entering it, were sufficient indications of the service they were employed on, and so clearly marked Cadiz and St. Lucar to be blockaded ports, as they are defined in the existing treaties, and particularly in the convention of Peters burgh, in June, 1801, that no doubt could remain, or other notification be necessary, These ships, many of which were Americans, that had received their cargoes, or a principal part of them, before my arrival here, I have allowed to proceed on their voyage for it is the trade of Spain alone that I would interrupt: if neutrals are involved in it, and their interests in some degree suffer, it is an accident that I regret, but cannot prevent. Those that were in port may now depart in ballast; but the American brig which entered on the 20th, in breach of the blockade, will be seized whenever she comes out, though she may be in ballast. The complaint of the master of the Portuguese schooner, I find is too well founded; you may depend I shall take proper notice of it with respect to the officer; and measures, that I hope will prevent the recurrence of such a conduct in future, towards those who in their lawful pursuits are.entitled to kind offices, rather than, harshness and severity, and unjustifiable treatment. I have, the honour to be, &c. &c.(Signed) CUTHB. COLLINGWOOD. P. S. I have ordered the notice in the Portuguese Papers to be altered. RUSSIA AND FRANCE.- -Extract from the Gazette of Frankfort, of the 18th of August, upon the Note published by M. Novosiltzoff, previous to his departure from Berlin, Berlin, July 16. The arrival of M. Novosiltzoff at Berlin excited considerable interest throughout Europe. That journey will be considered in history as little better than a serious comedy, with a farcical conclusion. The note which this minister presented by way of apology for the suddenness of his departure, is even a greater object of curiosity, than the levity, of his proceedings; and if it were allowed to indulge in pleasantry upon a subject invoh GENTLEMEN,I very much lament the inconvenience, or loss, which the subjects of neutral states may suffer by the suppression of the Spanish trade, in the ports of Cadiz and St. Lucar. But his Majesty's order for its prohibition having been publicly notified, and sufficient time given for its general promulgation throughout Europe, ere it was acted upon by his squadron before Ca55 "diz, & cannot, notwithstanding the most sin- ceze disposition I have at all times felt toing the happiness of mankind, many in-give every security and facility to the lawful trade of neutrals, allow the ships which have 2'> received-cargoes: on board since my arrival upon this coast, to proceed on the voyage stances could be pointed out in the conduct of M. Novosiltzoff, which prove that he was qualified to perform the part of an argant coxcomb.He announced himself as the With bearer of a pacific mediation, and the public journals rang for six months with the reports of his journey. He at last presented himself as commissioned to open a negotiation; all the world applauded this happy disposition; France received it with ecstasy; the passports which he requested for France are without any previous explanation sent to him, and at the moment that the hopes of Europe were highest, M. Novosiltzoff, without having made any overture, without having mentioned a single proposition, without having even demanded a conference, .suddenly quits Berlin, declaring that he is no longer authorised to negotiate. He does more, and this confession enables us to judge of the sincerity of his mission; he declares that he is not authorised to negociate, either with the Emperor of the French, or with the King of Italy, or with the actual Sovereign of Genoa, but with the head of the French government. We really know not how to call this diplomatic réserve. out doubt, if his excellency had been satisfied of the complete submission of the Emperor of the French to the absolute commands of Russia, he would feel himself authorised to grant him a title which Europe has acknowledged, and which needs no farther confirmation. The reservation in the note of M. Novosiltzoff does not, nevertheless, appear the less imprudent to all impartial and candid persons; it certainly will have no influence upon the determination of the Emperor Napoleon, who is not a man to sacrifice things to words, and who weighs proceedings according to their due estimate. The illustrious Emperor of the French well knows that a century is not yet elapsed, since one of his august predecessors refused to give the Autocrat-of Russia the title of Majesty, and would only allow him that of Highness; but as he wishes for peace, he will not argue with the Emperor Alexander upon this historical proof of the newness of his family. Napoleon judges of men by their personal merit, and judges of Sovereigns only by the importance of their states. It is not the less surprising that a Monarch, animated, according to the declaration of M. Novosiltzoff, by so sincere a wish for peace, should begin by calling in question the principles by which social order and the tranquillity of states are protected. The political confusion which prevailed in France, appeared for a long time the only reasonable cause which could obstruct the pacific intentions of powers, and furnish an excuse for their uneasiness and coolness: they could wish for nothing more conducive to their vital interests, than to treat with a govern ment analogous to their own, which should at the same time assume the majesty of regular authority, and acquire all its solidity. But what extravagance has the Russian cábinet, losing sight of this principle, involved itself in that ambiguity of expression, in that confusion of qualifications? There must be then in the views of Russia an interest, paramount to the general interest of Europe.What could have been the real obstacle to the negotiation? Was it the nomination of the Emperor Napoleon to the sovereignty of Italy? But he previously governed it under another title. The title of King cannot be offensive to princes, more than that of President of a Republic. Was it the union of Genoa? Genoa was already under the natural protection of France; the treaty of Luneville left it at perfect liberty respecting the choice and form of its government; and besides, the interest, the free will of two nations, which unite with each other, are above all treaties. In reading the obser vations of M. Novosiltzoff upon the teniporary changes which have conditionally taken place in Italy (changes which have added nothing to the continental strength, which have in no degree altered the situation of France), one finds difficulty in believing that they should proceed from a court whose power has assumed a political form so different, and aggrandized itself so prodigiously, which seems to have revived the ancient influence of Turkey to add to its own; which advances with a rapid and steady pace equally in the Asiatic and European provinces of that tottering empire; which has openly put itself in possession of its commercial and political advantages, and to which, to become the absolute master of it, nothing is wanting, but to erect the Russian Eagle upon the mosques of Constantinople. The stile of this note appeared no less extraordinary than its substance. It is easy to discover in its exaggerated complaints against the power of France, the seal of England, anxious to wrest from her naval port, and dispute with her the liberty of the seas; who thinks that she can no longer preserve her tyrannical power but by re-kindling war upon the Continent. This extraordinary style is not suited to an inde-, pendent state. Great surprise was, particuiarly excited, that the negotiator should dwell so carefully upon the efforts and sacrifices of England for the general tranquillity." Such an apology would have appeared, in the mouth of any other person but M. Novosiltzoff, as the most bitter sarcasm upon the breach of the treaty of Amiens; upon the massaere on board the Spanish frigates; upon the plots and the corruption which England continues to maintain on the Continent, for the purpose of renewing war and revolution.- -Some awkwardness, therefore, was discovered in the note of M. Novosiltzoff. We are justified in suspecting, that under the guise of an ambassador, he was, in fact, only the emissary of a faction; and it is thought that the personal opinion of the Monarch went for nothing in this pretended mediation, in which courtesy and good sense were so far lost sight of, that a mission, the object of which was a negotiation for peace, began with an insult to the august person to whom it was addressed. FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS. Jerome Buonaparté, Capitaine de Vaisseau, commanding a Division in the Mediterranean, to his Excellency the Minister of Marine and Colonies, dated on board the Pomona, Genou Roads, Aug. 31, 1805. MONSIEUR LE MINISTRE,I have the honour to announce to your excellency that the mission with which his Majesty was pleased to charge me has been happily fulfilled. The division under my orders has anchored in the Port of Genoa, having on board 231 slaves, all in good health, as well as the crews. In two days I shall disembark them conformably to the instructions I have from his Majesty. The City of Algiers and the neighbouring places enjoyed at the epoch of my departure a perfect state of health, according to the declaration made to me by M. Dubois Thainville, the Emperor's Chargé d'Affaires.-This expedition would have been more promptly terminated had I not been forced to go to Toulon, by unavoidable circumstances, of which I had the honour to render an account to your excellency, in my dispatch of the 11th instant.— I was not long detained, thanks to the care and activity of the maritime prefect. In seventy-two hours the division was in a state to set sail again, and to pursue its destination. I had expedited, two days before, the corvette L'Abeille, under the orders of Captain Eydous, to inform the CommissaryGeneral of Commercial Relations, at Algiers, of my approaching arrival, and the object of my mission. I had at the same time, written to him, instructing him to negotiate before-hand, for the liberty of the slaves, in order that I might by this means avoid the difficulties and delays which I might otherwise experience.—I got under weigh from Toulon on the 14th inst. at ten in the morning, with a brisk wind at N. W. I directed my course for Mahon, where I hoped to meet with some of the enemy's cruizers. I passed it a lengue without seeing or visiting any vessels, except neutrals and allies, anongst which was a Ragusan, 22 days from Gibraltar. I learnt from the Captain that Rear Admiral Bickerton, with five ships, was at that time employed in refitting and taling in provisions, and that Lord Nelson was cruizing before Cadiz.-On the fourth day after my departure from Toulon, I arrived at Algiers. The corvette l'Abeille had arrived 48 hours before me. M. Dubois Thinville, immediately on the receipt of my letter, had endeavoured to set on foot the negotiation with which I had charged him, but had been stopped by difficulties which it was out of his power to remove. The Dey was little disposed to acquiesce in the de mands which M. Dubois Thainville had made; he was not disposed to comprise in the number of slaves which I claimed those who had been taken at Oran, and who for more than twenty years had been in the power of the regency. He observed, that having been made prisoners whilst fighting under the Spanish flag, they ought not to participate with the others in the same favour, and besides, that the request had been refused to France at several times. He added, however, that for the honour of the Emperor's brother, he would consent to give up to me 30 of those slaves. I replied to the Dey, through the medium of M. Dubois Thainville, who had come on board La Pomone to render me an account of what he had done, that it was not my intention to fulfil the mission by halves with which I had been entrusted by his Majesty that the thirty slaves which he had offered me were not sufficient, but that I must have all the French, Italians, and Ligurians, whom he had in his power, and that if my proposition was not acceded to within 24 hours, I should make no other propositions to him, and should break off all negotiation.-The next morning I received a favourable answer, and in the evening I received on board the squa dron 231 slaves, which the Dey had ordered to be delivered to me, contrary to the custom of the country, after sun-set.I set sail again, the same evening, the 20th; on the 25th, twelve leagnes to the N.E. of Mahon, I saw a frigate nine miles to wind ward, the wind was shifting to N.N.E. and blowing. fresh, the sea ran extremely high. Under these circumstances I could not hope to come up with the vessel, which kept the wind on her starboard quarter. (Two other sail coming in sight at the same moment, I determined to chace them, as dhey were to leeward.I manauvred the squadron fot the purpose of cutting off the retent of these: vessels in case they should have, dire advines 489] POLITICAL REGISTER.-Foreigners at Vienna-Jamaica. fage in sailing lost sight of one of them, a frigate, in the course of the night. The other, which I soon came up with, was an American, from Leghorn to Boston. The captain informed me, that the evening before, he had met with two English frigates. I presume that they were the same which I had seen, and which had escaped in consequence of their position. I continued my course, and after five days of calms and slight winds, I arrived in the road of Genoa this day, at six in the morning.-Please to accept, Monsieur le Ministre, the assurance of my distinguished consideration.-J. Buo NAPARTÉ. FOREIGNERS AT VIENNA.Circular Note to the Magistrates of the different Bailiwicks, relative to the Residence of Foreigners; dated Vienna, July 20. An official letter we have just received from the President of the Aulic Police informs us, that several foreigners, furnished with passports by their respective ambassadors, left Vienna since the disturbances which took place on the 7th and 8th instant; and circumstances induce us to believe, that those foreigners have taken a more or less active part in them, and that the fear of just punishment has made them. take flight.In consequence, therefore, of superior orders, it will be necessary to watch, with great attention, strangers, and in general all persons who have left Vienna after the period of the said event, whether they have passports delivered them by the foreign ambassadors resident in Vienna or not. Proper measures are directed to be taken to arrest such persons, and send them, without delay, before the police of Vienna. It is therefore enjoined to all magistrates of bailiwicks, as their particular duty, and upon their responsibility, to use the greatest diligence to discover all persons suspected, and to adopt both themselves and their deputies in each parish, the necessary artangement to examine the passport of every foreigner coming from Vienna, and passing through their province. In case such an individual shall have no passport, or a passport delivered on the 7th July or later, he is to be arrested immediately, as if he had refused to produce his passport; and whatever be his rank, he is to be sent in irons, and under a sufficient escort, to this city. Every magistrate is to understand, that wherever there shall be a military force, it is duly required to lend assistance; and that in places where there is none, the escort is to consist of a sufficient number of trusty persons, under the command of the gendirme of the bailiwick. If the arrest takes place in a village, the arrested person is to be delivered to the bailiff. The same orders are given to all postmasters as well as the magistrates, will expose then selves to the severest responsibility, in case it shall be discovered that they shall have failed to arrest a suspicious traveller, and that such traveller shall escape; or in case they shall not have used all possible mea sures to cause him to be arrested Given at the bailiwick of the Circle of Tabor, July 19, 1805. (Signed) JHIKIRSCH DOMESTIC OFFICIAL PAPERS. JAMAICAA Proclamation' by the Liens tenant-Governor, NUGENT, relative to the Importation of Provisions. '&c. from the United States of America: dated 20th May, 1805. Whereas it appears, by the memoriāls and returns from sundry parishes, that there is at present a very general scarcity throngh lumber, and that a real and urgent neces out the island of American provisions and sity exists for my exercising the discretionary power vested in me by his Majesty, relative to the intercourse between this colony and the United States of America: I do there fore issue this my prociariation, permitting, for the space of six months, to be computed from this date, the free importation peasa, beans, and lumber of every descrip of flour, corn, corn-meal, bread, rice, tion, in vessels belonging to neutral and other states in amity with Great-Britain, upon the like ferms, charges, and cònditions, and subject to the same rules, regulations, visitations, and searches, as are the like cases. And I do hereby also observed with respect to British vessels in permit all vessels importing the foregoing articles, under the authority of this procla mation, to export from hence rum and molasses, from any port or ports, place or places, of this island, upon the like terms, stipulations, charges and conditions, as are observed with respect to British vessels in the like cases. And in case any person or persons importing provisions or lumber to this island, under the authority of this pro clamation, shall attempt to introduce any enumerated, measures will be immediately other articles than are therein particularly adopted for the forfeiture of the ship or vessel and cargo, so contravening the law's of navigation. JAMAICA. Speech of the LieutenantGovernor, NUGENT, to the House of s sembly made on the 2d of July, 1805. GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL, ME, |