to prevent a repetition of the most disgraceful, 70 clearances, at Havana, of Spanish men of war; outrage and oppression. JOHN HEATH, Late captain of Marines. Washington, Feb. 23, 1818. Such newspapers as have published the proceedings of the courts martial are requested as an act of justice to give insertion to the foregoing statement. Foreign Articles. FRANCE. and 17 entries and 19 clearances of foreign men of war; 346 entries and 342 clearances of Spanish merchant vessels, and 870 entries and 692 clearan.. ces of foreign ditto. What might Cuba become under a wise administration, and peopled by an industrious and enterprizing population. The slaves imported into Havana in 1817, amounted to 15,534-wbich is, probably, not more than the half of those that were shipped for the market-for that porportion die of bad usage &c. Yet pretended Christians are engaged in this horrid, murderous traffic! Two vessels, one with 350; the other with 150 prime slaves had just arrived at Havanna. It appears that the pope has refused to crown the present possessor of the throne of France, as long as Bonaparte lives-there is a consistency in this conduct that we hardly expected. There is a workshop of silversmiths and watch-seur, of Baltimore, has captured a patriot privaA Spanish government brig, formerly the Chasmakers at Vincennes, conducted by women, and teer and sent her into Havana, the captain and in which women are exclusively employed. It ap-crew of which were hung at sea. A dreadful repears to be extensive and well managed. taliation will succeed this act of "legitimacy." The privateer had previously captured a Guineaman with 250 slaves. NETHERLANDS. A letter received at Savannah from the American consul at Ostend, says "Messrs. Gallatin and Eus. tis, commissioners on the part of the United States, have not effected as, appears, the object of their mission, as far as regards a commercial treaty with this government, from what cause we know not. RUSSIA. The Russian ships sold to Spain are named in the London papers, and consist of 5 74's; and 3 40 gun frigates. They have not long been built, but fir timber being used in their construction, they are reported to be in a very bad condition. It seems possible that at Cadiz they may be laid up. "SPANISH AMERICA." • It is intimated that Ferdinand, when he gets his Russian ships manned and fitted out, intends to proclaim the whole coasts of Mexico and South America in a state of blockade, except to vessels licensed by himself. But it will be some time before his fleet is ready and then, it will be of little, if any use, manned by Spaniards. Savannah Feb. 19.-The Maria Josepha, which arrived at this port yesterday, captured by the Buenos Ayrean privateer San Martha, had on board at the time of her capture, three hundred and fifty thousand specie dollars, which the San Martha took out of her. The specie it is said belonged to the king of Spain. This vessel is of 400 tons, laden with sugar and coffee, bound from Havana to Cadiz, captured as above stated and ordered for Buenos Ayres. But the U. S. brig Prometheus fell in with her to the southward of St. Augustine, and the prizemaster having lost his reckoning, and the ship being in distress, without provisions, capt Finch was solicited to take care of her, and carry her into port. Cubu. A privateer, the Eugenia of one gun, un. der the flag of Galveston, has been captured by the Spanish government brig Almirante, after a furious and desperate engagement of two hours! The captain and first lieut. of the schooner, were among her killed. The rest of the crew, 40 in number, were carried to Pensacola. The amount of the royal revenues in Havana, and its jurisdiction, for the year 1817, was 3,720,295 dollars. The exportations of the agricultural produce of the Island of Cuba, were in the same year, Boxes of sugar Do. bee's-wax IIhds. of molasses Pipes of rum 217,009 709,351 30,759 3,395 CHRONICLE. A vessel, under the character of a patriot privateer, appears to have been fitted out at Norfolk, for a cruise in the Cheasapeake bay! But the cruise was broken up as soon as the crew were informed of its object, and the principal has been arrested. How much is it to be regretted that the great cause of freedom in South America should be injured by such villainies! Another! Since our last we have received an account of the decease of maj. John Paulding, one of the celebrated captors of Andre. He was a man of as much private worth as his public services was eminent. The whole people, as it were, of the neighboring country assembled at his late residence in Yorktown, N. Y. on the 21st ult. to pay the sad tribute of respect to the patriot, by attending his remains to the grave. To the solemn ceremonies of religion, were added masonic honors and military parade, with appropriate music. The cadets from the military academy of West Point assisted on the occasion. Spanish friendship.-A letter from lieut. Sharp, of the army of the United States, mentions, that a considerable quantity of provisions, forwarded from New-Orleans for the army [at Fort Scott] by way of Pensacola, had been stopped and turned back by the Spanish authorities at that place, who refused permission to transport the supplies up the Escambia. The Creek indians. We have a copy of a long and interesting letter of general Mitchell, agent for Indian affairs, who has lately concluded a treaty with the Creeks, see page 26. He speaks of this people as entirely friendly, and wholly disposed to rely upon the justice and protection of the United States, being exceedingly humbled by the late war. That they are anxious for the suppression of the "Red Sticks" now among the Seminoles in Florida, and that when he informed the warriors assembled at the agency (at least 1500) that there would be no impediment to their crossing the Spanish line, the famous chief McIntosh, addressed them, and the result was an instantaneous and unanimous resolution to take up arms, and act with the troops of the United States A list of the officers was made out, and the warriors were to meet on the 17th ult. to march for Fort Scott. Gen. Mitchell vindicates the Creeks from. During the last year there were 82 entries and the charges made against them of being dis: ffec ted or hostile to the United States. His letter is should be the soul and inherent principle of a soldier. No man is worthy to be a leader of American dated at Mount Nebo, Feb. 13. Cold. At Chillicothe, on the 10th ult. the mer-troops, or the depository of the hopes of his infecury stood at 21 deg. below 0, of Fahrenheit-rior associates, who is not as free from stains on his several degrees colder than ever before had been own reputation, as from willingness to asperse that observed there. Patents-Upwards of 170 patents for improvements in machinery and manufactures were issued by the department of state during the year 1817. The largest Ox ever in Philadelphia market was sold there lately for 1300 dollars.-It belonged to Mr. Job Tyler, of Salem, N. Jersey, and weighed 2,000lbs. Plaster law. A gentleman from Moose Island states that the legislature of New-Brunswick on or about the 8th inst. repealed the act prohibiting the exportation of plaster to any port or place east of Boston, by an unanimous vote-the measure, it is supposed, was adopted in concert with the legisla[M. H. Books. ture of Nova Scotia. Singular circumstance.-A letter to the editor of the Register, dated Ashhoro', N. C. Feb. 18, says A gentleman, about the first of January last, killed a doe near this place, and, on opening her, took out a spotted fawn, without any break in its skin; but on a slight touch, it fell to pieces. The doe was fat, and, apparently, in good health. The Seminoles.-A letter from New Orleans, dated January 28th, states that the Seminoles and Creek Indians inhabiting the promontory of East Florida, against whom our forces are marching, are 4000 warriors strong; "that they have destroyed all their towns, placed their women, children, stock and provisions in a fortified camp, situated in the midst of an immense and almost impassable marsh." This account leads us to expect protracted war in Nat. Int. that quarter. Patent Coffins are advertised in London, made in some strong manner to prevent the stealing of human subjects for the Surgeons. A patent mode of interment would also seem to be necessary, or the Coffin itself may be taken. POWERFUL PUMP. Philadelphia, Feb. 27. This of others. It is not expected that the army be exempt from the sources of collision which are common to all institutions; but it is less expected that men of gallantry and honor seek reparation in invective, or deem any thing reparation which is procured at the expense of the dignity of the body of which they are members. Where regimental courts of honor cannot intervene, courts of enquiry are clothed with the express guardianship of the honor of the army, and there must be something ill in the cause that is not willing to submit to such reference. The commanding general will be willing at all times to sanction such courts, and there are few duties more honorable to the officers, than to vindicate the reputation of an associate or repress errors committed within their own body. In future, therefore, the commanding general expressly prohibits all reference in the public prints to the feuds among officers in whatever shape they may be published. He adverts to no particular instance: the existence of the custom has been an excuse for its continuance. To the truly bonorable, the appeal alone is sufficient; the prohibition is given that there may be no error in future, that the army may be identified in one character, as it is embarked in one cause, and that the denunciation of one of its members may be considered as an outrage to the whole. By order of maj. general Brown, TH. S. JESUP, Acting adj. gen. northern division. Public Buildings. Disbursements on account of the public buildings at President's house ABSTRACT. $159,655 11 109,180 78 268,835 89 177,303 46 91,769 44 the capitol, after a detailed statement, is to certify, that I have used the Triangular Valve The capitol EBENEZER HILYARD, These sums, we understand, are necessary to complete those buildings and the appertaining improvements and embellishments. Navy pension Fund. ABSTRACT FROM THE OFFICIAL REPORT. $696,400 43 Bank stocks-nominal amount 91,600 cost Abstract of warrants drawn upon the 98,703 10 Washington City Feb. 23, 1818. DIVISION ORDER.-In reviewing the incidents of bis command, the commanding general finds with regret that a practice has existed among officers of the army, of making public avowals of their feuds, among each other, in the shape of threats and personal denunciations. These acts on the one side have called for recrimination on the other, and the public has been made umpire in mis-This includes investments of capital in stocks. understandings, in which it had no interest nor knowledge. This conduct, on the part of all en gaged, is indecorous and unmilitary. It loosens the bonds of those who are bound to act in umison, and impairs the susceptibility of reputation, which 196,900 00 The total number of pensioners are 358-the amount paid them, $32,036. The balance between this last amount and the amount drawn as above, was invested in stocks during the year, for the benefit of the fund. NEW SERIES. No. 3-VOL. II] BALTIMORE, MARCH 14, 1818. [No. 3-Voz XIV. WHOLE NO. 341 A very important report on banking, presented proofs of this, but I will confine myself to two. to the legislature of New York, by the committee in June, 1779, I dined with monsieur Theveon the currency of the state, is inserted in the pre-nôt, intendant of the navy at l'Orient, cersent number. It discloses some scenes of specula tion at which humanity shudders; and we cannot tainly one of the most experienced, best read, United States' Navy. Hon. Joseph B. Varnum, ber, hemp, tar and iron; seamen and naval ar chitects equal to any in the world." "I know we have oak, and pine and iron, and we may have hemp, but I did not know that our shipwrights were equal to yours in Europe." "The frigate in which you came here," said M.Thevenôt, [the Alliance, capt. Landais] "is equal to any in Europe. I have examined her, and I asSenate of the United States: sure you there is not in the king's service, nor SIR-Thanks for your favor of the 12th of in the English navy, a frigate more perfect and last month. The momentous information is complete in materials or workmanship." "It since confirmed. As to the Bonds, I have little gives me great pleasure, sir, to hear your opito say; it is best to pardon them, upon the nion. I knew we had, or might have, materials; whole. The pressure is really hard, very hard, but I had not flattered myself that we had artists upon our cities, and the countries about them, equal to those in Europe." M. Thevenôt re, and the agitation of mind very great. peated, with emphasis, "you may depend upon The foundation of an American navy, which, it, there is not in Europe a more perfect piece I presume, is now established by law, is a grand of naval architecture than your Alliance, and, era in the history of the world. The conse- indeed, several other of your frigates, that quences of it will be greater than any of us can have already arrived here and in other ports foresee. Look to Asia and Africa, to South-of France." My reply was-"Your character America and to Europe, for its effects. My forbids me to scruple any opinion of yours, in private opinion had been for frigates and naval affairs; but one thing I know: we delight smaller vessels; but I rejoice that the ideas of so much in peace and hate war so heartily, that congress have been greater. The four quarters it will be a long time before we shall trouble of the world are in a ferment. We shall inter-ourselves with naval forces. We shall profere every where. Nothing but a navy, under bably have a considerable commerce and some Heaven, can secure, protect or defend us. It nurseries of seamen, but we had so much wild is an astonishment to every enlightened man in land, and most of us loved land so much better Europe, who considers us at all, that we have than the sea, that many years must pass before been so long insensible and inattentive to this we should be ambitious of power upon the great instrument of national prosperity; this ocean. We had land enough. No temptation most efficacious arm of national power, inde- to go abroad for conquests. If the powers of pendence and safety. I could give you many Europe should let us alone, we should sleep VOL. XIV.3. " quietly for ages, without thinking much of ships of war." nor, where the liberty of the press is happily secur calculated on a government clear of all mistakes; ed, as being without complaints and misrepresentations of the administration. if chiefly intended to support some editorial remarks in the last volume, page 273, to urge the I returned to America and stayed about necessity of keeping up a well-appointed staff three months, when congress sent me to Eufor the army, to which the reader will please to refer. The want of such a staff, until nearly the rope again. We landed at Ferrol, in Spain. close of the late war, together with an imperfect In a few days a French squadron of five ships militia system, cost us from ten to twenty times of the line came in. I was soon invited to dine as many lives as were lost in battle. It is stated with the admiral, or, as the French call him, that 17,000 [regular] soldiers, exclusive of offigeneral, or chef d'escadre, the count de Lade, cers and militia, were killed or died in the service during our short war. The destruction with all the officers of the squadron, on board among the militia, by disease, is dreadful to think his 80 gun ship. At table, in the hearing of all of—and, perhaps, had better not be regarded exthe company, the count said to me, "Your cept as a beacon to warn us against future dancongress will soon become one of the great gers. maritime powers." ." "Not very soon. monsieur SIR-Though a bad state of health, from which l'comte; it must be a long time first." "Why a I have recovered beyond expectation, obliged me long time? No people have such advantages." also justified by age, I am not the less attentive to to withdraw from congress, in doing which I was "There are many causes in the way." "What the public interests. Notwithstanding the comdifficulties? No nation has such nurseries of plaints of corruption and misgovernment incessantseamen so near it. You have the best timber ly made from some quarters, I believe our governfor the hulks of ships, and the best masts and ment is the most pure, and the people the most spars. You have pitch, tar and turpentine; happy, of any nation now in the world. I never you have iron plenty, and I am informed you grow hemp. You have skilful ship builderswhat is wanting ?" "The will, monsieur l'éomte." "The will may be wanting and One of the most important subjects now before nothing else. We have a maxim among us congress is the militia law. I have seen such mighmariners, that with wood, hemp and iron, a ty evils resulting from defective militia systems, nation may do what it pleases. If you get your which we have been recently engaged, as induces both during the war of the revolution and that in independence, as I doubt not you will, the me to look with great anxiety to the result of the trade of all nations will be open to you, and present deliberations of congress on that subject. you will have a very extensive commerce, and I have just cast my eye over your observations, acsuch a commerce will want protection." "We companied by facts, on that subject, in your supmust have a considerable commerce, but our lands will be so much out of proportion to our trade, that if the powers of Europe do not disturb us, it must be ages before we shall want On the retreat across New Jersey from fort Lee, a navy, or be willing to bear the expense of it." in the winter of 1776, care was not taken by the I said I would give you two anecdotes. I field officers to keep the men together; we were will add a third. In 1778 I went to France in marched from near Brunswick in the evening. I the Boston frigate. We took a very rich prize, ble, to keep them together, and reached Princeton marched my own company so as, as much as possicommanded by a captain, who had served 20 about midnight. On going in the college chambers, years in the British navy; several of them as a found all that were open occupied by sick men; lieutenant. The captain soon became very but on finding a commissary he opened another curious to examine the ship. Captain Tucker room for us, well stored with fuel and gave us a allowed him to see every part of her. As we draw of beef and meal, and we availed ourselves lived together in the cabin, we became very meat; but I met with no more of the regiment except of the opportunity to bake our bread and boil our intimate. He frequently expressed to me his one field officer: they had all laid down at different astonishment: he said "he had never seen a fires by the way-the weather was wet and the road completer ship. That there was not a frigate in the royal navy better built; of better materials or more perfectly equipped, furnished or armed. However, he added, you are the rising country of the world, and if you can send to sea such ships as this you will soon be able to do great things." As I believe you are by this time tired of reading old anecdotes, I will subscribe without ceremony. JOIN ADAMS. Militia Services. plement to number 17. The revolutionary war could have afforded a volume of facts to that pur pose, but I will only detain you with a few that came under my own observation. extremely miry, but frozen in the morning The rest of the regiment arrived in a scattering manner, shivering with cold-they drew their provision, but mitted to bake their bread, &c. When we arrived were immediately ordered to march and not per at Trenton and took the men to the barricks, I found sick men in every room I examined: we put up with two rooms in which there were only two sick men. Next morning one of my men informed me that on examining the rooms he found one person dead and others in great distress-I went with him and we found one, to whom he had given a drink, dead, and others nearly expiring. I did not delay to make "History is philosophy teaching by example? further search, but made a statement of the facts The following is an extract of a letter from the ve- to our colonel, that he might lay it before general nerable WILLIAM FINDLEY, of Pennsylvania, to Washington; however, he insisted I should do it the editor of the Weekly Register. It appears as 'myself. I found the general just taking horse and he left the case to his secretary, Mr. Harrison, who, The first seasoning in camps is always fatal to after making warm complaint of the medical staff, numbers, especially to militia, who unwillingly subundertook to provide relief. A search was made, mit to even salutary restraints. The want of due and the dead, to a greater amount than I had disco-subordination is a great source of disease among vered, buried, and the sick shut up in different the militia. At the outset of the revolutionary chambers, with a view to be taken care of; but the war, they valued personal liberty too high: when next day we found the two young men that had been subordination was required, the answer frequently taken out of our rooms locked up by themselves, was to their officers, "I am a freeman fighting for without victuals or attendance. Some of our men liberty, and will not surrender it for your pleasure." broke open the doors and gave them such provision But afterwards I found a great difference with those as they had. The ariny, that day, retreated across that had been out before; their example was of use. the Delaware, and the British occupied Trenton; Militia officers generally want experience; but prubut we were informed that, generally, those we had dence, attention and firmness will go far to supply seen in the college at Princeton and in the barricks that defect. Even in an advanced stage of the war, of Trenton, died unassisted. They were all young while a great number behaved respectfully, I have men, chiefly farmers' sons, that had been tenderly known some captains that never could turn out a brought up, and had volunteered into the flying guard. When I have reasoned with them on the corps; many of them from Maryland and Virginia. subject, they have said it was not worth their while The sickness of many of them proved to be the to differ with their neighbors for all the length of small pox. the tour; yet I always observed that such officers I belonged to the Pennsylvania line of that corps, as enforced due subordination from the first, were and soon after crossing the river I found three most respected by their men afterwards; they be young men of the company taken with that com- ing sensible that his conduct had done them honor. plaint, at all times dangerous but extremely so in The facts I have stated shew pretty strongly the camps. I reported them to our general; he order- necessity of a well-regulated staff for the militia, ed me to send them to the hospital, which was at and this expense ought not to be spared; the tours a small distance-but found I the house unsuitable of service ought not to be less than a year, if ne and crowded with the sick, the dying, and the dead, cessary, and they ought to be well paid. Short above stairs and below; and those that were able tours not only increase the expense but the uncerquarrelling who would get nearest the fire. A wo-tainty of the service and the risk of disease. man, attending as a nurse, told me that no physician attended them, nor was any thing provided for them but the common rations. On my absolutely refusBank of the United States. ing to send the men to that hospital, our general, Before we proceed any further it may be after first threatening to arrest me, authorised me well to revert to some things which have alto send them to the Philadelphia hospital, under the charge of a sergeant. I did so with two of ready been stated, for further elucidation and them, but they both died; on the third one the in- conclusion, as to their facts. fection was not so far advanced, but what he was The number of subscribers for the bank of able to travel some distance. I gave him his dis- the United States at Baltimore were supposed charge, conveyed him some distance from the camps to be less than 500, though 15,610 share-holdand charged him to lay by in the first farmer's house that would receive him. He did so, passed ers were represented at the polls for the electhrough the disease, came home well, and, I be- tion of directors. A list of those subscribers lieve, is yet living. has been handed to me-they are rising 200; about 225 or 230, all told.* name. We had quarter-masters, regimental surgeons, &c but in many instances we had them only in The number of shares taken at Baltimore We had very hard duty in guarding the ri- were given at 40,141-nearly 20,000 of these ver Delaware from the time we crossed it, till after shares were directly taken on ten names, and the fall of Trenton. The men had frequently to be about 10,000 by twenty more: the remaining on guard every second night, and had bad quarters, rations and clothing-all the tents and much of 10,000 by about 200 persons. But on this list the clothing, provision, &c. having fallen into the several persons are named who must be rehands of the enemy. Fevers began to prevail; I garded as agents of the "council of ten;" and, called on our surgeon for medicine,-he said he had probably, we shall not be very far from the sent it sixty miles in advance. I applied to a very truth in supposing that three-fourths of the respectable surgeon of another regiment; he gave me two emetics as a particular favor, assuring me whole stock taken here, was taken for the real that he had but six remaining. I divided them into use of fifteen individuals. From the ratio thus three, and thereby, I believe, saved so many lives. presumed, if applied to the whole subscription, The great mortality that was caused by the camp- and especially when we consider what occurfever about this time, both in camp and country, red at Philadelphia, much confidence is felt in cannot be forgotten. It was fatal to many of the the declaration, that three-fourths of the whole militia, who, at this dark and doubtful period came to reinforce the army. A large reinforcement of stock subscribed for was monopolized by about the flying camp troops was drafted from the re- 100 individuals. The national bank, theregiment and company to which I belonged, and sent fore, dwindled into a thing for the use and to Fort Washington the morning before it was taken emolument of so small a fragment of the com-few of these survived the prison ship. In short, I have always believed that a greater number of our young men's deaths were caused that year by want of medicine and due attention, and by starvation in the prison ship, than by all the battles during that war. *We shall arrive more and more at the hidden things of this institution. The disposition is abroad to bring the affairs of the bank before the public. Gentlemen communicating facts may depend upon the editor to hold their names secret-if desired. |