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-Vol 18 . -l '
if;
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iy in tci'cating Document.
E ((i.T.) FEDERAL RfcfUBtlCAS.
1 t
TRANSLATJON.
Bait imor, 14:h June, 1809.
er of France to Mr. Robert Smithy S?c
rctary of Statt. "'
c,The federal government is poing to set?
fiffcrtnces w.n Great uu' Ain, and to
iy of amity, of ominrce. and of na-
viiMiifMi wall tnai wer. ou, as wen as ir.
have mauif'.sted to rne a desire "ulso to
new conveniioti with France, to take ihe
that whicli expires qinbe 30tii 3apttU-
yaoH t
an
fhe minis
hie all. i'
ke a u
IGallaii-
fi
place o
OH'
1 will for a moment call (O-yrvur consideration
Vyii'j rcikc'ion) this douhle oni;xt.
cftsft ('jvermrv.'tu jrop';ies to itself
icuHicj i f accoinplisbing it,ioa mi-
i the i(
mcrif'th 'advaataRes which you exp.-ct from a fioiht. of faking several mer
new convention. y ' ' .'.
It would be useless and too tedtoiis to examin
here what ha alrt-dy aH the. light of evidcncer tacktd htm under the English flag, and not only i supposed with reason, that evert government
. ..... ..... .: a.-.. .. .ik. i. i i r . . . . r" "
irauon. na not ta;aiKiCU ucai-ucry 10 3UJcriuiny oi iui
vessels, when I commencersirrfce sjfrc
two American armed brigs, and armed to prov merit lies a rjght to interfere wi'h the pfrjiicular ;
, t.rt the infanuau emmcrce with St.'Uomnt;o atjor municipal laws of other countries, because it is
i oil th.r ffinlrnnintp rarti
fTJrour : rthf . tnn4iiy39J
itself, as to circumweribe the
instiimion, and to", stop the
h iving pillaged it, massacred a part pf the prew. ! licentiouBness whiwijhe feeblcnesaiiJf laws always
an hour after xUcj had struckand this crimelgives birth to, and theMigressions (lea hearts) of v
which remains " unpunished, is so much the Iss j which may offenct foreign powers. Can one sup
forgotten, ascat. JMouessant never let go (quitte) pose that it was easy to avoid the rust reproach
whether the prceedinc: administration, has riot ta; added treachery to superiority ot lurce to get I will sofarrtpect
ken the worst course wiiich it cpuld have taken to. possession of the vessel ot Mouessant ; but after efl'ect of these-la.
avoid collision with the ' two principal belligerent
powers. . 1'he Americans have appealed to the
right of neutndi'y, and 'until now at least their
government has endeavoured by procedingS whicfi
I shall not permit, myself to give a nameuo, (de
q.iafifiei) to draw near la Great Britain, who out
rages or ili ovvris the rights claimed ; while it in.
jure (otTensaiii jraiehiaac measures have for
lh:ir object the re establishment and the guaranty
of these rights. , ' ,
Thus, your" preceding, administratloii, (for itis
oft'mt, 5k lfiat or.ly that I pretended o speak) pk-j
ce(!Ttstinyus, political movemeTiTtmreho) in
'raanitest cdntradiviion with its own principles.-lt-has
coe mw, and notwithstanding my repre
sentations it persisted (ubstipee) to consider the
two powf rsas d i'ig equal wrong to the govern
111 5 11 1
Bu'. it would be too tedious1 relate tp you all
the p:irtigular acts in yelauon solely to rrench
zeni ; it will be sumr.ient In ma to say to you
that every where, where there are rrench me
(I don't tpeJik if the ra!I ni?nber' who have , that lam about to address you
aiijurett ihew country) these Prenchmen will have Jrberty ot saying every thinji of -writing every thing)
a-rurhi to tite Rffittction ot the covernmeht. and', mtit-ni hfimiutr mMru-thinir. ' ' ' . -si
" - o i 1 1 r ' ......,..t.) ...- . tJ-
the weakness f la vice of the ins'UiutTQBV.an(T"nd'.Hi
cm I want of action or of power in the depositaries of 4
you, political authority, render uselro a trial - offugr5?4 -T
nen. ; means of repression? You have fare seen, ufr ,v'
;Hri!l be eveiy -where assurred (assuries) of obtain
ntg jr.JomrYty ipr loe 'Jarnage none to their per
sons or to r Ueiv property.
I am v y far from hcliertngf-haTlhe excesses
of your prew- liav' occupied for an injtant the
thoughts of the --Eroror King, my mafeter-rtit
as i0 respects this sbjeQi,, a egaivlj l-in
Thrre are ether grievances (griefs) jet more
seriou?, and from which France has a right to 1 here as the organ of ,tluwb!C Fre,nctri6pc
beiiev tha thc-U. States has a project, of giving ! and,' if I do tiut see without pain, theiavages v$
.i Ik
s, permit tne to make any enervation pn tbeUe ot Hs negative measures, wane ine-ouuc cr ...vjuu ,u. -v. lv vagesj wnica ineoeiuiunruit: uiruce
h with which the executive h-3 received the England seemed to require from theur -dignity ( (or those of her allies, 1 his has reference to the greater partof.your peuodical writers, occasions t fl
f-Vuvertureaof the F.vlish ministry yet com the must energetic measures of repreasion ag:inst free commerce -between, the Americansand the amongst yourselves, you will judge, that I do not Kfi
4" "1 0f the sami. meir who very' latelydisco- t hat' power : - But 1 short, (.urtnfia) sir, it islvoittd iilavks cf St.. Domingo, the affair of Mi- jhear .-.without indignation, all that people permit, V I
vfie.i a very mami-st aversion to every species
ff conciliation, and who joined to a denial of jus-
r : to the Americans, evt-ry asperity of forma oil
lui e. and of style towards the ients ol your go
vernment. " -'f-- r
"""If c have supposed that this very haste was ne-
ctsary to satisfy the wishes of the people of
wh.o:n' foresight is not the first virtue, others may
nee irt thit political procteding a precipitation,
jicihps dangeronst andif it does not lessen (ne
Messait pas) the Dignity of the Executif, may at
Itast pio-.luce consequences prejudical to the true
inteiestsof the Union. It U on these very in
terests, much more than on those of Fcance, as
its enlarged and liberi.1 policy, its principle ' of
fliiiVersd justice, and the elements of which its
power is composed, have placed it beyond all at
tacks (hot s de toutes !es atteintes)-t is only on
the interest of your government that I fix my at
tention and invoke your's, under a circumstance
14 delicate.
Mr correspondence wi'.h your predecessor is
ettoiigh to convince you, sir, that t have not left
tunc to come to anexplamirbii vr the pretenaed
wrongs "df--.France towards-the Um: brutes.
and-at least oppone-to them the injurks.(Ies taTs;i-' iave been given u
f jiula, and to the meditated attack on brnniardsithenaaelvea to sav or to write acrainst France, hfla
on tiie Sabine an enterprise whtcti would not! institutions, and the sacred Derson of her alicttatf
up (n'a echoue) but for the ne-'representative. . 'j - i ';
ses) done by the federal vcrnmeut. , fc)pssity undtr which your government found itself You will see, sir, tfiat on this Subject, a on aU-
However .severe the decree of Berl n might j of clausing itsTtrnops to fall back to guar! New- others, the redress of griefaaccs is an indisrjensi
seeni, in its appBcatio to'hJ TJniteitS:ates, it waj Orleans against ah invasion by internal cnemiev ble prerteuisite to the forrrjation of a new" trcatjjr
demonsjratedat iw constquences wouVl be ul-j I was lar from thinking, sir, that the, offence 'between tbe'tvvp powers. r K S j
timwtely (eii 4eiievc ' analyse t'avowUu to their i(scanJaie) of the commerce with the slaves in the It was sufficiently painful to me to addresa yoU
commercijl DtoL'eusios, si';ov its object 'was to j revolted paitf Si. Doniiniro .the law of. the ' rentretemrV on theOlnplaints oC'FranceVgaiilst
Si
f
Mm
rope
re:ch (d'aieindrc) a p-.?;r who hd pioclaime J 'embjro confirming tlie prohibiipry Jawr passed
its conternjr? jjir the rightti rf n.nions : ami with Jby Qongress in lgOS I could not presume that
out douhtr (he Americans were the people the the embargo would, be raised, and that the law
most inLfcreited in the success c ; -.iiat fiohtical act. 1 against this commerce would not be continued.
Thr'eib however Amsricri merchantsVwhJ; j What, sirthe intercourse is prohibited between
by aifthtTneans ofth'most shirnfui deception, ,the U. Stales and -all the dependencies of the
have er.eavoured t o elude the measures of Fiance, Empire, under circumstances, when the commcr.
ani tr. second the t-fforts of the common enemy jcial relations would b the most advantageous to
to escape thema.an(l have at" length by their mul-; the two states, and you tolecale them only with
tipfied and proven frauds pi-ovoked fhe more so that one of our possessions, where we have the
vere dispositions of the decree of Milan. -Thus, 'greatest interest to proscribe them 1 and it is to
notVilj; wereijie measures of France jus'ifted a be remarked, that it is always moreover when
nu'asuKS of retaliation, but they were indispen j France has to combat new coalitions on the other
sable to free the American commerce from the jcontinent.that it would seem that efTorts are made
yoke which Great-Britain had placed on iti to i to form enter.prizes againat its possessbns, or
catse to be respected in future the fiu of neutrals,; those of its allies in this ore. It is also proper
and to force that power to acknowledge the.rom-1 io place among the numb jr of gtievances with
mo.r right of nations and the dominion of the j which France has to charge the U. Slates, ihe
seaa;' the ciinuscation, the sale, and burning o; ; war.t of oppositLn, or rather the useless oppoai-
some American merchant vtsjels,' having f2isc p.r jtirn, which the federal government has made to
pcfH, and.
i (bur ov
France, have been legal mca urc conformable to i vessels against us. I have often, sir, and often iu
navigating in con'rlnfUrfthe finhibiiton'-v? ifiifire&sment of' its sailors, seized in conternpt
an government t i livorE'e enemies of of its Sag, -t -with whom the EnglnV'trm theif
ignor'ar.t of the. dangers 6j" the crisis of Eu
, and ir3 inevitabieeffects onthe des'iny of
!i :state9 of 'he American .Union. Positive and
mult. plied info; -maiionorf the events of the other
continent and their pVobabl remits, has enabled
rue sometimes toraiv; the veil -vhich yet covers
Krri 'SMrns hf -ik f'J't tounws l the politic tl
world.
I h.nvp ttificrht that it wis not incnmnaiiMe
rith nv dty rightsof war, and which the force of circum jvain, protested against this outrage of Grea; Brl
governnunt the new chances, which the changes,
brought about in Europe offer to the commercial
interests' of the United-Sttesrsn J the inconven
iences which may result from their refusal to ac
tide formally to the firinzifile of the maritime con
fcdira.ian .
It does not belong- to me to examine, bow far
the preceding admirii.stration was mistaken in
i's conjectures, but the verLal proposition, which
you hve raade t me sir, to conchTde a n'.-vi
conversion (a proposition which I have submitted
to my court) necessarily Jgadsjne to someoh3er
Wtioris on" the respective posi;ion ofFrancfc and
the United States,
stances and the interest of all imperiously refi-iir. tain towards your government, and which has be.
ed. But , I appeal 10 you, sir, the cour.cil of come a Serious injury (offcnee) on 'the part of
..Washington, pf which you were then als j a mem-1 your government towards France. ' You furnish
ber has it given all the necessary attention to : personal aid (4ecour3 petsonficls) to our enerqies
the rep esehtations made on this subject by Mr. 'What could. you do more if you were at war
Champagny to Mr. Arms'rong, as well as to with us? Without doubt, it will not escape the
those which I considered it my., duty to address ' pveient executive, that an amendment is absolute
to the Secretary of St te ?, Has it been possible ly necessary to render uniform the treatment
to" make known through the Uaited States, all which our sailors and soldiers meet in this coun
the advantages which the American people ouirht nry. and that which your sailors and soldiers
the United States,.vithout laying them open- to
you, in the torn! .'of an .official note.y r have
thought that a simpte letter, the tone of which
would approach nei.rer to that of our coiiferenceSf ;
woukl produce 'the' same effect with you.airt' .
whose liberal principles and Joyal character, are
known to me. I have thought that you would
be afflicted, as I araatthe obstacles finrraveil ,
which the preceding administration has been able
to place in the way of a heirty; recoocUiation f.a
un raprochment plus in time between our gov
ern meats, and which their mutual interest reiz
ders more necessary than ever. - i
I have thought also, that I could even on tf
subject so serious, grave and without deviating
from, or with- propriety faans blamer les conve
nances adopt a mode of commbnication mora
analagousto the.-cvnforrottfour-viewand'?
effort to maintain harmony between France and
the U States ; and have'' found here too thesju ' ,
tikfaction of being able to offer tayour senttmenfl
k tns, ir" tfirtnf r rp art t - 4
Receive, sir, the homage omy Jngh constderv
ation, -.: " ;v .
feigned! TURREAUU
rl'f'
TortTnd in the accomplishment of tiie designs of
, Franceto discuss its projects in the calnijf im
I partiality -to cause the voice of reason and of prir. .
kiples to be heard, when the declamations of er
Your government Wis to .nothing in; its" trea. ror-oc f- bad fiith' when the -influence f pre
TTesbuUo s tnttrost of its foreign commerce.' lJ,meMIons iH,a ine clamours oi pany spint pre
This is the principle obj -ct of its policy. ' France! served lheir. enipire over the public -Cjiirdon, or
considers foreitm commerce oalv as an addi ion ' ather,. received a new force from ihe incertitude
fwcessoire to its svstem of general adminiitra. 'ncertitudc or the ailenre of the ' fformet an 'duceour
lion . ' 'Nti merbus canals oinmuh'icaiioh; which !tien? Executive Council ?That disposition alpha's it done ail that it ought to bave done to pre.
ai.t hs. r'iufrs. rid in nvTlVinl viotr theip thrrrunn. ! !r,ost general to attribute fa'supfioseiTrooKS to ! vent it ? and that extreme facility with which,
procure lor it all the opening necessary to keep"Jranwj by' way of weakening pour attenuei the ' when they wish it (au besoin) men drawn off from
p in the interior and with itsaUies-that immense ' pntf8s f England was it foreign to the admin-'j their country and their sovereign are naturalized,
circulat.iori'of all .the.' objects ! of' theif .'reciprocal; 'Motion of which I speak ? and that administra- floea it accord ui'i the inccntestible right of gov-
In France commerce is not a nower fn.!w0i, "M U always beenwillmg to hear rne, while tTtimctJa to ; recover even without dbmanding
i maae it perceive tne. consequences pi tne con-pHEM" tnar sutyras nmoni arvjice or jorce nan
meet with in Trance.
I Invs not suffered my court to be ignorant of
the abuses, without hunibcr, and extremely pre
judicial to its interests, daily resulting from a
want of a police inthe Unittd States, in regard
to this iffdir. I am very far, sir, from charging
your government with " the means the most
shameful of seductiao. which ar' employed, to in-
sailors and bur soldiers to desert, but
wants.
Usance) in the state : it shares with other national
professions the protection of the goverTimer
which only honors jbeiii with its auppoiTnd eh
cruremsiitin proportion to Cbe degree of their
tti. and ini'f)rtance. , lit short, foreign com
rasice is not ;crtnshlet'eu in , France as au inds
pensaUe thing,' aUhpughit-is so considered, in
lae United States. - ':' .' ..' - ' -' J
Ycu .will 'then readily, src siEhat France -has
Dot ths same interest, vwhich tfVTe'leral govern,
jnent lus, to mike a treat 'pf commerce and na-
Stute.s,
vir iuau with the unitevi rtats. vyn.ie k i evi
dent, that whatsoever may be the dispositions, the!
TTestjlt does not oiler arrequamy oi aa vantage io
tiie two gouuimenra. ; - ' --' ':jC
' It i-5 only then by rneansof Political mer'fee,
' tfiat one cafl re-establish the-ffalance in a com-
'sicrci..l ' Treatf "and alia render it of common
Wi.li.y o thtj- lvo' parties.; Besides (arid 1 have
- pit si'tfered it to remain concealed from ihe ad-iitti;itriion;-vtiicbprcceded
'"th.at'.bf Mr. JVI di.
-? r c3n-the federal" government believe, and I ap
I :x to your discernmtrit to juae n ine ,inie,i
-Staus itave not givn causes of serious ana mul
?.!Lfd''eOfh!'ltti.it3 to France during the terrible
oi. Gi w hie Irihef jias' bad tosustain vagairist all
i'u.-H irwtrs o! L.urpp.-. jNotwitnsi.anaing
;ruii ar iafitiiation, and the. hurrying off oi"
t -i .-. ,:.,i..inrw,.aiui".tlia-nutuc iaor towaros
'x-vvt r svs'eraaltc-lly iiiitnivirtl as well .to th.
rV.Ltitl-s-aS ' to-France, I.. will appeal tsr-tht
Su'Jv !ty of alLJtlie, setisi '-ntsn of your. '0-vrj
Co'iKViy.' s"t knV.if 'fof.j.mrc- thn five V.eais'
past, the federal gbytr!bem;r)aS i xaiifcUte.d itseif
.WA'jren 'Vt a la ?'Tni,n"tiP " V?'
r
duct of the federal government in regard to the
rrefith government ? WajMhis" administration
well convinced that all governments' are not dis
posed to" forget, or to suffer injuries les offenses
with Imfiunity.
Hi recalling to your recollection, sir, the
wrongs of the federal government towards France,
t6nly mention notorious acts, which, my former
Correipoedence has established observing to
y ou, av the same lime, that J understaijf' accord.
ingTo"theirr:lays (je-comprends daris learca
th'agorie) " the particular -offences of your tili.
zens .; for every government is bound (cst'soli
daire)'in ;regard to other powers for-the acts of
its .subjecu ; othttwise it would not be a govern'
mcnt, and could not offer either security or gua
rantee for the execution of its agreements. Com
plaints were for a long lime, made to the U.
S.; of the delays which some lAm'erican citrzens
had "experienced in' receiving the indemnities
which were due to them, and of which the reim
buisement was. made fiom a part of the funds,
destined for the acquisition of Louisiana ; but
the affair of the heirs of Beaumarchais, who have
in vain claimed for 2IT years a debtmade .sacred
by. his motives, proven to the last degree of evi
deft? e,,and on which the declared interest of the
French goverriment does not admit of a put-off-is
if. ll.ushed ? " ' .',.'. -
- Captain ; Mouessant, the bearer of a -letter of,
mrii'quUnd cbmmandanTdf an arnie.i schooner,
folbwaji;Engliih convoy,andjWa9" c the
iJfttfr-That I ourrordrind TXh Vtitmi . ",, . ' r -
drawn off' frcm their service ; and Francerstr, has
it not givtfti on this subiec.ii.as on many others, an
example of the reciprocal respect which govern-
mentsowe to each other, andwhich they observe
in Europe even in the midst. 6f the hot rorsof
war ? and have I not already warned , the exe
cutive council to put an end to these abuses ?
Have I not warned them that the indemnity due
foe: the los of the .French ship the Impetuous,
burnt bythe enemywithin a cable's length of
y ot! r c o as though tu Lbede cresttueajidfaid
without deliiy and the subterfuges (permit rne
io use the expiission.I know no other to convev
my idea) an! the subterfuges I say, which have
been employed to delay (a journer) that indem
mty, have made of that act of violence on .the
part of our enemies, a direct offence of the U.
States against France. What more, could you
do, what more could yOu leave undone, sir,'ifyPu
had a treaty of alliance with our enemies f
You Aviil find it convenient, sir, that I abridge
the enumeratUm of all the subjects of complaint,
which the; federal government has v given to
I rdncejjince my residence in the U. States, and
uiai k i-eier to. my corresponaence wun tne ue,
partmerit of state-, .. :.-;'---'.: ' ' '-"'" :
I confine myself here to calling the, attention,
and the'attention the most serious, of the execu
tive council, to another grievance pf the most se
rious kiod I know not w hat could more sensibly
offend offenser) the French Empire, " ,
INTEKESTING TOPOGRAPHY.
Thi justification ofthf attack dtlieChtiajjcakend the
whole 'paj-age supports the pfeicwipn.to conUAr liUll tile
nataraiiaauxHi n loreign . jgamcru .
Tranilted lor the Freeman's Journal.
From the Portuguese Telcgrnfihi, Saturday, 36(
Juey 1813. '.. : '-;
Since the victorious army of the Great Lord '
continues to drive the French from the banks tif
the Douro by the spirts vpf the Pyrenees', we
think it will be proper' to give a topographical " '
description of the road from Burgos to Bayonne V
l-rom Burgos to Bayonneis 162 English milea.
or 52 Portuguese leagues, a little rriore or k.
ihe route is as follows : from Bayonne to St.
ohn de Luz 15" miles, thence to the banks of
the Bidasoa, which separates France from Spain,
and tne fyrentes of Biscay,' 15 miles to Hep.
nani 6; to Tolosi 22 ; to Vergera li i to Mon-
drajon &; to Vitorja 20 ; to Miranda of' tho
Ebro - 20 j to Bribiesca 20 j to Monasterio, 9
and to Burgos' i5w ' -Leaving
Baynnne, the road for the first 2V
miles crosses a craggy and mountainous country, 7
which Commences-the Pyrenees This road
leads to St. John de Luz, a little town ; leaving .
which, you meet with a small arm' of the sea,
which you pass "on a bridge, '4 miles further i
the river Bidasoa ; after which you enter Biscay.
The first settlement afterwards is I run, a village-
badly built, two mik9 from Bidasoa, then Her
nani'r- a considerable town, surrounded with -mountains,5
separated fromeach other by valiies ?
covered with verdure, watered by a river, which-,
by the various turns it makes, is repeatedly seen
by the traveller until he reaches Vitoria.' Over
this iiver there exists several small bridges
weltbuiltwUhJeu is very
favourable td any" army retreating towards
France, because in every reile you meet positions
well fortified by nature It ought to be remark-
ed that at' Hemani the road gives a branch to
the right or west, which! is the way from St.
Sebastians and Bilboa, in manher . following
From Hernani - to Fontarabia, are 20 miles ;
thence to St. Sebastians, 10; thence 40 Bilboa.
50. Fontarabia' is a town,weUfortified, and
considered one of the keys of Spain : it is situat
ed on a small Peninsular on the borders of the
sea, occupying a position strong both by nature '
and art, , seeing that it is covered on the side oi
the land by great mountains, and on the sea
side by an excellerit fort. The French, have of
ten besieged it in former wais, but alwyswiih
ill. success. . Turning-fo the royal road, from
Hernani-is 22 miles ; the first 12 -it crosses '
various mountains,' and then, descends to a beau,
tiful and hady . valley here the view of the
travpIlerVis: delighted with a great variety of
agreeable objects ; every ' habitation of the la
i bourer is surrounded with trees in suca a '' nmn.i"-:
'. s.-.
'I
II