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"See fireships, my frog-toasters, "To entertain John Bull; "Of brimstone and of bottles * "They, like some heads, are full. "See here my casks and coffers "With triggers puil'd by clocks!

But to the Frenchmen's rigging "Who first will lash these blocks?

"Catamarans are ready"
(Jack turns his quid and grins)
"Where snugly you may paddle
"In water to your chins.

"Then who my blocks willf sten,
"My casks and coffers lay?
"My pendulums set ticking
"And bring the pins away?"

"Your project-new?" Jack utters, "Avast! 'tis very stale:

"Tis catching birds, land lubbers! "By salt upon the tail."

So fireships, casks, and coffers
Are left to wind and tide;

Some this, some that way wander,
Now stern before, now side.

Ships, casks, and coffers blazing
Now bring Vauxhall to mind;
As if ten thousand galast
Were in one gala join'd.

Aloft on Walmer castle
Stand PITT and HARROWBY;
"The fireworks are beginning!"
With eager joy they cry.

"There in that blaze go fifty!
"And there go fifty more!
"A hundred in disorder
"There run upon the shore!"
From them the joyful tidings
Soon flew to London town:
By hundreds and by thousands
They burn, sink, kill and rown.
Now longs DUNDAS for morning
His triumphs to survey;—
But, lo! the French are lying
Just where before they lay
Lord KEITH sent home a letter,
He scarce repress'd a laugh:
DUNDAS steals to his office
To work his telegraph.

The fire-ships, it is said, had a great number of broken and empty bottles, which, we must presume, could only be intended to cut the enemy's rigging in the explosion. without mangling the men. Lord Melville and Mr. Pitt are reported to have made, during the summer, several very handsome patriotic donations in this way.-EDIT.

This is borrowed from the sublime and beautitul account, which the Oracle gave, on the authority of a neutral captain who saw the spectacle, that it was like ten thousand fireworks let off together." How much more glorious a notion must this convey to foreigners, of our formidable strength at sea, than the old trite, threadbare, me taphors of naval thunders, floating volcanoes, bolts of fire, clouds of smoke, and other similar stuff of vulgar ballad-mongers; such as celebrated the victories of former wars.-EDIT.

Lord KEITH sent home a letter;
PITT thought it very dry:
Back to his desk at Walmer
He slinks with HARROWLY.

To London came the letter
Though slow, as slow might be:
Alas! how fell men's faces!

It was a grief to see.

Just then their strains of triumph
Did Treasury bards prepare;
Alas! it was a pity

Such puffs were lost in air.

But now to them, who never
Did England's hopes deceive,
Our Soldiers and our Sailors,
Their business let us kave;

May PITT from colonelling
Retire upon half-pay;

And Admiral Lord MELVILLE
The yellow flag display!

PUBLIC PAPERS.

Letter of the French Commercial Agent at Rotterdam to the American Consul at that place, relative to English Goods, dated, Sep. 12, 1803.

SIR,- I have the honour to communicate the decree which the French government have just enacted, for preventing the introduction into France, of every description of merchandize from the colonies or manufactories of England, and to instruct you in the formalities necessary to be observed by foreign navigators entering the ports of France, in order that they may be admitted without difficulty.- -You will observe that the 2d article exacts the most rigid attention to the landing of vessels destined for France. The necessity of conforming with the views of government, and at the same time to facilitate the means of fulfilling the formalities required by this decree, induces me to adopt the following" regulations, which you will oblige me by communicating to the captains of your na tion, that they may conform thereto.

Every captain or supercargo intending to load for a French port, should declare at the French consulate office.——That he will not embark any merchandize without the permission of the charterer, and agreeably to the decree regulating the lading.The permit should be delivered into the consular office, containing a sworn declaration of the charterer, comprising the mark," weight and quantity, agreeably to the ori ginal bills; and he should further accompany the above with the declaration of the broker who made the purchases, or with such other vouchers as will fully prove that the merchandize is the produce of neither the commerce, colonies, nor manufactories

Supplement to No. 17, Vol. VI.-Price 10d,

of England. He shall, as before stated, deliver the original bills of merchandize, and when delivered they shall entitle him to a permit to load.- When the captains or supercargoes have finished their lading, they shall return two manifests to the commissary's office, signed by them, and countersigned by the consul of their nation, or when that shall be impracticable, then by the commissary himself. The manifest shall contain the particulars of the marks, numbers, weights, and quantity of each package, and each package of merchandize ought to be accompanied with a separate certificate. One of the manifests to remain in the commissary's office, and the other to be delivered to the captain, coun tersigned by me. And there' shall, moreover, be delivered to the captain such other certificate as the decree of government requires. (Signed) C. Guyz.

Note presented to Mr. TALLEYRAND, Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs at Paris, by Mr. OUBRIL, the Russian Minister at Paris.-Dated Paris, July 21, 1804.

The undersigned has been ordered to declare, that he cannot prolong his stay at Paris, unless the following demands are previously granted:-1. That, conformably to the 4th and 5th Articles of the Secret Convention of the 11th of October, 1801, the French Government shall order its troops to evacuate the Kingdom of Naples; and when that is done, that it shall engage to respect the neutrality of that kingdom, during the present and any future war.

2. That, in conformity to the second article of the said Convention, the French Government shall promise to establish immediately some principle of concert with his Imperial Majesty, for regulating the basis upon which the affairs of Italy shall be fi nally adjusted.-3. That it shall engage, in conformity to the 6th Article of the Convention aforesaid, and the promises so repeatedly given to Russia, to indemnify, without delay, the King of Sardinia for the losses he has sustained. Lastly,-4. That, in virtue of the obligation of a mutual arantee and mediation, the French Government shall promise immediately to evacuate and withdraw its troops from the North of Germany; and enter into an engagement to respect, in the strictest man. ner, the neutrality of the Germanic Body.

-The undersigned has to add, that be has received orders from his Government, to demand a categorical answer to these four points, and avails himself of this opportunity, &c.(Signed) P. OUBRIL.

FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS. PRINCE OF WIRTEMBURG'S LETTER to the Privy Council and Chamber of Finance at Stutgard. Dated, July 21, 1804.

The circumstances in which our country is placed must have engrossed the whole of your attention. We think it incumbent upon us to lay aside every thing personal to ourselves; had not an enlightened and impartial public been long since convinced of that necessity, and the justice of the steps, which in consequence of an unfortunate misunderstanding with the Prince our Fa ther, we have been compelled to adopt, they would no doubt find our justification in the nature of the present events. Though we feel no inclination to insert the motives that have led to that step, we cannot, how ever, forbear from a public declaration of our opinion respecting the present state of things:-At a moment when the interpo. sitions of the French government (which for the liveliest gratitude on our part) had brought about the long reported convoca, tion of a diet of the country; at a moment when the French government entertained with us the pleasing expectation, that by this means would be re established that confidence between the Prince and his dominions, so essential to the welfare of the country; that the rights of the Prince, and the privileges of the subject, would be confirmed; and that legitimate measures would, with one common consent and co-operation, be adopted, in order to heal the wounds inflicted by the most disastrous of wars; it is at that very moment that a most futile pre text is resorted to, for the purpose of sap. ping the very foundations of the constitution; and a kind of proceedings has been adopted, of which the History of Wirtem burgh furnishes no example.- -The College of the Privy Council, whose peculiar duty it is to watch over the privileges of the states, not only attempts to justify all these acts of violence, but even some of its members placed themselves at the head of those who allow themselves to be made the instruments of that oppression, in contempt of those duties to the performance of which they are bound by the solemnity of an oath,

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It is needless, on our part, to protest against all that has hitherto been done and may be done hereafter. The nullity of the whole of that conduct absolves us from such a duty. But as we fully adhere to the patriotic sentiments of the states, and of those members of the Privy Council who discountenance the persecution of individuals, we declare, in the most solemn manner, not only that we do unite with them in their endea

645) OCTOBER 27, 1804.-American Resident's Letter.-American Claims on France. [646

vours for the re-establishment of the legitimate and constitutional order of things, but that also when it shall please Providence to call us to the government of these dominions, of which we are by birth the heredi tors, we shall exact the most rigorous ac count at the hands of all those who have proved regardless of their oath to maintain the constitution; and that we shall permit justice to take its ordinary course. We are the more convinced of the propriety of making this declaration, because we cannot by any possibility persuade ourselves that the Prince, our Father, could have ever been induced to adopt such measures through any other instigation than the sug gestions of perverse counsellors, of men who have wholly forgotten and disregard the sacredness of their duties. We embrace this occasion also to manifest publicly our decided opinion respecting the situation of our finances -The well grounded ap. prehensions which on this subject we entertain for the future, are of a nature to oblige us to declare, that we shall acknowledge as binding only those debts, of whatever nature they may be, that have been contracted agreeably to the usual mode prescribed by the constitution.

AMERICAN RESIDENT'S LETTER to Mr. Tiffin, Governor of the State of Tennessee. Dated at Washington, June 20, 1803. SIR.-The resolution of the general assembly of Ohio, expressing their satisfac tion with the measures adopted by the national legislature at their last session, in relation to the navigation of the Mississippi, is a just tribute to the wisdom of those measures; it is worthy also the sound discernment with which that state disregarded the seductive suggestions of a supposed sepa rate interest and manifests dispositions to support the constitutional authority of the general government, of which the state legislatures will doubtless ever set the example. Nothing can so effectually contribute. to produce the greatest good of our country as harmony and mutual confidence between the general and state authorities, and a conviction that local and general interests, well understood, can never be in opposition--The confidence which they are also pleased to express in the adminis tration of the general government, calls for my particular acknowledgments. I have conscientiously pursued those measures which on the best advice, seemed most likely to secure the rights and interests of

the western states, in the navigation of the Mississippi; if those interests can be secured (and nothing yet forbids the hope) and our country save! from he havoc and destruction of war, from the burthens ne cessary to support it, and the consequent increase of the public debt which would not fail in the end to absorb all the produce of our labour and to verwhelm our liberties. -I flatter myself that my fellow cit zens will be contented with the course pursued and will countenance future endeavours to preserve their peace and prosperity.--I pray you to accept assurances of my high respect and consideration. TH. JEFFERSON.

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AMERICAN CLAIMS ON FRANCE.--An Account of the manner, in which the claims of America upon France have been settled.

The 3,750,000 dollars, that the United States are to pay France, for Louisiana, is to be paid to the citizens of the United States for claims they have upon the French government, embraced by the convention made the 30th September, by Elsworth and Davie. The second article of that conven

tion is to be considered as null and void. The payment to the United States is to be made to the citizens thereof, in sixty days after the final ratification of the late convention by our government, and exchange of the same, which is to be done here; the payment to be made by bills drawn by our minister in Paris, on the treasury of the United States. Claimants are first to have their claims liquidated by the French government, on which claims they are to be allowed 6 per cent, per annum from the time that the claimants respectively made their demands for payment. After their claims are finally liquidated, a board of three commissioners, appointed by our ministers, are to sit in Paris, who are to examine their liquidated claims, to see if they properly are claims that are embraced under the convention of the 30th September. As soon as this is determined, the claimants will receive their drafts, and they will be paid as they are presented; and should the claims embraced by the convention exceed the sum of 3,750,000 dollars, the remainder is a debt remaining due from France, and to be paid the claimants by that republic, It is understood that claims for supplies to the West-India Islands, demurrages on vessels from France, vessels taken and not restored agreeable to the convention of the 30th September, and supplies under contracts made by officers of the French go

vernment in the United States, are the proper claims embraced by that convention,

EXPORTS FROM KENTUCKY. An abstract of the exports from the State of Kentucky, commencing 1st of January, and ending 31st of March, 1803.

Flour 4597 barrels, apples 26 bar. rels, cider 2249 gallons, ship-bread 14 barrels, beans 10 bushels, butter 222 pounds, Indian Corn 200 bushels, cheese 238 lbs. candles 270 lbs. cables and cordage 820 cwt copper manufacture 900 dollars, household furniture 84 dollars, flax 3700 lbs. hats to amount of 724 dollars, bacon 22,636 lbs. hemp 500 lbs. bar iron 2 tos, castings value 300 dollars, lard 12045 lbs. Indian meal 30 bushels, merchandize 27,980 dollars, nails 200 lbs. linseed oil 266 gallons, pork 230 barrels, pease 9 bushels, potatoes 272 bushels, distilled spirits 5507 gallons, saddlery to the amount of 127 dollars, soap 297 lbs. hogsheads tobacco 101, scantling 1000 feet.-Total vaJue, dollars 68,404.

An Abstract of Exports from the district of Kentucky, commencing April the 1st, and ending June the 30th, 1803.

Flour 13,549 barrels, pork 1159, Indian corn 78, beef 15, lard 29,625 lbs. bacon 99,625, powder 1055, manufactured tobacco 2155, butter 300, cheese 100, flax 100, bar iron 900, whiskey 9203 gallons, peach brandy 256, cider 2496, beer 350, hemp 13,810 lbs. candles 100, cordage 835 ewt. hogsheads tobacco 278, potatoes 121 bushels, apples 40, merchandize to amount of 1 715,295 dols.-Total value, 135,720 dols.

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FRENCH ACCOUNT OF THE CATAMARAN EXPEDITION. Letter from Admiral Bruix to the Emperor of the French, dated Oct. 3, 1804.

SIRE, I have the honour to give your Imperial Majesty an account, that last night the enemy made an attempt to burn, by means of a great number of fire ships, the vessels which compose our line of anchorage; but their plan failed.--For two or three days they had considerably reinforced their station. Yesterday it consisted of 52 vessels, 25 of which were brigs or small cutters, which made me suspect they might be fire ships, and that we should soon be attacked. I was confirmed in that opinion, when, in the course of the day, I saw a ship of the line, three frigates, two brigs, and several cutters, take a S. W position, a league and a half to windward of the last best on our left. All these circumstances were favour able for an enterprize of this

; a strong

W. S. W. breeze combined with the rapidity of the spring tides, and gave them a great facility to send their fire ships against us. I consequently made my dispositions -I ordered the military commandant to establish bars before our line, to right, left, and centre. I sent immediately into the harbour, under Rear Admiral La Crosse, a great number of boats, well armed, which, assisted by pinnaces with large howitzers, were to turn the fire ships aside. The ge neral assembled all the captains of the line, and communicated to each the manœuvres to be practised according as circumstances might occur. The attack commenced at half past ten. I was informed of the approach of the enemy by a warm firing between our van and their pinnaces. The enemy dispatched against the whole front of our line several fire ships, which they towed to a certain distance, and when they had quitted them, the wind and tide finished bringing them to us; but our boats then opened a passage for them, and all blew up within the line, very near to the shore.-Eleven of them blew up from ten o'clock to four in the morning, in the space comprised between the Fort de l'Heurt and Vimereaux. Two others, the matches of which were put out, were taken near Vimereaux. The cannonade was very warm, and several of the enemy's boats sunk.--We lost but one pinnace with a Prussian howitzer, No. 267, the captain of which, seeing a fire ship, which appeared to be towed by a canoe with a sail, ordered it to be boarded; the men leaped on board the canoe, but no one was in it; hardly, however, had they come near the fire ship, when it blew up; the pinnace was destroyed by the explosion-27 men alone saved themselves at Vimereaux, in the Eng lish canoe. We lost an officer, 13 soldiers, and 7 sailors; there were but six men wounded in all the rest of the line, and we experienced no other damage than a bow sprit, which was carried away by boarding. I have no certain account of the injury re ceived by the enemy; but independently of several boats full of men which were sunk, the disorder which our van observed among the crews who left the boats that towed the fire ships, induces me to think that their loss in men was considerable.Our gun boats kept up a very brisk fire of artillery on some English ships of war, stationed behind their fire ships, which they were to protect. The cannonading did not cease the whole night; it was successive and incessant along the dif ferent points of the line; it was so well kept up, that the enemy's boats, which were or dered to carry in the fire ships, were glad to

OLITYCANY

abandon them in disorder.The officers of my staff have given me an account, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, and the frequent and precipitate movements which our vessels were obliged to make, that these movements were made with a degree of precision which prevented all mistake. Great praise is due to general La Crosse, and the officers commanding the vessels in general, shewed skill and sang froid. -I cannot sufficiently praise the courage and good disposition of the marines and soldiers who were embarked; they assisted in the manœuvres with as much alacrity as if they were assisting at a fete; and every time a fire ship exploded, the harbour resounded with cries of "Vive L'Empereur, Vive Napo“ leon."―Several of our gun-boats were obliged to get under sail, to avoid the fire ships, nevertheless there was no appearance of confusion. The enemy employed fire vessels of three different kinds; the first were sloops, cutters, and other vessels; the second were a kind of coffers 20 feet long, and three feet broad, without any mast; the third were a kind of barrels, filled with combustibles, and which were so contrived as to explode by a piece of mechanism. The vessels were filled with several pieces of hollow wood, which were filled with inflammable matter, and which was lighted with matches, like bombs; but it seems the effect was not well calculated, for they did no harm. This event, far from having the effect which our enemies hoped, only served to manifest the courage and confidence of our soldiers and sailors, as well as the excellent order established for the safety of the port and city. Every body was at his post, the pumps were prepared, and during the night the rounds were made with as much tranquillity as usual. This morning the enemy's vessels, which were detached to the S. W. joined the rest of the squadron. At six o'clock the wind began to blow fresh W. S. W. and every thing announced bad weather. At two o'clock the enemy got under weigh for their own coast, (Signed) BRUIX, Admiral.

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In another letter of the same day, addressed to the Emperor, General SOULT, Commander in Chief at St. Omer's, expresses bimself as follows:

SIRE,The English had conceived the cowardly and horrible project of burning the vessels of the Aotilla which were at anchor in the Road of Boulogne, and last night they endeavoured to accomplish this horrible design. The result is turned to their shame, and is glorious to the arms of your Majesty. I have the honour to give you an account of

this important event. Yesterday the English squadron, consisting of 52 sail, of which six were of the line, 6 frigates, 16 corvettes, or bomb vessels, 10 brigs, 12 cutters, and two luggers, under the orders of Admiral Keith, anchored at about a league and a half from the North to the West of the Port. During the day they detached one vessel of the line, two frigates, several brigs, and most of the, cutters, and a number of boats, to cruize in the South West. At three o'clock it was observed that the ship of the line and frigates had anchored and had ordered the small vessels to come to them; and afterwards they formed in a line. These demonstrations were too apparent for us to mistake the object which they had in view; there fore Admiral Bruix hastened to give the ne cessary orders to Rear Admiral La Crosse, who commanded in the Road. The batteries were prepared, and the army held in readiness to execute any orders which they might receive.- -The wind was at west,, a fresh breeze. At ten precisely several shot from the left announced that the enemy had began his attack; the fire extended to the centre; the engagement soon became almost general; and at this moment the enemy launched his first detachment of fireships. All the vessels of the flotilla which expected this kind of attack, seeing the incendiaries coming, avoided them, and let them pass between them, without any of them being on board, and the detachment passed to the rear of the line. At half past ten the first blew up, opposite the battery of the Grenadiers: it produced an immense column of fire; the wrecks were scattered on every side, but no person was hurt. The second blew up opposite the Imperial BatAnother be tery, and produced no harm.

tween the ports of Croy and that of Creeche; and the fourth near the Battery of the Bombadiers, without producing any great effect,

-After these first explosions, the fire slackened for half an hour; Rear Admiral La Crosse profited by this to run along the line, and cause to return to their rank some vessels, which, to avoid the explosion, had cut their cables. At the height of the battery of Dunes, which the Etat Major of Admiral Bruix mounted, they perceived a brig, the sailing of which appeared suspicious--it was immediately drawn aground. Scarcely were they at half pistol shot than the vessel exploded, more strongly than the former ones, but happily only two sailors were slightly wounded in the hand. The attack was then made on the right; three fire ships exploded immediately at the port of Vimereaux, two others on the left of La Creeche,

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