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complicated evils which might probably re-it is impossible to doubt, the unrivalled gal

sult from the blockading system, have been
too fatally exemplified by very recent expe-
rience. Even the present month has abound-
ed with losses and disasters, evidently origi-
Dating from this destructive cause.--The
gallant and indefatigable Cornwallis, though
commanding a fleet such as no nation but
Britain can supply, though supported by his
own unconquered mind, though aided by the
unparalleled energy, perseverance, and abi-

lantry of our officers and seamen, no one who
has read the daily papers of the present
month will be hardy enough to deny.
But, though every degree of praise is due to
our officers and seamen, yet what advantage
have we obtained from those unequalled ex-
ertions of daring enterprize to compensate
for the loss or mutilation of those heroes
who have so severely suffered on those me-
morable occasions? Have all our " con-

Boulogne, been of sufficient value to compensate for the sacrifice of a single British seaman, or even of a gun-brig? I must confess, it appears to me they have not: though I know it has been the opinion of many, that the effect of those dashing exploits in terrifying and disheartening the enemy, more than counterbalances the losses we sustain by them. Could I admit the premises, I must still deny the conclusion; but both ap pear to me erroneous. A well concerted coup de main, is chiefly indebted for its success to the secrecy, silence, and rapidity, with which it is executed: its novelty excites terror. consternation, and surprize; but the frequency of its repetition has an effect directly, the reverse; the enemy deriving confidence from preparation, and energy from resistance, is rather emboldened than intimidated by these frequent attacks, which he now regards no more than the flux and reflux of the tide, and from which his land batteries always afford him a retreat secure to himself, and destructive to his assailants. Viewing in this light the operations of our blockading squadrons off Boulogne, the wisdom or utility of these indecisive and destructive actions with the enemy's flotillas, must appear extremely problematical, though the gallantry and ability with which these attempts are invariably attended, cannot fail to excite unanimous admiration and applause. Another very material objection to the blockading system, (on its present extensive scale) is that its manifest and necessary effect must be, to gratify the wishes, and promote the designs of our implacable enemy in their fullest extent. What more can he desire than to protract the war, 10 debilitate and gradually annihilate our navy, to disgust, to dishearten, our officers and seamen, by continually exhausting their spirits and vigour, in unavailing contentions with the elements, and all the dangers of a winter's blockade on an enemy's coast. A tedious cruize which is neither to be reward

lity of British officers and seamen, has been" quests, glories, triumphs, and spoils," off
forced from his station by incessant and re-
sistless storms, to seek shelter and repairs in
British harbours.--Probably, his unwea-
ried efforts to overcome every impediment,
may have placed him again on his arduous
station. Perhaps too, even at the instant I
am writing, a storm may arise which may be
far more calamitous than any he has hitherto
experienced! Through the long tempestuous
period of the preceding winter, was the
blockading channel, fleet exposed to those
impending dangers, nay, liable to that inevi-
table destruction which baffles the utmost
efforts of human power or skill, and from
which the Almighty arm of an over-ruling
Providence is alone sufficient to yield protec-
tion! When we consider the complicated
dangers, and expenses, and (what is perhaps
a still greater evil) the sure, though imper-
ceptible, consumption by which our dreaded
and envied navy must infallibly and quickly
be destroyed, in a succession of winter block-
ades, what Briton is there who can contem-
plate the dreadful prospect, without the most
lively sentiments of grief and apprehension?
Who, but would inquire to what purpose
must this accumulation of evils be hazarded
or incurred? What are the benefits we can
expect even from the most successful block-
ade? The answer must amount to little more
than this we shall, by blockading the
enemy, prevent them from leaving their
ports to fight our fleets; which repeated ex-
perience has convinced us they will not do,
even, when our ships have been crippled, dis-
persed, and driven from their coasts, ——
the same time, too, that we are thanking our
gallant admirals, for keeping the French in
their harbours, we anticipate a certain vie
tory if they can by any means be induced to
come out! Can there be greater inconsist
ency? But surely the blockade of Boulogne-
must be a wise measure! It not only pre-
vents invasion, but gives us the most favour-
able opportunities of attacking them, or of
annoying their flotillas when skulking from
port to part, even under their land batteries?ed with wealth, glory, or victory; and whose
—That it affords an apt occasion to try
curious experiments, and to prove that which

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object is to detain in their harbours those enemies who have repeated y convinced us,

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serve then, the unpleasant situation of a commanding officer looking forward to a decision of this nature. Many circumstances must arise in the public discharge of his duty that may be considered harsh and disagreeable by the individuals under his command. He must either sacrifice his duty to the King, in order to accommodate himself to the feelings of his corps, or, by enforcing the necessary discipline of the service, he, perhaps, forfeits that mark of distinction which was bestowed on his predecessor.--It is, no doubt, presumed that the subscription is voluntary, and that every man contributes according to his inclination; but, I am confi. dent, that many individuals have not the libeity of choice, from an apprehension of the marked situation in which they would ap pear, if they did not come forward to subscribe their proportion.--Circumstances have lately occurred, in other and much more important branches of the service, which strengthen this latter observation; and there can remain but one opinion as to the indelicacy of the proposal, and the unjustifiable mode of levying the contribution. An officer, actuated, no doubt, by the most praise-worthy motive, and ambitious, per

they possessed neither the desire nor the courage to leave them; and who, if they could by any means be induced to make the attempt, would most probably contribute by their defeat to the strength and glory of the British Navy, and to the termination of a disgraceful, destructive, defensive warfare, in which our own exertions accelerate our fall, and our insidious malignant enemy succeeds by inactivity, and conquers by delay, and may finally triumph without striking a blow.--What is the cause that invasion is still a subject of universal doubt and inquiry? The blockading system. It is this alone that delays the ultimate decision of that momentous question, which Buonaparté is equally restrained by policy and by fear from bringing to an issue. Let us withdraw our fleets from his shores, and we deprive him of the only pretence for deferring the execution of his menaces against us, and the performance of his specious promises to his credulous and hungry slaves.-Instead of hoping for popular insurrections in Britain from interminable hostility, exhausted finances, and intolerable taxation, which he now contemplates as the preludes to a certain and easy conquest, he would be convinced he must immediately attempt his vaunted inva-haps, to display his own respect in a pre-emision, amid the dangers and horrors of long winter's nights, and while the ill acquired diadem trembles on his guilty brows, or he will find in France that designed insurrection and revolution, which he has so long, so anxiously, and (thanks to Almighty Providence) hitherto so vainly sought for in Britain.I am, Sir, &c. BRITANNICUS. Oct. 30, 1804.

SUBSCRIPTIONS IN MILITARY BODIES.

SIR, Considering it to be one of the principal objects of your paper to direct the public mind to a view of any abuse or improper practice that may require correction, I beg leave to offer a few remarks upon a subject, which perhaps, may be deemed not uninteresting.-A custom has been lately introduced, and now, indeed, become very general, amongst the different corps of volunteers, to testify their approbation of their commanding officer, by presenting him with a sword, or a piece of plate, purchased by subscription. This assumption of a right to decide on the merits or qualifications of an officer commanding, cannot surely be defended in a military point of view, or justi fied on any ground whatever. If a present of this kind is to be a token of approval, the withholding it from the next who succeeds in command, must tacitly imply that he is not equally meritorious. We must ob

nent degree for a superior officer who was about to retire, sent a circular letter to the other officers who had served under him, containing proposal, that each of them should, according to his rank, subscribe a certain named sum, for the purpose of purchasing a handsome present for the acceptance of the said superior officer. The money was collected, or, more properly speaking, levied, according to the assessment: the article was purchased, was presented to, and was accepted of, by the person, for whom it was intended.I cannot, Sir, consider the expression of a general sentiment of the many, as the opinion of the individual, whilst any restraint can operate to influence his determination. Nothing else but madness would I call it, in a cha racter dependant to be conspicuously distin guished for his refusal to join in the general testimony of respect. Though he might plead the inability of his means, the urgen cy of his affairs, or the serious calls which he had for the appropriation of that money which the subscription required; yet the hazard of a negative might mark him so publicly, that common policy would advise a passive acquiesence to the terms of the requisition. Thus it is, that the apprehension of each person, least he may be singular in his refusal, forms by that means a ge neral concurrence; and, I make no doubt,

that if the uninfluenced opinion of the officers alluded to, could be separately obtained, that they would individually object to that contribution, which had collectively received their assent.--From inquiries that I have made, respecting the above circumstance, I find, that a great many of those who have thus paid the subscription, scarcely ever heard the name of the superior officer alluded to; few of them had any correspondence with him, and fewer still had ever the pleasure of a personal interview.

It is but natural to suppose, now a precedent is established, that the frequency of application, should there be a rapid succession of such superior officers, may become a very severe tax upon the military incomes of the staff; for it would be difficult to ascertain what period of service could authorize a claim for a similar remuneration, when each such superior officer upon retiring, might expect the same pecuniary mark of approbation as his predecessor in office. I trust, that the foregoing observations will suggest the propriety of discountenancing those subscriptions, which cannot, from the natural dependance of the subscribers, be considered as voluntary; and, that a prac tice so unmilitary in every point of view may be discontinued in future.-Hoping

that these remarks will excite attention in that quarter to which they are particularly directed. I remain Sir, yours, &c. Y. London, Oct. 29, 1804.

FOREIGN OFFICIAL PAPERS.
INTERCEPTED LETTEK RELATIVE TO

JEROME BUONAPARTÉ.

The Minister of Marine to M. Pichon, Con
sular-General at New York. Dated Paris,
April 20, 1804.
Board of, 2
For yourself only. S

I have taken the orders of the First Consul, Citizen, concerning the demand. which you made on me for the appointment of an allowance to be granted to Citizen Jerome Buonaparté; and bound to obey the orders which he has given me, in a way that shewed it was not his intention that the slightest modification should have place either in my mode of transmitting them to you, or in the execution of them, I discharge my duty in notifying to you his resolution that no money shall be advanced on the order of Citizen Jerome. He has received orders, in his capacity of Lieutenant of the Fleet, to come back to France by the first French frigate that was returning thither; and the execution of this order, on which the First Consul insists, in the most

positive manner, can alone regain him his affection.--But what the First Consul has prescribed me, above every thing, is to or der you to prohibit all captains of French vessels, from receiving on board the young person with whom the Citizen Jerome has connected himself, it being his intention that she shall by no means come into France, and his will, that should she arrive, she be not suffered to land, but be sent back immediately to the United States. --After having thus notified to you those intentions of the First Consul, and having ordered you to attend to the arrangements he has made, it remains for me to invite you to employ, for the persuasion of the Citizen Jerome, every expedient which your wisdom, your prudence, and excellent judgment shall suggest. I have written him to this purpose, and have represented to him that the glorious and brilliant career to which his destiny calls him, requires of him a necessary sacrifice, due also to his interest, his personal glory, and the designs of the Hero to whom he has the honour to be related. Explain to him, that having been absent for several years, he little knows the First Consul, whose inflexibility can be compared to nothing but the vastness of his conceptions. Cherishing important and profound meditations, he considers himself as having no family but the French people, every thing unconnected with the glory and happiness of France, is indifferent to him. In proportion as he delights in exalting and honouring those of his relations who participate those sentiments with him, does he feel coldness for those who do not partake them, or who, walk in a different path from that which his genius has traced out for himself. wearied fabricator of his own glory, he bewails in secret, that he sees not his example followed with the same perseverance by those of his own blood; he is indignant at the obstacles thrown in his way by what he calls their effeminacy, and he declares against beholding them otherwise engaged than in following the steps of his career.Citizen Joseph, his eldest brother, distinguished by the eminent services he has rendered in his council, by diplomatic mediations and labours known to all Europe, by the treaties he has concluded, invested with the senatorial robe, and of the first rank in the Legion of Honour, has seemed to him not yet sufficiently clothed with glory, and wishing to crown him with that for which every one may find instruments in perils, hardships, and genius, he has jest given him one of the regiments which are to bear in to England the national vengance.-General

Un

Louis, general of division, known until now by military glory, is about to add to it that of the statesman, and has been just admitted into the Council Section of Legislation.--Citizen Lucien, with the reputation of past conduct, and a fortune perfectly independent, has formed connexions repugnant to the views of the First Consul; and the consequence is, that he has just quitted France, and that, obliged to aban don the theatre of the glory of his own family, he has exiled himself to Rome, where he becomes the simple spectator of the destinies of his august brother and the empire. --These examples will inform Jerome 'what his brother expects of him, and what he may expect from his brother. Young as yet, and of an age at which the laws authorize not a marriage to which relations have not consented, he has indiscreetly and rashly contracted one (these are the Consul's words); he has abandoned the labours which the country required of him; yielding to an irrational passion, he has, without doubt, acted grievously wrong, but his youth shall be suffered to plead his excuse, provided he is wise enough not to disobey the voice which calls him.--Ashamed of his indolence, too long protracted, let him seize the first occasion of returning to share those labours whereof he should have given an example, and he will recover his brother in the head of the state-it is the only means to consecrate the ties which unite them.As his friend, as devoted to his family, as his superintendant, in fine, in the career which he has embraced, I have a right to expect a quiet hearing from Jerome, and I entreat he will execute the orders he has received, and follow my advice: I see his brother every day, and if I give him no prospect of bending that brother, by a different conduct, it is because, in truth, I have perceived that he is in this respect inflexible.Jerome is wrong, said he to me, to fancy that he will find in me affections that will yield to his weakness; the relation in which I stand to him does not admit of parental condescension, for, not possessing the authority of a father over him, I cannot feel for him a father's affection. A father is blind, and takes a pleasure in blinding himself, because his son and he are identified. They have given and received so much, reciprocally, that they form but one person; but, as to me, what am I to Jerome? What identity can subsist between us? Sole fabricator of my destiny, I owe nothing to my brothers. In what I have done for glory, they have found means to reap for themselves an abundant harvest; but they must not on

that account abandon the field where there is something to be reaped. They must not leave me insulated and deprived of the aid and services which I have a right to expect from them. They cease to be any thing to me if they press not around my person, and if they follow a path that is opposite to mine. If I require so much from those of my brothers who have already rendered so many services, if I completely abandon him, who in maturer years has thought proper to withdraw himself from my direction, what has Jerome to expect? So young, as yet, and only known by forgetfulness of his duties, assuredly if he does nothing for me, I see it in the decree of fate, which has determined that I ought to do nothing for him. —— This is what the hero hath said and repeated to me in divers conversations. The solemnity of those confidential communications he has condescended to make to me on this subject, has struck me, and I repose them in your bosom, that you may seize the moment and the manner of impressing them on Jerome. What gratitude will he not owe to you if you succeed in persuading him: I know not what degree of resistance you will experience, but let him be well persuaded that it is more from personal attachment than from duty, that I insist with him on such details. My duty might be limited to the transmitting to him the orders and arrangements of the First Consul, but this long effusion can proceed from no other motive but my friendship for him. The Consul would end by forgetting him, and he is occupied by so many great objects, that this oblivion, painful at first, would settle into habit-and this is what I fear.--If the delirium of the passion should render him inaccessible to the voice of reason, you have only one thing to represent to him. Which is, that the passions cease, or at least decline, and that in this case the consequence would be endless. Jerome is very young, his life will be long, and I, who know his brother much better than he himself knows him, am certain, that should he not comply with his wishes, he is storing up for himself the most poignant regret.- Moreover, if, unfortunately for Jerome, he should prolong his stay in the United States during the war, if peace should be made before his return, what a grief for him to have passed with a woman a season of dangers. And what regret does he not prepare, even for the woman herself, when humbled by his ob scurity, he shall one day impute to her, were it even involuntarily and secretly, at the bottom of his heart, the indolent part to which he shall have been reduced by the

passion wherewith she inspired him.-And even if he loves this woman, let him learn for her sake to quit her. Let him return and keep near his brother he will give him credit for the sacrifice; and from the sentiments of good will and friendship which will thence result, it is not forbidden him to conceive hopes. But let him not bring her along with him; be her accomplishments what they may would produce no effect, for most assuredly the order is given to prevent her landing, and it would be fresh trouble, and a disobedience too gross of the orders of the First Consul to have any other effect than an irritation extremely unpleasant for what is and ought to be most dear to the heart of Jerome.--I repeat to you, Citizen, I recommend the object of this letter to your careful attention, and to your solid judgement, as to the use you shall make of it; I have entered into no detail on the nature of the illegality of the connexion in question, because I treat this affair in a sentimental manner merely; but I have some difficulty to conceive how the father of the young person hath brought himself to yield to an union, reprobated by our laws, and which the dignity of Jerome's family required should be very maturely considered before it was consented to.-(Signed) DECRES.-The example of Lucien cannot but divert Jerome from imitating his conduct: behold him separated from his brother; but this afflictive separation, afflictive for all the friends of their family, would have much more unpleasant consequences for Jerome who has yet acquired no personal weight, no fortune, and whose property left behind him at Paris has been employed, in part, to pay the bills he has drawn on France. But this motive is nothing in comparison of those more prevailing ones, of the duties and the career of glory that call upon him.

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PUBLIC PAPER. Letter of his French Imperial Majesty, to the Burgomaster and Council of the City of Franck fort. Written at Mentz, Oct. 1, 1804.

-I

Very worthy and good friends.have read the letter of the date of the 30th of August, which Messrs. Humbracht and Messler, Burgomasters and Senators of your free Imperial City, communicated to me on your part: the assurances which you give me of your sentiments towards me, is the more agreeable to me, as it convinces me that you, after the experience you have had of the participation I take in the indepen dence and welfare of your city, will not fail to shew yourselves always grateful for it. My resident with you has it in commission

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SUMMARY OF POLITICS. RUSSIA AND FRANCE.. -Previous to the making of any remarks upon the merits or the probable consequences of the dispute between these two powers, it may not be unnecessary to say a word or two as to the progress of the dispute itself, as far as that progress is perceivable in the diplomatic communications that have found their way into the world. The coolness between Russia and France, which first became visible in the treatment which Count Marckoff publick. ly received at Paris, and which, as it now would seem, arose from his having pressed the fulfilment of the articles of a secret convention between the two powers, relative to the affairs of the several states of Italy; that coolness, which at last, was turned into a downright quarrel between Buonaparté and Marckoff, the latter being openly reproached by the former at a public levee; that coolness was made evident to all Europe in the note written, after the departure of Marckoff, by d'Oubril, the Russian Chargé d'Affaires at Paris, in answer to Talleyrand's circular letter relative to the intrigues of Drake and Mchée de la Touche.* This answer was given on the 25th of March, 1804, a few days after the seizure and execution of the Duke d'Enghien. In the mean time Marckoff, who had once been so great a favourite at Paris, had met with a most gracious reception at St. Petersburg, where the Emperor Alexander had, by public rescript, bestowed on him an annual salary of 12,000 roubles, honoured him with promotion to a high office, and renewed to him an expression of the Imperia! thanks for his conduct while at Paris, "where," says the Emperor, "you dis"charged your duty with the greatest zeal, "and to my entire satisfaction."t The instrument containing these gracious expres sions and provisions bears date on the 15th

See D'Oubril's Answer, Register, Vol. V. p. 607.

+ See the Rescript, Register, Vol. V. p. 790.

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