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is a principle indeed, which goes infinitely beyond not merely the right for which the BRITISH Contend, for that is clearly theirs, but beyond their most flagrant practice. This principle avows as a right, that one belligerent may oblige a neutral seaman to enter his service in opposition to another belligerent, on the ground of his having been forced by that other, into taking passengers on board his vessel; and this too, not only without previous notice to the neutral of his danger, but by expressly decoying him into the snare; for says the second article, vessels under such circumstances shall NOT BE WARNED OFF, but be detained and confiscated.' The decree in practice amounts to this. Now how will government overcome their hitherto acquiescent deportment towards France and her dependencies ? Will they dare to speak so boldly to Holland, as they have done to Great-Britain? Will they dare (as they ought) to speak more bold? No, they tremble at the nod of Napoleon, and as he points his finger, are they ready to follow, to retreat, or to remain at rest.

This most barefaced outrage on all just principles of international law is not interpolated by Great-Britain,' but by Holland. King Louis, a mere satellite of his brother Napoleon; a mere piece of drapery in his imperial robe; an insignificant imp of royalty, who dares in the face of the world, to insult the dignity of Mr. Jefferson's government, by a most infamous decree. What must we think of an administration, which any foreign nation could dare to treat with so much disrespect and even ignominy? Must we not perceive that we deserve to be reproached to the very beard, by suffering such a set of drivellers to rule over us; and think it time to break the chains of infatuation in which we have so long been held in bondage; or else gravely to give ourselves up to the complete control of France, and anxiously petition Napoleon to protect us in our submission?

MESSRS. EDITORS,

AS I was travelling lately towards Portland, in a solitary mood and on horse-back, my attention was suddenly arrested by a bundle of papers carefully wrapped up, which appeared accidentally to have been dropped near the foot of a tree, just upon the edge of the road. It was nearly covered, from which reason it had escaped general observ.

ation. I picked up the parcel and opened it; I found it consisted of letters from an English traveller in this country, to his friend in Jamaica. I considered them somewhat interesting, and at any rate, a great loss to the traveller himself, who I presume intended to publish them on his return home. I conclude he has now left the United States for Canada, from some expressions in his last letter. If he should ever see this notice, he will find out that his pacquet was not materially damaged, though the writing appeared to have faded considerably, from having lain for some time under the snow, and in a few places it is not quite intelligible. The spot where it was found was somewhere about half way through Saco woods; very near to a pine-log bridge. The author may receive his papers in good order, by sending you a letter, proving his claims to the property; but in the mean time I shall think myself authorized to send you occasionally some of the letters, to gratify the curiosity of your readers.

To

Your humble servant,

L**. D******. BOSTON, September 1, 1808.

YOU know my reasons for leaving Jamaica were peremptory, my dear friend; I departed from there with reluctance. Our voyage to this place was not remarkable for any thing, but a continued repetition of vulgarity, from the seamen on board ship. The American seamen swear a great deal; I wonder the government continues the embargo on their account! Appropos. I find those inhabitants of Boston, with whom I conversed on the subject, excessively ignorant and speculative, as far as regards the effects of that political measure in distressing the West-India Islands. You know, my friend, how well we were supplied with every necessary of life, before I left Kingston; and in my arguments with some of the inhabitants of this place, I have urged the facility with which we can raise a sufficiency for the consumption of the negroes; the numerous evasions of those restrictive laws, which must of necessity take place among an enterprizing set of men, like the Americans, and the advantages we derive in Europe in consequence of their trade being withdrawn. They however, fully calculate that the whimsical notions of their President will be realized, and that we shall yet be obliged to give up the point; which if they were in the least acquainted with Mr. Canning or any of the present ministry, they ought to consider entirely out of the bounds of probability. But more of this hereafter.

I arrived in the harbour of Boston, on the 22d of last month, in a passage of 28 days from Kingston; we came on the pinions of the swiftest gales that ever blew,' and I was willing to encounter, like Belcour, all the difficulties of cars, carmen, and numerous impediments, which are incident to Boston streets, without a troop of artillery in my front,' for the sake of good lodgings and company. But the quarantine regulations of this place require that every vessel, which arrives from the WestIndies, must have been out at least twenty-five days, before she can be allowed to enter at the custom-house, or to pass a fort, called Fort Independence, which is situate three miles from the city.

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I was obliged to content myself as well as I was able by reading and writing to you, my dear friend, during my irksome abode at Quarantine Island. The scenery of the harbour of Boston is beautiful; it is interspersed with a number of verdant islands, some of which are in a state of cultivation, which give grace to the picture and add much to its effect. The passage the entrance is narrow, but the harbour widens as you approach the city, which is upwards of two leagues from the light-house at its mouth, and between which and Fort Independence there is safe and commodious anchorage for ships of any burthen. The inhabitants of this city are exceedingly fond of fishing, and the harbour certainly affords them abundant sport.* Every fine day, you observe a number of fishing boats filled with company, pursuing this favourite object; and they even are so attached to it, that they frequently proceed to sea for many days, for no other purpose under heaven, than to catch cod-fish, and make them into a dish called chowder, which they are extravagantly fond of; and indeed it is so necessary to their comfort, that every inhabitant of Boston knows how to cook it properly. I understand that the very governour of the state, and the selectmen or fathers of the city, as they are called, afford a sanction to this practice, by taking a fishing excursion once every year, as the Doge of Venice marries the sea. This propensity of the Bostonians to catch fish, is accounted for on national principles; the

*The author here labours under a mistake; the inhabitants of Boston, in consequence of being deprived of their accustomed business by the embargo, pursued such amusements as were most convenient. This accounts for the number of fishing boats in the harbour during the last summer.

dry cod-fish is a staple article of commerce from this state, and the coasts around Boston are always covered with fishing vessels during a prosperous foreign trade; but the embargo has put a stop to it. Even one of the capes of Massachusetts bay is called Cape Cod, from the fish usually caught near that head land.

The Americans eat beef-steaks, or salted herrings, or smoked salmon, and drink cider with their breakfast; which in general consists of coffee badly made, or weak tea. I was surprized at the tendency of this people to devour flesh; I thought the English remarkable enough in this way, but they seldom demean themselves so far as to eat it in the morning. The Americans are very slovenly at their repasts, particularly at breakfast, when they mix indiscriminately, fish, flesh, cider, eggs, toast, coffee, and tea, sometimes with, and sometimes without sugar and cream; and they eat with the voracity of ploughmen. I had an excellent opportunity to observe their general practice at Quarantine Island.* I do not know how these people could exist without England; the china, or crockery in which their meals are served up, is manufactured in Staffordshire, and shipped hither from Liverpool, in crates. There is no manufactory of this kind in the United States; and indeed from the cheapness with which they obtain supplies from England, it is clear that no such establishment in America could afford to pay half the wages of its workmen, from any profits the business would afford.

After six days tedious residence in the harbour, I landed in this city three days ago. To show the propensity of the Amercans to make every penny they can, we were allowed to come up to the city one day sooner than we ought by the health laws; this was in consequence of the contrivance of the captain, who fixed his log-book, as he termed it, so that it appeared we had been twenty-five days from Jamaica, when in reality we had only been away twenty-four.

The streets of this place are very irregular ; they are filled with angles and projections of every description, and the pavement and side walks are much broken, and extremely incommodious. State-street, through which I passed into the city, is quite hand

* Pretty observation truly! Quarantine Island frequented by masters and mates of ships, is but a poor situation to judge of the general character of the Americans: we should as soon think of estimating the manners of Grosvenor Square, by observing the ignorance and vulgarity of the inhabitants of St. Giles,

some, and the appearance of high brick houses and glass windows was very agreeable after my long residence in the WestIndies. As I went through this street to my lodgings, I was rather surprized at the multitude of people who were standing still in the street, and apparently gazing at each other. I thought it singular, and secretly wished for one of the flappers which Swift describes in Gulliver's travels, to move them from the spot to which they appeared to be nailed. On enquiring the reason of this singular propensity of the Bostonians to stand in the street, I understood the two side walks of State-street made the Boston Exchange; and though a very large and extremely convenient building was erecting principally for the pur. pose of an Exchange, yet it was believed the merchants would not frequent it, because they were accustomed to the street; and besides, they had prejudices against the structure, which they could not overcome; they said it was not built in the right spot, it should have been placed on the opposite side of the way, and it did not make so handsome an appearance from Statestreet as it ought. I was struck with the profundity of these objections, and shall beg leave to examine them at another opportunity.

I took lodgings at Mrs. **, where I found a number of agreeable companions; but I shall be able to make you better acquainted with them and the town in general, when I write you my next letter, until which time I subscribe myself

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1 A Sermon delivered in Marlborough at the Ordination of Rev. SYL VESTER F. BUCKLIN, Nov. 2, 1808. By PITT CLARK, A. M. minister of the congregational church in Norton. Boston, Belcher, 1809. A plain judicious sermon on the business of a christian minister.

2 The Comforts of Religion at seasons, when they are most needed. A Discourse delivered on the second Lord's day, after the decease of Mrs. ELIZABETH LATHROP, by her bereaved consort, JOHN LATHROP, D. D. pastor of the second church in Boston. Munroe, Francis and Parker. Interesting to those who respect the infirmities of age and the sorrows of piety.

3 A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God; consisting of a meditation for each morning in the year, upon select texts of scripture. Humbly intended to establish the faith, promote the comfort, and influence the practice of the followers of the Lamb. By WILLIAM MASON, Esq. 2 vols. 12mo. Boston, Lincoln and Edmands. A work constructed on the old fashioned principles of Calvinism.

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