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tle of the rules and articles of war. Even if I beger set up a claim to that character. Are you ig. longed to your division, I should not hesitate to re-norant, sir, that had my order, at which your refined peat to you all that I have said, at any time, on your judgment is so extremely touched, been made the subject, if a proper occasion offered; and what is subject of enquiry, you might, from your standing, more, I should expect your appobation, as in my not your character, been constituted one of my humble judgment, refutation is impossible. judges? How very proper then was it, thus situated, As you do not doubt the imputations contained and without a knowledge of any of the attendant in the anonymous letter, a copy of which you enclos- circumstances, for you to have pre-judged the ed me, I shall not degrade myself by any further no-whole matter. This at different times, and in the circle of your friends you could do; and yet had I

tice of it.

I have just shown the article from "The Colum- been arraigned, and you detailed as one of my bian" to some military gentlemen of this place, judges, with the designs of an assassin lurking unfrom whom I learn, that it was probably intend-der a fair exterior, you would have approached the ed to be applied to a case which has recently oc- holy sanctuary of justice. Is conduct like this concurred at West Point. The writer is supposed genial with that high sense of dignity which should to proceed upon a report (which is neverthe-be seated in a soldier's bosom? Is it due from a less believed to be erroneous) that brigadier gene-brother officer to assail in the dark the reputation ral Swift had orders from the war department, more of another, and stab him at a moment when he canthan twelve months since, to remove captain Par- not expect it? I might insult an honorable man by tridge from the military academy, and that he sup-questions such as these, but shall not expect that pressed those orders, &c.-The author is believed they will harrow up one who must be dead to all to be a young man of the army, and was, at the time those feelings which are the characteristic of a genof publication, in this city; but not under my com- tleman. mand, and with whom I never had the smallest intimacy; I forbear to mention his name, because it is only by conjecture.

I have the honor to be, &c. (Signed)

W. SCOTT.

To major gen. Andrew Jackson, &c. &c.

LETTER III.

General Jackson to Gen. Scott.

Head quarters, division, of the south.

Nashville, December 3d, 1817.

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In terms polite as I was capable of noting, I asked you if my informant had stated truly-if you were the author of the publication and remarks charged against you, and to what extent; a reference to your letter, without any comment of mine, will inform how far you have pursued a similar course; how little of the gentleman, and how much of the hectoring bully you have manifested. If nothing else would, the epaulets which grace your shoulders, should have dictated to you a dif

Be- ́

SI-I have been absent from this place a consi-ferent course, and have admonished you, that howderable time, rendering the last friendly office ever small may have been your respect for another could, to a particular friend, whose eyes I closed on-respect for yourself should have taught you the the 20th ultimo, Owing to this, your letter of the necessity of replying, at least mildly, to the enqui4th of October was not received until the first inst. ries I suggested; and more especially should you. Upon the receipt of the anonymous communica- have done this, when your own convictions must. tion made me from New York, I-hastened to lay it have fixed you as guilty of the abominable crime of before you; that course was suggested to me, by the detraction-of slandering, and behind his back, a respect I felt for you as a man and a soldier and brother officer. But not content with answering that you might have it in your power to answer to what was proposed, your overweening vanity has how far you had been guilty of so base and inexcu- led you to make an offering of your advice. sable conduct. Independent of the services you lieve me, sir, it is not in my power to render you had rendered your country, the circumstance of my thanks: I think too highly of myself to suppose your wearing the badge and insignia of a soldier, that I stand at all in need of your admonitions, and led me to the conclusion, that I was addressing a too lightly of you to appreciate them as useful. For gentleman! With these feelings you were written good advice I am always thankful; but never fail to to, and had an idea been for a moment entertained, spurn it, when I know it to flow from an incompetent that you could have descended from the high-and or corrupt source; the breast where base and guilty dignified character of a major general of the United passions dwell is not the place to look for virtue, or States, and used language so opprobrious and inso-any thing that leads to virtue. My notions, sir, are lent as you have done, rest assured, I should have not those now taught in modern schools, and in fashi. viewed you as rather too contemptible to have held onal bigh life; they were imbibed in ancient days, any converse with you on the subject. If you have and hitherto have, and yet bear me to the conclu lived in the world thus long in the entire ignorancesion, that he who can wantonly outrage the feelings of the obligations and duties which honor impose, you are indeed past the time of learning; and surely le must be ignorant of them, who seems so little

to understand their influence.

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of another-who, without cause, can extend injury where none is done, is capable of any crime, however detestable in its nature, and will not fail to commit it, whenever it may be imposed by necessity. Pray, sir, does your recollection serve, in what I shall not stoop, sir, to a justification of my order school of philosophy you were taught: that to a let- before you, or to notice the weakness and absurditer enquiring into the nature of a supposed injury, ties of your tinsel rhetorick: it may be quite concluand clothed in language decorous and unexception- sive with yourself, and I have no disposition to atable, an answer should be given, couched in pom-tempt convincing you, that your ingenuity is not as pous insolence and bullying expression? I had profound as you have imagined it. To my gover hoped that what was charged upon you by my ment, whenever it may please, I hold myself liable anonymous correspondent was unfounded; I had to answer, and to produce the reasons which hoped so, from a belief that general Scott was a sol-prompted me to the course I took; and to the interdier and a gentleman; but when I see those state-meddling pimps and spies of th war department, Tents doubly confirmed by his own words, it becon.cs a matter of enquiry, how far a man of honor

*When, where? General Scott is unconscious of

able feelings can reconcile them to himself, or lon- ! the fact.

who are in the garb of gentlemen, I hold myself re- | say thought of, since. These circumstances will sponsible for any grievance they may labor under show that it is my wish to reply to you dispassionateon my account; with which you have my permission ly. to number yourself. For what I have said, I offer no apology; you have deserved it all, and more, were it necessary to say more.-I will barely remark in conclusion, that if you feel yourself aggrieved at what is here said, any communication from you will reach me safely at this place.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ANDREW JACKSON.

(Signed)

I regret that I cannot accept the challenge you offer me. Perhaps I may be restrained from wishing to level a pistol at the breast of a fellow being, in private combat, by a sense of religion; but lest this motive should excite the ridicule of gentlemen of liberal habits of thinking and acting, I beg leave to add, that I decline the honor of your invitation from patriotic scruples. My ambition is not that of Erostratus. I should think it would be easy for you

Brevet major general W. Scott, United States to console yourself under this refusal, by the applicaarmy, New York.

tion of a few epithets, as coward, &c. to the object of your resentment, and I here promise to leave you The foregoing extraordinary letter was laid aside until the next war, to persuade yourself of their truth until almost forgotten. When certain of his feelings, Your famous order bears date the 22d April, 1817. general Scott sat down to reply to it. He thought At intervals of three or four months thereafterof New Orleans and some other affairs, in which the that is, when it had been officially published to the parties had been respectively engaged, and it ap- troops of your division, and printed in almost every peared to him that a brace of pistols could add paper in the union-as if to challenge discussionsnothing to the character of either. He conceived I found myself in company where it was the subject that at the age he had then attained, some little re- of conversation. Not being under your command, putation for temper and moderation began to be an I was as free to give my opinion on that public act as object worthy of his consideration, however they any one else; for, I presume, you will not assert, might be disregarded by his opponent. In fact, it that where an officer is not expressly restrained by did not once seriously occur to him, that the cou- the military code, he has not all the rights of any rage of either could be put in question, and there- other citizen. For this fair expression of opinion, fore, he found himself perfectly at liberty to consult on a principle as universal as the profession of arms, his sense of justice and propriety, rather than his and which opinion I afterwards, at your instance, passions. Yet he understands, that, on this point, state to you, in all its detail, you are pleased to general Jackson shrugs his shoulders and looks mys-charge me with having slandered you behind your teriously, whilst he suffers his minions to flatter him, that he has obtained a triumph. Miserable vanity! Most puerile and unworthy conceit! A triumph over the fears of gen. Scott! The latter does not doubt the courage of general Jackson; yet he might enumerate several affairs, in any one of which, he was, probably, exposed to greater personal danger It seems that you are under the further impressithan general Jackson has encountered in his whole on that if you had been brought to trial for publishmilitary career. And here let him not "be called a a fool for boasting;" for he may say with one of the ing that order-(an idea that I never heard any other suggest) and I appoined one of your judges, greatest of men, "mine enemy has forced me to that, assassin-like, I should have approached the it." But is it a boast, in an American, to assert his holy sanctuary of justice, &c. such is, I think, your indifference to personal danger? General Scott has language. Now, like you (without believing one commanded some thousands of his countrymen at word of it) it would be as easy for me (manually) to different times, and does not remember three indi- retort all this abuse, as it was for you to originate it; viduals among them, who were deficient in that al-but I must inform you, sir, that however much I may desire to emulate certain portions of your history, I But the foregoing letter has been represented as am not at all inclined to follow the pernicious exama challenge, and the reply to it a non acceptance-ple that your letter furnishes. on the ground of religious scruples. The double false

most universal attribute.

back!-an accusation, which I consider the more amusing, as I never had the honor of being in your presence in all my life! I can assure you, sir, that nothing but my great respect for your superior age and services prevents me from indulging, also, in a little bitter pleasantry on this point.

hood will not escape the reader, although it be true You complain of harshness on my part. My letthat general Scott, in a playful humor, chose to treat ter to which yours is a reply, is, doubtless, some what the letter as a challenge. And as to the other point, bold in its character, but, believing that in an affair however repugnant to his principles, it may be, with you, it was necessary to have right on one's "to do a contrived murder," "either under forms, or side, in order to obtain approbation, I had no other in violation of them, or by his own voluntary seek-care in its composition, than to avoid every thing ing-General Scott, whenever he shall think it ne- personally offensive, as far as the truth, and a fair cessary, will be as free to defend his reputation discussion of the subject would permit; and I still against calumny, as he would be to slay a robber rest persuaded, that the fact corresponds with my who should attempt his life on the highway. He intention. It is true, that I spoke of you and treatknows of no code of morals which would disarm him ed you as a MAN, without the petty qualifications of in either case, nor does the promise in the following common usages; because, in addressing you, they letter; for as that was made without consideration, were then considered as so many diminutives, but I so may it be withdrawn without explanation or apo-am now to apprehend that universal success and aplogy.

LETTER IV.

General Scott to general Jackson. Head quarters, 1st and 3rd miltitary departments, New York, Jan. 2nd, 1818. SIR,-Your letter of the 3rd ultimo, was handed me about the 22nd, and has not been read, I might

plause have somewhat spoiled you; and that I shall ultimately be obliged to fall into the common place habit, observed in respect to common place people, and consider you as nothing more than a gentle

man.

Permit me to request-I think I have a right to demand-a sight of the original anonymous letter which has given rise to this discussion. If I mistake

not, your correspondent is a greater personage than you, perhaps, imagine-nay, so high, that he has once essayed to sit himself above the highest in our political sphere. The letter shall be returned as soon as the hand is compared with that of a certain agent of the personage alluded to.

Mexican Coinage.

[Copied from the Gazette de Mexico into Havanna
papers, and translated for the "Federal Republi-
can."]
Statement of monies coined at the royal Mexican
mint, with the stamp of Ferdinand the 7th, in the
year 1818, in gold and silver.

MONTHS

I cannot close this letter without expressing a belief, that on the return of your wonted magnanimity, I shall be requested to burn the one which has elicited it, by way of apology for the injury it does me. Accordingly, it has been seen, as yet, by but one individual, (of my staff), and shall be held January, in reserve, until a certain time has elapsed-attend- February, ing that just expectation. In the mean time, I shall have the honor to remain, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

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March,
April,
May,
June,

July,
August,
September,
October,
November,
December,

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Table of monies coined at the mint of Mexico, in gold, silver and copper,* in the years 1811, to 18, inclusive.

YEARS

No reply was ever given to the foregoing, and of course, gen. Scott has never seen the original anonymous letter. His suspicions and the whole correspondence were fully communicated, in January, 1818, to a particular friend of governor Clinton, who was perfectly at liberty to give notice thereof to that personage. Whether he did or not, gen. Scott is not informed. A copy of the correspondence itself would have been sent to Mr. Clinton, but for the prohibitory regulation above cited, and which came out before geu. Jackson had time to reply to the letter, if he had been so disposed. Gen. Scott, until his opponent set him the example (a precedent 1811, not disapproved by the war department) supposed 1812, that the first sentence of the regulation, “all publi- |-1813, cations," &c. interdicted manuscript copies as well 1814, as others. Until then a distinction of this sort ap- 1815, peared to him absurd; for how easy would it be for 1816, any of the numerous persons to whom gen. Jackson 1817, has delivered copies, or rather parts of the corres-1818, pondence, to print them. The moment they passed out of his hands they ceased to be under his con-8 years

trol.

After all, it is possible that the suspicions above expressed are unjust, as it respects one individual; although there is not room to doubt, that the anonymous letter was written to serve the views of Mr. Clinton, and that those views have been effected, at least so far as they respect gen. Jackson. Should gen. Scott ever discover or find cause to believe, that Mr. Clinton neither wrote nor dictated the anonymous letter, there is no apology which one gentleman may prescribe to another, that shall not be promptly and cheerfully rendered.

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$4,920,79878 59,638,252 3964,889,244 4 *The amount of the copper coinage was, in the whole, $330,193 36; nearly in equal proportions in În no other, is any the years 1813, '14 and 15. copper coinage returned.

New York Bills of Mortality. Report of deaths in the city and county of New York, for the year 1818. The whole number of deaths during the year 1818, was 3265, viz. 984 men, 736 women, 857 boys, and 688 girls. Of this number, 783 were of, or unAnd here, general Scott must, in candor, state, der the age of 1 year; 328 between 1 and 2; 198 that sometime during the summer or fall of 1818, between 2 and 5; 101 between 5 and 10; 134 bewhen a threat of general Jackson's (that he meant tween 10 and 20; 383 between 20 and 30; 425 beto visit New York for the purpose of "calling out" tween 30 and 40; 359 between 40 and 50; 239 begeneral Scott-published in a Georgia paper, on in-tween 50 and 60; 140 between 60 and 70; 110 beformation derived, as was said, from an officer direct tween 70 and 80; 51 between 80 and 90; 12 between from Florida) was mentioned in the hearing of Mr. 90 and 100; and 2 aged above 100 years. Clinton, the latter replied-"general Jackson would have enough to do, if he undertook to fight every body who thinks with general Scott, on the subject of the famous order,”-- intimating thereby, that he (Mr. Clinton) was still one of those persons.-Gen. Scott's informant who had previously heard of the suspicion entertained in respect to the anonymous letter, was certainly impressed, in that incidental conversation, with the idea, that Mr. Clinton had no agency in dictating the letter: gen. Scott would be very well content to yield himself to the same belief.ber, 232; December, 259. For General Jackson's order, which gave rise to this correspondence, see the Register, vol. XII; p.

320.

Of the diseases, 591 were cases of consumption, 201 of convulsions, 106 dropsy in the head, 141 dysentery, 263 typhus fever, 87 of other fevers, 68 of infantile flux, 74 of hives, 195 of inflamations; 38 of intemperance, 92 of old age, 19 of small pox, 159 still born, 24 of suicide, 111 tabes mesenterica, 123 whooping cough.

Deaths, in January, 230; February 221; March, 254; April, 250; May, 221; June, 227; July, 325; August, 386; September, 363; October, 297; Novem

REMARKS.

The city inspector respectfully reports to the board, a statement of the deaths in the city and

County of New York, for the year 1818; amounting to three thousand two hundred and sixty-five, being an increase of seven hundred and thirty-eight above that of the preceding year.

The British ports were shut against the import of bread stuffs. The last average of wheat was declared at 778 7d. per quarter.

In France, the king had been sick, but had got

There is nothing interesting from Spain. Ferdi. nand was trying to effect a loan.

Hayti. Late accounts from this island indicate approaching hostilities between king Henry and president Boyer. A battle was expected. Boyer has directed that any of his people detected in acts of piracy, shall suffer death.

In consequence of the excessive heats that pre-pretty well again. The export of corn is permitted. vailed during the summer months of the past year, a greater number of deaths took place, during those months, than was usual in former years; this circumstance, combined with the increase of our population, to which may be added the constant influx of emigrants, many of whom being of the poorer class, and unaccustomed to our climate, may account for the number of children that died of distempers peculiar to our summer months, in an atmosphere unusually rarified.

SOUTH AMERICA. McGregor, with 2 armed vessels of 18 guns, 2 transport ships and 3 sloops, loaded with arms and munitions of war, has sailed from Aux Cayes for Carthagena. Many of his men are said to have deserted in consequence of not receiving their wages.

That Bolivar

The returns of deaths received from Baltimore and Philadelphia, however, sufficiently prove that the climate of New York is as salubrious as that of her The patriots in Venezuela, under gen. Pies, are sister cities; to exemplify which, we need only observe that in the year 1817, the deaths in Baltimore said to have attacked Morillo's army, near Cassa(with a population, perhaps, of thirty thousand) amount-gua, and left 600 of them dead on the field--no pried to 1320 whilst in our city, containing a population soners, with the loss of only 64 men. at least four times greater, we had not more than was waiting for 2500 English troops, which were ascending the Orongko to join him, when his force twice that number. The fortunate exemption of our city from the pes-would consist of 6000 men, 3000 English and 3000 tilential visitation of the Yellow Fever, is justly a subject of general gratulation, and solemn thankfulness, and it is to be hoped that the same vigilance that, under Providence, has guarded us from its Scourge, will be the means of shielding our city from GEO. CUMMING. its future visitation. City Inspector.

New York, Jun. 11, 1819.

EDITORIAL REMARK.

natives, with which, assisted by the squadron under Brion of 15 sail, it was expected that Morillo's army would be entirely destroyed, "a retreat being impos sible."

CHRONICLE.

The patriot brig Irresistible, of 14 guns, has captured and brought into Margaretta the "late" royal Spanish brig Nereyda, of 18 guns and 142 men, after a short but lively action; in which the Irresistible had none killed, and only one wounded, whereas Mr. Cumming has travelled a long way out of his the other lost 38 killed and 22 wounded. The Nereyroad to shew a most stupid ignorance, if not a wilda is a fine new vessel, carrying 18 pounders, and was ful perversion of truth. We hardly supposed there on her way to Rio Janeiro with despatches. was any person above 21 years of age in the United States, who had learnt "to write a legible hand and cypher to the rule of three," that would have ventured the assertion-"perhaps, the population of Something new!-An account is just now published Baltimore amounts to thirty thousand;" for the pub-in the newspapers, as if received only a few days lic documents are in the hands of every one, and it ago from the correspondents of their editors in Eng: is known from these that nearly ten years ago we land, giving a description of the British stocks. The numbered above forty-six thousand. It is also noto-very article alluded to, was published in the WEEKLY rious to all men, that our city has continued to ia-REGISTER more than seven years since, and partly See vol. 1, p. 62. crease at a very rapid rate, and it is quite reasonable to made up for this work! President's tour. A Norfolk paper of the 5th believe that our present population [as has been publicly stated in all the newspapers of the United States inst. says-The president of the U. States and the secretary of war,departed from this place at an early amounts to not less than SIXTY THOUSAND, hour on Saturday morning for Elizabeth city, N. C. with the intention of proceeding from thence across Albermarle and Pamplico sounds to Wilmington, Charleston and Savannah, with a view to the careful inspection of the maritime frontier in that quarter. From Savannah it is understood that the president will take an interior direction and proceed as far as | New Orleans, or take a westward course by Augusta, through Tennessee and Kentucky to the new states, as the season or circumstances may determine..

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The editor of the REGISTER, long accustomed to endeavor to regard the United States as his home, is always glad to hear of health and prosperity in any part of it, and would not feel a spark of envy if the city of New York were the healthiest place in the world-but when such silliness, or wickedness, is uselessly practised in an official report to give it pre. eminence at the cost of another city, he cannot fail to deprecate and expose it.

Foreign Articles.

We had prepared for this paper a considerable quantity of foreign articles, chiefly miscellaneous or statistical-but are pressed for room this week, and have postponed them for our next:

The only things of much immediate interest are as follows:

[During the president's stay at Norfolk, the citi zens vied with each other in tendering to him their best respects. He attended a public dinner, and and was present at the laying of the corner stone of the new custom house, with military ceremony and masonic form.]

The Congress frigate, capt. Henley, has left Norfolk for the purpose of coming up to Annapols, to There have been many failures among the mer-take on board Mr. Graham, our new minister to the chants and bankers of England and France-money Brazils-After landing him at Rio Janeiro, she will was scarce and all sorts of merchandize exceedingly proceed round the Cape of Good Hope, traverse the dull. Stocks had fallen considerably in both coun-Indian and Pacific oceans, and return by Cape tries; that of the bank of the United States was quo-She is fitted for a two year's cras, and 13 on board tel in London at 20 a 211-98 80 to 93 24 dollars! a large number of midshipmen, &c.

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NEW SERIES. No. 8-VOL. IV.]

BALTIMORE, APRIL 17, 1819. [No. 8-Vol. XVI. WHOLE NO. 398

THE PAST-THE PRESENT-FOR THE FUTURE.

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY H. NILES, AT $5 PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE,

SUPPLEMENT TO VOL. XV.-If any gentleman who, either by a general or special order, expects this supplement, should not receive it in the course of the mails of next week, he will oblige the editor by informing him of the fact.

made by national or private ships; and the latter may sometimes, constitute the strongest part of the national force, as directed to the purpose of distressing an enemy. We have therefore been pleased to hear of the capture of Spanish vessels by other vessels To preserve the debates on the bank question, under the flag of Venezuela, Buenos Ayres, Chili and on the proposition to forbid the introduction of or New Granada, that Spain may be compelled to slaves into the intended state of Missouri, and record acknowledge the independence of the people of many other articles indispensable to that fulness of those countries. But these flags are now so much the history of things for which we wish the REGIS-abused, as in many cases to cover acts of sheer piraTER characterised, the editor has already resolv-cy, and especially that said to be the flag of Artigas, ed to publish a supplement for the present vo- that our wishes in respect to them have suffered a lume-which shall be so managed as to be finished material change, and we are almost led to desire that at the time that the volume is closed. This resolu- the whole of them, as attached to private armed tion has been taken with unfeigned reluctance; we vessels, were swept from the sea. We can hardly take up a newspaper without seeare not fond publishing these large supplements, the trouble of them is not compensated by the pro-ing an account of some outrage committed under one of those flags, upon the property and persons fit-but, we can't help it. of citizens of the United States-some attempt to

We invite attention to the article headed "Na-smuggle the plunder into our country;-whilst mutional Interests.” We have rarely seen any thing in which correct principles were better driven home. The subject too, is beginning to come home to every man's feelings.

"Sovereignty of the States," No. 3, next week.

tiny and murder makes up the horrid catalogue of offences. The actors in such things are too often our own fellow citizens, and the vessels in which they sail may have been fitted out and owned in our own ports, in defiance of the law of the land.

The depreciation of character caused by those Having said much about our land privateersmen things, is lamentable. No man becomes suddenly -that is, our speculators and stock-jobbers, bank | vile-the heart grows callous to virtuous sensibilities managers and money-manufacturers, we have now. something to say respecting privateering on the ocean. Justice will decide which is most guiltyhe who lays a trap, and, with a smiling countenance, cheats his neighbor out of his property,-or, the person who, with force of arms, and honest looks, The first is the right of fairly seizes it as his own. cunning-the other the right of power; but their character is the same, and they merit the same repre

hension.

Privateering and Piracy.

as it is familiarized to scenes of iniquity. It is step by step, that we arrive at good or evil; the mind is chastened as it receives light, and hardened as it indulges itself with thoughts of crime. In the beginning of the contest between Spain and her late colonies, especially those of Venezuela and Buenos Ayres, we thought it easily possible that many persons might have sailed under the flags of those states, par. tially induced by their love of liberty, as well as for the hope of gain, and their acts could not be wholly regarded by those of mere plunderers, the quo unimo giving a character of their proceedings. But when to get money is a man's sole purpose, whether on the land or at sea, or in a public or private station, he gradually retires from the rules of right which he had prescribed for his own government; and, stimulated by good luck or exasperated by disappointment, he casts down every barrier between himself and his object, and is restrained only by the fear of detection and punishment.

War has been defined to be the "unprofitable contest of nations, trying to do each other most harm;' and is considered prosperous by one party as the greater harm is inflicted upon the other. We are of those who most sincerely wish that mankind would agree to make justice, instead of force, the umpire in disputed cases. But this is not to be hoped The fidelity and good dispositions of our seamen for in the present disposition of the human heart, nor will the state of society admit of it. Hence, we have suffered materially from privateering under the do not regard all wars as unnecessary or unjust. So- patriot flags. Hitherto, we seldom, if ever, heard vereigns will not acknowledge any governing prin- of a mutiny on board of an American vessel (and ciple but power; it is on this principle that monar- they were very rare,) without being able directly to chies exist, it is only by it that a people can recover trace it to some one who had received his education possession of their natural rights. Under these on board a British man of war; and if murder was adviews of the subject, we have thought it just that ded to mutiny, it was almost a certainty that the the inhabitants of South America should make war ringleader was a foreigner. But now we hear of upon Spain, and have most truly wished them suc-both, and are awfully led to believe that some of our cess; feeling also willing that they might derive eve-own countrymen are the chief actors; and so it is, ry aid from the United States which was compatible that the owner of a valuable merchant vessel will with our own local laws, and those which are pre- not ship any seaman who has been engaged in such privateering, if he knows the fact, and can provide scribed for the government of civilized nations. The poor seamen, too, are himself with others wretchedly defrauded of their hard earned share of the plunder, and sometimes turned ashore from long cruise, which was apparently successful, total. tally destitute, with a prize ticket, perhaps, which,

The capture of private property on the sea, either by public or private armed vessels, is held to be a legitimate mode of warfare, and is practised by all The effect produced on either party is the same, whether such captures are VOL XVI.-10.

maritime nations at war.

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