the United States; the departure of the Leander, Cambrian, and Driver from the harbours and waters thereof, and interdicting for ever the entrance of such harbours and waters to the said armed vessels, or any vessels which shall be commanded by the Captains (repeating their names) of the British ships of war mentioned." Should they refuse to depart, or return at any time, all interCourse with them is prohibited; pilots are forbid to assist in navigating them; and no supplies of any kind are to be furnished to them.

The death of Pierce, the American seaman, is not the only grievance of which the President, in his Proclama. tion, complains. The violation of the jurisdiction, and "the unlawful interruptions and vexations committed on the trade" of the United States, are also brought in justification of this severe order.

The ferment created by this unfortunate event had, however, considerably subsided at the date of the last accounts; but as the Leander had again sailed from Halifax, to resume her station off New York, it is feared that her re-appearance may have produced fresh irritation. During the height of the popular fury on the late occasion, no Englishman, known to be such, could appear in the streets of New York, but at the hazard of his life.-Parties paraded with American colours hoisted over those of England. Meetings had been held to originate resolutions, in which England was execrated, and their own Government treated with the grossest contempt, for its tą:diness in declaring war against England. The walls were covered with inflammatory hand. bills, the writers of which, with the newspapers attached to the party, stuck at nothing that might fan the popular fury.

This unfortunate event produced also a great sensation at Washington; it was supposed that five frigates would be ordered immediately for New York, and that every vessel that could carry a gun would be got ready. Congress had adjourned to December, but it was supposed that it would be summoned to meet again by the middle of this month.

In the violence of parties which has been displayed on this occasion, the Federalists are the most intemperate.

On

The Leander, Captain Lewis, sailed from New York in February last, , with General Miranda, a large quantity of regimental cloathing, arms and accoutrements for 15 or 20,000 men-she cleared cut for, and arrived at Jacquemel, in St Domingo, about the 1st of March. On her passage she met with the British ship of war Cleopatra, who pressed twenty of the people on board, all of whom are said to be English or Irish, and were without protections, în lieu of whom the Cleopatra put on board the Leander a number of Americans. the arrival of the Leander, at Jacquemel, there was the appearance of the greatest secrecy, no one was admitted on board, nor no one, except Capt. Lewis, was permitted to go on shore, and he, as soon as he landed, set off to visit and report to the Black Emperor of Hayti, at the new city of Dessalines, which is built in the mountains, and strongly fortified; it being the determination of the brigands to burn all the towns on the sea coast, should the French ever attempt to invade the island again, and defend themselves in the mountains to the last. While Captain Lewis was on his visit to the Emperor, the negroes at Jacquemel became very uneasy at the great secrecy observed by the Leander, and before his return sent a formal message to know their business, and made preparations attack the Leanmbassador not be der, should their well received; but their messenger meeting a polite reception, and an ex

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plan

planation given, their fears and anxiety subsided, and all was quiet. After the return of Captain Lewis from head quarters, Miranda began to prepare, by enlisting men, of whom he picked up a number of renegadoes, who called themselves Americans; selling this as well as their native country, wishing not to see their creditors again; like Serjeant Kite, he enlisted them all for officers. Having mustered about 250 or 300 of these officers, and two or three small additional vessels, he sailed from Jacquemel on the 26th of March, for Barcelona on the Spanish Main, near Cumana, where he expected to effect a landing, and be joined by a large body of the inhabitants, for which purpose he had prepared a large number of proclamations to be distributed as soon as he could get a footing, or send ashore on his arrival off the coast. In these proclamations, he invites his countrymen to join his standard, and that he would free them from their tyrannic master, would give them liberty, &c.

By the Leeward Island mail, we learn that Miranda had arrived on the Spanish Main, and actually taken possession of the island of St Marguerita; that he had afterwards obtained possession of Barcelona, and what is of still more importance, of Cumana; that he had been joined by thousands of the inhabitants; that he was provided with sufficient pecuniary means for his purpose, and the whole province was expected to fall. The inhabitants, we are indeed assured, have long been in expectation of Miranda, and not long ago signified, that if he did not soon come to their assistance, they would exert their own strength, and endeavour to throw off the oppressive government of Spain.

The accounts of Miranda's progress are fully confirmed by dispatches, dated April 18th, received by Government from Admiral Cochrane, who has writ. ten home for instructions how to act on this extraordinary occasion. It appears that the Admiral had previously written to Miranda, requesting to know if he had any sanction from Great Britain or her allies, and offering, in case he produced any satisfactory proof of such a sanction, to co-operate with him, and lend effectual support to his proceedings. Miranda gave no answer, and as the case was delicate and difficult, the Ad.

miral very properly thought that it did not become him to interfere, without full authority and directions from his superiors at home.

It was supposed, but it would seem erroneously, that the American Government were concerned in the expedition. Two persons, Samuel G. Ogden and William Smith, of New York, are now under prosecution for aiding him. These persons lately presented memorials to Congress, avowing their participation in the enterprise, and declaring it to have been their belief that it was countenanced by the implied sanction of the President and Secretary of State. The memorials were taken into consideration the day Congress adjourned. They were considered as a scandalous and indecent attempt to injure the character of the President and Secretary, and were ordered to be given back, after several strong resolutions on the subject were passed.

It is impossible to anticipate the determination of the British Government upon this subject; whether they may deem it expedient to afford General Miranda any assistance in the very bold and extensive plan which he has formed, or whether they will leave him entirely to his own resources. The emancipation of South America from the Spanish Government would certainly be highly advantageous to this country, because it would not only diminish the resources of our enemies, but would open a new, and extensive market for British commerce. But whatever may be the determination of his Majesty's Ministers upon this subject, General Miranda will, at all events, derive very essential support from the British navy, because it will of course intercept any reinforcement which the Spanish Government may endeavour to send out.

The following letter from the well known Thomas Paine, to a gentleman in Washington, has been published, in order to throw some light upon Miranda's expedition,

"New Rochelle, March 20. "I will inform you of what I know respecting General Miranda, I first became acquainted with him at New York, about the year 1783. He is a man of talents and enterprize, a Mexican by birth, and the whole of his life has been a life of adventures,

have suffered a long time under their own agitations and those of Europe. Witnesses of the catastrophes that have overthrown some states; victims of the disorders by which the whole have been shaken; they have been made sensible that the force of interests and connections, by which the great powers are at present united or divided, has rendered indispensibly necessary for them to place themselves under the first political safe guard of Europe. They have felt, that even their weakness has prescribed the necessity of reducing their own institu». tions into harmony with those of that state whose protection can guarantee them against the danger of servitude or

"Sire! We are charged to express to your Majesty the wishes of the representatives of our people. We pray that you will grant us, as the Supreme Chief of our Republic, Prince Louis Napoleon, your Majesty's brother, to whom we deliver, in full and respectful confidence, the guarantee of our laws, the defence of our political rights, and all the interests of our dear country. Under the sacred auspices of Providence under the glorious protection of your Majesty-and, in fine, under the power of the paternal government which we request of him, Sire, we dare to hope, that Holland, assured in future of the unchangeable affection of the greatest of Monarchs, and strictly allied even by its destiny to that of your immense and immortal Empire, will see the renewal of its ancient glory and prosperity, and that repose it has so long been deprived of. Its losses then will no longer be considered as irreparable, and will only leave behind them a faint remembrance.".

His Majesty answered in the following terms:

"Gentlemen Representatives of the Batavian people,

"I have always looked upon the

protection of your country as the first, interest of my crown. Every time I have been called upon to interfere in your internal affairs, I have been struck with the inconveniences attached to the uncertain, form of your government.Governed by a popular assembly, it had been under the influence of intrigues, and agitated by neighbouring governments. Governed by an elective magistracy, every time this magistracy was renewed produced a crisis of alarm to the rest of Europe, and the signal of new maritime wars. None of these inconveniences can be guarded against otherwise than by a- hereditary government. This I recommended to your country by my councils, when the last constitution was established, and the offer that you have made of the crown of Holland to Prince Louis is consistent with your true interests, and with.my own; and it is adapted to secure the general tranquility of Europe, France has been sufficiently generous in renoun eing all the rights which the events of war had given her over, Holland; cannot entrust the strong places which cover my northern frontier to the keeping of an unfaithful, or even to a doubtful hand.

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but I

"Gentlemen, I agree to the request of their High Mightinesses. I proclaim Prince Louis King of Hollanda You, Prince, reign over these people. Their forefathers only acquired their independence by the constant assistance of France. Holland afterwards became allied to England she was conquered

still she owes her existence to France. Let them then owe to you their Kings, the protection of their laws and their religion; but never cease to be a French

man.

You and your heirs will possess the dignity of the Constable of the Empire. You will recollect the duties you will have to fulfil towards me, and the importance that I have attached to the safe keeping of the strong places upon my northern frontier, and which I confide to you. Prince, maintain among your troops that spirit which I have observed among them in the field of battle. Cherish the sentiments of union and love for France among your new subjects. Be a terror to the wicked, and a father to the good-this is the character of the greatest Kings."

Prince Louis, advancing to the foot

of