fortune in getting between two such eminent || travellers as Elphinstone and Holland. In short, it would tire your patience to read a full description of this reviewer's study, which, in my estimation, surpassed every thing of the kind I had before witnessed.

frigate La Atocha, and after her consumption by fire, he obtained his release with much difficulty. Spain, beware--you are playing a dangerous game. Mr. Meade is said to be imprisoned about some private business with the Spanish governmenthe has been in prison for some months. The chief conspirators against Ferdinand's life have been executed.

France. A great activity prevails in the French naval department. The frigate Cybele, with 2 sloops of war, are to be stationed at New-Foundland, for the protection of the fishery. The French regicides are not to be permitted to reside in France. Louis 18th has ordered the forfeited property of Bonapart's family to be distrilost their pensions by their wounds in battle. No distinction is made. Gen. Guyor has been sentenced to twenty years imprisonment, instead of death. Didier's confessions have caused the arrest of several persons Another disturbance has taken place at Grenoble. A bad understanding is said to exist between France and Sweden.

But what gave me the greatest satisfaction, was the peculiar situation of the celebrated Exposition, to which I have before alluded. It was surrounded on all sides by piles of authors, some in boards and some in calf, while near it on the table lay a sheet of paper partly blotted and partly interlined. The pamphlet itself was still clean and neat, without any rents or defacements; but some of the surrounding authors were dreadfully folded and soiled, and many of them torn in two parts.-buted among the officers and soldiers who had As this was a circumstance that naturally inspired me with courage, and as I concluded, from the disfigured appearance of the aforesaid sheet of paper, that the critic must have been considerably bothered in attempting to explain away the truths of the 'Exposition,' I ventured to ask him how it happened that this little work could so easily withstand the repeated attacks of such an Canada. The Canadian government has issued army of authors as that by which it was surround- a proclamation declaring the ports open for all ed? "Come gentlemen," said he, "let us try a lit- kinds of grain, provisions, &c. from the United tle wine; my wife wants to talk to you about A-States, for three months, in British vessels. The merica, and I long to hear what is going on there price of flour is said to be 18 dollars per barrel. in the literary way." This was, at least, a most happy knack to evade the question? but a Scotchman, when he sets his head for any thing is as obstinate as a mulc. So we drank a glass of wine and bade adieu to this grand inquisitor of the literary world.

American Literature.

S.K.

||

England. It seems that Canning is a candidate for parliament from Liverpool. The papers state that he was "severely handled, and narrowly escaped the brick-bats that were thrown at him." The alien bill has passed the House of Commons.

DOMESTIC.

Redheffer's perpetual motion, as it has been, styled, is said to be permanently at rest. He has laboured with much zeal and assiduity to cause a cause that should produce an effect greater than itself.

from the contest.-300 Swiss and 400 Wertemberg the opponent of Mr. Clay, have both withdrawn emigrants are said to be on their way to the United States.-The flooring and railing of the

It cannot but be highly gratifying to every American of letters, to learn that the History of America, by the late venerable and much lamented Mr. Davenport, of Connecticut, has publicly Dr. Ramsay, is about to be put to press, and executed in a style that will do credit to the state declined a re-election. Mr. Robertson, of Louisof the arts in this country. The work is to be iana, has been re-elected to Congress. Mr. Henpublished solely for the benefit of his family, the opponent of Col. Johnson, and Mr. Barr, This, apart from the pre-eminent ability of the author, will be a powerful stimulant to public patronage. The history was brought down to 1808 by the Doctor, and will be continued to the close of the late war by the Rev. Dr. S. T. Smith.great bridge in Providence has been lately com We understand that Mr. Duponceau is about to undertake a work on languages, in which he means to show that the languages spoken, from Greenland to the Hudson, by the aborigines, are fundamentally the same, differing only in certain

dialects.

SUMMARY-FOREIGN & DOMESTIC.

FOREIGN.

Russia. The Russian army is to be kept on the war footing. The army stationed on the frontiers is said to be dissolved, and the troops have commenced their march to the remotest provinces of this empire.

Sweden.-The Crown Prince, in consequence of the Swedish ambassador not having been received at the French court, has been seriously alarmed, and has applied to Russia for protection, which has been promised.

pleted. The dimensions are:-the south foot walk is nine feet wide, the carriage way sixtyfeet; the whole width, including the railings, is three feet, and the north foot walk twenty-three and thirty feet. It is believed to be the widest about ninety-seven feet; its length one hundred bridge in the United States, if not in the world.By the papers from the east, we learn that the unusual cold season will probably cause the crops of Indian corn to be something less than in ordinary seasons, but that other crops will be abundant.-The schooner Mary & Elizabeth, Captain Davis, from the Grand Banks, arrived at Gloucester, Mass. on the 28th ult. with fifty-seven thousand fish, being the largest fare ever arrived at that place.

United States Bank.-From the accounts which we have seen published, it is calculated that there remains a deficiency of 5 or 6 millions unsubscribed to this stock. It is believed, however, Spain. In imitation of Great Britain, the Spa- that whatever deficiency there may be when all niards have commenced the practice of impress-the returns are received, it will be filled on the ment also. They impressed, some time ago, a second opening of the books in Philadelphia. As young man, named Cambell, of respectable con- soon s the returns shall be completed we shall nections in New-Jersey, on board the Spanish publish them.

No. 24. VOL. I.] WASHINGTON, SATURDAY AUGUST 10. 1816. [WHOLE NG 24.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY JOEL K. MEAD, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.

SOUTH-AMERICA.

spread of republican principles through the nation, all indicate the certain triumph of our SouthAmerican brethren. The establishment of a republican and independent government in SouthAmerica is an event peculiarly desirable. A country which stands unrivalled in beauty and in the profusion of nature's blessings, requires a form of government which would secure the enjoy ment of those blessings, and the fruition of those gifts, which nature has so lavishly bestowed. Under present circumstances, it is weakness and absurdity in the Spanish government to persist in its efforts to crush the insurgents. They have gained too firm a hold to be shaken, and have advanced too far to recede. Were there even a

There is, perhaps, no spectacle in nature more interesting and sublime than a nation contending for its liberties. Mankind revolt at oppression, and have a natural aversion to tyranny: there is an incessant struggle to cast off the shackles by which they are bound, and to return to that state for which nature destined them. We rejoice at the triumph of him who has rescued himself from the chains of the despot that oppressed and manacled him; and we glory in the success of a nation that has undertaken to wrest from the hand of the tyrant who withholds them, the imprescriptable and unalienable rights of man. It is, then, with no common interest, we view the pa-possibility of success, it is perhaps questionable, triotic and noble struggle of our South-American whether it would redound to the advantage of brethren for independence; and that interest is the Spanish crown to retain the colonies. Spain, increased in proportion to the despotism of him at the period Columbus discovered the new world, who now wields the sceptre of Spain. We who stood high as a nation: she was distinguished for have once bled in a similar cause; who have once her chivalry; for the elevation and grandeur of contended as they contend, for the sacred liber- her national character; and for the boldness, enties of man and the overthrow of tyrants, must terprize, and liberality of her subjects: but now indeed be lost to the common sympathies of our the scene is reversed, and she is perhaps three nature, if we do not feel a double interest in || centuries behind every other civilized nation of their welfare and success. Whatever may be the the earth-" Gods, how unlike her sires of old"— policy of government, which, in order to avoid The cause of this degeneracy may be ascribed, in contentions and to maintain peace and harmony a great degree, to the discovery of South-America, with foreign nations, suggests a neutrality of con- which, by affording an outlet to her population, duct, we yet feel as men, and those feelings must and opening a channel of exhaustless wealth, probe strongly elicited in behalf of the patriots of duced indolence, luxury, vice, and effeminacythe south. For many years they have struggled the national character became enervated and enfor freedom; but their struggles have been hither- feebled-science sunk beneath the gloom of su to limited and circumscribed. Like all revolting perstitious bigotry-and the energies of the hu nations, they have had to contend with the diffi- man mind were destroyed by the want of powerculties and embarrassments incident to such a ful motives to virtuous action and generous en state. The want of money; of munitions of war; terprise. Remove these causes of depression, and of a sufficient naval armament, and the darkness there is a probability that the public mind will and terror which the gloomy and superstitious recover its former activity and energy-will cast government of the mother country had cast over off the torpor & darkness by which it is paralized the minds of the colonists, have tended to retard and enshrouded; and, by producing stimulants to the progress of the arms of the independents, industry and enterprise, restore the national chaand to prevent that success which would inevita-racter to its wonted energy and vigour. It would bly have followed their exertions in the cause of appear, therefore, that it is the policy of Spain to freedom. acknowledge the independence of South-America, But these difficulties are now vanishing, and and to abandon her fruitless and unavailing atthe cause of liberty in the south is acquiring tempt to crush the germ of freedom that has now vigour, like fame, by progression. The ultimate gained so extensive a growth in that continent. success of the patriots is, we think, scarcely It is scarcely necessary to remark, that the indequestionable. The length of time they have main-pendence of South-America would be invaluably tained their ground; the accession of force by emigration from Europe and America; the present facility of acquiring munitions; and the wideVOL. I. B 2

beneficial to the United States. The surplus produce of this country would always find a market there, and thus add to its commercial and agri

habitants who equally possess in their forests the two species of chesnut oaks described above. This species is not commonly disseminated in the forests which contain many trees and shrubs. It is very rare, on the contrary, to meet with it in a great many places where it should grow very well, & it is more frequently found only in districts. There, then, either alone, or mixed with the quercus banisteri or bear oak; it covers spaces more or less considerable in extent-sometimes excceding 100 acres. The existence of these two kinds of oaks is always a certain indication of sterility of soil. The following places are those in which I have more particularly observed the dwarf ches. nut oak. In the neighbourhood of New-Providence, (R. I.) that of Albany, (N. Y.) in Virginia, upon the Alleghany mountains, and in East Tennessee, near Knoxville. I have found it also in the suburbs of Philadelphia, in the park of Mr. Hamilton, where its grows spontaneously.

This species, and another which grows in the midst of heaths in the southern States, are, of all the oaks of America, the least considerable in size, not commonly exceeding 24 or 30 inches in height.

The leaves of the dwarf chesnut oak are oval, topped with a clear green above, and pale below; they are indented with sufficient regularity, but not deeply cut: the acorns, contained to the third of their length in a scaley cup, are middling large, a little oblong, and equally rounded at their two extremities; they are very sweet to the taste. It appears that nature has been desirous to compensate for the smallness of this oak, by an abundant fructification. It is often so much so, that the nuts, pressed, and closed into each other upon the stock, bend to the earth where they remain concealed at full length: but it is necessary to remark, that these stems sometimes scarcely exceed the size of an ordinary quill: If the scantiness of this species renders it improper even for fuel, it might perhaps yield some advantage from the abundance of its fruit, particularly if it were connected with the quercus banisteri, which is no higher, and which offers the same advantages as to fruit.—p. 66.

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

W

Adjutant and Inspector General's Office,
August 1, 1816.

GENERAL ORDER.

Preparatory to forming a list of the army, conformably to a resolution of Congress, passed April 27, 1816, the State and Country in which

each commissioned officer was born, will forth
with be reported to this office.
By order,

D. PARKER, Adjt. & Insp. Gen.

Adjutant and Inspector General's Office,
August 1, 1816.

GENERAL ORDER,

Promotions to fill vacancies in the military peace establishment of the United States, which

have occurred since the 17th of June, 1816.
Corps of Artillery.

1st Lieut. Milo Mason, to be captain, 17th May 1816, vice Herriot, declined.

2d Lieut. John W. Kincaid, 1st lieut. 17th May, 1816, vice Mason, promoted.

2d Lieut. Robert Goode, 1st lieut. 15th July, 1816, vice Morgan, resigned.

3d. Lieut. Richard H. Lee. 2d lieut. 17th May, 1816, vice Kincaid, promoted.

3d Lieut. Jesse M'Ilvain, 2d lieut. 15th July, 1816, vice Goode, promoted.

3d Lieut. William L. Boothe, 2d lieut. 16th Ju ly, 1816, vice Whetmore, resigned.

5th Regiment of Infantry..

2d Lieut. Subael Butterfield, to be 1st lieut. 30th June, 1816, vice Cilly, resigned. 7th Regiment of Infantry.

2d Lieut. Jacob Tipton, to be 1st lieut. 5th July, 1816, vice Hays.

8th Regiment of Infantry.

2d Lieut. Russell B. Hyde, to be 1st lieut. 1st July, 1816, vice King, resigned.

The officers above promoted will report accordingly, subject to the approval of the Senate at their next session. By order,

D. PARKER, Adj. & Ins. Gen.

SPANISH TYRANNY AT CADIZ.

In recording the following documents it may be useful to preface them with some of the circumstances connected with the affair they deve lope, and which will serve to show the character of the Spanish government under its “legitimate sovereign."

Mr. Meade, it appears, has been a resident merchant in Cadiz for a number of years, transacting business on his own account and as agent for many of the first mercantile houses in the U. States: That during the investment of that city by the French, the citizens were indebted to the credit and enterprize of Mr. Meade for much of their subsistence, as well as the army of Andalusia after the siege was raised. During the troubles of the Spanish government, when their funds were exhausted, they found a resource in Mr. Meade, whose advancements at sundry times amounted to more than two millions of dollars, he relying with confidence on the honor and good faith of that go, vernment for an indemnification when their diffi

culties should be removed. Occasional and par- || refusal he was seized and sent to the castle of Santa Catalina and remained a prisoner there on the 27th of May last.

tial payments, we learn, were made by bills on London, but, a large portion of those advances is still due him. Not contented with receiving these large sums thus generously advanced, he was seized during the setting of the Cortez and thrown into prison, for refusing to surrender the whole of his property, and that of others entrusted to him, without security for payment. This being the ac of the civil authorities of the city of Cadiz, he ap pealed, from the unjust procedure to the Cortez, and wrote and printed a pamphlet in the Spanish language, in a manly and spirited style, detailing the circumstances of his grievance, a copy of which, he caused to be put into the possession of each member of that body. Though this bold and dignified course obtained his release and the res pect of the liberal and virtuous, yet his stores were broken open and his property taken; whether it was ever restored or paid for we do not know, but that a vast debt remains yet unpaid is certain.

On the 2d of May the auditor of war of Andalusia, with an adjutant of the governor and a scrivenor, waited on Mr. Meade at his own house, and informed him that a royal order had been issued under the sign manuel, in virtue of a secret consultation of war through the department of state, under the direction of Don Pedro Cevallos, and com

manding the captain general of Andalusia to execute it. The tenor of the matter in implication was a sum of money required to be paid into the royal treasury, or satisfactory security to be given for its payment to the tribunal of commerce at Cadiz-That information had been given that he was about to depart from Cadiz, and that if the money was not immediately paid or the required security given, they were ordered to seize on and secure his person. Mr. Meade remonstrated against such a proceeding, and the false allegation as to his departure. Aware that if confined he could not so well manage the transaction, and upon the consultation of some friends, he proposed to give security by a deposit of notes, in which the

When this security was laid before the consuls, as they are called, they changed ground and refused to accept any security but cash.

The pretext for the outrage recently practised on Mr. Meade is connected in some measure with the debt of the government. In the transaction of his mercantile business, by negociations and agen-members of the city were among the signers.— cy, he obtained a credit on the Spanish treasury to the amount, perhaps, of $150,000, which, with a further credit to a considerable amount, he em. ployed, with the consent of the public authorities, in the discharge of the debt due him, and closed the negociations, in which he was enabled to secure a considerable sum on account of Spain in foreign countries. This affair was honorably adjusted at the Spanish treasury, and triplicate receipts given for the amount. More than a year had expired when it was intimated to him, that he must deposit a sum of money in the Spanish treasury, equal to the amount for which he had receipts, in liquidation of part of his claim. At this time, Mr. Meade was acting as consul for the United States. He urged the injustice of the demand, and the impossibility of his compliance, his funds being vested in mercantile adventures in other countries. As consul, he had no funds, and if he had, he could use them only in the service of his country. He was threatened with imprisonment if he did not comply. Possessed of the evidence of the government, that the sum demanded was already paid, he should deem the demand antendant and treasurer in Seville, where large sums unjustifiable outrage, and should, of course, refuse to refund a sum which had been paid to him, and which constituted but a small part of what was justly due him, of a debt contracted to relieve the necessities of the Spanish government. Upon thus

Mr. Mead offered to give security for his person to any amount, and would add to this the security of the notes; and represented to the auditor that he possessed bills and orders of his majesty on his different treasuries in the provinces for ten times the amount; that he was determined to undergo every personal suffering in preference to aug. menting the amount which the Spanish govern||ment already owed him; and of which there was no hopes of payment, since his majesty had issued a royal order in September last, declaring all debts or obligations of the government, or contracts made prior to December, 1814, should be considered as belonging to the public debt, which was tantamount to saying these debts would never be paid, as all the evidences of the public debt were then selling at a discount of 80 or 90 per cent. and added that it was in vain to say the royal order contained an exception to foreigners, since his own claims had been suspended, and the royal in

were due him, had declared in writing that his claims were included in the decree, and that he must apply to the directors of the public debt, notwithstanding he had proved himself a native and citizen of the United States, and had alway,