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As soon as the English found themselves masters of the Island, they began to cultivate the earth, and to devote themselves to commercial and agricultural pursuits. They were supplied by the mother country with all those necessaries

But the government of the island, being in its nature military, many, indignant at the idea of tilling the earth, or wanting that industry neces

2 churches, 2 chapels, and an abbey, made but aj larly in the last, which terminated in the comfeeble resistance; and after procrastinating_the|plete conquest of the island. In this battle he time as long as they could, under the pretext of saw his former master and tyrant, whose appearcapitulating, during which they removed their ance inflamed his vengeance and redoubled his slaves and their moveable property to the woods || fury. He plunged into the midst of the enemy, and mountains of the island, they surrendered and pursued his victim-who fell beneath his the empty town to the English. Several unsuc- sword, a melancholy example of retributive jus cessful efforts were afterwards made by the Spa- tice. He pursued his vengeance, and dealt deniards to recover their lost possessions, but they struction among the Spanish ranks. His conduct all proved abortive, and the English remained was so magnanimous and distinguished, that Col. masters of the island, which they have possessed Doyley, without inquiring into his motives, gave ever since. Yenables and Penn being recalled, || him his freedom, and a portion of land; on which Col. Doyley, who accompanied them in the ex- he passed the remnant of his life in sadness and pedition to Hispaniola, was left in command of melancholy. the troops in Jamaica. Col. Doyley was a brave, active, and enterprising officer, and prosecuted the conquest they had made with much zeal and perseverance. The negroes, who had been left by the Spaniards among the mountains to harrass the enemy while they repaired to Cuba to pro-requisite to the establishment of a new colony. cure aid, joined the English, to whom they were of great service upon the return of their old masters, and committed many cruelties. These were the origin of the present race, called Maroons.sary for such an occupation, abandoned themCol. Doyley gave them all their liberty, and re- selves to piracy, and became what were afterwarded each according to the services he had wards denominated the Buccaneers. These men rendered. A fact is related of one of those ne- brought immense wealth into the island; which, groes which deserves a place in this rapid out- by inducing emigration, increased the resources line: A negro man who belonged to one of the and population of Jamaica. It is not my intenprincipal Spaniards, and who was deeply in love tion, if I had room, to give you a detailed history with a woman of his own complexion, by whom of these pirates; it is sufficient that they originhe had several children, was obliged to see herated in the Caraibean islands, were called by the torn from his arms and forced to comply with the French Flibustiers, from the Dutch fly-boats, in shameful desires of his master. He made several which, says Burk,(a) they made their first expeineffectual efforts to obtain justice from the tri-ditions-and Buccaneers, from buccaner, a Caraibunals of the island, and received nothing but bean term, which signifies to roast and smoke, punishment from his proprietor. He swore ven-according to the manner in which those Indians geance against the wretch who had thus exer- were accustomed to serve their prisoners of war, cised upon him such unfeeling tyranny; and the the Buccaneers thus sacrificing the wild animals descent of the English afforded a favourable op- they hunted for their hides and tallow.(b) These portunity to gratify his vengeance. He requested men, by their desperate courage and excessive an interview with his wife. They met in a dark cruelty, became terrible to the Spanish settleand secret recess. He imparted to her his pro-ments in America, which they plundered to a jects of vengeance, and swore that the ardent vast amount; and by making Jamaica their renlove he felt for her would make him always re-dezvous, and there giving reins to their licengret her loss. Our happiness, said he, is for ever tiousness and extravagance, they threw an imat an end: innocent as you may be of the indig-mense mass of wealth into that island. Among nity you have suffered, yet the disgrace cannot these the most distinguished was Morgan, an obbe effaced. I cannot receive into my arms a wife scure and illiterate Welchman, who took Portothat has been dishonoured, nor suffer her to ex- bello, Campeachy, Maracaibo, Gibralter, and Paist in the arms of another. He then tenderly emnama, which he plundered and burnt. braced her, and cried, first object of my most ardent love, farewell, farewell-and plunging a poignard into her heart, held her in his arms till she uttered her last groan. He immediately fled and joined the English. He served them faithfully during all their little combats, but particu

(c)Cromwell, solicitous to have a governor devoted to his cause, sent over Col. Brayne, to supersede Doyley; but the former dying shortly after his arrival, the latter was continued by the

(a) Burk's European Settlements.

(b) Histoire des Adventuriers ou Flibusteers.
Oldmixon.

Rump Parliament, after the death of the usurper || 1702; since which no attempt has been made to and the abdication of his son Richard. It is un-resuscitate the unfortunate city.

necessary to give you a list of the successive governors who, from time to time, were appointed to preside over Jamaica; it is enough to state, that the island, under its respective governors, and the encouragement afforded by the mother country, continued to increase in wealth and population, till it became as rich a gem as sparkles in the crown of the British monarch. For a more detailed account of this valuable island, I would refer you to Long and Edwards, who have both given its history, and from whom you can derive such further information as you may be desirous to obtain.

Before I conclude this letter, I will briefly mention the principal earthquakes which have visited the island since it has belonged to the British government.

For the National Register.

FOREIGN BIOGRAPHY.

I send you some sketches of the favourites of Catharine the 2d, translated from a French work entitled "Memoires Secrets sur La Russie." They will, no doubt, be interesting to the reader, as every thing must be so, connected with that extraordinary woman, who wielded with so much skill the destinies of so vast an empire.

1. SERGEUS SOLTYKOW

Was the first lover of Catharine. It is said, also, that he had her first favours, while Grand Dutchess, because Peter 3d laboured under a physical inability. He was considered in Russia as the true father of Paul. Soltykow became indiscreet, and was banished the court by Eliza

Earthquakes are expected in Jamaica every year, with more or less violence. In the year 1687-8 Şir Hans Sloane speaks of one that hap-beth. He died in exile. pened there during the administration of Christo2. STANISLAUS PONIATOWSKY pher, Duke of Albemarle; but it was of short Soon caused the first to be forgotten. He was duration, and did no great injury. The next, beautiful, gallant, and spirited. He fascinated which happened while the Earl of Inchiqueen the young Catharine, who soon made him happy. was governor, in 1692, was accompanied with Peter seldom troubled them, tho' he was a little peculiar horrors; Port Royal was shaken to its jealous, and he preferred his pipe, his bottle, his foundation; three fourths of its houses and inha-soldiers, and his mistress to his amiable wife. bitants, and all its wharves, were overwhelmed Catharine, when she became Empress, made him by the ocean—the mountains of the island opened King of Poland. His disastrous reign proved, and closed, reeled and trembled like an aspan that when love gives a crown, it is as blind as houses, plantations, trees, and men were swalfavour in distributing credit and employments. lowed up in an instant-ships overset-planta- Stanislaus was the most amiable of men, and tions removed from their positions-mountains most indifferent of kings. If he had, at least, sinking into plains, and plains rising into mounwhen the troubles commenced in Poland, abditains, formed a scene terrible to the imagination. cated a throne which he dishonoured, he would Two thousand inhabitants lost their lives during have excited some interest; but he produced this short, but dreadful visitation; and the whole only contempt. Of all the favourites of Cathaisland is said to have sunk two feet. This earth-rine, Stanislaus was the only one she seemed quake was the origin of Kingston, now the principal city in Jamaica. In consequence of the destruction of Port Royal, the surviving inhabitants repaired to the site on which Kingston now stands, and proceeded to erect habitations; but a general sickness, originating, according to Oldmixon, from the noxious vapours that arose from the various openings of the earth, took place, and 3,000 persons are said to have perished. These are the principal earthquakes that have occurred in Jamaica since its conquest by the British. As to hurricanes, they are so frequent that I do not deem it necessary to enumerate them. Port Royal, which seems to have been, from the first, devoted to destruction, was finally reduced to ashes by a fire, which took place in

desirous to humiliate, after raising. She was indulgent in love, but implacable in politics; because pride was her ruling passion-and love was always mastered by the Empress.

3. GREGORY ORLOW,

Whose favour was so long and brilliant, and whose history is so essentially connected with that of Catharine, seemed to partake with her the throne on which he had placed her. He united all the powers and all the honours which were afterwards seen to decorate Potemkin and || surcharge Zoubow. Although he was young and robust, his brother Alexis, of an Herculean strength and the form of Goliah, was associated with him in his peculiar functions, near the in

were some gigantic, some romantic, and some barbarous traits in his character: and it was true.

His death created an immense void in the empire; and this death was as extraordinary as his life. He had passed almost a year in Petersburg, de

debaucheries, forgetting his glory, and displaying his riches and his credit with an insulting fastidiousness. He received the grandees of the empire as his valets, and scarcely deigned to per ceive the little Paul, and passed sometimes into the apartments of Catharine with naked legs, dishevelled hair, and in a robe de chambre. The old Repnin profited by his absence from the army, to beat the Turks and compel them to sue for peace; and performed more in two months than Potemkin had done in three years. He who

satiable Catharine, then in all the vigour of age. She had by Gregory an avowed son, whose name was Basile Gregorewitsch Bobrinsky, whom she caused to be elevated to the corps of cadets, and of whom Admiral Ribas, then principal of the corps, was the governor. Two beautiful maidslivering himself up to all sorts of pleasures and of honour, whom Protasow, the first femme dechambre, raised as her nieces, passed for the children of Catharine and Orlow. It was for this celebrated favourite that she caused to be erect ed the gloomy palace of marble, where she had the imprudence to have engraved this inscription, "By grateful friendship." The Chateau of Gatschina is still a monument of Prince Orlow. || Twelve years of enjoyment, and the pride of this lover, finally fixed his sovereign firmly on the throne: and, after a long opposition, Potemkin succeeded. The triumph of his rival and the in-wished still to drag on the war, awoke at this constancy of Catharine, whom he haughtily called ingrate, had such an effect on him that he finally lost his health and reason. The proud, the pow. erful, the brilliant Orlow, died in a state of horrible madness, besmearing his visage with excrements, which he nourished as another Ezekiel.

4. WASILTS-CHIKOW,

Whom Panin produced during the absence of Orlow, filled the intervals between the two fierce rivals. He was but an instrument of the pleasures of Catharine.

5. POTEMKIN.

news, and departed: but he carried death in his blood. He arrived at Jassy, which had been a long time his head quarters, or rather his capital and his court: he is gloomy, melancholy, devoured by inquietude, and impatient of his malady. He endeavoured to contend with it, and to conquer it by his temperament of iron. He laughed at his physicians, and nourished himself with salt meats and raw turnips. His disease triumphing, he wished to be transported to Ots-chakow, his dear conquest; but scarcely had he proceeded many versts, when the air of his carriage seemed to suffocate him. They spread his mantle on the edge of the road, on which he laid, and expired in the arms of his niece, Branitska, who accompanied him. Catharine, upon the news of his death, fainted three times; she could not be bled, and they supposed her dying: she displayed nearly the same grief upon the death of Lanskoi. But it was not merely a lover she lost; it was a friend whose genius was identified in hers; whom she regarded as the pillar of her throne and the executor of her vast designs. Catharine, seated upon a usurped throne, hated by her son, was a woman, and timid: she was accustomed to see in Potemkin a protector, whose fortune and glory were closely linked to hers: she seemed to think herself a stranger; she began to fear her son; and it was then she rested on her little grandson, Alexander, who was just out of his infancy, and began to oppose his father.

He came one day boldly to seize for himself the apartments of his predecessor, and attested his victory by rendering himself thus master of the field of battle, which had been so long disputed. His passion, his hardihood, and his colossal form, had charmed Catharine. He was the only one of her favourites who dared to become | a lover, and to spare her those advances which she was always obliged to make. He appeared even truly and romantically smitten. He adored at first his sovereign as a mistress, and cherished her afterwards as his glory. These two great characters seemed to have been created for one another: they loved and esteemed each other when they ceased to be amorous; and politics and ambition chained them together when love ceased to operate. He created, or destroyed, or embroiled every thing; but he vivified all. When That which distinguishes Potemkin from all absent, they spoke not but of him; when pre-his colleagues is, that in losing the heart of the sent, it was him alone whom they saw. The Empress, he never lost her confidence: when great who hated him, and who enjoyed some ambition had occupied the place of love, he still character while he was with the army, seemed preserved his credit; and it was he who gave new at his appearance to sink into the earth, and to lovers to his mistress. All the favourites who be annihilated before him. The Prince de Ligne, succeeded him were subordinates. who wrote him some flatteries, said, that there The sequel will be given in our next.

PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

Adj. and Insp. Gen.'s Office,

September 4. 1816.

GENERAL ORDER.

Promotions and appointments to fill vacancies in the army of the United States, which have occured since the 1st of August, 1816.

Corps of Artillery.

black silk lace. For summer, white vest, single breasted, with white buttons, but without trimmings.

Pantaloons.-Gray cloth for winter, trimmed down the sides with black silk lace, and the Austrian knot in front; no buttons on the sides or at the bottom, but made with understraps. Russia sheeting or white jean for summer, without trimmings; the form the same as for winter.

The Jefferson shoe, rising above the ancle joint

Black silk stock.

2d Lt. Francis O. Byrd, to be 1st Lt. 30th Au-under the pantaloons. gust, 1816, vice Vandeventer, appointed Major in the staff.

2d Lt. George D. Snyder, 1st Lt. 30th August, 1816, vice Robeson, appointed Captain in the

staff.

3d Lt. Thomas I. Baird, to be 2d Lt. 1st August, 1816, vice Mitchell, declined.

3d Lt. Jabez Parkhurst, to be 2d Lt. 30th August, 1816, vice Byrd, promoted.

3d Lt. Robert L. Armstrong, to be 2d Lt. 30th August, 1816, vice Snyder, promoted.

Capt. Wm. L. Robeson, appointed Assistant Deputy Quarter Master General, 30th August, 1816.

Post Surgeon Walter V. Wheaton, appointed Surgeon of the 2d Infantry, 4th September, 1816, vice Bache, resigned.

Hospital Surgeon's Mate William H. Buckner, appointed Surgeon 4th infantry, 4th September, 1816, vice Buck, resigned.

Common round hat.

Cockade-black silk, with yellow eagle, to be worn at all times.

Sword-cut and thrust, yellow mounted, with with a black gripe, in a frog belt of black Morocco, and worn over the coat.

No dress resembling the military, without conforming to the regulation, will be worn on any occasion, excepting that, when attached to corps, cadets will wear the uniform of the company of ficers without epaulettes.

By order of the Secretary of War,

D. PARKER, Adj. & Insp. Gen.

THE STAUNTON CONVENTION. We intended to have prepared an abstract of the proceedings of the Staunton Convention, but have been relieved from that trouble by the edi

Charles Davies, appointed 2d Lt. corps of En-tors of the PETERSBURG INTELLIGENCER, a journal gineers, 31st August, 1816.

Britton Evans, appointed 2d Lt. 2d regiment of Infantry, 30th August, 1816.

William Downey, appointed 2d Lt. 5th regi ment of Infantry, 3d September, 1816.

William Elgin, appointed 2d Lt. 8th regiment of Infantry, 3d September, 1816.

1st Lt. Sackett and 2d Lt. Strother of the 4th Infantry, never having reported and joined their regiment, since the consolidation of the army, are considered out of service..

By order of the Secretary of War,

D. PARKER, Adj. & Ins. Gen.

conducted with much literary talent, and from which we have several times enriched our pages with extracts.

The Convention, says that paper, closed its sitting on the 24th ultimo-We have the Journal of its proceedings down to the period of adjourn ment; but are obliged to content ourselves with a mere sketch.

Monday the 19th August was fixed in the address, dated at Winchester on the 1st day of June last, and signed by Deputies from the Counties of Berkeley, Harrison, Frederick, Wood, Mononga helia, Fauquier, Fairfax, Loudoun, Hampshire, Jefferson and Brooke, for the assembling of a Convention of the People of Virginia at Staunton in Augusta County, for the purpose of devising and adopting measures, having for their object a reform of the existing Constitution of this CommonThe following described uniform will be strict-wealth.-It appeared there were present this day ly adhered to by Cadets, in the service of the sixty-eight members, from thirty-six counties. GeUnited States, and any deviation will be consi-neral James Breckenridge was unanimously elected dered a military offence.

Adj. and Insp. Gen's Office.

September 4, 1816,

GENERAL ORDER.

President of the Convention; and Mr. Erasmus A coatee, of gray sattinett, single breasted, Stribling, Secretary. Mr. Noland first moved that three rows of eight yellow gilt bullet buttons in a Committee of Elections, to consist of three front, and button holes of black silk cord in the members, should be appointed; and Mr. Johnson herring bone form, with a festoon turned at the || proposed that the Rules of proceeding adopted back end; a standing collar to rise as high as the for the government of the House of Delegates of tip of the ear; the cuffs four inches wide; the Virginia, so far as applicable, should be adopted bottom of the breast and the hip buttons to range.for the government of the Convention; both which On the collar one blind hole of cord, formed like propositions were agreed to. General John G. that of the breast, four inches long, with a button Jackson offered a resolution declaring it expedient on each side. Cord holes in the like form to pro-to "adopt measures for a General Convention of ceed from three buttons placed lengthwise on the skirts, with three buttons down the pleats. The cuffs to be indented, with three buttons and cord holes lengthwise on each sleeve, corresponding with the indentation of the cuff, in the centre of which is to be inserted the lower button.

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the People of this Commonwealth, to amend the Constitution of the State," to meet during the present year-which resolution was referred to a committee of the whole. On Tuesday three additional members appeared, one from the County of Culpepper, and two from Patrick County. On motion of Mr. Tucker of Frederick, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole, Mr.

on account of a general wish, that the subject might be maturely considered-On Thursday last another meeting took place but was thinly attended, in consequence of the court having sat until a late hour. On Friday last in the evening, accordat the Court House-The meeting was well attended-A larger number in fact were present than is usual at our town meetings-A motion was made to adjourn indefinitely, but after much debate it failed. The enclosed resolutions were then adopted almost unanimously by the meeting.

Noland in the chair, to take into consideration the objects of their meeting, and after some time spent therein, the Committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again. On Wednesday, a Committee of three was appointed to draft a plan for defraying the expenses of the Conventioning to adjournment, the citizens again assembled A report from the Committee of Elections was received and adopted. According to order, the House spent some time in committee of the whole; made some further progress in the business referred to it, and obtained leave to sit again. On Thursday, a delegate from the County of Wythe appeared and took his seat. The committee rose, and reported the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That this Convention do consider the existing inequality in the representation in the two Houses of the General Assembly of Virginia, as a grievance, and as derogating from the rights of a large portion of the good people of the Commonwealth.

With sentiments of particular respect and consideration, &c. &c.

A. B. SPOONER,
S. CRAWFORD,

For and in behalf of the Committee. The letter and enclosure was laid on the table.

Resolved, That a committee of seven members Mr. Fitzburgh, from the committee appointed be appointed to prepare, on the part of this Con-under two resolutions of the house to draft memovention, a memorial to the Legislature of the State, rials, reported a resolution and memorial as folto be presented at their next session, requesting lows:them to recommend to the people of the State, the Resolved, That the following memorial, to be formation, on fair and equal principles, of a Gene- signed by the President, and at tested by the Seral Convention, empowered to amend the Con-cretary, be presented to the Legislature of Virstitution. ginia, as expressive of the sense of this convention on the subjects therein contained.

On motion of Mr. Jackson, the word "unanimously" was inserted after the word resolved in the first resolution; which resolution, as amended, was agreed to by the House.

A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, but lost, to limit the call of the Convention to a correction of the inequality in the representation; and also to provide for such subsequent amendments as the people may deem expedient.

(MEMORIAL.)

Memorial of the Staunton Convention, to the Legislature of the State of Va.

The Convention of Delegates held at Staunton in the month of August 1816, for the purpose of devising the best and surest means of obtaining such amendments to the Constitution of the Com

The following resolution offered by Mr. Jack-monwealth as will secure to the good people son, was then adopted.

thereof, all the rights and privileges to which Resolved, That this Convention do recommend they are by nature entitled, and of which they to the people of this Commonwealth, the adoption have been deprived by the early adoption of prinof a memorial on similar principles, to be present- ciples, which if not originally and radically wrong ed also to the Legislature at their next session, have become so by the subsequent "operation of and that the committee created by the 2d resolu-natural and accidental causes," beg leave to lay tion just adopted by the House do prepare the draft of such memorial.

On Friday, the communication from the Petersburg Committee was read, as follows:

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before the Legislature of the State, such an exposition of their grievances as will establish at once A committee was appointed under the second the certainty of their existence, the extent of their resolution, consisting of Messrs. Fitzburgh, Jack-operation, and the necessity of their removal. son, Tucker, Burwell, Love, Tucker, (of Fre- Passing over many lesser evils connected with, derick,) and Boyd. & inseparable from the existing constitution, they are satisfied on the present occasion, to confine their attention exclusively to one; not doubting PETERSBURG, 12th August, 1816. that the same remedy which will be applied to it, will at the same time be extended to every To the Chairman of the Staunton Convention. principle in the constitution, inimical to the rights A letter directed to Mr. Francis G. Yancey and and happiness of an independent people. No Mr. John S. Barbour of this town, requesting an doctrine has received a more universal ascent association of other individuals with them for than that in a republican government the will of the purposes therein mentioned, was duly receiv- the majority should be the law of the land. And ed and has been attended to-A committee com- yet in a state boasting of the pure and republican posed of Robert Birchett, Christopher T. Jones, character of its institutions, this first and fundaSamuel Crowford, John H. Brown, Thomas Shore, mental principle of republicanism does not exist; Francis G. Yancey, John S. Barbour and Alder B. for (to borrow the language of a late eloquent apSpooner, having consulted together, concluded to peal to the people of Virginia) "the government request a meeting of the citizens of Petersburg at of the commonwealth is actually in the hands of the Court House, by public notice in the newspaa minority; and what is still more pernicious to pers. Notice was given, and at the appointed the general interests, in the hands of a minority hour, a large number of citizens assembled-An inhabiting a particular section of the state. For adjournment took place for the purpose of cir-ty-nine counties, adjacent to each other in the culating more extensively among the people an address forwarded by a delegation from several counties in the western section of the state, and

eastern & southern sections of the state, including three of the boroughs situated in those counties, have a majority of the whole number of repre

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