Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume], March 26, 1823, Image 2

About Harpers-Ferry free press. [volume] (Harper's Ferry, Va. [i.e. Harpers Ferry, W. Va.]) 1821-1824

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
ihe Throne cf your Majesty, and of your
Constitutional authority, the sovereignty
and the rights of the heroic nation which
they represent and the Constitution by
which they exist.
“ The Cortes are bound to assure your
Majesty, and they do assure your Ma
jesty. that to attain so sacred an object,
they are ready to decree every species of
sacrifices, certain that the Spanish peo
ple will bear them with joy, with enthu
siasm, and that they will resign them
selves to all possible evils, rather than
enter into terms with those who would
“pretend to taint the honor or to attack
their liberties.
« Such is the declaration of the Cortes ;
and they hope that the national power,
thus fortified by the! union which exists
between the throne, the Cortes and the
people, will be sufficient to impose res
pect on the enemies of Spanish indepen
dence and liberty—to secure perhaps
peace, and certainly the glory of the na
tion—to consolidate its future welfare
under the empire of the Constitution
which governs us, and the salutary prin
ciples of which, promise to our country
the most flattering destinies.”
FOREIGN NEWS.
FROM THE NEW YORK COM. ADVERTISER.
Although the cream of the European
intelligence has been published, yet the
reader will find many interesting extracts
in our columns. The Persians, numer
ous and victorious, are crowding upon
the Turks, which must create a strong
diversion in favor of the Greeks, whether
the Muscovite should step in to their as
sitance or not. On the first page will
also be found, among other articles relat
ing to Spanish Affairs, the address of the
Cortes to the King, on the notes of the
Allied Powers, Russia, Austria, Prussia,
and France. It will be seen that this pa
per breathes the same spirit of indigna
tion against the conduct of the Allies,
and the same resolute determination to
repel the meditated aggression, at any sa
crifice, which has marked the other offi
cial papers from the same source.
There is also an interesting letter from
the Queen of Portugal (eldest sister of
Ferdinand VII.) to her husband, written
after she received the order of banish
ment from the Kingdom, for refusing to
swear to the Constitution of the Cortes.
It evinces much spirit and feeling.
But the European intelligence is not
all. Details of the destruction caused by
the terrible earthquake at Valparaiso, and
the no less terrible conflagation_jit„Caj3
ton, also help to make up our “ day’s re
port,” of the sufferings and cal&mitities
“ with which earth is filled.”
LONDON, .TAN. 30.
Portugal and Brazil.—'Intelligence from
Portugal, through Spain, to the 8th inst.
has been received, which is three days
later than the date of the intelligence
brought by the last mail from Lisbon.
A vessel from Rio de Janeiro has
brought a copy of the following letter
from the Prince Royal, (now Emperor of
Brazil,) to the King :
“ Rio, Oct. 23—My Father : The filial
love which in all respects I owe to your
Majesty, makes me anxious to inquire
after your Majesty’s health, in which I
am deeply•interested, as all sons who,
like me, love their fathers, must be.
« Your Majesty will be informed by the
public papers which I transmit, of the
high dignity to which I have been raised
by the unanimous voice of the good, loy
al, and brave people, to whom I am ex
ceedingly grateful, since they are dispos
ed to support me, my imperial posterity,
and the dignity of this nation, of which I
have the happiness to be Emperor and
perpetual defender; afid in which the
Portuguese nation may find a refuge from
the adversities which threaten it.
“ I have the honor, with all respect, to
kiss your Majesty’s Royal^hand, Your
Majesty’s affectionate son.
“ PEDRO.
<c P. S. See the arms cf the empire oi
Brazil,”
LIVERPOOL, FEB. 1.
The Queen of Portugal.—Some time
back the Queen of Portugal made a dig
nified asiswer to the required oath of fide
lity to the constitution of the Cortes. The
following is a letter addressed by this
Princess to the King, her husband:
“ Sire: I have received to night,
through the hands of your Ministers, an
order to quit your kingdom. It is, there
fore, to send me into exile that you oblige
me to descend from the throne to which
you have called me. From the very bot
tom of my heart, I pardon and pity you.
All my contempt and hatred shall be re
served for those who besiege and deceive
you. In the land of exile I shall be more
_free than you in your palace. I bear li
with me—my heart is not enslaved
jiever bent before the haughty
have dared to impose laws
would force my consci
Iwnicu it disapproves.
\ to their menaces, I
2 of Heaven, which
he of grandeur is past,
rcome, for it will be
£ueen has guarded in
cf the diadem, nor
suffered its splendor to be tarnished ; and
when crowned heads, who hold the scep
tre and the sword, have bended, she stood
firm and fearless.’ As a submissive
spouse, I will obey you, sire, but I will
obey you only ; and to you alone will I
say, that my own sufferings and the ri
gours of the season render my departure
at this moment impossible. They have
not yet demanded of you an order for my
death. I shall very shortly depart, but
whither shall I direct my steps to find a
tranquil asylum. My native land, like
your own, has become a prey to the spirit
of revolution. My brother, like you, is a
crowned captive, and it is in vain that
his youthful spouse demands the privi
legeof wailing with me in a pious re
treat. You will not refuse me the com
pany of my daughters, Amid the laws
imposed on you, there is not one which
separates infants from their mothers; and
.though my rights as a Queen are not ac
knowledged,- those of a parent will be
perhaps respected. On the approach of
spring, I shall quit your kingdom—the
land where I have reigned—where I have
done some good. I shall go and share
the dangers of my brother. I will say to
him—they have not been able to bend my
resolution ; I am an exile, but my con
science is pure, for I am mindful of the
blood which flows in my veins. Adieu,
sire; I leave you, old and infirm, on a
tottering throne. On separating from
you my grief is great. Your son is not
with you—and the wicked place a grea
ter barrier between you than the sea. A
sullied crown hangs on your hoary locks.
Oh ! may that Lord who reigns over
kings, watch over you, and confound
your enemies. Wherever she exists, that
spouse whom you exile, will pray for
your majesty 1 she will beg of God to
grant you length of life, and to the coun
try from which she is driven happiness
and peace. “ THE QUEEN.”
HIGHLY INTERESTING DETAILS.
From the Courier .Francois.
LISBON, JAN. 3.
In a sitting.of the Cortes on the 31st
December, the Minister for Foreign Af
fairs, said that his Most Faithful Majes
ty having required from the friendship of
Great Britain a frank declaration of the
extent to which she would countenance
her at this moment, when menaced by
the formidable league of four great Pow
ers, has received from the British Minis
ter the following confidential reply:
u The English Government having solemn
ly declared, vu the face-ofthe vicrtf that
it does not assume the existence of a right
cf intervention in the internal concerns of
other states, England will feel herself ob
liged to lend to this kingdom all the suc
cour of which it may stand in need, as
often as its independence may be menac
ed by any other Power, in any manner
whatever. This promise, which is only
the repetition of that which England has
made under other circumstances and at
various times, has no relation, and can
have none, with our political institutions ;
its object being simply to declare, that
those institutions have not changed, in
any manner, the relations which hereto
fore existed between the two countries.
“ Such, gentlemen, is the ultimatum of
Great Britain. All Europe will see what
we have to expect from that power, in the
great struggle in which we may be en
gaged
Bayonne papers to the 15th inst. reach
ed us this forenoon. The passage of
couriers between Madrid and Paris is ve
ry frequent, particularly commercial ex
presses. The greatest disorder prevails
among the scattered bands of the Army
of the Faith, who fly before the constitu
tional troops when attacked, and lay waste
the country. Their ranks are, however,
rapidly thinning, and within the last
three weeks upwards of 1200 men have
abandoned them-—the Army of the Faith
was defeated at Estella, on the Sth inst.
and the remains fled in great disorder to
the mountains of Laboronda. Gen. O’
Donnell is at Bayonne, and Gen. Queseda
is also expected there from Paris.
The letters from Madrid paint, in glow
ing colors, the enthusiam of the nation in
favor of the constitutional system, and
the firm determination to make any sacri
fice rather than submit to foreign inter
ference.
The new levies are every where made
with the greatest order and regularity; and
in many places after the drawing lots for
the number required was finished, groups
of young men cried out “ let us all march
at once if the countryhas need of us.” A
general confidence is entertained that in
case France should declare war, Spain
has nothing to fear with respect to pecu
niary resources; it is presumed that the
immense amount of the national domains
will be considered as ample security for
any loan that may be found necessary.
Much reliance is placed on a neighboring
power, which cannot see with indiffer
ence the Peninsula invaded by the French
troops ; and there is no sacrifice or con
cession which Spain is not willing to
make in favor of the power in ques
tion.”
ARRIVAL OF THE SPARK.
NORFOLK, MARCH 17.
United States’ Brig Spark, Capt. Wil
kinson, 22 days from Tampico, via. Ha
vana, 12 days from the latter, arrived at
this port on Saturday last. The Spark
did not see any thing1 of Com. Porter’s
Squadron. We learn from Capt. Wilkin
son that the Archbishop of Tampico em
barked 20th February, on board a Spanish
man of war, bound to Spain, his steadfast
opposition to the government of Iturbide
having rendered him so obnoxious to the
Emperor, as to cause serious apprehen
sions for his personal 'safety. He em
barked under an escort of troops.
The Spark has been absent seven
months, and during her cruise has lost
the following officers and men by fever—
which prevailed on board until the 28th
December: Lts. James Nicholson, Wal
ter Newcomb ; John B. Fannings Purser;
Midshipman C. T. Wattles ; Robert Da
vis, Captain’s clerk ; John Wey?nan, Sea
man, Philip Meyrick, ordinary Seaman,
and William Wood Marine. The officers
and crew of the Spark are now in good
health.
The Spark sailed from Havana 3d inst.
with a convoy of 10 sail of vessels, a
mongst which was the ship China, of
Salem.
The Spark sailed from Vera Cruz on
the 18th and Tampico on the 21st ult.—
when she left the former place, it was
said, that some negotiations were pending
between Santa Anna and Iturbide, and
that a proclamation had been issued by
the latter, announcing the fact, and direct
ing a suspension of hostilities until the
issue of some propositions, about to be
submitted to him by Santa Anna, should
be made known. On the evening of the
20th, the Spanish armed schooner San
Pedro, captain Hamilton, arrived at Tam
pico, from Vera Cruz, which brought in
formation that the Imperial flag (with
out a black pennant*) was dying on both
the forts of that place, which was indica
tive of a pacific conclusion to the negoti
ations.
iu consequence oi me trouoies in .Mexi
co, many of the inhabitants had left the
country, and others continued to depart
by every opportunity, carrying with them
all their valuables. There were two ves
sels lying at Tampico, ready to sail for
Havana, full of passengers.
*Capf. Wilkinson states, that the
black pennant being displayed with the
flag is an index of revolutionary move
ments.
Safe arrival of Com. Porter's squad
ron.—Capt. Warner, (vessel’s name not
remembered,) who arrived at Havana
from New York, just before the Spark
sailed, informed, that the Decoy, (store
ship of Commodore Porter’s squadron,)
had captured (or detained) a vessel, off
Key West, supposed, from appearances,
to be a Pirate. From this circumstance,
the safe arrival of the squadron of Com.
Porter, at its destined cruising ground,
may be inferred.
Extract of a letter from Havana, by the
Spark, dated the inst.
“ The Spaniards have been exceedingly
alarmed here for a few days past, in con
sequence of a report that the English go
vernment had issued letters of marque and
reprisal against their property, which is
now partially contradicted by a late arri
val from Europe; they still, however, have
some fears, knowing the English would
like very much to get possession of the isl
and.
“ We have a great deal of military pa
rade here, one battalion of the city guard
being constantly on duty.”—Beacon.
Schoener Packet Thompson, Ragged
Island 10 days. Salt—to M. Lazarus.
Left, schooner Cygnet, Rich, for Wil
mington, N. C. in 5 days. The British
sloop Widow’s Son, Mason, from Bocca
Cavalio, arrived at R. Island on the 22d
ult. Captain Mason asserted that he was
boarded off the Mocoses, by 3 boats, man
ned with 27 men, who searched his ves
sel, and finding that she was not worth
capturing, permitted her to pass.-—-They
told captain M. they were in search of
American vessels, and intended to mur
der every American they fell in with—they
pointed to a schooner at anchor on shore,
which thev had captured a short time
previous, and SAID THEY HAD PUT
THE CREW TO DEATH. Captain
Mason asked them if they were not
afraid of the American cruizers; to
which they replied that they always car
ried their nets and lines with them,
and whenever they fell in with an Ameri
can cruizer they threw their arms over
board and went to fishing. Captain M.
also reported, that while at Bocca Cavel
lo, 500 bbls. flour were brought in by
two small vessels, which had been taken
from Americans. There were about 45
men on the Mocosas, who were of the
same concern with those of the boats.
[_■Southern Patriot.
The Philadelphia papers of the 19th
inst. say that Shad were selling at the
wharves fot 50 cents each.
m
FIRE AT PHILADELPHiJT
PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 17.
An awful spectacle was presented to
our eyes this morning, between the
hours of three and five, in the confiagra-’
tion of the noble edifice the Washington ,,
Hall, in Third street, and the adjoining 1
large Hotel. The flames, as they burst 1
from the roofs of both, illuminated aeon- '
siderable part of the city, and threatened
all the ivnmediate'neigborhood. Several
of the private dwellings near, were re
peatedly on fire. Had the weather
been boisterous, very extensive damage
might have ensued, notwithstanding the
indefatigable exertions of the fire and
hose companies, which were as remarka
ble and praiseworthy on this as on form- .
er occasions. As the case is, the public
loss is great. The Washington Hall, an
immense pile, built at great expense,
formed a convenience for various public
purposes ; the utility and beauty of the
Hotel are sufficiently known every where.
The first may be said to be wholly de
stroyed : the roof and interior of the main
building of the other are consumed, but
most of its furniture has been saved.
The fire originated on the stairs in the
southwest corner of the Washington
where there had been none before kindled
since the 22d of February. It is suppos
ed to be the work of an incendiary. The
person who had charge of the Hall, and
lodged in it, states that no lighted candle
had been in the back part since Thurs
day last. The Hall we understand, was
insured for S 10,000 ; the Hotel for $5,000.
Mr. Gadsby, of Baltimore, was in treaty
for both the buildings, to be used as a
Hotel. No injury was sustained by any
of the numerous inmates of the Hotel,
The ladies were removed without danger
or difficulty.—Nat. Gaz.
FROM HAVANA.—By the schooner
Louisa, arrived at Charleston on the 13th
inst. in five days from Havana, advices
have been received at the Courier Office,
which states that great activity and bus
tle prevailed there, preparatory to an ap
prehended attack from the British naval
forces in the West Indies.—Every sea
man found on shore was impressed into
their service, and efforts were making to
put their military defences in the best
condition. The U. S. brig Spark leflj
vana a few days before the Louisa,
for Norfolk.—Capt. Jones passed in
of Key f/V-cst, and saw a number oj
sels at that anchorage, which w«|
bably a part of Commodore
squadron.
MEXICO.—A letter from Alvarado
dated Feb. 10, says—-Some troops have
marched towards Mexico, and I thi
the Emperor is in a p
The country is likely to
with the paper money he
the payment of which th
no other security than his
lars are very scarce. The
fleers every veA makes, gr
I cannot describe .lv'*' * vn
—who have no coi,-%^ c ^
ciples, and are altogetn. lj|
value of rational liberty.
Late advices from Syria give a deplo- /
rable account of the situation of the in
habitants who survived the earthquake.
In addition to the sufferings produced by
hunger, disease, and exposure to the in
clemency of the season, a horrid stench;
arising from the number of dead bodies,
had obliged them to leave the camji they
had formed in the neighborhood of he
towns, abandoning all hope of any reco
very of their property, and reluctantly <
forsaking their habitations, their homes,
and the tombs of their ancestors !
•mam
FROM THE LONDON COURIER, JAN. 27.
Yesterday died, at his house in Bed
ford-row, Charles Hutton, LL>. D. F. R,
S. in the 86th year of his age. This ven
erable character will be remembered with
gratitude as long as useful science is du- t
ly appreciated. Perhaps no name can
be mentioned, either ancient or modern, -
that has so successfully promoted those
branches of mathematical knowledge,
most conducive to the practical purpo
ses of life, as Doctor Hutton. He has
been an eminent author for upwards of
sixty years, and during forty of that pe
riod, he discharged the arduous duty’ of
professor of mathematics at the royal
military academy, and at Woolwich,
with the highest honor to himself and
advantage to his country. His improve
ments in military tactics have greatly -]
promoted the success of the British ar
tillery and engineers for the last half
century, and have even been acknowledg
ed and adopted by several of the first
professors of the continent.
With unfeigned sorrow, we have to
announce the death of our distinguished
countryman, Dr. Jenner, the discoverer f
of Vaccination. He expired yesterday $
morning, after a very short illness, at his
house at Berkelev, in the 74th year of his 1
age.
It is already announced that the author
of the Waverly novels has i nother inter
esting work in hand—name not given,
' -.ji