OFFICIAL PAPERS. PORTUGUESE EMIGRATION. -- The following Letters were published in London, under the authority of Government, on the 19th of Dec. 1807. (Continued from p. 52.) His Majesty's Ship Hibernia, 22 leagues West of the Tagus, Dec. 1, 1807. Sir,In another dispatch of this day's date, I have transmitted a list of the Portuguese fleet that came out of the Tagus on the 29th ult. which I received that day from the hands of the Admiral commanding it, when I went on board the Principe Reale, to pay my visit of respect and congratulation to H. R. H. the Prince of Brazil, who was embarked in that ship. I here inclose the list of those left behind. The absence of but one of the 4 ships is regretted by the Portuguese (the Vasco de Gama) she being under repair her guns have been employed to arm the Freitea, 64, a new ship, and one of those which came out with the Prince. The other 3 are mere hulks; and there is also one ship on the stocks, the Principe Regente, but she is only in frame. The Prince said every thing that the most cordial feelings of gratitude towards, and confidence in, his Majesty and the British nation might be supposed to dictate. I have by signal (for we have no other mode of communicating in this weather) directed Capt. Moore, in the Marlborough, with the London, Monarch, and Bedford, to stay by the body of the Portuguese fleet, and render it every assistance.- keep in the Hibernia close to the Prince's ship. I cannot as yet send the Foudroyant, Plantagenet, and Conqueror, on to Admiral Purvis, according to their Lordships' order of the 14th, which, I trust, will be the less felt as an inconvenience off Cadiz, as they appear to have been ordered thither with reference to the Russians being within the Straits, before it was known they were on my station. I have the honour to be, &c.-W SIDNEY SMITH. List of the Portuguese Ships that remained in Lisbon. S. Sebastian, of 64 guns; unserviceable without a thorough repair.-Maria Prima, of 74 gans; unserviceable; ordered to be made into a floating battery, but not yet fitted. Vasco de Gaia, of 74 guns; under repair, and nearly ready.-Princesa de Beira, of 64 guns; condemned; ordered to be fitted as a floating battery.-Frigates.-Fenix, of 48 guns; in need of thorough repair.-Amazopa, of 44 guns; in nced of ditto.-Perola, of 44 guns; in need of ditto.—Tritao, of 40 guns; past repair.-Veney, of 30 guns ; past repair.-W. SIDNEY SMITH. Hibernia, at Sea, lat. 37, 47. long, 11. 17. Dec. 6, 1807. Sir, I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that I succeeded in collecting the whole of the Portuguese fleet, except a brig, after the gale, and that the weather was such as to allow the neces、 sary repairs and such distribution of supernumeraries and resources to be made, as to enable Vice Admiral Don Manuel d'Acunha Sottomayor to report to me yesterday all the ships capable of performing the voyage to Rio Janeiro, except one line of battle ship, which he requested might be conducted to an English port. I meant to escort her part of the way, but she did not quit the fleet with me last night as settled. I hope, how ever, she may arrive safe, as she is not in a bad.state, being substituted for the Martino de Freitas, which was at first destined to go to England, in consequence of a fresh ar rangement made yesterday on the latter being found in the best state for the voy age of the two. I have detached Captain Moore in the Mariborough, with the Lon don, Monarch, and Bedford, to attend the Portuguese fleet to the Brazils. I have thought it my duty, in addition to the usual order, to take the above ships under his or ders, to give Capt. Moore one to hoist a broad pendant after passing Madeira, in or der to give him greater weight and conse quence in the performance of the important and unusually delicate duties I have confided to him. I feel the most perfect reliance in that officer's judgment, ability, and zeal.The Portsguese ships did not, after their repartition, want more provisions or slops from us than the list enclosed, which I supplied from this ship and the Conqueror.This dispatch will be delivered by Capt. Yeo, of his Majesty's ship Confiance, who has shewn great address and zeal in opening the communications by flag of truce, which it was the interest of those in power, who were against the measure of emigration to obstruct. Lord Strangford speaks of his conduct in terms of warm approbation; on this ground I beg leave to recommend him to their Lordships, to whom his general merits as an officer are already well known. Having been in Lisbon without restraint during the intercourse, he is qualified to answer any questions their Lordships may wish to put to him. I have the honour to be, &c.— W. SIDNEY SMITH. Memorandum.-The Diana merchant vessel, having on board about sixty British subjects, who had been detained in conse quence of the embargo, came out of the Tas gus in company with the Portuguese fleet, and it is supposed that she bore up for England at the commencement of the gale. FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.—Convention between them, made at Fintainbleau, Oct. 10, 1807.-Katified, Nov. 9, 1907. coming from Cattaro, from the Kingdom of Italy to the Nieper. These troops shall march by battalions, with arms, baggage, and artillery. Every requisite aid shall be afforded them, and an arrangement relative to their subsistence shall be settled between the Courts of Petersburgh and Vienna.-VI. The difficulties which arose in the execution of the treaty of Presburgh being done away by the restitution of the Mouths of the Cattaro, the Emperor of the French engages, that the fortress of Bramau shall be evacoated by his troops and those of his allies, which fortress shall be delivered to the Aus trian troops one month at the latest atfer the exchange of the ratifications.--VII. The present convention shall be ratified as soon as possible, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in one month at the latest, at Paris. FRENCH COMMERCIAL DECREE, Signed We, Napoleon, Emperor of the French, King of Italy, and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, upon the Report of our Minister of Finance, have decreed, and do decree, as follows:-Art. I. The enactments of our Imperial Decree of the 6th August, 1807, are applicable to the cargoes of ve-sels which may arrive in the month of the Weser; those articles of merchandize, therefore, specified in the 2d article of the said decree, shall be seized and confiscated; and all colonial produce shall be accompanied by Art. I. The Thalweg of Lisonzo shall be the limit of the Kingdom of Italy, and the Austrian Provinces, situate on the left bank of its mouth, at the bottom of the Adriatic Gulph, unto opposite the village of Christinisa, near the Canal; from thence, by the straightest line that it is possible to draw the limit, shall rejoin the ancient frontier, near the village of Bistoff; so that the two territories of Christinisa and Bistoff shall remain to the Kingdom of Italy. It shall follow the ancient frontier to the summit of Mount Nataiame, and from thence a line passing from the East to the North of Sturazella, and along the top of the mountain beyond the villages of Creda, Patoco, and Boziana, in such manner, that these villages, and that of Sturazella, may belong to the Kingdom of Italy, shall be prolonged to the summit of Mount Stre, following the ancient frontier-II. For this purpose the Emperor of the French, as King of Italy, cedes to the Emperor of Austria, all that he possesses on the left bank of the Lisonzo, in full property and sovereignty. The Emperor of Austria also cedes to the Emperor of the French, King of Italy, in full property and sovereignty, all that he possesses on the right bank of that river unto the point indicated in the preceding article, comprising all that is s-certificates of origin delivered by our comtuate in same part, whatever it may be, in the Ex-Venetian States, to be united for ever to the Kingdom of Italy.-The Isle of Morosina, being situated on the right bank of the principal arm of the Lisonzo, shall remain to the Kingdom of Italy.-III. In the territories respectively ceded, the subjects of either powers established on one of the banks of the Lisonzo, and possessed of property on the other bank, shall be authorised to receive the produce of their property in kind, it being thoroughly understood, that such produce shall be legally occupied, conformably to the laws of police and customs in force in either state. This grrangement only relates to that portion of territory contiguous to the river.-IV. There shall be a military road communicating between the provinces of the kingdom of Italy to the right of the Lisonzo, Istria, and Dalmatia, and reciprocally. The conventions relative to this road shall be annexed to the present act.-V. A passage through the Austrian ter-ritories shall be granted to the Russian troops mercial commissaries at the different ports as are necessary for vindicating the honour of his Crown, and procuring reparation and satisfaction, his Majesty therefore is pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that general reprisals be granted against the ships, goods, and subjects, of the Emperor of all the Russias (save and except any vessels to which his Majesty's licence has been granted, or which have been directed to be released from the embargo, and have not since arrived at any foreign port), so that as well his Majesty's fleets and ships, as also all other ships and vessels that shall be commission. ated by letters of marque or general reprisals, or otherwise, by his Majesty's Commission cer of the imperial customs on that station, of the place from which they sailed, as well as of those which they touched at, and shall deliver to him their manifesto, bills of lading, sea papers and registers. When the captain shall have signed this declaration, and delivered up his papers, the custom-house offi⚫cers shall interrogate the sailors, one by one, in presence of two head collectors; if it appear, from this examination, that the ship has touched at an English port, beside the seizure and confiscation of the ship and cargo, the captain, as well as those of the sailors, who, upon their examination, have made a false declaration, shall be made prisoners, and shall not be liberated till after paying a sum of six thousand francs by wayers for executing the office of Lord High Adof penalty for the captain, and a sum of 500 francs for each of the arrested sailors, in addition to the penalties incurred by those who falsify their sea-papers and registers.—Art. V. If the advices and information communicated to the director of our customs resident at Hamburgh, excite suspicions with regard to the origin of the cargoes, they shall be provisionally deposited in warehouses, till it has been ascertained and decided, that they come neither from England nor from her colonies. -Art. VI. The line of officers of the customs formed upon the Elbe, and the frontiers of Holstein, shall be augmented by 100 men. The director general of our customs shall give the necessary orders for placing overseers detached from that line, at the ports situated on the mouth of the Weser, and for their exercising the strictest inspection of all ships which shall approach.-Art. VII. The inspectors of customs, are authorised to make visits to the Isle of Neuwerk, and to the Wats, or other little isles situated in the mouths of the Eibe and Wezer.-Art. VIII. The commandants of troops of the line, and of the Gens d'Armerie, are bound to lend their aid to these inspectors, as often as they shall be required to do so by the chief custom house officers of the district.-Art. IX. Our ministers of war and finance, are charged, each in his own department, with the execution of this decree. RUSSIA AND ENGLAND. Order of Council for general reprisals against Russia. Dec. 18, 1807. At the Court at Windsor, the 18th of Dec. 1807, present the King's Most ExcelJent Majesty in Council. His Majesty having taken into consideration the injurious and hostile proceeding of the Emperor of all the Russias, as set forth in the Declaration of this date, issued by his Majesty's command; and being determined to take such measures miral of Great Britain, shall and may lawfully seize all ships, vessels, and goods, belonging to the Emperor of all the Russias, or his subjects, or others inhabiting within the territories, of the Emperor of all the Russias, and bring the same to judgment in any of the Courts of Admiralty within his Majesty's dominions, &c. &c. &c. JAMAICA.-Resolutions, passed unanimously by the House of Assembly, on the 29th of Oct. 1807, relative to the distressed state of the Colony, and especially to the Abolition Act, passed by the last Parliament. RESOLVED, That the Act of the Impe rial Parliament for abolishing the Slave Trade is pregnant with evils to this island, milita ting not only against its general welfare and interest, but threatening its total destruction as a British West India Colony.-That depriving this extensive and yet unsettled island of the means of a supply of labourers from Africa, to cultivate the soil, must be eventually ruinous to the proprietors and others interested in it; many industrious and enterprising settlers, who have braved the difficulties and hardships, always attendant on infant establishments in the interior and mountainous situations, will, with their fa milies, be reduced to poverty and wretchedness; and, when these settlements are aban. doned by their present inhabitants, they will again become the haunts and fastnesses of disaffected and rebellious negroes. That properties in possession of mortgagees, receivers, guardians, and others, must shortly fall a sacrifice to this parliamentary regulation; because, from their peculiar circumstances, they cannot be supplied with la bourers, the result of which will be, to deprive a numerous description of persons, from the earliest state of infancy, to the most advanced and helpless ages, of the com mon means of education and support.-The * * * * * committee forbear, at present, to animadvert further on the injustice and impolicy of that part of the act which relates to the abolition of the slave trade. The British Parliament has so enacted it! But the act contains clauses, foreign to the avowed purposes of the law, which are calculated to establish measures of internal regulation, subversive of the local rights and legislative authority of this island, repugnant to its colonial laws long existing, and founded upon wise policy, and most humane considerations. And that the Act of this Island of the 15 Geo. III. cap. 18, for regulating the manumission of negroes, is directly counteracted by the operation of the clause alluded to. That the act blends two distinct objects the one having an external operation upon' our commerce and trade, which was the object first professed by the partisans of the measure; the other, from the various alterations which the act has undergone, and in which the original principles were departed from, having an internal and unjust operation, by interfering with, and being subversive of, laws which are to regulate the internal government of the colony; the enacting of which has long and uniformly been asserted by this island, and recognized by the pa That, as the original settlers of this island were free British subjects, many of whom assisted in the conquest of it from Spain, it is manifest that they brought with them all the rights and privileges of Britons: that the native spirit of freedom, which distinguishes British subjects, is also the characteristic of his Majesty's loyal inhabitants of Jamaica; and that every attempt to abridge, or interfere with, the colonial rights of this island, have been constantly resisted. The arbitrary measures, in the reign of Charles II. to impose the Irish form of legislation upon this country; the many subsequent endeavours to substitute the King's instructions for laws of this island; to raise money without the concurrence of the people's representatives; have ever been resisted, aud, we trust, will never be submitted to by this colony-That persons in this island, charged with offences against the abolition act, are not, as in Great Britain, liable to be tried only in Courts of Record, but these offences are made also cognizable in the Court of Vice Admiralty, although committed in the interior of the country, which enactment is an absolute disfranchisement of the colonist, by depriving him of his birth-right, the trial by jury. That, in regard to the resources of the island, it appears that, from the last great efforts which have been made by the African merchant and factors in England, the importation of slaves in the current year has been so considerable, as to have produced, of the negro duties, a surplus of near £32,000 after deducting the estimate for the year, and that it is probable, that the duties which will arise from the negroes recently imported, and those which are expected to arrive before the day limited for the termination of the trade, will amount to a further sum of £20,000 making about £50,000 appropriable to the expence of the establishment of the island, or towards redeeming the island papers, which are outstanding, and which amount to £260,000, a considerable part bearing interest at eight per cent.; but, immediately after the first day of March next, that resource will be intirely cut off. That another productive branch of the island revenue, the land tax, introduced to meet the heavy debt occasioned by the Maroon war, and other martial laws, cannot be relied upon to come in aid of our exigencies' to the usual extent, since the uncultivated lands are now rendered of no value to the proprietors; the stemp duties will also, necessarily, be diminished; and the operation of the deficiency law will be unavailing, with respect to the objects cither of policy or revenue, since the temptation which induced settlers to come to, or to continue in, the island, will no longer exist, the natural consequence of which wil be, that the white militia must inevitably be cousiderably diminished.--That, in pursuing the inquiry into the causes which have occasioned the reduction of the value of the staple commodities of this island in the British markets, the committee find that much light has been thrown on the subject by recent publications, which have been widely circulated, and by the report of a committee of the Imperial Parliament, made the last session, after very full inquiry. As these publications, and that report, are accompanied by, and grounded on, official documents, and the most respectable evidence, the committee consider it unnecessary to enter on an investigation of facts, now not controverted, and think they are justified in reporting that the following appear the principal causes which have produced the extreme depreciation of our principal staple, sugar: 1st, The departure from what has been usually called the rule of the war of 1756, but which, in' fact, was established long before that period, and decided, "that a neutral had no right to deliver a belligerent from the pressure of his enemies' hostilities, by trading with his co lonies in time of war, in any manner which was prohibited in time of peace." 2d. The peculiar, relaxations of this rule, by the orders issued to the prize-courts, in the years 1794 and 1798, respectively, which, with very trifling modifications, continue to regulate the decrees of those important tribunals. 3d. The geographical position of the ports of the United States of North America, the neutral power chiefly engaged in carrying the produce of the enemies' West India Colonies, which renders the few restrictions yet retained by the last-mentioned orders, to be hardly an inconvenience, as they are got over by systematic fraud and perjury. 4th. The easy expence, and security with which, by means of this fraudulent sys stem of neutrality, the sugars of the enemies' colonies are transported to the European markets, it having been proved that, for freight and insurance alone, the British planter pays for every hundred weight of sugar, conveyed through the parent state to the ports of Holland, or the North of Europe, Ss. 1d. sterling, and to the Mediterranean, 12s. 6d. more than attaches on the goods of the French or Spanish cultivator, carried in neutral bottoms to the same markets. 5th. The restrictions on importation into the continental ports, from the power and influence of the French domination, whilst the temptation to resist or evade it, is taken away by the abundant supply brought under the neutral flag. 6th. A rigid enforcement of the navigation system against the British colonists, at the time when it was thought expedient to grant relaxations in favour of neutrals and enemies. The agriculture of the colonies of the latter has been encouraged by a monopoly of the demand from the United States of America, and by having their produce transported under the safe and cheap protection of the neutral flag, to every market where it was in request. The British planter, without funds or credit in the mother country, where his staple was of no value, has been restrained from bartering any part of his sugar, in exchange for the lumber and fish which could not be dispensed with, which his rum was unequal to satisfy, and for which, often, it would not be received, whilst it has been shewn that no other resources were left. He has been called upon to send to the American market such produce as he wished to sell or barter there in British bottoms, but no convoys have been appointed, no facilities given to an intercourse which would have required the most decided and regular protection. He is required to sacrifice his all to the preservation of what is called the navigation sys tem. Of that system he admits the wisdom and general utility; but he humbly submits, that it should be supported at the common expence of the empire; and must be permitted to doubt the justice of relaxing it for temporary purposes, in favour of other classes, and rigidly enforcing it against him alone, when not merely occasioning expence and inconvenience, but overwhelming him with ruin. 7th. The inadequacy of the demand for the use of Great Britain and Ireland, compared with the production of the colonies, which must, under the existing laws, be carried and deposited there, whether there shall or shall not be a prospect of exportation. The excess of importation, above the consumption of the United Kingdom, is nearly two-fifths of the whole quantity, or above 100,000 hogsheads of sugar; but the loss of two-fifths of the gross produce of his estate will be far from the measure of the planter's damage; the remainder can piever bear a fair price, whilst the quantity in the market so far exceeds what the consumer requires. Which excess and depression are increased by encouraging a licensed intercourse with the Island of St. Domingo or Hayti. 8th. The excessive duties which continue to be levied on this staple now bearing no proportion to the price, falling nearly, if not wholly, on the grower, and not as has been at all times intended or professed, on the consumer.-To these may be added the discouragement to the planters, by the consumption, in the navy and otherwise, of foreign brandies and spirits, the use of which might be in a great measure superceded by rum. A policy infringing the system of reciprocal monopoly, and aggravating distress, which more liberal conduct towards the colonies might have alleviated.tinuing upon coffee a duty, amounting to a prohibition, in place of endeavouring to bring this wholesome beverage into general ise, must be a just subject of complaint to the inhabitants of this island, and must by the committee be adverted to, as affecting the price of an important staple, which may scon be excluded from the continental market, through the only channel open to the grower. But the overwhelming distress of the sugar-planter, swallows up all inferior and less pressing evils. (To be continued.) Con Printed by Cox and Baylis, No. 75, Great Queen Street, and published by R. Bagshaw, Brydges Street, Covent Garden, where former Numbers maybe had; soid also by J. Budd, Crown and Mitre, Pall-Mall |