and wounded, our bowsprit and three masts gone, several guns useless, we should not be justified in wasting the lives of more of those remaining, who I hope their Lordships and the Country will think have bravely defended His Majesty's ship; under these circumstances, however reluct antly, at fifty minutes past five, our colours were lowered from the stump of the mizen-mast, and we were taken possession gate Constitution, commanded by Commodore Bainbridge, who, immediately after ascertaining the state of the ship, resolved on burning her, which we had the satisfaction of seeing done as soon as the wounded were removed. Annexed I send you a tain advantageous positions, our opponent evidently avoiding close action, and firing high to disable our masts, in which he succeeded too well, having shot away the head of our bowsprit with the jib-boom, and our running rigging so much cut as to prevent our preserving the weather-gage. -At five minutes past three, finding the enemy's raking fire extremely heavy, Capt. Lambert ordered the ship to be laid on board, in which we should have suc-of, a little after six, by the American friceeded, had not our fore-mast been shot away at this moment, the remains of our bowsprit passing over his taffrail; shortly after this the maintop mast went, leaving the ship totally unmanageable, with most of our starboard guns rendered useless from the wreck lying over them. At half-return of the killed and wounded, and it is past three our gallant Captain received a dangerous wound in the breast, and was carried below; from this time we could not fire more than two or three guns until a quarter-past four, when our mizen-mast was shot away; the ship then fell off a little, and brought many of our starboard guns to bear the enemy's rigging was so much cut, that he could not now avoid shooting a-head, which brought us fairly broadside and broadside. Our main-yard now went in the slings, both ships continued engaged in this manner till thirty-five minutes past four, we frequently on fire, in consequence of the wreck lying on the side engaged. Our opponent now made sail a-head out of gun-shot, where he remained an hour repairing his damages, leaving us an unmanageable wreck, with only the mainmast left, and that tottering. Every exertion was made by us during this interval to place the ship in a state to renew the action. We succeeded in clearing the wreck of our masts from our guns, a sail was set on the stumps of the fore-mast and bowsprit, the weather-half of the main-the main deck, and Lieutenant Saunders, yard remaining aloft, the main-tack was got forward in the hope of getting the ship before the wind, our helm being still perfect; the effort unfortunately proved ineffectual, from the main-mast falling over the side, from the heavy rolling of the ship, which nearly covered the whole of our starboard guns. We still waited the attack of the enemy, he now standing towards us for that purpose; on his coming nearly within hail of us, and from his manoeuvre perceiving he intended a position a head, where he could rake us without a possibility of our returning a shot, I then consulted the officers, who agreed with myself that our having a great part of our crew killed with pain I perceive it so numerous; also who commanded on the forecastle, I also our gallant enemy, Commodore Bainbridge,, vourably estimated; and by a consideration and his officers.- -I have the honour to on the momentous period at which the trust be, &c. HY. D. CHADS, First Lieutenant has been renewed.- -From the weight and magnitude now belonging to it, I should be compelled to shrink, if I had less reliance on the support of an enlightened and generous people, and feel less deep of His Majesty's late ship Java. P.S. The Constitution has also suffered severely, both in her rigging and men, having her fore and mizen-masts, maintop-ly a conviction, that the war with a powmast, both maintopsail-yards, spanker-feature in our situation, is stamped with erful nation, which forms so prominent a boom, gaff, and trysail-mast badly shot, that justice which invites the smiles of and the greatest part of the standing rig- Heaven on the means of conducting it to a ging very much damaged, with ten men successful termination.-May we not killed, the Commodore, Fifth Lieutenant, cherish this sentiment, without presumpand forty-six men wounded, four of whom tion, when we reflect on the characters by are since dead. which this war is distinguished?—It was not declared on the part of the United States until it had been long made on them in reality, though not in name—until arguments and expostulations had been exhausted-until a positive declaration had been received that the wrongs provoking it would not be discontinued-nor until this appeal could no longer be delayed without Force of the Two Ships. 28 long eighteen-pounders. 46 guns. Weight of metal, 1,034 lb. Ship's company and supernumeraries, 377. breaking down the spirit of the nation, de CONSTITUTION. 32 long twenty-four-pounders. 22 carronades, thirty-two-pounders. 1 carronade, eighteen-pounder. 55 guns. Weight of metal, 1,490 lb. AMERICAN STATES. Washington, March 4. stroying all confidence in itself and in its political institutions; and either perpetuating a state of disgraceful suffering, or regaining, by more costly sacrifices and more severe struggles, our lost rank and respect among independent powers. On the issue of the war are staked our national sovereignty on the high seas, and security of an important class of citizens, whose occupations give the proper value to those of every other class. Not to contend for such a stake, is to surrender our equality with At twelve o'clock this day, James Madi-other Powers on the element common to all, son, the President of the United States elect, having attended at the Capital for the purpose of taking the Oath of Office, delivered to the vast concourse of people assembled on the occasion, the following Speech : "About to add the solemnity of an oath to the obligations imposed by a second call to the station in which my country has here before placed me, I find in the presence of this respectable assembly, an opportunity of publicly repeating my profound sense of so distinguished a confidence, and of the responsibility united with it. The impressions on me are strengthened by such an evidence, that my faithful endeavours to discharge my arduous duties have been fa and to violate the sacred title which every member of the society has to its protection. -I need not call into view the unlawfulness of the practice, by which our mariners are forced, at the will of every cruising officer, from their own vessels into foreign ones, nor paint the outrages inseparable from it. The proofs are in the records of each successive administration of our government-and the cruel sufferings of that portion of the American people have found their way to every bosom not dead to the sympathies of human nature. As the war was just in its origin, and necessary and noble in its objects; we can reflect with a proud satisfaction, that in car(To be continued.) Published by R. BAGSHAW, Brydges-Street, Covent-Garden. VOL. XXIII. No. 20.] LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1813. [Price 1s. -[706 705] the true account of the quarrels between the Prince and Princess of Wales. - - He left it with me to read. I read it, and I found (for I had seen part of the real Book before) that, not only was it a mere ro SUMMARY OF POLITICS. BERKSHIRE MEETING." SPIRIT OF THE " Book.”- This county, one of the very first in the kingdom to step forward in all zases where Justice calls for the people's in-mance, that it was, as to its intended meanterference, met on Monday, the 4th in- ing, a string of lies; but, that the author stant, to address the Princess of Wales. never could have seen the Book, or any part Mr. MONCK moved the Address, and of it.- -When, therefore, Mr. Haydn was seconded by Mr. MAKANESS, who returned, I gave him his manuscript; was followed by Mr. HALLETt.- These told him it was all falsehood; told him that Berkshire men talk too freely for me to dare it was very unjust to publish such a thing; to insert their speeches. But, I have read, and advised him to have nothing to do with with great pleasure, all the excellent things the matter. The production was, howthey said about the parties, high and low, ever, published; and Mr. Haydn brought concerned in the transactions of which they me a copy and gave it me.- -He asked spoke. There was a Mr. REYNARD, me to mention it in the Register. I told who spoke against the Address, who was him, that I could not do any thing tending very neatly answered by Mr. H. MARSH. to give the work currency, because I knew But, what I am anxious particularly to no it to be wholly false, and because I regardtice with regard to this Meeting, is, an obed it as containing matter calculated to do servation of Mr. Reynard, relative to a pub great injustice to the Princess of Wales. lication, called the "SPIRIT OF THE He then asked me to be so good as to "BOOK." his gentleman is reported to write against it! That I also refused, as have said, that that work contained matter being likely to aid in the circulation.against the Princess, which had not yet However, it wanted no aid of mine. Cu→ been answered. That any person, pre-riosity; the love of diving into such mattending to speak at a public meeting, should have named such a publication, as containing any thing worthy of serious notice, is quite surprising; and it only shows to what shifts and tricks the enemies of the Princess are ready to resort. The thing -This is the true history of the work, having been mentioned, however, and on which Mr. REYNARD thought proper to resuch an occasion, I will, for the informa-fer to at the public Meeting of a county, as tion of the Tax-payers of Berkshire, give containing serious matter against the the real history of this publication.I Princess of Wales.--What, after this, saw it in manuscript: it was while I was will not the enemies of the Princess trump in Newgate for two years, for having writ- up? Will they stop at any thing? I ten about the flogging of English militia- think it is not likely that they will; and, men, at the town of Ely, in Englaud, under therefore, the public ought to be upon their the superintendence of German Troops, guard against every thing which they say. and about a year before I paid the Prince Regent a fine of a thousand pounds, for the same crime; while, I say, I was thus in Newgate, a young man, who said his name was HAYDN, came to me with the "Spirit of the Book," in manuscript, and told me that it was the writing of a person then in the King's Bench prison.He told me, that, under feigned names, it was ters; and the manner of dressing up the story, sent it through all the circulating libraries in the kingdom. The sale was immense; and the profit, as I am told, not less than three or four thousand pounds. -The Address, in Berkshire, was, it seems, carried with only two voices against it; but, as we are told in the Morning Chronicle, Mr. DUNDAS, one of the Coun ty Members, has refused to present it, on account of certain parts in it censuring the conduct of the four Lords, who held the Inquiry. If this be true, the people of Berkshire ought to bear it in mind. What Z little deficient; namely, in not having addressed the Regent upon the subject of his Royal Consort's escape from so base and wicked an attempt against her honour and life.His joy must be as much greater than any other man's, upon the occasion, as his honour was more at stake. Her ac quittal; the complete proof of her innocence, and of the guilt of her infamous enemies: the shame, the disgrace, now affixed for ever on the heads of the "suborned and above all men, satisfaction. Indeed the whole of the Royal Family, and, amongst the female part, the Queen, that good old Lady, her aunt and mother-in-law, must feel her heart warmed at the wiping off of these aspersions on her family. I think, that Her Majesty also ought to be address right has Mr. Dundas to refuse to comply with a vote of the whole county upon such a ground as that which is here alleged? The people of the county voted, that the Address, which they agreed to, should be carried up by the county Members; and, if those Members refuse, what pretty representulives they are! They seem to think, however, that they are not chosen by the people; they well know, that it is not the free popular voice that has placed them where they are; and, therefore, they disregard," perjured traducers," must give him, very likely, that voice.- -The Meeting included, as it ought, all persons in the county, paying taxes; and, surely, a man who pays taxes, ought to have something to say in the affairs of the country and the government. Here, again, we see (and, indeed, it meets us every where) the want of a reform in the parliament. The state-ed; for, as I find from the Gazette, she was ment about the conduct of Mr. Dundas may be untrue; but, if he has refused, the cause is, that he knows that he does not depend for his seat upon the payers of the taxes; but, in the first place, upon the dependants of Government; upon the aristocracy and the church; and, then, upon their dependants. If every man who pays taxes had had a vote in the county, Mr. Dundas would not have refused to present an Address of the people.Mr. HALLETT made an observation that was very striking. It was this: that, when the Addresses were going on against the conduct of the Duke of York, the movers were accused of factious and disloyal motives; and, that, now that they are addressing the Princess upon her escape from the machinations of disloyal conspirators, they are still accused of factious and disloyal motives.As he observed, these accusers are very difficult to please. The truth is, they depend on the Government for the whole, or part, of what they pos-haps, for this second series of Addresses sess, and, they imagine, that Addresses for the Princess are as disagreeable to those in power as Addresses were against the Duke of York.- -That they think this is manifest enough; but, the wonder is, why they should think so! Why they should imagine, that Addresses, expressing joy at the escape of the wife from a foul, and base, and infamous conspiracy, should be displeasing to any one in power. Why they should think this is the wonder; and yet, that they do think it, appears very clear to me; because I always see them ready to pour in Addresses, when those Addresses are manifestly pleasing to the Government. -There is one thing, in which, I think, the people have been a I Difcounts, addressed upon the marriage of the Princess, and upon the birth of her child. Why not address the Queen now? I would, if I had any thing to do with Addresses. I do not like the idea of treating the Queen as if she were out of date. There can be no doubt; it would be disloyal to doubt, that Her Majesty must feel the most lively satisfaction upon the occasion; and, by all that's loyal, address her I would! The people must meet again. They have but half done their business. Indeed, though the Ministers have, perhaps, too much modesty to say it, they, I dare say, are of fended to see no Addresses coming forward to the Queen and the Regent. This, now I rightly think of the matter, must be the cause why they appear so cold upon the occasion. Go at them, therefore, with Addresses to the Regent and the Queen, and I will engage, that they will discover a strong fellow-feeling in the work. It is, per that the Clergy are reserving themselves; and, I must confess, that I am impatient to see those gentlemen come out. They have seldom been behind hand, when the work of Addressing was going forward in favour of any one of the Royal Family; and, upon an occasion like this, where an innocent woman has escaped from a base combination against her, the Church, it appears to me, ought to have stood in the front. Why the Clergy have hung back I cannot imagine. I wish some one, at least, of them would give us the reasons for what appears so astonishing. But, at any rate, if they will not come out, let us bear the fact in mind, .66 This seems an odd "was accordingly done.. 66 LORD CAS THE TRINITY. sort of topic for a Political Register; but," TLEREAGH said, he certainly did not see it belongs to politics as much as war does," any reason to object to the principle of "the Bill. When the Bill was before the it having become the subject of Acts of Parliament, and being now, if the news-papers "House, he would then be enabled to see tell us truth, about to become the subject" if there was any thing in the mode of of a new Act.This Act will, if pass- granting the relief liable to objection. ed, make a much greater change in the re-The House went into a Committee, ligion of this country than has ever yet "when leave was moved for and obtained, been made. It strikes at the root of Chris- "to bring in the Bill in question."tianity itself. Now, mind, I say this as Now, as the reader will understand, if my deliberate opinion; and the reasons, on this Act pass, any person may, with impuwhich I found this opinion, I will state nity, openly talk, prate, or preach, that fully, when I have inserted the report of the Doctrine of the Trinity is a false Docthe proceedings in the House of Commons. trine. -What, then, is this Doctrine? "MR. WM. SMITH said, he believed Our Church tells us, that, unless we beno opposition would be made to the mo-lieve in it we must be damned; the belief "tion he was about to submit to the House, of it is, our Church says, absolutely neces"and he therefore would not take up two sary to salvation; and, to allow people "minutes of their attention. The Act of openly to say that it is a false doctrine, "King William, known by the name of what is this but to allow people to do their "the Toleration Act, denied to persons utmost to procure and ensure our damna"who disbelieved in the Trinity the bene- tion; and, pray, what did Mr. Paine, or "fit of toleration. An Act of the 19th of Mr. Eaton, or any body else ever do, or "His present Majesty required only the ge- attempt to do, more than this?But, I "neral belief in the doctrines of Christi-am before my story. What is the Doctrine "anity and the Scriptures; but it so hap-of the Trinity?Why, it is this. That pened, that though by the Act of the "19th it was not necessary to subscribe the "Articles of the Church of England, pro"fessing the belief in the Trinity, the Acts "of the 9th and 10th of King William "were not repealed. By these Acts, per"sons who in writing or conversation deny "the existence of any of the persons of the "Trinity, are disabled in law from hold-three Gods, but only one God.There "ing any office, civil, ecclesiastical, or "military, on conviction; and if a second "time convicted, they are disabled to sue "or prosecute in any action or information, "or to be the guardian of any child, and "liable to be imprisoned for three years. "The only object of his Bill was to do away these penalties. He said the libe"ral Act which was passed last year was "highly creditable to the liberality of the "Ministers of this country, and the times "in which we lived. The only question "now for consideration was, whether those "persons dissenting from the Church of "England, should be still liable to the pe"nalties of the Acts of King William. He * therefore moved for leave to bring in a "Bill for granting farther Relief to the dif-garded as something less; where is the "ferent Persuasions of Christians in this "Country, who disbelieved the Doctrine of "the Trinity.THE SPEAKER observed, "that the regular course was to move first, "that the motion should be submitted to a * Committee of the whole House; which GOD, the Maker of the Universe; the Creator and Sustainer of all things; did, through the instrumentality of the Holy Ghost, assuming the shape of a Dove, beget upon the body of a woman, his son Christ. That Christ, so begotten, was GOD; and that the Holy Ghost was GOD; and yet, that there were not, and are not are persons who deny this. They say, that they do not believe, that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, are one God; they deny that the two latter are Gods, and acknowledge only as God, God the Father.Who is right and who wrong, I have not the presumption to say; but, this I say, that both are not right; that one of the two is wrong; and, I further say, that he who denies the divinity of Christ is no Christian; whence it follows, that, in my clear opinion, the proposed Act, if passed, would be a sanction to the open preaching against Christianity.The divinity of Christ is the basis of Christianity. If he was not God; if he may be considered in any other light; if he may be re boundary? Once let the people be told, that he was a man, and what becomes of the whole system? Take away the law, as it now stands, and see to what lengths men will go. Every one will give his opinion freely upon this point; the incarnation ; |