affair of tribute with the dey, only two we e built, vinces to Mexico, for the support of that city, un der an escort of 700 of Arredondo's best troops, or belonged to the United States before the war. Connecticut election. The strength of parties in who were all taken or killed. this state, as represented in assembly, is somewhat At Mont el Rey there were about 700 troops (of changed, but still there is a large federal majority. the Royalists) nearly naked, and at San Antonio the New London county sends 13 republicansand 7 fe-same number, impatient of some change from their deralists, and 1 neuter member. Stonington, "fa- misery. This is the whole force of the four eastern mous in story," elected republicans by 100 of a provinces, (Arredondo's command); that of the western does not exceed 2,000 scattered from Santa majority. Vermont election. Every branch of the govern-Fee to the Durango, where the commandant, genement is republican--the majority in the house of re-ral Bonavia, has his head-quarters. Salcedo is in presentatives is 14 to 20. The nett republican gain Mexico. "This constitutes the whole force north of Mexi is from 14 to 1500 votes. Maryland election. The election in this state co, that the (roya) government party can muster, Both parties are exclusive of the inhabitants, few of whom they can takes place on Monday next. furnish with arms. sanguine. Joseph McMinn is elected governor of the state of Tennessee, in the room of Willie Blount, whos constitutional period of eligibilty had expired. "An official packet had been intercepted by Pachon, from Arredondo to the viceroy, stating that without a reinforcement of troops, of money and arms, he would be compelled to abandon his position--he had begun forming of two companies, but could not equip them. The republicans have two divisions of troops near the city of Mexico, in or A dreadful gale has been felt at Boston and its vicinity, doing great damage on the land and water. Trees eight or ten feet in girth were cast down, many houses seriously injured, and many vessels sunk at the wharves or otherwise seriously da-der to intercept communications with the country and cut off their resources. The desertions from maged. Natchez Intelligencer. Library of the United States. A CARD-Congress that city have been very considerable." having supplied the loss occasioned by the rude and conflagrating hand of our late enemy, by the purQuakers. We find from three registers of the sochase of a library, perhaps equal in value, as far as it extends, to any in Europe; and intending, as ciety of Friends, that as a consequence of their exthey no doubt do, to make it the great national re-emplary temperance and steady conduct, half of pository of literature and science, and in some in-their children live to 7 years of age; whereas doc stances of the arts also, it is desirable, that Ame-tor Price tells us, that of the general population of rican authors, engravers and painters who are soli-London, half the born live only 24 years, and also, citous to preserve their respective productions as that among the Friends, 1 in 10 arrive at 30 years nementos of the taste of the times, would transmit of age, but of the general population of London, to the library a copy of such work as they may de-only 1 in 40. Never did a more powerful argument support the practice of virtue.-Belfast Chronicle. sign for the public eye--this will serve not only as a literary history of this now interesting country, Died at Rippingale, Eng. aged 16, Ann Hardy, but will also tend to exhibit the progress and im-daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hardy, of that place. provement of the arts. The librarian, as far as his This young woman had attained the extraordinary power and means extend, will take due care that height of seven feet two inches! and had attracted such productions, literary or graphic, as may be much attention at Lincolnshire, having for a consiforwarded to him, shall be properly preserved and derable time, been publicly exhibited at fairs, &c. as a phenomenon. Her parents are persons of only advantageously exhibited. middling stature. GEORGE WATTERSON, MEXICAN NEWS. Steam ships! A project is on foot, at New York, to build a vessel of 350 tons, to be propelled by steam, to serve as a packet between that city and NATCHEZ, AUGUST 16. By a letter received in this Charleston, S. C. in which it is estimated the pascity from a gentleman at Natchitoches, certain in-sage will be made in four days! Those whose opintelligence is obtained of the successful operations ions are entitled to the fullest confidence, decidedof the Mexican patriots, throughout the whole of ly believe that the voyage may be made with at the provinces of that extensive country. It is too least as much safety as in any other vessel. long to give at large-the following is extracted therefrom: "Legitimates!"—The National Advocate says, there is now confined in the state prison of New York, a grand daughter of George III.; a niece of the prince regent, a daughter of his brother Edward, duke of Kent," who, it appears, "has all the vir tues of her ancestry." "A republican officer lately arrived here through the internal provinces; he lef Mont el Rey the 29th of June last, but had been a considerable time from the seat of congress. The republicans are again in possession of Guananuato, since the 3d April, Carlisle, August 30. The regiment of riflemen with almost all the country north of Mexico, as far as Sattillo, Durango, and San Louis Potosi; all the who had been at the garrison at this place for some time, marched from it on Monday last, under the coast on the Pacific ocean and dicent country. "They have established a regular form or go-command of colonel W. S. Hamilton, we understand vernment, and have large finds nearly all the for Prairie de Chien. To the number of men we riches of this immensely rich country are in their have seldom witnessed better looking as to health possession, and are progressing fast towards efect- and dress, and in every respect martial. ing their entire independence. London, August 6.—British price of stocks. Red. Ann. 56. Consois. do.; Omnium 73. The price of grain has considcsably fallen in England. Arredondo was still in possession of Mont el Rev, but the country near that was much harrassed by Pachon, who had lately intercepted and t ken af party with 200,000 she p which the marquis Ague- The West-Indies appear to be overstocked with Fa vias driving from his stock in the internal pro-all kinds of American produce. The emigrations to the west from the east continue astonishingly numerous. The next census will present us with some extraordinary facts. Kentucky Mummy. A New-York paper says-There is now in this city a remarkable human mummy; it is thus described in a letter from the Honorable Samuel L. Mitchell to the Secretary of the American Antiquarian Society. "LAND-WATER" SPOUT.-London, July 18.-A great misfortune befel the town of Langenseibza on the 10th ult. A land-water-spout falling about nine P. M. after several tempests, caused such an inun"It is a human body found in one of the lime dation in the town and suburbs, that the water stone caverns of Kentucky.-It is a perfect exsicPose to the height of several ells. Many houses fell in, and buried the families who inhabited them cation; all the fluids are dried up. The skin, bones under their ruins.-The cattle were carried away and other firm parts are in a state of entire preserva out of their houses and drowned. About 300 tion. In exploring a calearous chamber in the houses are so damaged, that they are in danger of neighborhood of Glasgow, it was found enwrapped falling, and 1000 acres of land are covered with carefully in skins and cloths. The outer envelopa mud to a great depth. A similar misfortune hap- of the body is a deer skin; the next covering is a deer skin whose hair had been cut away by a sharp pened near Prague on the 13th. instrument; the next wrapper is of cloth, made of twine, doubled and twisted, but the thread does not appear to have been formed by the wheel, nor the web by the loom. The warp and filling seem to have been crossed and knotted by an operation like that of the fabries of the North West Coast, The innermost and of the Sandwich Islands. tegument is a mantle of cloth like the preceding, but furnished with large brown feathers, arranged and fastened with great art, so as to be capable of guarding the living wearer from wet and cold. in a squatting posture, with the right arm reaching The plumage is distinct and entire. The body is forward and its hand encircling the right leg. The Indian Prophet. Onondaga, August 23.-Died, at Onondaga Castle, one of the chiefs of the Alleganies, well known through this country as the Indian Prophet. Those who have been acquainted with the influence which this man's preaching has had upon the conduct of the six nations, (the Oneidas excepted) cannot but look upon his death as a severe dispenSation of Divine Providence. We think that a short biographical sketch of this extraordinary man can not be unacceptable to the public. During the first fifty years of his life he was remarkable only for his stupidity and beastly drunk-left arm hangs down with its hand inclined partly under the seat. The individual, who was a male, anness.-About thirteen years ago, while lighting did not probably exceed the age of fourteen at his his pipe, he suddenly fell back upon his bunk, up-death. There is a deep and extensive fracture of en which he was then sitting, and continued in a state of insensibility for six or eight hours; his the scull near the occupita which probably killed him. The skin has sustained little injury; it is of a Amily supposed him dead, had made preparations for laying him out, and while in the act of remov. dusky color, but the natural hue cannot be decided Ing him from his bunk, he revived. His first words with exactness from its present appearance. The were "don't be alarmed, I have seen heaven; call scalp, with small exceptions, is covered with sorrel the nation together that I may tell them what I or fox hair. The teeth are white and sound. The have seen and heard." The nation having assem-hands and feet in their shrivelled state are slender bled at his house he informed them that he had and delicate." The Steam Engine. seen four beautiful young men who had been sent from heaven by the Great Spirit, and who thus addressed him: "The Great Spirit is angry with you, and all the red men, and unless you refrain from From the Louisville (Ky.) Courier. There are drunkenness, lying, stealing, &c. you shall never a few facts, which ought to be made known, with enter that beatiful place which we will now show regard to STEAM ENGINES, by every one who may you." He stated that he was then conducted by have any inclination to employ this noble pieco these young men to the gate of heaven, which was of machinery. This knowledge is necessary to opened, but he was not allowed to enter; that it was enable him to make a safe contract with an engimore beautiful than any thing they could conceive of neer, and to avoid imposition: it will also enable or he describe; and that the inhabitants appeared those who have engines, to judge of thier me to be perfectly happy; that he was suffered to re-rit.- A good engineer will never hesitate to bind main there three or four hours and was then re-himself to make his engine perform at least a modeconducted by the same young men, who, on taking rate proportion of work in proportion to the fuel their leave, promised they would visit him early, expended, if he receives a good price. An eng inc and commanded him to inform all other Indians is only good or bad, in proportion to the work done what he had seen and heard. He immediately vi-by a given portion of fuel. sited the different tribes of Indians in the western Engines were first substituted instead of horses, part of the states, the Oneidas excepted. They all for raising water, driving machinery, &c. Hence it put the most implicit faith in what he told them, became common to say, that an engine is equal to and revered him as a prophet.-The consquence 10, 20 or 40 horses, according to the work it was has been, that from a filthy, lazy, drunken set of able to perform. James Watt, the first and most beings, they have become a cleanly, industrious, celebrated improver of the steam engine, being a sober and happy people. The prophet has conti-honest and upright man, as well as one of the most 'nued, as he says, to receive regular annual visits profound philosophers and mathematicians of the from these heavenly messengers, immediately after age, set the power of a horse at 32,000 lbs. raised which, he, in his turn, visited the different tribes. one foot high in a minute. This is a power that He was on one of these annual visits at the time of few horses are able to produce 8 hours in the day, his decease. but is the horse power meant as a measure of pow er in calculating the power of an engine. It will be proper to observe, that he was called the peace prophet, in contra-distinction to the brother of Tecumseh who was called the war prophet. This horse power is sufficient to grind and bolt a bushel of wlicat per hour. It will drive 100 cot ton spindles with the cards and other preparation was made to judge Tucker, and subsequently to machinery. mejor Griffin, for the original affidavit, or for an au Four horse power will drive a pair of mill stones thenticated copy; as neither have yet been receive four feet diameter, with sufficient force. It will ed, and as it is deemed improper longer to delay drive a saw-mill with one saw, with sufficient force. this report, the undersigned begs leave to refer to From the foregoing statement, a horse power, as the accompanying papers, marked 1, 2, 3 and 4, a measure of power among engineers, will be cor- from which the material facts stated in the affidarectly understood. vit may be collected, and the circumstances which Five and a half pounds of good pit coal will pro- have prevented its transmission to this department duce an horse power in a good engine one hour; of explained. This subject will be further investigacourse, 824, or a bushel, will produce a horse pow-ted with a view to place it, in all its circumstances, er fifteen hours. (See Emporium of Arts, vol. II. p. in the most satisfactory light. All Which is fespectfully submitted, 32, note.) JAMES MONROE. Department of state, Feb. 28th, 1815. No. I. 1089 lbs. of dry oak, it is said, gives out as much heat as 600 lbs. of coal; a cord of dry oak will weigh from twenty-five to thirty-hundred wt. hence may be estimated equal to 20 bushels of coalsRichmond, November 24th, 1814. dry wood is much better than green; oak is far SIR-I do myself the honor to enclose you a let from being among the best sort of wood. Captain ter from my friend, Mr. Cabell, and one from Mr. Gregg, of the steam boat Enterprize, told me that John Tabb Smith, the magistrate before whom the a cord of wood was about equal to 20 bushels of affidavit was made, a copy of which I transmitted coal-capt. Ogden, of the Vesuvius, told me about the president. Mr. Cabell has written to major This statement is also confirmed from Griffin, to endeavor to procure the original, and if he should fortunately obtain it, I will lose no tune in forwarding it to you. the same. other sources of information. A cord of good wood ought to grind and bolt 300 bushels of wheat, or saw 5000 feet of plank, or roll and slit 10,000 lbs. of iron. Heat will not enter a hot body with the same rapidity that it will a colder one; it also escapes as rapidly through all bodies from under pressure, as water or air does through porous ones; hence, to work steam to a high temperature, causes a great waste of fuel. The nearer an engine is enveloped in flame, the more powerful it will be, in proportion to the fuel expended, as there is a rapid escape of heat, from every part the fire is not applied to. T. W. RUBLE. Neglected Documents. CAPTURED SLAVES. Mr. Mackenrot's memoirs of the Cochrane's, inserted in our late numbers, are calculated to throw much light on whatever belongs to the kidnapping of negroes.] MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. I transmit to the senate a report from the acting secretary of state, complying with their resolution of the 24th of October last. February 28th, 1815. REPORT. JAMES MADISON. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant, No. II. ST. G. TUCKER. John Graham, Esq. department of state, Washington. Richmond, November 22, 1814. MY DEAR SIR-I have received your favor of the 14th inst. embracing an extract from the letter recently written to you by Mr. Graham, of the department of state, on the subject of the resolution of the senate of the United States, of the 24th ult. I distinctly recollect all the material circumstances in regard to the copy of the affidavit, which you forwarded to the president. About the period that major Thomas Griffin, of York, went on board the British squadron, in Lynnhaven bay, for the purpose of endeavoring to recover his negroes, who had gone off to the enemy, I happened to be in Williamsburg. The destination of the slaves that had been taken or received by the British, was then a subject of curiosity and concern throughout the lower country. I understood that a seafaring man of the name of Williams, who had been a prisoner with the enemy, and had recently arrived at Hampton, had gone in company with major Thomas Griffin, of York, before John Tabb Smith, a respectable magistrate, of the county of Elizabeth The undersigned, acting as secretary of state, to city, and had made oath, that while a prisoner in whom was referred the resolution of the senate of one of the Bahama islands, he had been present at the 24th October last, requesting the president of the sale of the negroes that had been carried off the United States to lay before the senate (provid-from the vicinity of Hampton and Norfolk; that the ed he shall not consider the same improper to be negroes were sold at a high price, and that a negro communicated,) the proof of any traffic carried on carpenter, from Norfolk, was purchased for a thouin the West Indies, by the sale of negroes taken sand dollars. Several gentlemen, of the first resfrom the United States, by the British forces since pectability, who had conversed with major Griffin, the present war, has the honor to state, that such informed me that he spoke of Williams as a man proof was transmitted to the executive by the hon. whose appearance entitled him to credit, and that St. George Tucker, in the form of an affidavit of he had, accordingly, published the affidavit in the captain Williams, from which it appeared that he town of York. Through the medium of Mr. Coke, had been a prisoner in the Bahama islands, and of Williamsburg, I procured a copy of this paper, that, whilst there, he had been present at the sale which I handed to you, and was forwarded by you of negroes taken from the vicinity of Norfolk and to the president. This affidavit was a subject of Hampton. This affidavit, voluntarily given, and general conversation about that time. The cirstrengthened and corroborated by a variety of circumstances under which Williams arrived at Hampcumstances, was considered at the time, as full ton; the manner in which he described the negroes proof of the fact, and was transmitted to our minis-sold in the Bahamas, and particularly the carpenters at Ghent. When the resolution of the senate ter from Norfolk, and the appearance of entire sin. was transmitted to this department, application cerity in his narrative, left no doubt, I was assured on the mind of either Mr. Smith or major Griffin, to present the letters from general Pinckney and that the alleged sale had actually taken place. yourself, with our letter of authority. On reading I did not see major Griffin, nor did I inquire what general Pinckney's letter, and discovering that inhe intended to do with the original affidavit of Wil- stead of a copy of the treaty of peace from the seliams; my conjecture was, that he would send it cretary of state's office, the National Intelligencer on to the committee of congress, charged with the was enclosed, admiral Cockburn expressed much business of collecting proots of the barbarous con- surprise; and it appeared from his manner that his duct of the war, by the enemy. As it seems he has temper was not a little ruffled by the incident. He not done so, I presume it remains in his possession. totally denied the authority of a treaty so communiI will write immediately to him, with the view of cated to him. After reminding him that the Intelascertaining whether this be the fact; and if it be, ligencer was the state paper of the United States; to request the favor of him to enclose me the affi- that in England, the publication of a treaty in the davit. The result of my inquiries of that gentle-Gazette would be considered the proper promulga man shall be made known to you without delay. In the interim, I remain, most respectfully and sincerely, yours, &c. JOSEPH C. CABELL. Copy of a letter from John Tabb Smith, Esq. to tion of it, and the impossibility that there would be of furnishing to every detached squadron that floated upon the sea, any more authentic copy of a treaty of peace than the public papers afforded;(these were the ideas we brought forward, and this the language, excepting abridged.) Adml.Cockburn still denied our position; but then proposed to us, Hampton, November 21, 1814. that we should make a transcript of the treaty, that Some we should certify it to be a true copy, and should SIR-Your favor I have now before me. time in the year 1813, there came before me a cap- present it to him as such, on the part of general tain Williams (I think his name was) in company Pinckney and yourself. As forms were no object, with major Thomas Griffin, of York, with the affi-we assented to this at once-this difficulty having davit you speak of in your letter, which he swore to been gotten over, we thought it proper to enter imthen mediately upon the subject matter of our mission, before me, and I gave my certificate thereto; gave the affidavit to major Griffin, and expected to and requested to know of admiral Cockburn what see it published in one of the Richmond papers, public property taken at Point Petre or at St. but never heard of it since; but from your letter, Mary's, remained upon Cumberland Island, in expect the original can be got from major Griffin. the ships near Dunginess, or in the ships then lyBut if it is mislaid, I well recollect the substance ing in the sound, of which there were many; some of the affidavit, and will render you any service in of these ships taken at St. Mary's, and then loaded with property taken at the same place. As we had my power. I am, with respect, no instructions as to the extent of the restitution JOHN TABB SMITH. If it can be got from major Griffin, it had better we should demand, and were left to our own judg be in the the captain's own words, with my cer- ment on the occasion, we determined to adopt the tificate. St. George Tucker, Esq. No. IV. J. T. S. same rule in regard to private property and to slaves, that we had adopted in regard to public property. We, therefore, demanded, all the slaves and private property of every description taken or York, (Virginia) February 16, 1815. Sin-Your favor of the 6th instant, has been re-received at Cumberland island, and at St. Mary's, ceived. I have examined my papers and cannot find or St. Simon's, and which was then on Cumberland the original affidavit of captain Williams, therein island, or laying in the waters contiguous to the alluded to. The copy I gave Mr. Cabell was lite- same, on board his ships, or which had been there at rally correct; the original has been mislaid, or the ratification of the treaty of peace by the president fear lost, in the bustle of moving papers from hence of the U. States; and in making this demand, we were so frequently as has been done, to place them from happy to find that a very great proportion of the pubwithout the reach of the enemy during the war.-lic and private property, and almost all the slaves, I will again examine and endeavor to recover the taken or received since the British forces had been affidavit, and will forward the same to the depart-operating in Georgia, came within the limits we ment of state as soon as it shall be recovered. Very respectfully, I am, sir, your obedient ser- rant, John Graham, Esq. department of state, had prescribed to our demand. To our enquiry as to public property, and our demand as to private, admiral Cockburn at once replied, he had no pub lic property, that the guns he had removed, the munitions of war he had destroyed; but if they were there, not having been taken at Cumberland From the Savannah Republican. The following is the correspondence which we Island, which place alone remained in his possespromised in the Republican of the 23d ult. between sion at the ratification of the treaty, they did not admiral Cockburn, and the commissioners on the come within the operation of the first article of it, part of the United States, relative to the restora- that with regard to slaves and other private protion of property, according to the first article of perty, he meant to adopt the same rule: that the the treaty of peace. The reader will plainly per-property and slaves taken at Cumberland and receive the game played off by Cochrane and Cock-maining there at the ratification, would be restor» burn in this affair. We trust and hope, congress ed, but what were taken or received from other plac will not suffer this affair to pass without investi-es, although on Cumberland, or in the ships in the river or sound would not. It will be understood, that gation. we do not here repeat the words, but the substance Sin-We left Darien on Saturday, the 5th inst. of what admiral Cockburn said, who appeared dur and arrived at Dunginess at 4 o'clock on Monday.ing the whole of this conversation a little warm. As we observed British troops were embarking; and Having discovered the construction admiral Cockas we believed many slaves and much private pro-burn was pleased to put upon the treaty, and his derty would be sent off with them, we determined manner forbidding a hope of a change of opinion, to call upon admiral Cockburn immediately, and Mr. Spalding thought it proper to draw his atten Sapelo Island, Geo. March 16, 1315. Begging that we may have an answer upon this subject, so deeply interesting to the inhabitants of Georgia, as soon as possible, we remain, sir, respectfully, your very obedient servants, &c. tion to the ships then laying within a hundred yards obviously confined to artillery and other public preof the wharf of Dunginess, on board of which it perty taken in such forts and places, and which, if was known some slaves were, by observing to him once removed, would have required much trouble And this concluthat the river was taken possession of at the time and much expence to restore. that Cumberland was occupied by the British forces; sion is the more obvious from noticing that in the that it was equally in his possession with the soil following part of the same article, archives, readjacent on the ratification of the treaty, and would cords, deeds and papers, which are objects of easy only be restored to the United States at the mo-transport, are promised to be restored, into whosoment he withdrew his forces from Dunginess; that ever hands they may have fallen, or wheresoever consequently, under his own rule, the property and they may have been transferred. slaves on board those ships originally taken at Cumberland, it was expected would partake of tire quality of the property and slaves originally found on Cumberland and remaining there. To which Which, after having read, he promised to answer admiral Cockburn replied, that wherever the British flag was, there is British territory; and by way the morning following. And here it is proper to of elucidating his position, demanded of Mr. Spal- observe, that at this meeting, and the very many ding, whether if he, admiral Cockburn, committed that followed it, admiral Cockburn was calm and During a murder on board one of those ships in time of his manner courteous in a high degree. peace, he believed him amenable to the laws of the the evening of this day, we understood admiral United States? "No, sir, said he, "I am amenable sir Alexander Cochrane had arrived, and conseto my own government, and to my own sovereign."quently that we should not receive an answer to To this it was replied, he was amenable to his own our note until there was a conference between the sovereign as an officer, but he was amenable to the admiral Cockburn and himself. At this delay we laws of the United States as a man; and it was in felt no regret, as we hoped from him, from many turn asked, whether he believed if a murder was causes not necessary to state, a more liberal concommitted on board an American ship in the river struction of the treaty; the weather was so bad that Thames, the laws of England would not operate upon the murderer--"No, sir." 1, too, sir, have studied the laws of England, in my youth, and think they would. "Then, sir, we are at issue; and it is unnecessary to say more." If we are at issue, admiral Cockburn, upon an abstract principle, it is of GENTLEMEN--I have had the honor to receive the little importance; will you please to turn over to the first article of the treaty, and we will see if we document which you state yourselves authorised can agree upon a practical result. This conversa- to assure me is a true copy of the treaty of peace tion is reported in its very words, that you may be that has been concluded between our respective possessed of the admiral's manner of reasoning governments, and which you have been instructed and mode of thinking, at our arrival, and it was to lay before me by generals Pinkney and Floyd.— closed by observing, that we should address a note Accompanying this document, I am likewise honorto him, which we hoped he would answer as soon as possible-then took our leave. The next day, the 7th inst. we called upon him and presented a transcript of the treaty, certified by us to be a true copy, which he accepted of. We then handed him the following note: it was the 10th before this communication took Head-quarters, Cumberland Island, 7t5 ed with your note of this day, informing me of your being authorised to receive from me any public or private property or slaves to be restored by me un[der the first article of the aforesaid treaty, and explaining to me the construction you are pleased to put upon that article; but I only find in the certified SIR-We are instructed by general Floyd to call copy you have laid before me, that "all territory, upon you, and are by him authorised to receive from places or possessions taken during the war, or af you any public or private property, or any slaves ter the signing of the treaty, (excepting only as that are or were in your possession at the time of therein excepted) shall be restored without delay, the ratification of the treaty of peace by the presi- and without causing any destruction or carrying dent of the United States. The construction put away any of the artillery or other public property upon this article by us, is, that all private pro- originally captured in the said forts or places, and perty, and all slaves in your possession, whether on which shall remain therein upon the exchange of land or on water, at the ratification of the treaty of the ratifications of the treaty, or any slaves or other peace, are to be restored. We place this construc-private property." tion upon the first article of the treaty, because it It becomes, therefore, alone necessary for me to appears to have originated in the most amicable state to you that Cumberland Island being the only dispositions of both the American and British com- place of possession taken from America in this missioners. Amicable on the part of the American neighborhood, which was retained by me, at the commissioners in demanding what might be restor-date of the ratification alluded to, I shall, as quicked without inconvenience. Amicable on the partly as possible evacuate it without causing any deof the British commissioners in promising to re-struction, and I shall leave on it, or deliver to yous store all that could be restored without great incon-whatever private property or slaves (originally capvenience. For we cannot persuade ourselves, thattured here) remained upon the island at the date of the restoration of private property or slaves is to be the ratification. I have not the slightest reason nor limitted to the slaves or property originally taken in inclination to doubt the amicable disposition you the forts or places you occupied; for it must be obvi-state to have actuated the British and American comous to you, sir, and it must be obvious to all, that there missioners in forming this treaty; it appears, however, are no slaves, and that there is but little private clear to me, by the expressions they have thought property ever taken in forts. The limitation that fit to adopt in it, that I am only required and auappears to exist in the first part of the first arti-thorised to make the restitution I have above stated, cle of the treaty as to such property as may re- and I must beg to decline venturing an opinion as main in the forts and places in your possession, is to whether the treaty is properly worded accord |