VOL. XXVI. No. 20.] LONDON, SATURDAY, NOV. 12, 1814. 609]— TO THE PRINCE REGENT, ON THE AMERICAN WAR. [Price 1s. ·[610 of the war in the gross, without any particular feature being taken into view, does it not appear, that we should have been fortunate, if my advice had been followed? We should never then have heard of the affairs of the Java, the Gurriere, the Macedonia, the Avon, and many others; nor should we have ever heard of the battles of Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. For the present I will confine myself to this last-mentioned battle, which has excited great attention all over Europe, and has called forth, on the victors, the most unqualified expressions of praise and admiration from our neighbours, the French, where, be it observed, nothing is published but with the consent of the Government. SIR,-During the years 1811 and 1812, while I was imprisoned in a felon's jail, for having written and caused to be printed and published an article on the subject of flogging of English Local Militiamen, at the town of Ely, in England, and about the attendance of German troops at the ceremony; while I was expiating this offence by two years imprisonment in a felon's jail, and by paying, at the close of the period, a Thousand Pounds Fine to you, acting in the name and behalf of your Father, who, during my imprisonment, became afflicted with his present malady; This is a naval affair. An affair purely during this long period of seclusion from naval. There appears to have been no my home and from the wholesome air, I accidental circumstance to affect it. The addressed to you several Letters on the dis-force on each side was as nearly equal as pute with America, in which Letters I en-need be, in order to come at a proof of the deavoured to convince you, that the dis-relative merits of the two fleets. The batpute, if it terminated in war, might lead tle, therefore, will be considered of ten to very fatal consequences to this country. thousand times more importance in this I, in these Letters, stated clearly the light than in the light of its effects upon grounds of the dispute; I traced the causes the campaign in Canada. But before I of our il blood with America to their proceed to the consequences of this battle, origin; I pointed out how the dispute I think it best to say a word or two upon might be put an end to without a war; I endeavoured to shew you the probable fatal consequences of a war with that nation of free men, taking up arms voluntarily; and upon conviction of the goodness of their cause, I spent whole days and nights in endeavours to warn you against believing the reports of the venal wretches, who were labouring to persuade this nation, that we had only to go to war with Mr. MADISON in order to effect a breaking up of the American Union; and I was the more anxious on this point, as it was the general opinion, that, unless the States could be induced to divide, we never should long be able to cope with them in a war within their territory. As the vanity, naturally belonging to an author, makes me conclude that you read these Letters with great attention, I will not here go into any detail on their cogtents. But if we now look at the state the subject of the place where the battle was fought. Lake Champlain is partly in your Father's Provinces of Canada, and partly in the territory of the Republic of America. It is, perhaps, 150 miles long, and from half a mile to 10 or 15 miles wide. I do not know that I can much better describe it than by comparing it to the SERPENTINE RIVER, in Hyde Park, which is fed out of the Lakes in Kensington Gardens. The boundary line across Lake Champlain is very neatly and aptly represented by the embankment and bridge, which separate the upper from the lower part of the Serpentine River, and the ponds and ditches, leading from that separation down through Chelsea to the Thames, very luckily come to represent the British part of Lake Champlain, which empties its overflowings into the St. Lawrence, between Montreal and Quebec, and which is the only highway from the Re U publican territory to those two chief seats | on whom it is no more than a just eulogium of the power of the house of Brunswick to say, that they are, in every respect, in that country. Whether it was this strong resemblance, In the shape of Lake Champlain and that of the Serpentine River, which led, some few months ago, to the ingenious device of exhibiting hostile fleets in miniature on the latter, I have not been informed; but, there are few persons, in this country, I believe, who do not sorely grieve to think, that, in the battles upon these two waters, the representation should have differed so widely from that reality, the accounts of which have recently come to hand. The battle on the Serpentine River, though contested, for some time, pretty stoutly by the Yankees, was, at last, decided in our favour. Britannia, I am told, (for I saw it not) with the trident of Neptune in her hand, was seen crowning her sons with bay, while poor JONATHAN, with his lank hair hanging over his drooping head, stood a captive under his own flag, which was hanging reversed under that of your Royal House; thereby indicating, not only a naval superiority over the Yankees, but anticipating, that, whenever they should dare to meet us, they would be beaten and captured. There was not, I believe, an opportunity of exhibiting this scene to the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia, who were thus deprived of a sight of those signs of extatic delight, which the people expressed, and of a hearing of their heart-cheering shouts, when they saw poor JONATHAN haul down his colours, and when they heard the martial bands strike up "Rule Britannia, Britannia rule the Waves in the chorus of which they joined with their half a million of male and female voices, till the sound seemed to fill all the space between the earth and the sky. The Foreign Sovereigns were, for want of time, deprived of this sight, But, in the harbour of Portsmouth, on the day of your arrival there, in company with them, I myself saw, on board of some ships, the flag of poor JONATHAN again reversed, and hanging under that of your Royal House. worthy of being the subjects of the King that reigns over them, and of the Regent, who acts in the name and behalf of that King! There are some few exceptions, to be sure; some few malcontents; some few, whom neither King nor God can please. But, speaking of them in a mass, your Father's people are worthy of such a Sovereign, and such a Sovereign is worthy of such a people. To return to the battle of Lake Champlain, I have deeply to lament, that WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY OF. FICIAL ACCOUNTS PUBLISHED RESPECTING IT, and yet it is now the 7th of November. It is not for me tə presume to know, or even to guess, why no such account has been published. So far am I from attempting to find fault, upon this occasion, with the men in power, that I am not even disposed to inquire into their motives for not publishing the account. in question. I am quite willing to allow, that they are the best possible judges of what they are about; that they know best when to publish and when to be silent. But I may, and I must lament their not publishing; because, in the meanwhile, the Republican account is gone forth to the world, and which account is calculated to make a most injurious impression upon the world, particularly with regard to the rela tive value of the naval characters of the Republic of America, and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. If the Republican account be true, the event was, in this view of it, the most fatal that can be imagined; for, not only were your Royal Father's ships superior in both men and guns; not only was his Majesty's fleet beaten by the Republicans under such circumstances; but it was taken, all taken, and that, too, without any very great slaughter! The Republican account is as follows; and, as you will perceive, it is published from that very city of Washington, the public edifices of which your Royal Father's fleet and army so recently burnt to the ground. WASHINGTON, SEPT. 19. Copy of a Letter from Commodore M' Donough to The Secretary of the Navy, dated United States ship Saratoga, off Plattsburg, Sept. 11. "SIR-The Almighty has been pleased to "grant us a signal victory on Lake Cham plain, in the capture of one frigate, one brig, and two sloops of war of the enemy. I have the honour to be, very respect Alas, Sir! how different has been the reality from the anticipating representation! upon Lake Champlain, that Serpentine River on a grand scale, how different has been the event from that of the representatida inchieh dnew forth the air-rending" lionof the people of this fmillion of a people, 276 NNY 66 66 fully, Sir, your obedient servant,- GUNS. "Ship Saratoga, Commodore Macdonough 26 "Schooner Ticonderoga, do. Cassin . "Do. Montgomery, Sailing Master Lumus "Do. President, Master's Mate Freebom "Six new Row Gallies; the Santepead, "Viper, Nettle, Borer, Burrows, and "Alien, each mounting a 21 and a short 18-pounder. "Row Gallies, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the two "former mounting each a long 9, and the "two latter each a long 12-pounder BRITISH. . 20 20 7 7 10 12 1 Total....106 ly laconic and reserved. He says: "The "British squadron lately came into action "with the American on Lake Champlain : "it issued in the capture of the whole of "the enemy's ships. The best praise of "Captain Macdonough, and his intrepid "comrades, is the likeness of his triumph to "the "illustrious victory which immorta"lized another officer on another Lake." Thus hinting to the world, that such events as this are nothing new. Mr. Madison, it was anticipated by the sages, who write in the Times newspaper, would talk very big about this victory, and thereby blind the people with regard to their dangers. He seems to have been determined to make them false prophets. He does but just notice this victory in a transient sort of Guns. Men. Killed. Wounded. way, and dwells with great force and with Large Ship....39 Brig 800 50 60 .16 120 Thus, Sir, if this account be true, (for I do only speak hypothetically) the royal feet had more guns and more men than the Republican fleet, and yet the royal Beet was not only beaten but all CAP TURED! This American Commodore is very laconic. He does not seem to have regarded such an event as worthy of any very particular detail. He does not seem to have observed any particular instance of courage or skill in his officers and men. In short, he seems to have thought, that what had happened was no more than what his country would expect, notwithstanding all that the people of England had seen on the Serpentine River. He talks of no difficulties; no dangers; no resistance; and, if the account be true, he took the whole fleet before he had killed and wounded a fifth part of its men, and before he had lost, in killed and wounded, only about an eighth part of his own men. Mr. Madison, in his account, if it may be so called, of the battle, is still more provoking. studious care on the dangers which the people of the Republic have to meet. Now, Sir, this Republican account is either true or false. I do not pretend to say that it is true, though it has not been officially contradicted in any one particular, and though my brother journalists seem, by implication, at least, to admit the truth of it. I have not, I do not, and I will not say, that it is true, even should every other man in the kingdom say it. But, I humbly presume, that I may venture to assert, that it is either true or false. If looked on as true, it certainly must produce, and must already have produced, a very great effect on the minds of thinking men in all those parts of the world, to which a knowledge of it has extended. It will produce this effect: it will cause it to be believed, that a ship of the royal navy of Great Britain is not equal to the task of combating a ship of equal force belonging to the Republic of America, commanded by officers and manned by men of that Republic. It is impossible for any man, not a fool, or not blinded by some sort of passion, to be ignorant, that such must be the effect of this battle, if the Republican account of it pass for true. It is equally impossible for any man to hope, that it will not pass for true, until it be explicitly and officially stated to be false, and until it be also proved to be false. The world will naturally ask how it has happened, that the British Government, who are so exact in publishing every account of our naval operations, who do not omit the capture of a merchant ship, whereof a history is sent to John Wilson Croker, Esq. should have been so backward upon this particular oc 66 66 as casion; that the people, who witnessed the " that the great majority of the Americans anticipating representations on the Ser- were attached to their Government, and pentine River, and who are so eager for "would deem no effort too painful to supnews from America, should not yet have" port their independence. There is much been officially informed of the battle of "talk of the parties which exist in the Lake Champlain, though a mention of it" United States; but these parties are not has reached Europe, and even England, in factious: they never fail to unite when the President's Speech. The world will" the country is in danger. In America, naturally ask how this has happened. in England, men dispute about the acThe world, Sir, looks very anxiously to-"quisition of power; but their patriotism wards the Republic. They see in her a is never shaken. Their very discussions power rising fast to a rivalship with us. "nourish public spirit, and elevate national They look towards her with rather more pride and the sacred love of liberty above than the eyes of impartiality. Our navy every other sentiment.-The strength of has excited great jealousy and envy in the" the United States is not in the maritime world. That navy the world wishes to sce towns; it lies in that numerous popula matched, or, at least, held in check." tion who cultivate the ground, and seek This is not at all wonderful; but, for my "subsistence in the midst of forests. These part, I shall not state what I look upon as "hardy cultivators, these indefatigable the true causes of it.As a proof of the "hunters, form excellent troops, easily sentiments prevalent upon this subject in" disciplined, and who brave every fatigue France, I here quote an article from" and danger. They are the sons of the a French paper of the 30th of September." men who triumphed at Saratoga and "ON THE SITUATION OF THE UNITED" Bunker's-hill. The recollection of these "STATES.-The capture of Washington "exploits still animates their courage. “has made a great deal of noise in Europe." This inheritance of glory is a national "It was generally believed, on the credit" property which they will transmit entire "of the London newspapers, that that " event would have a decisive influence on "the war which rages between Great" midable enemies. They use muskets of Britain and the United States. Already a particular kind, and at the distance of people were expecting to see the Ameri-" 200 paces they seldom miss their aim. can Government humbly soliciting peace, "In the war of independence they did a and submitting to all the conditions" great deal of mischief to the English arwhich it might please the Cabinet of St."mies, and deprived them of a prodigious "James's to impose upon it. Some persons, "number of officers.-It appears certain "who judge of the United States from the "that the expedition to the Chesapeake, "old nations of Europe, confidently an- "under Admiral Cochrane, had for its ob"nounced the dissolution of the American ject to force the American Government Republic, and did not conceive what "to recal the troops which menace the "could exist after the every way reprehen- " frontiers of Upper and Lower Canada, "sible destruction of the Capitol and other" This diversion would have been advanpublic buildings of Washington. It It" tageous to the English, but it did not "seemed to them that that rising city was 66 succeed. While the efforts of the Bri"the Palladium of America, and that its "tish army expired before Baltimore, the "fall must draw along with it that of all" Americans were destroying the English the States which compose this great and "flect on Lake Champlain, and beating "fine Confederation. Profound alarm, it "the army of Canada, which retired with was said, had seized all the inhabitants" considerable loss in men and stores.-—— "of the United States; every province "On this occasion we have heard mention, 60 was hastening to deprecate British ven- "for the first time, of those famous militia gence, by detaching itself from the Fede-" of the State of Vermont, who so glorious "ral Union. Boston, Philadelphia, Balti-"ly distinguished themselves in the last "more, New York, Charleston, Savannah, war, under the name of Green Mountain 66 46 "to their descendants.-These hunters, "known by the name of Riflcmen, are for 66 66 to the conqueror, and re-entering the co"lonial system of England. The better informed, however, were far from partieipating in this opinion. They knew" 66 Boys. They have lost neither their courage nor their renown.. -The defeat of the English on Lake Champlain exposes the frontiers of Lower Canada. if from Plattsburg the Americans pro 4 66 66 64 66 66 66 "States. "ceed to St. John's, a little town badly for-1" Americans, who have fought courageously, "tified at the head of the Lake, they can "will henceforth fight with fury. "arrive in two marches on the banks of the "It is not very difficult to foresee the issue "river St. Lawrence, opposite Montreal," of this sanguinary contest, too long main"and make themselves masters of the "tained for the honour of humanity. After "beautiful plain of Chambli, the most wasting herself. in vain efforts, England abundant of all Canada in pasturage and "will be forced to grant peace on condi66 grain. It is not on the coasts that the "tions advantageous to the United States, "fate of the war will be decided, but in the "and ought to think herself too happy in "interior of the country, and on the preserving her empire over Nova Scotia "banks of Lakes Champlain and On- "and the two Canadas. I expect that "tario.――The English are good sol- "these reflections, intended to enlighten diers; they possess both honour and cou- "the numerous readers of the Journal de rage; but the war they have undertaken" Paris, upon a war more important than against the United States does not de-" is generally supposed, will excite the pend either on a maritime expedition, or "indignation of the English Journalists. "a a battle gained. Obliged to fight at "Those gentlemen attribute to themselves 66 a great distance from their country, "the exclusive privilege of reasoning upon "they repair with difficulty their losses, events, and they are indiscreet enough "either in men or ammunition, whilst the "to consider the Americans as rebels; but "Americans casily recruit themselves." this consideration will never prevent me "The expences of England are enormous, "from speaking the truth, and making as we may judge from the price of a "known freely an opinion which I believe "single piece of cannon transported to to be just. Nobody esteems the English "Lake Ontario. It is estimated to have" nation more than I do; but I confess I "cost a thousand guineas. The British" should be much vexed, if she obtained "Ministry thought, no doubt, that, indecisive advantages over the United "taking advantage of their maritime suShe needs neither an increase periority to insult the shores of the Uni- " of influence, nor an accession of terri"ted States, and to menace the commer- tory. Her interest imperiously com "cial towns with complete destruction," mands her to respect the rights and indethey would have produced in that coun-"pendence of other people, and no longer "try a powerful opposition, which would" fortune." This, Sir, is the compel the American Government to language of the French; these are their sue for peace. This expectation must sentiments upon this war against the "be disappointed it shews how little American Republic. She has a friend "America is known in Europe. The in every people in Europe, the people of "actual Government does not want the this country excepted. The world wishes support of what is called the commercial success to the American Republic, because "interest; it derives all its force from the the world envies England her power. The “frank and generous adhesion of the far- result of the battle of Lake Champlain "mers, who are the most enlightened men has, perhaps, caused more real rejoicing "in the United States, and the most at- than ever was caused by any battle in Eu"tached to their country.-Besides, the rope, during the last twenty years. "burning of Washington, instead of aba- In your Speech of the 8th instant, an ting their courage, has only tended to account of which I have now before me, irritate them against an enemy who the newspapers report you to have said, tramples on the principles adopted by ci- that," Notwithstanding the reverse which "vilised nations. Mr. Madison, who en- "APPEARS to have OCCURRED on joys the highest honour that can be de-" Lake Champlain, you entertain the most sired that of presiding over the destiny confident expectations, as well from the "of a free people; Mr. Madison, I say, "amount as from the description of the displays a noble character. All the Ame-" force now serving in Canada, that the ricans rally at his voice; and resolutions," ascendancy of his Majesty's arms through"full of energy and patriotism, have al- "out that part of North America, will be ready been adopted, in the greater part" effectually secured." From this it would "of the towns which are most exposed to seem, that the "reverse" on Lake Cham"bombardment and to Congreve's rockets. plain is not yet ascertained by your Cabi"The war has become national; and the net; that it only appears that there has 66 66 66 66 46 66 46 |