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The accounts of the receipts of revenue during the year ending on the 30th day of September last, being not yet made up, a correct statement will be hereafter transmitted from the treasury; in the mean time it is ascertained, that the receipts have amounted to near sixteen millions of dollars, which, with the five millions and a-balf in the treasury at the beginning of the year, have enabled us, after meeting the current demands, and interest incurred, to pay more than four millious of the prin-, cipal of our funded debt. These payments, with those of the preceding five years and a half, have extinguished of the funded debt, twenty-five millions and a half of dollars, being the whole which could be paid or purchased within the limits of the law, and of our contracts, and have left us in the treasury eight millions and a half of dollars. A portion of this sum may be considered as a commencement of accumulation of the surplusses of revenue, which, after paying the instalments of debt as they shall become payable, will remain without any specific object. It may partly, indeed, be applied towards completing the defence of the exposed points of our country, on such a scale as shall be adapted to our principles and circumstances. This object is doubtless among the first entitled to attention, in such a state of our finances: and it is one which, whether we have peace or war, will provide security where it is due. Whether what shall remain of this, with the future surplusses, may be usefully applied to purposes already authorised, or more useful to others requiring new authorities, or how otherwise they shall be disposed of, are questions calling for the notice of congress, unless they shall be su

perseded by a change in our public relations now awaiting the determination of others.

Whatever be that determination, it is a great consolation that it will become known at a moment when the supreme council of the nation is assembled at its post, and ready to give the aids of its wisdom and authority to whatever course the good of our country shall then call us to pursue.

Matters of minor importance will be subjects of future communica- tions; and nothing shall be wanting on my part, which may give information or dispatch to the proceedings of the legislature, in the exercise of their high duties, and at a moment so interesting to the public welfare.

THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1807.

Order in Council.

At the Court at the Queen's Palace, the 9th of December, 1807, present, the King's most excellent Majesty in Council. It is this day ordered by his majesty, by and with the advice of his privy council, that no ships dr vessels. belonging to any of his majesty's subjects be permitted to enter and clear out for any of the ports within the dominion of the emperor of Russia until further order: and his majesty is further pleased to order, that a general embargo, or stop, be made of all ships and vessels whatsoever belonging to the subjects of the emperor of Russia now within, or which shall hereafter come into, any of the ports, harbours, or roads within any part of his majesty's dominious, tugether with all persons and effects on board all such ships and vessels:

and

and that the commanders of liis nia- the British cabinet has no hesitation jesty's ships of war and privateers do as to the macans, so long as they lead detain and bring into port all ships to the accomplishment of its designs ; and vessels belonging to the subjects and while this power can continue of the emperor of Russia, or bearing to enjoy the fruits of its inimense the flag of the emperor of Russia : traffic, humanity will groan under but that the utmost care be taken for the weight of a desolating war. To the preservation of all and every part put an end to this, and to attain a of the cargoes on board any of the solid peace, the emperor of the said ships or vessels, so that no da- French and king of Italy issued a mage or embezzlement whatever be decree on the 21st of November last, sustained; and the commanders of in which, adopting the principle of his majesty's ships of war and pri- reprisals, the blockade of the Britisha vateers are hereby instructed to de- isles is determined on; and bis amtain and bring into port every such bassador, his excellency Francis de ship and vessel accordingly: and the Beauharnois, grand dignitary of the right honourable the lords commis- order of the Iron Crown, of the Lesioners of the ad. niralty, and the lord gion of Honour, &c. &c. Having warden of the Cinque ports, are to give communicated this (decree) to the the necessary

directions herein, as to king our' master; and his majesty them may respectively appertain. being desirous to co-operate by means W. FAWKENER. sanctioned by the rights of recipro

city, has been pleased to authorize Spanish Order referred to in the his most serene highness the prince

Speech of the President of generallissimo of the marine, to issue
America,-[See p. 764.]

a circular of the following tenor :

“ As soon as England committed TRANSLATION.

the horrible outrage of intercepting By the greatest ontrage against the vessels of the royal márine, insihumanity and against policy, Spain' diously violating the good faith with was forced by Great Britain to take which peace assures individual propart in the present war. This pow- perty, and the rights of nations, bis er has exercised over the sea and majesty considered himself in a state over the commerce of the world an of war with that power, although his exclusive domivion. Her numerous royal soul suspended the promulgafactories, disseminated through all tion of the manifesto until he saw countries, are like sponges, which the atrocity committed by its seamen, imbibe the riches of those countries sanctioned by the government of without leaving them more than the London. appearance of mercantile liberty. “ From that time and without the From this maritime and commercial necessity of warning the inhabitants despotism England derives immense of these kingdoms of the circumresources for carrying on a war, whose spection with which they ought to object is to destroy the commerce conduct themselves towards those of which belongs to each state, from a country which disregards the sacred its industry and situation. Experi- laws of property, and the rights of ence has proved that the morality of nations ; his majesty made kuown

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to his subjects the state of war, in

British Declaration. which he found himself with that na. tion. All trade, all commerce, is The declaration issued at St. Peprohibited in such a situation, and tersburgh, by his majesty the empeno sentiments ought to be entertain-. ror of all the Russias, has excited in ed towards such an enemy, which his majesty's mind the strongest senare not dictated by honour, avoiding sations of astonishment and regret. all intercourse which might be con- His majesty was not unaware of sidered as the vile effect of avarice, the nature of those secret engageoperating on the subjects of a nation ments which had been imposed upon which degrades itself in them. His Russia in the conferences of Tilsit. majesty is well persuaded that such But his majesty had entertained the sentiments of honour are rooted in hope, that a review of the transactions the hearts of his beloved subjects; of that unfortunate negociation, and but he does not choose on that ac- a just estimate of its effects upon the count to allow the snallest indul- glory of the Russian name,

and

upon gence to the violaters of the law, nor the interests of the Russian empire, permit that, through their ignorance, would have induced his imperial mathey should be taken by surprize, jesty to extricate himself from the authorizing me by theze presents to embarrassment of those new cougdeclare that all English property sels and connections which he had shall be confiscated whenever it is adopted in a moment of despondenfound on board a vessel, although a cy and alarm, and to return to a poneutral, if the consignment belongs licy more congenial to the principles to Spanish individuals. So likewise which he had so invariably professed, will be confiscated all merchandise, and more conducive to the honour which may be met with, although it of his crown, and to the prosperity of may be in neutral vessels, whenever his dominions. it is destined for the ports of England This hope has dictated to his maor her isles. And finally, his majes- jesty the utmost forbearance and ty conforming himself to the ideas moderation in all his diplomatic inof his ally, the emperor of the French, tercourse with the court of St. Pedeclares in his states, the same law, tersburgh since the peace of Tilsit. which, from principles of reciprocity, His inajesty had much cause for and suitable respect, his imperial ma- suspicion, and just ground for conjesty promulgated, under date of the plaint. But he abstained from the 21st of November, 1806.

language of reproach. His majesty “ The execution of this deterini- deemed it necessary to require spenation of his majesty, belongs to the cific explanation with respect to those chiefs of provinces, of departments, arrangements with France, the conand of vessels (baxels); and commu- cealment of which from his majesty nicating it to them in the name of his could not but confirm the impression majesty, I hope they will leave no already received of their character room for the royal displeasure. God and tendency. But his majesty, nepreserve you many years.

vertheless, directed the demand oi « The Prince Generalissimo. that explanation to be made, not onAranjuez, 19th Febķuary, 1807," ly without asperity, or the indlication VOL, XLIX,

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of any hostile dieposition, but with the powers of the Continent. But that considerate regard to the feel it would surely be difficult to prove ings and situation of the emperor of that Great Britain, who was herself Russia, which resulted from the re- in a state of hostility with Prussia cobiection of former friendship, and when the war broke out between from confidence interrupted but not Prussia and France, lad an interest destroyed.

and a duty more direct in espousing The declaration of the emperor of the Prussian quarrel than the empeRussia proces that the object of his ror of Russia, the ally of his Prussian majesty's forbearance and modera- majesty, the protector of the north tion has not been attained. It proves, of Europe, and the guarantee of the unhappily, that the influence of that Germanic constitution. power, which is equally and essenti- It is not in a public declaration ally the enemy both of Great Britain that his majesty can discuss the poand of Russia, has acquired a de- licy of having at any particular period cided ascendancy in the counsels of of the war effected, or omitted to the cabinet of St. Petersburgh; and effect, disembarkations of troops on has been able to excite a causeless the coasts of Naples. Bat the inenmity between two nations, whose stance of the war with the Porte is long established connection, and still more singularly chosen to illuswhose mutual interests, prescribed trate the charge against Great Brithe most intimate union and co- tain of indifference to the interests operation.

of her ally; a war undertaken by His majesty deeply laments the Great Britain at the instigation of extension of the calamities of war. Russia, and solely for the purpose But called upon, as he is, to defend of maintaining Russian interests ahimself against an act of unprovoked gainst the influence of France. hostility, bis majesty is anxious to re- If, however, the peace of Tilsit is fute in the face of the world the pre- indeed to be considered as the consetexts by which that act is attempted quence and the punishment of the to be justified,

imputed inactivity of Great Britain, The declaration asserts that his his majesty cannot but regret that majesty the emperor of Russia has the emperor of Russia should have twice taken up arms in a cause in resorted to so precipitate and fatal a wbich the interest of Great Britain measure, at the moment when he was more direct than his own; and had received distinct assurances that founds upon this assertion the charge his majesty was making the most against Great Britain of having ne, strenuous exertions to fulfil the glected to second and support the wishes and expectations of his ally (asmilitary operations of Russia. surances which bis imperial majesty

His majesty willingly does justice received and acknowledged with apto the motives which originally enga- parent confidence and satisfaction); ged Russia in the great struggle a. and when his majesty was in fact, gainst France. His majesty avows prepared to employ for the advancewith equal readiness the interest ment of the cominon objects of the war which Great Britain has uniformly those forces which, after the peace of taken in the fates and fortupes of Tilsit, lie was uøder the necessity of

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employing to disconcert a combina- the mediation was proposed, and tion directed against his own imnie- which prescribed a liniited time for diate interests and security.

the return of his majesty's answer to The vexation of Russian com- that proposal. And luis majesty was merce by Great Britain is, in truth, thus led into an apparent compiiJittle more than au imaginary grie- ance with a limitation so offensive to yance. Upon a diligent examination, the dignity of an independent sovemade by his majesty's command, of reign. But the auswer so returned the records of the British court of by his majesty was not a refusal. admirally, there has been discovered | Il was a conditional acceptance. The only a solitary instance in the course conditions required Hy his majesty of the present war, of the condemna were,-a statement of the basis upon tion of a vessel really Russian; a which the enemy was disposed to vessel which had carried naval stores treat; and a communication of the to a port of the common enemy. articles of the peace of Tilsit. The

There are but few instances of Rus- first of these conditions was precisely sian vessels detained; and pone in the same which the emperor of Ruswhich justice has been refused to a sia had himself annexed not four party regularly complaining of such months before to his own acceptance detention. It is therefore matter of of the proffered mediation of the em-surprise as well as of concern to his peror of Austria. The second was majesty, that the emperor of Russia one which his majesty would have should have condescended to bring had a right to require, even as the forward a complaint which, as it can- ally of his imperial majesty ; but not he seriously felt by those in whose which it would have been highly behalf it is urged, might appear to improvident to onit, when he was be intended to countenance those invited to confide to his imperial maexaggerated declamations, by which testy the carē of his honour and his France perseveringly endeavours to interests. inflame the jealousy of other caun- But even if these conditions (neitries, and to justify her own invete- ther of which has been fulfilled, alrate animosity against Great Britain. though the fufilment of them has

The peace of Tilsit was followed been repeatedly required by his maby an offer of mediation on the part jesty's aiubassador at St. Petersburgh) of the emperor of Russia, for the had not been in themselves perfectly couclusion of a peace between Great natural and necessary; there were Britain and France; which it is as- not wanting considerations which serted that his majesty refused. might have warranted his majesty in

His majesty did not refuse the endeavouring, with more than ordimediation of the emperor of Russia ; nary anxiety, to ascertain the views although the offer of it was accom- and intentions of the emperor of Rus· panied by circumstances of conceal- sia, and the precise nature and effect ment, which might well have justified of the new relatious which his impebis refusal. The articles of the trea- rial majesty had contracted. ty of Tilsit were not communicated The complete abandonment of the to his majesty; and specifically, that interests of the king of Prussia (who article of ille treaty in virtue of which had twice rejected proposals of se

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