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the result of this battle, that Jonathan does "the treachery of America was fresh look pretty sharply about him. Now, then," in the minds of the European Powers, is let us hear what effect this event has had "past. Already do they begin to relax in "their deep and merited contempt of the upon the Times newspaper, which, only a week ago, insisted on it, that the Ame-"servile hypocrite Madison. Already do can Government must be displaced, that" they turn a compassionating look on the "smoking rafters of the would-be Capitol. He Americans were cowards, that they cared nothing about their country, and that" Presently, perhaps, the Russian Cabinet may forget that the Empress Catherine, the States would soon divide, and come "to her dying day, treated the Americans over, one at a time, to the parent country. Now, let us hear what torch-" as rebels to their legal Sovereign; or bearer of the war, this trumpet of fire" the Spanish Court, while it is endeavourand sword, provoker to every act of vio-"ing to rivet its yoke on Buenos Ayres, lence and cruelty. Let us hear what" may join with the philosophers of Virgihe now has to say; he, who has, for"nia, in contending for the liberty of the three years past, been urging the Go-" seas. Such, and still greater political in"consistencies we have before now witvernment on to this disastrous contest. "Halifax papers to the 6th in-nessed. Therefore let time be taken bystant, New York to the 22d ultimo," the forelock; let not another campaign "be wasted in diversions, and demonstra"and Boston to the 25th, have been re"tions; let not another autumnal sun go "ceived. There is no dissembling that Commodore Macdo"the popular outcry in Canada against Sir" down in DISGRACE TO THE BRI"George Prevost's conduct, on occasion of "TISH ARMS. "the late operations against Plattsburg, is "nough's laconic note savours a little of We canaffectation; but we are sorry he has so very general and very loud. "not pretend to determine on the talents" favourable an opportunity for displaying "the brevity of his style to advantage. "of this officer, or on the wisdom of his "General Macomb's orders, however, are "plans; but we recur to the suggestion "which we made at a very early period of "sufficiently lengthy; and, unfortunately, "he also has some unpleasant information. "the campaign, and regret exceedingly "to give us. He states, that 14,000 "that one of our most experienced Gene"British veterans have been foiled by "rals from Spain was not sent at once, "1500 American regulars and some few "with an army strong in numbers, and "flushed with victory from the fields of "militia, the whole not exceeding 2500 If he is correct in these esti"Thoulouse, to the heart of the United "States. Was it beneath the diguity of" mates, it is surely high time that we "should either give up teaching the Ame"Lord Hill, or even of the Duke of "Wellington? Fatal prejudice! To des-"ricans war, or send them some better instructors.". -The former is the best, "pise, to irritate, and, after all, not to "subdue our adversaries, is the worst and be assured! Why should Commodore "weakest of all policy. Now we have Macdonough be charged with affectation, "reduced ourselves to the dilemma of because he writes a short letter? He has "being obliged to carry our point by main no sons or cousins, or patron's sons or cou"force, or to retire from the contest ten sins, or bastards, to recommend for the 4 times worse than we began it, with the receipts of presents or pensions.I have, at present, no room for further mere postponement of an abstract tion, which has no reference to our pre- comment on this article. I will resume "sent state of peace, with a fund of the the subject in my next. "bitterest animosity laid up against us in "future, with our flag disgraced on the and on the lakes, and with the "laurels withered at Plattsburg, which were so hardly but so gloriously earned "in Portugal, and Spain, and France. The "spirit of the British nation cannot stoop "to the latter alternative; and therefore, "at whatever risk, at whatever ex66 pense, WE must embrace the for"mer. The invaluable year 1814, when

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men.

RETALIATION.

-But

A great deal has lately been said in the French, in the American, and in our own newspapers, about the destructive mode of warfare now waging in Canada, and in the United States. The two former have employed the most violent invectives against our Government, on account of the burning of Washington, and other places, while we have set up, as a justification of these rigorous measures,

that these cruelties were committed, in consequence of an order from the Secretary at War, or any other pison holding a responsible situation in the Government, then there would be no room for doubt: the question would be decided against the Americans, and Great Britain stand acquitted in the eyes of the universe. If, however, it should turn out, that neither Mr. Madison, nor any individual connected with his Government, directly or indirectly, issued such an order, candour will compel us to acknowledge, that we have been rather rash in the severe consures we have pronounced upon the Ame

inquiry, we find, that every thing has been done by that Government which prudence could dictate, or which we ourselves could devise, to soften the rigours of war; if it should appear, that the American President, anticipating the dreadful evils consequent on a state of hostility, adopted precautionary measures, in order to ame

the plea of retaliation; that is to say, have alleged, that the burning and ransacking of defenceless towns, and the carrying away of private property from our Provinces in Canada, began with the Americans; and that what our troops have since done, what houses they have set fire to, what property they have taken away, and what numbers of innocent people they have ruined, instead of being either wanton, barbarous, or unjust, was a fair retaliation for the injuries they had done us, and perfectly consistent with the established laws of nations. If the practice of shedding human blood in battle is at all justifiable, I do not see why one nation has a rightrican Government. But if, upon farther more than another, of deviating from the common and prescribed rules of carrying on this work of destruction. I cannot admit, because one people, who call them selves civilized, should, in order to get the better of their neighbours, take into their head to copy the practices of savages and barbarians, that the others have not an equal right to adopt the same practices.liorate the condition of the invaders as The one having, in a moment of frenzy, employed an instrument, to cut his neighbours throat, different from that which, in cold blood, he had agreed to use in the performance of this humane act, it seems to be only fair play that his opponent should satiate his thirst for human gore in a way, at least, as horrible and savage as his neigh bour. Were the party who had been provoked to seek his revenge in a still more terrible manner, perhaps something might even then be offered in his vindication. At all events, if the Americans were really guilty, in the first instance, of the wanton and dreadful outrages of which we accuse them; if they set the example of devasta-have so lavishly brought against us. tion and barbarity, of which we so loudly Courier, and all our hireling tribe of jourcomplain, and under which we shelter our- nalists, following its example, have stated, selves for the commission of similar out- that "from the first invasion of Upper rages, I am quite satisfied that they have "Canada by the American forces, under suffered nothing more than they deserved," Brigadier-General Hull, they manifested and that the French people, in place of as-" a disposition of marking out, as objects simulating us to Attila and his Huns, or "of peculiar resentment, all loyal subjects Robespierre and his bravadoes, ought, in" of his Majesty, and dooming their projustice, to draw the comparison between "perty to plunder and conflagration."these inhuman monsters and the Americans themselves. But there is a circumstance which, it is necessary, should be attended to in determining this important questionnamely, whether the acts and deeds of the Americans, which serve as a plea for the dreadful revenge we have taken, were authorised, or afterwards sanctioned, by the American Government. If it appeared

well as the invaded; if we should discover, that where any thing contrary to the usages of war, any of those violences inseparable from a state of warfare, occurred, the individuals engaged in these, or who may have exercised any unnecessary severity, were brought to trial, or punished for the impropriety of their conduct. If, I say, such should appear to have been the way in which the American Government have acted in such cases, it will be impossible to condemn Mr. Madison upon just grounds, or to clear us of those charges of cruelty, barbarity, and wanton precipitancy, which our neighbours

The

That the Americans invaded Upper Canada, after war had broken out between the two countries, is a fact we cannot doubt; but that they should behave in the manner here pointed out; that they should shew peculiar resentment towards some of the inhabitants merely because they were loyal subjects, and doom their property to destruction, for no other reason than that

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they were attached to their lawful Sove- all controversy is, that, on this very occareign, is what no reasonable person will sion, the American Minister openly and believe, who knows any of the respect the distinctly disavowed all intention of carryAmerican Ministers have always shewn to ing on war contrary to the established practhe Government of other States, and the tice of civilized nations. Supposing, thereextraordinary devotion of the people to fore, what does not even appear to be the their own political institutions. The charge case, that the American officer had, in indeed has been held so absurd by the this instance, been guilty of some violence, Americans, that they have never deigned or had even done all the mischief of which to notice it, although they have uniformly he is accused, this would not afford a met all general and undefined accusations ground on which to blame the Government, with a dignified denial, and an explicit call when it cannot be shewn that it sanctioned apon their accusers to embody their charges his acts either by previous orders or a subin some tangible shape. Finding that this sequent approval. Aware of the conclumanly way of silencing calumny had its sive nature of this fact, the Courier then prenow attempts to shelter itself under the effect, our corrupt press proper tended to discover, in certain acts of the fallacious pretence, that the destruction of American army, a sufficient ground not the houses at Newark "could in no degree only on which to rest their former accusa-assist the American operations,” and that, tions, but to warrant the adoption of those when Mr. Monroe made this statement, "he knew it to be totally false." I leave · destructive measures that have lately attended our naval and military operations. it to the reader to judge, whether the It was said, that the proceedings of the Editor of the Courier or the American Americans at the village of Newark, in Secretary of State is entitled to the greatest Upper Canada, were marked with acts of credit, or which of them is the most likely that the prethe greatest atrocity, such as burning and to be possessed of correct information on suppose destroying the farm-houses and other build- the subject. Could I ings of the peaceable inhabitants. "It ference would be given to the former, I will hardly be credited," said the servile would still maintain, that the bare knowIt must be writer of the Courier," that, in the in-ledge of these outrages having been com"clemency of a Canadian winter, the mitted, would prove nothing. troops of a nation calling itself civilized distinctly shewn that they were authorised· "and christian, had wantonly, and with by the Government, before they can be held as warranting the steps we have taken. "out the shadow of a pretext, forced 400 "helpless women and children to quit their As this is not even pretended by the "dwellings, and to be the mournful spec- Courier, it must continue an established "tators of the conflagration and total de- fact, that the American Government was "struction of all th it belonged to them." not the first aggressor, and consequently, that When this writer affected, in this hypocri- that we cannot plead their example in justitical manner, to lament the scenes he has fication of our conduct. It has been said, so pathetically described, he took special that the burning of Long Point completely care not to inform his readers, that the implicates the American Government. But village of Newark was situated so close to it is only necessary, as in the last instance, Fort George, that it was scarcely possible to produce the evidence of their having The American Goto carry on military operations at that sanctioned the deed, to admit the concluplace, either of a defensive or offensive na- sion drawn from it. ture, without destroying many of the sur-vernment has repeatedly declared, that this rounding buildings. Accordingly, when act was totalty unauthorised; and to shew it was said, that the American officer com- their entire disapprobation of it, they demanding at Fort George had exceeded the livered up the officer, under whose orders bounds of propriety, he justified himself on it was performed, to be tried by the laws "But (asks the Courier) the ground, that the measures he had taken of his country. "what was the result? This is studiously ́ were essentially necessary to the military plans he had adopted. It is plain, from concealed."-Supposing the officer acquit an inquiry having been ordered by the ted of the charge, what would the Courier Would he have the impu American Government into this officer's say to this? conduct, that it gave no authority to act dence to assert, that the Government ought to be held culpable, and the people visited rigorously towards the inhabitants of our States. But what establishes this beyond with the most dreadful of all calamities,

because the tribunals, established by law, required by the injured parties. The Amerihad not considered the evidence suflicient can Government acted precisely in the same to convict the accused? Of what conse-way. The officer who had the charge of the quence is it to our Government, or how far party that burned St. Davids was dismissed is it held implicated in the issue of a Court from the service" without a trial, for not Martial, whether the party tried be found preventing it." I think this was an arbiinnocent or guilty? Have not Ministers trary stretch of power. No man ought to done their duty, when they deliver up the be punished without a trial, however great accused to be tried by his proper judges? and however palpable his crime. To adWho ever thinks of connecting them, after mit a contrary practice is opening a door this step, with the judgment that may be that may lead to great abuses, and I am sorry pronounced? Would the Courier writer to find the fact admitted by an American wish us to believe that Ministers do influ-Secretary of State. But aggravated as ence the decisions of the Judges? Does he this officer's punishment was by this breach mean to insinuate, that even Juries are of law and justice, the Courier writer not beyond the influence of corruption? If would have it believed, that it was not half he does not; if, as he always pretends, severe. "Was that an adequate punishhe entertains a high opinion of the iute-"ment," he asks, "for such an unprogrity of our Judges, and a reverence for "voked enormity?" Thanks to the enthe Trial by Jury; if he considers it a di- lightened minds of those who framed the rect violation of the Constitution to inter-American code of laws, that it was cons:fere with their verdicts; upon what prin- dered an adequate punishment. To julge ciple is it that the American Government from the sanguinary disposition of this <crshould be blamed, and the people punished | ruptionist, it appears that nothing would for shewing the same respect for the deci- have satisfied him short of burning the sions of their Judges, and the same defer- wretch alive; and because some such puence for the verdicts of their Juries? How nishment as this was not inflicted, he now can we censure or punish the Americans pretends that Madison's government ought upon these grounds, without censuring and to be implicated in the affair of St. Davids, punishing the Government and the people and that a circumstance so manifestly unof this country also? Let the Courier, or controlable, and so clearly unauthorized by his admirers, answer these questions, if any proper authority, is sufficient to counthey can. Another ground of retaliation, tenance the plea we have set up in justifiurged by corruption against the Ameri- cation of the dreadful sufferings we have can Government, was the burning of inflicted on the American people!--If we St. David's. This, it appears, Was were to form our opinions of the Americans, done by a straggling party of soldiers, upon what this prostituted writer tells us, who, finding themselves freed from all we could not fail to consider them the constraint, conceived they had a right to most barbarous, the most immoral, and the plunder and destroy every thing that came most uncultivated race of men existing on in their way belonging to the enemy. the face of the earth; yet with all their igHave we not heard of thousands of such norance, and all their savage propensities, we parties in the recent war on the Continent? do not perceive that their rulers have been And has not every newspaper in Europe so stupidly precipitate as either to proclaim dwelt with indignation on the atrocities the inhabitants of the, countries they incommitted by loose bands of soldiers be-vaded beyond the protection of the law, or longing to all the armies of the belligerents? But who ever pretended that any of the Governments, or any of the nations to which these insolated parties of marauders belonged, should be so far held responsible for their acts, as to be placed beyond the protection of the law of nations, and to be made to suffer for crimes which they could neither foresee nor prevent? It was enough that the guilty were made to suffer. In ordering this, the nation to whom they belonged did all that was incumbent on them to do, and all that could reasonably be

to treat them as if they had been their own subjects, in open rebellion against the State. The cases already alluded to evidently do not warrant the conclusions drawn by the Courier, unfavourable to the humanity of the Americans; and if we are disposed to give a candid hearing to what they themselves have published in their own defence, we shall soon be convinced, that they are neither barbarous nor inhuman; that they are as well acquainted with the science of politics, and entertain as great a respect for the established laws of nations, and the

"brought together a number of neighbours to assist in extinguishing the flames; they were ordered off in no very gentle "accents by the worthy Lord of the Manor of Fairthorn (Cobbett); the honest rus"tics considering this as no grateful retura "for their wish to render assistance, were

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rights of particular States, as the most civilized and Christian people in Europe. It appears, indeed, that their superior acquirements, combined with an ardent attachment to liberty, is the cause of the" great hatred and rancour constantly displayed, in our newspaper press, against all their institutions. We envy the Ameri-"soon actively employed in pelting the cans because they excel us, and from envy proceeds enmity. Nor do the recent triumphs which they have obtained over our ficets and armies, and the imposing attitude they have in consequence assumed, appear in any degree to lessen the deep rooted malice entertained against them by a great majority in this country. Disaster seems to have no other effect than to con

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worthy farmer with his own turnips, "whilst his property was left to the devouring elment. The flames ceased in about "three hours."- ---The real facts are these:-The fire, having to work upon wooden buildings covered with thatch, in dry weather and a windy night, were consumed in less than half an hour, leaving not a piece of timber standing when I arfirm popular prejudices; the public have rived at the spot, about two miles from no wish to be undeceived, and the man that Botley.-The oxen, hogs, horses, asses, dares attempt to tell them the truth is sure the waggons, carts, ploughs, and even the to be treated with contempt, and to be harness, had all been saved by the prelooked upon as a suspected person, who, sence of mind, the courage, and the zeal like the nation whose rights he defends, of my servants. My neighbours ran from ought to be punished for his laudable ef- Botley with buckets; but it was quite too forts. With such dispositions, it is no way late to do any good.-Such a fire would surprizing that the conductors of our vile naturally soon draw together, early in the press find admirers. They flatter their pas- evening, every creature for miles round. sions, they feed their appetite for lies, they Soon after my arrival, a gentleman, my nourish their hatred, and they re-kindle neighbour, came to inform me, that he had their fury, whenever circumstances occur detected one of the "honest rustics" stealThis was to reconcile them to the former objects of ing the iron work of a pump. their hate. From this dreadful, but no followed by my servants informing me, that less faithful, picture of the present state of others of the "honest rustics," who came society, one would almost be compelled to to "render assistance," were amusing conclude, that man was naturally a savage themselves by throwing a heap of Swedish animal. It is not, however, from the turnips into the fire.It was now time corruption of his nature that these evils to stir, in order to save my iron and lead spring; they are occasioned by corrupt in- from the claws of, perhaps, 50 thieves, a stitations, by perverted systems of education, moderate proportion out of 500" honest by inexorable laws, that interested cheats rustics."In London and other great have every where promulgated, and that towns, soldiers, with loaded muskets and never can be overcome until mankind re-fixed bayonets, are always called in to preturn to reason, the only sure guide to virtue, to peace, and to happiness.

FIRE ON MR. COBRETT'S PREMISES. I had not the least idea, that, on a subject like this, and so wholly of a private mature, I should ever have been under the necessity of addressing my readers.-But the following paragraph, taken from the Times newspaper of the 26th instant, will, I am sure, be a sufficient apology for my so doing." A Hampshire paper adds some further particulars concerning a "recent fire on the farm of Mr. William "Cobbett, near Botley, by which two "barns, a stable, a haystack, and some "cattle pens were ere burnt. The alarm

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vent robbery.-I needed none. I explained to the assemblage the danger I was in from the thieves; I observed that no one could do me any good by remaining; and, as it was manifest, that no one could wish to remain against my will but for the purpose of thieving, I should, of course, look upon every man and woman as a thief, who did not, at my request, instantly retire. At the same time, I thanked every one for his having wished to render assistance. I had no trouble. Not a man remained at the end of ten minutes. Only one man was base enough to express his disappointment at not finding three or four hogsheads of beer to drink. No man threw a turnip at me; and, I am persuaded, that there is not a man in the