Virginia Argus

The American executive, we feel the most implicit confidence will never consent to a treaty in which the British practice of impressment shall not be abandoned.

In the ninth number of Mr. Pickering's elaborate vindication of the enemy, he makes a miserable effort to account in a new way for the issuing of the declaration of war on the 18th June last. He gravely declares, that it was issued so soon because the democrats apprehended that the orders in council would be repealed, and the ground of war thus be taken from under their feet!

We always knew Timothy Pickering to be the worst of political knaves: but this declaration of his demonstrates extreme stupidity as well as knavery. It is impossible that the President and Congress could have calculated in June last on the repeal of the British orders in council, because they had just received the Prince Regent's declaration, of the 21st of the preceding April, proclaiming to neutral nations, "that nothing but the unconditional repeal of the French decrees should ever procure the revocation of the orders in council." This fact alone shews the stupid fallacy of Mr. Pickering's assertion. Yet do the northern federalists swallow with avidity every sentence written by this wretched factionist.

It must be confessed that Mr. Pickering most appropriately heads some of the letters he is now publishing, "The mystery of iniquity unveiled!" They unequivocally unveil his iniquitous principles and conduct towards his country; and the "mystery" of his "iniquity" is to be found in his attachment and devotion to his country's enemy, as his letters amply unfold.