Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

SALEM, Dec. 29.
BRITISH PERFIDY!
Neutral Commerce.--In July last, the minister for foreign affairs of the king of Naples informed the American consul, that American vessels, and cargoes, with their papers, &c. in order, and with clearances direct for the ports of the kingdom of Naples, would be admitted to entry. In consequence of this a number of American vessels cleared for Naples, among the rest the ship Hercules, West, of this port. Notwithstanding this invitation to a free trade, the owner of the Hercules has received a letter from his correspondents at Leghorn of the 13th October informing him, that they had received letters from Messrs. Degen and co. the consignees, which mention, that immediately on landing the cargo, an order came to the custom house to Sequester it, and that four other cargoes were in a similar situation, although no counter declaration to that of July had been made. Messrs. Degen & co. say, under date of October 2, that they were in daily expectation of a decree being issued respecting colonial produce; but no alteration had taken place as late as the 8th. The other vessels are the sch'r Hamilton of New York, ship Augusta of Baltimore (with the New American consul on board) brig Sophia and schooner Zephyr. This conduct of the king of Naples was probably founded upon the famous letter of Champagny to general Armstrong declaring the unalterable principles of the Napoleon code, and, "from which (Mr. Bentley says) the greatest advantages can be hoped for the world. Those advantages, it seems, we already begin to experience."