Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

actually laden, shall be suffered to depart. The law is to take effect from its passage. Such, we believe, are the leading features of the bill. It is rumoured, and we fear it is too true, that this measure has been adopted at the instance of France.

We are of opinion, that the embargo bill could not have been the only subject under consideration during the time the house sat with closed doors.

We are led to this opinion by a variety of circumstances, but particularly by the number of confidential messages which passed between the two houses yesterday. We do not pretend to know the particular points under consideration; but we believe them to be important, and pregnant with the most serious consequences to our country. Yesterday in debate, Mr. Masters observed, that "since the dark and midnight vote (alluding to the night before) his hopes of peace with Britain were greatly diminished;" and yesterday a member of the legislature of some eminence, who belongs to the presidential squad, told the editor of this paper that war was almost certain; but that it would take a prophet to tell with what power it would be—France or England.

Wash. Fed.