Kentucky Gazette

From the Norfolk Herald.

While the "legitimate" sovereigns of Europe are expressing such a great deal of anxiety about the independence of nations, it is vastly surprising that they should have overlooked the monstrous outrages committed by Great Britain on the sovereignty of Portugal.

Was it to guarantee the independence of nations that the Essex was taken within cable length of Valparaiso? That the General Armstrong was destroyed in the port of Fayal and the Levant recaptured in Porto Praya. May be not; and yet we find that the great men who compose the congress at Vienna, have taken no notice of these transactions.

It is with reluctance we agitate any subject that may excite animosity towards our late enemy, but the circumstances of the Levant are of as atrocious a character that is difficult for the American penman, in speaking of them, to "mince the matter." Here is another instance of that brutal violence, and contempt of civilized usage, for which the officers of the British navy & army were so notorious during the last war. Their continuing to fire into the Levant after her colours were struck, shewed their disposition to murder those brave men, who in equal combat have so often vanquished them, and was an act that would have disgraced even the Algerines. But what shall we say of the Portuguese, to permit such daring violations of their rights? To suffer a mob of English sailors to take possession of one of their forts and turn the guns of it against friendly vessels that had sought protection from them? The U. States will probably demand of the Portuguese government indemnity for the loss of the Levant, but that will be no compensation for the outrage on the laws of nations and the immunities of neutrality. With as much propriety as there was capturing the Levant in a neutral port, might a belligerent invade a neutral, and seize upon the persons and property of the subjects of the enemy.