Rhode Island Republican

NEWPORT.
THURSDAY, May 29, 1806.

The Editor of the Mercury has long been celebrated for making judicious selections. His knack at this kind of editorialship is acknowledged by all parties. More than six months ago it was thought he had arrived at perfection in it; and that the art was incapable of any further improvements: But of late he has proved the supposition fallacious. Read his last paper and see if it be not true. In the second page you will find the following expressions: But say the Democratic prints the money has not been sent off in specie. No; not in specie exactly, but bills have been drawn for it in Europe. As to this fact we happen to be personally acquainted with the merchants here who negotiated the bills for Mr. Gallatin, and therefore derive our information from a direct source.

Look upon the next page. There you will find the following sentence: The United States Brig Hornet, from New-York, bound to France, with dispatches and tribute money, was spoken 10th April, lat. 43. lon. 30; she probably arrived about the 20th. Only think of it; one page of the Mercury declares that no money has been sent; and the very next page, that the vessel in which the money was sent, has been spoken at sea. What a knot of judicious selections this paper contains! We shall all be converted to Federalism soon, if the Mercury Editor continues his useful labors in making his judicious selections.

We will now cease our encomiums upon the excellent judgment of the Mercury Editor, and bestow a few words upon Marshall Coleman the author of the expressions, quoted from the 2d page of the last Mercury. This same Coleman, but a few weeks ago declared that two millions of dollars had been sent to France in Specie. He now tells you that no specie has been sent, but, that he knows bills, have been drawn for the specie. This is virtually saying, fellow citizens, a few weeks ago I told you an absolute falsehood; now I tell you the truth. Did we do this man any injustice when we said, that he had no feelings to wound, and no reputation to save.