Gazette Of The United States

From the Columbian Centinel.

Mr. Russell,

WHEN I saw a prophetic intimation in your last Centinel, that we might soon expect to have some of our citizens denounced by a Jacobin Club, or in the Jacobin mode; I little thought that the prediction would be verified in the same week. But the Jacobin party in every country are so ardent, and are in the habit of strongly marching with a quick step to the tune of Ca Ira, that they progress much faster than we expected. Their impetuosity is so great, that even here, they seem to proscribe with as much facility and expedition, as they do in Paris; and may perhaps, sentence and execute our citizens with as much celerity as they have done in France. On Thursday afternoon eleven of our citizens, some of whom are of the utmost respectability in town, were denounced, and their names displayed in large letters on the mainmast of the French frigate now in this harbour, as Aristocrats, unfriendly to the French revolution, and averse to having American citizens enter on board French privateers. This was the crime said to be stated on the paper above the names; and it was confirmed to be the crime for which they were denounced, by one of the officers of the frigate to Americans who were on board.

Now, Mr. Russell, I wish the noted Expositor of laws and treaties, the would-be Marat for this Department, to shew us by what article of our treaty with France the French naval officers, or the agents of the Jacobin Club in Paris, have a right to proscribe our citizens, because, they wish to live in peace with all the world.

The prediction in your Centinel of last Wednesday is now fulfilled. Eleven of our citizens are now proscribed, and their names announced on board the frigate, because they wish to preserve our neutrality. and have been opposed to our taking a part in the present war. I wish also to know what is to be their punishment, and who are to execute it? Are they to suffer by the Lamp Cord or the Guillotine here, or are they to be sent in irons to Paris, to suffer there? If it be not the latter, why was the proscription first announced on board the French frigate? If the former be intended, why was not process made in our own mode, and through the medium of our own laws?

Has the boasted freedom of American citizens come to this—has our valued liberty so soon sunk to a state of vassalage to an European nation? What other sovereign nation, since the revolution, has assumed such a power over us? And is this to be viewed as evidences of their friendship as allies, or their love of liberty and equality?

Have we no character as Americans, no laws, no government of our own, that we must be called to a foreign tribunal? Is it laudable and virtuous for us to insult the President and all others who administer the government of the Union; and is it criminal to be advocates for peace, and promoters of public tranquillity and happiness? What a mutable world is this, what a perversion of all good principles. of common sense, and of moral rectitude!

But fear not, Mr. Russell, though you are among the proscribed. We have a faction, and they are known; but their wickedness will fall on their own pates; they will yet probably suffer by the traps, which they have prepared for others.

A FREE AMERICAN.

It is but justice to Captain Van Dongen, commander of the La Concorde, to say, that he holds in the highest detestation the conduct above alluded to, which was done in his absence, and that he is taking measures to discover the writer of the paper.

A CARD.

THE gentlemen, whose names were posted on the main mast of the frigate La Concorde, on Thursday afternoon, present their compliments to the captain of that ship, and request him to enquire and inform them through the Centinel, who it was that did it, or by whose direction or privity it was done, and what was the object in doing it. They are informed and believe, that the Captain had no knowledge of the act when done, and was displeased with and reprobated it.— But they know of no channel so clear and direct of coming at the agent, as through the officers of the ship.

Boston, Aug. 10.

The French Patriotic Society,
Residing in Boston, beg leave to inform the American gentlemen, whose names have been posted up as Aristocrats that they hold with contempt and indignation the author of the same, who without any provocation, has cruelly, and shamefully attacked their characters; and that in justice, which they owe to themselves, they take this method to inform them, that they are ashamed of it, sorry for it, and will take every possible step to discover the author, and will expose him to the public.

John Duballet, President.
By order of the Society,
S. Veron, Secretary.

Boston, Aug. 9.