Kentucky Gazette

EXTRACT TO THE EDITOR, DATED
" Washington City, July 18.

" Advices from the Havanna state, that the captain of one of the Spanish vessels who behaved in so cowardly a manner to the Firebrand, in the Gulf of Mexico, has been tried and broke. If this be true, it looks well in the Dons.

" The rumor that Mr. Rush will be appointed Minister to London, seems to gain ground: this, however, may be a mere feeling of the pulse of the people. But they, I take it for granted, have no objection.

" The public prints will acquaint you with the latest news from abroad, which is down to the last of May, inclusive. It seems that the suspension of the habeas corpus act is still to be continued: and thus John Bull, from being the freest animal in Europe, has become the most degraded and enslaved. The old speaker of the house of commons, you will observe, was to resign, and a son of the archbishop of Canterbury to succeed him; and there was some rumor of the intended retirement of lord Liverpool, so as to make way for the accession of lord Grenville and his party. Liverpool has long been the most powerful nobleman in England: lord Castlereagh is indebted to him for his present post in the British government. By the accession of the Grenvilles, the ministry may be somewhat strengthened; but their greatest reliance, I presume, is on the bayonets of the mercenaries. Letters of a recent date have been received from Mr. Adams, our minister in London, and I understand that he was to embark for America during the first week in June; of course, we may look for him hourly. My next letter will probably inform you of his arrival. There is a good deal of curiosity afloat as to the manner in which Mr. Adams will demean himself in his new office. It is sixteen years since we have had a secretary of state from the north of the Susquehannah. I have not reflected much upon the public character of Mr. Adams; but I should suppose him to be an attentive, industrious man, well versed in the forms, details, and routine of official duties. But in this, as in many other cases, time is the only and the best instructor.—We have an account of good crops in Europe; and wheat and flour have fallen most marvellously in this quarter of the United States.—News has reached us, apparently authentic, (although there was something like a hoax practised at Baltimore in relation to it) that M'Gregor and his party have actually captured Amelia island. The intelligence comes from Savannah, and the event is said to have happened on the 30th of June. M'Gregor, it is reported, will immediately proceed to make a dash at St. Augustine, in East Florida. I see no great advantage to the patriots in all this : but it will benefit the United States : for, if the Independents occasion commotions in Florida, Spain will agree the more readily to part with it. You may depend on it the government of the United States have their eyes open on this subject. But what does Great Britain mean to do ? To adjust the dispute between Portugal and Spain, perhaps, relative to the occupancy of the possessions of the latter by the former on the river La Plata. I have my fears that they will go a little farther than that, and interfere in the affairs of the Spanish colonies. I do not in the least like the reference of questions concerning any part of America to the "high allied powers" in Europe. Their " Holy Alliance," I apprehend, contains some secret articles inimical to republicanism and the independence of nations. It is very desirable that the United States were a little more advanced in their growth, that they might say to those European leaguers against liberty, " thus far shall ye go, and no farther." Poor Pernambuco! The moderation of the measures adopted by the Revolutionists there merited a better fate. Their leaders, you will see, have committed suicide, or will be hung.

" We have nothing new in this city. We are here as dull as the absence of the chief magistrate could make us. Our eyes are attracted eastward: and we daily look into the Gazettes to trace the route of Col. Monroe. He has reached Salem. It is much to be lamented, but certainly the time he intended for the inspection of fortifications, &c. must be greatly diminished by the numerous visits, addresses, and answers, which he is obliged to attend to. When Gen. Washington made his tour, he used frequently to give the inhabitants of the towns through which he passed the slip; but population has increased, and it must now be impossible to elude the vigilance of the devoted patriotism and reverence of the citizens of the Eastern states. The thing might have worn a better aspect, if the federalists there had shewn as much anxiety to meet the enemy last war, as they do now to meet the President ; but, they have a way of their own, and it is not for us to find fault with them."

The intelligence in the letter of our valuable Washington correspondent, is confirmed by a Charleston article, which states, that the captain of the Spanish brig, which, in conjunction with a frigate, committed a dastardly outrage on the Firebrand in the Gulf of Mexico last year, has been tried and broke at Havanna, and the captain of the frigate sent to Old Spain for trial. By this act of the Spanish authorities, the wounded honor of America is healed, and the necessity of resorting to force for the vindication of our insulted flag, is obviated. We owe this to the high character which our navy acquired in the late war, and to the anxiety of Spain not to bring upon herself another enemy in America, in addition to her own colonies.

The articles from Savannah and St. Mary's, with the proclamations of general MacGregor, will show his progress in the reduction of Florida, and explain his apparent views in the course which he is pursuing. If his designs be really to further the cause of Spanish American independence, and not the interests of Britain, we trust that his success will equal the real glory which surrounds every struggle of enslaved man to break the fetters by which tyranny has deprived him of his freedom. There appears to be no solid reason to suspect the General of duplicity, or of a devotion to British interests: he cannot suppose that the United States would ever consent to let England hold Florida; nor can he suppose that the people of Florida themselves would be willing to become British colonists. They would probably be very well satisfied to become a part the American union, or to establish their independence. We have no doubt the object of MacGregor is that which he avows in his proclamations, and that he calculates upon securing a solid reputation to himself, by establishing the freedom of Florida. We fear that his resources for men and money will prove too limited to ensure the permanent success of his plans. Florida, however, is feebly protected by the Spaniards, and if the General's troops be men of real merit, a small band will enable him to reduce the Spanish garrisons, notwithstanding the approach of the consulado fleet from Havanna for the defence of St. Augustine.