Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Portland,

Monday, January 9, 1809.

DAY OF MOURNING.

Monday last, completed one year since the Embargo was officially known and enforced on the Commerce of Portland; and we are bold to say, the ruinous & distressing effects of this detestable measure have been more severely felt in this town than in any other place in the United States. The consequences of stopping the commerce of this place, has been almost as fatal to the prosperity of Portland, as was that of its destruction by fire in the revolutionary war. It will require many years to restore its former situation. Impressed with a proper sense of the evils and sufferings unnecessarily occasioned by a twelve months embargo, and at the same time, whilst our rulers appear, Pharaoh like, determined to increase our burdens in proportion to their injustice, it was deemed proper to notice the anniversary of the destruction of our natural and civil rights in a manner worthy of citizens possessing the spirit of Freemen, as follows.

At sunrise, the bells commenced tolling, and the shipping were dressed as being in a state of the greatest distress. At 11 o'clock a procession was formed at the head of Union Wharf, consisting of upwards of 400 persons under the direction of 14 Marshals, with suitable badges of mourning, in the following order:

A Ship dismasted, guns housed, flags half mast, caps inverted on the main-top head, with Ograbme painted on her stern, and Embargo on her sides, drawn by four white horses, in mourning, the ship's bell tolling.

Music, drums muffled, playing Roslin Castle.

Committee of Arrangements, with mourning sashes.

Ship Masters and Mariners

Merchants, Mechanics, &c. &c.

In this order the procession moved, with measured step and slow, through the principal streets to Fort-hill. The ship was then shifted to her proper position, dressed out, the American Ensign displayed at her peak head, and the Captain assumed the quarter deck: The disgraceful labels "Ograbme," and "Embargo," were torn off, and on her stern appeared a Phoenix, with a label on its beak, inscribed, "SPIRIT OF SEVENTY-SIX REVIVED;"-surmounted by the American Eagle. The ship thus renovated, and the music freed of restrictions, the procession returned through town with the favorite revolutionary air of Yankee Doodle. When arrived opposite the Custom-House, the subjoined Address was delivered from the quarter-deck, by the Captain, who is every inch a Sailor. The loud applause with which it was received, attests its excellence. They then proceeded to Union Wharf, from the extremity of which the ship was launched upon the bosom of her proper element. After firing a salute of 13 guns, the procession dispersed. The Marshals and Committee of Arrangements returned to the spot where the procession was first formed, and dispersed also. Minute guns were fired from the hill during the time the procession was moving thither. The utmost regularity and order prevailed through the day. A contemplation of the scene mingled painful and pleasing emotions-the mind involuntarily reverted to the gloomy period of '75--our oppressions are similar, and the people equally jealous of their rights--and determined in their defence.

In the evening the Committee and Marshals repaired to Col. Burnham's Inn, where they were joined by several gentlemen of the town. After a suitable repast, the sentiments of the company were expressed in the following TOASTS.

1. The Embargo Anniversary.-As this is the first so may it be the last in the annals of our country.

2. The Times-A speedy change of the "terrapin policy" of the present administration.

3. The Ocean and its Rights as maintained by our Fathers-Their sons will never tamely abandon them.

4. Commerce.-Phenix like, may it soon rise with increased vigor from its ashes.

5. The memory of Washington.

6. Our Country-The degradations and sufferings of the last year will never be forgotten.

7. New England--Though her sons do not love "warm water," they are not afraid of "bleeding" in a just cause.

8. The District of Maine--Favored by nature, distinguished for enterprise-but ruined by philosophical experiment.

9. The memory of Preble. "Dignified retirement" could never have endeared him to his fellow citizens-He and his associates earned laurels for their country by cannon law.

10. Federalists in Congress-Though a minority. New-England is now convinced they advocate the true interests of the majority.

11. Farmers, Mechanics, and Merchants-- "United they stand, divided they fall."

12. American Tars-Had we a navy to protect our commerce, they would not be put on short allowance by "land lubbers."

13. Saturday Night--Sweethearts & Wives—Soon again may our brother Tars toast them on the ocean.

The following is the Address:

AHOY THERE, SHIP-MATES! heave too, and let us take a view of our present shipwrecked situation. It is, I think, about 14 years since we first
Signed articles in this ship, and I'll venture to say, that at that time a better ship never floated, or a more able commander ever walked a quarter deck.

You well remember, shipmates, he was not one of your cabin-window gentry, who skulk in the lower hold, when the ship is on a lee shore; he knew well, when and how to take in sail, and make sail, in all weathers; and never lay too but two months, during an eight years cruize, at the end of which he returned the ship, and all of us safe in port, laden with one of the richest cargoes that ever floated the ocean.

You well recollect, shipmates, we had but one flogging match on the cruize, and that was occasioned by a mutinous Genoese, who we ill deserved hanging at one of the yard arms; our next commander was, if possible, nearly as good as the first, and every inch a sailor. In the four years cruize we always had a full allowance of grog, and though that sly rogue, Monsieur Johnny Crapaud, often tried to get the weather gage of us, our skilful commander managed the ship so well, that he always got him under the lee, and more than nine times out of ten, caused him to strike to our then proud flag.

I need not tell you what our last commander has been: you all know he is no sailor's friend. His first orders were to haul all our line of battleships into the mud of the Potomac at Washington, and leave us to the mercy of every picaroon that traversed the ocean. His only substitute is a parcel of mud-turtles or terrapins, or what he is pleased to call, gun-boats, which he styles the defence of our ship's company. These you know, are mostly dismantled, and lying in clay-cove, and such navy docks, and those afloat are protecting the embargo and not commerce.

It is true, in our last eight years cruize, we have sailed above five of them, with a tolerable good breeze, and smooth sea, but no thanks to him for that; you all know as well as I it was not owing to his courage or good conduct, for when he and all of us, as you know, saw the squall gathering over the French coast, he did not even call all hands on deck, but left us to the mercy of it, and, when the storm did come on, what did he do then? Why, d--n me, lay the ship to, a hull and even launched his top masts when he might have carried single reef'd top sails. This you see, shipmates, has been the cause of all our present distress, here we have been lying for twelve months; our grog and provisions are nearly expended, and the ship further from her intended port than ever. It is high time we had a more skilful commander, but this I tell you, shipmates, when our present captain's clerk gets the command, we shall, no doubt, lie here till we have not a stump standing above the deck, or one biscuit to crack against another. But what signifies whining over our misfortunes, this you know is not the nature of a sailor. Mayhap, some of our mess mates more prudent than the rest, have laid by part of their allowance, and if so, I have no doubt they will freely launch it out, and d--n me, but we'll have one good Saturday night yet.

The following Song, prepared for the occasion, was sung when the procession reached the hill.

SONG

For the first Anniversary of the 'Embargo.

Teach us the measures of our wrongs
Ye, who embargoes frame:
Our hearts are tun'd to mournful songs:
Nor help, nor hope remain.

Old files are all that we can boast,
Which greedy worms devour;
Our rights are vanity and dust-
Frail creatures of an hour!

The hopeless race of Sailors move
Half famish'd o'er the plain.
For bread hard industry has strove,
Alas! the strife is vain.

What shall we Sailors wait for then
Seek bread abroad we must-
Strangers won't let us seek in vain,
Nor disappoint our trust.

And must we bid our friends adieu,
And seek a foreign shore?
These bursting hearts, our friends, for you
Shall beat till we're no more.

And oft, when warm, in watch below,
Tears flow at mem'ries jog,
To own Country oft the can shall go,
In gen'rous foreign grog.

The Committee of Arrangements on the above occasion, appointed three of their number a committee to set on foot a subscription for the relief of the indigent and distressed, which produced three hundred and sixteen dollars, which was distributed under the direction of the committee.