Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.

Mr. Fenno,

THE letters relative to the capture of Capt. St. Barbe, exhibit the conduct of Porter in a light that must render him detestable in the view of the civilized world. Porter is not the only instance; the present war has developed many such characters—and these are not confined to one nation only.

It is the wish of humanity, that the finger of scorn and contempt may be pointed at such monsters, till shame and remorse shall banish them from Society. It appears that a proper abhorrence of Porter's conduct is entertained by the officers of the British army, and that they are determined to interest themselves against him.

When this is taken into consideration, in connection with the truly magnanimous conduct observed towards Capt. Hodge, (who saved a British transport) not only by the British executive, but by individuals and corporate bodies of that nation, I see no propriety in stigmatizing the whole for a transaction which we are sure they must execrate, by a puerile irony, in classing it among "evidences of British amity"—In a letter on this subject, a hope is expressed, that Porter's infamous conduct "will be a caution to all Americans whenever they see an English ship in distress to shun her."

This was doubtless a slip of the pen—the laws of humanity are eternally binding, and it ought to be remembered are reciprocal.

The contrary sentiment if adopted, would transform mankind to brutes. The magnanimity and justice of the British Nation will be exhibited on this occasion—The example of Capt. Hodge, is a pledge of the former, and every principle of common right will ensure the other.

HUMANITAS.