Huntingdon Gazette

              TheHUNTINGDONGAZETTE
Huniingdon (Pa.) printed by J. M^Cahan, at Two DoUars per Annum.
Vol. 11."
THURSDAY EVENING, March ly, ibi2.
Jso.52
NEWA'ORK, March 3. -Importantfrom Lisbon. We learn by captain Richards, ofthe jihip Oroonoko, arrived last night, that news reached LisbOft just before he sail¬ ed of the capture of Ciudad Rodrigo, whith was taken by assauU bv the Bri¬ tish on the 18th of January. The latter had two regiments cut to pieces, and a general officer killed, and general Pack- ham severely wOunded. The loss of thc French in the action ivas also great. The French gineral Marmont, with 50.000 men, was* marching towards Ciu dad Rodrigo- where he vvas expected to arrive about the 24th.
Latest from England
London, January 11. In the late disastious wreck of a part of OUE. Baltic  squadron, we lament to state that no less than 2.c00 ofour gal¬ lant seamen have unfortun.^tely perished
The Isork packet arrived on Tuesday at Harwick, from Heligoland, with a mikil and passenger?. The latter bring inteUigence that five boats had arrived at that island from the Elbe, and others Vere hourly expected. > The boatmen ' all concurred iu stating that the French 'troops had marched from Coshaven to the interiour, and that war between F. ^od Russia vvas considered as certain.— Ihc latesl intelligcDce from Stockholm li to the same effect. i
Yesterday will be long remembered as the darkest ever experienced in the memory of tht oldest inhabitants. Be¬ tween one and tvvo in the afternoon it was nearly as dark as nddnight. The whole metropolis was enveloped in uni form darkness, candles were hghted, not only in the shops, but also in the pri vate houses.
January 14.
It is stated In some ofthe Petersburg letters, that the Exchange, vvhich vvas a very short time since at 15, is now only at 10 roubles. From this circumstance and the increasing confidence in govern¬ ment Paper, it is inferred, that Peace between Russia and Turkey is no long¬ er viewed as doubtful. It, however, by no means follows, that war with F. must ensue. Oc\ the contrary, it may bc reasonably apprehended that the pros pect ofan event so pregnant with dan¬ ger and inevitable expence, would natu¬ rally operate to diminish both pubiick credit, and pubiick confidence.
Very recent intelligence from Hol¬ land states, that the measures enforced against all those vvho are detected in holding clandestine correspondence vvith Great Britain are most rigid. Lately several masters of merchant vessels have been arrested ; of whom one has died in prison, and another is not likely long to survive. The son ofa most respec¬ table merchiot at Roterdam, it is added, was under orders for trial by court mar¬ tial, the result of which it was not diffi¬ cult to anticipate.
Quebec letters and papers, which ar¬ rived on Saturday to the 2d ult. state, that large quantities of British manufac tures continue to he smuggled into the territories ofthe United States from Canada. The custom house officers on all the frontier stations had been doubled •nd trebled ; but, notwuhstanding their vigilance, the temptation and facilities were so great, that English goods still found admission. Some severe contests had taken place between the officers and, smugglers, which had not terminated without the loss of many lives. Pre¬ cautionary measures had heen adopted by heutenant general Sir G. Prevost the governour of Canada, in the event of hostilities vvith the U. States. There Was a considerable bodv of regular troops in Oi'.r North American provin¬ ces, be^des a tolcralile militia, among whom the best disposit' n prevailed.— The non importation ."^rr, and other re- t»'nt measures of the Uiiit'-d States' go¬ vernment; have had the tifect of incrcas ing the trade of om" colonies in that qu.ir icr, and consequently removing slight discontent v/hich might formerly have prevailed.
Letters from Ostend mention, that Joel Barlow insists upon the restitution of the American property, seized under the Rambouillet decree, previous to the formation ofany commercial treaty be¬ tween the LJ. States and France.
The report made to parliament of the state of the King'f health, would appear to exclude every hope of his recovery. We do not however perceive, in the parliamentary proceedings any measures touching thc removal of the restrictions on the Regency '; neither do we perceive (even inthe opposition papers) any thiiig which can warrant us in stating, that a change of ministry is iu contcmplaticin. Aifairs in Ireland are grovving more se¬ rious.
Peace v^/as made,betvveen Russia and Turkey. Russia and France v»ere ex¬ pected to be at vvar. Swedsn had, it is said, determined to take rio part in the war.
Charleston, (S. C.) Feb. t-!,. Late EiP iinportant from Cadiz. The very fast sailing ship Fnir Ame¬ rican, Capt. Hobson,arrived at this port yesterday in 26 days from Cadiz, from whence she sailed on the i7ih ult. By this arrival vve have the most flattering news of the success ofthe Allies against thc French in that part of Spuin—h vvill be recollected by our readers, that the schooner Treaty, which arrived at this port some time since, from Algesiras, passed Tariffa on the 20th December, at vvhich time that phtce v/as invested by a French force, supposed to amount to from thirteen to fifteen thousand men —It appears, that this French force, af¬ ter having bombarded the fortress for some days, succeeded in making seve¬ ral breaches, when they attempted to car ry it by storm—in this attempt they were repulsed vvilh considerable loss, by the British garrison, consisting of abont 2000 men, under thc command of col. Skerret—Several other un.successful at¬ tempts were afterwards made to gain possession of Tariffs, until about the j 17th of Jan. when, finding they could not accomplish their object, and having suffered much from the inclemency of the weather, they struck their tents and beat a retreat.
In this retreat they were pursued by thc British garrison who attacked them and fortunately at the same moment they vvere attacked in the rear f-y gen. Ballasteros, vvith about 5090 Spanish troops, vvho had, bv a circuitous route, come upon them very unexpectedly both to the JBritish and French, in this criti¬ cal situation the French were complete¬ ly routed and defeated, vvith the loss of all their baggage, artillery Sec.
We also learn by this arrival, that on the morning of her sailing, nevvs was re¬ ceived in Cadiz that general Hill, with 13,000 men, was advancing^s^^^pon Se¬ ville, and that he had approacned very near to that place ; which being garri¬ soned but by about 8000 men, it was ex pected that he would be able to take it ; in which case it was thought that he would come dovvn upon the rear of the French troops investing Cadiz, and it was very sanguinely expected by the Spaniards, that they should soon be able to wrest that part of their country from the hands of their cruel invaders.
From the Charleston Times. February 18. Our Cadiz papers do not nbtice any engagement between the armies in Spain subsequent to the deieat of the French near Tariffa : a paper ofthc 14th of Ja nua. y contains extracts from several dis patches and letters fiom general Copons and other riffu'crs of thc comfdntid ar¬ mies adjacent to lhe scene of action, which state, that after a siege of 7 days daring vvhich time the French several times made a breach, thcy'resolved to a- bandon it ; and the more readily lo ef¬ fect their rrtreat, left behind all their ar¬ tillerv, ammunition, and heavv biiggagc, having sustained a loss in killed and wounded, of 2500 men, and 80 prison¬
er?. From the proximity cf Tariffa to Cadiz (only about 31 miles S. or S. W, of it) it is presumed, that if General Bal lasteros had fallen in with ihem, infor¬ mation would have reached Cadiz by the 16th, unless some considerable time had elapsed between the raising ofthc siege and the battle stated to have taken place ; the resultof Which is said to hav e been the loss to thc French of their ar¬ tillery, &c. which, it appears from the above accounts, they h;id not taken vvith them. From the agreement of circum¬ stances, then, it would seem, that the unsiUxessfut attack on Tariffa ; and the final defeat of the French ^t that place, has been mi'^taken for an after engpgc- ment with them. We arc also credibly informed that Tariffa was not only de¬ fended b) Engiihh, bat by several thou¬ sand Spanish troops. However, itdoes hot alter thc fict that the French army has been defeated ; whether whilst hv- sieming, or on their retreat. A Cadiz pap^r ot the IGth says, thc cortts have expiessed their high sea.se ofthe brave¬ ry and good conduct of the officers, and men composing the garrison of Tarifla. Gi neral HiU had entered Estramadura, ! and would, it was supposed, ei.utiteratt i the-objects in that quarter. A letter ; from Valencia de Alcantara, of the 'id of January, mentions, that an attack has becu vn^de on the borders of Guadiana, j by a division of thc conrshined army, ' which was about to enter Merida, the i place destined for it to occupy.
Latest from England. '
By an arrival at New York, London papers to the I Jth of January has been received. Those papers contain very little respecting the affairs of the Unit¬ ed States. No visible change had tak¬ en place in the King's health. Orders m eouncil slill continued. Parliament had passed a vote of thanks to lord Min¬ to and Sir Samnel Aarhmuty.* for their spirited exi rtions in the east. The fiery rebellion in Dubhn seems to have ¦ ended in smoke. The opposition to the ministry in jjarliainent appears to bc lees , formidable-than at almost any other pe- ! riod. The " Lulependcnt Whig" a j violent opposition paper, says, "¦ Three virtuous patriots (lord Cochrane, Sir Francis Burdette, and IMr. Cuthbert) were all that could be found in that bo¬ dy to be the people's frunds, their safe¬ guards and advocate.^." There warf' a great meeting at Cork on the 6th of January, to petition parliament relative to the Catholic que-Jtion, which it was expected would be agitated   at   an early
day in that body The Packet iVIary
with the mails fbr thc United States Was to sail from Falmouth on the 10th of Jiinuary—The letter bag for thc ship Magdalem, Skctchley, for thijar city, left London on the 9th. No recent cap¬ tures of American vessels under the or¬ ders in council had taken place when cap:ain Centre left Plymouth.
* Sir Samuel is a native of N. Tork.
FROM FRANCE.
Boston, March 2. Extract ofa letter from Paris, Dec. 29, 1811,
" The present opportunity affords me the pleasure of acquainting you that his Excellency the Minister of the United States here, received last evening, an answer from the French governmeni to his general note upon the American af¬ fairs, and which I am happy i.o inform you, corresponds with the high expecta¬ tions of die American interest in Paris.
" All American ships are to bc re stored, yet in litigation, which have bten captured by French privateers since ihe 2d of Nov, 1810, provided, by their vovages, the general lavv of nations has not been infringed, or uuiess some other just cause of criidemnalion exists.
"¦ A negociation is to be entered into for formiiti; a treatv of commerce and friendship between the two nations, up¬ on a !>asis of reciprocal equality.
" There is no dr.ubt but the system ofthis government against British mer¬ chandize, will bd conunued; and you
know the reduction in value of the ex¬ change on England forms a prominent feature in that system, for the purpose 6i encouraging the importation of specis ¦from Great Britain, and thereliy to in¬ crease the disproportion between solid money and bank paper in that country —hence it may be supposed that the proceeds of America cargoes will noC bc allowed to bc sent from France in •any other shape, than by her produce and manufactures."
CONGRESS
HOTJEE or REPRE.SENTATIVr-S. FEliKlTARY 27.
^ WAR TAXES.
The Iiouse took ap the report of thd committee of the whole on the War Taxes ; when a concurrence in the fir?t resoluiion increasing the impost duties 100 per cent, being under cnnsiderationi; and the Yeas and Nays being called up¬ on all the resolutions, the Speaker di¬ rected thc clerk to proceed with the calh Just after Mr, Alston had answered to his name, Mr. Widgeiy addressed the Speaker. The speaker decided thatthe call had commenced, andthe gentleman could not, therefore according to lhe rules of the House, be heard, except the House should determine otherwise. The call was insisted upon, and the re¬ solution vvas concurred in 71 to 40,
A concurrence in die second resolu¬ tion in relation to drawbacks was the next question.
Mr. M'Kim said, if the House cal- ..culated upon this provision as an article of revenue, they wonld certainly he dis • appointed ; for he believed, instead of bentfiiing tlie revenue, it would injure it.
Mr. Flisk moved to postpone the fur¬ ther consider;iuon of all the resolutions before lhe House until the ftrst Mon¬ day in April next. Mr. F. assigned as hil reasons for this motion that as all were agreed these taxes vvere war tax¬ es, he thought it time enough to agree upon them vvhen war became certain j that there was no doubt the resources of thc countty were amply sufficient when¬ ever Congress determined to call thent forth, but he saw no necessity for alarm- , ing thc people with odious taxes before¬ hand. Another reason for the post¬ ponement, hc said he disliked the sys¬ tem, and ifa little time was given, a more acceptable one to the people might be formed. Whenever war became unavoidable, he would be as ready as any other member to vote the necessary taxes ; but he wished not to vote for them in advance. It vvas on this ground he had voted against thc first resolution.
Mr. Porter seconded the motion for postponement, \Vhenever the questioa of vvar c»me before the House, he would be as ready to vote for it as any mem¬ ber, and for taxes to support it; and now if gentlemen would say they wcrc ready to lay the taxes, without reserve, he would vote for them, but he wished not to lay them by anticipation.
This motion was opposed by Messrs. M'Kim, Smilie, Troup, Rhea, Johnson, Boyd, F'iiidlcy, Calhoun and Cheves, on the ground of its impropriety and impoUcy. The committee of Ways and Means having recommended to Congress a system of taxation, which has been published to thc world, and this House having in committee agreed, by large majorities, to the several taxes proposed by that committee, to be laid whenever a vvar shall take place, and not before, and if no war takes place, ot" course the whole will be a dead letter, it vvould appear strange if ' they were now to adopt a motion like the present. The people would be at a loss to ac¬ count for such a course. They would begin to fear Congress vvere not serious in their declarations of a determination to support the rights of lhe country. The people must know that war cannot be carried on without taxes—tbat the one cannot be hul without thc other, and it will certainly be  much better to fix