The following article, and another which we shall publish in our next, appeared in the United States Gazette, in September last, and were designed to have been printed in the Volume in which the letter referred to, was inserted, (See Vol. III, p. 153) but has from time to time been excluded by other matter. The lucid investigation of the facts connected with two important transactions between our own and foreign governments which have not been generally understood, made by a gentleman so fully competent to the task; and with which the good faith of the United States is so closely identified, is too important to be lost. The remarks upon the writers who gave occasion to these articles are severe, but they could not well be omitted without destroying the connexion of the whole. They discover a strong desire, however, to vindicate American honor, from the charges made against it in the paragraphs alluded to. National Faith.-Louisiana Treaty. No. 1. I have seldom been more surprised than to find that Mr. Biddle's spirited and just defence of the good faith of our country against the accusations and reproaches of the British press, has drawn upon him, or rather upon the United States, some sharp and angry reprimands, not omitting some unkind personal allusions to himself, as if he had been guilty of a gross offence or impropriety in becoming the advocate of American honesty. For my part, I have read his excellent and instructive letter with many thanks to him, and with the pride and pleasure I think an American ought to feel for his clear and triumphant vindication of our national faith, and for the undeniable evidence by which he throws the charge of dishonesty back upon our insolent and malicious accusers. All that Mr. Biddle has said of the good faith, nay, of the unusual liberality of our government, in the payment of its debts, and more than this, of the debts of our citizens to foreign creditors, is strictly true; and it is my purpose to prove it. It is true that his particular object was only to meet the late charges in relation to late loans taken up in Europe, and the effect of our suspension of specie payments upon them, and not to go back to the pecuniary transactions of the Federal Government with foreigners and its own citizens, from the revolution to this day. I am willing, however, to meet his antagonists on their own ground, and to sustain the broad and general allegation of the integrity of the United States in the payment of all their debts. I speak now of debts-of pecuniary engagements. As to certain claims, not of foreign creditors, but of our own citizens, which are addressed to the equity and justice of our government, I shall speak of them. What Mr. Biddle has said of the full and honorable discharge of the claims of our creditors, and he has spoken of no other, will be proved by the public records of our country. Those who have assailed him have exhibited an extraordinary want of knowledge on the subject, and, in my opinion, an unjustifiable negligence, in not taking the trouble to be better acquainted with it before they ventured to come before the public with their speculations, especially as their object was to fix fraud and dishonor on their country. One would suppose that an American would be reluctant to do this, on the clearest proof, but could never be brought to it, not only without evidence, but in the face of the most authentic and unquestionable testimony. The attacks upon Mr. Biddle's letter have appeared in your Gazette, and in another morning paper, which has a very extensive circulation, and is conducted with great ability. The writer, in your paper of the fourth instant, with the signature" H.," has committed such violent mistakes, that it is evident he wrote without the most ordinary examination of his case, and with a wonderful ignorance of it. This I intend to make abundantly clear. I know that it is incumbent on me to do so, after stating it so strongly. This writer "H." tells us, that the whole aim of Mr. Bidlle is to show how honorably the Government of the United States has fulfilled all its pecuniary engagements; and he has contrasted its greater punctuality with the conduct of other nations in similar transactions. Here I will pause to say that there is no pecuniary engagement of the Government of the United States which it has not fulfilled; and I challenge this writer to produce proof of the contrary; and, of course, Mr. Biddle is justified in his allegation, even if "H." has correctly understood his aim. Your correspondent then proceeds: "It were indeed gratifying if there were no blot upon so fair a page; but alas! in relation to the agreement between the United States and France, in the purchase of Louisiana, there has been, and still continues, a negligence of purpose, or a determination of injustice, which, if the bright page of national honor is to be preserved, demands consideration and redress." With a striking self-complacency and confidence in one so entirely misinformed, the writer proceeds: "A few words will explain the transaction. For spoliations committed by France upon the commerce of the United States, satisfaction was required by the latter government; and when France relinquished her authority over Louisiana, she expressly stipulated that the United States should pay to those American citizens who had beer. plundered by her subjects, the sum of seven millions four hundred thousand dollars; and this treaty is solemnly ratified. Of this money none has yet been paid; and, when interest to the present time is added, it amounts to the enormous sum of twenty millions of dollars." The charge here upon the government of a gross breach of trust, of rank dishonesty, of a shameless fraud upon its own citizens, is clear and distinct. He goes on: "What a reproach is such a breach of national integrity, and how aggravated an instance! A noble and generous nation GIVES to the United States an equivalent for a certain sum of money, on condition (that is a condition required by this generous nation) that the same United States pays it over to its own plundered citizens; an agreement with which it has failed to comply, thereby holding in contempt so sacred an obligation." It would be difficult for the most careless, or the most ingenious man to frame a paragraph so loaded with error and misrepresentation-so entirely destitute of truth in every material fact. Indeed there is not one that is truly stated.— 1. The money stipulated to be paid to the citizens of the United States, by the Louisiana treaty, was not for spoliations. France would hardly have admitted that she had robbed and plundered our merchants. It was to be paid for debts due to them by the French Government, for supplies, by embargoes and other matters-illegal captures being, it is true, an item in the account. 2. This stipulation was not made, or suggested, or expressed, on the part of France, but was introduced and insisted upon by the American Commissioners. It can with no propriety be said that " she expressly stipulated" that this money should be paid to our citizens, as if it was done on her motion, and from her tender and vigilant regard for our merchants. 3. The sum thus reserved was not seven millions four hundred thousand dollars, but about half of that amount. 4. The noble and generous nation was so far from having this magnanimous regard for the rights and interests of our citizens, that after the negotiators had agreed to it, an attempt was made on the part of the French Government to take this money from us, and put it into the French Treasury: to withdraw this concession to the American creditors, this act of sheer justice, and appropriate the whole amount of the purchase money to the wants of that government. Thus far I have noticed these errors only to show how carelessly your correspondent has written; but-5. Every cent stipulated by that treaty to be paid to our citizens was promptly provided for and paid precisely in conformity with the provisions of the treaty; unless the claimants have neglected to get their orders as directed by the treaty, and to call on our treasury for the money, which is hardly to be believed. Our friend "H." might have spared his lamentations over this aggravated breach of national integrity; this contempt of a sacred obligation, and also the labor of calculating the interest for so many years on seven millions five hundred thousand dollars, now amounting to twenty millions, thus swelled for the kind pur- to be settled in France, where the list alluded to, with the pose of making his phantom of fraud gigantic and hideous. documents and proofs, were lodged, and the amounts awardA word about the history and cause of this noble and gener-ed were to be paid to the respective claimants on the order ous transfer of Louisiana to the United States. France was of our Minister in France on the Treasury of the United inevitably on the eve of a war with Great Britain, after the States. And so they were paid. Was there ever an oblishort peace of Amiens. She had, a short time before obtain- gation or engagement met more promptly or more honoraed from Spain a retrocession of this province, which was bly. This is the money of which your correspondent avers carefully concealed, and no possession was taken by France."none has yet been paid," and says, further, that in relation Her ownership was not in any beneficial occupancy of the to the agreement made by the United States with France territory, but consisted of such mere right as the retrocession there" has been and still continues a negligence of purpose might give her. In the approaching war with Great Britain, or a determination of injustice," and "a contempt of a sathe First Consul, who was then the Government of France, crcd obligation." This writer, who has not taken the trouwas conscious he could not retain this acquisition against the ble to look at the official documents which would have furnaval power of his enemy, and also wanting money for his nished him with correct information, has probably plunged exhausted treasury, he resolved as a matter of policy, not into these errors by confounding the claims for French spofrom any motive of generosity to us, to sell this province to liations on the American commerce now depending before the United States. The interest of France plainly dictated Congress with the claims or debts provided for by the Louthis policy. A double object was to be accomplished by it. isiana treaty. They are altogether different as to the treaty He could preserve it from the hands of Great Britain, and on which they are founded and the principles by which they he would transfer it to a people who was looked upon as a are maintained. Even as to these claims his representations formidable and growing rival to the commerce and naval are altogether mistaken. They may be explained in a few power of his enemy, and should therefore be strengthened. words. By the treaty of the United States with France, Such were the declared motives and designs of the French made in 1778, the United States guarantied to France for Government in making the sale of this province to the ever "the present possessions of the crown of France in United States. Our Commissioners did not want the whole America, as well as those which it may acquire by the future territory, but only certain parts necessary to us: but the treaty of peace." This most onerous and dangerous responFirst Consul insisted they should take all or none. He had sibility was assumed in our revolutionary struggle, and in expressed a willingness to his negotiator, M. Marbois, to the fervor of our gratitude for the assistance of France. The take fifty millions of francs for the whole; but his minister Commissioners who negotiated our Convention with France demanded of us eighty millions; the whole to be paid to the in 1830 were not able to agree (see the second article) reFrench Treasury. Our Commissioners agreed to the amount specting the treaty of 1778, nor upon the indemnities muasked, provided that twenty millions of it should be appro- tually due or claimed. These subjects were therefore left for priated and paid to discharge and satisfy certain debts due future negotiation. The American Government agreed to from France to American citizens. The French minister ratify the convention, provided that the second article were agreed to this reservation, but when it was reported to the expunged, as they did not like, even by implication, to reFirst Consul he was exceedingly dissatisfied with it, and was cognise the obligations of the treaty of 1778. France agreed so far from being willing to give this money to his American to expunge this article provided that the two States should creditors in the noble and generous manner now claimed for renounce the respective pretensions which were the object him, that he required it should be paid into his treasury.- of the said article. So it was settled, and the effect was to He was induced to give it upon the urgent solicitation of his release us from our guarantee of the French possessions, and minister, on being informed that it was an indispensable con- to release France from the claims of citizens on account of dition on the part of the American Commissioners; and, spoliations on our commerce. It must be observed, that there further, on being reminded that he would now receive ten was no assumption by the United States of these claims, or millions more than he was willing to take. This treaty being any promise or engagement to satisfy her citizens, or to ratified, the claims alluded to, of our citizens on the Govern- stand in the place of France for the indemnities they were ment of France, were assumed by our Government, which entitled to, much less have the United States receive this was the Trustee for them to disburse the money to them, ac- money from France and retain it from their citizens for cording to the provisions of the treaty. The treaty was thus whom it was paid. That our government had a right to ratified on the 30th of April, 1803. The claims provided for make such treaty, such a surrender of the claims of our citiby it were not for spoliations or demands generally, but for zens, without taking them upon itself, is perfectly clear.specific "debts due by France to citizens of the United These claimants cannot be considered as creditors of the States." They were particularly designated and described. United States, nor their claims as debts or pecuniary enIt is expressly declared that "the debts provided for, are gagements due to them by the United States. There is, those whose result is comprised in the conjectural note an- therefore, no breach of promise, no violation of the national nexed to the Convention." Even of these debts, claims faith, in the delay, for I trust it will be more, to satisfy them. which fell within certain specified exceptions were not ad- The resort which these citizens had upon France for indemmitted. We see, therefore, that this money was to be ap-nity for their losses was ceded to France, and the United plied to the payment of certain specified claims or debts due States received in return a release from an obligation of ten from France, and not to be distributed generally to all who times the value of all the claims. They have purchased this had suffered by French spoliations and unlawful captures. release with the property of their citizens. It is undeniable, Now let it be remarked: This Convention was made on then, that they have a fair, honest and equitable claim upon the 30th of April, 1803, and on the 10th day of November their government to make good to them the rights they have following, three weeks after the meeting of Congress, an act thus been deprived of. That they will receive this compenof Congress was passed, directing the sum of three millions sation I cannot doubt. An act has twice passed the Senate seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be appropriated making provision for it. It is not, however, the case of an "for the purpose of discharging the claims of citizens of the acknowledged debt, or an absolute promise or engagement United States against the Government of France, the pay- to pay, as was the case with the Louisiana Convention, and ment of which has been assumed by virtue of a Convention it is as to that I am contending with your correspondent. made the 30th of April, 1803." The Secretary of the Treasury was directed to pay, "in conformity with the Convention aforesaid, the amount of such claims above mentioned, as, under the provisions of the said Convention, shall be awarded to the respective claimants, which payments shall be made on the orders of the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States for the time being, to the French Republic, in conformity with the Convention aforesaid." It is to be observed that the amounts due to the several claimants were In your next paper I shall, with your permission, take up the case of our "British Debts "-as to which our national faith has been most unjustly assailed in the other paper I have alluded to. J. H. A Bill has passed Congress, and become a law, prohibiting an investment of Government funds in the stocks of any State. EXPORTS OF COTTON, From the Port of New Orleans, for the last ten years—commencing 1st September, and ending 31st August. Nantz.... Cette and Rouen. Amsterdam 336 8,096 .... 396,010 459,943 297,793 466,886 329,436 227,530 245,221 271,821 218,974 194,580 .... 48 2,966 .... 9,188 13,560 2,459 6,272 676 3,771 .... 72,342 65,259 2,295 2,650 1,597 1,770 21,933 21,989 6,371 7,129 9,110 16,205| 8,055 6,808 5,203 9,486 3,841 2,612 2,820 1,834 80 .... 3,688 6,672 5,017) .... 202 2,130 238 6,383 4,412 .... 932 Rotterdam and Ghent.. 709 .... .... .... 90 1,044 113 55,930 46,354 62,175 39,384 23,622 29,019 52,678 14,708 31,749 24,405) 81,626 54,042 49,497 39,853 39,244 35,982 42,928 26,312 28,625 25,201 3,132 1,811 3,701 1,607 1,177 3,211 5,431 2,849 13,651 4,611 5,721 6,195 6,371 8,224 6,483 6,767 7,918 3,368 8,411 3,548 4,832 3,045 3,450 6,341 2,785 1,128 989 1,701 4,784 1,573 9,025 5,099 5,369 4,819 8,044 11,989 8,707 8,209 4,760 581 6,020 7,171 5,026 3,781 2,098 5,741 2,478 3,465 3,343 520 821,288 949,320 579,179 738,313 588,969 490,495 536,991 461,026 410,524 358,104 RECAPITULATION. 430,310 504,768 309,787 483,204 350,700 237,089 259,243 287,877 228,082 204,623| 821,288 949,320 579,179 738,313 588,969 490,495 536,991 461,026 410,524 358,104 VOL. V.-24 WHITHER 1840-41. EXPORTS OF TOBACCO, From the Port of New Orleans, for the last ten years—commencing 1st September, and ending 31st August. Total Great Britain.. France North of Europe South of Europe Total 3,002 1,166 .... 1,619 19 212 623 684 2,372 2,459 1,559 54,667 40,436 30,852 35,555 35,821 41,634 33,801 25,210 23,637 35,056 RECAPITULATION. 4,875 85 3,887 447 8,945 580 7,047 1,388 20,665 9,139 8,748 9,969 10,458 14,426 5,934 8,112 54,667 40,436 30,852 Comparative Arrivals, Exports, and Stocks of Tobacco, for ten years-commencing 1st September, to date. 1,649 1,494 2,043 2,757 410 1831-32. Exports of Sugar and Molasses, from New Orleans, for five years (up the river excepted) from 1st September to 31st August, in each year. A New Steering Wheel. Mr. Robinson, of the firm of G. W. Robinson & Co., No. 4 Richmond street, has invented a new and ingenious apparatus for steering ships, which is well deserving the attention of persons who feel an interest in the improvement of aught connected with our mercantile marine. The principle on which this improvement is founded, has never, to our knowledge, been applied to this object, although many ingenious plans for steering ships have been devised. The apparatus consists merely in a shaft with a right and left hand screw, with a double rack, and a cog-wheel in the rudderhead. The power which is obtained on this way is very great, and acts on both sides of the rudder-while one side is pulling, the other is pushing, but both actions are calculated to effect the same object-altering the position of the rudder. The apparatus is affixed to a frame firmly fixed to the deck, and extending forward of the centre of the rudderhead, less than four feet, and abaft two or three feet. The steering wheel is attached to the forward end of the shaft, and the whole surface of the deck occupied by the apparatus, is only about seven feet in length and a couple of feet broad. Of course no rope or gearing of any kind is used. From an examination of the model of this apparatus, which may be seen at Mr. Robinson's establishment, we are induced to think that this invention is a valuable one, and is admirably well adapted to accomplish the purpose for which it is intended. Mr. Robinson is now engaged in constructing on this principle, the steering apparatus for a ship building at Medford-and we understand, expects to get it into readiness for exhibition at the approaching Mechanics' Fair. The iron shaft to which the screw is attached, may be of any specified length, twenty or thirty feet if desirable, or even longer-an advantage of great importance to steamboats, as fire cannot destroy the steering apparatus -Boston Journal. Dividing the Surplus in New Hampshire. In Portsmouth, N. H., the inhabitants voted to divide that portion of the surplus revenue which fell to that town, per capita-the sum due to every man, woman and child in the place, being between two and three dollars. That vote is now in the course of execution. An Agent has been appointed and has received the money for distribution; but about 200 suits have been commenced against him as the trustee of individuals owing small sums, and he is placed in rather an embarrassing situation. In Gilford, (the Exeter News-Letter states,) the surplus, or a part of it, having been expended, the Selectmen decline to borrow, as instructed to do by the vote of the town, so much money as shall make good the deficiency-having somo not very unreasonable doubts of their legal right to borrow money for the purpose of distribution. The Channel of the River Schuylkill Deepening. It is not generally known that for two or three years past, |