. THE NATION . 'prehending offendelts is in the dead hour of the night ; a guard enters the house and takes the offender out of his bed, and the next morning his head pays the forfeit of his imprudence. We deem it dangerous to be seen three together talkin4 in the streets, and highly so to express our sentiments, or criticise on the con duct of the Government even in private parties, as we know not but that our own servants may be employed as spies against us. This is precisely the situation of this country at present. I hesi tate not to say, that things are coming nearer every day to a close; that South America will be independent is certain; for it is impossible to he otherwise." The following intelligence from Alftlico, is of a much more recent date than any before received : " The Commanders Torre and Mora, who haft been so eminently distinguished for their services, have fallen into the hands of the Rebels, and with them some excellent soldiers be longing to their divisions. 'phis success has increased the ins°. knee of the insurgents, as well as occasioned the retreat of Sr. fliperan to Toluca, who was not in sufficient force to penetrate Into Zitacuaro, where there are 20,000 Rebels in the deep ravines of the mountains. " This Commander has visited the Viceroy in this city, with whom he has had long conferences, the result of which was, that many pieces of artillery have been sent to the army, pi o bably to enable it to proceed t 3 Zitacuaro, which is at present the principal den of these wolves. " .Seignor Callega is in Leon, and It is said that the Conde de Alcaraz is gone to Toluca to take the command of the division of Emperan, the latter having withdrawn in consequence of the wound; he received in the battle of Calderon. Our troops are full of enthusiasm. In Zacatecas and Guadulaxara all is perfect tranquillity. A duty of one per cent. is to he imposed on trea sure and property exported, and merchandize imported,in order to maintain a corps of MN) dragoons, to truant the roads, which are infested by hords of robbers. The Commander of A ccorda da has sent off many parties to destroy them, one of wh.cll ar rived at Colima, where many of these public disturbers were executed." AMERICA. FRENCH PRIVATEERS AGAIN! We are informed that the French privateer Due de Dant?ic is cruising in Chesapeake Bay, off the mouth of the Potowtuac the Diligente and the Marengo were yesterday week at anchor in Cape \ ay Roads; and on the 7th of July, the La Franchise fell in with one of our gun-boats, commanded by Lieutenant Gregory, who immediately fired a gun to the windward in order to bring her to, which La Franchise returned by firing at the gun-boat. Several shots were exchanged, wheN the French privateer put out her sweeps and made off. It is unknown whether she received any injury cr not—her firing• did no da mage to• our gun-vessel, How long are we to be " pestered by these popirtjays ?" Is not the cup of :\ rnerican degradation full ? Or arc the ingre dients to be of so deliterious a nature as totally to destroy our system before we attempt resistance ? On one Bide we are threatened with Sir .1. Yorke's squadron to blockade our ports—on the other, a swarm of French pica mons buz round our coasts, intercept our merchantmen, ard plunder tivin—then, with the greatest sang froid, enter our harbours and refit, and pay an American for the repairs with the • same money, which, perhaps, they have stolen from him,—(New Tark Morning Post.) PROVINCIALS. The Norwich Musical Festival concluded last triday week ?he company at each performance was crowded to excess, but it was only what was expected from the host and combination of taletit in the admirable and superior collection of the first rate vocal peiformers, consisting pf Madam Catalani, Mrs. Biancha, Mr. Eraham, Mr. Bellamy, &c. who all exerted them selves in their best manner. The hand was very ably led by Mr. G. Ashley. Among. the principal instrumental per formers were, Messrs. Lindly, Hohnes, and Griesbach, who formed such a musical repast as is not to be met with out of London. A run on the Bank of Messrs. Bmdie, Dowding, and Lux fOrd, of Salisbury, commented Tuesday se'imight; but the funds of this Bank being invariably vested in tangible Government securities, every demand was readily discharged, which occa sioned si cessation of the bustle on Thursday, when the business returned to its accustomed channel. A banking-house of the first respectability in 13ury had last weok a momentary Suspicion attached to its paper by girt , ' of eke credulous end lower orders of sotiety, is consegielice of a wag having foolishly amused himself by circulating a report that " the Mouse was stopp'd ;" alluding without any intention of creating alarm, to the circumstance of some workmen being discharged, in consequence of the stopping for the winter the building of a house erectibg ber Mr. Brown (one of the firm), near Woolpit. , - At three o'clock on Tuesday morning a fire broke out at Emanuel College, Cambridge, which consumed one entire side of the quadrangle, called the Foundei 's range, in which were situated the Fellow's rooms. No lives were lost, nor any person hurt, and most Of the valuable effects and furniture were Fre sem d. The house of Mr. Forbes, at Stanmore Hill, which is noted for ancient and valuable curiosities, collected by the above Gen tleman in his continental travels, was broke open, and entered b."- thieves on Wednesday night last. The thieves being alarmed, carried off only a- horn of a thinoceros, tipped with silver, gilt. In a piece of ground, in the possession of Mr. Ashelford, gar dener, of Taunton, there are now several apple trees, some of which are in perfect blossorn for the second time this year, and others in full bearing of the second crop of apples. The trees are of the stubbard species, about seven years groWth, and the fruit now upon one of them (consisting of upwards of ores apples), is in site much larger than a pigeon's egg. It is a still more surprising fact, diet several of these trees actually pro 4 duced fruit anti blossomed a third time in the course of last year. A Mayduke cherry-tree, in the possession of Mr. Buttle, of the Three Tuns, Taunton, is also in full bldisonl for the second time this year, and has on it several pieces of full-formed fruit. About two months since, a young woman, in the neighhonra hood of Tuainjticautiously thrust her hand under a bed where some kittens were, when the old cat seized hold of her hand, which she would not let go till killed; the wound was tied up, and the girl appeared to have perfectly recovered, but on Mon day se'nnigitt she was suddenly attacked with hydrophobia, and expired the day following. On Monday, a - murder was perpetrated in Plymouth ltarbour, by a marine on board the Aretbusa hulk. A waterman being ordered from alongside the hulk, was impeded in his progress by his rudder having caught in a hawser; while in the act of di,- eniaging himself, the marine took a deliberate aim with his piece, shot the unfortunate man through the body, and killed hint on the spot. The metier has been committed to Exeter Goal, the Coroner's Inquest having returned a verdict W M/Vizi Murder. At the Quarter Sessions for the Eastern parts of the county of Kent, holden on Friday last, John Claringbold, charged with being a rogue and Vagabond, in running away and leaving his family chargeable to the parish of Preston, was ordered to be imprisoned six calendar months to hard lal.o'ir, and publicly weipped.—Wm. Mayne, for a similar offence, at Winghain, was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment and hard labour.— Abraham Abrams, charecd with having purchased a certain quantity of gold coin; viz. four guineas, eight helf-guini as, and six seven sliding pieces, for a greater price than the lawful value of the said guineas, half-guineas, and seven shilling pieces, contrary to the Statute, &c. at Sheerness, was Acquitted. Oa Tuesday se'nnight an act of unexampled h irbarity was committed on one of cur gallant tars, a seaman of the Leonidas, in one of the houses of ill fame. in Prospect-row, Plymouth:— The very last day of his liberty having expired, and having spent neaey all his money, in a state of intoxication he scuLht re fuge for the night with some Emil fair one who had known hint in his richer hours. The mercenary wretch having first induced him to get rid of therensainder of his cash, and then consider ing him an unwelcome inmate, endeavoured •to turn bins out of doors, but failing in her. attempts by force or entreaties, she striperd him of the greater part df his clothes, and then pouring a tea kettle of boiling water on " Jack is distress," turned hint adrift in the street in a condition that may be better conceived than it can bescribed. . BosiNG —A tremendous-pitched battle, for .93 guineas aside, was fought on Satin - Clay sennight, at Rilowle Heath, Bucks, betwixt Ben Coleman, a bargeman, and George hovel, a coach• man, and a reputed miller—The Contest was maietained with obstinacy never excelled, for one hour and 35 minutes, wi.en both were carried off the ground without deciding the battle. DeATH a? FIGHTINC).—A fatal boxing-match took place on Monday, in a ne!d a short distance from Lorgeord, Bucks, bee tween .tWO s young men of the narni:s of Spa: tan and Wilmot, in consequence of a dispute respecting a Nitf3 S.of Colnhrook. The combatants were'alike unskilled, and atter twenty-four rounds, Spartan received a fall, and never afterwards spoke. A Jury has Investigated the case, and it appeared that the survivor objected to fight, and was not urged to do so until he had been twice hit by the deceased, A verdict of Afenslaseder has been re•