The United States oracle of the day — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-03-08 00:00:00, page 2

tenet Lewis, and to my Ward, the grandson of I
my wife, I give and bequeath or* other part, |
th at is, a third thereof to each of them. Ard |
„ if it should so happen, that any of the perlons|
w hose names are here enumerated, (unknown
to me) should now be dead, or should die be-i
so re me, that in either of these cases, the heirs
of such deccafed persons fhali, notwithstanding,
derive all the benefits of the hequeft. in the
fame manner as if he or she was a&uJ!y living
at the time ; and byway of advice I recommend
it to my executors not to be precipitate of dif
poting of the landed property (herein directed
to be fold) if from temporary causes the sale
thereof should be dull ; experience having folbg
evinced that the price of land (especially above
the falls of the rivers and on the weftern waters)
have been progreffivtiy riling and cannot be
long cbe:ked in its inercafiog value. And I
particularly recommend it to such of the Leg
atees (under this elaufe of my Will) as can make
it convenient, to take each a ^|iarcof my Rock
in the Potomac Company, in preference to the
amount of what it might fell for —being tho
roughly convinced myfelf, that no uses to which
the money can be applied, will be so productive 1
as the tolls arising from this Navigation when I
in full operation, (and thus from the nature of|
things it must be ere long) and more especially if§
that of the Shenandoah is added thereto.
The Family Vault at Mount Vernon, requir- ,
ing repairs, and being improperly situated be-;
sides, 1 desire that a new %neof brick, and upon ;
a larger scale, may be built at the foot of what'
is commonly called the Vineyard Inclofure on }
the ground which is marked out —In which my'
remains, with tbofe of niy deceased relations;
(now in the old Vault) and such others of my j
family as may chufe to be entombed there, may ;
be deposited. And it is my express desire, that
my corpfc may be interred in a private manner,
without parade or funeral oration./
Lastly, I constitute and appoint my dearly
foeloved wife Martha Washington, my nephews
William Augustine Washington, Bufhrod Wash
ington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel
Washington, aud Lawrence Lewis, and my
ward, George Washington Parke Cuftis, (when
he fliall have arrived at the age of 21 years)
executrix and executors of this WILL and TES
TAMENT—In the conftrudtion of which it
will readily be perceived that no profcflional
character has been confultcd, or has had any
agency in the draught, and that although it has
occupied many of my leisure hours to digest, &
to throw it into its present form, it may, not
withstanding, appear crude and incorre& : but
having endeavored to be plain and explicit in all
the devifes,even at the expence of prolixity, per
haps of tautology, 1 hope and trust that no dis
pute will arise concerning them; but if contrary
to expectation,the case should be otherwise from
the want of legal expreflions or the usual technic- 1
al terms, or bccaufe too much or too little has
been said on any of the devises to be consonant
with law, my will and direction expressly
is that all disputes (if unhappily any should 1
arise) shall be decided by three impartial and
intelligent men, known for their probity and
good understanding—two to be chosen by the
disputants, each having the choice of one, aud
the third by those two; which three men thus
chosen shall, unfettered by law or legal construc
tions, declare the sense of the Testator's inten
tions ; and such decision is, to all intents and
purposes, to be as binding on the parties, as if it
had been given in the Supreme Court of the
United States.
In Witness of all, and of each of tie things
herein contained, I havefa my Hand and Seal, this
Ninth Day of ful,, in the Tear One Tboufond Sev
en Hundred and Ninety —- ,* and of the Inde
pendence of the United States tie Twenty Fourth.
George Washington. (seal)
£, {Accompanying the above Will is a Schedule
of dec property diredied to be fold, which upon a very
moderate calculation is fimated at 530,000 dollars.
The aggregate value of bis fate, it is supposed,
amountNo ONE MILLION.]
* It appears tbe Tefator emitted the word "nine.'
From the Philadelphia Gazette.
As there has been much public and
private controversy on the commence
ment of the nineteenth century, we
publish the opinions of two of the most
celebrated historians, on the fubjed,
Hume and Gibbon. Jerusalem was
taken by the crusaders on the sth of
July, 1100. In the hiftory of England,
written by the former, the capture of
that city is dated to be on the sth July,
in the last year of the 1 ith century, —
Gibbon, in his account of the corona
tion of Charlemagne, fays it tock place
on the feftival of Christmas, in the last
year of the eighth century. —That e
vent, agreeably to historical record,
happened on the 25th Dec. in the year
800: acccording to this method of ra
tio cination, the cunent year closes in-
Read of commencing the present centu
ry-
From the Boston Commercial Gazette.
COMMUNICfITION.
While the government o f the United
States is administered on its true princi
ples, by men who merit and possess the
confidence of the people, as at present,
every attempt to interrupt its operations,
or weaken the general confidence in our
civil rulers, whether by designing dem-|
agogues, Ricklers for independent State
Sovereignty, or interested associations
cf individuals must prove abortive—
for tho' particular persons, in a coiner
of the Union, may raise a clamor, de
claim against public measures, and em
ploy the press as the medium of inflam
matory addrelfes —yet there is a cool
judgment, a laudable spirit of delibera
tive candor, which dißinguilhes the peo
ple of the United States, and leads them
impartially to weigh, and leisurely to
decide, upon every fubje& submitted
to public investigation : Th&y also ful
ly realize, that the expence of support
ing government is a useless burthen, if
an appeal must be made in the firft in
stance to the whole body of the people
in all cases of real or supposed grievance.
The constitution is express in this point,
and it is certainly more decent, as well,
as more consonant to the principles of
freedom, to bring every public injury
to that tribunal, which is competent, to
doing all possible justice ; the legislature
efthe union.
Foreign NEWS.
BERNE, (SWITZERLAND) NOV. If.
THE Grand Council, only three
days since, has terminated the dil
cuflion refpefting the Provisional Gov
ernment of Zurich. In this important
queßion, the point to be decided was,
"Whether the Provisional Government
established at Zurich, whilst the city
was in the power of the Außrians,
should be fubjed to a trial for the excel
fes which it is alledged they committed
against the patr° ts, and before what
Tribunal they should be called :"
The Commißion, which was charg
ed with the making a report on this af
fair, was divided in its opinion. The
majority decided, that no vengeance
should be exercised on the Provifioal
Government--" How," said they, "can
we condemn individuals who were fub
jefted to the influence of a victorious
army ? How can we impute it to them
as a crime to have yielded, when we
did not frtrnifh themwith the means of
refinance? If this Government be re
sponsible, it will be also necessary to
punish the Helvetic Government, which
by not defending the cantons, has fail
ed in the engagements to which it was
pledged by the fecial compact."
Notvcith(landing these arguments,
the opinion of the minority of the Com
mittee was adopted by the Council.—-
The Members of the Provisional Gov
ernment of Zurich are in consequence
to be tried before the Criminal Tribu
nal.
londcn, dec. 3.
The following curious article appears
in The Redafteur, and is considered an
official communication :—" By an in
advertency, against which it is not cafy
to guard amidst great political move
ments, it lately happened that the En
gravers employed to make a new set
of Seals for Government, along with
the infeription, " Consuls of the Repub
lic," retained the level, the emblem ofaH
t:al equality, instead .ffubftiluting the bal
ance as the emblem of equality of rights.
It will be recollected that the Ministers
of His Britannic Majefly in debates in
Parliament frequently denominated
the partisans of the French Revolution
levellers. It must be admitted that they
had at lead force pretence for this
charge.—Let us observe, at the fame
time, that the laR Revolution was pro
duced in favour of the balance against
the levelling principle." These remarks
coming from authority may fugged va
rious reflections.
Rear Admiral Mark Robinson, who
lately died at Bath, was a gentlman of
the most dißinguifhed merit in his pro
feflion. He was born on St. Mark's
day, 1722, O. S. and at the age of
fourteen, entered iVto the service of his
country. The exertions and conse
quent dillinflions of this gallant veteran
merit a brief detail. He was actively
engaged in most of the combats under
the command of Sir Peter Warren, &
Lord Hawke. As Commander of the
Falcon, his conduct and bravery were
eminent and conspicuous at the reduc
tion of Guadeloupe, where his ship funk
under him. lie was afterwards, ap
pointed to the command of the Fowey
on the coast of America, where he had
the fatisfaction of preserving Charleston
from the effects of an alarming confla
gration ; a service, for which the Mer
chants of Soutli Carolina exprefled
their gratitude by a public vote cf
thanks, dated January 14, 1771, find a
very large piece cf plate, bearing a suit
able infeription. Under Lord Keppel
he commanded the Worcester ; whence
he was transferred to the Shrewsbury,
in which flip he led the British fleet five
times into action. In the last of these
engagements, off the Capes of Virginia
he was disabled by a severe wound in
the hip, and the loss of a leg.
parts, Nov. 24.
[The following relates to the persons fentensed to
transportation by Buonaparte and Co. on the late
Revolution ; but the fcntence was afterwards
commuted.)
Os the persons sentenced to transport
ation, Jorry has been three months
with the army of the Rhine. Maignet
is employed at Cayenne. Gabriel is
gone with Vi&or Hughes. Deftrem
leaves eleven children. Stevenotte ten.
I Didier seven. Talot supports his mo
ther and fillers expelled from their
property by the Chouans of La Ven
dee. Xavier Audouin has a young
family and a mod amiable wife ; under
Robespierre, Audouin,his wife, mother
brother, and children, were in one night
torn from their houses and sent to pri
son ; Xavier to Pelagie, his wife to Port
Libre, the others to different places.—
From that time to the toth Thermidor
it was impoflible for the young couple
to know what was become of each 0-
ther. They thought each other dead.
Tired at length of life, Audouin's wife
rcfolved to heat a nail red hot, and
with it Ihe marked upon her bosom (she
was scarcely 20 years of age) the name
of her hufoand, whom she supposed to
be no more. Her firft child was suck
led in prison. For her firmnefs and
conjugal fidelity, the Municipal Ad
miniftraticn ,decreed to her, a civic
crown on the day of the fete of marri
ed persons two years afterwards. Le
fage Senault isa greater fool than rogue.
Jourdeuil is not a bad man. Soulevie
is a systematic original, but not danger
ous. Quire: has only been milled —
Daubermefnel Wants judgment—but
he is a Republican, Frifon is nothing.
Delbrel voted for the death of the
King ; he has rendered great service in;
the army. The Royalists are too welll
pleased when they fee a Conventionalist
proscribed by Republicans.
IMPCKLANI!
PARIS, NOV. 16.
The following official Paper is given in the Redafl
ure of the l^h infl. and ruas ever, %cb:refoJled
on the Walls of Paris.
To THE COUNCIL OF ANCIENTS and .
to BUONAPARTE.
THE Legislative Body has chang-1
ed its place, wio a vjew to its better|
proceeding. Is the Republic also to ,
change its^pofition for the better "Shall'
we persevere jn our old errors, or fhalll
we have the courage to confefs and re-j
pair them ? Shall we continue to re-'
fpcß those prejudices which have mis- :
led our legislation, and our govern- :
ment ? Shall we find the wisdom to|
conceive, and the force to ad, upon|
grand and liberal ideas, on solid prin-|
ciples, and on durable bases of social
|organization ?
We wish for the Republic—we wish
j for Liberty—we wish for a reprefenta-!
live government. Since the year 1789
I we have been fighting at home and a-,i
I broad, we have been lavifhmg ourfor-:
j tunes and our lives in order to obtain
these obje&s. We have not, as yet,
had legislators who could fill our hopes.
We arc this day to seek a Constitution,
!and we can only finda code, fhapelefs,|
}obfeure, and without a guarantee.l
I We have had for Rulers men with-'
1 out talents, or without principles ; cru-!
I el without energy, ambitious without
; greatness, and prodigal only through
avarice ; surrounded by passions and 4
crimes, which they had not the courage ;
to repress or punilh ; they could only !
arm one party against the other ; and ;
the people tints continually agitated by:
their wavering politics, could onlyj
change their oppreflors & their miseries.;
In 1789, the Con Rituent Affcmbly
after being courageous against defpo-.
tiim, proved weak against the factions.|
After shewing thcmfelves greatly calm!
on the departure of the King, June '9l, ;
some of them were seduced by his a-j
gents after his return ; others were in
timidated by the clamours of a Club ;
and from this mass of probity and in
telligence, there proceeded only a work
without solidity—a weak abortion,
which bore within it the feeds of its
approaching deßrudion.
The work of 1793, the execrable
code of anarchy, only struck terror in
to France, to which it was the presage
of every crime. At length came die
Constitution of the 3d year, (1795)
which no=iv exists xo longer —for how
could that maintain itieli, which crea
ted a Legfative Body which must of
necessity either govern, or be opprefled
by the Directory ?
The Republican the fourth and fifth
years was maintained by the victories
of our armies, and particularly by thole
of Buonaparte in Italy. It was on
the eve of perishing in the 6th year
through intrigues of the Royalists.
Then the Legislative Body, milled
and deceived by some of those conspi
rators, was about to overturn the Di
rectory. It was saved, however, by
the Bth Fruaidor; but in saving the
Diredory, the 18th Frudidor annihila
ted tire constitution. It did mifehief
to fdeiety at large by the shock which
it gave to the representative system.—
It did to France an injury not yet re
jiaired, by deßroying all refpe& for
the constitutional code, which in this
inßance, had been trampled upon with
impunity. From that moment ail
the dispositions of this Code have been
either artfully eluded, or audaciously
violated. The Executive Diredory
falhioned their conduct on the model of
abfohite power, and created conspira
cies only to exercise their authority in
reprefling or extinguishing them. Their
odious wavering policy was incefiantly
kept in play, and by this they contriv
ed to precipitate into tbefame abyss, not
merely the a&ual Royalists and the re
al Terrorißs, but all thole who had in
curred their hatred, and whom they
ranged alternately under one or the 0-
ther of those descriptions.
It was thus that Political Liberty
was de Rroyed ; representatives and cit
izens were arbitrarily placed upon the
lifts of the proscribed, at the dictates of
hatred and prejudice. It was thus
that, on the 226 Floreal, the choice of
the people was outragoully rejeded.—
It was thus that in contempt of the
principles of a Representative Govern
ment, the Directory appointed, with
the members chosen by feiffions in the
primary ARemblies, v hich feiffions they
had themselves provoked, and with a
small number of honest and enlightened
men who had truly served their coun
try, and whom they did not dare to re
ject,' all those on whole servility or im
becility they could rely for the easier
fubje^ion of the two Councils.
It was thus that in the year 7, the
Directory sent to their Commissaries in
the departments lifts of those who were
to be elected, and money to pay for
the choice of those whom they had com
manded. It was thus that in despite
of civil liberty, the right of banishment
was fuffered to rest with the Directory
against the Journalists, the Frieds, and |
all those who had the misfortune to dis-j
please them. It was thus that the prif-1
ons received, kept, and devoured a|
number ofviaims,confined in dungeons 1
; without knowing their accusers, and
:who demanded in vain that judgment,
which the constitution orders that they
should have within twenty-four hours.
It was thus that the power of inferibing
names on the lift of emigrants was ab-j
folutely decreed,to the Direßory ; and
that even the name of an Ambailhdor
was there inferibed, merely because he
, had displeased one of our tyrants, by
. refufing to crawl before him. It was
I thus that, notwithstanding the laws of
I the Constitution relpecting the Treafu
-Iry, the principles of order, and the re
' fponfibility of all the branches of its
j Administration, have been violated,
i the most scandalous waste has been
' praaifed to pay flatterers and villains,
:brokers and valets. It was thus that
: Judges, the guarantees of property,
: and the Administrators elected by the
people, have been unceasingly changed
:or removed, on the denunciation of;
knaves, or by the ambition of fools — |
It was thus that the bravest officers
were stripped of their rank, removed
Shamefully from their places, and con
signed to misery. as a return for the
blood which they had shed in the serv
ice of their country. It was thus that
by progreßive imposts, the right of
property was violated, though conse
crated by the Conßitutional Code, al
ways invoked, yet always outraged.
It was thus that every year saw a bank
ruptcy cforce forward under the title
'of an arrear of debt ; and that the Di
rectory were fuffered to annihilate as a
power the obligations they had con
traded as a party. It was thus that the
' unfortunate Annuitants were compell
;ed to beg in vain their subsistence at
! the gates of the Treasury, which was
;exhaußed by disorder and folly. It
[ was thus that civil war was provoked
I by the dcteßable law of Hofiages,
;which punishes the innocent for the
crimes which they could not poflibly
Iprevent, and by which the Government
Ifeemed to revenge upon the Nation its
}own want of power to proted it against
;robbers. It is by these citable vio-
Ilations of the Constitution that the co
alfced Kings from without, and their
A gents within our territory, have been
enabled to push the Republic to the
very last degree of disorganization, of
misfortune, and of guilt. It is thus, in
fine, that we are left without a Consti
tution or a Government.
We wish for both the one and the 0-
ther Wife men, brave men, whose u
nion we applaud, Sieyes and Buona
parte—will you give us these, and, when
you have given them, will you assure
them unto us ?—if such is your resolu
tion begin to execute it. Ihe whole
people will surround you, during your
labours, with power, and with refped.
They will reward you with their grati
tude and esteem, when those labours
arc brought to a close.
France wishes for something great
and durable. It is instability that has
ruined her ; she now calls upon you for
something fixed and fettled. She does
not ask for Royalty, for that is pro
scribed ; but she wishes for unity of
adion in the power which is to execute
the laws.—She willies for a Legislative
Body, free and independent, but with
out the spirit of jealousy or of usurpa
tion. She wishes that the Reprefenth-^
tives may protect without agitating the'
Nation. She wishes that they may be
peaceable protectors, not turbulent in
novators. She willies in fine, to gather
the fruits of ten years of facraficc—fhe
wishes for Liberty and Peace.
Do what is neceflary to ensure these
to France, and glory awaits you at the i
end of your career.
raifiw;wa=».
PARIS, DEC. 12.
Tie following is a letter from Vendome, dated iyb
( A tb Pee.)
" The greatest civility is pradifed
between the Republicans and the In
surgents in the weft, since the suspen
sion of arms has been signed. Several
officers on botli sides entertained each
other at dinner, and have expressed a
delire to fee themselves closely united
forever, and a period put to the dis
astrous war which rages in these depart
ments."
The following are the articles of capi
tulations :—
Condition of a fuftenfon of bofilities con
cluded between the Republicans and the
Difeontented in the Wefl.
I. The number of Republican Troops
shall not be increased in the Depart
ments of the weft during the suspen
sion of hostilities.,
11. All judgments pronounced by
Military Committees fliall be suspend
ed, even with refpe& to those Royal
ists who may have been taken with
arms in their hands.
111. All the persons detained in pris
on as partizans or agents of the Royal
ills, fliall be set at their liberty as well
as the hostages.
IV. The Republican troops shall
fend no detachment into the country ;
their correspondence fliall take place
between detachment and detachment
ordinances, or small detachments.
V. The Royalists shall guarantee the
fafety of these ordinances in small de
tachments.
VI. The Republicans may the requi
fitlons ioi iuc iubuncute in their troops
onlyi
VII. The Republicans and the Roy
alists may continue to receive the de
serters of the opposite party.
VIII. The correfpendence between
the difeontented shall be guaranteed by
the Republicans.
IX. All marches and hostile pro
ceedings shall be suspended, and in case
cither of the parties are desirous of
continuing the war, a notice of eight:
davs mutt be given. ,
X. No proclamation shall be issued
during the suspension of hostilities.
&rf.©t _zxr#rrc± ^u^v wi-mpt T .>*.-.. pro
Interejimg Intelligence.
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT
Os the Na^al Aftion between the American
frigate Constellation, and a French 58
gun foif.
PHrLADELPHTA, FEB. 2g.
YESTERDAY morning Lieuten
ant Shaw, of the armed febooner
Experiment, arrived at Marcus Hook
from a cruize, being dffpatched by Com
modore TRUXTON, with letters for
the Secretary of the Navy ; from which
the following are extracted.
United States Sbip Confeltation,
at Sea, February 3, 1800/
Sir,
On the 30th ult. I left St. Chrifto
phers with the Constellation in excel
lent trim, and flood to windward, in
order to gain the Ration for rnyfclf, be
fore the road of Guadeloupe, and at:
half pad 7 A. M. of the day follow
ing I discovered a fail to the S. E. to
which I gave chafe, and for the further
particulars of that chafe and the action
after it, I must beg to refer to the cx
trad from my journal herewith, as be
ing the best mode cf exhibiting a just:
and candid account of all our trarif
a&ions in the late business, which has
ended in the almost entire dismantle
ment of the Constellation ; though ,L
trust to the high reputation of the Ame
rican flag. I have the honor to be, &c.
THOMAS TRUXTON.
Benj. Stoddard Esq. See'ry of the Navy.
Occurrences on board the United States Jl>ip Confed
lation, of 38 guns, under Try command, Feb. if.
1800.
Throughout these twenty-four hours,
very unsettled weather, kept on our
tacks beating up under Guadaloupe,
and at half past 7 A. M. the road of
BafiUterra bearing East 5 leagues dis
tance saw a fail in the S. E. Landing
to the S. W. which from her fituation>
I at firft took for a large ship from
Martinico, and hoisted English colours
on giving chace byway of inducement,
for her to come down and speak me,
which would have laved us a long chace
to leward, off my intended cruizing
ground ; but finding she did not at
tempt to alter her course, I examined
her more minutely, as we approached
her, and discovered that she was a hea
vy French frigate, mounting at least
74 guns. I immediately gave orders
for the yards, &c. to be flung with
chains, topsail facets &c. floppered, and
the ship cleared ; and every thing pre
pared for a&ion, and hauled down the
English colors. At noon the wind be
came light, and I observed the chace,
that we had before been gaining faft
on, held way with us, but I was de
termined to continue the pursuit, tho'
the running to the leeward I was con
vinced would be attended with many
serious disadvantages, especially if the
object of my wishes were not gratified.
Faffed two fehooners standing to the
northward, one of them shewed Ame
rican colours, and was a merchant vess
el, and the other I supposed to be of
the fame description.
Feb. 2d, at one P. M. the wind be
ing somewhat frefher, than at the noon
I preceding, and an appearance of its
I continuance, our profped of bringing
the enemy to action began again to
brighten, as I perceived we were com
ing up with the chafe faft, and every
inch of canvass being set that could be
of service, except the bog reefs, which
I kept in the topsails, in case cf
the Chafe finding an escape from our
thunder impracticable, Ihould haul
on a wind and give us fair battle ; but
this did not prove to be her comman
der's intention. I however got with
in hail of him at 8 P. M. hoisted our
ensign, and had the candles in the bat
tle lantherns all lighted, and the large
trumpet in the lee gangway ready to
speak-him, and to demand the surren
der of his ship to the United States of
America ; but he at that infant com
menced a fire from his stern and quar
ter guns directed at our rigging and
spars. No parley being then neceflary,
I sent my principal aid de camp, Mr.
Vandyke, to the different officers com-,
manding divisions on the main battery,
to repeat ftridly my orders before giv^
en, not to throw away a single charge
of powder, but take good aim and fire
dire&ly into the hull of the enemy, and
load principally with two round Ihct
and now and then with a round shot
and a hand of grape, &c. to encourage
the men at their quarters ; to cause or
fuller no noise or confufion whatever ;.
but to load and fire as faft as possible
when it could be done with certain
effect. These orders being given, in a
few moments I gained a position cp
his weather quarter, that enabled vs
effectually to return his falutc; ar.!
thus a close and as (harp an a&cn .-,