The United States oracle of the day — Portsmouth, N.H., 1801-02-07 00:00:00, page 2

"The Consistent FEDERALIST,
No. 111.
MR. RUSSELL,
I SHALL proceed to 'toffder the policy
which the Federal Government has pursued
:nd which Federalists have uniformly approved.
4thly. From the complicated nature of the
An,eriean Governments, in which the national
power is veiled in one body, and all other attributes
of sovereignty retained to the separate States,
it was to be expected that occasional collisions
would take place. It has been the invariable
principle with Federalf,to maintain and defend
the absolute sovereignty of the United States,
touching all the fubje&s committed to them by
the Federal Constitution. Hence has arisen the
" ru g^ c between Virginia and Kentucky, and the
Federal States, relative to the Constitutionality
of the laws of Congress—the Federal Legisla
tures contending, that the feparabe States have
no right to judge of the Constitutionality of the
ads of the National Legislature.
Hence also the absolute appeal expressly al
lowed from all final decrees and judgments, in a
State Court against the validity of any all of the
National Government.
These principles are as clear as mathematical
propositions, and will be as durable as the earth;
For unless this absolute sovereignty is retained,
the whole power of the General Government
will be frittered away by the sophistry, or torn
to pieces by the ambition of the popular dema
gogues in the State Legislatures.
Jthly. It being impomble in any national corn
pad, calculated to embrace great and important
interests to defeend into ail the details of power,
whfch subsequent events may make necessary,
the Federal Constitution, states only certain gen
eral and important principles which are to form
the balls of a noble fuperftru&ure. The Fede
ralists have always contended, that that admira
ble maxim of common law and common sense,
"that whenever any thing is granted, every thing
nectffary to the enjoyment of the grant shall be
presumed to be also conceded" is equally appli
cable to the delegation of such powers as are
given in the Federal Constitution.
They therefore believe, that the fair construc
tion of the Constitution authorifes the exercise
of all such powers as are naturally implied or es
sentially necessary to the exigence or welfare of
the Federal Government.
6thly. To support public credit—to maintain
the national dignity abroad, and to defray the
expenecs of Government at home, revenues be
came necessary. From what source Were these
to be derived ? From the land ? No; that would
cramp agriculture, the great support of nations.
From a direct poll tax ? No—tnat would op
press the poor, and discourage the mechanic arts.
From a direst tax on income and perfohal pro
perty ? No---this would he a burden on indus
try. The experience of MaJjdcbufetts had al
ready proved its extreme injustice. What did
the patriotism and good sense of Federatifts
prompt them to substitute ? Taxes on importa
tions, which falling eventually on the confufaer,
arc the most equal and the most just which
were ever invented by man. The merchant who
firft pays them canrot complain, because he a
gain receives them of the purchafcr. Hence
the well known diftin&ion between the long and
fort price, the one with the duties on, the oe^er
not. Nay, the merchant derives a positive bene
fit, by the credit afforded by the Government for
the duties; It gives him a capital for twelve
months without iptercft,& is viewed according
ly as an object of desire. The farmer, the me
chanic—the profeffional man cannot complain of
his tax, because it only operates upon him in
proportion to his extravagance. Another fourcc
of revenue which the Federalists have advocated,
is that of taxes upon luxuries —of this defcrlption
are the tax on distilled spirits—on fnuff—and
upon carriages.—Surely no man can complain
of taxes which abridge only the vices of man
kind, or render them expensive while they relieve
the poor and industrious from the burdens of
Government. There is one other tax which
does not come within[either of those descriptions,
but which was adopted for its fairnefs, and fa
cility of collection—l mean the flamp duty.—
Unpopular as this tax has been from old preju
dice, aed though it gave rife to liberty poles and
sedition practices, it is one of the most equal
and most judicious sources of revenue—The tax
is laid in proportion to the magnitude of the
sum, and it falls altogether, on either the wealthy,
or on those who are engaged in large commer
cial tranfadions.
7thly, While the Federalists on the
one hand have readily pursued a sys
tem of economy, and have made per
manent provilion for the reduction of
the public debt, on the other, they have
refilled the popular, but impolitic plan
of starving all the public functionaries.
Although they have not enabled them
to live in luxury and to riot on the
public spoils as their enemies have falfe
ly contended, yet they have refufed to
expose their officers to beggary and con
tempt. They have urged, that feeble
and few are the inducements for men of
talents and worth, to quit their domes
tic enjoyments & lucrative profeffions,
for the purpose of serving the public,
in offices where they are Pure of reap
ing an ample harvest of abuse and in
gratitude—that a niggardly policy was
hostile to the best interests of a Repub
lican Government—that if public offi
ces should not afford an adequate sup
port, the Officers would be driven by
embarraflinent or tempted by avarice,
to seek an indemnity, by illegal and dis
honest dilapidations—or if they should
be too virtuous to adopt so dishonora
ble an expedient; -he, would be com
pelled to give way to more needy and
unprincipled adventurers, who with
less talent would injure the interest of
the public b, their errors, 'or with less
confeience would plunder it by their
vices. That unfortunate and impolitic
timidity which we have already noticed
has induced the Federalists not to sup
port this principle with becoming firm
uefs, and we have accordingly witness
ed the mifehievous tendency of their
weakness, by the general and volunta
ry desertion of many of our ablest and
most virtuous public men.
Bthly. While the Federalists have more high
ly than their opponents justly prized the inesti
mable value of a free press. While they have
cherished this palladium of liberty with a sin
cerity and enthusiasm of which their opponents
were incapable, they have considered that like
all other blessings, it it to be preserved only by
correcting its ^fa— they have argued, that
like every other privileged it is faltered to de
Political Miscellany
From the CENTINEL.
An engrossed bill, entitled an A& for the
more convenient organization of the Courts of
the United States was read the third time, and
on the question shall this bill pass, it was decid
ed in the affirmative.—Ayes ~ Nays 43.
[The principal features of this act are, the Su
preme Court is to conffl of five Jufices, one of ivbem
fall be the Chief fufice ; the Jeff:on of it to be held
at the city of Washington, twice in each year ; the
fr/? of which will be held in August next. The
United States are to be divided into twenty two Dif
trias, that part of Maffacbufctts, called Maine, is
to form one Difrifl, to be called the Difrifl of
Maine ; the remaining part of the State to be culled
the Difri& of Maffaebufetts ; The States of New-
Hampfoire, Rhode- Ifand, Connecticut, Vermont,
New-Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North- Caro
lina, South- Cartdina, Georgia, and Kentucky, each
to form one Dfritl ; part of New-York to be called
the Diftria of Albany; the remaining part to be
called the Diftria of Ncai-York ; Pennsylvania to
form two Diftrias, Eafern and Wkfern ; Virginia
two Diftria, afo, Eallern and Wefern; Tennfo
two do. East and Wf; the north Weftern and In
dian Territories to be called the Difria of Ohio.—
Thefefeveral Dorias are to compose fix Circuits, to
each of which three judges are to be appointed, one
of which is to be denominated the chief Judge, two
of them are to form a quorum. The ftrd Circuit is
to be composed of the Didri&s of Maine, N. Homp
feire, Maffacbufet ts and Rhode- Ifand. The second
Circuit is to be composed of Connekkieut, Kermont,
Albany and New-York. To each of the Circuits are
to be appointed an attorney, clerk and marfall, and
the other ufedl officers of a court. The rikw regula
tions and proofons of the law are to effe& the next
fittings of the several circuit courts, to whom will be
referred all bufmefs heretofore pending.^
A bill, providing for the erection of a Light
Hbufe on Cape Hope, Martha's Vineyard, was
ordered for a third reading.
The 1161 to continue in force these laws, passed,
Yeas 46, Nays 31.
IKAS.— Mfrs. Afon, Bear, Bartlett, J.
Broken, Condit, Cooper, ff. Davenport, F. Daven
port, Dennie, Dent, Dichfon, Edmond, Evans, Fos
ter, Glen, Goode, G. Goodrich, E. Goodrich, Gregg,
Griswold, Grove, Hanna, Harper, Henderson, Hill,
Huger, Imlay, Kittera, H. Dee, S. Lee, Morris,
Nott, Otis, Page, Platt, Rutledge. J. C. Smith,
Sbeafe, Talliafcrro, Tenney, J. C. Thomas, IVddf
zuortb, Waln, R. Williams, Woods —46.
NAYS. — Messrs Bailey, Bird, Bishop, R.
Broun, Clay, Claiborne, Dawson, E^glfon, El
mendorf, Gallatin, Gray, Heifer, Holmes, Jack
son, Kittel, Lieb, Lyon, Lynn, Macon, Muhlen
berg, Nrw, Nicholas, Smilie, J. Smith, S. Smith,
Stanford, Sumpter, Thompson, A, Trigg, J. Trigg,
Farnum— 3l.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21.
The following engrossed bill read and passed.
An ad to provide for the erection and sup
port of alight-house on Cape Hope, in the
north-easterly part of Martha's Vineyard.
A petition was presented, praying an addi
tional duty on imported fhor,fo as to encourage
the manufadure, which the petitioner stated
hi/nfelf to have brought to considerable perfec
tion. Referred to the committee of commerce
and mannfadures.
A memorial flaring the inconveniences that
have aiifen from the operation of that part of
the aft of the 13th March 1800 which relates
to a drawback on goods, imported in foreign
ships, was referred.
A bill to incorporate a company by the name
of Mine and Metal Company was read twice
and referred to a committee of the whole on
Thursday.
The house resolved itfelf into committee on
the report of the committee of revifal and un
finifhed business, proposing the renewal of the
a& commonly called the sedition law, which by
the former provisions would expire on the 3d of
March next. Mr. Morris in the chair.
Mr. Plat rdfe in defence of the conflitutibn
ality and expediency of the measure. Messrs.
Griswold, Rutledge, Dana, and Harper support
ed the fame fide. Messrs. Davis, Nicholson,
Randolph, Huger, Gallatin, Claiborne, and
Nicholas opposed the continMtion of the bill.
The committee at length rose and obtained
leave to fit again, and the house adjourned.
This Bill again underwent a lengthy difeuf
fion. Several amendments were made, and vari
ously difpifed of. A motion was made by Mr.
Kitchell to poitponc the further confederation
of it, which was loft, 5% to 42.
The Bill then passed to be engtoffed. Yeas
52, —To be read a third time on Tuefday next.
Mr. Otis, from the Committee on the Trea
sury, after feme observations on the fubjeCb,
said he was inftruCted by the Committee, at
the instance of the Secretary and Comptroller
of the Treasury to invite any members who were
deferous of having any particular information on the
fubjea, to date their requps.
Mr. Otis presented from the Secretary of the
Navy, a comprehensive view of die naval de
partment. Ordered to be printed.
A Resolution for the repeal of the Direli-
Tax Aft, with provifo,that nothing therein shall
be construed to prevent the assessing and collec
ting of the tax, passed in 1798, was laid on the
table.
CONGRESS of the U. States.
HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, JAN. If 1801.
LICENCE LAWS, &c.
TtiE Bill to continue in force the Laws
laying duties on Licences for felling Wines
and foreign distilled spirits by retail, on pro
perty fold at auction, and on carriages for the
conveyance of persons, passed to be engrossed,
to be read a third time to-morrow.
A free press is valuable as the corrector of
morals. But if it should avowedly propagate
immoral and profligate principles, it would be
come a scourge in place of able fling. A free
press is important as the guardian of religion and
sentiments of piety. But if from its abufe§ and
polluted fount, it should fend forth torrents of
infidelity, profanity and blasphemy, it would
poison and corrupt the nation, and justly expose
it to the vengeance of an injured Deity. Afree
press may afford the best reward to virtue and
merit. But if it should blzd virtue and calum
niate worth, if it should embitter deme&ic hap
piness, and destroy public reputation, it would
deservedly be deemed one of the greatest curses
of our race. A free press ought to propagate
truth, dissipate error, support government and
uphold the laws. But if it should circulate falf
hoods, promote dilution, arraign the wisest
measures of government and encourage opposi
tion to the laws and magistrates, no government
however Jirong c^ld stand, unless it retrained its
virulence and punched its excefl'es.
LEONIDAS.
generate into crimes, society mull and ought to
correa them.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
FRIDAY, JANUARY, 16.
LICENCE LAWS, &c.
JUDICIARY BILL.
TUESDAY, JAN. 20,
IMPORTANT.
LAND TAX.
MONDAY, JAN. 19.
The House of Representatives of Delaware,
have paired a resolution for the appointment of
a committee to report a bill for opening a com
munication between the Delaware river, and
Chesapeake Tay.
A letter from a member of Co^grefs
has the following tribute to the indust
ry and talent of Mr. Wolcott, the late
Secretary of the Treasury—“ The a
mount of the augmentation of our re
venue in the last year, on which this
country is felicitated by the President
in his speech, I underhand is about
TWO MILLIONS and AN HALF;
in which sum, recoiled, the DIRECT
TAX is not included. Surely this can
not but be a circumstance of high gra
tification to every friend of our coun
try." And yet, against this officer, in
common with every one who has ad
ministered the General Government the
most unqualified charges of abandoned
and infamous peculation and robbery,
have been made in the Aurora, and co
pied in all the Argufa and Chronicles of
the country —and the authors of these
charges ftjll remain unpunished.
Eli B. Climfon, ift Lieut, vice Davidson, re
signed. Samuel Clinton, ift Lieut, vice Blake
resigned.—James Rhea, ift Lieut, vice Peyton
resigned.
Second Regiment.
Archibald Gray, captain,'vice Sbaumburg, Di
vision Quarter-mailer. Rezin Webster, capt.
vice Miller, resigned. Peter Skiras ift Lieut.
vice Allifon,deceafed. Thomas Porter,ift Lieut.
vice Forcer, promoted.
Third Regiment.
William M'Rea, to be major, vice Hoops re
signed. William Steele, captain, vice Cochran
resigned. Alexander D. Pope, captain, vice
M'Rea promoted.—John W. Livingflon, capt.
vice Bilhop, dismissed.
Infantry—Firft Regiment.
Fourth Regiment.
Hartman Lcitheifen, captain, vice Brock re
signed. John Wallington, captain, vice Gibson
resigned ; Francis Johnson, captain, vice Tay
lor resigned; James Love, ift Lieut, vice Leith
eifon,.promoted. Thomas Eastland, ift Lieut,
vice Wallington, promoted. James Defha, ift
Lieut, vice Johnson promoted.
Zebulon Pike, major, vice Kerfey, deceased.
William P. Smith, captain, vice Pike, promoted.
Hugh M'Call, captain, vice Marks difmifTed.
William Scott, captain, vice Steele deceased—
William R. Boote, captain, vice Rickard, re
signed.
Moses Porter ,to be Major, vice Toufard pro
moted. Jonathan Robeson, to be Captain, vice
Rovere deceased. Henry Muhlenberg, Capt.
vice Porter promoted. Theophilus Elmer,Capt.
vice Littlefield, resigned. Robbins Chamberlain
to be Lieut.
Benjamin Shurteliffe, of Massachusetts ; —
Joseph Anthony, of South-Carolina ; William
Turner, of Virginia ; Samuel Anderfon,of Penn
sylvania; James Dodge, of New-York; John
Goddard, of Massachusetts; William Turner, of
Rhode-Bland ; William B. Buchanan, of New-
Yerk ; and Charles Webb, of Virginia, to be
Surgeons.
Francis Le Barron, of Massachusetts ; William
Turk, of Pennsylvania ; Gerfham R. Jaques, of
Pennsylvania; Thomas Starke, of Virginia ; —
Hugh Ailken, of Maryland ; Daniel M'Cor
mick, of New-York; Thomas H. Fendall, of
Maryland ; James H. Bradford, of Massachu
setts ; John P. Fisher, of New-York ; Charles
T. Thornton, of Virginia, and Samuel E. Wil
let, of New-York, to be Surgeons Mates.
William Thorp, ift Lieut, of Cavalry, in
place of Simmons afmilTed
ARTILLERISTS, &c.
Louis Toufard, Lt. Col. Commandant of the
2d Regt, and lnfpe&or of Artillery.
Firfi Regiment.
John S. Cox, of Maitachufetts ; James Camp
bell, of New-York ; James Smith, of South-Ca
tolir.a ; John Galvin, of Pennsylvania; John
M. Claggct, of Maryland ; Philemon C. We
derffrandt, of Maryland; Jolhua Blake, of
Massachusetts ; Edward Brock, of Pcnnfylva
nia ; Redman M'Clellan, of Massachusetts ;
Joseph Tarbell, of Massachusetts; William Crif
pin, of Pennsylvania ; James R. Caldwell, of
Pennsylvania ; and William Davis, of Mary
land ; to be Lieutenants.
Dolls. Cts.
For the civil lit including the ,
departments, * J 594,701 37
For the payment of annuities and grants; 1,753 33
For the support of the mint, 13,300 00
For thefupport of foreign ministers, 85,000 00
For expenses incident to treaties, 361,364 OC
For supp orting the claims of Ame-? ,
ricans abroad, J 6 4,000 00
For supporting d'flreffedfeamen abroad, 30,000 cd
For the valuation of Louses. lands, % 40,000 OO
For the militarydepartment, generally,1,400,001 OO
For the payment of military pensions, 93,000 OO
For the navy department,generally, 2,342,352 §5
for the fabrication of cannon,arms ,B^c. 400,000 OO
For the fcpport of ligbt-boufes, ^c. 30,622 70
For the fecund enumeration, 60,000 OO
For fatisfying mifcAlaneous claims, 5,600 OO
Total, 5^29,69^5
The funds out of which appropriations may
be made for the above purposes, are :—
ift. The sum of 600,0c0 dollars of the pro
ceeds of duties on imports and tonnage, which
will accrue in 1801, which sum is by law annu
ally reserved for the support of government.
2. The furpius of the revenue and income of
the U, States, which may accrue to the end of
the year 1801, after fatisfying the objects for
which appropriations have been heretofore
made. —-— : -
By The Prudent of the United States with
the advice and cenfent of the Senate.
Samuel Dexter, Secretary of the Treasury,
in place of Oliver Wolcott, resigned.
John S. Carr, consul at Manilla and the
Pmllipine Islands in the dominions of the King
of Spain.
John Ellis, Adam Bingaman, Alex'r Montgo
mery, John Stampley, and Flood M'Greiy,
Members of the Legislative Council of the Mif
fifippi Territory.
William Bainbridge, of Pennsylvania, Hugh
G. Campbell, of South-Carolina, to be Captains.
Benjamin Hiller of Massachusetts, to be Mas
ter Commander.
..ESTIMATES TOR 1801.
.> The Secretary of the Treasury, in a work
which exceeds ico pages, has reported to the
Congress of the United States, the following
appropriations at necessary for the service of the|
year 1801 ;—
FURTHER APPOINTMENTS.
APPOINTMENTS.
Second Regiment.
NAVAL.
BOSTON, JAN. 76.
" Washington, Jan. 24, 1801.
« Yesterday, in a letter to you, I gave an has
ty (ketch of what I understood to have been
done in the Senate about the Convention with
France. At present I have leisure to be more
particular, and have received more complete
information on that fubjeft.
" The form of a resolution had been laid be
fore the Senate for ratifying the Convention
under certain conditions. One condition pro
vided for expunging the second article of the
convention. On this the votes were, ayes, 17,
noes, 13. Another condition provided for ex
punging the third article : On this there were
ayes 16, noes 14. Another was for inferring a
clause to provide that the Convention should
not operate against any other treaties : On this
the votes were, ayes 17, noes 13. Another
was for limiting the duration of the convention
to eight years : On this the votes were, ayes
24, noes 6. As two-thirds were necessary to
carry the above conditions, you will ebferve that
all except the last were loft : So that, in effe&,
they were flruck out of the proposed resolution ;
and the question then remained to be taken,
Whether the Convention should be ratified with
no other condition than that of being limited to
eight years ? When this question was taken,
the voces were, ayes 16, noes 14. This, there
fore, failed, for want of the two-thirds which
are required for the constitutional ratification of
a treaty."
The above decision, is we underhand, to un
dergo a reconsideration.
All the papers in one of the rooms
of the Accountant's Office, it is said,
were entirely destroyed by the late fire
in the Treasury Department. The dam
age done to the building is estimated
at from 1500 to 2000 dollars.
FRENCH TREATY.
NEW-YORK, JAN. JO;
Extraß of a letter from a gentleman at the feat
of government to bis friend in this city, dated
F.xtraß of a letter dated Port Republican, 28/3 of
December, I^oo, from a gentleman there, to bis
friend in Philadelphia.
" Yesterday Gen. Touffaint arrived in *own,
and ordered the duties to be taken off, and gave
orders to the officers of the customs, that the
operation of the decree should be suspended till
the 22d of Sept, next —but, ftrangc inconsistency
—the evening he left this, he counter-ordered
what by wisdom was dictated in the morning,
with this alteration, that the usual import duties
are to remain till the 23d of Sept, when they
are to be 20 per cent."
PHILADELPHIA, JAN. it
FIRE AT WASHINGTON.
Lxtra& of a letter from a gentleman, at Waftington,
dated 26th January, 1801,
I have just now returned from the
feene so horrible and distressing—Last
night about 8 o'clock in the evening I
was called upon by a gentleman, who
informed me that the Treasury Depart
ment was on fire. I immediately ran
out and saw the blaze gulhing through
the window cafqments, which soon com
municated to the rooms above. My
firft object was so secure the public ac
counts of the Revenue, in wliich I fre
ceeded tolerably well, by throwing
them into the street out of the window,
I cleared the room in a hurry, with the
assistance of two gentlemen who had
by this time come up to me, but I am
apprehensive a number of the papers
will be loft. Report Books, and other
Official Documents, which were in Mr.
I'arrell’s room, were entirely, consum
ed, as well as those in the Auditor's
Room which was adjacent thereto—l
must fay I never saw the people exert
themselves more at any fire, than they
did on this occasion, which saved the
building, there are fix rooms on the
south-east end, rendered useless until
repaired,"
PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 24.
Fortune quell beftonued.
A young Gentleman of this city, who had
proved Unfortunate in business, and was under
the ncceffity of surrendering his ALL to his cred
itors, has drawn three thousand dollars
in the St. Augustine Church Lottery. On re
ceiving the pleafog intelligence, he hastened to
fee his Creditors, and in the language of an hon
est heart, announced to each, that now, he could
8c would pay them to the "uttermost farthing,"
and added, he was grateful that an opportunity
was afforded him of convincing them of his in
tention. —0
Extraß of a letter from Capt. Hayes, of thefebooner
Two Brothers, dated Barbadoes, Dec. 21, 1800.
" I could make you laugh with a variety of
anecdotes, but will commence with one. of a
more serious nature, the particulars of which
would be too lengthy for the present ; fuffice
to tell you I have been dragged out of my own
boat, with one of my people by Capt. Malfon,
of the Seine sloop of war; who told me he
would cool me with two dozen for no other rca
foD than by trying to prevent his people from
taking the man out of my boat ; however, after
beating me whilst two of his people held me,
and his boatswain struck me several times with
his boat-hook, the Capt. ordered !ne to be lath
ed to the schooner's bdwfpfit, whete they left
me lashed down on my back; and carried off
Thomas Moods, a citizen of the United States,
who at the fame time had his certificate in his
pocket." - :
There are strong rooms fire proof
for the preservation of the principle
books.
Under the fame roof at Washington,
were the following offices—thofe of
The Secretary of State,
Secretary of the Treasury,
Treasurer of the United States,
Auditor of the Treasury; and
Commissioner of the Revenue.
" I embrace this opportunity to convey you
a line, and inform you of my situation. Hailed
from New-York about the 12th of 061. in the
ship Favorite, captain Barnard bound to Cape-
Francois, on the 4th Nov. was taken by a French
privateer and carried into Guadaloupe, put into
prison, and have just arrived here in a cartel,—
They took from me every thing I had, both my
venture and clothing, arid fcar&ly left me 4
fliirtto myback."
NEW-HAVEN, JAN. 29.
Copy of d letter from a young man in St, Kitts, to bis
father in Guilford, dated St. Kitts, Dec. 4,18 CO.
" Honored father,
By the last Mails.
FROM ALEXANDRIA, JAN. 26.
Phenomena.
• PITTSBURGH, JAN. 16,
About 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening the
7th inst. an extraordinary light appeared in the
hemisphere, and continued for about io fecend,;
it was equal to the brightest sunshine, and was
succeeded by a flight tumbling naife. We are
informed that on the Alleghany mountain, the
earth was greatly agitated, and the noise fimihr
to the-ducharge of cannon.
AGAIN.
From the Fayette Gazette, of January Q.
On Wednesday evening last, about 8 o'clock,
the atmosphere being cloudy, and the night very
an L eit , ordinar y glare of light aroft near
the southern horizon, and illuminated the whole
atmosphere, for the space of about five seconds;
and which, in about four minutes and 4 ha'f
was Succeeded by an explofipc,Similar to a
f a ?'^ cannon at a difta^e, which
considerably shook the houses, and kept >he
windows and door latches in continual trepida
tion, for the (pace of about twenty fe~ond« The
nature and cause of this strange phenomenon, we
must leave to the naturalists and Philosophers to
explain. , '
AGAIN,
WASHINGTON, TAX.I2.
" On Wedr.efdsy evening lull, between 8 and
9 o clock, an extraordinary glare of light made
its appearance, which illuminated the whole
atmosphere for a few seconds, it was succeeded
by a rumbling noifc like distant thunder; from
shaking of the houses at the fame time, it is sup
posed to have been attended with a flight
mock of an Earthquake."
AGAIN.
From the (Fbslad.) Gazette of the United Stites.
Every mail brings frelh accounts of strange
lights in the troubled atmosphere, of BLAZING
METEORS of RUMBLING NOTSES in the EAKT*
and totterings or t ux Mountains 1
What mean these things ? We are not disposed
to be fuperflitioiis ; but we cannot but compare
thele frequent occurrences, with the prodigies
which all the writers of that day declare to
have preceded the fatal Ides of March, which
brought ruin and civil war upon the Roman
Empire.
" In cases ^here merchandise is ex
ported, whieh Was imported in foreign
Vessels, it is clear that the sum to be re:
tamed is to be taken from the amount nvhicb
remains after the difference between For
eign and American duties is dedtifted;—
tne whole of such diftererite being al
ways retained, in addition to the rate
per centum eftablilhed by law."
" The cOnftitutiOn of the Laws, re
lating to Goods exported, which is sup
posed at the treasury to be corre& and
according to the intentions of the Le
gislature, will deny the benefit of draw
back upon all merchandize, excepting
where the duties upon each part of
parcel thereof, imported by one feesfon cr
co-feartnerjhip, in one veffl and at cne
time, amount at least to fifty dollar'
SALEM, FEB. 2.
LATEST NEWS FROM INDIA/
Capt. Joseph Ropes, iAo arrived at this pot!
on Wednesday night last from India, has polite
ly favoured us with the following important:
Intelligence : He visited Madras and Sumatra;
He left Madras on the 3d of August, previous
ly to which, the expedition under Admiral
Rayner, said to have been designed against Ma
nilla or Batavia, had been countermanded, and
the Troops and Stores had been re-landed froni
the Transports, in conference of very alarms
ing dillurbances in the Myfere Country, where
an enterprising Officer, formerly in the fervic^
°f T'PP OO Sultan, had collected an army, con
fining bf 30,0'00 men; and had surprised a fori;
which the English held in that country; ang
had destroyed every foul in the fott, fuppolci
to be loco men. The Capital of Mysore ft
near Seringapatam, and the Country was part
of the dominions, which Hyder Ally fharec
with the Nabob of Arcot. it is 623 English
miles from Bombay, 306 from Madras, and
1218 from. Calcutta.
Capt. Ropes arrived at the Cape of Corl
Hope in company with the Britilh Packet A
pollo, and the Captain of the Packet informed
him, that he left Madras on the ifth Septem^
ber, apd that the Officer in the Mysore Countrf
had had thrfe engagements with the English
Army,,in all of which the English had beti
fuccefsful. But that the Officer of the late Tip
poo still continued to recruit his forces, and wd!
considered as a very formidable enemy.'
The disturbances between the English anti
the Caffresat the Cape of Good Hope still cod;
tinue. 1500 English Troops were out agaio^
the Caffres in the back Country, when Cap!'
Ropes left the Cape;
Federal Republicans, beware of 1
set of men who will ffiortly call on von
to fubferibe something for the relief of
the poor. At the last Jacobin meet
ing, sundry resolutions were entered in
to, relative to celebrating the eie&ioii
of Col. Burr and Mr. jeffetfon, one of
which was, that a committee should be
appointed to solicit fubferiptioris thro'-
out the city and liberties, to defray the
expenses of the celebration ;.but know
ing that it would be impossible to col
lect enough to pay for their dinner a
mong men of their own principles, they
mean to apply to the citizens at large,
under the Jpeciotu pretext of getting
something for the relief of the Poor;
for this purpose it tvas artfully introduc
ed into one of the resolutions, that it
combined “ with the great object of
national joy, a contribution for the aid and
relief of the poor and difrefa, and in 4
subsequent resolution, it is determined
that “ tavo ffths” ot all the money col
lected, should ,be applied under the
cured ion of the committee of arrang
ment to defray all necessary expence's,
which may attend the celebration afore
faid." A more pitiful manoeuvre to
obtain a little cash we have never wit
nessed. All good orderly citizens will
do well to refufe these fellows a firigle
cent, as they only want it to purchafc
whiskey, to have a, drunken revel in
honor of the afcendency of Jacobinifre
over Feleralifm, vice over virtue, tyran
ny over liberty, the mob over good citi
zens, and foreign traitors, thieves find oat
la^s over Americans f 1
Information to Merch^tr.
NEW-YORK, JAN. 21.
BASE IMPOSTORS!