Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1804-11-20 00:00:00, page 2

_ flrct QQQfoime=i£=— ===^
▼as etUipfed to e, from an unknown hand in a
note thus happily expressed ; " the high, and
defer wed .veneration in which the character of the
foe illfybus HAMILTON is held, by every ad
mirer of worth and talents, has induced me to
forward for insertion io your paper, the tubjoined
letter to a young friend. It will add another bril
liant, and decisive evidence, tor the many already
adduced, of the religious featimetits of that great
and most excellent man ; and cannot, I think,
fail of being acceptable to every admirer o 'j, v "'
it Tve.Pift.
NewOTrfc, Drills, 1804.
DEA* SIR,'
The ptft of to day brought men letter from you,
and another front M' # ——. I hweno dut tbut
the latter would serve you if he could ; but he can
rot at this time.
On rhe whole,! would alvife you to return to
Ne w-Y rk, and accept any itfpf&ble employment
in your wiy, hili an opportunity of something bet
ter (halt occur. Tis by patience and perseverance
that we cif expert to vanqui(h difficulties, and bet
ter an unpleasant coodirion.
Arraign n?t the drfpepfations of Providence—
they mull be founded in wisdom and goodness ;
and when they do n t fait u,fc must be because
there isfomt fault in Qurlelyes, which deterveachaf
tifemcot, or bec^ule there is a kind intent to correct
inns some vice or failing, of which, perhaps, we
may not beconiciaus ; qr because the general plan
requires that we Ihould Suffer partial ill
Iu this situation it is our duty to cultivfte refig
, Artiom and even ham&y, tearing an mind, in the '
* fangu^e of the Poet, that it was" Pride which loft
the bleft abode.”
IVlth esteem and regard, Ike.
A. HAMILTON
OCT—^ #0 —^6C= ^
From the Charleston Courier,
£IR, —•+• —,
Please to insert in yonr flatter, for the informal
tion of the public, the following circular letter and
memorial, which have been agreed ufton by the joint
commit ee of the State Society of Cincinnati, qnd of
the African Revolution Society, in fiureuancc of
resolutions adopted by these Societies.
Charleston, (S. C) September 1'2,15®4.
flit,
HAVING been appointed by the South-Caroli
ha State Society of Cincinnati, and the American Re*
volution Society, a joint committee for draughting
and circulating a memorial to the Legislature, pray
ing for legislative interference to restrain the prac
tice of duelling, we have agreed on the inclosed
memorial, and transmit it to you, with our earnest
request that you would use your most vigorous ex
ertions to have, it generally signed. It is unnecessa-
Ty to dilate on the mischievous consequences of
DUELLING, to induce your endeavours to check a
practice so dishonorable to this state, in which it is
our boast to be gofyu^ by laws and not by men.
The necessity of applying to the legislature, on the
subject, is obvica„ for it ^ well known, that the
existing laws have never brought any Duellist to
serious inconveniences, and there is well founded
reason for believing that they never can, in conse
quence of the weight of precedents to the contrary.
Our only alternative, therefore, is to acquiesce in
the practice of DUELING, or to restrain it Q, a
new law.-— The difficulties of framing any law, that
may afford ahadequitte remedy to the evil, are great,
but not insurmountable.
/. It is not to be supposed that buv Legislature ,
less wise than that of several of dur sister state!,
whose laws have been .so operative jhat in several<
them D^EM are absolutely uhkudwn- Ika respec
table number of the friendsmf good ^wernmentf, me
tahty, and religion, sign the memm ial we have for
warded, or any similar one, the Legislature, evet
attentive to the wishes of their coo tituents, will en
ter geriousl« on the business, and ye doubt not o,
their ability; to frame such regulations, as will cer
tainlvabotish the evil.;
Independenrof any law which may fee passed, the
sentiments eftho most respectable part of the cow
munitv, in opposition to Duelling, .-declared and a
vpwed by signing he memorial, will have a very be
neficial effect, it will tend to correct the public o
pinfon, and to restrain all who wish for the esteem
of i&r fellow citizens; from engaging in a practice.
Which VeHrtue and goon sense of the commodity
have sa poin * >/ denounced: These, and many o
ther Lit neats, which, must occur on reflection,will
be SuHierrV :c convince you- that in procuring sign
ers to the mein ri^l-you will do a service accepta
ble o .Giti and beneficial Io nian. We have fur
ther to /quest you, to forward the memorial to ob
lumbi'a. bv the fourth Monday in November next,
that the\ r inay all be presented together to the Le
gislature. on the first day of their meeting ; when
we hope for the sublime pleasure of seeing an ab-
Korreoce of duelling pointedly expressed by many
thousands of our most deserving citizens.
We are, with great respect, Your most obedient
servants,
^CHARLES C. PINCKNEY, ) Committee
MAMES KENNEDY, , of the ~
WILLIAM READ, J Cincinnati.
DAVID RAMSAY, \ Committee
'HENRYW. DESAUSSURE, of the
Wm. ALLEN BEAS, American
JAMES LOWNDES, Revolution
RICHARD FURMAN, , Society.
P. S. lmpressedrwith a firm befrfthat many ad
vantages would result from illuminating the public
mind on the inconsistency of the spirit and princi
ples of the practice against which the memorial is
levelled, with the spirit and principles of our holy
religion, we earnestly request, as a particular fa
vour, that you would, at some convenient early day,
breach a sermon on the sin and folly of Duelling.
When the public sentiment is correctly made upon
this subject, the advocates for Duelling, will be
Struck with their inconsistency, in claiming for them
selves the high and honorable appellation of Chris
tians. In our opinion, public prerious notice of the
day, on which the proposed serm 0 ill be preached,
would, in general, be both proper and useful ; but,
on this subject, you will judge for yourself.
N. B. The above postcript is omitted in all let
ters, which are not addressed to Clergymen.
To the Honorable the President and Members of the
Senate, and the Honourable the Speaker, and, the
other Members of the House of Representatives
of the state of South-Carolina. '
The Memorial of the subscribers, Citizens cf the
said State.
SHE WETH,
THAT your memorialists are deeply impressed
with % es, at the prevalence of the custom ^duel
ling, which trampling Upon ah laws, human and di
vine, sweeps off many useful citizens, leaving theii
families a prey to sorrow, and often to poverty and.,
vine, '
That this custom originated in dark and barbar- I
bus ages, when a regular and impartial administra
tion of justice was unknown, and unpractised-hut
it ought not to be tolerated by the civilization of mod
ern times, under a legislation which has provided,
or ma, easily provide, adequate redress, for all se
rious injuries committed against the life, liberty,
fame, or property, of the citizen.
That this custom erects a tribunal for the settle-!
merit of personal differences, in which, contrary to,{
all sound principles, a man becomes the sole judge I
in his own. cause ; whence, as might have been ex^ *
pected from such a code, the only punishments for ;
the lowest, as well as the highest offences, are writ- ;
ten in blood. •I
That restraining personal resentments, by giving
the attribute of vengeance to the laws, was the 1
greatest victory obtained by civilization over barba-;
rism—but the custom of duelling is 'too well calcu-:
lated to defeat the beneficial effects of that triumph,'
and to weaken the authority of all laws, by accus-;
toming men to contemn their sanctions.
That y<>ut memorialists are apprehensive from 1
the frequency of the pradice of late years, that this|
cuttom is gaining ground, and seems likely to be/
carried to such great lengths, as to degrade men to:
the condition of gladiators, arid to introduce a new
the r eign of barbariim#
That from the nature of the human mind, menl
are ever ready to follow examples especially those
set by eminent persons; when therefore, the bodjr,
of the community preceives great, and in other re#,
fpcft virtuous citizens, shedding each others blood
on flight provocation, of trivial pretences, the hi.
tal practice becomes general. Thus the barriso
between virtue and vice, innocence and galh,rf|
broken down ; and that horror of fbedding human
blood wantonly, which is the best safe guard of the
peace of society, is greatly diminished, or wholly
destroyed.
That in countries Where diftindions of rank are
sanctioned, a pernicious custom may exift,and be
confined to the higher orders of society, and be,
comparatively, little dettruaive—but that in o#r
country of equal law, tights and rank, such cus
tom, if unchecked by the laws, will ntceffarily be
come general, and spread its deftruhive effects fir
and wide in the community, to the desolation of
thousands of familes.
That this mortal vengeance is not resorted to
merely in cases of grievous injuries, for which thte
laws may not have provided an adequate remedy 1 ;
but in many cases of trivial offence, which a gener
ous mind would willingly pardon this tyrant cuftodi
is supposed to impose an obligation to call out tri
the field of blood, even a companion or friend, who
may have unguardedly given the provocation.
That this abfured custom decides no right, and
fettles no point ; as Yhe religion and philosophy of
modern times will not admit that the Almighty
Disposer of events, wilt interpose His power, on
such an impious appeal r@ His jufiice : which the
credulity ofthe Gothic nations believed, when this
custom existed among them in the form of judicial
combat. It is, therefore, conceded univerfall, that
the innocent and aggrieved person is as likely to be
the vidim, as the guilty offender, and probably
more so, as a mild and peaceable man would be lels
inclined to acquire or exert a murderous skill, the
riba of which he abhors.
That the pretence of those, who would excuse
this cuflom, on the ground that it pobfira society
and prevents aH^ffioatioi) , is wholly unfounded —
ithe moss pnifh/d nations of antieot times, the
Grecians and Romans; and the most humane and
i<j| z.c nuion of moderntimes, the Chinese, have
enjoyed society in perfection, without the adven+i
i ^ aid efthis pernicious and unnatural custom
which though in direct hostility to the principles of
.hrilbmity, prevails only in Christian Europe and
America.
Your.memorial fts have been informed, that al
-nigh ihe common law of the land declares hom
id< in a duel, to bemurder, the law has become
bf.Lt', and a dead letter—That all the decisions
n our four's of juffice have turned wholly on the
'irnefs with which the duel was conducted ; and
verdia, of acquittal or of man (laughter, have coo
dintly been rendered—thence arifesa necessity for
• clear and explicit expression of the legislative will,
ri this imp utant fubj^a guaranteed by new and
vigorous fanaions.
Yur memtralifts, therefore, humbly pray that
vnur honourable house wotild be pleased to take
this important fubj<a into your most furious con
filtration: and that you would in your wrfdom,
provide such remedies as may, effcaaally, destroy
ihe evil praaice Complained of by regulations
wifely calculated to proted the fame and feelings
ofthe innocent and insulted person ; and to pun
ish rigourouffy, the bold offender, who shall dare
to lift bis hand against his neighbour, and shed his
b'ood, io a duel, in violation of the divine law, and
the late of his country.
— _
The following remarks are copied from the New
' York Commercial Advertiser. ,;
Circular Letter and Memorial. — It is with much
pleasure we this day present to our readers a Cir
cular Letter to the most respectable gentlemen of
South Carolina, and an Interesting Memorial to the
LegilaturfTof tririt State, on the vicious and dishon
orable practice of Duelling. The reader will ob
serve that these are the joint productions of the
State Society of Cincinnati and the American Revo
lution Society ; and are now circulated through the
State with the view of obtaining Subscribers to the
Memorial. As this measure has proceeded from
such respectable Societies, and as it is supported by
such distinguished names and such powerful argu
ments, we have no doubt that the authors of it will
have (to use their, own words) " the sublime pleasure
of seeing an abhorrence of Duelling pointedly ex
pressed by many thousands of their most deserving
citizens." We also trust, that they will have the
high satisfaction of seeing their efforts sanctioned ty
the Legislature of their State.
Thus the inhabitants of Charleston are setting an
example well worthy the imitation of their fellow
citizens throughout the Union. There never has
been a period so favorable for the accomplishment
of the desirable object, as the present. The public
mind has never before been so thoroughly awakened
to a sense of duty on this interesting subject. Should
the friends of religion, df morality, and of humanity
in each State, co-operate with those gentlemen in
: these honorable exertions, we shall soon see the
most barbarous of all customs—a custom productive
of infinite misery, and no good, hunted from society.
It is the duty of every individual to exert his influ
ence at the present moment. Now is the only time
to put a stop to human butcheiy. Let this moment
pass, and the pistol! udto fflfa4 wiU become the
fashionable appendages €6 the dress of a gentlemas,
and murder in its vile# forms will become litterally
" the order of the day."i
—— — tfo#o#<t c
! Didot, the printer. = !
—-1
On Tuesday, the 10th July, died at Paris, in the c
74th year of his age. Francois Ambrosie Didot, *
; born In the month of January, 1730, Leaving two sons, t
I Pietrre and Firmin Didot. ! I:
; This extraordinary man has brought the art of | r
! Printing to a state of excellence, unattained by any ' s
,of his cotemporaries, and, among the number of im- '
I provements perfected by his exertions, is the con- c
strdetion of mills for making fine paper, which he I
assisted not only by his zeal and activity, but by pe- 1
atuniary contribution. Didot invented a press, by 1
which the workman is enabled to print, equally, at
[once, tile whole extent of a sheet. He Was also the
I Inventor of many other machines and instruments
Icommonly used in printing offices, arid all which
[have powerfully contributed to the modern advance
:meat of the typographical art. ..'
!The elegant editions published by order of Louis:
I XVL for the education of the Dauphin, were the |
j production of the Didot press, as well as the Thea- 'j
;trical Selections bv Corneille. The works of Racine, (
ITele michas, Taffo's Jerusalem, two superb Biblesj
!and a multiplicity of other inestimable works, eachj
of which, on its publication, has emanated fresli (
,beauties, an diriade nearer approaches to perfection. 4
;Didot sedulously endeavoured to unite in his fam- ,
ily every talent auxiliary to the Printing Art. One f
of his sons became a celebrated type-founder ; and;
{ the voice of fame announces the superior rank,
Iwhich they both deservedly hold among the print-j
▼ evs of the age. The fond father delighted to ob
serve that he was excelled by his children ; while
they dutifully ascribed their success to the force of
his instruction, and the benefit of his example.
I The hfe ot Didot was the life of honor, his abilities
1 are known and refpeaed ; and the following an
ecdote will prove the goodness of his heart :—ln j
lone of hisjourntes to the paper mills of Annonay,
he met an artist who had introduced io France, anj
improvement in the application of cylinders, &c.'
and heleive ; ngthat frs ingenuity merited reward,j
exerted all his intore ft with government, but uo-|
fortunately when he was on the point of fucceediog I
the artist died, leaving two giris in the help-I
left state of infancy. Didot the orphan in his arms,;
proclaimed himfeif th~r father and kept his word.j
At the age of 73, Didot read Over five times, arid I
Carefully Corrected before it was sent to the press,
every sheet of the Stereotype edition of Montague,
printed by his sons. At four o'clock in the morning
he was pursuing his fatiguing occupation. Thei
correctness of the text will therefore render this
work particularly valuable among the productions
of the modern press.
About 18 months since, he projected an alphabeti
cal Index of every subject treated upon in Mon
tagne's Essays. He had collected all his materials
at which he laboured unceasingly ; and perhaps too
strict an application to his favorite study accelera
ted the death of this eminent artist, and benevolent
man. (Clef du Cabinet,)
—~_O* ^ = -
EIGHTH CONGRESS,
FOURTH SESSION.
e^^^ —
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
.vW NOVEMBER S, 1804.
Bing the day Appointed by bw to' the mcling
of Congress, a quorum was formed ; the Members
pf^fent were 84.
Letters from the Governor nf Virginia and Mat,
'fachtifetts were received by the Speaker and laid on
the table without being read, as was also another in
. the German language.
A Committee of Elections, confining of Me^rs.
Find|y, Varnum, Livingston, Kennedy, Eppes,
Clagett and Elmer.
A Committee of Ways and Means, consisting of
Meffrs.T. Randolph, Joteph Clay, G. Griswold,
Boyle, Davenport, N. R. Moore and Meriweatbet.
Ooe of Commerce and Manufac tures,confiding
of Messrs. S. L. Mitchell, Crownindrield, McCree
ry, Leib, Newton Early and Chittenden.
Another of- Claims, confiding of Messrs J. C.
Smith, Holmes, Chamberlain, Standford, Plater,
Bedinger and Staircford.
^ And allo one of revifal and unfinished buffness,
consisting of Messrs Tenny, Dicklon and Earle.
Resolved,That the daily hour to which the H<ufe
dial! stand adj turned during the present feffiun be
eleven o'clock in the forenoon.
Adjourned. = —
,Tuesday Nov, 6 d
Mr. J. Randolph moved for the appointment of
; a Committee 00 the partof the House to join a Com
mittee of the Senate to wait on the Prefidentto in
form him that quorums of both Houses are formed
and ready to receive bis communications.
The resolution was carried, and Messrs. J. Ran
dolph and R. Griswold appoirited the Committee.
Mr. J. Randolph requeded information from
the chair as to the fitwation in which the articles of
>impeachment against Samuel Chafe, one of the as
sociate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United
States, were left at the last session. The House would
; recoiled that they were then merely reported and
lordered to be printed. If that bulbuls was te be
fyaftcoted, he conceived It of importance that the
; party mould have all the time to prepare for his de
fence that their political exigence wouh allow him.
Was it the opinion of the Speaker that this übj<a
was before the Committee of revival and unfinished
business, or should it be referred to a special com
mittee to prepare articles de novo.
The Speaker judged that it was before the Com
mittee of Revilal and Unfinifhed bufinds aS a
matter of course.
On motion of Mr. J. Randolph, a select Com
mittee of five members was ordered to report on
the articles of impeachment against S. Chafe one of
the affociateJustices ofthe SupremeCouri of the U.
States. ^ —
WEDNESDAY, NOY. ~
: t The Senate informed the House, that a quorum
' of their body had assembled.
CHAPLAINS.
The House proceeded to the choice of a Chap,
fain, when the Rev. William Bentley, of Salem, in
Maffachufa:#, was cholen. [The votes were, for
Mr. Bentley-6i,Mr. Lawrie 21,Mr. Patkinfon 13,
Ganty 2.]
Mr. Randolph reported, that he bad waited on
the President, andidformed him that the two houses
Were ready to receive bis communications ;and re
ceived for nnfwer, that he would make a commu
niCTion to Congrefa in writing, at it o'clock, to
morrow.
&m« French Rafter,
A Memorial has been presented to governments
in which it has been proposed, that every French
citizen, every year on the day of his marriage, ot
the birth of a child, should be obliged, under a fine ,1
of fifty livres, to plan: a tree in the neighbourhood of
his residence ; and that every parent, widow, wida
oteer, son and daughter, on the day of the decease of
their relatives or friends, are to plant trees on
their graves, or not far distant from their places Os
btirial. If this memorial was changed into a law,
not only fuel wottid be cheaper, but in ten years we
should have timber enough to build both flottillas,
and a fleet more powerful and numerous than that
of England ; and instead of importing timber or
planks from Russia, Sweden Sc Denmark, we should
have sufficient to provide Spain Portugal and Italy
with this neceessary article.
— _WILS.'
■ 1 ' —Mil* <9s> Mß*''•
WASHINGTON, KOT.2.|
ZxfrvA of a letter from Commodore PREBL £ io the Seerfc
tar, of the Navy, dated June 14, 1804 i m board tie UmL |
id Stater Frigate Cofttidiot ts Tripoli.
“ Yesterday 1 anchored off the Harbour and §Cnt + J
Mr. O'Brien on shore under a flag of Truce to ena|
deavour to ransom <*ir unfortunate cunir, non. and
if the Bashaw should desire it, to est dr: A p" ice.—
Mr. O'Brien did not succeed in his mUde ^ he Leda
ed at noon, and returned on hoard t bid pSc 2oS
Clock P. M. You will ,ee by his hr cue ions hfy
far he was authorised to go for the ransom. I pre
sume if the terms had been accepts die . car gov
ernment would have been satistiet but ^Q r^
refused, and we have no altern.ur^ tut to QL^
him,? accept them orctheismorc i~vzQlc tV uj.";
, —l—^„—.- — I
Extras of a bite, fro^ Como^dore PkTi^LS to tie Seergar,
ofthe Navy, dated Jot, 5,0 n board ibe C ^uation,a 'g-4 ,
Harbour.
We have taken on board here, 700 bomb shells,
and powder in proportion,and the bomb vessels being
ready, we soil to-morrow.morning, 1 hope mynext
letter will announce to you out -u: ess agui ru Tri
poli, the restoration of our din>r&i .e coL tr,;ien
to the sweets of liberty, and our cenuu, ^ honora
ble peace.
# Th, PICE PRESIDENT, ,'
Every mail from the SOUL iward confirms the s up
position that Auron Burr is actually on his wary to f
the seat of government to take his seat in the senate
I of the United States. What a page will that be, in
;the history of the present democratic administra
tion, in which it shall be related, that a man under
the indictment for MURDER presided at the trial
of one of the justices of the supreme court of the U
;nited States, accused of a petty misdemeanour ! If
any thing was wanting to till up the measure of our
deep degradation it was this, that hands stained with
the best blood of our nation should b^ sacriligiousl,
laid upon the judges of the land. ‘-
__ —•
The Spanish Mirin tft, after his return fromMon
ticeiio, staid here [Washington] nearly a fortnights
He put up at 'Stelle'shotel, where neither the Mar
chioness nor himself were visited by any of the heads
of the departments, by their ladies, nor indeed by a
single person of note, except a physician.
[nW. Fed..
— ffi — :I
'Charleston; (S. C.) Oet. 23.|
D-3URGENCY.
A party of armed men from North-Carolina, ^
are informed, marched into Wo 1 county, co na
first inst. Und prevented the people trom.voting foro
congress men and state rcpresea::.d,es,
FuEwi, (F. V.) Oct. 29,
^U.ILTK!!
On Tuesday the 6w inst. t the county ofMecl&
knburgh, a most atrocious and wilful murder, was
perpetrated on the body of John Cook, Esq, High ..
Sheriff, whilst in the lawful execution of the duties
of his office, by a certain Tuomas Jarrel or Thomas
Fitz Jarrel, by firing a gun at him, the contents of
which entering the prominent part of his chegk fes
ed through his head# . Unfortunately for hamanty
and justice, this execrable wretch has made his es -bi
cape, and it is supposed will aim for the dtate of,
Tennessee.
.. ^„ —Q „
BOSTON, NOV. Is. m
We have lately remarked in more tnan one de
mocratic paper a declaration in exulting terms; that
more than half the physical force of the td.Jutes
is in favour of the present administration. Wh«t ar..
we to understand by such observations ? Are the
rants about to declare a war of extermination agair.'-Qfift
the Federalists? What crime have they cumim^ed§|
They have espoused a system of politics, differgiq^
yes very different from that pursued by the prescr@!|
administration, -And what then ? Are the disafei ,
of Washington to be proscribed and marked oht a^, .
victims of the strongest ^physical force'' for,
adherence to his principles < sue Ft derails
ever,regniated their opposition to the ^jM|fe
bv the restrictions of the Constitution
rising in acuud rebcht.> as the .u'nrr
done repeatedly, they brt never suggest
of an appeal to viol de measures. ^^Ltadgtyrecate
such an event, and coniine tfieumfrietioUf co such
discussions, as via nature of ouiflmroMnent not oh
ly allows but ir,vites. But tiramfy^tivilege of re
monstrance m•. 1- 0. n.i%n tobe dtmed. The Fed
eralists must not expose the pernicious tendency 0
present measures, lest the dire wrath, of the trium
phant faction, should prompt iterate , rft the Pieid
of r^ son, where they are weak indeed, and take %
the field of violence, where perhaps, they may ba
Strong#
— -— O ,
:SOV. 15.
FROM CADIZ.
Bythe ship Clyde, arrived at New-York, from
Catiz, we tearu, thl&hot less than thirty -thousand
human beings had fallen victims at Malaga to the
Yellow Fever; which in its destructive prog ess had
reached Gihralter and Cadiz. At tbd letter place
from seventy to eighty persons died daily, and the /
portoi Gibralter was shut against Vessels from eve
ry quarter. ,
'lne U.S. frigate Essex touched Cadiz abouta
week before the sailing of the Clyde, to obtain infer
matioiirespecting some Moorish vessels which had
departed for Lisbon ; but she returned to her sta
tionta finding they went there only to be Coppered.A
Tralfab of Bohenlinden, the brave Moreau,re
mainedW Cdcliz. One of his servants was ilYof the
fever. The warrior and his family, it was rumour-'
ed, intended to remove from Cadiz to corunna, if
permissio^akd^ be obtained. The acctacheiycwt
of Madairaßfcrieau had terminated in the birth of
a daughtefflfod as the situation of his lady wa, }Q{
the principal Object which retarded the embarkation V.
of the General, this illustrious man may be shortly.
expected irithe United States.
The trial of Judge Chase, we understand will oe- r '
cupy the early attention of Cowes, at the ap?