The Columbian informer, or, Cheshire journal — Keene, N.H., 1794-09-30 00:00:00, page 2

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The following is the aifiver if the Commit-'
tee.
Pitforg, Jug. 22, >,„.
Gentlemen, *
'' Having in our conference, at coriidera
ble length, state& to you the grounds of
that difeontent which exists in the minds
of the people of this country, and which
has lately shewn itfelf in the a&§ of oppo
sition to the excise law, you will conuder
us as waving any qaeftion with regard to
the nature of those aas, whether reasona
ble, or amounting only to riot and breach
es the peace, of coarse, as waving the
question of the constitutional power of the
Prefidentto call upon the force of the un
ion to suppress them. It is our object
as it is yours to compose the distur
bance.
flipping, they are unaccountably and
rather cboofe to impute the difficulty to %
want of penetration, than to any thing
of a miraculous nature. Perhaps it may
be said by fame that the Queriftis an /„-
pertinentfillo, —but flop, gentle reader—
dont chide too hastily—l am really in
earnest—your candor is requested.— And,
mould any one undertake to answer the
questions I propose, in such a manner, as
mail be fatiifaadry, he shall receive an
Dunity.
We°have already fluted toyos in con
ference that we are empowered co give
you no definitive answer with regard to
the sense of the people on the great c„>eL
tion of acceding to the law but that i?
our opinion, it is the inttred of the coon
' try to ; accede ;, and that we Ihauid mak.
this report to the committee to whom we
are to report, and flare to thera^the rea
font of our opinion, that so far as they
may appear to have weight they may be
regarded by them. It will be our endea
vor to concilliaU, not only them, but the
public mind in general toour fede on thib
fulfca. For \hi# furpofe we hope to be
affixed by you in giving all that extent
and precision, clearness and certainty to
your proportions as may Gitisfy the under
flandings and engage the acquiescence of
the people.
It is to be understood, that in acceding
to the laws no inference is to be drawn,
or fonftrudion made that we will relin
qaifha constitutional opposition, but what
we will invariably, undeviatingly, and
conftently pursue every legal means and
measure ofobtaining a repeal of the law
in question.
As we are disposed with you to have the
sense of the people taken on the fubjeft of
our conference as speedily as may be, with
that view we have resolved to call the com
mittee to whom our report is to be made,
at an earlier day than had been appointed
to wit, to meet on Thursday, the 28,b
inst. but have not thought ourfelvei jnf
tifiable in changing the place, to wit,
at Redstone Old Fort, on the Munong&he
We are Satisfied that in substance you
have gone as f±r as we could expea the
Executive to go. It only remains to at
certain your proportions more in detail,
and to fay, what arrangements it may be
in your power to make with regard to con
venience and collecting the revenue under
, the excise laws ; how far it may be confid
ent with the public interest to prevent
commencing prosecutions under thufe laws
at a dillance from the places where
the delinquents retire; on what con
dition or circumstance prefecution fur
the late violations of the laws shall be
suspended ; that is to fay, whether an the
individual keeping the peace, or on its
being kept by the country in general ; ano
also with regard to the general amneity,
whether the cb.im.ng the benefit of it >,
an individual shall depend on his own iu
tore cend&ft, or that of the whole com
^{[THOUGH I have lived a num
ber of years, and in various places, anc
endeavored, as far as I was able, to search
into truth ; yet, many things frequently
happen, which, doubtless appear reafen
able to feme, but, to me, are far more in
fol cable, than ^ than the way of a mar
ample reward. Again. It may be said
by others, that the Querift is a person un-
with a maid." However, lam far from
For the Columbian Informer, &c.
B# order of Ae Committee,
EDWARD COOK. Chairman. -
TQ the Commil^orers on the
part of the Union
(To he continued )
The QUERIST. No. I.
I cimmenh to^rt. To own the truth, if
more than half mankind can fee clearly,
into those things which perplex me, I
frankly confess it.
Experience teaches me, that knowledge।
is obtained by enquiry; and those, who:
through fear cf exposing their ignorance
never alk information of the wife, will ev
er remain ignorant. In the firft place, I
aSk whether the world is governed by laws
ebablifhed in nature, or by the immediate
exertion of the divine proper ? that is, are
those events, which daily take place, to
be accounted for, on natural principles, or
are they brought about by the immediate a
genc, of GOD ? A feltition of these ques
tions would free my mind from many
doubts. It was the custom in old times
(as I have been told) when a woman was
big with child, to desire public prayers
for a fafe deliverance. That practice is
now laid aside. Instead of praying for a
fafe deliverance before the child is born,
they return thanks after the woman is de
livered. Now I cannot fee the propriety
of praying, or thanking GOD publicly for
a fafe deliverance in child-birth, an, more
than for any other circumstance. If nat
ural canfes produce natural effects, we
may conclude that if a woman is so form
ed by nature as to bring forth children,
(lie will, in an ordinary way, have what
is called a fofe deliverance. On the other
hand, if GOD is the efficient cause of ail
things, or in ocher words, if whatever takes
place is effected by an immediate exertion
of GOD's power, I would aft, whether
he exerts his power in faring the life of a
woman in travail, any more than in pre
venting our chunking when we cat ? If he
docs, then there is propriety in thanking
GOD for a fafe deliverance. But, if he
coes not, why in the name of common
enfe, does not every person, who attends
public woifhip, desire the minister, in his
morning prayerto thick GOD that they
were notchoaked to death in eating their
breakfaft—& in the afternoon,to pray that
.heir flippers may not produce the cholic ?
The counsel for the next of kin con
tended' that the will ought to be pronoun
ced invalid, inasmuch as the testator was
vilified with a mental deletion at the time
he made it, and which led him to leave
his fortune to strangers. In cafesof will,
the law would not admit of a dubious un
derstanding, but required that, the parties
(hould be in full possession of their intel
leas. A man upon all general fubjefy
might be colle^ed and rational,and yet be
The will was eppofed by his nephews
and next of kin, upon the ground, that
the testator, at the time of the execution of
it, was afflicted by a particular species ct
infinity, which produced a strong delu
fion and perversion of mind, of which he
never perfedly recovered.
It appeared in evidence that the testa
tor, at the time cf his death, was Seventy
even years of age, and a gentleman dis
tinguished for many fingularitis,; that for
fifteen years previous to his death he kept
no servant, dressed his own wig, and walk
ed his own linen.
ft also appeared in proof that up to the
year 1783, he always manifefted great af
fection a*4 regard for his two nephews ;
but in November in that year he was sud
denly affiiaed with a delusive imagination,
which led him to believe that he was pois
oned, and that his nephew, John Nichols,
or his wife had given hira something of a
poisonous nature. He indulged this no
tion to his death, and no affiarances er
,erfuafions of medical men could remove
the impression from his mind. Upon all
other fubjeas he was perfectly rational.—
Several years after he was affixed with
this mental delation, he gave inftrudions
for making his will, which he duly execut,
ed.
All the fubferibing witnesses to the will
feore that the testator was, in their opin
ion, of perfea found mind, and in full
possession of himfelf at the time he execut
ed'it.
/{ CASE ofa Singular nature came
on 10 be argued in the Prerogative Court,
before Dr. Wynne, refpefting the validi
ty of a will ofa gentleman of Fortune
who had left his estate to persons not re
lated to him in blood.
t/oreifyii Jiit&llthence.
DOCTORS' COMMONS.
LAW INTELLIGENCE.
LONDON, JULY I.
afflided with a particular species of infin
ity. They cited a case in Dodor Perfed,
where a man was admitted to be perfectly
sane upon alt general topics, and yet la
, boared under a particular infinity, which
;confined in a strong persuasion that his
legs were made of glass, and therefore
never would walk for fear he Should break
them.
After counsel were heard on the other
fide, the learned judge observed upon the
whole of the evidence, and was of opin
ion there was not Efficient proof of mental
incapacity of the testator to annul the
will.
The peace which the Dutch have con
cluded with the Dey of Algiers, cn the
27th of March lalt, was bought by the
former at the price of 150,000! besides a
subsidy which is to be paid annually of the
sum of to,coo ducats.
By accounts from Wezel, of the 16th
July, we received intelligence cf the sur
render of Warsaw, to the King of Prussia;
further particulars are promised ; to thi
we attach the following account, dated
from the interior of Poland; on the sth in
All the Emigrants who survived the
siege cf Nieuport, reduced from about 500
to less than 200, were savagely massacred
upon the glacis of the place immediately
on its furrender,' amid the fhoutsof Viyc
la Republique.
Liege is almost wholly deserted. All
the nobles and clergy have fled towards,
Germany, and the religious have quitted
their convents. More than 400 boats,
loaded with the most valuable property ir.
the town, had dropped down the Meuse,
and the utmost consternation prevailed.
By accounts received yesterday from
the Prince of Orange, it appears, that up
cn the iith he was at Roteffaar, and was
to have a camp behind the Dyle, and his
head quarters at Keerbergen. His pefi
tion was such that his right wing extended
to the Duke of York's array, and his left
to the corps under the Auftrjar Gen. Kray
—which is joined to "Prince Cobourg's
army.
A letter from Amsterdam, dated the
igth inst. has the following passage : So
great is the apprehension of an iriurredion
in this city, that a body of 600 buffers
have been feet for, and more are expected.
HALF PAST I O'CLOCK, P. M.
THE enemy hiving succeeded in their
attempt to cross the canal, have ta
ken Malines, and are now advancing two
miles on this fide es it, close to the bridge
of Waelhom, within four miles of our camp.
Lord Moira's army, is at this moment
drawn up on the banks of the river, to ep
pofe any attempts of the enemy to cross it
—and the bridge is covered with combus
tibles, ready to set fireto, the moment the
enemy shall approach. We do not, how
ever, expert that the enemy will attempt
any thing farther to night; but to-mor
row it. is probable they will—from dispo
sitions, however, which are now making,
we have reason to believe that, by that
time, we shall have retreated to Antwerp.
It is understood that the siege of Sluys,
in Dutch Flanders, has recommenced with
redoubled vigor, and that the place is as
vigoroully defended—it is completely in
undated on the fide on which the attack
is made.
Nieuport, it is now confrmed beyond
farther doubt, has surrendered ; the garri
son, prisoners of war are feat to Lille.—
The emigrants (horrid to relate) are said
to have been all facrificed at the mouth of
cannon ! For the present we wish not to
believe this.
An application has been made by a fl?g
of truce, to exchange the British officers
who commanded; we know not yet with
what success.
We are informed by persons of credit,
who have escaped from Ghent, since the
French have been in possession of it, that
every thing is in a state of requisition.—
Plate, both belonging to the church and
individuals,brafs, iron, all forts of clothes,
in Ihort every article is demanded under
pain of the guillotine. Some persons have
been put to death at Tournay, by the firft
Minister of the Republic, It is also said
that they have demanded 100,000 men
from Flanders alone : and as they have
been disarmed, they must march when or
dered.
Miscellaneous Paragraphs.
July 24—25.
BRITISH ARMr.
Camp at Kontigh, July 15.
MASSACHUSETTS
BOSTON, Sept. 17, 1794.
From Philadelphia, Sept. is.
THE Governor, yesterday, in a Spiri
ted manner, addressed his fellow
citizens, and the militia officers in particu
lar, on the present crisis in our affairs.—
Hit observations appeared to infpbe v,in
a laudable ,rdour the citizens a^mbled,
who Slewed their approbation of,he fenti
meets be exprelled and meaforS he propc
fed, by repeated fnnuts. We have ever,
reason to believe,that this Hep efoa: Execu
tive,will have a configurable effect in re
trieving the character which the citizens cf
Philadelphia had in a great degree Ibit b,
their fupineoefs since the solemn call 03
them for their assistance in repressing the
insurgents. ,Never was there greater oc,
cafion for decided measures. We find
the overtures made by both governments
for the refloration of order not only flight
ed, but cur messengers of peace treated
with insult ; the boufes in which they were
lodged surrounded, and the windows bro#
ken. The language held by fame of the
leadersof the infurreffion, is such as mutt
be fufficient to rouse every honest feeling
in a freeman's breast : they threaten, that
rather than not succeed in the attainment cf
their ends, they will throw tbemfelves in
to the armsof the Bririlh for proteaion.
And is it, then, an uerfion to,excifeg that
is the ground of their oppofitien ? No, since
they would feck protection from a govern
ment, as despotic as any exiling.—
Must probably that government; by
their agents, are now at the bottom
of the disturbances ; we know that all
the refpeaable chart^ers in the weft
ern counties, are opposed to the late .x
--ceffes, and in favour ofa compliance, wah
the law until it can be constitutionally re
pealed ; the oppdfition is fomented by a few
designing men, who are moll probably in
the pay of Simcoe,& who by their arts have
been able to delude the great mass of the
people. The form that they have^aifed.
ffant, which anticipates a kind es confir
mation of the fad.
Kofciulko is fated to have been driven
back into War Saw, which it was expected
would be given up to the Prussian troops,
before the Ruffians could possibly ar
rive. •
The Austrians we also learn, have ac
tually taken possession of Cracou, confor
mable to an original agreement. It was
supposed in the course of fix weeks, tran
quility throughout Poland would, be com
pletely refored.
The Diet of the Helvetic body, was on
the 9th inst. opened at Frakenfeld, in the
Swiss Cantons. The Paris Committee of
Public Welfare, have sent thither Com
missioners, with the following demands:—
1; All the French Emigrants to be expel
led from Switzerland. 2. The French to
enjoy, through all the Cantons, the right
of buying horses, provisions, &c. &c. 3,
The Helvetic Body immediately to recall
all the Swiss regiments that are in the Ser
vice of foreign powers. 4. It Shall be al
lowed them to enter that of France—and
„hly, the Swiss must provide those troops
with the necessary arms and ammuni
tion.
The War. The following has been
handed about, as for the new plan for
prosecuting the War.
The partition of Poland to be complet
ed. This is expeded to be fully executed
by the latter end of August.
Tile troops of Prussia to retire into
PruSlian Guelderland ; and the Auf
triana beyond the Rhine. There they are
to be recruited and prepared fur Service,
oy the month of April next.
The English, Hellian and Hanoverian
infantry, to remain for the defence of
Holland, all the winter. A large part
of the Ruffian fleet to winter in the Brit
ish por.s, to be ready early in the fpring>
when it is to be reinforced, and convoy
30,000 Ruffian troops, who are to be
joined by 30,030 British, covered with
60 fail of the line, and immediately land
upon the coast and invade the heart of
France. The Austrian & Prussian armies
to move on that fame time, augmented to
the number cf 300,09#, byway of Alsace,
and Metz, to Paris, Avhilft the bulk of
the French arc employed to defend them
selves against the English, and Ruffians,
with the whole body of Royalists, whole
regular force is to be recruited :@ the
number of 100,000 men.
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