Oracle post — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-11-08 00:00:00, page 2

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BY HIS EXCELLENCY 1
Caleb Strong, Esq.
Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
A PROCLAMA TION.
o
INCZtheAlmighty has kindly vouchfafed to preserve &
prosper us another 'year, it become us, at the close of it, to
repeat our grateful acknowledgments for the daily support
and affilance which be has imparted to us; and in imitation
of the example of our forefathers, to unite publickly in the
Solemn and delightful employment of celebrating His praise.
Therefore, With the advice and consent of the Council,
1 appoint THURSDAY, the First day of December next, to be
observed in this Commonwealth as A BAY OF PUBLIC
THANKSGIVING:—And the Ministers and People of
different religious denominations, are requeued to assemble
in their refpe&ive places of worship on that day, that we
may jointly pour forth the tribute of our gratitude in the
moll devout and fervent praises to GOD, and render him
our sincere and humble thanks for all the necessaries and
comforts which support and delight our lives—for His dif
tinguilhing goodness in exempting us from calamities which
other nations are fubjeft to, and granting us blessings to
which they are Grangers—for the peace and tranquility we
are favoured with —for our civil arid religious liberty—for
the degree of health which He has been pleased to contin
ue or to restore us, and for His mercy in preserving us from
that fatal disease with which some of the other Gates have
again been vifitedfor the—prosperity which He has afforded
to our commerce and fisheries—for His blessings on the
labors of the husbandmen, and the abundant supply of the
fruits of the earth—and above all for the revolution of the
t gospel and the benefits and consolations, which rcfult from
its do^rine and precepts-
And from a realifing sense of ourun worthiness, let us u
nite in confeffing our multiplied offences, and prayerto the
GOD of our fathers, that He would forgive us, and that
His former kioduefs to them, and our continual experience
of His favour, may cßablifh our dependence on Him and
enforce our obedience to His commands ; That He would
bless the national and hate governments, and direct the
President and Congress to such measures (hall be conducive
to the public fafety and peace :That the churches may be
purified and enlarged, and attain the highest perfection of
chriftian knowledge and virtue : That He would (mile upon
all our valuable interests, and especially upon the means of
religious inftrufiion, and the institutions which have been
established to promote science and literature, and to form
the manners and morals of the people. And that having
enriched us with His providential bounty, He would grant
us those supplies of His grace, by which we shall be ani
mated to the duties of life, and prepared for a Gate of per
fcd and cndlefs felicity.
That He would restore peace and mutual friendlip to
the contending nations of Europe. That the interest of;
true virtue and piety may fioucifh in all parts of the earth,
and the minds of men be every where formed to rational
devotion and diffufive benevolence—And that the most
distant and barbarous nations may seek their faivation in the
grace of the gospel.
And the people of this ft ate are requeued so abstain from
such labour and recreation as are inconsistent with the so
lemnities of the day.
Given at the Council Chamber, in Bfox, this
twenty fventh day fOR/ber, in the year of our
Lord, one thousand eight hundred and three ;
and in the twenty-eighth Tear of the Independ
ence of the United States of America.
CALEB STRONG.
By bis Excellency's command, with the advice and consent
of the Council.
John Avery, Secretary.
GOD save the Commonwealth of Mafachufetts.
CtMigreff of the United Slates,
SENATE, Monday, oct. 17.
Twenty-nine Senators attended, took their feats
and in tne absence of the Vice Prefid nt of the 1
nited States, elected JOHN BROWN,oi Kentucky
President, pro hac vice.
LOUISIAN A TREATY,
The President's Meffige being read,a Confiden
tial Communication, covering the Lonifona 1 rea
ty, & documents, was received from the President ;
and immediately taken up with closed doors.
Tuesday, Or r. 18.
The Senate aflemhied at. an early hour, and far
late, on the Louisiana Treaty —The doors bein?
closed no part of the proceeding tranfp ; res. [The
Senate, when full, is composed of 34 members ; al!
of whom excepting Gen. Sumpter, and two others
were present this day.^
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday, Oct. 17.
A great number of the Representatives appearing
on the floor, tne clerk of the Old House (Mr. Beck
ley) called the house to order, by a recital of the
forms heretofore pursued, on the assembly of a New
Congress.—He dated the Laws by which the repre
sentation had been augmented, and the Act which
admitted the new date of Ohio into the Union. By
these authorities, the number of Members is iucrea
fed to 14a— of these 72 are necessary to form a quo
rum to do business. Upwards of one hundred be
ing present, they proceeded to ballot for speaker,
when it was found, that
NATANIEL MACON had . . 76|
Joseph B. Varnum, . 30
John Dawson, - -1 votes
And the Hod. Nathaniel Macon was declared ele&
ed; was conduced to the chair by Messrs. Varnum
and Nicholson ; and made his acknowledgement to
the House, as follows:
Gentlemen.—Accept my unfeigned thanks for the
honor you have conferred on me. The tajk which you
have assigned me will be undertaken with great diffi
dence, but my utmost endeavors shall be exerted to dif
cbarge the duties of the chair with fidelity. In exe
cuting the rules and orders of the house, 1 Jhall rely
with confidence on the liberal and candid support of the
House.
John Beckley was elected Clerk, having 93 out of
100 votes.
The usual oaths was then adminiftcred to the
speaker, and by him to the Members, beginning
with New-Hampfliire.
Joint Committees were raised to acquaint the,
President of the organization of Congress, and that
the two houses were ready to receive communica
tions.
COMMITTEES appointed.
Messrs. Euftis, New and Findley, to prepare
Standing Rules. Messrs. Findley, Goddard, M'Clay,
Hunt, Varnum, Livingston, and Kennedy, Commit
tee of Elections. Messrs. John C. Smith, Gregg,
Plater, Holmes, T. Moore, Chamberlain and Bedin
ger, Committee of Claims.
Messrs. S. L. Mitchell, Dana, M'Creety, Newton,
Crowninfhield, Leib and Wynns, of Commerce and
Manufadures.
Messrs. Tenney, Boyle and Dickson, of Revifal
and unfinished business.
Messrs. I. Randolph, Nicholson, Hastings, R.
Grilwold, J. Clay, Rodney and Sands, Committee
of Ways and Means.
Mr. Nicholson moved to proceed to the election
of a Sargeant-at-Arms.
Mr, Stanford (of North-Carolina) thought the
office an ufelels sinecure, in which liule or nothing
was done, and as only productive of unneceflary ex
pense to the people; and willed to know if it was
o order to move thstthe elefhen be dispensed with.
The ipeaker suggested, that it would be best to
suspend any motion on the (obj ect, until the Rules
came under consider^rion.'
Mr. Griswold observed, 'hat the election of the
officer, if adopted, would be ilfelf a rule.
Mr. Stanford again infilled, that the office was
ufelels, that the only service rendered for four or five
dollars a day, was handing round the check book
to the Members, for their signatures on the pay
uent of their salaries.
Mr. Nicholton's motion however obtained; and
Joseph Wheaton, who had 83 votes, was ehofen
Sergeant at arms. {^Benjamin Moore had 21 votes.
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr. Dawson Gid, he found the Legislature of
Teneffee was now fitting, and as it would be pro
per to leave no Rate without an opportunity of ex
pressing its sense upon a question which regarded
the constitution ; he thought it his duty to seize up
on the earliest moment to offer to the House the
following Resolution.
Refolded, &c. two thirds of the Members of both
houses concurring, that the following article be pp
pofed to the Leg flaturer of the several Rates, assn
amendment to the Constitution of the United &±,
which when ratified by three fourths of the fajdLe
giflatures, shall be valid to all intents and pyrpofes,
3$ part of the said Confthution, viz.
That in all future eltCl ions of President and Vice
Presiden t, the perlons voted for shall be particularly
designated, by declaring which is voted for as Presi
dent, and which as Vice President.
This moron was referred to the Committee of
iwhoir, on the Rate of the Union ; and ordered to
'be printed.
Mr, Harvie, the President's fecretery, delivered
the following Message. [ This Meflage was inserted
in the las Oracle.]'
Ordered Th t the Message be referred to a com
mittee of the whole, 011 the Rate of the Union.—
Adjourned.
Tuesday, Oct. 18.
Six new Members were qualified.
The Houle went into committee, on the Presi
dent's Message, Mr. Varnum in the chair.
Mr. J. Randolph offered the following Refolu
tions:—
Rejolved, That so much of the President's Mes
sage, as relates to the regulations proper to be ob.
Served by foreign armed vessels, within the jurifdic
uon of the United Rates : —To the retraining of
our citizens from entering into the service of any of
the belligerent powers of Europe.—And to the ex
• Ring from all nations the observance, towards our
vessels and citizens, of these principles and practices
which all civilized people acknowledge; be refer
red to a lelrft committee. [Referred to Messrs.
Randolph, N. R. Moore, G. Griswold, Crownin
;hid 1. Elackledge, Rodney, and Rhea, of Tennef
i
Refolded, That so much of the Message as related
othe adopting of measures for preventing the flag
of the United Rates from being used by vessels not
really American, —be referred, &c. [Referred to
le Committee f Commerce and ManufaHures,]
Mr. Diwlun also moved the following Refolq.
0 ^ :
Revoked, That so much of the Message as relates
oou r fi>nces ought to be referred to the commit
e of W-vs and Means.
Mr. Griswold opposed this motion, as unneceffa
v. He obfeved, that if the President was to bf
eli.v : d, and who h e asked, fat there, that null na
wiieve bin • he had already ascertained in his met
age as mu< b as was necessary, at lead for the pre
ent. H reafoT, continued Mr. G. the secretary of
the Treafwy will make his report, ^nd then the bu
hn<fs m/y be taken up. He did not know whati
committee could do with the fubjea.
Mr. Randolph observed, it would havea singular
ipta to refute to commit this part of the message.
But thrngh he fake in favour of Mr. D's motion, we
dfrved be divided against it]
Mr. Grilwold contended that a refufal to commit
could not preclude a future inquiry ; and he appro
bended no report could be made. The House di
vided :—For Mr. Dawfou's motion 54 —against k
46.
Mr. Thomas moved, that a Committee be ap.
pointed to inquire whether any and what amend
ments are necessary in the Port-Office Laws- [Re
ferred to Messrs. Thomas, Walton, Wadsworth and
Alexander.]
Mr. Nicholson moved, for a committee to re-
I port, whether any further provisions are necessary
for the more effeaual protedion of American sea
, men. [Referred to Messrs. Nicholson, Euftis,
Sands, Hampton, Baldwin, Eppes, and Jos. Clay.j
A memorial against the eledion of Thomas M.
Randolph was read, and referred to the Committee
of Eleftions.
Several petitions were received, and variously
dilpofed of. The Houle adjourned until 11 o'clock
to-morrow.
Wednesday, Oct. iy.
The House went into committee, Mr.Varnumin
the chair, on Mr. Dawson's resolution for amending
:he Constitution. [see Monday's proceedings.]
Mr. Nicholson did not confider the resolution
propofeci as fu fficient to remedy the inconveniences
experienced from the Constitution as it now stands.
He therefore, offered an amendment to the resolu
tion, to which Mr. D. made no objedion.
Mr. Clopton offered an amendment, in the room
of that offered by Mr. Nicholson, to which Mr.N>
said he had no material obje&ion ; but to give Ime,
however, for the House to refle& on the fobfr^and
, to compare the several proportions, Mr. N. moved,
' that the committee should rife,
;The Revolutions offered yesterday by Mr. Rand
, olph, and which were committed to a fetea com
• mittee, were referred to the Committee of Com
merce and Manufadures, and the fcled committee
,was difeharged from the farther confederation of
1 them. Ayes §§. Noes 40.
I Mourning for Mr. Adams.
Mr; J. Randolph, after mentioning that one of
rthe earliert patriots of the revolution had paid his
! laft debt to nature; and pronouncing a short eulo
gium on the character and services of Samuel Adams,
moved the following Resolution.
" Resolved unammoufly, That the House is pen-
etrated with a full sense of the eminent service; ren
dered bis country in the mod arduous times, by the
late Samuel Adams, dialed ; and that the Mem
bers thereof wear a crape on the left arm for one
month, in testimony of the national gratitude and
reverence towards the memory of that undaunted
and idurtrious Patriot.
After a few words from Mr. Elliot (from Ver
mont) the Resolution was agreed to unanimously.
Mr. Nicholson oblerved, that on occasions like
the present, it had been the usual ctirtom for the
house to adjourn.—He therefore moved an adjourn
ment, which was carried.
Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Mr. Nicholson (of Maryland) after observing
on the difficulty found in proceeding in committee
of the whole, on the motion for an amendment of
the Constitution, moved, That the Committee of
the whole be difeharged from the consideration
thereof; and that the fame be referred to a ftlea
committee. Ordered, and committed to a com
mittee of 17.
Mr. Huger (of Sourh-Carolina) after mentioning !
that the proportion for amending the Constitution
originated in New-York, moved, that the resolution
of that refpeftable Rate; and the propofi ion for
dividing the United Rates into election Diftrias;
fhotild also be referred to the fele& committee. As
for himfelf, Mr. H. profeffed indeed to have little
inclination, or rather a great disinclination to make
any changes in the Federal Constitution. He was
sincerely attached to, and perleaiy fatisfied with it
as it now stands. The profperily we had enjoyed
under it, and the experience we had, made it a mat
ter of great doubt with him, whether we should not
lose more than we should gain by any alteration of
this our great b >nd of Union. Nevertheless, as hej
was aware that a change in the couftitutional provi-j
fiotifor electing the President and Vice Prefidentl
was a favorite point with many gentlemen, andl
from every thing he could colled would in some;
foape or other be effected, he thought, as he had be
fore observed, that refpe& alone for the Rate in
which the business had originated, should lead us to
take up and confider both of the resolutions recom
mended to us by New-York.—He would simply
move, that the following resolution be fubmftted to
the chnfideration of the feled committee which had
just been raised, viz.
Resolved, That the Rate legislatures fall from time
to time, divide each fate into difrifls, equal to the
whole number of senators and representatives ' from such
fate in the Congress of the United fates ; and fall di
reA the mode of chofog an eleHor of president and vice
president, in each of the said diftrias, who fall be ehofen
by citizens having the qualifications requijite for eleaors
if the mes rumerous branch of the date legislature,
and that the diflriHs so to be condituted, (hall confd as
nearly as may be, of contiguous territory and of equal
proportion of population, except where there may be any
detached portion of territory, not of itfelf Sufficient to
form a diftria, which then fall be annexed to some other
portion nearefl thereto ; which diftrias when so divided
fall remain unalter able until a new census of the United
fates fall be taken.
Mr. Nicholson moved, that the articles of im
peachment preferred against John Pickering,
late Diftria Judge of New-Hampshire, be referred
to a feled t committee. Referred to a committee of
five.
The House proceeded to ballot for a Chaplain ;
when the ballots being taken,the votes were for Rev.
Mr. Parkinson 4§, Rev. Mr. Laurie 30, Rev. Jdfe
Davis 20, Rev. Mr. Balch 13, Rev. Mr. Wilmar
12, Rev. Mr. M'Cormick 4, Infidel Thomas Paine
I.— No choice having been made, a second ballot
was had, when the
Rev. Mr. PARKINSON had 7 r votes,
and was chosen Chaplain to the Houle of Repre
sentatives.
By the last Mails.
LEXINGTON, (VIRG.) SEPT. 10.
Beware of Counterfeits.
Yesterday was apprehended in this town for passing
counterfeit notes on the bank of the United States, John
Ramsey & Andrew L. Love ; both from the county of York,
in South Carolina. The. notes are well executed, and no
material difference can be perceived between the President's
name of the genuine and those of the counterfeit—ln Simp
son, the cashier's name, the letter 0 is too high, and if ftri&-
ly examined the initial G is too clumsily formed at the end,
as it ends blunt and not curving out like the genuine. The
Eagle is imperfect, its head and legs being so faint that they
are scarcely visible. They are all dated in 1799, 1800,
and 1801; and some of the latest dates are affixed to the
smallest numbers. The aggregate of the notes found io
their possession, including those they had passed in the
neighborhood which were immediately recovered, amount
ed to 1050 dollars—They ?re all ten dollar Notes, except
two or three, which are of five, and twenty. Five Amer
ican Eagles were likewise found with them. But the fraud
may be easily difeovered; they are in the firft place too
light, weighing only about seven dollars and an half, and
their being somewhat thicker in the middle than the edge,
together with the badness of their execution, contribute
to convince a perfen immediately that they are counterfeit :
if these are not deemed fufficient proofs, by taking a needle
or some (harp pointed instrument, and scratching the gold
on some prominent part of the coin the copper will diftin
aiy appear.
A Court wiil be called on Saturday the 17th inst, for
the examination of the above mentioned perform
CHARLESTON, SEPT, JO.
A few days ago three men were apprehended in a cave
in Fishkill mountains, in this State, with apparatus for coin
ing, and a number of counterfeit dollars. The cave was
large and commodious, and contained some old worn out
bellows, Bcc. the marks of former inhabitants. One of the
fellows was firft taken, when he informed of the others
and went with the pursuers to the cave, where the other
two were arretted ;but in conducting them to Poughkeefie
one of them made hisefcape, but the State evidence, & the
other arc fafely lodged in gaol.
MIDDLEBURY, VER. OCT. 19.
Melancholly Occurrence.
We are informed that the following melanchol
ly accident happened at Shelburne,on Thursday toft.
A Mr. Soper, who had been assisting in digging a
well in that place, which they had funk about go
feet, and which, on account of the rain, they had
determined to difeontinue for that day, by request
defeended into the well lot the purpose of bringing up
the tools for feme other ufa When he had defeended
within about 12 feet of the bottom he appeared to
fl^ffle an ' breathe with difficulty, and soon fell
out of the tub in which be was descending, to the
bottom of the well. A lighted candle, let down to
the depth at which Mr. S. failed, was cxtinguiflied;
BOSTON, NOP. 3.
Latest from Europe.
By several late arrivals at Nev-York, London &
Liverpool papers to the 19th Sept, have been received.
The following articles which we have extracted from
them, indicate the approach of aßive htfility : 66 Lon
don Sept. 1 7 — Tbejlagnatian in which Europe appear,
to have been funk these three weckspaffeems iiow to be
gradually giving way to the increasing bustle& aßivity
on the coast of France— The late movement of the
French gun-boats, between Boulogne and Calais, is re
ported to have been followed by fame others,and a par
tial engagement between Granville and the Ifiand of
jerfo, hence we are hourly in expectation of the con
firmation of the rumor that some of our squadron have
dispersed or defrayed the enemy's force in that quarter.
That these movements on thepart of the French indi
cate an attempt of invafon, rather foner than it has
been exteSed, is now admitted by the moftjudicious,^
if the evidence were wanting, it might be inferred
from the'pertinacity with which the French fill keep their
own ports shut againf foreigners, friends or foes, not
witbfanding the difrefs which their fadl remains of
commerce mus inevitably fuffer throughfuch a measure.
" It is well known, that even a Spanifo messenger
dispatched to Calais las week in a neutral Jhip, was
compelled to return to Dover, and not a foul admitted
to land ; but in addition to this infance of rigour, a
letter received on Friday from Dover, fays,—" The
Nancy,fag of tr ace is just returned from Morlaix
without being permitted to land tbeprifonersof warfhe
carried. On the Captain's arrival off that port, a
French Officer with a detachment of grenadiers was
sent on board who treated him with much civility. He
acknowledged that the French soldiery entertained
the mos sanguine hope of thefuccefs of their projeft ;
and added that they thought, that if they succeeded in
landing one divifon of fifty thousand men,they would
be joined by as rmfry more ! Every thing that dropped
from-this Officer who seemed otherwise a well-inform
ed man, proved that the people of France, and efpe
rialb f^ military re? mtire\ F ^^ of ^r^•
fate of preparation in thh country ".
hr confmx^an of the above, we (id the ffo^
ar^ae ina i,re-rfa}taber tffr,. '°:
r :utb ta,,f^e> toe arrival ofa i — .. .a
TFurDay evening fr,m ferfey, which Ifcad fle.
left %Sy on Wednesday morning. This vefrl brougi: ~^.n
atronnt o;• ,yc%ps, /u,pnfed to be of •gan d
j--.i tt ,jmuuerfhrps of War, and a squadron of
gun-boats, amounting altogether to about 50fail hav
ing l a sf ed 7 er fo^ Tuefday laf,funding for Concale
Bay ; and the fame night a very heavy cannonading
was beard in the quarter of Granville, on the coaf of
France, which continued with unabated warmth until
daylight in the morning of Wednesday. No intelligence
had been received at jerfefwhen this vessel failed, refec
ting it. It appears to us probable, that this force was
under the direction of that able and a^ive Officer fir
James Saumerez, and had failed from Guernsey, for
thepurpofe of annoying the drench in their preparations
upon that part of the Coaf which are very considera
ble, with the view as it is conjeflured, to attempt up
on Jerjey."
From FRANCE.
The brig South Carolina, arrived at New-York
from Havre, failed on the 20th of September. The
port was cbfely olockaded; and the bombardment
of the city was expend. The preparations for the
invasion were continued ; and it was generally be
lieved the attempt would be made.
Etraß of a letter from Havre, September 15.
" There is at present no appearance of peace.
There are already built or on the flocks more than
5000 gun-boats, for the troops and artillery, and
flat-bottomed boats for the cavalry, who are to dis
embark mounted and ready for adion, when Eng
land is invaded. The defeent is talked of with
great confidence of success ; and I really think it
will take place in the course of the winer,
" An embargo has existed here almost ever finre
my arrival. Business is dull, and comm-rce under
numbereft e^barrafoems, efp-CTartV L t efpeßs
those who were ignorant of the necessity of couhdar
certificates. All efforts for exception Lorn the op.
eration of the arrete have failed. Bonds in fa
cafe,mufl be given toexport the amount 6. ~„r, # d
merchandize in 3 months in French manuh&urd.
This is a most cruel and oppreflive tew. They com
pel a compliance in the most rigid form, not allow
ing a deduction for commiffious,charges, &c. or al
though the goods are unsaleable.
" Sept. 17.—Last evening " the gun boats fail
ed," and the embargo was taken off.
0
Capt. Adams, who aarived at Newbuty.porta
few days tince, in 4; days from Gibraltar informs,
that the brig Celia, Capt. Bowen, of Boston had
been captured on her passage from Barcelona to
Malaga, by a Moorish c/uizer, and had been in her
pofleffion and company 9 days, when, fortunately
the frigate Philadelphia fell in with them, recaptured
the brig, and took the cruizer, and sent them both
into Gibraltar, where they arrived a few days pre
vious to Capt. A.—The Celia was to proceed in a
short time for Malaga, and from thence to Alexan
dria. _o—
Late accounts from Jamaica, mention, that
there were in Kingston, 300 French prizes ; a
morig them a 74 gun ship & several other vessels
of force. A French brig was fentin, which had
on board 374 blood-hounds, bound from the
and acat at the force depth, frcmecl to be in great
agony, and was drawn up to all appearance lifelefs
but soon recovered. An alarm was uiftanily spread.
The father of the unfortunate young man soon ar
rived to fee the affecting feene. Deafto all persuasion,
he determined to descend and bring up the body of
his son. To prevent his falling from the tub he
was secured by a rope. On descending to the depth
where his son firft failed, he struggled and breath
ed with difficulty, but thought, as he afterwards said
be should be able to bold ills breath till he should
get to the bottom, and return with the body of his
son. When there, he found himftlf unable to reach
his son without untying himfelf, which he effected,
and immediately fell apparently lifelefs. The
people at the top, as soon as possible, let downbur
ning tar, and also rags wet in spirits into the well,in
order to cleanse the air ; and after continuing their
exertion^ for about an hour and a half, the father of
the young man so far recovered as to call for the
tub to be let down, which was done immediately
and he afeended bearing the corpse of his son to the
view of his fympathifiog neighbors.