The enquirer — Richmond, Va., 1810-12-29 00:00:00, page 2

to the country club who hail detci mined to
"tevenge themselves on him by violence,
ior an imaginary attack at a time when he
did Doto\en know of their existence?—Yes,
beneve ine, inv dear uncle, that although it
■were possible tor yon to avoid the design of:
personalities, there will not be wanting cu
nous and malicious persons enough, who will
apply your remarks and appropriate your
pictures to indi viduals an J, thus excite a~
gainsi you d host of enemies. Alas! it is not
your retirement nor your age that can save
you Alas! 1 imagine »hat lean already
see tire sunshine and halcyon peace that
now surrounds you, and illumines your face
witn similes, exchanged tor darkness, clouds
and 'cmpesi. 1 implore you, my beloved
uncle, and were 1 with you. 1 would ini
plore ybu on ft\y bended knees to dismiss the
baletul project troni vour mind forever, and
so confirm your own happiness, as well as
that of your dutiiul and affectionate ne
phew.
galen ***•**••*. *
• «•••«»••••» December 12, 1810.
lam delignted, my dear, uncle, with the
scheme wmcli your letter discloses; and
feel anew obligation, to the writers of the
Edinburgh Review, for having caused it. I
am persuaded that a course of moral and
literary essays, exented in such a style as to
draw Scfix upon them the public attention,
would dng'vat guU in this country. Sc great
honor to tlxeir,author. As to the idea which
you suggest, that the world is p.-rhaps, al
ready lull enough of such works, and that
the topics are ail exhausted, T am sure you
urged it, merely to try my judgment or to
give me the triumph oi refuting it.
^ For as to Casa’3 book of manners, and
Gastiglionc’s Courtier in Italy, llruyerc’s
manners of the age, ifl France", or the Tat
ier. Spectator, Guardian, &c. in Eng
land—-what have they to do with American
manners ? What instruction dors a lady,
in tliis country, gain by being told that a
girl with a hoop petticoat, whom the Spec.,
taiur suv lull, in the s reels of London,
looked for all the world like a bell without
a clapper; or that another who fell down
stairs with a head dress, four stories high,
resembled an .Egyptian pyramid set upon
its a/;<?x * Every country anti every age
has its peculiar manners, and therefore,
no portrait ol one, can Serve for another ;
yn the contrary, a picture of manners “ liv
ing as they rise” in any country, will ul_
*Vnys he new, original and captivating.
I:i matters of liternuire there is, indeed,
more unity and durability ; but then the
topics which it presents are so various, and.
indeed infinite, that there is no danger of
finding subjects enough to which a writer
of genius can give novelty and grace.
And even on the same subject different
men have such different modes of thinking,
that I be ieve such a mind as Goldsmith’s,
for instance, could have walked directly over
.he track of the Spectator, touching his very
toot oes and subjects, without any danger of
tiring his reader. You will say that you
are no Goldsmith ; to which I answer that
to coini’trbalance this advantage you have a
new country ; a vast field covered with a
Jieavy harvest, which no sickle has ever yet
.fc’-uched.
As to your doubt whether such a work
would produce any effect on the inveterate
habits of this country, why should wc think
Ao humbly of ourselves and so illy of others ?
I presume that the people of England in
the reign of Queen Anne, were at last as
luxurious, as viciou- and inveterate in their
habits as the people of this country : and
yet we are told by Addison, that the Spec
fator had a perceptible influence upon ihe
Conversation of that time, and taught the
frolick and the gay to unite merriment
with decency. You will say that you are
nn Addiici# or p c»„nin . «j
my dear uncle, 1 will Help you : so that you
see there is no danger of my failing in my
profession by my modesty.
But you apprehend that you may inflict
pain where you mean only to give plea_
su:e, and make enemies of those whom it
is your wish a. d intention to serve. If I
could believe this, 1 should certainly op
po-e the mCasutc, tot in vir’bus-. but why
is such a consequence uecessary ? 1 take it !
for granted, that ynu do not propose to
“write lampoons and satires upon individu.
ais: but strictures up"'* tlte maimers of the
age —the reader who feels that your re
marks are just and apply to himself, will
certainly led pain inmi that conscious- !
ness; so also does the patient whose leg a
surgeon amputates to save his liie ; and so j
also does the sinne ■ who trembles under the
voice, and shrinks from tin- probe of a penr
tr ng 2c el q-.ten'. niencher—bin, what
then ? bhall the surgeon t hrowaway his instru
mens, & he preacher seal up his lips, £c
so, to avoid present pain, let the patient die
and the sinner go to hell i No. sir—inflict
the salutary ptim of a in mient—it is a cheap
price lor an eterniiy of happiness.
As to your creating enemies without any
intention to do so, let the benevolence of
£’>ur intention be manifest on the face ot
your works, and there is no danger of your
Snaking enemies ofnny but the vtcions, the
malicious and the mean, whose enmity is
honor. What do you care lor such people *
Ynu depend upon them for nothing: and
their displeasure will be infinitely overbal
anted by the applause and esteem of the
vise and good. Cio on, my dear uncle, I
conjure you: and that God, whom you a
s dorc, will not tail to follow with his blessing,
a work which he must approve.
Tendering to yon and our beloved Rosalie
the compliments of the approaching season,
I am, my dear uncle, your affectionate nc
phew
ALFRED
After t hdd read these letters to Rosalie,
2 called for her opinion ; whereupon, I per
ceived immediately an arch smile playing a
round her lips, and dimpling her sweet
cheek “ In the first place, uncle, said she,
I must he frank enough to tell you, that 1
iiavt been bribed to vote in a particular
’* *• Bribed by whom “Why,that
sly rogue, Alfred, apprehending that Galen
an i himself would d fTc-r in opinion, has
w i ten rnc a pioni.v that, if J would vote
wi ii hint, he would make nr.e a present of a
new edition of The Hritisli Classics, am|
give me six kisses into the bargain, when
he c i no home in the spring, it was right
chat y; u should know this fact, in oitier that
iny (pinion may stand for no more than it)
dcserrei. After this confession, I must
c *iie » farther, that toy brother Galen’.*1
lenci lias rh.nrcd me exceedingly, ».nd I
brought to my tnind the fable of the bear,1
who, Mm gby a single bec, as you have bu n I
by the HrPish llc'i. ivrr, overset, in revenge, |
the whole hive upon his own h( ad Vet I do
no sec why a p rson should lx restrained
from a virtuous t.ctton. which •r-.y do good,
by any terror at the low and wicked. I per
Fectly approve of the rule which directs
that we should do whatever our con
science tells us to be right and leave
the consequences to Heaven. The bribe
apart, therefore, I vote with Alfred,
so far as toadvisethat we make the expert
mem. Wc will watch the effects, and de
sist if we find Alfred's hopes likely to be
frustrated, or Galen's fears to be realized.*’
Rosalie's vote, supported by her own and
Alfred’s arguments, at once determined me.
and I commenced the work. How long it
may continue, will depend more upon my
readers than myself; upon their tractability
and submission to my authority, as well as
the candor and justice with which they
shall treat my motives.
\ / HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Bank of Virginia.
On Thursday, Mr. Pkkston (of Rock~
bridge) submitted the following Resolution to
the House ot Delegates .
Hewlve</, That ».committee be appointed to
enquire into the expediency of increasing the
Capital ol the Dank of Virginia, of extending the
1 of the charter, and of establishing a Branch
Bank in the tow n of Lynchburg ; and that the
said committee have leave to report by bill or o
I the i wise.
In introducing this resolution. Mr. Pros
ton observed ; that lie thought S l 000.000
migut be added to the present capital ; that
5t was proposed to extend a branch to
Lynchburg, with a capital of not less than
! S -.00,000 ; that in the event of a disc -nti
I nuance of the Baqk of the U. S. there
! would be a demand for more capital at
Norfolk, than is employed by the Virginia
branch at that place; that there was a
great demand for capital; that this must
be gratified in some way ; that this was ;
the way in which he wished it to be gra
lifted ; tlint as an inducement to the present
stockholders to consent to this arrangement,
it was proposed to extend their charter—
that the additional capital was to be for
the benefit of the State ; the shares were
to be sold out at an advance, but not below i
a stipulated minimum, say 20 pr cent. ; !
chat the state was to retain as many of the
new shares as would according to the present j
! scale of voting, preserve its present pro.,
j portion of influence ; that the sales of the
new shares would produce a very valuable
! fund for he use of the commonwealth.
He stated, that the fund might be prin
j cipally devoted to the formation ot roads ;
that there were 3 grea' roads, which deserv*
|tdthe attention of he legisla.ure. 1st. a
road from Taylor’s ferry on the Roanoke to
Richmond ; thus leaving an alternative
choice to the produce . f the South to go to
the matke of Petersburg or of this city._
2d. A road from the upper navigation of the
K.mawa to the upper navigation of the
James River 3d. Prom the mouth of Fish_
ing Creek, in the comity of Ohio, to Win"
Chester ; shortening the distance from the
present seat of government of the state ol
Ohio to Winchester 30 miles ; and opening
facilities of communication from all theWes
tern country to Richmond and Washington
i l hat a part of this fund might also be ap
propriated to the establishment of Schools
, and the encouragement of learning ; objects
I which it were difficult to say, whether
I they were more valuable in themselves or
had been most neglected by the Legislature
oi Virginia.
w.i muuoti OT ivir. nbent (ot Frederick 1
the town of Winchester was added after tha’i i
ot Lynchburg.
Mr. Mercer observed, that it would be
indeed a pleasing thing to throw so much
money into the treasury of the Common
wealth; but that he trusted a measure of ^
this sort would not be taken, without con- I
suiting the interests and wishes af the stock
holders; i hat it surely could not be the dis-!
position ot the Legislature to replenish their j
treasury merely out ot the pockets of the -
stockholders ; but that it mus’ depreciate the ■
value of their stock, to throw so many ail I
ditional shares into circulation.
Mr Preston replied, that the interest of I
the private stockholders deserved to be con j
suited ; but that the interest which the Coin :
monwealth had in the bank, was also to be
considered ; that she also was a great stock
holder ; and would have a voice in the deci_
sion of the question.
Mr. Mercer replied, that the. Common
wealth had an overweening influence in the i
decision; that if she voted at all on this
qutstion, she had a much greater number
ot votes, in proportion to the number of her
shares, than theother stockholders; was she!
to exert this ascendancy on the present oc
casion ? would ii not be like deciding m her
own favour?
Mi Preston replied, that the interest of!
the stockuolders themselves, instead of be I
ing injured, would be promo cd by the ar-;
rangeinent; that besides the advantage of
the proposed extension of their charter, they
would have a security against any great fall
in tin* value of^stock, in the minimum en
joined on the Treasurer—that this tall would
lie infinitely less, than if a new bank was set
up, & its shares w ere p. ured into hernaiket
—that this was the true question ; whe her
the stockholders would rather see an hide
pendent bank established, (as an addition.,
al portion of capital was certainly necessa.
ry ) and its capital thrown into market for
subscription, or have their own charter
and capital extended, and the shares
gn trded from so great a depreciation by
fi xing a minimum i
On motion, the Resolution was referred
to the S.lect Committee, which is already '
charged with the Petition from the town of
Lynchburg j
,• 1 he 11 oh sc of Delegates have been enga
ged, during pan of the two las* days, in con
sidering the Report of the committee of
Privileges and Elections, on the contested
election between Dr. Coleman and Mr. Mi
nor, of the county of Fairfax After scan
nirig the votes, the Report precisely tied
litc-m-and the ceitificate of the Sheriff
being pi .Uiced, that he would have v.,t?d
for Mr. Minor, the Report was in his favor.
The House finally adopted the Report of
the committee, and Mr M. was conse
quently declared duly elected to the >Cat.
\ esterday, the 11 use parsed the engros
sed Blil for the division of Harrison couuty.
—The new county is called Page.
[It is proper 'o state, that the paper from
vdih h the following article is extracted.
CH"'e to hand only yesterday morning, and 1
that it never was seen by Mr. IVood, tin • I
til yesterday, j
From the Arw Brunswick ( N. J. ) GUyJJi !
DlytATo/ Dec 20.
OBSF.K V ATlOtfS RKUTIfKTOMr. VVOOD’*
HK ’-v TI1KOHTOF TII K TinT.S.
In thr New.York Columbian of Novem„
ter the 27ih last, and in a late JUchmand
t.ritfuirer, there Has appeared an essay by
Mi. Jam Wood, of Richmond. Virginia, re
Lative toliis new theory of tne .ides. &c in
whicli essay, Mr Wood informs tlie public,
that a mathematician of New Jersey hail
written him a letter. s'a iug ilmt Mr Wood**
theory was to be louiul in Galileo*# sysietn
of the universe; but that toe futility of it j
had long since been shewn and exposed by
many authors; and particular^bv Mr.
Vince and Mr La Lande in theiS astrono
lilies Mr Wood then tells us that Bishop
Madison and Mr Blackburn had consulted
V mce and De La Lai:dc, and found no men
tion of the subject in either of tliese authors.
N >w let the reader take notice, that Mr.
W lod’s theory consists of the principle, that I
by the diurnal & annual motions of the earth a i
point on the earth's surface has a variable i
velocity, from winch he deduces the pheno '
mena ofrhe tides, 8cc. and then read the fol - |
lowing quotations;
Vince’s astronomv. vol ii. chap, xxxvjii
page 213, Edition of 1799, we have the fol- i
lowing passage ;
* Galileo bought tint the tides were ow_
ingtotlie rotatory motion of the ear h about
its axis, and its revolution about the sun ;
bin the phenomena can by no means be solv’
ed by these causes, as the former motion
could only make the earth put on the form
of an oblete spheroid, subject to no change,
and the latter would produce no effect on’
the surface.”
Again in La Lande’s astronomy* vol 4.
tpiarto, published in 1781 (which treats of the
tides in 348 pages) we have the following
passages in pages 13 14 § 20.
“Le tnouvement d hi me and annuel de la
terre siircni sur„tout employes pour I'cxpli
calion des tnarees, & Galileo avoit donne a
cette explication une certaine celebrite.”
And speaking of the same subject. La Lnnde
quotes Galileo’s book (de systemate mundi,
dial. 4. page 353) and s ys. in the same sec
tion,
--—— 1 " *1 en substitua une autre
tonde sur I’megalitc du tnouvement absolu
de la terre, resultante de l’asseniblage
du tnouvement annuel, et tin mouvemeut
diurne Entre les differentes parties de la
terre, il y en a qui, par le mouvemeut di~
urne, vont.du meinc cote qui, par le mouve
ment annuel, & qui out la somme des deux i
\if esse?, tandis que les parties oppo-.l
posers, on cedes qui regat dmt le soliel n’ '
ont que la difference des deux ntemes vitea 1
ses ”
In the same section Mr. L.a Lande tells'
us that Galileo was refuted by 1*. Riccioli i
in his .ilmug nov T. ii. /i. 357—by P.
Fournier in bis Hydrography, edition ot 1643
page 460. and by Cassmi in Mem. de i’Aca- i
deuiie 1713. p. 26j & 277 ; and in the 26th !
section, page 16 ot the lore mentioned vol.
ot LaLmde. the author speaking of thishy
pothesisof Galileo and those of several others
says ’
“Toutesces hypotheses sont si frivoles
que elles ne meritent.ee me semble, aucune
e-pece d’altention”—
In the History of the Royal Academy of
Sciences for the year 1713.' pages359, 369,
vve ^ ^ account ot Galileo’s s*y&tcni,
and a refutation by asstni, in which ac„
count, it is expressly seated, that the velo
city is greater on the side opposite to the
sun.
Again in Lowthorp’s Abrig. of Phil.
Trans, vol ii. pages 269. 270, 271. there
is a minute ar.r.nnot of thi*. «v«i»in n«, i_)r
Wallis, who makes use ot a" geometrical
figure to illustrate the method ot reasoning,
and says, “ But the true motion of each part
of the earth’s surface being compounded
of these two motions, the Annual and Di_
urnaland in page 123 of the same book,
Ur. VV allis applies a s/rniJar theory to the
trade winds as well as to the tides
In ihe £nghs/i Laclite' Diary tor 1748
We find a nrrihlum Ni» Vf. U ur.....i.
• ~ «“' * “t »*• n. a.u, uii
the cycloidal path and unequal motion of a
point on the surface ot the earth arising
from the annual and d.utnal motions coin
pounded together.
Haying thu* she wn that Mr. Wood’s
pi inciple tor explaining the causes of the
tides, trade winds, 8ce. has been long
known, I beg leave to subjoin the follow,
mg observations
In the first pla- e, Mr. Woxl seems tome
to be fairly entitled to the merit of having
invented his system, notwithstanding us
having been familiarly known long bthue :
this will readily bo admitted by >>uch asare
acquainted with his book, and his various
essays on this subject ; and as his principle
has been admitted by those Eminent Prmo
sophers and Mathematicians Galileo and
I)r. Wallis, he deserves, in my opinion, the
praise of ingenuity. Besides, though his
fundamental principle be precisely the same
vvith that oi Galileo, yet in the application
there is some difference ; lor Galileo consi
ders the velocity of a particle as having a
tendency to produce an unequal angular ve
locity about the centre of the earth, and
consequently an ucciiDiulatimi of the ocean
in some places ; bin Mr. Wood considers
ilie unequal velocity oi u particle as having
a tendency to change the weight of the par
ticle towards the centre ot the earth, and
consequently to produce an elevation of the ’
ocean in some place:. Thus it appears, j
that the full ex'eni ami application ot the’
general princip e were not perceived cither
by Galileo or by Mr. Wood.
*a the next place, let Mr. Wood reflect
that though the subject admits of complete
demonstration, yet the great Mathematici.
ans ot the eighteenth century have not a
doptetllhe well known ptmciple ot Galileo,
in order to account for the titles ; • Iiml not
withstanding the difficulty of die problem, 1
Mr. Wood's applies ion to such studies is*
recent, as lie himself confesses, and as is'
evident from several uneq u4 vocal signs ini
various parts of his book ; that there can be
no dispute on this subject unless one of the
parties be deficient in the geometry and
mechanics))! Newton ; and then his good
reuse will lead aim to suspect that possi.
biy his theory ol the tide:* may be detec
tive.
However as no authority of great names
can counterpoise tho weight of deinoiistrn.
ticn, let Mr. Wood,once lor all,dentonn'rate
that from the unequal velocity there a.ises
a variable tendency towards the centre of
the earth, and Jet him investigate the pre
rive measure of this tendency-—in the so
cond place, Jet him shew clearly that this
variable tendency fo the centre can or can
not produce Mich Phenomena as those ot the
tides ; (for what h« lias said in his frock on
irotli these problems is totally inapplicable.)
and then Mathematicians will leaddy ad
mil his conclusions. Sb'-uld he not do this,
lie will not, I presume, have ar.y objection
to see the demonstrations by another.
ROIJEKT ADR \IN.
Profcnnor of Mathematic*, in Queen's
College, Mew Jersey. V
NctY-Brunsw.cls, Ltczi 17. 1310.
Con0teu£.
IN biiN v rii.
Monday. Dec. 24
Mr. 7.no presented 'tie petition of sundry
merchants of Philadelphia praying relief
trom the opera-ion of the non intercourse
latv—w'.iich was refened to the committee
on foreign relations.
Abo, the memorial of the chamber of com.,
meicc. praying a renewal of the charter of
the bank of the United btatey. Uefened to
tlie committee on the subject of banks
Mr Anders'm reported two lulls, one in
corporation the bank ol Potomac 15c another
to incorporate 'he bank of Washington;
whicli were passed to a scebn i reading.
I he bill to coiritiue the Mediterranean
! fund was passed to a second reading.
1 tie bill to make up - he deficiency in the
' appropriation fur the year 1810 for the relief
j of distressed seamen, wis passed to a second
i reading.
| The bill for the relief of the collectors of
: the ports of N. i f. Ik, Baltimore and Pin a
delphia was postponed till the second fvlon
da\ in January.
Adjourned to Wednesday
HO(JHE OF HEP /v*E SEA 7 VTIV E V.
Monday, D< c
Mr, Fair, Mr Pick man and Mr. New
bold appeared to day.
j Mr. Goodwin obtained leave of absence
i for two we. ks.and Mr. Ei/ifica for ten days
; Mr Seybert presented the memorial of
j the chamber of commerce of Philadelphia,
I in favor of the renewal of the charter of the
! ol the Uuited Siatcs Keterrcd to the
bank committee.
Mr. Morrow from the committee on pub
lic lands, reported unfavorably to toe claim
ot ceitain officers and soldiers in the Bri
tish war against France in 1763 Tor lands :
winch was read and accepted by the house
without opposition
The bill for suppling the deficiency in
the appropriation or 1810 tor distressed sea
men, &c and the bill tot continuing the Me
diterranean tuud, were read a third time &
passed.
The house went into a committee of the
| whole, Mr. Pitkin in the chair, on the bill
authorising the secretary of war, by the ap_
! P°'ntmentof commissioners to ascertain the
I exterior line of the public lauds at West
: I oint, &C. 1 he bill was so amended as to
i *eave *he ultimate decision on the report of
j the Commissioners to congress. The com
niiuee reported the bill as amended, wliich
was ordered to be engrossed for a third
• readme.
1 he h ,use went into a committee of the
whole, Mr Pitkin in the chair, on the bill
providing for the final adjustment of claims
to lands, and lor the safe of the public lands
, in ilie territories of Orleans and Indi ma —
After some inconsiderable amendments to
j the bill, the committee rose and reported the
i bill, which was ordered to lie op. the table
Mr Holland reported a Lull making fur
tlier compensation fothe witnesses on Burr’s
trial ; which was read and referred to a
Committee of the whole.
Mr. Hhtffey pit .ent^d he petirio* ofaun
dry surviving officers of the revoiiui.n •
winch weie relei red to a select Committee.
On motion of Mr. Pomdexicr
Ketoivcd, That the U. , t the Treasury1
he directed to lay before ibis House such info
(nation as he m»y p --^ss relative in the claim f !
tne Ui.aid ot CoinmiSMo u-rs, w^st of Pearl i\.
m the Mississippi territory, to addit.onal com*
peiibation lor their services, tegL-il>er w i'J» his
P"',',n» a» v the cq.i iy of sa • i-.Uim.
Mr. Mitchill presented the petition of the
manulaciuret s in brass and copper, in the
city Ot New York, praying the removal, of
the duty on zinc .(or spekerj-Kelerred to
the committee ot Commerce ana Manuf&c-!
1 lie Speaker read a letter from Peter
Landais, accompanied by a memorial. The
question being taken on the reference of
Hie memorial to the committee of Cla-'ms it
was lost. ’
A let er was also received from the Sec*'
re>ary of the Treasury, accompanied by a
iepu. t on the sulyect ol foreign coins now in
circulation in the United States_•Ilcfer
rvd o the Committee on this subiect
On motion of Mr. Bacon, J
J, f'hti d cumin.: c be appointed to
enqu.re into the expedoiuy .»» providing tor tlie
toi mntion and printing 0| a complete ,vner.v|
index to the several volumes of the lowsol the
U.med Stales as now puM.S .cd. in hiding those
wind, may be passed at the present sefs.o,, of
Congress, m l that they have leave t„ re ,ort by
•nil or nil »ist- _ 1
NAVY AGENTS’ ACCOUN rs
Ail. ^w/if said ihnt in die co.iseof the
session of Congress -;eul in June, 1809 a re
pun in part had been made by a co nm.<ee
generally cal ed the investigating commit
tee. A.ming ihe accounts comprised tn this
repon, ne aid lie had found two which
bore Hosiery on the tace of them ; a des.ie
to unravel winch whs he motive for h.s ri
Sing, i he accounts to which he refened
were those of Urgen, Purv.a ,ce and Com
pany, navy agents at Leghorn. Bv set'le
^ent t^e Hl the N vy Department on
the J0_th o. June 1808. the U. S. appeared
to be mdeb ed to them more than 23 000
dollars. B> a reference to an accoun set
tied in March, 1809 ne found h i. .lie bills
to the a mourn o 256 000 d Jl.,t s beanne
date/irtorto the Is lement (viz. from
Ma) 1805 to Feb. 1*07) were cf.a.grd to
mem. Fov the put pose of obtaining the
means of these apparent incon'iiste. cies, he
moved the following resolutions.
Rcso/v-l, Than lie .V. m ei-.ry uf the Navy be
directed to t xpLin to this House the cause
wherefore the several hills «.t exchange, am<un*
ting to 256.000 dollars, and of various d*tes Irom
May 10th, 1805, to February 21, 1807, were
charged in account No. 2 ofDi-gen, Purviance,
x. Co navy agents at Leghorn, as sen led at tilt
navy department on the 17th day of oj .rch, 1809
and to- what reasons ti.e same were not inclittl'
cd in the account of the a dd D<gen & Co *l,.eh
was settled in the navy d oartmenr (,n me 30th
June, 1808, and also to inform dug Home whe
them he said hills were pui chased by there tnen
Secretary of the navy or by .» navy agent & if uv
the latter, that a copy of the sil tfavy agon ?
accounts, . inbracing the period of purchase, al
so accompany I lie inf.million reuuired
Resolved, That the S retary of the Tre isury he
directed ta lay before the H -use any information
which lie may have obtained through our m.ms
ter in Franca, in answer to the letter addressed
to him on the 26:'i day of June, 1809, (or from a
oy other source) relative to tha funds which die
drawers of bills (from M y 10. Id*5, to Febru
,«ry 21, 1807) on Dr-gen, Pm vi mce & Co navv
agrnts ai Leghorn, had in toe ban Is oftb* said
Degen & C:» it the time of the transmiasi ,n ..t
said bills, or, at tlie tone when they w.-r<- p .ss- i
to the credit of tlio United States by the said na
vy xsrenls.
These resolu ions were agreed to without
op|> union.
I'o-njorrow being Christmas d»v, the
House adjourned to Wednesday—-5i’to
It may be said that this arrangement can
nattak.- place b cause West Floridais»
bpam h province, or an independent govern
ment. I o tins argument we reply, that Flo
nda as far as the Perdido, is as much Ur»
as u Louisiana, only that we h tve declined
occupying v We may calculate w„h moral
certain.y, that congress will not adjourn
without deciding on the future destiny of
1 Th 1 r'vi ‘S rheV Cannot sit longer 'ham
the 4 h of March, we shall, after that peri
od have ample'*,me to form a constitution,
and to present y to the next congress for
approbation and admission. or
In whateverl.gbt we view this bill we
hr.d It impolitic and exceptionable; and w*
have ton much confidence in the e ,nd 4 n«e
j.f ,ur legislature to suppose that They will,
v any precipratc act, commit the dignity
of the territory. 6 y
Perh ,ps hese remarks may not be rel
ished by our representative, if ,uci,
fortunately be the fact, wc shad lament i*
sincerely. To offend is dot our fntrnMon -
brt we should not discharge the-dutv of .n~
dependent editor,, were we *o fail censur
mg what wc think vrouM affect the hmor
and happiness of our fellow citizens. We
feel mediately concerned in every thing hat
interests the welfare of the nation; and.m
m /v'aT ct,?he,e‘ire(l ’neVery me:,sure that
, fTV u- P,f,sPemy of this territory.
Our little all is here, and we will assiduous
ly and firmly pursue that course we think
best calculated to promote the general pros
perity. ** H 5
HUMOUR-Lhasbcen rumoured for
a day or two past, that the people of Flori
da arc again inarms ; but for what purpose
is uot said. A letter from Gen. Thomas ?•
the editors, dated St. Francisville, lTih No
vember, is silent on the subject.
[II. Chronicle. ,
independent of tic principle of the metf*
sure, we are opposed to it from policy._—
It t.;c should unfor unatelv pass, con
g'ess will suppose that we mban to aWe
them into compliance, and will refuse our
application until we have the entire nonn.
Ia urn required by law-but if we a,lc
permission to call a cont ention as an act of
courtesy, they may prove more comply.
"'£• .aild we bR dispensed of several years
o. minority, and admitted as scon as w-r
have a' population that will entitle qs to re
present*'ion in co'igresa. We know that n.
c.nsiderabie degree of irritation exists ir\
Washing-.on ag-ui.st this territory—our de.
lS,Jc telis us that he has neither the ear
ot he executive or of congress——What
vi/i1- w-** t,le l} of this bill live?.
Will I. not tend *o increase the irritation i
udl it net decide congnibs to punish onr
temerity, by prolonging our renitori il ex
isteoce?
An evil of serious consequence, tha* will
inevitably grow - ut of the passage of S
b!.l*hS,nthiat thC exam!>le will be followed
b> the Orl a-,s territory, where open rc’ieL/
lion may be the consequence of congression
al non -compliance. Thu people of Orleans
would gladiy seize any pretext hat might
KH^nVr 7* ‘° S"1 rid “f check whfcE
the genei al government holds over them —
a. PWrument, whose benfift.es and
excellencies they have not intelligence to an
preciate, they sigh for the moment that is r»
Ami tn , t0 de,9tr°y evrr7 shade oE
Ameiican policy and government; and in
troduce the odious features f the French
monarchy, having already in fo.ee a great
par. of the .Napoleon code, under the ifnno
sing tale of *• a <ijeest of rivii i np?*
r ° . (ir civil laws now in
force in the territory of Orleans ” To conn*
teract this evil, the island of Orleans, life
tract of country lying between the Cliassa
liaand Mississippi rivers, West Florida, and
this territory, must form one stare. T.'ii*
arrangement would completely parnl *he
dangerous influence of- & Co. h- riv n^
the people the for,:, of government they Jk,
and to the state, a redundancy of AiericaD
popula ion. 7 iciican
M.xjtrr-A letter from the capital of tint
kiiwlom of the 15th Nov. who,, content* havo
l,ocn read to,, „J;;t JJSgjyjj;
i«k<-n place m the pporince of G.u.i Th<
.naop^m, were M by, p ivir, ,r,r„,
. »r«.e wir .a.na ofth 'army, who J-.J ja
l7Rr ’t-nolard „y thr. , of £,/?
H.tvmjr "eroiDf formidable |,y ;|le r
t.|«V commenced Ihelp oper -• hy irk ’
fie tow,, of Guanas.r.. ,v'i.. ,*
lendwJ UcjjUcj w,u -r
<0)oniejmr.
I -. ■ ---- --
OUR SOUTHERN FRONTIER.
NaTCHK!!, Nov. f?>.
; territorial legislature.
House of Representatives,
November -0.
Mr. Shaw, agreeably to his notice of yes
j terelay, offered a bill •* providing for, and
j authoring the call of a convention to draw
I'jp a constitution, preparatory to the ad.
; mission of this territory into the union us an
j independent state.”
November QG.
Call oka Convention —A bill is no\T
before the house of representative* ot this
territory, ►for the call of a convention, to
tom a state constitution. The convention
• *s 10 ™eet on the 4 h day of July nex*. and
proceed to the adoption of a constitution,
; which is to be presented to the next coa
ytess, and application to be made for ud
nncvinp infrt i js^ Miiinn
Hostile as weave to territorial govern*.
me''cannot view tins step inourle.
gisiatuve but with the nv»st serious concern,
j \/c look, upon it as an unwarrantable eser„
rise of piwer, incompatible with the spirit
,ot republicanism, ind dangerous to the ,,eace
I a,,J ti'ancju lity of the union A precedent
I once set, :s easily followed, and it does not
:tquire the sp rit of divination to foresee
that oilier territories wiil tread onr step,
an'! each claim a right of admission into
the union.
vre think it presumption in our rente—
| sentatives to set their judgments in opjVisi
tion to the wisdom of the nation, and if the
bill should pass, this inference is irresisti
ble: we deny to congress justice or libera.,
lay, and say, you would not authorise us
to call a convention, although legally en
titled to it. Should congress be thus illibe
ral and unjust, they will, it we form a con
stitution without permission, unquestiona
bly re 1 use us admission into the vt*iio 1.
How then are we to act ? Will we qii -tly
return to our condition ? or will we a .emiit
to coerce congress? If we consent to re
turn to the territorial grade, we had bet
ter not attempt the change; and if we per*
sist.in self government in defiance of law
and the expressed will of the nation, we
are apprehensive that nur conduct will be
construed into treason.