The Kentucke gazette (Lexington [Ky.]), 1788-11-29 00:00:00

K E N T U C K E G A Z E T T E
S A T U R D A Y, NOVEMBER 29, 1788
LEXINGTON: Printed by JOHN BRADFORD at his OFFICE in Main Street where Subscriptions, Advertisements, &c. for this paper, are thankfully received, and PRINTING in its different branches done with Care and Expedition.
36
MR. BRADFORD,
I AM preparing a petition to Congress to stop the freedom of the Press in this district. Every good peaceable citizen beholds with indignation, this (so much extol'd) bulwark of liberty, prostituted to such mischievous purposes, as the attempts of your Farmers, your Brutus's, your Poplicola's &c. to mislead the poor happy people of this district, into a belief that a separation from Virginia (and where her date, whisper it,) even from the grand continental union, would make us happy; and (shameful to reflect,) not a single man of sense has rais'd his pen to oppose them. The honest Cornplanter indeed, (a distant relation of mine,) has made a feeble attempt to underceive his Countrymen; but instead of receiving the thanks he merited, they stigmatized him with the contemptible epithet of "mischievous scribble;" and trumped up an ugly scandalous story, about a deserted wife and child; never reflecting that his wife might have been a scold; or that he perhaps, had no absolute demonstrative certainty that the child was his own. But what had that to do with the present question? I believe fir, it will appear that the Cornplanter had good reason for his conduct, if we find it to be as it is reported; viz that he was treated with the most flagrant violation of that respect, which one gentleman owes to another. The case is represented to be this; a the setting of the last Summers convention, he proposed an amendment to one of the resolves, in only a single word, (perhaps it was to substitute a which instead of a wherefore or some such important alteration:) then a second amendment, of nearly the same magnitude; and a third, as important as any of them; and not a gentleman out of about thirty present, had the complaisance to second, him, in any one instance of the three: and what gentleman of spirit, could ever afterward agree in opinion, with those who had once treated him with such intolerable neglect. But fir, they descend even to falsehood itself, for an insolent neighbour of mine, had the effrontery to tell me to my face a few days ago, that he believes him to be of the race of CAIN, (who, quarrelling with his brother, challenged him to single combat;) but (like our modern Kentucky duelists,) having no Sword or Pistols, without going to his neighbours to borrow,
"Smote him into the midriff with a stone"
Milton ingenious tells us,) and this opinion he endeavours to support, by the similarity of their names: the word Cain, (as he says signifying a "killer of the ground" which in modern Virginia English is CORNPLANTER: this however, will appear at first sight, to be a designed calumny none of that murderers race having been admitted into the Ark. I should not have dwelt so long on this subject, had I not been prompted by a charitable design to defend the character of an innocent person, from the aspersions of his adversaries; and I was induced to this the rather, as he himself has been so extremely modest, as to have carefully avoided touching upon any argument, either from reason, or fact, which might have reflected light on himself, his character, or principles: indeed I think he has been treated in the same haughty, and contemptuous manner, in which our proud and hot-headed WHIGS, have for some time, dar'd to treat the poor innocent TOBIES, and their kindred BRITISH OFFICERS.
I find too of a later date, a School boy, whom his master has taught to appear under the figure of Criticus, and who appears by the first part of his essay, to be entering on the rudiments of Philosophy; and is certainly a great genius for his age, possessed of an unbounded flow of language arranged with grammatical exactness; disposed in well turned periods; and dignified with an elegant Style. Alas! what pity that it conveys no meaning! But I think, (and this the Cornplanter too agrees in,) that his tutor ought to have whipped him for calling bad names, for having in the latter part, adapted his language wholly to an audience collected from Billingsgate, and its neighbouring brothels: I make this observation for
the sake of some serious people, whom it is our interest not to offend. But upon second thoughts, I conceive this part to have been supplementally tack'd to the Farmer, by CRAZY JIM himself; who perhaps, may not yet have perfectly recovered from the distraction subsequent to the loss of the "WOODEN STILL," poor man! should this be the case, I sincerely pity him: he is not withstanding all this, in his lucid intervals, a very good sensible sort of man; and it was certainly unpardonably ill-natured, to publish that vile anecdote; and were there no other reason but this alone, it were sufficient to stop the press, and indeed raise the printing house to the ground.
But I now sincerely retract, and beg leave to recall that rash and ill judged expression of no sensible men draining their pens in our favour. MAKE ROOM Here comes our most able advocate he is a man of middle age, and moderate, very moderate principles: and has so methodically, and judiciously divided his subject, into "firstly, secondly, and thirdly;" that I can hardly think of him, without the veneration due to some antiquated and unintelligible Divinity. His arguments are grand, astonishing, and unfathomable: and not necessarily, and absolutely convince every body. And though I confess, they are too sublime and abstracted, for me ever to be able to comprehend; yet he certainly felt the force of them in his own mind; and I revere them as some people do Greek and Latin, and for the same reason, that is, for not understanding a word of it. But to do myself justice, as well as him, this much I understand, that it was forty five years, from the day he was born, to the 29th day of October 1788: and this I may venture to affirm, that should he be fortunate enough to survive the illegal measures, that are to endanger the lives of thousands of our best friends, he may perhaps be older than he is at present: and I much lament that he had not assumed this subject five years ago: what fields of paper, and floods of ink had been saved to this district, where both are to deal. But I leave his arguments like porcupine quills, to their own defence; and shall only proceed to mention one of considerable weight, (which has never yet been made public; and which the gentlemen on the other side of the question, seem not to be aware of; and I wish you to publish it only in the papers of our friends,) which is this, Congress has ever paid peculiar attention, to such measures, as appeared best adapted to the purpose of establishing a permanent Government, over the united States: they have had a strict eye, to every thing, that seem'd calculated to aggrandize that Government, and endeavoured to put out of action; (the RISING GLORY of AMERICA, has been a favorite topic of declamation, from the lofty Statesman, to the grovelling peasant;) in order to this, it was necessary, to distinguish the characters, and abilities of men; and make a judicious use of such whose dispositions were best adapted to promote those salutary measures; and who, at the same time, had addresses enough to gain an ascendant over the people: we find they have been happy enough hitherto, to have escaped any considerable rub in their way to this important end: even the grand federal Constitution, tho' generally execrated, at its first appearance; has at last gone down pretty smoothly, and a certain time, and place, is fixed for the commencement of the annals of Aristocracy: and to we, can any reasonable man believe, that Gentlemen of character and ability, who have been instrumental to this happy Union, will be unrewarded; they have, more lately, refused (shall I say, or rather declined,) to ratify the compact entered into between the State of Virginia, and district of Kentucky; for reasons of State, good reasons (no doubt) known to themselves; our separatists are chagrined: now, at this important crisis, could we have the address, to lead the people into a tame submission to whatever ordinances, or resolves, shall from time to time issue from that honorable body, do you think we could possibly remain long ununited, after such important services? 'Tis true, they have at present no considerable funds; but there will
be places of trust, profit, and importance to fill; and shall those who endeavoured to withstand or counteract their measures, receive emoluments, and their best friends be neglected? A word to the wise is enough Let the happiness of future generations, be their care who has so much enthrall'd as to think of it; for my part, I am for the present hour; and leave futurity to provide for itself. And now a word or two with my brother FARMER; he too, it seems, is for a separation, and must have a pelt at the poor Cornplanter. He gives us a narrative of six Conventions, and I dare say a very true one; (for when I look for truth, it is from a farmer, and if I find it not there, I quit the search:) but what does he prove by it? Not that the people were ever agreed; for thirty five men are not the people: THE PEOPLE are ALL, THE PEOPLE: and while one man is dissatisfied, all the people are not agreed; and if not a single man, wife, or child in this district, was to dissent, excepting the Cornplanter, Valerius, and myself; it would lack three votes of being the compleat voice of the people. And I wish this were his worst blunder; but it is not fir: he calls upon the revenue of Officers, to carry that law into execution: this surprised me; I had attended to his reasonings, and from his being a Farmer, had hoped, that he perhaps, was a man of as much sense as M. Cornplanter, or myself; but how was I deceived! To call for a Tax! Did ever any man in his senses, wish his money to be taken from him? Is it not evident, that the more money we have the richer we are? And every thing taken from us in tax, leaves us a shilling poorer than we were before: and is not this the very reason, why the Cornplanter, myself, and every good man will never separate from Virginia; he has never made us pay any tax, and we hope never will. By this time, I expect Mr. Farmer is convinced of his mistake, and that he will retract his address, to the Assembly of Virginia, (for as to an address to the Convention, 'tis all a farce we have deprived them of receiving the enormous "full power" they so insatiably gaped after: and from a Convention, without power, we have nothing to fear.
But there are still other reasons for suppressing some of your future publications: the convention has had one meeting, in which we all hoped, that is the Cornplanter and myself, that the goodness of our cause, togeth with the eloquence of our Orators, the will of the people, but more especially their fears, which we had previously taken care, by every means, to work up to the highest pitch, the idea of subjection to Spain, which had diffused itself far beyond our most sanguine hopes, the amazing affidavit we had exerted, even to the dregs and lowest steps of bribery, (viz: grog,) to elect members of our own opinion; the formidable, and terrific reasonings; and above all, our having prevented their receiving that dangerous "full power," which the former convention, (supposing no doubt, that they themselves would be elected,) were so assiduous to procure: we trusted that probably any of the e, but inevitably all of them collectively, would have kick'd all thoughts of a separation out of doors, and secured to us, an everlasting Union with Virginia, and subjection to the United States: then indeed we might have been graciously privileged to have "looked forward, to the happy rising glory of America," though we had never been permitted to share in it; but alas! what have they done? They have, after all our pains, taken the subject into consideration: consideration implies reasoning; and of reasoning on that subject, we too well know the consequence.
Yet still there is hope: the matter is to come before the people; and it is necessary that the people should be disposed to hear reason as well as the speaker to pronounce it, or it will avail but little: But should they even be convinced, there is a certain pride in the mind of man, which makes it appear too humiliating to mankind, to give up an opinion they have once warmly espoused: this is an acknowledgment that they were mistaken, and that there were others of superior discernment; which no man of spirit will ever sub-

Sir to: This (together with our old friend grog,) is our last and never-failing refuge. But I have departed from my subject, I was going to say, that (no doubt,) these things would come to your press, pompously set off, in the most ostentatious light, which, if you publish, there will then be the most irrefragable reason for silencing your press. But Sir, if you, will without fail, publish this, with whatsoever comes from our party, and will not on any any account whatsoever, publish any Cards, Anecdotes, Essays, &c. from our adversaries, the Philopatria's, the Candidus's, the Brutus's, &c. We will forgive what is past; will not petition to Congress demolish your press; but will write as much and as fast as we can, to keep you in business; and give you leave to procure as many subscriptions as you can, to pay you for your trouble.
I am Sir the Cornplanters and Your humble Servant
HEZEKIAH STUBBLEFIELD.
P.S. I intend to suspend my petition 'till I see how you behave.
L O N D O N, July 25.
Private letters from France informs us, that the Spaniards are now employed in building two entire new forts upon the river Mississippi, near the Orleans, for what purpose, except to dispute the future navigation of this river, it is difficult to guess. Copy of a note inserted in the Petersburg Gazette, by order of the Empress of Russia, on the 18th of July
"The King of Sweden by commencing hostilities on his side, having broke the peace which subsisted between the Empire of Russia and the Crown of Sweden, has sent to the legation who resides here on his part a note of transmit to the imperial Minister of Russia. In this note the King alleges many improper and false motives which urged him to the necessity of arming for a war; and he subsists by proposing conditions which he requires to establish peace. These conditions are as follows:
"1st. That the Count de Raimosky, Minister of the Empress, shall be exemplarily punished, for having made use of all sorts of illicit means to trouble the friendship, trust, and good understanding among the people, and that by this example others may be prevented from ever meddling in the domestic affairs of an independent kingdom.
"2d. That to indemnify him for his war expenses, her Imperial Majesty shall cede in perpetuity to the King, all that part of Finland and of Carelia, with the government and town of Kholm in the same state, as those countries were abandoned to Russia by the treaties of peace made at Nystadt and Abo, and that Susterbe shall in future be deemed the frontier.
"That her Imperial Majesty shall except the mediation of the King of Sweden to effect a peace with the Ottoman Porte, and that she shall authorize the King to propose to the Porte, "the absolute cession of the Crimea and the demarcation of limits conformable the treaty of peace made in 1774." That in case the King cannot engage the Porte to make peace on these conditions, it shall be proposed to the latter to regulate the limits as they were before the war of 1788; and that for surety of these sacrifices, her Imperial Majesty shall disarm her fleet; that she shall recall from the Baltic the ships sent there, as well as the troops of the new and conquered provinces; and that she shall consent that the King of Sweden shall remain armed until peace is concluded between Russia and the Porte.
"At the end of the note he adds, "That the King of Sweden is waiting for an answer, Yes or No, and that he will abate nothing in the above conditions."
"It is left to the impartial and enlightened world to judge of the value of such propositions. In consequence, by order of her Imperial Majesty it was signified by the General in Chief, Count de Bruce, commander of this city, to Mr. Schlat, who acts as secretary of the Swedish legation here, and who delivered the above note.
"That he quits this place as soon as possible with all the legations and the couriers that his court had sent to him, and that they retire immediately without the Russian frontiers."
August 11. Basiko, the messenger to England, arrived in London from Berlin on Sunday last, and was dispatched at five o'clock to his majesty a Cheltenham, although the regular messenger was to set off express by the mail-coach, as usual, at six the same night. Upon his return a Council was held; and the messenger was immediately dispatched for Berlin.
Since which, we are informed by our Correspondent in Holland, that orders have actually been given by the Danish Government, for supplying their ally, the Empress of Russia, with the naval and military force, as stipulated by the subsisting treaty between Denmark and the Court of Petersburg, which has
been formally announced to the Swedish minister at Copenhagen, by order of the Prince Royal.
Upon receiving this very unwelcome piece of news, the Swedish Ambassador at the Court of Denmark dispatched the same evening two couriers - one to the King his master, in Finland; the other to Berlin.
August 12. The report of Denmark's naval preparation in aid of the Empress of Russia, is also fully confirmed by the foreign Gazettes, received yesterday; and it is confidently said, that some Russian men of war, of considerable force, are ordered round from Archangel to the Baltic, where they are to join the Russian Squadron already assembled and with the men of war which Denmark is to furnish, will form altogether a fleet of fourteen sail of the line, besides frigates, which is to proceed with all possible dispatch to cope with the Swedish fleet.
The Russian man of war taken by the Swedes, is La Jenekil of 72 guns: the Russian ship sunk in the engagement, is La Poticarque of 68 guns.
The Swedish man of war missing after the engagement when the fleet went for Helsingjors, but whether taken or lost is not yet certain, is the Prince Gustave, commanded by Captain Wachmeister, and was the van ship at the beginning of the combat.
Extract of a letter from Petersburg, dated August 6
"As soon as the Prince Potemkin arrived with the Imperial army near Oczakow, and had reconnoitered the place, he found that the ships which had retired in the proceeding combat, and especially the galleys that carried large pieces of cannon, would be in a state to impede our army from approaching the fort, to bombard it. In consequence of which he gave commission to the Prince of Nassau Siegen, to attack those vessels, which he accordingly did in the night between the 11th and 12th of July, with an extraordinary courage and intrepidity. The fight lasted eight hours, under the cannon of the place. The enemy's vessels were sunk: we took one galley, and the others having suffered from our fire, were forced to run ashore on the coast. In order to support our fleet, and divide the enemy's attention, the Prince Potemkin made at the same time a false tack on the land. The light troops of the advanced guard surrounded the town. The corps of chasseurs of Livonia occupied the garden, and covered our battery, which was at the point of the entrenchment, and so near the town, that we could hear the explosion of the cartridges. Our artillery, although not supported better than when exercised, silenced the cannon of the enemy, and we left only one attendant of them, who was killed with his horse near the battery.
During the action the prince Repnin, and General Dogorucki, as also Lieutenant General Potemkin, who commanded the troops employed on this expedition, were at the battery, accompanied by Count Branicki, Great General of Poland, and the Prince de Ligne. The Brigadier Verkonski, commandant of the chasseurs, distinguished himself with great ability in elevating the cannon. After the destruction of the enemy's vessels, the fleet directed their fire against the town with such success, that the upper part is nearly reduced to ashes. The enemy lost on this occasion 2 frigates of 60 guns each, a brig of 10 guns, and a Kirlanguitsch of 22; a bomb-galley, with a mortar and 4 pieces of cannon; 5 fifty-oared galleys, with a 36 and 4 twelve pounders; besides two transports, with 80 pounds of gunpowder; a gun boat with one 24 and one 12 pounder. Total 100 pieces of cannon."
ALEXANDER AND JAMES PARKER. Will open a large and general assortment of
MERCHANDIZE,
At their Store in Lexington, on Wednesday next which they will dispose of on reasonable terms for Cash or Tobacco. Viz.
SUPERFINE broad Russia sheeting. Cloaths, assorted. Cotton holland. Scarlet ditto. Apron and yard wide checks. Second do. assorted. Marcellies quilting. Coarse do. do. Salk for gowns. Coatings assorted. Chintzes assorted. Cloak cloaths. Cotton callicoes assorted. Buff Cassimer. Linen ditto assorted. Fearnought and Negro Shalloons and durants. cottons. Camblets & call manco. Indian and bed blankets. Lawn apron patterns. Jeans and Fustians. Striped & plain lawns. Velveteers assorted. Book muslin. Cordurets. Mullin and cambricks. Black everlasting. Mose and persians. Moseen. Silk and gauze handkerchiefs. Irish dowlas. Lawn, cotton & linen do. Irish linens assorted. Scotch shirting.
Gauses assorted. Ribbands and tape. Tapes and bindings. Silk and thread lace. Cotton worsted and thread hose Mens & womens gloves, Silk and worsted mitts. Sewing silk and twift. Coarse and fine thread, Garters and stay laces. Buckram and catgut. Baize and flannels. Mens and Womens beaver hats, Fur and wool do. Coat and waistcoat buttons assorted Shoe and knee buckles. Tobacco & snuff boxes. Table and Tea spoons, Knives and forks. Carving knives and forks. Butcher and pen knives. Taylors shears & scissors. Leather, paper and brass ink stands Wool shears and muffers. Brass & iron candlesticks. Razors and shoemakers knives Cloaths and sweeping brushes. Crooked combs. Coarse & fine do. Sugar tong & nutmeg graters. Men & womens shoes. Girt & double buckles Girt and staining web. Curband (snaffle bridle bits. Men & womens stirrup irons. Staples and plates for saddles. Saddlers tack assorted. Pins and needles, Rob & pad locks. Chest cupboard and drawer do. Stock and saddlebag ditto. Desk mounting. H & HL hinges. Cupboard and chest hinges. Bolts assorted. Tea table ketches. Knob and thumb latches. Screw augres assorted. Coffsels & gouges do. Turners tools & wheel irons. Files and plane bits Wood screws and sprigs. Saws assorted. Curry combs & drawing knives, Gimblets and Jews harps  Smoothing irons and frying pan. 6d. 8d. 10d. brads 20d. nails Cotton and wool cards. Slates & compasses. Grid irons, Writing paper. Playing cards. Bibles and hymn books. Watt's psalms. English and Dutch testaments. Spelling books & primers. Wafers and ink powder. Paste boards. Loaf and muscovado sugar. Hylon, fouschong & bohea tea. Coffee & chocolate. Cinnamon Pepper, allspice and ginger. Cloves, nutmegs, Raisins, mustard, Madder, logwood, Red wood. Indigo, coperas allum Brimstone & rosin, Chalk & castle soap. Powder, bar lead and drop shot Window glass. Looking glasses. China tea cups and saucers. Coffee ditto, Delf dishes assorted, Soup and shallow queens ware plates, Bowls and mugs assorted, Tea cups & saucers, Tea pots assorted, Coffee pots and cream jugs, Pepper castors, Salt cellars and mustard pots, Tumblers assorted, Wine glasses, Quar. and pint decanters, Tin coffee pots, Large and small pans Gallon and quart measures, Tin cups, Wine, spirits, Lined oyl, Blue & green paint, &c. &c. &c.
TWO DOLLARS REWARD.
STRAYED away from this place about the 10th of October a bright sorrel Mare, fourteen hands and a half high, rising four years old, branded on the near shoulder I not dockt, paces and trots, light made; whoever delivers the said mare to the Printer hereof shall receive the above reward.
DAVID MERRELL
Lexington Nov. 27, 1788.
NOTICE
A very large company will meet at the Craborchard on the ninth of next month in order to set out the day after on their way through the Wilderness. It is hoped that each man will be armed with a good gun & not depend upon others to defend them.