The Providence journal, and town and country advertiser (Providence [R.I.]), 1800-05-21 00:00:00

The Providence Journal.
AND
TOWN AND COUNTRY ADVERTISER.
Published on WEDNESDAYS, by JOHN CARTER, JUN. Printer of the LAWS of the UNITED STATES for the State of RHODE-ISLAND, &c. At the NEW PRINTING-OFFICE, West Side of the great Bridge, PROVIDENCE.
[ No. 73. ]
WEDNESDAY, May 21, 1800.
[ Vol. II. ]
PROVIDENCE May 21.
ON Wednesday the 7th inst. the General Election for this state, was held at Newport, when the following gentlemen were elected to the offices annexed to their respective names, viz.
His Excellency AUTHUR FENNER , Esquire, Governor. The Honourable SAMUEL J. POTTER , Esquire, Lieutenant-Governor.
JOHN INNES CLARK , NOAH MATTHEWSON , JONATHAN CROMSTOCK , JOHN COOKE , JAMES CONGDON , THOMAS HOSSIE , NICHOLAS TAYLOR , JOE WATSON , JOHN HARRIS , and TIMOTHY WILMARSH , Esquires, Senators.
SAMUEL EDDY , Esq. Secretary. JAMES BURLILL jun. Esq. Attorney-General. HENRY SHERBURN , Esq. General-Treasurer.
The Hon. WILLIAM BRADFORD , Esq. was chosen Speaker, and WILLIAM MARCHANT , Esq. Clerk of the House of Representatives.
WILLIAM ALLEN , Esq. was chosen Sheriff for the county of Providence, in place of Nehemiah Knight , Esq. resigned.
The following is a statement of votes in the several towns for Lieutenant-Governor, and 3d Senator.
   Lieutenant-Governor. 3d Senator.   Potter. Brown. Comstock. Greene.    Newport, 166 92 156 96  Providence, 28 457 27 457  Portsmouth, 69 8 69 9  Warwick, 52 103 24 131  Wickford, 147 11 116 37  N. Scituate, 54 6 54 6  N. Kingstown, 118 81 119 81  S. Kingstown, 81 151 91 140  E. Greenwich, 46 45 47 418  Jamestown, 13 15 20  Smithfield, 46 62 52 56  Scituate, 112 16 112 16  Glocester, 106 78 105 79  Charlestown, 85 9 85 10  W. Greenwich, 127 7 125 6  Coventry, 75 83 66 81  Exeter, 91 48 94 44  Middletown, 44 14 44 14  Bristol, 9 22 9 22  Tiverton, 78 5 78 5  L. Compston, 18 81 12 81  Warren, 38 40 37 41  Cumberland, 15 79 14 80  Richmond, 79 30 72 36  Cranston, 63 18 58 17  Hopkinton, 42 80 42 80  Jackson, 69 28 68 29  N. Providence, 6 58 5 58  Barrington, 3 36 3 36  Foster, 123 24 123 24  Total, 1996 1791 1933 1821  
List of the House of Representatives.
 Those in Italics are new members.  Newport, George Champlin, Archibald Crary, Daniel Sheldon, Benjamin Russell , Walter Channing, William Hunter.  Providence, John Smith, William Rhodes, Thomas P. Ives, David L. Barnes.  Portsmouth, Abraham Anthony, Tillinghast Almy, Thomas Potter, Peleg Almy.  Warwick, James Rhodes, William Rice, Christopher Greene, George Greene.  Wickford, Thomas Noyes, Christopher Babcock .  New Shoreham, John Sands, Robert G. Sands.  North Kingstown, George Thomas, Beriah Waite.  South Kingstown, Elisha R. Potter, John B. Dockray.  East Greenwich, Benjamin Tillinghast, Oliver Wickes.  Jamestown, Jonathan F. Hazard, Robert H. Watson.  Smithfield, William Mowry, Ezekiel Comstock.  Scituate, James Aldrich, Eliza Mathewson .  Glocester, Asa Bartol, Peleg Almy, John B. Bartol.  Charlestown, Peleg Rice, jun. Edward Wilson.  West Greenwich, Job Spencer, Samuel Gardner.  Coventry, Joseph Rice, Job Mathewson .  Exeter, Oliver Arnold, Lillibridge Barber.  Middletown, Samuel Manchester, Easton Bailey.  Bristol, William Bradford, James D. Wolf.  Tiverton, Nathaniel Briggs, Joseph Dufresne .  L. Compston, John Davis, Andrew Taylor.  Warren, John T. Child, Joseph Adams.  Cumberland, David Sayles, John Walcott.  Richmond, Thomas James, James Sheldon.  Cranston, John Mowry, Richard Knight, jun.  Hopkinton, James Wells, Jeremiah Thurston.  Jackson, Edward Manton, William Waterman.  N. Providence, Jonathan Treadwell, Stephen Abbott.  Barrington, Isaac Humphrey, jun. Jeremiah Bowen.  Foster, Daniel Howard, Stephen Davis. 
On Thursday morning of last week, both Houses assembled in grand committee, and proceeded to the election of civil and military officers for the ensuing year, when the following gentlemen were elected.
Those in Italics are new officers.
 Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.  Peleg Arnold, Chief, Ezekiel Gardner, 2d, Walter Cooke, 3d, Joshua Brown, 4th, Thomas Holden, 5th.  Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, &c.  Newport, Constant Taber, Chief, Benjamin Gardner, 2d, Perez Richmond, 3d, William Anthony, 4th, Nicholas Carr, 5th.  Providence, Cady Harris, Chief, John Burton, 2d, John Dorrance, 3d, Arnold Paine, 4th, Daniel Howard, 5th.  Warwick, Joseph Root, Chief, Robert Stanton, 2d, Thomas T. 3d, William Hammond, 4th, John Waite, 5th.  Bristol, Samuel Allen, Chief, William Barton, 2d, Josiah Finney, 3d, Joseph Reynolds, 4th, Ichabod Cole, 5th.  Kent, Thomas Rice, Chief, Benjamin Johnson, 2d, Stephen Greene, 3d, Jacob Greene, 4th, William Greene, 5th.  Clerks of the Supreme Judicial Court.  Newport, William V. King.  Providence, Paul Allen.  Warwick, James Helme, jun.  Bristol, Jonathan Russell.  Kent, Andrew Root.  Clerks of the Court of Common Pleas, &c.  Newport, Robert Rogers.  Providence, James Fenner.  Warwick, Samuel E. Gardner.  Bristol, Richard Smith, jun.  Kent, Hopkins Cooke.  Sheriffs.  Newport, Edward Thurston.  Providence, William Allen.  Warwick, Walter White.  Bristol, Richard Smith.  Kent, Jonathan Niles.  Public Notaries.  Newport, Christopher Ellery.  Providence, Samuel Chace, and George R. Burrill.  Warwick, George Thomas.  Bristol, Richard Smith, jun.  Kent, Hopkins Cooke.  Wickford, Charles Horton and Hopkinton, Samuel Brown.  Warren, William T. Miller. 
Justices of the Peace for Providence.
 Samuel Chace, William Richmond, William Tyler, 2d, William Jones, Wheeler Martin, Obadiah Brown, Paul Allen, James Utter Arnold, Nathan W. Jackson, Samuel Thurston, jun.  Militia Officers.  Simeon Martin, Major-General.  Brigadier-Generals.  Newport and Bristol, Thomas Allin.  Providence, William Allen.  Washington, James Updike.  Kent, Isaac Johnson.  Dr. Benjamin Mason, Surgeon-General and Physician-General, and Director and Purveyor-General of the military hospital of the State.  William Earned, Quartermaster-General.  Charles Lippitt, Commissary-General.  Ebenezer Burrill, Adjutant-General.  Capt. Malbone's company of Artillery, and Capt. Spooner's company of Newport Guards, performed the military honours at election. 
Congress of the United States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, May 8.
THE bill intituled an act to make further provision for the orphan children of Col. John Harding, and the orphan daughter of Major Alexander Treeman, deceased, was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Dennis obtained leave of absence for the remainder of the session.
Mr. Harper brought in a bill to retain a further sum on drawback, for the expenses incident to the allowance and payment thereof, and a lieu on the stamp duties on debentures—and a bill to lay additional duties on certain articles imported, which were respectively read a first and second time, and ordered to be read a third time to-day. The bills were then engrossed, read a third time, and passed.
Mr. S. from the committee of commerce and manufactures, to whom was referred the bill from the Senate, to permit the exportation of certain parcels of gun-powder, muskets and cutlasses, made report, the said bill ought not to pass. The question was then put—Shall the bill pass? and resolved in the negative.
Mr. Speaker laid before the House a letter inclosing a report from James M'Henry, Oliver Wolcott, and James Steele, Esquires, on the subject of the Canadian and Nova-Scotia refugees.
The report was referred to the select committee heretofore appointed on that subject—on the part of whom, Mr. Gallatin immediately brought in a bill regulating the grants of land appropriated for the refugees from the provinces of Canada and Nova-Scotia—which was read a first and second time, and committed for to-day.
The House proceeded to consider the report of the managers appointed to confer with managers on the part of the Senate, on the subject of the disagreeing votes of both Houses to the bill supplementary to the act for an amicable settlement of limits with the state of Georgia, and authorizing the establishment of a government in the Mississippi territory; when the report was concurred in.
Mr. Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Treasurer of the United States, inclosing his accounts of the war and navy departments, ending the 31st March, 1800.
Ordered to be printed.
The House went into committee of the whole on the bill making certain additional appropriations for the year 1800—Mr. Parker in the chair; when the resolution referred to this committee, making certain additional appropriations for fortifications, was agreed to, and a section for that purpose added to the bill. By this bill 2200 dollars are appropriated for defraying the expenses incurred by both Houses in doing honour to the memory of General WASHINGTON; to the Choctaw nation of Indians, 2000 dollars; for the reimbursement of monies advanced by consuls of the United States in defending captured property of citizens of the United States in foreign countries, 5000 dollars; for defraying costs of prosecution before the court of appeals in England, 44,000 dollars; for expenses of Indians visiting the seat of government, 7500; for additional compensation to officers of both Houses, 1500; for expenses incident to the establishment of the general stamp office, and salary of superintendent thereof, &c. 4000; for expenses incident to the establishment of the Indian territory, including salary of governor, judges, &c. thereof, 4000; for expenses incident to the establishment of the Indian territory, including salary of governor, judges, &c. thereof, 4000 dollars; for exploring copper-mines on Lake Superior, 1500; and for fortifications, 100,000 dollars.
Mr. Claiborne moved a new section to the bill, authorizing the grant of 925 dollars to John Pitchylinn, as compensation for his services as interpreter on the part of the United States to the Choctaw nation of Indians, treaty of Hopewell, authorized by the confederation.
This section, after some debate, was agreed to—the committee then rose, the House concurred, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed a third reading to-morrow.
Mr. Griswold, from the committee appointed on the 20th March last, to examine the
amount of the public debt, expenditures of the present government, &c. made a report, which was ordered to be printed, to the number of 500 copies.
Mr. H. Lee, from the select committee appointed to consider what measures it would be proper for Congress to adopt, for paying suitable respect to the memory of the Man first in Peace, first in War, and first in the hearts of his countrymen—the deceased General Washington—made report, recommending the adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the resolution of Congress passed in the year 1783, respecting an Equestrian Statue of Gen. Washington, be carried into immediate execution; and that the statue be placed in the centre of an area to be formed in front of the capitol.
Resolved, That a marble monument be erected by the United States in the capitol at the city of Washington, in honour of General Washington, to commemorate his services, and to express the regrets of the American people for their irreparable loss.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to give such directions as may appear to him proper to carry the preceding Resolutions into effect—and that for the present the sum of 100,000 dollars be appropriated for these purposes.
The resolutions were referred to a committee of the whole House, and immediately taken into consideration—Mr. Parker in the chair—when
Mr. Harper moved to amend the first Resolution, by inserting, that a MAUSOLEUM be erected for General Washington, in the city of Washington—instead of the statue proposed—which was carried—the other resolutions were negatived of course.
The committee then rose, and the resolution as amended by Mr. Harper was agreed to by the House, and a bill ordered to be brought in pursuant thereto.
Further Report
Of the Committee of Ways and Means, of the House of Representatives of the United States, on the subject of the Revenue.
Referred to a Committee of the whole House.
The Committee of Ways and Means, having, in a former report, wherein they recommended a loan of 3 millions and an half for the service of the present year, adverted to the propriety of providing permanent revenues, equal to the interest of the debt to be incurred, and to the gradual and timely extinguishment of the principal, now beg leave to call the attention of the House again to that important subject; on which they submit the following
REPORT:
THE first point which presented itself for the consideration of the committee, in examining this subject, was, "the amount to which it would be proper to establish additional revenue at this time." This must depend on the present and future increase of permanent expenditure, compared with the probable amount of permanent revenue, from existing taxes.
When Congress, in the year 1798, was compelled, by the continued aggressions of a foreign power, to commence active and extensive preparations for defence, by sea and land, the ordinary expenditure of the government, including the interest of the public debt, the payment on account of the principal, and an adequate allowance for occasional grants and incidental expenses, was something less than seven million of dollars. No increase of any consequence has been made in this expenditure, since that time; except what was occasioned by the interest of the debt, which the measures necessary for the defence of the country forced Congress to contract. As this debt amounts to five millions, at 8 per cent. the increase on that account is 400,000 dollars.
The continuation of those measures, for some time longer, have rendered it necessary, in the opinion of the House, to contract a further debt of three millions and an half, for the present year; that measure, if ultimately adopted and carried into effect on the same terms with the former, which may perhaps be found unavoidable, will induce a further increase of 280,000 dollars, in the ordinary expenditure of the government; making, in the whole, an increase of 680,000 dollars for the interest of new loans.
It is known that at the beginning of next year, a further addition of about 1,200,000 dollars must be made to the ordinary expenditure, for the interest and extinguishing annuity of the deferred debt; and that in 1802, the payments on the foreign debt will be larger, by one million, than in the present year. In 1803 and those payments, will be increased to two beyond their present amount; but after that they will gradually diminish; and they will finally cease, by the extinction of the debt.
The committee however, though they have not it useful to extend their view to this more remote increase of expenditure, are of opinion, that it is not necessary for Congress to make provision now on that subject. No part of this increase will take place till two years
hence; and before that period arrives, Congress will have a better view of the political and financial situation of the country than at present, and will be better able to judge respecting the means of meeting the exigency. But yet, the certainty of this future increase proves the necessity of providing, as far as can be conveniently done, for that which has already taken place, or must soon happen; so that the burthen may be divided between different periods, and as little as possible may be left to be done hereafter.
Neither do the committee think it necessary to make provision, during the present session, for the deferred debt. The political situation of the country is now far more uncertain, than in all probability it will be at the next meeting of Congress. Should it change for the better, as there is reason to hope, the augmentation now to be made, together with the increase of revenue which we may reasonably expect, from our present system, may be sufficient, with some small aids, for defraying this additional expense. If, on the contrary, our situation should remain the same, still we shall have more experience than we now possess, of the operation of our present system, and of the effect of the war on our commerce, and our revenue. The preparatory arrangements, moreover, for an amelioration and enlargement of our system will then be completed, or in a much more advanced state than at present. We shall, consequently, be then in a better situation than we now are, for judging whether a further augmentation will be necessary, to what extent it must be carried, and how it may best be made.
It is only for the interest of the loans of the present and last years, therefore, and for a sum equal to the reimbursement of the principal, within a convenient time, that the committee would propose to make provision, during the present session of Congress.
That interest, at the highest calculation, will amount to 680,000 dollars. It is known that an extinguishing annuity, or a sinking fund, equal to two per cent. on the principal of a debt, will, if steadily applied, extinguish it in about twenty-four years. This is the plan heretofore adopted by Congress, for the extinguishment of the six per cent. stock; and the committee conceive that it may safely be adhered to, in all arrangements for a similar purpose; it appearing certain, that while adequate provision is made for the punctual discharge, within so short a period, of every new engagement, there can be but little reason to apprehend a dangerous or inconvenient accumulation of debt.
This annuity of two per cent. on the loans of the last and present years, admitting the latter to be fixed at 3,500,000 dollars, will amount to 170,000 dollars, and added to the amount of interest, will produce an aggregate expenditure of 850,000 dollars annually, for 24 years. As this annuity, however, by the terms of the former loan, which are likely to be found necessary in the present also, cannot, until the end of ten years, be applied to the discharge of this particular debt, it must be employed, should Congress think fit to raise it, in the purchase of the public debt, in general, by way of sinking fund. The committee are of opinion, that every consideration of sound policy, and the best established principles of financial economy, are in favour of raising it.
At the period above referred to, the summer of 1798, the government possessed a revenue of something more than eight millions of dollars; derived from the duties on imports and tonnage; the tax on domestic distilled spirits and stills, on retailers' licences, on refined sugar, on carriages, and on sales at auction; the postage of letters; and dividends of bank stock belonging to the United States, and some other less considerable branches of revenue. As the ordinary expenditure, at that time, was less than seven millions, there was a balance of a million and upwards in favour of the Treasury.
Had the revenue continued equally productive in the subsequent year, 1799, there would have been no need of further provision at this time, since the above mentioned balance would have been more than sufficient to cover the increase of permanent expenditure. But that was not the case. The duties on imports and tonnage, which, in 1798 produced dol. 7,475,420; fell, in 1799, to dol. 6,437,886, a diminution of very nearly one million; and although the stamp duties, and perhaps the other branches of internal revenue, were more productive in that year than in the former; yet that increase, amounting to only dol. 200,000, was far from sufficient to counterbalance the diminution in the imports and tonnage.
It is not, however, to be apprehended, in the opinion of the Committee, that the diminution in question will be permanent. On the contrary, they suppose it to have resulted from two causes, of a temporary nature; first, the extensive depreciations on our commerce, which took place in 1796, 1797, and 1798, especially the two former; the full effect whereof was not felt in the revenue till 1799, because it was in that year that the duties on the imports of 1798 became payable; and secondly, the great re-exportation of foreign commodities in 1799, which amounted to dol. 45,523,335, exceeding by dol. 12,000,000 those of any former year; and which drew from the Treasury very

great sums in drawbacks. As this branch of the revenue is bottomed on the consumption of the country, which, notwithstanding occasional fluctuations, has a constant progressive increase with the increase of population and wealth, the committee conceive that it may be expected soon to regain its former level, and gradually to augment. In proof of which they remark, that the first quarter of the present revenue year, the returns of which are before the House, exceeds in product the first quarter of the last year, or of 1797, and very nearly equals that of 1798.
This event, however, though highly probable, at it seems to them, being still uncertain, and the revenue, in its present state, being unequal to the increased scale of expenditure, resulting from the interest of this and the last years loans, and to a reasonable provision for deficiencies, and for the extinguishment of the principal; the committee conceive it proper, and even indispensable, to provide, at present, for the additional sum of dollars 850,000 at the least—more they think will not now be necessary.
Having come to this conclusion, as to the amount of the sum which it would be expedient to provide for at this time, they next turned their attention to the ways and means for making the provision.
As the official situation of the Secretary of the Treasury gives him more exact and extensive information on the subject of revenue than any other person can be supposed to possess; and enables him to form the most correct opinions respecting the probable operation and comparative merits of different schemes of taxation; the committee thought it proper to address their enquiries, in the first instance, to him, and to wait for the result of his deliberations before they should decide. For this purpose was written the letter, of which a copy (No. 1) is subjoined to this report.
In his answer, which, together with the statements therein referred to (No. 2) is also hereto annexed, the Secretary proposes to augment the duties on several kinds of wine; to raise those articles which now pay a duty of 10 per centum ad valorem, to 12 1-2 per cent. and to make a new arrangement respecting drawbacks on goods re-exported; the effects of which would be to impose a tax from about 15 to 18 per centum of their whole amount, on the drawbacks now allowed. This effect would be produced by refusing altogether the drawback on certain articles, which are enumerated in the paper C, accompanying the Secretary's letter; and by withholding a greater or less part of it, on a variety of other articles, in the manner stated in the paper B, referred to in the same letter.
The Secretary has informed the committee, that he expects from these three measures, should they be adopted, an addition to the revenue of about dollars 900,000 annually. But he has not stated what part of this addition he expects from each measure separately. The two first he proposes to make perpetual. The third, the tax on drawbacks, he would continue no longer than during the present war in Europe.
When they proceeded to the examination of this plan, they found no difficulty as to that part of it which relates to the augmentation of duties.
Wines, indeed, are now highly taxed; but being a mere luxury, which is consumed solely by people in affluent or easy circumstances, they appear to be a very proper object of revenue; and it is not apprehended, that a moderate increase of the duty would diminish the consumption, or endanger smuggling. This reasoning, as the committee conceive, will be confirmed by a statement of the amount of duties on wines, which is annexed to this report (No. III.) and from which it appears, that from 1794 to 1797, inclusive, the nett product of these duties has increased from dollars 457,308, to dollars 524,135, although no additional duty has been laid during that period. The returns for 1798 are too incomplete to be taken into the calculation. During the latter part of that period, indeed, there has been a fall in this product, as in that of many other branches of the revenue; but it appears from the average, that this fall is more than counterbalanced by the rise in the former part, and the committee conceive, that such fluctuations, arising from accidental and transient causes, are always to be expected; and that the average of a number of years can alone afford a safe criterion whereby to judge on subjects of this kind.
It is, moreover, to be observed, that the duties on wines have hitherto been injudiciously laid, so as to produce a strong temptation to enter high priced wines which pay a very high duty, under the names of those of a low price, whereon the duty is comparatively low. There is reason to believe, as the committee are informed by the Secretary of the Treasury, that much loss to the revenue has already been experienced from this cause. The plan contained in his new tariff (the paper B.) proposes to remove this cause by a different adjustment of loss by a different adjustment of the duties in question.
As the average product of the duties on wines appears by the statement (No. III.) to be upwards of dollars 600,000, an addition of 20 per cent. on the amount of the present duty, would produce dollars 120,000. This addition, it is conceived, might be safely made in the manner proposed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
As to the articles paying a duty of ten per cent. ad valorem, which are very numerous, and of great value, including all woollen goods, white cottons and nankenees, with other articles of less importance, the committee are of opinion, with the Secretary of the Treasury, that an additional duty of two and an half per centum on the value of the articles may safely be laid on them. The present duties on all articles paying a rate per centum ad valorem, of which the 10 per cent. constitutes a great proportion, probably two-thirds, were fixed in 1792, except a few, which were raised from 10 to 12 1-2 per cent. in 1797; and they produced their full effect in 1793; from the end of which latter year, until the end of 1798, the nett product of those duties rose from dollars 2,319,817, to dollars
2,717,557, as appears by a statement (No. IV.) which is subjoined to this report.
The increase, indeed, must probably have been greater; as the returns for the last mentioned year, 1798, are very incomplete; two quarters being wanting from Philadelphia, as many from Charleston, and four from Savannah; which deficiencies will probably be found to have produced a greater deduction from the product in 1798, than can have been made up for, by the additional duties laid in 1797. This progressive increase, notwithstanding the intermediate fluctuation, appears to the committee to prove, satisfactorily, that the importation of the articles in question is not injuriously affected by the present duty; which may, therefore, be safely augmented to the amount proposed.
There is another consideration on this head, which is conceived to be of great weight. These articles are all imported from distant places on general freight, and in ships of great value; which circumstances so much increase the difficulty and hazard of smuggling, as to leave little danger of its being attempted, under the operation of any duties that the consumption will bear. They are, moreover, in the same situation with many other articles, such as muslins, muslinets, and coloured cottons, which now pay the proposed duty of 12 1-2 per cent.
The average nett product of the ad valorem duties, from 1793 to 1798 inclusive, a period of five years, being dollars 3,181,173, as appears from the statement above mentioned, (No. IV.) it follows, that if the 10 per cent. be supposed to constitute two-thirds of the whole mass, which is probably the case, the additional 2 1-2 per cent. proposed to be laid on them, would produce dollars 600,000.
As to the third proposition of the secretary, the tax on drawbacks, it appeared liable to more doubt.
In support of the plan, it was urged, that the great mass of our re-exportation consists in commodities, chiefly sugar and coffee, which we bring from the East and West-Indies, and afterwards carry to Europe, for the consumption of France, Holland and Germany; and in East-India and China goods, wherewith we supply the people of the West-Indies, and of South-America. That the commerce of France, Holland and Spain, being annihilated by the events of the war, and that of Sweden and Denmark very inconsiderable, the carrying trade may be considered as almost exclusively possessed by the English and ourselves. That the English, being at war with France, Spain and Holland, and thereby excluded from the ports of these nations in Europe, Asia and America, cannot enter into a competition with us, in the business of supplying their possessions, especially those in South-America and the West-Indies, with East-India and China goods; and that we, consequently, having the exclusive possession of this traffic, may lay what price we please on the goods re-exported; and of course, may compel the consumers to repay to us the tax laid on those goods here, by the refusal of part of the drawback. That the same reasoning will apply in a certain degree to the supply of Europe with sugar, coffee, and other East and West-India commodities; because France, Holland and Spain, being shut against the English, by the war, they cannot become our competitors for the direct supply of those countries. That as to the indirect supply, through the ports of Germany and Portugal, especially the former, which are by far the most considerable, we can furnish it on better terms than they; because they are excluded from many of the countries where the commodities are produced, and because their trade with the north of Germany is exposed to great danger and interruption from the French and Dutch privateers. And finally, that the English are the less able to enter into a competition which we ought to dread, inasmuch as the monopoly of their East-India trade by a particular company, prevents individual enterprise and ingenuity from being excited in carrying it on upon the best terms; and as the English government itself has laid a duty on exports, during the war, equal to that proposed by the plan under consideration; so that her merchants and ours being on an equal footing, in that respect, they could not under-bid us, in the foreign markets to which both resort.
From hence it was concluded, that while the war in Europe, and the present state of things resulting from it, shall continue, a tax on drawbacks, such as that proposed, would be a tax, not on our own commerce, or our own merchants, but on foreign nations; who being the consumers of the re-exported commodities, whereon the tax would fall in the first instance, and being compelled, during the war at least, to purchase those commodities from us alone, would be under the necessity of repaying to us the tax, in addition to the price which we should otherwise demand.
To this it was answered, that the whole argument rests on the supposition of our being able to effect two things, both of which are of a very uncertain nature, namely, to monopolize the business of supplying the countries in question, with East and West-India and China commodities; and to compel those commodities to touch first at our own ports, before they are carried to the places where they are consumed; it being clear that if, by raising the price of the commodities, we should raise up competitors who would under-bid us in the foreign markets, or should, by taxing them on their arrival in our own ports, render it the interest of our merchants to carry them directly from the places of their production, to the places where they are to be consumed, without landing them in this country, we should in either case lose the duty; in the first by ruining altogether the trade whereupon it must depend; and in the second, by turning the trade away from our own ports, where alone the duty can be collected.
Whether we should be able to monopolize the business in question to such an extent,
as to have it in our power to lay our own price on the commodities which composed it, was said to be very uncertain, for various reasons. First, because the English possess very far the greater part of those places, in the East and West-Indies, where the valuable commodities consumed in Europe are produced, and their merchants can carry them directly from thence to the ports of Germany, or of Denmark and Sweden, from whence they would easily find their way into Holland and France. Secondly, because the duty on exports laid in England may easily be avoided by her merchants, by means of going directly to the foreign markets, instead of first touching at home; and the danger of privateers is greatly lessened, by the convoy she gives to her trade, and the great number of her squadrons and cruising frigates in those seas, circumstances whereby her trade is probably rendered more secure than ours. And thirdly, because although her merchants cannot carry the East-India and China goods directly to the French, Spanish and Dutch possessions in the West-Indies and South-America, they can and do carry those goods, in immense quantities, to their own islands, from whence they are known to find their way, by means of an illicit trade, perhaps connived at by those employed to prevent it, into the places of which we supposed ourselves to possess the exclusive supply.
As to the example of England, which is said to have laid an export duty, analogous to the tax on drawbacks now proposed; it was observed, in the first place, that the experiment in England has not been long enough made, to enable us to judge of its success: Secondly, that so far as time has furnished information on that head, the experience of England is against the plan, her exports having diminished since the period when that tax was laid; and thirdly, that what is called a tax on exports in England, is, in fact, a premium paid for convoy, which the government, in consideration of this premium, engages to furnish, and does furnish, to every ship sailing from her ports. An arrangement which enables shippers to obtain their insurance at a lower rate. So that the duty on exports, instead of being a tax on the trade of England, is merely a part of the premium of insurance which the merchants pay to the government instead of paying it to the underwriters; whereas in our case, as we give no convoy, it would be a mere tax on our trade, which our merchants must pay in the first instance, and might or might not be able to get back from the consumers.
If they should prove unable to get it back from the consumers, by reason of the competition, which the augmentation of price consequent on the duty might create or increase, the trade must in the end be ruined; and with it must perish, not only a great portion of our revenue and of our navigation, the basis of our future maritime strength—but also of the industry of our sea-port towns, which is nourished and sustained by our navigation.
If, on the other hand, they should prove able to levy this tax, ultimately, on the consumers, still, it was urged, would the question remain, whether the tax would be sufficient to induce the merchants to avoid our own ports; and either to go directly to the consumers, from the places where the commodities are produced; or, where that cannot be done, to touch at some ports where no such duty is laid; in either of which cases, we should not only lose the revenue expected from duty, but also affect, to a degree not easily foreseen, all those branches of industry in our country, which are connected with the landing, storage and re-shipment of goods, and the arrival, repair and supply of ships.
The duty of two and a half per cent. on the amount of a valuable cargo, it was observed, is a premium sufficient to afford a very strong temptation to avoid our own ports. Men of small capital, who could only import parcels of goods on freight, might not be able to do this, and therefore must pay the duty; while large capitalists, who import entire cargoes, in their own or in chartered ships, might be able to do it, and thus avoid the duty; whereby a monopoly would be created, to the very great detriment of our commercial interest; the prosperity of which depends far more on the mass of small capitalists, than on the small number of great ones.
It was further urged, that this measure, so hazardous in itself, and the mischiefs whereof, should it prove unsuccessful, must always take place, and may have become irremediable before they can be perceived, is by no means necessary; since the two first parts of the secretary's plan, the additional duties on wines and ten per cent. articles, will afford an additional revenue of from six to seven hundred thousand dollars; to which might be added 200,000 dollars by a 1-2 cent per pound additional on brown sugar, and 50,000 by a like addition per pound on coffee; making in the whole an additional revenue of at least 900,000 dollars, which is more by 50,000 dollars, than the sum proposed to be raised.
It was shewn by a statement of the duties on brown sugar, for six successive years, which is annexed to this report, (No. V.) that the nett product of that article, at a duty of 1 1-2 cents per pound, from the beginning of 1793 to the end of 1797, a period of five years, increased from dollars 646,715, to dollars 755,671; and that the average nett product, for a period of six years, from 1793 to 1798 inclusive, was dollars 585,292.
It was contended, that although an addition of 1-2 cent was made to that duty in 1797, and the product in 1798 nevertheless appeared to be less than in former years, being only dollars 698,791, as stated from the returns, yet no conclusion unfavourable to the duty could be drawn from thence, because the returns for that year were very deficient; two quarters being wanting from Philadelphia and Charleston, and four from Savannah; which probably had reduced the apparent amount much more than the actual
receipt had been augmented by the additional duty.
Hence it was inferred, that the consumption and importation of brown sugar had not been injuriously affected by the former duty; and that the average nett product being at the rate of dollars 200,000 for every 1-2 cent of duty, that sum might be expected from the proposed augmentation.
On the subject of coffee, it was shewn by a statement of the duties on that article, for six successive years, from 1793 to 1798 inclusive, which is also annexed hereto, (No. VI.) that the average nett product of those duties, during the period in question, was dollars 498,762, although the returns for the last year in the period were incomplete, as has been already stated, and no addition has been made to the duty since 1792. Hence it was inferred, that an additional 1-2 cent might safely be laid on that article also; which, as the present duty is five cents per pound, would produce dollars 50,000.
Such were the arguments for and against the proposed tax on drawbacks, and such the objects of revenue which it was thought might, with more safety and propriety, be adopted in its stead.
The committee did not deem it their province to pronounce any decision on these points; but solely to bring them into the view of the House, and submit them to its consideration.
There was, however, one proposal made, which does not appear to them to be of a doubtful nature, and which they have, therefore, thought it proper to recommend.
In the act allowing drawbacks, there is a provision, that one per cent. on the whole amount of them shall be retained, in order to defray the expence of management. Afterwards 1-4 per cent. was added to this first deduction in lieu of stamp duties on debentures. It has been suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury, that the sum thus retained is found insufficient to defray the expences incident to the allowance of drawbacks; and the committee are of opinion that it will be proper to double it.
In that case, the reduction made by the government, for the expence of management and in lieu of stamp duties on debentures, will amount to about dollars 100,000 annually; which, as the present amount does not exceed dollars 50,000, will be a further addition to the revenue of dollars 50,000.
Having thus brought the whole subject into view, as fully as seemed to them to be proper, the committee beg leave, in order to take the sense of the House on the various matters stated in their report, to submit to its consideration the following
RESOLUTIONS:
1st. Resolved, That it is expedient to lay an additional duty of _____ per centum on the amount of the present duty, upon wines imported into the United States. 2d. Resolved, That it is expedient to lay an additional duty of _____ per centum ad valorem on such goods, wares and merchandise, imported into the United States, as are now subject to a duty of ten per centum ad valorem. 3d. Resolved, That it is expedient to lay a tax on drawbacks allowed by law, for goods re-exported from the United States; according to the plan proposed in the letter of April the 10th 1800, from the Secretary of the Treasury to the committee of ways and means. 4th. Resolved, That it is expedient to lay an additional duty of _____ per pound on brown sugar and coffee imported into the United States. 5th. Resolved, That it is expedient to retain per centum on all drawbacks allowed for goods re-exported from the United States, for the expences incident to the allowance thereof, and in lieu of the stamp duties on debentures; in addition to the sums heretofore directed by law to be so retained for the aforesaid purposes.
Domestic Intelligence.
NEW-YORK, May 14.
The Hon. J. Marshall, Esq. of Virginia, has been nominated Secretary of State, vice Timothy Pickering, Esq.
The Hon. Samuel Dexter, Esq. Senator of the United States for the State of Massachusetts, has been nominated Secretary of War, vice James M c Henry, Esq. resigned.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Calcutta to his correspondent in Philadelphia.
"The friends to the United States of America here, have been agreeably surprised by the arrival of an adventure from an American East-India Company. Indeed it has long been a matter of astonishment here, that among the many instances of great enterprise, to form an American India Company has been so long neglected; since, by the means of a permanent company, only, the necessary confidence and credits are to be established throughout India. The time allowed the company's agents to procure goods, and the rendering any further shipments of specie immediately from America unnecessary; all these circumstances, when combined with others equally obvious, must make a saving of at least 25 per cent. to the concerned."
Last Thursday the General Election of civil officers of the State of Connecticut was held at Hartford, when his Excellency Jonathan Trumbull was re-elected Governor, and the Honourable John Treadwell was re-elected Lieutenant-Governor, almost unanimously. The old members of the Council were all re-elected, except Mr. Swift, now absent as Secretary in the Embassy to France, in whose place John Allen Esq. late Representative in Congress, is elected. John C. Smith, Esq. is chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives—All firm friends of government. Jacobinism in Connecticut has hitherto been confined very much to back streets and dark recesses; but in consequence of its successes in other States, it begins to creep forth and shew its hideous front in good company. One thing however is cer-

tain, that the friends of government, and our ancient maxims of policy and of religion in Connecticut, will die in the last ditch.
The horrid act of murder was yesterday perpetrated at a house of ill-fame in Oliver-street—two Spaniards having engaged in a wrangle, a severe scuffle ensued, and one overpowering the other, immediately drew a knife and stabbed his adversary in several places; of which he died about three hours afterwards. The perpetrator, together with every person found in the house, was taken and committed to prison.
OF ALGIERS.
The following copy of a Circular Letter, respecting our connexion with Algiers, was received by the brig Greyhound, from Alicante, to the masters of the American vessels in the port of Alicante.
GENTLEMEN,
The underwritten, Consul for the United States, will thank you to be informed of what vessels were preparing in Philadelphia, or any of the ports in the United States, destined with stores for Algiers and Tunis, and particularly relative to Captain Smith, of Philadelphia, who sailed from Algiers in April last, destined for said place, and whom I expect shortly at Algiers. This information, if favourable, will be of essential service to the affairs of the United States with Algiers and Tunis, and be thankfully received by Sirs, your most obedient servant,
RICHARD O'BRIEN.
CAUTION.
If our stipulations for Tunis and Algiers do not shortly arrive, the commerce of the United States, in this sea, might run a great risk of being the subject at least of detention.
Algiers, February 15th, 1800.
MAY 15.
Extract of a Letter from a gentleman in Philadelphia, to the Editor of this Gazette, dated May 13.
"I mentioned to you, yesterday, that Mr. Pickering had resigned his office of Secretary of State; I have now the disagreeable task of informing you that Mr. Pickering has been dismissed from office by the President. Of the circumstances which have attended this extraordinary procedure, I can relate such only as have transpired. That on Friday, Mr. Pickering received a note from the President, informing him, that it would be agreeable if he would resign his office. Mr. Pickering in answer, said, That it had been his with some time ago to resign, but at this important crisis, he had considered it a duty incumbent upon him to remain in office; and added, that he would not now resign, and that the President might act as he thought proper. Mr. Adams then informed Mr. Pickering, laconically, That he was no longer Secretary of State; and next morning nominated Mr. Marshall to succeed him."
"Of this unexpected circumstance, and of the new arrangements in the Executive, which have rendered it necessary, we have a thousand idle conjectures, but nothing in which I am at present inclined to place much confidence."
A gentleman who left Norfolk on Tuesday the 6th inst. informs, that the Congress frigate had all her masts in, and the lower yards slung; that the Constellation had her fore and mizen masts stepped—and that it was expected the Chesapeake would drop down this day.
BOSTON, May 17.
From EUROPE.
Since our last, the ship Galen, Capt. Seward, has arrived here from London. Our files of London papers are to the 23d of March; a few days later than before received in the United States.
On the 22d of March, five of the delayed mails from Hamburg arrived at London. Their contents are not very important; but they bear indications of a negotiation for peace between the Emperor of Germany and the Prime Consul of France. These indications appear in the continual interchange of couriers, and communications between the two cabinets; in the proposition which Buonaparte has made to withdraw all his troops from Italy, and to make the Rhine the boundaries of the Republic; in the inactivity, or mere parade of warlike preparation which prevails in both armies; and it is added, in the precarious situation in which Austria finds itself from the rapidly declining health of the Emperor; and from the necessity it will be under to require the assistance of France in preventing, in case of the death of the Emperor, the King of Prussia being elected King of the Romans; and consequently the Imperial diadem from being transferred to the House of Brandenburg. It is a fact, that one of Buonaparte's principal generals remained at the Austrian head-quarters several days, perfectly at liberty; and that French officers of rank are frequently passing through those head-quarters from Paris to Vienna, and back. Either Prince Charles does not expect a renewal of hostilities, or he has no naked parts which he fears should be exposed. The British government writers admit the possibility of the report respecting this negotiation to be well founded; and aver they can see nothing in it alarming to Great-Britain; as she will be able to command a better peace when standing alone, than when compelled to sacrifice its conquests to the interests of others.
The Austrian army is in great force, exceeding 150,000 troops, plentifully supplied, and well paid. The health of the Archduke has made it necessary for him to repair to Toplitz. Gen. Kray commands in chief in his absence.
In Italy, it is said, the French garrison of Genoa has made propositions to Gen. Ott, to evacuate the place. The Austrians are in force in the neighbourhood of Genoa; and have opened their trenches before Gavi.
The Russian troops have positively returned home; and the Emperor of Russia has officially notified the courts of Berlin and Dresden thereof. It is, however, still maintained, that 45,000 of these iron-cased veterans will be employed by Great-Britain, in enterprizes and expeditions.
Several accounts mention a negotiation between the Grand Vizier and General Kleber in Egypt, for the evacuation of that country by the French.
An expedition, in which 17 battalions of English troops were to be employed, besides Russians, was in readiness to sail, when the Galen left England. It is commanded by Gen. Stewart. Its destination is supposed to be Malta; and when reinforced, Egypt.
We do not learn any particulars of the progress of the negotiation at Paris. Our Envoys we find attended the funeral eulogy pronounced at the Pantheon, in honour of Washington.
In Ireland strong symptoms of rebellion have re-appeared in several counties; a new "Rebellion bill" has passed the Irish Parliament; and large bodies of troops are embarking in England for Ireland. The business of the union is generally settled; but the bill has to receive the sanction of the British Parliament.
PUBLIC DEBT.
By a lengthy report made to Congress, on the 8th inst. by a committee appointed for the purpose, and who conferred with the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject, it appears, that the true amount of our National Debt on the first of January, 1791, was dolls. 74,185,596 82, and on the first of Jan. 1800, dolls. 70,212,718 16—by which it is demonstrated in the face of all, that American Jacobins and English Anti-Jacobins have said, that our debt has been diminished dolls. 3,972,878 66, notwithstanding all the embarrassments to which our principal source of revenue has been exposed—and the expensive preparations for hostility which the insulting and threatening conduct of France forced us into.
SALEM, May 19.
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Philadelphia, to his friend in this town, dated May 13.
"The storm that seemed to have been sometime gathering strength, has now burst—The President on Saturday addressed a letter to Col. Pickering, informing him of his determination to make some new arrangements in the Administration of the Department of State, inviting him to resign his office; and as it would be necessary to nominate a successor during the present session of the Senate, he required an answer to be made as early as Monday morning—our friend gave an answer, manly, dignified, and highly honourable to himself; at the close of which he informed the President, that he did not consider it consistent with his honour, or the duty he owed his country, to resign his office at the present time—The consequence was, that a letter of dismissal from office was immediately sent him."
Providence, WEDNESDAY, MAY 21.
By the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS by an act of the Congress of the United States, passed the twenty-seventh day of February last, entitled, "An act further to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and France, and the dependencies thereof," it is enacted, That at any time, after the passing of the said act, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, by his order, to remit and discontinue, for the time being, whenever he shall deem it expedient for the interest of the United States, all or any of the restraints and prohibitions imposed by the said act, in respect to the territories of the French republic, or to any island, port or place belonging to the said republic, with which in his opinion a commercial intercourse may be safely renewed; and to make proclamation thereof accordingly; and it is also thereby further enacted, that the whole of the island of Hispaniola shall, for the purposes of the said act, be considered as a dependence of the French republic; and whereas the circumstances of certain ports and places of the said island, not comprised in the proclamation of the President of the United States, bearing date the twenty-sixth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, are such that I deem it expedient, and for the interest of the United States, to remit and discontinue the restraints and prohibitions imposed by the said act, in respect to those ports and places, in order that a commercial intercourse with the same may be renewed.
Therefore I, John Adams, President of the United States, by virtue of the powers vested in me as aforesaid, do hereby remit and discontinue the restraints and prohibitions imposed by the act aforesaid, in respect to all the ports and places in the said island of Hispaniola, from Montechristi on the north, round by the eastern end thereof, as far as the port of Jacquemel, on the south, inclusively; And it shall henceforth be lawful for vessels of the United States to enter and trade at any of the said ports and places; provided it be done with the consent of the government of St. Domingo: And for this purpose it is hereby required, that such vessels first enter the port of Cape-Francois or Port-Republicain, in the said island, and there obtain the passports of the said government, which shall also be signed by the Consul-General, or Consul of the United States residing at Cape-Francois or Port-Republicain, permitting such vessels to go thence to the other ports and places of the said island herein before mentioned and described. Of all which, the collectors of the customs, and all other officers and citizens of the United States, are to take due notice, and govern themselves accordingly.
Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at Philadelphia, the ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord 1800, and of the independence of the United States the twenty-fourth.
JOHN ADAMS.
By the President,
TIMOTHY PICKERING, Secretary of State.
Yesterday arrived in town, in good health, to the great satisfaction of his numerous friends, the Hon. JOHN BROWN, one of the Representatives of this State in Congress.
FROM PHILADELPHIA.
We learn that on the 14th instant, the day appointed for the adjournment of Congress, a Bill was introduced and passed in the House of Representatives, directing that the additional Army should be disbanded on the 15th of June, and that the Officers and Soldiers should receive two months extra pay; That the Senate concurred in this Bill, after amending it so as to give three months pay instead of two—in which form it finally passed; and that the Senate had approved of the appointment of Mr. Marshall as Secretary of State, and Mr. Dexter as Secretary of War; and it was presumed they would both accept. The former had, previously to his nomination, left Philadelphia on his return to Virginia. It is supposed that Congress adjourned on the appointed day.
In the House of Representatives, May 12.
On motion of Mr. Nicholas, the House rescinded a resolution to adjourn the two Houses this day, and a resolution was adopted that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House should adjourn both Houses to-morrow. The Senate amended it by proposing Wednesday. On the question for concurrence, it was carried, 40 to 24.
The House resolved itself into a committee on the bill from the Senate, to amend an act entitled an act to establish the Judicial Courts of the United States.
This bill provides that Jurors in the Courts of the United States shall be designated by lot, or otherwise, according to the mode now practiced in the highest Courts of the several States.
The bill was agreed to, read a third time and passed.
A message was received from the President of the United States, notifying that he had approved and signed the following bills:
An act to ascertain the compensation of public ministers.
An act supplementary to an act to establish the treasury department.
Mr. Griswold, from the managers of the conference on the disagreeing votes to the bill to enlarge the powers of surveyors of the revenue, made a report, to which the House agreed. The Senate also concurred.
About fifteen bills remain undecided on before the Senate, for which the House of Representatives are waiting, having completed their own business.
Mr. Strong is elected Governor of Massachusetts. He has a majority of between one and two hundred of all the votes, and nearly three thousand more votes than Mr. Gerry.
In Boston, the Federal Ticket for Representatives had 1400 votes; the Jacobin Ticket, 900.
"Mr. Cooper has not succeeded in opening a commercial intercourse between the United States and the Isles of France and Bourbon;" as stated in our last under the Salem head:
The United States brig Pickering, Lieut. Hillar, arrived at Boston on Sunday last from St. Thomas and a cruise. About 70 vessels failed under her convoy; among them was the brig Polly, Cook, of this port. During her cruise, the Pickering is said to have captured two French privateers and one letter of marque, and to have recaptured ten other vessels.
SLAVE-TRADE.
By the additional law which has just passed Congress, it is enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury cause an abstract of all judgments which shall be rendered against persons concerned in this trade to be published in one or more newspapers; and the party against whom judgment shall be rendered, shall, ever after said judgment, be incapable of holding, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any vessel registered under the laws of the United States, and shall be incapable of enjoying any commercial privileges or advantages which are or may be conferred on citizens of the United States.
From late London Papers.
The will of General Washington is every way worthy of the character of that great and good man. The two great principles which directed his whole life, guided him in the disposal of his ample property—the encouragement of liberty, and the propagation of knowledge. He knew, that without freedom, a people cannot be happy; and that without knowledge, a nation has little chance of long being free. He emancipates his slaves after his wife's death. Improving upon this direction of her husband, Mrs. Washington, to whom we know not that we can pay a more acceptable tribute than to say, that she was worthy of such a man, has, it is said, already emancipated them. He bequeaths the property given him by the government (which he received upon condition that he should be permitted to appropriate it to public uses) to the founding an University. The bounty of the State is thus made the source of benefit to the State, and property received from the people is converted to the noble purpose of propagating knowledge among the people.
The Royal Society, last week, voted thanks to Mr. Perkins, proprietor of the Metallic Tractors, for some experiments he sent them, which have determined the question that the Tractors do really have a salutary action in diseases, contrary to the suggestion of some, who ascribe their effects to imagination. These experiments were chiefly on infants, epileptic fits, and horses; to each of which, the tractors were found to give relief, as in rheumatic and other topical complaints. The most eminent of the faculty, we may add, are now adopting them. Among others Dr. Mather, one of the members
of our Royal College of Physicians, has just published his conviction of their efficacy, resulting he says, "from experience and attentive observation," and that he considers it his duty to adopt them in his practice.
We are informed that putting potatoes near the fire that are intended for early growth, to induce them to shoot, and then cutting the potatoes, and carefully planting it with the shoot uppermost, will produce a crop five or six weeks sooner than the ordinary way of setting them, and a crop rather more productive.
On Friday the 9th instant, Peter Lacroix, Joseph Baker, and Joseph Beutufe, were executed on the island opposite to Philadelphia, for piracy and murder.
Married,
On Sunday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Wilson, Major Jonathan Tiffany, of Warwick, to Miss Nancy Pitman, daughter of Mr. Sanders Pitman, of this town.
Died,
At Boston, Madam Mary Gorham, aged 83, relict of Nathaniel Gorham, Esq. formerly of Charlestown.
RED CLOVER SEED.
A QUANTITY of excellent RED CLOVER SEED, just received, and to be sold at a reduced price, by the subscriber—Also, Several other sorts of HAY SEED, Clean BARLEY, FLAX SEED and OATS, and a variety of other seeds.
THOMAS JONES.
May 11.
HENRY CUSHING
Informs the Ladies and Gentlemen of Providence, that he has purchased the Book-Store and Circulating Library;
Formerly belonging to Mr. J. J. TODD; where he has constantly for Sale, a general Assortment of BOOKS, on
Divinity, Philosophy, Astronomy, Law, Physic, History, Voyages, Travels, Biography, Geography, Architecture, Navigation, Husbandry, Miscellanies, &c.
He has lately received from Boston a number of new Publications, among which are, The Child's Library, an excellent school book, by William Bigelow.
Also, A Treatise on the Plague and Yellow Fever, by James Tyler, compiler of the medical part of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Adams' History of New-England; Count Rumford's Essays.
A general assortment of Charts and Seaman's Books, among which are Moore's Navigator, improved; American Coast Pilot; Naval Gazetteer, Seaman's Journals; Scales and Dividers.
School Books, of every kind.
Blank Books, a general assortment, and ruled to any pattern.
STATIONARY,
Such as Superfine English hot pressed Vellum Paper, of different sizes; Foolscap do. per ream or quire; Gilt and common letter ditto; Bonnet and marbled ditto; Black and red Morocco Pocket Books, all sizes; Best Dutch Quills, per thousand, hundred or less quantity; Sealing Wax and Wafers; Slates and Pencils; Black and red Lead Pencils, Best London Ink Powder; Marble Ink Chests; Pocket Ink Stands, of all kinds; Copy Slips; Pen and Desk Knives; and a variety of Fancy Articles.
English and Columbian Playing Cards. A handsome assortment of Children's BOOKS.
A few fashionable English Watches, Chains, Seals and Keys.
N. B. Real Havana SEGARS, by the Box, or at Retail.
He has constantly in his Circulating Library, a large collection of NOVELS, &c. and will receive the latest publications from London, Philadelphia, New-York and Boston. Ladies and Gentlemen who will please to look into his Library, he hopes, will not go away disappointed.
An elegant Set of Spencer's FAIRY QUEEN, for Sale as above.
May 21.
JOHN BREWER
RESPECTFULLY informs the Public, that he has taken a shop in the House of Mr. Spalding, formerly occupied by Mr. Nelson, where he carries on the
Book-Binding Business.
Those who will favour him with their custom, may depend upon having their work well done, and upon the most reasonable terms.
A handsome assortment of Account Books will be kept constantly for sale. May 21.
State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, May 17, 1800.
THE Creditors of John Aldrich, of Smithfield, in the county of Providence, labourer, are hereby notified to appear, if they shall think fit, at the General Assembly to be holden at Newport, on the second Monday in June next, then and there to shew cause, if any they may have, why his petition for the benefit of the act passed in June 1756, entitled, "An act for the relief of insolvent debtors," ought not to be granted.
SAMUEL EDDY, Sec'y.

Selected Poetry.
To CHARITY.
H AIL, CHARITY! thy look benign, Poutrays at once thy race divine, Soft soother of our grief! Thy tender, sympathetic soul At ragged merit ne'er did scowl, But offer'd quick relief.
Whilst fierce Ambition , drench'd in blood, Glories to see the purple flood Of human gore flow round; Thou striv'st the lab'ring mind to ease From each corroding, fell disease, And gently heal the wound.
From Pride , with half averted eye, Where scorn and piety seem to vie, Thou fleest with eager haste; Her idle pomp and tinsel glare (Altho' they may make idiots stare) But ill accord thy taste.
From Avarice , grim'd with sordid pelf, And worn to bone with care of self, With horror dost thou turn; Surpriz'd to see the mind of man So far digress from nature's plan, And for itself to burn.
Come then bright maid, grant the behest, And with thyself fill every breast, Nor leave an empty space: From meanness cleanse the human mind, Leave none but generous thoughts behind, And love for all our race.
THE MALICIOUS GALE.
A SONNET.
W HY on a fatal day, O cruel gale! Thy sportive spleen on Stella didst thou vent;
When in a gig our rapid course we bent— Charms so deceitful, why didst thou reveal?
O! had some balmy zephyr gently blown, Had Stella sought some green sequester'd shade, Then her deception ne'er had been betray'd, And her false beauty I should ne'er have known.
Her graceful mein no more I'll idolize! Malignant gale! O be that day accurs'd, When on her lovely form thy anger burst, And fleeting charms display'd before mine eyes! Curst be the time, when seated in the gig, Thou, spite of fillets, blew away—her WIG!
From the TRUE AMERICAN , of May 9.
Mr. BRADFORD,
Sir, May 8th, 1800.
IN consequence of your application to us for an account of the duel which was fought last evening, and information that you are about to publish a communication made to you on the subject (which it is more than probable must be very incorrect) we furnish you with this statement of it.
For words used by Mr. Champlin in debate last Monday in the House of Representatives, and which Mr. Bayard deemed to be of a per- sonal nature, he requested Gen. Morris to call on Mr. Champlin with the following note:
"Mr. Bayard requests Mr. Champlin to state the observations which he designed to apply person- ally to him in the debate of this morning. Mr. B. being at a distance from Mr. C. did not distinct- ly hear all the expressions which were made use of. And it is also possible that Mr. C. may have employed words which conveyed sentiments he did not enter- tain, nor mean to express."
"Mr. B. will therefore be sensible of an obligation, if Mr. C. will enable him to understand the senti- ment of a personal nature which he designed to ex- press."
Monday, May 5th, 1800.
To which Mr. Champlin shortly after gave the following answer.
Philadelphia, May 5th, 1800.
"Sir, "In reply to your note, which was handed to me by Gen. Morris, I think proper to state that I un- derstood you to charge me, in the course of a de- bate on Friday last, with being in the habit of mak- ing trifling motions upon subjects with which it was my duty to be acquainted, but of which I was grossly ignorant.—My intention, in making the re- marks I did this morning in the House of Repre- sentatives, was, to repel this charge with all the con- tempt which I thought it deserved. I cannot re- call the particular expressions I made use of to con- vey my ideas."
I am, Sir, your most humble servant, C. G. CHAMPLIN."
The Hon. Mr. Bayard. Owing to the engagements of Gen. Mor- ris, the foregoing answer was not delivered to Mr. Bayard till some hours after its receipt, and the evening Mr. Champlin received at his lodgings the following billet:
"Sir, "The rudeness of your answer to my note of this morning, leaves me but one course to pursue. My friend Gen. Morris will communicate to you my expectations, which I presume you will not disap- point. If I could ask any favour of you, it would be that no delay might be interposed in the business. Your obedient servant,
JAMES A. BAYARD."
Monday, May 5, 1800.
Mr. Champlin immediately accepted the in- vitation, and said that one of his friends would wait on Gen. Morris in the morning. Mr. Champlin called on Mr. Rutledge the next day—formed him that he had received and ac- cepted a challenge, and desired that he would
consider himself as his second. Mr. Rutledge wrote to Gen. Morris, notifying him of it, and expressing a wish that the proposed meeting might not take place immediately, as circum- stances, which were not to be controuled by Mr. Champlin, rendered some delay desirable. In consequence of this communication, and ar- rangements made by Gen. Morris and Mr. Rutledge, the meeting was delayed till last evening, when the parties met. Mr. Bayard fired on receiving the word, and Mr. Cham- plin one or two seconds after.—Mr. Bayard's ball entered Mr. Champlin's left cheek, near the mouth, and passed out below the ear. Mr. Cham- plin's ball struck Mr. Bayard on the right thigh some inches above the knee—they are both flesh wounds. Mr. Bayard's is extremely slight and it is more than probable Mr. Champlin will be sufficiently recovered to go abroad in a few days. The seconds being of opinion that the parties should not proceed, commu- nicated their sentiments to the gentlemen, who met half way, shook hands, and declared that no enmity was felt by either. Both the gen- tlemen displayed, throughout the whole of this transaction, the greatest coolness, deter- mination and courage, it was possible to exhibit.
Yours, &c. &c. L. R. MORRIS, JNO. RUTLEDGE, jun.
THE FUTURE FRENCH NATION.
A PROGNOSTIC.
The depopulation of France has been much greater than is easily to be conceived. Emigra- tion, the guillotine, levies "en masse," and the impressments, better known under the title of conscriptions, have effectually drained the interior of France of all the youthful, hear- ty and able-bodied male inhabitants, and a day is very near and rapidly advancing, when it will be found full as difficult for the republic to recruit her armies by any means whatever, as it is now found to re-establish her finances.
We are assured from a respectable authority, that very serious apprehensions are entertain- ed by the most enlightened and best informed of the French for the very existence of the nation itself, and for the future appearance, form, and mental as well as bodily powers of the inhabitants of France.
In a late consultation of several members of the National Institute, and the failure of po- pulation being the subject, it was generally agreed that peace must speedily be made, or that the race of Frenchmen would soon be extinct. "What a prospect is before us (said one of the members) our youth are all in the army, or in foreign countries. Marriages are every where discouraged throughout the republic.— Prostitution and debauchery have arisen to an height unequalled in the most vicious stages of the ancient monarchy. In fact, there are no husbands for our women! Who have we at home, except boys, old men, the lame, the blind, the maimed and diseased?"
Sir, I maintain, that unless an end be put to this calamitous war, and we can get home our warriors who are really men, to re-produce a French people, who are, alas! nearly exhaust- ed! we shall in a very few years present to Eu- rope a nation as unlike the present race of men, as are the tribes of Ourang-Outangs, apes or monkeys of Africa! I invite the members of the Institute to think seriously on the conse- quences to the nation, of having no other husbands for our women than boys, dotards, cripples and debauchees!
MERCANTILE INFORMATION.
GEORGIA COTTON
A gentleman of respectability from the state of Georgia informs, that the planters a few days since detected a young man of this city, transacting business for a well known house in Water-street, marking upland for Sea-Island Cotton.
MORAL.
Temperance in Pleasure recommended. L ET me particularly exhort youth to temperance in pleasure. Let me ad- monish them to beware of that rock on which thousands, from race to race, con- tinue to split. The love of pleasure, na- tural to man in every period of his life, glows at this age with excessive ardour. Novelty adds fresh charms, as yet, to every gratification. The world appears to spread a continual feast; and health, vigour, and high spirits, invite them to partake of it without restraint. In vain we warn them of latent dangers. Religion is accused of insufferable severity, in prohibiting enjoy- ment; and the old, when they offer their admonition, are upbraided with having for- got that they once were young.—And yet, my friends, to what do the constraints of religion, and the counsels of age, with re- spect to pleasure, amount? They may all be comprized in a few words—not to hurt yourselves, and not to hurt others, by your pursuit of pleasure. Within these bounds, pleasure is lawful; beyond them it becomes criminal, because it is ruinous. Are these restraints any other than what a wise man would chuse to impose on himself? We call you not to renounce pleasure, but to enjoy it in safety. Instead of abridging it, we ex- hort you to pursue it on an extensive plan. We propose measures for securing its pos- session, and for prolonging its duration. BLAIR.
To be SOLD, by Samuel James, On the west side of the great Bridge, Providence, 20 Hds. of good retailing Molasses 2 do. W. India Rum, of an excellent flavour 40 Kegs of Lard 10 Firkins of Butter 10 Barrels of Prime Beef 100 Quintals of Codfish 30 M. Hoghead Hoops, of a good quality 400 Shaken Hogheads Rum and Fish Barrels.
Also—as usual, A general assortment of Dry Goods, suitable for the season;—all which will be sold very cheap for cash, or on a short credit, with approved notes. February 26. (2m.)
FRIGATE George Washington. ALL patriotic and gal- lant Seamen, who are de- sirous to serve and defend their country, are invited to repair to the rendezvous now opened at Mrs. METCALF's, opposite the Store of JOHN BROWN, Esq. and enlist for one year to serve on board the good frigate GEORGE WASHINGTON. The pay is se- venteen dollars per month for all able bodied Seamen, with good and abundant ration. A few able bodied landmen are also wanted. The ship will be at sea in a few weeks, and from the zeal and alacrity of American Seamen, her brave crew will no doubt in a few days be com- pleted. May 14.
FOR SALE, by Samuel Ames, ELEGANT Chinez Furnitures, which being a consignment, will be sold at cost and charges only. April 16. (6w.)
House for Sale. A Convenient DWELLING- HOUSE for a small family, with a commodious SHOP in front, standing on leased land, next westward of Mr. Daniel Jack- son's foundery, on the west side of the bridge, and is a good stand for business. Terms and Credit, liberal.—Apply to ELISHA DYER;
Who has for Sale, A few pipes of excellent Brandy 6 barrels of Sugar, of the first quality 2 quarter-casks of Sherry Wine 300 gallons of New-England Rum 100 bushels of Salt, of the first quality Tar, Pitch and Rosin, on good terms. 20 barrels of Beef and Pork May 7.
Just received, At the GOLDEN BEE-HIVE, MIDDLING and coarse Irish Linens, at a low rate Spanish-float Indigo, per dozen or single lb. Essence of Spruce, per box or single pot Liquid Blue, Hopkins' celebrated Razor-Straps and Paste, which render the use of a hone needless. Also, his portable Snaving Case, for travel- lers, &c. Morocco Skins, of various colours Blue, red, and white Bunting Loaf Sugar, per hoghead, hundred or loaf Fine Lisbon Salt Fine Table Salt per basket, &c. April 23.
BY APPOINTMENT. For Sale, At the POST-OFFICE in this Town, DR. LEE's patent New-London Bil- ious PILLS, celebrated throughout the United States and the West-Indies, in the cure and prevention of intermittent, remittent, bil- ious, inflammatory and yellow fevers—jaun- dice, bilious cholic, indigestion, dropsy, gout, rheumatism, pleurisy, chlorosis, worms, dysen- tery, bilious vomitings, convulsion and epi- leptic fits, asthma, coughs and colds accompa- nied with costiveness, foul stomach, scurvy, sore throat, hypochondria, and hysterical affec- tions, &c. &c. &c. Certificates of their efficacy may be seen by applying to the vender, who has the exclusive privilege of vending in this town, and will be regularly supplied with the genuine pills from the patentee. April 2. (3m.)
Thomas S. Webb HAS FOR SALE, At his Paper-Hanging Manufactory, in Broad- street, opposite Dr. Dyer's (west side of the river) a large assortment of PAPER-HANGINGS. CONSISTING of upwards of four thousand rolls, suitable for covering rooms, cham- bers, entries and halls; with festoon, patch, chintz and common borders, from one to ten inches in breadth, by wholesale and retail. A handsome deduction made to those who pur- chase to sell again. Also, a general assortment of Books and Stationary, Music and Instruments. C. and B. Clarionets, Hautboys, Flutes, Vio- lins, Fifes, Books of instruction for the Clar- ionet, Hautboy, Violin, Flute, Forte Piano, &c. and several hundred different songs in sheet music. March 5. (6m.)
HAPPY CONTRADICTION. OLD FRIENDS WITH NEW FACES, An extraordinary event at the opening of the extra- ordinary year 1800. Being the beginning of the latter end of a century.
AT a tavern last night an old fashion- ed health was drank—"May we never see an old friend with a new face."—Q, who sat in a corner, slyly observed, that it was all true; that he could satisfy the company they would be all glad to see their friends with new faces. Some grumbled, others laughed, but all seemed curious to learn the particulars; he began thus: "Have you never used "HOPKINS' RAZOR STROPS?"
Yes, laid one—No, laid another; the experi- enced applauded the explanation, and those who had been in the habit of mowing their muzzles with handknives, felt the brushes on their chins bristle with eagerness to render their old fashion- ed faces new to their friends—to satisfy their curiosity Q went on thus, HOPKINS' RAZOR STROPS, which dis- appoint the most sanguine by their smooth and agreeable execution, are sold by appointment, at 75 cents, 1 dollar and 25 cents, and 2 dollars each, with the addition of a composition that will keep it in order for ages, at 50 cents.
BUT MARK THE IMPROVEMENT. To men who travel where there are no pro- fessional face-scrapers—to seamen of every grade —to the whiskered soldier in his huted tent— (how comfortable!)
The new invented and improved Box, containing, in the compass of little more than an ordinary comb-case,
A polished Razor—Comb—Brush— Leather Box, and Mirror—with a box for the surprizing composition, all in a Morocco case, most conveniently calculated to fit the pocket without incumbrance.
The whole of this new portable and useful apparatus sold at No. 65, South Third- Street (opposite the United States Bank) Phila- delphia; and in Providence, by JEREMIAH F. JENKINS, at No. 3, Market-street,
At only three Dollars. And by the agents usually appointed to dispos- al of the invaluable and agreeable STROP. able STROP. Feb. 19. (t.f.)
MAIL-STAGE. THE subscribers respectfully inform the public, that the only regular line of Stages for New-York and Boston, start from A. AMMIDON, at the sign of the Golden- Ball, near the State-House, in Providence; where ladies and gentlemen are invited to call and take their seats. The Mail Stage leaves Providence for New-York and Boston, Tues- days, Thursdays and Saturdays; for New-York at 6 o'clock, A. M. and for Boston, at 6 o'clock, A. M. Particular care will be taken that the Mail- Stage is not crowded; not more than eight per- sons are allowed to go in the Mail-Stage to Boston. SOLOMON HATCH and Co. January 22. (t.f.)
Cooley's genuine Pills, Prepared by Samuel Cooley, of Bol- ton, State of Connecticut, And secured to him by letters patent, signed by the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES, and dated at Philadelphia, the 26th day of June, A. D. 1798, agreeable to an act of Congress.
THEY are justly esteemed for their early operation and good effects; they are a most certain remedy for the Jaundice, Ki- cumatism, Erysipelas, Gravel, Piles, Scurvy, Diz- ziness of the Head, Pain in the Stomach and Bowels; they are an antidote against infectious diseases; and are, taking two or three early in the morning, a great preservative against con- tagious air, remove obstructions of any kind, by dissolving and discharging the morbid matter, help digestion, restore a lost appetite, a sure re- lief for costive habits; decayed constitutions are removed by a thorough use of the above Pills. They are found by experience to be the most safe and easy physic of any composition yet known: Persons under weak circumstances may take them with safety and not find them- selves made weaker, as is common to other phy- sic. They are to be taken twice in a day, two in the morning and one at night, more or less, so as to cause one or two movements of the bow- el more than usual; let the patient fast one hour, then eat, drink and exercise as he pleases. N. B. There is no Mercury in the above Pills. Sold by JOHN POTT, Providence.
A Consignment. FOUR Casks of Dry White Lead, recommended to be of a superior quality. A few boxes of the first quality Havana brown Sugar. Apply at the GOLDEN BEE-HIVE, May 7.
To be Let, A CONVENIENT and well situated HOUSE, with a SHOP in front, in Weybosset-street, near the Long Wharf. It is one of the best stands in town for Business, and may be entered upon the first of June, on terms that will be deemed reasonable. For particu- lars, apply to JOHN NICOLIS. N. B. The House and Shop will be let separately, if most agreeable. May 7.