Jenks's Portland gazette (Portland [Me.]), 1799-04-29 00:00:00

JENKS'S PORTLAND GAZETTE.
PUBLISHED ON MONDAYS, BY ALEZER ALLAY JENKS, PRINTER OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR THE DISTRICT OF MAINE.
[NUMBER 53.]
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1799.
[VOLUME II.]
Portland.
To the Public.
IN conformity to the notice given in the last Gazette, I this day commence the publication of the Laws of the United States. The great public utility of this measure, is so obvious to require the least illustration. As most opposition to the acts of Congress arises from an ignorance of them, it is hoped every member of the community will avail himself of the means devised by our constituted authorities to render their promulgation general among all classes of citizens. Every one may now become possessed of a copy of the Laws, with other necessary matters, at the ordinary price of a newspaper.
This circumstance, added to the low price of this Gazette, will, it is presumed, insure it that general patronage, which is necessary to support a publication conducted on so large a plan. A Supplement will be issued gratis whenever a press of matter shall require it.
The following passage of a letter, which I received from the Secretary of State, will explain his motive in adopting the plan exhibited this day, for their publication:
"To render their publication in the news-papers more useful, by providing for the preservation of the laws, in a convenient form, I have determined on the mode which the inclosed paper exhibits. By devoting one half sheet weekly to the publication of the laws, disposed in octavo pages, each of your subscribers will, with the current news, receive a complete copy of the laws of the United States, in a form to be folded in a pamphlet, unmingled with any other matter, by their separating the half sheets of the laws from the other half sheets of your news-papers."
Buonaparte's Letters.
[Having concluded to publish these intercepted letters, entire, I insert the following elegant and masterly Introduction to them, which will show in what importance they were considered by the English government, which though fit to publish them. They are curious and interesting.]
INTRODUCTION.
THE correspondence, of which the following letters make a part, was intercepted at different periods, by the Turkish and English ships of war. It consists of official and private letters, whose contents, perhaps like those of a thousand others, which have at various times, fallen into the hands of our cruisers, would have remained a secret to all but government, had not the French, by holding out, first, a false account of the motive of this famous expedition, and then, by spreading the most absurd and exaggerated accounts of its success; rendered it necessary to undeceive Europe, (still trembling at the tale) by proving from their own statements, that what began in wickedness and fraud, was likely to terminate in wretchedness and despair.
The publication being thus determined upon, the next step was to make such a selection from the voluminous correspondence in the hands of government, as without gratifying an idle curiosity, or indulging a prurient inclination for scandal and intrigue, should yet leave nothing to be desired with respect to the real situation of the army in Egypt; its views and successes, its miseries and disappointments. For this purpose, every thing that was not illustrative of one or other of those objects was suppressed; all private letters, unless intimately connected with the end in view, were passed over; and even those of Buonaparte (which have been so shamefully misrepresented, and commented upon by those fervid champions of decency, the opposition writers) tho' not strikingly and absolutely private, yet containing nothing that could materially interest or inform the public, were laid aside with the rest. We trust that we have not admitted any thing that can raise a blush on the cheek of our readers, either for themselves or for us.
We might here close our introduction, but as the Egyptian expedition has awakened curiosity, and been the theme of much wonder, and applause, and error, and misrepresentation; we do not think we shall render an unexceptionable service to the reader, by enlarging a little on the subject.
The French have long turned their eyes towards Egypt. The sanguine disposition of their consuls in the Levant, had ministered with admirable effect, to the credulity, and avarice, and ambition, of this restless nation, by assuring them that Egypt was the paradise of the east, the key of the treasures of the Indies; easy to be seized, and still more easy to be kept! There was not a Frenchman under the old regimen, who was not fully persuaded of the truth of all this; and certainly they have lost nothing of their ambition, their avarice, and their credulity under the new.
What plans the monarchy might have devised for gaining possession of this "Paradise," we know not. It could not hope to effect it by force. But the present rulers of France, who have trampled on the powers of the continent two long, and with too much impunity, to think it necessary to manage them now, could have no apprehensions of resistance to their measures, and were not likely to be scrupulous in the choice of means to effect whatever purpose they had in view.
Egypt, however, though said and believed to be a rich country, promised no immediate supplies of plunder; and the project for seizing it would still have remained
* The following paragraphs are taken from the Morning Chronicle. We might have produced a hundred more of the same kind, but those we think will be sufficient to convince the reader of the "superior delicacy" of that paper. When he has considered them well, he will not be disinclined, perhaps, to flatter us the French ladies, on the letters of their lovers and friends having luckily escaped such "delicate" and banal bands!
"It is not very creditable to the generosity of office, that the private letters from Buonaparte and his army to their friends in France, which were intercepted, should be published. It derogates from the character of a nation to descend to such gossiping. One of these letters is from Buonaparte to his brother, complaining of the profanity of his wife; another from Beauharnais, expressing his hope that his dear Mamma is not so wicked as she is represented! Such are the precious secrets which, to breed mischief in private families, is to be published in French and English!" [Nov. 24]
"After the public have been so long agitated with anxiety and speculation respecting Buonaparte and his expedition, they are at length to be gratified with the scandal and intrigue of which the private letters from the general and his officers are full." [Nov. 25.]
"The private correspondence of Buonaparte's officers, is a curious specimen of public intelligence. It reminds us of the weak and impolitic ministry who persecuted Wilkes. When their fund of malice was nearly exhausted, they gave out that he had written an indecent poem, which certainly has as much to do with the question of general warrants, as Madame Buonaparte's chatty has to do with her husband's expedition through Egypt!" [Nov. 26.]
in the port folio of Talleyrand, had not a circumstance happened that made its speedy adoption a measure of necessity.
Every one knows that the directory long since engaged to make a free gift to the army, of a thousand million of livres, at the conclusion of a general peace. This engagement, like many others, it seemed to have forgotten; till the necessity of attaching the troops to their interests, and thus enabling them to perfect the revolution of the 18th Fructidor, made it necessary for the Triumvirate to renew their promise, and to revive the languid expectations of the army.
None contributed more to the success of this fatal day than the army of Italy, which, to the eternal disgrace of Buonaparte, was permitted to overawe the councils, and to assume to itself the whole power of the state.
Such a service could not be overlooked: their claim to a portion of the milliard became doubly valid, and as the war in Italy was now supposed to be at an end, thousands of them returned to France to claim it.
Here began the difficulties of the directory. They had no money; but it was not expedient to confess it: and the expedition to Egypt was, therefore, brought forward, as an excellent expedient for quieting the present clamour, and providing for forty thousand veteran troops, insured to plunder, and impervious to controul; who were too sensible of their merits to be quietly laid aside; and too urgent in their demands to be cajoled with empty promises.
Hence arose the expedition to Egypt. The plunder of the Venetian docks and arsenals, fortunately furnished them with a vast quantity of naval stores, and with several ships of the line, frigates, &c. With the former, they fitted out the vessels in the port of Toulon; & they collected transports from every quarter. While these preparations were going on, the stupidity and ardour of the troops were artfully inflamed, by ambiguous hints of an expedition that was to eclipse, in immediate advantage, the boasted conquests of Cortes and Pizarro.
To promote the farce (for such we are persuaded it was) artists of all kinds, chymists, botanists, members of the protechnical school in prodigious numbers, and we know not what quantities of people calling themselves Savans, were collected from every part of France, and driven to Toulon in shoals. When all these were safely embarked, Buonaparte assembled the Italian army (amounting to 22,000 men) and after gravely promising them on his honour, which he observed had ever been sacred, that they should each receive on their return, money enough to purchase six acres and a half of good land, took them on board, and tranquilly proceeded to bury them all in Egypt.
On his route he collected near twenty thousand more of the army of Italy—sturdy beggars, who might have disquieted the directory if they had been suffered to remain in Europe, and who will now contribute with their fortunate comrades to fatten the vultures of Grand Cairo.
We shall not stop to notice the capture, as it is called, of Malta, nor the various gambols that were played by this unwieldy armament in the Mediterranean, but having conducted it in safety to Alexandria, return to make a few miscellaneous observations on its outfit, supposed destination, &c.
The first circumstance that strikes us, is the extreme ignorance of the French, with regard to the country they were going to desolate and destroy. They had had connections with its ports for ages, and yet they appear to have known no more of its interior, than the inhabitants of the moon. This want of knowledge was universal—from the Commander in Chief to the meanest soldier in the army, all was darkness, and blind confidence in the blindest of guides!
The "Savans" were not a wit better informed than the rest—like Phæton,
"They hop'd perhaps, to meet with pleasing woods, And stately forests, and cities fill'd with gods:—"
and like him too we imagine, they have found a general conflagration, and a river!
Now we have mentioned these men, it may not be a miss to inquire into the services the general literature of Europe is likely to derive from their exertions; services, be it remembered, for which the directory, who forced them on board, have already received the felicitation of all the "friends of liberty."
The inquiry will be short. All the mention we find of them, from the hour of their embarkation to the present, is contained in Berthier's letter to the Consuls of the Roman Republic. "The Savans Monge, Berthollet, Boussienne, &c." says he, "fought with the greatest courage; they did not quit the general's side during any part of the action, and they proved by their exertions, that in combating the enemies of their country, every Frenchman is a soldier." &c.
Thus we find that the "enlightened geniuses of the eighteenth century," who were to explore the construction of the Pyramids, to dive into the Catacombs, to wind through the mazes of the sacred labyrinth, to dig up the mystic volumes of Hermes, and, in a word, to roam "with free foot" from the cataracts to the seven mouths of the Nile: were become mere men of blood, obliged to cling to the troops for protection and unable to advance a single step to the right or left, beyond the reach of the musketry or cannon of the army!
But the imbecility displayed in the outfit of this strange expedition, is not more extraordinary than the obstinacy with which it has been held up to the admiration of Europe. Either ignorance, or fear, or Jacobinism, has been always at hand—to suggest a greatness of plan, where there was little, in fact, but blind hazard—to whisper a combination of means amidst the want of every thing, and to promise infallible success to men whose every step was attended with destruction and despair!
While the army was yet on its way to the place of its destination, the old plans of the French government were in every mouth; and the wisdom was loudly applauded which was to attach the beys to the invader, crush the dominion of the Porte, and secure the country for ever to the "Great Nation."
Buonaparte arrives, and reverses the whole scheme. The beys are now to be crushed, because they alone have the power to resist: and the sovereignty of Con-
* That event had been secured before Buonaparte left Toulon, by the intrigues and largesses of Pouchelon; that have since been laid open by the Bailli Taigine, and others; and made the subject of a formal accusation against the Grand Master Hampelsh, by the knights who have taken refuge in Germany, Russia, &c.
† In a letter of Buonaparte to the Directory, dated July 6th he says, "this country is anything but what travellers and story-tellers represent it to be."
‡ The cant of the French is even more flocking than their enormities. They invade a friendly country, which they wantonly devote to pillage and devastation; and the leaders of this notorious horde of savages have the effrontery to call the unoffending people whom they are exterminating for the crime of endeavouring to protect their lives and property, and who are utterly and like ignorant of them and their sanguinary employers—"The enemies of France."
stantinople is to be upheld, because it is insufficient.—The applause was louder than before! "better and better still!" cried the sagacious discoverers of deep design in all the bedlam tricks of France; "that country will gain more this way than others—Vive la Republique!"
Again, when it was found that no impressions but those of hatred and hostility, were made on the natives of Egypt, and that the conqueror barely held the ground on which his army halted, we were suddenly made acquainted with another and a greater scheme; which we were seriously assured was the only genuine one, and which could not fail of success! What was not done in Egypt, might be done in Persia. The inhabitants of the southern coasts of that country were opportunely discovered to have the primitive religion of the Arabs, before it was infected with Mahometism; and with them, "through the means of their venerable patriarch," Buonaparte, it was known, had long since been in correspondence. The clue of the mighty maze which had so much puzzled mankind, was at length discovered! Arabia was to be restored to liberty and happiness, by the arms of France, acting on one side of it, and by these innumerable and faithful auxiliaries, on the other. The rest was plain enough. Arabia being once organized, and in possession of a directory and two councils, a free passage to India was afforded, of course, through Mekran the region of friends and philosophers, and the "tyrant of the sea," driven with disgrace from Calcutta.
It would be superfluous to send our readers to any author of credit, for a refutation of all this absurdity; which yet has been dwelt on, by the friends of France, with complacency and delight—but if they should happen to look into Neibuhr, they will find, that there are really some wild Arabs, a poor, and miserable, and half naked people, who wander up and down the coasts of Arabia Proper, and live on purrid fish! These Cyrenaeans are the enlightened savages, who, in conjunction with Buonaparte, are to diffuse the knowledge of liberty and virtue through the eastern world!
But it is not only the profanity of the general's plans of conquest, that is so highly and so justly celebrated, its capacity of illustrating for the countries he subdues, receives an equal share of applause; and his admirers would think they insulted his reputation, if they forbore to mention, that he added the political sagacity of Solon, to the military science of Alexander.
The reader will find (No. X) a letter from Buonaparte, containing, what he calls, his "Provisional Organization of Egypt;" if he will look carefully into this, and into another curious paper, (appendix No. VIII) he will be inclined, we think, to abate something of his admiration for this new Solon.
The tenaciousness of the eastern people for their customs is proverbially great; yet they are to be changed there at a word! the simplicity and invariable uniformity of their dress is no less striking; ages pass away, and find it still the same; yet they are now in obedience to they know not what orders, to trick themselves suddenly out in tri-coloured shawls and scarfs, and ribbands, like the lawdry Jack Puddings of the executive directory.
All the complicated relations which bind the society among which the general is thrown, are either unknown or unheeded by him; one or two general and barren provinces are made to represent all those moral habits and local regulations which, with an infinite variety, distinguish the former government of this people.
But a remedy is at hand: if his laws will not do of themselves, force will speedily make them effectual.—The military, under the command of a French officer, are directed to be called in on every occasion (p. 71); this is the grand specific for all! after a disgraceful and futile attempt at civil wisdom, the whole is resolved into violence, and the code of the legislator is thrust down the throats of the people by the bayonet of the conqueror!
But what could be expected from a man who had already betrayed his incapacity in similar attempts in Europe? Let his stupid admirers (for we must now be serious) let his stupid admirers call to mind his Italian "organization" (the worthy prototypes of his Egyptian ones,) repeatedly changed by himself, and the instant he was out of sight disclaimably changed by others. There was the same poverty of conception. From his travelling cloak-bag, he privately drew out the model of all legislation—the constitution of 1795. This was copied for great and small, and applied in all situations, and to every people! Antiquity knew nothing of this sweeping mode of legislation; they shewed a condescension to the different customs and prejudices of those who fell under their management; and a cluster of small and contiguous powers were judiciously and humanely indulged with the possession of those laws which had long been dear to them, and which removed them from each other in principles and manners, as far from "the centre to the pole."
But Italy, which in the judgment of our philosophers, had once exhibited this weakness, was now to be taught a better lesson. All moral considerations were to be superseded by the supreme wisdom of the cloak-bag; and republics, monarchies, and whatever else might be the distinctions of aristocratic government, were to be swept away with the besom of 1795. What shall be the constitution of Genoa? A Directory and two councils.—What of Mantua? A Directory and two councils.—What again of Bologna? You are very tiresome! look into page—of the cloak bag; what does it say? A Directory and two councils. Thus it is, Ventum est ad summum fortune and we make laws quicker and better than the ancients— Adieu doulx unis! One undistinguishing rule dominates over all the varied application of political wisdom, and Minos, and Solon, and Lycurgus, are vanquished by a single roll of paper triumphantly carried through Europe, and speaking alike (whether intelligible or not) "to all people, & nations, and languages and tongues."
From the legislative pretensions of Buonaparte, we might now descend to the consideration of the fraud, & hypocrisy, and blasphemy, and impiety, and cruelty, & injustice, which he had never ceased to display since the commencement of this famous expedition; but we are better pleased to leave them to the faithful page of the historian, which we are satisfied will one day hold them up to the just contempt and execration of all mankind.
We shall indulge ourselves, however, with an observation or two on his cruelty. We select this vice, because Buonaparte has been celebrated by the ignorant and malevolent of this country, for nothing so much as for his humanity! One man, of whom we should say, if we could for a moment believe in the metempsychosis, that the spirit of Bishop Bonner had taken full possession, has had the consummate folly to affirm, that Buonaparte, "his consolation and his triumph," preferred the preservation of one citizen, to the melancholy glory of a thousand victories.
Where did this scribbler, who from his study infests the feelings of his countrymen, and boasts of his satisfaction in the success of their enemies, collect his proofs of the tender concern of Buonaparte for the life of a citi-
zen? Was it at the bridge of Lodi, where he sacrificed six thousand of them to the vanity of forcing a pass which he might have turned without the loss of a man? Was it—but why, why multiply questions, when there is not, perhaps, a reader of a common newspaper in Europe (this pestilent foe to the honour of his country excepted) who does not know that Buonaparte has wantonly spilt more blood than any Attila of ancient or modern time, who, with the same means, has had merely the same ends to effect.
We may, perhaps, at some future time, take up this topic at greater length; meanwhile we shall content ourselves with referring to Boyer's letter (No. XXII.) and return to the subject of the expedition.
We have called it a farce; we might with more justice, have called it a tragedy—it is, we are persuaded (but here we beg to be understood as speaking only our private and individual opinion) a deep laid plan, of which the only actors in the secret are the directory and Buonaparte, and, perhaps, Berthier. The main plot was to get rid of the Italian army; the subordinate one to conquer and plunder what they could; if Egypt fell—so much the better! if it did not—so much the better still. The denouement was skilfully effected either way, and the government equally relieved!
But why then all this expence, this hazard of their sole remaining fleet, this exposure of their best and most skillful officers, of their profoundest philosophers, of their most scientific men of every kind? These we confess are weighty and rational objections, and if we could not answer them to our own satisfaction, we would without hesitation renounce the opinion we have given, and adopt that of our opponents in its stead.
We begin, then, with premising that the directory do not set much store by their Savans; they have exported several heads of them to Cayenne, a spot still worse than Egypt; and made a great consumption of them at home, in noyades, fusiliades, &c. &c. these, therefore, may be safely put out of the question.
With respect to the "expence"—to say nothing of the hopes of repaying themselves by the plunder of Malta, and Grand Cairo; it was surely worth something to effect the important ends they had in view—The "hazard of their fleet" indeed, seems a more serious matter; but let it be remembered, that the directory had no idea that we could possibly send a squadron into the Mediterranean (a sea which we had abandoned for near two years) strong enough to attack it; and here let us pay the tribute of applause so justly due to the secrecy, and skill, and promptitude, with which this most important measure was effected.
With regard to the "exposure of their best officers"—and here we make our chief stand—we say, that the Government had no such design. They were sent, it is true, because the army would not move without them; but we have proof, little short of mathematical certainty, that they were speedily meant to be recalled to France. It appears from some of Buonaparte's letters, that he had not the slightest idea of wintering in Egypt. "I shall pass," says he, "the cold months in Burgundy, where I with you would look out some little place for me."—Here, then, is the solution of the whole enigma. Buonaparte was to leave his devoted followers to moulder away in the undisturbed possession of Egypt, and under some plausible pretence to return to Europe with his ablest officers, and with, perhaps, a handful of the most ducile and tractable of their troops.
This plan, and no other, accounts for his keeping the fleet on the coast, in spite of the remonstrances of Brueys, and the evident danger to which it was exposed—it was to carry back the "Conqueror of Egypt" in triumph to France; and the Admiral, who was wholly unacquainted with his design, fell a sacrifice at last, to a peridy which he could not comprehend.
The fall of August ruined all these fine spun schemes; and Buonaparte fell into the toils he was spreading for others! All return is now impossible, except as a fugitive or a prisoner. He may enter into the chambers of the Pyramids, and hold conversations on the tomb of Cheops, with Imans, and with Mufis; he may organize, and conquer, and plant botanic gardens, and establish menageries; he may pass from the Delta to the Thebaid, and from the Thebaid to the Delta, with his train of tri-coloured Cheiks, and be hailed as the Ali Buonaparte of the country—all is still but folly; his final destruction can neither be averted nor delayed; and his unfeignable mummery will but serve to take away all dignity from the catastrophe of the drama; and render his fall at once terrible and ridiculous.
Before our readers accuse us of being too sanguine in our expectations, or too precipitate in our judgment, let them carefully peruse the following correspondence. They will find every officer in the army dissatisfied with his situation, and impatient to return to France: exécrating the climate and the country, and lamenting the folly that led him to embark in so wild, absurd, and hopeless an expedition. They will find the whole army without tents, baggage, or ammunition, without medicines, or wine, or brandy, with few of the necessaries, and none of the comforts of life.
This was a faithful picture of their situation before the destruction of their fleet—what it is since, they may easily conjecture. If, then, they will add to this accumulation of misery and despair, the inveterate hostility of the Arabs, the treachery of the Egyptians, and the destructive warfare of the Mamelukes, together with the naufragous and peculiar diseases of the country, the intolerable heats, and pestilential winds, the devouring myriads of venomous insects, and the stench and putrefaction of ten thousand stagnant pools, they will not, we imagine, be much inclined to dispute the justice of our conclusions.
With respect to the letters we have given, they were selected, as far as was consistent with our plan, with an eye to variety. They are, with few exceptions, extremely well written, and do credit to the epistolary talents of the authors; nor is this their highest merit; they are friendly and affectionate; and we see with pleasure that the cold blooded rank of a detestable and impious philosophy, has not yet succeeded in extinguishing the social feelings!
One word more. We had very different motives from those of raising a laugh when we admitted into the collection, the letters of Guillot, Le Turc, &c.—We had it in contemplation to shew, that from the highest to the lowest, from the best informed to the most illiterate, the sentiment of discontent and disgust is universal; that, far from harbouring a thought of sitting down in Egypt, not an individual in the army (so far, at least, as has come to our knowledge) but turns with fond anxiety towards home, and thinks, with horror and despair, of a residence in this "terrestrial paradise," even for a few weeks!
* This was not so chimerical an idea as may be imagined: the P'orient had more than half a million sterling in her, when she blew up.
[The letters to commence in my next.]

Portland,
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1799.
See SUPPLEMENT for ADVERTISEMENTS— COFFIN or ALDEN—&c.
FAST-DAY.
Last Thursday the federal Fast was observed in this town, with a devotion that bespoke the feelings of our citizens. The Rev. Mr. Kellogg delivered a judicious and federal discourse, calculated to inculcate the principles of piety and morality—and to inspire a proper feeling of resentment towards the insolent and unprincipled depredators of our rights; by exhibiting a just picture of their perfidy and infamy.
The last Foreign News,
Is by arrivals at the southward, bringing English gazettes to the 4th of March. By them it appears—
That preparations for carrying on the war with vigor, were making throughout England.
That the French were marching an army of 60,000 men towards Portugal.
That a convoy of 200 sail, with 15,000 troops on board, had just left England for Portugal, to assist that power in repelling the threatened invasion by the French.
That the subject of the union of Ireland and Great Britain, was in high debate—but nothing definitive had been concluded.
That the recent successes of the French in Italy, had raised the tone of the French disposition to the Congress at Rastadt, so high as to banish every prospect of accommodation.
That the king of Prussia had declared himself independent of the Germanic league.
That Mr. Grenville, who had been sent on a secret embassy to Berlin, had been shipwrecked and lost.
That the Russian troops, in two divisions, hold their march thro Germany.
The news of Loring's insulting treatment of our flag had been received in London, and excited much indignity; and it was confidently asserted he would be broke.
News has been received from the Havannah, that the ship Ocean, of Philadelphia, mounting 20 guns, carrying 80 men, and commanded by Capt. Kemp, on her passage from New-York to Vera Cruz, in the Old Bahama Straights, was attacked by four French privateers, which after being several times beaten off, succeeded in boarding her, and afterwards in a most inhuman and brutal manner, put every foul to death, except five or six, who secreted themselves in the hold. These were at length forced by hunger to discover themselves, but were not involved in the fate of their unfortunate companions.
From New York, April 20.
Capt. Blackhouse, 22 days, from Jamaica, confirms the account of the horrid, unparalleled conduct of the French towards Capt. Kemp, of the ship Ocean, and his crew. This intelligence Capt. Blackhouse received from Capt. Decatur, of the Delaware sloop of war, which he spoke on the 3d of April, off the Havannah. It was bro't to the Havannah by a Spaniard from a port 25 leagues to windward, where the French privateers generally rendezvous.
The Sailing Master of the Constellation, writes from St. Kits March 20, that official accounts are received of a violent commotion at Guadaloupe. The white flag is raised. Desfournaux's assassination has been attempted. It is said, Admiral Harvey is preparing to assist the revolters.
DIED —In Norway, JOSEPH SURRINGTON, aged 160. Sensible to the last. His oldest son is now 103, and his youngest 99.
Drowned, at Freeport, on Wednesday evening last Mr. INGERSOLL PARKER, about 20 years of age. He was in a boat with two others, passing from a fishing boat to the shore, when it unfortunately upset. The other two saved themselves by swimming.
Marine Articles.
Ship Joseph , of this port, arrived at Baltimore, was boarded on her passage from Live pool, in lat 18, by a French vessel of war—her papers examined, and suffered to proceed to Sirange .
Last accounts from the sloop of war Herald , capt. Russell, mention her sailing towards La Guayra , to protect our trade.
A ship of war is ordered to be built for government, at Norwich , in the state of Connecticut , under the agency of Mr. Joseph Howland .
The Secretary of the Navy, on the 16th inst. received letters from Captains Barry , Truxton and Nicholson .
Capt. G. Little is appointed to the frigate Boston , building in Boston . Capt. R. H. Hoswell , First Lieutenant of the same ship.
War Department.
MARCH 21, 1799.
Notice is hereby given,
THAT separate proposals will be received at the office of the Secretary of the Department of War, until the expiration of the 25th of July next ensuing, for the supply of all rations, which may be required for the use of the United States, from the first day of October, 1799, to the thirteenth day of September, 1800, both days inclusive, at the places and within the two districts herein after first mentioned; and also that separate proposals will be received at the said office until the expiration of the 25th day of July next ensuing, for the supply of all rations which may be required as aforesaid, from the first day of January, in the year 1800, to the thirty-first day of December, in the same year, both days inclusive, at the places, and within the several states herein after mentioned, viz.
First—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Oswego ; at Niagara ; at Presqu'isle ; at Michillimackinac ; at Fort Franklin ; at Le Boeuf ; at
Cincinnati ; at Piquie Town , and Loramies stores; at Fort Wayne ; at Fort Defiance ; at any place below Fort Defiance , on the Miami river, to Lake Erie ; at Fort Knox , and Quatanon , on the river Wabash ; at Madiac ; at any place or places on the east side of the river Mississippi , above the mouth of the river Ohio , and upon the Illinois river.
Second—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at any place or places, on the east side of the Mississippi river, below the mouth of the river Ohio , to the southern boundary of the state of Kentucky , and within the said state; at Knoxville ; at all other posts and places within the state of Tennessee ; at South West Point ; at Tellico Block house, at St. Stephens , on the river Tombeigh , and any place or places within the Cherokee boundaries; below the southern boundary of the state of Tennessee , and within the boundary of the United States .
Third—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Point-Petre ; at Coleraine ; at Savannah ; and at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the state of Georgia ; and at all forts or stations on the Oconee and Altamaha ; and at all other places in the Creek nation, within the limits of the United States , where troops are or may be stationed.
Fourth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Fort Johnson ; at Fort Plaquemine ; at Charlestown ; or at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, in the state of South Carolina .
Fifth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at the fort at Wilmington , Cape-Fear ; at Beaufort , Island , Ocracoke ; at Charlotte ; at Fayetteville ; at Salisbury ; or at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited in the state of North Carolina .
Sixth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Norfolk ; at Portsmouth ; at Kempville ; at Charlottesville ; at Winchester ; at Staunton ; at Richmond ; at Alexandria ; at Leesburg ; at Fredericksburg ; at Carterville ; or at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, in the state of Virginia .
Seventh—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Fort M'Henry ; at Baltimore ; at Annapolis ; at Frederick-Town ; at Leonard-Town ; at Hager's-Town ; at Bladensburg ; at George-Town ; at Harper's Ferry ; at Eatontown ; at the Head of Elk ; and at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of the state of Maryland .
Eighth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Fort Mifflin ; at Philadelphia ; at Darby ; at Lancaster ; at Wilkes-Barre ; at Reading ; at Bristol ; at York-Town ; at Carlisle ; at Lewisburg ( Mifflin county ); at Bedford ; at Greensburg ; at Washington ; at Easton ; at Wilmington ; at Chichester ; at Dover ; or at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware , except the posts within the state of Pennsylvania , enumerated in the first proposals aforesaid.
Ninth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Hackensack ; at Elizabeth-Town , at New-Brunswick ; at Burlington ; at Woodbury ; at Trenton ; and at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of the state of New-Jersey .
Tenth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at New-York ; at West Point ; at Flushing ; at Haverstrom ; at West-Chester ; at Poughkeepsie ; at Kendrick ; at Stillwater ; at Newburg ; at Albany ; at Conejharie ; at Cherry Valley ; and at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of the state of New-York , except the posts within the said state, enumerated in the first proposals aforesaid.
Eleventh—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required at Hartford ; at New-London ; at Brooklyn ; at Wyndham ; at Litchfield ; at Guisford ; at New-Haven ; at Fairfield ; at Danbury ; at Middletown ; and at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of the state of Connecticut .
Twelfth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Fort Wolcott ; at Brinton's Point ; at Newport ; at Providence ; and at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of the state of Rhode Island .
Thirteenth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Portland , in the district of Maine ; at Gouldsboro' ; at Cape Ann ; at Salem ; at Middlesex ; at Boston ; at Springfield ; at Uxbridge ; and at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of the state of Massachusetts .
Fourteenth—Proposals to supply all rations that may be required, at Portsmouth ; at Exeter ; at Windsor ; at Bennington ; at Rutland ; or at any other place or places where troops are or may be stationed, marched or recruited, within the limits of New-Hampshire and Vermont .
The Ration to be supplied, is to consist of the following articles, viz. Eighteen ounces of bread or flour, or when neither can be obtained, of one quart of rice, or one and a half pound of fitted or boulted Indian meal, one pound and a quarter of offal beef, or one pound of salted beef, or three quarters of a pound of salted pork, and when fresh meat is issued, salt, at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations, soap at the rate of four pounds, and candles at the rate of a pound and a half for every hundred rations.
It is expected the proposals will also extend to the supply of rum, whiskey, or other ardent spirits, at the rate of half a gill per ration, and vinegar at the rate of two quarts for every hundred rations. The proposals will specify the price of the several component parts of the ration, as well as those of substitutes or alternatives for parts thereof.
The rations are to be furnished in such quantities as that there shall at all times, during the term of the proposed contracts, be sufficient for the consumption of the troops at Michillimackinac , Detroit , Niagara and Oswego , for six months in advance, and at each of the other posts on the western waters, for at least three months in advance, of good and wholesome provisions, if the same shall be required. It is also to be permitted to all and every of the commandants of fortified places, or posts, to call for at seasons when the same can be transported, or at any time in case of urgency, such supplies of like provisions in advance, as in the discretion of the commandant shall be deemed proper. It is to be understood that the contractor is to be at the expence and risk of issuing the supplies to the troops, and that all losses sustained, by the depredations of an enemy, or by means of the troops of the United States , shall be paid for at the price of the article captured or destroyed, on the depositions of two or more persons of creditable characters, and the certificate of a commissioned officer, ascertaining the circumstances of the loss, and the amount of the articles, for which compensation shall be claimed.
The privilege is to be understood to be reserved to the United States of requiring, that none of the supplies which may be furnished under any of the proposed contracts shall be issued, until the supplies which have or may be furnished under contracts now in force have been consumed, and that a supply in advance may be always required at any of the fixed posts on the Seaboard or Indian frontiers not exceeding three months.
James M c Henry, Secretary of War.
Sales by Auction.
On THURSDAY, the 9th of MAY, To close the Sales of the STOCK IN TRADE of a Gentleman lately deceased,
Will be sold at the Auction-Room in FISH-STREET, the following articles:
14 pieces Tammy, 6 pieces Durants , 8 pieces Calimancos . A variety of Calli- coes , Everlastings , Muffin Handkerchiefs. Black Silk do.  Black Modes , Women's Silk Gloves and Mitts , Cmbricks , Sprig'd Mullin Aprons , Mus- ket . Large Baking Pan, Indigo , with various other articles.
Sale, 10 o'clock. EDWARD OXNARD, Auctioneer. Portland, April 27, '99.
Samuel H. Walley, Having commenced business in Boston , at STORE No. 34, LONG-WHARF, Begs leave to offer his services to the public in the Commission Line, to which his attention will principally be devoted.— He will advance Cash on Goods consigned him, and use every exertion for the interest of his employers. HE HAS NOW FOR SALE,
A few pipes of excellent PORT WINE, Fresh LEMONS, Boston Duck , No. 1 and 2, Best Dutch 3 threaded Seine Twine, parti- cularly intended for the Salmon Fishery. Boston manufactured GLASS of every size (which can be cut) on terms as liberal as can be obtained at the works.
A few Casks of excellent Bohea TEA, &c. &c. &c. Boston, April 24, 1799.
Bowdoin College. PUBLIC notice is hereby given, that the semi-annual meeting of the board of Overseers of Bowdoin College , will be held at the house of Joseph Stockbridge , Inholder in Freeport , on the third Wednesday of May next, being the 15th day of said month; at which a general attendance of the members is requested.
Mark Langdon Hill, Sec'y. Georgetown, 15th April, 1799.
Francis Morris, INFORMS the Ladies and Gentlemen of Portland and its vicinity, that he intends to open his DANCING SCHOOL on next Thursday second day of May, at Mr. CUTLER's Columbian Hall. Those Ladies and Gentlemen who wish to attend, are requested to come at two o'clock in the afternoon.
Conditions are, 6 dollars for those who never have been to school, and four dollars & fifty cents for each one who has attended before.—One half to be paid on entrance, and the remainder at the end of the quarter. April 29.
Entertainment.
Sylvanus Cushman, WISHES to inform his acquaint- ance and the public in general, that he has taken Mr. THOMAS WEBSTER's Brick-house in Middle- street, in Portland , where he intends to open a PUBLIC HOUSE next week. He flatters himself that he shall be able to give those gentlemen of the town or from the country, that will please to call on him, good satisfaction. April 27th, 1799.
FRESH GOODS.
JUST RECEIVED FOR SALE, By JOSEPH CROSS, At his Store in Fore Street, a large assort- ment of English & West-India Goods .
viz. Calicoes—Copperplates— Gingham — Plain  Nankeens — Striped Fustians — Janes — Dimities — Muslinett — Joco- net Mullins — Japan'd , Check'd , Back , Shear , Sprig'd , and Spotted ditto— Muslin Shawls — Purple and Silk ditto— Muslin Handkerchiefs — Lawn ditto— Lustrings — Sattins — Modes — Sarsenets — Bandanna Handkerchiefs— Vest Shapes — Pocket Handkerchiefs— Moreens — Durants — Shalons — Cotton Hosiery — Silk ditto Velvets — India Cottons — Diapers — Linens — Cambricks — Bed Ticking — Check'd Linen — Broad Cloths — Calimeres — Carpeting — Wo- men's long and short Gloves — Men's ditto — Russia and Ravens Duck — Looking Glass — Dressing and pocket ditto— Knives and Forks — Jack and pen Knives .
W. I. N. E. Rum— Brandy — Gin — Wines — Molasses — Brown and Leaf Sugar — Bohea and Souchong Tea — Cof- fee — Chocolate — Ginger — Pepper — Allspice — Cinnamon — Nutmegs — 4d , 6d , 10d , and 20d Nails — Glass — Lemmons , &c. &c. April 22, 1799.
FOR SALE, A Very valuable FARM, about two miles from Back-Cove Bridge , lying on Presumpscot river —containing about Ninety acres of up-land and marsh, with a good Dwelling-House and Barn —Also a good Orchard , with Stock and Utenfils — The purchaser may know the terms of payment, by in- quiring of the Printer. Portland, April 21st, 1799.
TO BE SOLD,
THAT beautiful and valu- able FARM, formerly the seat of JEREMIAH POWEL , Esq. situated in Northyarmouth , on the Laflern County Road , ten miles from Portland —Consisting of about 300 acres of Land; 100 of which is in high cultivation, 70 acres in wood, the remainder in pasture. The whole within a ring fence, great part of which is stone wall.
On the premises is a genteel House, one Barn of 100 feet long, two of 40 feet; a Store, with other detached offices.
Likewise, a large Garden, inclosed with a 7 foot close fence; containing a variety of the choicest fruit trees from Europe , and a great number of them in full bearing. Two Orchards beside.
The place is so well known, a fur- ther description is need less than to say, it is equally adapted either for a Gentleman who is engaged in trade and navigation, or as a beautiful summer residence; or for a TAVERN. The situation and advantages are un- equalled.
The whole will be sold together, or in such lots and divisions as shall be agreeable to pur- chasers.
The terms of payment made easy.— Goods or a Vessel, taken in part—or lots of Land in Portland .
For further particulars, apply to the owner, Mr. MARTIN, on the premises.
N. B. Several House Lots to be sold, near the water side in Northyarmouth .
NOTICE is hereby given to the nonresident Proprietors of lands in the town of Hebron , in the county of Cumberland , that their Lands are taxed to the State, County, and Town, for the year 1798, and committed to me the subscriber to collect, as follows, viz.
   Proprietors Names. No. of Acres. State tax. County tax. Town tax.   Cts. M. D. C. M.     Jonathan Greenleaf, Esq. 600 54 1 8   Thomas Motley. 80 7 2 14   Jonathan Greenleaf 300 27 54   James Stencelfield. 200 18 36  
If said taxes with all necessary inter- vening charges are not paid to me the subscriber on or before the 29th day of July next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, so much of said lands as will be sufficient to discharge said taxes and charges, will then be sold at Public Auction to the highest bidder, according to law, at the dwelling house of Seth BEARE , Inholder in said Hebron . March 24th, 1799.
BARNABAS MYRICK, Collector.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non- resident proprietor of land in the town of Hebron , in the county of Cumberland , that his land is taxed to the State, County and Town, for the year 1798, and committed to me the subscriber to collect, as fol- lows, namely.
   Accts. Tax.   D. C.     Jonathan Greenleaf, Esq. 800 2 60  
Unless said tax with all necessary in- tervening charges are paid to me the subscriber on or before the 29th day of July next, at 10 o'clock A. M. so much of said land as will be sufficient to discharge the same, will then be sold at Public Auction to the highest bidder, at the dwelling house of Seth BEARE , Inholder in said town, according to law.
ELISHA GURNEY, jun. Collector. Hebron, March 24th, A. D. 1799.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non- resident proprietors or owners of lands in the town of Durham , in the county of Cumberland , that they are taxed for the year 1798, in the State, County, and town tax, committed to me the subscriber to collect, as follows, viz.
   Lot. Name. Acres. State tax. County tax. Town tax.   Cents. Cents. Cents.     135 Waterhouse, 100 50 60   92 Isaac Randell, 100 50 60   123 Josiah Little, 100 50 60   101 Josiah Little, 40 20 24   107 Josiah Little, 100 50 60