The Providence journal, and town and country advertiser (Providence [R.I.]), 1801-08-19 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. 138.]
WEDNESDAY, August 19, 1801.
[Vol. III.]
CHARACTER OF Dr. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
THERE is in the character of every distinguished person something to admire, and something to imitate. The incidents that have marked the life of a great man always excite curiosity, and often afford improvement. If there be talents which we can never expect to equal; if there be a series of good fortune which we can never expect to enjoy, we still need not lose the labour of our biographical enquiries. We may probably become acquainted with habits which it may be prudent to adopt, and discover virtues which we cannot fail to applaud. It will be easy for the reader to make a full application of these remarks, in his contemplations upon the late celebrated Dr. Franklin. By his death, one of the best lights of the world may be said to be extinguished. I shall not attempt any historical details of the life of this illustrious patriot and philosopher, as I have nothing further in view than to make a few comments upon the most striking traits of his character.
Original genius was peculiarly his attribute. The native faculties of his mind qualified him to penetrate into every science, and his unremitted diligence left no field of knowledge unexplored. There were no limits to his curiosity. His enquiries were spread over the whole face of nature. But the study of man seemed to be his highest delight; and if his genius had any special bias, it lay in discovering those things that made men wiser and happier. As truth was the sole object of his researches, he was of course no sectary; and as reason was his guide, he embraced no system which did not authorize. In short, he laid the whole volume of nature open before him, and diligently and faithfully perused it.
Nor were his political attainments less conspicuous than his philosophical. The ancients usually ranked good fortune among those circumstances of life which indicate merit. In this view, Dr. Franklin is almost unrivalled, having seldom undertaken more than he accomplished. The world are too well acquainted with the events of his political career, to require, at this time, a particular enumeration of them. It may be presumed the historians of the American revolution will exhibit them in proper colours.
If Dr. Franklin did not aspire after the splendour of eloquence, it was only because the demonstrative plainness of his manner was superior to it. Though he never loved political debate, nor excelled in it, he still preserved much influence in public assemblies, and discovered an aptitude in his remarks on all occasions. He was not fond of taking a leading part in such investigations as could never terminate in any degree of certainty. To come forward in questions, which in their nature are indefinite, and their issue problematical, does not comport with the caution of man, who has taught himself to look for demonstration. He reserved his observations for those cases which science could enlighten, and common sense approve. The simplicity of his style was well adapted to the clearness of his understanding. His conceptions were so bright and perfect, that he did not choose to involve them in a cloud of expressions. If he used metaphors, it was to illustrate, and not to embellish the truth. A man, possessing such a lively imagery of ideas, should never affect the arts of a vain rhetorician, whose excellence consists only in a beautiful arrangement of words.
But whatever claims to eminence Dr. Franklin may have, as a politician or a scholar, there is no point of light in which his character shines with more lustre, than when we view him as a man or a citizen. He was eminently great in common things. Perhaps no man ever existed, whose life can with more justice, be denominated useful. Nothing ever passed through his hands without receiving improvement; and no person ever went into his company without gaining wisdom. His sagacity was so sharp and his science so various, that, whatever might be the profession or occupation of those with whom he conversed, he could meet every one upon his own ground. He could enliven every conversation with anecdote, and conclude it with a moral.
The whole tenor of his life was a perpetual lecture against the idle, the extravagant, and the proud. It was his principal aim to inspire mankind with a love of industry, temperance and frugality; and to inculcate such duties as promote the important interests of humanity. He never wasted a moment of time, or lavished a farthing of money in folly or dissipation. Such expence as the dignity of his station required, he readily sustained, limiting them by the strictest duties of propriety. Many public institutions experienced his well-timed liberality; and he manifested a sensibility of heart by numerous acts of private charity.
By a judicious division of time, Dr. Franklin acquired the art of doing every thing to advantage; and his amusements were of such a nature, as could never militate with the main objects of his pursuit. In whatever situation he was placed by chance or design, he extracted something for himself or others. His life was remarkably full of incidents. Every circumstance of it turned to some valuable account. The maxims which his discerning mind has formed, apply to innumerable cases and characters. Those who move in the lowest, equally with those who move in the most elevated rank in society, may be guided by his instructions. In the private department of his life, he in many respects has furnished a most excellent model. His manners were easy and accommodating, and his address winning and respectful. All who knew him speak of him as a most agreeable man; and all who have heard of him, applaud him as a very useful one. A man so wise and so amiable, could not but have many admirers, and many friends.
From the GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, for February 1789.
A ZEALOUS advocate for the proposed Federal Constitution, in a certain public assembly, said, "that the repugnance of a certain great part of mankind to good government was such, that he believed, that if an angel from heaven was to bring down a Constitution formed there for our use, it would nevertheless meet with violent opposition." He was reproved for the supposed extravagance of the sentiment; and he did not justify it. Probably it might not have immediately occurred to him, that the experiment had been tried, and that the event was recorded in the most faithful of all histories, the Holy Bible; otherwise he might, as it seems to me, have supported his opinion by that unexceptionable authority.
The Supreme Being had been pleased to nourish up a single family, by continued acts of his attentive Providence, till it became a great people; and having rescued them from bondage by many miracles performed by his servant Moses, he personally delivered to that chosen servant, in presence of the whole nation, a constitution and code of laws for their observance, accompanied and sanctioned by promise of great reward, and threats of severe punishments on the consequence of obedience or disobedience.
This Constitution, though the Deity himself was to be at the head, and it is therefore called by political writers a Theocracy , could not be carried into execution but by the means of his ministers. Aaron and his sons were therefore commissioned to be, with Moses, the first established ministry of the new government.
One would have thought, that the appointment of men, who had distinguished themselves in procuring the liberty of their nation, and had hazarded their lives in openly opposing the will of a powerful monarch who would have retained that nation in slavery, might have proved acceptable to a grateful people; and that a constitution framed for them by the Deity himself, might, on that account, have been secure of an universal welcome reception; yet there were, in every one of thirteen tribes, some discontented, restless spirits, who were continually exciting them to reject the proposed new government, and this from various motives.
Many still retained an affection for Egypt, the land of their nativity; and these, whenever they felt any inconvenience or hardship, though the natural and unavoidable effect of their change of situation, exclaimed against their leaders as the authors of their trouble, and were not only for returning into Egypt, but for stoning their deliverers*. Those inclined to idolatry were displeased that their golden calf was destroyed. Many of the chiefs thought the new construction might be injurious to their particular interests, that the profitable places would be engrossed by the families and friends of Moses and Aaron, and the equally well-born excluded†. In Josephus and the Talmud, we learn some particulars, not so fully narrated in the scripture. We are there told, that Corah was ambitious of the priesthood, and offended that it was conferred on Aaron, and thus, as he said by the authority of Moses only, without the consent of the people. He accused Moses of having by various artifices fraudulently deprived the people of their liberties; and of conspiring with Aaron to perpetrate the tyranny in their family. Thus, though Corah's real motive was the supplanting of Aaron, he per-
suaded the people that he meant only the public good—and they, moved by his insinuations, began to cry out, "Let us maintain the common liberty of our respective tribes; we have freed ourselves from the slavery imposed upon us by the Egyptians, and shall we suffer ourselves to be made slaves by Moses? If we must have a master: it were better to return to Pharaoh, who at least fed us with bread and onions, than to serve this new tyrant, who by his operations has brought us in danger of famine." Then they called in question the reality of his conference with God, and objected the privily of the meetings , and the preventing any of the people from being present at the colloquies, or even approaching the place, as ground of great suspicion. They accused Moses also of peculation , and embezzling part of the golden spoons and the silver chargers that the princes had offered at the dedication of the altar,‡ and the offerings of gold by the common people§, as well as most of the poll tax|| and Aaron they accused of pocketing much of the gold of which he pretended to have made a molten calf. Besides peculation , they charged Moses with ambition ; to gratify which passion, he had, they said, deceived the people, by promising to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey; instead of doing which, he had brought them from such a land; and that he thought light of all this mischief, provided he could make himself an absolute prince.¶ That to support the new dignity with splendour in his family, the partial poll tax, already levied and given to Aaron,** was to be followed by a general one,†† which would probably be augmented from time to time, if he were suffered to go on promulgating new laws, on pretence of new occasional revelations of the divine will, till their whole fortunes were devoured by that aristocracy.
Moses denied the charge of peculation ; and his accusers were destitute of proofs to support it; though facts , if real, are in their nature capable of proof. "I have not," said he, (with holy confidence in the presence of God) "I have not taken from this people the value of an ass, nor done them any other injury." But his enemies had made the charge, and with some success among the populace, for no kind of accusation is so readily made, or easily believed by KNAVES , as the accusation of knavery .
In fine, no less than two hundred and fifty of the principal men, "famous in the congregation, men of renown,"§§ heading and exciting the mob, worked them up to such a pitch of phrensy, that they called out, stone 'em, stone 'em, and thereby secure our liberties; and let us choose other captains that may lead us back into Egypt, in case we do not succeed in reducing the Canaanites.
On the whole it appears, that the Israelites were a people jealous of their newly acquired liberty, which jealousy was in itself no fault; but that, when they suffered it to be worked upon by artful men, pretending public good, but nothing really in view but private interest, they were led to oppose the new constitution, whereby they brought upon themselves much inconvenience and misfortune. It farther appears from the same inestimable history, that when, after many ages, that constitution was become old and much abused, and an amendment of it was proposed, the populace, as they had accused Moses of the ambition of making himself a prince, and cried out, stone him, stone him; so, excited by their high priests and scribes, they exclaimed against the Messiah, that he aimed at becoming King of the Jews, and cried out, crucify him, crucify him! From all which we may gather, that popular opposition to a public measure is no proof of its impropriety, even though the opposition be excited and headed by men of distinction.
To conclude, I beg I may not be understood to infer that our general convention was divinely inspired when it formed the new federal constitution, merely because that constitution has been unreasonably and vehemently opposed; yet I must own I have so much faith in the general government of the world, by PROVIDENCE, that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such momentous importance to the welfare of millions now existing, and to exist in the posterity of a great nation, should be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed, by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler, in whom all inferior spirits live, and move, and have their being.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
* Numbers, vii.
† Exodus, xxxv. 22.
‡ Numbers, vi. and Exodus, xxx.
§ Numbers, xvii. 13. Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in this wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
** Numbers, iii.
†† Exodus, xxv.
§§ Numbers, xvi.
NOTES.
* Numbers, chapter xiv.
† Numbers, xvi. 3. And they gathered themselves against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, you take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them—wherefore, thou, lift ye up yourselves above the congregation?
Foreign Intelligence.
LONDON, June 9.
WEDNESDAY a cause was tried at Westminster, before Lord Kenyon and a special jury in which Charles Sturt, Esq. M. P. for Bridport was plaintiff, and the Marquis of Blandford, defendant. The defendant was a man of very high and illustrious rank, the son of the Duke of Marlborough. Mr. Sturt married the daughter of the late Earl of Shaftesbury, and sister of the present Earl, Lady Mary Ann Sturt, a lady of great accomplishments and beauty.—This marriage took place in April, 1788. The noble defendant was also a married man, he had married one of the daughters of the Earl of Galloway, and had five or six children. The action was brought for criminal conversation with the plaintiff's wife, and the charge was fully proved. Several witnesses also deposed, that the plaintiff and his wife lived very happily together, and that so lately as last autumn, when Mr. Sturt had the miraculous escape from shipwreck, his wife appeared to be extremely anxious till his health was re-established. The cause on the part of the plaintiff was stated by Mr. Erskine with his usual ability.
The Attorney General made a very animated reply. He stated that the plaintiff not only knew of the adulterous intercourse, but was accessory to it; that he corresponded with the Marquis 6 weeks after he had discovered the criminal connection. By a letter which he wrote the 14th of January, when his wife lay in of a spurious child, and the fact with his knowledge, he writes to the Marquis, and apologizes for his wife's not answering his letters. The plaintiff frequently went to bed at eight or nine o'clock, leaving the Marquis and his wife to sup together; and would go on a water party, and leave the Marquis to ride with his wife. It was also stated, that the plaintiff had lived in a state of concubinage with Madam Krumpholtz, by whom he had had several children, one of whom bore the name of Henry Sturt Krumpholtz.
Lord Kenyon, in his address to the jury, observed, that in looking into this case, while there are some who appear in it whom one despises and abhors, there are others, whom all must admire and commiserate. "When (says his Lordship) we hear of the anxiety of the Marchioness of Blandford for her wandering husband, who is there not ready to drop a tear for her unmerited sufferings? I do not know her, but I know that she is the daughter of one (the Earl of Galloway) whose daughters all are chaste, and whose sons are all valiant. When her infatuated husband becomes sensible of his errors, I hope he will return to her arms with that affection which her exemplary conduct deserves. Gentlemen, Mr. Sturt comes here saying, I have entered into a religious agreement (whatever many are now inclined to stile it, I maintain it to be not only temporal but religious) I have, says he, kept my marriage vows; I have performed all the duties of a husband; I have been kind, affectionate, and faithful to her whom I took by the hand at the altar of God; but my family is dishonoured, and my happiness poisoned forever. The wife of my love has been basely seduced, children who do not spring from me are to inherit my fortune; for these injuries I now seek redress.
"But, gentlemen, can he hold this language?—Has he indeed done his duty?—No! He has wounded the feelings of his wife in the tenderest part. The most or all of you I suppose are husbands, and must know how such an injury must be resented. He forsook her for a prostitute, and might have imparted disease into her bed. The adultery had been proved beyond all doubt, although no evidence had been adduced but the letter in which the defendant speaks of his own child. The grounds on which it is contended that your verdict should still be for the defendant are two, viz. That the plaintiff was privy to the criminal conversation, and that he himself had been guilty of similar practices. A man must keep himself pure, and not dare to present himself here with unwashed hands. Religion and morality would be deeply wounded by contrary practice. I am bound to declare, that upon the whole of the evidence, this action appears to me not to be supported. The jury turned round, and after consulting together about half a minute, found a verdict for the plaintiff—damage 100l.
Latest from Europe.
By the brig Sachem , Captain M c Donald , arrived at Boston from Liverpool.—London dates to June 19.
LONDON, June 18.
FROM EGYPT.
OFFICIAL advices were received yesterday by government from Egypt of a late date as the 3d of May. No operations of importance have taken place in Egypt, but

A British fleet, with troops, has reached Suez. Lord Keith could not send many particulars, on account of his cypher having been lost on board the Queen Charlotte when she blew up. It will be recollected, that Lord Keith's flag ship, the Queen Charlotte, caught fire off Leghorn harbour, and was burnt on the 27th of March, 1800. [Cent.]
The arrival of our troops at Suez is extremely seasonable. The attention and force of the French must now be divided, and it is reasonable to expect, that hopeless of receiving reinforcements from Europe, and placed between two armies so much superior in force, they will soon be compelled to surrender.
ENGLAND AND FRANCE.
We received last night the Paris papers to the 15th. There is not one article of any interest or importance in them. The French funds have declined to 48. These papers were brought over in a flag of truce, by which M. Otto received dispatches. The communications between M. Otto and his government, and between our ministers and that gentleman, are extremely frequent. The dispatches brought last night by the flag of truce, are in answer to those sent off last Friday night. They are believed to be of considerable importance, but the substance of them has not transpired. After the professions of moderation and peace which the Prime Minister of Great-Britain, and the First Consul of France have made, it seems natural to expect that negotiation must be entered into.
The anxiously expected answer of the Court of Vienna, upon the subject of the indemnities and secularizations is not yet arrived at Ratisbon. The correspondence between Paris, Vienna, and Berlin, upon this important subject, is extremely active, but no decisive arrangements have yet been concluded.
Northern Affairs.
CARLSCRONA (Sweden) May 24.
Admiral Cronstadt, Commander in Chief of the Swedish fleet, has this day sent the following letter to Lord Nelson:—
Carlscrona, May 24.
“ADMIRAL,” “I have this moment received the orders of the King my master for taking off the embargo on the trade and navigation to England, a copy of which I herewith transmit to your Excellency. I have lost no time in making this communication to your Excellency, as your Excellency in your letter of yesterday requested it from me, and as I am now enabled, according to my promise, to return you an official answer. I am, &c.”
“CRONSTADT.”
PARIS, June 15.
Alexander I. has declared, by letter, to his uncle, the Prince of Wurtemburg, that he takes the most serious concern in the affairs of the indemnities, and has so instructed his Envoy at Paris.
Letters from Constantinople assure us, that the negotiations for re-establishing peace between France and the Porte are very far advanced.
BRUNN (Germany) May 30.
At Constantinople negotiations for peace with France are carried on, under the mediation of a friendly neighbouring power.
BRUSSELS, June 4.
A Secretary of the Marquis Luccheini, with dispatches from Paris, passed through this city to-day on his way to Berlin.
The French troops along the Maese will still be kept on the war establishment, and the regiments which have not their complement will be completed as soon as possible. There are 15,000 troops in the department of the Roer, and as many along the Maese; so that a very large army may be collected at a short notice.
The negotiations for peace between England and France are greatly promoted by Count Cobentzel at Paris. Several points will now be conceded by France, which would not have been yielded before the late change of government in Russia.
France and England.
PARIS, June 12.
On the new English ministry.
The new English ministry use a moderate language, consonant to the character of a powerful and enlightened nation; and which forms a perfect contrast to that of their predecessors.
If we are to judge of them by their speeches in Parliament, they appear desirous of putting an end to the calamities of war. If they be sincere, peace is infallible; for the pledge of peace is with them. The English have seized upon a great part of the French, Spanish and Dutch possessions in the East and West Indies. They may adopt a system honourable to their nation, which will give them advantages, but will be perfectly compatible with the dignity of the allies, and preserve a just equilibrium in the different parts of the world. In acting thus the English Ministers will obtain the highest glory; that of pacifying the world, and drying up the tears of so many thousand families. Impartial men reproach the new ministry with the ill treatment of our prisoners; but we are assured that attention is paid to the amelioration of their condition. It is easy to perceive, that if this has not already been accomplished, it is because the first labours of Administration occupied all their time.—France has expended, (during the course of the years eight and nine) more than four millions of livres for the clothing of the Russian, Austrian and German prisoners. She has expended much larger sums in procuring for them dwellings, beds, and an abundance of wholesome food, in every respect the same as for her own
troops. She has mitigated their situation by allowing them to work, and to take the air in the environs of our towns.—The new Ministry is also reproached with the continuation of shameful intrigues, the result of which is to support a few monsters, such as Sans Quartier, Sans Pitie, Georges, Limoclan, &c. but these men were excited to the commission of crimes by the late Ministry. We cannot attribute to the present government the 23d of December; and if some villains, such as Duthiel, the Bishop of Arras, and Georges, are suffered at London, it is because they were called thither by the late Ministry. We think so well of the new Ministers, as to be persuaded that they would scorn to make use of such wretches in their service, and that they will employ the money of England in something else than the purchase of a few robberies and assassinations.—If, however, the English Ministry should not justify the hopes of Europe; if, like their predecessors, they should think that peace can only be founded upon the destruction of one of the two contending nations, and if they should be willing to abuse the great advantages they have obtained in both the Indies, while the allies employed all their efforts in the continental war, then we must resolve to seek peace in victory; to conquer will be the only way to bring back peace, prosperity, and commerce. England, during eight years, has been seconded by two coalitions; a third will not be seen for ten years to come. The cannonade of Copenhagen, the pillage of the Danish and Swedish Isles, and Nelson's cruize in the Gulph of Finland, have evinced the perils with which the strength and lofty ambition of England menace the Continental Powers; and if these last prosper, and even exist only by commerce, then that power which can resist all Europe upon the ocean, is signalized as the enemy of all nations and of all sovereigns! Without coalition, however, what will England be able to do against the allies? What will the allies be able to perform against England?—We shall not enter into the discussion of these two questions; we shall confine ourselves to a single observation. The allies have no longer any commerce; no longer any small colonies; they have nothing to lose. England has conquered every thing; her power is felt every where; she has an immense commerce to lose. Happy the nations, who having attained the summit of prosperity, are directed by wise governments, that do not expose so many advantages to the caprice and vicissitudes of a single stroke of fortune. [Moniteur.]
LONDON, June 17.
On Saturday the first instalment of the Subsidy to Portugal, amounting to 100,000, was sent off from the Bank in gold and silver. It is forwarded to Lisbon by the Anson frigate at Portsmouth, which was to sail as soon as yesterday for the Tagus, and was to take home the late Portuguese Ambassador, the Chevalier D'Almeida.
On Saturday last a neutral vessel arrived at Dover from Calais, with fifteen passengers, who state, that the opposite coast is lined with French troops, and that great preparations are actually making for the threatened invasion of this country. Two additional regiments marched into Calais a few days ago, and a number of flat-bottomed boats are said to be in readiness, each mounting three 36 pounders, and capable of carrying from fifty to sixty men. They likewise state, that the Chief Consul had a grand review of the National Guards in the Gardens of the Thuilleries, on Thursday last, and that it was currently reported at Paris, that the army of the Rhine was to be employed in the intended expedition against England. The French allow us, they say, great merit in Egypt, where an armistice, they add, has been recently entered into for twenty-one days.
June 19.
It is now ascertained, that an intrigue has been carried on at Paris, to supplant Buonaparte in his government. Reubell, the Ex-Director, and General Massena, are the prime movers in it. Buonaparte, however, is acquainted with all their proceedings, through the agency of the numerous and well-paid spies of the Minister of the Interior.
June 20.
We are told that yesterday, M. Otto had a long interview with Lord Hawksbury, in the presence of Mr. Addington, and that the terms submitted by the French as preliminary, are extremely favourable. It is even stated by some what these terms are, namely, that France consents to give up Egypt, and to allow England to retain the port of Alexandria; that Piedmont is to be restored to the King of Sardinia; and that with regard to the Colonies, the general principle will be to give back very little to France and her allies in the East-Indies, but to restore with a liberal hand, our conquests in the West. Such are the statements afloat; we do not however attach much credit to it.
Yesterday a report prevailed, and was much credited on Exchange, that the frigate that brought M. D'Aranjo to France, had been met with at sea by a British vessel. The Minister was on board, and the frigate was returning to Portugal; the French Government having refused to conclude a peace with the former country, unless considerable concessions were first made by the British nation.
A letter from Barcelona (Spain) of the date of the 13th of May, states, that the French troops were passing through the city for Chartagena; where a large body is to be assembled, probably a reinforcement destined to Egypt.
From Brest we learn, that twenty-seven sail of the line were ready for sea.—The complement of seamen for the 74's has been reduced
to 300, which leaves room for five hundred and fifty troops on board of each.
One of the largest steam engines in England, which has been erecting some time in his Majesty's dock-yard at Portsmouth, by Messrs. Bolton and Watts, was on Saturday completed, and set to work. It will pump twenty tons of water in a minute, with a consumption of only one bushel and a half of coal per hour.
WESSEL, June 6.
The Electorate of Hanover is not to be evacuated by the Prussians; and it is confidently said, that after the grand review at Magdebourg, more troops will arrive on the Wesel.
HAGUE, June 9.
Government has ordered that the National Domains shall be sold. We shall begin with the lands in Guelders and Bergen-op-zoom. The French troops in our pay, still remain on the war establishment.
Domestic Intelligence.
CHARLESTON, July 25.
Accounts from the Havanna state, that the Minister of Marine at that port had been arrested at midnight, seals put on his papers, and himself closely confined in the Moro Castle. Two admirals, and a captain of a ship of the line, had also been put under arrest. These proceedings were said to have taken place in consequence of some disagreement with the Comptroller-General of the Spanish navy.
NORFOLK, July 30.
It has been represented to me, that in divers parts of the country reports respecting the health of this place are circulated in such a manner, as to impress a belief that the yellow fever now exists here. Although I was well assured that there existed not the least foundation for such reports, yet as they began to gain credit in sundry places, I considered it as my duty to avail myself of the first occasion to endeavour to check them; accordingly on Monday last the subject was brought before the Court of Hustings (which ex-officio exercises the functions of a Board of Health) and it was the opinion of every member of the Court, that, as far as the knowledge they had, or the information they could obtain, the town was uncommonly healthy. The Court also determined, that should such a calamity visit the town, the public may rely on the most candid statement being given.
I shall be very much obliged to the Physicians of the town, if they would furnish me with a state of the health of the place from time to time, of which I pledge myself to cause immediate publication to be made.
JOHN COWPEN, Mayor.
WILMINGTON (Del.) August 5.
By the Schooner Polly, West, from St. Domingo, we learn that Gen. Toussaint has assumed to himself the permanent and supreme authority over the island during his life—which, consequently, we presume, will not be long. It would appear that the general had a pre-sentiment of his fate, for we are informed that he has made a will, in which he has nominated his successor.
PHILADELPHIA, August 10.
PIRACY.
A certain John Thompson, by birth a Scotchman, about 5 feet 5 inches high, stout made, very broad across the shoulders, dark complexion, a good deal marked with the small-pox, dark hair, tied close, engaged as mate on board of a sloop in the port of Philadelphia, in which he went to sea on the 14th of July, ultimo. A few days after being out he seduced the crew from their duty, and prevailed on them to join in a protest against the captain, and obliged him to put into another port; the better to effect his purpose, he privately bored a hole with a 3-4 auger through the bottom of the vessel, under the starboard buttock; the vessel put back to this port, and he immediately stole on shore, and has not since been found, although there have been three constables after him. It is supposed he is gone to Baltimore. There are sufficient evidences to prove that he has frequently declared that he hated the Americans to mortality, that he never would be satisfied until he wallowed in American blood, that he is an Englishman, and gloried in it, and hoped soon to see the English flag flying over the American. That he would either run away with the sloop, sink her, or kill some of the people, and that he would never perform the voyage.
These and many more diabolical things can be proven against said John Thompson, and this notice is given to caution all merchants, masters of vessels and others against him.
NEWARK, August 11.
A circumstance very grating to humanity has lately taken place in this county. A Frenchman, we understand, not long since from the West-Indies, conceived a design to purchase a number of slaves, and ship them. In prosecution of which design, he employed some of the citizens of this State to assist him, and no doubt gave high prices in order to obtain acquiescence on the part of the masters. This business was some time in maturing; but on Saturday night of the 1st, and Sunday morning of the 2d inst. the scheme being ripe for execution, was effected in the following manner. Some of the negroes had been previously confined in the Borough gaol of Elizabeth-Town, and the rest by artifice drawn into situations calculated to facilitate
the enterprise. A ferry boat was kept waiting at Crane's ferry at Elizabeth-Town point, and between 12 o'clock on Saturday night, and 3 on Sunday morning, a flag waggon being prepared for the purpose, the negroes, to the number of seven, were seized and by force put on board of the aforesaid ferry boat, and carried into New-York bay where they were delivered on board of a brig said to be commanded by a captain Rogers. The brig was then under sail, and supposed to have proceeded immediately to sea, as none of the negroes have neither of them been heard of since. The negroes thus sent off were four men, one young girl, and two children; two of the men were pionioned. The girl, about 17 or 18 years of age, is the daughter of a man and woman of remarkable good character, who have been given by their masters time to free themselves by labour and live by themselves in this town, and are faithfully carrying into effect their engagements, and in a short time will be free. The young girl bore a very good character, and was seized under very unpleasant circumstances.—Her master and mistress, with some other company, going on Saturday on a sailing party of pleasure, this girl was taken along to wait on her mistress, and by some unaccountable fatality, the sailing party returned about 1 o'clock on Sunday morning to Crane's ferry at Elizabeth-Town point, just at the time when the flag-waggon arrived with the negroes from Elizabeth-Town. The girl was following her mistress up from the dock when her master, Richard Lyon, called her back, and a certain John Lighton, of Elizabeth-Town (who appeared to be the active agent of the Frenchman) delivered her to a Frenchman, whose name we are informed is Monterand. In the agonies of grief she laid hold of her mistress, who appears to be an amiable woman, and not acquiescing in the violence. But neither the distresses of her mistress or her own grief had any effect, and she was forced (uttering the most dreadful shrieks) on board of the ferry boat, and thus dragged from her parents and every thing dear to her, into the most cruel and barbarous slavery. These circumstances coming to the knowledge of the magistrates of this town, on the application of a number of humane and independent citizens, who interested themselves on the occasion, judicial enquiry has taken place. It appears that the Frenchman has gone off with the brig that took the negroes. Several citizens implicated, have been apprehended and bound over to the next court of Oyer and Terminer to be held in this county. It is said that those implicated expect to justify themselves under the saving clause in an act of assembly, making it criminal to forcibly take a slave out of the State, excepting persons out of the law who shall move into another State, and take their slaves with them, for they say this Frenchman is going to Savannah, in the State of Georgia. As this matter is now in a course of judicial investigation, we forbear any comments, closing this state of facts with this observation, that if the law will bear out such conduct, we think it is time that the law was altered.
NEW-YORK, August 8.
The ship Portland, Capt. Pollard, arrived last evening in 46 days from Liverpool. The papers brought by the Portland are to the 19th of June.—From the passengers however we learn, that they contain no news of any importance either from Egypt, the Continent, or the fleets.—It was reported in Liverpool that peace had been concluded between France and Portugal.
Extract of a letter, dated Lisbon, June 26.
“Affairs in Egypt seem to be going on very favourably for us.—The last accounts from thence announce the arrival of General Craig at Suez, with 20,000 Sepoys and European troops.”
Extract of a letter from Capt. Atkins, of the ship Thomas Chalkley, to his owner, in Philadelphia.
“In lat. 41: 12 N. long. 45: 20 W. in a smart gale of wind, came across a ship of about 200 tons, full of water, the three masts gone from four to five feet above deck, every thing besides gone square with the gunwale—she appeared to have a high quarter-deck, and much of a moon shape—the sea running high, could not tell her paint work—no living foul on board—she must have been laden with a buoyant cargo.”
Extract of a letter from Barcelona, dated the 29th of April, 1801, to a Merchant in Philadelphia.
“We are sorry to have to impart to you, that the misunderstandings subsisting between your government and the Bshaw of Tripoli, have at last involved you in a war with said Barbary state; and that intelligence has been received here of several of its cruisers having already sailed, with the view of capturing all the American vessels they can meet with. We lament the fate of the crews of those who will be so unfortunate as to become a prey to these pirates. As the Congress have been advised since January last of the hostile measures of the said powers, we are in full hopes it will have immediately adopted such plans as to re-establish the good harmony with it; or send out some of your frigates to protect the navigation of your merchants in the Mediterranean, which is the most urgent, as it is reckoned upwards of 100 American vessels are actually in this sea. The masters of those lying here and on the coast are determined not to fail before some frigates should come this way to convoy them out of the Straights, after the passage whereof they will have no further risk to run from Tripolitan cruisers.”
“American wheat would fetch, per Win.”

chester bushel, 1 d. 7 3/4. Indian corn ditto, 1 d. 2 c. American sup. flour, 11 d. 14 c. for 225 lb. English weight. Havana sugar, 3 3/4 white, 2 3/4 brown, 16 d. 8 3 c. per 112 lb. English."
August 10.
By the George Clinton, 37 days from Greenock, we have received the Glasgow Chronicle of the 23d of June, with London news to the 20th. Nothing further relative to the operations in Egypt had transpired. The rumours we have before stated, of a new attempt at negotiation between France and England, seem to have gained sanguinary credit the 20th of June.
In the British House of Commons, June 19, Mr. Bragge brought up the report of the committee upon the trade of America to Ireland. The resolutions for allowing the importation from America to Ireland of tar, wood, wheat and other grain, tobacco, &c. were agreed to, and a bill ordered.
The Semillante French frigate still lay in Hampton Roads on Monday last, and an English frigate in sight.
The Schooner Charlotte, from Alicante and Gibraltar, in coming down the Streights, was chased by a Tripolitan cruiser. Left no American at Alicante—sailed in company with the ship Diana, Thomas, for Boston, and the Schooner Powder Point, Hooper, for Marblehead. All these vessels left Gibraltar on the 12th of June, under convoy of the English frigate Seahorse, Capt. Poole—left them on the 16th, just without the Streights, and proceeded with her convoy for England.
August 12.
The ceremonies of promulgating the new Constitution of St. Domingo, together with Toussaint's Proclamation, is taken from Le Bulletin official de St. Domingo of the 8th ult. The citizen Borgella, in his speech, celebrates the genius of Buonaparte, for having destroyed the institutions in the mother country by giving her a false Constitution; in which, however, he laments, that the Representatives of St. Domingo, like those of other French Departments, had not concurred or participated. The orator then dwells in strains of admiration upon the brilliant actions of Toussaint, "who has risen like a Phoenix out of the ruins of the Colony;" and adds, that he (Toussaint) has had the courage and generosity to take the reins of a Colony abandoned and defenceless!
The orator also read the Constitution, which was to be published in a few days.
Extract of a letter from William Savage, Esq. Agent of the United States, dated Kingston, July 6, 1801.
"A great number of American seamen have lately been liberated from the several ships of war on this station, and a proper respect is now paid to my signature as the accredited agent of the United States here. Could the American masters that continually are arriving here, think it their duty to call on me as they entered, with their crews, my signature on the back of their protections would prevent their people from impressment, as well as the expence and trouble that arises to procure men in the room of those taken from them."
A letter from Rotterdam, dated June 9, says, "the British have lately sent in all neutral vessels from Europe destined to any part of the East-Indies. Several vessels, in consequence, have gone to America to clear out from thence."
Captain Ogilvie from Lisbon, arrived yesterday, informs, that the treaty of peace between Portugal and France had been ratified by the two powers, the conditions of which were not published; and that the French troops were to enter Lisbon on the 11th of July; a house having been previously prepared for Lucien Buonaparte. The British merchants had shipped off their property with all possible expedition on board the English fleet which sailed on the 9th, as the French and Spanish armies were within a few leagues of the capital. The English ambassador had informed the merchants that the King, his master, would not be accountable for any property left behind. A number of vessels from Brazil, mounting from 30 to 40 guns, and very richly laden, arrived at Lisbon a few days previous to Captain Ogilvie's sailing.
It was currently reported, and believed at Lisbon, that an engagement had taken place in Egypt between the English and French armies, in which the former were defeated with great slaughter.
The Princess of Portugal was safely delivered of a daughter, and the event was celebrated in the customary style of splendor by illuminations which continued three days successively.
The polacre brig Benvenoto, arrived here yesterday from Tunis, with dispatches for government, relative to the rupture with the Tripolitans, which were forwarded immediately. She sailed on the 17th of April.
BOSTON, August 15.
INTERESTING—IF TRUE.
Capt. Silbee, arrived here, informs, that on the 22d of July, he spoke a French corvette from Brest, bound to Cape-Francois; and was told that it failed in company with fifteen sail of the line, destined to the same place.
GUADALOUPE.
Lacroix, Captain-General of this island, has issued a Proclamation, dated June 26, 1801, decreeing, That emigrants who shall be inclined to return to the island, must obtain the consent of the Captain-General; and that "whatever be the restitutions which government may find just to make to the different proprietors who may be entitled to obtain them, they never shall be made to the prejudice of the present occupants; the intention
of government being only to substitute in its place and stead, those whom it will put in possession of their estates."
We learn, that a General Naval Court Martial is to be held in this town, the 24th inst. on Captain George Little, Lieutenants Haswell and Clough, and Mr. Little, midshipman, all of the Boston frigate; and two other Lieutenants of the navy. The Court, we understand, is to consist of Captain Nicholson, President.
Captains Silas Talbot, Decatur, Morris, Murray, Tingey, Preble, Mulleney, Campbell, Russell, C. Talbot; and Lieutenants Hull, and Davidson.
George Blake, Esq. Judge Advocate. Captain Clark, of the Marines, Marshal of the Court.
The office of Inspector of the Revenue, we learn, is to cease after the thirtieth of September; and not the first, as mentioned in the papers.
If Mr. Adams during his four years' administration dismissed but two persons from office; and this is called in the Chronicle "Federal intolerance;" by what epithet shall we properly characterize the conduct of Mr. Jefferson, who in a reign of about five months has displaced nearly FIFTY men from office; against whom not one accusation has been supported? Let the people answer.
The Supreme Judicial Court was opened in this town on Tuesday last. An excellent and appropriate charge was given to the Grand Jury, by his honour Judge Paine. His remarks on the "Common Law of England," which has been recognized by the Constitution of the Commonwealth, were a learned and useful comment on its history and principles, and on its moral as well as practical adaption to human concerns; and by not only considering it as a combination of the results of human wisdom, operating upon the events of human experience, but also by an ethical analysis of its maxims, supported and honoured by the immemorial evidence of popular consent, this concluding clause of the charge announced to an able, judicious and conclusive justification of the Common Law, from that opprobrium with which some persons have lately endeavoured to blemish its mild, pure and righteous administration in this State.
NEWPORT, August 11.
A curious fact; or, the Cat almost let out of the Bag.
It is well remembered that, in March last, the Democrats of Connecticut celebrated the election of Mr. Jefferson by a civic feast at Wallingford; before whom Abraham Bishop, of noted memory, volunteered himself to spout on the occasion. The fact alluded to is this: The orator was at great pains in collecting a large number of vile and scandalous anecdotes relative to the life and character of CHARLES PINCKNEY, which he inserted in his Oration; mistaking this gentleman for General CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY, who was so liberally supported by the federalists at the last Presidential election. After painting these anecdotes in the strongest and most odious colours, he had prepared himself to exclaim to his audience in the following words, viz. "This is the man, fellow-citizens, detestable in character and principle, who was held up for President by the anglo-federalists and old tories; who has been represented by them as a paragon of excellence; and who but for the guardian genius of liberty, would now, perhaps, have been the magistrate of a great and insulted people!" Fortunately for the orator, however, he submitted his production before delivery to the perusal of his bosom-friend and coadjutor, PIERPONT EDWARDS, Esq. who immediately discovered the mistake; informed BISHOP that he was collecting combustibles to blow up their own party; that CHARLES PINCKNEY and General PINCKNEY were very different men; that the former was a champion of republicanism, and that nothing could be uttered against the character of the latter. On this hint, poor BISHOP was obliged to rescind the most valuable part of his oration. Had he remained ignorant of the mistake, the cat would have been fairly out of the bag.
Providence, WEDNESDAY, August 19.
From Gibraltar, May 29.
Yesterday arrived His Majesty's cutter Swift, in 34 days from Alexandria. Captain Provost, a passenger, informs us, that the British army in Egypt were (April 25) in high health and spirits; 700 wounded had returned to their duty; Rosetta and Damietta had been taken; and 4000 British, and 16,000 Turks, had gone against Rhamanie. That the Bombay army, of 10,000 men, had arrived at Suez. That Sir J. B. Warren had joined Lord Keith who had also been reinforced by four Turkish line of battle ships; making 17 sail of the line, before Alexandria, and one in Aboukir Bay.
On the 7th, His Majesty's brig Speedy, Lord Cochrane, who fell in with some Spanish vessels, under convoy of His Catholic Majesty's Xebec El Gamo, of 258 men, and 36 guns. The Speedy captured 9 ships of the convoy; and after having taken men on board each of the prizes, there remained only 25 men out of 70, her original complement; she carries 14 four-pounders. In this situation she was chased by the Xebec, which gained upon her rapidly, until at last the Speedy found it impossible to escape; but her brave commander resolved she should not be a cheap conquest. Accordingly a warm action commenced, which however did not last long, as
the Xebec, after having lost some of her hands, surrendered to the Speedy, and was taken by her, along with the other prizes and prisoners, into Mahon harbour.
Philad. Gaz.
On Tuesday the 8th inst. at Washington, the Supreme Court of the United States proceeded to business. Present, Chief Justice Marshall, and Justices Patterson, Washington, Chase and Moore.
OFFICIAL.
Appointments by the President of the United States.
Alexander Wolcott, Collector, Middletown, Connecticut, in the room of Chauncy Whittelsey.
Ephraim Kirby, Supervisor, Connecticut, vice John Chester.
James Finlaye, to be Marshal of the district of Ohio.
Dominic A. Hall, Esq. to be Chief Judge of the Fifth Circuit of the United States.
Samuel Osgood, Supervisor for the district of New-York.
Silas Lee, Attorney for the district of Maine, in the room of Daniel Davis, appointed Solicitor-General by the State of Massachusetts.
George Blake, Attorney for the district of Massachusetts, in the room of Harrison G. Otis, Esq.
Benjamin Jarvis, Collector, Penobscot, in the room of John Lee, Esq. Mr. J. declines.
Malachi Jones, Supervisor, Currutuck, N. C.—This office was previously vacant.
James Irwin, Collector, Massac.
Samuel Duncan, Collector, Michillimakinac. —Massac and Michillimakinac are new ports, in which no previous appointments had been made.
Jacob Lewis, of Massachusetts, to be Consul at Calcutta. [Mr. L. had previously been appointed to the Isle of France.]
We have a report from the southward, that an embargo took place at the Havanna on the 28th of July.
A British packet and a 74 gun ship arrived at Halifax, July 27. A firing of cannon having taken place soon after, it is conjectured they brought agreeable news.
The frigate George Washington, failed from New-York on the 10th inst. for the Mediterranean.
On the 18th of June, in the Court of King's Bench, Captain George Cunningham, of an American ship, was brought up by a writ of Habeas Corpus from Newgate, upon a charge of having murdered one of his seamen; and was discharged, on entering into recognizances for his appearance at the next Admiralty sessions.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Delaware State, to his friend in Philadelphia, dated July 4, 1801.
"I am just returning from a tour through the Eastern shore of Maryland, where I endeavoured to obtain information respecting the inhuman practice of kidnapping, and I was informed by good authority that six hundred Negroes, partly purchased, and partly stolen, have been transported from this district to Georgia, within the last six months. The centre of that traffic is at a small village called I. B. about 12 miles below the head of Chesapeake; and the common vender is a certain monster in the shape of a man, named Kerrington. This degenerate wretch and his associates in infamy are become bold by sufferance; there is no opposition, and they set out in groups in every direction in search of prey, and the poor negroes, if warned of their approach, fly before them with terrific speed, as the harmless sheep at the approach of a merciless wolf. How Heaven will tolerate this system of cruelty, I know not; how long the government will submit to this aggravation of national shame and human misery, I cannot tell."
"Future ages will, no doubt, form a very dishonourable opinion of the present; if historians are faithful, they will find the benevolent virtues sacrificed on the altar of avarice, as the most favourable constitution that can be made of this disgraceful business. Interest must be attributed to the action, and prejudice be considered as the foundation of supineness on the part of the community. I embraced every opportunity of informing myself of the real condition of the poor blacks in these parts. I saw them in their huts and at their labour. I wished to see them as they really are; and their condition, with few exceptions, is truly deplorable; independent of those principles which confirm our belief that the whole system is irreligious, irrational and inhuman."
On account of its severity, we are obliged to decline publishing the communication on the subject of the Ladies of Providence perambulating the streets late at night without male attendance. However incompatible this practice may be with some of the most engaging attributes of the female character, and however loudly it may call for reform—yet in administering correction on so delicate a subject, reproof should be more gentle.
Married.
In this town, Mr. Daniel Sheldon, to Miss Ruth Mason, daughter of Aaron Mason, Esq. Mr. Nicholas Seilwell, to Miss Elizabeth Page, daughter of Mr. William Page.
Died.
"On Friday evening last, in the seventy first year of his age, Capt. Elijah Bacon. His funeral was attended on Sunday afternoon by the Mechanical Society, and a large concourse
of friends and relations. He sustained through life a very reputable character, and that of an honest man. He has left a widow and a large number of children and grand children to bemoan his loss: in him the public has lost a very useful member of society. "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them."
Mrs. Lucy States, aged 21.
On his passage from Surinam, after a few days illness, Capt. Godfrey Greene, of Warwick, in the 34th year of his age; a worthy and respectable citizen, whose industry, correctness and punctuality in business, promised future usefulness, and render his early exit peculiarly distressing to his family and friends.
At St. Jago de Cuba, Mr. William Page, jun. of this town, in the 27th year of his age.
In Virginia, Mr. Matthias Howman, aged 100 years.
At Schenectady, in the State of New-York, on the 1st of August inst. the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D. D. President of the College at that place.
Federal Adelphi.
THE Corporation of the Federal Adelphi is notified, that a special meeting will be held in Rhode-Island College, on Thursday the 20th inst. precisely at 9 o'clock, P. M.
AMOS M. ATWELL, V. P.
August 19.
BANKRUPTCY.
NOTICE.
WHEREAS a Commission of Bankrupt is awarded and issued forth against GIDEON FROST, late of Uxbridge, in the county of Worcester, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, usually residing in Providence, Trader, and he being declared a Bankrupt, is hereby required to surrender himself to us, the undersigned Commissioners, on the twentieth day of August instant and on the third and seventeenth days of September next, and on the first day of October next, at nine o'clock in the forenoon on each day, at ALPHEUS AMMIDON'S Golden-Ball Inn, in Providence, and make a full discovery and disclosure of his Estate and Effects; when and where the Creditors are to come prepared to prove their debts; and at the second meeting to choose Assignees; and at the last meeting the said Bankrupt is to finish his examination, and the Creditors are to assent to or dissent from the allowance of his certificate. All persons indebted to the said Bankrupt, or that have any of his effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to whom the said Commissioners shall appoint.
PARIS J. TILLINGHAST, JOSEPH JENCKES, GEORGE R. BURRILL, Com'rs. August 20.
WAX-WORK.
Moulthrop and Street
Respectfully inform the Ladies and Gentlemen of Providence, that they have opened, at the Coffee-House, a new and most elegant collection of
WAX-WORK,
which has been universally admired; consisting of Thirty-Four Figures as large as Life, among which are the following:
His Excellency THOMAS JEFFERSON, President of the United States. The Honorable JOHN ADAMS, Late President.
A striking Likeness of the late General GEORGE WASHINGTON.
In another apartment the Illustrious Hero is represented as fallen a victim to Death—his Lady and Domestics are weeping around him.
The late General BUTLER, who fell in St. Clair's Defeat, represented as wounded in his leg and breast, and the Indians rushing on him with their Tomahawks.
Major ANDRE taking leave of his Honors before his execution.
Mrs. SIDDONS, in the character of the Grecian Daughter, rescuing her Father from Prison, by assassinating the Emperor.
DAVID returning from the Slaughter of the Philistines, with the Head of Goliath.
Maternal Affection, represented by a Lady with her Children around her.
The New-Haven Beauty.
The New-London Beauty.
The Litchfield Beauty.
A Thief taken upon Surprise.
Mungo disciplined by his Mistress. Old Darby and Joan enjoying themselves over the Bottle and Pipe.
The poor Mendicant asking Alms; and sundry other Figures.
This Exhibition will be opened from 9 o'clock in the morning till 9 in the evening, (Sundays excepted) and will be removed from this town on the 7th of September; therefore, all who wish to see this collection, must improve the opportunity.
Admission One Quarter of a Dollar for grown Persons, and half price for Children.
N. B. The above Figures have been exhibited in several cities in the United States, and are allowed to be more to the Life, and far superior to any thing of the kind ever exhibited in America. August 19.

Selected Poetry.
TRANSLATION OF THE First Ode of Anacreon.
MY fiddle I would fain employ, To sing the chiefs who ruin'd Troy. To Cadmus too my fingers move, But my Cremona answers Love. I change the strings, resign my bow, Praise on Alcides to bestow. I raise them high, and strike them round, But Love alone they still resound. Adieu, ye heroes and ye kings, Of Love alone my fiddle sings.
TRIAL OF FAIRBANKS.
Supreme Court, Dedham, Massachu- setts.
COMMONWEALTH vs. FAIRBANKS, For the Murder of Miss FALES.
August 6 and 7, 1801.
THE grand jury, consisting of twenty very respectable men, by a unanimous voice, returned a bill of indictment against Jason Fairbanks, of Dedham, for the wilful murder of Elizabeth Fales.
The indictment charged the prisoner, that he, on the 18th day of May, 1801, wilfully, maliciously, and of his malice aforethought, with a knife, made an assault on the deceased, and murdered her.
On this indictment he was arraigned on Wednesday, and by his own consent Thursday was assigned for his trial. On Thursday morning, at eight o'clock, he was brought into court, and being informed of his right to challenge, he challenged a number of the jury, and then the trial proceeded. He was assisted by Mr. Otis and Mr. Lowell as his counsel, appointed by the court at his request.
The Attorney-General opened the trial, by stating the facts, generally, which he expected would appear in evidence. He explained the nature of positive and presumptive evidence, and informed the court and jury, that the trial would contain much of the latter—that he should not use any confessions made by the prisoner after the murder had been committed.
The government's counsel examined between thirty and forty witnesses. By the testimonies of these, a great variety of circumstances were proved, from whence the following facts were made to appear.
That the prisoner is about twenty-one years of age; that the deceased was eighteen. That he was much of an invalid, debilitated in his right arm, and had lived an idle life. That he had a kind of fondness for the deceased, and that she paid much more attention to him than to any other young man; but he was not allowed to visit her father's house, which was more than one mile from that of his own father. They had been in the habit of meeting frequently in company with others, walking together, and separating themselves in the walks from other people. The prisoner had used revengeful threatenings against her family, probably because he was not allowed to visit her. On Saturday the 16th of May he told two of his friends, that he should meet her in the pasture on Monday, and endeavour to induce her to go off with him, and marry him; and that if she refused to do so, he would attempt her chastity. She was healthy and cheerful—walked to meeting, nearly two miles, on the 17th; being in the practice of singing at public worship, she joined the choristers, and sung freely. On Monday morning she began with the family business, and with her mother, sister, &c. went through the usual business of washing, in the forenoon. Being engaged to go out on a visit with her sister and others in the afternoon, she dined early on milk, which she frequently used for her dinner. She had been remarkably gay all the morning. She went at half past 12 to Mrs. Guild's, who lived about eight rods southwesterly from her father's. Her business there was to receive a book she had lent, but the family having not done with it, she did not bring it away. She tarried there until nearly two o'clock, gay and cheerful; when she came out, she stopped at the door ten minutes or more, sporting with a child of three or four years old. No notice was taken of the way she walked, but she left the house singing as she went. A few minutes past three o'clock, she was found in a lot called Mason's pasture, by her father and a kinsman, eighty rods from her father's house, and about the same distance from Mrs. Guild's. The lines from her father's to Guild's, from Guild's to the place where she was found, and from thence to her father's, form a triangle of nearly equal sides.
When her father came to her, she was alive. Her throat was cut into the wind-pipe, and nearly to the back part of it; she had a wound, made with a small knife by a stab, in her back, between her shoulder blades, beside the back bone, and not far below the neck; one stab in her side, six deep wounds in her left arm, some of which severed the tendons, two slight wounds in her right arm, and a deep one in her left thumb, which severed the ball from the bone. When her father came to her, she laid with her face upon a stone, breathed through the wound in her throat, and expired within a few minutes.
To fix the murder on the defendant, it was proved, that he had informed two persons of his expecting to meet her there, for the purposes above mentioned, and that he had about 2 o'clock proceeded to that place; that two young women heard her screams of distress for ten or fifteen minutes, about three o'clock, knew her voice, and mentioned
to each other that she was in distress; the wind blew fresh from where she was to them, the distance being about 70 rods.
Her mother became anxious for her return, looked out a few minutes after three, and the prisoner, wet with blood, holding a bloody knife in his hand, was seen by her coming to the door. The alarm being thus given, her father went to the place where the body was, on the prisoner's saying where she laid, and that she was dead. He had a wound in his throat, which did not injure his wind-pipe, several in his body, and one in his thigh, made with the knife, but none of them deep, excepting one in his belly; he has recovered of these some time ago.
The knife he had in his hand, he borrowed that morning, as he said, to mend a pen; it was a small knife, and rather dull. By the side of her body, his great coat, which three witnesses swore he went out with after one o'clock, and his pocket-book, were found. No knife or instrument was found near her body, and her mother and sister swore that she carried none with her. Her shawl and shoes were off, and a paper, purporting to be a certificate of his having been duly published to her, torn in pieces and bloody, was found near her. It appeared in evidence, that this paper was made by a young woman, a niece of his, the day before, very innocently on her part; nor did it appear that he had any intentions to use it in this way, when he requested to have it made, and her name was put in voluntarily by the young woman; but after he took it in his hand, he said, "Ah, Betsy Fales, this will do."
The points made by the Attorney-General, on this evidence, were, that she was killed with that knife—that the prisoner was present when she was killed—that no other person was present with them—that he must have killed her, unless she had destroyed her own life.
His counsel defended him on the supposition, that he and she were fond of each other;—that they were both afflicted with adverse circumstances, and agreed severally to kill themselves—that he lent her the knife for that purpose, but that when she had effectually used it, he was not so successful as she was.
To maintain this position, they attempted to enquire of witnesses, whether he did not tell this tale to her mother, when he came to her, covered with blood.
The Attorney-General objected to evidence of his declarations in his own favour, because as he had not used them against him, they ought not to be used for him, relying that declarations made by criminals in their own favour, were never used in evidence for, unless they were used against them. The Court did not allow his declarations to be used. Had they been used, her mother no doubt would have sworn, that he told her Betsy was dead in the pasture; that she had killed herself with that knife, and that he had tried to kill himself—but advised her father not to go, because he could not relieve her, for she was in fact dead; that when her kinsman went towards the place, he called to him to bring him his pocket-book, which he had left by the deceased:—but this was not in evidence in that trial, but had been before the grand jury.
The counsel for the defendant introduced witnesses, principally to establish a fact of a fondness between them; and for full six hours defended him in a strain of eloquence which is not frequently equalled in any country.
The Attorney-General, in closing the trial, insisted the evidence proved his intention to violate her chastity, at that time and place, by force, unless she would agree to go off with him to be married on that false certificate; that she in resentment had torn that paper, and that he attempted by force to possess her, but, finding his strength not equal to the attempt, drew the knife, and cut her arms while they were in defence of her throat; that the wound given in her back directly in, could not have been made by her own hand; that if she cut her throat first, she could not give the other wounds, nor could she give that, if the others were first made; that as the prisoner by his own position must have lent the knife, and have seen her lacerate and wound herself, no presumptions remained in his favour; that, even on his own position, he had a heart void of social duty, and fatally bent on mischief—the genuine malice aforethought.
The judges were accurate and minute in summing up the evidence to the jury.
The jury went out on Friday evening, after ten o'clock; and returned their verdict next morning, that the prisoner was GUILTY!
The Court on Saturday passed sentence of death upon him: In which the Chief Justice addressed him in terms spreading the heinousness of his crime before him, and exhorting him to repentance; but he remained, as he always has done, apparently insensible—the only person in the whole assembly who was not affected at the solemnity of the scene. The judgment of the Court, and the final verdict of the Jury, appear to meet the public approbation.
If one were to ask, Where is the Government of the United States? It would be difficult to give a direct answer.—The President, we believe, is at Monticello;—The Vice-President at Washington;—The Secretary of State somewhere in Virginia;—The Secretary at War, in the District of Maine;—The Secretary of the Treasury, at the seat of Government!—The Attorney-General at Worcester.—The residue, the Lord only knows where.
Twenty-Five Dollars Reward.
ON Friday the 7th inst. the subscriber let a Black Horse, with one of his hind feet white, and about fifteen and a half hands high, a well carraiged horse, 5 years old, a natural trotter, rather thin of flesh, with a single weltsed Saddle, double reined bridle, and a Ciringle, to a certain man who called his name WILLIAM READ, to go to Bristol, to be gone not to exceed twenty-four hours. Said Read is about thirty years of age, and about six feet high, short dark hair and black eyes, well proportioned, and tolerable likely. He had with him one other horse, which he called his own, about fifteen hands high, a little lame in his off hind leg, of a light bay colour, a pair of black Saddle-Bags with a small brass lock on one end, and a blue Sur-tout. He also had in his possession two Watches, one of which he shewed to the Inn-holder, where he tarried while in town, on the outside case of which was inscribed, "Dr. William Little, 1797." He had on when he went away, a blue coat, buff-leather pantaloons, and half boots. Whoever will return said Read and the property to the subscriber, so that he may be brought to justice, shall be entitled to the above reward.
STEPHEN SMITH.
Providence, August 12. Through mistake, it was published in our last paper that the above mentioned horse was fifteen and a half hands high; it should have been thirteen and a half.
NOTICE.
THE Creditors to the Estate of ROBERT S. PACKARD, late of Providence, deceased, are informed that a further time of one month, from the 3d of August inst. has been allowed by the Honourable Court of Probate, for claims against said Estate.
RICHARD JACKSON, jun. } Com's. PARIS J. TILLINGHAST. } August 5.
A STORE TO LET.
TO be let, the Store lately improved by Mr. GAMALIEL L. DWIGHT, on the south side of Market-street, and only four doors from the great Bridge. Said store is neatly finished for disposing of goods, and the stand equal to any in town. More room in the upper part of said store may be had if wanted. Apply to
THOMAS JONES,
WHO HAS JUST RECEIVED A quantity of the best heavy RYE, and has it to sell at his store in Market-street. July 29.
LOOKING-GLASSES.
THE subscriber has just received an assortment of Elegant Gilt-Frame LOOKING-GLASSES, with glass pannels, and ornamented tops, of the latest fashions, as low as can be bought in New-York or Boston.—Prices from 20 to 65 dollars the pair. SAMUEL AMES. July 29. (12 w')
TO be let, a convenient tenement for a small family, on the west side of the great bridge, adjoining the back of Capt. JOHN MASON'S House, that he now lives in. For terms, apply to
HENRY BRICKLEY. Jun 24.
Joseph Mason
Informs his Friends,
THAT he has removed to Capt. SAMUEL GODFREY'S House, at the South End, where he will be at all times ready to attend the calls of those who may please to employ him in the line of his profession. He will keep constantly on hand a good assortment of Medicines, and will put up Medicine Chests for ships, and private boxes for officers and seamen, with particular directions, on reasonable terms, and on the shortest notice. July 29.
FRESH FLOUR.
Just received, and for sale by Malachi Rhodes and Son,
At the Long-Wharf,
ALEXANDRIA fine and superfine FLOUR; 20 barrels Ship Bread; Corn, Rye, and Wheat Bran, by the hundred or single bushel:
Also, One ton of Red-Wood. July 15.
FOR SALE, BY Wanton Steere,
At the Long Wharf,
EIGHTY hogheads of good retailing MOLASSES, on reasonable terms;
Likewise—For sale, freight, or charter, brig CHARLOTTE, burthen 102 tons. July 8.
Take Notice.
THE Copartnership of HARRIS and RHODES, being this day dissolved by mutual consent; all those who have any unsettled accounts with them are requested to call on WM. N. RHODES for settlement.
CYRUS HARRIS, WM. N. RHODES.
July 15.
BANKRUPTCY.
NOTICE.
WHEREAS a Commission of Bankrupt is awarded and issued forth against JOHN HAVEN, of Providence, Trader, and he being declared a Bankrupt, is hereby required to surrender himself to us, the undersigned Commissioners, on the twenty-fifth day of July, and on the eighth and twenty-second days of August next, and on the fifth day of September next, at nine o'clock in the forenoon on each day, at ALPHEUS AMMIDON'S Golden-ball inn, and make a full discovery and disclosure of his estate and effects; when and where the Creditors are to come prepared to prove their debts, and at the third meeting to choose Assignees, and at the last meeting the said Bankrupt is required to finish his examination, and the Creditors are to assent to or dissent from the allowance of his certificate. All persons indebted to the said Bankrupt, or that have any of his effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to whom the said Commissioners shall appoint.
PARIS J. TILLINGHAST, JOSEPH JENCKES, GEORGE R. BURRILL, } Com's. July 22.
To be Sold,
A NEW fall-back CHAISE. For terms, apply to JOHN C. JENCKES, At his shop, near the Turk's-Head, where he has for sale, GOLD and SILVER WORK, and JEWELLERY;
ALSO,
PLATED HARNESS-FURNITURE, as low as can be bought in Boston or New-York.
N. B. All persons having accounts unsettled with the firm of JOHN JENCKES and Co. are requested to exhibit them to said JENCKES within three months from this date.
Cash given for old Gold, Silver, Copper, and Brass. July 15. (5 w.)
A good Farm for Sale,
AND to be sold on liberal terms. Said farm contains upwards of Two Hundred and Forty Acres of Land, in the town of Brimfield, State of Massachusetts, county of Hampshire, on the road to Brookfield, from Providence, with a large Dwelling-house, two Barns and Sheds; said Farm has a good proportion of mowing, ploughland, and pasturing, with an orchard, and is well furnished with excellent wood and water. It is desired that those who wish to purchase, would come and view said farm, and the owner declares on his honour that he will sell on reasonable terms. For further information enquire of the subscriber, living on said farm.
ALEXANDER SESSIONS. Brimfield (Massachusetts) July 11.
THE Subscriber having lately arrived in Providence from Georgia, takes this method to invite all persons who have any demands against him to call on him at the house of Mr. Nathan Truman, or on Dr. Benjamin Dyer, and receive their money; and as he proposes returning to Georgia in the fall, the sooner a settlement of his affairs can be effected, the more agreeable to him. June 15. EBENEZER JENCKES.
Grinnell and Taylor
Respectfully inform the public, and their good customers in particular, that they have just received a general assortment of Painters Colours, &c. viz.
LONDON white lead, dry or ground in oil, per cwt. or lb. Spanish white, stone yellow, red lead and Spanish brown per do. Prussian blue, first, second and third qualities; Venetian red, vermilion, king's yellow, white vitriol, gold leaf, copal varnish, ivory black, umber, lampblack, Dutch pink, rose pink, drop lake, flowing small litharge, verdigrease per sack or lb, coppers, alum, bismstone, red chalk, pumice stone, rosin, patent yellow, English and Russia glue, linseed oil, per bbl. or gail. spirits turpentine, black and bright varnish for vessels use, painters brushes and tools of various sizes, marking brushes, large and small camel hair pencils, window and china putty, window glass 16 by 12—15 by 11—14 by 10—12 by 10—11 by 9—10 by 8—9 by 7 and 8 by 6. The above articles are of an excellent quality, and are sold as low as can be purchased in this State.
They continue the painting business at their Store opposite the Bank lane; where colours are prepared at short notice, and all favours gratefully received.
N. B. They earnestly solicit all persons that have been indebted to them more than one year, to call and settle the same without delay. June 17.