The New-Hampshire gazette and general advertiser (Portsmouth [N.H.]), 1791-03-12 00:00:00

New - Hampshire Gazette, and the General Advertiser.
Containing the Laws, &c. of the United States, as well as those of this State passed since 1787, with a variety of other matters both useful and entertaining
PORTSMOUTH: Printed by JOHN MELCHER, at his Office in Market-Street, at nine shillings per Annum.
LAW'S of the UNITED STATES.
CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES AT THE THIRD SESSION, Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, on Monday the 6th of December, 1790. An ACT making appropriations for the support of Government during the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one and for other Purposes.
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be appropriated the several sums, and for the several purposes following, to wit ; A sum not exceeding two hundred and ninety-nine thousand two hundred and seventy-six dollars and fifty-three cents, for defraying the expenses of the civil list, as estimated by the Secretary of the Treasury, in the statement, number one, accompanying his report to the House of Representatives of the sixth inst. including the contingencies of the several executive officers, and of the two Houses of Congress, which are hereby authorized and granted : A sum not exceeding fifty thousand seven hundred and fifty-six dollars and fifty-three cents, for satisfying the several objects specified in the statement, number two, accompanying the report aforesaid, all such whereof, as may not have been heretofore provided for by law, being hereby authorized : And a sum not exceeding three hundred and ninety thousand one hundred and ninety-nine dollars and fifty-four cents, for the use of the department of war, pursuant to the statement, number three, accompanying the report aforesaid, including therein the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, for defraying the expenses of an expedition lately carried on against certain Indian tribes ; and the sum of eighty-seven thousand four hundred and sixty-three dollars and sixty cents, being the amount of one year's pensions to invalids, together with the contingencies of the said department, which are hereby authorized : Which several sums shall be paid out of the funds following, namely, The sum of six hundred thousand dollars, which by the act, intitled, "An act making provision for the debt of the United States," is reserved yearly for the support of the government of the United States, and their common defence ; the amount of such surpluses as may remain in the treasury, after satisfying the purposes for which appropriations were made, by the acts respectively, intitled, "An act making appropriations for the service of the present year," passed the twenty-ninth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine ; "An act making appropriations for the support of government for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety," passed the 26th day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety ; "An act making certain appropriations therein mentioned," passed the twelfth of August, one thousand seven hundred and ninety, and the product, during the present year, of such duties as shall be laid in the present session of Congress.
FREDERICK A. MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JOHN ADAMS, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate. Approved, February the 11th, 1791. GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States. Deposited among the rolls in the Office of the SECRETARY of STATE. THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State.
From the ROVER'S MAGAZINE.
The AGREEABLE GHOST.
A Story founded on Fact.
LAWSON, a young gentleman, being on his travels and very much fatigued, stopped at the house of an old acquaintance in a village, with the intention of resting and spending the night there. The master of this cottage was a good humored hospitable man, and gave a hearty welcome to all old friends. Mr. Wintertop (for that was the gentleman's name) had a daughter, a fine promising beauty who very much attracted the notice of Lawson ; for this young gentleman had not seen Miss Fanny Wintertop since, in his own words, she was the height of the table.
After some little conversation, Mr. Lawson was invited to sleep there, with which proposal our weary traveller very readily agreed. He was first asked, if he was afraid of ghosts, or intimidated at unknown noises ; but our hero, not being at all superstitious, replied only with a smile of unbelief. He placed no faith, he said, in spirits : The days were over, he thought, that were productive of miracles :—The dead could do us no harm, but the living might. However, he was prepared, he said for the latter, for he had a pair of most excellent unerring pistols, and would bet fifty to one, that with them he would lay any ghost that appeared.
But Miss Wintertop assured her much admired guest, that the house was indeed haunted ; she thought it her duty to forewarn him, and inform him that the spirit, about twelve o'clock every night, is said to walk all over the house.
"But, Sir, (continued Fanny) don't be afraid : It is a harmless ghost, I assure you—very harmless—Some poor girl, I believe, that was disappointed in love, and is thus restless."
"Aye, (cried old Wintertop) I suppose so. Well, Fanny, you shall never be in that predicament ; when you are pleased to make your choice, I shall be happy to consent to it.—Poor ghost ! I wish somebody would question it. It is very odd, Sir, (addressing Lawson) that my landlord never foretold me of this."
"Why (added Fanny) it does not appear to every body : I never beheld it, though long I have been in the doubt. Indeed papa, did I not hear you say, that you saw it three or four times yourself, I should believe it to be an idle story of the servants."
Thus terminated the evening in sprightly conversation ; at last the young gentleman was shown to his bed. He was advised by Fanny to shut the door and lock it, but despising to act the coward, he left it wide open, determining to see all that could be seen.
The gentleman with the fatigue of travelling slept a while, but between twelve and one awaking, he saw a beautiful figure creeping into the room—a lovely female form ! Lawson was never frightened at the sight of a woman—especially one in an undress : Bouncing therefore from his bed, he took the Agreeable Ghost in his arms.
"My dear (cried he) ; What is the matter with you ?"
Sir, (cried the ghost) ; Are not you a painter ?"
"Oh yes, Ma'am," (cried Lawson) not choosing to contradict her in any thing.
"It was you that painted my mother's picture ?"
"Yes, Ma'am,"
"Alas ! look here, Sir, I have brok-
en it unknown to my father : I do not know what to do ; ; Pray will you be so kind to mend it for me ? and when I am of age I will reward you for it." "I will Indeed Ma'am."
The lovely ghost now thanked Mr. Lawson, who absolutely took the picture, and making a courtsey departed.—Mr. Lawson returned to his bed, and slept until morning.
At breakfast, Mr. and Miss Wintertop inquired if he had seen any thing ; he replied in the negative, but said that he had dreamt something.
"Oh, (cried the lovely Fanny) I often dream."
"If you, Miss Wintertop, will honour me with your's, I shall tell you mine."
"I thought, Sir, that I had broken my mother's picture, which lay in a desk in my chamber, and being very uneasy about it, I took it to the painter to repair it. This, Sir, has been my dream constantly, but never until last night did I find out the painter. I hope therefore, there is an end to the dream."
"And is the picture now in the desk, Ma'am ?"
"I have not looked—but to be sure it is.—Pray, Sir, ; What were your thoughts ?"
"I dreamt, Ma'am, that a lovely girl like you came to me, and gave me this picture to repair—"
"Oh, Heavens !"
"And, Ma'am, I thought that that lady might have been the agreeable Ghost, which so constantly haunted the house in her sleep."
It was now evident—poor Fanny fainted, and Mr. Wintertop began to think what might be the interpretation of this dream.
"Why, (cried Mr. Lawson) I presume that it is this :—Miss Wintertop never found a painter until last night. I imagine, therefore, that a painter is a husband, and that your daughter will soon be married ; and, Sir, by the dream which I had, I do suppose myself to be destined for the happy man."
The old man was resolved to confirm this by an immediate union. Lawson and Fanny were soon married, and the latter never walked out of her bed in her sleep again.—
On Impertinent Visits.
THERE is no greater instance of ill-breeding, than an indiscretion in paying of visits. The generality of visits proceed not from sincerity of friendship, but either from fashion, form, or the amusement of an idle hour. This last cause for the most part prevails ; therefore a woman when she has nothing to do, starts from home only because she is tired of it, to trouble people who have important business, or domestic troubles which require no witnesses : She is received ; she perceives a concern which she cannot think is at her tedious stay, therefore with an insignificant little tattle she distracts the persons she would divert. One would think it were easy enough for any one to discern when their visit began to grow burthensome, but the vanity of thinking their company must necessarily be agreeable, and the self-confidence of their own wit and conversation, prevent their observing it. There is no character more despicable in itself, and more formidable to others, than that of a maker of insignificant visits, who not knowing how to spend her own time, runs about to waste that of other people who could put it to a much better use. But what pretence can this class of visitants have for fatiguing their acquaintance ; what
have they to say to them ? It is fine weather, or it is bad ; The town is full or it is empty : That knowledge could be obtained without purchasing it at so dear a rate ; and if they would be thought agreeable or polite, they take the wrong step, they mistake wearying people for pleasing them, and impertinence for good manners.
Most people, some time or other, chuse to be by themselves ; either from caprice of humor, domestic troubles, or a thousand private reasons, company would be ungrateful to them. Can any one then take a denial to be ill manners when the persons visited could not from their chagrin receive them with that pleasantries which is necessary to make a visit agreeable ? But let the reasons be what they will, I think every lady has a right and liberty of disposing of her time, and that she may refuse the receiving a visit, without incurring the censure of ill manners.
CONGRESS,
THIRD SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, FEB. 11.
AN engrossed bill authorising the President of the United States to cause the debt due to foreign officers to be paid and discharged, was read a third time and passed.
An engrossed bill to continue in force for a limited time an act passed the first session of Congress, entitled, an act regulating processes in the Courts of the United States, was read the third time and passed.
A bill supplementary to an act, entitled an act to incorporate the subscribers to the bank of the United States, was read a second time, and referred to a committee of the whole house tomorrow.
Several petitions praying compensation for military services, was read and referred to the Secretary of War.
A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Lear, his Secretary, notifying that he has this day approved and signed an act, entitled, an act making appropriations for the support of government during the year 1791, and for other purposes.
Mr. Sedgwick, from the committee, appointed for that purpose, reported a bill making compensation to marshals, clerks and jurors in the courts of the United States, which was read a first and second time, and referred to a committee of the whole House on Tuesday next.
Agreeably to the order of the day, the House again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, Mr. Boudinot in the chair, to take into consideration the bill for establishing offices for the purpose of granting lands within the territory of the United States ; after some time spent, the committee rose, and the chairman reported, that the committee had gone through the bill and made sundry amendments, which were read, and ordered to lie on the table until tomorrow.
An engrossed bill for altering the time for the next meeting of Congress, was read a third time and passed ; the blank for the time of meeting being filled up with the first Monday of November next.
A memorial of sundry public creditors was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
On motion of Mr. Smith (S. C.) the memorial of the masters of vessels in Charleston, was referred to a select committee.
After which the galleries were cleared

SATURDAY, FEB. 12.
The House being engaged in secret business, the gallery was, for some time, kept shut. After the opening of the doors, sundry petitions being read and referred to the Heads of Departments.
On motion of Mr. Boudinot, the committee on the navigation act was discharged from further proceeding. On motion of Mr. Fitzsimons, the house took into consideration the report of the Secretary of State on the memorial of Andrew Brown, Printer, and passed thereon a resolution, which was ordered to be transmitted to the Senate.
Mr. Sherman, from the committee, appointed to consider the memorial of the holders of loan-office certificates, for money lent to the United States, between September 1777 and 1778, made a report which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Floyd, from the committee of enrollment, reported an enrolled bill to incorporate the subscribers to the bank of the United States.
A report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the petition of J. Collins was read.
On motion of Mr. Gerry, the petition of sundry inhabitants of Boston, heretofore presented by him, was referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Secretary Otis, informing that they had passed a bill for the admission of the State of Vermont into the Union; and also a bill regulating the number of Representatives, to be chosen by the States of Kentucky and Vermont.
The abovenmentioned bills were, after a first and second reading, referred to a committee of the whole, on Monday next.
The House then, pursuant to the order of the day, proceeded to the consideration of the amendments proposed by the committee of the whole, to the bill to establish offices, for the purpose of granting lands, within the territories of the United States; and after some time spent therein, adjourned.
MONDAY, FEB. 14.
Sundry petitions were read, and referred to the Secretary of the Department of War.
On motion, Messrs. Madison, Washington and Leonard, were appointed a committee to prepare and bring in a bill, to explain so much of the act, imposing duties on imported articles, as imposes a duty on imported lead and calicoes.
The bill transmitted from the Senate for the admission of the State of Vermont into the Union, was taken into consideration in committee of the whole, reported without amendment, and passed.
On motion of Mr. Sedgwick, a committee consisting of Messrs. Sedgwick, Benson, and Sturges, was appointed to prepare and bring in a bill or bills to give effect to the laws of the United States, within the State of Vermont.
Mr. Secretary Lear delivered the following letter from the President of the United States, accompanied with papers containing information which he had received from the Court of London, relative to a commercial treaty with the United States. The letter was read, and the papers ordered to lie on the table until tomorrow.
United States, Feb. 14, 1791.
Gentlemen of the Senate, and House of Representatives,
Soon after I was called to the administration of the government, I found it important to come to an understanding with the Court of London, on several points interesting to the United States, and particularly to know, whether they were disposed to enter into arrangements, by mutual consent, which might fix the commerce between the two nations on principles of reciprocal advantage. For this purpose, I authorised informal conferences with their ministers; and from these, I do not infer any disposition on their part, to enter into any arrangements merely commercial. I have thought it proper to give
you this information, as it might at some future time have influence on matters under your consideration.
Mr. Secretary Otis delivered a message from the Senate, informing, that they had passed with amendments, the bill repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid on distilled spirits imported from abroad, & laying others in their stead, and also upon spirits distilled within the U. States, and for appropriating the same; and requested the concurrence of the House in the said amendments.
A second message from the Senate, was delivered by Mr. Secretary Otis, informing the House, that the Senate had concurred with them in the bill to continue in force, for a limited time, an act passed at the first session of Congress, entitled, An act to regulate civil processes in the courts of the United States.
The house then proceeded to the further consideration of the amendments, proposed by the committee of the whole, to the bill to establish offices, for the purpose of granting lands, within the territories of the United States; and having gone through the same, and made some further amendments, adjourned.
For the NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE.
IT must be admitted that a Republican form of Government is the most favourable to Liberty. Yet some inconveniences arise out of it, which nearly balance this inestimable blessing. I will instance one only, sufficient of itself to confirm this truth: On public days of election, when the passions of the people are heated by the arts of intriguing and designing men, who are always at hand, and never fail to work them up to the highest pitch of extravagance, with an unworthy view to render them subservient to their various interests, it is almost incredible to what lengths, men otherwise of regular morals, will proceed in measures, unwarrantable in themselves to carry what is called a point, and what adds to the incredibility is, that the same person after having experienced various degrees of remorse, which must inevitably follow so gross a deviation from the dignity of their nature, should repeat the same improprieties, to ascribe to their favourites qualifications which they do not possess, to overate those they do, to conceal and extenuate their vices, not to mention the inevitable practice of denying the merits of a competitor, & exhibiting in false colours those which are too obvious to be refused him, and promiscuously heaping together both truth and deception, which in order to lessen his prospects and blast his hopes, are immoralities too commonly indulged by many good people, who think no harm of committing a certain evil, that a possible good may come of it; but all these and many more are virtues when compared to the wicked and pernicious custom of putting the cup to our neighbours mouth and forcing down the intoxicating draught, at once bereaving them of that best of heavens' gifts, REASON, the bestowment of the God of nature to distinguish us as men from beasts and robbing them of their birthright, the pledges of their blood bought liberty; Inferior to this is the inhumanity of solicitation or compulsion, through the medium of bribes, promises and menaces. To purchase the suffrage of a freeman by pecuniary allurements, or to amuse him with delusive expectations to obtain it, is dishonorable. To compel him to surrender his privilege by holding out the terrors of a prison, the loss of bread or favour, is cruel. In free governments the presumption is, that candidates for public offices in which the people have a voice in their appointment are so generally known to them, that it should supercede the necessity of investigating their characters by individuals, who, for the most part have various passions to consult in disquisitions of this nature, which give them a tincture of prejudice in all they do and say upon such occasions;
such is the constitution of human affairs, that the liberty of the Press is so essential to the liberties of the subjects, that there is a necessary connexion between the security of the one and the licentiousness of the other. There are so many advantages enjoyed under a Republican form of Government, and these depend so much upon the freedom of enquiry, that the evil resulting from the full exercise of this right, would bear no proportion to the evil of restraining it, but because the former cannot be diminished without increasing the latter, it becomes the duty of every good member of the community to be cautious in the management of this invaluable privilege, for the abuse of which we are not the less amenable because in the present state we are beyond the reach of human laws. There can be no greater prostitution of the liberty of the press, than dragging characters before a public tribunal, and offering them up on the altar sacred to freedom as a sacrifice to self-interest and party spirit; and yet it is not seldom, that this outrage is committed, and many valuable men obliged to sit down with wounded feelings and the loss of reputation, without being privy to the transaction which preceded it—but on the contrary their names have been made public with a direct view to their degradation: Exclusive of the tendency to subvert this boasted liberty by so manifest a perversion of it, we transgress that universal law of doing unto others as we would they should do unto us, when we indulge a propensity, in which the worst passions of human nature are engaged. Z.
L O N D O N, Nov. 29.
Extract of a letter from Kingston, Jamaica.
“An extraordinary circumstance happened in this town a few day since, to a young Jewess, daughter of Mr. Jacob Mendez Guntfa, deceased. This girl, who is about 14 years of age, had from her infancy been entirely dumb, and nearly deaf; being present when her father was in the agonies of death, she was so affected as to fall into violent fits; on her recovery, to the astonishment and terror of all persons present she began to articulate, and, with every mark of the most poignant grief, bewailed the loss of her deceased parent, in terms perfectly to be understood. This Phenomenon, as wonderful as it is interesting, will doubtless prove a theme for discussion to the speculative philosopher, who wishes to account for every uncommon appearance proceeding from natural causes.”
Mr. Bruce, the Abyssinian traveller, derived his principal security among the Arabs to well-directed gallantry, which according to his own account, proved of no inconsiderable advantage to him.
“Being in the prime of life,” says he, “of no ungracious figure, having an accidental nack, which is not a trifle of putting on the dress, and speaking the language easily and gracefully, I cultivated with the utmost assiduity the friendship of the fair sex, by the most modest, respectful, distant attendance and obsequiousness in Public—abating just as much of that in private as suited their humours and inclinations. I soon acquired a great support from these at court; jealousy is not a passion of the Abyssinians, who are on the contrary extreme, even to indifference!”
BRABANT and FLANDERS.
The affairs of the Provinces have now drawn to a crisis—The following are the latest particulars that have arrived, and as an article of importance, deserve attention.—The proceedings in the Congress on the 21st inst. were communicated to Mr. Pitt last night.
ON the 18th inst. an express arrived at the Hague with dispatches for Abbe Van Leempoe, Envoy for the Belgick Congress to the states general, informing him that four members of Congress, M. Petitjean, the Chevalier de Boufies, Count Baillet, and M. de Graaf, were on their way to the Hague, to assist him in treating with the Ministers of the three allied powers.
On the 19th these four gentlemen accompanied by Abbe Van Leempoe, had a conference at the house of the Pensionary Van Spiegel, with the English and Prussian Ministers. On the 20th they met a second time at the same place, and set out the same day for Brussels.
At these meetings they laboured to procure a delay or respite from the 21st of November, the period fixed by the Emperor's Manifesto for the submission of the Netherlands, to the 6th of December—but they failed in the attempt, the Ministers of the Allied Courts inflexibly refusing to bend themselves to a request which they said appeared to them unreasonable, and little suited to the dignity of their respective sovereigns or of his Imperial Majesty.
Previous to the departure of the four members from Brussels, a schism had taken place in the Congress, and parties had run exceedingly high, and the two first orders of the States of Brabant, the Clergy and Nobles, had passed resolutions which were to form the basis of an agreement with the Emperor.
On the 13th, when it was debated in Congress, whether a negotiation should be opened with the Emperor's Ministers on the ground of the terms offered in his manifesto, it is said, that Mess. Van Eupen and Vandernoot, successively rose, and each took a solemn oath, never to consent to treat with the Emperor, upon any terms which should imply that he was, or ever should be, recognized sovereign of the Netherlands.
They endeavoured to gain over the other members to their opinion, but without success; for the members for the Provinces of Hainault, Flanders, and Tournaisis, and for the cities of Tournay and Antwerp, declared that they had received instructions from their respective constituents, to consent to an accommodation with the Emperor, and to treat with him upon the ground of his being recognized their lawful sovereign.
To remove these differences of opinion, it was proposed, that in a meeting of the Congress, which was held at Brussels, on the 21st inst. the day limited by the Emperor's Manifesto, that the Emperor should never be acknowledged as the sovereign of these states, but that to prevent, if possible, the further effusion of human blood, his third son, the Archduke Charles, should be elected to the sovereignty.
This proposal was debated for some time, and at 10 o'clock at night it was unanimously resolved in the Congress, that the Archduke Charles be elected to the sovereignty, under the titles of Marque, Conte, and Duc de Belgick, under such regulations as may be determined on, bound to reside in the country of the States, to govern them by their ancient laws, and agreeable to the articles of their constitution; and to preserve to all and each of the States, their respective rights, immunities, and privileges.—The succession to be hereditary in his family; never to revert to any branch of the house of Austria, possessing the sovereignty of any other country.
Whether the Emperor will agree to the proposal, will be known in a few days—At any rate, a fairer ground of reconciliation seems to have presented itself than was first expected.
MIDDLE TOWN, Feb. 19.
Last Tuesday a lad by the name of Whittelsey, being on a visit to an intimate friend of his in Saybrook, named Lord, who informed he had a new gun and desired him to examine it; on Whittelsey's taking the gun he enquired if it was loaded, and being answered that it was not, he snapped it in such a direction that a full charge of shot entered the breast and head of Lord, which instantly deprived him of life. On examination it appeared that the gun had been loaded in Lord's absence and that neither of the young men knew it previous to the melancholy accident.

GEORGETOWN, Feb. 9.
Yesterday passed through this town the Geographer General of the United States , Mr. ELLICOTT; this gentleman, we are informed, is sent by the President of the United States, to survey and lay off, the Federal Seat of Congress .
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21.
The accession of Kentucky and Vermont to the Union, is an event that appears to give universal satisfaction: The facility with which this business has been accomplished, evince a cordial disposition in the minds of our civil fathers, to extend the blessings of the general government to the inhabitants of the remotest parts of the United States—Thus link after link is added to the chain, which connects the great American family in a union of interests and affection, and which we trust will exist coeval with time.
Feb. 23. Yesterday being the anniversary of the Birth Day of THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, when he attained to the 59th year of his age—the same was celebrated here with every demonstration of public joy. The Artillery and Light Infantry corps of the city were paraded, and at 12 o'clock a federal salute was fired. The congratulatory compliments of the Members of the Legislature of the Union—the Heads of the Departments of State—Foreign Ministers—Officers, civil and military of the State—the Reverend Clergy—and of Strangers and Citizens of distinction, were presented to the President on this auspicious occasion.
By the ship Union , Capt. Blyth , arrived at Baltimore , from Dublin , we have the following advices, viz.
DUBLIN, DEC. 7, 1790.
Letters were received on the 1st inst. by some of the first houses in London, with the information “that in a few days after signing of the Convention, dispatches were forwarded to Cadiz, and the several other ports, directing the officers to levy a duty of eight and ten per cent. ad valorem on British goods imported.”
Whether horrid war shall shed fear and confusion over the nations of Europe, or not, Asia seems likely to be torn by one of the most violent contests she has witnessed during the present century. By the spirit with which preparations for carrying on the war with TIPOO , are urged, it appears to be resolved that the manes of Gen. MATHEWS shall at length be pacified.
ELIZABETH-TOWN, Feb. 16.
A few days since, at a Methodist Tabernacle, at Mr. John Ellis , near New-Windsor, in Orange County, state of New-York, a singular occurrence happened as follows. The candles, five in number, which before burnt with splendour, suddenly went out while the congregation were on their knees, paying homage to the King of Kings. This circumstance has occasioned various conjectures—some conclude their spiritual light will be extinguished; others, that the Hydra of persecution is about to pervade this happy land, &c.
As many of our country are migrating to the Western country, we would recommend it to them to be very circumspect in the choice of their boats for transporting themselves and families down the Ohio, lest they encounter a similar misfortune as that which befel Capt. LUDLOW , of Morris county, who, last November, on his passage down the river, from the badness of the boat, was wrecked, and lost property to the value of one thousand pounds; and, with much peril, saved his own life and family. Two of his children, supposed to be lost, were taken off the wreck twelve days after they were stranded.
Extract of a letter from Muskingum, dated Jan. 17th, to a gentleman at Philadelphia,
“The Wyandot man who has been so long expected is at last arrived, and informs me, that the best accounts he could procure when in the Indian Towns , and from individuals, who were in the last engagements, were, that the Shawanese lost two of the principal chiefs, and 30 warriors; the
Delawares commanded by Boebanchiolis and Willendeachen , 27 or 28 warriors, were wounded; the Cherokees , Potowatamies , and Kekapoas , many killed and wounded, the number not ascertained, and that two Wyandots , who had long lived with them were killed likewise. He says farther the hostile Indians had required the Wyandots to join them, or they would cut them off; but the Half-King replied, that he intended to keep fast by the chain he had helped to make at Fort Harmer.
“The Half-King and some other chiefs of the Wyandots are on their way to the Fort, and will be there in a few days.”
BOSTON, March 9.
FROM PHILADELPHIA—FEB. 23, A Bill respecting Permanent Residence, has been before the Senate.—The object to conform the law to THE PRESIDENT'S proclamation. I rather expect the business will be postponed to the next session of Congress.
THE PRESIDENT'S birth-day, contrary to the custom at the Eastward, was celebrated here yesterday [22d]. The President having been born before the style was altered. The celebration was the most magnificent ever known here.
Early next month, he is to set out on a tour to Georgia, and it is not expected that he will return to this city until near the next session.
An immense undertaking is now before the legislature of this State—no less than a communication with the western waters, by roads, canals, &c. The expence is estimated at about 60000. and resolutions have been reported by the House to appropriate certain funds, to defray the expences.
FEB. 25.
The subject of navigation, is at length submitted to the Secretary of State, to report thereon at the next session. He is fully adequate to its most extensive consideration—and is very friendly to the interest of commerce. Business is expedited, and the session approaches fast to a close. The excise is impeded by the strenuous opposition of some of the southern members.—The Senators from your State, I am told, oppose—and that your members in the House will not finally vote for it but upon the most urgent necessity.
LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS. THE SENATE
Has referred to the next session of the General Court, the letter of the General Assembly of Virginia, respecting the right of the citizens to hear the debates of the Federal Senate.
The House accepted the report of the committee granting 700 tickets of the Semi-annual lottery to the proprietors of the Cotton Manufactory at Beverly.
The Resolve directing the Treasurer to subscribe to the loan of the United States certain Continental Securities in the Treasury has passed both Houses.
Bills appointing Commissioners to ascertain the boundary lines between this State and Connecticut; and this State and Rhode-Island, have passed the House:
The Hon. JOHN WORTHINGTON, NATHANIEL GORHAM, and SAMUEL LYMAN, Esquires, are chosen and appointed Commissioners to run and ascertain the boundary line between this Commonwealth and the State of Connecticut, who are to meet and confer with such Commissioners as shall be appointed by that State for the above important purpose.
A correspondent has favored us with the following Arithmetical Question, put to the late famous Negro TOM, the African Calculator of Alexandria:—How many seconds are there in 569 years, 6 months, 21 days, and 14 hours? Answer—17,961,616,800—which was given in fifteen minutes, without making a figure.
NEWBURY-PORT, March 9. Last Friday morning, a Mrs. Pecker of Haverhill being on a visit, dropped down on the floor of her daughter's house, and instantaneously expired without a struggle or groan.
PORTSMOUTH, MARCH 12.
Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, dated February, 1791.
The Supreme Court of the United States opened here last week. The Judges did not all attend. The only action entered, was brought by a Foreigner, against the State of Maryland. The writ was served upon the GOVERNOR, the Supreme Executive of the State, and upon the Attorney-General. Two months are given for the State to plead. Should this action be maintained, one great national question will be settled; that is, that the several States have relinquished all their SOVEREIGNTIES, and have become mere corporations, upon the establishment of the General Government: For a Sovereign State can never be sued, or coerced, by the authority of another government.—Should this point be supported, in favor of this cause against Maryland, each State in the Union may be sued by the possessors of their public securities, and by all their creditors. As the execution will be against them as mere corporations, they will be issued against all the inhabitants generally; the Governors, and all other citizens, will be alike liable. Such offices will not be coveted; even the Constitutional privileges, in the several States, against arresting Senators and Representatives, while the Courts are sitting, will be done away.
The Legislature of Virginia has passed an Act for advancing the sum of 120,000 dollars, payable to the order of The President of the United States, in three equal yearly payments, to be applied towards erecting Public Buildings, at the Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States, on the Potomack.
Thursday the 31st inst. is appointed by His Excellency the Governor and Council of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to be observed as a day of FASTING and PRAYER throughout that Commonwealth.
The product of the Fisheries, exported from the United States, from about August 20, 1789, to Sept. 30, 1790, amounts (according to the report of the Secretary of State) to 1,194,287 dollars.
ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, Esq. of the city of New-York, Merchant, has made a DONATION to the Scot's Presbyterian Church of New-York, (under the charge of the Rev. Dr. John Mason) of two lots of ground in King-Street, for the noble purpose of Charity; on which is to be erected a free school, for the poor children of that Congregation; all at his own private expense, estimated in the whole to be in value 2000.
The President of the United States, has appointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, DAVID HUMPHREYS, Minister Resident from the United States to her Most Faithful Majesty, the Queen of Portugal.
ENTRIES at the CUSTOM-HOUSE of this district.
ENTERED FROM Brig Active, Cerswell, N. Carolina. Brig Mehet'le & Mary, Fernald, England
Just Published
By the PRINTER hereof, and for sale at his Office in Market-Street, for only Nine-pence, though really worth three shillings,
A SERMON
PREACHED at the opening of the COLUMBIAN LODGE, of FREE MASONS at Nottingham.
By the Rev. JOHN C. OGDEN, Chaplain to the
GRAND LODGE OF FREE MASONS, in this STATE.
State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident proprietors & owners of land in the township of Acworth, who have not paid their taxes for the year 1791, that unless they pay said taxes to me the subscriber on or before the 30th day of March next, so much of their land as will pay the same together with incidental charges will be sold at public vendue, at the dwelling-house of Mr. Eliphael Silsby in said town, at ten o'clock, A. M. on said day.
State Deputy's
No. R. Ac's. d. q. d. q.
 Ezra George 1 9 80 2 2 1 1  B. Wentworth 8 9 21 0 3 0 1  Silas Hodges & Jona. Parker 11 9 10 2 2 1 1 
 Ditto 12 9 83 5 0 2 3  B. Wentworth 9 10 91 2 3 1 2  Ditto 10 10 72 2 1 1 1 
THOMAS SLADER, Constable. Acworth, Feb. 22, 1790.
State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident owners of land in Ackworth, who have not paid their taxes for the year 1789, that unless they pay said taxes to me the subscriber, on or before the 30th day of March next, so much of their land as will pay the same together with incidental charges, will be sold at public vendue, at the house of Mr. Eliphael Silsby, in said town, at ten o'clock, A. M. on said day.
 Indents. Spec. ord. deputy tax 
No. R. Q'ty. s. d. d. q. d. q.
 Jona. Hardy 10 7 100 1 0 3 1 1  B. Wentworth 8 9 21 0 2 0 3 0  Ditto 9 10 91 0 11 3 1 1  Ditto 10 10 72 0 8 2 1 1  S. Wentworth 16 10 39 0 5 1 2 0 
THOMAS HILL, Collector. Acworth, Feb. 26, 1791.
State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident owners of land in the town of Bradford, who have not paid their road tax of one penny per acre, laid on their land by order of the General Court, for the year 1790, that unless they pay the same to us the subscribers, on or before Thursday the 14th day of April next, so much of their land as will pay the same, together with incidental charges, will be sold at public vendue, at the dwelling-house of Ebenezer Eaton, Esq. in said town, at ten of the clock, A. M. on said day.
No. s. d.
 Theodore Atkinson, Esq. 38 8 4  ditto 51 8 4  ditto 88 8 4  ditto 54 8 4  ditto 96 8 4  Thomas Wallingsford 97 8 4  John Wentworth, Esq. 1 8 4  ditto 86 8 4  ditto 68 8 4  ditto 75 8 4  ditto 80 8 4  John Moffatt, Esq. 69 8 4  ditto 63 8 4  Solly and March 74 8 4  ditto 61 8 4  Joshua Peirce 27 8 4 
EBENEZER EATON, } Solemen. STEPHEN HOYT, Bradford, Feb. 17, 1791. (6w)
State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident owners of land in the town of Antrim, who have not paid their taxes for the year 1789, that unless they pay said taxes to me the subscriber, on or before the 7th day of April next, so much of their land as will pay said taxes together with incidental charges, will be sold at public vendue, at the house of Mr. Ebenezer Kimball in said town, at ten o'clock, A. M. on said day.
State. County. Ind's
Q'ty. s. d. s. d. s. d.
 Col. Packer 50 0 1 0 1 0 4  George Jaffery 700 1 7 0 11 4 9  D. Miltimore 75 3 4 1 10 9 11 
ADAM NICHOLS, Collector. Antrim, March 5, 1791.