The New Hampshire gazette (Portsmouth [N.H.]), 1796-12-10 00:00:00

THE New Hampshire Gazette.
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PORTSMOUTH: (NEW-HAMPSHIRE)—PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING BY JOHN MELCHER, PRINTER TO THE STATE, AT HIS OFFICE CORNER OF MARKET STREET, WHERE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THIS PAPER, ADVERTISEMENTS, AND ARTICLES OF INTELLIGENCE ARE THANKFULLY RECEIVED.
Vol. XLI.—Numb. 2089.]
SATURDAY, December 10, 1796.
[9s. pr. Annum.]
Official State Paper.
[The following Communication of the Minister of the French Republic to the Government of the United States, as an official paper, is as important in its consequences as any which ever was laid before our Executive since the establishment of the Federal Constitution. While reading this Communication, let the citizens read with candor; and detached from party considerations, let them weigh with impartiality the reasons of the Minister. If he has no ground for his complaints, let it be considered as the effusions of a warm attachment to his country, unconnected from the concerns of Americans; but, if his assertions are enforced by incontrovertible documents, it is a question too serious to be treated with levity. Read, fellow-citizens! deliberate with candor, and decide with prudence.]
Translation of a NOTE, from the Minister of the French Republic, To the Secretary of State of the United States.
Legation of Philadelphia,
THE undersigned minister plenipotentiary of the French Republic now fulfils to the Secretary of State of the United States, a painful, but sacred duty. He claims, in the name of American honor, in the name of the faith of Treaties, the execution of that contract which assured to the United States their existence, and which France regarded as the pledge of the most sacred union between two people, the freest upon the earth: In a word he announces to the Secretary of State, the resolution of a Government, terrible to its enemies, but generous to its allies.
It would have been pleasing to the undersigned minister plenipotentiary to have only to express, on the present occasion, the attachment which his government bears to the American people, the vows which it forms for their prosperity, for their happiness. His heart therefore is grieved at the circumstances which impose upon him a different task. With regret he finds himself compelled to substitute the tone of reproach for the language of friendship. With regret also his government has ordered him to take that tone; but that very friendship has rendered it indispensable. Its obligations sacred to men, are as sacred to governments; and if a friend offended by a friend, can justly complain, the government of the United States, after the undersigned minister plenipotentiary shall have traced the catalogue of grievances of the French Republic, will not be surprised to see the Executive Directory manifesting their too just discontents.
When Europe rose up against the Republic at its birth, menaced it with all the horrors of war and of famine; when on every side the French could not calculate upon any but enemies, their thoughts turned towards America; a sweet sentiment then mingled itself with those proud sentiments which the presence of danger and the desire of repelling it produced in their hearts. In America they saw friends. Those who went to brave tempests and death upon the ocean, forgot all dangers in order to indulge the hope of visiting that American continent where, for the first time, the French colors had been displayed in favor of liberty. Under the guarantee of the law of nations, under the protecting shade of a solemn treaty, they expected to find in the ports of the United States an asylum as sure as at home; they thought, if I may use the expression, there to find a second country. The French government thought as they did. Oh! hope worthy of faithful people how hast thou been deceived! So far from offering to the French the succours which friendship might have given without compromising it, the American government, in this respect violated the letter of treaties.
The 17th article of the treaty of amity and commerce of 1778, states, that French vessels of war, and those of the United States, as well as those which shall have been armed for war by individuals of the
two states, may freely conduct where they please the prizes they shall have made upon their enemies, without being subject to any admiralty or other duty; without the said vessels, on entering into the harbors or ports of France, or the United States, being liable to be arrested or seized, or the officers of those places taking cognizance of the validity of the said prizes, which may depart and be conducted freely and in full liberty to the places expressed in their commissions, which the captains of the said vessels shall be obliged to shew; and that on the contrary no shelter or refuge shall be given to those who shall have made prizes upon the French or Americans; and that if they should be forced by stress of weather or danger of the sea to enter, they shall be made to depart as soon as possible.
In contempt of these stipulations the French privateers have been arrested in the United States, as well as their prizes. It were vain to seek to justify these proceedings under the pretext of the right of vindicta the compromised neutrality of the United States. The facts about to be stated will prove that this pretext has been the source of shocking persecutions against the French privateers, and that the conduct of the federal government has been but a series of violations of the 17th article of the treaty of 1778.
On the 4th of August, 1793, a circular letter of the secretary of the treasury was sent to the collectors of the customs. It accompanied regulations adopted by the President, prohibiting all armaments in favor of the belligerent powers. These regulations immediately acquired the force of law, and the agents of the government, and the tribunals concurred in their execution. They gave them a retrospective effect, and caused to be seized in the United States, the armed vessels and prizes which had come in prior to that time. But even before these regulations, adopted by the President, had established any rule whatever upon the prohibition of armaments, the tribunals had already, by order of government assumed the cognizance of prizes made by French vessels. (No. 1.) One of the predecessors of the undersigned protested against this, but in vain. The tribunals still continued their prosecutions.
On the third of December, 1793, the President asked of Congress a law confirming the measures contained in the letter from the secretary of the treasury, above mentioned. (No. 2.) This law was passed the 5th of June, 1794. What was its result? In consequence of this law, the greater part of the French privateers have been arrested, as well as their prizes, not upon formal depositions, not upon established testimony, not upon a necessary body of proofs, but upon the simple information of the Consul of one of the powers at war with the French Republic, frequently upon that of sailors of the enemy powers, sometimes according to the orders of the Governors, but often upon the demand of the district attorneys, who assert, upon principles avowed by the government, (No. 3.) that their conviction was sufficient to authorise them, without complaint or regular information, to cause the privateers to be prosecuted in virtue of the law above mentioned, (No. 4.)
When the ministers of the Republic have asked justice of the government for the vexations experienced by the privateers, in contempt of the 7th article of the treaty, they have never been able to obtain satisfaction.
Thus, when on the 9th Fructidor, 3d year, (26 Aug. 1794,) the predecessor of the undersigned, addressed a complaint to the government on this subject, the secretary of state answered, on the 3d September, 1794, by a phrase indicative of delay.
Thus, when the same minister, on 27th Vendemaire, 3d year, (17th October, 1794) reminded the secretary of state of the means he had proposed to him, for putting an end to the measures adopted against the French privateers; when he caused
him to see that this means, which consist in requiring security from those who claimed the prizes as illegal, would prevent the enemies of the Republic from instituting so many suits, of which they themselves perceived the injustice; he obtained no other answer than that his proposition relative to securities was inadmissible.
When on the 13th Floreal, 3d year, the same minister expressed himself in these terms, in a letter to the secretary of state: "You have alleged, Sir, that the Executive of the United States cannot interfere in the affairs of which the tribunals have cognizance. In admitting this objection, for all the business now in suit, I do not the less think that your government could by general measures, bring back the jurisdiction of the American tribunals, concerning prizes made by our vessels, within the limits prescribed by our treaties, which makes part of the supreme law of the land: It might make known that the facility with which your Courts of Admiralty admit, without distinction, all the chicanery which our enemies create against us in the present war, is evidently contrary to the spirit of the treaty." The government paid no attention to these reflections, and the answer of the secretary of state merely notices the particular fact which had occasioned the note of citizen Fauchet.
What was the undersigned minister plenipotentiary able to obtain in the affair of the Cassius and of the Vengeance? Nothing.
The government of the United States must have seen however by the claims which the minister of the Republic addressed to it by the great number of facts, of which it has had a knowledge, how much the execution of the measures of the President and of the law of the 5th of June 1794, was contrary to the 17th article of the treaty; how much the agency of the tribunals who ought not to have any cognizance of the validity or invalidity of the prizes, tended to annul that article, & to deprive the Republic of the advantage which it assured to her. In fact was it not evident, that when the powers at war with the Republic had the privilege, in virtue of the law of the 5th of June 1794, of causing to be arrested the privateers and their prizes, of detaining them in the ports of the United States, of ruining them by considerable costs, by the excessive expenses which they occasion them they drew from that privilege an immense advantage to the detriment of France. Doubtless it was of little import to them that sometimes the privateers obtained justice in the last resort, if they detained the privateers for a length of time, and if they by that means, sheltered from their pursuit the commerce of the enemy of France. The neutrality of the United States in this case was altogether to their advantage; and the Federal Government, on seeing this state of things, should, out of respect to its neutrality and to treaties, solicit from the Congress the means of conciliating the duties of the former with the obligations of the latter.
The government very well knew how to solicit the law of the 5th of June 1794, when that law was to bear on France alone, when it gave to the tribunals, a right which has been abused, and which enables them to decide upon prizes: Why, on seeing the inconveniences of this law, has it not endeavored to remedy them? Should it wait to be solicited on this head? Should it not anticipate all claims, and when those were presented by the ministers of the Republic, should it not do justice?
Besides, if the government had been impartial, as it has pretended to be, it would not have adopted that slow and circuitous mode, so favourable to the enemies of France, for deciding the cases relative to its neutrality; it would have preferred the measures proposed by Mr. Jefferson, on the 25th of June, 1783, to the Minister of the Republic: These measures were simple, they were in conformity with the duties of neu-
trality and the interests of the Republic.
The Federal Government had decided questions which interested its neutrality, upon informations furnished by the State Governors and the Agents of the Republic; the prizes remained in the hands of the French Consul, until this decision took place: the stipulations of the 17th article of the treaty of 1778, were not violated; and the government at the same time satisfied the obligations of duty and justice. In vain would it say that it had not the power. Notwithstanding the law of the 5th June 1794, giving to the tribunal the right of taking cognizance of cases in which neutrality had been violated, did not the President on the 21st of June, 1794, decide that the ship William, taken out of the limits of the waters of the United States, should be delivered to the captors; and on the 3d July, 1794, did he not decide that the Pilgrim had been taken in the waters of the United States, and that of course she should be given up to the owners? In these cases the President not only decided on matters, the cognizance of which had been consigned to the tribunals, but likewise gave a retrospective effect to his own decision upon the protecting line of the United States, which was not notified to the minister of the Republic, till the 8th of Nov. 1793.
Not satisfied with permitting the 17th article of the treaty to be violated by its agents and tribunals, the Federal Government also suffered the English to avail themselves of advantages interdicted to them by that article. They armed in the ports of the United States brought in, and repaired their prizes, and in a word found in them a certain asylum.
Thus the English privateer Trufty, Capt. Hall, was armed at Baltimore to cruise against the French, and failed, notwithstanding the complaints of the Consul of the Republic. At Charleston, one Bermudian vessel, several English vessels and one Dutch vessel, from the 24th of May to the 6th June 1793, took in cannon for their defence, and failed without opposition.
What answer did the government give to the representations of the Minister of the French Republic in this respect? It said that these vessels failed so suddenly, it was not able to have them arrested. But the treaty was not the less violated. Some inhabitants of the United States had aided in the illegal armament: What measures were taken against them? Was any search made to discover them, to prosecute them? Never, and yet the government of the United States, no sooner learned that, in consequence of an implied stipulation which the treaty of Versailles seemed to contain, the French were arming in the ports of the United States, than the most energetic orders were sent for stopping these armaments. Even citizens of the United States, were imprisoned upon suspicion that they had participated in them. The Minister cannot omit citing here the following passage of a letter from the Secretary of State, Edmund Randolph, to Mr. Hammond, dated 2d June, 1794. "On a suggestion that Citizens of the United States, had taken part in the act, (he speaks of the armaments in the United States) one who was designated, was instantly committed to prison for prosecution, one or two others have been since named and committed to prison for prosecution; one or two others have been since named and committed in like manner, and should it appear, that there were still others, no measures would be spared to bring them to Justice." What more could the American Government do in favor of the English, if they had a similar treaty to that with France, and had been sole possessors of the advantages assured to her by positive stipulations?
However in contempt of these very stipulations, the Argonaut, an English ship of war, in January 1795, conducted into Lynnhaven bay, the French Corvette L'Esperance, which she had taken upon the coast; she there had her repaired, in order to
send her on a cruise. Letters were in consequence, written by the Secretary of State to the Governor of Virginia, and to Mr. Hammond. What was the result? Nothing. On the 29th of May, 1795, the Federal Government had not yet done anything positive as to the acts which produced the complaint of the Minister of the Republic. The Secretary of State announced "that these facts shall be examined, and that if they are verified, the Federal Government will not be in the rear of its obligations." To that has the reparation demanded by the Republic been limited.
What are we to think of these delays, when we see the officers of the government acting with so much activity against the French, on the slightest suspicion that they have violated the neutrality—when in his letter of the 29th of April, 1794, the Secretary of State answers the complaints of the English minister—"We have received no intelligence of the particular facts to which you refer: But to prevent all unnecessary circuitry in first enquiring into them, and next transmitting to this result, the proper instructions will be given to act, without further directions." How did the Federal Government conduct towards the autumn of 1794? The French frigate Terpsichore took the privateer La Montagne into the port of Norfolk. The French Vice Consul claimed the execution of the treaty, of the Governor of Virginia. The Governor answered him, that he would have the necessary investigation made, and would afterwards take the proper measures. The predecessor of the undersigned then interposed with the Federal Government; and the Secretary of State assured him, that he wrote to the Governor of Virginia to have justice rendered. But this justice was limited to investigation, made with such slowness, that five months after, this affair was not finished; and on the 24th of Feb. 1795, the Secretary of State contented himself with sending to the predecessor of the undersigned, the dispatches of the Lieutenant Governor, dated 10th Oct. 1794, by which he announces, that he ordered the Commandant of the militia of Norfolk to make the necessary enquiries for enabling the Executive of Virginia, to render to the Republic the justice it had a right to expect. The result of these enquiries is not known. However, the fact about which the Minister Fauchet complained to the Secretary of State was notorious, and painful researches were not necessary to convince himself of it. Do we not find in this proceeding a formal desire to elude the treaties, and to favor the English.
If the Government of the United States had wished to maintain itself in that impartiality which its duties prescribed, if it had wished freely to execute the treaties, it would not have waited, every time that the English infringed them, for the Minister to solicit its justice: Should it not have given instructions to precise, that the Governors of the States and Subaltern officers of the Federal Government might know what duties they had to fulfil, in order to maintain the execution of treaties? Why have the most energetic orders (such as the Secretary of State, Randolph, mentions) been given, when the support of the neutrality inviolate, in favor of the English, came in question? Why have the measures taken by the Federal Government operated with so much slowness when France was interested? Why in fine have the multiplied claims of her Ministers never produced the redress of the grievances of which they complained?
When the predecessor of the undersigned Minister Plenipotentiary claimed the execution of the 17th Article of the treaty interdicting the entry into American ports of English vessels which should have made prizes upon the French, when he cited this simple and formal stipulation: "On the contrary neither asylum nor refuge shall be given in the ports or

harbours of France or of the United States, to vessels which shall have made prizes of the French or Americans; and should they be obliged to enter by tempest or danger of the sea, all proper means shall be used to make them depart as soon as possible;" the Secretary of State in order to avoid shutting the American ports against the English, interpreted this article in their favor. But it would be un candid to conceal from you the construction which we have hitherto deemed the true one. The first part of the 17th article relates to the French ships of war and privateers entering our ports with their prizes; the second contracts the situation of the enemies of France, by forbidding such as shall have made prize of the French; intimating from this connection of the two clauses, that the vessels forbidding, are those which bring their prizes with them. It has been considered that this section of the treaty was impartially estimated to the withholding of protection, or succour, to the prizes themselves; had it been otherwise, it would have been superfluous, to have prohibited from selling what they have taken in the ports of the United States."
He said, moreover, in his letter of the 29th of May, 1795—"But on the 3d of August, the President declared his construction of that treaty to be, that no public armed vessels were thereby forbidden from our waters, except those which should have made prize of the people or property of France coming with their prizes." But how is it possible to find in the stipulations of the treaty, the sense given to them by the government of the United States?—This expression of the treaty, "which shall have made prizes," is general, and applies to all capturing vessels, whether they enter the ports of the United States with prizes, or enter them alone, after having made prizes. It is evident, that the government adds to the latter of the treaty in this circumstance; and is it not astonishing, that it admits a construction of the treaty, when it expects to find a meaning disadvantageous to France, and in other instances opposes all construction, when this would be favorable to the Republic. But has it the right of construing the treaty, of changing, of its own accord, the sense of a clear and precise stipulation, without the consent and concurrence of the other contracting party? Doubtless not, especially when, by so doing, it wounds her interests.
The secretary of state, by the 22d article, pretends to support his construction of the 17th article. What does this 22d article contain? A prohibition of the enemies of France and of the United States from arming in the respective ports of the two powers, or selling their prizes, or of discharging all or part of their cargoes there. This article, therefore, applies to the prizes; whilst the 17th article applies to the capturing vessels: Did it not exist, the enemies, of France, or of the United States, might send their prizes into the respective ports of the two powers, without conducting them there themselves: The 17th article, containing only a prohibitory arrangement for the capturing vessels, could not prohibit them from doing this.—It was necessary then to have recourse to a formal prohibition: besides, as the vessels which have made prizes on the French or Americans, are admitted into the ports of France or of the United States, in cases of tempest or dangers of the sea, they might, in this case, have conceived themselves authorised to dispose of their prizes, to sell them, or to discharge their cargoes; it was necessary, therefore, to take this right from them in a positive manner, it was necessary to prevent them from benefiting by a stipulation made in favor of humanity; this is the end answered by the 22d article, which is not superfluous, as the Secretary of State maintains; but, on the contrary, contains a distinct stipulation from that of the 17th. It is then evident from this, that in the cases above cited by the undersigned, the stipulations of the 17th article have been violated. They have been equally so, by the admission, in sundry ports, of the Thetis and Hussar frigates, which captured La Prevoyante and La Raison, French store ships, and by admitting in the last instance, this same ship, La Raison, prize to the Thetis, into the ports of the United States.
But admitting for a moment the construction gratuitously given by the Secretary of State to the 17th article of the treaty of 1778, this article has not the less been violated, when the Argonaut, which had quitted Hampton Roads in order to capture L'Esperance, was permitted to enter with that prize; when the Terschure
was suffered to bring in the privateer La Montague. In vain were sought in the resources of a captious and false logic, the means of excusing such conduct. The facts speak; and every upright mind, not blinded by passion, will necessarily yield to their evidence. Yet the prohibitory stipulation of the admission of prizes made by her enemies, is the only advantage which France expected to enjoy, after having wrought and guaranteed the independence of the United States, at a time when the might, at the price of that very independence, have granted them less liberal conditions.
These wrongs of the American government towards the Republic just stated by the undersigned Minister Plenipotentiary, will soon be aggravated by new ones. It was a little matter only to allow the English to avail themselves of the advantages of our treaty; it was necessary to assure these to them by the aid of a contract which might serve at once as a reply to the claims of France, and as peremptory motives for refusals, the true cause of which it was requisite incessantly to disguise to her under specious pretexts.
Such was the object of Mr. Jay's mission to London, such was the object of a negotiation enveloped from its origin in the shadow of mystery, and covered with the veil of dissimulation. Could the Executive Directory have any other idea of it on examining its issue, on seeing all the efforts made by the American government to conceal his secret from every eye.
In his message to the Senate of the 16th of April, 1794, the President declared that Mr. Jay was sent to London, only to obtain a redress of the wrongs done to the United States; at the same time the secretary of state communicated to the predecessor of the undersigned, a part of the instructions to Mr. Jay, reminding him of the intention of the American government not to deviate from its engagements with the Republic of France. The French minister, deceived by this communication, contributed ingeniously to deceive his government. The American minister in France removed the fears of the French government as to the mission of this Envoy Extraordinary, and represented it as the only means of obtaining indemnification for the losses which the American commerce has sustained. What has this negotiation produced? a treaty of amity and commerce which deprives France of all the advantages stipulated in a previous treaty.
In fact, all that could render the neutrality profitable to England and injurious to France is combined in this treaty. Her commercial relations with the United States are entirely broken, by the abandonment of the modern public law on contraband, a law which England had consecrated in eleven treaties, and which the Americans had also consecrated in their treaties with France, Holland, Sweden and Prussia. From the new arrangements adopted by the United States with regard to England, the free carriage of the articles for the equipment and armament of vessels, is granted exclusively to that power.
By the 23d article of the treaty of Versailles the United States have the liberty of freely carrying on commerce with the enemies of France. The 24th article of the treaty with Holland, the 10th article of the treaty with Sweden, and the 13th article of the treaty with Prussia, contain the same stipulation. This article gives even more extensive rights to the U. States, by permitting them to carry to the enemies of this power all the articles enumerated in the list of such as are contraband of war without their being liable to confiscation. But by the 18th article of the treaty of London, the articles for arming and equipping vessels are declared contraband of war. The government of the United States has therefore by this stipulation, granted to the English a right which they had refused, in consequence of the modern public law, to other nations with whom they have made treaties; that of seizing on board their vessels articles proper for the construction and equipment of vessels. The English then according to that, enjoy the exclusive commerce of articles proper for the construction of vessels; yet prior to the treaty concluded between John Jay and Lord Grenville, the United States had the right of carrying on commerce with every power: the partiality of the American government in favor of England, has therefore been such that not only the interests of France, but also those of other states have been sacrificed to her.
In vain it will be objected that France, having the right by her treaty of 1778, to enjoy all the advantages in commerce and navigation which the United States have granted to England, is not injured by the stipulations of the treaty of 1794, relative to contraband of war, as they become common to her. But the right secured to her by the second article of the treaty of 1778, does not at all extend to the allies whom the success of her arms, and the just resentment, inspired by the ambition of England have definitively given and shall give to her in Europe. Those dispositions change, during the course of the war, the situation of the United States towards England and the belligerent powers allied to France; the interest of these powers in common to
France; and from the moment that is injured. France is injured also. After having assured to the English the carriage of naval stores the federal government wished to assure to them that of meals; in a word, it desired to have commerce only with England. Thus, it stipulates by the 18th article, that the American vessels laden with grain, may be seized under the frivolous pretext, that it is extremely difficult to define the cases wherein provisions and other articles which are generally exempt, could be classed in the list of contraband of war: thus it stipulates in article 17, that the American vessels may be arrested upon the single suspicion, either that they have merchandise belonging to the enemy, or that they carry to him articles contraband of war. The United States in their treaty with France, have made stipulations entirely opposite to those just cited; whilst her vessels of war, are bound to respect the American flag going to English possessions, the English drag into their ports American vessels going to the ports of France; subject them to decisions more or less arbitrary; and often condemn them on account of the name alone of their owners. By which means, all the commercial relations between the United States and France, are entirely suspended. What American will venture to send vessels into French ports? What commerce will be venture to undertake with the French possessions, when it will be certain that his funds, either in going to, or returning from them, run the greatest hazard? Would he not rather prefer trafficking with a country, to which his vessels might go without being exposed to other risks than those at sea? Would he not prefer Great Britain to France, for his speculation? In virtue of the treaty of London, and by the course of things would not the commerce of the United States pass entirely to England, during the present war?
After having consented to such conditions, the American government cannot pretend to impartiality; it cannot say that it has maintained an equal neutrality between France and England, since it has granted to Great Britain advantages denied to France. But every one of these advantages granted to England, was a real wrong to the Republic; and if it is maintained, without sporting with principles, that a government may consider itself as neutral, in granting to a belligerent power advantages which it refuses to another, it is clear that the government of the United States, after having made its treaty with Great Britain, ceased to be neutral, when it opposed itself to the participation by France, in the favors granted to the English.
In consequence, the undersigned minister plenipotentiary again declares, that the Executive Directory has just ordered the vessels of war and privateers of the Republic, to treat American vessels in the same manner, as they suffer the English to treat them.
Were the treaty of London out of the question, the measure the Executive Directory now takes, would not be less conformable to justice. The undersigned minister plenipotentiary has developed to the Secretary of State, in his note of the 6th Brumaire last, principles which leave no doubt in this respect, and which the answer of the Secretary of State is far from destroying (No. 5.) But the stipulations of treaties now come to the support of general principles. The Republic calls for the execution of the second article of the treaty of 1778, which says that France and the United States, mutually engage not to grant any particular favor, as to navigation or commerce, which shall not immediately become common to the other party. The government of the United States having by the treaty of London, sacrificed to England the freedom of their flag, the property of the enemies of England, and naval stores: France, by her treaty, is authorised to claim the same advantage, to make use of it, and the United States have no right to complain.
Certainly it would have been more conformable to the designs of France, to her principles, to see the American flag, floating without interruption upon the seas to the commerce of the United States enjoy that liberty, that freedom, which should belong to neutral nations; but in order to that it was necessary that the American government should know how to maintain that neutrality; it was necessary that it preserved it free from violation by Great Britain and if Britain and if now the execution of the measures which the Directory is obliged to adopt, give rise to complaints in the United States it is, not against France they should be directed, but against those men who by negotiations contrary to the interests of their country, have brought the French government to use the prerogatives granted to the English.
(To be continued.)
HAGUE, Oct. 4.
"The day before yesterday the Portuguese Minister Chevalier D'ARANJO, set out for Paris to negotiate a peace for Portugal, attended by M. DE BRITTO, Secretary of Legation, who had brought him his final instructions.
"A most alarming desertion prevails among those Dutch troops who are on their march to join the Army of the Sambre & Meuse. The number of the deserters amounts already to 800 men.
"Our trade is losing every day more and more, as the English block up our ports, and foreign merchants fear to remit goods to this country.
"In the course of last week 700 workmen were discharged from the dock-yards at Amsterdam, and 400 from those at Rotterdam.
"A great number of cotton-manufactures at Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, and other places, have petitioned the Convention to revoke the decree which prohibits the importation of English goods. The petitioners state, among other obser-
vations, that they, for their own part, could remove their manufactories to other countries, but that in this case a great many families whom they had been able to support, would be thrown into the utmost misery.
EASTON, (Penn.) Nov. 8.
Who drew the declaration of independence; that great charter of our enthronement?
Anf. Thomas Jefferson. Who was the first prime minister under the federal government?
Anf. Thomas Jefferson. Who appointed Thomas Jefferson to that office?
Anf. The patriot Washington. Who advised the proclamation of neutrality?
Anf. Thomas Jefferson. Who defended our government against the interference of Genet, on his attempt to draw us into the European war?
Anf. Thomas Jefferson. Who defended our government from the unjust imputations of Hammond, on the acquittal of Hanfield the sailor?
Anf. Thomas Jefferson. Then must not the "Federalist," who charges Thomas Jefferson with being the leader of a faction against our government, adopt that signature from being a subject of one of the despots of the confederacy at Pnitz?
Anf. Undoubtedly. Who are the proper judges of the propriety of Thomas Jefferson's resignation of the government of Virginia?
Anf. The legislature of Virginia, who unanimously applauded his conduct in a vote of thanks.
Will not the same miscreants who now abuse Thomas Jefferson for his resignation of the office of secretary, by and by abuse the President for quitting the government?
Anf. Yes, when it answers their purpose. Who planned the form of government submitted to the Convention by Alexander Hamilton, proposing a King, Lords, and Commons?
Anf. John Adams.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 18.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Cape Francois, to a respectable merchant in this town, dated Oct. 20.
"I think it my duty, as a friend to American commerce, to acquaint you of the late disturbances which have taken place at Port-de-Paix: The Negroes at this time are more numerous than heretofore, and have done more mischief than at any former period; they in fine became masters of the Mountains: a continual blaze is seen from town, and its much feared that they have destroyed the crops, if so, we shall all be great sufferers. Report says that General Toussaint has arrived here with sufficient force to quell them; this I cannot ascertain, having left there six days ago. My opinion is, that it would be running a very great risk to send any property there or to the Cape, for some time to come."
[* It may be observed, that all the country a few miles from the sea is called the Mountains.]
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 21.
We have been favored with a Halifax paper of October 29, from which the following is extracted.
HALIFAX, Oct. 27.
Extract of a letter from St. John's, Newfoundland, dated Sept. 22.
"Since forwarding our letter of the 27th ult. we have had no opportunity of writing to you, being since the 2d inst. in a state of blockade. Rear Admiral Richery, having escaped the vigilance of Admiral Mann and got out of Cadiz, made his appearance about 3 leagues to the southward of us, on the night of the 1st inst. and paraded in view of our harbor on the 2d, with one 80 gun ship, 6 of 74, one of 40, and a corvette. He flooded on the north about 3 leagues, and lay at that distance, constantly repeating signals and letting off skyrockets. We apprehended that in the morning they meant to make a descent upon us in that direction; which however, they did not, but on the 3d flood on again to the south in a direct line of battle, till they approached near Cape Spear, when they bore down in an irregular line direct for the narrows. At this time we imagined their intention was to force into the harbor; meanwhile all the batteries were extremely well manned, and the forges at work heating balls. Martial law was also proclaimed, and all the inhabitants, without distinction, were under arms, and at their respective posts, determined to make the most vigorous defence. Two frigates, a sloop of war, and the Romney of 50 guns, were stationed at the opening of the narrows, with springs on their cables. In this situation our arrangements stood, expecting every moment the firing to commence.—When the enemy arrived within gun shot of the batteries, and in full view of our force, having reconnoitred our strength and position, the admiral thought proper to sheer off, and stand to the southward, and his whole fleet following his example.
That night they lay to in Petit Harbor Bay, where we were also apprehensive of their intention to land some troops; but not thinking that measure advisable, they steered to the southward, and came to anchor in the Bay of Bull's. That devoted settlement they have reduced to ashes. By this destruction the house of Ozier and Tage have lost some thousands. On the 7th the enemy weighed anchor, and proceeded to the south-east, in view of the different harbors; and shortly after got out of sight. The 40 gun frigate appeared on the 9th, off Trepassey, into which place she chaled some bankers, after which she stood on to the westward. On the 14th and 15th, the French fleet again ap-
peared in Placentia Bay, steering N. W. by W. for Cape Chapeau Rouge, and this is the last direct account we have of them. Their manoeuvres have appeared unaccountable, and we think indicate a want of harmony among them. They are supposed to have gone to intercept the outward bound Quebec fleet, which are under the convoy of the Pearl frigate. They are known to be in want of bread, and consequently must soon repair to some port in the states—This visit has so much deranged the trade of the island, that we fear it will be productive of very bad consequences this fall. The servants in the southern ports have behaved very unruly, in plundering stores, and running away with vessels and boats; but as the fear of the enemy has subsided, matters are re-placed again, and the servants returning to their duty. The Shark is just arrived in the narrows. We are in hopes martial law will soon cease, and our attention be restored to our business.
The following permit, given to a family to go on shore at the Bay of Bull's, proves the French fleet at Newfoundland to be Richery's from Cadiz."
LIBERTY. EQUALITY. Navy of the French Republic. Squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Richery.
The ship Le Duquesne, commanded by citizen Allemand, Captain of the Navy.
After the request made to citizen Richery, by the wife of Richard Driskall, prisoner of war, and five children of Bay of Bull's, it is permitted to the said wife and her family to disembark from the ship Le Duquesne, to return to the said Bay.—We invite all the citizens who shall meet the said family, not to disturb them in any manner, but on the contrary, to give them all the assistance in their power.
On board the Ship Le Duquesne, the 21st Fructidor, the 4th year of the Republic of France. Seen by me Capt. Commandant.
ALLEMAND.
NOVEMBER 23.
The ship Dispatch, Captain Morton, is arrived at New-Castle, from Havre-de-Grace, which she left the 17th October.
By this vessel we have Paris papers to the 14th of October, ult. which contain a variety of important intelligence, of which we can at present give only the heads, viz:
Peace had been concluded between France and Naples, the principal article of which appears to be the exclusion of English vessels from their ports.
The army of the Rhine and Moselle had gained a complete victory over the Austrians in the neighborhood of Buchan, on the 3d of October; the fruits of this victory were 2 colors, 6 cannon, 3000 prisoners (of which 56 officers) already arrived at head quarters; and 2000 more prisoners were on their journey.
NEW-YORK, Nov. 23.
Our predictions relative to the fate of the French armies are fulfilling, as rapidly as circumstances will admit. Jourdan's division is driven back to a position, behind the Sieg near Dusseldorf, with the loss of 20 or 30,000 men, in killed, prisoners and deserters. [The Directory state the whole loss at 6000.] This account cannot be accurate—it is probably intended to be otherwise. The loss in the action at Wurtzburg, amounted to nearly that number; and 15,000 deserters passed through Cologne, in a few days.]
Mercan, by Jourdan's disasters, has been compelled to retreat. He intended to pull a large body of forces thro' Franconia to fall on the Archduke, but was too late, and is filing off towards Ulm, to retreat thro' Suabia, to Strasburg. But he will meet a body of Austrians in front, while another body under La Tour will harass his front and rear.
Bonaparte is the child of good fortune; but his time will come. Two hundred thousand men are already victims to this summer's crusade, and peace as distant as ever.
PATENT Metallic Instruments.
MAY BE HAD AT
J. Melcher's
Printing-Office and Book-Store, FEW sets of Dr. PERKINS's Patent Metallic Instruments.
The numerous testimonies of their great utility from some of the most respectable characters in the United States, with the instances of relief from various pains, experienced in this town, render any other recommendation unnecessary. From these abundant proofs and from his own personal experience he hesitates not to assert their general importance, and, that in Rheumatic calcs, violent strains, large and painful biles, and extensive burns, the pain, swelling and inflammation, are more speedily and effectually removed by them, than by any other remedy hitherto employed.
N. B. A book of certificates and the transfer of a Patent Right accompany the Instruments.
Portsmouth, Nov. 18, 1796.
20 hhds. 3d & 4th proof
Grenada RUM,
To be sold cheap for cash.—ALSO—
Philadelphia Bar Iron
by the ton or hundred. THOMAS THOMPSON.

PARIS, Oct. 3. At the public audience of the Directory this day, the minister of war presented Citizen Marmont, the aide-de-camp of Buonaparte, who was the bearer of 22 standards of colors taken from the enemy, from the 2d to 15th September, in the battles of Seraville, Lavis, in the defiles along the river Brenta, &c.
From the 1st August to the 10th Sept. the army of Italy has destroyed two Austrian armies, made forty-six thousand prisoners, among these six thousand horsemen; took two hundred and eighty pieces of field artillery, six hundred ammunition waggons, and eight hundred fifty-seven more waggons, with the requisite horse; three complete sets of pontons, each consisting of thirty-two copper vessels; immense magazines of provisions at Trento, Bolzano, and Belluno; forty-nine stand of colors.
The president of the Directory gave the general embrace to Citizen Marmont, and made him a present of a superb pair of pistols.
Illustrious fages leave their native land and come to live under the laws of our new constitution. Priestly quits the soil of the United States of America, and brings us his valuable manuscripts. Two other illustrious fages, Fabricius and Saufure, have already fixed their abode among us. The famous professors Worlitz and Neller, are also arrived from Germany.
We are now officially informed that Admiral Richery is on an expedition against Newfoundland and Canada. His squadron was joined on the grand bank by another French division of 3 ships of the line and 5 frigates who will give at once a mortal blow to the English trade, and the nursery of their seamen. What will Mr. Pitt say, if the first dispatch from the Gulf of St. Lawrence informs him that the French have destroyed all his rich storehouses on the coast of Newfoundland, and St. Johns; that they have burnt from 5 to 600 vessels, carried off the rich ships from Canada, and that they have taken from 9 to 10,000 English sailors?
ISLE OF FRANCE.
The corvette Le Moineau is arrived at Rochefort from the Isle of France, and brought back the two civil commissioners sent thither in March last. The squadron of commodore Serce, composed of La Forte of 50 guns; La Regenerue, La Seine, and La Vertu, of 44 guns, with several light vessels and transports arrived at the Isle of France on the 18th of June.
The commissioners were with difficulty permitted to come on shore; the planters declared that they were determined not to suffer the decree of emancipation to be carried into execution. Some of the most violent among them, threatened to stab the commissioners who were in no manner supported either by the land or sea forces. Commissary Baco and his colleagues were carried by force on board the corvette Le Moineau, the Capt. of which had orders to transport them to the Philippine Islands or to set them on shore on some desert Island, if he could not reach Manila.
The corvette put to sea with the commissioners on the 21st of June; the crew unwilling to serve as the instruments for executing the barbarous order of the Colonial Assembly of the Isle of France, forced the Capt. to change his course and sail to Europe: They landed at Foul Point in Madagascar, to take in the necessary provisions, and continued their voyage for Rochefort.
When the corvette left the Isle of France the colony was in the most flourishing situation; all the warehouses were filled with goods; the privateers had taken a great many rich ships from the English and Portuguese, and the planters continued to sell and buy Negroes as before.
Long before the arrival of the Commissioners, some instrumental members of the Colonial Assembly had done every thing in their power to persuade the people not to submit to their authority, and to transport them to some distant place, in order to gain time to send a deputation to Paris.
The letters of a certain member of the Council of Ancients, who advised them "to show only a little firmness and their Negroes would be safe," encouraged the enemies of the Commissioners to accomplish the atrocious plan; but the people of the colony will soon open their eyes; and the barbarous miscreants who had secretly planned the ruin of the Commissioners, will not escape with impunity.—The squadron and the land forces will soon hear how grossly they were deceived by the Colonial Assembly.
BANKS OF THE MEUSE, Oct. 1.
Since the Archduke has left the Austrian army of the Lower Rhine, it has been commanded by Gen. Werneck. We have about 20,000 men here; and from the preparations making we may expect warm work.
Loss of a Man of War.
LONDON, Oct. 13. Capt. Arundell, of the Sally, arrived at Bristol from Jamaica, saw a large ship with three decks off the Jamaica fleet; take fire, and go down.
NORFOLK, (Vir.) Nov. 19.
Highly Interesting!
Yesterday arrived in Hampton-Roads, the brig Moses Myers, Capt. Cooper, from Malaga, which place he left the 3d of October. Capt. Cooper has furnished us with the following statement of the
News at Malaga.
The embargo continued on all
British vessels; the Spanish subjects have been called on to give in a list of the British property in their possession, and orders given that it should remain in their hands till they received further instructions. The debts due to British merchants residing in Spain are embargoed, and themselves ordered to pay what they were owing in that country. These steps were supposed to have taken place in consequence of the embargo laid on Spanish bottoms in England at the time of the sailing of the Spanish fleet which convoyed admiral Richery from Cadiz. The general opinion (both of Spanish and British subjects) was, that war between the two countries was inevitable, as also between Portugal and Spain: as 40,000 Spanish troops had marched to the frontiers. The officers of the British government were preparing to leave the country.
Algerines, and capture of American vessels.
Capt. Cooper brings the melancholy intelligence that the Algerine treaty has not been complied with; in consequence of which the ship Betsey of Boston, and two American Schooners, had been captured by them, and carried into Algiers. A letter was received at Malaga on the 2d of October, from Mr. Barlow at Algiers, mentioning the above, and desiring that it might be made as public as possible, that the Algerines were again capturing the Americans.
Mr. Barlow arrived at Algiers from Leghorn with 100,000 dollars, in part payment of the sum stipulated by our treaty, and it was reported that Capt. O'Brien had sailed from Lisbon with 150,000 more, but neither him nor money had arrived at the date of the last advices from Algiers.
The late American captives were still at Marseilles.
The Spanish fleet was laying at Cadiz when the Moses Myers sailed.
Storm at New-Providence.
NASSAU, Oct. 3. On Monday the 3d inst. in the morning and forenoon, the weather was wet and squally, and forbade the approach of a severe tempest.—At 4 o'clock in the afternoon it began to blow hard from S. S. E. accompanied with heavy rain, and continued to increase in violence from the same quarter till past 9 o'clock; the tide rose at the same time, 3 feet higher than what is usual at the full and change of the moon.
At half past 9 the storm abated, and about 10 o'clock the weather became moderate, and continued so till near 11, when, a dazzling rain and high wind set in from N. N. W. and soon rose to a gale still more severe than what had blown in the earlier part of the night from the opposite quarter.
At 4 o'clock in the morning of Tuesday, the wind began to fall, and about an hour after the weather became moderate.
When day light appeared, a most distressing scene was opened to our view. Of all the shipping that were at anchor in the harbor, the preceding day only the Swallow sloop of war, the ship Union, Bowdale, and the Schooner Polly, Barnet, remained afloat; and the shore was strewn with wrecks of all descriptions.
The sea continuing to run high, it was impossible to have any communication with several of the vessels that had signals of distress out, till the afternoon.
We have to lament the loss of some lives on this melancholy occasion; amongst them two very valuable, useful, worthy men, Capt. Wm. Gillespie, of the brig Glory, and Capt. James Burnside, of the sloop Anna. Four of the French prisoners are missing, and are supposed to have been washed overboard when the prison ships went adrift. A negro man belonging to Capt. Artrill, one belonging to the estate of Mr. Tatnall, and a negro boy belonging to Capt. Elliot, were drowned.
The British frigate Narcissus and 26 merchant vessels were completely lost. Together with the American vessels, Planter, Fanny, Catharine, Harriet. Seventeen British vessels were also considerably damaged; also the American brig Marianne, Capt. Johnson.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23.
The official accounts from the army of the Sambre and Meuse do not reach further than the 20th Sept. when the divisions of Hardy, Lelievre and Championet pursued three Austrian Columns beyond the river Selz. Buonaparte had taken the command in chief of the army and there was every probability that this army would soon drive the Austrians from the Lahn and the Mein.
NOVEMBER 25.
A dreadful accident happened to Mr. George Holland and his wife, at North Bead, near Cincinnati. They were suddenly buried under the ruins of their own house, the beams having given way at midnight, owing to a too prevalent practice of stowing a large quantity of corn in the upper chamber. The unfortunate couple had only been a short time married. A sister of Mrs. Holland's was also much bruised by the accident, and another sister died that day by sickness.—Such are the vicissitudes of life! Mortal, the present moment is thy own—the next is in the womb of Futurity.
NOVEMBER 26.
His Britannic Majesty's consul-general, for the middle and southern states of America, gives this public notice to the merchants and traders that he has received advices from his majesty's governor and commander in chief of the island of Martinique, that all foreign vessels, belonging to the subjects of any power or state, in amity with his majesty, laden with provisions of every kind, (excepting only salted beef, salted pork and butter) shall, and may be admitted into the ports of Fort Royal, St. Pierre, Trinité and Maria, until the first day of Feb. the importers thereof, paying the colonial duties, and no other; and shall be allowed to take rum and molasses, for their respective cargoes.
P. BOND.
NEW-YORK, Nov. 28.
Capt. M'Neil arrived at Charleston from the Havannah, informs that two days before he sailed, a packet arrived there in 32 days from Cadiz and brought accounts of the sailing of Don Solano, with 12 sail of the line for the Havannah. The Captain of the packet said, that a DECLARATION of WAR against England was expected momentarily at Cadiz, when he left it. Don Langara, with 18 sail of the line, had gone into the Mediterranean.
Spoke, in lat. 39. long. 62. the ship Charlotte, from Bremen, to Baltimore, having on board the crew of the transport Concord, eighteen in number, wrecked on her passage to England.
An American ship which was lying off the Punta Calla, Havannah, was lost on the night of the 3d of Oct. in a severe gale of wind.
Capt. Hartley, in the ship Madison, arrived at Baltimore, in lat. 37. 23. long. 65. 7. on the 29th Sept. fell in with a wrecked ship, her masts gone by the deck: she had yellow fides, black bottom, four gun ports open on a side, her fashion pieces carved to represent a woman, her stern was knocked out. Had a cargo of Mahogany on board.
BOSTON, Dec. 2.
An arrival at Philadelphia brought French papers to Oct. 14. Although they mention the capture of MANTUA. We do not observe any later news from the armies than we published in our last.
Dr. Priestley, contradicts the information of his intending to remove to France—he is determined to remain in America.
Martinique Army returns from April 1 to Sept. 1, states, that 5650 have died in that period. A company of Artillery of 130, lost 61 privates and 17 officers in the month of August. The ship Majestic, lost 225 of her officers and men in six weeks. At St. Lucia it is still more sickly.
The Spanish Squadron at Trinidad are expected at Guadalupe.
The Leogane privateers, it is said, have left off cruizing, as the Administration, took the cargoes of the prizes, and pocketed the money.
Disturbances continued at Port de Paix, Oct. 20.
A letter from Hallowell of the 26th ult. says—"We have Snow two Feet on a Level, and our River is frozen up."
There was an Embargo at Rotterdam from Sept. 23 to 25—to enable some ships of war to sail to a general Rendezvous at Dunkirk.
Accounts from Cape-Francois, via Baltimore, state, that the brigans have murdered a great number of the inhabitants in the vicinity of Port-au-Paix, without respect to age or sex,—and that they were under apprehensions of similar ravages at the Cape.—That Capt. Barney had not failed for France, as was sometime since stated, but was under the necessity of remaining there to keep the place tranquil.
Marine Intelligence.
Arrived Schooner Sally, Beck, St. Johns, N. B. 14; Argo, Butterworth, Halifax, 11 days.
A vessel which arrived yesterday, failed from the Vineyard in co. with near 40 sail of vessels bound Northward, among them 2 ships and 9 brigs. The vessel which has arrived, flood to the N. E. 'till she made the land at the Eastward, when the Northerly winds enabled her to reach Boston. It is hardly probable the other vessels got round Cape Cod.
The Delight, Illey, from Jamaica for Boston, was cast away on Cuba, Oct. 3. Vessel lost, people saved.
Capt. Alden, arrived at St. Thomas's 19th Oct. from Philadelphia, informed Capt. Carter, that on the 30th Sept. lat. 28. 46. long. 64. 58. fell in with the brig Jerusha, of Boston, a wreck, her masts carried away, anchors on the bows, boat gone, and no foul on board.
Capt. Chauncy, spoke Nov. 6, sch'r Betsey, from Bordeaux, for Salem; the 8th he experienced a severe gale of wind—on the 10th, lat. 42. 32. N. long. 65. fell in with a wreck, which appeared to be the above mentioned Schooner Betsey—with her anchors on the bows, fails all loose—boat on board, and supposed to be recently wrecked. It is the opinion of Capt. Chauncy, that the crew must have all perished; the sea running high, and it blowing hard, nothing could be saved from the wreck.
Capt. G. Hammond, in ship Abigail, of Boston, from Batavia, June 13, was at Isle Ascension, Sept. 18th—where he repaired the rudder of his vessel, which got loose in a severe gale, off Leguillas. On his passage from Batavia, he lost by sickness, the first mate and seven seamen; the remainder of the crew, 13 in number, were all in good health. She was soon to depart for Hamburg.
A severe hurricane was experienced at St. Marks about the middle of Nov. last,
that continued three days, during which 11 vessels lying there were call away—among them the sch'r. Kate, of Newburyport, the mate and one of the failors of which have arrived at Baltimore.—The cargo nearly all saved; vessel lost.—Price of produce at St. Mark's—Corn 23 dls. per bushel, Flour 10 dls. per bbl. Sugar 8 per wt.
CHARLESTON, Nov. 8.
On the 26th of October, in the evening, the brig Margaret, of Marblehead, Capt. Chisholm, was wrecked on St. Mary's bar; she was from Liverpool, bound to this port, loaded with dry goods. Owing to the exertions of some soldiers, who were in a fort near where she was stranded, the captain and crew were saved. It blew a gale of wind when the brig struck; some days after, when the weather moderated, part of the cargo was got on shore, much damaged. These goods, and the hull of the vessel, were sold at auction while Capt. Taber, from whom we have this information, lay there.
SALEM, Dec. 2.
Extract of a Letter from Madeira, dated Sept. 10.
"A Dane arrived here yesterday, and says he was boarded just to the windward of this island two days ago, by a Moorish cruiser, full of men, but with five guns only. She had been out some time, and was very foul; it is feared she has taken some Americans.—She belonged to Sofer or Mogydore. There is a great trade carried on at the latter place, for wheat which is purchased at half a dollar a bushel, and shipped to Lisbon, &c. There are two rival brothers on this coast contending for the Throne, and their cruisers take all vessels indiscriminately bound to or from the ports of the other.
There are 10 or 12 sail of Americans here.—Capt. Coffin, of the ship Ocean, of New-York, has just left the island for Madras.
"Patent" Printing Press.
We have in our possession, a small Paper, entitled The New Star , printed for the purpose of making experiments with a model of a Printing Press, on a new plan, lately invented by Apollos Kinsley, of Hartford, Conn. It is said, that altho' the Press is by no means completed, it puts the ink on the types, carries in the papers, and prints two sheets at a time, and will deliver them well printed at the rate of more than TWO THOUSAND SHEETS IN AN HOUR! by the labour of one person only!—The usual number of sheets printed, on the old presses, by the labour of two persons, do not exceed in general 200 sheets in an hour. [Salem Gazette.]
NEWBURYPORT, Dec. 2.
Copy of a letter from Mr. Samuel Bayard, to Messrs. Coombs and Wheelwright, dated London, Oct. 6, 1796.
GENTLEMEN,
In every case of appeal from a Vice-Admiralty Court in the West-Indies to the Court of appeals here, the first step that is necessary, and without which no sentence of restitution in favor of the American claimants can be obtained, is to send forward a complete copy of the proceedings of the Vice-Admiralty court below.—In your case of the brig Stork, none has yet been received.
I had proceeds issued from the Court of Admiralty here, to obtain the copy of proceedings in question, which proceeds was sent to our secretary of state, and is returned.
You had best ascertain whether our government is able to send forward a copy of the court proceedings, in your case, and if not, it is highly expedient that you should take measures as early as possible to have such copy forwarded to me without delay.—It would not be amiss to add (where that has not been already done) copies of original invoices, letters and such other papers as relate to your vessel and cargo accompanied by a power of Attorney.
I am Gentlemen, &c. SAMUEL BAYARD.
GAMING.
A Fragment.
THE French were sometime since engaged in a game of Clubs , and after considerable havoc among the bishops, knights and cosses , brought it to a checkmate , by taking off the king . After this they played at draughts , where all the pieces are originally equal, but all striving for something like a crown—several of these gentry were blown, and Robespierre was blocked up in his double corner. They are now playing the civil game of Whacker , at which they have already decently whacked some of the combined powers for their want of civility (the penalty of the game) and some others, at All Fours , have been obliged to beg one —but France deals on. Buonaparte is at Ninepins , with the Italian states, and the northern armies are playing the devil among the Taylor .
England is still at Blind Hazard .—This nation is so fond of gambling, that it will play on, even though sure of losing.
The Empress of Russia, the Emperor of Germany, and the King of Prussia, are at Pelish draughts . This is a game in which Kings make long
strides ; it is expected this will be a drawn game , but that the players will quarrel about the fluke .
America is engaged in a party at Commerce , she has plenty of Spades but does not make a proper use of them.—She appears at present very weak in Hearts .—England, being lucky in a sequence of Clubs , and some Diamonds , with the skill to use them, has a great advantage. America had better have stuck to Whist .
The next game is to be Loo , and the French having turned up Pam , are expected to Loo the rest all round; but America gets off clear because she has a Fluke at trump .
PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 10.
DIED —In this town, a child of Mr. Henry Purcher.
ENTRIES at the CUSTOM-HOUSE, District of PORTSMOUTH, N. H.
CLEARED FOR Brig Orion, Rice, Hamburg. Ship Mentor, Flagg, Trinidad. Ship Fame, Brown, ditto. Brig Thomas, Fernald, Bristol. Brig Union, Treadwell, West-Indies. Sch'r Rising-Sun, Bell, Virginia.
FOR SALE AT Bayley's Variety Store,
Daniel-Street.
FORTY pieces low priced blue Broad Cloths, twenty-five pieces blue twi'd Duffils, being a consignment direct from the Manufacturer, will be sold at 25 per cent from the sterling cost. His remaining stock of
English GOODS
will be sold remarkably cheap, Genuine superfine Broad Cloths at 27½ per yard, and all other goods equally as low.
A new assortment of Beverly Manufactured Cotton Bed Ticks, of a superior quality, warranted not to shed feathers.
Portsmouth, Dec. 9, 1796.
Received from Philadelphia, and to be sold cheap for C/s, by the Subscribers.
DRIED Hides, Sole Leather, Saddle ditto, Upper ditto, Boot Legs, a small consignment of Saddles and Bridles, Boots & Shoes as usual.
LEIGH & BOWLES.
Dec. 6, 1796.
To be sold at Public Vendue,
At the New-Hampshire Hotel, in Portsmouth, on MONDAY the 26th day of December current, at 11 o'clock, A. M. the following lots or parcels of land, viz.
ONE lot of LAND fronting on Huntress lane (so called) about 47 feet, and about 50 feet deep; one strip of Land, about 12 feet front on Water-Street, and about 50 feet deep, between land of Mr. William Yeaton and the Widow Nelson, also one other strip of Land, about 12 feet wide, and about 40 long; between land of Messrs. Massaries, Holmes and Lang. The above being part of the estate of Capt. BENJAMIN PARTRIDGE, deceased, and sold by virtue of a licence from the Judge of Probate. Portsmouth, Dec. 5, 1796.
ALL persons indebted to the estate of WILLIAM PICKERING , late of Greenland, Esq. deceased, are requested to make immediate payment; and those who have any demands against said estate, are desired to exhibit the same well vouched to the subscriber for settlement, for which purpose attendance will be given at the late Mansion House of said deceased, on the first Mondays and Thursdays of the three following months, from 1 to 5 o'clock, P. M. ABIGAIL PICKERING, Administratrix. Greenland, Dec. 9, 1796.
To the Public.
WHEREAS on the 20th of November last, I signed a certain writing to Daniel Meserve Durell of Dover, State of New-Hampshire, student at law, purporting to be a recommendation in behalf of said Durell, and a power to use and vend my Patent Metallic Substances, both within and without the United States of America. Having been induced unwarily to sign said paper, and as there was no consideration given for it, I hereby publicly revoke said writing or power to said Durell, to use and vend my Metallic Substances, and forbid him hereafter to use and vend any of my Metallic Points, except the using and vending of ten sets of said Patent Metallic Points, for each set of which I gave him a printed transfer signed by my own hand. I however consider that the writing or power above alluded to and revoked, gave the said Durell no right to construct or make any of said Metallic Points.
ELISHA PERKINS.
Exeter, Dec. 2, 1796.

A vessel to fail in a few days for New-York, for freight or passage apply to Mr. John Trefethen of Kittery. Nov. 26.
Sign of the Golden Tea-Pot.
Cold Weather is coming.
Abraham Isaacs,
HAS JUST RECEIVED A LARGE quantity of FEATHERS of a very good quality—Also, a variety of CROCKERY and GLASS WARE.—Likewise, an assortment of Italian Tea-Caniſters, two lb. one lb. half a lb. and quarter of a pound.—Also, an assortment of Floor, Hearth, Hand, Cloth, and Scrubbing
BRUSHES. all of which he has lately received from Amsterdam.
N. B. A few complete Tea Table sets India China, which he will sell very low. [3 m.]
Treasury of the United States.
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons who are or may be creditors of the United States, for any sums of the Funded Debt, or Stock, bearing a present interest of six per centum per annum.
1st. That pursuant to an Act of Congress passed on the 28th day of April, 1796, entitled an Act in addition to an Act entitled "An Act making further provision for the support of public credit, and for the redemption of the public debt," the said debt or stock will be reimbursed and paid in manner following, to wit. "First, by dividends to be made on the last days of March, June and September for the present year, and from the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, to the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen inclusive, at the rate of one and one half per centum upon the original capital. Secondly, by dividends to be made on the last day of December for the present year, and from the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven to the year one thousand eight hundred and seventeen inclusive, at the rate of three and one half per centum upon the original capital; and by a dividend to be made on the last day of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, of such sum, as will be then adequate, according to the contract, for the final redemption of the said stock."
2d. All distinction between payments on account of interest and principal being thus abolished by the establishment of the permanent rule of reimbursement above described, it has become necessary to vary accordingly the powers of attorney for receiving dividends; the public creditors will therefore observe that the following form is established for all powers of attorney which may be granted after the due promulgation of this notice, viz.
KNOW all Men by these presents, that I of do make, constitute and appoint my true and lawful attorney, for me, and in my name, to receive the dividends which are, or shall be payable according to law, on the (here describing the stock) standing in my name in the books of (here describing the books of the Treasury or the Commissioner of Loans, where the stock is credited) from (here insert the commencement and expiration of time for which the power of attorney is to continue) with power also an attorney or attorneys under him, for that purpose to make and substitute and to do all lawful acts requisite for effecting the premises, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney or his substitute, shall lawfully do, by virtue hereof.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day of in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six.
Sealed and delivered in presence of BE IT KNOWN, that on the day of before me personally came within named and acknowledged the above letter of attorney to be his act and deed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed seal the day and year last aforesaid. Given under my hand at Philadelphia, this twentieth day of July 1796, pursuant to directions from the Secretary of the Treasury. SAMUEL MEREDITH, Treasurer of the United States.
To the hon. Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature to be holden at Exeter, on the third Tuesday of September, within and for the county of Rockingham.
The petition of Jonathan Homer of Newton, Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Clerk, Humbly Shews:
THAT the said Homer was appointed April 2d, 1793, by the hon. Oliver Prescott, Esq. Judge of Probate for the county of Middlesex, guardian of Gibbs Wadsworth Eddy, now aged 13; Sarah Jeffrey Eddy, aged 11; and of John Eddy, now aged 9; minors, children, and sole heirs of John Eddy, late of Newton, A. M. deceased, and of Ann Eddy, his wife, deceased; that as their guardian he hath lately received in a division of lands made by the heirs of David Jeffries, Esq. late of Boston, deceased, and father of said Ann Eddy, certain lands in Portsmouth, county of Rockingham, the division being made by Isaac Rindge, Supply Clap, William Gardner, John Goddard and George Wentworth, being a committee appointed Nov. 10th, 1795, by the hon. Samuel Tenny, Judge of Probate for the said county of Rockingham, and approved March 8, 1796, by the said Judge described as follow, Lot No. ten, bounded northerly on Jeffries Street, &c. valued by legal appraisers at seven hundred and ten dollars; No. seventeen, valued at six hundred and ten dollars; No. eighteen, valued at two hundred dollars; No. nineteen, valued at two hundred dollars; No. twenty, at five hundred dollars; No. twenty-one, at five hundred and fifty dollars; No. twenty-two, at five hundred and fifty dollars; No. twenty-three, at six hundred and ten dollars; No. twenty-four, at two hundred and fifty dollars; and the reversion of lot No. thirty-one, now in the possession of Nath'l Sheafe Griffith, valued at one hundred and sixty dollars; the said lots beginning at said No. seventeen, bounded northerly on the several lands of William Ham and George Jeffrey, Esq. easterly on the middle road, and land of George Jeffrey; southerly on land of John Penhallow; and westerly on land of Joshua Wentworth, Esq. that said lands, amounting in total value to four thousand three hundred and forty dollars, are productive of little or no income to the heirs of Ann Eddy, that the said subscriber hath taken advice from the best informed persons in Portsmouth, whose judgment hath unanimously been that the interest of the said heirs will be promoted by a present sale of the said lands, and that the lands will not rise in value by remaining unsold equal to the interest of the monies at which they were appraised, that a sale of a part at least of said lands, will be absolutely necessary to assist the subscriber in defraying the expenses of the education of his wards till they arrive at age; that it is the opinion of the nearest relatives of his said wards, that a licence be granted to their guardian for the sale of said lands, will conduce to the benefit of his wards, that the convenience and interest of the town of Portsmouth, in which said lands lie, require that they should be put to sale. Wherefore the subscriber, solicitous to promote the good of his wards, humbly seeks the licence of your hon. Court, to alienate and sell in their behalf, any or all of said lots of land at such times, and in such ways, as shall seem to him most advantageous to his wards, to be at such prices, as shall not fall in value beneath their appraised rates, he previously giving, under oath, as the law directs, that he will sell said estate, in such a manner as will be, in his judgment, most beneficial to his wards.
JONATHAN HOMER. Newton, Sept. 1, 1796.
Boston, Sept. 2, 1796. WE the subscribers, being the nearest relatives of all the heirs and children of our late sister, Ann Eddy, do entirely approve the purport of the above petition.
JOHN JEFFRIES, KATHERINE JEFFRIES, DEBORAH JEFFRIES, JOSEPH ECKLEY, SARAH ECKLEY.
Rockingham, ff. Superior Court, September term 1796.
ORDERED by the court, that the petitioner notify all persons concerned to appear before the justices of the Superior Court of Judicature, next to be holden at Portsmouth, within and for the county of Rockingham, on the fourth Tuesday of April next, and shew cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said petition should not be granted; by causing said petition and order of court thereon, to be published three weeks successively in the New-Hamp-
shire Gazette, the last publication whereof to be six weeks before said term.
Attest, NATH'L ADAMS, Clerk. Copy examined by NATH'L ADAMS, Clerk.
English Goods.
Just arrived and for sale, a large assortment of Fall & Winter Goods, to be sold cheap at Mr. John Staver's, Portsmouth, for cash, wholesale only.
FOR SALE,
A Good Farm,
IN Cornish, in the county of York and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is under good improvement, contains about one hundred & forty acres, produces fifty tons of English hay, yearly; is well wooded and watered, has new buildings and lies on the Post road, and will be sold on reasonable terms, with or without stock.
WILLIAM W. BARNs. Nov. 25.
ALL persons indebted to or that have any demands against the estate of Matthew Patten, late of Bedford, Esq. deceased, are desired without further notice to call upon, and make settlement with DAVID PATTEN, Administrator to said estate. Bedford, Nov. 1796.
State of New-Hampshire. County of Strafford.
NOTICE is hereby given to all the proprietors and owners of land in the town of New-Durham, as well resident as non-resident, who have not paid their proprietary tax, made and assessed in pursuance of a vote of said proprietors and owners, passed at their meeting holden at said New-Durham by adjournment, on the third day of October last, and committed to me the subscriber to collect; that unless they pay the same (being one dollar and fifty eight cents on each right or share of land in said town,) to me at my dwelling house in New-Durham, at or before the 16th day of January next, their said lands will be then advertised for sale as the law directs.
JOSEPH JACKSON, Proprietor's collector. New-Durham, Nov. 23, 1796.
Wanted for one year, ON HIRE, a trusty, industrious young man, who is acquainted with farming, to carry on a farm about three miles from Portsmouth, one who can come well recommended may hear of the place, by applying to SAMUEL FERNALD, of Portsmouth. Nov. 17.
THE proprietors of the Litchfield bridge are hereby notified that a meeting of said propriety is to be held at Robert Parker's, Esq. tavern, in Litchfield on the third Monday of December next, at 12 o'clock at noon, when all persons who wish to be concerned in building a bridge over Merrimac river near Thornton's ferry, are requested to attend in order to enter into such regulations as may be thought necessary to begin said business. SAMUEL CHASE. Litchfield, Nov. 7, 1796.
Rockingham, ff.
WE the subscribers being appointed a committee by the hon. Samuel Tenny, Esquire, Judge of probate of wills, &c. for said county, to receive, examine and adjust all the claims of the creditors to the estate of James Pearce late of Chester, yeoman, deceased, represented insolvent, under the administration of Molly Pearce. Do hereby give notice that we will attend said business at the house of Stephen Chase, Esq. in said Chester, on the third Monday of this and the five following months, from 3 to 6 o'clock, P. M.
WILLIAM WHITE, } Com- STEPHEN CHASE, } mit- JACOB ELLIOT, } tee. Chester, Nov. 1, 1796.
Henry Haven Informs the public that he has removed to the store opposite Messrs. F. & J. Goddard, where he has for sale, A general assortment of European GOODS, Portsmouth, Nov. 22, 1796.
The Insurance Office
Kept by JOHN GODDARD, IS removed from the brick building on Spring-Hill, to the Hotel near Portsmouth Pier. Dec. 2, 1796.
REMOVED.
Joseph Haven Has removed to the New Brick Store (middle apartment) on Spring-Hill, Where he has opened a large assortment of European and India GOODS, For sale at the lowest rate. Portsmouth, Sept. 15, 1796.
A good Chance for A Young Beginner.
THE subscriber having resigned the business of Cloth-Shoe making, wishes to sell his stock and Tools at a low rate to any one inclining to purchase. J. DAVENPORT. Portsmouth, Dec. 1, 1796.
THE subscriber takes this method to inform those who hold certificates for the first drawn numbers of the first seven days drawing in Dartmouth College Lottery, signed by Mr. S. Winlow, that should any of them be fortunate ones he will be answerable for them. JONATHAN EDGERLY. Epping, Nov. 11, 1796.
A Quantity of old Sable Russia IRON, Russia & Ravens Duck, Hemp and Cordage, to be sold by Jacob Sheafe. Nov. 12, 1796.
Fifty Dollars Reward.
WHEREAS of late divers crimes and misdemeanors have been perpetrated by some evil minded person or persons, against the peaceable citizens of this town, by cutting vessels adrift from the wharves, and destroying other property in the night, contrary to the peace and safety of society, we do therefore hereby offer a reward of FIFTY DOLLARS, to any person who shall discover the perpetrators of such bale acts, to be paid on legal conviction of the same. Given under our hands at Portsmouth this 1st day of December 1796. GEORGE GAINS, } Select- SUPPLY CLAP, } men. MOSES WOODWARD, }
A small flock tame Geese came about the first of August last, and joined a flock belonging to the subscriber, they have been well fed and enquiry made to find the owner, but to no purpose; any person having legal claim to the same may have them by applying to the subscriber at little harbor and paying costs. OLIVER CHASE. Dec. 1, 1796.
ALL persons having any demands on the estate of RICHARD DOWNING, late of Newington, Esq. deceased, are desired to exhibit them without delay to the subscribers, and those indebted are also requested to make payment to BARTHOLOMEW DOWNING, } Admin- RICHARD D. HART, } istrators to said Estate. Newington, Dec. 1, 1796.
TAKE NOTICE!
The Co-partnership of Fairbanks & Sparhawk IS by mutual consent this day dissolved, any persons who have demands against said company, and those who are indebted are desired to call for settlement on THOMAS SPARHAWK. Portsmouth, Nov. 15, 1796.
Just imported and for sale by Matthew S. Marsh, HERRING Nets & Twine. 18 & 15 thread St. Peter's Lines. Mackerel do. Shoe Thread. Seine and Sewing Twine. Bridport Canvas 1st quality. Trunks of Linens & Checks. Portsmouth, Nov. 22, 1796.
R. Taylor, SIGN OF THE
BARREL AND SUGAR LOAVES,
Head of Buck-Street, INFORMS his friends and a generous public, that he has now on hand the following articles, the qualities of which are excellent and will be sold on reasonable terms for cash, produce, or approved credit.
W. India Rum by the puncheon, cask or gallon.
French Brandy by the pipe, barrel or gallon.
Holland Gin by the pipe, barrel, or gallon.
Excellent Sherry and Malaga Wines, by the cask or gallon.
A few small casks Spanish Indigo, of an excellent quality, wholesale and retail.
Flour by the bbl. Raisins by the pound.
Shipping Butter, old Cheese, Cotton, Coffee, Sugar, Molasses, Bohea and Hyson Teas of very superior qualities, patent Mustard, Crown Soap, yellow Soap, smoking Tobacco, Rice, a number complete sets of Liverpool China, India do—also, a few sets remain of the India China at one dollar per set. A general assortment of Glass Ware, with a good assortment of Groceries in general.
R. Taylor informs those who wish to purchase patent Lamps, that he has received a quantity of good Spermaceti Oil, to be sold by retail, the Lamps need no further recommendation than he formerly inserted, viz. that their light is clean and cheap, good for vessels' use or private families.
FANCY GOODS.
Peter Coffin,
Has just received a fresh assortment of fashionable, fancy, and other
GOODS, which are now ready for sale, viz.
A BEAUTIFUL assortment of Fancy, Cape and Spangled Plumes, some of which are very elegant.
A pleasing variety of fashionable Flowers; fashionable Persian and Brunswick Girdles; Brunswick and York Hat Bands; a few elegant fancy colour'd Satin Beavers, some of which are trim'd; Ladies' best black and color'd Beavers; elegant blue, pink and fancy silk Shawls; white Italian Crapes.
A variety of Thread Edgings and Laces; elegant Satin stripe Pekin Silks for gowns.
A great assortment of inlaid straw and veilum Hats and Bonnets of the latest fashion; white and colour'd kid Gloves; Mens' white silk Gloves; silk Cape Velvets; with a variety of other articles.
THE Editor of the
New-Hampshire Gazette presents his compliments to his customers in general but more particularly to those in the country, begs leave to inform them that he has a large number of Newspaper accounts made out, which he would be glad at this season of the year to part with for cash or country produce. He hopes those whose accounts have been more than one year standing, will be so obliging as to have them balanced this season.
Samuel Sparhawk, jr.
RETURNS his most grateful acknowledgments to those who have honored him with their custom, and he hopes that by selling his Goods as low as he can possibly afford, that he will still merit their favors, and he takes this opportunity of informing them that he has just received a variety of
Straw Wreaths, and Feathers.—Also, Linens, Threads, &c. and an assortment of
Fall and Winter
GOODS.
His shop will be open in the evenings during the winter season, that those who are engaged in the day may have an opportunity of purchasing articles in his line, when the smallest favors will be gratefully acknowledged.
Daniel-Street, Nov. 16, 1796.