The New-Hampshire gazette and general advertiser (Portsmouth [N.H.]), 1788-12-24 00:00:00

The New-Hampshire Gazette, and the General Advertiser.
Volume XXXIII.—Number 1686.)
WEDNESDAY, December 24, 1788.
(Letter-Box in the window.)
PORTSMOUTH: Published by JOHN MELCHER, at his Office in Market-Street, where Advertisements, Articles of Intelligence, &c. are thankfully received and carefully inserted—This Paper contains all the Laws of the State passed since January 1787.
EVERY MAN in his HUMOUR. A FRAGMENT.
DURING the rage of the last continental war in Europe, occasion—no matter what—called an honest Yorkshire squire to take a journey to Warsaw .
Untravelled and unknown, he was unprovided with a passport, his business concerned himself alone, and what had the policy of foreign nations to do with him?
His route lay through the states of neutral and contending powers—he landed in
HOLLAND.
Having passed the usual examination—but insisting that the affairs which brought him there were of a private nature—he was imprisoned—interrogated—fisted—and, appearing to be incapable of design, was at length permitted to pursue his journey.
To the officers of the guard, who conducted him through the frontiers, he made frequent complaints of the loss he had sustained by the delay—a propos he spoke French —And that is more than every Yorkshire squire , or indeed, the squires of any other country, though they represent their country in parliament can boast—But—
Our squire swore it was uncivil—and unfriendly, and ungenerous—500 Dutchmen might have travelled thro' Great Britain, without a question, they never question any stranger in Great Britain—nor stopped them, nor imprisoned them—nor guarded them—even the body guards were more for ornament than use; and, as Englishmen were not bound to answer personal interrogations themselves , they never put them to strangers.
Roused from his native phlegm by these reflections upon the policy of his country, degraded by comparison with British liberty, the Dutch officer slowly drew his pipe from his mouth, and, while he emptied it of its ashes, by striking the head against his thumb-nail, said—
"Mynheer, when you first set your foot on the end of the seven United Provinces , you should have declared you came thither on affairs of commerce;" and replacing his pipe, which he had recharged with fresh mundungus , elapsed into immovable taciturnity.—
FRANCE.
Released from this unsociable companion, the Yorkshire squire soon arrived at a French post , where the centinel of the advanced guard requested the honor of his permission to ask for his passport.
He had none to produce—
The centinel on discovering this, intreated him to pardon the liberty he took, but it was his duty, and he must, however reluctantly, perform it—so he conducted him to
The COMMANDANT.
Monsieur le Commandant received him with cold and pompous politeness; he made the usual inquiries, and, our traveller, determined to avoid the error which had already produced such inconvenience, replied, that commercial concerns drew him to the continent.
"Ma foi," says the commandant, "c'est un negociant, un bargeois,"—take him away to the citadel, we will examine him to-morrow; at present, we must dress for the commedie—allons .
"Monsieur," said the centinel, as he conducted our traveller to the guard-room, "you should not have mentioned commerce to Monsieur le Commandant, no gentleman in France disgraces himself with trade— we despise traffic—
"You should have informed Mon-
seur le Commandant, that you entered the dominions of the grand monarque , that you entered his dominions to improve in singing or in dancing , or in decorating your person— arms are the profession of a man of fashion, and glory and accomplishments his pursuit." Vive le roi! —The Yorkshire squire had the honor of passing the night with a French guard, and the next day was dismissed.
GERMANY.
Proceeding on his journey, he fell in with a detachment of German Chasseurs —they demanded his name, quality, and business. He came, he said, to dance , to sing , and to dress .
"He is a Frenchman," said the corporal—
"A spy," cries the serjeant—So he was directed to mount behind a dragoon, and carried to the camp—
There he was soon discharged, but not without a word of advice.—
"We Germans," said the officer, "eat, drink and smoke, these are our favourite employments; and had you mentioned no other business to the dragoon, you would have saved him, me, and yourself infinite trouble—So you may proceed,"—and our squire pushed forward to—
PRUSSIA.
Here this examination was more strict, and on answering, that his only designs were to eat, drink, and to smoke—"To eat, drink, and to smoke!" exclaimed the officer, with astonishment—"Sir, you must be forwarded to Potsdam—war is the only business of mankind."
The acute and penetrating Frederic , soon comprehended the character of our traveller, and gave him a passport under his own hand—"It is an ignorant, an innocent Englishman," says the veteran; "the English are ignorant of military duties, and when they want a general, borrow of me."
SAXONY.
On the barriers of Saxony he was again interrogated—"I am a soldier, says our traveller, behold the passport of the first warrior of the age."
"You are pupil to a destroyer of millions—we must send you to Dresden —and, harkee, sir , conceal your passport, as you would avoid being torn to pieces by those whose husbands, sons, and relations have been wantonly sacrificed to the shrine of Prussian ambition ."
POLAND.
A second examination at Dresden having cleared him of suspicion, he thought his troubles were over, till he arrived on the borders of Poland .
"Your business in Poland , interrogated the officer—
"I really don't know, sir — "Not know your business, sir !— I must conduct you to the Starost ."
For the love of charity, said the wearied Yorkshire man , take pity on me—
In HOLLAND , I have been imprisoned for desiring to keep my own affairs to myself.
In FRANCE , I was confined a whole night for declaring myself a merchant . In GERMANY , I was compelled to ride seven leagues behind a dragoon for professing myself a man of pleasure .
In PRUSSIA , I was carried fifty miles as a prisoner, for acknowledging an attachment to ease and good living .
In SAXONY , I was threatened with assassination, for avowing myself a warrior .
But if you will have the goodness to inform me, how I may render such an account of myself as not to give offence, I shall ever consider you my friend and protector.
Singular instance of sagacity in a DOG.
A GENTLEMAN of Suffex ( England ) being on a journey with his friend, and a Newfoundland dog who was of the party, being the subject of their conversation, asserted that he would fetch any thing he was ordered from any distance. To prove this, a marked shilling was put under a large square stone on the side of the road, and the gentleman, accompanied by the dog, rode forward for three miles when the dog's master ordered him to go back and fetch the shilling he had seen put under the stone. The dog returned back, and the gentlemen rode forward and got home; but, contrary to their expectations, the quadruped did not return for the whole day.
It appeared afterwards that he had gone to the place where the shilling was deposited, but the stone being too large for his strength to remove, he had staid howling at the place until two horsemen riding by, attracted by his seeming distress, stopped to look at him, and one of them alighted and moved the stone, when finding the shilling he put it into his pocket, not conceiving the dog could be seeking for that. The dog followed their horses for upwards of twenty miles, staid in the room where they supped, followed the chamber-maid into the bed-room, and hid himself under one of the beds—The possessor of the shilling hung his breeches upon a nail by the bed-side, but when they were asleep, the dog got them off the nail, and the window being open, leaped out of it with the breeches in his mouth, and dragged them through bog and quagmire, over ditch and through hedge, until four o'clock, when he arrived at his master's house. In the pockets were found several guineas and four watches (the owner being a dealer in those articles) and the marked shilling. The watches being advertised were returned, and the thief not indicted.
REVOLUTIONS OF LIFE.
THE world is like a vast sea, mankind like a vessel sailing on its tempestuous bosom. Our prudence is its sails, the senses serve us for oars, good or bad fortune are favorable or contrary winds, and judgment is the rudder, without this last the vessel is tost by every billow, and will find shipwreck in every breeze. In a word, obscurity and indigence are the parents of vigilance and economy; vigilance and economy, of riches and honor; riches and honor, of pride and luxury; pride and luxury, of impurity and idleness; and impurity and idleness again produce indigence and obscurity. Such are the revolutions of life.
IDLENESS.
AVOID idleness; it is a kind of palsy in the mind, so much the more dangerous, as it is scarce ever cured without producing some disorder. Man was created for action, he must of necessity be continually employed, and if it is not in doing good, he is infallibly led to do evil. Idleness has this quality in common with standing waters, that as they ordinarily produce serpents, it commonly begets vices.
GOOD
West-India Rum to be exchanged for BEEF. Apply to the Printer hereof.
LANCASTER, State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the delinquent proprietors and owners of land in the township of Lancaster , in the county of Grafton , who have not paid their tax of two pence assessed on each acre of land in said Lancaster , for repairing of roads and building bridges for the year 1788; agreeably to an act of the legislature, passed the 12th day of February last; that unless they pay the same to the selectmen in said town, on or before Wednesday the 7th day of February next, so much of their land will be sold at public vendue, at ten o'clock, A. M., on said day, at the dwelling-house of Edward Bucknam, Esq. in said town, as will pay said tax together with incidental charges. The names of the original proprietors of the delinquent rights are as follow, viz.
   £. s. d.    David Page 2 11 10  Reuben Stone ditto ditto ditto  Abraham Byham ditto ditto ditto  Ephraim Chattuck ditto ditto ditto  William Page ditto ditto ditto  Solomon Wilson ditto ditto ditto  Joseph Stowell ditto ditto ditto  Silas Bennett ditto ditto ditto  Eliza Crosby ditto ditto ditto  Silas Chattuck ditto ditto ditto  Benjamin Man ditto ditto ditto  Don'tor Dav. Miles ditto ditto ditto  John Duncan ditto ditto ditto  Nathaniel Smith ditto ditto ditto  Charles How ditto ditto ditto  Israel Hale, jr. ditto ditto ditto  Daniel Hale ditto ditto ditto  William Dagget ditto ditto ditto  Isaac Ball ditto ditto ditto  Solomon Fay ditto ditto ditto  Jotham or Jonathan Death ditto ditto ditto  John Saunders ditto ditto ditto  Luke Lincoln ditto ditto ditto  David Laroyon ditto ditto ditto  Silas Rice ditto ditto ditto  Thomas Carter ditto ditto ditto  Ephraim Sterns ditto ditto ditto  Israel Hale ditto ditto ditto  James Reed ditto ditto ditto  Isaac Wood ditto ditto ditto  Nath'l Richardson ditto ditto ditto  John Sawyer ditto ditto ditto  Samuel Marble ditto ditto ditto  John Rogers ditto ditto ditto  Timothy Whitney ditto ditto ditto  Ebenezer Blunt ditto ditto ditto  John Harris ditto ditto ditto  Ephraim Noyce ditto ditto ditto  Benjamin Sawyer ditto ditto ditto  John Willson ditto ditto ditto  Benjamin Baxter ditto ditto ditto  Benjamin Willson ditto ditto ditto  Benjamin Stevens ditto ditto ditto  Thomas Rice ditto ditto ditto  John Phelps ditto ditto ditto  Stephen Emes ditto ditto ditto  Thomas Chattuck ditto ditto ditto  Joseph Marble 1100 acres out of these rights are the property of President Wheelock.  Jonathan Groat  David Page, jr. £. s. d.  Thomas Rogers 9 3 4  Nathaniel Page Selectmen of Lancaster  Edward Bucknam,  Samuel Johnson,  Emmons Stockwell,    Lancaster, December 6th, 1788.
THE Selectmen will sit at UNION-HALL every Monday, from 5 to 8 o'clock in the evening, in this and the two following months; all persons having accounts open with them are desired to exhibit them for settlement. Portsmouth, December 1st, 1788.
BLANKS of all sorts printed & sold at J. Melcher's Printing-Office, in Market-Street.

DUBLIN.
THE want of index-posts on the roads of Ireland, has frequently been condemned by such as have experienced their utility in the sister kingdom, where they are general in every quarter of the country in which they are serviceable to travellers. Such roads here are repaired at the public expence ought to have them erected by the superintendants, and on those leading to the seats of the gentry they might for a trifle to the land owner be set up at suitable places. In many parts of England those direction-posts are by the country people called parsons, a denomination that reminds us of an occurrence which not long since happened to a gentleman on a journey to Yorkshire:—Being unacquainted with the distance between the village he had left and that he was going to, when riding along, he asked a man on the road side, how far he was from his place of destination—he was answered that a mile farther he would meet with a parson to inform him. Why a parson was selected, of all men, he could not divine, but took the countryman at his word and rode on; when he had travelled a mile farther, he put the same question to another countryman, who told him that about 200 yards farther he would see the parson, who would direct him. Revolving in his mind the oddity of this response, and thinking that the parsons of that part of the kingdom must be very useful fellows, he went on—About the supposed distance, he asked a third countryman if he was in the right road? “Zounds,” returned he, “do’stn’t see the parson!” Looking round, and seeing no one of a clerical appearance, he peevishly demanded “where?” on which, the countryman pointed to the way-post—at the top whereof was a figure of a hand, directing passengers which way to go, and told him “that was the parson.” When arriving at an inn, curiosity led the gentleman to inquire from the landlord why they chose in that country to call way-posts by the name of parsons?—“Why d’ye see, Sir, it is a joke of ours, ’cause parsons point out the right way to folks, but ne’er stir a step themselves.”
LONDON, Sept. 3.
A few days since a lady with an immense circumference of bottom, as she was stepping into a boat at Blackfriar’s Bridge, by the awkwardness of the watermen in handing her off the stairs, lost her footing and tumbled into the Thames; but instead of sinking, to the surprize of every body, from her hips up, she appeared above water; all the boats immediately put out after her, but the wind and tide both going strongly down the river, added to an immense parachute that she had on, acting as a sail, there was no overtaking her; in this seemingly perilous state, the poor lady proceeded like a mermaid, till the alarm became so general on the river, that the combined fleets of the old Swan and Tower Stairs all put out, and luckily meeting her as she passed London Bridge, towed her safely into Billingsgate; but her fright did not end here, for as she was stricken in years, and her dip in the Thames having restored her shrivelled countenance to its native fallow, the ladies of Billingsgate, with one united voice, pronounced her a WITCH; nor could she have escaped their fury, if she had not proved, to the satisfaction of these conscientious matrons, that it was not to the DEVIL, but to a CORK RUM, she owed her safety.
Greatness of mind in his MAJESTY.
Oct. 6. His Majesty, who with a magnanimity that does him the greatest honor, hesitated not a moment to receive his Excellency Mr. Adams, as Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States, treating him at all times, whenever he presented himself at Court, with becoming attention. His speech on the occasion, shew-
ing as it does the political greatness of his mind, is worthy of public notice.
I with you, Sir, (the King said to Mr. Adams, at his first audience) “to believe, and that it may be understood in America, that I have done nothing in the late contest but what I thought myself indispensably bound to do, by the duty which I owed to my people. I will be very frank with you, Sir, I was the last to consent to the separation; but, the separation being made, and having been inevitable, I have always said, as I say now, that I will be the last to disturb the independence of the United States, or in any way infringe their rights.”
For a King thus to receive and address one, who had been his subject, in a diplomatic character, commissioned by those who had been in his allegiance, and now acting as sovereign and independent of him, was no common event. The low minded Prince, and what is equally ridiculous, the high minded subjects, like the women of Genoa, who considered themselves as the Queens of Corsica, would have boggled at it. They would have thought the reception of a minister in these circumstances beneath the royal dignity, and considered every audience he might hereafter demand, nay, his very presence at Court, as an insult. His Majesty, however, better instructed in principles of sound policy, and, therefore, conducting himself with manliness on so trying an occasion, gave his subjects an useful lesson. He taught them to submit to an inevitable necessity, not only without repining, but with a good grace.
Whether the King of Prussia thinks himself at the eve of a war, we are not sufficiently in the secret to be able to determine; but thus much we can take upon us to affirm, that he is making preparations which indicate hostilities; orders having actually been issued from the war office at Berlin, for raising two additional squadrons of Uhlan, for every regiment of Hussars in the service, and since June last, no furloughs have been granted either to privates or officers throughout the whole army.
An Irish traveller just arrived from Spain, acquaints us, that being at St. Idelfonso to see the Court, on Whit-sunday, he saw the famous Japonic palm tree, in full blossom, in the royal garden. This wonderful tree is eighty seven feet high, and the branches and leaves so thick and extensive as to be capable of shading one thousand persons. The fruit, which is commonly ripe in July, is about the size of a heart cherry, extremely luscious, and of a deep orange colour. This tree was brought to Spain when a slip, in a box, filled with native earth, from the island of Luconia, and presented to Philip the third in 1625, who caused it to be planted in the garden of St. Idelfonso. It is now one hundred and sixty years old, and increases in growth, strength, beauty, and abundance of its fruit.
Oct. 12. The campaign of this year must now be nearly, if not altogether at an end. The Austrians who fought for honor, have gained some. The Empress, who contended for territory, has gained an inch—while the coffers of both must have been pretty well drained.
The grand Vizier is something more than the Washington of Turkey. while he employs the cool prudence of the American Fabius, in not hazarding any thing, where little is to be got, yet he does not flinch from an engagement, but rather encourages it, convinced that his resources can much sooner supply any loss than those of his enemies.
Should the states of Sweden negotiate with the Empress, and acknowledge, as it is said they are ready to do, the impolicy of the war the king entered into, this will amount to such a revolution as will reverse all that was done in 1773, when they limited their republican form, and made the
King almost absolute—reserving indeed, only the power which they now seem disposed to employ.
We learn by authentick letters from Peterburg, dated the 18th, that the Russian Court is not only induced through the medium of the King of Prussia, to agree to a suspension of arms with Sweden, but also, out of respect to the said mediation, to forget all that has passed, on condition that Sweden does not accept of the mediation between Russia & the Porte; that she disarms her fleet; and that the King of Prussia takes upon him to guarantee the execution of these conditions. Both the Russian and Prussian ministers here do not scruple to say that Peace will soon be re-established in the north under these conditions.
France is negotiating with Sweden at a time when she appears as if she would take no part in the present contest between that power and Russia. Prince Charles de Rohan Rochfort has a private commission to treat personally with his Swedish majesty, upon business which is of too delicate a nature to be communicated even to the French Ambassador in ordinary. The Prince is assisted in this business by the Baron de Ferre.
In Germany there is not the least prospect of peace; on the contrary, the Emperor is actually negotiating with the different princes of the empire for hiring large bodies of their troops.
Battle between the Turks and Germans.
Advice is this instant received of a general and bloody engagement between the Imperialists and the Grand Vizier’s army; the conflict was dreadful—the palm of victory was very obstinately contended for, and the event was long doubtful. It terminated however, in the defeat of the Ottoman army. The Emperor was the whole time in the hottest part of the battle, had two horses shot under him, and received a wound in the shoulder, but it is not thought to be dangerous. It is probable this decisive engagement will put a period to the campaign.
The carnage was uncommonly great on both sides; the number of Turks killed and wounded is prodigious.
BASSATERRE, Oct. 29. Extract of a letter from St. Eustatius, to a gentleman here, Oct. 22.
“By authentick accounts from Martinique we are informed, that Count Damas demanded a free gift of the counsel, of two millions livres for the use of Government: That body being composed of planters, laid it entirely on the commercial people, whom they selected in different classes; the first, consisting of four, to pay 25 Joes each; the second, of which there was a large number, 20 Joes each; and the most inconsiderable shopkeepers, at 10 Joes each. Every store was shut up; but 300 men with fixed bayonets brought them to reason, and the free gift was paid at the point of the bayonet.”—This is a law mains pas justice!
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 4. FEDERALISM TRIUMPHANT.
Returns have been received from counties containing about two thirds of the people of Pennsylvania. In this state of information we are happy in being able to assure our friends, that the ratio of the voters for the two tickets is, Federal 58— Anti-federal 19½. The final issue will therefore undoubtedly be greatly in favour of the new constitution—we presume, at a medium, more than two to one. So that the state of Pennsylvania, always federal in her convention, her counsels and her legislatures, appears still more so by the voice of the people at large. Most probably it will be best accounted for by the real merits of the constitution being now better known.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Bermuda to his friend in this city, dated 3d November, 1788.
“We have a change of Governors, our former one is called home on business so important, that he has taken
his passage at this season of the year. Our late one has orders to garrison the island, in the strongest manner possible, not one place is omitted a fortification that is any ways necessary—but for what reason I cannot tell. We have a great quantity of military stores lately arrived, and a greater supply expected, with a number of troops, and three guard ships of 40 guns each.”
Extract of a letter from Wilmington, N. Carolina, November 13.
“The latter end of the summer and fall has been the most fatal season ever known in this place; upwards of one hundred persons have died.—We have no other news, except that it is expected our Assembly will call a new Convention.”
THE GAMES TER.
AMELIA was busied in forming a thousand little schemes of happiness; her domestic economy had exceeded the expectation of her husband, and the supplies had been devoted, unknown to her Eugenio, to the purchase of a ticket in the lottery.
She had imagined to herself a scene of rural enjoyment, the house had already risen on a sloping plain, sheltered by a hill, and surrounded by trees; the wood-bine which covered the windows intercepted every glaring ray, and the garden before the door shed its varied odours on her sense. She was seated on the bench before the door; her Eugenio reading while she worked, and her little Julia sporting near, and heightened the enjoyment by her playful interruptions.
She had already communicated the intelligence to her husband; she saw with transport the joy that sparkled in his eyes, on hearing of the brilliancy of their fortunes, which before had been tinged with the pale of gilding hope. She felt his warm embrace, and heard from his lips the language of congratulation and joy. The illusion was perfectly complete, and Amelia was the happiest of women.
What then must be the feelings of a bosom like Amelia’s, when the intelligence was announced that her fondest hopes were realized, and that she was actually the possessor of a capital prize! the cot, the garden, the bench, and the prospect again presented themselves, and floated before her a nearer vision. Female pride, for of pride what bosom is entirely destitute? threw in a few additional ornaments, and the heart of Amelia throbbed with the strongest pulsation of felicity.
“Eugenio!” she exclaimed, as he pensively approached, “our distresses are at an end, and nothing awaits us but tranquility and happiness!”—while she spoke, Eugenio trembled with strong emotions. He enquired the source of her extasies; when informed, he suddenly started,—distraction was in his look,—he burst into a flood of anguish, and abruptly left the apartment. He had the night before been, for the first time, seduced to play; he had accidentally found the ticket, and retained it merely to enquire its fate. It had been staked, when his money was gone, and lost to a sharper.
The intelligence was too much for Amelia, she had brooded over her hopes too fondly and too long. The cottage and its ideal enjoyments, could not disappear from her eyes but in death but in death; and a consummation shortly terminated her existence.
Ye who too fondly brood over lightly founded hopes, who think that age will repay the enjoyments of which youth has been defrauded, and that to-morrow will make good the expectations of to-day, be warned by the fate of the too sanguine Amelia!
The L I N K.
HEAVEN when it had created man Unfinish’d saw creation’s plan, Though man and angel were a-kin, Here yet appear’d some gap between: Nor would the links together meet Till woman made the chain complete.

NEW-YORK, December 5.
Extract of a letter from a Member of Assembly, at Richmond, to his correspondent in Winchester (Virginia) dated November 8, 1783.
"I have not time to write long letters, and shall therefore observe in general terms, that you may expect every evil from this assembly that anti-federalism can produce: the following facts among others induce this belief: when members of Congress were chosen, there were 39 votes against Mr. Maddison's holding his seat for the remnant of time which that body is to exist: and this day, on the ballot of our federal senators, the number stood,
For R. H. Lee, 98 William Grayson, 86 James Maddison, 77 Votes for persons not nominated, 63
"Those who know the abilities of Mr. Maddison, who know that his whole life has been devoted to the service of the public, and that he has so conducted himself as to avoid every cause of offence in his public speeches and private conversations to any man or description of men! that envy itself, or the jaundice eye of faction have never imputed to him interested or corrupt motives—might be at a loss to account for such marks of neglect or disapprobation: but, sir, the conduct of Mr. Henry, on the day of Mr. Maddison's nomination, fully explains the mystery: in a well-informed speech, he made a pointed attack against him in the house, taking for the ground of his opposition, Mr. Maddison's attachment to the federal government. I felt much for Mr. Maddison, but more for my country, for I considered this as the trumpet of discord, a demon which I fear will destroy that domestic peace and happiness which unanimity of sentiment has hitherto secured to us, as well during the late arduous conflict, as since its happy conclusion. Hereafter, when a gentleman is nominated to a public office, it is not his virtue, his abilities, or his patriotism we are to regard, but whether he is a federalist or an antifederalist; a distinction which might well take place whilst the new government was under consideration, but which ought to cease as soon as it was agreed to. In a free state there can be no government if the voice of the majority is not submitted to; it is as essential to the existence of liberty that ninety-nine should obey an hundred, as that one should submit to ninety-nine; the only difference is, that where the majority is small, a door of hope is left open to ambitious men, that by fomenting the discontented of the people, they may gain the ascendancy, subvert the government, or aggrandize themselves. You will understand, that I do not mean to disparage the gentlemen who are on this occasion preferred, the ground on which the preference was given is what I disapprove. The most important business now before the assembly is a bill for dividing the state into districts, for choosing electors of a president; this has passed the house of delegates, and each district is composed of two senatorial districts; this mode, altho' unequal and unjust, was adopted on account of the shortness of time for the promulgating the law, and accomplishing the business. A bill for dividing the state into districts for the purpose of choosing delegates to Congress—this is referred to a committee of the whole house, and will undergo great investigation. A bill to disable certain officers of the state government from holding offices under the general government, this is also before the committee of the whole house.
Dec. 11. A few days ago, a curious and uncommon BIRD was killed at Saratoga, and sent, as a rarity, to Albany. The distance from the tip of one wing to the other, when both were extended, was nine feet and two inches; the mouth was large enough to contain, with ease, the head of a
boy of ten years of age, and the throat so capacious as to admit the foot or leg of a man, boot and all. Doubts were entertained, at first, what it was, but it is now decided to be the large Pelican of the sea coast; as upon examination, we are told (by Dr. Mitchell) that it agrees to the character of the Pelicanus Acutilus Linnæus, and the Onocrotalus of Bristol.
Lately was killed by Mr. Robert Haswell of the Norman's Kill (six miles west of Albany) a Mad Wolf. It had twice entered the barn-yard of Mr. Haswell, and bit a valuable mare of his, which is since dead, and committed much mischief in that settlement and its vicinity.
BOSTON, December 22.
A late London paper mentions, that Doctor AMOS WINDSHIP and Doctor JOHN WARREN, of this town, have been unanimously elected Members of the MEDICAL SOCIETY in London.
Last Friday morning, about 5 o'clock, the Grist and Chocolate Mills, belonging to Messrs. Boies and M'Lean, of Milton, were entirely destroyed by fire, together with all the property therein—estimated at Eight Hundred Pounds.
Thursday last was the day appointed for the free men of this state to give in their suffrages for persons to represent this Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States. The following are the most authentick accounts of the votes give in.
   SUFFOLK DISTRICT.   Towns. Mr. Ames Mr. Adams Left votes     Boston, 445 436 17   Roxbury, 45 5 18   Dorchester, 41 3 0   Milton, 16 3 12   Hingham, 28 1 0  
MIDDLESEX.
Charlestown, Hon. Mr. VARNUM, 45—Hon. Mr. GERRY 25. Woburn, LOAMMI BALDWIN, Esq. 43—Hon. Mr. GERRY, 7. ESSEX.
Andover, Hon. Mr. DANE, 104. Marblehead, Hon. JONATHAN JACKSON, 88—Hon. Mr. GOODHUE 5. In Salem it is said there were a majority of votes for Mr. JACKSON. The votes for ELECTORS of President and Vice-President, were.—In Boston, Hon. Jabez Fisher , 369—Hon. Caleb Davis , 389.* Roxbury, Mr. Fisher , 58—Mr. Davis 22. Hingham, for Messrs. Fisher and Davis . In Essex district—in Marblehead, unanimous for Hon. Azor Orne , and Hon. George Cabot . Danvers, Titcomb and Cabot . Andover, Hon. S. Phillips , jun. and Mr. Cabot . Cambridge, Hon. Mr. Dana , 75—Hon. E. Brooks , 44.
* Through haste, the votes for the Hon. Mr. Davis were mistated in Saturday's Centinel.
His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to nominate to the Council, the Hon. JOHN SPRAGUE, Esq. of Lancaster, to be Sheriff for the County of Worcester.
SALEM, Dec. 16.
On the day of our late annual thanksgiving, a man in Middleton took from a neighbour a fine fat sheep, and dressed it, that he might be enabled to join in the great religious festival. He was suspected, and challenged by the owner with the commission of the deed—which he confessed: And the injured party, considering it rather an unwarrantable liberty, proposed that the matter should be submitted to three reputable neighbours, who should adjudge the delinquent punishment: This was agreed to—and it was determined, that he should stand at Mr. Easty's signpost, from sunrise till three o'clock in the afternoon, with a leg of the mutton in his hand, and inform every gassenger of his crime—return the fleece (which weighed 4 1/2 lbs.) to the owner, and cut 14 cords of wood for him. But thinking the first part of the sentence too severe, it was commuted for his sitting one hour upon the signpost, which is near-
ly 20 feet high, with the leg of mutton as before; which was duly performed last Saturday week, and the performance of the labour will be strictly required.—The sentence of this Court of Neighbours was highly applauded, and had a more salutary effect, perhaps, than whipping and imprisonment.
PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 24.
The exportation of RUM and SPIRITS from the British West-India islands to the United States of North America, is prohibited by a late order from the British government; a vessel that was loaded with RUM about the latter end of September last, bound to New-York, was obliged to reland it.
From Philadelphia we learn that the managers of the Theatre, have been prosecuted for performing on the stage in violation of the law. A letter from Fort Harmer, of Nov.
3, says,—
"The treaty at last is in a fair way to commerce, unexpectedly too, —I believe, the Indians have been so very long in holding council among themselves, but they are now coming in. —We have the governor, Commissioners, and Captain Hutchin with us."
The public are hereby cautioned against taking in future, a certain kind of cob gold, which is now in circulation; but which has lately been refused by the banks of New-York and Boston, in consequence of its having been proved by the hydrostatical balance to be one third alloy. This valuable metal, in its present impure state, is said to have been palmed on the public by a resident in Boston. These pieces, each of which weighs 17 penny weights, may be easily distinguished from the true ones by their roughness, which is caused by the sand in which they are cast.
When His Excellency the Count MOUSTIER, and his noble companions, arrived at Alexandria, on their way to Mount-Vernon, he was presented by the citizens thereof, with a handsome address:—
To which he returned the following answer:
GENTLEMEN,
EARLY impressed with the same sentiment which animated my nation towards the United States, in the time when their fortitude and wisdom were put to a difficult trial, I have found myself happy in having an opportunity of visiting them; and I find myself peculiarly so in the present moment, that the citizens of Alexandria honor me with their kind expressions of reciprocal affection: I with them to be assured of my most sincere gratitude.
The motives which formed our national connexion, are grounded on a basis, which by its solidity promises to ensure a lasting duration of increasing glory and fame to the two nations, whose councils will cherish more and more their mutual interests with the same sincerity and good faith that have been constantly used by them.
The improved confederation of the United States which gives them one soul and one interest, will afford new means of displaying great vigour and giving more efficacy to the Measures which may ensue such important objects as have been constantly at the heart of my royal master.
The sources of the commerce between the two nations beginning to be known, promise increasing, permanent and mutual benefits; inasmuch that the channels which are, or may be opened, will be maintained by affection and prudence. In following the tracts of my predecessor, and the sentiments which I have, in common, with him, towards the United States, I should be perfectly happy to see them conducive to the increase and benefit
of our national intercourse. They will be the constant object of endeavours; and I will seek with eagerness every opportunity of shewing the sincerity of the desire which I have to be successful in that pursuit. I hope, gentlemen, to deserve the favourable opinion that you shew me, concerning the motives which induced me to visit several of the United States, which I hope I shall be able to do more fully at a future period.
Died since our last, a child of the Honourable Joshua Wentworth, Esq. and Mrs. Mary Hutchings.
NAVAL OFFICE.
CLEARED, for Snow Abigail, Parker, West-Indies. Brig Elizabeth, Hooker, ditto. Brig Statira, Manning, ditto. Brig Maria and Eliza, Blunt, Bristol. ENTERED from Ship Charlotte, Ruddach, London. SHIP NEWS.
Arrived at Boston the brig Agnes, Capt. Dennie, in 19 days from Martinique.—Capt. Dennie informs, that 2 days before he left Martinique the prohibition upon American flour was taken off for 3 months.
The 20th ult. arrived at Charlestown, South Carolina, the ship Ruby, Capt. Lane, from Boston. The 29th ult. arrived at the same place, the brig Fame, Capt. Tilden, also from Boston.
Ecclesiastical information and union.
Since the death of the Pretender (Prince Charles) the Scotch bishops & clergy pray for the present king of Great-Britain, and Lord Sedney has signified to bishop Drummond of Edinburgh how very acceptable this conformity is to his majesty, and with all his majesty's gracious disposition and intentions towards them.
This event puts an end to those political and not religious principles, arising from the Scots attachment to the family of Stewart that formerly made the English look shy at Scotch bishops.
The government liturgy, &c. in the episcopal church in Scotland is the same as in England, and the succession in Scotland is denied from England.
These things are confirmed by papers in possession of gentlemen in these States from the bishop of London, and Dr. Law, bishop of Carlisle.
The Synod composed of the presbyterian churches of New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, have revised their ancient constitution and practice and composed a form of public worship to be read in their congregations.
They are also in a treaty of union with the Dutch presbyterian churches in their neighbourhood.
The Last words of a Remarkable Character.
A Cheshire waggoner, who had got together a little estate, seems to have displayed as much magnanimity as the best of them. He found himself very ill, and sent for a clergyman and attorney, who both came in at the same time, and found all his family weeping round his bed. The man of law having prepared his pen and ink, desired to know how he would leave his property. The sick man having mustered up sufficient strength for his last effort, spoke as follows: "The house and all the Ricks in it, to Mary, (his wife) as long as she lives, and then divided among the rest of 'em. The waggons and horses to Tom. The ploughs and cows to Dick, with half o' the farm. The other half and a hundred pounds to Will. Three hundred pounds to Moll; the same to Bet. And now write lawyer, pray parson, cry wife, and bellow children; for by the Lord I'm dying."
ALL persons indebted to, or that have any demands on the estate of Mr. THOMAS FRENCH, late of Stratham, deceased, are desired to exhibit the same, and those indebted to make immediate payment, to NATHANIEL AVERY.

Parnassian Spring.
To KITTY WITH A PAINTED FAN.
[On one side an aged woman reading with spectacles, her crutch standing by her: On the reverse, VIRTUE in a rich wrought, but loose robe, looking upward, and giving alms, in an inclining posture, to a beggar on the ground.]
K ITTY! take this painted fan, Of it make the best you can, When it rises, full display'd To supply the cooling shade, Read these maxims, there express: "Shade for man is sometimes best! Life would yield but small delight, Were the scene forever bright."
When the cheering breeze it sends, Think on whom your breath depends! Think, that bliss and life would fail, But for providence's gale!
If, to mock the flarer's eyes, And conceal a blush, it rise, Thus reflect behind the scene, Will my actions need a screen, When display'd to every eye? Or will heav'n a screen supply?
In that aged face you'll see, What ere long your own may be: Learn from ev'ry wrinkle there, Time's a foe to all that's fair.
By those spectacles you'll read What your orbs may one day need.
From that crutch this hint pursue, I may need supporting too."
Turn then to Virtue's side, View her form (but stretch it wide) Virtue, if she's painted right, Best appears when most in light.
Rich her robe! and this implies, Wealth is sometimes Virtue's prize. All with curious foliage wrought, Hence, her industry be taught; Loosely flowing to express Negligence of mode and dress; Yet tho' loosely flows the vest, Clasp'd with care, a-cross her breast! Kitty wants not to be told, Virtue's free but never bold. Think that placid smile reveals Joys which virtue only feels; Think that easy, open air Speaks the unaffected fair.
See! she drops her alms inclin'd; This denotes her humble mind; Upward that she turns her eye, Hints her portion in the sky,
Shew, by folding the machine, Virtue may exist unseen.
W E the subscribers being appointed commissioners by the Hon. Charles Johnson, Judge of Probate for the county of Grafton, to receive and examine the claims of the creditors to the estate of TIMOTHY BEDEL , Esq. late of Haverhill, in the State of New-Hampshire, deceased, represented insolvent, and nine months from the thirteenth day of September last being allowed us for that purpose: We hereby give notice that we will attend on said business at the dwelling-house of Mrs. Mary Fisk, innholder in said town, on the last Monday of November next, and the first Tuesday of the six following months, from ten o'clock in the forenoon to four in the afternoon of said days.
ASA PORTER, AMOS KIMBALL, JAMES WOODWARD, JOSHUA HOWARD, AND'W S. CROCKER, Haverhill, October 27th, 1788.
N. B. And all persons that are indebted to said estate, are likewise desired to make immediate payment. MOODY BEDEL, Administrator.
O NCE more all persons indebted to, or that have any demands on the estate of David Griffith, formerly of Portsmouth, late of Exeter, goldsmith, deceased, are desired to settle the same with Samuel Griffith, administrator, otherwise those indebted will be sued without further notice. Portsmouth, Dec. 12.
LIME, STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
N OTICE is hereby given to the non-resident proprietors and owners of land in the township of Lime, who have not paid their taxes for the years 1785, 1786, and 1787, that unless they pay the same to me subscriber, on or before the third Wednesday of March next, so much of their land as will pay the same, together with incidental charges, will be sold at public vendue, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the dwelling-house of Doctor Amharst Coult, innholder in said town, unless prevented by previous payment.
   1785. 1786. 1787. 1788.   Certif. s. specie. d. specie. q. Certif. s. specie. d. specie. q. Certif. s. specie. d. specie. q. Certif. s. specie. d. specie. q.     William Shaw 3 100 48 6 3 10 0 2 4 0 1 2   James Patrick 2 10 10 1 4 2 4 2 4 6 2   Jame Brown 4 100 20 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   George Farnald 5 75 24 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   Edward Ayres 2 50 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3 6   John Lee 1 50 24 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   Charles Nelson 2 60 54 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   2 10 1 4 2 4 2 4 6 2 10   3 100 5 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   4 100 38 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   5 75 36 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   Samuel Chandler 2 10 1 4 2 4 2 4 6 2 10   Noah Thompson 4 100 16 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   John Nelson 5 75 28 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   3 100 53 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   Robert Brown 5 75 45 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   4 100 62 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   John Wentworth 5 75 40 1 1 2 2 2 3 5 8 4   William Kenedy 2 50 52 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   John Nelson, merch. 1 50 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3 6   2 60 56 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   3 100 67 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   4 100 23 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   5 75 60 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   Benja'n Thompson 2 10 15 1 4 2 4 2 4 6 2   James McNitt 2 10 11 1 4 2 4 2 4 6 2   Dunkin Quintin 3 50 50 3 2 5 1 2 7 1 3 2   Sam'l Shaw, Brimfi. 3 100 2 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   Tho. McClenathan 1 50 6 8   Isaac Preston 3 100 63 10   3 100 62 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   4 100 14 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   William Brown 5 37 11 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   Frances Lamont 1 50 8 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   Isaac Fellows 4 100 13 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   Thomas Warren 5 75 29 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   2 60 44 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   1 50 20 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   2 60 55 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   M. H. Wentworth 5 75 6 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   Benn'g Wentworth 2 60 37 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   1 25 10 2 7 4 1 6 1 1 9   2 37 62 3 9 7 2 1 9 8 1 5   3 28 3 1 8 3 8 4 8 1   4 43 25 1 2 2 6 4 5 10   5 75 9 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   John A. McClellan 1 50 16 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   John Cutts 2 10 1 4 2 4 2 4 6 2 10   Thomas Wentworth 1 50 12 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   2 60 63 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   3 100 46 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   4 100 27 3 6 1 2 9 1 2 1   5 75 19 1 1 2 4 2 3 5 8 4   John Green 1 50 3 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   William Blunt 1 50 5 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   John Clark 2 50 61 5 3 8 1 11 1 2 2 3   W'm McClenathan 2 60 38 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   John Thompson 3 100 61 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   Thomas Johnson 3 100 65 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4   Thomas Johnson, jr. 3 100 1 6 3 10 2 4 1 2 6 4  
E P H R A I M S K I N N E R, Constable.
Lime, December 12th, 1788.
CHICHESTER, State of New-Hampshire.
N OTICE is hereby given to the non-resident proprietors or owners of land in Chichester, who have not paid their taxes for the year 1787, that unless they pay the same to me the subscriber on or before Wednesday the 31st day of December next, so much of their land will be sold at public vendue, at the dwelling-house of the subscriber, in said town, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, on said day, as will pay said taxes together with incidental charges, unless prevented by previous payment.
   D. N. R. Q'ty s. d. q. s. d. q.     Capt. Richard Currier 3 92 6 50 1 6 1 0 0 6   ditto 4 50 9 6 3   Joshua Wingate 1 13 6 50 9 6 3   Jeremiah Sanborn 1 19 8 50 1 3 10 5   Stephen Sanborn 1 1 6 50 1 6 1 0 6   ditto 4 50 9 6 3   Winthrop Hilton, 1 29 2 50 1 1 9 4   ditto 4 50 9 6 3   Joseph Redman 1 18 1 50 1 5 11 5   Samuel Ring 4 66 9 50 1 6 1 0 6   John Downing 1 17 8 50 1 3 10 5   Capt. Joseph Jenness 4 13 1 50 1 3 10 5   Deacon Francis Jenness 1 11 3 33 1 0 8 4  
   D. N. R. Q'ty s. d. q. s. d. q. s. d. q.     4 1 11 50 1 0 9 1 6 1 6 4 2   1 14 7 50 1 0 10 1 1 1 10 4 2   1 13 4 50 1 0 11 1 3 1 11 5 2   4 10 1 50 1 0 14 1 4 1 14 5 2   4 27 8 50 1 0 5 1 6 1 6 6 2   1 68 11 50 1 0 6 1 6 1 6 6 2   4 61 9 50 1 0 9 1 9 1 9 6 2   4 11 8 50 1 0 15 1 15 1 15 6 2   1 11 8 50 1 0 15 1 15 1 15 6 2    Micajah Morrill Richard Jenness Hunking Wentworth Thomas Leavitt Peter Weare, jr. one half of Henry Felch ditto Samuel Sawyer James Purrington John Webster Chichester, Nov. 24.
P UBLIC NOTICE is hereby given, that a petition hath been preferred to the General-Court by SARAH MOULTON , of Hampton, in the county of Rockingham, widow, relict of Jonathan Moulton, late of said Hampton, Esquire, deceased; representing that the said Jonathan, died, seized of a considerable real estate, lying partly in each of the counties in this State, of which she is by law intitled to one third part as her Dower, which she wishes to have set off and assigned to her; but by reason of the estate being situated in different counties, the Judge of Probate for the county of Rockingham, did not conceive himself authorized to appoint a committee to set off her Dower in any other county, and appointed Simon Wiggin, Jonathan Robinson and Moses Leavitt, Esquires, and Samuel Jenness and Joseph Cram, yeomen, a committee for setting off the same; but according to the aforesaid determination of said Judge, she cannot have her Dower set off in the other counties.—Therefore she prayed that the aforesaid committee might be empowered to proceed and make a division in the several counties and set off her Dower in the whole estate in such manner as will best accommodate her, and be the least injurious to the estate of the said Moulton; and also, empower the said Judge of Probate, to make out his warrant for that purpose, and receive and record the report, and assign to her the Dower so set off in the same manner as if the lands were all within the county of Rockingham.
Upon which petition the General-Court ordered that she may be heard thereon, before them on the third Thursday of their next session, and that in the mean time, she cause the substance of said petition and order of Court thereon, to be published three weeks successively in the New Hampshire Gazette, and also in the Freeman's Oracle, prior to the setting of said Court, that any person or persons may then appear and shew cause why the prayer thereof should not be granted. Attest, JOSEPH PEARSON, Secretary. Exeter, November 25th, 1788.
TO BE SOLD
B y virtue of a licence from the Hon. Phillips White, Esq. Judge of Probate for the county of Rockingham, one right of land in the township of Brittonwoods and a number of acres of valuable unimproved land in the township of Rochester, situate on the road leading to New-Durham, for further particulars enquire of MARY NELSON Executrix to the estate of MARK NELSON , late of Portsmouth, deceased.