The New Hampshire gazette (Portsmouth [N.H.]), 1797-02-18 00:00:00

THE New Hampshire Gazette.
HERE TRUTH IS WELCOME—CANDOUR GUIDES THE WAY.
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. 2099.]
SATURDAY, February 18, 1797.
[9s. pr. Annum.
DOCUMENTS
Which accompanied the message of the President of the United States to both houses of Congress, Jan. 19, 1797.
Letter to Mr. Pinckney, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States to the French Republic. Department of State, Jan. 16. '97,
(Continued.)
THE government gave a further proof of its candor and friendship by communicating to the French minister the treaty itself, prior to its ratification, "in order to enable him to make such observations thereon as he might judge proper." These observations you will see in Mr. Adet's letter to the secretary of state, of June 30th, 1795; and the refutation of his objections in the secretary's answer, dated the 6th of July following.
With these facts in view, facts of which the chief are drawn from our treaties with France, and from her own acts and laws, what opinion is to be formed of Mr. Adet's declaration, "That the Executive Directory regards the treaty of commerce concluded with Great Britain as a violation of the treaty made with France in 1778, and equivalent to a treaty of alliance with Great Britain?"
I will now advert to the charge, "That far from offering the French the succours which friendship might have given without compromising it, the American government in this respect violated the letter of treaties."
As far as I can discover, the latter part of this charge is rested wholly on the 17th article of the commercial treaty; which, therefore, it will be necessary to examine. The stipulations are mutual; but the examination will be simplified by considering their application to France alone. The 17th article then declares—
1st. That the ships of war and privateers of France may freely carry the ships and goods taken from their enemies into the ports of the United States, without being obliged to pay any fees to the officers of the admiralty or any other judges.
2d. That such prizes are not to be arrested or seized when they enter the ports of the United States.
3d. That the officers of the United States shall not make any examination concerning the lawfulness of such prizes—but
4th. That they may hoist sail at any time, and depart and carry their prizes to the places expressed in their commissions.
5th. That, on the contrary, no shelter or refuge shall be given in the ports of the United States, to such as shall have made prize of the subjects, people or property of France; but if such shall come in, being forced by stress of weather or the danger of the sea, all proper means shall be vigorously used that they go out and retire from thence as soon as possible.
It will also be convenient here to notice the stipulations contained in the 22d article. These are
1st. That foreign privateers not belonging to French subjects or citizens, having commissions from any other prince or state in enmity with France, shall not fit their ships in the ports of the United States.
2d. Nor sell their prizes, nor in any other manner exchange their ships, merchandise, or any other lading;
3d. Nor purchase victuals, except such as shall be necessary for their going to the nearest port of the prince or state from which they have commissions.
The cases that have occurred in the course of the present war in relation to our treaty with France, particularly the 17th and 22d articles just mentioned, have led to numerous discussions in which several points have been deliberately settled either by legislative or executive acts, or by judicial decisions.
The first important executive act was the proclamation of neutrality by the President of the United States. This was issued on the 22d of April, 1793.
At the next meeting of Congress on the 3d of December, 1793, the President laid this proclamation before both houses. The Senate in their address in answer to the President's speech, thus expresses their opinion of the proclamation.
"We deem it a measure well timed, and wise; manifesting a watchful solicitude for the welfare of the nation and calculation to promote it."
The address of the House of Representatives was unanimously agreed to. We read in it this paragraph. "The United States having taken no part in the war which had embraced, in Europe, the powers with whom they have the most extensive relations the maintenance of peace was justly to be regarded as one of the most important duties, of the magistrate charged with the faithful execution of the laws. We accordingly witness, with approbation and pleasure, the vigilance with which you have guarded against an interruption of that blessing, by your proclamation, admonishing our citizens of the consequences of illicit or hostile acts towards the belli-
gerent parties; and promoting by a declaration of the existing legal state of things an easier admission of our right to the immunities belonging to our situation."
Yet this is the instrument, thus approved by Congress, and whose only object was to caution our citizens to avoid certain acts which would violate the laws of nations, which Mr. Adet has ventured to call "an insidious proclamation of neutrality!"
The next executive act noticed by Mr. Adet, is the letter of the 4th of August 1793, written by the President's command, by the secretary of the treasury, to the collectors of the customs, and accompanied by the rules which the President had adopted, for preventing all armaments in favor of any of the belligerent powers. These rules were considered as just and necessary deductions from the laws of neutrality established and received among nations. The letter from the secretary of the treasury is explanatory of these rules, and among other instructions, particularly points the collectors to the 17th and 22d articles of our treaty with France; left by inattention or misconception of them, the might be injured and her enemies benefited. The letter concludes with enjoining the collectors to execute those instructions "with vigilance, care, activity and impartiality" because omissions would tend to expose the government to injurious imputations and suspicions, and proportionally to commit the good faith and peace of the country. How could such rules, with such reasons to enforce them, not escape censure? They were framed and required to be executed with strict impartiality; and consequently were to prevent Frenchmen continuing those aggressions on our sovereignty and neutrality, which had been commenced under Mr. Genet's orders, and which were calculated to involve us in a war with Britain, Spain and Holland, for at that time there were all combined against France. Frenchmen were to have no other preferences than those secured to them by treaty; (except that they were not forbidden to sell their lawful prizes in our ports) and our own citizens were to be restrained from committing hostilities under the banners of France, as well as those of other powers.
The third offensive act was the President's submitting to Congress these measures, and suggesting the expediency of extending our legal code, giving competent jurisdiction to the courts, and providing adequate penalties to prevent or punish violations of the laws of nations.
The next complaint respects the act of Congress passed on the 5th of June 1794, "for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States," being those to which their attention had been called by the President's speech. Mr. Adet asks, "What was its result?" and gives himself the following answer: "In consequence of this law, the greater part of the French privateers have been arrested, as well as their prizes; not upon formal depositions, nor 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, that their conviction was sufficient to authorize them without complaint or regular information, to cause the privateers to be prosecuted in virtue of the law above-mentioned." And "when the ministers of the Republic have asked for justice of the government, for the vexations experienced by the privateers, in contempt of the 17th article of the treaty, they have never been able to obtain satisfaction."
Judging only by these declarations of Mr. Adet, a stranger would imagine there had been a combination of the general and state governments and of our courts, to harass and do injustice to Frenchmen engaged in privateering. But our own citizens place a different estimate on this impeachment of their President, their Senators and Representatives in Congress, their Judges and other public officers: and an examination of the cases cited by Mr. Adet to support his assertions will manifest their incorrectness.
First Case. The French privateer Sans Pareil and her prize the Perseverance.
On the 26th August 1794 Mr. Fauchet complained that the prize had been seized on the pretext that the Sans Pareil had been illegally armed in the United States. The answer of September 3d from the Secretary of State, which Mr. Adet censures "as indicative of delay," assured him that the Secretary had urged the Governor of Rhode-Island, where the prize was carried, to report the circumstances of the case without delay. On the 27th of September, the Secretary informed Mr. Fauchet that the Governor had decided that the prize should be restored. On the 17th of October Mr. Fauchet renewed his complaint, for on the suit of the claimant the prize had again been arrested by process from the District Court. The Secretary of state answered on the 22d, with informa-
tion that ought to have satisfied Mr. Fauchet. For admitting that agreeably to the law of the 5th of June, 1794, the Courts had authority, and were bound in duty to take cognizance of captures made within the jurisdiction of the United States, or by privateers illegally fitted in their ports (the right of doing which Mr. Fauchet did not contest) they could not refuse it in the case of the prize of the Sans Pareil: the guard against vexatious prosecutions being the judgment for costs and damages to which an unjust prosecutor is exposed. The circular letter written on this occasion to the governor of the States manifests the solicitude of our government to prevent vexatious suits.
2d. Case. Glat and Gibbs. By the copy of the proceedings in the Supreme Court of the United States, in this case, you will see that the Court did not, as stated by Mr. Adet, determine, "That the tribunals could decide whether a prize belonged to enemies or to neutrals." The question before the Court was of the cognizance of a captured vessel and cargo, the former the property of a Swede and the latter belonging partly to some Swedes and partly to a citizen of the United States. The opinion therefore pronounced by the Supreme Court applied to the case in which one of the claimants was a citizen of the United States. And after solemn argument, the court decided "That the district court of Maryland had jurisdiction and should accordingly proceed to determine upon this case agreeable to law and right."
I will add only one more remark—That the 17th article, the letter of which we are charged with violating, in suffering our courts to take cognizance of French prizes, expressly refers to "The ships and goods taken from their enemies;" and it is the "examination concerning the lawfulness of such prizes," which the article forbids. But no examination of such prizes has been attempted by our government or tribunals, unless on clear evidence, or reasonable presumption, that the captures were made in circumstances, which amounted to a violation of our sovereignty, and territorial rights.
3d. Case. The French privateer L'Ami de la Pointe a Petre, Captain William Talbot, and her Dutch prize, the Vrouw, Christian Magdalena.
To the information contained in the papers collected in this case, I have to add, that this cause was finally decided in the Supreme Court in August term 1795. The court were unanimously of opinion that in the particular circumstances of Talbot's case, notwithstanding his French commission, and his taking an oath of allegiance to the French Republic, he continued to be a citizen of the United States. But the cause, as I am informed, did not appear to have turned on this point. Talbot had associated with one Ballard, commanding an armed vessel called the Ami de la Liberte, which had been fitted out in the United States, and had no commission. Talbot and Ballard cruised together as consorts; and in fact it was Ballard's vessel that took the prize; Talbot not coming up till an hour after the capture. Ballard was afterwards tried before Circuit Court for piracy.
The court were of opinion, from the tenor of the evidence, that Talbot's vessel was owned by citizens of the United States, to whom the prize money would eventually find its way in case of restitution to the captors.
Ballard and Talbot were both citizens of Virginia. The attempt of the latter to become a French citizen was considered to be fraudulent, being made for the sole purpose of obtaining a commission, under color of which he might plunder the subjects of nations with whom the United States were at peace.
An observation ought not to be omitted here—That although the captors, Talbot and others, had been defeated both in the district and circuit courts; yet they carried the cause up to the supreme court: thus using the legal right of appealing to the court in the last resort; a right which alike exercised by the subjects of powers who were enemies to France, has formed a principal subject of Mr. Fauchet's and Mr. Adet's continued complaints.
4th. Under the head of complaints for vexatious prosecutions, Mr. Adet mentions only two cases in which damages and interest were allowed to the French captors, viz. One of la Nuestra Senora del Carmen, at Rhode-Island—and the other of la Princesse des Austrias, at New-York. "Yet (says he) the tribunals have always allowed damages to the captured, when they have declared the prizes illegal." How far the facts will warrant this last assertion, I am not possessed of documents to determine. I presume it is to be understood in a general sense only, and to admit of exceptions. And in this sense there will be no difficulty in admitting the truth of the assertion and accounting for it. The captures here referred to were made either within our jurisdictional line, or by illegal privateers, being such as were equipped in whole or in part in the ports of the United States. Of these material
facts, the captors could not be ignorant: consequently they could have no apology for defending their unjust claims in our courts; and of course, were justly condemned in costs and damages.
In the case of the prizes of the privateer the Citizen of Marseilles, damages were claimed by the captors, but denied. For those prizes had been considered in the district court to be illegal. And although the sentence of that court was reversed in the circuit court, yet it was upon the introduction of new testimony, on the part of the captors. This last decision was affirmed in the supreme court, yet without damages; inasmuch as the testimony was considered to be so ambiguous as to justify the appeal.
The same remarks apply to the prizes of the privateer Gen. Laveaux; with this addition, that one of the Judges dissented from the opinion of the court, being firmly of opinion that this privateer was covered American property.
The privateer la Parisienne had been re-gistered as an American coasting vessel, under the name of the Hawk. During the embargo, in the spring of 1794, she slipped out of Charleston and went to Port de Paix, where she was sold to one Blochos, a Frenchman, who armed her and provided her with a commission. Having afterwards arrived at Charleston, she was recognized and prosecuted for a breach of the revenue laws, in having gone to a foreign port whilst she was in the legal predicament of a coaster. The district court condemned her; but on the application of Blochos to have her restored on paying the appraised value, the judge permitted him to take her, in a state of warlike equipment. Shortly afterwards she put to sea and captured two valuable British prizes, the brigantines Cæsar and Favorite. On their arrival, the one at Charleston, the other at Savannah, suits were commenced to obtain their restitution as having been captured by an illegal privateer. The decrees of the courts were in favor of the captors, but without damages. The supreme court disapproved of the restitution of the privateer without dismantling her; and considered the mistake committed in this respect a sufficient reason to cover the party prosecuting from the payment of damages.
All the other cases of captures by French privateers which have been brought up to the supreme court were decided at last August term. In some of them, the circumstances would not have warranted an award of damages, in others, the counsel for the captors omitted to ask for them. When demanded, you know it is in the discretion of the court to grant or refuse them: this discretion being regulated by all the circumstances of each case. Hence when a party is drawn before a court without good cause and vexatiously, damages are always given; but are denied when there appears a reasonable cause of controversy.
5th. Mr. Adet having briefly noticed several cases by name, seems to reserve those of the Vengeance and Cassius for a full display of unwarrantable conduct in the government and courts of the United States, and therefore desists on them at some length; but with so many aberrations from the facts, with so many erroneous ideas concerning our jurisprudence, and so many injurious insinuations respecting our courts and their officers, it will be necessary that you should learn the true history of these cases from authentic documents.
Case of the French privateer La Vengeance.
For the full history of this privateer and her prize, I must refer you to the documents in the case. The principal facts are these. About the latter end of June or beginning of July, 1795, the privateer La Vengeance, arrived at New-York with a valuable Spanish prize called the Princesa de las Asturias. Don Diego Pintado, the owner, commenced a suit for his vessel, on the ground that she had been taken by an illegal privateer. The suit was instituted by Mr. Troup, not wantonly, but upon information which was afterwards verified by the oaths of several witnesses. In the progress of the cause these witnesses were contradicted by the witnesses produced on behalf of the captors for whom a decree was finally given; the clashing evidence preponderating, in the judge's opinion, in favor of the captors; but he expressly declared that there was probable cause for the seizure.
After this suit for the prize had been commenced, the Spanish Consul complained to Mr. Harrison, the district attorney, in his official capacity, of a violation of law, on the part of the La Vengeance, in consequence of which a Spanish subject had been injured. Mr. Harrison upon inquiry found at least a probability that the complaint respecting the privateer was true. This probability arose from what he considered as affording the certainty of material proof: and, therefore, in conformity with his official duty commenced
a prosecution on the act of Congress for bidding the arming of privateers in our ports. The decision of this and of the prize cause depended on the same evidence. The decision being in favor of the captors, Mr. Harrison acquiesced in it as it respected the privateer, and he united with his associate counsel in the prize cause in advising the like submission in that case. But the Spanish Consul deemed it his duty to pursue the claim to the court in the last resort. This can warrant no complaint: for Mr. Harrison remarks that perhaps there never were causes in which more contradictory and irreconcilable evidence was offered, and in which the minds of the auditors were more divided as to the real state of facts.
The second public suit against the privateer was for exporting arms and ammunition from the United States, when such exportation was prohibited by law. The evidence which appeared in the other causes, gave rise to this prosecution; and upon the trial the judge condemned the privateer. An appeal from this sentence was interposed by the French Consul. The appeal was heard in the circuit court: and upon 'new evidence' the sentence of the district court was reversed.
Mr. Adet complains, that while one suit was pending for the prize, and another against the privateer, the district attorney should exhibit a second information against the privateer, on which she was arrested anew for having exported arms in violation of a law of the United States, which was in force when the Vengeance failed from New-York; and that this information was filed on the simple declaration of Mr. Giles, the marshal of the court, who as informer was to share part of the confiscation. As Mr. Harrison remarks, it was in favor of the privateer, that this second information was filed 'while the first was pending'; because it saved time. Had he postponed the latter until the first had been decided, there might have been some foundation for a charge of unnecessary delay. Mr. Harrison's state of the case shews that this second information was not made on the declaration of the Marshal; but on the evidence that appeared on the examination of the first.
Mr. Adet having been pleased to censure the conduct of the attorney, clerk, and marshal of the district court of New-York, in justice to them, I have added to the other documents in this case, the letters of Mr. Harrison and Mr. Troup. They will answer the double purpose of justifying them and of vindicating our government and tribunals.
Mr. Adet particularly notices the papers he had received from St. Domingo, "proving (as he lays) in the most convincing manner, that the Vengeance (a Vengeance) had arrived at Port de Paix without any armament or equipment whatever, and that she had been sold, armed, and equipped wholly, and commissioned as a privateer, on the territory of the Republic. These documents were certificates of the General, the Ordonnateur, and of the greater part of the principal officers of St. Domingo," &c.—He hastened to communicate to the Secretary of State, and to request him to order the attorney of New-York District to stay the proceedings instituted in the name of the Government: there was nothing done with them, and Mr. Harrison continued his prosecution. It will appear by my letter of October 1st, 1795, to Mr. Harrison, that these papers were sent to him, and by his answer of October 3d, that he received them. That the bill of sale (one of the papers) was produced to the court in behalf of the claimant of the privateer, but that the certificate of Gen. Laveaux could not be considered as evidence in the cause, and if it had been admissible, "the claimant would be very cautious of producing it; on account of its differing from the witnesses."
6th. Case of the privateer Le Cassius. For the full history of this case, I must also refer you to the documents; and here only present you with a concise statement.
The Cassius under the name of les Jumeaux, was fitted and armed for a vessel of war in the port of Philadelphia, in violation of a law of the United States. In December, 1794, having escaped from the port to descend the river, orders were given to the militia of the state of Delaware to intercept her. The attempt was made and failed—the crew of les Jumeaux, which was unexpectedly found to be very numerous, resisted the officers who went on board, manned their cannon, and brought them to bear on the cutter in which the militia (about 40 in number) were embarked. Their force being inadequate to the enterprise they retired, with an intention to return the next day with a reinforcement. They did so: but les Jumeaux had failed and gone to sea. The agent Mr. Guenet, by whom les Jumeaux had been fitted out, was tried in the circuit court at Philadelphia, convicted of the offence, and received sentence of fine and imprisonment.
Les Jumeaux proceeded to St. Domingo, Samuel B. Davis a citizen of the Uni-

ed States, there took the command of her, with a commission from the French government. Davis probably failed from Philadelphia in les Jumeaux for the purpose of finally taking the command of her. Her name was now changed to Le Cassius; and on a cruise she took a schooner called the William Lindsay, belonging to Messrs. Yard and Ketland of Philadelphia; Mr. Ketland having purchased an interest in her after her sailing. The schooner and her cargo were condemned as prize at St. Domingo. In August, 1795, Capt. Davis, commanding Le Cassius, came with her to Philadelphia. She was immediately known. Mr. Yard, with a view of obtaining an indemnification for the loss of the schooner and her cargo, libelled Le Cassius in the district court, and caused the Capt. to be arrested. Soon after the supreme court, being in session, Capt. Davis, counsel, applied for and obtained a prohibition to the district court, to stop its proceedings; by which the suits both against him and Le Cassius were defeated. The prohibition was granted on this principle, that the trial of prizes, taken without the jurisdiction of the United States, and carried to places within the jurisdiction of France, for adjudication, by French vessels, and all questions incidental to it, belonging exclusively to the French tribunals; and consequently that its vessels of war and their officers are not liable to the process of our courts, predicated upon such capture and subsequent proceeding within the jurisdiction of the French government.
Messrs. Yard and Ketland having failed to obtain an indemnification in this mode, procured new proofs, on the information of Mr. Ketland, to be issued from the circuit court by which Le Cassius was attached as a vessel armed and equipped as a ship of war in the port of Philadelphia, with intent to cruise and commit hostilities against nations with whom the United States were at peace; in violation of the act of Congress prohibiting such armaments. Mr. Adet complained that the process was taken out of the circuit court because as he alleged it had no jurisdiction, and that it would be attended with delay—that court sitting but twice a year; whereas the district court, in which it was said the prosecution [if at all permitted] should have been commenced, was always open, I consulted gentlemen of legal knowledge on the point of jurisdiction in this case, and they were decided in their opinion that the circuit court had jurisdiction, and exclusively of the district court.
You will see also, in Mr. Rawle's statement of this case, that this opinion was adopted and supported by two gentlemen of eminence at the bar. You will further see in that statement, that the government of the United States had no part in originating this prosecution; and that the district attorney, in behalf of the United States, took measures at each term of the circuit court to prepare the cause for trial, and on a plea calculated to defeat the prosecution. At length in October term 1796 the cause was brought to a hearing. In the course of the argument the question of jurisdiction presented itself. The court adjourned till the next day to consider of it, and on the following morning dismissed the suit. As soon as I had received notice of this event (on the 19th of October last) I wrote to Mr. Adet, informing him that Le Cassius remained in the custody of the marshal, but ready to be delivered to his order. To this no answer was returned; but he mentions the matter in the notes subjoined to his note of the 15th November, intimating that the United States were answerable in this case for a violation of treaties and for the damages Le Cassius has sustained. Here the affair rests.
In his letter of the 23d of June, 1796, which you will find among the papers respecting the Cassius, Mr. Adet mentioned the affair of the Favorite of New-York; and intimated an idea that the executive might in like manner cause the prosecution against Le Cassius to cease. But the proceedings in the case of the Favorite were wholly in the hands of the executive officers, who were under the President's immediate controul, and to whom, on evidence satisfactory to the executive, orders were given to discontinue the process. In this affair of the Favorite we are fortunate in finding one case of which Mr. Adet contrary to his assertion in his note of November 15, acknowledges that justice was done by our government. You will observe in Mr. Fauchet's letter of the 23d of Sept. 1794, a very formidable complaint in the affair of the Favorite: that it was pretended that a privateer fitted for a cruise had deposited arms on board her, and that this pre-
text was used for visiting and pillaging her: That she was a ship of war of the Republic, then serving as a store ship until she could be repaired: That the sovereignty of France was violated, and her flag insulted. Yet by the letter of John Lamb, Esq. collector of the port of New-York, of the 22d Nov. 1794, you will see that at the time the seizure was made of the suspected articles on board the Favorite "she having been totally dismantled, her crew sent on board other ships of war, and her sails, rigging and other materials sold at public auction, she was considered as a hulk; otherwise the event would not have taken place." The collector further declares that the charge of pulling down the national flag and hoisting another in its place was groundless.
These are all the cases expressly mentioned by Mr. Adet, in which French privateers and their prizes have been bro't under the cognizance of our courts of justice; and all, therefore, to which an answer can be directed. Had he cited the other cases, which he says would fill a volume we have no doubt that there would be found in them as in those which have been mentioned, abundant reason to justify the government and the tribunals.
Mr. Adet's complaints are not confined to imputations of injustice experienced by French privateers and their prizes from our courts.
1st. "He protests against the violation of the 17th article of the treaty, in contempt of which the American tribunals have taken cognizance of the validity of prizes made by French ships of war or privateers, under pretext of original armament or augmentation of armament in the United States; or of capture within their line of jurisdiction." But his predecessor Mr. Fauchet, after saying that our admiralty courts interfered in prize causes on the ground of "seizure within the jurisdictional line of the United States, or of armament or augmentation of armament of the capturing vessels in their ports," immediately adds "On this subject, Sir, you request me to specify to you a circumstance in which a prize was arrested, which did not come under that denomination, and you take the trouble to establish, that they have a right to interfere in every case that can be bro't under those heads. In the first place, Sir, I never have, at least to my recollection contested the right of your courts, or of the government to interfere in matters of the nature of those you mention: but I complain of the facility with which prizes have been thrown into those two classes, which do not belong to them." He then says that he could cite a great number of affairs to which he alludes; but contents himself with mentioning only two. The first is the case of Talbot, of which I have already given some details, and which with the documents referred to will shew this to have been an unfortunate instance to support his complaint. The other is that of the prizes of the Citizen of Marseilles, also already mentioned, and which will not justify a complaint; for altho' the final decision was in favor of the privateer, yet the sentence of the district court was not reversed in the circuit court but upon the introduction of new testimony; and the supreme court allowed no damages, because the testimony was so ambiguous as to justify the appeal.
But quitting the contradictory declarations of the French ministers; and referring you to the letter dated August 5th 1793, from the secretary of state to our minister at Paris, (which has been published) for the reasoning of our government on this subject, and the demonstration of their right and duty as a neutral power, to prohibit any of the belligerent powers arming their vessels in our ports, consequently to restore to their proper owners prizes taken and bro't in by vessels so unlawfully armed, or when taken within our line of jurisdiction, I will only add here—That the principles of the rules on this subject first adopted by the President on the most mature deliberation received afterwards the sanction of Congress, by their act of the 5th of June, 1794, and of the judges in all their judicial proceedings, in the prize causes in question. If then the 17th article of the French treaty has been violated, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judges of the federal Courts have all deliberately concurred in the violation. This no American citizen will be inclined to believe, and we might suppose that the consideration of such concurrence in one opinion would any where produce a pause, and some diffidence in pronouncing it erroneous. Neither the rules adopted by the President nor the act of Congress have made a new law respecting such prizes; they
have only directed the mode of proceeding to fulfil our neutral duties agreeably to the universal law of nations . The judges have applied this law; but not without due attention to the obligations of our treaties, which they regard as supreme laws of the land.
2. Mr. Adet "protests against the violation of the 17th article of the treaty, in contempt of which English vessels, which had made prize on Frenchmen, have been admitted into the ports of the United States." The construction of this part of the 17th article for which Mr. Adet, after his predecessor Mr. Fauchet contends, is this—That if a national ship of war of the enemies of France has at any time, and in any part of the globe, made prize of a French vessel, such ship of war is to be allowed no shelter or refuge in our ports, unless she is driven in thro' stress of weather; and then she is to be made to depart as soon as possible. On the contrary, the construction adopted by the Executive of the United States, and expressed in the rules before mentioned, which had been transmitted to the collectors in August 1793, was this—That privateers only of the enemies of France were absolutely excluded from our ports, except as before, when compelled to enter through stress of weather; pursuant to the 22d article of the treaty; while the national ships of war of any other nation were entitled to an asylum in our ports, excepting those which should have made prize of the people or property of France, coming in with their prizes .
On the 9th of September 1793, the secretary of state thus expressed to the British minister the determination of the Executive (6) " The public ships of war of both nations [French and English] enjoy a perfect equality in our ports, 1st, in cases of urgent necessity—2d, in cases of comfort and convenience—and 3d, in the time they choose to continue, and tho' the admission of prizes and privateers of France is exclusive, yet it is the effect of treaty ," &c.
In support of our construction of the treaty, it has been observed, that (7) "the first part of the 17th article relates to French ships of war and privateers entering our ports with their prizes : the 2d contrasts 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 those forbidden, are those which bring their prizes with them." To these observations I will add; —That if the literal construction contended for by the French ministers were admitted, then altho' the public ships of war which had made prize of French people or property, would be excluded from our ports, yet the prizes of such public ships might be received, and they might be sold too; for the prohibition in the 22d article of the treaty applies only to privateers & their prizes; while the government of the United States judged that the 17th article was intended to exclude the prizes made on the French by public ships of war as well as those made by privateers ; and gave directions accordingly to have them excluded. Further, if it had been intended to exclude from our ports the public ships of war of the enemies of France, coming without any prize , then they would doubtless have been comprehended in one provision with the privateers in the 22d article; for privateers are thereby excluded, whether they came with or without prizes. But public ships of war are not comprehended, or at all referred to in the 22d article; whence the conclusion is fair, that it was not intended to forbid them coming alone; and consequently that the exclusion provided in the 17th article, applies to them only when they would come into our ports with their prizes; this last clause of the same article being in its form opposed to the first clause which admits the entrance of French ships with their prizes. Besides, if a public ship of war of the enemies of France comes into our ports without any prize, how is it to be known whether she has or has not made prize of the people or property of the French? Who is to erect a tribunal to investigate and pronounce on the fact? But if she comes with a prize the case presents no difficulty; she brings with her the evidence which goes to the exclusion of her and her prize.
I must now advert to some others of Mr. Adet's charges against the Government of the United States.
1st. "It [the Government of the United States] put in question whether it should execute the treaties, or receive the agents of the rebel and proscribed princes." And is there any thing in this unjustifiable or extraordinary? Was it easy for a nation distant as ours, to obtain promptly such accurate information
as would enable it duly to estimate the varying condition of France? In 1791, the constitution formed by the constituent assembly was accepted by Louis the 16th; it was notified to the United States in March, 1792. Congress desired the President to communicate to the King of the French their congratulation, on the occasion. In August, 1792, the King was suspended. In September Royalty was abolished; and in Jan. 1793, Louis the 16th tried and condemned by the Convention, suffered death. Was it easy to keep pace with the rapid succession of such revolutionary events? And was it unlawful for our government under such circumstances even to deliberate ? I do not find that information of the death of the King was received from our Minister at Paris, until May 1st, 1793. The news, however, had previously arrived in such manner as to attract the attention of Government: for in April the President had determined to receive a Minister from the French Republic. And it is remarkable that this was before he knew that a Minister had arrived in the United States. This promptitude in deciding a leading question does not bear any strong marks of hesitation. And was there no merit in this ready determination to acknowledge the French Republic? Had it been before acknowledged by any power on the Globe? How long did France hesitate to acknowledge the Republic of the United States? A year and a half. And under what circumstances was the acknowledgment finally made? After the capture of a whole British army appeared to have established our Independence. But of this more hereafter.—In matters of importance (and what could be more important than the decision of a neutral and allied nation on questions perhaps involving war or peace?) it is the part of wisdom to reject all deliberations even on points which do not obviously present difficulties? Will not prudence dictate to him who is to decide great national questions, rather to deliberate long, than risk the consequences of hasty decisions?
2d. "It made an insidious proclamation of neutrality."
I have already remarked that this proclamation received the pointed approbation of Congress; and I might truly add of the great body of the Citizens of the United States. And what was the general object of this proclamation? To preserve us in a state of peace. And have not the Ministers of France declared that their Government, did not desire us to enter into the war? And how was peace to be preserved? By an impartial neutrality. And was it not then the duty of the Chief Executive to proclaim this to our Citizens, and to inform them what acts would be deemed departures from their neutral duties? This was done by the proclamation. It declared it to be the duty, interest and disposition of the United States to adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial toward the belligerent powers: It warned the Citizens to avoid all acts which might contravene that disposition: It declared that whoever of the Citizens should render himself liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing or abetting hostilities against any of those powers, or by carrying to any of them articles deemed contraband of war, would not receive the protection of the United States against such punishment and forfeiture; and that the President had given instruction to the proper officers to prosecute all persons who should violate the law of nations with respect to the powers at war or any of them. To what in all this can the epithet insidious be applied? On the contrary, is not the whole transaction stamped with candour and good faith?
3d. "By its chicaneries , it abandoned French privateers to its Courts of Justice." Abandoned them to its Courts of Justice! Sir, you know many of the judges personally and all of them by reputation, and that their character needs no vindication from such an insinuation. They are Judges with whose administration of justice our own citizens are satisfied; and we believe they may challenge the world to furnish a proof that they have not administered justice with equality, impartiality to foreigners. I will only add here one remark, that the correspondences with the French Ministers formerly published, joined to those now furnished you with the other documents accompanying them, will show how lovely they can complain of the proceedings in our Courts, and at the same time how little justice.
4th. "It eluded the amicable mediation of the Republic for breaking the chains of its Citizens at Algiers." We did not entertain any doubt of the friendly disposition of the French Republic to aid us in this
business. But what was really done we have never known. You will find herewith Mr. Fauchet's letter of June 4th, 1794, and the answer of the Secretary of State on the 6th, to which Mr. Adet refers. The information on the subject which Mr. Fauchet expected "in a little time from Europe" probably never arrived: At least it was never communicated to our Government. There is surely in the secretary's answer no evidence that our government were unwilling to accept the mediation of the Republic. On the contrary, we have relied upon it to aid our negotiations with the Barbary powers. Accordingly, when Colonel Humphreys went from hence in 1795, clothed with powers for negotiating peace with those States, he was particularly instructed to solicit the mediation of the French Republic; and for that purpose only, he went from Lisbon to Paris, where, through our Minister, the Committee of Public Safety manifested their disposition to contribute to the success of his mission. But Col. Humphreys was at the same time authorised to depute Joseph Donaldson, Esq. (who had been appointed Consul of the United States for Tunis and Tripoli, and who went with Col. Humphreys from America) to negotiate immediately a treaty with Algiers: for in a country where a negotiation depended on so many contingencies, it was of the last importance to be ready to seize the favorable moment to effect a peace, whenever it should offer. Such a moment presented on Mr. Donaldson's arrival at Algiers. He had not been there forty-eight hours before the Treaty was concluded. It is also a fact that it was effected without the aid of the French Consul at that place. However with respect to Mr. Donaldson's negotiation, we are well informed that "His not conferring with the Consul of France was not his fault; and if he had done it, that it would have injured his cause; neither the Republic nor her Consul enjoying any credit with the Dey." But we are at the same time informed that the cause of this was transitory, and ought not to hinder us from endeavoring to engage her interest for other places and in that place for future occasions. Agreeably to this idea the Agent of the United States applied to the French Consul, Herculais, at Algiers, the last spring, to recommend a suitable person to negotiate a Treaty with Tunis. The person recommended was employed, and we have been informed, had in part succeeded, and was expected to complete a treaty of peace. This information was communicated to our Minister at Paris in a letter dated 30th of August last, from the French Minister for foreign affairs, accompanied by an extract of a letter from the Consul Herculais.
In all these transactions, far from discovering a trace of evidence to support Mr. Adet's charge, the reverse is manifestly proved.
5th. "Notwithstanding treaty stipulations, it allowed to be arrested vessels of the State."
While we admit the fact that French vessels have been arrested, we deny that the arrests have infringed any treaty stipulations. The details in this letter and the documents referred to, appear to us entirely to exculpate the government. And if neither the executive nor our tribunals could in any case take cognizance of captures which the French privateers called prizes , then they might take our own vessels in our rivers and harbors and our citizens be without redress. "But (8) it is an essential attribute of the jurisdiction of every country to preserve peace, to punish acts in breach of it, and to restore property taken by force within its limits. Were the armed vessels of any nation to cut away one of our own from the wharves of Philadelphia, and to choose to call it a prize, would this exclude us from the right of redressing the wrong? Were it the vessel of another nation, are we not equally bound to protect it, while within our limits? Were it seized in any other waters or on the shores of the United States, the right of redressing is still the same; and humble indeed would be our condition were we obliged to depend for that on the will of a foreign consul, or on negotiation with diplomatic agents."
To be continued.
Lang, Brierley & Co.
Have received pr. the Alligator , from Liverpool, an additional supply of
G O O D S,
Consisting of Woolens, Hosiery, &c.—Likewise—an assortment of
Spy Glasses & Telescopes,
With a variety of other articles which they are opening for sale on their usual terms.

CHARLESTON, Jan. 7. There has just arrived here from Halifax, nine seamen of the crew of the transport Elizabeth, formerly belonging to the division of capt. Barney, and which was taken upon this coast some months ago. The American captain who brought them here has told me, that a great number of American vessels were daily carried into the ports of Nova Scotia, and that the English were in the practice of impressing all their seamen, and giving in their stead French prisoners.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 27. The Printers of the Federal Gazette were yesterday favored with a number of Hamburg papers to the 18th November, brought by the Anthony Mangan. The following, from an early perusal, appear to be the most prominent articles:—
That the Imperialists were making the most vigorous preparations to bombard Huningen, and to demolish all the fortifications at that place.—That the Austrians had approached so near to Kehl with their batteries as not only to fire into the town, but also into the fortifications of the bridge and of the bridge itself; and that the inhabitants of Kehl had received orders to remove with their effects to Strasbourg, as that place would be demolished.—That the head quarters of the Archduke Charles were at Offenburg.—That it was reported a cessation of arms was about to take place between the Imperialists and French, on the Rhine—that during the armistice a treaty of peace would be set on foot, and that a number of couriers were going backwards and forwards between Paris and Vienna.
JANUARY 31. Capt. Booth informs, that some time last month, the French Privateer Flying Fish, boarded a Genoese ship, and after an action of 3 glasses, captured her. The Genoese had one man killed and another wounded. The Mount Vernon was not then condemned. Orders are expected from St. Domingo respecting her; the governor is charged with partiality to the Americans by the Spanish merchants, which has for the present put a stop to all proceedings in this case, and an entire flaguation of business. Havannah.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28. The New-York Daily of Jan. 25, says, "Would it not be advisable at the present time to lay an embargo? What protection has American property against violation on the Atlantic? Our rights as a neutral nation, are totally disregarded. Our weaknesses exposes us to insults. To fit out a navy of considerable force, is an undertaking too expensive for the resources of an infant country. We have materials for ship-building, and about 40,000 seamen. A respectable fleet might be manned; but the enormous expense would extremely embarrass our finances, and impose on us burdens, which now cannot be calculated. That the English and French are hourly taking our vessels, is an undeniable fact: But that the Spaniards are acting the same character, is not well authenticated. There is the strongest suspicion, however, that the report is true—as they are pursuing a common cause with the French, and as the Cabinet of Spain is very much under the influence and direction of the French Republic."
FEBRUARY 1. The Schooner Citizen, Gilbert, 17 days from Guadalupe, is arrived at Norfolk. Capt. Gilbert of the Citizen informs, that Victor Hughes had issued orders for the capture of all vessels, bound to neutral ports if found within 3 leagues of a British island; that no vessels were captured and condemned under those orders previous to his sailing, amongst them the copper-bottomed Schooner Argus, of Baltimore. Capt. Gilbert was released because he had been captured before the order was issued.
FEBRUARY 4. Extra of a letter from captain Richter, of the brig Vigilance, to a merchant in this city. Fort-Penn, 27th Jan. 1797. "The 30th of Dec. I was boarded by the English Frigate Lynx, which, besides other indecent conduct, took from me a part of my own little adventure, and some boxes of soap which belonged to the cargo of the vessel, and moreover pressed three of my hands."
NEW-YORK, Feb. 4. By the arrival of the British packet, intelligence of considerable importance has been received. Europe seems generally disposed to put a period to the present ruinous and wasteful war; but it still is extremely doubtful whether additional millions will not be expended in another campaign. It will be difficult to settle the terms of a peace that shall appear honorable to all the parties concerned. Will the French resign all their conquered territory?—Will the pride of England, and the ambition of Austria, sheathe the sword on any other conditions? Bleeding and exhausted Europe calls for a cessation of hostilities. Ten years of unexampled prosperity will not repair the ravages of the present war. Manufactures are at a stand; the useful arts are palsied in their progress; and calamities, which no tongue can express and no pen can adequately delineate, are incessantly prevailing on human life. Under such circumstances, a false pride a courtly sense of honor, and trifling sacrifices, should not prevent the restoration of peace.
From the accounts come to hand the unweildy empire of Russia seems resolved on greater exertion against France; but a trifling commotion in Poland, or a formidable preparation on the part of the Turks will warn the ambitious and artful Catherine against wasting her strength abroad.
Victory continues to follow the footsteps of Buonaparte. Treading on the graves of Roman heroes, of patriots who struggled and who bled for their country, he is fired by their example; and will triumph over his enemies, or sleep in death with BRUTUS or with CATO.
It seems that Lord Malmesbury is the great novelty of the day, which attracts and engrosses the curiosity of the Parisians. "Whilst the people are insensible of all the transactions that take place on the frontiers (says the Quotidienne) a new object attracts their curiosity; and this is the English embassy. Lord Malmesbury is every where followed and observed; his most trifling actions are noticed, the meanest of his servants is a man of importance. They saw him in the Council of Five Hundred; they discovered him in the Louvre; they watched him into a bookseller's shop. It is known all over town what book he bought. Every one will tell you whether he uses an opera glass at the theatre. The lady who engages his attention, is universally known. The colour of his coat forms an object of general enquiry; and it is found highly interesting to know whether he wears a wig! Few persons give it a thought, that he is here to negotiate a peace."
The French Directory have announced the proposition for an armistice with the Austrians, but it does not appear to have taken place, except in regard to some points.
Nothing decisive on the subject of peace, but is certain that negotiations are on foot between the Emperor and the Republic.
BOSTON, Feb. 13.
IMPORTANT!
The following information was received by the Editors on Saturday evening, from a gentleman of respectability at Norwich, dated Feb. 7.
"I send you the inclosed newspaper in order that you may see that those daring villains, who have destroyed the property of our brethren at the Southward by FIRE are (apparently) advanced thus far on their way to Boston, and that you may caution your townsmen to be on their guard. A barn was burnt at Montville last night, and another at New-London—at the latter place, a white man, and a black, were apprehended on suspicion. A barn was burnt here yesterday, and another set fire to in the night, but a timely discovery was made by the watch."
Capt. Donnel, at Salem, from the territory of the redoubtable Victor Hughes, and who left that junior Madagascar, Jan. 23, informs, that up to that date, the most atrocious piracies continued to be committed on American property. Vessels brought in, were constantly condemned; The mode of trial being extremely irregular:—the only defence allowed of, was through a partial linguist, who seldom repeated half of the facts, furnished by the Americans, but always demanded six or eight joes, for his services. Hughes observed himself, in a moment of contrition, that his proceedings were improper; and that a day of retribution he expected would come. He remarked, that American vessels with certificates from the French Consuls should be respected; but what was to be certified was not mentioned. Capt. Williams, an American, was master of a privateer out of Guadalupe. On receiving his commission, he declared, he would exert himself to the utmost against the open enemies of France, but that it never should be said of him, that he troubled the vessels of neutrals, and above all, of his own country. On his cruise, instances occurred of his meeting with American vessels bound to British ports, whom he treated well, and furnished with many necessaries they were in need of. At length he captured a British ship with a cargo valued at 40,000, which he got safely in. Markets were bad.
Mr. Lee, at Salem, from Martinique in 20 days, was present at the landing of General Abercrombie. He came out of the Arethusa frigate—without other naval force, or any troops. Mr. L. heard nothing of the expedition against the Spanish ships at Trinidad. Provisions were low.
A letter from Petit Guave, of Nov. 19, says, one Gaston, a mulatto, is at the head of affairs; That he is a bitter enemy to Americans; that he continually insulted the Captains whose vessels were unjustly brought in; that he went to the lodgings of several of these unfortunate men, and directed their Landlords to "turn the poor devils out of doors."
FEBRUARY 15. Arrived yesterday, ship Caroline, Capt. Alden, 66 days from Liverpool. About 7 or 8 days since, fell in with Capt. Cutter, in a Schooner from St. Thomas for Portland—had lost both masts, &c. &c. Capt. Alden supplied him with spars for masts, and with provisions. Dec. 26, long. 34, lat. 38, spoke Capt. Zach. Swaine, from New-York for Greenock, and took from on board her, the Capt. (Spencer) and supercargo of Ichr. Polly, of Baltimore; who, after being out 33 days from Demerara for Baltimore, experienced a very severe gale, which carried away her masts, &c. &c. When left she had five feet water in hold—Capt. Spencer had been two days on the wreck before Capt. Swaine fell in with him. The crew of the Polly, proceeded on to Greenock with Captain Swaine.
Some time in December last, was taken up adrift to windward of Turk's island, the sloop Port Packet of Newbury-port. The vessel and cargo were sold at Turk's island, and ready for sea, bound to Charleston, S. C. There being no person on board, nor any boat nor log book, it was supposed that part of the crew had died, and the remainder had taken to their boat,
Capt. Aborn's ship from Batavia, carried into Guadalupe, cut out from thence by an English lugger, and carried into Tobago, is valued in Providence at 130,000 dollars.
The brig Hannah, Chace, 18 days from Guadalupe, arrived at Newburyport, last Friday. American vessels are continually captured and brought in, among these were, the St. Tammany, Dangerfield of Virginia; Polly of Portland, from LONDON; Robinson Cruise, Clarke, of New-York; Betsey, Clarke, of Norwich, and —, Blanchard, of North-Yarmouth.
On Saturday last arrived at Salem, brig Dolphin, Donnell, in 18 days from Basseterre, Guadalupe. Left there, brig Trial, Dean, of Salem, originally from Norfolk, for Cadiz, but suffering much in a heavy gale of wind, and losing his mate (Reuben Shad of Salem) two of his people, and his deck load, was running for a port in the West-Indies; when he was captured by a French privateer, and carried in. Ship Mohawk, Southerland, of Saco, from Barbadoes, cargo condemned, vessel had failed for New-York. Schooner Active, Atkins, of Penobscot, from Barbadoes, cargo condemned. Sch. Robinson Cruise, Church, from Barbadoes, captured, and 800 dollars taken from him. Schooner Commerce, Wilder of Boston, for Martinique, untried; —, Colbert, from LONDON, for Norfolk, blown off, and captured, cargo condemned, and his mate and people thrown into prison, because of three tons of powder on board. Fernald, of Portsmouth, taken by the French, and retaken by the English, was at Guadalupe without his vessel.
By a Proclamation, dated Quebec, December 31, His Majesty's free pardon is granted to all his land forces, who shall surrender themselves on or before the 1st day of August next, to any officer in either of the Canadas, Nova-Scotia at New-Brunswick.
At Trinity (Mart.) Jan. 9. —Snow Isabella, Halland, of Baltimore— At Pierre's, Sch's Friendship, Woodbury, of Salem ; and brig Betsey, Low, Portsmouth— At Fort-Royal , among other Americans, Capt. Eldridge, in sloop Stork, of Boston—and Sch. Nancy, Doane, of do.
VESSELS STORED. —Jan. 12, long. 96, ship President, Boyington, of Wiscasset, from Liverpool for N. York.—Ship America, Smith, 6 days from Boston, over Hatteras-Shoals, for Edenton.
On the 21st ult. the sch. Mary, Capt. Appleton, from St. Croix for Wiscasset, got on shore on the eastern part of Demaracove Island, and in the storm of Sunday following, went entirely to pieces.
On the 19th Jan. in lat. 22, long. 65, 20, Capt. Kimball (arrived at Salem) passed along side a vessel bottom up; she appeared about 70 tons, had a black bottom newly payed, and swam very deep—could see no name, nor could take any thing from her.
CENTINEL.
Our readers will see, from an attentive perusal of the foreign articles in this day's Centinel, that the indications of an approaching Peace, are stronger than they before have been. The correspondence between the French and English Negotiators are 14 days later than those published, having been detained at Portland, since the arrival of Capt. Choate. By them it will appear, That the English Minister to France, has declared that his Court considers the principle of reciprocal compensation as the basis of a negotiation; and the French Executive Directory, by their Minister, have formally and positively acknowledged that principle; again inviting Lord Malmesbury to name and point out the specific objects thereof. This his Lordship has promised to lay before his Court without a moment's delay. If the negotiation is seriously begun, we think it will terminate in peace. Besides these indications, the continued passing of couriers between Paris and Vienna—the postponement of the Diet of Hungary; and the pacific declarations of the President of the Executive Directory to the Minister Plenipotentiary, and Ambassador of the Kings of the Two Sicilies, and of Sardinia, form a mass on which the hope of Peace, the ensuing spring may rest with a good degree of rectitude.
Notwithstanding the above prospect, hostile operations were not suspended; and the public expectation must be still eagerly on the stretch for further European accounts. Operations of much moment were in train of execution. The French army of the Lower Rhine was preparing for a powerful onset on the Austrian corps on the Sieg.—The Siege of Kehl was approaching the crisis of affairs—and the armies of Italy were in positions so critical that scarce a day would transpire without an event of moment—Gen. Buonaparte was on the point of attacking Gen. Davidowitch. The former was at Verona, the latter at Roveredo; a distance of but a few miles; while Gen. Alvinzy lay on the opposite side of the French. The armistice so frequently mentioned, related merely to an agreement between the opposing Generals on the Lower Rhine, respecting out-posts.
A naval expedition is also on float at Brest.—Its destination according to the most rational conjecture is Portugal—and the recall of Gen. Solano from the French army of the Rhine and Moselle.—The liberty granted the Spanish Court to march troops through the French territory from Nice to the Pyrenees—as also the assembling of a Spanish army in Estremadura, are sufficient grounds for the conjecture. The Portuguese it appears, are arming at all points; and Mr. Pitt in his last war estimates has an article providing
for an English force to be employed in Portugal.
Since writing the above, Capt. Alden, in ship Caroline, has arrived here from Liverpool, in 66 days; by whom we have received London papers two days later than received by Capt. Choate:—They do not contradict any part of the preceding; but the complexion of the London prints have more the cast of continued hostilities, than an expectation of approaching Peace.
The immediate filling up of a voluntary loan of Eighteen Millions sterling in a few hours, may give the appearance we suggest; and may possibly alter the disposition (if it had one) of the English Ministry in regard to Peace.
FEBRUARY 16.
The English fleet has been obliged to evacuate the Gulf of Florence, and 3 British ships of war have been burnt at Ajaccio.
The division of Richery's fleet, which had been detached on a secret expedition, had arrived at the Isle de Croix .
The new Italian Republic of Modena, Bologna, Ferrara, &c. has already adopted the French Calendar, and several other forms of that country.
ITALY, so long subject to the yoke of Civil and Ecclesiastical tyranny, will ere long be emancipated from the condition of debasement and servitude. The Tree of Liberty, it seems, has been planted at Modena, under whose shade a regenerated people will rejoice in their deliverance.—Contrasting their present situation with the dreary despotism of former times, they never will resign the rights which they have gained.
Notwithstanding the oppression which has been exercised over Italy, the arts and sciences have never been totally laid aside. The pencil and the chisel, even at the feet of Tyranny, have done honor to mankind; and a spirit of investigation, which no power could curb, has opened the volume of Nature, and demonstrated the RIGHTS and DUTIES of man. Chemistry, Electricity, and almost every other branch of knowledge has been accelerated and advanced by the labor of the Italian. Thus circumstanced, to hold them much longer in chains will be utterly impossible. They are destined to be free. They are prepared for a revolution. Desecrating the worship of images and of priests, they will only render homage where it is due—at the altar of "the unknown GOD." The fair temple of Liberty will rise on the ruins of the Vatican; and the moulderings, tottering fabrics of Superstition will crumble into dust before the breath of an enlightened people.
Wednesday last His Excellency JOHN ADAMS, Esq. as President of the United States; and the Hon. THOMAS JEFFERSON, Esq. as V. President of the same, were declared in the presence of the Legislature of the Union, and a large concourse of citizens, in the city of Philadelphia.
The counterfeiters of the Bank Bills have been examined before Judge Lowell, and fully committed for trial in June.
POST-ROADS. —The immense increase of post-roads, must evidence the growing population and business of our country. Mails are carried over 14,385 miles of territory—in which distance there are upwards of 480 Post-offices.
We have not heard how the late melancholly catastrophe at Philadelphia originated, but in the debate on the Post-office law respecting news papers, Mr. Murray observed, that he thought a printer might come to get his house burnt down by trying to dry his papers agreeably to the law. He said, the most affecting accident ever heard of in Philadelphia, had perhaps occurred in that way—At least the fire began in that part of Mr. Brown's office, where the papers are packed up. Mr. Brown is since dead of an inflammation of the lungs. Thus the melancholly scene is ended.
NEWBURY-PORT, Feb. 10. Extra of a letter from capt. Tobias Ham, of the ship Commerce, of this town, to his owners, dated Cape Nicholas Mole Jan. 1. SIR,
I am very sorry to inform you of our sad misfortune: on the 25th of last month, in lat. 21, 30, N. long. 71, W. we were captured by a French privateer, name unknown, at seven in the evening. After hailing, fired two broad sides and forty muskets, which wounded your son, Mr. Watson, Backfetter and Joseph, but no ways dangerous. Mr. Frothingham and myself were kept on board the privateer until the morning, meanwhile they plundered us of Beef, Pork, Bread, Potatoes, spare Rigging, Canvass, Blocks, &c. She mounted 12 fies; we found two six pound shot on deck, and took 12 musket balls out of the mizen mast, several holes through the mizen and one through the crossjack yard, taffrail rail shot away—it is impossible to tell the whole damage until the ship is discharged; they took your son, Mr. Watson, Jacobs, Hendrick and Lewy on board the privateer, and sent on board a prize master and 5 sailors to take the ship into Cape Francois; on the 29th we had the good fortune to see Admiral Duckworth's squadron, which frighted them so they took my yawl and left the ship, and told me to keep close to the wind, expecting the ships would not fetch the Cape, which they did not, but as soon as the boat left me I up helm, set the light sails, although almost under the guns of the fort. I bore down to the fleet, who brought me in here. I have noted a protest, but shall not have it extended until we arrive at Jamaica, where I expect to go with the first convoy. I don't think they can recover salvage for bringing me in, as the ship was not in the hands of the French, although every one tells me they can, but I shall
get advice from your correspondent at Jamaica before I pay it.
Yours, &c. TOBIAS HAM.
N. B. They threatened to stab the mate, who tried to stop them from robbing the vessel, and told the sailors that they would kill me if I told the Commandant about their firing upon the ship, or if I steered a wrong course.
PORTSMOUTH, Feb. 18.
A letter from London, dated Dec. 8, gives but faint hopes of peace; and says, so far was England from being exhausted, that a loan of 18 millions was opened, and filled in three hours!
The Legislature of North-Carolina hath addressed The President in the most feeling language which patriotism, and gratitude can inspire.
The "Norwich Packet" of Feb. 9, contains accounts of frequent alarms by FIRE from the 28th ult. to the 8th inst. in which time 3 barns were burnt and several others fired, but extinguished by the exertions of the citizens. A night watch is established for the future security of that city.
DIED of a fever, in the island of Trinidad, Capt. BENJAMIN CLARKE, of this town in the 31st year of his age; his death is sensibly felt by all those who were acquainted with his virtues, especially those who were nearly allied to him in the bonds of love and friendship;—his afflicted and distressed widow laments and mourns her sudden—ah! too sudden bereavement of a tender and affectionate husband, his children grieve for a father, who was the guide of their youth; his mother is overwhelmed with sorrow for the loss of a dutiful son, nor are his relations and other friends, especially the members of the Masonic Society wanting in sympathetic expressions on the loss of a worthy brother. But what avails our tears? can we stay the relentless Hand of Terrors? or can we lay upon the Lord, who doeth thou? rather let us lay out hands on our mouths, and our mouths in the dust, so long as we have hopes of our departed friend, whose deportment through life has merited the esteem of all honest men.
Lord, what is man? or what create can he? But troubles, sorrows, and degenerate man. Imperfect man! why boast thou of thy dust? Thy will, thy freedom, and unbounded wills, Thou canst not boast of even morning's light, For God may call'th hence before 'tis night, And soon in earth thy fabric may be laid, And fun'ral rights to thy remains be paid. Adieu dear friend, thy toilsome voyage is o'er Safely thou'rt landed on the Elysian shore, Where no rude storm thy breath shall more annoy, Nor ruder fortune interrupt thy joy.
In this town, Miss Lydia Jackson, aged 17.—At Curricoa, Mr. William Gale, aged 17.
ENTRIES at the CUSTOM-HOUSE, District of PORTSMOUTH, N. H.
ENTERED FROM Brig Hitty, Keen, Martinico. CLEARED FOR Schooner Industry, Trefethen, W. Indies. Schooner Rambler, Seavey, S. Carolina. Schooner Dove, Tredick, N. Carolina. Brig Fufleer, Titcomb, Ireland.
The Phillips Exeter Academy.
ALL persons indebted to the trustees of the Phillips Exeter Academy are requested to make payment to the subscriber.
Those whose obligations are of long standing, and those who have neglected to pay interest annually, are particularly called upon to make payment before the last day of March next, such as neglect this notice must not complain if they are compelled by law to fulfil their promises.
J. T. GILMAN. Exeter, Feb. 15, 1797.
Mr. Harrangl
GIVES notice to those who have subscribed for the French School , that the day school will commence on Monday next, at 2 o'clock, at the room lately known by the name of Diman's Hall (if agreeable to the parents) and will be kept from 2 till 5 o'clock on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in the afternoon. The Evening School will commence at 7 o'clock in the evening of the same day, and be continued from 7 to 9 in the evening of each of said days at the above place.
N. B. Ladies or gentlemen wishing for private lessons, by applying to Mr. Harrangl, will be waited on at their houses at any hour they please, and on terms that will be agreeable. Feb. 18.
ALL persons indebted to, or that have any demands on the estate of Edward Dimpsey, late of Portsmouth, trader, deceased, are desired to exhibit their claims without delay, to the subscribers, executors to the last will and testament of said deceased, and all persons indebted must make immediate payment.
HALL JACKSON. SAMUEL DROWNE. Portsmouth Feb. 17, 1797.

Mr. Harrangl INTENDS teaching the French Language, should he find a sufficient number of Scholars; the young ladies and gentlemen who wish to study it, and the parents who will commit that part of the education of their children to his care, may depend on his assiduity in their instruction. For terms, &c. apply to Mr. Harrangl at Mr. Jotham Rindge's.
A FARM
Near the town to be let. Inquire of the Printer.
Portsmouth, Feb. 8, 1797.
TO BE SOLD
The Dwelling-House
AND LAND.
NOW occupied by Mr. Daniel Symes, in Daniel-Street, having a good cellar and well, &c. land about 24 feet by 117; a lot of land in Cross-Street, 30 by 48 feet, opposite the widow Dennie's; and a lot near the North School, adjoining Mr. Purkins Ayers, 31 by 94 feet, with a small neat house on it, and a privilege of an excellent well. For conditions apply to JACOB WALDEN.
Portsmouth, Feb. 10, 1797.
State of New-Hampshire.
In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven.
An act to repeal an act, entitled, "an act for altering, repairing and making fit for the passing of carts and waggons, the road from the town of Conway to the upper Co's; and also for cutting a new road from the said road which is now used to the town of Gunthwaite, or to the town of Littleton, formerly called Apthorp."
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General-Court convened, That the act, entitled, "an act for altering, repairing and making fit for the passing of carts and waggons, the road from the town of Conway to the upper Co's, and also for cutting a new road from the said road which is now used, to the town of Gunthwaite, or to the town of Littleton, formerly called Apthorp, be, and the same hereby is repealed."
And be it further enacted, That all persons who have held lands pursuant to said act, and for the purposes therein mentioned, shall on or before the first day of April next, render an account of their sales and expenditures on said road to Oliver Peabody, John Goddard and Ephraim Robinson, Esquires, who are hereby authorized to adjust the account or accounts so rendered, and directed to lay the same before the General-Court at the next session thereof.
State of New- } In the House of Represen-
Hampshire. } tivies Dec. 7. 1796.
The foregoing bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted.
Sent up for concurrence,
RUSSELL FREEMAN, Speaker. In Senate the same day, this bill having been read a third time, voted that the same be enacted.
EBENEZER SMITH, President of the Senate.
J. T. GILMAN, Governor.
Approved Dec. 8th, 1796.
A true copy, Attest,
NATH'L PARKER, Dep'y Sec'y.
Pursuant to the above act of the General-Court, the subscribers give notice that they will attend at the dwelling-house of Benjamin Lamson, innholder in Exeter, on the first day of April next, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon for the purpose mentioned therein; and all persons concerned are requested to attend at the above time and place, and render an account of their sales of lands, and expenditures on the road, described in the fame.
OLIVER PEABODY,
JOHN GODDARD,
EPHRAIM ROBINSON.
Feb. 9th, 1797.
State of New Hampshire.
Grafton, ff.
Whereas Asa Porter of Haverhill in said county, Esquire, has petitioned the Judge of the court for the probate of wills, &c. in and for said county.
Setting forth,
THAT he is a creditor to the estate of Byfield Lyde, late of Boston, Esq. deceased; that there is no administration of said estate, nor widow or children of said deceased, to be found in this State, by which means he is unable to recover his just dues from said estate, altho' he believes there is property within said county, which belonged to said deceased, and thereupon praying that letters of administration might be granted to him.
Whereupon ordered, that the petitioner be heard thereon before said Court, on Tuesday the 25th day of April next, at 2 of the clock in the afternoon, at the dwelling house of Capt Joseph Bliss, innholder in said Haverhill, and that in the mean time the petitioner cause the substance of said petition, and the order of Court to be published in the New-Hampshire Gazette three weeks successively, commencing eight weeks previous to said day of hearing, that any person or persons may then and there appear and shew cause (if any there be) wherefore the prayer of said petition should not be granted.
Copy examined.
Attest,
MOSES DOW, Register Probate.
Nov. 22, 1796.
Land for Settlers.
SEVERAL thousand acres of good land in two townships, lately granted to the sufferers of Portland, about ninety miles to the northward of said town, may be had on very reasonable terms, by any person who should incline to settle upon part of the same. Enquire of SAMUEL FREEMAN, Esq. Postmaster in said Portland, or JEREMIAH LIBBEY, Esq. Postmaster in Portsmouth.
State of New-Hampshire.
Grafton, ff. Whereas the hon. Nathaniel Peabody and John W. Chandler, Esquires, Obadiah Eastman and Jonathan Hale, Esquires, Josiah Burnham and Reuben Page, have preferred a petition to me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace, and of the Quorum in and throughout the State of New-Hampshire,
Setting forth that they are owners of more than one sixteenth part of the township of Coventry, in said county, and that there are not twenty families resident in said township, and therefore requesting that a meeting of the proprietors and grantees, owners of lands in said township of Coventry, might be notified and warned to be holden at the dwelling-house of Doct. Amaia Scott, innholder in Haverhill, the nearest shire town in said county, on Tuesday the 11th day of April next, at 10 of the clock forenoon, to vote and act on the following articles, matters and things, to wit,
1st. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting.
2d. To choose a proprietor's clerk.
3d. To choose a committee to examine into the appropriation and expenditures of monies heretofore raised and granted by the proprietary, and to examine and settle the demands of all persons to whom the proprietary are indebted for services and expenditures.
4th. To vote, grant and raise such sum or sums of money as may then be judged expedient for making and repairing public highways in said town, and for such other purposes as may be deemed for the benefit of said proprietary.
5th. To vote to establish a highway leading from Haverhill town-line, near the dwelling-house of Mr. Robert Elliot, in said Coventry, passing through the Olive-rean valley (so called) to Warren town-line, agreeably to the return of a survey of the same made by the following gentlemen, viz. James Woodward, Esq. Maj. Moody Bedel, and Capt. Stephen Richardson, or in such other way as the proprietary may judge most beneficial to the public.
6th. To choose and appoint assessors and collector with necessary powers.
7th. To ratify and confirm any former votes and grants made by said proprietary.
8th. To pass all votes necessary to confirm or to regulate former pitches made upon certain lots of land by proprietors or others, and to direct how and in what manner lots shall be drawn, and pitches in future made upon lots in said town.
9th. To choose a committee to lay out one or more hundred acre lot or lots to each proprietor's right or share of land in said town with certain discretionary powers.
10th. To vote to choose a committee in behalf of said proprietary to lay out roads, and to do and transact all such other matters and things, as may be committed to their charge, for the advantage of said proprietary.
11th. To vote and transact such other matters as may be thought proper for the good of the proprietors.
(Signed) NATHANIEL PEABODY, JOHN W. CHANDLER, OBADIAH EASTMAN, JONATHAN HALE, per } ARTEMAS NIXON, JOSIAH BURNHAM, REUBEN PAGE.
Dated Coventry, Dec. 16, 1796.
Therefore pursuant to said request and the laws of the State of New-Hampshire in such case made and provided, the proprietors and grantees, owners of lands in said township of Coventry, are hereby notified and warned to meet at the time and place and for the purposes set forth and mentioned in the before recited application.
Given under my hand and seal at Haverhill, in said county of Grafton, the twentieth day of December, 1796.
[4w.] MOSES DOW.
State of New-Hampshire.
THE subscribers being appointed by the General Court of this State, to settle all accounts, bonds, notes of hand, receipts, and all debts due to this State, for arms, ammunition and other articles supplied prior to June, 1784, upon such principles and in such manner as they may judge equitable on consideration of the circumstances, with power if found necessary to cause any suit or suits to be commenced on behalf and in the name of this State against all persons neglecting to appear and settle such accounts—Give notice that they will attend at the treasury office in Exeter, from the 20th day of February next, until the 20th day of March next, for that purpose, and do hereby request all persons having such accounts unsettled, and indebted to the State, prior to June 1784, to appear and settle the same within the times abovementioned, that all suits in law may be avoided.
NATH'L ROGERS, OLIVER PEABODY. Exeter, January 23, 1797.
THE proprietors and owners of land in Haverhill, in the county of Grafton, and State of New-Hampshire, are hereby notified, that at a legal meeting of said proprietors and land owners, holden at said Haverhill on the 18th day of November last by adjournment, it was voted and agreed to levy a tax of ten dollars upon each and every right or proprietors share of land in said town, the school right only excepted, for the purpose of discharging their debts and defraying their expenses, and that said tax should be apportioned and assessed, to and upon each lot laid out to or severed for each right; and that the subscriber was at the time aforesaid appointed collector to collect said tax, and that he has received from the assessors a tax-bill and warrant, to collect and pay said tax to the treasurer of said proprietors and land owners on or before the 20th day of April next.
Therefore said proprietors and land owners are hereby called upon to pay said taxes to the subscriber, collector as aforesaid, at my dwelling house in Haverhill aforesaid, within fourteen days after the last week of this notice, otherwise said taxes will be levied by the sale of said lands, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient for said purpose fourteen days after said last week of notice.
JAMES WOODWARD. Dated Haverhill, Jan. 25, 1797.
NOTICE is hereby given to the owners of land in Kearfarge-Gore, in the county of Hillsborough, and State of New-Hampshire, that in pursuance of an act passed in the year 1796, for laying a tax on all the lands in said Gore (public rights excepted) for the purpose of repairing roads and bridges in said Gore, that in pursuance of said act the selectmen of Kearfarge Gore have assessed a tax of three cents per acre upon each and every acre of land in said Gore (public lands excepted) for the term of one year, for the purpose of making and repairing roads and bridges in said Gore, and committed the same to the subscriber to collect, & where as it is in, and by the aforesaid act provided, that the owners or proprietors of land in said Gore shall have liberty to pay their proportion of the assessment aforesaid in work to be done on said roads and bridges between the first day of May and the first day of October, and shall be allowed six cents for every hour actual labor performed by an able bodied man finding his own diet; therefore unless the work is performed by the 1st day of October next or the money paid, so much of the land as will pay the same with incidental charges will be advertised and sold at public auction, for the purposes aforesaid.
ABNER WATKINS, Collector.
Kearfarge-Gore, Feb. 1, 1797.
Take Notice.
TO BE SOLD AN EXCELLENT
F A R M In Londonderry,
VERY pleasantly situated, about 3 miles south of the east meeting-house, said FARM contains about 120 acres, a suitable proportion whereof is woodland, and a large proportion of orcharding, it is remarkably well watered, & the buildings and fences thereon of a very good quality, and in very good repair. Any person wishing to purchase may know the terms by applying to Mr. Wm. MOOR on the premises.
Londonderry, Jan. 26, 1797. 4w.
State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the proprietors and owners of land in the township of Eaton, in the county of Strafford, and State aforesaid, that a tax of three dollars on each original right or share in said township, was voted to be assessed by the proprietors of said township, on the 4th day of January last, and the same has been assessed accordingly, and committed to me to collect; this is therefore to give notice, that unless the same is paid to me the subscriber within six weeks from this date, at my dwelling-house in said Eaton, so much of the delinquents shares will be advertised for sale as the law directs, as will pay the same together with incidental charges.
JOHN BANFILL, Prop'r's Collector. Eaton, Feb. 6, 1797.
A general assortment of BLANKS
Printed on good Paper, are constantly kept for sale at J. MELCHER's Printing-Office and Book-Store, Corner of Market Street.
Official Notice! HIS Catholic Majesty's Consul for the States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New-Hampshire, Rhode-Island, and Vermont, residing in Boston.—Hereby calls on the Merchants within the said States, having Vessels sailing from time to time on foreign Voyages,—recommending to them to exhibit their Clearances from the Custom-House, in the State from whence Vessel sails, and a declaration of the Owner or Owners of said Vessel, and the Cargo on board, on Oath before some Public Notary, ascertaining the same to be bona fide American property—that they may thereby avoid such detention and consequent injury, as the want of such Papers officially certified by him in the Spanish Language, may occasion, in case of their meeting with any of the ships of war belonging to his Catholic Majesty, while prosecuting such voyages.
The Printers of the different Newspapers, in the said States, are requested to insert the above. Feb. 6.
NOTICE.
ALL persons having demands on the overseers of the poor for the town of Portsmouth, for supplies for the almshouse for the past year, are hereby desired to present their accounts to the subscriber for settlement, on or before the fifteenth day of March next ensuing.
NATH'L MARSHALL.
Portsmouth, Feb. 10, 1797.
TO BE SOLD
For cash or approved notes,
By Daniel Huntress,
At his store at the bottom of
Daniel Street,
FOUR hundred quintals Jamaica
Fish.
100 do Scale.
Quantity Turks-Island Salt.
Few hogsheads of Tobago and
Antigua 2d and 3d proof Rum.
Few barrels Liver Oil.
Portsmouth, Feb. 11, 1797.
State of New-Hampshire.
Rockingham ss.
To Thomas Leavitt, Esq. one of the justices of the peace, in and for said county, and clerk to the proprietors of the township of Tamworth, in the county of Strafford in said State.
THE undersigned owners of more than one sixteenth part of said township of Tamworth, request that you notify and warn the proprietors, owners and grantees of land in said township, to meet at the dwelling-house of Col. Stephen Mason in Tamworth aforesaid, on Thursday the 20th day of March next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, to vote and act on the following articles, matters and things, viz.
1st. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting.
2d. To choose a proprietors clerk.
3d. To choose and appoint assessors and collector, with necessary powers.
4th. To ratify and confirm any former votes or grants heretofore passed or made by the proprietors.
5th. To pass all necessary votes to confirm or to regulate all former pitches made upon certain lots or parcels of land; and to sever and divide the common and undivided land or dispose of a part or all of said common land, as they may judge best for their interest.
6th. To settle and adjust all accounts and demands against the proprietors.
7th. To settle with any person either by compromise or otherwise as they may think best, who have taken up or settled on any lands, without leave or consent of the proprietors, and to appoint agents with full power to prosecute any person who has or may trespass on any of the land belonging to the proprietors.
8th. To see what sum of money they will vote to raise to discharge the debts of the proprietors.
9th. To vote and transact all such other matters and things as may be thought best for the interest of the proprietary.
THOMAS COGSWELL, BRADBURY CILLEY.
February 1, 1797.
State of New-Hampshire.
Rockingham ss.
In compliance with the aforesaid written request to me made, I do hereby notify and warn all the proprietors, owners and grantees of land in said township of Tamworth, to meet at the time and place, and for the purpose mentioned and set forth in the aforesaid request.
Given under my hand and seal at Northampton, in the county and State aforesaid, this 3d day of February, 1797. THOMAS LEAVITT.
William Leverett
Informs his friends and customers, that he has just received and now for sale at his Grocery Store, No. 2, Jaffrey's-Row, Sign of the Golden Bottle, the following Fresh Articles.
MALAGA Grapes
in the highest preservation, by the jar or single pound.
Fresh Olives of a superior quality.
Anchovies by the bottle.
English Herring, by the dozen or cask, of a most excellent quality, suitable for the morning or evening, as a relisher; fresh Capers, by the pound or less; Cordials of different kinds.
Shel'd Almonds, & without shells; Bloom and Muqueado Box Raisins; cask Raisins ditto; Figs.
Confectionary; Cinnamon; Cassia, and Cinnamon Buds; Nutmegs; Mace; Cloves; Ground and Raw Ginger; Mustard by the pound or bottle; Philadelphia and Boston Manufactured Loaf Sugar; Brown Sugar; Chocolate 1st and 2d quality; Coffee; Liquid Bluing in jugs, or by the lbs quantity; Patent Blacking by the Cake; Hair Powder of a superior quality; Soft Pomatum of different scents.
Brandy; Rum; Gin; Malaga, Sherry and Lisbon Wines; Molasses; mould and dipt Candles; Sweet Oil in Flasks; Cheeses; Crockery Ware of every kind—with every article kept in a Grocery Store.
N. B. Every attention paid to Customers, the smallest favours received with thanks, and the articles warranted good, or received back and money returned.
Portsmouth, Feb. 10, 1797.
FOR SALE AT
Bayley's Variety Store,
Daniel-Street.
FORTY pieces low
priced blue Broad Cloths, twenty-five pieces blue twill'd Duffsils, 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 27/ 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, Feb. 3, 1797.
George Doig
Begs leave to inform his friends and the public in general that he has removed to the westerly apartment of the new Brick Store, in Ladd's-Street, lately occupied by Mssrs. Lang and Brierley, where he carries on the Painting Business in all its various branches, viz.
COACH, sign, heraldry, house and ship painting; gilding; glazing; also mixes and prepares oil and colors for town or country, on the shortest notice and the smallest favors thankfully acknowledged.—Has for sale all sorts of water colors prepared in shells; India Ink and Camel's hair Pencils, as cheap as in Boston. ALSO,
To be let a good Stable for 5 or 6 horses; with a Chaise house and hay loft;—for sale 4 and half tons of good English Hay with a good Shop for a mechanic.
N. B. Wanted a smart active LAD from 13 to 15 years of age as an apprentice to the Painting business, good encouragement will be given; one who has a taste for drawing will be preferred. 6w.
TO BE SOLD,
Several valuable tracts of
L A N D, BEING part of the
real estate of the late M. H. Wentworth, Esq. deceased, situate in the following towns, Barrington, Offipee, Meredith, Sandwich, Moultonborough, Effingham. New-Chester and Bridgewater; Jefferson, Bath, Orford, Andover, Bradford, Kearfarge-Gore, Sutton, Salisbury, Marlborough, Packersfield and Washington; Shelburne, N. London, Thornton, Campbell's-Gore, and an island in Winnepesaukee pond. Also two valuable lots in Claremont. Inquire of
JOHN PIERCE, or JOHN FISHER. Portsmouth, Jan. 7, 1797. t.b.c.