National gazette. (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 1792-02-27 00:00:00

National Gazette.
By P. FRENEAU: Published MONDAYS and THURSDAYS, at THREE DOLLARS per annum.
VOL. I.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1792.
NUMB. 35.
AUTHENTIC.
SECOND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
At the first Session, begun and held at the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania on Monday the twenty-fourth of October, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one.
An ACT to establish the POST-OFFICE and POST-ROADS within the United States.
Be it enacted by the SENATE and HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That from and after the first day of June next, the following roads be established as post-roads, namely: From Wilscasset in the district of Maine, to Savannah in Georgia, by the following route, to wit: Portland, Portsmouth, Newburyport, Ipswich, Salem, Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Hartford, Middletown, New-Haven, Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford, New-York, Newark, Elizabethtown, Woodbridge, Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton, Bristol, Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington, Elkton, Charlesstown, Havre de Grace, Hartford, Baltimore, Bladensburg, Georgetown, Alexandria, Colchester, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Bowling Green, Hanover Court-house, Richmond, Petersburg, Halifax, Tarborough, Smithfield, Fayetteville, Newbridge over Drowning creek, Cheraw Court-house, Camden, Statesburg, Columbia, Cambridge and Augusta; and from thence to Savannah, and from Augusta, by Washington in Wilkes County to Greenborough, and from thence by the great falls of Ogechee and Georgetown, to Augusta, and from Statesburg to Charleston, and from Charleston, to Georgetown, from Charleston to Savannah, and from Savannah, by Newport bridge to Sunbury; and also from Portsmouth by Exeter and Concord, to Hanover in New-Hampshire; and from Salem to Marblehead, and from Salem to Gloucester; and from Boston, by Providence, Newport, and New-London, to New-Haven, and from Boston, through Taunton, to New-Bedford; and from Taunton, through Warren & Bristol, to New-Port; and from Boston, by Plymouth, to Barnstable; and from Springfield in the state of Massachusetts, to Kinderhook in the state of New-York, and from Springfield, by Northampton, Brattleborough, and Charles-town, by Windsor in Vermont, to Hanover, and from Hartford, by Middle-town, to New-London; also from Hartford to Norwich, and Providence; and from Providence to Worcester, and from Philadelphia, by Lancaster, Yorktown, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Bedford, and Greensburg, to Pittsburg; and from Philadelphia to Bethlehem; from Bethlehem, by Reading and Harrisburg, to Carlisle, and from Bethlehem, by Easton, Sussex Court-house, Goshen, Ward's Bridge, and Kingston, to Rhinebeck; from Philadelphia, by Salem, to Bridgetown; and from Wilmington, by Warwick, Georgetown, Cross-roads, Chestertown, Chester-mills, and Easton, to Vienna; and from Vienna, by Salisbury, to Snow-Hill; also from Wilmington, by New-Castle, Cantwell's Bridge and Duck-Creek, to Dover; and from thence by Milford, Dagborough, Snow-Hill and Northampton Court-house, to Norfolk in Virginia; and from Baltimore to Annapolis, Upper-Marlborough, Piscatawa, Port-Tobacco, Allen's Fresh, Newport, and Chaptico, to Leonard-Town; and from Richmond by Williamsburg, Yorktown and Hampton, to Norfolk; and from Fredericksburg, by Port royal and Rappahannock, to Urbanna;
& from thence, crossing Rappahannock, & proceeding by Northumberland Court-house, to Kinross on the river Yeocomico, thence by Westmoreland Court-house, through Leed's town, to Fredericksburg; and from Petersburg, by Cabin-Point, Smithfield, and Suffolk, to Portsmouth, and from Suffolk, to Edenton, and by Plymouth to Washington; and from Washington to Newbern, and thence to Wilmington; and from Fayetteville, by Elizabethtown, to Wilmington; and from Halifax, by Warrenton, Hillsborough, Salem, to Salisbury; from Halifax, by Blunt'sville, Williamston, Daileys to Plymouth; and from Edenton, by Hertford, Nixonton, Sawyer's Ferry, in Camden County, to Indian Town, in Currituck County; and from New-York, by Albany, Bennington, Manchester and Rutland, to Burlington on Lake Champlain; and from Albany, by Schenectady, to Connajoharie; from New-York to Hartford, through White-plains, North-Castle, Salem, Poundridge, Ridgefield, Danbury, Newtown, New-Milford, Litchfield, Harrington and Farmington; from Newark or Elizabethtown, by Morristown, to Suffex Court-house; from Woodbridge to Amboy; from Alexandria, by Salisbury, Leesburg, Shepherd's-town, Martinsburg, Winchester, Stevenburg, Strasburg, Woodstock, and Rockingham Court-house, to Staunton; and from Richmond, by Columbia, Charlottetown, Staunton, Lexington, Fincastle, Montgomery Court-house, Wythe Court House, Abingdon, and Hawkin's Court-house, in the territory south of the river Ohio, to Danville in Kentucky; and from Baltimore, by Fredericktown and Sharpsburg, to Hagarstown; and from thence to Chambersburg: Provided, That the route, by which the mails are at present conveyed, shall in no case be altered, without the consent of the contractors, till the contracts made by the Postmaster-General shall be determined.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Postmaster-General to enter into contracts, for a term not exceeding eight years, for extending the line of posts, and to authorize the person or persons, so contracting, to receive, during the continuance of such contract, according to the rates by this act established, all the postage which shall arise on letters, newspapers and packets, conveyed by any such post; and the roads, therein designated, shall, during the continuance of such contract, be deemed and considered as post-roads, within the terms and provisions of this act: Provided, That no such contract shall be made, to the diminution of the revenue of the general post-office, and that a duplicate of every such contract, under hand and seal, shall within sixty days, after the execution thereof, be lodged in the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States.
And be it further enacted, That there shall be established, at the seat of the government of the United States, a general post-office. And there shall be one Postmaster-General, who shall have authority to appoint an assistant, and deputy postmasters, at all places where such shall be found necessary. And he shall provide for carrying the mail of the United States, by stage-carriages or horses, as he may judge most expedient; and as often as he, having regard to the productiveness thereof, as well as other circumstances shall think proper, and defray the expense thereof, with all other expenses arising on the collection and management of the revenue of the post-office. He shall also have power to prescribe such regulations to the deputy post-masters, and others employed under him, as may be found necessary; and to superintend the business of the department, in all the duties that are,
or may be assigned to it, and also to direct the route or road, where there are more than one, between the places above established, which route or road shall be considered as the post-road.
And be it further enacted, That the Postmaster-General shall, once in three months, obtain from his deputies, the accounts and vouchers of their receipts and expenditures, and the balances due thereon, and render to the Secretary of the Treasury, a quarterly account of all the receipts and expenditures in the said department, to be adjusted and settled, as other public accounts, and shall pay, quarterly, into the Treasury of the United States, the balance in his hands. And the Postmaster-General, and his assistant, the deputy postmasters, and such as they may employ in their offices, shall, respectively, before they enter upon the duties, or be entitled to receive the emoluments of their offices, and the contractors for carrying the mail, and their agents or servants, to whom the mail shall be entrusted, before they commence the execution of said trust, shall respectively, take and subscribe before some justice of the peace, the following oath or affirmation, and cause a certificate thereof to be filed in the office of the Postmaster-General; "I do swear (or affirm as the case may be) that I will faithfully perform all the duties required of me, and abstain from every thing forbidden by the law in relation to the establishment of post-offices and post-roads within the United States."
And be it further enacted, That if any person shall obstruct or retard the passage of the mail, or of any horse or carriage carrying the same, he shall, upon conviction for every such offence, pay a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. And if any ferryman shall, by wilful negligence, or refusal to transport the mail across any ferry, delay the same, he shall forfeit, and pay, for each half hour that the same shall be so delayed, a sum not exceeding ten dollars.
And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster-General, to give public notice in one or more of the newspapers published at the seat of government of the United States, and in one or more of the newspapers published in the state or states where the contract is to be performed, for, at least, six weeks before the entering into any contract for the conveyance of the mail that such contract is intended to be made, and the day on which it shall be concluded; describing the places, from and to which such mail is to be conveyed; the time at which it is to be made up; the day and hour, at which it is to be delivered; and the penalty or penalties for non-performance of the stipulations. He shall, moreover, within thirty days after the making of any contract, lodge the same, together with the proposals which he shall have received respecting the same, in the office of the Comptroller of the treasury of the United States.
And be it further enacted, That every deputy postmaster shall keep an office in which one or more persons shall attend at such hours as the Postmaster-General shall direct, for the purpose of performing the duties thereof. And all letters brought to any post-office, half an hour before the time of making up the mail at such office, shall be forwarded therein.
And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing of this act, the Postmaster-General shall be allowed, for his services, at the rate of two thousand dollars per annum, his assistant, at the rate of one thousand dollars per annum, to be paid, quarterly, out of the revenues of the post-office: And no fees or perquisites shall be received by
either of them, on account of the duties to be performed in virtue of their appointments.
And be it further enacted, That from and after the first day of June next, the deputy postmaster and persons authorized by the Postmaster-General, shall demand and receive, for the postage and conveyance of letters and packets, except such as are hereinafter excepted, according to the several rates and sums following: For the postage of every single letter, to or from any place by land not exceeding thirty miles, six cents; over thirty miles, and not exceeding sixty, eight cents; over sixty miles, and not exceeding one hundred, ten cents; over one hundred miles, and not exceeding one hundred and fifty, twelve cents and a half; over one hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding two hundred, fifteen cents; over two hundred miles, and not exceeding two hundred and fifty, seventeen cents; over two hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding three hundred and fifty, twenty cents; over three hundred and fifty miles, and not exceeding four hundred and fifty, twenty-two cents; and to or from any place by land, more than four hundred and fifty miles, twenty-five cents; and every double letter shall pay double the said rates; every triple letter, triple; every packet weighing one ounce avoirdupois, to pay, at the rate of four single letters for each ounce, and in that proportion, for any greater weight.
And be it further enacted, That all letters and packets, passing by sea to and from the United States, or from one port to another therein, in packet boats or vessels, the property of, or provided by the United States, shall be rated and charged, as follows: For every single letter, eight cents; for every double letter, sixteen cents; for every triple letter or packet, twenty-four cents; for every letter or packet brought into the United States, or carried from one port therein to another by sea, in any private ship or vessel, four cents, if delivered at the place where the same shall arrive; and if directed to be delivered at any other place, with the addition of the like postage, as other letters are made subject to the payment of by this act.
And be it further enacted, That if any deputy postmaster, or other person authorized by the Postmaster-General, to receive the postage of letters, shall fraudulently demand or receive any rate of postage, or any gratuity or reward, other than is provided by this act for the postage of letters or packets, on conviction thereof, he shall forfeit for every such offence, one hundred dollars, and shall be rendered incapable of holding any office under the United States.
And be it further enacted, That no ship or vessel, arriving at any port within the United States, where a post-office is established, shall be permitted to report, make entry or break bulk, till the master or commander shall have delivered to the postmaster, all letters directed to any person or persons within the United States, which, under his care or within his power, shall be brought in such ship or vessel, other than such as are directed to the owner or consignee: but when a vessel shall be bound to another port, than that, at which she may enter, the letters belonging to, or to be delivered at the said port of delivery, shall not be delivered to the postmaster at the port of entry. And it shall be the duty of the collector or other officer of the port, empowered to receive entries of ships or vessels, to require from every master or commander of such ship or vessel, an oath or affirmation, purporting that he has delivered all such letters, except as aforesaid.
(See last page.)

PHILADELPHIA.
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22.
The Senate of the United States, and the members of the House of Representatives, went in procession from the federal hall to wait on the President of the United States at his house, to compliment him on the anniversary of his birth-day.
The Representatives having returned to the house, an engrossed bill, providing for the settlement of the claims of persons under particular circumstances, barred by the limitations heretofore established, was read the third time, passed, and sent to the senate for their concurrence.
The bill, in the present state, proposes— "That the operation of the resolutions of the late Congress of the United States, passed on the 2d day of November 1785, and the 23d day of July 1787, so far as they have barred or may be construed to bar the claims of any officer, soldier, artificer, sailor or marine, of the late army or navy of the United States, for personal services rendered to the United States in the military or naval department, shall, from and after the passing of this act, be suspended for and during the term of two years; and that every such officer, soldier, artificer, sailor and marine, having claims for services rendered to the United States in the military or naval department, who shall exhibit the same for liquidation, at the Treasury of the United States, at any time during the said term of two years, shall be entitled to an adjustment and allowance thereof, on the same principles, as if the same had been exhibited within the term prescribed by the aforesaid resolutions of Congress."
And further that no balances, hereafter to be certified as due from the United States, shall be registered in any other name than that of the original claimant, or of his heirs, executors, or administrators: and such balances shall be transferable only at the treasury, in pursuance of such general rules, as have been or shall be prescribed for that purpose."
Mr. Gerry brought forward a resolution for the appointment of a committee, to bring in a bill, for reducing the rates of postage upon newspapers.
It was ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Fitzsimons, from the committee, to whom were referred, on the 8th instant, a message from the President of the United States, and a letter from the secretary of state, relative to certain expenses incurred for the liberation and relief of American sailors, impressed to serve in the British navy,—made a report, which was received and read.
A number of petitions were read, praying compensation for services rendered, renewal of certificates destroyed, relief for wounds received, for depreciation of bills, &c. which were severally read, and referred, or ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Laurence presented a petition from sundry merchants of the city of New-York, praying to be indulged in a longer term for the payment of the duties on teas by them imported from China.—referred to a special committee, to examine and report.
The following resolution, laid on the table by Mr. Livermore, on Monday last, was called up, and referred to a committee of the whole house,—
Whereas the late Major Gen. N. Greene, on the 8th day of April, 1783, the more effectually to procure rations and supplies for the southern army of the United States, became bound as surety for John Banks and Co. to Messrs. Newcomen and Collet, merchants in Charleston, for the payment of £ 8743 : 15 : 6 sterling money, being the condition of said bond;—and whereas, on the 11th day of May 1786, the balance of principal and interest of the said bond, being then £ 8688 : 6 sterling, was paid by the said General Greene;—therefore
Resolved, That the United States shall indemnify the estate of the said Gen. Greene for the said sum last mentioned, and the interest thereof;—Provided the executors of the said General Greene, shall account for a sum, being about £2,000 (be the same more or less) recovered of John Ferrie, one of the partners of the said Banks and Co. to be in part of the indemnification aforesaid; and also shall make over for the use of the United States, all mortgages, bonds, covenants, or other counter-securities whatsoever, now due, which were obtained by the said Gen. Greene in his life time, from the said Banks and Co. on account of his being surety for them as aforesaid, to be sued for in the name of the said executors, for the use of the United States; — and that a committee be appointed to bring in a bill, to enable the officers of the treasury to carry this resolution into effect."
After a short debate, and the reading of a number of papers relative to the business, the committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.
THURSDAY, Feb. 23.
Several petitions were read, praying renewals of certificates, pensions, and compensations for services rendered—which were referred to the heads of the proper departments—A petition was also read, from sundry inhabitants of the county of Hardy, in Virginia, praying revision and amendment of certain parts of the Excise law—which was ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Boudinot, from the committee to whom were referred the petitions of the tanners of New-York, New-Jersey, and Pennsylvania, made a report which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.—It appears from this report, that an individual in Great-Britain enjoys a patent for the importation of tanners' bark into that country, and that his agents purchase up that article, in different parts of the United States, at so high a price, as materially to injure the tanning business here.—This being considered by the committee, as a subject of importance, and intimately connected with the agricultural interest, and the export trade, they are of opinion, that the consideration of it ought to be postponed to the next session of Congress; but recommend in the mean time, as a temporary provision, additional duties on imported articles of the leather manufacture.
A message was received from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, informing the House that the Senate have passed the bill making provision for the defence of the frontiers, with several amendments to which the concurrence of the House was desired.
A motion was made that the House do come to the following resolution, viz.
"Resolved that the Secretary of the Treasury cause to be laid before the House a statement of the balances, if any, remaining unpaid, which may have been due by individuals to the United States, previous to the 4th day of March, 1789; and whether any and what steps have been taken to recover the same; and also a statement of the sundry sums of public monies, which may have been entrusted to individuals, previous to the said 4th of March, 1789, and have not been accounted for."
It was moved and seconded, that the said resolution be committed; and on the question for commitment, it was resolved in the affirmative—yeas 31, nays 27.—Those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs. Ames, Baldwin, Barnwell, Benson, Boudinot, Bourne, B. Bourne, Clarke, Dayton, Findley, Fitzsimons, Goodhue, Gregg, Hartley, Heister, Hillhouse, Huger, Jacobs, Kittera, Learned, Livermore, Muhlenberg, Murray, Sedgwick, W. Smith, Sterrett, Sturges, Sylvester, Wadsworth, Wayne, Wilts,—Negative—Messrs. Ashe, Brown, Gerry, Gilman, Grove, Key, Kitchell, Lee, Macon, Madison, Moore, Niles, Page, Parker, Schoonmaker, Seney, J. Smith, I. Smith, Steele, Sumpter, Thatcher, Tredwell, Tucker, Venable, Vinning, White, Williamson.—The resolution was accordingly committed to Messrs. Boudinot, Dayton, Gerry, Smith, (N.H.) and Bourne, (R.I.)
The House then, in committee of the whole, resumed the consideration of the Resolution [see Wednesday's proceedings] to indemnify the estate of the late General Greene—After some debate, the committee rose, reported progress, and asked leave to sit again.
FRIDAY, Feb. 24.
Sundry petitions were read, and referred to the heads of departments—The house then proceeded to take into consideration the amendments proposed by the Senate to the bill making further and more effectual provision for the defence of the frontiers of the United States.
This business being of a private nature, the galleries were ordered to be cleared.
For the NATIONAL GAZETTE.
MR. FRENEAU,
SOME time ago, to my great astonishment, I observed by your paper that a petition from the county of FREDERICK, on the subject of the Excise law, was referred to the Secretary of the Treasury. This subject has been so fully handled by able pens, and being again before Congress for the purpose of reform, which in particular cases may be proper, that if my abilities were equal to it, I should only attempt some remarks on the petition I have noticed. Above all countries in the Union, the one in question, from my general knowledge of it, should have been among the very last to have made complaint. A large manufactory of stills has long been established in the heart of the country, where they may be repaired or purchased at any moment, and frequently obtained by barter, for the produce of the farm.—Streams of water are happily situated in every neighbourhood for the convenience of this business; and the essential article of grain, more especially of rye, is as cheap, if not cheaper, than on any part of the continent, not more remote from navigation—This circumstance proceeds from the fertility of the soil, the fitness of the climate, and the habit which the Dutch, and other farmers, are in, of making that species of grain; firewood is also abundant, and although the buildings necessary are not expensive, yet,
whether of stone or wood, the materials are easily obtained; mills too for the purpose of chopping the grain are numerous—Spirits from rye are almost universally used, and in such demand that it is not easy to meet with a single barrel for sale when the season closes for carrying on the business.—It may be urged, that the augmentation of the price bears hard upon the labourer; to this I reply, that wherever he works, it is in common found him; and that whenever it happens otherwise, he may well afford to purchase it himself, supposing it to be necessary, as no country offers more extravagant hire to the labouring man, than the one in view; and that the necessaries of life are to be had on the most moderate terms. Here it may not be amiss to observe, that perhaps without a single exception, the distillers have added the tax on all the spirits they had on hand, previous to the payment of any tax, and like most men in pursuit of gain, have, I am confident, used the moment of complaint, to their own profit, by adding to the former price, a larger sum than the tax now amounts to—Are these fit complainants? I am not what may be termed a blind citizen—I hold it the duty of every American to think, act, speak, and remonstrate as a free man when he has just cause of complaint; but I fear, fir, that in every county or district, there may be found a man, or men, whose true characters when traced, may be deemed prejudicial to the community, from a discontented, factious temper; or what is worse, enjoying all the rights of an American citizen, disaffected to its government; from this class I do not exclude the native, and with real concern must own, that I have met with such mischievous characters, even among them. I am a friend to every branch of business, and with the distiller well, but aware of the immense profit he makes, and the impropriety of the present petition, I hope, though Congress must give it a hearing, that they will not grant it. From my signature I have no local prejudices, and therefore acknowledge my readiness to contribute, if necessary, to a heavy tax, provided it be founded on necessity and equality—a respectable treasury chest is to make us respectable as a nation.
A CONTINENTALIST.
Feb. 7, 1792.
FOR THE NATIONAL GAZETTE.
MR. FRENEAU,
YOUR friends in Virginia will observe by the constitution of the Philadelphia county society that one object of the institution is to promote domestic manufactures. We are attentive that our farms should not only supply our families with household linen, but as much as possible with every article of clothing. When it is not convenient to have the different parts of the work performed by the family, the poor neighbors are employed, who for the most part receive the produce of the farm in pay for their services; by this means a simple exchange of property takes place between the manufacturer and farmer, greatly to the advantage of both. I have now a coat in use made from the wool of my farm which stands me in but five shillings per yard. English cloth of the same quality cannot be purchased out of the stores for less than seven shillings. I am convinced from experience that a steady attention to domestic manufactures makes at least a saving of fifty per cent to the American farmer, particularly where his family is numerous. This method of encouraging American manufactures is slow, but it has a firm foundation, and they will no doubt improve whenever the real friends of this country give them a decided preference to the finer, but more flimsy productions of Europe.
Knowing the advantages to be derived from agricultural societies, I sincerely wish that success may attend the introduction of them in Virginia. Such institutions should take place in every county of that valuable state; each society should be in possession of a collection of books on agriculture, for the use of the members—all of Mr. Young's works on this important subject are valuable, particularly his last publications—his annals contain much practical information. Marshall's publications also merit attention. The Rev. Mr. Hart's Essays on agriculture are wrote with elegance and purity; his observations on the culture of Lucerne are highly esteemed. Home's Gentleman-Farmer is a valuable book. Altho' this gentleman was one of the lords of session in Scotland, he found leisure to give a practical attention to agriculture; he improved his farm at Kaimes near Stirling in the new method of husbandry, and by his laudable example and writings contributed to render his country more productive, wealthy, and happy. Many other authors antient and modern merit to be placed in an agricultural library.
A FARMER.
[Translation of an original State Paper, recently received from Cape-Francois.]
Reply of the National Civil Deputies to the persons assembled at Croix des Bouquets.
(Continued from our last, and concluded.)
THE proclamation published by us, was calculated to promote a like spirit of oblivion in this island, and therefore precludes all discussion on matters relative to the revolution, anterior to our publication of a general amnesty in St. Domingo.
We have consequently nothing to do with the facts you mention, further than as they may serve to throw light upon the future, or as they may tend to excite compassion in our breasts for those persons who have lost their relations and
their friends, and in whose sorrows we take our full share.
In the third place, The national declaration of rights is no more than an acknowledgement of those eternal truths, which are as well understood at Constantinople or Indostan, as they are in France, and did exist as well in the days of Mo'es or Lycurgus, as at the conclusion of the eighteenth century.—Notwithstanding which, we see slaves amongst the Turks: the Lacedemonians had their Helots; the Indians are distributed into castes, or clans; and the Israelites were parcelled into tribes. Happy is that nation, who, like France, is arrived to such a maturity of judgment as to lay the foundations of its constitution in the rights of men and citizenship! But other nations, who have composed their systems out of inferior materials, are no less bodies politic and invested with full powers of government, than nations the most free.—In such, it ought to be the endeavor of the rulers and the ruled to extract the greatest possible sum of happiness for every individual in the sphere that is assigned him, after having fully investigated the relations in which the several ranks of a nation stand to each other.
Our colonies, taking the word as actually understood in France, are the integral, or component parts of the empire; but, whoever uses the word colony, understands thereby at the same time, a part of the empire separated from the centre by the vast ocean, peopled by a motley mixture of whites, blacks, freemen, slaves; and a mixture, again, of blacks and whites.—They also understand thereby a part of the empire, which by the nature of its population, is under the necessity of adopting a local constitution, providing for the state and condition of slaves, as well as for the political government of those who are already in possession of certain civil rights, and claim the right of citizenship.
This opinion was embraced by the reformers of the liberties of France, from the first moment that they contemplated the situation of the colonies. The decree of March 8th, 1790, authorizes every colonial assembly, then in being, to declare their opinion what kind of constitution would best meet their wishes, and the mode of legislation and administrative government that would be best adapted to promote their prosperity.—The national assembly (you will observe) was not ignorant that the colonial administrations, then in being, were composed of whites only. It follows, of course, that, in their judgment, the whites were alone in a capacity to legislate for people of colour; although the latter had previously demanded a participation of equal rights. They supposed too, at the same time, that the whites would be so just as to grant the mulattoes every privilege, compatible with the order of things already established in local circumstances, and not too hastily destroying certain prejudices, too powerful to be conquered by measures of precipitation.—They were also convinced, that such rights as were actually granted by the whites would rather command the gratitude of the mulattoes, than the contrary.
The national assembly, in their decree of October 12, 1790, firmly established it as a constitutional article in the organization of the colonies, that no general law respecting the condition of persons in the colonies should be enforced, except at the particular and formal requisition of the colonial assemblies.
If however, by their decree of May 15, 1791, the national assembly took upon itself to limit a part of these rights, they were careful not to include such act in a constituting article; having on the 13th of the same month, enacted constitutionally such laws as related to the condition of slaves.
We will observe that the national assembly comprehended in itself all the constituting and legislating powers, which it never confounded, but on the contrary, at all times used the greatest precaution in declaring constitutional such edicts as they did not suppose capable of alteration; as to others, reputed merely regulatory laws, they remained liable to their own revision, as well as that of the subordinate legislatures.—The simple comparison of the two last mentioned decrees, made for the same parts of the kingdom within forty-eight hours of each other, is a proof that the national assembly considered the first as irrevocably ordained while the second depended upon the reception the law met with in the colonies.
Their cautious manner of proceeding was fully justified by what has since happened in this island. The mere report of the decree of May 15th was the occasion of such a horrid affray as had well nigh overwhelmed in one indiscriminate deluge of blood, whites, mulattoes, and slaves. The danger was so pressing that the general commandant was obliged to adopt, upon his own responsibility, such measures as he thought most likely to prevent the extremity of mischief: he went so far as to promise, for the sake of saving the colony, that the decree should not be published, although officially received.
The national assembly have done their endeavour to annihilate the prejudices existing against the mulattoes. They did not wish to ruin the colonies, which are a source of prosperity to the commerce and manufactures of the kingdom; much less to foment the horrors of civil outrage and calamity. It was their wish, by establishing the constitution, which the king has since accepted, to place even the humblest citizen above the most ennobled subjects of other countries. They conceived that between the simple citizen, and him who is such in the fullest extent of the word in the colonies, there are certain intermediate grades, or degrees of rank, which can only be fairly estimated on the spot where they exist. Being taught experience by the unfortunate result of their benevolent endeav-

yours, they did, on the 24th of September last, in the full extent of their constituting powers, decree as follows :
"The laws respecting the situation of persons not free, and the political condition of mulattoes and free negroes, as well as the regulations relative to the execution of those laws, shall be passed by the colonial assemblies, actually existing, and by those that shall succeed them. They shall be executed provisionally, with the approbation of the governors of the colonies, during the space of one year for the American colonies, and two years for the colonies beyond the Cape of Good-Hope, and shall be forthwith presented for the ultimate approbation of the king, without any previous decree operating to prevent the full exercise of the power conferred by the present article upon the colonial assemblies."
This decree was accepted by the king as constitutional, and is no less the palladium of the mulattoes of St. Domingo, than of the whites. The existing legislature, and its successor, could make no alterations in the constitutional articles after settling the forms of revision ; neither could such alterations, if proposed, take place, unless demanded by three successive legislatures ; which effectually prevents the constitution from being touched, with this view, for at least ten years. It is only, then, the colonial assembly, actually in being (since it has existed from the 24th of September) that were capable of judging what laws should be made to ascertain the political rights of the mulattoes—and neither you, nor ourselves, nor the king, nor the present legislative assembly, nor the four which shall succeed it, can alter a single iota of this right.
Such is the law—Are you Frenchmen?—Respect it ; obey the will of the constitutional powers ; and do not presume to infringe it under pretence of expecting regulating laws, or in uttering reproaches against a colonial assembly, constituted by the nation and the king.
Will you undertake to say that a declaration of the rights of man, and of citizens, annuls a decree that contradicts such a declaration ? Remember, that you inhabit a colony, and that you cannot claim the general benefits of that declaration, except by renouncing your own private rights ; and that you have not the power to abolish that state of slavery in the islands which the restorers of French liberty have been compelled, by the irrevocable decree of destiny, to leave untouched.
Will you dare so far to misinterpret the decree of the constituting body, as to oppose it with your public acts of agreement and your treaty of peace ?—First, calculate the united strength of your fourteen revolted parishes, and then judge if it will be adequate to the making head against the remainder of the colony and 25 millions of people in old France.
In the fourth place. Although it were true that perfect peace prevailed in your two departments, in consequence of your concordats and treaties of pacification, this apparent calm may, notwithstanding, be the effect of the usurped power of an armed crew of insurgents, and a violation of all the constitutional principles ; and we cannot without an infringement of our duty, while we are taking measures to preserve order and tranquility, avoid declaring your treaties to be null and of no effect. The reasons we have already assigned are sufficient to prove this.
We will add, that French citizens cannot, constitutionally, form themselves into a body, or assume the functions of government, except in the three following cases.— First , In primary assemblies, for the sole purpose of naming representatives, and such public officers, the choice of whom lies with the people, abstracted from every other object.— Secondly , In assemblies of the community, which cannot be held, challenged, or authorized unless for purposes simply municipal, or such as have for their object the absolute interests of the community. All other convocations and deliberations of the people, or parties of the people, for other purposes, are void and illegal.— Thirdly , In assemblies petitionary. As the right to petition is inherent, it cannot be delegated, neither to deputies nor to administrative councils, nor be exercised collectively by any public bodies or association of citizens whatever.
These, gentlemen, are the only three cases in which it is lawful, by the constitution of France, for people to assemble to deliberate on political acts ; and in all these three cases, they are not to assemble with arms.
From the time that the French constitution was definitively settled by the constituting body, and since its acceptance by the king, the articles we have cited are considered as so many axioms, or self-evident truths, at the very mention of which every good Frenchman is bound to submit himself and yield obedience thereto : we shall not waste time in repeating to you those wise reasons, upon the authority of which these great questions have been decided by some of the most enlightened men of the present age. We only say to you, in one word, that if you are French, you will immediately renounce your unjust pretensions, your unconstitutional demands, which not only tend to disturbing the repose of the colony, but menace the supremacy of the nation.— We tell you then, in the anguish of our hearts, that if you persist in your errors, we shall be under the necessity of employing against you, forces which it will be impossible for you to resist.
We constantly flatter ourselves that you will not be deaf to the voice of reason, and that our proclamation will excite some serious reflexions in your minds. We are not without hopes that even this letter will work some conviction in you ; and that the evils which now distract your territories, will cease as soon as you have read this our answer. Hasten, by your submission to the decrees of the constituting body, accepted by the king, to enable us to behold in you nothing worse than Frenchmen who repent of their folly.
Doubt not, gentlemen, that the Colonial Assembly will immediately take into consideration the political condition of the mulattoes and free negroes, and will grant them every privilege compatible with the organization of colonial government ; and if, in your opinion, they do not act in the manner and with the impartial justice that is your due, you are then at liberty to adopt the legal means of redressing yourselves, by petitioning the king. Louis XVI. has given too many proofs of his affection for the French nation, as well as of his love of justice and public happiness, to suffer you to labour under any grievances, occasioned by his sanctioning the laws relative to the condition of the inhabitants of the Colonies.
But, gentlemen, until you return to your duty, the colonial assembly, the General, the national civil deputies, the King and the nation, must consider you in the light of obstinate rebels, who will not take the benefit of the general act of pardon published through the island.
Fifthly —We will come into your province with as much speed as joy, the moment we receive accounts of your submission to the law.
The National Civil Deputies, delegated by the King to the French American Leeward Islands.
Signed, DE MIRBECK, ROUME, & de ST. LEGER, ADET, Secretary of the deputation.
E X E T E R, February 4, Extract of a letter from Boston, January 28.
"With respect to politics we have none except the town police, which arose the last week to an extravagant height, owing to the present attempt for an incorporation, which the mechanical interest are much opposed to. The debates in town-meeting last Thursday were very warm and high on both sides ; which was the fullest ever known in this town. The mode of incorporation was rejected. There has been large mobs every succeeding evening on 'Change, in order to mob Mr. Russel, the Printer ; but have as yet been prevented, by the timely interposition of civil authority. Their reasons for attempting it were these.—At the meeting on Thursday, Mr. Benjamin Austin was chosen on the one side, and Mr. Benjamin Russel on the other, to count the freeholders present, in order to ascertain fair votes, &c. But Mr. Austin tho' himself degraded in being chosen with Mr. Russel, and declined the office. Mr. Russel could not swallow so open an affront, and when the meeting was over, he met Mr. Austin on the 'Change, where blows, &c. ensued—but they were soon separated. In the evening the mechanics, whose interest Mr. Austin espoused, assembled in order to demolish Mr. Russel's office ; they were however prevented ; and last evening they assembled again to the number of several hundreds, but to the same effect. We are at a loss how it will terminate."
PHILADELPHIA.
FEBRUARY 27, 1792.
Sundry papers, we hear, are now before the Senate of the United States, relative to the formation of a treaty of pacification with the kingdom of Algiers.
On Sunday the 19th instant left this city, for the Cherokee country, the six Indian Chiefs who arrived here on the 20th of December last ; together with the Squaw, who came with them. They were attended with six waggons, containing their baggage, provision, &c. and accompanied by a white girl, who had smitten the heart of one of the chiefs, during his residence in this city ; and, it is said, has consented to become his wife.
The senate of this state have passed a resolution instructing their senators in Congress to exert their influence, that the debates of the senate of the United States should be made public.
The persons who were in confinement at Claverack, charged with the murder of the late sheriff Hogeboom, or of having been aiding or assisting therein, have all been acquitted by a jury of their country.
On the 4th instant was held a meeting of the inhabitants living on the Ohio river, in and near Holiday's cove, when several resolutions were adopted, relative to the defence of the frontier.—In these resolutions they obligate themselves, to support the present frontier to the last extremity, the line of which they fix on the river Ohio, as
the safest and most easily maintained—to erect strong fortresses within their own bounds as places of refuge for their women and children, in case of an Indian invasion—to keep at all times one gun in readiness, with ammunition, &c. at a minute's warning—to petition the lieutenant of the country against drafting the militia to serve at a distance from their own residence, and, lastly, to request public assistance, from the peculiarity of their situation, as being a frontier to two states.
Late accounts from Jamaica inform, that two regiments of soldiers have arrived there from England ; and that martial law, which had been declared some time before, in consequence of some indications of a negro revolt, had been taken off.—At Port-au-Prince matters were still in an unsettled way, and the will of the party that happened to be strongest, the only law.
On the 14th of November last a proposition was made in the national assembly of France, that the signing the contract social of J. J. Rousseau should be the first condition of citizenship. All those, said the orator (M. Isnard) who will not put their hands to this inestimable work, as the main theoretical pillar of the rights of man, ought to be banished from amongst us : ( qu'on devroit chasser de la societe! )
Accounts from Nova Scotia say, that "Gen. Arnold, unable any longer to stem the torrent of popular prejudice against his character, has bid a lasting adieu to that province, having failed for Great-Britain, with an intention to pass the remainder of his life in some retired situation, in that kingdom ; where money is not unfrequently a substitute for all other merit."
In a late Virginia paper, appears an enumeration of the quantities of the several kinds of produce shipped from City Point, on James River, to different parts of Europe, Africa, and the insular and continental West Indies, during October, November and December 1791 ; the total value of which is stated at three hundred and five thousand, seven hundred and fifteen dollars and ninety-nine cents—the nett value of every species of merchandise entered into the district of City-Point [or Bermuda Hundred] during the same period, is stated at eight hundred and forty thousand, eight hundred and thirteen dollars and twenty-three cents.
On the 11th instant, being the birth day of the President of the United States, [O. S.] the day was commemorated by the Gentlemen of Richmond, with every demonstration of joy suitable to the occasion. The day was ushered in with the discharge of cannon ; and at two o'clock, they sat down to dinner, when a number of patriotic toasts were drank, attended, individually, by a discharge of cannon.—[The toasts were as follows : GEORGE WASHINGTON.—The United States—the government and commonwealth of Virginia—the King of the French—the Legislature and people of France—the King of Poland—the Diet and people of Poland—may the government of the United States obey, and not pervert the principles of the constitution.—JAMES MADISON, the congressional defender of the rights and happiness of the people.—May that policy which would withhold from the public ear the debates of either branch of the legislature, be banished from America.—The memory of General Butler, and of those brave officers and soldiers who fell on the 4th of November.—May the next campaign give peace to our country, and restoration to the American name.—May science and freedom establish their dominion throughout the world—the agriculture, commerce, and manufactures of the United States.—The fair daughters of Columbia.—] On the Monday evening following there was an elegant ball, at which were a numerous and brilliant assemblage of Ladies and Gentlemen.
The spirit of speculation, and the desire of amassing fortunes rapidly, without awaiting the slow but sure progress of industry and frugality, is ever attended, in any state or country, with a multiplicity of evil consequences. Among these, a thirst for rank and distinction is not the least, and may justly be termed the child of speculation . Insolence is almost peculiar to sudden acquisition, and the man of exorbitant wealth generally proportions his importance to the size of his strong box. Foreigners have observed on this country, that the inhabitants, in respect to manners, are only republicans in name . Whether the observation be true or not, the philosopher may frequently observe, with regret, the professors of honest and useful occupations made the butt of ridicule to the imaginary Noblesse of yesterday .
Extract of a letter from Havre—Nov. 29. "I rejoice to tell you that the influence of clubs, in Paris, and elsewhere, begins to be on the decline. It had been observed for a long time, that instead of contributing to the establishment of just and legal power, their evident tendency was to erect that worst of all governments, a democracy, existing in fact, and amenable to no law what-
ever. Mr. Robespierre was one of the great friends and patrons of these baneful associations, but all his influence and eloquence could not prevent a decree of the assembly, which has been published, to the following effect : "No society, club, or association of citizens shall form themselves into a political body, or pretend to influence or inspect the proceedings of the legal constituting bodies—neither shall they, under any pretence whatever appear, under a collective title , to petition, appoint deputations or assist at public ceremonies.—If they presume to interrupt either private citizens or the lawful magistrates in the execution of their duty, the names of the persons presiding at the time of such orders being given, shall be erased from the citizen list, and themselves declared incapable of holding any public office for the term of two years.—Upon petitioning or doing any other political act in a collective capacity, the persons then presiding, &c. are to be declared incapable of being elected to any office of trust for six months—Such as are not actual citizens, and shall be found guilty, as above, shall pay each a fine of 1200 livres, if Frenchmen ; if foreigners, 3000."
The celebrated Russian general Potemkin having so long flourished on the political and military stage of Europe, the following brief account of so renowned a character will not be displeasing to our readers :
"Prince Gregory Potemkin, a Taurique, was very remarkable for the numerous titles he bore : he was field marshal and commander in chief of all the Russian armies ; commander of the regular and light cavalry of the fleets in the Black sea, in the sea of Azof, and the Caspian sea ; senator and president of the college of war ; governor general of Catharinoslaw, and Tauria ; aid-de-camp general and chamberlain to the Empress ; inspector general of the army, colonel of the regiment of Preobrazhenski guards ; chief of the corps of the guards of cavaliers ; chief of the manufactories of arms and cannon of the Russian empire ; grand hetman of the Cossacks, those of Catharinoslaw and the Black sea ; knight of the Russian orders of St. Andrew, St. Alexander Newki, St. George, Wool-doomir of the first class, and of St. Ann ; of the Prussian order of the Black Eagle ; and of the Polish order of the White Eagle, and St. Stanislaw ; of the Danish order of the Elephant ; and of the Swedish order of Seraphims. His career has been very glorious, no reverse of fortune or disgrace ever tarnished it ; but whatever enterprizes he undertook were always crowned with success."
This great man died the beginning of October last near Jassy, on the Russian frontiers, of a pestilential camp fever, that has raged in those parts. It is intimated in the European papers, that his death will have a considerable effect upon the politics of that quarter of the world, particularly in being one cause of an alliance taking place between the courts of Prussia and Russia—It may be proper to add, that Prince Potemkin was one of the strongest men of his age, and of so athletic a make, that not one man in ten thousand would have dared to meet him in manual conflict.
   PRICE OF STOCKS.     Six per cents, per £. 24 3/4—24 7/8   Three per cents, - 14 3/4   Deferred six per cents, - 15   Final Settlements - 22 1/2   Indents, - 14 3/4   Bank Stock 1 2 Shares 103 advance.  
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
   February, 1792.   D. H. Bar. Ther. Wind. Weath.     Monday, 20. 7 29. 67 18 W. Cloudy.   9 29. 70 25 do. do.   Tuesday, 21. 7 29. 75 15 N.W. Fair.   9 29. 7 29 do. do.   Wednesday, 22. 7 29. 9 21 N.W. Fair.   9 29. 95 35 do. do.   Thursday, 23. 7 30. 6 23 N.W. Cloudy.   9 30. 5 35 do. do.   Friday, 24. 7 30. 5 19 N.W. Fair.   9 29. 95 39 S.W. do.   Saturday, 25. 7 29. 8 30 S.W. Cloudy.   9 29. 87 39 N.W. do.   Sunday, 26. 7 29. 88 32 N.E. Cloudy.   9 29. 75 37 do. do.  
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN away in August 1790 from the subscriber, living in Queen Ann's county, eastern shore of Maryland, a country born Negro woman, called GRACE. She is about middle aged, very low of stature, round face, remarkable small feet, for a negro, and has lost several of her fore-teeth. The lapse of time since she has absconded renders it unnecessary to describe her cloathing. She is artful and talkative, and I make no doubt has passed for a free woman, and got into Pennsylvania or Delaware states. The above reward shall be paid to any person securing said negro, and giving information thereof to her master, and reasonable charges if brought home.
EDWARD HARRIS. Feb. 23- 8w 1aw.

And be it further enacted, That the postmasters to whom such letters may be delivered, shall pay to the master, commander, or other person delivering the same, except the commanders of foreign packets, two cents for every such letter or packet; and shall obtain from the person delivering the same, a certificate specifying the number of letters and packets, with the name of the ship or vessel, and the place from whence the last failed; which certificate, together with a receipt for the money, shall be with his half-yearly accounts, transmitted to the Postmaster-General, who shall credit the amount thereof to the postmaster forwarding the same.
And be it further enacted, That if any person, other than the Postmaster-General, or his deputies, or persons by them employed, shall take up, receive, order, dispatch, convey, carry or deliver any letter or letters, packet or packets, other than newspapers, for hire or reward, or shall be concerned in setting up any foot or horse post, wagon or other carriage, by or in which any letter or packet shall be carried for hire, on any established post road, or any packet, or other vessel or boat, or any conveyance whatever, whereby the revenue of the general post-office may be injured, every person, so offending, shall forfeit, for every such offence, the sum of two hundred dollars: Provided , That it shall and may be lawful for every person to lawful for every person to send letters or packets by special messenger.
And be it further enacted, That the deputy postmasters or agents of the Postmaster-General, shall duly account and answer to him, for all bye or way letters, and shall specify the number and rates in the post bill. And if any deputy postmaster or agent shall neglect so to account, he or they so offending, shall, on conviction thereof, forfeit, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding one hundred dollars.
And be it further enacted, That if any person, employed in any of the departments of the general post-office, shall unlawfully detain, delay, or open, any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters, with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and which are intended to be conveyed by post: Or if any such person shall secrete, embezzle or destroy any letter or packet, entrusted to him, as aforesaid, and which shall not contain any security for, or assurance relating to money, as herein after described, every such offender, being thereof duly convicted, shall, for every such offence, be fined not exceeding three hundred dollars, or imprisoned not exceeding six months, or both, according to the circumstances and aggravations of the offence. And if any person, employed as aforesaid, shall secrete, embezzle or destroy, any letter, packet, bag, or mail of letters, with which he shall be entrusted, or which shall have come to his possession, and are intended to be conveyed by post, containing any bank note, or bank post bill, bill of exchange, warrant of the Treasury of the United States, note of assignment of stock in the funds, letters of attorney for receiving annuities or dividends, or for selling stock in the funds, or for receiving the interest thereof, or any letter of credit, or note for, or relating to the payment of money, or other bond or warrant, draft, bill, or promissory note whatsoever, for the payment of money; or if any such person, employed as aforesaid, shall steal or take any of the same out of any letter, packet, bag or mail of letters, that shall come to his possession, he shall, on conviction, for any such offence, suffer death. And if any person, who shall have taken charge of the mail of the United States, shall quit or desert the same, before his arrival at the next post-office, every such person, so offending, shall forfeit and pay a sum, not exceeding five hundred dollars, for every such offence. And if any person, concerned in carrying the mail of the United States, shall collect, receive or carry any letter or packet, or shall cause or procure the same to be done, contrary to this act, every such offender shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding fifty dollars.
And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons shall rob any carrier of the mail of the United States, of such mail, or if any person shall rob the mail, in which letters are sent to be conveyed by post, of any letter or packet, or shall steal such mail, or shall steal and take from or out of the same, or from or out of any post-office, any letter or packet, such offender or offenders shall, on conviction thereof, suffer death.
And be it further enacted, That the Deputy Postmasters shall, respectively, publish at the expiration of every three months, in one of the newspapers published at, or nearest the place of his residence, for three successive weeks, a list of all the letters then remaining in their respective offices; and at the expiration of the next three months, shall send such of the said letters as then remain on hand, as dead letters, to the general postoffice, where the same shall be opened and inspected; and if any valuable papers or matter of consequence, shall be found therein, it shall be the duty of the postmaster-general, to cause a descriptive list thereof to be inserted in one of the newspapers, published at the place most convenient to where the owner may be supposed to reside, if within the United States, and such letter and the contents shall be preserved, to be delivered to the persons, to whom the same shall be addressed, upon payment of the postage, and the expense of publication.
And be it further enacted, That the following letters and packets, and no other, shall be received and conveyed by post, free of postage, under such restrictions, as are herein after provided; that is to say; all letters and packets to or from the President or Vice-President of the United States, and all letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces in weight, to or from any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate or Clerk of the House of Representatives, during their actual attendance in any session of Congress, and twenty days after such session. All letters to and from the Secretary of the Treasury, and his assistant, Comptroller, Register, and Auditor of the Treasury, the Treasurer, the Secretary of State, the Secretary at War, the Commissioners for settling the accounts between the United States and individual States, the Postmaster General and his Assistant: Provided , That no person shall frank or enclose any letter or packet, other than his own; but any public letter or
packet from the department of the Treasury may be franked by the Secretary of the Treasury, or the assistant Secretary, or by the Comptroller, Register, Auditor or Treasurer; And that each person before named shall deliver to the Postoffice every letter or packet enclosed to him, which may be directed to any other person, noting the place, from whence it came by post, and the usual postage shall be charged thereon.
And be it further enacted, That if any person shall counterfeit the hand-writing of any other person, in order to evade the payment of postage, such person or persons, so offending, and being thereof duly convicted, shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, the sum of one hundred dollars.
And be it further enacted, That every printer of newspapers may send one paper to each and every other printer of newspapers within the United States, free of postage, under such regulations as the postmaster general shall provide.
And be it further enacted, That all newspapers conveyed in the mail, shall be under a cover open at one end, carried in separate bags from the letters, and charged with the payment of one cent for any distance not more than one hundred miles, and one cent and a half for any greater distance: And it shall be the duty of the postmaster-general and his deputy, to keep a separate account for the newspapers, and the deputy postmasters shall receive fifty per cent on the postage of all newspapers: And if any other matter or thing be enclosed in such papers, the whole packet shall be charged, agreeably to the rates established by this act, for letters or packets. And if any of the persons employed in any department of the post-office, shall unlawfully detain, delay, embezzle or destroy any newspaper, with which he shall be entrusted, such offender, for every such offence, shall forfeit a sum not exceeding fifty dollars: Provided , that the postmaster-general, in any contract, he may enter into, for the conveyance of the mail, may authorize the person, with whom such contract is made, to carry newspapers, other than those conveyed in the mail.
And be it further enacted, That the postmaster-general be, and he is hereby authorised to allow to the deputy postmasters, respectively, such commission on the monies arising from the postage of letters and packets, as he shall think adequate to their respective services: Provided , That the said commission shall not exceed forty per cent to any deputy, whose compensation thereby shall not exceed fifty dollars, nor thirty per cent to any deputy, whose compensation thereby shall not exceed one hundred dollars, nor twenty per cent to any other deputy, except the postmaster at the port where the European packets do, or shall steadily arrive; to whom such farther allowance, in addition to the emoluments of his office, shall be made, as the postmaster-general shall deem a reasonable compensation for his extra-services in the receipt and dispatch of letters, originally received into his office, from on board such packets, and by him forwarded to other offices: And provided also , That the compensation aforesaid shall not exceed eighteen hundred dollars per annum to any one postmaster for all services by him rendered.
And be it further enacted, That if any deputy postmaster, or other person authorised to receive the postage of letters and packets, shall neglect or refuse to render his accounts, and pay over to the postmaster-general, the balance by him due, at the end of every three months, it shall be the duty of the postmaster-general, to cause a suit to be commenced against the person or persons so neglecting or refusing: And if the postmaster-general shall not cause such suit to be commenced within three months, from the end of every such three months, the balances due from every such delinquent shall be charged to, and recoverable from the postmaster-general.
And be it further enacted, That all pecuniary penalties and forfeitures, incurred under this act, shall be, one-half for the use of the person or persons informing and prosecuting for the same, the other half to the use of the United States.
And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the postmaster-general, to make provision, where it may be necessary, for the receipt of all letters and packets intended to be conveyed by any ship or vessel, beyond sea, or from any port of the United States to another port therein; and the letters so received shall be formed into a mail, sealed up, and directed to the postmaster of the port to which such ship or vessel shall be bound. And for every letter or packet so received, there shall be paid, at the time of its reception, a postage of one cent. And the postmaster-general may make arrangements with the postmasters in any foreign country for the reciprocal receipt and delivery of letters and packets, through the post-offices.
And be it further enacted, That the deputy postmasters, and the persons employed in the transportation of the mail, shall be exempt from militia duties, or any fine or penalty for neglect thereof.
And be it further enacted, That all the surplus revenue of the general post-office, which shall have accrued previous to the first day of June next, not heretofore appropriated, be, and the same is hereby appropriated towards defraying any deficiency which may arise in the revenue of the said department for the year next ensuing.
And be it further enacted, That the act passed at the last session of Congress, intitled, "An act to continue in force, for a limited time, an act intitled, "An act for the temporary establishment of the post-office," be, and the same is hereby continued in full force, until the first day of June next, and no longer.
And be it further enacted, That this act shall be in force for the term of two years, from the said first day of June next, and no longer.
JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Speaker of the House of Representatives. JOHN ADAMS, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate. Approved, February twentieth, 1792. G. WASHINGTON, President of the United States.
ON TRAVELLING PLANTS.
[Translated from the Trin. b.]
BESIDES those plants that are stationary, there are manifestly others, which frequently change their places of abode, and even employ themselves in going round the globe. I do not say, however, that the greater part of these travelling plants had originally some center of nativity, a steep rock, or an island embosomed in the ocean, from whence they might have been propagated into different parts of the world. This, by the way, is, with me, a great proof that our globe is but of a recent origin; since, if it was very ancient, all the combinations of plants that can ever happen, would have been long ago completed in every part of the earth. Thus, for instance, there would not have been an island discovered in the East or West-Indies but would have been planted with cocoa nut trees, carried hither by the various currents of the ocean. The native place of this species of tree seems to have been the Maldivia islands, from whence they have not yet spread into all the islands of the Indian ocean. The philosopher, Francis Leguat, and his unfortunate companions, who were shipwrecked in 1690, and were the first human inhabitants of the little island Rodrigo, one hundred leagues to the eastward of the isle of France, found there no cocoa nut trees. During the time, however, that they resided on this solitary and secluded spot, the currents drifted on shore, at different times, a number of cocoa nuts, already sprouting; as if Providence wished to incline them to remain in the island, and cultivate the soil, by this useful and agreeable present. Francis Leguat was entirely at a loss to know from whence these nuts, weighing five or six pounds each, could possibly have come; at last, however, he concluded they must have been brought by the currents from the island of St. Brande, about eighty leagues north-east of Rodrigo.—So that it appears that these two islands, from the beginning of the world, had never before communicated all their vegetable productions to each other, altho' situated directly in the midst of an immense current, which, according to the season of the year, sets six months in an eastern, and six months in a western direction.
M. Leguat and his companions took care to plant these cocoa nuts, which in about a year and an half grew upwards of four feet in height. Such an immediate present from heaven, however, could not prevail upon them to remain in this charming island. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of M. Leguat, his companions, not contented to live without the society of women, built themselves a boat and took their departure from this peaceful abode—misfortunes and disasters, in abundance, were the consequence, and scarcely any of them survived to reach the continent of Africa. As for myself (says M. Leguat, in his account of their voyage) I have no doubt, but that if we had reposed the necessary confidence in a wise and over-ruling Providence, it would by some means or other have sent us women into the island, as it had before sent us cocoa nuts!
ROBERT SMOCK, Woollen Draper & Mercer,
Has just received by the ship Pigeon, from London, and for sale at his Store, on the north east corner of Market and Third streets, Philadelphia,
AN ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF
SUPERFINE and super broadcloths, in almost every colour. Ladies superfine habit cloths, in the most fashionable colours. Superfine cassimers, do. Do. and super elastic striped cloths. Milled drabs and hunters cloths. A variety of fancy waistcoating, in silk, silk and cotton, silk molekin, cassimers printed and tamboured, and superfine striped Spanish toils. Mens black satins, florentines, and silk prunellas of superior qualities. Silk, silk and cotton, cotton and worsted hose, assorted. Sattins and mantuas, a beautiful variety. Superfine rattinetts, with a large collection of best trimmings for cloths, &c. of every quality. Moreens, Joans spinning, durants and caliman coes. Hairbines and camblets, &c. 9-8 wide superfine Marceilles quilting with borders. Marceilles bedquilts and cotton counterpanes, 9-4 to 12-4. Flanders bedbunts and bedtickings. A beautiful variety of chintzes and cottons. An elegant assortment of yard wide turniture chintzes, in beautiful colours and patterns, with a large variety of furniture cottons. Velveteens, velvets, corduroys, thickflets, fancy cords, flocknets, royal ribbs, fattinets, hair plushes, &c. &c. Striped and grey, twilled and plain Bath coatings. Rose blankets assorted.
ROBERT SMOCK has also for Sale, a great Variety of GOODS of the best quality in their several kinds. He presumes it is unnecessary to be more particular in the enumeration, and that it is sufficient to say the assortment is very general and extensive, consisting of almost every article in his line of business.—Being desirous of giving entire satisfaction to those who may be pleased to favour him with their custom, as well as of meriting a continuance of those customers, whose favours he has hitherto experienced, he flatters himself the cheapness of his Goods will be the best means of effecting his wishes.
HOWELL'S SMALL MAP of PENNSYLVANIA,
May be had of Mr. Bailey, and Mr. Crukshank Printers, in Market street; or of the author in N. Fifth-street, No. 88, who has the said maps pasted on canvass, cut, folded and cased for pocket carriage. Philadelphia Jan. 30. 1792.
PROPOSALS.
For Publishing by Subscription,
A COMPENDIOUS SYSTEM of the New and Old Husbandry;
With several Experiments made in both Systems;
CONTAINING,
THE Mechanical, Chymical, and philosophical elements of Agriculture; in which the different soils and manures are analyzed; proving which manure is most suitable for each soil, and the sorts of grain and grasses adapted to the different soils and climates of America—directions for laying out and managing the farm yard; whereby great quantities of manures and composts may be made; and to make some new, cheap and effectual manures—several experiments made by the author on grain of different sorts, and directions to make fertilizing steeps, which will double the crops, kill the animalcule, and prevent blights and smut—Proper methods of plowing and meliorating the different soils fit to receive the grain—The imperfections of the present mode of cultivation in this country, clearly pointed out; with a new mode of culture, founded on observations and experience: wherein is proved, by proper management, changing the crops, and letting grain and grasses come in rotation, the poorest land may be enriched and made to produce as much as new land—The nature and properties of foreign grasses and pulse, such as Lucern, Sainfoin, Burnets, Trefol, Ryegrass, Horse-beans, Peas, Tares, Vetches; &c. with their benefit and advantages. A comparison of different methods of farming in the different counties of England—The method of feeding and fattening sheep on turnips, with directions for making and placing the hurdles for penning of them, and the benefit received by their dung; with the best method of raising the turnip, and an effectual receipt for preventing the ravages of the fly—An account of the culture and use of the Mangel-wurzel, or root of scarcity, known in France under the name of Racine-de-Difette, with experiments made by the Abbe de Commerell, Dr. John Coakley Lettson, and the author, recommended for feeding and fattening of cattle, and for culinary uses—The usefulness, culture and method of raising, drying, and the virtues of hops—Directions for sowing, transplanting and managing of flowers, herbs, and vegetables, in the garden; with grafting, budding or inoculating all sorts of fruit trees; and a new method of planting and improving trees in the field. To brew beer, and to make cyder keep and be much stronger than the common method—A description of a drill machine (which any ingenious carpenter may make) for planting all sorts of grain, pulse, grass seeds, &c. in equal distant rows, and a running hoe, which will do double the work of a common one—Directions for making and placing of hedges, an excellent and cheap method of fencing—The management and fattening of cows, sheep and hogs, suckling and weaning of calves and lambs, with directions and remedies to cure the several diseases cattle are subject to, and to prevent and cure the rot in sheep; with other useful and interesting subjects.
By JOHN SPURRIER, An old experienced and experimental farmer, late of the county of Herts, in Great Britain, and now at the Queen of France tavern, between Chester and Wilmington, on Brandywine Hundred, county of Newcastle, and state of Delaware.
This Work to be handsomely printed in octavo, on a good type and paper; to contain 300 pages; sewed.
The price to subscribers One Dollar, to non-subscribers One Dollar and a Quarter; to be paid for on delivery.
This work shall be published as soon as 500 have subscribed. Subscribers names shall be prefixed to the work.
Books, for the purpose of subscribers entering their names, will be left at the Merchant's Coffee-house in Second street; at Mr. Pelosi's, corner of Market and Water-streets; at Mr. Inskeep's stage-office, corner of Arch and Second-streets; Mr. Crukshank, No. 91, Market-street; Mr. Young, No. 52, South Second street, and Mr. Dobson, No. 41. South Second street, and at the different booksellers.
Any gentlemen, living at a distance, who may be inclined to patronize this publication, are requested to forward their names to any of the above places.
TEN POUNDS REWARD.
RAN away, a Negro lad about seventeen years old, who left the subscriber sometime in August last. He goes by the name of LEVEN; is of a yellowish colour, and about five feet high. He is supposed to have gone to the Delaware state. Any person bringing the said negro to the subscriber, shall be entitled to the above reward; and any person giving such information as will enable the owner to recover him again, shall be entitled to one half the above sum, which will be paid by THOMAS MILES. Feb. 14, 1792. 5t. 1 aw.
This Day are published,
S E R M O N S,
Historical and Characteristical: By WILLIAM LINN, D. D. One of the Ministers of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, in the city of New-York. Sold by T. DOBSON, R. CAMPBELL, & M. CAREY. [Price Three Quarters of a Dollar.]
PRINTED BY CHILDS AND SWAINE, AT THEIR OFFICE, NO. 239, HIGH-STREET, NEAR SIXTH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA.