National gazette. (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 1791-11-24 00:00:00

National Gazette.
By PHILIP FRENEAU.
VOL. I.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1791.
NUMB. 8.
For the NATIONAL GAZETTE.
A Political enquiry into the best means of improving the Commerce of the American States.
[Continued from our last.]
[In this part of his address, the author proves from the experience of history, that government ought, by every proper means, to exert its endeavors to procure from Europe and elsewhere, persons skilled in the useful arts, in order to manufacture the raw materials produced, or capable of being produced, in this country.]
IN order to prevent the fruits of our agricultural and commercial industry from centering wholly in the hands of strangers, it is absolutely necessary for the United States to preserve a unity of interests among themselves; the first object of which union of interests should be, the putting it out of the power of any body of men, an individual, or a foreigner, to thwart such measures as should be taken to promote the national commercial advantages in view; and to place things on such a footing, that the plans and machinations of foreigners should rather be made to co-operate in the success of those beneficial designs.—In a word, every step taken by government ought to be dictated by the idea of the national interest at large, which ought to be considered as the central point of all their operations.
This principle being established, I would go on to observe, that the great aim of every wise administration ought to be to protect, and give a direction to national industry in its infancy; and even to make considerable sacrifices, if necessary, to ensure success to all that class of people engaged in the production of raw materials, and the prosecution of those arts, which are considered among the useful in every country.—To delay time in proving so evident a principle as the preceding, would be absurd; because there is no example in history, of its having ever been controverted.
This leading idea in our mercantile system, naturally induces an enquiry into the most proper means of encouraging the cultivation of those articles which afford the means of manufactures and arts, and are the common cause of their flourishing in any part of the world.
Manufactures are, in themselves, of little consequence without the aid of the arts; deprived of which they are never known to succeed to any considerable degree. For the encouragement of them, all wise governments have ever found it their interest to establish schools for drawing, engraving, painting and chemistry, that by the assistance of these their artists might be enabled to advance their fabrics to the utmost degree of perfection. These arts only, if well followed, are of inestimable value to the nations that encourage them, by exempting them from a tribute, which, (previously to their making them their own) they paid to their neighbours, in the purchase of their merchandise.
From this spirit of enquiry and imitation, it has happened, that several European nations can at this day manufacture painted or printed muslins, lawns, callicoes, and even paper hangings, tapestry and finelens to those that die; and have therefore, themselves from a species of formerly paid to India.
have ever re- their national his of their National is pur- treat aw as
attempting to discover the means by which the most intelligent legislators and patriots of former times were enabled to do such immense services to their country in promoting their fabrics and inventions, did not history step in to our assistance.—To history, then, ancient and modern, let us recur for information; there we shall see detailed at full length the various particulars, a knowledge of which is necessary for promoting the public weal.
In all the wise governments of antiquity we may constantly observe an ardent desire and emulation to encourage the growth of the more liberal arts. Chemistry, encouraged by the bounties of sovereigns, set men upon exploring the bowels of the earth and bringing to light the secrets of the mineral world. It was this encouragement also that developed the nature of plants and vegetables and blended their various colours in such a manner as to contribute to the pleasures and luxuries of life. The composition called glass, the artificial paste known by the name of porcelain, and that beautiful gloss called varnish, all owe their origin to the encouragement which enlightened ministers have afforded to men of observation and reflection. The nature of indigo, saffron, and a multiplicity of other precious plants, has been investigated for the purposes of beauty and variety in colours, and the culture of them has been encouraged in every country, where the climate has suffered them to grow.
All the arts and sciences keep an equal pace with each other, and afford a reciprocal aid. In the department of legislation we have seen Lycurgus and Solon, two of the most celebrated lawgivers of antiquity, zealously travelling the whole world over, with a view to make new discoveries in science, improve their own understandings, and diffuse the knowledge they had acquired when they returned to their own countries, in establishing the arts, and rendering their fellow-citizens independent in the possession of them.—We find talents and abilities every where encouraged by the friends of mankind, and directed to proper pursuits. In modern history, with what an ardor do we see human industry exalted to the highest pitch; and how rapid has been the progression of knowledge in all enlightened governments! Peter the Great in Russia, Ferdinand in Prussia, Lewis the Great in France, a multitude of German potentates, and, to mention no more, all the patriotic and wise Kings of Great-Britain, have ever declared themselves the friends and patrons of arts and sciences; and hence it is, that at this day we see their respective governments the most flourishing and happy in Europe.
Not a few of these illustrious personages travelled Europe over to acquire the requisite knowledge for the establishment of every species of manufacture, and to induce, by their munificence, foreign artists and manufacturers to settle in their territories, and engage in their various fabrics. Thus it was that Peter, czar of Russia, brought his marine to perfection—and Joseph the second, a great number of manufactures before unknown in his dominions. Henry the fourth of France entertained precisely the same views: he did not indeed go abroad for this purpose in person, but he employed several of his subjects in travelling for the same benevolent end. In his reign, the art of tanning leather was scarcely known in France—but this excellent monarch did not think it below his royal dignity to send one of his most able tanners into Hungary, to discover the secret of their method of tanning. The consequence was, that in a very short space of time France wholly exempted her self from a tribute which she had before annually paid to foreign industry, by having been under the necessity of purchasing Hungarian leather.
And thus it has been, that by sovereigns incurring some little expence in the way of experiments of the above kind, the greatest national advantages have been found to result. Both Sully and Montesquieu, during their respective administrations, were invariably bent upon using every possible means to make France the seat of the arts. The great Colbert followed exactly in their steps by establishing certain regulations, which, at the same time, perfected the art of dying, and brought into disrepute those dyes of inferior quality which fraud and ignorance had introduced. He had the discernment to know, that the first requisite in every manufacture is the goodness of the work, and that without a principle of fair dealing and honesty, every species of commerce dependent upon the manufactures of a country, must fall to the ground.—But, not contented with advancing thus far, he encouraged manufactures in general by bestowing premiums proportioned to the merits of the manufacturers. If we attend to historical information, we shall likewise see that the same policy was observed by the Empress Maria Theresa, of Austria, whose liberality was such, as even to bestow large fortunes upon thousands of artists who were willing to come and set up their manufactories in Germany.
A similar mode of proceeding has in times past proved the salvation of France. The time has been when she purchased from her neighbours to the amount of more than fifty millions * yearly, only in the two articles of broadcloths and silk.—But no sooner did the French apply themselves to the planting of white mulberry trees, feeding silk-worms, and preserving their wool, than they manufactured to the amount of the same sum over and above their home consumption. A similar change took place in the article of lace, in their trade with the countries of Flanders and Brabant.
From these sketches of information, it is easy to see, that a nation can, whenever it pleases, free itself from the tribute which it may have been accustomed to pay to the superior industry of its neighbours.—By encouraging and protecting useful establishments they may do still more, and even advance so far as to turn the balance of trade in their favour.
In the whole history of commerce, nothing is more worthy of admiration than its progress in Ireland. After a tedious succession of civil wars, that country, exhausted, ravaged, and oppressed, was left a mere desert, the people discouraged and their resources ruined. In this situation of things, the Earl of Essex, then Governor of Ireland, soon saw the necessity of re-animating the drooping spirits of the inhabitants, and directing such of them as had escaped from wounds and slaughter, to the pursuits of industry. Lord Essex, not wholly relying upon his own judgment in so momentous an affair as a general reformation of the Irish government, consulted the famous Sir William Temple, a very able politician, who sketched out a plan, which has been attended with unexampled success.—It would be tedious at present to detail the whole of Sir William's plan at full length; sufficient be it to observe, that he recommended a confident integrity as the basis upon which the structure of foreign commerce ought to be built, and without which it cannot possibly hope to attract confidence. He, next, advised Lord Essex to encourage the breeding of cattle and sheep, and to be particularly attentive to the raising of the raw materials, in general suited to the country, which he regarded as the soul of commerce, and for which there would always be a demand, as well as for their linens, at fixed and regular markets. In order to excite emulation, he proposed honours and considerable premiums to those who
* 3,750,000 f. Pennsylvania currency.
should bring to market, against a specified time, one or two pieces of linen, or cloth of the first quality. This gave rise to the Irish manufactures—Interest is the grand motive of action in man, and the multitude are ever most open to its impressions.—It was, further, the advice of Sir William, to have an inspection for every sort of merchandise destined to go abroad, in order to prevent fraudulent practices, which never fail to injure the commercial credit of a nation.
By following such advice Ireland soon re-established her commerce. Such is the influence of genius and ability upon the prosperity of states!
But, on the other hand, it may be asked, whether similar plans would be practicable in an infant country, separated by an immense ocean from Europe; destitute of suitable funds, and labouring under every discouragement that European jealousy and European policy can throw in its way?
To this it may be answered, that the establishment of a lottery in every state, would in a little time produce a fund fully adequate to the great object in view. There is every reason to believe, that, in a country so famous for its patriotic character as America, every citizen, being convinced of the utility of such an institution, would willingly risk a trifle of money and thereby contribute to the welfare of the community by promoting a lottery which should have for its object, simply, industry and extension of commerce.
But, supposing these funds already provided, and still no manufactures in the country; would it not be so much useless money?—I answer, by no means; for there might be a thousand ways instantly found out to employ it for the good of the public. Why not, in this case, follow the example of Henry the fourth who sent throughout Europe in search of the ablest workmen, to instruct his own subjects in France?—Why might not the profits of these funds be employed in defraying the expences of persons sent on similar errands? Money thus employed, instead of being thrown away needlessly, would soon gratify us with a full discovery of all those secrets of art which are so carefully retained in foreign countries.—Or the money might be well applied in paying the passages of a certain number of tradesmen from Europe, whom the hope of reward, and a more eligible situation in America, and, above all, the enjoyment of liberty, would induce to come amongst us.
It was precisely by such steps that France formerly procured manufacturers from Italy, where the various silk fabrics had previously been carried to the utmost degree of perfection.
But it would be wasting time to go about proving that steps of this kind would best promote our national prosperity in the United States. By encouraging ingenuity and industry, there would be the highest probability of our turning, in a short time, the balance of trade in our favor; as is now the case with those nations who have followed the proposed plan.
There is a remarkable instance in the history of the reign of the Empress Maria Theresa, of the national advantages accruing from the patronage of sovereigns, in regard to arts and manufactures. This wise Princess knew very well, that the character of a sovereign being once well established for encouraging genius and industry, would soon draw plenty of people of talents into the kingdom, who might be usefully employed:—A stranger made his appearance one day at Tournay, a town under the Empress's dominion in Flanders, and offered his services to the governing powers of the place, accompanied with certificates of his skill and capacity, in the manufacture of china and Lelst ware; articles in which that part

of Flanders had never been able to succeed. The stranger was favorably received, supplied with a sum out of the public treasury to begin his work; and from this accidental circumstance has proceeded one of the most considerable manufactures in Europe, and which at present, in the town of Tournay alone, supports upwards of two hundred families.
The distillation of the juniper-berry, (geneva) an article in which the low countries and Holland have so great a trade, owes its origin and success to a circumstance of nearly the same nature, and from the same kind of discernment in the sovereigns of those countries.
The United States produce a surplus of rye more than sufficient for the consumption of America in this liquor; and might even supply all the islands in the West-Indies therewith—What inexhaustible resources, then, does America possess, which though yet in embryo, a wise government will not fail to draw forth for the purposes of national prosperity, whenever it determines to tread in the steps of the sagacious legislators of other countries, that have gone before us. [To be continued.]
PHILADELPHIA.
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, November 21.
A petition of Jason Wate, was read, praying the commutation of half pay, as a major in the army of the United States, during the late war.—Referred to the Secretary at War.
Mr. WADSWORTH from the committee appointed, laid a bill before the House, more effectually to provide for the national defence, by establishing an uniform militia throughout the United States.—Read twice, and committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next.
The House then proceeded to consider the report of the committee to whom was referred the petition of James Jackson, relative to an undue election and return of Anthony Wayne, one of the members from the state of Georgia.—Committed to a committee of the whole House on Thursday.
On motion of Mr. MURRAY, the report of the committee of elections was called up, to whom was referred the letter from the executive of the state of Maryland, with the resignation of William Pinkney, and a certificate of the election of John F. Mercer, in his room.
It was observed on this occasion, that two questions occurred, Whether a person appointed to represent his state in Congress, has the power of resignation; the other, whether that appointment can be resigned to the executive of a state government, and whether the executive be authorized to accept the resignation, and issue a writ for a new election?
After some further debate on this subject, it was ordered that the said report be committed to a committee of the whole House to-morrow.
A motion was made and seconded that the petition of James Weeks, read on Friday last, (praying compensation for a vessel, his property, sunk in the Delaware, in the time of the late war, by order of the committee of safety) be referred for consideration.—It passed in the negative, and
Resolved, That the petition be rejected.
Petitions were read from John Higby, and John E. Moore, respectively praying the renewal of certain loan-office certificates, the property of the petitioners, which have been lost or destroyed.—Referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
A committee was ordered to be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill for extending the time limited for the settlement of the accounts of the United States, with the individual states—the committee appointed, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Griffin and Mr. Hartley.
The House, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill apportioning the representation of the people of the United States, according to the first enumeration.—Mr. Muhlenberg in the chair.
Several motions were made for adopting the ratios of one representative to
thirty-four and thirty-five thousand inhabitants—which were rejected. Several amendments were proposed and debated, after which the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Muhlenberg reported progress in the bill, and asked leave to sit again.
The House then resolved to take the bill into consideration again to-morrow. Adjourned.
TUESDAY, November 22.
The petitions of David Morris and Jacob Levan, were read, praying compensation for supplies furnished or services rendered in the army, during the war.
Also, a petition of Alpheus Moore, in behalf of himself and William Moore, orphan of the late major Willard Moore; and Mark Lincoln and Elizabeth his wife, late widow of the said Willard Moore, praying that the half pay of the commission possessed by the deceased, who was slain in the service of the United States, may be extended to them.—Both these petitions were referred to the Secretary at War.
The petitions of John M c Gowan, and Reuben Murray, were read, respectively praying to be reimbursed for sundry expenditures in the service of the United States, during the war.
Also, the petitions of Daniel Schermerhorn and John Crane, respectively praying the renewal of certain loan-office or final settlement certificates, the property of the petitioners, accidentally destroyed.—These several petitions referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
A petition of Henry Wagner, was read, praying relief, in consideration of a wound received in the service of the United States during the war.—Ordered to lie on the table.
A memorial of the committee of the counties of Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Alleghany, in the state of Pennsylvania, was read, stating their objections to an act passed at the last session, imposing a duty on spirits distilled within the United States, and praying a repeal.—Referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr. Laurence from the committee, presented a bill making appropriations for the support of government for the year 1792—read a first and second time and committed to a committee of the whole House to be taken into consideration on Wednesday the 30th instant.
A remonstrance of the people called Quakers, in the state of North-Carolina was read, stating their objections to certain parts of the militia bill, now depending.—Referred to the committee of the whole House on the militia bill.
A petition of William W. Smith [as administrator of Gilbert Tennent] and of Joseph Eaker, were read praying compensation for services rendered as surgeons in the general Hospital of the United States, during the war.
Ordered to lie on the table. The Speaker then laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of State, accompanying his report on the petition of Jacob Isaacks—
Read, and ordered to lie on the table.
According to the order of the day, the House then resolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the report of the Committee of elections, to whom was referred the letter from the executive of the state of Maryland, containing the resignation of William Pinkney, and also a certificate of the election of John F. Mercer, in Mr. Pinkney's room.
On this subject Mr. SENEY took occasion to observe, that he did not recollect any instance, except the present, of objections being started to the supplying of vacancies occasioned by resignation—neither could he see why there should be any difficulty in admitting Mr. Mercer, without further delay or debate—and could not but hope that the executive of Maryland were sufficiently instructed in the Constitution of the United States, to have taken proper steps on this occasion. Mr. Mercer had been duly elected—the committee had reported him so, and he expressed his wishes that the report might be adopted.
Mr. GILES was of opinion, that the resignation of any member did not create a vacancy in the Representative branch of the government. So far from it, that he thought, in this case, a resignation could only be made to the power that had conferred the appointment—that it was the duty of the executive council of the state, not to declare a va-
cancy, but simply to issue writs to supply such vacancy, when declared. He thought the House alone had the right to determine on the resignation, and if this right was transferred to the executive, the whole power respecting the judging of vacancies, was transferred with it. He considered the report of the committee as improper, hoped it would be rejected, and wished to see the principle established by the House.
Several other gentlemen having spoken on this subject, it was resolved that the House will again to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole House, on the said report.
The House according to the order of the day, again resolved itself into a committee of the whole House, on the bill apportioning the representation of the people of the United States, according to the first enumeration.
After some debate the Speaker resumed the chair, report being previously made, that the committee had considered and made amendments to the bill.—The consideration of which amendments was postponed till to-morrow. Adjourned.
ARATUS.
NUMBER II.
THE present must be considered an important crisis in the affairs of mankind, and the friends of republican government should watch over it with the utmost anxiety and care. The storm is up which will either dissipate the clouds, that have long darkened the political horizon, or envelope it with the thick shades of night forever; and although some circumstances have taken place that tend to brighten and decorate the prospect, yet the ultimate event is uncertain. While such danger impends o'er his country, the patriot of every clime should mark its vibrations and pursue its course, until it had expended its noxious influence, or finally taken a favorable direction.
The revolution in America and France has, it is true, opened to them a more splendid prospect than ever dawned upon their ardent hopes at any former era. The subversion of the tyranny, and establishment of free governments in both countries, by the authority and under the direction of the people, are events that particularly legalize the present day. But great and wonderful as this revolution has been, it should not inspire them with a mistaken confidence. Neither the past nor the present condition of society will authorize an intermission of their efforts. If they cast their eyes on the map of the globe, and trace the history of those regions in its different quarters, that have acknowledged an obedience to civil authority, upon the record of the most faithful annalists, from the time of Herodotus and Thucydides to the present day, they will find, that by far its greater portion, hath been always yielded as a theatre, whereon the most rigorous and intolerant despotism hath displayed its wanton cruelties. Even the fate of those few circles, that have been occasionally gathered under the banner of a free government, has been calculated rather to encrase than mitigate the gloom. Altho' they contain in their scattered story, whatever is interesting of the former transactions of men, and furnish the only brilliant epochs in human affairs; yet their fleeting and transitory passage, and the internal convulsions which tore them in sunder whilst they lasted, have tended in some measure to tarnish their fame and discourage future efforts. Their fortune has left a melancholy impression on the minds of many, and which has hitherto shielded despotism with a wall of impregnable strength, that their administration could neither be safe, durable, nor harmonious. This dark cloud of error which has so long environed the earth, must be dispelled, or the light of truth and reason will be extinguished forever.
Monarchy has always had, and always will have charms, extremely fascinating to a great part of mankind. Beside those who wear the diadem, or that numerous train who enjoy its favour, there is still a more numerous one, who are fed by hope, and promise themselves sooner or later a smile from the throne. Even despotism has seldom raged to an height, sufficient to form patriots in the court. They are generally the growth of another soil. But where the administration has assumed a more moderate tone, and mingled in its course to the lower classes of society, a portion of safety, for it must not be dignified with the name of freedom, it has seldom been shaken. The pomp, the pride, and external shew of grandeur, which attach themselves to this kind of government, and are the sure indication of those weak passions which are always restrained, whilst the owners acknowledge a dependence on the general estimation of society, and as certainly break forth when they consider themselves elevated above it, both captive and awe many. It is a truth which cannot be controverted, for it is supported by indelible characters written on the hearts of men, and daily exemplified by their conduct, that in a found development of the various causes which contribute to the support of those governments, that are founded on the ruin of the public liberty, the mere mechanic force which nerves the arm of the Prince, must not be considered as that which is solely influential. In the attempt, therefore, to maintain the ground already acquired, or in
generally to subvert the reigning tyrannies, and establish free government in their stead, the formidable array of armies is not the only danger to be encountered: the deep-rooted interests of many, and inveterate prejudices of others, must be attacked and vanquished, before they can hope for success.
It must be attributed to the propitious direction of Providence, that the comparative merits of the different kinds of government have been submitted to the consideration of mankind in an enlightened age. Many of those prejudices which had long tyrannized over the faculties of the human mind, when divested of their false garb, and exposed, by the pen of the philosopher, to the sober use of the reflecting, have already fled before the manly force of reason, like the morning mist at the presence of the radiant sun. 'Tis to be hoped, therefore, that, in a question of such high importance to their lasting welfare, the mere force of prejudice will not be able long to blind their understanding or pervert their judgment.
By the revolution in America and France, and particularly the former, a fair experiment will be made: the problem which hath been heretofore so much discussed, and respecting which so great a contrariety of sentiment hath prevailed, whether mankind are capable of self government, or whether a body must be organized without, elevated above, irresponsible to, and holding a perpetual scourge over them for that purpose, will receive a fair and satisfactory solution. Into their hands that great mass of power, which, by long usurpation had been considered the birth-right and property of kings, has been restored. By them it has been modified, distributed, and put in motion; and to the permanent interests, the wisdom and the virtue of society, will the solemn appeal be made.
Those who have been called to make this experiment occupy an interesting theatre. Its fate will teach an important lesson, which will be felt for ages to come: and upon it the eyes of all nations are fixed with anxious solicitude for the event. If by the stability of their conduct, they shall be able to sustain the character and dignity of "the government of the people," and demonstrate to the world, that whilst it discards the evils incident to others, it hath retained all their most useful properties, they will have gained a boon which has been contended for hitherto in vain. They will exhibit to other nations an example worthy imitation. But those circumstances which promise success, make it of the last importance that they should succeed; for if the prize should be now wrested from them, the effort will never be made again. The cause of liberty will be abandoned, and mankind, in future, will repose themselves in quiet, under the dominion of a tyrant, and endeavor, by a blind obedience to his mandates, to moderate the rigor of oppression.
To the people of America, the claim of the present age and posterity must operate with peculiar force; with them the effort commenced which promises to be productive of such important benefits to society. At their shrine, the ethereal fire was caught, which has already diffused its light into the remotest regions. Authors of a great revolution, and which has operated like a first cause upon the proudest and most enlightened nations of the earth, they owe it to Him who gave them comfort in the day of their distress—they owe it to themselves and to the cause of humanity, to cherish the principle upon which they acted.—And deservedly degraded would they be in the common estimation of the world, if, after having roused their fellow men in other countries, to this noble exertion, whilst the conflict was at the height, and the prospect of a brilliant achievement within their reach, they should, by a neglect of their duty, or an abandonment of their principles, be the first to yield the ground which had been with such difficulty acquired. ARATUS.
PARIS, September 12.
Affairs of the Colonies.
The sitting of the National Assembly of the 5th in the evening, was one of the most tumultuous of the present session.—The affairs of the colonies, and the decree of the 15th of May, in favour of the people of colour, (Mulattoes) gave rise to the tumult. The two opposite parties were more violent than ever. The debate was opened by the reading of an address of the city of Brest, very different from that by which the citizens of Nantz desired the repeal of the decree in question, by a formal predilection of the total loss of the colonies, if the Assembly should not determine to take that step. That petition read at the sitting of the 5th of August, was referred to the colonial committee. That of Brest on the contrary, demands the execution of the decree of the 15th, of May, and violently charges the committee. Messieurs Alexander Lameth and Barnave have answered these charges with great force, and have not concealed that the Assembly would be at last compelled to repeal its decree. Mr. Robespierre, giving a loose to his violent temper, openly declared the two above named members to be traitors to their country, and he prayed a day to be appointed to the truth of his charge, formally against them, for having employed their means to prevent the execution of the decree. M. Barnave has answered the charge, and likewise requested the discussion of the decree. The committee succeeded this charge, and proposed to put an end to the debate, which had passed on to the 7th, in the course of the day.
The debate continued on the 7th, in the course of the day. The discussion of the decree was resumed. The committee succeeded this charge, and proposed to put an end to the debate, which had passed on to the 7th, in the course of the day.

ved that a new report be ordered on the subject, to be made in ten days, which was decreed.
A thick veil still seems to cloud this subject, and prevent us as yet from forming a judgment on the question. The whole commercial interest appears to wish for the repeal of this humane decree. As to the news which come daily from the colonies, they all contradict each other, and each bears the stamp of the spirit of party which dictated it. It appears, however, that there is a large majority against the adoption of the contested decree.
PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER 24.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Charleston to his friend in this city, dated Nov. 4. "It has been observed by several foreigners, that, considering the immense benefits which the French revolution promises to the human race, that grand event has passed in America with less éclat, less sympathy of joy, than could have been reasonably expected from a people, who but seven years before, had almost by dint of mere enthusiastic bravery, emancipated themselves from the chains prepared for them by the parent state. In answer to this observation, it might be said, that the American war was of so tedious a duration, and such perpetual disappointments were the effect of their struggles, that the enthusiasm of the people naturally subsided, with the return of peace, into a cold and phlegmatic indifference. During the interval, too, from the close of the late American war to the last successful struggles of the friends of free government in France, characters were not wanting in this country who exerted such abilities as they possessed, in endeavouring to persuade the people that the principles for which they had so recently fought and bled, were nugatory—and that the right of enacting laws and governing themselves, lay not with the multitude of any nation, but with certain favorites of heaven, certain political magicians, to whom that gift was imparted (I suppose) by some supernatural means. The establishment of a free government in France, has thrown a damp upon the advocates of such doctrines. The political regeneration of twenty-five millions of men, as is the case in France, is an event that must forever abash the patrons of a baneful autocracy in America. The pure doctrines of republicanism, and an equality of rights must and will prevail; without which man is but a reptile, and liberty but a name; and if a monarchical form of government be retained in France, it is only because the fates of that country have foreseen, that a reformation of abuses (to work a valuable effect) must always be gradual; in the same manner as the errors of the church of Rome were in times past reformed, and the authority of the Pope shaken off by the Princes of Europe, not by trampling the creed of the pontiff under foot in a sudden fit of passion, but by advancing the means of knowledge among their subjects, which has left the Holy Father an object of contempt to every body but his cardinals, the officers of the inquisition, and the devout old women of his diocese."
On Sunday evening last, as three gentlemen, of this city, were returning from Germantown, they were stopped on the road about one mile and an half from town by two robbers, armed with cutlasses, who demanded their money, clothes, and watches. Owing to some sudden alarm, however, and some hesitation in complying with their request, the fellows ran off without accomplishing their purpose.
We are informed a machine has lately been invented at New-Haven, in the state of Connecticut, to go by water, which takes wool or cotton in their raw state; and without any, or very trifling manual labor, car s, spindles, and weaves to great perfection. This machine (our informant says) is so invented as to raise water from a pond or lake sufficient to keep all its parts in constant motion.
A meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Baltimore was advertised to be held on the 16th instant, in order to determine on the propriety and expediency of applying to the General Assembly of Maryland, now in session, for an act to incorporate that town.
The General Assembly of Vermont has passed a law, laying a tax of one half-penny per acre on all the lands in that state, for the purpose of raising the sum of thirty thousand dollars, to discharge the demand of the state of New-York upon them.
Accounts from the windward Islands mention a severe gale to have been felt in those parts about the 25th of October, its principal direction from the north-west to the south-west, which as being directly opposite to the uniform swell occasioned by the general eastern trade wind, soon raised the sea to such a height as to force many vessels on shore, particularly at St. Kitts, St. Eustatia, St. Thomas and St. Martins. Some of these are wholly lost, others in a way of being got off again.
A letter from the Island of Dominica, states that there are no less than four hundred slaves in that island, the property of individuals in South-Carolina, who were brought off at the evacuation. "We are much surprized (adds the letter) that no demand has been made by the general government of the United States for their delivery, as we reckon ourselves bound by the treaty of peace to restore such property."
By the brig Sally and Polly, arrived on Monday from Port-au-Prince, which place she left on the 25th ult. we learn that a treaty had been concluded
ed between the whites and mulattoes in that part of St. Domingo; in consequence of which, 1500 persons of colour were embodied to assist in reducing the blacks.
The following address from the General Assembly of St. Domingo, was read in the House of Representatives of the United States, on Monday last.
To the Honorable the Congress of the United States.
GENTLEMEN, IN our letter of the 24th of last August, you received information of the misfortunes, which had befallen the northern part of this flourishing colony. Our whole force, though very limited, has been levelled against the ravagers, who are laying it waste; and we have so far accomplished our ends, as, if not to effect their total reduction, at least to check the evil in its progress. That unhappy catastrophe forced the General Assembly of the French part of St. Domingo to embrace every means of safety, indispensable in similar cases, and rendered necessary by the urgency of circumstances; in consequence of which, the shipping in general, and, among the rest, the vessels belonging to your nation, have experienced some little delay in their departure. But, desirous of maintaining that peace and harmony, that subsist between France (of which we constitute a part) and your states—desirous also of testifying, as far as in their power, their grateful acknowledgment of the generous services, offered and rendered to the colony, by the brave subjects of the United States—the General Assembly, in concert with the King's representative, have, in the first place, set aside the Droit d'Aubaine, in favor of such as might fall victims to their own zeal and courage. The Assembly would have wished to abolish it forever; and to extend the exemption to the Americans in general; but this object being a constitutional point, they intend to apply for it to the mother country; and we have not a doubt, that she will eagerly gratify our wishes.
In the next place, having taken into consideration the obstacles, experienced by Mr. Silvanus Bourne, your consul in this colony, to the registry of his credentials—obstacles, which were occasioned by certain formal defects—the General Assembly hastened to remove them, and to give orders that the said credentials should be registered.
Finally, under the constant influence of those principles of justice and equity, which cement the union between the two allied nations, and desirous of corresponding with the views of France, who will ever hold dear that memorable epoch, when the law permanent security given to the unlimited freedom of a nation, that has furnished her with a glorious example, for the recovery of her own rights so long mislaid. The General Assembly have, in favor of the Americans, hastened to take off the embargo, which the unfortunate situation of affairs had obliged them to lay on all vessels with our distinction.
But in vain would the colony have recovered her former tranquility, if the means of applying a speedy remedy to the evil were not to be employed. The General Assembly have therefore determined to send to your body two new commissioners, Messrs. De Beauvois and Payan, who are provided with letters from the Assembly and the King's representative.
The General Assembly do not entertain a doubt, that you will, together with a favorable reception to them, give your assent to the requisitions which they are empowered to make of you, the success of which will undoubtedly extend its influence to the commerce, which the subjects of the United States carry on with this colony.
With this pleasing hope, we contemplate their departure, and direct them to the representatives of a generous nation, the friend and ally of France since the year 1782, the period when she fully recovered her liberty.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble servant, J. PONCIGNON, President. Cape Francois, October 13, 1791.
Extract from the REGISTER of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of French St. Domingo. [Translation.] October 10, 1791.
A petition has been presented to the Assembly by Capt. Kullichy, master of the American brig Susanna, acquainting them that "not being able to find a market for his cargo in this port, it is already in a perishing condition, and must be completely ruined, if kept longer on board. He therefore requests leave to depart from this port, or, if he must be detained, that his cargo may be purchased at the expense of the colony."
In proceeding on the petition, a member proposed a decree, that when any American captain shall not have found a sale for his cargo in this port within fifteen days after his arrival, at a reasonable price, (which price shall be fixed by the Assembly) it shall be lawful for him to leave the port, and proceed to any other in the colony he shall see fit.
A postponement of this motion was then mentioned, but the Assembly declared, that it was improper to defer the consideration of the motion.
Another member proposed, that the government embargo should instantly be taken off all American vessels, detained under that order.
The Assembly taking into consideration, that from the calamities this island labours under, it was nothing more than an act of prudence in them to extend the embargo, even to the inclusion of foreign vessels; yet notwithstanding this, they wish to pay all possible regard to the rights of nations, and therefore determine to continue this measure as short a time as circumstances will permit.
Considering, moreover, that the sooner the foreign vessels shall have disposed of their cargoes, the sooner they will be enabled to return to their respective countries, and bring out future supplies for the subsistence of the colony;
Decreed, That the embargo laid upon foreign vessels be immediately taken off, and that it shall be lawful for them to proceed to such ports in the colony as to them shall seem best.
The Assembly enjoins the President to acquaint the Lieutenant Governor General of the island with the above decree, for his approbation, and to notify the same to the Provincial Assemblies, provisionally appointed, of the northern, western, and southern departments, with an injunction upon the latter to make the decree known to the Municipalities and other bodies politic of their respective districts.
Done at the Sessions of the General Assembly the day, month, and year above mentioned (Signed) PONCIGNON, President. JOUETTE, Vice-President. Cheron, Viel, Beraulit, Gouls, Secretaries.
[And a little lower] Signed and approved by BLANCHELANDE.
Read in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES on Tuesday last.
The SECRETARY of STATE to whom was referred, by the House of Representatives of the United States, the petition of Jacob Isaacks, of Newport, in Rhode-Island, has examined into the truth and importance of the allegations therein set forth, and makes thereon the following
REPORT.
THE petitioner sets forth, that, by various experiments, with considerable labor and expense, he has discovered a method of converting salt-water into fresh, in the proportion of 8 pints out of 10, by a process so simple that it may be performed on board of vessels at sea by the common iron caudle with small alterations, by the same fire, and in the same time, which is used for cooking the ship's provisions; and offers to convey to the government of the United States a faithful account of his art, or secret, to be used by or within the United States, on their giving to him a reward suitable to the importance of the discovery, and, in the opinion of government, adequate to his expenses, and the time he has devoted to the bringing it into effect.
In order to ascertain the merit of the petitioner's discovery, it becomes necessary to examine the advances already made in the art of converting salt-water into fresh.
Lord Bacon, to whom the world is indebted for the first germs of so many branches of science, had observed, that, with a heat sufficient for distillation, salt will not rise in vapour, and that salt-water distilled, is fresh. And it would seem that all mankind might have observed, that the earth is supplied with fresh-water chiefly by exhalation from the sea, which is in fact an intangible distillation effected by the heat of the sun. Yet this, though the most obvious, was not the first idea in the essays for converting salt-water into fresh. Filtration was tried in vain, and congelation could be resorted to only in the coldest regions and seasons. In all the earlier trials by distillation, some mixture was thought necessary to aid the operation by a partial precipitation of the salt, and other foreign matters contained in sea-water. Of this kind were the methods of Sir Richard Hawkins, in the 16th century, of Glauber, Hanton and Lister, in the 17th, and of Hales, Appleby, Butler, Chapman, Hoffman and Dove, in the 18th: nor was there any thing in these methods worthy noting on the present occasion, except the very simple still contrived extempore by Capt. Chapman, and made from such materials as are to be found on board every ship, great or small. This was a common pot with a wooden lid of the usual form, in the center of which a hole was bored to receive perpendicularly a short wooden tube, made with an inch and half auger, which perpendicular tube received at its top, and at an acute angle, another tube of wood also, which descended till it joined a third, of pewter, made by rolling up a dish, and passing it obliquely through a cask of cold water. With this simple machine he obtained two quarts of fresh-water an hour, and observed, that the expence of fuel would be very trifling, if the still was contrived to stand on the fire along with the ship's boiler.
In 1762, Dr. Lind proposing to make experiments of several different mixtures, first distilled rain-water, which he supposed would be the purest, and then sea-water, without any mixture, which he expected would be the least pure, in order to arrange between these two supposed extremes the degree of merit of the several ingredients he meant to try. "To his great surprise," as he confesses, the sea-water, omitted without any mixture, was as pure as the rain-water. He pursued the discovery and established the fact, that a pure and potable fresh-water may be obtained from salt-water by simple distillation without the aid of any mixture for fining or precipitating its foreign contents. In 1767, he proposed an extempore still, which, in fact, was Chapman's, only substituting a gun-barrel instead of Chapman's pewter tube, and the hand-pump of the ship to be cut in two obliquely, and joined again at an acute angle, instead of Chapman's wooden tubes bored expressly, or, instead of the wooden lid and upright tube, he proposed a tea-kettle (without its lid or handle) to be turned bottom upwards over the mouth of the pot, by way of still-head, and a wooden tube leading from the spout to a gun-barrel, passing through a cask of water, the whole luted with equal parts of chalk and meal moistened with salt-water.
With this apparatus of a pot, tea-kettle and gun-barrel, the Dolphin, a 20 gun ship, in her voyage round the world, in 1768, from 56 gallons of sea-water, and with 1lb. of wood and 60lb. of coal, made 42 gallons of good fresh water at the rate of 8 gallons an hour. The Dorsetshire, in her passage from Gibraltar to Mahon, in 1769, made 19 quarts of pure water in 4 hours with 1lb. of wood: And the Slambal, in 1773, between Bombay and Bengal, with a hand pump, gun-
barrel and a pot, of 6 gallons of sea-water made 10 quarts of fresh water in 3 hours.
In 1771, Dr. Lind, putting together Lind's idea of distilling without a mixture, Chapman's still, and Dr. Franklin's method of cooling by evaporation, obtained a premium of 5000l. from the British parliament. He wet his tube constantly with a mop instead of passing it through a cask of water: He enlarged his boiler also in order to give a freer passage to the vapour, and thereby increase its quantity by lessening the resistance or pressure on the evaporating surface: this last improvement was his own, and it doubtless contributed to the success of his models: and we may suppose the enlargement of the tube to be useful to that point at which the central parts of the vapour, passing through it, would begin to escape condensation. Lord Mulgrave used his method in his voyage towards the North Pole in 1773, making from 34 to 40 gallons of fresh water a day, without any great addition of fuel, as he says.
M. de Bougainville in his voyage round the world, used, very successfully, a still which had been contrived in 1763, by Poyssonnier, so as to guard against the water being thrown over from the boiler into the pipe by the agitation of the ship. In this one singularity was, that the furnace or fire box was in the middle of the boiler, so that the water surrounded it in contact. This still, however, was expensive and occupied much room.
Such were the advances already made in the art of obtaining fresh from salt water, when Mr. Isaacks, the petitioner, suggested his discovery.
As the merit of this could be ascertained by experiment only, the Secretary of State asked the favor of Mr. Rittenhouse, President of the American Philosophical Society, of Dr. Wistar, professor of chemistry in the college of Philadelphia, and Dr. Hutchinson, professor of chemistry in the university of Pennsylvania, to be present at the experiments. Mr. Isaacks fixed the pot of a small caudle, with a tin cap and straight tube of tin passing obliquely through a cask of cold water; he made use of a mixture, the composition of which he did not explain, and from 24 pints of sea water, taken up about 3 miles out of the Capes of Delaware at flood tide, he distilled 22 pints of fresh water in 4 hours, with 2lb. of seasoned pine, which was a little wetted by having lain in the rain.
In a 2d experiment of the 21st of March, performed in a furnace and five gallon still at the college, from 32 pints of sea water he drew 31 pints of fresh water in 7 h. 24 min. with 4lb. of hickory which had been cut about six months. In order to decide whether Mr. Isaacks's mixture contributed in any and what degree to the success of the operation, it was thought proper to repeat his experiment under the same circumstances exactly, except the omission of the mixture. Accordingly on the next day the same quantity of sea water was put into the same still, the same furnace was used, and fuel from the same parcel. It yielded, as his bedstone, 31 pints of fresh water in 11 min. more of time and with 1lb. less of wood.
On the 24th of March Mr. Isaacks performed a 3d experiment. For this, a common iron pot of 5 1/2 gallons was fixed in brick work, and the flue from the hearth wound once round the pot spirally, and then passed off up a chimney. The cap was of tin, and a straight tin tube of about two inches diameter, passing obliquely through a barrel of water, served instead of a worm. From 16 pints of sea water he drew off 15 pints of fresh water in 2 h. 55 min. with 3lb. of dry hickory and 8lb. of seasoned pine. This experiment was also repeated the next day, with the same apparatus and fuel from the same parcel, but without the mixture. Sixteen pints of sea water yielded in like manner 15 pints of fresh, in 1 min. more of time and with half a pound less of wood. On the whole, it was evident that Mr. Isaacks's mixture produced no advantage, either in the process or result of the distillation.
The distilled water in all these instances was found on experiment to be as pure as the best pump water of the city. Its taste indeed was not as agreeable, but it was not such as to produce any disgust. In fact, we drink in common life, in many places, and under many circumstances, and almost always at sea, a worse tasted, and probably a less wholesome water.
The obtaining fresh from saltwater, for ages was considered as an important desideratum for the use of navigators. The process for doing this by simple distillation is so efficacious, the erecting an extempore still with such utensils as are found on board of every ship is so practicable, as to authorize the assertion, that this desideratum is satisfied to a very useful degree. But though this has been done for upwards of 30 years, though its reality has been established by the actual experience of several vessels which have had recourse to it, yet neither the fact nor the process is known to the mass of seamen, to whom it would be the most useful, and for whom it was principally wanted. The Secretary of State is therefore of opinion, that since the subject has now been brought under observation, it should be made the occasion of disseminating its knowledge generally and effectually among the seafaring citizens of the United States. The following is one of the many methods which might be proposed for doing this. Let the clearance for every vessel sailing from the ports of the United States, be printed on a paper, on the back whereof shall be a printed account of the essays which have been made for obtaining fresh from salt water, mentioning shortly those which have been unsuccessful, and more fully those which have succeeded; describing the methods which have been found to answer for constructing extempore stills of such implements as are generally on board of every vessel, with a recommendation, in all cases where they shall have occasion to resort to this expedient for obtaining water, to publish the result of their trial in some gazette on their return to the United States, or to communicate it for publication to the office of the Secretary of State, in order that others may, by their success, be encouraged to make similar trials, and be benefited by any improvements or new ideas which may occur to them in practice.
TH: JEFFERSON.
Philadelphia, November 23d, 1791.

FOR THE NATIONAL GAZETTE.
Lines facied to the Memory of FOPLING FLUTTER,
[Unfortunately drowned in a Mill-pond, about a week before his intended marriage, April, 1787.]
LOST in the fuds, the rouge upon his cheek, And matted in the wave his hair so sleek, His India vest, and coat of bottle-green, No more at church or play-house shall be seen;
Was ever wretched girl so plagu'd as I, Condemn'd to pass THREE DAYS in grief and pain, Go, Jacky, go—dear boy—and haul the seine."
BANK OF THE UNITED STATES.
RESOLVED, That the following Acts and Resolutions be published for the information of the Stockholders of the Bank of the United States, and such persons as may have to transact business with the Bank.
THAT the Bank shall be opened on every day (Sundays, Christmas-day, and the fourth of July, excepted) at nine o'clock in the morning, and so remain until four o'clock in the afternoon.
That discounts for the present, and until altered by a quarterly or special meeting of the Board of Directors convened for that purpose, shall be made at the rate of six per cent. per annum;
That bills or notes left with the Bank shall be presented for acceptance, and the money collected or demanded, free of expense: Provided nevertheless, that in case of non-payment and protest, the charge of protest shall be paid by the person lodging the bill or note.
That the payment of the portion of the capital stock, consisting of specie, which will be due on the several shares subscribed on the first Monday of January next, be made at the Bank—but that the portion consisting of public debt, which will be due on the several shares subscribed, on the first Monday of January next, may be made at the option of the Stockholders, by transferring the same to the President, Directors, and Company of the Bank of the United States, at any time on or before the first Monday of January next, either upon the books of any of the Treasury, or upon the books of any of the Commissioners of Loans for any of the United States.
That the form of the power for voting by proxy at any election, be:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I of _____ do hereby appoint _____ to be substitute and proxy for and in name and behalf, to vote at any election of a Director or Directors of the Bank of the United States, as fully as might or could were personally present.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set hand and seal, this _____ day of _____ in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and _____
That the form of the power for voting by proxy respecting the enacting, repealing or amending Bye-Laws, Ordinances and Regulations, be:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I of _____ do hereby appoint _____ substitute or proxy, to represent at all meetings of the Stockholders of the Bank of the United States, and in name and behalf to vote respecting the enacting, repealing or amending such Bye-Laws, Ordinances, or Regulations, as may be deemed necessary and convenient for the government of the said Bank.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set hand and seal, this _____ day of _____ in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and _____
That the form of the power for selling, assigning and transferring Bank Stock, be:
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I of _____ do hereby constitute and appoint _____ true and lawful attorney, for and in name and behalf, to sell, assign and transfer unto any person or persons, the whole or any part of _____ share unto belonging in the capital or joint stock of the President, Directors and Company of the Bank of the United States, and for that purpose to make and execute all necessary acts of assignments and transfer, and furthermore, one or more persons under _____ to substitute with like full power.
That the form of the power to receive Dividends be—
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I of _____ do hereby constitute and appoint _____ lawful attorney for and in name and behalf, to receive and give receipts for all dividends now due, or which may grow due on _____ share to _____ belonging, in the capital or joint stock of the President, Directors and Company of the Bank of the United States.
In witness whereof, have hereunto set hand and seal, this _____ day of _____ in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and _____
That the bank shall receive and pay all specie coins, according to the rates and value that have been or shall hereafter be established by Congress. That the lawful possession of a certificate for a share in the Bank of the United States, issued by the persons appointed to receive subscriptions to the said Bank, and accompanied by an assignment thereof, shall be deemed a sufficient authority for the transfer at the Bank of such share to the person to whom the same shall have been thus assigned.
That the delivery to THOMAS WILLING, President of the Bank of the United States, of a certificate of public debt, bearing an annual interest of six per cent. and standing, upon the books of a loan-office in any of the states, accompanied with a power of attorney, authorizing the said THOMAS WILLING, or his substitute, to transfer to the President, Directors and Company of the Bank of the United States, the whole or part of the stock expressed in such certificate, shall for so much as may be thus transferred, be deemed a payment pursuant to the charter of the said Bank, and on the account of the first and second payment in the public debt, which will become due upon Bank shares on the first Monday in January next, provided that the delivery of the said certificate and power of attorney be made to the said THOMAS WILLING, on or before the first Monday in January; and that satisfactory evidence be given to the Directors of the said Bank, of the completion of such transfers on or before the first Monday in March next.
That the Bank receive transfers of any of the public debt in trust for such persons as may require the same.
That in all cases when thereunto required, that the Bank accept powers of attorney for receiving interests due, or to grow due upon any of the public debt, and hold the same at the order of the proprietor, free of charge.
Resolved, That it will be expedient to establish offices of Discount and Deposit in the several cities of Charleston and New-York, and towns of Baltimore and Boston, as soon as may be after the first Monday of January next, upon the following plan.
Art. 1. The Directors of the Bank of the United States shall appoint a number of Directors not less than nine for each department, a majority of whom shall constitute a board. Art. 2. The Directors for each department shall choose one of their number for President. Art. 3. The Directors of the Bank of the United States shall appoint the Cashiers of departments. Art. 4. The Directors of departments shall appoint their respective Tellers, Clerks and Servants, and the securities by them given, shall be approved by the Directors of the Bank of the United States. Art. 5. The Directors of departments shall be annually appointed, but not more than three-fourths of whom, exclusive of the President, shall be eligible for the next succeeding year. Art. 6. The compensation to the President, Tellers, Clerks and Servants of departments, shall be established by the Directors of the Bank of the United States.
Art. 7. The manner of keeping, stating and rendering the accounts of the departments, shall be prescribed by the Directors of the Bank of the United States, and the observance of the rules established shall be enforced by the Directors of the Bank of the United States, to whom accounts of departments shall be rendered.
Art. 8. That part of the capital stock of the Bank which consists of the public debt of the United States, shall not be divided, but the departments shall discount upon such part of the specie capital of the said Bank as the Directors shall apportion to them, with such part of the deposits as shall be lodged with them from time to time, as the Directors of departments shall judge safe and expedient.
Art. 9. All notes issued at the departments shall be signed and countersigned by the President and Cashier of the Bank of the United States—shall be made payable at the respective departments from which they are issued, and shall be delivered to the Cashier of the department, who shall give duplicate receipts for the same, one of which is to be lodged with the President of the Bank of the United States, and the other with the President of the department.
Art. 10. All notes which shall have become unfit for circulation, shall be cancelled by the President and Directors of departments, and immediately thereafter transmitted to the Directors of the Bank of the United States, who shall cause the said departments to be credited for the same.
Art. 10. The respective departments shall, once in every week, make out and transmit to the Directors of the Bank of the United States, a distinct abstract of the state of their funds—which abstract shall ascertain the amount of the debts and credits of the department, the amount of notes issued by the department and then in circulation, the amount of cash on hand, and shall likewise distinguish in the account of cash on hand, how much thereof is in specie, and how much in the several kinds of Bank notes.
Art. 12. That the continuance of the said several departments shall be at the pleasure of the Directors of the Bank of the United States—but none of the foregoing regulations shall be rescinded, unless at a meeting of a majority of the whole number of the Directors, after a notice given for that purpose at a preceding meeting.
By order of the Board of Directors, THOMAS WILLING, President. Countersigned, JOHN KEAN, Cashier.
FRANKFORT, August 9. A Pamphlet in the German language is circulated through the empire, and read with avidity, entitled, A CRUSADE AGAINST THE FRANKS; Or, a Patriotic Speech to be delivered in the German Diet, Germany, the second year of Liberty.
The following is an Extract:— "Is it true, Princess, that the thirst of French blood induces you to extinguish the flames of war in the east; in order to light them up in the west of Europe. In what respect have the French nation offended you?
"The French have ceased to think that virtues, talents and knowledge, descend from fire to fire, like robes of ceremony. With them the merit of ancestors is no avail to cover prejudices, vices, and insignificance: the nobility of head and heart has destroyed that of birth.
"The French have ceased to think that it was necessary, in order to please God, to support, at a great expense, and in luxury, lazy drones of all colours to make long prayers. They have brought back the monks and priests, and the bishops to the primitive purity, and simplicity of christianity.
"The French have thought that it was better to put a stop to disputes by reconciliation, than to foment division by endless litigations between citizens: they have established judges of peace. Without the revolution France must have been a bankrupt; and thousands, too credulous, reduced to beggary. The French are now just to their engagements—they pay their debts.
"Whilst despotism occupied the throne of France, all who were contiguous to that power had reason to dread its neighbourhood. An eternal peace is now a fundamental law of that powerful empire.
"Princes, from what treaty do you derive a right of disturbing France. She guaranteed indeed the German constitution by the peace of Westphalia: but the despotism of the kings of France was never guaranteed. Why would you draw the sword? Is it for Louis XVI? He does not demand your assistance. He has himself sworn the French constitution, and declared himself, in the eyes of the nation and of Europe; your friend and protector.
"The nation still less has called for you: and though you had the absurd right of interfering in its internal affairs, you have not that of attempting to convert it at the expence of our money, and of our blood. If their constitution is good, it will subsist in spite of you—in spite of us. It is defective, time and experience will produce the necessary reforms. Twice in one century Sweden has changed its constitution; this change has not cost its neighbors one drop of blood.
"What difference does it make to the neighbors of France, whether it has one legislator, or twelve hundred; whether the nation is governed by ministers, by ministers and their creatures, or by the deputies of the people; whether the Gallic priests are fat or lean? Will the German commerce be injured if the prince of Conde is called simply M. Conde?
"But, exclaim the French aristocrates, our cause is the common cause of kings. This terrible revolution is an electric shock, which will put every thing in motion. The example of the French will not want imitators. Other nations will learn from them to tread under foot royal majesty. The heresy of the French, like their fashions and caprices, will infect all Europe.
"Thus speak those pretended friends of kings: but what they in reality regret—what they wish to restore, is not so much the interest of royalty as that of aristocracy; it is not the king whom they wish to re-establish; it is their mitresses, their crosses, their ribbons, their titles. They regret that they are no longer viziers at the court, Pashas in the provinces, farmers general, in order to devour the treasury; parliament, in order to erect themselves into the preceptors of kings, and proudly engross the title of fathers of their country; prelates, in order to swim in opulence, and indulge in vice, &c. &c. all regret that they are no longer able to gratify their private resentments with lettres de cachet, that they are no longer able to fatten on the substance of the state, whilst millions of families are left to oppression and beggary.
"Germans! far from detesting the French revolution, you ought to thank heaven for having produced it.
"When France was under the yoke of an absolute prince, what did you not suffer! which of his neighbours did not experience the effects of his fury and ambition? Since Charles VIII. Italy, Spain, Germany, and the low countries, have in turn been ravaged by French despotism. Did not Lewis XIV. cover the Palatinate with ruins and ashes; who brought Holland to the brink of ruin; who filled Spain and Italy with consternation, and who would have made Germany a province of France, if the victory of Hocksted had not stop the career of his conquests? Such was the conduct of a despot. Such still would be his conduct, if he could at his pleasure dispose of the population and industry of the French nation. Such is the conduct to which the revolution has now for ever effectually put a stop. A hundred years since we should have celebrated such a revolution by bonfires and solemn thanks to the Almighty; how should we have exalted MIRABEAU and his colleagues, as angels descended from heaven, to the succour of humanity:—and now, Germans, would you again put into the hands of a despot to power, the sword stained with the blood of your fathers, and your brothers, and point it anew against your children! and all this you would do, not for Lewis XVI. who does not demand it; but in order to please some aristocrates, who regard as nothing the repose of neighbouring states, and the happiness of their fellow-citizens."
LONDON, Sept. 10. Our Ministers insisted upon the indispensable necessity of the Russians relinquishing Oczakow; and, to convince the Empress they were right, equipped, as all the world knows, a fine fleet; but as she was so obstinate as to reject this specious and plausible mode of argument, they, our aforesaid Ministers, now say they will tell the Mahometans it would not do;—that they must, therefore, make peace with her on the terms she has dictated, for that really no better conditions could be obtained. They will, no doubt, urge as a proof how highly we value an alliance with the descendants of the Prophet, our having spent a million of money. It would be very provoking, if this unchristian people applied the old adage to us—"Fools and their money, &c."
I am told we are not to have any additional taxes:—But do you think, Mr. Editor, that if our great calculator, the Premier, could hit upon another, what he calls productive, efficient object of taxation, his fingers would not itch?—When he produced his budget to pay off the Spanish armament, we were told the expences would be liquidated by the additional taxes within four years; and I remember very well, he previously told us there was a surplus of revenue, beyond paying the annual million of the national debt:—What then did he mean by an additional permanent tax on bills and receipts? I don't recollect that he hinted at any relief to the poor by this heavy tax on commerce, and, by his own account, as a permanent tax, superfluous?—But, perhaps, his great mind will deign to confider the poor in the article of small beer, for they certainly contribute more than they can well bear to supply him and his friends with burgundy.—Surely Mr. Editor, you don't imagine our Ministers to be so highly gifted, that they foresaw they should have occasion for an odd million for a flourish this year at Portsmouth and Plymouth, or for another next spring, and so on, ad libitum, to maintain the dignity of Great Britain at home and abroad. In my opinion, the public will begin to have a little foresight, as well as Ministers. I fear the former will be too late convinced of their credulity, and the latter of having to much imposed upon a generous, unsuspecting people.—Both parties may profit, if they take a timely hint.
The National Assembly of France have passed a decree prohibiting all clauses in wills, (commonly the effect of parental caprice,) by which fathers disinherit the children, if they marry such and such persons.—This is one of the ideas of the late celebrated Mirabeau, who absolutely denied that, upon the principles of nature and reason, a dead man could have any will. A dead man (said he) is a non-entity, and the moment the breath leaves the body it is absurd that his will should be any longer in force, so as to bind the living, where the principles of natural equity are infringed, or where the bequests are not conformable to the laws of nature, equal heirship, and the laws of a well regulated community.
GEORGE MEADE HAS FOR SALE,
At his Stores on WALNUT-STREET WHARF, A FEW pipes of 3 and 4 years old bms of exchange Madeira WINE, which he will dispose of by the pipe, hogshead or quarter cask. London market Madeira WINE, 5 and 6 years old. Old Sherry WINE of the first quality, by the hogshead or quarter cask. Three and 4 years old Lisbon WINE, of a superior quality to what is generally imported, by the pipe, quarter cask, or larger quantity. Choice old Coniac BRANDY, by the pipe, tierce, or larger quantity. A few quarter casks of first quality Hylon TEA. He has just received by the Pigeon, Loyalty, master, from London, a few quarter casks of old Madeira WINE—And By the brig Mercury, capt. Stevens, from Dublin, a few boxes of Irish LINENS, low priced and well assorted: a few bales of Red and White FLANNELS, and some GLUE. A few boxes of Spermaceti CANDLES of the first quality, and Burlington PORK of prime quality. He has also to dispose of a quantity of dressed White Oak STAVES. He means to keep a constant supply of First Quality Madeira and Lisbon WINES, and whenever is pleased to favor him with their custom, may be assured of being well served. He will through the Winter and Spring, buy undressed HANDSPIKES. He is purchasing FLAXSEED and BEES WAX, and will give the highest Price for them. N. B. A few Hamps of excellent London PORTER and Taunton ALE, just arrived and to be disposed of.
CHARLES BITTERS, No. 120,
South Market, near Fourth Street, Has received from New-York, and manufactured BY LOT MERKEL, A large and General Assortment of Muffs & Tippets, Trimmings & Edgings, Great Coats, Caps, Mitts & gloves lined with Fur; which he will sell, Wholesale and Retail, at the lowest Prices. Oct. 4. rawtf
LIVERY STABLE.
PETER WEBBERS HAS removed his Stable from Black Horse-Alley to Drinkers-Alley, formerly kept by Mr. HYDE, betwixt Arch and Race-Streets in Second-Street, where he continues to take in HORSES by the Night, Week, Month or Year, &c. at the cheapest rate. Philadelphia, Oct. 7.
A few Copies of the Report of the Secretary of State on the subject of the Cod and Whale Fisheries—may be had at the office, No. 239, High-Street.
PRINTED BY CHILDS AND SWAIN, AT THEIR OFFICE, NO. 239, HIGH-STREET, NEAR SIXTH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA.