The New-York journal, and daily patriotic register (New-York [N.Y.]), 1787-12-06 00:00:00

The New-York Journal, and Weekly Register.
NUMB. 62, of VOL. XLI.]
THURSDAY, December 6, 1787.
[Total NUMB. 2157.]
HERE TRUTH UNLICENSED REIGNS; AND DARES ACCOST—E'EN KINGS THEMSELVES, OR RULERS OF THE FREE! Thompson's Liberty.
NEW-YORK: Printed and Published by THOMAS GREENLEAF, at the PRINTING-OFFICE, No. 25, WATER-STREET.
State of New-York, Court of Admiralty. Charles March, Timothy Penny, Abraham P. Mendes, John Thompson, Gad Wells, and others, Libellants.
Sundry goods, Wares and Merchandize, saved out of a vessel having no person on board, by John Shannon and others, and claimed by Gibson Bourke, John Donnann and the said John Shannon and others, and claimed in part by Daniel McCormick for Hyem Cohen, and by William Cook for Richard Hall.
WHEREAS Charles March, Timothy Penny, Abraham P. Mendes, John Thompson, Matthew Fergo, John Howard, Gad Wells, Samuel Eells, and Peter Noyes, junior, as passengers, and Malcom Taylor, and Henry Harris, as mariners on board of the brigantine Port-Roseway, have filed a libel in the said court, setting forth that in and with the said brigantine, in a voyage from the island of Jamaica to New-London, in Connecticut, on or about the first day of August, in the year 1784, in the latitude of 23 degrees and 30 minutes north, or thereabouts, they discovered, and went to a vessel with only her foremast standing, and having no living creature on board, and five feet water in her hold; and that they saved and took out of the said brigantine, sundry goods, wares, and merchandise, which were by them brought to the port of New-York, and there sold at public vendue, by order of Gibson Bourke, and John Donnann, of the said city, merchants: And whereas it appears by return of sales of Anthony L. Bleeker, that the said merchandise so saved and brought to the port of New-York, consisted of the following articles, viz. Six hogheads of sugar, the marks & numbers whereof were defaced, one hoghead of sugar marked F. No. 102, one other hoghead of sugar marked WB. No. 185, one other hoghead of sugar, marked F.S. one hoghead of spirits, marked E. [enclosed by a diamond] No. 6, one other hoghead of spirits, marked B. E. No. 4, one other hoghead of spirits, marked B. E. No. 5, one other hoghead of spirits, marked B. R. No. 3, one other hoghead of spirits, marked WB. No. 7, one other hoghead of spirits, marked WB. No. 8, and one other hoghead of spirits, marked WB. No. 9, thirteen bales of cotton wool without mark or number, 1 bale of cotton wool, marked B. three other bales of cotton wool, marked H. C. fifteen other bales of cotton wool, the marks & numbers whereof were defaced; four whole bales, four half bales, four broken bales, and four bundles of cotton wool, the marks whereof, if any had been, could not be discovered, a quantity of logwood, and five hundred and fifty-one feet of mahogany. And whereas, by an advertisement formerly published in one of the news papers printed in New-York, the said goods and merchandise were said to have been saved and taken on board of the said brigantine Port-Roseway, on Thursday the 5th day of Aug. 1784. And whereas, Gibson Bourke and John Donnann, on behalf of John Shannon, master, and Samuel Nesbitt, mate, Malcom Taylor, Martin George, John Harper, Swiney Wilson and Alexander M'Kenzie, mariners, and Richard Hall, owner of the said brigantine Port-Roseway, have filed a claim in the said court, praying a decree for their proportional shares of the net proceeds of the said goods: And whereas, Daniel McCormick, of the city of New-York, merchant, for and on behalf of Hyem Cohen, of the Island of Jamaica, hath filed a claim in the said court, to the monies which have arisen from the sales of the said cotton wool, or part thereof, after the payment of salvage: and whereas William Cook, of the city of New-York, Esq. for and in behalf of Richard Hall, of Shelburne, in Nova-Scotia, as sole owner of the said brigantine Port-Roseway, hath also filed a claim in the said court, praying an allowance for salvage out of the monies arisen by the sale of the said goods, wares and merchandise. And whereas, it appears by the depositions of William M'Kenney and Malcom Taylor, two of the persons on board the brigantine Port-Roseway, at the time the said goods and merchandise were so saved and taken on board; that the deserted vessel out of which the said goods were saved, were generally supposed by themselves and others then present, to have been a brigantine; and it further appears by the said depositions, and the deposition of Swiney Wilson, which depositions were severally taken in open court, that the said deserted vessel was a float vessel (perhaps about three hundred tons burthen) had a woman's head, with guard-irons round it, that she had black sides, and yellow mouldings, that she had either three or four ports on each side abaft her main-mast, that she had a double deck as far as her main-mast, and had deck-beams but no plank on them before her main-mast as part of her lower deck, that she had quarter-barges, but no quarter-galleries, and was plain behind, and that her quarter-deck was raised about three feet above her main-deck. Therefore, pursuant to an order of the said court, public monition and notice is hereby given to all persons interested, or claiming to be interested, in the said goods, wares and merchandise, so saved, or any part thereof, to put in a claim in the said court for the same, within one year and a day, from the day of the date of this monition and notice. Dated the eighth day of October, in the twelfth year of the Independence of the state of New-York, and the year of our Lord, 1787.
By order of the court of Admiralty, JONH GRAHAM, Marshal. 36 3m
JUST PUBLISHED, And to be SOLD, at this Office, By the Gross, Hundred, or Dozen, HUTCHINS'S, and the UNITED STATES' ALMANACS, For the Year of our Lord, 1788.
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given, according to an act of the Governor, Council, and General Assembly of the late colony of New-York, passed the 19th day of March, 1774, entitled, "An act for the more effectual registering of mortgages, and securing the purchasers of mortgaged estates;" that on the sixth day of June next ensuing, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, will be sold at the house of DAVID DAN, in Bedford, Westchester county, and state of New-York, to the highest bidder; all that certain Farm, Tract, pieces, or parcel of Land, lying and being in Bedford, and bounded as follows, to wit, beginning at the house of Benjamin Hayes, where he now lives, running westerly as it winds round Hayes's land, and northerly to the high way, thence westerly along the high way until it comes to Lewis M'Donald's land, thence southerly until it comes to David Dan's land, thence easterly and northerly along said Dan's land until it comes to the high way or Town's land by the burying ground, thence by the high way westerly until it comes to Benjamin Hayes's land, thence by Hayes's land as it winds to the place of beginning; also one other piece of Land, lying on the north side of the high way, beginning at the Court-house, thence westerly by the high way until it comes to Lewis M'Donald's land, thence northerly and westerly as it winds to Abraham Canfield's land, thence northerly and westerly by Abraham Canfield's land as it winds to the high way, thence northerly by the high way to Abraham Canfield's land, thence east by said land, until it comes to the land of the late Stephen Holmes, deceased, thence southerly and westerly until it comes to the parsonage lands, thence near the same course until it comes to James M'Donald's land, thence westerly and southerly winding round M'Donald's land to the place of beginning; containing in the whole eighty acres, more or less, with the appurtenances which said premises were by indenture bearing date the 10th day of May, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six; mortgaged by Jonathan Platt, of Bedford, Westchester county and state of New-York, to Daniel Bowne, of New-York, for securing the payment of eight hundred pounds with lawful interest for the same.
The conditions will be made known on the day of sale, by the subscriber, 45—th. 6m. DANIEL BOWNE.
At a Court of Probates of the State of New-York, held at the Probate-Office in the City of New-York, on the twentieth Day of November, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Honorable PETER OGILVIE, Esq. Judge of the said Court.
WHEREAS Jane Crage, executrix of John Crage, late of the precinct of Memeceuing, in the county of Ulster, yeoman, deceased, hath by her petition, presented to the said judge, set forth, that the said John Crage was at the time of his death, seized of a real estate within this state, that the petitioner had made a just and true account of the personal estate and debts of the said John Crage, as far as she had been able to discover the same; and that thereby it appeared, that the personal estate of her said testator was insufficient to pay his debts, and therefore requested the aid of the said judge in the premises, according to the directions of the act, entitled, "An act for the relief of creditors against heirs, devisees, executors, and administrators, and for proving wills respecting real estates;" and the said petitioner hath delivered to the said judge the account in the said petition mentioned; hereupon it is ordered by the said judge, that all persons interested in the estate of the said John Crage, do appear before the judge of the said court of Probates, at the Probate-Office, in the city of New-York, on the tenth day of January next, to show cause, if any they have, why so much of the real estate whereof the said John Crage died seized, should not be sold, as will be sufficient to pay his debts.
45—th. 4w. PETER OGILVIE.
At a Court of Probates of the State of New-York, held at the Probate-Office, in the City of New-York, on the twentieth Day of November, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Honorable PETER OGILVIE, Esq. Judge of the said Court.
WHEREAS Lydia Gault, administratrix of Matthew Gault, late of Rumbout precinct, in Dutchess county, deceased, hath by her petition, presented to the said judge, set forth, that the said Matthew Gault was at the time of his death seized of a real estate within this state, that the petitioner had made a just and true account of the personal estate and debts of the said Matthew Gault, as far as she had been able to discover the same; and that thereby it appeared that the personal estate of her said intestate was insufficient to pay his debts, and therefore requested the aid of the said judge in the premises, according to the directions of the act, entitled, "An act for the relief of creditors against heirs, devisees, executors, and administrators, and for proving wills respecting real estates;" and the said petitioner hath delivered to the said judge the account in the said petition mentioned; hereupon it is ordered by the said judge, that all persons interested in the estate of the said Matthew Gault, do appear before the judge of the said court of Probates, at the Probate-Office, in the city of New-York, on the tenth day of January next, to show cause, if any they have, why so much of the real estate whereof the said Matthew Gault died seized should not be sold, as will be sufficient to pay his debts.
45—th. 4w. PETER OGILVIE.
At a Court of Chancery, held at the Chancellor's Chambers, in the City of New-York, the tenth Day of October, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Hon. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, Esq. Chancellor.
IN CHANCERY. FORASMUCH as it appears to this court, that a bill has been filed therein by Dirk Lefferts, Complainant, vs. Abel Jennings, George Wakeman, Daniel Campbell, and others, Defendants. The said Abel Jennings and George Wakeman, have not entered their appearance in this suit, as according to the rules of this court the same ought to have been entered, in case the said process had been duly served; and an affidavit having been made to the satisfaction of this court, that the said defendants, Abel Jennings and George Wakeman, have withdrawn themselves out of this state, and cannot upon due enquiry be found within the same, so as to be served with the said process, which issued on the filing of the bill of complaint in this cause; wherefore it is ordered, on motion of Mr. Ogilvie, of counsel for the complainant, that the said Abel Jennings and George Wakeman, appear to the said bill on the eleventh day of April next, and in default thereof, that the complainant's said bill be taken pro confesso, so far as it concerns them the said Abel Jennings and George Wakeman, to the end, that a decree may be made for a sale of the said premises, or such part thereof as to this court shall appear just and right; and it is further ordered, that a copy of this order, within twenty days from the date hereof, be inserted in, at least, two of the public newspapers printed in the state of New-York, for the space of eight weeks successively.
Extract from the Minutes, 37 th. 19w W. COCK, Register.
At a Court of Chancery, held at the Chancellor's Chambers, in the City of New-York, the tenth Day of October, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Hon. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, Esq. Chancellor.
IN CHANCERY. FORASMUCH as it appears to this court, that a bill has been filed therein by Dirk Lefferts, and Gerard G. Beckman, Complainants, vs. James Attle, Defendant, mortgagee, to obtain a decree for the sale of certain premises therein mentioned, to have been mortgaged by the said defendant, James Attle, to the said Dirk Lefferts, and Gerard G. Beckman; whereupon process of subpoena to appear and answer hath been duly issued and returned; and that the said James Attle, hath not entered his appearance in this suit, as according to the rules of this court the same ought to have been entered, in case the said process had been duly served; and an affidavit having been made to the satisfaction of this court, that the said defendant, James Attle, hath withdrawn out of this state, and cannot upon due enquiry be found within the same, so as to be served with the said process which issued on the filing of the bill of complaint in this cause; wherefore it is ordered, on motion of Mr. Ogilvie, of counsel for the complainants, that the said James Attle appear to the said bill on the eleventh day of April next, and in default thereof, that the complainants said bill be taken pro confesso, so far as it concerns him the said James Attle, to the end, that a decree may be made for a sale of the said premises, or such part thereof as to this court shall appear just and right; and it is further ordered, that a copy of this order, within twenty days from the date hereof, be inserted in, at least, two of the public newspapers printed in this state, for the space of eight weeks successively.
Extract from the Minutes, 37 th. 19w W. COCK, Register.
TO BE SOLD, And Possession given the First of April next, a very Valuable, well improved, and agreeably situated
F A R M, Nine Miles East of Fishkill Landing,
BOUNDED by the farm late of Col. John Brinckerhoff, deceased, and two streams of water, the Fishkill and Sprout-Creeks, in an agreeable and healthy neighbourhood, and a fertile pleasant country. There is on the premises a good dwelling house, barn stables, grainery, &c. A good bearing orchard, and other fruit trees. The farm contains three hundred and fifty-three acres, a great proportion of which is meadow land; it produces, at present, eighty tons of hay yearly, and there remains yet as much more which may be cleared into meadow. The woodland is conveniently situated, and much of it may be converted into timber. Part of the purchase money to be paid on possession being given, and the remainder in easy payments. For terms and further particulars enquire of Schuyler and Van Wyck, corner of the Albany-Pier, New-York, or of the subscriber at Fishkill.
THEODORUS VAN WYCK. New-York, Oct. 25, 1787. 38—t. th. 2m.
At a Court of Chancery, held at the Chancellor's Chambers, in the City of New-York, the tenth Day of October, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Hon. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, Esq. Chancellor.
IN CHANCERY. FORASMUCH as it appears to this court, that a bill has been filed therein by Dirk Lefferts, Complainant, vs. Stephen Tuttle, and Philip Van Rensselaer, Defendants. The said Stephen Tuttle, to obtain a decree for the sale of certain premises therein mentioned to have been mortgaged by the said defendant, Stephen Tuttle, to the said Dirk Lefferts; whereupon process of subpoena to appear, and answer, hath been duly issued and returned, and that the said Stephen Tuttle hath not entered his appearance in this suit, as according to the rules of this court the same ought to have been entered, in case the said process had been duly served on him the said Stephen Tuttle; and an affidavit having been made to the satisfaction of this court, that the said defendant, Stephen Tuttle, has withdrawn himself out of this state, and cannot upon due enquiry be found within the same, so as to be served with the said process, which issued on the filing of the said bill of complaint in this cause; wherefore it is ordered, on motion of Mr. Ogilvie, of counsel for the complainant, that the said Stephen Tuttle appear to the said bill on the eleventh day of April next, and in default thereof, that the complainant's said bill be taken pro confesso, so far as it concerns him the said Stephen Tuttle, to the end, that a decree may be made for a sale of the said premises, or such part thereof as to this court shall appear just and right; and it is further ordered, that a copy of this order, within twenty days from the date hereof, be inserted in, at least, two of the public newspapers printed in this state, for the space of eight weeks successively.
Extract from the Minutes, 37 th. 19w W. COCK, Register.
At a Court of Chancery, held at the Chancellor's Chambers, in the City of New-York, the tenth Day of October, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Hon. ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON, Esq. Chancellor.
IN CHANCERY. FORASMUCH as it appears to this court, that a bill has been filed therein by Dirk Lefferts, and Gerard G. Beckman, Complainants, vs. Andrew Liddle, and Jonathan Filer, Defendants. The said Andrew Liddle, to obtain a decree for the sale of certain premises therein mentioned to have been mortgaged by the said Andrew Liddle, to the said Dirk Lefferts and Gerard G. Beckman, whereupon process of subpoena to appear, and answer, hath been duly issued and returned, and that the said defendant, Andrew Liddle, hath not entered his appearance in this suit, as according to the rules of this court the same ought to have been entered, in case the said process had been duly served on him, the said Andrew Liddle; and an affidavit having been made to the satisfaction of this court, that the said defendant, Andrew Liddle, hath withdrawn himself out of this state, and cannot upon due enquiry be found within the same, so as to be served with the said process, which issued on the filing of the bill of complaint in this cause; wherefore it is ordered, on motion of Mr. Ogilvie, of counsel for the complainants, that the said Andrew Liddle appear to the said bill on the eleventh day of April next, and in default thereof, that the complainant's said bill be taken pro confesso, so far as it concerns him the said Andrew Liddle, to the end, that a decree may be made for the sale of the said premises, or such part thereof as to this court shall appear just and right; and it is further ordered, that a copy of this order, within twenty days from the date hereof, be inserted in, at least, two of the public newspapers printed in this state, for the space of eight weeks successively.
Extract from the Minutes, 37 th. 19w W. COCK, Register.
By Order of the Honorable RICHARD MORRIS, Esq. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature of the State of New-York:
NOTICE is hereby given to Moses Franks, and to all others whom it may concern, that on application and due proof made to the said Chief Justice, pursuant to an act of the legislature of the state of New-York, entitled, "An act for relief against absconding and absent debtors," passed the fourth day of April, 1786, he hath issued his warrants to the sheriff of the city and county of New-York, and the sheriff of the county of Suffolk, commanding them to attach, take, seize, and safely keep all the estate, as well real as personal of the said Moses Franks, an absent debtor, of what kind or nature soever, and every or any part or parcel thereof in whatever part of their bailiwick the same can be found, with all evidences, books of accounts, vouchers, and papers relating thereto. And that unless he the said Moses Franks shall appear by himself, or attorney, and discharge his debts within twelve months after the publication of this notice, all his estate, real and personal, will be sold for the payment and satisfaction of his creditors. Dated at the city of New-York, this twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven.
41 m. th. 15w

MISCELLANY.
For the NEW-YORK JOURNAL, &c.
WORTHY AND ESTEEMED SIR,
I RECEIVED your letter of the 21st of last month with the new constitution and several pieces for and against it, which you were kind enough to send me, and for which I return you my hearty thanks. You condescend to ask my opinion of it, which, I fear, will scarcely be worth the trouble it will give you in reading. All I know about politics, I learnt during the late troubles, and that chiefly by reading the votes of our assembly and the journal of Congress, which you were good enough, now and then, to lend me. In the first part of the war, I had a very good opinion of our Congress and principal men, that were employed in public business—they appeared to me very honest and very much in earnest to forward the common cause, but I will honestly confess to you, that towards the last, when the danger seemed to be in a great measure over, and when they began to appoint ministers of finance, and ministers of one thing and ministers of another, I did not think so well of them. Near the end of the war, I sold a pair of as good fat cattle as any in the parts, to one of our commissaries, for thirty-pounds, which was cheap, and not more than they would have sold for before the war—he, indeed, appeared very generous, and did not seem to wish to bait me of the price—our bargain was for hard money, then pretty currently going in the country—but, instead of this, he gave me paper, that he called Morris's Notes, which, he said, was every bit as good, and I took them at his word; but, he was hardly gone from my house, before another man came, who said, he was immediately from Philadelphia, and told me a quite different story, and said, that they were much depreciated, and this made me very uneasy, you may be sure, as I did not like to throw away my cattle for nothing—however, he offered to take them from me, if I would make him an allowance, so I let him have them for five and twenty pounds, which, if I remember rightly, he called the discount—now, I thought this very strange, but my neighbour —'s son, who, you know, was a sergeant in the standing forces, came home to see his parents a few days after, and he told me, there was nothing more common, for, whenever the soldiers got any pay it was in that way, and that they were often obliged to sell, at the rate of ten shillings for the pound, and that they must either do it or starve, for they could not do without some money; but, that I was very wrong, for I could have laid out of my money a little while, and sent the notes to Philadelphia and got the cash, for that some of these notes issued, but when there was money at command to pay them off.—I told him, I thought this was very strange, since at that rate, they might lend the money at once, as well as the notes—he said, I knew not of the matter, for, that there was a number of people always following the commissaries, quarter-masters, and paymasters, who bought these notes up in the manner they did from me, and who were concerned with great men, among them they made a great deal of money by it—whereas, if the money was sent at once, they would not have an opportunity of filling their pockets. Now, as I said before, I confess to you, worthy Sir, this gave me a bad opinion of some of our great men; but to return to the new constitution, I really have not had much time to read it, or the papers about it, being much behind hand in my business this year, owing to one disappointment or another—I remember well that our first or second Congress, I do not know which, and I believe they were both made up of as wise and as good men as any ever we have had since, wrote letters to the people of England and Ireland, and to our neighbours in Canada, endeavouring to convince them, that we were right to oppose the late government, which they clearly proved was unjustly oppressing and injuring us. In their letter to the people of Canada, they complained grievously of the conduct of the rulers of our former government, and told them, that a certain Mr. Beccaria (who I suppose must have been a countryman of theirs, and, of course, more likely to be believed by them) says, "that there is an effort continually tending to confer on one part the height of power and happiness, and to reduce the other to the extreme of weakness and misery;" I believe these are the very words. Now, I am really very much afraid, that this is the case with the new constitution men, for it appears to me, that this president-general will have a great deal of power, and I think the chance is as ten to one when he gets a standing army, and has the command of all the militia, that he may not make the best use of them, and I should not wonder at all (unless he should happen to be a very good tempered man) that the backs of some, of our militia men, would pay for it, as the Tories did during the war—besides the senate seem to have a vast deal of power too, and from the manner they are appointed and continued in their places, I don't see how we are to set about to turn them out if they behave badly; indeed, good Sir, the president looks to me very much like a king, and the senate like a house of lords, and, I suppose, the supreme judicaries that are spoke of, will be like the lord justices of the affizes, or the twelve great judges in the old countries, where, they tell me, a man need to have a deep pocket if he goes to law, and that a poor man stands but very little chance, at any rate, to get justice done him, especially if he has to contend with a rich one—besides, it seems to me, that the president and senate will have a great deal of business to do together, and it is so jumbled and contrived, that if they do wrong, we can hardly find out who to lay the blame to—and, I think it won't be a hard matter, as they have a great many good things to give, to get the assembly-men too on their side of the question, and I believe, we may pretty certainly expect, that if they once get fairly a going they will do as this Mr. Beccaria says, keep down the common people and encrease their own power, especially, as I see they are to have a common treasury, out of which they can pay themselves what they please, without asking any body, and I suppose they will make us sweat in taxes to keep it full.
There is another thing, our Congress told the people of Canada, in their letter, and I believe they were in earnest, "That the trial by jury, was one of the best securities in the world, for the life, liberty and property of the people."—Now to be sure, I am very much of their opinion in this; for I
would rather trust my life, liberty and property to a verdict of twelve of my honest neighbours, than to the opinion of any great man in the world, for great men are not always honest men, and they may be too proud, and not care to give themselves the trouble to enquire very narrowly into common people's disputes; and if an honest farmer should happen to say any thing against a great man, tho' it was ever so true, it would be in the power of the Judge to punish him for it very severely—and I don't doubt, but what he would do it; but I am sure a good honest jury of his neighbours would never punish him for speaking the truth; I know it is said that truth is not to be spoken at all times, but the best of us may be guilty of little acts of imprudence, for which however, we should not be too severely handled: I find the writers disagree about this matter; the one says this right of trial by jury is taken away by the new constitution, and the other says it is not.—Now, as they differ, I have been trying to find out the truth myself, and, it appears to me middling clear, that if it is not absolutely taken away; yet that this new General Congress, that we read of, may take it away whenever they please—now, if it is so good a thing that it never ought to be taken away, I think we ought not to give them power to do it; for I can't see the reason of giving them power, which they never can make use of, without doing us a great deal of hurt: Now all parties may mean what is honest at present, but notwithstanding, there may be a time, when we have bad men to rule us, and I think it would be imprudent to give power, which every one allows there is no necessity for, and with which bad men, if so disposed, might do us a great deal of harm, and I am more confirmed in this belief, when I think of what the said Mr. Beccaria says about this desire, which has always prevailed in men of increasing their power. This is all I can say about the matter at present, having, as I mentioned before, little time to attend to it; but, as my neighbour —, whom you know to be a sensible thinking man, and has more learning than I have, has agreed with me to spend some time together to read it more carefully over, now that the evenings are growing long, and the hurry of business is pretty near past, I will write to you again on the subject, if my letters do not prove troublesome.
Before I finish, I will relate to you, however, what has happened in our neighbourhood, since you were here, for although it is an affair of little consequence, it seems to me to be something like this new-government business; you know that we belonged to the — congregation, and the church was at a great distance from us, and it was often very inconvenient to us, for many who had not horses for all our families to ride to church, were obliged, when it was bad walking, to stay at home, and in truth, we did not like the minister; this made us think of forming ourselves into a separate congregation, which, after taking the proper steps, we did; and we set about a subscription, and raised a little money, and built ourselves a small snug house to worship in, and called a very good kind of a man for a minister, who preached to us for a very moderate stipend, which we made out to pay him pretty punctually, considering the hardness of the times; and we were all very happy and contented, and religion seemed to flourish amongst us, until lately, that some of our young men, who were in the wars, returned home; some of these set about studying, and very soon became lawyers; others got a little goods, and became shop-keepers; and others done no business at all, but lived like gentlemen, expecting to get a living by public employments, as they called it: These young men began to find fault with every thing we did; they said, we were unacquainted with the world, and could not judge properly how matters should be conducted; they said our church was too small, too plain, and not well finished; and, upon this account, that we were despised by all the neighbouring congregations, who had larger and finer churches; and, it is strange to tell, but so it is, by these means they soon worked upon the vanity of some of our more elderly and serious people, and though they could not get them to consent to build a new church, they agreed to enlarge and repair the old one, and make it much more shewy. The next thing they did, was to get themselves with two or three of the elderly men (who were honest men and pretty wise about other matters, but knew little about repairing churches) appointed trustees to manage the business; which being done, they set about and collected a quantity of great heavy strong timber and other materials, and up they set a spacious large new house, as fine as you please, leaving the old one (though a good deal weakened by taking out some of the under-pinning) standing, in the mean time to worship in, 'till the new one can be finished;—but now our difficulties began, the more sober part of the congregation found, that this new building was a very expensive one, and was likely to create great divisions in the congregation, many of them liking the old one better than the new one, and thinking that it might have been repaired, so as better to answer all our purposes: these began to say, that they would pay nothing towards it, and have nothing to do with it: and, what greatly added to their dissatisfaction, was, that they found that it was not to end here, for from some hints that were thrown out by those young men, and plans (as they are called) of the building, it was found, that this new building was so contrived, that it was to have a large steeple and galleries added to it, and large high pews in it for the better sort of people to sit in, so that they might not be troubled with the common people, or rabble as they fained to call them; and some even went so far as to say that upon raising the covering of that end of the church, where steeples are usually placed, and peeping in, that they had discovered the mortices and other things, which could only be contrived for adding a steeple to it in good earnest; this as you may judge, increased the discontent, until at length more than one half of the congregation refused to have any thing to do with it; the trustees finding this, brought suits against them to make them pay, what they said they had promised, and as they were chiefly lawyers, they had the advantage, for if judgment was given against them, they certiorared the justices, and put them to such costs and trouble in attending the courts at a great distance, that they are almost fairly tired and worried out; our poor minister too was led astray by these young men; they made him believe that his salary ought to be raised, and by following their advice in trying to get more, he, at least, could get nothing at all, and was obliged
to leave us: now in this our disagreeable situation, many of our most zealous and well-disposed people talk of breaking off entirely, and joining the old congregation, seeing they cannot worship here peaceably without quarrelling, and too heavy expence for them to support, so that we are brought into a very sad pickle, by following the advice of these young men, and I do not know what will become of us. I heartily wish you could be among us a few days, in hopes, by your good advice, that we might get reconciled and to rights again; for we all place great confidence in you, and your opinion would have great weight among us; indeed, as I said before, I do not know what will become of us, if with our present difficulties and troubles, we should be faddled with more, by the new constitution.
I remain, honored Sir, Your real friend, and Humble servant, A COUNTRYMAN.
For the NEW-YORK JOURNAL, &c. N U M B E R VI. TO JAMES WILSON, Esq. SIR,
WHEN I stated the monied difficulties, which the new government will have to encounter, my chief object was to prove to our fellow citizens, the delusion into which you have led them in your speech, when you ventured "to predict that the great revenue of the United States, must, and always will be, raised by impost." This is not the land, Sir, of second sight ; and I have shown that your prediction, is not founded on any knowledge of the subject. It is one of those numerous deceptions, that are practised upon the people to delude them into the toils that are spread for them by the proposed constitution.
To satisfy them more fully on the subject of the revenue, that is to be raised upon them, in order to give enormous fortunes to the jobbers in public securities, I shall lay before them a proposition to Congress, from Mr. Robert Morris, when superintendent of finance. It is dated, I think, the 29th of June, 1782, and is in these words:—"The requisition of a five per cent. impost, made on the 3d of February, 1781, has not yet been complied with by the state of Rhode-Island, but as there is reason to believe, that there compliance is not far off, this revenue may be considered as already granted.—It will, however, be very inadequate to the purposes intended. If goods be imported, and prizes introduced to the amount of twelve millions annually, the five per cent. would be six hundred thousand, from which at least one sixth must be deducted, as well for the cost of collection as for the various deductions which will necessarily happen, and which it is unnecessary to enumerate. It is not safe therefore, to estimate this revenue at more than, half a million of dollars; for though it may produce more, yet probably it will not produce so much. It was in consequence of this, that on the 27th day of February last, I took the liberty to submit the propriety of asking the states for a land tax of one dollar for every hundred acres of land—a poll-tax of one dollar on all freemen, and all male slaves, between sixteen and sixty, excepting such as are in the federal army, or by wounds or otherwise rendered unfit for service; and an excise of one eighth of a dollar, on all distilled spirituous liquors. Each of these may be estimated at half a million; and should the product be equal to the estimation, the sum total of revenues for funding the public debts, would be equal to two millions."
You will readily perceive, Mr. Wilson, that there is a vast difference between your prediction and your friends proposition. Give me leave to say, Sir, that it was not discreet, in you, to speak upon finance without instructions from this great financier. Since, independent of its delusive effect upon your audience, it may excite his jealousy, lest you should have a secret design of rivalling him in the expected office of superintendent under the new constitution. It is true, there is no real foundation for it; but then you know jealousy makes the food it feeds on. A quarrel between two such able and honest friends to the United States, would, I am persuaded, be felt as a public calamity. I beseech you then to be very tender upon this point in your next harrangue. And if four months study will not furnish you with sufficient deflection, we will indulge you with six.
It may be said, that let the government be what it may, the sums I have stated must be raised, and the same difficulties exist. This is not altogether true. For first, we are now in the way of paying the interest of the domestic debt, with paper, which under the new system is utterly reprobated. This makes a difference between the specie to be raised of 1,800,000 dollars per annum. If the new government raises this sum in specie on the people, it will certainly support public credit, but it will overwhelm the people. It will give immense fortunes to the speculators; but it will grind the poor to dust. Besides the present government is now redeeming the principal of the domestic debt by the sale of western lands. But let the full interest be paid in specie, and who will part with the principal for those lands. A principal, which having been generally purchased for two shillings and six pence on the pound, will yield to the holders two hundred and forty per cent. This paper system therefore, though in general an evil, is in this instance attended with the great benefit of enabling the public to cancel a debt upon easy terms, which has been swelled to its enormous size, by as enormous impositions. And the new government, by promising too much, will involve itself in a disreputable breach of faith, or in a difficulty of complying with it, insuperable.
The present government promises nothing.—The intended government, every thing.—From the present government little is expected.—From the intended one, much. Because it is conceived that to the latter much is given—to the former, little. And yet the inability of the people to pay what is required in specie, remaining the same, the funds of the one will not much exceed those of the other. The public creditors are easy with the present government from a conviction of its inability—they will be urgent with the new one from an opinion, that as is promised, so it can and will perform every thing. Whether the change will be for our prosperity and honour, is yet to be tried. Per-
* I say, I think, because, by accident, the month is erased in the note I have, and I have not access to public papers which would enable me to supply the defect.
haps it will be found, that the supposed want of power in Congress to levy taxes, is at present a veil happily thrown over the inability of the people; and that the large powers given to the new government, will to every eye, expose the nakedness of our land. Certain it is, that if the expectations which are grafted on the gift of these plenary powers, are not answered, our credit will be irretrievably ruined.
Once more, Mr. Wilson, be pleased to pardon me for digressing. We come now to your last argument, or rather observation, which is in these terms.—That as establishing the new government will—"turn the stream of influence and emolument into a new channel, therefore every person who enjoys or expects to enjoy a place of profit under the present establishment, will object to the proposed innovation, not in truth, because it is injurious to the liberties of his country, but because it affects his schemes of wealth and consequence."
This reflection, Sir, is as ingenious as it is liberal. It reaches every man who will not worship the new idol. It is the shibboleth of your party. Every man who differs in opinion with you, upon the new constitution, if he is not actually a place-man under the present establishment, may be an expectant; and then, according to your liberal and gentlemanly conclusion, his opinion must be imputed to his pursuit of wealth and consequence.
But how could it escape you, that this was a two edged argument, and might cut its inventor. Perhaps these very violent gentlemen for the new establishment, may be actuated by the same undue motives. Perhaps some of its framers, might have had its honours and emoluments in view. When you have let loose suspicion, Mr. Wilson, there is no knowing where it will end. Perhaps some may be audacious enough to suspect even—YOU. They may think, that the emoluments of an attorney generalship, or of a chief justice largely provided for, under a government gilded with almost chemic powers to extract gold from the people, might happily repair your shattered fortunes. Let us, Sir, suppose a man fallen from opulence into the most gloomy depths of monied distress, by an insatiable love of wealth and as unswive a pursuit of it: would not such a man be a fit instrument in the hands of others to agitate the introduction of the new constitution. Such a man would have no objection to the golden speculations which such a constitution holds forth. Such a man, albeit up to speak without a fee, and a large one too, would deign to harrangue gratis for such an object. His crest would be brightened, his eloquence animated by an anticipation of that happy hour, when he might sail down this new patrician channel, accompanied by his pathetic Doctor, to sing a requiem to our expired liberties, and chant hallelujahs to his approach—to wealth and consequence. Such a man, Sir, in such a mood, would, as you do, regard the new constitution, in every point of view, with a candid and disinterested mind, and be bold to assert, "that it is the best form of government, which has ever been offered to the world."
Such a man as I have painted, you know, Mr. Wilson, is not a fiction. What I have said was not to insult his distresses, but to admonish his discretion. He ought not to have touched ground, on which he, and his swelled superior, who dances him forth to the people, is so very vulnerable. Upon my honor, Sir, I do not know two men in the United States more tender in this point. Permit me then to admonish them, through you, never again to insult the patience of the public with insinuations about the judgment of men on the proposed constitution, being affected by schemes of wealth and consequence.
There is one very material power given to the proposed Congress, on which you have thought proper to be silent, and which as not coming within the scope of your speech I have referred to this place. In the 4th section, it is said—"The times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of chusing senators."
In all our constitutions, the regulation of elections is fixed; not left to the legislature, because it is a fundamental right, in which the essence of liberty resides.
It is in fact the root of all rights. Nothing can be plainer than that Congress, under the pretence of regulating, might in various ways annihilate the freedom of elections. If ever the aristocracy should meet with a pliant representative, it will be easy to regulate the times, places, and manner of holding elections—as to secure the compliance of future representatives.
This power over elections is another proof of a predilection for the senate, and a determination to have a complete controul over the people. It participates precisely of the spirit, which dictated the rendering the power of impeachment nugatory, by the manner in which it is to be executed.
Thus too, the right of election, under controul from time to time, in point of manner, times, and places, is but a shadow in the people; while the substance will necessarily reside with those to whom the regulation of it is resigned. But the senate was too sacred to be subjected to this unhallowed touch. The aristocracy is elevated on high, while the democracy is trampled in the dust. If the people can indeed be deluded into such a surrender of their most sacred rights; it must arise from the precipitation with which they are called upon to decide. Still, however, I trust, that they will have discernment to discover the parts which are incompatible with their rights and liberties, and spirit to insist upon those parts being amended.
CINCINNATUS.
To the P U B L I C. [Continuation.]
AS I had been denied my lawful demands, as aforesaid, I exhibited them in said petition to Congress. The object of my prize money was the first, I accordingly demonstrated,
1st. That in case any one was to share as a commadore, the prize money accrued from the prizes taken by the frigate Alliance, ship Bonhomme Richard, and other vessels when in company at the time of each capture, I was the only one who had that right, because the frigate Alliance was the only vessel among those which belonged to the United States; as the Bonhomme Richard,

Mr. Paul Jones's ship, had never been acknowledged by any resolve of Congress to have been even in the United States service, or fitted out at their expence; but she was really, and according to the letter, dated the 5th July, 1779, of his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, to Commodore Gillon, the property of a company of men, and consequently but a privateer in fact, which though Mr. Paul Jones had had an American commission, he was liable to be under the orders of any of the masters of the prizes of the Alliance, commanded even by a midshipman belonging to her. On the other hand, had the ship Boulogne Rich and been in the service of the King of France (which I demonstrated in said petition not to be the case) and had Mr. Paul Jones have had a commission of Captain of a French man of war (which he had not) his French commission must have been of later date than mine, and of course he must have been yet under my order: therefore, although his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, had unjustifiably given, in the first instance, the command to Mr. Paul Jones, then Captain of a privateer, over me, and other commissioned American officers, as well as over the United States frigate the Alliance, wearing the American flag, yet it cannot with justice, deprive me of my right to share as the commanding officer. I claimed therefore my share as Commodore, of the prizes taken, when the Alliance was in company with the vessels the Bonne Homme Richard, the Pallas, Vengeance, Granville, and the Cerf, viz. brig Mayflower, and the brig Fortune; that taken by the Alliance, when the vessels the B. H. Richard, and Vengeance were in sight of her, viz. the Union letter of marque, sent into Norway, and those taken when the Alliance was in company with the vessels B. H. Richard, Pallas, and the Vengeance which latter was out of sight at the moment of the capture, viz. the English man of war the Serapis, and Countess of Scarborough; and those taken by the Alliance when alone, viz. the ship Betsey letter of marque, and a brig, which she sent into Bergen, in Norway.
2d. I proved obviously, by several certificates, that his Excellency B. Franklin, had made M. Le Ray de Chaumont, the Alliance agent, as well as Congress's, as he had empowered M. Le Ray de Chaumont to give me, and had wrote to me in his letter of order, dated the 28th July, 1779, to receive my instructions for sailing from him. As M. Le Ray de Chaumont had paid some money to refit out the Alliance, and on those considerations, his Excellency had ordered the prizes which might be captured, to be addressed to any persons M. De Chaumont should indicate either at Dunkirk, Ostend, or Bergen, and it was on that account, being thus directed to send the Alliance's prizes to his correspondents, that I ascended with the other Captains to make an agreement, in order that Mr. Le Ray de Chaumont should be answerable to my crew for his correspondents, his Excellency for Mr. Le Ray de Chaumont, and finally the United States for their Minister Plenipotentiary, his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, under whose orders the Honorable Congress had put me.
After a Committee had been examining for above a month my said petition, Congress determined as follows:
"By the United States in Congress assembled, April 26, 1782.
"A letter of the 24th from the Superintendent of Finance was read, respecting the accounts and claims of Captain Landais, whereupon the report of a Committee, to whom was referred a memorial of Captain P. Landais was called for, which being read,
"Resolved, That the report of the committee on Captain P. Landais memorial be rejected, that the said memorial be dismissed, and that Congress approve of the steps taken in his case by the superintendent of finance.
"Extract from the minutes. (Signed) "CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'y."
By the foregoing resolve, it may be perceived how strong an influence the superintendent of finance had in Congress, but it is not so easy to guess at the contents of his letter of the 24th to them, about my accounts, nor what Congress meant in their resolve, saying, "they approved of the steps taken in my case by the superintendent of finance," unless it is meant by it that they approved the steps of the superintendent of finance, in putting the balance of my account due to me at my credit in account current, as he signified it in his letter to me, and of course which was to be paid me as soon as called for.
On the other hand, it is likely that the report of the committee was more in my favor than the resolve, and that they did not approve altogether the conduct of their public officers toward me; in parti-
cular that of Mr. Milligan, in refusing to let me see the accounts of Mr. P. Jones to settle mine by the same principle, by which refusal, the balance in my favor was lessened about three hundred dollars, as will appear hereafter, which he might put in favor of Mr. Paul Jones, as he has so much partiality in giving him a fabulous certificate, that I did not spit in his face; moreover, Mr. Milligan is said to be very partial for the strong, and against the unsupported ones, and since that petition to Congress he has always shown in his countenance, that he did not like me, though he never applied to me for any explanation: but to the his partiality, I relate as a certainty that which I have been told, that a gentleman had had a certificate of four thousand dollars which he could not receive for above two years, when he applied to the treasury committee, who told him the only way to have it paid was to have another from the comptroller of the same sum, drawn upon Mr. Hillers; accordingly he carried it to the comptroller's office, and next day found it at the treasury committee office to his great surprise, and to that of the committee; he found that Mr. Mulligan had not only allowed the same sum, but besides, all the interests, though never claimed. But it must be observed, that the gentleman was a man of great interest.
P. LANDAIS. New-York, Dec. 5, 1787.
New-York, December 6.
IN the course of the last week, 20 vessels have arrived in this port; of which 5 were from Europe, 10 from the West-Indies, and 5 coasting vessels.
The variety of accounts, brought by these vessels, amount to nothing more than (from Europe) that war between France and England was inevitable, but it was not declared; neither is it supposed by the political connoisseurs upon the Royal Exchange, in London, that it will be, notwithstanding every port, in the British and French dominions, by the entire preparations for it, speak but the language of war.—Holland seems to be forsaken by the court of France, if we give full credence to the London writers; but, as the contract between this conduct, and several articles of their late mutual treaty, is very conspicuous, it is presumed that no American will believe it until better authenticated.—The reports of Amsterdam's being taken still continue to be unsupported—that the patriots are to contest with a formidable army is uncontrollable.—The present political state of France we have not in our power to communicate this week.
We learn from the West-Indies, that the ministerial orders, for warlike preparations, are received and rigorously adhered to.—Every British sailor is to be pressed, in whatever country he is found. As for the face of the United States, it is, as usual, sombre, dark-visaged; groaning, complaining of ----- what they cannot tell ----- is but too prevalent for the happiness of society. Taxes are burthensome, says one—another replies, adopt the new constitution then, and you will have nothing to pay!—Oh, ye deluded generation (says a correspondent) how long shall you imbecility be borne with—how long before you can be persuaded, that oil will not quench fire!"
We learn from Massachusetts, that several of the towns, after choosing their members in convention, formally addressed them by way of instruction. The instructions of the town of Northampton are written with calmness; they are not positive to adopt or reject the proposed constitution, but say, "every step we take in the progress of our examination evinces, that it is too important, complicated, and extensive to be hastily decided upon, &c." That this cautious mode of proceeding is a trait of political wisdom, no one will deny; which, we are happy to announce, is adopted by many other towns in that extensive and populous branch of the union, the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Capt. Henry Williams, of Salem, arrived at Philadelphia last Friday, from St. Eustatia, in 18 days, informs, that it was currently reported there, that Admiral Hood, with 15 sail of British ships of war, had arrived at Barbadoes; that the inhabitants of St. Kitts were in great alarm, and had set 500 Negroes at work to fortify Brimstone-hill.
Last Thursday the Pennsylvania STATE CONVENTION proceeded in their deliberations upon the first article of the proposed constitution, when Mr. Wynkoop moved, after some debate, that the second article should be taken into consideration. On this Mr. Smilie observed, that he hoped to precipitate a measure would not be adopted, for, in his opinion, they had not yet got over the first six words of the preamble. He then reduced the present subject of discussion to two general heads, viz. 1st. The necessity of a declaration of rights, and 2dly, whether the plan was a CONSOLIDATION or a CONFEDERATION of the United States? After these points are ascertained, he observed, it would be proper to consider each section of the first article particularly, in order to state the objections to the powers delegated to the Congress for imposing internal taxation, raising a pole tax, and maintaining a standing army in time of peace. The convention adjourned at two o'clock.
On Thursday last the General assembly of Pennsylvania adjourned, to meet again in Philadelphia on the third Tuesday in January next. The important business of the Luzerne bill has protracted the sessions several days, and was, at last, found so difficult and obscure, that all sides of the house concurred in postponing it until the next meeting.
Last week arrived in Albany (but from whence no one has been able to learn) a person, with six hundred pounds counterfeit paper money: soon after his arrival, lodgings were bespoke for him in the city-hall, where it is probable he will remain until the July term of the supreme court.
Last Lord's-day fe'night, the Reverend JOHN BASSET, of this city, was, by a commission of the Reverend Dutch Synod, publicly ordained Minister of the reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Albany. The solemnities of the day were introduced by the Rev. Dr. E. Westerly, senior Minister of the said Church, by a sermon, from 2 Cor. vi. 1, 2. In the afternoon, Mr. Basset delivered his introductory discourse, from 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. and the whole was closed, in the evening, by the Reverend Dirck Romeyne, of Schenectady, with a sermon—Psalm cxxix.
A Boston paper of last Thursday says:—It is not doubted, says a correspondent, but the tradesmen and mechanics of this town, will exercise that wisdom, prudence, and caution, they have hitherto been remarked for, in their choice of members, for the ensuing convention;—As it must be supposed, they are sensible of the importance of a free discussion, of every paragraph of the proposed Constitution.—For this purpose it is necessary to chuse such men as are nationally, and not altogether personally interested, in its adoption.—The supreme judiciary court, being so great an object with a certain "order," it is trusting too far to their private virtues, to risk the decision of a question, on which depends the future liberties of America. Extract of a letter from a merchant in London to his friend in America, dated the 3d Oct. 1787.
"Dear Sir, "Your last letters are very discouraging to our farther advances in the American commerce, the precarious state of property under the instability, and I might say ----- of the partial state laws, make us fear we have much more abroad than we shall ever recover; however, we would not with you to be more than decently pressing with our debtors, the present prospect of a war gives us hopes that we shall at last be secured and eventually paid. It is whispered, that should the war be determined on, we shall, with a powerful fleet and army, take possession of Rhode-Island, from which it is expected the following advantage will arise.
1st. It will be in our power to restrain any commerce to or from America, which we may think injurious, and perfectly guard against her taking any secret part contrary to our interests.
2d. It will be an advantageous and safe port for our shipping, and in case any enterprize should be undertaken against the West-Indies, it will be a healthy and well chosen rendezvous for an army.
3d. We shall obtain all the provisions we shall want from America, and secure the carrying of them in our own bottoms.
4th. In case of necessity, we shall be able with our frigates to collect a large quantity of American seamen for manning our navy.
5th. By granting commissions for privateers to the Americans (if they retain their spirit of enterprize) we shall employ the greatest part of their naval strength against their good friend and ally, and perhaps eventually draw them into the war, in defiance of all the requisitions of their Congress.
6th. By the sale of prizes at that port, we shall necessarily draw there the principal merchants of America, and from the quantity of money that will necessarily be in circulation there, we shall not only have the means of collecting our arrears, but the Americans may be brought to wish for a return to their ancient government; we have no doubt of the Rhode-Islanders. And should this not be the case at the close of the war, a few of our frigates could lay your sea-port towns under contribution, to reimburse us some of those guineas we have trusted you with; and to convince the Americans of the insignificance of their Federal Government. These, and many other substantial reasons, it is said, are urged in the cabinet for the measure. I should not have been so explicit with you upon this subject, but the circumstances being duly considered, it becomes necessary for you to determine, whether it would not be proper for you to secure a house at New-Port: if the event takes place, I make no doubt I shall have the necessary intelligence, so as to be able to send you out a proper cargo to answer our mutual interest, I shall proportion it to the embarkation from 2000 to 5000, and abide your future orders for further shipments."
Extract of a letter from Halifax, November 16. "The lieutenant governor has received orders by the packet to hold an immediate survey of the fortifications here—also to transmit to England as soon as possible the number of inhabitants in this province capable of bearing arms—these circumstances, together with Prince William Henry mounting his cabin guns, previous to his sailing, which were commonly stowed in the hold of the ship, seem to indicate, that our present tranquility will be shortly at an end.
"Our weather is yet very mild—we are looking forward with the pleasing expectation of enjoying a favorable winter—this day twelvemonth we had a deep snow on the ground which never disappeared 'till the season broke up."
ARRIVED at BALTIMORE, Sloop Hope, Necks, from Bahamas. Triumph, J. Dillon, Amsterdam.
For the NEW-YORK JOURNAL, &c. FRIEND GREENLEAF,
I AM a subscriber of thine, and read with pleasure, thy paper every morning; and, seeing pieces on both sides on the great subject of the Federal Constitution, I was lead to reflect upon the propriety of thy being called an Anti-Federalist! Thou hast, in my opinion, a just idea of the freedom of the press: it is true, thou givest the preference to thy original correspondents, which I affirm to be right, but thou givest freely on both sides, and adherest to thy promise of FREE DISCUSSION; therefore I condemn those who censure thee, and shall ever with thee success in thy New-York Journal, and Daily Patriotic Register.
A FRIEND. New-York, Dec. 5, 1787.
For the NEW-YORK JOURNAL, &c. I AM told, Mr. Greenleaf, that you are partial in your politics, but find you are not; at this I grieve; for, as no print in the state, but yourself, admit of any of those pieces which are imbeciliously stiled ANTI-FEDERAL, I think it but just you should confine your paper altogether to them, otherwise there can be no equipoise: where there is no opposition there can be no argument. I am yours, &c.
A FEDERALIST. Wednesday, December 5, 1787.
A COUNTRYMAN, No. II. and CATO, No. VI. are received, and shall be attended to as soon as possible.—The AUTHOR of Cato will doubtless excuse the Editor for having neglected to acknowledge his sixth number, four days since, if he reflects upon the multiplicity of business at this office.
Stolen Goods.
At ALDERMAN HAZARD's, No. 183, Water-street,
THERE is a quantity of cloathing, consisting of coats, waist-coats, and breeches, some new and unfinished.—Also, one silver table spoon, one pair tea tongs, one tea spoon, some striped shag, and thread stockings, supposed to be stolen. The owner or owners by applying, proving their property, and paying charges, may have them again.
New-York, December 5, 1787. 57 c.d.8t
I SHALL take no notice of the charges made against me, in two of the daily newspapers, as they are already answered, with all others which have been printed before in said papers, in my justifying memorial, published three years ago, and now deposited at the coffee-house.
PETER LANDAIS. New-York, December 5, 1787.
At a Court of Probates of the State of New-York, held at the Probate-Office, in the State of New-York, on the fifth Day of December, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Honorable PETER OGILVIE, Esquire, Judge of the said Court.
WHEREAS Daniel Ter Bofs, and John Lyker, administrators of Christian Genshimer, with his will annexed, late of Rombout precinct, Dutchess county and state of New-York, yeoman, deceased, have by their petition presented to the said judge, set forth, that the said Christian Genshimer was, at the time of his death, seized of a real estate within this state; that the petitioners have made a just and true account of the personal estate and debts of the said Christian Genshimer, as far as they had been able to discover the same; and that thereby it appeared, that the personal estate of the said Christian Genshimer was insufficient to pay his debts, and therefore requested the aid of the said judge in the premises, according to the directions of the act, entitled, "An act for the relief of creditors against heirs, devisees, executors, and administrators, and for proving wills respecting real estates;" and the said petitioners have delivered to the said judge the account in the said petition mentioned; hereupon it is ordered by the said judge, that all persons interested in the estate of the said Christian Genshimer, do appear before the judge of the said court of Probates, at the Probate-Office, in the city of New-York, on the twenty-eighth day of January next, to show cause, if any they have, why so much of the real estate whereof the said Christian Genshimer died seized should not be sold, as will be sufficient to pay his debts.
57 th 4w. PETER OGILVIE.
At a Court of Probates of the State of New-York, held at the Probate-Office, in the City of New-York, on the twenty-eighth Day of November, in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven.
P R E S E N T, The Honorable PETER OGILVIE, Esq. Judge of the said Court.
WHEREAS Stephen Haight, administrator of JOHN SHERWOOD, late of Coxackey, in the county of Albany, yeoman, deceased, hath by his petition presented to the said judge, set forth, that the said John Sherwood, was, at the time of his death, seized of a real estate within this state, that the petitioner had made a just and true account of the personal estate and debts of the said John Sherwood, as far as he had been able to discover the same, and that thereby it appeared that the personal estate of his said intestate was insufficient to pay his debts, and therefore requested the aid of the said judge in the premises, according to the directions of the act, entitled, "An act for the relief of creditors against heirs, devisees, executors, and administrators, and for proving wills respecting real estates;" and the said petitioner hath delivered to the said judge the account in the said petition mentioned; hereupon it is ordered by the said judge, that all persons interested in the estate of the said John Sherwood, do appear before the judge of the said court of Probates, at the Probate-Office, in the city of New-York, on the nineteenth day of January next, to show cause, if any they have, why so much of the real estate whereof the said John Sherwood died seized, should not be sold, as will be sufficient to pay his debts.
51 th 4w. PETER OGILVIE.
IN CHANCERY. Robert Richardson Crofs, et alii,
versus, George Clinton, Esq., and Nicholas Bogert.
PURSUANT to a decree made in the above cause by the honorable the Chancellor, the following premises, late the estate of Cornelia Blau, deceased, will be sold at Public Auction, at the merchants Coffee-House, in the city of New-York, on the fifteenth day of December next, at twelve o'clock, at noon, of the same day, to wit, All that certain Messuage or Dwelling-House and Lot of Ground, situate, lying and being in the said city, in Broad-street, nearly opposite the exchange; containing, in front, on the west side, thirty-six feet six inches, and in the rear, or east side, thirty-five feet, on the fourth side adjoining the lot now or late of William Millner, sixty-eight feet, and to the north adjoining the lot now or late of Samuel Francis, sixty feet, be the same more or less; together with all and singular, the hereditaments and appurtenances to the same premises belonging, or in any wise appertaining.
The purchase money to be paid on the delivery of the deed to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, pursuant to the decree aforesaid; the other conditions will be made known at the time and place of sale, by JAMES M. HUGHES, Matter in Chancery.
Dated this 30th day of Nov. 1787. 44 c.d.4w

POET'S CORNER.
SYMPATHY.
By a Young Lady.
LET flocks boast the cold relentless heart, This bosom knows in grief to sympathize;
Benevolence soft gentle pity knows The wish to comfort, tho' the wish be vain,
Her I would ever cherish in my breast, For her's are moral virtues, are divine;
When friendship adds her soft-engaging ties, What duty bids, is choice, is pleasure here;
Not force fortitude should e'er controul! Its force, in grief or joy, when friendship flows;
And bound alike our pleasures and our woes. SYLVIA.
ANECDOLE.
THE lady of a noble Venetian lost her only son, and in consequence became a prey to the most excruciating sorrow.
Adzize of BREAD,
As Established October 24, 1787. A Loaf of fine Wheat Flour to weigh Two Pounds Five Ounces, for Six-Pence.
HIGH WATER.
This Day, Dec. 6. 6h. 56m. Morning.
THOMAS SMITH, BOOT and SHOE MAKER, LEATHER CUTTER, AND CURRIER, Queen-Street, No. 179, Corner of Beekman or Chapel Street,
BEGS leave to inform his friends, and the public in general, that he carries on the above branches in an extensive manner.
Gentlemen's best boots with the belt English legs and bend-foles, bound with Morocco, 2 12 0 Gentlemen's best boots turned down tops, best English legs and bend-foles, 2 10 0
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons indebted to PETER BERRIAN, of the city of New-York, an insolvent debtor, that unless they make immediate payment to the subscriber, assignee of the estate of the aforesaid Peter Berrian, their accounts will be put into the hands of an attorney;
Just published by M. CAREY, In Philadelphia, and now to be SOLD, By THOMAS ALLEN, Book-Seller, in Queen-Street, New-York (By whom Subscriptions are received) THE American Museum,
FOR OCTOBER, 1787.
CONTAINING,
1. OBSERVATIONS on the late insurrection in Massachusetts. 2. Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon, one of the original settlers of Kentucky. 3. On the advantage of trade and commerce. 4. Extracts from an oration delivered on the Anniversary of American Independence. By the late Dr. Ladd. 5. Oration in commemoration of the late Major General Greene. 6. Account of Dartmouth College in New-England. 7. Observations on agriculture—and the causes that have prevented its improvement in America. 8. Letter on the various modes of sowing wheat. 9. Swedish method of breeding turkeys. 10. Letter on the culture of potatoes. 11. Remarks on roads. 12. Remarks on the culture and manufacture of silk. 13. Premiums offered by the committee of the American academy of arts and sciences. 14. On the extraction of the essence of bark. 15. Letter on the retreat of house swallows in winter. 16. Winter clothes. 17. Address of the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Society for the promotion of manufactures and the useful arts. 18. Address of the seceding members of the assembly of Pennsylvania. 19. Remarks on the preceding address. 20. Address to the freemen of Pennsylvania, relative to the new constitution. 21. Address to ditto, on the same subject. 22. Address to the impartial of all denominations, on the same subject. 23. Substance of Mr. Wilson's address. 24. Address to all federalists. 25. Remarks on the insinuation against General Washington. 26. Letter on the federal government. 27. Petition of the inhabitants of Philadelphia. 28. Petition of the justices and freeholders of Burlington. 29. Resolutions of inhabitants of Alexandria. 30. Ditto of inhabitants of Carlisle. 31. Ditto of inhabitants of Northampton county. 32. Ditto of inhabitants of Somerset county. 33. Extract from the Baptist's circular letter. 34. Proceedings of the assembly of Connecticut. 35. On gratitude to ancestors. 36. Singular charge of a judge to a grand jury. 37. Report of a committee of the assembly of New-York. 38. Curfew reflections on newspaper calumny. 39. Constitution of the Philadelphia college of physicians. 40. Address to the friends of humanity. 41. On the doctrine of chance. 42. Prayer of an American citizen. 43. On paper. 44. The Indian student. 45. The dying Indian. 46. In doctorem Carolus Nisbet convalescentem. 47. On a child smiling in its sleep.
WHITE TEETH!
I. Greenwood,
SURGEON DENTIST,
No. 199, Water-Street, opposite the Coffee-house,
ENCOURAGED by the success
of his practice, begs leave to acquaint the public, that he preserves the TEETH and GUMS, by removing an infectious tartar that corrupts them, and renders the natural purity of the breath offensive, this tartar acquires a solidity equal to stone, the corrosive particles destroy the enamel of the teeth, the body of it causes an inflammation in the gums, and by degrees will strip them from the roots of the teeth, and if not removed, force them out of their sockets.—He cures the scurvy in the gums, fastens the teeth, extracts, replaces, transplants, and regulates, cleans the teeth and makes them white, substitutes artificial teeth in so neat a manner as not to be perceived from the natural, without drawing the stumps, or causing the least pain; they help mastication, give a youthful air to the countenance, render pronunciation more agreeable and distinct; in a word, as there is nothing more beautiful, and of such real service as a good set of teeth, both natural and artificial are worthy the attention of every one.—His charges are low, to give every person an opportunity of being benefited by him.
Said GREENWOOD will with pleasure attend those ladies or gentlemen, who cannot conveniently wait on him, upon their sending directions.
New-York RUM,
Of excellent Flavour and good Proof, FOR SALE,
By Charles Tillinghast,
At the DISTILLERY, near the New-Market, in Cherry-Street, and nearest to the Ship-Yards.
October 3, 1787. 35—m.th.f.
WHEREAS Nicholas Bayard, Esq.
of the city of New-York, by his certain indenture of lease, under his hand and seal, duly executed, bearing date the sixteenth day of September, in the ninth year of the independence of the United States of America, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, for the consideration therein mentioned, did demise and to farm let unto John Calling, all those three LOTS OF GROUND, No. 279, 280, and 281, situate in the outward, at the corner of Moll-street, and Bayard-street, to have and to hold the said three Lots unto the said John Calling, for and during and until the end and term of twenty-one years from thence next ensuing: and whereas the said John Calling had erected on said three Lots of Ground a dwelling house; and whereas the said John Calling, on the twenty-eighth day of February, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, by indenture of mortgage, did convey unto John Egberts, of the said city of New-York, house-carpenter, all the beforementioned Lots, No. 279, 280, and 281, with the buildings thereon erected, to hold for and during the residue and remainder of the said term of twenty-one years then to come, and unexpired, to secure the payment of fifty pounds, with the lawful interest:—NOTICE is hereby given, that in pursuance of an act of the governor, council, and general assembly of the late colony of New-York, passed the nineteenth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, entitled, "An act for the more effectual registering of mortgages, and for securing the purchases of mortgaged estates," the residue and remainder of the term of years yet to come, and unexpired, of, and in the said three Lots of Ground, with the buildings thereon erected, will be SOLD at PUBLIC VENDUE, to the highest bidder, on the premises, on the twenty-fifth day of February next.—The sale to begin at twelve o'clock. The condition of sale will be made known at the time of the vendue, and a deed executed to the purchaser or purchasers, subject to the proviso, in the said act, in favor of other mortgages, judgments at law, and decrees in equity, prior to the said sale.
JOHN EGBERTS. New-York, August 23, 1787. 1. th. 6m.
NOTICE is hereby given to all
persons indebted to JAMES MYER, jun. of the city of New-York, an insolvent debtor, that unless they make immediate payment to the subscriber, assignee of the aforesaid James Myer, jun. their accounts will be put in the hands of an attorney; and all persons having claims against the said James Myer, jun. previous to his discharge, under the act of insolvency, are required immediately to present their accounts, properly attested, to the subscriber. JOHN LOVETT, Assignee. New-York, October 16, 1787. 37—t. th. 3m.
NOTICE is hereby given to all
persons indebted to THOMAS WHITE, of the city of New-York, an insolvent debtor, that unless they make immediate payment to the subscriber, assignee of the estate of the aforesaid Thomas White, their accounts will be put in the hands of an attorney; and all persons having claims against the said Thomas White, previous to his discharge, under the act of insolvency, are required immediately to present their accounts, properly attested, to Thomas White, or to JOHN LOVETT, Assignee. New-York, October 16, 1787. 37—t. th. 3m.
John Siemon,
No. 76, William-Street, next Door to Mr. Samuel Gilford's, MANUFACTURER, and has for SALE, A large and general Assortment of
MUFFS and TIPPETS,
Consisting of
MARTIN, and Martin Throat, real, and mock Ermin; American and Russia Squirrel; real black Gennet; red Fox; Russia Hair; and ground Squirrel.
LIKEWISE,
A complete Assortment of fur Trimings and Edgings, for Ladies Cloaks, riding Dresses, &c. Cloak Linings, Great-Coats, lined with Furr, for Gentlemen, Caps, Gloves, &c. &c.
The above Articles are now selling on the most reasonable Terms, for Cash, or Short Credit.
Directions will be given how to preserve the Furr during the Summer Season. New-York, October 23, 1787. 38—t. th.
SHRUB.
Of the very best Quality, by the Hoghead, Barrel, or smaller Quantity, FOR SALE, by Charles Tillinghast,
At his House, nearly opposite the New-Market, in Cherry-Street. October 3, 1787. 35—m.th.f.
To the Afflicted with WORMS.
LATELY received from the western country, and may be had at No. 21, Beekman-street, an extraordinary and never-failing WORM POWDER.—From long experience it has been found, that three doses of these Powders will effectually destroy the Worms, either in children or grown persons. N.York, Sept. 13, 1787. 32—e.d.
FLAX-SEED,
STORED, Cleaned, Purchased, and
Sold, at HARTELL and WOODWARD's Flax-seed store, lately occupied by Mr. JACOB SARLY, last by Mr. Nash, between Van Zandt's and Murray's Wharves. 38—e.d.
ALL persons are hereby forbid to
trust any one on my account, without my special order, as I will not pay any debts, otherwise contracted. GEORGE CROOKSHANK. Nov. 18, 1787. 45 th. 3w.
THE PUBLIC
ARE RESPECTFULLY INFORMED, THAT the subscriber has lately removed from Princeton, New-Jersey, to this city, and now keeps the house lately kept by Talma-ge Hall, No. 49, Cortland-street (commonly known by the Boston, Albany, and Philadelphia General Stage-Office) and has agreed with the proprietors of the Albany and Boston Stages, to make his house the public Stage-house. Those Ladies and Gentlemen, who wish to take passages in either of those Stages, will please to leave their names with the subscriber the evening before their departure; gentlemen passengers and others, are informed that the subscriber keeps a house of entertainment, and accommodates gentlemen with boarding and lodging. Every attention will be paid to those who please to favor him with their custom. CHRISTOPHER BEEKMAN. N. B. The gentlemen of the city are informed, that the subscriber has a large convenient Assembly Room, which he proposes to let during the winter season, or longer if required. New-York, Nov. 13, 1787. 51—th.
The Public are informed, that the
STAGE,
Which ply between
New-York & Philadelphia,
Will, after this date, start as follows, viz.
ONE Stage every afternoon from
Paules-Hook at three o'clock, and from Elizabeth-Town at day-light; and one stage every morning from Paules-Hook at seven o'clock, to go that day to Trenton. November 10th, 1787. 41—t. th.
Morris-Town and Paules-Hook
STAGE.
ON the 14th inst. the subscriber
began to run his Stage-Waggon every Tuesday and Friday, from his house in Morris-Town, to Paules-Hook, by the way of Newark, starting at five o'clock each morning. The waggon generally arrives at Jacamiah Smith's, Paules-Hook, about one o'clock of the same day, where it remains until the next morning, nine o'clock, when it returns by the same route, and with all expedition.
The FARE for a passenger, with seven pounds of baggage, is ONE DOLLAR, and the same for one hundred and fifty pound weight.
The waggon, on its route to Paules-Hook, stops at Lawrence's tavern, Springfield, where the passengers may breakfast, if they choose; the next stage is at Major Sayre's, Newark, from whence they proceed to Paules-Hook.
N. B. Letters, to be sent by the above stage, may be lodged at Capt. Crane's, a few doors above the Ferry-house, in Cortland-street, New-York, from whence they shall always be safely conveyed to the stage. All letters carried free. GEORGE OHARA. Morris-Town, August 28, 1787. 30—
Morris-Town, August 28, 1787. 30—
STAGE.
THE subscriber informs the pub-
lic, and his friends in particular, that he now runs the STAGE from this to RYE, which Mr. HALL formerly ran. This stage starts from Mr. C. BEEKMAN's, No. 49, Cortland-street, on Mondays, and Thursdays, at five o'clock in the morning, and returns on Wednesdays, and Saturdays, at six o'clock in the evening.—As the subscriber has furnished himself with a very convenient new Waggon, and good Horses, for the purpose, he flatters himself, that he shall be able to give those Gentlemen and Ladies, who please to favor him with their custom, universal satisfaction.
N. B. The subscriber likewise keeps a very genteel COACH, with a good pair of Horses, To LETT; likewise, Horses and Chairs, and Saddle Horses. Any order, left with Mr. Beekman, or at his stable, in Cortland-street, will be immediately attended to, by the public's most humble servant, OBADIAH WRIGHT. Good STABLING for HORSES. New-York, Nov. 27, 1787. 49—e.d.
This Day PUBLISHED,
And to be SOLD at this PRINTING-OFFICE, [Price TEN PENCE.]
The Mother's Catechism.
THIS Catechism is designed for the First, and should be taught to Infants as an Introduction to those Catechism which are not so easily understood. It is universally recommended by Divines.
FOR SALE, at this OFFICE,
OBSERVATIONS, leading to a
fair Examination of the Government proposed by the late CONVENTION, and to several essential and necessary Alterations.
LETTERS of INTELLIGENCE—occasional PARAGRAPHS—speculative PIECES—ESSAYS, &c.—are gratefully received at this OFFICE— For the greater CONVENIENCE and SAFETY of which COMMUNICATIONS, a LETTER-BOX is placed in the Window. SUBSCRIPTIONS for this PAPER (printed EVERY DAY, at Six, and ONCE a Week, at Two, Dollars per Annum) are also received here—and ADVERTISEMENTS, REASONABLY INSERTED. PRINTING, in all its Variety, performed with NEATNESS and DISPATCH.