Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 1799-10-01 00:00:00

TREEMEN PENNSYLVANIA.
Friends and Fellow Citizens.
WHEN a numerous meeting of our most respectable fellow citizens assembled to be the duty of every man, as a committee, to promote the election of James Ross, it was far from being the wish of any, or the expectation of most, of the members, to become involved in the unpleasant task of commenting on the conduct of the opposite candidate, or that of his advocates. The sentiments we have uttered on this subject have already been expected to you, and we may safely challenge the most inveterate of our opponents, to point out a single instance, in which we have expressed our professions, by making any comments on the character or conduct of either; we should have held with great reluctance, in this at least, we had not been considered unworthy of their im-
mediate attention. These reflections will naturally arise on a candid perusal of the late proceedings of an address to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, dated the 7th of August last, and published under the signatures of Messrs. Peter Muhlenberg, Samuel Biles, A. J. Dallas, Michael Leib, William Pennycuick and Tench Coxe, a committee on behalf of Mr. McKean, in which it is asserted, that "most of the present proceedings conducted by foreign emissaries with a view to influence and control the opinion of our government, or employed by demagogues with a view to excite the excitement of certain sections of the people, to no other end and purpose, than to divide and mislead the federal party, have been directed against Mr. McKean, and the intention of the committee evidently to prevent on our minds a belief, that on the part of the administration, and supported for the present, exist among us, and around us, men, engaged by the party who support Mr. McKean, than which nothing is more resolute and unyielding. It seems to us, that the proceedings of the committee originated with a more intimate acquaintance with the proceedings and conductors than we can justly pretend to."
The committee opposed to Mr. McKean, in the course of their address, alluded to themselves as the exclusive right of thinking and acting in the politics of our country, and as the only representatives of all the citizens of the country in relation to public measures; with respect to the latter, we utterly deny the truth of the assertion, and believe it would be difficult to find a single instance in a single instance, where it is that it has been charged as a matter of fact, that Mr. McKean's committee will ever make any enquiry into them, which they have any regard for the character and feelings of a very distinguished member of their body.
The general unanimity manifested in favor of Mr. Ross by the grand juries in different parts of the State, as it affords the strongest evidence of the public sentiment, would not fail to excite the deepest chagrin in his opponents; it is nevertheless, a somewhat extraordinary in those who have hitherto contended, that the exercise of the rights of the individual should not be infringed or destroyed by his functions as a public officer, to mention the conduct of the individuals composing the several grand juries as a subject of complaint, especially when it is considered, that they are generally men the most respectable in their several counties for virtue and understanding, and selected by the sheriff, an officer of popular election.
We submit to you the candor to perceive the general charge of intermixing, with which, and with the letters of the committee who fly themselves repulsive, and full of errors, teeming with error, and inaccuracy; we know of no such fact—if one solitary instance of this kind has even occurred, it is a matter of regret that even among the friends of the federal government, so whom no man's opinions have recently attracted, some unworthy character has been found.
It is a matter of regret, inaccuracy and inaccuracy have been assiduously practiced to bring the republican principle itself into discredit and contempt with the people, and to prevent the charges, doubtless intended to apply to some or all of the supporters of Mr. Ross as the calumniators, intriguers, &c. and to Mr. McKean as the republican candidate. We know of no foundation for any such charge, nor are we acquainted with any just ground on which these gentlemen, distinguishing themselves, and their associates, by the exclusive application of republican, should be so treated. We protest, therefore, that republicans, although we have never arranged ourselves among the supporters of royalty, democracy, or Jacobinism.
The committee have taken some pains to exculpate their candidate from the charge of being a native of Ireland and a member of the catholic church. We believe him to be neither, and has been both, should have been far from regarding it as a subject of feature or reproach. Our excellent constitution guarantees the natives of every country an opportunity to become citizens, and declares every person otherwise qualified, equally eligible to office.
But Mr. McKean is a friend to France, as a nation, to which we cannot refuse our
assent. We believe him to be so to a degree that, adopted in our public councils, or sanctioned by the voice of the people, would have a tendency prejudicial, if not ruinous, to the honor, independence and interest of our common country; his friends must acknowledge, that he was privy to the embarkation of Dr. Logan, on his assumed embassy to the Directory, and that he furnished him with a letter or certificate, calculated to insure his favorable reception, and which, from the known character and station of the writer, gave some color of authority to his insolent interference in the negotiations of our government.
That Mr. McKean is friendly to France, that he defends and justifies most of her measures towards this country, and represents those of our own government, is too generally known to admit of controversy; among his numerous declarations of sentiments of this kind, made publicly and without reserve, which might be referred to and established, we shall only lay before the public the following extract of a letter from Col. Smith, Esq. of Lancaster, a gentleman of character and integrity, who, after stating the truth expressed by Mr. McKean, "that twenty thousand United Irishmen would come into this country," goes on in the following words: "These expressions did not stand alone—his abuse of the federal government was repeated and violent, so as to show a marked dislike, and decided opposition; the great characters who conduct it were branded with the epithet of conspirators, willing to introduce a monarchy; and his approbation of French measures, and their present ambitious pursuits, was unequivocal." Few of the citizens of Pennsylvania, are at this time so uninformed, or so misled, as to be blind to the projects meditated by France against the United States—to the varied and unweary efforts which she has professed to ruin—to the violence, perfidy, falsehood and intrigue, by which she has endeavored to accomplish her infamous ends, and sink us into disgrace and misery. How then can we be willing to receive as our governor, one who has justified their measures, applauded their conduct and principles, and excited the blessings of their system of liberty?
You cannot, Fellow Citizens, be ignorant, that they have made Liberty and Equality the pretences, whilst plunder and domination have been their objects; that their philosophic enthusiasm has not been satisfied with spreading uproar and wretchedness over a great portion of the globe, and drenching its surface with blood, but that they have attempted to change the moral, as well as the political, state of man; with this view the Christian Sabbath has been abolished, religious obligations treated with ridicule and contempt, and national rights, alike inconsistent with the precepts of natural and revealed religion, have been established. Dupont, one of the members of the French Convention, has thus expressed himself: "What! Thrones are overturned! Scepters broken! Kings expire! And yet the Altars of God remain! A single breath of enlightened reason will now be sufficient to make them disappear. Nature and Reason, these ought to be the gods of men! There are no gods! For myself, I honestly avow to the Convention, I am an Atheist." Such have been the sentiments openly promulgated and adopted by the Representatives of the nation to whom Mr. McKean has not hesitated to avow his attachment.
Although our country has withdrawn a little from the precipice towards which she was not long since rushing with wild and inconsiderate steps, and our government, supported by the ruling spirit of the people, has opposed a more manly attitude to the insulting aggressions of an implacable foe, we must not yet consider our safety to be insured, or the hour of danger past, if men who either are, or are believed to be, attached to France, and opposed to the system of energy and defence which has hitherto preserved us from the rapacious grasp of her Directory, should be exalted by the people to places of trust and power, our danger will be renewed; a nation ever expert in intrigue, boasting of her diplomatic skill, will not fail to avail herself of so unhoped for an advantage.
We know nothing of the charge, that Mr. McKean is desirous of provoking a war with Great Britain. The answer to this supposed accusation, if not introduced for the purpose, has at least afforded his committee an opportunity of pouring forth their censures on the treaty with that nation. They observe, "that it has been so construed and acted upon as to entail upon this country the payment of two enormous classes of debts." and speak of the secession of the American Commissioners "shrinking from the task of announcing to the public the extent of British demands." The committee certainly were not aware that one of the most offensive and exorbitant demands which has been made on that Board is for almost half a million of dollars by the Agent of the Penn family, who has accompanied his memorial with a pamphlet under the signature of Mr. McKean, in which he defends and justifies the claim. One of the points of difference in the cases on which the Commissioners have separated is the date of our Independence—the General Agent for the United States contended, that we became a free and independent nation from the fourth day of July, 1776—the General Agent for the British Claimants asserts, that we were not so until the peace of 1783, when we received our independence from the King of Great Britain.
In the Aurora of February 22, 1798, an opinion is published with the signature of Thomas McKean, agreeing with that now maintained before the British Commissioners. It expressly declares, that the civil war continued until the definitive treaty with Great Britain in 1783. Americans, if this
doctrine, corroborated by Mr. McKean, is true, you have been mistaken in observing the fourth day of July, 1776, as the birth day of your Independence—you must have been (according to Mr. McKean's opinion) in a state of civil war, and, of course, rebels until King George the third granted you, in the year 1783, the rights of an independent nation. What are we now to say of the secession of the American Commissioners to which which they were driven by exorbitant demands justified by Mr. McKean's opinion. It is right great sums of money will indeed be necessary. Many persons, hitherto considered as delinquent, refugees, and traitors, were in fact (according to Mr. McKean's doctrine) loyal subjects, and must be paid for all they have suffered by this mistake. We presume not to give any opinion on these questions, but leave them where the government has placed them—satisfied that they will ultimately receive a proper decision and that what in justice ought to be paid will be paid, and no more; but surely Mr. McKean's committee should not have told us of the enormity of British demands.
Mr. McKean's committee say, that he had been "charged with being a Disorganizer, a Jacobin; but that in truth there does not exist a firmer advocate, a more successful supporter of law, of public tranquility, of private property and public credit." How far his conduct respecting the disturbance that took place on Sunday the tenth of February last, in the yard of St. Mary's Church in Philadelphia, corresponds with these assertions of his committee, we submit to the public on the following statement of the part Mr. McKean took on that occasion. Whilst Robert Wharton, Esq. Mayor of the city, was engaged in taking the recognizances of J. Cummins and Dr. Reynolds, two of the persons accused as authors of the riot, some person knocked violently at the door and demanded admission; the constables refusing to open it, Mr. McKean called out "I am Chief Justice of the state." The Mayor upon hearing that the Chief Justice was there ordered the constables to open the door and give Mr. McKean admittance. No sooner had he entered than he called out with a loud voice, accompanied by a menacing air, "What is the reason, Mr. Mayor, of all this fuss? that you keep the city in uproar with a mob marching these gentlemen up one street and down another, hand-cuffed and tied, for half the day together."
The Mayor attempted to state the nature of their offence—the evidence of their having insulted the congregation at the Church, and that one of them had presented a loaded pistol to the breast of one of the Members, that the prisoners had been treated with all possible attention and civility, had been neither hand-cuffed nor tied, but in as polite and tender a manner as the nature of the case would admit, had been permitted to walk with the peace officers in search of bail; to the Mayor's statement of the manner in which they had been treated Dr. Reynolds candidly assented; but Mr. McKean was heard to say to nothing from the Mayor, and to the present, and charged the Members of the Congregation with having committed an assault on the prisoners, and that the prisoners, and not the prisoners, were the aggressors, that he would have dismissed the matter in a quarter of an hour, for the prisoners had a right to take up their bail and go about their business." The Mayor proceeded to take the recognizances and Mr. McKean soon afterwards left the room apparently in great passion.
Many of the supporters of Mr. McKean are men who profess their attachment to as equality of rights and their abhorrence of political distinctions founded on wealth or family; it would be well for these to consider, how far the principles advocated by their candidate, and opposed by Mr. Ross, in the Convention that formed the state constitution, are consistent with their opinion. In page 72 of the minutes of the body, they will find the following motion made by Mr. McKean: "No person shall be capable of being chosen a Senator who is not seized, in fee simple, of five hundred acres of land with this his common appurtenances, or possessed of real and personal estate to the value of five hundred pounds;" In page 162, they will find him (Mr. McKean) seconding a motion. "That the Governor shall be legally seized and possessed of a clear real and personal estate, within this commonwealth, of the value of four thousand dollars, six months before his election; and in page 171, renewing, at an adjourned meeting, his first motion, in which it appears, from the Yeas and Nays, he was opposed by Mr. Ross and supported by but eight members of the Convention. Of the merits of these several propositions we do not consider it necessary to express our opinion; but when of two candidates for the first office in our government, one is branded with the imputation of aristocracy, and the other held up to the people, in the words of his committee, as "a friend of equal rights, under the freest of governments," as one who "advocates no distinction among his fellow citizens, but the distinction of the good and the bad," it is just to measure them by some public and known standard, established at a time when it cannot be fairly presumed that either party had any expectation of becoming a candidate for the office of Governor.
The committee has thought proper to deny, in positive terms, Mr. McKean's having ever expressed a wish, "that twenty thousand United Irishmen would come over to the United States, for that, in his opinion, they were the only men who understood true liberty." To this we oppose the letter of Mr. Smith already recited, and the annexed certificate of Mr. Watts of Carlisle, both men of known character, independence and integrity. If any further proof
of the conversation, stated by Messrs. Smith and Watts, were necessary several other Gentlemen, who were present, are ready to corroborate their testimony. The inaccuracy of the information on which the committee ground their denial of the charge, and the assertion, that Mr. McKean "advocates no distinction among his fellow citizens, but the distinction of the good and the bad," is a fair test by which you may judge what weight is due to the other parts of their statement.
Several other charges have been stated and replied to by the committee, some of them probably unfounded and others of little importance if true; on these we deem it superfluous to make a single observation—to those who made the charges we cheerfully rejoin the task of supporting them.
We have deemed it unworthy of ourselves, either as a committee or individually, to make any anonymous attacks on the public or private character of Mr. McKean; and it may, perhaps, be considered as unnecessary for us to notice any of the unproved slanders circulated respecting Mr. Ross. One accusation, however, has been so frequently made, so strenuously insisted on, and, if true, is of so serious a nature, that we cannot forbear to notice it.—Mr. Ross is charged with being a Deist.—Some of us have known him from his outlet in life, and never before heard such a suggestion. When he was chosen a member of the State Convention, and when he was elected into the Senate of the United States, he was warmly opposed—many objections were urged by some who had long known him, but this charge was reserved for the present occasion.—Believing, as from all these circumstances we were justified in doing, that there was no foundation for it, we have been happy to be able to refer you to the annexed certificates which we have received from the Rev. John Smith and Messrs. A. Sweeney, Robert Stockton, Joseph Wherry, John Cotton, James Brice, James Mitchell, John Mercer, James Allison, Craig Ritchie, and Alexander Cunningham, pious and devout men—the former a Minister of the Gospel, and the latter Elders of the different Presbyterian Congregations in whose neighbourhood he has for many years last resided, which will be found to contain a complete refutation of this malicious calumny.
Thus, fellow-citizens, we have considered the observations of the adverse committee in reply to the charges they suggest to have been made against their candidate; and, in so doing, have found it necessary to travel into a more personal enquiry than was agreeable to us; much of what has been said would have been avoided had not the task been imposed on us by our opponents. To whom the appellation of a defamatory inquisition, which they have politely bestowed on us, most properly belongs you can determine.—We are now both before you—judge between us.
With respect to Mr. Ross, it is almost superfluous to remind you of his just and uniform principles—his unexceptionable deportment and unquestionable qualifications. His manners are simple, but his understanding is profound—his accomplishments plain, in his talents brilliant. He is not tainted with the novel philosophy of France, which sets morality and religion at defiance, but is content with being an upright and conscientious Christian as his fathers were before him. His usefulness, integrity and capacity, in the important public stations to which he has been called, have placed him beyond the reach of injury from the slights of every andander. He is not, he cannot be, doubted on these points. He is yet in the prime and vigor of life, with a mind and constitution capable of encountering every difficulty and fatigue to which his office may expose him. It is true he is not a resident of the city—he is, if you please, a countryman; but, surely this can in no degree disqualify him from being your Governor, or render him less valuable and respectable.
Documents referred to in the preceding Address.
Levi Hollingsworth. Samuel Morris. Robert Wharton. Benjamin R. Morgan. Henry Pratt. Michael Kepple. Zachariah Poulson, jun. Daniel Smith. John Wall. Lawrence Scovel.
Certificate of Mr. Watts. I DO hereby Certify, That I heard Thomas McKean, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, declare, "That he wished Twenty Thousand United Irishmen would come into this Country, that they were a People who understood true Liberty and the Rights of Man," which I am willing to attest upon oath, if it should be necessary. DAVID WATTS. August 10, 1799. N. B. A dozen affidavits can be procured to the above fact, if necessary.
The Letter from the Committee of Correspondence for the County of Washington which accompanied the Certificates alluded to in the preceding Address.
Washington, August 28, 1799.
SIR, THE committee in this county for promoting the election of Mr. Ross, have learnt where Mr. Ross is less known than here, currency is given by the enemies to his election, (the same conscientious men who supported the election of Mr. Jefferson,) to a report, that Mr. Ross is a Deist.
To prevent the effect of this report, one of the committee in this town, where Mr. Ross lived more than ten years, and until about five years ago, applied to such elders and other persons, noted for their piety and regard for religion, as have known Mr. Ross during the whole of his time, and as easily could be applied to, and they cheerfully signed the enclosed certificate. It was requested that the absence of the Rev. John McMillan, (who is the minister nearest to this place, is intimately and has been about twenty years well acquainted with Mr. Ross, and is zealous for his election,) and of the other Presbyterian ministers in this neighbourhood, who are now sitting in Presbytery, more than sixty miles from this town, prevented the obtaining of their contradiction to this false and malicious report. But it was not that prudent for the sake of this, to suffer the report to gain force, by the delay of another week's post; especially as those, who have signed, are distinguished characters, for good sense, honesty and piety, and respectable for their stations in society. Mr. Allison is judge of this county, Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Ritchie are justices of the peace, and the last has been a member of assembly. Mr. Cotton and Mr. Brice, are county commissioners, and the last has been a member of assembly. Mr. Cunningham is a substantial merchant and Mr. Mercer a substantial farmer. These gentlemen being all in town at the time, were readily applied to, and you may be assured, that the certificate of any one of them, is sufficient to outweigh the report. Many more names could have been obtained, but to seek numbers was thought to be giving too much respect to the slander, and a selection of a few in questionable characters was thought best.
The presence of the Rev. John Smith, of Canoponburgh, a learned and respectable Seceder minister, who, about three years ago, removed to this country from Osterana, in Lancaſter county, enabled us to procure his certificate also, and upon this we are content to rest the character of Mr. Ross and of ourselves.
We could with as much ease have obtained as positive a denial of all the other malicious reports lately propagated against Mr. Ross, and we do pledge ourselves that they are false. But we thought it not of consequence to do so, as they are, we trust, generally known to be false; and as such reports from unprincipled and defaming men are usually expected on such occasions. But there are so few means of ascertaining the credit due to a report of infidelity and a respect for religion is of such importance in public stations, that we thought it a duty to our fellow citizens to disprove the aspersion of deism.
Least, therefore, this aspersion should mislead good people, unacquainted with Mr. Ross, the committee here request that you will publish, if you think proper, these documents in the newspapers or in hand bills, as you think best, and in such manner as you think most fit. The original of these certificates is in the hands of the committee of Franklin county. A. ADDISON, Chairman of the committee of Washington co.
Washington, (P.) Aug. 26th 1799.
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
WE the subscribers, regular members of sundry Presbyterian congregations in the county of Washington, have heard with surprise and regret, that among the many slanderous reports propagated against the respectable character of James Ross, Esq. of Pittsburgh, who has been proposed to be chosen governor of Pennsylvania, one is that he is a Deist.
We trust that we have a sincere regard to truth and religion, and we feel ourselves bound by the duties we owe to both, so far as our testimony can go to remove from our fellow citizens, this obnoxious to the free exercise of our votes in favour of Mr. Ross. God forbid that we should assist in placing in such an important a station, a man defective in respect for religion. And we but obey the dictates of our own consciences in making the following declaration of what we know of Mr. Ross, from our own observation and indubitable information.
Mr. Ross was born of respectable and pious parents, of the Presbyterian church in York county in this state, and received from them a religious education. He is well instructed in the scriptures and the doctrines of christianity as held by our church; and we are persuaded believes and respects them. He lived long in this town, and longer in this county, and we have had good opportunities of knowing him. Where he has lived, there has not been any stated minister, and only occasional supplies for public worship. But he has contributed to the support of public worship where he lived, and attended it regularly and there is nothing known to us to justify the imputation that he is an infidel or deist, and we think this imputation false and malicious.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.
A Sweeney } Elders of Washington Robert Stockton } Congregation. Joseph Wherry } Elders of Buffalo Congre- John Cotton } gation. James Brice }

James Mitchell, Elder of Peters Congrega- John Mercer } Elders of Chartiers James Allison } Congregation. Craig Richie Alexander Cunningham.
Since I lived in Washington county, I have had opportunity of conversing and being well acquainted with James Ross, Esq. of Pittsburgh, and of knowing his character from serious and respectable persons well acquainted with his opinions and conversation, and I am well persuaded that he is sincerely respectful of the Christian Protestant Religion, and do verily believe that the report of his being an infidel or deist is altogether without foundation.
JOHN SMITH, Minister of Associated Congregation Chartiers.
The Gazette.
PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 1.
THE approaching GENERAL ELECTION, for the City of Philadelphia and the townships of Blockley and Kingsessing, will be held at the CENTRE HOUSE Tavern, on the South side of Market-street, to the westward of Broad-street.
At the last quadrennial meeting of the National Institute of Paris, (the French academy of arts and sciences) the following result appeared of the intermediate labors of the learned men of France:
Van Swinden, a foreign savan, despatched by the Batavian republic to co-operate with the French savans in the grand work of fixing an uniformity of weights and measures throughout the globe, mounted the tribune, and in good, nay elegant French, unfolded the labors of the committee of weights and measures.
Next came an eulogium on an architect, who never built an house. The orator prefaced his eulogy with this remark: "Our unfortunate custom, which people imagine to be economical, but which is not, of fashioning old edifices after new usages, and which, of consequence, requires from our artists, not the genius of conceptions, but the genius of repairs, did not permit the architect to leave any grand monument of his talent." Of his talent at improvement, however, he mentions as a specimen, his altering the hotel de force into a prison, and the hall of the India company into a coffee house.
The citizen Gruton read the result of his experiments during many years, relative to the combustion of the Diamond; a curious operation, and from which the citizen Gruton has drawn new and important inductions for the progress of chemistry, which already is under so great obligations to him.
The citizen Camus laid open an interesting discovery for the amateurs of bibliography, and calculated to throw some light upon the infancy of the beautiful art of printing.
The nature of this interesting discovery is not mentioned: But I dare say it is nothing very wonderful; for the author must be a fool and a beast, or he would not be found in the Institut Nationale. The best discovery now remains to be made in the printing art, seems to be that which shall unfold the means of most effectually exploding and annihilating it—for nothing short of this appears likely to save mankind from a deluge of nonsense, blasphemy and bawdry.
To the exposition by the foreign savan of the labors of a committee; the eulogium on an architect, whose utility to mankind was summed up in converting a magnificent structure to a dunghill of baleness, and a noble palace, to a slaughter house; to the experiments of the fellow, who after many years had discovered that a diamond may be retorted into charcoal; and the interesting discovery of the biographer; to all these miracles of genius and of learning, succeeded the long fragment of Mercier, which broke down the patience of every body, and set the learned assembly to loggerheads. Behold the product of the labors of all the French literati for three whole months.
Gazette Marine List.
Port of Philadelphia.
Arrived yesterday. Ship Fair American, Brevoir, 53 days from Hamburg. Ship Adrastus, Gallagher, 80 days from St. Ubes. Ship Swanwick, Kirkbridge, 50 days from Liverpool. Brig Mercury, Yardley, 60 days from London. The brig Fly, Russel, bound to Tennessee, returned leaky and pumps choked.  Arrived at New Castle. Brig Mary, from Guernsey. Schooner Antelope, Whelan, twenty days from Cape François.  Extract from the log book of the ship Adrastus, Captain Gallagher, from St. Ubes. July 24. Lat. 41, 19, carried away the fore top mast, and main top gallant mast. August 12. Lat. 45, long. 21, spoke the brig Lydia, Thomas Miles, master, from Wilmington, N. C., bound to Hamburg, who supplied us with a barrel of pork, barrel of Indian meal, two hams, and a half barrel of water. August 21. Was brought too by the British frigate Alisander; after a short examination let us pass. September 10. Spoke the brig George, Wait, from Alexandria to Liverpool, out 11 days, and being in lat. 38, 26, long. 66, who supplied us with a barrel of beef and two barrels of bread.
September 14. lat. 37, long. 54, was brought too by the British frigate Hinde—after a short examination let us pass, and supplied us with a barrel of beef and a barrel of bread—a sloop of war in light standing S S W.
The Hinde British frigate, before she spoke the Adrastus, had taken two Danish ships, and sent them into Halifax.
From capt. Whelan, of the schr. Antelope, arrived at New-Castle from Cape François, we received the following list of American vessels left at that port Sept. 7. The United States ship Washington, which had just arrived from convoying a number of vessels to leeward from the Cape. Ship Ocean, Reynolds, of New-York, Alexander Hamilton, Hoggard Philad. Amity, Remington ditto.
 — Cook, Newbern, N. C.  — Kelly New York,  — Vanlife, Savannah,  Brig Eliza, Yard, Philadelphia,  James, Gemeny, ditto  Mercury, Hammond, ditto  Abigail, Knox, ditto  Clarissa, Thomas, ditto  Polly, Jones, ditto  Flora, Cartwell, ditto  Francis, Cox, ditto  Schr. Happy Couple, ditto  George, Danton, ditto  Eutaw, Ennis, ditto  Henry, Budden, ditto  — Seville, ditto  Sloops — Brown, ditto  — Adams, ditto  Besides a number of other vessels of different ports.
Capt. W. confirms the account of general Toussaint's having taken the Mole, and driven the rebel Rigaud from the neighbouring out-ports.
The following vessels are advertised in Gore's Liverpool Advertiser of August 18, for America.
 For Philadelphia  Ship America, Sands, to sail the middle of August.  Ship Stockport, Williams, to sail immediately with convoy.  For Baltimore.  Ship Nancy, Teas, to sail the 10th of August.  Barque John and Jane, capt. Dagget, to sail with convoy.  For City Point (Vir.)  Ship Molly, capt. Jappe, to sail in a few days.  Ship Nancy, Lord, in a few days.  For Charleston.  Ship Rebecca, Marshall, to sail in a few days.  Daily expected to arrive, and will sail immediately for Charleston, the ship August, capt. Johnson.  Brig Aurora, to sail the 10th of August.  For Savannah.  Ship Cipsey, to sail the 15th August. 
REPORT
Of the Sextons of the different grounds, of the number of Funerals at their grounds.
   FOR THE 24 HOURS, ENDING THIS DAY AT 12 O'CLOCK. Names of the Burial Grounds. Number of Persons. Gender.    Christ Church, 0 0  St. Peters, 0 0  St. Pauls, 0 0  1st Presbyterian, 1 0  2d do. 0 0  3d do. 0 0  Scots Presbyterian, 0 0  Associate Church, 0 0  St. Mary's, 0 0  Trinity, 0 0  Friends 1 0  Free Quakers, 0 0  Swedes, 1 0  German Lutheran, 0 0  German Presbyterian, 1 0  Moravian, 0 0  Baptist, 0 0  Methodist, 0 0  Universalist, 0 0  Jews, 0 0  African Episcopal, 0 0  do. Methouist, 0 0  Kennington, 0 0  Public Ground,* 4 0  Total 8 0  
The above list comprehends all the burials from the City and Liberties of every disease By order of the Board of Health.
WILLIAM ALLEN, Health Officer.
CITY HOSPITAL.
For the last 24 hours, ending 12 o'clock A. M. ADMITTED. James Jefferies, 2d ft. below Mead alley, ditto. James Jefferies, junr. ditto. Eleanor Jefferies, ditto. Patty Jefferies, ditto. Nancy Jefferies, ditto. Children admitted in good health. Polly Miller, German, above 3d ft. DIED. Joseph Rodman, ill 3 days previous to ad. Mary Rankin, ill 3 do. do. Elizabeth Strain, eloped. Interred the last 24 hours, in the *PUBLIC GROUND, 1 Woman from Vine street. 1 Grown person, left a the bury ground. 2 From the Hospital. 4 Total. Remaining in the Hospital 62, of whom 30 are convalescents, and fourteen children who were admitted in good health. PETER HELM, Steward.
By this Day's Mail.
Latest from Europe.
LEGHORN, July 12.
Last night citizen Reinhard, the commissioner of the government, and all the public officers, embarked on board Feluccas for Genoa. It is this morning reported that they have been captured by the En-lish cruizers; and it is also said that the vessels with Gen. Macdonald's equipage, &c. have been also taken. The French seemed at first determined to defend our city, but they are now preparing to evacuate it. Part of the troops have marched to join Moreau, but there remains a garrison in the fort and citadel.
VIENNA, July 13.
According to accounts, Macdonald has offered to capitulate to Gen. Klenau.
It is reported that the allies have taken and occupied Bochi; & that their having occupied Genoa likewise is no longer doubted.
General Duval, who arrived here express, did not bring the confirmation of Moreau's defeat; all was quiet in Italy, and the Imperial army was absolutely in want of reit, so that no further operations were to be undertaken for a fortnight. The object of Gen. Duval's mission related to mail bags with letters, taken from the French army in Italy, containing also some letters respecting the king of Spain; and owing to the importance of those letters, they could only be entrusted to a staff officer to deliver them. It is expected that Mantua will soon surrender, scorbutic disorders being very prevalent among the garrison, of which several men die every day. It also wants both salt and wood.
A courier from Italy, who arrived here to day, is said to bring advice that Malta has surrendered.
The Emperor of Russia has sent several valuable swords to Field Marshal Suwarow, to be given to such Austro-Russian officers as shall signalize themselves the most.
The plague now prevails at Jassy, in Moldavia. The Hospodar had left that city, where a whole fleet had been barricaded.
Some Prussian and Saxon officers have been permitted by the Court of Petersburg to purchase horses in Ukraine for their Sovereign.
PARIS, July 29.
The central administration has authorized the commissioner Rei to denounce to the public accuser for the department of the Seine, the authors, printers, and publishers of a pamphlet called Hang up the Jacobins .
The junction of the armies of Moreau and Macdonald is officially announced in the Redacteur , but without particulars.
LOWESTOFFE, August 1.
On Wednesday evening sailed from Yarmouth Roads the Agamemnon, of 64 guns, supposed to have gone for the Downs.
Yesterday afternoon arrived off this place from the Nore, a Russian Vice-Admiral of the Blue, with two sail of the line, two frigates, and a brig sloop of war, and after exchanging some signals, were soon after joined by the Russian Vice-Admiral of the Red from Yarmouth Roads, with four sail of the line; and at sunset they made sail for the coast of Holland.
Three homeward bound Greenland ships passed this morning for London.
The Chance, Johnson; Recovery McKinley; Yarmouth, Beck; Endeavour, Eastwick; Earl Mornington, Cook; Surprise, Moore; and two others, names unknown, are taken in the bay of Bengal, by La Forte French frigate. The Recovery is sent as a cartel to Madras.
The Ofterly, Pierce, and the Surprise, Galley, fell in with La Forte, and engaged her for some time: the former is taken, and arrived at Bengal as a cartel, and the latter escaped.
The Earl Fitzwilliam, Tweedale is burnt by accident at Bengal.
The Sybille frigate, Capt. Cooke, has taken La Forte French frigate, after a severe action, in which the French Captain and most of his officers were killed.
LONDON, July 30.
By a cartel which arrived last night at Dover, intelligence was brought from France, of an action having taken place in the Mediterranean, in which the French were defeated with the loss of eight ships of the line. The cartel brought over no French papers, and put back from France the moment the passengers were landed. This account, we understand, is universally credited. [Sun.]
A rumour is circulated again (not in the mail) that Prussia is on the eve of taking an active part against France. We learn, by our letters from Yarmouth, that a Prussian Minister is hourly expected to arrive there in the bye-boat, captain Searle. Whether this has any connection with the report we cannot take upon us to determine.
A letter from Brunswick, dated the 14 July, mentions that General Pichegru had been there for some days, and that during his stay he had frequent and long conferences with the Duke, on the subject; it is said of the meditated invasion of the Batavian States. Pichegru is perfectly acquainted with the country, having conducted the war into it in 1794 and 1795.
General Maitland returned from the West-Indies by last week, arrived in town on Saturday morning. We learn, with sincere satisfaction, that this distinguished officer has completely succeeded in his negotiation, and has settled the intercourse with St. Domingo, on a footing that secures all the advantages which our commerce
can read from the connection, without danger to the British Islands in its neighbourhood. The Russian squadron, which lately sailed from Portsmouth, and for the safety of which some apprehensions were entertained, arrived on the 8th instant at Gibraltar.
The Dutch General Stempart, the right hand of the House of Orange, is arrived at Peterburg, to claim the assistance of the Emperor Paul, for the restoration of the Stadholder.
The troops intended for the Secret expedition are expected to rendezvous this day on Barham Downs, where there is to be an encampment of 25,000 or 30,000 men. The fleet under the command of Admiral Mitchell, will consist of no less than 30 sail.
A letter from L'Espiegle, of 16 guns, relates, that captain Boorder had sent an officer with a flag of truce, respecting prisoners, into the Ems, to some Dutch gun vessels, which in defiance of the established usage of civilized nations, fired into his boat and detained her.
An experiment has lately been made on board the Vengeance, lying at Spithead, of an invention for the filtration of water. The machine occupies no greater space than a common filtering stone, and gave a gallon of pure water in two minutes, or 720 gallons in 24 hours.
PLYMOUTH, Aug. 4.
The Triton frigate, of 32 guns, J. Gore, arrived from the Mediterranean. She brings the following intelligence: cruising on the 21st ult. off Cadiz, in company with the Emerald frigate, saw the combined French and Spanish fleets, consisting of 40 sail of the line and 16 frigates, put to sea from thence; they steered a N. W. course in order to double Cape St. Vincent, from which circumstance, not a doubt is entertained but their destination is Ireland. Capt. Gore immediately dispatched the Emerald to Gibraltar, in quest of Lord Keith, and crowded all sail himself for England, with this important information for government.
GERMAN STATE PAPER.
Imperial Aulic Decree to the Diet of Ratisbon.
The preliminaries of peace between the Austrian and French plenipotentiaries were signed at Seebon on the 18th April, 1797; and at the earnest solicitation of his Imperial majesty, it was resolved, on that remarkable day, that all hostilities should be suspended between the Emperor and the French Republic. But this desirable work surely negotiated. But this desirable work accomplished so inefficacious the paternal views of his majesty the Emperor, that on the part of the French (notwithstanding the empire's constant desire of peace) almost every day was marked with acts which removed to a greater distance the object so anxiously willed for. In contempt of the just remonstrances of the States of the Empire, and of the deputation, they not only made the severest military exactions, and seized the fortresses of Ehrenbreitstein (contrary to a formal convention) but incorporated with the new Helvetic Republic, which they created, those territories and fiefs of the empire situated in Switzerland, and overturning it by the vilest machinations, they carried throughout Helvetia the destructive torch of their revolution to the frontiers of Germany. The French government, always true to the spirit of this revolution, was constantly occupied with plans to destroy the political relation of the empire with Italy.
Amidst the negotiations for peace, it strove to strengthen its formidable power by new abettors and alliances, and by a levy of 200,000 men. In short, the French government, in all its political relations with the empire, without examining the evils it had cauled, and in defiance of the truce and negotiations for peace, only sought to render its condition the worst possible, by the numerous evils it committed.
Even this state, however quiet, could only be considered as a state of war; yet, from a humane disposition for peace, representations were the only arms opposed to the arrogance of the French Directory, which had however, no other effect (as their rash plans had hitherto succeeded) than the perpetration of fresh acts of injustice and violence. No other arguments are wanting to confirm these facts than the facts themselves, viz, the orders given to repair the fortification of Ehrenbreitstein; the supplying that place with provisions, by extorting them from the neighbouring subjects of the empire, and the avowed will of the French government, seriously declared, to keep possession of that fortress, against the law of nations, and in contempt of solemn conventions; the occupation of Mannheim, and the disarming the garrison; the prevention of the exercise of their official functions, which was only provisionally granted to the magistrates of that city; by way of a revolutionary prelude to the bold menaces made by the French plenipotentiaries, in an official note of the 3d October last year, to introduce the destructive principles of France into Germany; the memorable, but not dissembling, letter of the French Executive Directory, addressed in the same revolutionary spirit to the French Commander in Chief.
Jourdau, on the 15th of March, 1799; the rapid advancing of the French troops, by several directions, into the very heart of Germany, even without giving due notice of the truce with the empire being broken off, and with a visible violation of the laws of armistice; the summons sent, in the most singular expressions, on the 14th of March, to the Imperial fortress of Philipsburg to surrender, and with violent and shocking threats to its commandant, for him to give up the fortress from terror? the immoral written invitation to treason against the Emperor and empire, addressed to the civil magistrates, on the 14th of March; the batteries raised close to the fortress, and the unjust attempt to seize the fortress by offers of subordination;
the exciting of Germany to rebellion against their lawful chief, contained in the imperial proclamation of Bernadotte, together with several other occurrences of the same pernicious tendency, remarked in the Imperial decree of commission of the 1st of April in the present year; all these are deeds of a nature as to combine all the attributes of an actual state of warfare, and which can never be reconciled by smooth professions of pacific intentions, and by an unannounced and contradictory determination of ideas.
The war, therefore, actually exists against Germany by facts. War! the sole terrible work of the ambitious, revolutionary, and all confounding politics of the French government; and the late political relations of the German Empire with France and Switzerland would be irretrievably lost; the standard of revolution would already be inscribed in a great part of the German empire, as it has been in other subjugated states and provinces; and the bright prosperity of Germanic freedom be persecuted by the ungrateful French system of liberty and equality, had not the prudence and heroism of the Imperial generals, and the victorious armies put a stop to the inuendos of the daring enemy. Thus, while hostilities have been renewed, and the prospect of a successful negotiation on of peace, so much desired by the empire, is vanished, the former state of warfare between the Germanic Empire and France actually exists; and according to the public declaration, forced from the empire by the state of war, it must till combat, at the highest price, for the inviolability of the dearest treaties, for prosperity, the maintenance of social order and the constitution, the honour, dignity, liberty, existence and preservation of the Germanic empire; and it must till combat for an acceptable, just, becoming, and lasting peace, agreeably to the spirit of the former resolutions of the Germanic Diet.
His Imperial majesty, therefore, places his confidence, as chief, in the electors, princes, and states, and deems himself entitled to expect from them, in the sacred name of their common country and constitution, as by virtue of the manifold assurances given, that no state of the empire will recede from the conscientious execution of all the duties which are imposed against the common enemy, by the very nature of the ancient positive statutes, and the conclusions of the empire, promulgated since the present war has been declared; especially that conclusion of the empire which relates to the augmentation of the armament to a quintuple; and, in conformity to which, the king of Sweden has lately declared himself, in his quality of a state of the empire to the Diet, with as much cordiality as generosity to revive German patriotism in general. It is equally urgent, and proper, and the particular wish of his imperial majesty, that the Diet do direct its deliberations towards granting a sufficient number of Roman months to defray the expenses of the war, and that it do accelerate, as much as possible, its approbation, to be transmitted to the chief of the Empire.
NEW YORK, Sept. 30.
Nine deaths were reported at the Health office, for the 24 hours ending Saturday at twelve o'clock.
Seven deaths were reported at the Health office, for the 24 hours ending yesterday at twelve o'clock.
On Friday evening, between the hours of nine and ten o'clock, a fire broke out in a stable back of Mulberry street. The flames had rose to such a height before the alarm was given, as to threaten destruction to a number of the adjacent buildings; but owing to the alertness of the citizens and firemen, for which they have so ligally distinguished themselves on this and similar occasions, the flames were happily got under without any material damage.
Arrived, Barque Hannah, Cooper 23 days from St. Thomas.
U. S. brig Schummel, Ternald, 30 days from Surinam.
Brig Abigail, Mathers, 52 days from Hamburg.
Ship Potomac Chief has arrived at the Bay of Honduras from Martinique.
Saturday arrived brig Abigail Mathews, in 8 weeks from Hamburg? cargo assorted, to Seton, Maitland and Co.
Left there, ship Liberty, Dodge; ship Arethusa, Tylee; ship Thomas, Husley; brig Volunteer, Stewart; brig Minerva, Barker; all for New York; brig Amiable, Creole, of Philadelphia, and several other vessels for different ports in the United States.
Extract from the log book of the brig Abigail.
August 15. Lat. 1, 14, was brought too by a French corvette, who had in tow, an English West-India ship; who only hailed and let us pass.
August 19. Lat. 47, 57, was boarded by the Melampus British frigate, another in company, and after a small detention, and polite treatment, dismissed us.
September 10. Lat. 43, 3, spoke a schooner from Marblehead, on her way to the fishing banks.
Passes came out from Surinam, under convoy of United States brig Scammel of 12 guns.
Mark Furnald, Esq. commander, arrived on Saturday, in 30 days.
Ship Mechanic, Reeves, of Baltimore.
Brig Samuel, Bown, of ditto.
Brig Orlando, Castle, of Boston.
Schooner Fanny, Shedy, of New York.
Schooner John, of ditto.
Separated from them in lat. 19 long. 57.
Schr. Seindeer, Gallshar, from New York.
Diamond, from Boston.
Rebooh, from Philadelphia.
Brig Union, from Newburyport all arrived the day we failed.
Several American vessels ready to sail, among which was the ship Washington for New York.