Gazette of the United-States. (New-York [N.Y.]), 1791-01-01 00:00:00

Gazette of the United States.
PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 69, MARKET-STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA.
[No. 71, of Vol. II.]
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1791.
[Whole No. 175.]
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
AT THE THIRD SESSION,
Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, on Monday the sixth of December, one thousand seven hundred and ninety.
An ACT, supplementary to the Act, intitled, "An Act making further Provision for the Payment of the Debts of the United States."
WHEREAS no express provision has been made for extending the act, intitled, "An act to provide more effectually for the collection of the duties imposed by law on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships or vessels," to the collection of the duties imposed by the said "Act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States," and doubts concerning the same may arise:—Therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the act, intitled, "An act to provide more effectually for the collection of the duties imposed by law on goods, wares and merchandise imported into the United States, and on the tonnage of ships or vessels," doth and shall extend to, and be in force for the collection of the duties specified and laid in and by the act, intitled, "An act making further provision for the payment of the debts of the United States, as fully and effectually as if every regulation, restriction, penalty, provision, clause, matter and thing therein contained, had been inserted in and re-enacted by the act last aforesaid."
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
JOHN ADAMS, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate.
APPROVED, DECEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH, 1790. GEORGE WASHINGTON, President of the United States. (TRUE COPY)
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State.
The following remarks are (substantially) copied from the New-York DAILY ADVERTISER.
IT is a very honorable proof of the patriotism of the public creditors, that they discover so voluntary and general an acquiescence in the funding system passed the last session of Congress. After the national legislature had so fully discussed the subject, and viewed all the circumstances attending the public debt; it should be presumed, that their final determinations are, upon the whole, best calculated to establish public credit, and protect the interests of public creditors. Under this persuasion, and with an ardent desire to give effect to the operations of the new government, the enlightened citizens of the United States have generally demonstrated a most lively approbation of the funding system, as it now stands; and it cannot be expected, that Congress will depart from the principles upon which the funding system has been modified: For, whatever conclusions may be drawn from rigid definitions of public faith, they now cease to be strictly applicable to our situation. It cannot fail to occur to every observing man, that immense transfers of the public debt have taken place since the funding system was established. Those transfers have been regulated by the idea, that the system was liable to no alteration—that it was the result of a comprehensive view of the case, and would be as immutable by the legislature, as the constitution itself. The question, therefore, has assumed a different aspect. What would have been right the last session, would be wrong now. The bare discussion of the point in Congress, whether the system should undergo an alteration, would excite a suspicion with respect to the final establishment of public credit. The great bulk of the creditors are contented, and manifest the highest confidence that what is promised will be performed.
It is a favorable presage of the stability and wisdom of Congress, that the Senate of the United States have passed their late resolution, with only one dissenting voice.
Public creditors! if ye be wise, be quiet where ye are. CONSISTENCY.
BENNINGTON, Dec. 6.
Lately a ball at Windham, in Connecticut, was graced with the presence of about thirty young ladies, each of whom was dressed in a handsome muslin gown, wrought by their own hands. A patriotic example worthy the imitation of every lady among us, who wishes well to her country, as, on the advancement of the manufactures of America, depends her truest interest.
ALBANY, Dec. 20.
By a gentleman last evening from Quebec, we are informed of the arrival at that place, of the Hon. Gen. Alured Clarke (late Lt. Governor of the island of Jamaica) who is appointed to succeed Lord Dorchester in the government: His lordship, however continues in it till spring—The above gentleman further informs that news of the expedition against the Indians (mentioned in the President's speech) under Gen. Harmar, had reached Canada, and caused various conjectures, and various opinions were in circulation respecting its real destination, some supposed it was against Detroit, some one place and some another.
NEWBURYPORT, Dec. 15.
In this town, according to the late enumeration, the inhabitants amount to 4837. The dwelling-houses are 616. According to an enumeration taken in 1784, the number of inhabitants was 4113 and the dwelling-houses 430.—The whole town measures but 620 acres, about 400 of which are taken up for pastures, streets, &c. Its greatest length is one mile and a half, and about half a mile in breadth.
Lately died, on the coast of Guinea, Captain WINGATE NEWMAN, of Philadelphia.
FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
"FRANKLIN is gone," Columbia said, "My sage is now no more!" Then drooping, hung her beauteous head, His exit to deplore.
Bright genius flew on wings of wind, Some comfort to address; And thus she spake in accents kind, Whom she resolves to bless.
"Why weeps Columbia? Franklin's gone, But is there then no more;— Is Franklin then thy only son Enrich'd with learning's lore?
Or have I sent my cheering light T' illumine him alone? My brightest ray now shines in Dwight, Thy long neglected son.
See Trumbull and see Barlow raise Aloft their founding lyres; Columbia! give thy sons that praise, Which future acts inspires.
Another Trumbull shares my love; His works of matchless art, Will ev'ry patriot thought improve— Nay,—form a patriot heart.
Adams, in council ever fage, And bless'd with eagle fight: Adorns Columbia's fairest page, And teaches man his right.
Nay look around on ev'ry side And wipe away those tears; (Columbia feels an honest pride, So bright the show appears.)
"Call on yon youth, by me he's bless'd, And study makes him wise; Not Franklin's self knew less of rest— All nature meets his eyes.
Arise and call my Mitchell forth: For Franklin weep no more: When you shall know the living worth, The dead you'll not deplore."
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Sketch of the Debates on the MILITIA BILL.
FRIDAY, Dec. 24.
THE amendments of the committee of the whole to the militia bill, were further discussed this day by the house. The debate was continued on Mr. Madison's proposition in favor of persons conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms. A majority of the speakers appeared to be in favor of their exemption's being left to the several states: In support of this idea,
Mr. Bourn observed, that if the general government should take up the matter, and subject the Quakers to a penalty as an equivalent for personal service, their situation would be rendered less eligible than it is at present—for, in several of the States, he observed they are not only exempted from militia duty, but from all
finés and penalties in lieu thereof; he instanced the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Connecticut.
Another memorial from the society of Quakers on the Eastern shore of Maryland, against the 16th section of the bill, was presented by Mr. Smith, member from that State, and read.
A motion of Mr. Clymer, to amend the motion of Mr. Madison, after some discussion, was negatived—and the original motion being also put was disagreed to; so that, as the bill now stands, the exemption of persons religiously scrupulous of bearing arms, is to be provided for by the respective states.
Mr. Smith, (S.C.) then renewed his proposition respecting independent companies—which he informed the house he had so modified, as to avoid the objections before offered to it. It is to the following effect:—
Whereas certain independent corps of artillery, infantry and dragoons, now exist in the several states—It is hereby enacted, that nothing in this act shall be construed to the disbanding or incorporating said companies in the militia; they at the same time being liable to the performance of the military duties herein required.
It being understood that the bill should be re-committed to a select committee, it was voted that this proposition be referred, with the bill.
On motion of Mr. Livermore, the 9th section of the bill was expunged; a motion by the same gentleman to strike out the 10th and 11th sections was negatived.
It was then moved that the bill be re-committed; which being put, passed in the affirmative—and Messrs. Wadsworth, Giles and Tucker were appointed the committee.
MONDAY, Dec. 27.
In committee of the whole, on the state of the Union.—Mr. Livermore in the chair.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the establishment of land-offices, for the sale of the lands belonging to the United States, under consideration.
Mr. Boudinot offered the following resolve:—"That it is the sense of the committee, that a land-office be established at the seat of the general government, under the direction of commissioners."
Mr. Scot wished the house to take a general view of the business, before they went into the particulars of the secretary's report. Upon the whole he was pleased with the plan drawn up by that officer; one part however he objected to.—That part of the report which provided for the distribution of the land.—He did not approve of setting apart tracts for particular descriptions of purchasers. As an amendment he offered seven propositions, which he wished for the present to lie on the table, and which he proposed to offer as substitutes to different parts of the Secretary's report, as they came before the house. His principal object was to let the tracts which Congress proposed to sell, be indiscriminately located.
Mr. Boudinot thought the committee could not then enter into the minutiae of the business. It was enough to fix the general principles, viz.—Whether there shall be a general land-office, and two subordinate—Whether they shall be under the direction of commissioners—and whether certain tracts of land should be reserved by Congress for certain purposes—and then to appoint a committee to bring in a bill on those principles, and to take into consideration the minutiae of the business. Great changes, he observed, had taken place since the report was drawn up. The committee, he said, might consider what should be the greatest quantity fixed as a limit to the sales made by the general office, and what for the subordinate.
Mr. Sherman offered a resolution, that there be a general land-office established.—Agreed.
Mr. Boudinot. That there be two subordinate offices, one in the government to the North-West—the other South of the Ohio.—Agreed.
Mr. Boudinot moved, that all sales made at the general land-office shall be above acres: Then all below that quantity would be made at the subordinate offices. It should also be determined whether Congress would fix the quantity, or leave it to the commissioners. It appeared to him a matter of importance.
Mr. Scott moved that the blank be filled with one thousand.
Mr. White moved five thousand.

Mr. Boudinot thought the number too large. Persons, he observed, who wished to purchase so large a tract, could afford, and would have no objection to come to the seat of government to make the purchase.
Mr. Sedgwick observed that it would be a great advantage to have the contract for large purchases made under the immediate eye of government. The house, however, he thought was not prepared to fill up the blank; he wished it left open.
The motions for filling the blanks were withdrawn.
Mr. Boudinot proposed that all smaller quantities be sold at the subordinate offices—To prevent the confusion that selling the same quantity at the different offices might occasion.—Agreed.
Mr. Smith (S. C.) wished it determined under whose direction these offices should be; whether of one or three commissioners, or of any officer already appointed. He thought one officer would be most eligible; there would be more responsibility, and uniformity.
Mr. Sherman wished the determination of this particular delayed. His mind was not made up.—The motion was delayed.
Mr. Boudinot proposed that no lands should be sold previous to settling the indian claims—Agreed.
That part of the report was read, which sets apart certain lots, for certain particular purposes and directs the manner of locating them.
Mr. Scott moved as a substitute his second proposition, that such districts as shall be set apart for sale shall include the actual settlements, and be left to be indiscriminately located. He said it was improper to set aside different tracts for different modes of location, some in large tracts, others in small lots; he conceived it would be the interest of government to let every one purchase where he pleased and as much or as little as he chose. From experience he knew that those parts were always settled with the most celerity that were not bound down to any of those restrictions. For his part he could see no good argument in favour of them; he wished some of the gentlemen who approved of this mode, to give him some reasons for preferring it. There could be no fear, he observed, of individual settlers scattering and losing themselves in the back woods; there was a sufficient check to prevent it—the Indians would keep them compact, much more effectually than any regulation Congress could make. If after granting certain scattered tracts to individual settlers, a considerable tract including these was wanted, he could see no inconvenience in granting it, reserving to the former settlers their rights.
Mr. Williamson rose to give the gentleman last up one reason for opposing indiscriminate location. Hitherto he owned much mischief had not arisen from this mode of settlement; but now there were persons rich in securities and cash, ready to take up considerable quantities of land; which if they were permitted to select here and there, pick and chuse every choice tract, they could, if indiscriminate location was the established principle, take up all the good lands, and leave for future settlers, those who might not have the same means of purchasing immediately at command, the indifferent parcels. Many he knew had it in contemplation to do this if the opportunity offered. He instanced North-Carolina, as an example of the injurious tendency of this liberty; where many tracts are unsaleable, owing to this circumstance. If these tracts were to be purchased by actual settlers, the case would be different; but they would only be taken up by persons under the name of actual settlers. Such a practice would be an impediment to such companies of Europeans as might wish to settle among us.
Mr. Scott said he expected the gentleman would have offered more solid objections to his plan, and more forcible arguments in favor of the other. Though the first settlers had the choice of the land; yet he conceived the remaining part would acquire a considerable additional value from the surrounding settlements. As for the European companies who might be tempted to settle among us, he did not contemplate it as an object so desirable. A body of French people settling in that way would, he said, preserve their language and manners 2000 years perhaps; this would not be for the true interest of the country, all its inhabitants should by mutual intercourse become assimilated and no name be known but that of Americans.
Mr. Boudinot was against indiscriminate location: He said, he had seen the bad effects of it in the State from which he came. Persons had bought up the low lands, and sold them again to such as absolutely needed a water lot to their farm, at enormous prices. He mentioned another objection to the plan—the tendency it had to create law-suits. He said he was certain more money had been spent at law in disputes arising from that mode of settlement in New-Jersey, than would have been necessary to purchase the land in the whole state. The late Congress, he informed, had adopted a method to obviate
the inconveniences of the former mode—the lands were laid out into mile-squares, these divided into four equal squares, and in that form sold.
Mr. White proposed that such as shall not improve their purchases within a fixed reasonable time, should forfeit the same.
Mr. Boudinot wished it left to a committee to determine. He had no objection to leave the power with the commissioners.
Mr. Scott approved of the idea thrown out by Mr. White, and agreed to amend the proposition in conformity with the opinions of Messrs Boudinot and White.
Mr. Boudinot conceived it would be very difficult to determine what an actual settler was. A purchaser could go and spend a few days on his land, and call himself an actual settler.
Mr. White proposed that a man holding only a certain proportion of uncultivated land to the improved, should be called an actual settler.
Mr. Sedgwick disliked indiscriminate location, He was confident if the districts so to be settled were extensive, there would be too great room for speculation and monopoly.
Mr. Scott said there were tracts of land which it is impossible to sell even by offering good parcels with them. Between Philadelphia and his home there were, he said, spots, that were only intended by nature for the birds and beasts—that could be of no value for cultivation. He could not see, he said, much probability, that the best land would be picked out—the difficulty of exploring a wild and uncultivated desert, opposed a considerable barrier to such attempts.
Mr. Scott's amendment was lost.
Mr. Fitzsimons moved to strike out from the clause the limitation of 100 acres to each settler.
Mr. Scott disliked the limitation, he wished it amended so as to leave it to Congress to fix the limitation by act—Agreed.
To the next paragraph in the following words. "The other tracts shall from time to time be set apart for sales in townships of ten miles square, except where they shall adjoin upon a boundary of some prior grant, or of a tract so set apart; in which cases there shall be no greater departure from such form of location, than may be absolutely necessary."
Mr. Scott moved an amendment that the seven ranges which in laying off Congress had already gone to a considerable expence, be fixed on for sale, instead of the tracts proposed to be set apart by that article.
Mr. Sherman was against the motion; he said it would be confining the settlers to too narrow bounds in making their choice.
Mr. Clymer wished to know how much land these seven rages included.
Mr. Scott said, he could not give the exact information.
The committee rose, and reported progress—Adjourned.
TUESDAY, Dec. 28.
In committee of the whole house on the state of the Union. Mr. Boudinot in the chair.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the subjects of a land office and the unappropriated lands in the Western Territory, under consideration.
Mr. Scott said he was ready to give some information relative to the extent of the seven ranges: He produced a map of them, from which it appeared that they included 35 lots, each 6 miles square. The tract in the shape of a triangle, of which one leg measured about 60, and the other 42—in all about 1200 square miles.—His amendment was agreed to.
The next article was agreed to with a trifling amendment—without debate.
Then the following was read: "That the price shall be thirty cents pr. acre, to be paid either in gold or silver, or public securities, computing those which shall bear an immediate interest of six per cent. as at par with gold and silver, and those which shall bear a future or less interest, if any there be, at a proportional value."
Mr. Scott moved that 30 cents should be struck out.
Mr. Sherman was in favor of inserting 50 cents pr. acre. He said there was every reasonable probability that the lands would be worth that sum in a few years.
Mr. Lawrance said that as the quality of the land would vary, it appeared proper to fix on two prices, at which they should be sold, viz. That the price shall not be more than nor less than He submitted the idea to the consideration of the committee.
Mr. Sedgwick preferred the insertion of a sum below which the lands should not be sold.
Mr. Williamson suggested the propriety of making a difference in the price to those who purchase large quantities, from the price to those who purchase small quantities.
The motion for striking out was lost.
Mr. Sedgwick then moved to amend the clause by inserting "that the price per acre shall not be less than" 30 cents pr. acre.
Mr. Stone objected to the motion. He said the operation of it would be, to leave it discretionary with the surveyors to fix the price of the various tracts: This would be to constitute a tribunal, in a measure independent of the government. He thought the policy of the government should be, to fix on a price, which shall be so reasonable, that persons may feel every inducement to pay it before they take up the lands—for it has been found by experience, said he, that when once a tract of distant country is taken possession of, you never can get any thing more than the settlers are willing to pay. He insisted that it was impracticable to fix the relative value of unlocated lands—it had been repeatedly tried without effect. He asked if any of the States had ever established various rates for their lands? He knew of none.
Mr. Sedgwick answered the enquiry respecting the relative value of lands being ascertained in the several states: He said that so far as his information extended, which respected only the states of New-York, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, this had invariably been the case: Every man knows there is a most essential difference in the value of lands: Those on navigable rivers may be ten times as valuable as those on the top of a mountain—this every individual is so sensible of, that a difference in the price is constantly made—and why the government should not make a difference, it is impossible to say; any man, by casting his eye on a map, can at once determine that some part of the land is unspeakably more valuable than other parts. He was certain that vesting a discretionary power, in the disposal of the land would be productive of the greatest advantage to the United States; and on this principle he could not conceive why the surveyors should not determine the relative quality, that the United States may stand some chance of getting the value of this property.
Mr. Livermore was in favor of Mr. Sedgwick's motion—and enlarged on the unreasonableness of fixing a particular price.
Mr. Jackson was opposed to investing a discretionary power to determine the price with any persons whatsoever;—it had been productive of mischievous consequences in the state of Georgia.—He was for fixing a price, and the highest price the best of the lands would bear—when that is sold, if the residue will not bear the price established, it can then be reduced.
Mr. Scott objected to the motion—he stated several difficulties; the principle was, that foreigners will be deterred from adventuring; owing to the uncertainty in the price: For when they arrive in the country to settle, they must purchase, and they will then lie at the mercy of speculators.
(To be continued.)
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29.
Mr. Carroll took his seat this day.
The bill directing the mode in which the evidences of the debt of the United States, which have been, or may be lost or destroyed, shall be renewed, was read a second time, and referred to a committee of the whole house on Monday next, 100 copies were ordered to be printed.
The petition of Shubael Swaine, a prisoner confined in gaol for a breach of the revenue law, praying Congress to take his case into consideration and remit his fine, was read, and on motion referred to a committee consisting of Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Livermore and Mr. Sinnickson.
Mr. Fitzsimons presented the petition of Philip Buck, praying compensation for disability occasion'd by services on board one of the row galleys during the late war, and for a schooner lost; which was read and referred to the Secretary at War.
Mr. Heister presented the petition of Anna Wilhelmina Elizabeth Longcanner, praying compensation for services rendered by her late husband, during the war, which was read, and referred to the Secretary at war.
Mr. Lawrance presented the petition of Winthrop Sargent, praying compensation for additional services, whilst executing and performing the duties of Governor of the Western Territory, which was read and referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
Agreeable to the order of the day, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole to take into consideration the bill to provide for the delivery of goods, wares and merchandise, in the river Delaware, in the State of Pennsylvania, in case of obstruction by ice.
Mr. Boudinot in the chair.
The committee made sundry amendments, which were reported to the house, the same were read, other amendments were proposed in the house which were agreed to, and the bill as amended was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
The house proceeded to consider a motion made yesterday by Mr. Tucker, that the committee appointed to prepare and bring in a militia bill, be instructed to bring in a clause to this effect. "Be it enacted, That the militia of the several States of the union consisting of such persons as are, or may be enrolled by them respectively, shall be organized, armed and dis-

plined in manner following," and on the question to agree to this motion—The yeas and nays being called for, it passed in the negative. Ayes, 8, Noes, 43.
YEAS.
Messrs Ames, Baldwin, Benfon, Boudinot, Bourne, Brown, Burke, Cadwallader, Carroll, Fitzsimons, Foster, Gerry, Gilman, Goodhue, Griffin, Giles, Hathorne, Heister, Huntington, Lawrance, Lee, Madison, Messrs Livermore, Thatcher, Tucker, Williamson,
NAYS.
Messrs Matthews, Moore, P. Muhlenberg, Parker, Partridge, Van Rensselaer, Scott, Sedgwick, Seney, Sevier, Sherman, Sylvester, Sinnickson, Smith, (M.) Smith, (S.C.) Stone, Sturges, Trumbull, Wadsworth, White, Wynkoop.
The house again resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the state of the union. The committee proceeded in the further consideration of the report of the Secretary of the Treasury respecting the establishing land offices for the disposal of the vacant lands belonging to the United States.
Mr. Boudinot in the chair.
Further progress was made, but the committee rose without finishing the discussion. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Dec. 30.
An engrossed bill to provide for the unlading of goods, wares and merchandise in case of obstructions by ice, was read a third time and passed.
Mr. Sedgwick from the committee appointed for that purpose, reported a bill, repealing, after a certain time the act heretofore passed, imposing duties on distilled and other spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead, and for altering the mode of collecting said duties, &c. which was read the first and second time, and referred to a committee of the whole house on Tuesday next.
A message was received from the President of the United States, communicating a report from the Secretary of State, upon the subject of the prisoners who are in captivity at Algiers.
Mr. Clymer presented a petition from the college of physicians in Philadelphia, praying that such heavy duties may be laid on distilled spirits as shall be effectual to restrain their intemperate use.
On motion, ordered, that the secretary of the treasury be directed to report to this house, the amount of the exports from the several districts within the United States respectively, also the amount of duties arising on imports and tonnage from the first of August 1789, to the thirtieth of September, 1790, and as soon as may be from thence to the end of the year.
Mr. Bourne presented the petition of Simeon Thayer, late a major in the continental army, praying to be placed on the list of pensioners, on account of disability occasioned whilst in service, read and referred to the secretary at war.
The speaker informed the house, that he had some communications to make, of a private nature. The galleries were ordered to be shut.
FRIDAY, Dec. 31.
Mr. Steele, member from North Carolina, took his seat this day.
Several petitions and memorials were presented—read and referred.
The Speaker communicated a report from the Attorney-General of the United States, on the subject of the Judiciary System, accompanied by a letter—which, with the report, was read.
It was ordered that 300 copies of this report be printed—and that it be made the order of the day on Wednesday week.
A petition of Henry Laurens, in behalf of his Ward, the daughter of the late Col. Laurens, was presented by Mr. Smith, (S.C.) Read and referred to a select committee, consisting of Mr. Smith, (S.C.) Mr. Gerry, and Mr. Carroll.
Another petition was read from the same gentleman, praying payment for a quantity of Rice furnished on contract to the late continental army. Referred to the Secretary of War.
Mr. Goodhue reported a bill for the relief of Shubael Swaine—Read the first time.
In committee of the whole, on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, relative to the establishment of a Land Office.
The committee finished the discussion of the report—and having agreed to a number of resolutions, rose and reported the same—which it was ordered should lie on the table.
Adjourned till Monday.
Wednesday the following Memorial was presented to the Senate of the United States.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled.
The Memorial of the College of Physicians of the city of Philadelphia.
RESPECTFULLY SHEWETH :
THAT they have seen with great pleasure the operation of a National Government which has established order in the United States.
They rejoice to find amongst the powers which belong to this government, that of restraining by certain duties, the consumption of distilled spirits in our country.
It belongs more particularly to men of other professions to enumerate the pernicious effects of these liquors upon morals and manners. Your memorialists will only remark that a great proportion of the most obstinate, painful, and mortal disorders which affect the human body, are produced by distilled spirits.—That they are not only destructive to health and life, but that they impair the faculties of the mind, and thereby tend equally to dishonor our character as a nation, and to degrade our species as intelligent beings.
Your memorialists have no doubt that the rumor of a plague or any other pestilential disorder, which might sweep away thousands of their fellow-citizens, would produce the most vigorous and effectual measures in our government, to prevent or subdue it.
Your memorialists can see no just cause why the more certain and extensive ravages of distilled spirits, upon human life, should not be guarded against with corresponding vigilance and exertions, by the rulers of the United States.
Your memorialists beg leave to add further, that the habitual use of distilled spirits in any case whatever, is wholly unnecessary—that they neither fortify the body against the morbid effects of heat or cold, nor render labor more easy, nor more productive—and that there are many articles of diet and drink which are not only safe and perfectly salutary, but preferable to distilled spirits for the above mentioned purposes.
Your memorialists have beheld with regret, the feeble influence of reason and religion, in restraining the evils which they have enumerated. They center their hopes, therefore, of an efficient remedy for them in the wisdom and power of the legislature of the United States ; and in behalf of the interests of humanity to which their profession is closely allied, they thus publickly intreat the Congress by their obligations to protect the lives of their constituents, and by their regard to the character of our nation, and the rank of our species in the scale of beings, to impose such heavy duties upon all distilled spirits, as shall be effectual to restrain their intemperate use in our country.
Signed by order of the College, JOHN REDMAN, President.
Philad. Dec. 27th 1790.
P A R I S, Oct. 18.
Our new Municipality is now duly installed by the present judges. M. Bailly, the newly chosen Mayor, with 144 Notables, have taken the following oath :
" You swear and promise to abide by the constitution, to be faithful to the nation, the law and the king, and virtuously to fulfil your functions."
The Mayor afterwards made a speech suitable to the occasion, and received a deputation of the National Guards, with M. de la Fayette at their head declaring that through perfect obedience to the orders they received, they would ensure the execution of the oaths.
Some days ago arrived in this city, Hugh Elliot, Esq. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary from Great-Britain to the Court of Denmark. Time must determine the object of his appearance here.
On the 16th, M. de Noailles read a letter from the Commandant of the Swiss regiment Chareauvieroy, by which it appears that the soldiers, expressive of their concern for what had lately happened at Nanci, propose restitution of the money they had forced from their officers. The reading of this letter caused great joy in the Assembly, who ordered it to be printed, and sent to all the regiments in the service.
NEW-YORK, Dec. 29.
Our latest accounts, respecting British affairs were yesterday brought from the Island of Grenada, by the Charlotte Capt. Holman, by which we have a confirmation of a first division of troops from Ireland being landed at Barbadoes ; they were brought, as before described, by three forty-four gun ships, accompanied by a number of victuallers, and were cantonned at different posts of the island, waiting for the second division including the battalions of foot guards, which when arrived, forming eight thousand soldiers, would enable the whole to move under the artillery of twelve line of battle ships, supposed to be commanded by Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Hood and Rear-Admiral Samuel Cornish. The general opinion is, that Count Miranda, of the Carracas,
will accompany General Garth, expected to command on occasion of any descent that may be projected against the Spanish dominions in the West-Indies, or on the continent.
Philadelphia, Jan. 1.
1791.
The lapse of time, the secession of years, suggest many useful reflections to the contemplative mind.—How replete with events has been the year just closed !—All of them propitious to our country !—How bright our future prospects !—United, tranquil, and happy at home—honored and respected abroad !—The labors of our patriots have been crowned with unexampled success—while heaven has poured the riches of its bounty in profusely propitious ;—for no events in the annals of America, reflect a fairer lustre on our character than those of the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of the first intelligence in the Western Territory, to a gentleman in this city, dated Nov. 27, 1790.
" General Harmar has made a very successful campaign—tho you will regret with me the loss of our friend Major Wylls, who was sacrificed by the militia : They left him with his handful of continental troops to sustain the attack of a large body of Indians : Every man of them fell but three—they sold their lives however dear : Indeed there never has been any affair with the Indians in which they lost so many men, as in this campaign. We have as yet no certain information from Major Hamtramck : Had he been unfortunate, we should have heard of it long ago. The reports from Kentucky are, that the Indians fled before him every where—that four of their towns, and a vast quantity of provisions had been destroyed—and that part of the militia had got home without the loss of a man."
On Monday last the Hon. Mr. Hartley, a representative from this state in the Congress of the United States, had his arm broken by a fall near the state house in this city.
A bill has passed the Senate of North-Carolina, the present session, and is now before the house—for subscribing on loan in the Loan-Office of the United States, such continental monies, and continental and State securities as are, or may be in the hands of the Treasurer and comptroller of that State, belonging to the public.
It is conjectured that there are in the Treasury of North-Carolina, State Securities to an amount nearly sufficient to balance the sum to be assumed on account of that State by the General Government.
The census of the inhabitants of the county of Hampshire, (Massachusetts) taken pursuant to the late law of the Union, amounts to fifty nine thousand seven hundred and eleven : In this district are 9181 houses.—The county of Essex is found to contain fifty seven thousand, nine hundred and seven inhabitants.
The following is a list of the sea vessels which have arrived at this port since January 1st, 1790 :
 Ships 129  Snows 18  Brigs 329  Schooners 264  Sloops 324. Total 1064. 
In No. 67 of this paper, we copied from a Daily Paper an account of the Commencement held in the College Hall, the 15th ult. for conferring Doctor's Degrees in Medicine—in which there are mistakes that our readers are requested to correct : Instead of " Isaac Sayres, A. B. of New-Jersey," read Francis Bowes Sayre, Bachelor of Medicine. And for " Moses Bartram, A. B." read Moses Bartram, Bachelor of Medicine.
PRICE CURRENT.—PUBLIC SECURITIES.
 FUNDED DEBT.  6 pr. Cents 17/6. pr. £. 87 1/2 pr. cent.  3 pr. Cents 8/6. 42 1/2 do.  Deferred 6 pr. Cents 8/6. 42 1/2 do.  UNFUNDED DEBT.  Final Sett. and other Certificates 15/— 15/6. 77 1/2 do.  Indents 8/6. 42 1/2 do.  State debts 12/6 62 1/2 do. 
PLEASE TO NOTICE.
FOR the accommodation of those who would wish to become Adventurers in the First Class of the MASSACHUSETTS SEMI-ANNUAL STATE LOTTERY, letters, post paid, directed to SAMUEL COOPER, at his Office, North side State-House, Boston, enclosing Philadelphia, New-York or Boston Bank-Bills, or other good Bills, will be particularly attended to, and Tickets forwarded immediately upon the receipt of such letters.
Boston, Dec. 22, 1790.
N. B. A List of Prizes will be deposited with the Printer hereof, immediately after the drawing is completed.
EBENEZER HAZARD and JONAS ADDOMS have entered into partnership, and opened an OFFICE, at No. 173, in Market-Street, a few doors above Fourth-Street, where, under the Firm of
HAZARD and ADDOMS, They purchase and sell all kinds of CERTIFICATES—PAPER MONEY, and BANK STOCK.
N. B. Transfers made at the Public Offices, and Business in general transacted on Commission. December 29.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, December 13, 1790.
In obedience to the order of the House of REPRESENTATIVES of the 9th Day of August last, requiring the SECRETARY of the TREASURY to prepare and report, on this Day, such further Provision as may, in his opinion, be necessary for establishing the PUBLIC CREDIT —the said Secretary further
RESPECTFULLY REPORTS,
THAT from a conviction (as suggested in his Report No. I, herewith presented) that a National bank is an institution of primary importance to the prosperous administration of the Finances, and would be of the greatest utility in the operations connected with the support of the Public Credit, his attention has been drawn to devising the plan of such an institution, upon a scale which will entitle it to the confidence, and be likely to render it equal to the exigencies of the public.
Previously to entering upon the detail of this plan, he entreats the indulgence of the House, towards some preliminary reflections naturally arising out of the subject, which he hopes will be deemed neither unuseful nor out of place. Public opinion being the ultimate arbiter of every measure of government, it can scarcely appear improper, in deference to that, to accompany the origination of any new proposition with explanations, which the superior information of those to whom it is immediately addressed, would render superfluous.
It is a fact well understood, that public banks have found admission and patronage among the principal and most enlightened commercial nations. They have successively obtained in Italy, Germany, Holland, England and France, as well as in the United States. And it is a circumstance which cannot but have considerable weight, in a candid estimate of their tendency, that after an experience of centuries, there exists not a question about their utility in the countries, in which they have been so long established. Theorists and men of business unite in the acknowledgment of it.
Trade and industry, wherever they have been tried, have been indebted to them for important aid. And government has been repeatedly under the greatest obligations to them, in dangerous and distressing emergencies. That of the United States, as well in some of the most critical conjunctures of the late war, as since the peace, has received assistance from those established among us, with which it could not have dispensed.
With this two-fold evidence before us, it might be expected, that there would be a perfect union of opinions in their favor. Yet doubts have been entertained; jealousies and prejudices have circulated; and though the experiment is every day dissipating them, within the spheres in which effects are best known; yet there are still persons by whom they have not been entirely renounced. To give a full and accurate view of the subject, would be to make a treatise of a report; but there are certain aspects in which it may be cursorily exhibited, which may perhaps conduce to a just impression of its merits. These will involve a comparison of the advantages, with the disadvantages, real or supposed, of such institutions.
The following are among the principal advantages of a bank: — First. The augmentation of the active or productive capital of a country. Gold and silver, where they are employed merely as the instruments of exchange and alienation, have been not improperly denominated dead stock; but when deposited in banks, to become the basis of a paper circulation, which takes their character and place, as the signs or representations of value, they then acquire life, or, in other words, an active and productive quality. This idea, which appears rather subtle and abstract, in a general form, may be made obvious and palpable, by entering into a few particulars. It is evident, for instance, that the money which a merchant keeps in his chest, waiting for a favorable opportunity to employ it, produces nothing till that opportunity arrives. But if instead of locking it up in this manner, he either deposits it in a bank, or invests it in the stock of a bank, it yields a profit during the interval, in which he partakes, or not, according to the choice he may have made of being a depositor, or a proprietor; and when any advantageous speculation offers, in order to be able to embrace it, he has only to withdraw his money, if a depositor, or if a proprietor, to obtain a loan from the bank, or to dispose of his stock; an alternative seldom or never attended with difficulty, when the affairs of the institution are in a prosperous train. His money thus deposited or invested, is a fund upon which himself and others can borrow to a much larger amount. It is a well established fact, that banks in good credit can circulate a far greater sum than the actual quantum of their capital in gold and silver. The extent of the possible excess seems indeterminate; though it has been conjecturally stated at the proportions of two and three to one. This faculty is produced in various ways. First—A great proportion of the notes which are issued and pass current as cash, are indefinitely suspended in circulation, from the confidence which each holder has, that he can at any moment turn them into gold and silver. Secondly—Every loan which a bank makes, is, in its first shape, a credit given to the borrower on its books, the amount of which it stands ready to pay, either in its own notes, or in gold or silver, at his option. But, in a great number of cases, no actual payment is made in either. The borrower, frequently, by a check, or order, transfers his credit to some other person, to whom he has a payment to make—who, in his turn, is as often content with a similar credit, because he is satisfied that he can, whenever he pleases, either convert it into cash, or pass it to some other hand as an equivalent for it. And in this manner the credit keeps circulating, performing in every stage the office of money, till it is extinguished by a discount with some person who has a payment to make to the bank, to an equal or greater amount. Thus large sums are lent and paid, frequently through a variety of hands, without the intervention of a single piece of coin. Thirdly—There is always a large quantity of gold and silver in the repositories of the bank, besides its own stock, which is placed there with a view, partly to its safe-keeping, and partly to the accommodation of an institution which is itself a source of general accommodation. These deposits are of immense consequence in the operations of a bank. Though liable to be re-drawn at any moment, experience proves, that the money so much oftener changes proprietors than place, and that what is drawn out is generally so speedily replaced, as to authorize the counting upon the sums deposited, as an effective fund; which concurring with the stock of the bank, enables it to extend its loans, and to answer all the demands for coin, whether in consequence of those loans, or arising from the occasional returns of its notes.
These different circumstances explain the manner in which the ability of a bank to circulate a greater sum than its actual capital in coin, is acquired. This however must be gradual; and must be preceded by a firm establishment of confidence; a confidence which may be bestowed on the most rational grounds; since the excess in question will always be bottomed on good security of one kind or another. This every well-conducted bank carefully requires, before it will consent to advance either its money or its credit, and where there is an auxiliary capital (as will be the case in the plan hereafter submitted) which, together with the capital in coin, define the boundary that shall not be exceeded by the engagements of the bank, the security may, consistently with all the maxims of a reasonable circumspection, be regarded as complete.
The same circumstances illustrate the truth of the position, that it is one of the properties of banks to increase the active capital of a country. This, in other words, is the sum of them. The money of one individual, while he is waiting for an opportunity to employ it, by being either deposited in the bank for safe-keep-
ing, or invested in its stock, is in a condition to administer to the wants of others, without being put out of his own reach when occasion presents. This yields an extra profit, arising from what is paid for the use of his money by others, when he could not himself make use of it; and keeps the money itself in a state of incessant activity. In the almost infinite vicissitudes and competitions of mercantile enterprise, there never can be danger of an intermission of demand, or that the money will remain for a moment idle in the vaults of the bank. This additional employment given to money, and the faculty of a bank to lend and circulate a greater sum than the amount of its stock in coin, are to all the purposes of trade and industry an absolute increase of capital. Purchases and undertakings, in general, can be carried on by any given sum of bank paper or credit, as effectually as by an equal sum of gold and silver. And thus by contributing to enlarge the mass of industrious and commercial enterprise, banks become nurseries of national wealth: a consequence, as satisfactorily verified by experience, as it is clearly deducible in theory. (To be continued.)
New Line of Stages.
THE Subscriber has established a line of STAGES from Hartford to Boston, by way of Norwich and Providence, which will run thro' twice a week during the Winter Season, and three times a week during the Summer Season.
Good Carriages, Horses, and careful Drivers are provided. — Passengers pay three Pence per Mile, and are allowed 14 pound Baggage each. — Extra Baggage pays at the rate of three Pence per Mile for every 150 wt. As the Mail is to go in these Stages for the year 1791, fixed hours for starting from the respective Stage Houses is absolutely necessary—from which there can be no deviation. Norwich, Dec. 14, 1790.
The Stage for the Eastward leaves Hartford—Mondays and Thursdays, Norwich—Tuesdays and Fridays, Providence—Wednesdays and Saturdays, For the Westward, leaves Boston—Mondays and Thursdays, Providence—Tuesdays and Fridays, Norwich—Wednesdays and Saturdays. 69—1w3m JESSE BROWN.
WHEREAS a certain WILLIAM TUFF, of Salem County, State of New-Jersey, has two nine pound notes of hand, given by Samuel Hollinhead, jun. and by certain information, it appears that my name as a security for the same is added to those notes, unknown to me. I hereby forbid any person or persons from taking any assignment of them from him; for I am determined not to answer those notes, or any assignment of them, as I know nothing of their dealings, nor will I answer for the same. REUBEN ROBINSON. Cumberland County, Nov. 30, 1790.
HENRY KUHL,
At No. 143, Second-Street, near Race-Street,
BY advice of his friends in New-York and Philadelphia, he has opened an office for the purpose of buying and selling, on commission, the different species of Stock, and of liquidated and unliquidated paper in the market.
He will obtain such Certificates as are required by the funding law, for those who have unliquidated Securities; and transfer stock from and to the Treasury and the Offices of the Commissioners of Loans, on moderate terms.
Having for several years past been employed in the Treasury of the United States, he is well acquainted with its operations and forms; and flatters himself that on that score he has a decided advantage in transacting business here. He is fully impressed with the truth of the adage that "dispatch is the soul of business," and will always make the interest of his employers an object of the first importance. Philadelphia, December 29th, 1790.
MASSACHUSETTS STATE LOTTERY.
THE Managers of the STATE LOTTERY, present the Public with the First Class of the Massachusetts Semi-annual State Lottery, which will commence drawing in the Representatives' Chambers in Boston, on the Seventeenth of March next, or sooner, if the Tickets shall be disposed of.
SCHEME.
NOT TWO BLANKS TO A PRIZE.
25,000 Tickets, at Five Dollars each, are 125,000 Dollars, to be paid in the following Prizes, subject to a deduction of twelve and an half per cent. for the use of the Commonwealth.
Table with 4 columns: Prizes, Dollars, of, Dollars. It lists various prize amounts and their corresponding dollar values.
TICKETS may be had of the several Managers, who will pay the Prizes on demand—of the TREASURER of the Commonwealth—of JAMES WHITE, at his Book-Store, Franklin's-Head, Court-Street, and at other places as usual.
BENJAMIN AUSTIN, jun. DAVID COBB, SAMUEL COOPER, GEORGE R. MINOT, JOHN KNEELAND, Managers. Boston, July 28, 1790.
This day is published, By THOMAS LANG, No. 21, Church-Alley,
And sold by FRANCIS BAILEY, JOSEPH CRUKSHANK, WILLIAM PRICHARD, and RICE and Co. in Market-Street; and by THOMAS DOBSON, WILLIAM YOUNG, and ROBERT CAMPBELL, in Second-Street, Philadelphia. Price 12s. 6d. (not half the price of the London edition)
The Poems of OSSIAN, THE SON OF FINGAL. Translated by JAMES MACPHERSON, Esq.
Wanted, a good Cook,
Either Man or Woman.—Enquire at No. 209, Second-Street, opposite the New-Market.
DECEMBER 31.—DOLLARS at 7/6.
Large table listing prices for various commodities including Anchors, Alum, Ashes, Brandy, Bread, Beer, Boards, Beef, Butter, Chocolate, Coal, Coffee, Cinnamon, Cassia, Cheese, Candles, Cotton, Currants, Cloves, Copperas, Cordage, Cocoa, Duck, Flour, Glue, Gingham, Grain, Hams, Hemp, Hops, Indigo, Irons, Lead, Leather, Lignum vitae, Logwood, Meal, Mace, Mustard, Molasses, Marble, Malt, Mahogany, Nutmegs, Nails, Linseed, Olive, Oak timber, Porter, London, etc.
IMPERIAL, HYSON, SOUCHONG, and BOHEA TEAS; REFINED SUGARS, COFFEE, and SPICES, &c. Of the first Quality—by Retail, No. 17, Third-Street, between Chestnut and Market-Streets. The price of this paper is 3 dollars per annum.