National gazette. (Philadelphia [Pa.]), 1792-05-03 00:00:00

National Gazette.
By P. FRENEAU: Published MONDAYS and THURSDAYS, at THREE DOLLARS per annum.
VOL. I.
THURSDAY, May 3, 1792.
NUMB. 54.
For the NATIONAL GAZETTE.
Mr. FRENEAU,
FROM a remote situation in the country, I came a few weeks since to the seat of the Federal Government. The quiet and happiness of every individual in the country depends so much on the wise and disinterested management of public affairs, that my anxiety to know more of the men and the measures of the government was beyond description. Since my arrival here, I have attached myself to no party, but have mingled as freely as possible with all, and caught all the information that was in motion.
Two subjects had long given me more uneasiness than all others, which information has not yet removed.
1st. Whether our public debt had been paid up in fact through necessity, or through policy? 2d. Whether the individual men who are intrusted with the powers of the country have kept themselves disinterested? On the first I have very little doubt left. Many facts, which are easily come at, have convinced me, that the public debt has been swelled to its present amount, as an engine of power, rather than from any real necessity to support public credit.
One third of the debt consists of the old interest certificates called facilities. These had been fully provided for by the old Congress, and would soon have been all paid into the public treasury. Several of the states had paid in their part of the whole of them, and the delinquent states, seeing the powers of the new government, found there was no escape for them; they were taking the most prompt measures to collect their proportions, and there is no doubt but the whole would soon have been brought into the treasury.
This was one third of the whole debt which is now on interest under the funding law.
The states had also in their treasuries many millions of the principal of the public debt, the whole of which might easily have been stopped there, which they in fact considered to be sunk.
Large sums were due for lands that had been sold, contracts daily offered for much more, at a dollar an acre, pressed by the individuals with repeated and strong importunity, which together would have sunk not less than twenty millions of dollars, in a manner perfectly satisfactory to the possessors. These opportunities were not embraced.
The debts of the respective states to the amount of above twenty millions more have been assumed by Congress.
This appears to have been entirely a new scheme, not expected by the states, and not dictated by any apparent strong necessity. A great proportion of these debts had been sunk by the states, and was then in their treasuries, but is now again brought into circulation.
These facts are not to be denied, and they leave very little grounds to expect much from all the pretences about sinking funds. Indeed the five millions that had been allotted to purchase the principal of the public debt, appear to me to have been seriously applied to no other use, but to be expended in the market when money was scarce to relieve individuals and to raise the price of certificates.
After being obliged to make these observations, it would have been a vast relief to my mind, to have been able to obtain a satisfactory answer to the subject of my second enquiry.
Whether the men entrusted with the powers of the country had kept themselves disinterested?
It has been long reported that many of them were in fact partners with brokers and stock-jobbers, and that the banking schemes have been too powerfully and effectually addressed to their avarice. If this is true it furnishes a
perfect explanation of what has been before mentioned; and it will cease to be a matter of wonder, that such good terms are given to the bank,—that the public debt has been so mightily increased, and wrought up into such a curious machine of speculation. The love of power in some is gratified by their large sacrifices to the love of property in others, and these two passions become the altars of unceasing and mutual sacrifices, continually smoking with the fat of the land.
The roads to power in this country are so open, and men who are strongly pushed by their ambition, and their avarice, will be so much more indefatigable in their exertions, than any others, that they will be but too apt to succeed, and there is much evil to this country to be apprehended from that cause. They will form themselves into a corps like the Jesuits, will scatter themselves every where and not be known; their schemes will all be in concert, pursued with infinitely more address and industry, than will ever be rallied against them. There is great danger that the public good will thus be prostrated to private passions.
It is in the power of the FREEMEN of this country to prevent these evils. It is they, and they only who can prevent them. I wish this moment to be able to speak in the voice of thunder, that it might reach every freeman in the United States, to impress upon him the importance of doing it. Surely there are disinterested men enough in this country, who are known to be disinterested, to do the public business. This can be better judged of by the freemen themselves; than by any body else. It is indeed hard to punish a man for crimes before they are proved—but this is not punishing for crimes,—it is a very different affair,—it is choosing out the man of their confidence: a suspicion in such a case is enough: they should choose out the man of their greatest confidence. The service requires it; when he is to be sent so far from them, where his conduct cannot be intimately known to them, and where there will be so many causes to interest improper passions, they should find the man long known to them, and of whom there is no suspicion. If they will not do it, they are fit subjects for heavy burdens, they deserve the yoke.
A CITIZEN.
May 2.
AUTHENTIC.
SECOND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
At the first Session, begun and held at the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, on Monday the twenty-fourth of October, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one.
An ACT to indemnify the Estate of the late Major General Nathaniel Green, for a certain Bond entered into by him during the late war.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States shall and will indemnify the estate of the late General Green, for the sum of eight thousand six hundred and eighty eight pounds six shillings sterling money, being the amount due on the first day of May one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, on a certain bond executed to Messieurs Newcomen and Collet, by the said General Green, as surety for John Banks and Company, and the interest thereon; excepting therefrom a certain conditional bond given in June one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, for about one thousand six hundred pounds sterling, (be the same more or less) being part of the aforesaid sum of
eight thousand six hundred and eighty-eight pounds six shillings, which was to be paid, only in case the said General Green should recover from the said Banks, or Banks and Company, a sum sufficient for his indemnity; Provided it shall appear upon due investigation, by the officers of the Treasury, that the said General Green, in his life-time, or his executors, since his decease, have not been indemnified, or compensated for the said sum of eight thousand six hundred and eighty eight pounds six shillings, except as aforesaid: And also provided, That the said executors shall account for a sum being about two thousand pounds sterling, (be the same more or less) recovered of John Ferrie, one of the partners of the said Banks and Company, by the said executors, to be in part of the indemnification aforesaid; and also shall make over to the Comptroller of the Treasury and his successors, for the United States, all mortgages, bonds, covenants, or other counter-securities whatsoever, now due which were obtained by the said General Green, in his life-time, from the said Banks and Company, on account of his being surety for them as aforesaid to be sued for in the name of the said executors for the use of the United States. And the officers of the Treasury are hereby authorized to liquidate and settle the sum due to the estate of the said General Green, to indemnify the same, as aforesaid, according to the true intent and meaning of this act, and to pay the same, out of the Treasury of the United States, to the said executors, to be accounted for by them, as a part of the said estate.
JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
RICHARD HENRY LEE, President pro tempore of the Senate.
Approved, April twenty-seventh 1792. G. WASHINGTON, President of the United States.
From a London Paper.
ABSTINENCE from SUGAR, RUM, &c. A Question of importance to every Englishman and Friend of Humanity.
AT Coachmaker's Hall Society. Fosterlane, Cheapside, this evening (by particular desire) the following question will be debated, viz.
"Is it not the duty of the people from a principle of moral obligation and a regard to their national character, to abstain from the consumption of West India produce, till the slave trade is abolished, and measures are taken for the abolition of slavery?"
For the NATIONAL GAZETTE.
No. V.
Mr. FRENEAU,
I am well aware that the exhausted condition of the plantations in Virginia and the deranged situation of the finances of the yeomanry are considerable obstacles to their estates becoming immediately productive—but I am confident that by adopting a proper rotation of crops, their exhausted fields may be made to answer the most sanguine expectations of the Farmer.
On coming into possession of the farm which I now occupy the average produce of it did not exceed six bushels of rye to the acre. The same ground now yields from 20 to 30 bushels of wheat. This beneficial alteration has arisen from my pursuing the rotation of crops, which was some time ago addressed to the Philadelphia agricultural society. As this rotation is founded on actual experiment the whole communication merits attention.
To the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture.
GENTLEMEN, STRUCK with the propriety and importance of the question proposed by your society to discover the best rotation of crops;
I have been induced to make a variety of experiments to ascertain this point. I now beg leave to submit them to your consideration, together with some particular and general observations on the subject.
   Exp. 1784. 1785. 1786. 1787. 1788. 1789. 1790.     I. Spring Barley. Clover. Clover. Barley. Barley. Barley. Wheat.   II. Corn. Spr. Bar. & Clover. Clover. Clover. Clover. W. Bar. B. wh. & Cl. Winter Barley.   III. Corn. Rye. Corn. Buckwheat. Spr. Barley. Winter Barley. Wheat & Clover.   IV. Corn. Corn. Corn. Potatoes. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   V. Rye. Corn. Wheat. Corn. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   VI. Rye. Corn. Wheat. Corn. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   VII. Potatoes. Spr. Bar. & Clover. Wheat. Corn. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   VIII. Potatoes. Spr. Bar. & Clover. Wheat. Corn. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   IX. Wheat. Corn. Clover. Clover. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   X. Wheat. Corn. Clover. Clover. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   XI. Corn. Corn. Clover. Clover. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   XII. Corn. Corn. Clover. Clover. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   XIII. Corn. Corn. Clover. Clover. Potatoes. Spring Barley. Wheat.   XIV. Pasture. Pasture. Pasture. Pasture. Pasture. Spring Barley. Wheat.  
EXPERIMENT, No. 1.
Field 15 acres; soil a light loam, full of garlick and much exhausted. Winter fallowed, and in April, 1784, spread ten loads of stable manure on the acre, ploughed the manure under, and sowed spring barley and clover. In May 1787, the clover not promising a crop, I expected to renew it by the use of gypsum; strewed six bushels to the acre, over the field, except the width of twenty feet, through the middle of the field. St. John's-wort and mullein, with other weeds had taken such possession of the ground, that although this manure produced a great luxuriance of grass, yet being full of weeds, it did not answer for hay, and therefore was pastured until October, 1788; the field was then ploughed eight inches deep, with a strong three-horse Dutch plough, for a winter fallow. In April, 1789, it was well harrowed, and cross ploughed four inches deep with a light two horse plough, leaving the sod at the bottom, and sown with spring barley. Where the gypsum had been put, and in some places where the ground was strong, the crop was so rank as to lodge: immediately after harvest, the stubble was ploughed under, and early in September was ploughed a second time and sown with wheat; the clover sod being perfectly rotted and intimately mixed with the soil, afforded a strong nourishment to the crop; produce twenty-five bushels to the acre.
Experiment 2.
Field six acres; soil a light loam, perfectly exhausted and full of garlick. In this experiment a small quantity of timothy seed was mixed with the clover, and sown with the spring barley.—After the second year the clover being almost destroyed, the timothy supplied its place, and afforded a great addition to the hay and pasture. In September, 1789, the clover was ploughed eight inches deep; the

CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, April 27.
A bill for regulating processes in the courts of the United States, &c. being read a third time, was (on motion of Mr. Mercer) re-committed to a committee of the whole House, for the purpose of amendment.
The committee having reported an amendment, the House agreed to the same, and having passed the bill, as amended, returned it to the Senate.
An engrossed bill authorizing the grant and conveyance of certain lands to J. C. Symmes and his associates, was read a third time, passed, and sent to the Senate for their concurrence.
An engrossed bill, for reducing the rates of postage on newspapers, was read a third time, passed [yeas 24, nays 14] and sent to the Senate for concurrence.
A bill to confirm an Award of Referees between the United States and certain contractors for furnishing supplies of provision for the army during the late war, was read first and second time, and ordered for commitment to-morrow.
A bill concerning the duties on spirits distilled within the United States, was twice read, and ordered to be committed to a committee of the whole House.
A message was delivered by Mr. Secretary Lear, notifying the House that the President of the United States had signed an act to indemnify the estate of the late Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Green, for a certain bond entered into by him during the late war.
A message was delivered by Mr. Secretary Otis, informing, that the Senate had concurred with the House in passing the bill for calling forth the militia, when necessary;—that they had receded from their amendments (disagreed to by the House) to the bill for establishing an uniform militia;—and that they had passed the "bill for raising a further sum of money for the protection of the frontiers," with sundry amendments, in which they requested the concurrence of the House.
These amendments being taken into consideration, were after some debate, all agreed to.
The House then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on a bill (from the Senate) for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt.
The committee reported the bill without amendment: but an amendment was proposed in the House, which continued in debate till the hour of adjournment.
SATURDAY, April 28.
A message from the Senate, was delivered by Mr. Secretary Otis, notifying their rejection of the bill for reducing the rates of postage on newspapers;—and their concurrence in the amendment proposed by the House to their amendment to the bill raising additional supplies.
A report of a select committee on the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of Marine Hospitals, was read and ordered to lie on the table.
Pursuant to the order of the day, the House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill concerning the duties on spirits distilled within the United States.
The whole day was spent in debate, after which the committee rose and reported the bill with sundry amendments.
Adjourned.
MONDAY, April 30.
Mr. Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, enclosing three reports on the petitions of R. Brackledge, J. Henderson and A. C. Hanson, which were read and ordered to lie on the table.
A bill relative to the compensations of certain officers employed in the collection of the duties of impost and tonnage, was taken up in committee of the whole, and reported with amendments, which being agreed to by the House, the bill was ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. S. Bourne presented, and Mr. Speaker signed, three enrolled bills,—viz. a bill more effectually to provide for the national defence, by establishing an uniform militia throughout the United States;—a bill to provide for calling forth the militia, to execute the laws of the union, to suppress insurrections, and repel invasions;—a bill for raising a further sum of money for the protection of the frontiers, and for other purposes therein mentioned.
The House then proceeded to the consideration of the amendments reported on Saturday last, by the committee of the whole, to the bill concerning the duties on spirits distilled within the United States.
The duties on spirits distilled from foreign materials, were agreed to, as reported by the committee, viz.
   First class of proof (per gallon) Cents.     Second 10   Third 11   Fourth 12   Fifth 14   Sixth 18   25  
Those on spirits distilled from domestic produce, were reduced from 8,—2,—10,—12,—15, and 20 cents (as reported by the committee) to 7,—8,—9,—11,—13, and 18 cents.
The yeas and nays being called, on the question for agreeing to the duty of 8 cents reported by the committee were, yeas 26; Nays, 27.
Yea's.—Messrs. Ames, Barnwell, Benson, Boudinot, S. Bourne, B. Bourne, Clarke, Fitzsimons, Gerry, Gilman, Goodhue, Gordon, Hillhouse, Kitchell, Lawrence, Learned, Lee, J. Smith, W. Smith, Sterrett, Sturges, Sylvester, Thatcher, Tredwell, Wadsworth, Ward—26.
Nays.—Messrs. Alhe, Baldwin, Browne, Findley, Gregg, Grove, Heister, Huger, Jacobs, Key, Livermore, Macon, Madison, Moore, Murray, Niles, Page, Parker, Seney, Sheredine, I. Smith, Steele, Sumpner, Tucker, White, Williamson, Willis—27.
The third section of the bill empowering the excise officers to receive spirits in payment of the duties, was struck out; as was likewise the seventh section, allowing a drawback of the duties on spirits lost by shipwreck on their passage from one port of the United States, to another.
The fifteenth section was also struck out, which laid the owners of stills under an obligation to assist the excise officers in measuring and marking their stills, or to allow them a compensation for doing it without such assistance.
Every owner of a still or stills, whose single or joint capacity does not amount to 400 gallons, is to pay an annual duty of 54 cents for every gallon of the capacity of such still or stills: with the option however of paying a certain sum, (not yet determined) for every month the stills are employed, or for every gallon of spirits distilled.
Adjourned.
TUESDAY, May 1.
On motion of Mr. Williamson, it was resolved that the several committees who have not reported, be directed to report on Thursday next.
The bill relative to the compensations of certain officers employed in the collection of the duties of impost and tonnage, was taken into consideration.
Mr. White proposed an additional section to the following purport:
That whenever a collector shall die, the commissions to which he would have been entitled, on the duties bonded by him, and unpaid at the time of his decease, shall be equally divided between the legal representative of such collector and his successor in office.—This being agreed to, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
In committee of the whole on the bill authorizing the remission of certain duties. Mr. B. Bourne in the chair.
The provisions of this bill are for the remission of the duties on wines lost from the cargo of the ship Brothers, wrecked on her voyage from New-York to Philadelphia, and certain goods lost on board a ship wrecked near Plymouth, Massachusetts.—The bill was reported without amendment—the vouchers relative to the business being read, the bill was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr. Boudinot moved that the resolution for a joint committee to wait on the President, to request that he would appoint a day of public humiliation and prayer, &c. was taken into consideration—the House being equally divided on the question for taking it up, it was determined in the affirmative by the Speaker.
The question then was for agreeing to the resolution—Mr. Livermore objected to it; he doubted the constitutionality and propriety of it.
The question being put, it was carried in the affirmative—22 to 21—and a committee of three appointed.
The bill entitled, an act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt, was taken into consideration—Some further amendments were agreed to, and the bill passed.
The bill concerning spirits distilled within the United States, was further discussed—the debate was renewed—several propositions of amendment were offered, some agreed to, others rejected—and the bill ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
A message from the Senate, by Mr. Secretary Otis, informed the House that they have concurred in the bill for altering the time of the next annual meeting of Congress.
A bill to authorise the remission of certain duties, was read the third time and passed.
In committee of the whole, on the bill confirming an award of certain referees between the United States and certain persons, contractors for supplying the army of the United States with provisions, during the late war—Mr. W. Smith in the chair.
The committee reported the bill with one amendment, which was to strike out the words "award or," in the first section—This amendment was agreed to by the House, and the bill ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
The report of the select committee, to whom the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the memorials of the Loan officers of Rhode-Island and New-Hamp-
shire was referred, was taken into consideration by the committee of the whole—This report was in favor of the memorialists, and contained several resolutions pursuant thereto—Some amendments were agreed to; the committee then rose and reported progress. Adjourned.
For the NATIONAL GAZETTE.
On the Secretary's Report on the Excise.
(Continued from our last.)
I WILL now proceed to the consideration of the fourth point in the Secretary's report, and the grounds upon which he controverts the tendency of the Excise Law, to injure industry. In his arguments on this topic, he attempts to prove that the relative situation of home distilled spirits, is improved by the excise; because, as he asserts, the duty, comparatively viewed, is in favor of whiskey;—but supposing this to be a fact, what is it calculated and intended to prove? surely not that whiskey should be the only home manufacture, subject to excise: The argument, applies with greater force to recommend the imposition of excise upon the salt that is made in Kentucky, or the sugar that is near the Genesee and elsewhere. It is directed at once to evince the propriety of an excise, upon porter, beer, cheese, barrel beef, leather shoes, ropes, and even upon the raw materials of wool, cotton, hemp, and iron. All those articles are certainly bettered in their relative situation, generally speaking, from 7 1/2 to 10 per cent. by the existing duties, and therefore by a parity of reasoning, ought to be loaded with an excise. The justice and expedience of the regulation would be as opposite and as plausible as in the case of whiskey; and I have no doubt, that principle, if not checked, will be so applied in due time. But the Secretary offers an ingenious distinction between whiskey to commence his operations.
He says, that when a manufacture is arrived at maturity, it is as fit a subject of excise as any other.
What position can more satisfactorily demonstrate the truth of the observation which I have made on the native tendency and actual design of the excise system; The rule here offered, will readily adopt itself to every exigency of the government, to every fiscal project, which the Secretary's fruitful imagination may suggest—for when an extension of the excise is meditated, the ministerial fiat is only necessary to pronounce that such and such a manufacture has attained its maturity; and by the official influence, it must consequently be added to the exciseable list. The extension, I am persuaded, will be gradual; for the most energetic governments have never attempted a great and sudden accumulation of the subjects of excise. Even in Britain it began with a few articles, and the promoters of it had recourse to the miserable shift of denying its name, and of resolving to punish those that would detect the fraud, by calling it an excise. How painful is it to reflect that our government, in its infancy, have stooped to copy so pitiful a subterfuge!
I have mentioned, that it is only necessary for the Secretary to assert that a manufacture is come to maturity—the precedent already set, shews, that it is not necessary that he should prove it. An ingenious mind must enter with regret into a denial and controversy of facts; since a wrong statement of them, in order to support peculiar designs, or to apologize for particular lines of conduct, will always be imputed to something less pardonable than a mere mistake. But that the manufacture of whiskey is not arrived at maturity, I am bold enough to declare, and occasion requires that the fact should not rest on assertion alone.
Ardent spirits, distilled particularly from grain or peaches, made in perfection, and kept to a proper age, unites mildness with strength, in a higher degree, and even a free use of it, so prepared, is less pernicious than perhaps any other spirit. This superiority indeed, is known to but few; for the liquor, in that state, is rarely to be met with, and even where I have seen some instances of its being preserved in the best manner, still as it had the name of being mere whiskey, it did not meet with encouragement, except occasionally for a rarity; when it is to be met with at the tables of the wealthy.
I call upon the contrivers and promoters of the excise upon whiskey, to inform the public how many barrels of it have been consumed annually in Philadelphia, or any of the great towns in the state. Let the gentlemen who travel to Pittsburg, or in any different route, declare how often, nay if ever, they call for whiskey in a tavern.—Let the judges, who ride the circuit to the remotest counties, communicate their observations of the demand for whiskey, in preference to other liquors. All, all will testify, as with one voice, that the choice is almost invariably in favor of rum, even though that spirit is generally of the lowest quality and cheapest price upon these roads, although the whiskey is more than the half cheaper than rum, in proportion to the comparative strength. I have admitted, that whiskey is capable of being manufactured
to great perfection; but that it has not attained to its maturity, is evident from the discouragement under which it labours; no manufacture can be in that state that does not enjoy a preference in general consumption; when, therefore, the very name of whiskey excites disgust, to the palate of those by whose example the prevailing taste of the country is formed; when it is consumed chiefly by the labouring poor, and often comparatively despised even by them; surely, were there no other facts than these to influence our opinions, we cannot hesitate, in spite of the ministerial dogma, to conclude, that the manufacture is not arrived at perfection; and that, therefore, this pretence, for rendering it the solitary subject of internal excise, is insulting and derisory to a free people.
The Secretary has the honor of being distinguished as a patron of manufactures: by comparing his report on that subject, with the report upon which I have animadverted, it appears, that in his opinion, the only justifiable ground, for exciting the manufactures of home produce, is the degree of perfection at which they have arrived. I am sorry the subject he has selected is inconsistent with the premises that he has established.
The American nails, falling axes, and in general the manufacture of all farming utensils, &c. excel those which are imported from Europe, and boots, shoes, woollens, indigo, potash, &c. are manufactured in the United States in much greater perfection than whisky; therefore it is clear, that upon the Secretary's plan, these articles ought to have preceded that liquor as subjects of excise. Far, however, am I from thinking that they should ever be excised, or that the people of the United States would submit to an oppression so enormous.
But the fourth objection of the petitioners, now offers itself to consideration, viz. That the excise law checks industry, and interferes with the business of distilling.—Against this objection also, the secretary furnishes the members of the house with arguments (see Report, page 7).—A thorough knowledge of the facts respecting the manufacture which is the subject of this law, affords the most unanswerable reply to his arguments against this objection, therefore the statements I have already made, have anticipated much that might be offered on the subject. It is proper, however, to remark, that the business of distilling spirits from grain, in this country, is not a trade or profession, as it is in Europe, nor as the distilling rum from molasses, in some parts of the United States; the making of flour, or brewing of beer, though they are both prepared from the produce of the soil, are much more separate trades or professions, than the distilling of whiskey. Brewing is a trade chiefly carried on in towns, and the farmer carries his wheat to mill to get it manufactured into flour, but the whiskey he distills at home. But according to the terms prescribed in the excise law, he must keep an exact account each day of the quantity of each kind produced, where one kind is converted into another, and explain by brief notes, theewing in proper columns the results of those kinds of spirits which are ultimately to be proposed for sale; and also how he hath disposed of it: this last obligation seems to require an account of what he or his family hath drank, or of that with which he may have treated his neighbors, who have visited him; and all this he must testify by a solemn appeal, for the truth thereof, unto Almighty God. The stills are attended sometimes by the master and sometimes by the masters of the house, sometimes by one child and sometimes by another; and such as cannot, or do not choose to attend them thus, employ a man for the purpose; but it has never been an enquiry whether the man to be employed can write his name, much less whether he can keep accurate books. As the secretary seems to be very well-informed about this business, he probably thought that a person could not be fit to distil whisky, unless he was as accurate a scholar as the clerks in his office. Where distillation is a regular manufacture, as it is with the rum distillers, this may be the case; but a person may make whisky very well, who hath never been taught to write his name. But supposing the farmers to make the conducting of their stills a monopoly to those only who have been taught book-keeping, that the swearing part may be provided for, what is he to gain by it? why he is to be obliged to pay a third, or between that and a fourth, of the price of what he stills in cash, whether he drinks it at his labor, pays his tradesmen, or barter it for other property; and if he distills any grain for his neighbors, which he commonly does, he must collect the excise for what he so distills, and thus must commence deputy to an exciseman's deputy, without receiving any of the perquisites. But this is not all: the distiller will be under the necessity of sparing his neighbor as long as the law obliges the exciseman to spare or trust him; but when pay-day comes, in a country where prompt payment is not in fashion, and where the means in fact are not to be procured, what an increase in business for justices of the peace and constables will this arrangement create? what a sacrifice of property by the sale of estates and effects taken in execution? even the man who had the good fortune to sell his whisky for cash, and is obliged to give so great a portion of the price to government, out of all the surplus of his labor, or of what, most probably, he ought to pay away to others for assisting him in his labor, will do it with regret.
But further, the owner of a still is under the

necessity of giving security at the discretion of an exciseman, with whom he would not perhaps be seen in society, and to whose discretion he would not trust his dog, for such must be employed when the law is so disagreeable to men of principle and character. And by further regulations, dictated by the sagacious secretary, the bills must be entered on record in the exciseman's office, whether they be designed for sale, for distilling, or other domestic uses, under the penalty of forfeiting the property. I ask, will not this be an ex-post-facto law with respect to those bills that are already in possession? is it not inconsistent with the constitutional right of holding and disposing of private property? but this is not all, the secretary has conceived the idea, and has been bold enough to recommend it to the legislature, to oblige the freemen of the United States to be servants to the excisemen, in assisting them to measure the bills, or pay a compensation, no doubt at the discretion of the exciseman too (see page 20). Does the secretary indeed conceive that he is dictating laws to a nation of slaves? or has he forgot that we are the same people who, not twenty years ago, with the pride of freemen, made the awful appeal to arms, rather than submit to shackles less odious and less degrading than an excise? is it not enough for him to oppress a deserving part of the community, without insulting them? I will not waste time with arguments on this subject; the people of the United States will never be servants at discretion to excisemen, nor to any other official characters, no, not even to the secretary himself.
Having honestly stated the situation and circumstances of the distillers of home produce, and the burdens and restrictions imposed on them by the excise law, and also those about to be imposed, I now appeal to every disinterested citizen, I appeal to the members of the federal legislature, I appeal to all not blinded, with prejudice, nay, I appeal to the secretary of the treasury himself, in those moments when he divests himself of the projecting financier, to judge whether the excise law does not discourage honest and necessary industry, and interfere with the business of distilling, and whether the proposed regulations are not an intolerable insult to the feelings of freemen. I appeal to husbandmen who live by agriculture in more happy situations than the western woods; I ask them with serious anxiety, how they would submit to such burdens and restrictions on the produce of their farms, prepared in such a manner as to be most suitable for their comfort and profit: if they countenance such measures, at so early a period of our national existence, to be dealt out to their less fortunate brethren, let them also beware, for their day is coming.
Free citizens ought to be guarded against the most distant approaches of such arrangements, as not only would in a partial manner diminish their property, but sap the very foundations of liberty and virtue. Let it be remembered, that the most effectual way to ensure the general progress of such mischievous measures, is to attack, in the first instance, such manufactures as are likely to be supported but by few advocates, in the public councils of the nation, immediately interested in patronizing them. Remote evils, in the political as well as physical world, are too apt to be neglected or despised; but the wound which produces the slightest mortification of the extremities, extending insensibly unto the other parts, contaminates and at length destroys the whole functions of the heart. It is a rule, verified by experience, that when any local part of a nation conceive themselves to be oppressed by the government, they either successfully resist the tyranny, as the United States have done in their revolt from Great Britain, or what is more common, they aid the strong arm of oppression, in laying burdens equally heavy on their fellow-citizens.
It will, no doubt, be thought that my statements, on this subject, are too much detailed, and the same facts put into too many points of view; I surely would have thought to myself of such a performance, before the excise law was enacted, and particularly before the report of the secretary on that subject; but when I observe, not only such a total ignorance of the state of this domestic manufacture displayed in that report, but an elaborate exercise of ingenuity to mislead those who have not a personal knowledge of the circumstances and the facts; and when I see that too many in Congress depend upon the minister's statements, as if they were records whose veracity could not be controverted, embrace his principles as if they were evangelically just, and have recourse to his arguments as to authorities most sacred; to be minute is necessary to the establishment of truth, and is at once the duty and the apology of him who undertakes the arduous task.
SIDNEY.
PITTSBURGH, April 21.
Saturday last sailed from this place, with a detachment of men to protect the settlement at Galiopolis, lieutenant Demler of the 2d United States regiment.
Thursday last arrived here from Fort Franklin, lieutenant Jeffers, of the 1st United States regiment, with a party of Seneca Indians to scout on our frontiers with the spies and six months levies.
We are happy to contradict, in part, the paragraph under the Pittsburgh head, in our last, giving an account of the murder of 20 persons by the Indians, as from well authenticated accounts it appears that only one woman and Mr. Edgar were killed. We are enabled to inform our readers
from good authority that captain Paul who is stationed on the south west frontier of Washington county, Pennsylvania, has erected a very strong block-house on the Dun-kard branch of Whelen creek, a little above Mr. Ryerson's mills, from whence he makes almost daily excursions over the neighbouring grounds; by his vigilance, and the co-operation of his subaltern officers, who have nearly completed two other block houses, one on his left, the other on his right, each at a few miles distance, it is expected he will completely thwart the designs of any small parties of the savages that may approach that part of our frontier.
Besides those Indians which carried off and scalped the two boys mentioned in our last, there are evident signs of several small parties having prowled along the south-west frontier of Washington and Ohio counties, particularly on Whelen, west of the Pennsylvania boundary.
Friday the 13th instant, arrived here the Western Experiment, Captain Nicholson. She is bound to New-Orleans, from thence with a cargo to Philadelphia; was built about sixty miles up the Monongahela, burthen about 60 tons, and draws 8 feet of water. This is the first vessel constructed on this branch of the Ohio intended to navigate the ocean.
PHILADELPHIA. MAY 3, 1792.
Monday and Tuesday the Indian Chiefs and Warriors of the Six Nations (except a few who, it is said, are going to the westward on special business) took their departure from this city.
Table with 3 columns: State, Dols., Cts. Lists values for New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, Georgia.
Two Quarterly Returns from South-Carolina and some small Ports are deficient. Treasury Department, Apr 12th, 1792. TENCH COXE, Assistant Secretary.
Accounts from Nantucket mention the arrival there of several whalemen from the Brazils, after successful voyages. They bring favorable accounts of the whalemen in general on that coast.
Monday, the 1st of May, the foundation of the new theatre in Chestnut-Street, was laid, and as every article for the building is prepared, the work will be carried on with the utmost spirit, and the House be ready to open by the beginning of November next.
We are informed by the mate of the ship Citizen, arrived at this port from St. Andero, that three sailors, one by the name of Jackson, and the other by the name of Churchwell, the other name unknown, who sailed from Philadelphia the 12th of December last, in the Teresa, Roderiguez, bound to Spain, were to be executed in a few days, for having murdered the Captain and crew of the said brig, and endeavoring to go off, were detected in the Bay of Biscay, and brought into St. Andero.
The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, have lately organized that institution, agreeably to the late act of Assembly; and have appointed the following gentlemen to fill the different professorships.
John Ewing, D. D. Provost, and Professor of natural Philosophy. John Andrews, D. D. Vice Provost, and Professor of moral Philosophy, oeconomic, and politics. James Davidson, A. M. Professor of the Latin and Greek languages. Robert Patterson, A. M. Professor of mathematics. William Rogers, D. D. Professor of English, and the Belles letters. Henry Helmuth, D. D. Professor of the German and Oriental languages. William Shippen, M. D. Professor of Anatomy, Surgery, and Midwifery. Adam Kuhn, M. D. Professor of the practice of Phyic. Benjamin Ruff, M. D. Professor of the institutes and clinical medicine. James Hutchinson, M. D. Professor of chemistry. Samuel Powel Griffiths, M. D. Professor of Materia Medica. Caspar Wistar, M. D. Adjunct Professor of Anatomy, Surgery, and Midwifery. Benjamin Smith Barton, M. D. Professor of Natural history and Botany. James Wilson, L.L.D. Professor of Law.
Extra of a letter from Port-au-Prince, April 7. For a fortnight past, the troubles have been every day getting worse and worse. There is a continual scene of misery and distress here. The women and children are obliged to fly every night on board the vessels for refuge. All trade is totally stagnated, and nothing but cruelty and barbarity has gone forward. For three weeks past, I have only been able to procure two hogheads of sugar; not a single hoghead of molasses can be got at any price. Great quantities of produce of every kind have been destroyed in the country by the Negroes and Mulattoes. Sugar sells at 14 dollars per roob. I cannot advise you to send any vessels here with any cargo whatsoever until some alteration takes place. The white inhabitants are leaving the island as fast as possible, as there is no safety either for person or property."
Some folks are very angry whenever any man, who is not enlisted under their own banners, speaks or writes about the administration of the government. They immediately accuse him of an attack upon the government itself, and brand him as an enemy to the Federal Constitution, and (laughable to tell) an aristocrat! Such un candid charges are intended as so many gags to stop the mouths of gain-sayers, that the parties interested may be at liberty to cut and carve in silence, and to new-model and metamorphose the government as they please, by gradually pruning away every part that favours too much of fancy republicanism. But those men, although deficient in candor, are not deficient in craft: for, having found that the heavy artillery of Publicola and his corps made too much noise, and raised a general alarm, they have changed their weapons, and adopted the use of light arrows, that fly unseen, and strike without report. They now confine their political lucubrations to dark, mysterious hints, and short, sententious aphorisms, calculated to sink unperceived into the minds of unwary readers, and insensibly produce the same effects, in corrupting the principles of the body political, as are produced by the slight infection conveyed on the point of a lancet, in corrupting the whole mass of fluids in the human body.
The majority (says a late writer) has been perpetually opposed by a party, who while they are remarkable for their clamour, have never distinguished themselves by the wisdom of any plans which they have offered as substitutes for what they oppose; or rather, it may be said they have never proposed any."
Clamorous as they were, they have been silenced. And if they did not bring forward any substitutes for what they opposed, it was entirely owing to the laudable exertions of their opponents, who drowned the voices of this clamorous party, by clamoring themselves, in 'a louder yet, and yet a louder strain,' in praise of their own systems, every one inscribed with a noli me tangere, in legible characters, which he that ran might read.
It is a poor compliment on the judgment of the people, and a republican government, to find fault with the decisions of the majority."
Then it is a poor compliment to a republican government, ever to repeal any law: for every law, however unwise, arbitrary, or oppressive, had originally the sanction of the majority. It was a poor compliment to the people of America, to secure their independence, because, previous to the revolution, a majority were in favour of submission to the British government.
It is a republican sentiment, that the people are the obligees, when public trusts are faithfully executed."
It is a sentiment equally republican, that when a man presents himself as candidate for an office, is paid for his trouble, and sworn to the faithful performance of his duty, here is a complete bargain made: and in case of mal-performance on his part, the people who employ and pay him, have a right not only to complain, but to punish; whereas, when he has done his best, he has done but that which was his duty.
It is a monarchal trait in politics, when public officers are obliged to consider their own interest and that of the people as distinct."
It is downright despotism, when a public officer, drawing an arbitrary line of separation between his own interests and those of the people, enriches and aggrandizes himself by cheating and betraying his employers, and then boldly disclaims all responsibility.
To get in debt is undoubtedly one of the 'rights of man'—it is not a new doctrine that never to pay is another—hence the railing against the funding system."
To buy a piece of paper for two and sixpence, is also one of the rights of man: to sell it again for twenty shillings if you can, is another. Hence all the railing against the opposers of the funding system.
Public exigencies pressing—Public debt's a public blessing! But secure, there nothing worse is: Public debts are public curses!
Public debts are public curses In soldiers' hands! then nothing worse is! In speculators' hands encreasing, Public debt's a public blessing!
An accidental event occurred at Bally-vally in the county of Donegal, a short time ago, which seems to open a discovery in phyic, equally wonderful and happy. The wife of Arthur O'Donnel had been for six years in a state of outrageous madness, and was given over by the Faculty:—One evening she found means to loose herself from her bonds, and to escape from her confinement to the sea-shore, where in an instant, she endeavoured to put an end to her existence, by plunging from a rock into the ocean. Very fortunately she was immediately missed by her eldest son, and followed by him: just as she had thrown herself from the rock he arrived, and being an excellent swimmer, plunged in to her assistance. It was however near fifteen minutes before he could see his unhappy parent; but about the expiration of that time he observed the body floating among some rocks which projected from the mainland, with some difficulty he reached it, and with great labor swam it to the shore, apparently dead. The prescriptions of the Humane Society were readily applied, and after an interval of two hours, signs of returning animation appeared; the process was continued, and in about twelve hours the Patient was not only restored to life, but, what is more wonderful, to the fullest possession of her natural reason.—She is now perfectly well, and to the great help and happiness of her family, does all the duties of her domestic station. [Lon. Pap.]
PRICE OF STOCKS. Six per cents, per £. 20/6 21/ Three ditto 22/ Deferred ix ditto 12/6 Final settlements 18/ 1-2 share Bank Stock 35 to 40 per cent premium.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. April, 1792. Table with 5 columns: Day, D. H. Bar. Ther. Wind. Weather. Lists daily observations from Monday to Sunday.
Washington, in the Territory of Columbia. A P R E M I U M
OF 500 dollars, or a medal of that value, at the option of the party, will be given by the Commissioners of the Federal Buildings to the person who, before the fifteenth day of July next, shall produce to them the most approved plan, if adopted by them, for a President's house to be erected in this city. The site of the building, if the artist will attend to it, will of course influence the aspect and outline of his plan, and it's destination will point out to him the number, size, and distribution of the apartments. It will be a recommendation of any plan, if the central part of it may be detached and erected for the present, with the appearance of a complete whole, and be capable of admitting the additional parts, in future, if they shall be wanting. Drawings will be expected of the ground plats, elevations of each front, and sections through the building in such directions as may be necessary to explain the internal structure; and an estimate of the cubic feet of brickwork, composing the whole mass of the walls. THE COMMISSIONERS.
Washington, in the Territory of Columbia. A P R E M I U M
OF a lot in this City to be designated by impartial judges and 500 dollars; or a medal of that value, at the option of the party, will be given by the Commissioners of the Federal Buildings, to the person, who, before the fifteenth day of July 1792, shall produce to them the most approved plan, if adopted by them, for a Capitol to be erected in this city, and 250 dollars, or a medal for the plan deemed next in merit to the one they shall adopt. The building to be of brick, and to contain the following apartments, to wit.
A conference room } Sufficient to be accommodate 300 persons each. A room for the Representatives } A lobby or antichamber to the latter. A Senate room of 1200 square feet area. An antichamber or lobby to the last. 12 rooms of 600 square feet area, each, for committee rooms and clerks offices, to be of half the elevation of the former. Drawings will be expected of the ground plats, elevations of each front, and sections through the building in such directions as may be necessary to explain the internal structure, and an estimate of the cubic feet of brickwork composing the whole mass of the walls. THE COMMISSIONERS.

ground being very mellow, it was harrowed along the furrow, with a large brake harrow of thirty teeth; winter barley was then sown and harrowed in. The last winter was wet and open, and therefore severe on the grain, and yet this field turned out better than most in the neighborhood. From my observations on this crop, I believe that it is better husbandry to cross-plough, as in experiment No. 1. than to trust to the harrow alone. To continue clover more than three years is not profitable; the fourth year of the clover was full of weeds.
Experiment 3.
Field eight acres; soil cold clay and wet—corn, rye, corn, buck-wheat, is bad husbandry, except in the present case intended merely to make manure—Coming in possession of a large farm, every part of which was exhausted, I could only manure a part of it at one time, and therefore it was good management to procure any produce, for the sake of wintering cattle to make manure. November, 1787, the buck-wheat stubble was ploughed, and in April, 1788, the field was covered with fifteen loads of dung to the acre, and sown with spring barley; the crop twenty bushels to the acre. After two ploughings, winter barley was sown, which did not produce more than ten bushels to the acre. Immediately after harvest put in buck-wheat, clover and timothy; in April last six bushels of gypsum per acre, was strewed over the young clover; at harvest the produce three tons of good hay to the acre.
Experiment 4.
Field six acres; soil clay, with a small quantity of gravel. In April, 1790, this field was sown with clover seed and strewed with six bushels of gypsum to the acre on the young wheat; the clover at present looks well.
Experiments 5, 6, and 7.
Were made on a light loam, to discover the best preparatory crop to grain. The result was greatly in favor of the potatoes.
Experiment 8.
Field two acres; soil, loam with some clay.—In November, 1787, the clover lea was ploughed eight inches deep. In April, 1788, it was well harrowed and sown with spring barley; the crop very poor, evidently owing to the want of soil. Winter fallowed and in 1789, was planted with potatoes. This year it produced two valuable crops, one of flax, and the other turnips.
Experiment 9.
Field one acre; soil, loam with some clay.—In May, 1788, the clover lea was covered with stable manure, and ploughed under five inches deep; planted potatoes under every third furrow; the crop at first appeared promising, but afterwards grass took place, and the sod not being rotted, the plough could not be used, besides the grass came up in the interstices between the potatoes in the rows; at harvest the potatoes were numerous, but so small as not in general to be merchantable. I am perfectly satisfied that to have a good crop of any vegetable, it is necessary to have the ground in the most meliorated state possible.
Experiment 10.
Field ten acres; soil, light loam. In 1789, after having secured the tops and blades of the corn; and the corn being taken to the barn in the husks, the stalks were cut at the ground and taken into the barn-yard to make manure. The field was ploughed the first week in December, and in May, 1790, ploughed a second time, and eight acres planted with potatoes. In October the potatoes were gathered, and the vines being collected with a light harrow were hauled into the barn-yard—the ground was then ploughed and sown with wheat, which at present looks well. The remaining two acres was covered with dung and ploughed twice during the summer to prepare it for wheat which was sown at the same time with the potatoe ground. This experiment, intended to discover whether potatoes, or a clean summer fallow was the best preparatory to a grain crop. At this time the potatoe ground has the best appearance. I examined some of the plants of wheat whilst in the seed leaf, and found their roots to extend six and eight inches; an evident mark of the advantages of deep ploughing, and having your ground in good tilth.
Experiment 11.
Field six acres; soil, light loam. The clover in 1787, produced two good crops, in 1788, one crop and pasture, in 1789, excellent pasture for cattle, sheep and hogs, until September, when it was ploughed eight inches deep, and after being well harrowed it was sown with winter barley—the crop twenty-five bushels to the acre. Immediately after harvest the stubble was ploughed under, and in October was again ploughed, and sown with wheat—the crop has a very promising appearance.
Experiment 12.
Field one acre; soil, loam, a little wet, with a clay bottom. In 1788, produced two excellent crops of hay, and nearly as good the year following. In October, the clover lea was ploughed four inches deep, the sod crumbling to pieces before the plough; after being well harrowed it was sown with winter barley; a wet, open winter, destroyed so much of the crop, that I was induced to plough the ground in April, and to sow spring barley and clover—the barley as good as most this season—the clover looks well.
Experiment 13.
A field of the size and quantity of the last experiment, and treated in a similar manner, except that it was sown with wheat—the crop was not injured by the winter, and produced twenty bushels to the acre. Wheat appears a hardier grain than barley, and therefore should have a preference where a farmer is under the necessity of sowing late.
Experiment 14.
Field six acres; soil, wet loam. After removing the corn-stalks into the barn-yard, winter fallowed the ground, and in April 1789, ploughed in twenty loads of dung to the acre, for spring barley. During the summer I added three acres of fresh land taken in from an adjoining wood, and which had been cleared the preceding winter. Soil the same as the above six acres, covered with a rich black mould; ploughed this new ground
three times. In September, the old and new ground were sown the same day, with wheat; during the autumn both crops appeared promising; the following spring the three acres was almost totally destroyed by a long wet winter. At harvest the old ground produced twenty-five bushels to the acre; the new ground not six. This field having an under stratum of clay, and the roots of the trees preventing a proper depth of the ploughing, occasioned the water to stagnate about the roots of the wheat—in the old field a depth of ploughing of eight inches prevented this mischief. The principal object of this experiment was to discover, whether old exhausted fields, under proper management, would not produce equal to the best new ground. In this instance the wet season was against the experiment.
We may observe, with great truth, that the uncertainty of the seasons, and the length of time required to make agricultural experiments, renders it difficult to make them with accuracy. In adopting and pursuing the rotation of crops, founded upon the experiments now recited, it will be necessary to attend strictly to some points on which the success of the rotation depends.
 1st. To winter fallow, for the spring crops, ploughing at least eight inches deep.  2d. To cover your potato and flax ground with twenty loads of your best manure to the acre, to be ploughed into the ground in April, and on planting your potatoes, to put your half decayed cornstalks, or any other trash in the furrows.  3d. In breaking up your clover lea to be attentive to turning the grass sod as much as possible on its back. This is best effected by trench ploughing, one plow following another in the same track: by this method there is sufficient nourishment provided for the present crop, and the sod becomes rotten before next season, for the future crop.  4th. Such a variety of crops as may not interfere with one another, but by coming in regular succession may afford the farmer and his family the most constant employ.  No one of the rotation of crops, which I have mentioned will answer these objects, and therefore cannot merit the attention of the society.—Uninformed and destitute of proper guides, I made these experiments to discover the truth; and as they have led to the knowledge of a rotation of crops, which is perfectly satisfactory to myself, I thought it necessary to submit the whole to your consideration, to enable you to judge of the foundation of that rotation which I now offer.
Rotation of Crops.
 1. Indian corn; 2, potatoes and flax; 3, wheat;  4, winter barley, and after the barley, buckwheat, with clover and timothy;  5, clover, two crops for hay;  6, clover, one crop, for hay and pasture;  7, pasture;  8, wheat;  9, winter barley. 
This plan constitutes my present mode of farming and the success attending it, leaves no room to doubt of its superior advantage. To pursue it to the greatest possible profit, within the ability of one family—the farm should consist of 180 acres of land, subject to this rotation, besides woodland, orchard, &c. &c. A farm thus regulated would produce annually—
 20 acres of Indian corn.  10 acres of potatoes.  10 acres of flax.  40 acres of wheat.  40 acres of winter barley.  20 acres of clover, two crops.  20 acres of clover, one crop, and pasture until November.  20 acres of clover pasture, until September.  10 acres of buckwheat with clover on the barley stubble. 
Indian corn is a valuable crop on account of its grain: it is also valuable on account of the very nourishing food afforded by its tops, cut as rye-straw, and mixed with potatoes. I have long been in the practice of making potatoes a principal food for my horses and cattle. Our sheep and hogs will fatten rapidly on them, for the latter they should be boiled. Flax constitutes a valuable article too much neglected by our country. An annual produce of eighty acres of wheat and barley, and forty acres of the best clover and timothy hay, out of one hundred and eighty acres, under cultivation, must be esteemed good farming. This produce would enable a farmer to winter fifty head of stock, besides sheep; by which, and a proper system of barn-yard management, he might every year make five hundred loads of good manure. I have found great advantage in keeping the milch cows, hogs and sheep, in the yard, during the summer; sometimes giving them clover, cut green; and at all times, during the year, bringing home every kind of trash which will make manure; on this account the corn-stalks and potato-vines are very useful. Leaving a large surface of these substances exposed, during the winter, in the barn-yard, the cold would prevent them from becoming manure; therefore, the first week in December, or earlier, if necessary, the yards should be cleaned up, and the half-decayed weeds and trash, of every kind, put in a heap near the field you intend to manure. I have been particular on the subject of manure, because the success of the rotation depends on a full supply of it.
Turnips, rye and oats, are not mentioned, because the severity of our winters render the first an improper crop for the farmer, besides they are by no means equal to the potato for feeding of cattle. Rye and oats are not of equal value with wheat and corn, and therefore a preference is given to the latter.
One object of a rotation of crops, is to give constant and steady employ to the farmer and his family, without suffering one business to interfere with another. The rotation proposed will answer this intention. Flax, corn, and potatoes, will occupy the months of April and May. The first hay harvest, the month of June; barley and wheat in July; barley is naturally earlier than wheat, and being sown earlier, it may be got out of the harvest field before the wheat is fit to be cut. After harvest comes the feeding for buck-wheat and grass; the second hay harvest; feeding for barley and wheat; winter following, and during the severity of winter, threshing out grain.
On account of the time and stock required to conduct a farm, subject to the rotation of crops now proposed, it must appear evident, that it is not calculated for a poor tenantry, but for an independent yeomanry—such as our American farmers ought to be—gentlemen cultivating their own estates, and living under the protection of a just and enlightened government. In this situation the industrious husbandman ploughs his fields with pleasure and alacrity, well knowing that after giving to the government a fixed and certain proportion of the net produce of his farm, he will be protected in the full enjoyment of the remainder. But under a government directed by the wretched principles of fiscalism, and deriving its revenue from a blind and oppressive system of indirect taxation—agriculture must languish, and particularly so, when the free sale of the produce of the land is restricted by commercial regulations—So intimately is the agriculture of a country connected with its government, that it always affords the best criterion of its excellence.
Mr. Poivre, a celebrated French philosopher and traveller, after giving a particular account of the state of agriculture in Africa and Asia, says, addressing himself to his readers, "call to mind what I have said respecting the laws, customs, and manners of the different nations of Africa and Asia; where I have examined the state of agriculture—Compare one nation with another, judge if the unhappy Malabars, without property, and subject to the arbitrary will of a despot; if a people of slaves always bending under the iron sceptre of the king of Siam; if the nation of Malaysians for ever agitated and oppressed by feudal laws; can, even whilst possessing the best lands in the world, enjoy an agriculture as flourishing as the people of China, governed as one family, and submitting to the laws of reason."—This same enlightened traveller further observes—"I will then assert with confidence, that in every country in the world, the state of agriculture depends solely upon the established laws and customs of the country."—Agricultural societies have long been established in the different parts of France—premiums have been offered by those societies to all who excelled in cultivating the ground; and yet, owing to the nature of that government, and the dissipated manners of the court, by which the whole country was infected—agriculture has been for many years in a languishing situation. That kingdom, which under the administration of the great Sully, exported grain to its neighbors, since his time has frequently wanted bread.
Where is the encouragement to agriculture in this country, oppressed with the most ruinous system of indirect taxation and commercial regulations, and overwhelmed with scenes of parade, extravagance and dissipation.
The improved system of English husbandry, solely consists in substituting a crop of clover, in the place of an unproductive fallow.
As frequent manuring is a very expensive operation in agriculture, the farmers in England were formerly in the practice, after taking two or three crops from a field, to leave it waste for several years; by which a poor pasture was furnished for their cattle, and the vigor of the soil was, in a small degree, renewed by an annual decay of weeds. This is, at present, the plan of conducting the farms in many parts of that country, and is universally the case in this.
By substituting clover, for an unproductive fallow, the farmer procures a valuable crop of hay, and the most luxuriant pasture, besides which, the ground becomes meliorated for a crop of wheat. The foundation of the improved English method of husbandry, and the foundation of the rotation of crops, recommended to the society, is the same.
If the object of the society was merely to have it ascertained by a course of experiments, whether an exact imitation of the English mode of farming, would be successful in this country, the 13th experiment is a complete answer in favor of such question—Potatoes, barley, clover, wheat, is one of the most approved courses of crops in that country. The rotation of crops which I had recommended to the patronage of the society, I think, is superior to any hitherto practised; and that on two accounts:
 1st. Because upon breaking up the clover lea, in the method proposed, two equally valuable crops of winter grain is procured, in the place of one, according to the English mode of farming, and  2dly. Because by the plan proposed, a greater number of valuable crops is procured, and also a greater length of time is acquired between the periods of manuring, which is a very expensive, but highly necessary part of farming. 
Seven years of close and attentive observations, enabled me to lay the foregoing experiments before the society.
GEORGE LOGAN.
Stenton, Feb. 28, 1791.
MOTTO.
Could the Philadelphia Society, instituted for the laudable purpose of promoting agriculture, influence the government of the United States to establish a free, unlimited and unrestricted commerce, it would tend more to improve the agriculture of our country, than all the premiums in their gift.
In a future paper, I shall make some remarks on the above experiments.
A FARMER.
* Voyage d'un Philosophe.
Prices Current at Philadelphia.
   [Dollar equal to 100 Cents.]     ASHES per ton 90 Dols. to 100   Ashe's pearl 137 — — 140   Bacon flitches, per lb. 7 cents   Bacon shoulders — 6 do.   Bees wax, per lb. 25 cents to 27   Brandy, Coniac per gl. 1 dol. 50 c. to 1 d. 65 c.   Brandy, common, 1 dol. 26 c.   Butter, in kegs, per lb. 10 c. to 12   Coals, per bushel, 20 c. to 22   Coffee, per lb. 18 c.   Cotton, per lb. 30 c. to 42   Flax, per lb. 10 c.   Flour, super fine, per barrel, 5 dols.   Common, 4 dols.   Burr middlings, best, per bbl. 4 dols   Meal Indian 2 dols. 67 c.   Rye 3 dols.   Ship stuff, per cwt, 1 dol.   Gin, Holland, per case, 4 dols.   Ginseng, per lb. 20 c. to 24   Grain, barley, per bushel, 90 c.   best shelled, per lb. 3 c.   Buck-wheat, per bushel, 40 c.   Indian corn, 40 c. 44. Oats 26 c. pr. bush.   Rye 50 c. to 54. Wheat 95 to 1. dol.   Hams, per lb. 8 c. to 9   Hemp, imported, per ton, 120 dols. to 146 67 c.   American, per lb. 4 c. to 5   Hides, raw, per lb. 9 c. to 11   Indigo, Carolina, per lb. 40 c. to 1 dol.   Iron, bar, per ton, 32 dols. 67 c.   Castings, per cwt. 3 dols. 47 c.   Nail-rods per ton 96 dols.   Pig, per ton, 24 dols. to 26 dols. 67 c.   Sheet, per ton, 173 dols. 33 c.   Lard, hogs, per lb. 9 c. to 10   Lead, in bars, per cwt. 7 dols.   In pigs, — 5 dols. 33 c. to 5 dols. 67 c.   Red, — 6 dols. 40 c. to 6 dols. 67 c.   White, — 10 dols. to 10 dols. 67 c.   Myrtle wax per lb. 18 c.   Molasses, per gal. 44 c. to 48   Pitch, per barrel, 1 dol. 73 c. to 2 dols.   Pork, Burlington, per barrel, 11 dols to 11 d. 33 c.   Lower County, do. 10 dols.   Carolina, do. 9 dols.   Rice, per 100 lb. 2 dols. 67 c.   Robin, per barrel, 2 dols. 33 c. to 2 dols. 67 c.   Rum, Antigua, per gallon, 1 dol.   Barbadoes, do. do. 77 c.   New-England, &c. 67 c.   Jamaica, to 1 dol. 12 c.   Windward Island, 86 to 90 c.   Snake-Root, per lb. 20 c. to 42   Sugar, Havana, white, per lb. 17 to 18 c.   Brown, per lb. 15 c.   Muscovado, per cwt. 14 dols. to 15 dols   Lump, per lb. 22 c.   Loaf, single refined, 25 c.   Loaf, double ditto, 36 c.   Fallow, refined, per lb. 9 c.   Tar, New-Jersey, 24 gal. to the bbl. 1 dol.   Carolina, 32 gal. 1 dol. 33 c. to 1 dol. 67 c.   Tea, Hyson, per lb. 93 c. to 1 dol. 28 c.   Hyson skin, 53 c. to 67   Souchong, 50 c. to 93   Congo, 43 c. to 50   Bohea, 30 c. to 34   Tobacco, James River, best, per cwt. 3 dols. 60 to 3 dols. 73 c.   Inferior, 2 dols. 67 c. to 3 dols. 1 Old, 4 dols. 67 c.   Rappahannock, 2 dols. 50 c. to 3 dol   Coloured Maryland, 5 d. 33 c. to 3 d   Dark, 2 dols. 40 c.   Long leaf, 2 dols. 40 c.   Eastern Shore, 2 dols. to 2 dols. 23 c.   Carolina, new, 2 dols. 7 c. to 3 dols.   Carolina, old, 2 dols. 7 c. to 3 dols.   Turpentine, per barrel, 1 dol. 67 c. to 2 dols.   Wine, Madeira, per pipe, 106 dl. 67 c. to 200 dl.   Lisbon, 96 dols. to 100   Teneriffe, per gal. 51 c. to 60   Fayal, 44 c. 49   Port, per pipe, 106 dols. 67 c. to 120 dols  
This day is Published, and to be Sold by ROBERT CAMPBELL, Bookseller; No. 54, Second street South, and by all the principal Booksellers in Philadelphia, (— Price 3-8ths of a Dollar.)
Proceedings in the House of Representatives of the United States of America, respecting the CONTESTED ELECTION
For the Eastern District of the state of GEORGIA, CONTAINING, the Petition of General JAMES JACKSON against the election of General ANTHONY WAYNE, and the proceedings relative to the Resolutions directing the mode of conducting the Trial: with a sketch of the Debates from the commencement to the end of the business; including the Speeches of both parties; a sketch of Mr. Lewis's Defence; counsel for General Wayne; and the concluding Speech of General Jackson for which he received the applause of the auditors. Also, the subsequent proceedings of the House respecting his right to a seat after the election of the sitting member had been declared illegal.
Together with A SUPPLEMENT containing a summary of the proceedings of the legislature of Georgia relative to the impeachment of JUDGE OSBORNE, taken from the papers sent under the government seal, &c. of the state, and produced by Mr. Baldwin, which on debate were rejected.
** The Printing-Office of the National Gazette is removed from No. 239, to 209, High (or Market) Street, above Fifth Street.
** The Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the Excise Act, for late at this Office.
PRINTED BY CHILDS AND SWAIN-E, AT THEIR OFFICE, NO. 209, HIGH-STREET NEAR SIXTH-STREET, PHILADELPHIA.