The national intelligencer and Washington advertiser. (Washington City [D.C.]), 1805-01-14 00:00:00

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, AND WASHINGTON ADVERTISER.
VOL. V. WASHINGTON CITY, PRINTED BY SAMUEL HARRISON SMITH, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NO. DCLXVI. FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. MONDAY, JANUARY 14th, 1805. PAID IN ADVANCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE KENTUCKY PALLADIUM.
Frankfort, 12th December, 1804.
Sir,
No circumstance relating to the history of the western country, probably, has excited, at different times, more general attention and anxious curiosity, than the opinion that a nation of white men, speaking the Welch language, resided high up on the Mississippi. By some the idea is treated as nothing but the suggestion of bold imposture and easy credulity: whilst others regard it as a fact fully authenticated by Indian testimony and the report of various travellers worthy of credit. The fact is accounted for they say, by recurring to a passage in the history of Great-Britain, which relates that several years before the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, a certain Welch prince embarked from his native country with a large party of emigrants,—that after some time a vessel or two came back with the account that they had discovered a country far to the westward, and that they set sail again with a fresh reinforcement and never returned any more. The country which these adventurers discovered, it has been supposed, was the continent of North America, and it has been conjectured, that they landed on this continent some where in the gulph of Mexico, and from thence proceeded northwards till they got out of the reach of the hostile natives, and seated themselves in the upper country of Missouri. Many accounts accordingly have been published within the last 30 years of persons who in consequence either of accident or the ardour of curiosity have made themselves acquainted with a nation of men on the Mississippi, possessing the complexion of Europeans, and the language of Welch men. Could the fact be well established, it would afford, perhaps, the most satisfactory solution of the difficulty occasioned by a view of the various ancient fortifications with which the Ohio country abounds, of any that has ever been offered. These fortifications were evidently never made by the Indians. The Indian art of war prevents nothing of the kind. The probability too is that the persons who constructed them were at that time acquainted with the use of iron: the situation of those fortifications, which are uniformly in the most fertile land of the country, indicates that these who made them, were an agricultural people, and the remarkable care and skill with which they were executed, afford traits of the genius of a people, who relied more on their military skill than on their numbers. The growth of the trees upon them, is very compatible with the idea that it is not more than 300 years ago that they were abandoned.
These hints, however, are thrown out rather to excite enquiry, than by way of advancing any decided opinion on the subject. Having never met with any of the persons who had been these white Americans, nor even received their testimony near the source, I have always entertained considerable doubts about the fact. Last evening however, Mr. John Childs, of Jessamine county, a gentleman, with whom I have been long acquainted, and who is well known to be a man of veracity, communicated a relation to me, which at all events, appears to merit serious attention. After he had related it in conversation, I requested him to repeat it, and committed it to writing. It has certainly some internal marks of authenticity. The country which is described was altogether unknown in Virginia, when the relation was given, and was probably very little known to the Shawnee Indians. Yet the account of it agrees very remarkably with later discoveries. On the other hand, the story of the legendary, though by no means incredible, has something of the air of fable; and it does not satisfactorily appear how the long period which the party were afloat was spent,—though Indians are however, so much accustomed to loiter away their time, that many weeks and even months may probably have been spent in indolent repose.
Without detaining you any more with preliminary remarks, I will proceed to the narration as I received it from Mr. Childs.
Maurice Griffith, a native of Wales, which country he left when he was about 16 years of age, was taken a prisoner by a party of Shawnee Indians, about 40 years ago, near Wolfe's fort, on the head of Roanoke river, in Virginia, and carried to the Shawnee nation. Having staid there about two years and a half, he found that five young men of the tribe, had a desire of attempting to ex-
plore the sources of the Missouri. He prevailed upon them to admit him as one of the party. They set out with six good rifles, and with six pounds of powder a piece, of which they were of course very careful. On reaching the mouth of the Missouri they were struck with the extraordinary appearance occasioned by the intermixture of the muddy waters of the Missouri, and the clear, transparent stream of the Mississippi. They staid two or three days amusing themselves with the view of this novel sight: they then determined on the course which they should pursue, which happened to be so nearly in the course of the river, that they frequently came within sight of it as they proceeded on their journey. After travelling about thirty days through pretty farming wood land, they came into fine open prairies, on which nothing grew but long, luxuriant grass. There was a succession of these, varying in size, some being eight or ten miles across, but one of them so long, that it occupied three days to travel through it. In passing through this large prairie they were much distressed for water and provisions, for they seldom saw either beast or bird, and though there was an abundance of salt springs, fresh water was very scarce. In one of these prairies, the salt springs ran into small ponds, in which as the weather was hot, the water had sunk and left the edges of the ponds so covered with salt, that they fully supplied themselves with that article, and might easily have collected bushels of it. As they were travelling through the prairies, they had likewise the good fortune to kill an animal which was nine or ten feet high, and of a bulk proportioned to its height. They had seen two of the same species before, and they saw four of them afterwards. They were swift footed, and they had neither tusks nor horns. After having passed through the long prairie, they made it a rule never to enter on one which they could not see across, till they had supplied themselves with a sufficiency of jerked venison, to last several days. After having travelled a considerable time through the prairies, they came to very extensive lead mines, where they smelted the ore and furnished themselves with what lead they wanted. They afterwards came to two copper mines, one of which was three miles through, and in several places they met with rocks of copper ore as large as houses.
When about fifteen days journey from the second copper mine, they came in sight of white mountains, which though it was in the heat of Summer, appeared to them to be covered with snow. The sight naturally excited considerable astonishment, but on their approaching the mountains, they discovered, that instead of snow, they were covered with immense bodies of white sand. They had, in the mean time passed through about ten nations of Indians, from whom they received very friendly treatment. It was the practice of the party to exercise the office of spokesman in rotation; and when the language of any nation through which they passed was unknown to them, it was the duty of the spokesman, a duty in which the others never interfered, to convey their meaning by appropriate signs.
The labor of travelling through the deep sands of the mountains, was excessive, but at length they relieved themselves of this difficulty by following the course of a shallow river, the bottom of which being level, they made their way to the top of the mountains, with tolerable convenience.
After passing the mountains they entered a fine, fertile tract of land, which having travelled through for several days, they accidentally met with three white men in the Indian dress. Griffith immediately understood their language, as it was pure Welch, though they occasionally made use of a few words with which he was not acquainted. However as it happened to be the turn of one of his Shawnee companions to act as spokesman, or interpreter; he preferred a profound silence, and never gave them any information that he understood the language of their new companions.
After proceeding with them four or five days journey, they came to the village of these white men, where they found that the whole nation were of the same colour, having all the European complexion. The three men took them through their village for about the space of fifteen miles, when they came to the council house, at which an assembly of the king and chief men of the nation was immediately held. The council lasted three days, and as the strangers were not supposed to be ac-
quainted with their language, they were suffered to be present at their deliberations. The great question before the council was, what conduct should be observed towards the strangers.—From their fire arms, their knives and their tomahawks, it was concluded they were a warlike people,—it was conceived that they were sent to look out for a country for their nation, that if they were suffered to return, they might expect a body of powerful invaders, but that if these six men were put to death, nothing would be known of their country, and they would still enjoy their possessions in security. It was finally determined that they should be put to death. Griffith then thought that it was time for him to speak. He addressed the council in the Welch language. He informed them that they had not been sent by any nation: that as they were situated merely by private curiosity, they had no hostile intentions: that it was their wish to trace the Missouri to its source, and that they should return to their country satisfied with the discoveries they had made, without any wish to disturb the repose of their new acquaintances. As instant astonishment glowed in the countenances not only of the council but of his Shawnee companions, who clearly saw that he was understood by the people of the country. Full confidence was at once given to his declarations: the king advanced, and gave him his hand. They abandoned the design of putting him and his companions to death, and from that moment treated them with the utmost friendship. Griffith and the Shawnee continued eight months in the nation: but were deterred from prosecuting their researches up the Missouri, by the advice of the people of the country, who informed them that they had gone a twelve months journey up the river but found it as large there as it was in their own country. As to the history of this people, he could learn nothing satisfactory. The only account they could give was that their forefathers had come up the river from a very distant country. They had no books, no records, no writings. They intermixed with no other people by marriage; there was not a dark skinned man in the nation. Their numbers were very considerable. There was a continued range of settlements on the river for fifty miles, and these were, within this space three large water courses which fell into the Missouri on the banks of each of which likewise, they were settled. He supposed that there must be 50,000 men in the nation, capable of bearing arms. Their clothing was skins well dressed. Their houses were made of upright posts and the bark of trees. The only implements they had to cut them with were stone tomahawks. The had no iron, their arms were bows and arrows. They had some flyer, which had been hammered with stones into coarse ornaments, but it did not appear to be pure. They had neither horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, nor any domestic or tame animals. They lived by hunting. He said nothing about their religion.
Griffith and his companions had some large iron tomahawks with them. With these they cut down a tree and prepared a canoe to return home in: but their tomahawks were to great a curiosity, and the people of the country were so eager to handle them, that their canoe was completed with very little labour. When this work was accomplished, they proposed to leave their new friends.—Griffith, however, having promised to visit them again. They descended the river with considerable speed, but amidst frequent dangers from the rapidity of the current, particularly when passing through the white mountains. When they reached the Shawnee nation, they had been absent about two years and a half. Griffith reported that when they travelled, they went at the rate of about fifteen miles a day. He staid but a few months with the Indians after their return, as a favourable opportunity offered itself to him to reach his friends in Virginia. He came with a hunting party of Indians to the head waters of Coal river, which runs into New river not far above the falls. There he left the Shawnee, and early reached the settlements on Roanoke. Mr. Childs, knew him before he was taken prisoner, and saw him a few days after his return, when he narrated to him the preceding circumstances. Griffith was universally regarded as a steady honest man, and a man of strict veracity. Mr. Childs has always placed the utmost confidence in his account of himself and his travels, and has no more doubt of the truth of his relation, than if he had
seen the whole himself. Whether Griffith be still alive or not he does not know.
Whether his idea be correct or not, we shall probably have a better opportunity of judging on the return of Captains Lewis and Clark—who though they may not penetrate as far as Griffith alleged that he had done, will probably learn enough of the country to enable us to determine whether the account given by Griffith be fiction or truth.
I am, Sir, your humble servant, HARRY TOULMIN.
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 8.
A petition of Cromwell Pearce, of Chester (Pennsylvania) was presented to the House, stating a claim to 2000 acres of unappropriated land, for the services of his father, as an officer in an expedition against the Indians, by virtue of a proclamation of the king of Great Britain, in 1763. Referred to the Committee of Claims.
Also, a petition of David Elliott, of New Jersey, praying to be placed on the pension list, on account of wounds received in major-general St. Clair's army, on an expedition against the Indians, November 4, 1791, whereby he is incapacitated from bodily labour, or praying such other relief as Congress in their wisdom shall deem meet. Referred to the Committee of Claims.
A petition of John Bowers, of Somersett (Massachusetts) was presented to the House, praying to receive the bounty allowed by law on vessels employed in the fishery of the United States, in the case of three Schooners belonging to him, named the George, the General Johnston and the Dana; the pay out of which he has not yet received, owing to some informality in the contracts entered into between the masters and crews of the said Schooners.
Referred to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures.
A message was received from the Senate, notifying that they have passed the bill designating Cambridge, in Massachusetts, to be a port of delivery.
The House went into committee of the whole.
Mr. TENNEY is the chair.
On a motion to re cede to the state of Virginia and Maryland, respectively, the jurisdiction of such parts of the territory of Columbia, as are without the city of Washington; and, after considerable debate thereon, the committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.
Mr. Dana reported on the memorial of Captain Alexander Murray, which report was referred to a committee of the whole House on Thursday next.
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9.
A petition of Peter Robertson, of Amherst, Hillsborough county (New Hampshire) was presented to the House, praying to be placed on the pension list, on account of a wound received at the battle of Bunker's Hill, in Massachusetts, while a soldier in Col. Stark's regiment, whereby he is prevented from obtaining a livelihood by labour.
Referred to the Committee of Claims.
A message was received from the Senate, notifying that they have agreed to the amendment proposed to the bill to divide the Indiana Territory into two separate governments.
A petition was presented from sundry inhabitants of Cheshire county (New Hampshire) praying that a post road may be established from Woosester, in Massachusetts, through Holden, Rutland, Hubbardston, Templeton, Winchendon to Fitzwilliam, and from thence to Keene, in New Hampshire.
Referred to the committee appointed to enquire what amendments are necessary to be made in the acts establishing a post office and post roads within the United States.
Mr. Richards, from the joint committee for enrolled bills, reported that the following bills had been examined and were found to be truly enrolled:
"An act to divide the Indiana Territory into two separate governments," and
"An act declaring Cambridge, in the state of Massachusetts, to be a port of delivery"—whereupon
Mr. Speaker signed the said enrolled bills.
Mr. Thompson, from the committee appointed on the public buildings, at the
city of Washington, presented a bill making an appropriation of dollars for completing the south wing of the capitol, and for other purposes, which was received and read the first and second times, and committed to a committee of the whole House, on Friday next.
Accompanying the bill was the following letter, from the Surveyor of the Public Buildings, at the city of Washington, dated
Wilmington, (Del.) December, 30, 1804.
Sir,
In answer to your letter of the 21st of December, I beg leave to state to you that the sum necessary to finish that part of the south wing of the capitol, which is now in progress, is 109,100 dollars, and of that part which corresponds to the recess in the north wing, 25,200 dollars, in all, 134,300 dollars.
This estimate is founded upon the best calculation that can be made of a building so complicated in its construction, and of which the materials and workmanship of many parts are of such a nature, that a small alteration of dimension or arrangement, may occasion a considerable difference of expense.—It is, I believe, the most accurate that under all circumstances can be made, and I do not expect that it will be exceeded.
On this occasion I beg leave respectfully to submit to you the following remarks:
Of the appropriations which have been made by Congress towards the erection of the south wing, that of the year 1803, could not be entirely expended in that year; partly because a considerable time elapsed in making the arrangements to resume a work so long suspended; partly because we were obliged to discharge our workmen and close the season in the month of October, in order that the House of Representatives might not be disturbed in their occupancy of the part of the building which then stood.
The appropriation of 1804, with the balance of that of 1803, has, on the other hand, not only been expended, but exceeded. No hindrance to the progress of the work to the end of the season occurred, and it was besides impossible to so arrange the very large contracts for stone and other materials, as to direct the labour of the work, as to stop at the point at which the appropriation was exhausted. For even at the moment at which it was perceived that an expence beyond the appropriation would probably be incurred, it was absolutely necessary to the security of the work during the winter, to carry up the walls to a certain level, to complete the vaults on the south side, and to incur much other unavoidable expence.—
I think it also proper to mention, that independently of monies due for labour, some of our most respectable contractors having made arrangements which it was highly against their interest to interrupt while the prospect of completing the building by further appropriations was open—have proceeded in their contracts with a perfect knowledge that the last appropriation was exhausted, as well as with a full confidence, that what has been so far carried on, would be completed.
In both these seasons however we have experienced an extreme difficulty in collecting good workmen, though from different causes. In the first (1803) the city could not at first furnish a sufficient number, we were obliged to discharge them again before the working season ended. This at a circumstance, and especially the interest of the appropriations operated against us in the season of 1804. Lest we should again labour under similar disadvantage, I consider it to be my duty most respectfully to represent to you the advantages that would result to the work by an early appropriation, approaching more nearly to the estimated expence of the House.—The objects in view would be accomplished, if Congress in their wisdom should think proper to grant the sum of 100,000 dollars, for the use of the public buildings during the next season.—Such an appropriation will indeed be the only means of insuring to the House of Representatives the occupancy of their hall at the season of 1806, and of preventing the being confined for more than one other season to the inconvenient situation of the Library.
In the above estimate I have included that part of the building which is not yet begun, but which will contain the access to the House, and correspond to

the whole part already created in the north wing—because, it were well to begin this part of the work as soon as possible, if it should appear to the President of the United States that its progress will not retard that of the House itself. I must also remark that no sum is therein estimated for fitting up and furnishing the new House.
I am with great respect, Your faithful, humble servant, B. HENRY LATROBE, Surveyor of the Public Buildings at Washington.
P. S. The above sum of 109,100 dollars includes the amount of all outstanding debts.
P. R. THOMPSON, Esq. Chairman of the committee of the House of Representatives, to whom is referred the President's message on the Public Buildings.
A message was received from the Senate, notifying that they have passed the bill, amendatory of the act, for the government and regulation of seamen in the merchant's service, with an amendment.
The House went into committee of the whole.
Mr. TENNEY in the chair. On the motion to recede to the States of Virginia and Maryland, respectively, the jurisdiction of such parts of the territory of Columbia as are without the city of Washington; and, after considerable debate thereon, the committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.
Adjourne.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10. A petition was presented from Sunday inhabitants of Pennsylvania, praying a post-road to be established from Norristown by a tavern known by the sign of the Bull, Pugh town, Coventry Forge, Morgan's town, Churh town and New Holland, to the town of Lancaster; and that post-offices may be fixed at such places on said road, as Congress may think proper.
Referred to the committee appointed to enquire what amendments are necessary to be made in the acts establishing a post-office and post-roads in the United States.
The petition of Wm. Beck, jun. of New Hampshire, presented February 9, 1803, with accompanying documents and a report of the committee of Claims thereon, were referred to said committee.
A message was read from the Senate, notifying that they had rejected the bill giving power to the stock holders of the marine insurance company of Alexandria to insure against fire.
Mr. Richards from the joint committee for enrolled bills, reported the presentation of the following bills, to the President for his approbation.
"An act to divide the Indiana territory into two separate governments," and
"An act declaring Cambridge, in the state of Massachusetts, to be a port of delivery."
The House took into consideration the amendment of the Senate to the bill amendatory of the act for the government and regulation of seamen in the merchant's service, Whereupon
It was referred, together with the Bill to the committee of Commerce and Manufactures.
The House went into committee of the whole.
Mr. Tenney in the chair. On the motion to recede to the States of Virginia and Maryland, respectively, the jurisdiction of such parts of the territory of Columbia as are without the limits of the city of Washington; and after considerable debate, the committee rose, and reported their disagreement to the said motion.
The House then proceeded to consider the said motion, which was read as follows:
1. Resolved, That it is expedient for Congress to recede to the state of Virginia, the jurisdiction of that part of the territory of Columbia, which was ceded to the United States, by the said state of Virginia, by an act passed the third day of December, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine, intitled "An act for the cession of ten miles square, or any lesser quantity of territory within the state, to the United States in Congress assembled, for the permanent seat of the general government;"—Provided, The said state of Virginia shall consent and agree thereto.
2. Resolved, That it is expedient for Congress to recede to the state of Maryland, the jurisdiction of that part of the territory of Columbia, without the limits of the city of Washington, which was ceded to the United States by the said state of Maryland, by an act passed the 19th day of December, in the year 1791, intitled "An act concerning the territory of Columbia, and the city of Washington;"—Provided, The said state of Maryland, shall consent and agree thereto."
When a division of the question was called for, and the question being taken that the House do concur with the committee of the whole House in their disagreement to the first resolution. It was decided in the affirmative.
YEAS—Messrs. Alexander, Baldwin, Blackledge, Boyd, Brown, Bryan, G. W. Campbell, J. Campbell, Casey, Chamberlain, Chittenden, Glaggett, Claiborne, Clopton, Conrad, Crowninshield, Cutler, Davenport, Dennis, Dickson, Dwight, Earle, Elliot, Eustis, Goddard, Gregg, G. Griswold, R. Griswold, Hastings, Helms, Holmes, Hough, Huger, Hunt, Jackson, Kennedy, Lewis, jun. Livingston, Lowndes, Lucas, Lyon, M'Creery, Mitchell, T. Moore, Nelson, New, Newton, junior, Plater, Purnance, Sammons, Sandford, J. Smith, Southerd, Stanton, Steadman, Stephenson, Taggart, Tallmage, Tenney, Thomas, Thompson, Trigg, Van Cortlandt, Van Horne, Waadsworth, Walton, L. Williams, M. Williams, Winn, Winston, and Wynn—72.
NAYS—Messrs. Alston, jr. Anderson, Archer, Bedinger, Bishop, Boyle, Butler, Clark, M. Clay, Dawson, Early, Elmer, Eppes, Findley, Fowler, Gray, Hanna, Habsbrouck, Heister, Hoge, H. I. Land, Jones, Larned, Leib, M'Cord, Meriwether, N. R. Moore, Morrow, Mott, Olin, Palmer, J. Randolph, J. Rea, (Penn.) J. Rhea, (Tenn.) Richards, Riker, Root, Seaver, Sloan, Smith, Stanford, Stewart, Varnum, Verplanck, Whitehill, Wilson—46.
The second resolution contained in the motion, being under debate,
Mr. Smith, moved to amend the same by striking out the words without the limits of the city of Washington.
And on the question to agree to the said amendment, it was decided in the negative.
The question was then taken to concur with the committee of the whole House in their disagreement to the second resolution, and decided in the affirmative—Yeas 69—Nays 39.
YEAS—Messrs. Alexander, Baldwin, Blackledge, Boyd, Brown, Bryan, G. W. Campbell, J. Campbell, Casey, Chamberlain, Chittenden, Glaggett, Claiborne, Clopton, Conrad, Crowninshield, Cutler, Davenport, Dennis, Dickson, Earle, Elliot, Eustis, Goddard, Gregg, G. Griswold, R. Griswold, Hastings, Helms, Holmes, Hough, Huger, Hunt, Jackson, Kennedy, Lewis, jun. Livingston, Lowndes, Lucas, Lyon, M'Creery, Mitchell, T. Moore, Nelson, New, Newton, Plater, Purnance, Sammons, Sandford, J. Smith, Southard, Stanton, Steadman, Stephenson, Taggart, Tallmage, Tenney, Thomas, Thompson, Trigg, Van Cortlandt, Van Horne, Walton, L. Williams, M. Williams, Winn, Winston, and Wynn—69.
NAYS—Messrs. Anderson, Archer, Bedinger, Boyle, Butler, Clark, M. Clay, Dawson, Early, Elmer, Eppes, Findley, Fowler, Hanna, Habsbrouck, Heister, Hoge, Holland, Jones, Larned, Leib, M'Cord, Meriwether, N. R. Moore, Morrow, Mott, Olin, Rea, (of Penn.) Rhea, (of Tenn.) Richards, Riker, Root, Sloan, Smith, Stanford, Stewart, Verplanck, Whitehill, Wilson—39.
The committee to whom was referred a remonstrance and petition of the representatives of the freemen of the territory of Louisiana, was discharged from the farther consideration thereof, and the remonstrance and petition were referred to the committee appointed on that part of the President's message, relative to the amelioration of the form of government of the territory of Louisiana.
Adjourne.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11.
A petition from Sunday inhabitants of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, presented December, 29, 1803, respecting the establishment of a post road from Alexandria in said county, through Hollidaysburg and Lewistown to Greensburg, was referred to the committee appointed to enquire what amendments are necessary to be made in the acts establishing a post-office and post-roads in the United States.
Mr. Leib presented a bill to amend the charter of Georgetown, which was read the first and second times and committed to a committee of the whole House on Monday next.
Mr. Crowninshield from the committee of commerce and manufactures reported on the memorial of Thomas Kirtland of Philadelphia, which was referred to a committee of the whole house on Wednesday next.
A petition was presented from Thomas and Samuel Hollingsworth of Baltimore, (Md.) praying to receive payment for several certificates of public debt, belonging to them, which were not presented at the Treasury Department, for liquidation and settlement, within the period prescribed by the acts of limitation.
Referred to the committee on the extinguishment of the debts due from the United States.
A petition was presented from Lewis Larue a French citizen, at present an inhabitant of New York, praying Congress to pass a special act to entitle him to the benefits and privileges of a citizen of the United States.
A motion was made to refer the abovementioned petition to a select committee, but the question being taken thereon.
It was negatived.
A message was received from the President of the United States notifying that he approved and signed the act declaring Cambridge, in the state of Massachusetts to be a port of delivery.
The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole,
Mr. GRACE in the chair,
On the report of the Postmaster General, concerning the memorial of Robert Henderson, of South Carolina; and after some time spent therein, the committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.
A message was received from the Senate, notifying that the President approved and signed the act dividing the Indiana Territory into two parts, which originated in the Senate.
Also, that the Senate passed the bill amendatory of the act for imposing more specific duties on the importation of certain articles, and for levying and collecting light money on foreign ships or vessels.
Mr. Winston informed the House of the death of his colleague, Col. James Gillespie, from North Carolina; Whereupon,
A committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Alexander, Winston, Holland, Wynn, Dickson, and Winn, to superintend the funeral; and
It was unanimously resolved that the House will attend the funeral, and that they will testify their respect for the deceased by wearing crape on the left arm for one month.
Adjourne.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 12.
The Speaker was requested to inform the Executive of the state of North Carolina of the vacancy occasioned by the death of Col. James Gillespie.
Adjourne.
STATE PAPER.
The following is the first of two notes presented by M. D'Oubril, the Russian charge d'affaires at Paris, to the French minister of foreign affairs.
PARIS, July 21.
"The note which the citizen minister of foreign affairs transmitted to the undersigned charge d'affaires from his majesty the emperor of all the Russias, he did not fail to transmit to St. Petersburg—but the undersigned has to declare, that his court greatly disapproved his receiving a paper, which did not answer his preceding official communications, and was by no means calculated to be laid before his august sovereign.—The said paper, however, is at length come under the notice of his imperial majesty, who saw with surprise, that its contents consisted altogether of such assertions as are not only unfounded, but also wholly unconnected with the note of the 22d. The emperor, already moved by the calamities which oppress a great part of Europe, and by the dangers which threaten the German empire, whose interest Russia is particularly bound to support, in conformity to her obligations, received intelligence of another recent violation of the law of nations, which was perpetrated at Ettenheim—he, therefore, thought himself bound to invite the assembled states of the German empire, and the German princes, to concur with him in jointly protesting against the French government, to whom his majesty communicated the same sentiments, in hopes that it would repair the insult offered to the German league, and allay the fears of Europe for the repetition of similar outrages."
"The French government could not avoid, in return, an answer to this plain declaration from his majesty the emperor—but the evasive reply which was made, is offensive to Russia, to the German empire, and to France herself—it impairs the good understanding which she declares her wish to preserve, but the effects whereof Russia has not hitherto perceived."
"We live no longer in those barbarous times when every country regarded only her immediate interest:—modern policy, founded upon the law of nations, has introduced certain principles, respecting the interest of the whole community of states. No state could view with indifference the event already mentioned, which gave such a dreadful blow to the independence and security of nations. By the peace of Tilschen, Russia undertook to guarantee and mediate for the German empire; in this quality, his imperial majesty was not merely justified in raising his voice on this occasion but was absolutely bound to do it. The French government, bearing a similar quality, takes the liberty of violating the neutrality of Germany, and to act arbitrarily on that territory. It is difficult to conceive how his imperial majesty should be competent to stand up for the German empire, the security and independence of which he has guaranteed."
"It would be in vain to attempt to explain otherwise the conduct of Russia, whose motives are so evident, or to discover therein the influence of the enemies of France; its sole motive is the wretched condition to which the French government, by its influence, has reduced Europe. Should Russia propose to establish a coalition, for the purpose
of renewing the war on the continent, it would not at all be required to seek any unfounded cause for it. The French government has long given too much cause for breaking the bands of harmony, which the emperor has preserved merely by his moderation, and which he desired to preserve forever.—No person, and the French government least of all, can mistake the views of the cabinet of St. Petersburg, since his imperial majesty so explicitly declared, even before the present war, how necessary it was to labor for the consolidation of peace; to prevent new revolutions in Europe; to avoid carefully every cause for mistrust; and to let every state quietly enjoy its independence. At the same time Russia disclosed to the French cabinet, how much he desired that this latter power might contribute to consolidated the present order of things; that it should, by its moderation and disinterestedness, give a hope to the other states of Europe, that every government could at least (after the unhappy war, which cost so much blood) devote itself, with safety and quiet to the happiness of the people entrusted to it.—Far from desiring to rekindle the flames of war on the continent, his Russian majesty most ardently wishes to stifle those flames every where: but his majesty harbors this particular wish, that the French government, as it pretends to the same desire, would let those nations alone, who with nothing more fervently than to avoid taking a part in the present troubles."
"This was the only (though unfortunately for the cause of humanity, it proved an ineffectual) wish of Russia, which never deviated from those principles; every step she took with the French government, which she constantly referred to treaties already concluded, had no other view. Upon the same ground she proposed to act as a mediator between France and England, but was not accepted."
Since the renewal of the war, the government of France thinks itself able to occupy those countries, and deprive them of their commerce, which in vain appeal to their neutrality: His imperial majesty was thereby alarmed, not indeed on his account, since, from the actual situation and power of his empire, his majesty can remain a quiet spectator of those distressing scenes; but he was alarmed for the security of the other states of Europe.
"His majesty repeatedly urged with the French government, but always ineffectually, that those countries at least should be permitted to remain neutral, whose neutrality was guaranteed by mutual treaties; his majesty also repeatedly disclosed his sentiments with respect to those states that are already in danger of sharing the fate of Italy, of a part of Germany, and of the other countries which France has already got in her possession. Meanwhile, the Emperor saw, in spite of all his exertions and remonstrances, the danger increasing daily; French troops on the one side, occupying the coasts of the Adriatic—on the other, levying contributions on the Hanse towns, and menacing Denmark; consequently, his imperial majesty has resolved, as the theatre of war approaches his frontier, to establish a military force which shall be adequate to put a stop to further encroachments. The fact is notorious to all Europe—the emperor was particularly desirous that it might not remain unknown to the French government, and the mutual explanations always referred to the same objects.—Never then did any government act more candidly, or for a purpose which requires less secrecy, or is subject to less false constructions, than Russia did in the present circumstances. If this conduct be not upright; if it can be considered as hostile to France, or an attack on the welfare and the tranquility of the German empire, then there is no longer any difference existing between manifest encroachments on the one part, and that just indignation which the other part must consequently feel, between attack and defence; between the oppression and protection of the weak."
The undersigned will not in this place examine by the law of nations the question, whether the French government be justified in persecuting in every country, those persons whom it excited from their own; and in prescribing to foreign powers the manner in which they shall be permitted to treat or to employ the late emigrants, whom they may have adopted for their subjects, or employed in their service?—Such a tenet is at variance with every principle of justice; nay, with those principles which the French nation has so solemnly proclaimed. To suppose that Russia attacks the independence of the states of Europe, because she will not permit a person in her employment abroad, to be appointed some where else at the will of the French government, were to confound all ideas and words; or because she claims another person, who is a naturalized Russian, and has just now been delivered up by another state, without any previous trial, and contrary to every appearance of justice.
"Never did the Emperor protect conspirators; his noble and upright character is too well known to all Europe, to require an elaborate contradiction of
this assertion, as false as it is indecent. The French government itself is convinced of the contrary; it need only remember that the emperor has frequently declared, that if such an accusation were proved against any Russian in his employment, he would hasten to punish him most severely for a crime which he considers as of a most heinous nature. But the cabinet of St. Cloud returned no answer to this candid communication, nor did it furnish any proof to support its pretensions; it then has no right to complain of its unsupported demands not being complied with. But at the present moment, when Portugal was obliged to purchase her neutrality; when Naples, to save her's, was compelled to contribute an enormous expense, to the maintenance of the French troops on her own territory; when all Italy, especially those republics that had been promised independence and happiness; when Switzerland and Holland were considered merely as French provinces; when one part of the German empire is occupied, while in another part French detachments execute arrests, in contempt of the sacred law of nations; at such a moment, the emperor will leave to all the states alleged, nay, to the impartial opinion of the cabinet of St. Cloud itself, the decision of the question. Which of the two, Russia or France, menaces the security of Europe? Which of them acts on principles the most favorable to the independence of other states? Which interferes most in the government and internal police of other countries, and practises the most arbitrary acts against them?
"Although the sorrow which the emperor felt at this alarming situation of affairs, was as notorious as the opinion he entertained of it, he nevertheless held himself bound to make his declaration as explicit as possible, that it might not, with truth, be said, that there was not a single government on the continent which had the courage to raise its voice in the cause of justice; and that the Russian government might not be charged with having omitted to call the attention of its co-allies to the dreadful consequences which must necessarily ensue from a further neglect of order, and of those principles on which their well-being and their security depend. It does not appear how it could be so easily proved in the present dispute, that Russia, by protesting against a manifest violation of the laws of nations, committed beyond the limits of the French republic, on a neutral territory of the German empire, by a guaranteeing and mediating power, had thereby interfered in the internal affairs of France; and to interfere in which the emperor had never the most distant idea. Every state is, indeed, competent to outlaw a person within its own limits; but no state has a right, arbitrarily, to place any person out of the protection of the law of nations; because the latter does not depend upon the decrees of any single state, but is grounded upon the unanimous will of the commonwealth of sovereign states. Thus the French government could at most demand of the princes of the German empire, in conformity to the treaty of Luneville, that the emigrants in their states, who had not yet made the choice of a country, and against whom authentic proofs could be produced, should be removed; but the French government was by no means justified in the invasion of those states, sword in hand, to carry off such persons by main force."
"It will hardly be credited, that the French cabinet could (to maintain its erroneous principle) deviate so far from every requisite decorum, and the regard due to truth, as to allege examples which were altogether improper to be mentioned; that it should, in an official document, recal even a father's death to the recollection of his illustrious son, in order to wound his tender feelings; and that if it should (contrary to all truth and all probability) raise an accusation against another government, whom France never ceases to calumniate, merely because she is at war with it."
"France has endeavored in vain, to justify herself by the most extraordinary fictions and suggestions; but they cannot alter the state of the present question, nor can they be made to justify with effect, an arbitrary act which annihilates the leading and hitherto undisputed principles of the law of nations. It is not, by any means, necessary to analyze the whole contents of the note from the citizen minister for foreign affairs, in order to be convinced that it is evasive and unsatisfactory, if the object be considered, which the emperor proposed, when he in the course of last spring, caused the notes to be delivered at Paris and at Ratisbon: it is also evident, from the said French note, that the French government rather wished to increase the emperor's just indignation since its only object in that note is, in an indecent manner, to avoid the important question proposed, instead of offering a candid investigation of it."
"The emperor is however, superior to the emotions of personal resentment. He has principally at heart the well being and tranquility of Europe; he, the cause, does not hesitate to make a last effort for the preservation, if possible, of

A friendly intercourse with France. His majesty's sole wish is that peace may revive in Europe, that no person may at any time have authority whatsoever over any other state; and that the French government do acknowledge an equality of rights for inferior states, but who are not less independent than France. Russia, it cannot be too often repeated, contains not the least inclination for war, nor can she be benefitted by it; her conduct will alone be influenced by the pressure of circumstances. She may, however justly presume, that the French administration entertains such an opinion of the Russian government, as to be convinced that the latter will not remain an idle or indifferent spectator of any new encroachments.
His majesty the emperor of Russia is not himself influenced by fear, nor does he wish to direct its operations to the minds of others. It is his desire to preserve his former relations with France, but upon no other ground than that of perfect tranquility. The first condition is that the terms mutually agreed upon shall be sacredly fulfilled, and on this condition only can the two states, after what has happened, enjoy their former relations of good will and amity.
The undersigned has been ordered to declare, that he cannot prolong his stay at Paris, unless the following demands are previously granted.
1. That conformably to the 4th and 5th articles of the secret convention of the 11th of October, 1801, the French government shall order its troops to evacuate the kingdom of Naples; and when that is done, that it shall engage to respect the neutrality of that kingdom during the present and any future war.
2. That in conformity to the second article of the said convention, the French government shall promise to establish, immediately, some principle of concert with his imperial majesty for regulating the basis upon which the affairs of Italy shall be finally adjusted.
3. That it shall engage, in conformity to the 6th article of the convention aforesaid, and the promise so repeatedly given to Russia to indemnify, without delay, the king of Sardinia for the losses he has sustained. Lastly,
4. That in virtue of the obligation of a mutual guarantee and mediation, the French government shall promise immediately to evacuate and withdraw its troops from the North of Germany; and enter into an engagement to respect, in the strictest manner, the neutrality of the Germanic body.
The undersigned has to add, that he has received orders from his government to demand a categorical answer to these four points, and avails himself of this opportunity, &c.
(Signed) "P. D'OURBIL"
WASHINGTON CITY.
MONDAY JANUARY 14.
The Delegates of the district of Columbia are advised that an adjourned meeting will be held at Semmes's Hotel, George town, THIS DAY, at 10 o'clock, A. M.
Washington Assemblies.
The Subscribers are informed that the first Assembly will be held at the Theatre, on Wednesday Evening, at six o'clock.
DIED , on Friday morning, Colonel JAMES GILLESPIE, a representative from North Carolina.
The House of Representatives entered on Friday into a resolution to wear crape for thirty days, and on Saturday attended his funeral, for the direction of which they had previously appointed a committee.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania have rejected the proposition made by the legislature of Massachusetts, for altering the constitution of the United States, relative to the representation in Congress.
On the 7th inst., the trial of the impeachment against Edward Shippen, Jasper Yeates, and Thomas Smith, associate Judges of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, commenced at Lancaster, before the Senate. Mr. Rodney appeared as counsel for the managers, and Messrs. Dallas and Ingersoll, counsel for the Judges.
The Articles of Impeachment having been read,
Judge Shippen rose and said, "I beg leave to deliver, our plea and answer to this accusation in writing."
A paper was accordingly handed to the President by Mr. Dallas.
The President then said, "shall this plea and answer be read?"—and the court answered aye.
It was accordingly read by the clerk as follows:
"The answers of Edward Shippen, Jasper Yeates, and Thomas Smith, to the articles of impeachment, exhibited against them by the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: "The said Edward Shippen, Jasper Yeates and Thomas Smith, saving to
themselves, respectively, all exceptions, whatsoever, to the said articles, and the charges therein contained, severally answered as follows;
That, they are not jointly or severally, guilty of all, or any, of the matters in the said articles contained, in manner and form, as they are therein charged against them.
And, they, further, confidently aver, that, all and singular the things, which they have judicially done, in the premises, were warranted and justified, by the constitution and known laws of the commonwealth; and, were free from all feelings and designs of favour, prejudice, cruelty, or oppression.
(Signed) EDWARD SHIPPEN, JASPER YEATES, THOMAS SMITH.
(Signed) JARED INGERSOLL, } Counsel for the A. J. DALLAS, } respondents.
Mr. Boileau, chairman of the managers, then rose—"Mr. President, the managers consider it to be their duty, to consult the House of Representatives, upon the replication to be given to this plea; they, therefore, demand, of the court, a delay until the usual time of meeting, to-morrow morning, to prepare the same."
The President said, the time is granted.
Mr. Kean, of the Senate, then moved that the court adjourn to half past eleven on Tuesday morning; and the court was accordingly adjourned—at 12 o'clock.
A gentleman who came passenger in the barque Nixon, from Rotterdam to Savannah, informs that Mr. Monroe, the American minister, arrived at Rotterdam from London on the 14th October, and left it in two days afterwards for Paris and Madrid.
Extract of a letter to a gentleman in New York, dated Cadiz, November 13.
"The news yesterday from the interior of this country is of a very alarming nature. In many places the people are in a state of insurrection. Want of bread has driven the lower classes to grant extremity, and in consequence to some shocking outrages. In one town the poorer inhabitants have risen in a mob and hanged the governor."
NEW YORK, January 9.
At a court of oyer and terminer and general goal delivery, held yesterday at the city hall, of the city of New York, in and for the said city and county, William P. Van Ness, Esq. was tried and convicted of being the bearer of a challenge from the Vice President of the United States to the late gen. Hamilton, and for aiding and abetting in the fatal duel which terminated in the death of the latter. The evidence was so clear and positive, that the jury returned a verdict without retiring from their box.
The trial of Nathaniel Pendleton, Esq. implicated in a similar charge as the second of gen. Hamilton, will, we understand, take place this day; and that of Richard Riker, Esq. (the district attorney) and Mr. Robert Swartwout, in the course of the session—Mr. Woodworth, the attorney-general, having come on for the special purpose of conducting these prosecutions on the part of the state.
The cause of col. William S. Smith, against Mr. James Cheetham, for a libel, was tried at a sitting of the supreme court on Monday; and called in to exercise some of the first rate talents of the bar. A verdict was given for the plaintiff, with 200 dollars damages.
District of Columbia, Washington County.
I hereby certify that Daniel Geyer brought before me a stray BAY HORSE, about 15 hands high, in very bad order, appears to be about 11 years old, with a small white spot on his forehead, a snip on the right side of his nose, and a small white place under his belly. Given under my hand this 11th day of January, 1805.
SAMUEL HAMILTON. The owner of the above described horse may have him again by paying his expenses, and the cost of this advertisement by application to the subscriber near the Centre Market House.
DANIEL GEYER. January 14—3t
In the case of Henry Dunlap an insolvent debtor.
District of Columbia Washington county to wit: ON the petition of HENRY DUNLAP an insolvent debtor confined in the prison of Washington county for debt. It is ordered that notice be given to the creditors of the said Henry Dunlap that on the 28th of January inst. at 10 o'clock A. M. at the court room in the capitol, the oath of an insolvent debtor will be administered to the said Henry Dunlap and a trustee appointed agreeably to the act, for the relief of insolvent debtors within the District of Columbia, unless sufficient cause then and there be shown to the contrary. It is also ordered that this notice be published in the National Intelligencer and Washington Federalist three times previous to the 28th inst. By order URIAS FORREST, Ck. January 14—3t
By AUTHORITY.
AN ACT To divide the Indiana Territory into two separate governments.
Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled That from and after the thirtieth day of June next, all that part of the Indiana Territory, which lies North of a line drawn East from the southerly bend or extreme of lake Michigan, until it shall intersect lake Erie, and East of a line drawn from the said southerly bend through the middle of said lake to its northern extremity, and thence due North to the northern boundary of the United States, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called Michigan.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That there shall be established within the said territory, a government in all respects similar to that provided by the ordinance of Congress, passed on the thirteenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, for the government of the territory of the United States North West of the river Ohio; and by an act passed on the seventh day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine, entitled "An act to provide for the government of the Territory North West of the river Ohio;" and the inhabitants thereof shall be entitled to, and enjoy all and singular the rights, privileges, and advantages granted and secured to the people of the territory of the United States, North West of the river Ohio, by the said ordinance.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the officers for the said territory, who, by virtue of this act, shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall respectively exercise the same powers, perform the same duties, & receive for their services the same compensation as by the ordinance aforesaid & the laws of the United States, have been provided & established for similar officers in the Indiana Territory; and the duties and emoluments of Superintendent of Indian affairs, shall be united with those of Governor.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act contained, shall be construed to as, in any manner, to affect the government now in force in the Indiana Territory, further than to prohibit the exercise thereof, within the said territory of Michigan, from and after the aforesaid thirtieth day of June next.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That all suits, process and proceedings, which, on the thirtieth day of June next, shall be pending in the court of any county, which shall be included within the said Territory of Michigan; and also all suits, process and proceedings, which, on the said thirtieth day of June next, shall be pending in the general court of the Indiana Territory, in consequence of any writ of removal, or order for trial at bar, and which had been removed from any of the counties included within the limits of the Territory of Michigan aforesaid, shall, in all things concerning the same, be proceeded on, and judgments and decrees rendered thereon in the same manner as if the said Indiana Territory had remained undivided.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That Detroit shall be the seat of government of the said territory, until Congress shall otherwise direct.
NATHL. MACON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. A. BURR, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate. January 11, 1805—APPROVED, TH: JEFFERSON.
AN ACT, Declaring Cambridge, in the state of Massachusetts, to be a port of delivery.
Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the town or landing place of Cambridge, in the state of Massachusetts, shall be a port of delivery, to be annexed to the District of Bolton and Charlestown, and shall be subject to the same regulations as other ports of delivery in the United States.
NATHL. MACON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. A. BURR, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate. January 11, 1805—APPROVED, TH: JEFFERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.
Whatever reluctance I may feel to the measure, I cannot avoid obtruding myself and my affairs on public attention. To suffer the notice given by Mr. James Greenleaf, that the assignees of Morris and others, have claim to a great part of the Washington Tontine property, to pass without observation, might expose me to the suspicion that I could descend to practice fraud upon the public. To refrain from showing to the world, that the Tontine property is free from any claim of Morris and others, would be to abandon a fair and honest enterprise; useful to its projectors; beneficial to those who have become, and may become adventurers in it; and advantageous to the City of Washington. Some of the Tontine property was acquired by myself and others, by purchase at the public sales of the commissioners of Washington,
of the property that had been contracted for by Morris and others, and which was resold, under a law of Maryland because the stipulated payments had not been made. This, it is understood, is the property, to which it is said the assignees have claim—and this, on the ground heretofore assumed, that the commissioners had not authority under the Maryland law, to resell the property contracted for by Morris and others, before the passage of the law.
For more than seven years, pretensions of this kind have been announced throughout the United States, to the inconceivable injury of many proprietors of City property: and to the great prejudice of the City itself: and, as in all this time, no effort has been made to establish claim to a single lot, by any legal course, those least inclined to uncharitable suspicion, have been led to the belief, that these pretensions were kept up for the landable purpose of retarding the progress of the city, by deterring strangers from making investments in it: or with the honest view of embarrassing sales, until the owners of such property should yield, as to the lesser evil, to iniquitous demands in the shape of compromise, for the privilege of selling.
Who that steps beyond his own threshold has not had his ears poisoned by the tales, universally circulated, of the infinite hazard of titles in Washington? In Washington, where of all places the titles to property can be most easily ascertained; and where, of all places, they are in general most secure:—and more especially, to that property subject to most obloquy—I mean that which has passed through the hands of the commissioners, and is held under their title; in which, it is next to impossible for the most ignorant to be deceived.
But enough of exordium. The public will please to take notice, that Morris and others, contracted on the 24th of December, 1793, with the commissioners of Washington, for 6000 lots, and agreed to pay by seven annual instalments of about 70,000 dollars each. They quickly failed to make the promised payments, and the commissioners proceeded to re-sell the lots under the authority of the Maryland law:—But their right being questioned, they took the opinion of the Attorney General of the United States, so much of which as is relevant to the point in contest, I here recite:
"By the agreement of the 24th December, 1793, between the commissioners of Washington, and Morris and Greenleaf for 6000 lots, the consideration money is to be paid by instalments, and therefore this sale" (a sale in contemplation by the commissioners) "appears to be within the letter and spirit of the act of 28th December, 1793, which more properly comprehends sales made prior to the passage of the act, than sales subsequent thereto, and in my opinion comprehends sales of both descriptions. This act does not impair any contract, nor is it objectionable with respect to this sale, as being ex post facto, because it does not alter any contract, but invents a new and speedy mode of preventing injury that might arise from a breach of contract, and is in furtherance of a fair and complete execution of the terms of the contract. It is analogous to a law amending the administration of justice, and giving new, or changing old remedies."
"In the present case it may be remarked, that the law was passed before any breach of contract had taken place."
"As to the lots comprised in the contract, remaining unconveyed to Morris and Greenleaf, if default has been made in paying the instalments, or any of them which may have become due, and likewise in building the number of houses stipulated, it is my opinion so many of them may be re-sold by the commissioners agreeably to the aforesaid act, as shall be requisite to raise the full sum of money due at the time of such re-sale, and so from time to time, as the instalments shall fall due, and be unpaid. It is my meaning that no more shall be sold than will satisfy the arrearages of principal and interest actually due and charges thereon."
C. LEE. That the reader may judge of the soundness of the attorney general's exposition of the law, I will recite all of it that relates to this subject.
"And be it enacted, that on sales of lots in the said city, by the said commissioners, or any two of them, under terms or conditions of payment being made therefor, at any day, or days after such contract entered into, if any sum of the purchase money or interest shall not be paid for the space of 30 days after the same ought to be paid, the commissioners, or any two of them may sell the same lots at public vendue in the city of Washington, at any time after giving 60 days notice of such sale in some of the public newspapers of George town and Baltimore town, and retain in their hands sufficient of the money produced by such new sale, to satisfy all principal and interest due on the first contract, together with all the expenses of advertisement and sale—and the original purchaser or his assignees shall be entitled to receive from the said commissioners at their treasury on demand the balance of the money which may have been actually received by them, or under their order, on the said second sale—and all lots so sold shall be freed and acquitted of all claim legal or equitable of the first purchaser, his heir and assignee."
Here I might justly rest my appeal, secure of the suffrage of every man who can understand what he reads, and whose object is conviction. But in a case like this, even the shadow of difference should not remain—and shall not, nor shall those miserable creatures whose highest gratification consists in the malignant pleasure of surveying the disappointments of men who strive by proper means, to acquit themselves honorably of their burthens, be permitted the privilege of doubting themselves, nor, of infusing doubts into the minds of others, as to the safety of the titles to the Tontine property, and other property in Washington, affected by this fraudulent claim, to the amount of one third of all that is valuable in it.
Let it be remembered that the objection to the commissioners right to re-sell the lots contracted for by Morris and Greenleaf, is this—that the law giving the power to re-sell, passed after the contract. Even this poor plea, wretched as it is, shall no longer be made the pretext for deception. The law passed before the contract. For evidence of this fact I appeal to the journals of proceedings of the two houses of the Maryland legislature, by which it will be seen, that the bill originated in the Senate, and after the sanction of that body, was sent to the House of Delegates where it remained some days,
but was taken up for the last time and passed in the sitting of the forenoon, of the 24th of December, 1793. These journals will be lodged at the office of the National Intelligencer. I scarcely need observe what all Maryland knows, that the laws of Maryland take effect from their passing both houses. The governor is not a part of the legislature, and though he signs the laws in the presence of both houses, as a witness, the omission to do so, does not invalidate the laws, as the courts have determined—they are as much in force before they get his signature, which is generally put to them at the end of the session, as afterwards.
The commissioners of 1793 were men of character and prudence and did not think it quite safe to commit the fate of the city to the keeping of Greenleaf and Co. with no other remedy in their hands, for failure in engagement, than the tedious process of a chancery suit, and therefore waited until they received certain information of the passage of the law. Such information was sent them immediately on its passage the 24th of December, and they received it in time to enable them to execute the contract the same night, though at a very late hour, with full knowledge of the existence of the law.
It may be asked, why did the commissioners of 1797 represent to the attorney general, and believe themselves that this important act passed the 28th and not the 24th of December? I know of but one way of accounting for this apparent inattention on their part, to a fact to be sure not material to their right of re-sale, but certainly very material to quiet the minds of timid purchasers. These gentlemen were a new set of commissioners, none of them had been privy to the transactions of 1793, they saw by the contract they found in the office that it had been executed on the 24th of December, and by the printed book of laws, it appeared that the act in question and every other act of the same session had passed on the 28th day of December, and I suppose they concluded no further. The circumstances indeed of all the acts of the session appearing to have passed on the same day, had it been adverted to, would have led to the conclusion that there was an error in the printing; but this circumstance, looking as it now seems, most probably escaped attention, and from this little oversight, have arisen all the mighty mischiefs that have flowed from the slander of the titles to Washington property. For had this pitiful plea, that the contract was prior to the law, been shown at the first sales, to be untrue in point of fact, there being nothing else to rest a doubt upon, we should have heard nothing about the sales of the commissioners without the authority of law—nor of the hazard of titles in Washington.
After this it is to be hoped we shall hear no more of the claims of the assignees, or others, on one third part of the city of Washington. At least it is to be expected that the assignees, who have characters to stake, and who must have been deceived, will no longer permit their names to be prostituted to countenance such claims—nor can this expectation be disappointed, if these gentlemen are just to their own fame.
As I have known for several weeks, that Mr. Greenleaf was engaged in the benevolent work of slandering the Tontine titles, I thought it due to decency to suffer the progress of that institution to be suspended, until an opportunity could be seized to dissipate doubts. I shall now take my measures to insure to it the success it merits, which this development will most likely accelerate.
BEN. STODDERT. George-Town, January 11, 1805. P. S. Those Printers who have published the plan of the Washington Tontine, will much oblige me by inserting this, and with it Mr. Greenleaf's notification. B. S.
BY virtue of a writ of Venditioni Expōnas issued from the Circuit court of the district of Columbia for the county of Washington, at the suit of the President directors and Company of the Bank of Columbia—will be exposed to public sale for ready cash on the 21st day of December next, at Mr. Rhodes's tavern in the city of Washington, all the right, title, claim and interest of John P. Van Ness in and to the following property, viz:—Lots no 3 4 5 and 6 in sq no 492 Lots no 3 9 and 10 in sq no 493 Lots no 4 5 6 and 7 in sq 494 Lots no 3 6 7 8 9 10 11 and 13 in sq 535 Lot no 1 in sq 494 Lots no 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 321 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 in sq no 643 Lots no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 6

PROPOSALS
For carrying Mails of the United States on the following Post-Roads: will be received at the General Post Office, in Washington, until the 14th day of Jan. next, inclusive.
 44. From Danville by King and Queen c. h. via Kirkford, Gloucester c. h. and North End to Matthews c. h. once a week. Leave Danville every Thursday at 8 a m, and arrive at Matthews c. h. on Friday by 6 p m.—Returning. Leave Matthews c. h. on Saturday at 6 a m and arrive at Danville on Monday by 6 p m.  45. From Richmond by Granville to Charles City c. h. once a week. Leave Charles City c. h. every Tuesday at 6 a m and arrive at Richmond by 4 p m. Leave Richmond every Wednesday at 6 a m and arrive at Charles City c. h. by 6 p m.  46. From Richmond by Hopkins, Powhatan c. h., Goochland, New Canaan, Backhampton c. h., Bent Creek, Byersburg, New London and Liberty to Powhatan once a week.—Leave Richmond every Wednesday at 1 p m and arrive at Powhatan on Saturday by 6 p m.—Leave Powhatan on Sunday at 4 a m and arrive at Richmond on Wednesday by 10 a m.  47. From Richmond by Cheswold, Coope's Bridge, Priceville, Perkinsville, Paineville, Lightstown & James-town to Powhatan once a week.—Leave Powhatan every Monday at 6 a m & arrive at Richmond on Tuesday by 4 p m.—Leave Richmond every Wednesday at 8 a m, & arrive at Jamestown on Thursday by 8 p m.  48. From Powhatan c. h. by Cumberland c. h., Coope's Bridge, Priceville, Charles City c. h. to Halifax c. h. once a week. Leave Powhatan c. h. every Thursday at 10 a m, arrive at Prince Edward c. h. on Friday by 4 p m and arrive at Halifax c. h. on Saturday by 4 p m. Leave Halifax c. h. on Sunday at 4 a m and arrive at Prince Edward c. h. on Monday at 6 a m. Leave it at 6 a m and arrive at Powhatan c. h. on Tuesday by 1 p m.  49. From Prince Edward c. h. by Linton, Wheeler's Springs, Reed's & Campbell's to New London once a week. Leave Prince Edward c. h. every Friday at 4 p m & arrive at New London on Saturday by 8 p m.—Returning. Leave New London on Sunday by 4 a m & arrive at Prince Edward c. h. on Monday by 6 a m.  50. From Halifax c. h. by Danville & Dixonville to Lenox Castle N. C. once a week. Leave Lenox Castle every Friday at 6 a m & arrive at Halifax c. h. on Saturday by 6 p m. Leave Halifax c. h. every Sunday at 6 a m & arrive at Lenox Castle on Monday by 6 p m.  51. From Halifax c. h. by Halifax Old town, Pittsylvania c. h., Pittsylvania Old town, Peytonburg, Henry c. h. and Rocky Mount to Liberty once a week. Leave Halifax c. h. every Sunday at 6 a m and arrive at Henry c. h. on Monday by 3 p m and at Liberty on Wednesday by 10 a m.—Returning. Leave Liberty every Wednesday at 2 p m, and arrive at Henry c. h. on Friday by 8 a m. Leave Henry c. h. at 9 a m and arrive at Halifax c. h. on Saturday by 6 p m.  52. From Henry c. h. by Patrick c. h. to Germanton in N. C. once in two weeks. Leave Henry c. h. every other Monday at 4 p m and arrive at Germanton on Wednesday by 10 a m. Leave Germanton the same day at 2 p m and arrive at Henry c. h. on Friday by 8 a m.  53. From Petersburg by Brookington, Namazee's Bridge, Noroway c. h., Hungarystown, Double Bridge, Halesburg, Williamsburg, Bibb's Ferry and Scottsburg to Halifax c. h. once a week. Leave Petersburg every Wednesday at 2 p m and arrive at Williamsburg on Saturday by 9 a m. Leave Williamsburg at 10 a m and arrive at Halifax c. h. by 4 p m.—Returning. Leave Halifax c. h. on Sunday by 6 a m and arrive at Williamsburg by 2 p m. Leave Williamsburg at 3 p m and arrive at Petersburg on Wednesday by 10 a m.  54. From Williamsburg by Speed and Wilson's Store, Walden's Store, Sterlington and Normans to Mount Tazewell once a week. Leave Williamsburg every Saturday at 10 a m and arrive at Mount Tazewell on Sunday by 4 p m. Leave Mount Tazewell every Friday at 5 a m and arrive at Williamsburg on Saturday by 8 a m.  55. From Harrisville by Fielders Mill, Quarlesville, McFarlands, Lunenburg c. h., Christiansville, Marshallville, Meckenburg c. h., Davis's, St. Tamany's, Cross Bridge, Edmundson and Fielder's Mill to Harrisville once a week. Leave Harrisville every Tuesday at 6 a m and arrive at Marshallville by 5 p m. Leave there on Wednesday at 6 a m and arrive at Harrisville by 6 p m.  56. From Harrisville by Hick's ford & Alexandria to Halifax twice a week. Leave Harrisville every Wednesday and Friday at 5 a m and arrive at Halifax by 8 p m. Leave Halifax every Thursday and Saturday at 5 a m and arrive at Harrisville by 8 p m. The mail is 
 57. From Pate's Bridge by Suffolk c. h., Jerusalem and South Quay to Murfreesborough, N. C. once a week. Leave Pate's Bridge every Tuesday at 6 a m and arrive at Murfreesborough on Wednesday by 4 p m.—Returning. Leave Murfreesborough every Sunday at 8 a m and arrive at Petersburg on Monday by 6 p m.  58. From Smithfield by Urquhart's Store, Jerusalem, Bethlehem Cross Roads and the Cross Keys, to Hick's Ford once a week. Leave Hick's Ford every Thursday at 5 a m, and arrive at Smithfield on Friday by 11 a m.—Returning. Leave Smithfield every Friday at 1 p m and arrive at Hick's Ford on Saturday by 7 p m.  59. From Norfolk by Kempville, N. W. R. Bridge, Tullis Creek, N. C. Indian town, Jonesboro', Elizabeth City, Nixonton and Hertford to Edenton once a week. Leave Norfolk every Tuesday noon and arrive at Edenton the next Friday by 10 a m.—Returning. Leave Edenton every Friday at 2 p m and arrive at Norfolk the next Tuesday by 8 a m.  60. From Charlottesville by Warren, Warmister, New Market, New Glasgow, Amherst c. h. and Madison to Lynchburg once a week. Leave Charlottesville every Thursday at 2 p m and arrive at Lynchburg on Saturday by 10 a m. Leave Lynchburg every Saturday at 2 p m and arrive at Charlottesville on Monday by 10 a m.  61. From Staunton by Kinkeads, the Warm Springs or Bath c. h., Morris's, Callaghan's and the Sulphur Springs to Lewisburg and from thence by Union Town, the Sweet Springs, Callaghan's, &c. to Staunton once a week. Leave Staunton every Friday at 2 p m and arrive at Lewisburg on Monday by 10 a m. Leave Lewisburg by noon and arrive at Staunton the next Friday by 10 a m.  62. From Lewisburg by Boyers, Huff's, Morris's, Keeney's c. h., Point Pleasant and Gallipolis, to Scioto Salt-works, once in two weeks. Leave Lewisburg every other Tuesday at 6 a m, arrive at Scioto Salt-works on Sunday by 4 p m. Leave Scioto Salt-works every other Monday at 6 a m, and arrive at Lewisburg on Saturday by 6 p m.  63. From Staunton by Middlebrook, Brownstown, Lexington, Natural Bridge, Pinesville, Ammon, Montgomery c. h. and New Dublin to Wythe c. h. once a week. Leave Staunton every Friday at 2 p m and arrive at Wythe c. h. on Monday by 6 p m. Leave Wythe c. h. every Tuesday at 4 a m and arrive at Staunton the next Friday by 10 a m.  64. From New Dublin by Tazewell c. h. or Jeffersonville, Russell c. h. and Lee c. h. to Cumberland Gap once in two weeks. Leave New Dublin every other Monday at 9 a m and arrive at Cumberland Gap the same Saturday by 6 p m.—Returning.—Leave Cumberland Gap every other Sunday at 6 a m and arrive at New Dublin the next Friday by 6 p m.  65. From Wythe by Austinville, Grayson c. h. Scull Camp, Mount Airy and Bethania to Salem N. C. once a week. Leave Wythe c. h. every Tuesday at 6 a m and arrive at Salem the next Friday by 10 a m. Returning.—Leave Salem every Saturday at 6 a m and arrive at Wythe c. h. on Monday by 6 p m.  IN NORTH-CAROLINA.  66. From Suffolk, Vir. by Everitt's bridge and Gates c. h. to Edenton twice a week. Leave Suffolk every Monday and Friday at 1 p m and arrive at Edenton on Tuesday and Saturday by 1 p m. Returning.—Leave Edenton every Sunday and Thursday at 9 a m and arrive at Suffolk on Monday and Friday by 9 a m.  67. From Edenton by Lee's mills, Plymouth and Washington to Newbern twice a week. Leave Edenton every Tuesday and Saturday at 2 p m and arrive at Plymouth by 6 a m on Wednesday and Sunday. Leave Plymouth at 6 a m and arrive at Washington by 6 p m. Leave Washington at 7 p m and arrive at Newbern on Thursday and Monday by 4 p m. Returning.—Leave Newbern every Tuesday and Friday at 5 a m and arrive at Washington by 5 p m. Leave Washington at 6 p m and arrive at Plymouth on Wednesday and Saturday by 4 p m. Leave Plymouth at 4 p m and arrive at Edenton on Thursday and Sunday by 9 a m.  68. From Washington by Bath to Woodstock once a week. Leave Woodstock every Wednesday at 7 a m and arrive at Washington by 4 p m. Leave Washington at 7 p m and arrive at Woodstock on Thursday by 2 p m.  69. From Newbern by Trenton, North West Landing and Richmond to Wilmington once a week. Leave Newbern every Tuesday at 5 a m and arrive at Wilmington on Thursday by 10 a m. Leave Wilmington every Thursday at 2 p m and arrive at Newbern on Saturday by 7 p m.  70. From Newbern to Beaufort once in two weeks. Leave Newbern every other Tuesday at 4 a m and arrive at Beaufort by 5 p m. 
 71. From Warrenton by Ransom's bridge, Jonesville, Halifax, Scotland neck, Hagan, Williamson, Daily's, Plymouth and Lee's mills, to Scuppernong once a week. Leave Warrenton every Tuesday at 6 a m and arrive at Ransom's bridge by noon. Leave Ransom's bridge at 1 p m and arrive at Halifax by 6 p m. Leave Halifax at 7 p m and arrive at Scotland neck on Friday by 11 a m.—Returning.—Leave Scuppernong every Friday at 1 p m and arrive at Scotland neck at 11 a m and arrive at Halifax on Monday by 8 a m. Leave Halifax at 8 a m and arrive at Ransom's bridge by noon. Leave Ransom's bridge at 1 p m and arrive at Warrenton by 7 p m.  72. From Halifax by Northampton c. h., Princeton, Murfreesboro', Winton, Core, Pinesville, Pitch Landing and Windsor to Edenton once a week. Leave Halifax every Wednesday at 4 a m and arrive at Murfreesboro' by 4 p m. Leave Murfreesboro' by 5 p m and arrive at Edenton on Friday by 10 a m. Returning.—Leave Edenton every Friday at 2 p m and arrive at Murfreesboro' on Sunday by 7 a m and at Halifax by 8 p m.  73. From Ransom's bridge by Enfield, Tarboro' and Greenfield to Washington, and thence by Greenville, Tarboro' Nash c. h. and Still's Store, to Ransom's bridge once a week. Leave Ransom's bridge every Tuesday at 1 p m and arrive at Enfield by 6 p m. Leave Enfield at 7 p m and arrive at Washington on Thursday by 4 a m. Returning.—Leave Washington every Friday at 8 a m and arrive at Ransom's bridge on Sunday by 6 p m.  74. From Halifax by Tate's Store to Enfield once a week. Leave Halifax every Tuesday at noon and arrive at Enfield by 3 p m. Leave Enfield at 4 p m and arrive at Halifax by 8 p m.  75. From Scotland neck by Norfleet's ferry, Grandison's Cross Road and Clarksville to Windsor once a week. Leave Scotland neck every Thursday at 6 a m and arrive at Windsor by 4 p m. Leave Windsor every Friday at 6 a m and arrive at Scotland neck by 6 p m.  76. From Raleigh by Pittsburg and Chapel Hill to Hillsboro' once a week. Leave Raleigh every Tuesday at 4 a m and arrive at Hillsboro' on Wednesday by 8 a m. Leave Hillsboro' every Sunday at 5 p m and arrive at Raleigh on Monday by 8 p m.  77. From Hillsboro' by Mount Tazewell, Person c. h., Leesburg, Caldwell c. h., Lenox Castle, Rockingham, Bestwick's and Germanton to Salem once a week. Leave Hillsboro' every Wednesday at 10 a m and arrive at Mount Tazewell by 3 p m and arrive at Salem the next Saturday by 5 p m. Leave Salem every Saturday at 10 p m and arrive at Hillsboro' the next Wednesday by 8 a m.  78. From Raleigh by Nuttall's to Oxford or Morganton once a week. Leave Raleigh every Tuesday at 4 a m and arrive at Oxford by 6 p m. Leave Oxford every Wednesday at 4 a m and arrive at Raleigh by 6 p m.  79. From Warrenton by Williamsbury, Oxford, Hillsboro', Alleghany, Martinsville, New Garden, Salem and Lexington to Salisbury once a week. Leave Warrenton every Tuesday at 2 a m and arrive at Hillsboro' on Wednesday by 8 a m. Leave Hillsboro' at 9 a m and arrive at Salem on Thursday by 3 p m. Leave Salem at 4 p m and arrive at Salisbury on Friday by 10 a m. Returning.—Leave Salisbury every Friday at 1 p m and arrive at Salem on Saturday at 8 a m. Leave Salem at 9 a m and arrive at Hillsboro' on Sunday by 3 p m. Leave Hillsboro' at 5 p m and arrive at Warrenton on Monday by 5 p m.  80. From Salem by Bethania, Huntsville, Rockford and Wilkes to Morganton and thence by Island Ford, Houstonville and Huntsville to Salem once a week. Leave Salem every Friday at 2 p m and arrive at Morganton the next Monday by 5 p m. Leave Morganton every Tuesday at 8 a m and arrive at Salem the next Friday by 10 a m.  81. From Wilkes to Ash c. h. once a week. Leave Wilkes every Monday at 6 a m and arrive at Ash c. h. by 5 p m. Leave Ash c. h. every Tuesday at 5 a m and arrive at Wilkes by 5 p m.  82. From Salisbury by Statesville, Charlotte, Hunterville and Lincoln to Morganton once a week. Leave Salisbury every Friday at 2 p m and arrive at Charlotte on Sunday by 8 a m and at Morganton on Monday by 5 p m. Leave Morganton every Tuesday at 6 a m and arrive at Charlotte on Wednesday at 10 a m. Leave Charlotte at noon and arrive at Salisbury on Friday by 10 a m.  83. From Morganton by Rutherford-ton, the Warm Springs, Newport T. and Sevierville, to Knoxville T. once a week. Leave Morganton every Tuesday at 6 a m and arrive at Knoxville on Friday by 10 a m. Leave Knoxville every Friday at 2 p m and arrive at Morganton the next Monday by 6 p m. 
NOTICE. IS hereby given that the sale of all those lands and lots heretofore advertised in the Washington Federalist, the National Intelligencer and the Baltimore Federal Gazette on the 20th day of August last for a tax due the county of Washington in the territory of Columbia for the year 1801 (which sale was to have taken place on Monday the 10th day of December next at Rhodes Hotel in the City of Washington) is postponed until the first Monday in February next, when at the same place at 11 o'clock A. M. the sale will commence and continue from day to day until all are sold or so much thereof as will satisfy the tax and other charges due thereon unless the said tax and charges be paid previous to the day of sale.
By order of the commissioners of the Levy Court, WASHINGTON BOYD, Collector of Washington County. December 28th, 1804 eptd
ROBERT CHERRY. HAS removed his store, to the house of Mr. George Blagden New Jersey avenue on the Eastern Branch, where he has just received (in addition to his former stock) by the Schooner Hyland from Philadelphia a general assortment of groceries and liquors of superior quality, with a few boxes India china of the best quality eighty pieces to the set; all of which he will sell wholesale and retail at the most reduced prices for cash, or in exchange for country produce.—All orders in his line will be executed with punctuality and dispatch; he flatters himself from the quality of his articles he will be able to render ample satisfaction to his friends and all those who may be pleased to favor him with their custom. All kinds of commission business will be attended to with the utmost attention. Washington city Dec. 12—tf
Doctor Benion, (Lately from Great Britain) RESPECTFULLY informs the inhabitants of Washington and its vicinity, that he has taken up his residence in F. Street, (three doors from the Secretary of State) where he intends practicing as Physician, Surgeon and accoucheur. Washington, Dec. 28. 1804. 6t
FALL GOODS. THOMAS CARPENTER, TAYLOR, Pennsylvania Avenue, near the President's Square. HAS just received a very handsome assortment of Fall Goods. Orders executed with the greatest dispatch and fashion, and on the most moderate terms. Oct 31—tf
TO RENT. THE house occupied by J. P. VAN NESS. Enquire of John Little at the Treasury Department or of the subscriber, at Doctor John Beatty's. George Town. Possession given on the 1st December. ABSALOM JOY. November 7—tf
CHARLES H. VARDEN, MERCHANT TAYLOR. Has received from Philadelphia a handsome assortment of FALL goods, consisting of the best London and French superfine cloths, cashmeres, patent Bennet's cord, toilettes, fancy and white Marceilles, black and figured silk, moleskins, fancy silk, Marceilles, constitution cords, velvets, Genoa cord, silk and satin Florentines, superfine coating, knapped cloths, with a variety of other articles suitable for the winter season. N. B. Ladies habits, regimentals, and navy uniforms made in the first style of fashion. New Jersey avenue near the Capitol, December 10—tf
THE subscribers have opened a GROCERY STORE in the house near the Capitol, lately occupied by Mr. JAMES D. BARRY—where they have for sale, low, for cash or in exchange for country produce. Genuine Cogniac brandy, Inferior French do. Old Jamaica spirits, Madeira, } Wines, by the quarter cask Sherry, } and cask, or smaller quantity, Lisbon, } Claret, } Brown Sugar, rft and ad quality, Loaf and Lump, do. Molasses, Firkin Butter, Mould Candles, Sweet Oil, Spices of different kinds, Fig Blue, Starch, Almonds, Anchovies, } In bottles. Capers, } Powder and Shot, Excellent Wine Vinegar, Gin, Whiskey, Hylon, Imperial, } Teas, fresh, and of superior quality. Young Hyson, } Salt Herrings in Barrels. PRIMER HEALY, & Co. Washington October 31—tf
ALL persons who are indebted to the estate of Michael Roberts deceased (for debts contracted at his store in George town) are requested to come forward immediately and make payment to Edgar Paterson, who is duly authorized to receive the same, otherwise their accounts will be put in suit without discrimination—those who have demands against said store, if any there are, are requested to apply as above for payment. FRANCES ROSE, Executrix. THOMAS CUMPS, ON } Executors. JOSEPH WILLIAMS } George town, 26th Dec. 1804.—enrin
NOTICE. THE ASIGNEES of the joint estate of ROBERT MORRIS, JOHN NICHOLSON and JAMES GREER LEAF, and the assignees of the separate estate of James Greenleaf, hereby give notice to all persons concerned, that they have claims in equity to a large part of the lots in this city, advertised by BENJAMIN STODDART, as being engaged for his "WASHINGTON TONTINE."—The said assignees also give notice, that they mean to rely on the principles of law and equity, many of the acts and doings of the Commissioners of the City, relative to lots and property, purchased of them, by R. Morris and J. Greenleaf, and that they mean also to rely on like principles, every act and doing of R. Morris and J. Nicholson, relative to lots or property, grounded on J. Greenleaf's deed of conveyance, to said Morris and Nicholson, dated 18th May, 1796, which is on record in this city. The very extensive estate conveyed by that deed, being among other provisions, exceptions and restrictions, subjected to the following "to all liens now binding or affecting the same property, on account of any part of the purchase money which remains unpaid to the co-commissioners of the said city of Washington, or any other person or persons from whom the same was purchased, by either of the parties to these presents; and to all other liens, restrictions, reservations, exceptions, conditions, regulations and agreements, to which the said property, or any part of it, was subjected by the contracts under which the same was purchased, as aforesaid," excepting also, all such squares, lots, lands or tenements, as were either conveyed or sold, or agreed to be conveyed, either by all or either of them the said James Greenleaf, Robert Morris and John Nicholson, or any of their agents or attorneys, to any person or persons whatever, at any time prior to the tenth day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety five.
TEN DOLLARS REWARD. DESERTED from on board the United States frigate United States, on the night of the 6th inst. RICHARD BOWERS ordinary seaman, 5 feet 4 1/2 inches high, dark complexion, dark short hair, full face, dirtied in tailors dress—whichever will apprehend the said deserter and deliver him to the subscriber shall receive the above reward. JOHN CASSIN. January 9—3t
TEN DOLLARS REWARD. DESERTED from on board the United States frigate United States, on the night of the 6th inst. HENRY MORRISON, seaman, about 5 feet 10 inches high, dark complexion, short dark hair tied behind, thin face and make, much marked with the small pox, his clothing half boots, short jacket and small hat—whichever will apprehend the said deserter and deliver him to the subscriber shall receive the above reward. JOHN CASSIN. January 9—3t
Analysis of the Washington Tontine. THIS institution, as its name implies, is calculated for the benefit of survivorship. Each share owner must, at the time of subscribing, or at some time before the 1st of July, 1805, name a life or lives, on the continuance of which, his share must depend—or failing to do this, the existence of his stock will depend upon his own life. The basis of the institution is upwards of 1200 lots in the city of Washington, averaging 35 feet by 120, and lying principally between George town and the President's square; between that square and the capitol, and adjacent to the navy yard. These at different prices, from 60 to 240 dollars, amount to 2,000,000 dollars. This sum is divided into 1200 shares of 50 dollars each.
It was necessary that the legal estate in the lots should be deposited some where for the use of the company. Trustees, who are men of probity and property, are named in the articles, to whom the property is to be conveyed. These trustees, however, cannot dispose of the property. That can only be done by the directors, who are to be chosen in each year by the stock holders. The first election of directors will be held at Stoll's hotel, on the first Monday in February next.
It was proper too, that the public should not be imposed upon by bad titles. Two gentlemen therefore, as respectable for their private worth, as eminent for their knowledge in the law, and thoroughly versed in city affairs, are pointed out by the constitution of the Tontine, to investigate, and to judge of the titles, before the execution of the deed. These gentlemen happen to be the counsel for the assignees of portions, who have heretofore speculated largely in the city property; a circumstance which rendered it still more proper, because more safe for the public, that they should be selected as the judges of the Tontine titles.
The directors are to sell the lots, and to invest the money arising from sales, in stock of the United States. The interest of the stock, until the end of the year 1807, is also to be invested in like stock—After 1807, it is to be divided, semi annually among the share owners of existing stock, until the dissolution of the company in 1825, when the capital, the whole of which it is to be presumed, will then exist in stock of the United States is to be divided among the owners of the then existing stock, in proportion to the sum held by each.