The national intelligencer and Washington advertiser. (Washington City [D.C.]), 1808-09-26 00:00:00

National Intelligencer.
WASHINGTON ADVERTISER.
VOL. VIII.
WASHINGTON CITY, PRINTED BY SAMUEL HARRISON SMITH, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
NO. 1242.
FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1808.
PAID IN ADVANCE.
Prince George's county, ss.
ON application to me the subscriber in the recess of the court as chief judge of the first judicial district of the state of Maryland by petition in writing of HENRY ADDISON CALLIS , of Prince George's county, praying for the benefit of the act for the relief of sundry insolvent debtors, and the several supplements thereto on the terms mentioned in the said acts—schedule of his property and list of his creditors on oath as far as he can ascertain them, being annexed to his petition; and the said Henry Addison Callis , having satisfied me by competent testimony that he has resided in the state of Maryland two years immediately preceding the time of his application; having also stated in his petition that he is now in actual confinement for debt and not on account of any breach of the peace or for the non-payment of any fine, or penalty for the breach of the laws of this state or of the United States, and having produced to me the certificate of the sheriff of Prince George's county to that effect, and having prayed to be discharged from confinement on the terms prescribed in the said acts, and having given security for his personal appearance at the next county court to answer any allegations that may be made against him by his creditors. I do hereby order and adjudge that the said Henry Addison Callis be discharged from his imprisonment, and by causing a copy of this order to be inserted in the National Intelligencer for three months successively before the first Monday in December next, to give notice to his creditors to appear before the county court at the court house of said county, at 12 o'clock of the said first Monday in December next for the purpose of recommending a trustee for their benefit, on the said Henry Addison Callis then and there taking the oath by the said act prescribed for the delivering up his property and to show cause if any they have why the said Henry Addison Callis should not have the benefit of the several acts of Assembly for the relief of insolvent debtors.
Given under my hand this 12th day of August 1808.
JOHN M. GANTT.
September 2—$8m
This is to give Notice
THAT the subscriber, of Prince George's County in the state of Maryland, hath obtained from the Orphans Court of Prince George's Co. in Maryland, letters testamentary, on the personal estate of George Lee , late of Washington County in the district of Columbia, deceased.
All persons having claims against the said deceased, are hereby warned to exhibit the same with the vouchers thereof, to the subscriber, on or before the ninth day of March next; they may otherwise by law be excluded from all benefit of the said estate. Given under my hand, this third day of September, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eight.
JOHN REED MAGRUDER, jun. Executor.
Sept. 5—56t.
This is to give Notice
THAT the subscriber, of Prince George's county hath obtained from the Orphans Court of Prince George's county in Maryland letters of administration on the Personal Estate of Isaac Magruder late of Prince George's county, deceased. All persons having claims against the said deceased, are hereby warned to exhibit the same with the vouchers thereof to the subscriber at or before the 13th day of March next; they may otherwise by law be excluded from all benefit of the said estate.
Given under our hands, this 13th day of September 1808.
ANN MAGRUDER, THOS. MAGRUDER Administrators.
September 14—16
AMERICAN HEMP.
THE Secretary of the Navy will receive until the 1st. November next, proposals for furnishing water rotted Hemp of the growth of the United States, to be delivered either at Portsmouth, N. H.; Boston; New London; New York; Philadelphia; Newcastle; Baltimore; Norfolk; Wilmington, N. C.; Charleston, S. C.; Savannah, Geo., or New Orleans.
For well water rotted and well cleaned American Hemp, the Secretary of the Navy is disposed to allow a liberal price beyond the usual price of such Hemp when dew rotted.
Navy Department, May 3—w1N
CAPITOL, U. STATES, Sept. 22, 1808.
ALL persons having accounts unsettled against the Public Works, are requested to apply at the office on the Capitol Hill, late Mr. Lenthall's, as soon as convenient for settlement.
B. HENRY LATROBE. Surveyor of the public buildings of the United States.
FOR THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
"United we stand, divided we fall."
A period of nearly eight years has now elapsed since the republicans of this country compelled an aristocratic junto to abandon the helm of state. It is unnecessary to enter into a vindication of the measures which have been pursued since the change of administration. It is sufficient to observe that they have been approved of by a vast majority of our citizens, who have on various occasions proclaimed that their confidence in the government was undiminished.
The leaders of the opposition seem to have been convinced that neither calumny nor misrepresentation could render the administration unpopular; for during the last two years they changed their mode of warfare. Instead of an open and direct opposition to the measures adopted by the government, they affected to approve of some, and spoke with moderation of others. By this artful line of conduct many of the republicans were led into a belief that all further opposition from the party styled federalists , was at an end. Under this impression they relaxed from that vigilance, which had heretofore been practised by them. In the mean while the leaders of the opposition party were actively employed in exciting and fomenting divisions among the friends of the administration. Encouraged by the success they have met with in pursuing this Macedonian policy ( divide et impera ) and elated at the momentary triumph which they have recently obtained over the friends of the administration in the northern states, the leaders of the opposition have at length announced their determination to support a candidate of their own party, for the important office of President of the United States, at the approaching election.
This fact being now ascertained, can a republican for a moment hesitate, between stepping forward to support James Madison , who has been recommended by most of the republican members of Congress (and which recommendation has been approved of by the republicans in various parts of the union)—or in giving his support to the federal candidate , or what will amount to nearly the same thing, by continuing on nomination Messrs. Clinton and Monroe ; for although it cannot be denied that those gentlemen have deserved well of their country, Mr. Madison is evidently the person on whom the republicans generally cast their eyes to succeed the President. It is therefore to be hoped that the patriotism of the friends of Messrs. Clinton and Monroe will induce them to sacrifice personal feelings, and rally around the standard of the republican majority, and support James Madison , as a candidate for the Executive chair. That gentleman merits the confidence of his fellow-citizens. His patriotism cannot be called in question, and his diplomatic writings prove that as a statesman, he is excelled by no other in this country.
Republicans —By unanimity , you have hitherto defeated the dangerous machinations of your enemies. By unanimity you can again defeat them, and thereby preserve your liberties; but should discord continue to prevail among you, the period is not far distant, when we may expect to see the reign of terror and proscription again introduced into our country.
FRANKLIN.
MR. LATROBE'S COMMUNICATION. (CONTINUED.)
The third order of our water courses rise either in the lowest ridge of our hills, which I will call the granite ridge, and over which all our principal rivers from Georgia to the Hudson, fall, and then run through the alluvial country which lies between the granite ridge and the ocean. Such rivers are, the Nottoway, the Blackwater, the Meherrin, the Annacosta, (eastern branch of Potomac) the Elk river, and the very important creek in the state of Delaware, the Christiana ; or they are merely drains of the alluvial country, assuming an appearance of importance below the head of the tide, above which they are mere torrents, almost dry in the autumn. Such streams are all the rivers of the eastern shore of the Chesapeake, and of the lower part of the Jerseys, and innumerable water courses, forming
large estuaries in the southern states. Our great north western lakes, from their first source to the eastern end of lake Erie, may be considered as part of the great River St. Laurence, following the direction of the rest of our rivers, until opposed by the northern extremity of the Allegheny. From thence its course follows the valley west of the Allegheny, through lake Ontario to the ocean, receiving the waters of the northern extremity of the mountain in its course.
This general view of the construction of our country was necessary in order to understand the general principles on which our artificial navigation can be so conducted, as to be useful, or even practicable; and to explain why connections of waters, which on the map appear advantageous and feasible, would be useless, and perhaps impracticable, by any effort of art.
Two principal objects will dictate all the exertions towards the improvement of our internal navigation, which can for many years to come be attempted: 1. To carry our produce by water to the nearest port for its exportation, and the importation of foreign articles: 2. To change by internal commerce the articles reciprocally deficient on lines parallel to the sea coast. Canals, the use of which arises from manufacturing activity, will not probably be soon required.
The first object—as all our principal rivers run seaward, and generally by the shortest course—must be attained by the natural or improved navigation of the rivers themselves, or by canals cut parallel to them; the second may often require a navigation parallel to the valleys, so as to communicate one principal river with another.
The former attempt at improved navigation has already been made on many of our principal rivers—the latter has been seldom undertaken; and only once above the falls of both primary rivers, in the canal intended to join the Susquehannah and Schuylkill, and the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers above Philadelphia.
The general construction of our country opposes to artificial navigation, in either of these directions, difficulties, which in no part of the world exist in so uniform, and certain a degree. Canals parallel to our rivers, have three formidable obstacles to encounter and overcome.
1. The rapid descent of the ravine cut through the mountains by the river itself, along which the canal must be carried;—or, if the ravine be quitted, difficulties on the high levels, which, the further you go from the river, are always intersected by the more numerous ravines; and embarrassed by the difficulty of returning to the ravine of the river.
2. The invariably rocky nature of the ground, which is uniformly of granite in all its varieties; and has numerous fissures which carry off the water, and require lining.
3. The difficulty of keeping off the land water, and of crossing the lateral branches and torrents of the river.
On the other hand, canals parallel to our mountains must necessarily cross the ridge or spur of the mountain which divides the waters of two primary rivers. On this ridge above the falls, the water requisite to supply the canal, is always scanty, often there is none; and though a tunnel or a steam engine, or in the last resort a rail road, are certain means of obviating the difficulty, they are expensive, inconvenient and imperfect. Below the granite ridge, the difficulty is less. There may always be found a supply of water from the ridge itself; and the feeders, though carried through rocky and expensive ground, are themselves useful as small canals, as far as they extend; and below the ridge the soil is easily cut and embanked.
Having so frequently mentioned the granite ridge, I will here trace its extent as far as my knowledge of our country enables me to do it.
The granite ridge forms the shore of the north side of Long Island opposite to the island of New York. All the south side of the island is alluvial, and is the first margin of alluvial soil below the granite ridge. This margin of alluvial soil beginning at Long island, widens as it extends to the south-west, until in Georgia it becomes more than 200 miles in width.
Staten island and Bergen point, are
two spurs of this same ridge, which continue nearly in the line of the post-road to Trenton, where the river Delaware falls over it, having worn down the rocks more deeply there than many other of our rivers. The Delaware runs in its general direction for 60 miles under the ridge as far as Newcastle, leaving it only for a short distance at particular bends of the river. The softer granite of Schuylkill has been worn down so that the falls are four miles from its lower edge. From Philadelphia the ridge runs with the post-road to Havre-de-Grace, where it is visible on both shores, although the tide extends six miles above, to the foot of the falls.
The Susquehannah, by the name of the Chesapeake, may be considered as running under the foot of the granite ridge almost as far as Baltimore, which city is built upon the foot of the ridge. At the river Patuxent, on the post-road, the ridge appears again, but is lost under the incumbent soil, and is not again visible until it appears at Georgetown. The harder granite of the Potomac has resisted the force of the water more than the granite further to the N. E. and the tide reaches only three miles above its outtrunings. From the Potomac, the falls of Rapahannoc at Fredericksburg, of James river at Richmond, Appomattox at Petersburg, Roanoke at Halifax, beyond which point my personal observation does not extend, point out the course of this ridge in a line nearly parallel to the Blue ridge, diverging eastward as it extends southward.
Of the improvement of the natural navigation of our rivers leading to the sea, and of canals cut parallel to them.
The difficulties of the natural navigation of our rivers are: In spring—the danger of wreck in the wild water of our rapids; in autumn, obstructions created by rocky shoals; and, in most of them, rapids and falls impracticable at all times. The least expensive and most obvious means of removing the former are the blowing of the most prominent rocks, so as to straighten the channel, and procure a passage at low water. This has in almost all our rivers been attempted on a greater or less scale, and with various degrees of success. When injudiciously performed, and in rivers of rapid descent, and liable to great variation in the quantity of their water, more injury has been done than advantage obtained. Many of our worst obstructions act as natural dams, which holding up the water, create a large extent of excellent navigation above them. Of this the James river above Westham, and the Susquehannah above Chickisulunga and Hunter's falls, are instances in point. Such obstructions when removed, let down the water rapidly from above, without supplying deeper navigation below.
In a river of such magnitude as the Susquehannah, indeed, no such gap or sluice artificially cut, can materially affect the rapidity of the stream, but in lesser rivers, great care is required, not only to prevent lowering down the water above, but to avoid giving a new direction to the current, more mischievous in its effects than that which has been changed. But with whatever judgement the natural navigation of a river perplexed by rapids and shoals may be conducted, and however its descent may be thereby facilitated, its ascent cannot possibly be rendered more easy, in the same degree. Thus for instance, although by the monies expended by the state of Pennsylvania and the Susquehannah canal company, on the natural navigation of the Susquehannah below Wright's ferry, it has been rendered much less dangerous to run down the whole of which is a tremendous rapid, from Columbia to the tide, and thereby to carry lumber, iron, and agricultural produce to Havre-de-Grace, & thence to Baltimore—yet so difficult is the upstream navigation by the same route, even with the assistance of the Susquehannah canal, that the returns in imported articles have been generally purchased in Philadelphia & conveyed to Columbia or Middletown, above the rapids, by the Lancaster turnpike, thence to be boated to the country watered by the upper branches of the Susquehannah. And although the Philadelphia market has hitherto offered more advantages to the buyers of imported goods than that of Balti-
more, yet the expence of transporting them 72 miles by land to Columbia, would, if there were a good navigation from Havre-de-Grace upwards, destroy this advantage.
The difficulty of carrying canals parallel to our great rivers, the scarcity of engineers possessing knowledge and integrity, the want of capital, and above all the erroneous dread of bold measures, and the fear of uselessly expending money in works hitherto unknown among us, has deterred those interested in improving our navigation, from deserting the beds of our rivers, while it was practicable to keep them. They have therefore had recourse to canals only where navigation was otherwise impossible; where obstructed by rocks, or broken by a cascade.
There cannot however be a reasonable doubt, that if in England, where compared with the U. States, the quantity of water in the rivers varies little between the driest and the wettest period of the year, a canal running parallel to a river furnishes a much more certain and safe and equal and cheap navigation than the river itself—it is infinitely more the case here. Unfortunately those of our canals which have been cut to pass the rapids and falls of our rivers, partake in a great measure of the inconveniences of the rivers themselves; some wanting water when the river is low, some incapable of being entered excepting at a particular height of the water in the river, some subject to constant accumulation of bars, and all of those with which I am acquainted much less useful than the money expended on them ought to have made them.
Those canals, of which I now particularly speak, are, the James river canal, the Potomac canal, the Conewago, and Susquehannah canals. Of the canals north of the Delaware, and south of Virginia, I have not sufficient knowledge, nor can I speak of the Appomattox canal. It is, I believe, not liable to the same strictures in all points, which I shall make upon the others, but though I am well acquainted with the ground, I have not seen the manner in which the work has been executed.
One great and fatal error has been interwoven into the scheme of the other canals excepting only that of the Potomac: They have been dug as much with a view to the erection of mills as to the purposes of navigation. To fit them for mill-races, their descent is rapid, and their current strong. They are liable, of course, to the variation of the quantity of water in the river; they bring down with their current the alluvium of the river; bars are formed in them, as well by this alluvium, as by the land wash; and their banks, where they are not of rock, or walled, are liable to perpetual wear by the current. The canal is, besides, itself an inconvenient rapid to those who would ascend it.
Besides these inconveniences, the contracts binding the company to furnish to the millers the water, when it rises above a certain gage-solle, for an annual rent, or on other fixed & permanent terms, tie the canal company to the original construction of the work, and forbid future improvement. For instance, if a lock were found to be useful above the highest mill, it could not be erected, because it would rob the mills below of their stipulated water; the inclination of the canal cannot be lessened, because it would have the same effect. In the James river canal, more than in any other which I have seen, this error, though generally considered as a very great advantage, will at some future period be discovered and deplored. The Potomac canal, more especially that of the Little falls, has the same defect of a too rapid descent, although the object of a mill race is placed by their charter out of view. But its principal defect is of another kind, to which that of James river is also, but in a less degree, subject. It receives the wash of all the hills and ravines of the north bank, which ought to be discharged through culverts, or carried over bridges: and that legislative impartiality which has required the canal to enter the river at the very head of the tide, in order that Virginia may have an equal chance of becoming the depot of its commerce with

Maryland, has very much injured its utility to the country at large.
In a still greater degree than the Potomac canal, the Susquehannah canal, beginning at the Maryland & Pennsylvania line, and ending at the head of the tide, has the defect, not only of receiving the landwash of the hills and ravines, but also two considerable rivers, the Conewago and Octorara, partaking thus of all the danger arising from their inundations, and receiving their alluvium. This canal is also applied to the purposes of a mill race. Other inconveniences attend it which arise from the most unfriendly nature of the river, and the local feelings of the state legislatures of Pennsylvania and Maryland, at the period of the incorporation of the company.
The Conewago canal, about 50 miles higher up the Susquehannah, is also a mill race, and is the property of an individual. It is of difficult entrance, which is to be regretted, as it ought to be the means of passing a short but very dangerous fall of the river, which interrupts a long extent of very good navigation.
Having thus pointed out the general and common defects of the canals, to which I may add the general want of proper slopes to their banks, I will now enter upon the very thankless task of giving an honest opinion respecting them in detail, viewing only the public interests , and perfectly conscious of the bearing of what I shall say, upon private feelings. These feelings, however, are extremely short-sighted; for nothing could be more advantageous to the individuals most interested, than those measures which would most benefit the public.
The James river and Appomattox canals stop short of tide water. The most important of these canals is that of James river. Upon the coal mines of James river our Atlantic sea-ports will soon become dependent for their chief supply of fuel. That dependence exists already in respect to the fuel required for a variety of manufactures, and even now the smiths within 10 miles of our sea ports, require in order to carry on advantageous business, a supply of Virginian coal. There are three means (and I think only three)—by which the Virginian coal can be brought to the tide: 1. By a small canal and roads, immediately from the mines south of the river to the shipping tide water at Amphilhill or its neighborhood, along the valley of Falls creek: distance I believe, 20 miles. This is a route easily practicable and at a moderate expence, for Falls creek rises in the coal mines themselves. 2. By the turnpike road to Manchester opposite Richmond. This road has been sometime completed, and is of the highest utility. 3. By James river to the head of the falls, and thence by the canal to Richmond. This is for two-thirds of the coal country, the best and most obvious route. For from all the mines the coal may easily be brought to the river on rail roads, and then e-boated, independently of the cheaper conveyance which Tuckahoe creek might be made to yield to a great extent of coal land now little worked. But of what adequate use is this navigation in boats carrying at an average 200 bushels of coal only, when, if the canal were well constructed, 1000 bushels might be as easily and as cheaply conveyed; and when, on their arrival in Richmond, they must be unloaded, again loaded into carts and carried down by a bad road to the tide at Rockets to be shipped? The Manchester turnpike, with all its expence of waggons, horses, and drivers, and the consequent waste of labor, capital, food and forage, is a better, and I am told, as cheap a mode of conveyance.
The means by which the canal itself may be made much more useful, I will not consume your time and patience in detailing; what is most important, taking the whole subject into view, is to connect the canal, such as it is, with the tide.
In the year 1796, Mr. Weston, then engineer to the western navigation companies of the state of New-York, was called to Richmond to give his advice and opinion on this subject. It amounted to this: to connect the basin with the foot of the falls, by a succession of ten or eleven locks in one tier, carrying the race of Ross's mill upon an aqueduct across the canal at the foot of the locks. With all deference to his talents, I cannot help remarking, that of all expensive projects of which I ever heard, this would have been one of the most useless. For independently of the excessive inconvenience and detention which such a tier of locks at the most busy part of a navigation would occasion, the boats would arrive at their foot, in a very considerable rapid, now impracticable, and which could only be made practicable by blowing up the rocky bed of the river. When ar-
rived there, two miles of tide water must be encountered; to navigate which, these boats are wholly unfit. I cannot help thinking that the present mode of conveying the coal to Rockets is not much less eligible. I refrain from stating many other objections, which are professional, and which I believe were, as well as those already mentioned, as evident to Mr. Weston as to myself; but objections of another nature, more powerful than mere physical difficulties, opposed every project excepting that which he proposed.
In order to connect the basin of the James river canal with the tide, a very simple means is offered by the nature of the ground. To do this it will be necessary to form a capacious basin at Rockets, communicating with the tide by one or more locks. To carry a canal from thence along the level bank of James river to Shockoe creek. A cheap aqueduct of one arch of 30 feet span will carry the work across the creek into the back street. The canal will then go up the back street, mounting by successive locks, not more than two in each tier, into the basin. The canal from Rockets to the basin on Shockoe hill, should be of 9 feet draft of water, and the locks 100 feet long and 18 feet wide. This canal would of course bring vessels which navigate our coasts and bays and run out to the West-India islands, into the basin on Shockoe hill.
The legislature of the state of Virginia, (for the commonwealth is deeply interested in the stock) has from time to time expressed great anxiety on the subject of completing this canal. But the dread of unforeseen difficulties and risks in carrying the work below the basin, and the value and productiveness of the stock in its state, have hitherto overbalanced this anxiety. But considering Richmond as the principal source of fuel for the cities on our sea-coasts at least until the mines of Cape Breton shall supply us, I feel a rational sentiment in deeply regretting the very fatal policy which maintains and supports the error, and the mutilation of this most important work. I will not at the same time deny, that when it is considered that those who projected and executed the canal were men of no acquaintance either with general science, or with this particular branch of art, and knew nothing of canals but from books or hearsay, they have already done wonders. They deserve the thanks of their state, and of the union. But the work should not stop where they had left it. Nature has, perhaps, done more for Richmond than for any site where a city has been planted. For 10 miles above the city on both sides, and upon several islands of the stream, there are innumerable mill seats, supplied by one of the noblest rivers in the union. Immediately above the head of the falls lies an inexhaustible treasure of coal. Every art and manufacture to which human ingenuity can employ fire and water, may be here carried on with the least expence. From above, an easy and wide spreading navigation, collects on this spot all the raw materials which our climate can produce; below, a river capable of bearing sea-vessels sufficient for every trade, but that across the ocean, is ready for the exportation of merchandise. The town itself is placed on a healthy and commanding ground. But to improve these advantages to the utmost extent to which our population is equal, nothing would so much contribute as the completion of the Richmond canal.
I have dwelt especially on the coal trade to which this canal is subservient, as of first rate national importance. It is of no less importance to the state of Virginia as a means of conveyance of agricultural produce. As you will receive an answer in detail to your queries relative to the amount of all sorts of produce carried upon it, and of its actual trade, I will not add any thing further to what I have already said on the subject, but to observe—that at some distant period, the Chickahominy, a river rising in the coal country, and discharging itself into James river miles below Richmond, where ships may take in their cargoes, offers a mean of carrying down the coal destined for distant exportation.
A canal has often been projected for passing the falls of the Rappahannoc at Fredericksburg. There is no reasonable hope, however, that this work can soon be executed. The ravine of the river at the falls on either side is so abrupt, rocky and irregular, that great expense must be incurred to effect it—an expence not likely to be repaid by its trade for many years.
A canal to connect the Rappahannoc with the Potomac, a few miles below Fredericksburg, across the northern neck, has also been spoken of. It would be a highly useful work, but would require a tunnel of 2 or 3 miles. I believe it could be executed at an
expence not greater than the tolls would remunerate. Such a canal, however, does not belong to the class of which I am now speaking.
The Potomac canal consists of two parts—one to pass the great falls 14 miles above Georgetown—the other to pass the little falls. The errors committed in the construction of the work have been enumerated above. The trade of this canal, especially during the year 1807, has been so great, that there appears every prospect of its becoming a productive work—in those years, in which there is a considerable and equal quantity of water in the river. But upon this circumstance it must always depend. The information respecting it, which can be obtained from the company, on the spot, renders it unnecessary for me to say more upon it.
No attempt at the improvement of the navigation of any of the rivers of Maryland between the Susquehannah and the Potomac, has been made, nor is there in the prospects of advantage to be derived from the navigation of the two Patuxents, the Patapsco, or any of the lesser rivers falling into the Chesapeake, any thing which could at present tempt capital into such an undertaking.
But the Susquehannah itself has been for many years the object of almost all the attention directed in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania, to the improvement of our internal navigation. About 6 miles above Havre de Grace, this mighty river meets the tide. The place is now known by the name of Smith's ferry. The map of the river from thence up to Wright's ferry (Columbia) in Pennsylvania, which I made in the year 1801, when directing the works carried on for the improvement of the natural bed of the river, and which by favor of the governor of Pennsylvania, I am able to exhibit with this memoir, will explain the nature of this part of the river very minutely, being drawn to a very large scale. The whole of this extent is one tremendous rapid, which in fact continues to the N. W. side of the Chickahominy hills, 3 miles above Columbia. The rapid is not every where of equal velocity, or equally dangerous. Wherever the river crosses a valley of limestone or slate, the rocks are worn down in a smoother and wider bed: but when it has to cross a ridge of granite, its course is immediately broken by irregular masses and ranges of rocks; its bed is narrow and enclosed by precipices, and its torrent furious and winding.
The Chickahominy falls can be descended without danger, and no attempt to open them has been thought necessary. The ridge of granite hills through which they break, bounds on the N. W. the beautiful limestone valley of Columbia. Across this valley the river runs rapidly, but smoothly. Another narrow ridge of granite hills crosses the river immediately below Columbia, over which the river falls rapidly, and then enters the wider limestone valley known by the name of the Jochara valley. The river spreads here to the width of three miles, its stream is gentle though rapid, and it abounds in beautiful and fertile islands. It then suddenly contracts and is received into the narrow ravine which it has sawed down in the granite hill called Turkey hill. From its first entrance into the Turkey hill, to the tide, there is no part that deserves the name of a sheet of smooth water. When the river is full, the whole ravine about half a mile in width contains only one furious torrent in which few rocks comparatively are to be seen above the water; but the danger is not the less, and very skilful pilots, and many stout hands are required to carry a boat or an ark safely down. But in the autumn, and in a dry season, the river itself can for 6 miles scarcely be seen, and its bed appears a barren and dry waste of irregular rocks, among which the loud roaring of water is only heard: for, from the Turkey hill to near the mouth of Conestogo, the whole river is discharged through a channel generally about 60 feet wide, in the greatest part of which the depth and the rapidity of the torrent is such, that it has not been fathomed. About a mile below the mouth of Conestogo, a narrow limestone valley touches the river on the N. E. side, but on the west shore not a trace of limestone is to be seen. Four miles below Burkhalter's ferry, the river arrives at the high range of granite hills, abounding in copper, in which the gap mine is situated, and at a place called M'Call's ferry, it narrows to the width of 16 perches. Here I attempted to find bottom with a line of 180 feet, but failed, notwithstanding every precaution taken to procure a perpendicular descent of the weight attached to it. Through this pass the water is rapid, but smooth and safe. The river rises here rapidly, and very suddenly after the fall of rain above; and it will ne-
ver be possible to erect a safe bridge at this place, so often mentioned as the most practicable. The obstructions to navigation by 3 rapids below M'Call's is not so considerable as to endanger the arks and boats that descend, until they arrive at the Baldfrier falls, below Peachbottom and about 8 miles above the tide. From M'Call's to the slate valley of Peachbottom, the river is filled with islands called the Bear islands. Across the valley of Peach bottom, and above the Baldfrier falls, the river is wide and safe. The best natural navigation, and that always pursued by boats descending by the natural bed of the river, is on the west side, from the foot of the Bear islands. Above that point to Columbia, the best passage is on the east side. The most dangerous falls below Peachbottom were Amos's and Hester's falls, on which many wrecks annually occurred until the late improvements of the navigation were made.
From this description it may easily be imagined that if the descent of the river with boats loaded with produce was dangerous and difficult, the ascent was still more so. The natural obstructions were besides increased by fishdams in every part of the river, and the rival interests of the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland prevented, for many years, every attempt at artificial improvement of the bed of the river. In the mean time each state took measures to go as far towards rendering the navigation of this river useful, to their respective interests, as their means & limits would permit; and a company was incorporated in Maryland, to make a canal from the Maryland line to the tide, to pass all the obstructions of the river of the eight lowest miles; and in Pennsylvania two companies were also incorporated, the one to connect the Susquehannah with the Schuylkill, by a navigation taken out above all the dangerous falls, and the other to connect the Schuylkill with the Delaware. The objects of none of these companies were advantageously accomplished. The Susquehannah canal company have however, completed a navigable canal, liable to the objections which I have above noticed. The Pennsylvania companies have made considerable progress in the works, under the direction of a very able engineer, Mr. Weston, but have not completed either canal so as to render them useful or productive.
At last, in the year 1801, the states of Maryland and Delaware having passed laws incorporating a company for the purpose of cutting a canal between the Chesapeake and Delaware, a former law of Pennsylvania, appropriating 10,000 dollars to the removal of obstructions in the Susquehannah, went into effect; and the late colonel Fred. Antes, than whom no man was better fitted to accomplish its object, was charged with its execution. But he died on his arrival at the river, and the direction devolved upon me. The enclosed report to the legislature on this subject, details the extent of the work executed, and the principles on which I proceeded in the attempt to make a practicable and safe navigation both up and down the river. I will here only repeat that all my exertions were bent to force through all obstructions, a channel clear of rocks, of 40 feet wide, close to the Eastern shore, never leaving any rock upon which a vessel could be wrecked between the channel and the shore—so that in the most violent freshes a boat should always be safe, by keeping close in shore. Rocks of immense magnitude were therefore blown away, in preference to the following a crooked channel more cheaply made, but more difficult and dangerous, and varying in safety and practicability, according to the degree of the rise of the river. There is however one part of the navigation in which the bed of the river must forever be pursued, namely, from the Indian steps above M'Call's to below the gap at M'Call's:—a part of the navigation, which, if art can conquer it, must be undertaken in a state of the country infinitely more abounding in wealth and population than at present.
Of the Chesapeake and Delaware canal.
Having now answered that part of your enquiry which relates to the general subjects of canals, I come to the particular merits of the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, of which you requested me to give you special information; together with my opinion on its location, unbiassed by any interests but those of the public.
The very able report of the committee to whom your letter to the president and directors of the company was referred, and who did me the honor to confer with me on the subject, conveys to you all the information
which can be given of the history of the company, their pecuniary resources and difficulties, the motives that directed their choice in the location of the work, and the system under which it was begun and pursued. Every thing also that can be collected by the most indelatable enquiry as to the probable proceeds of the canal, and the advantages it offers to those who have adventured in it, is also detailed; and there remains to me only the task of giving you that professional information, which, as engineer to the company, I have obtained; and to explain to you the means of executing it, as far as they are determined by the nature of the soil and the levels of the country.
The alluvial land lying below that part of the granite ridge which crosses the peninsula from the ferry opposite to Havre-de-Grace, reaching the shores of the Delaware, at Wilmington, may be considered as a regular inclined plane, sloping gradually to the south-east at the rate of about 6 inches in a mile. Immediately below the granite ridge—that is, along the foot of Gray's hill, Iron hill, and along the south bank of Christiana creek, which runs parallel to, and close under, the ridge—its highest inequalities seldom exceed 30 feet, nor does the common surface fall below 70 feet above the tide of the Chesapeake at high water. This plane extends from the granite ridge to the ocean—and the only considerable depressions to be found in it, are the beds of the land drains, which are worn down into it and produce the appearance of valleys; but there are no insulated hills whatever, and the valleys are merely depressions of the ground below the plane. Hence it is evident, that by going round the heads of the water courses, a line of canal may be found across the peninsula between any two points on the opposite bays, in which the variation of level on the summit will be very small, and that by making the bank out of the spoils of the cut, a canal may be made at the smallest possible expence by digging and removing earth, and at no expence whatever for works of masonry, excepting at each end, where the descent requires the construction of locks. For by following the ridge dividing the waters which drain into opposite creeks, the necessity of culverts and aqueducts may be wholly avoided. The soil is also of the kind most easily cut, being generally of a sandy loam on or near the surface, and beds of good clay are found in abundance for all purposes of puddling.
(To be Continued.)
PUBLIC SALE.
By order of the Orphans Court of Prince George's county, will be sold at public sale, at Vansville in Prince George's county on Saturday the 15th day of October next, the residue of the personal estate of Zachariah Baldwin late of said county deceased consisting of sundry valuable negroes—a credit of six months will be given to the purchasers, giving bond with approved security, bearing interest from the day of sale.
The sale to commence at 12 o'clock. HENRY CULVER, Adm. with the Will annexed. September 26—w3t
By PERMISSION,
Will sail from the Eastern Branch in the course of 10 or 12 days for NEW ORLEANS, the brig President, for freight or passage apply to Richard Parrott, George's own, or to J. Cassin, near the Navy Yard, Washington. September 26—3t
Prince George's county to wit:
I hereby certify that Notley Maddox of the said county brought before me as a stray, trespassing on his inclosure, a dark brown GELDING about 12 years old, 14 1-2 hands high, a small star in his forehead, switch tail, heavy lop ears, no perceivable brand, much galled both by the saddle and gears.
Given under my hand, a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, this 26th of July 1808.
HENRY A. CALLIS. The owner of the above mentioned Horse is desired to prove his property, pay charges and take him away. NOTLEY MADDOX, living near the Eastern Branch bridge, Prince George's county Md. September 26—w3t
FOX'S NEW HISTORICAL WORK.
Just received from Philadelphia, the History of the Early Part of the Reign of James II by the Right Hon. Charles James Fox. With an Appendix, containing the correspondence between Louis XIV and M. Barillon on English affairs and other original and important papers. Published by Birch & Small, Philadelphia, and for sale by J. MILLIGAN, D. RAPIX, R. C. WIGHTMAN Washington city, and J. KENNEDY Alexandria. Price in Boards 2 Dols. 50 Cents, and Bound 3 Dols. September 26—4t

LAST NIGHT.
ON MONDAY EVENING,
SEPTEMBER 26, 1808.
Will be presented a celebrated Comedy, (NEVER PERFORMED HERE,)
CALLED, THE
HONEY MOON.
Duke of Aranza, Mr. McKimie, Count Montalban, Mr. Cope, Rolando, Mr. J.erson, Bathazar, Mr. Cross, Lep 2, Mr. Miller, Jaquez, Mr. Bray, Lampido, Mr. Bissett, Campillo, Mr. Harris, Juliana, (with the celebrated song of "At the front of a Cottage") Mrs. Wilnot, Zamora, (late Miss Hunt) Mrs. Bray, Vianca, Mrs. Francis, Hostess, Mrs. Seymour. In act 4th—A characteristic dance. To which will be added A Melo-Drama, (in three Acts,) CALLED
A TALE OF MYSTERY.
Romano, Mr. Charnock, Romaldi, Mr. McKimie, Francesco, Mr. J.erson, Stephano, Mr. Cope, Montano, Mr. Cross, Michelli, Mr. Bissett, Malveglio, Mr. Miller, Pierre, Mr. Bray, Lempt, Mr. Jacobs, First Gardener, Mr. Seymour, Second Gardener, Mr. Harris, Selina, Mrs. Wilnot, Fiametta, Mrs. Francis. In Act 2d—An introductory dance— By Mrs. Bray, Mesers. Francis, Harris and Briers. In Act 3d—A wild mountainous Country, called the Nant of Appenz, with Pines and Massy Rocks, Rude wooden Bridges thrown across from rock to rock. A rugged Mill Stream in the background—the Miller's House on one side, and a steep ascent by a narrow path to the Bridge. * * Ticket, to be had of Mr. Charnock at Mr. Stibbins's Cabinet-maker, in F street, near the Bank. 1/2 Box One Dollar—Pitt Three-quarters of a Dollar. Doors will be open at Six—Curtain rise a quarter to Seven o'clock.
FOR RENT,
A THREE STORY BRICK HOUSE in F Street, near the Bank. For particulars enquire at Wm. Cocking, the owner and occupier, AL:O
A Frame Store in Georgetown, next door to Mr. Bridges, enquire as above. Possession may be had the First of October. Sept. 26—3t.
A RUNAWAY.
WAS committed to the jail of Washington county, in the state of Maryland, on the 7th inst. as a runaway, a negro man who calls himself TOM, alias Michael Thomas—says he belongs to Robert Locher, living between Winchester and Romney, Frederic county Virginia; he is about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, 21 or 22 years of age; had on when committed, a pair of blue corded cassimere pantaloons, a tow shirt and an old beaver hat. His owner is desired to take him away or he will be sold for his jail fees, &c. according to law. ISAAC S. WHITE, Sheriff. September 26—w3t
ROSS & GETTY, Opposite the UNION TAVERN George Town, Have now in store and offer for sale on the lowest terms for cash or short credits, the following goods, viz.
Old London Port, Madeira, Sicily Madeira, Lisbon, Port, Sherry, 10 pipes, six years old Cognac brandy, 4 do. Holland gin, 4 hds Jamaica spirits, 6 do. molasses, 6 do. first quality St. Croix Sugar, 4 do. second do. 7 tiers summer and winter strained spermaceti oil, 57 chests and boxes of Gunpowder, Imperial, Hyson, Hyson Chulan, Hyson skin, Young Hyson & Souchong, 80 2lb. canisters gunpowder, tea put up in China for family use, 2000 lb. prime green coffee, 20 boxes Spanish segars, 20 boxes olives, 100 dozen half pint tumblers, 50 do. pint do. 30 do. wine glasses, 60 boxes mould and dipped candles, 30 do. brown soap, 3 hds. crab cider, two years old, A few boxes London mustard, powder and shot, all kinds of spices, Spanish and Carolina indigo, country gin and whiskey, together with a great variety of articles in their line which renders their assortment complete, N. B. Store-keepers in town and country supplied on the most reasonable terms. September 8—w2t
POSTSCRIPT.
By the arrival of the ship Alknomac, at N. York, London dates to the 28th July, two days later than those received via Boston, and contain no news of consequence. The Swedish army has retired within its own frontiers & the Russians are said to have withdrawn from Finland. Accounts from Oporto state that the force under Junot is stronger than was at first supposed and that he has received reinforcements. The Spanish Gen. Cuesta with 71,000 men is said to be in pursuit of a French force of 17,000 under Bessieres.
FOR SALE.
THE Two story Brick HOUSE, situ ate on square number 930 in the city of Washington now occupied by Mr. Tunis Craven, as a retail store. The eligi bility of this stand for the retail business is excelled by none in this city; being si tuate on the principal street to the Navy Yard, and very near the Navy Yard Gate. Any person desirous of purchas ing the above property may be shewn it by applying to the subscriber, who will also make known the terms of sale Wm. BRENT. Washington city, Dec. 18—wif
To holders of NON-RESIDENT LANDS, within the state of OHIO.
WE, knowing that many gentlemen, non-residents of this state, and who own lands within it, and particularly those who hold it within the Virginia Military District, are subjected to many incon veniences and impositions by men in this state; and, upon a particular exa mination of the books in the Auditor's office, of this state, I discover that many gentlemen holding lands within the above mentioned district, have, from a non-payment of the taxes due thereon, subjected them to be sold for the taxes due, by the collector of the taxes on non-resident proprietors lands for said district. And it frequently happens that the purchaser at such sales will not relinquish his title to the original owner, under one-fourth of the real value of the land.
From the circumstances above men tioned, and many more that might be recited of equal if not greater impor tance to land holders, I am now prompt ed to come forward and offer my services to such gentlemen, as an agent to super intend the payment of their taxes, the redeeming of their lands sold by the collector mentioned above; and also for the selling of any lands which they may wish to sell, which business I will trans act on moderate terms; much more so than those on which many within the compass of my knowledge have their business of that nature transacted.
Any gentleman who shall think pro per to entrust to me the management of his business, may be well assured that entire justice will be done him. As I reside with the Auditor of this state, and have always access to his books, I have every opportunity of as certaining the precise situation of any lands within the state, which are sub ject to taxation, and as I am not engag ed in any land speculations, will have no inducement to withhold correct information.
By an act of the last session of the legislature of this state, the rate of land tax was raised to the following rates, viz. First rate 100 cents, Second rate 75 cents, and Third rates 50 cents per 100 acres. And under the said act, all lands which are hereafter sold for the payment of taxes, may be redeemed by paying to the purchaser thereof, 100 per cent. and interest on the purchase money and costs: Provided such re demption shall take within one year after the purchase.
All lands subjected to taxation within this state, & which shall not be paid be tween the first day of August past, and the first day of December next, will, as has always been customary, on that day, be offered for sale for the taxes due thereon.
Any letters on the above business, postage paid, will be strictly attended to, by
CADWALLADER WALLACE.
Chillicothe, Ohio, Aug. 15—3w
Orphan's Court, Prince Georges county, July 19th, 1808.
IT being represented to this court by Petition in writing of Robert McGill administrator of Benjamin Gaithe late of said county, deceased, that in conse quence of the absence of the deceased's representatives from the state of Mary land, and of doubts being entertained whether the said absent representatives are in existence or have left any issue to represent them, he cannot safely make distribution of the assets in his hands without the interposition of this court. It is therefore ordered, that unless the said absent representatives appear before this court on or before the 20th day of January next to receive their respective dividends, that the court will then proceed to make distri bution of the assets in the hands of the said Rbt. McGill, among the deceased's representatives residing in the state of Maryland, provided the said Robert McGill shall cause a copy of this order to be inserted in the National Intelli gencer one a week for eight weeks be fore the 20th day of November next.
Test TRUEMAN TYLER, Reg. of Wills for Prince Georges' county.
August 19—w8t
Besides a body of peasants, and twenty-six pieces of cannon.—The French had in
Infantry, 10,000 Cavalry, 2,000
And a very great quantity of can non.—The ardor and impetuosity of the new levies in the Patriot Army were not to be restrained, and conse quently they fell upon the French, and in the first onset drove the enemy back, capturing four pieces of can non, which they spiked. But the battle being fought on an extensive plain, the Patriots were not able to secure their flanks, and their cavalry was much inferior to the enemy's— The latter, in consequence, were able to take them in flank, and the Patriots, who had the advantage in the outset, were not able to preserve it. They were, after four hours and a half's fight, from eight till half past twelve, compelled to retreat. But this they effected in good order to Benevento, under cover of a Spanish regiment of carabineers, leaving behind them 13 pieces of cannon. But the French, superior as they were in cavalry, suf fered so much in the battle, that they were unable to pursue them, and they did not even enter Rio Seco till four hours after the battle. It was reported that the French general Lasolles was killed, as his horse was said to have been found without a rider. Ge neral Cuesta remained at Benevento when Sir Thomas Dyer sent off his dispatches on the 26th, and as rein forcements were pouring in from all parts, it was hoped he would soon be able to attack the enemy with every prospect of success.
It is undoubtedly of the greatest importance that the French should, if possible be cut off from Madrid, but certainly the plains of Leon and Cas tille afford a great advantage to the enemy, who have a superiority of ca valry and artillery, and who fight a gainst troops not yet completely disci plined.
It is with regret that we communi cate the above intelligence; but it was not to be expected that victory would attend the Patriots in every encounter. That in the outset they should have made head at all against the French is to be wondered at. Besides there is nothing in this defeat disgraceful to them—far from it. There was no great inequality of numbers, and the enemy, by being so superior in cavalry, fought with manifest advantage. The Patriots behaved with great cour age—they were not thrown into con fusion—they retreated in good order, and the French did not dare to pursue them. The enemy, we have no doubt, will see no reason to be proud of their success. The affair of Rio Seco af fords them a specimen of the kind of resistance they have to expect in every part of Spain. The defeat of gen. Cuesta, therefore, does not by any means weaken our belief that the French will not be able to conquer Spain.
Among the troops which have em barked for Spain, is the king's Ger man legion, amounting in the whole to 13,000 men. Lieut. gen. Dalrym ple, is to have the first command of the British forces in Spain; Sir Harry Burrard, the second, and Sir John Moore, the third. Generals Hope, Lord Paget, Murray, Sontang, Stew art, Frazier, and Ed. Paget, have com mands in the expedition.
ERRATA.
The reader is desired to correct the following Errata, in the last num ber of Plain truth.
In the 23d line of the 2nd column omit the words "of a letter."—In the 11th line of the 2nd paragraph, in the same column, for "We admit" read "He admits."
FOR SALE.
ON Monday the 10th of October 1f not, if not the next fair day, I will offer at public sale, 308 acres of LAND, lying on St. Clement's Bay, and nearly between Chaptico and Le cardtown, handsomely situated on the said Bay, with a large and commodious Dwelling House with comfortable dry cellars, a convenient kitchen, dairy, meat house, corn house, stables, barn, and every other necessary outhouse nearly new, and in good order—Eighty acres of the above land is heavily tim bered with large white oak, cedar, and some pine—the situation perfectly healthy and within three miles of the river Potomac—fish, oysters, and wil d fowl in abundance during the season, and to be had within 300 yards of the door; the soil fertile and a perfect level only whereon the houses stand. One half the purchase money will be requir ed on the first day of January 1809, when possession will be given, and the balance a credit of twelve months will be given from the day of sale on giving bond with approved security. Sale to be on the premises, and to commence at 2 o'clock.
JOHN BOND. St. Mary's county, August 24—3w.
WASHINGTON CITY.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26.
PUBLIC MEETING.
IN Consequence of application made to me, I request a meeting of the Citizens of Washington, for the purpose of taking into consideration whether any, and what measures, it may be necessary to take for the in terest of the City, in consequence of the accident which has happened in the North Wing of the Capitol by the falling in of the Vault of the Court Room—the meeting to be held at Lindsay's Hotel on Wednesday Evening next at 6 o'clock, P. M.
ROBERT BRENT, Mayor of the City of Washington. September 24th, 1808.
To THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
FELLOW-CITIZENS,
Never has there existed a more momentous crisis in your af fairs. By the glorious struggle of the revolution you vanquished your enemies and established your repub lic. The wisdom of your best men sub mitted to you a form of government unrivalled for its capacity to secure your rights and advance your inte rests. You had the virtue and in telligence to adopt it. Under the administration of the great Wash ington you prospered. A way ward policy followed, and your march to greatness was arrested. It was the object of this policy to mingle your destiny with that of an ambitious nation, and if not to make you sub servient to the views of Great Britain, at least to make you rise with her greatness and sink with her fall. You had the virtue to resist these machi nations, to consign to private life those who enforced them, and to con fer your power upon men influenc ed by different views. Jefferson was raised to the Chief Magistracy, sur rounded by men ready to co-operate with him in the disinterested promo tion of your interests, and the firm maintenance of your rights.
For seven years past, under the councils and measures of these men your interests have been promoted to the fullest extent of your wishes and greatly beyond your expectations, while your rights have been main tained with vigilance and impartiality. Of this the astonishing progress of the country in wealth, in numbers and in power, are the indisputable proofs. Such a progress has never attended any other nation.
Such was the flourishing and proud attitude of your affairs, when a new English administration supplanted that of one of the greatest and best men that ever lived, whose last sol licitudes were engaged in the god like effort to reconcile the discordant interests of the two countries. This mournful change was soon succeeded by the black affair of the Chesapeake, and in its train followed those atroci ous orders of council, which have rob bed us of our repose, arrested every man's occupation, and exposed our country to the complicated evils of war, or a submission to that tyranny, which even in our infancy we thought too intolerable to be borne.
Your government, that government, whose wise measures & disinterested patriotism had commanded your affec tions to such a degree as almost to have hushed into silence the clamors of faction, to save you from these dreadful evils, to save you from war or slavery, withdrew you for a while from the en vitable collisions that must have flow ed from the usual pursuit of trade upon the high seas. There was, and could be, no other alternative. It was not they, but Britain, that perpetrated the out rage on the Chesapeake; it was not they, but Britain, that issued those orders that exposed your whole trade to the continent of Europe to confis cation; it was not they, but France, that issued those decrees that con demned every thing that England had not destroyed. Hence the embargo alone could avert war or slave ry. It has averted them. Not, it is admitted, without producing great and distressing evils, but less ones than either of the other alternatives would unavoidably have created.
These evils, however, are sensibly felt, and faction has determined to profit by them. Its most Herculean efforts are roused to persuade you that your government are their au thors. Every species of misrepres sentation is drawn on, and prodigally and industriously disseminated to con vince you that they proceed from the measures of your government, instead of being, as they truly are, the una voidable consequences of the mea sures of your enemies. You are told indeed that your government is your worst enemy by men who once told you that you were your own greatest
enemy, and that Britain is your best friend, as the Tories also told you at the commencement of your glorious con test for independence.
Before you believe these things, I call upon you to pause and reflect, to draw upon the treasures of experi ence, and to conuice in your own inde pendent judgements, instead of con signing them to the caprice of preju dice or the billow of passion. I call upon you, I implore you not merely to look backward, but likewise to look forward, that you may perceive the situation in which you will be placed, should you exchange your present ru lers, for federalists, for Britons in principle, or for old Tories at heart. I ask you if you are aware of the si tuation into which you will be rapidly hurried, if federalism is again armed with the power of the nation. Rest assured that hay will be made while the sun shines. The friends of an energe tic government will not falter in their course. They will raise the embargo, it is true. But what will follow? Commerce must be protected, from the warfare upon it that will instantly ensue; and that warfare will be prin cipally made by Britain, as she has ten ships of war for one possessed by her enemy, unless she is propitiated. By nothing short of absolute submission, by your becoming her colony, by sup plying her exhausted treasury with tributary millions, by raising or lower ing your flag at her pleasure, by car rying your ships and goods with her pleases, and finally by making a com mon cause with her against all her enemies, by a treaty of offensive and defensive alliance. For what? That she may make us "hewers of wood and drawers of water" for her aggran disement, and protect us, as she would any other species of her property, a gainst her enemies.
This is the momentous view I call upon you, fellow-citizens, to take. Attend to me with patience, and I will convince you of its truth.
HAMPDEN.
Census of the Inhabitants of Richmond, just taken by the Master of Police.
Table with 2 columns: Category, Count. Whites, 4,241; Free colored, 929; Slaves, 3,394; Total, 8,564.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Halifax, to a merchant in this town, dated Sept. 7.
The troops here, commanded by Sir George Provost, are under orders for a distant secret expedition, and are nearly prepared. The number is about 4000. There are various con jectures as to the place of destination. Some persons suppose they are bound to Spain or Portugal to assist the Pa triots; some that they are going against a French colony." Bost. Pal. Boston, Sept. 19.
By the ship Globe, Captain Coffin, arrived here on Saturday, in 50 days from Liverpool, we have London dates only one day later than by the recent arrival at New-York. The Spanish accounts by this arrival are to July 16; but excepting the news of the battle near Valladolid, do not announce any events of consequence, not here tofore published.
BENEVENTO, July 9.
Yesterday arrived here Sir T. Dyer, the commissioner from England, and Don Ramon De Lano Ponte, from Oviedo. It is said that Sir T. Dyer will accompany our army, in order to have the satisfaction of seeing put to the route, that common enemy, who have so unjustly applied that appella tion to the generous nation, which has known how to arrest and frustrate the ambitious plans of the man who seeks to enslave the continent.
Battle between the Spaniards and French, near Valladolid.
The intelligence we have to com municate to day is of a different com plexion from that which we have for some time had the happiness of lay ing before our readers. The Spanish Patriots have sustained a check in Leon—Government last night received dispatches from Sir Thomas Dyer, dated on the 16th, from Benevento. They state that a battle was fought on the 14th between the Spaniards under general Cuesta, and the French under general Lassolies. We stated on Sa turday that general Cuesta was a Vil lepauda, and that it was his intention to march against Valladolid, with a view of cutting off the communication between the enemy in the North of Spain and the troops at Madrid. The French were aware of his intention, and of the importance of keeping Valladolid if possible. They march ed to meet the Patriots—the battle took place at Rio Seco, near Vallauo lid.—The force of the Patriots was—
Table with 2 columns: Category, Count. Infantry, 14,000; Cavalry, 800.

ABSCONDED,
On the 11th September, RICHARD T. SPALDING , with the pretension of going to the Methodist Camp Meeting, and thinking it probable he does not intend to return to his duty again, unless compelled, I will give three cents reward to any person that will bring him home, and three pounds of plain skins for information where he can be found. All persons are warned not to employ or harbor said Spalding, my apprentice, at their peril.
ROBERT CLARKE.
Sept. 21—3r.
Post Office, Washington, } September 21, 1808. }
AFTER the First day of October next, the Northern Mail will arrive at two o'clock, P. M. and be closed at 6 o'clock A. M.
The Southern Mail will arrive at 6 o'clock A. M. and be closed at 2 o'clock P. M.
Letters and Newspapers for these mails must be deposited before the hours above noted for closing them, otherwise they will not be forwarded till the next day.
September 23—4t
FIVE DOLLARS REWARD.
STRAYED or stolen from the Comm. of this city a Dark Sorrel HORSE , about 15 hands high, seven years old, a blaze on his forehead, has several marks on his back occasioned by the saddle. Had on when he was missed a lock and chain, and is supposed to be marked by the chain, in case the lock should be taken off. The above reward will be given by the subscriber for returning said horse.
MARY NEVITT.
City of Washington, (Navy Yard) September 23—3t
PORT-TOBACCO JOCKEY CLUB RACES.
WILL be run for, over the Port Tobacco Jockey Club Course, on the second Tuesday in October next, a PURSE of three hundred and sixty dollars, four miles and repeat, free for any horse, mare, or gelding, and on the second day a PURSE of two hundred dollars, two miles and repeat, the winning horse of the first days race only excepted. Weights agreeable to the rules of the club; and on the third day a handsome Saddle, Bridle, and Martingale, value Fifty dollars, one mile and repeat, by saddle horses.
All horses must be entered with the Secretary on the evening previous to their running.
WM. D. HARRISON, Sec.
August 24—
NOTICE.
PURSUANT to an act of the General Assembly of Maryland, passed at November session, 1806, entitled "An act authorizing the collection of certain ground rents due on lots in the Town of Cumberland, in Allegany county," and a supplement thereto, passed at November session, 1807, Public Notice is hereby given to all persons holding unimproved lots in said town, on which ground rents are now due, that unless the said rents are paid on or before the first day of December next, the said lots will on that day be offered at public sale to the highest bidder, on a credit of 60 days. The sale to be held at Mr. J. Rine's tavern in said town, to commence at ten o'clock, A. M. and continue from day to day, until the whole are sold.
THOMAS BEALL, of Saml.
March 21—eptds
WASHINGTON JOCKEY-CLUB RACES.
ON Tuesday the 25th day of OCTOBER next, will be run for over the Washington course, a PURSE of five hundred dollars, four miles and repeat—free for any horse, mare, or gelding.
On Wednesday the 26th will be run for, a PURSE of three hundred and fifty dollars, three miles and repeat—free as above, the winning horse of the preceding day excepted—and
On Thursday the 27th will be run for, "The City and Town Purse," of three hundred dollars, two miles and repeat—free only for colts and fillies—Each race to be run and conducted agreeably to the rules of the Club.
The Purse will probably be considerably larger than has been stated. The amount of each cannot be stated with positive certainty, because it is made up, in part, from the tolls collected at the gates, and from the rent of the booths.
SAMUEL BOOTES, Sec.
George Town, August 31—1R
N. B. The members of the Club are particularly requested to meet at the Union Tavern, at 6 o'clock on the evening of the day preceding the first day's race, in conformity to a standing rule of the Club.
S. B.
SHERIFF'S SALE.
WILL be exposed at public sale on Thursday the 29th inst. on the premises, for cash, the FARM whereon Ignatius West now lives, containing upwards of 300 acres of Land, the greater is in woods—late the property of said West taken by virtue of a writ of Fieri Facias , at the suit of Cornelius Lansdale, assignee of John Hodges of Thomas, who was assignee of Benjamin Odenuse of Wm. B. Beans. The sale will commence at 3 o'clock P. M.
JOHN FLEMING, Sheriff
of Montgomery county Md. September 14—7t
NEW GOODS.
The Subscriber has just received from New York, and now opening at his STORE in BRIDGE STREET, the following Goods, viz:
 1 Case 4.4th and 6.4th cotton cambric muslins,  1 do. 7.8th Irish linens well assorted,  1 do. 8.4th and 10.4th Irish damask table Diapers,  6 do. men's low priced fr'd hats,  1 do. men and womens cotting stockings, plain, laced, and sandals,  1 trunk low priced English calicoes,  1 do. 8.4th cotton damask table diapers,  1 do. containing 35 dozen cotton damask towelling,  1 do 60 pieces scarlet and brown bandana hankerchiefs,  1 do. dark plaid ginghams and black cambric muslins,  6 bales India cottons, different kinds,  4 do. white and brown German ticklenburgs,  45 boxes Havana segars,  All of which will be sold low for cash or approved paper at 60 or 90 days.
EDWARD L. SMITH. George Town, September 2—5w
FOR SALE or RENT,
THE Hotel at present occupied by P. D. STELLE. The advantages of this situation are so well known, that it is useless to say more of it—it is convenient to the Capitol, is calculated for a large establishment, with stable for 40 or 50 horses. The Bridge, rapidly progressing over the Potomac, with the turnpike road to Alexandria, also in great forwardness, will add to the many advantages this situation possesses. To a man qualified to carry on such an establishment, no situation can insure a more certain and rapid fortune. Occupation can be had any day before the first of October next. Apply to the subscriber,
DANL. CARROLL of Dudn Washington, August 3—eptO
DANIEL RAPINE,
On Capitol Hill, has just received the following New Books, which he offers FOR SALE at the lowest possible prices for which they can be purchased at any place in the United States.
Cruise's digest of the Laws of England respecting real property, 5 vols. Both on real actions, with references to the English and American authorities.
The Register of arts, or a compendious view of some of the most useful modern discoveries and inventions, by Thomas G. Fessenden.
The American Register; or a general repository of history, politics, and sciences, vol. 2nd for 1807.
Letters from England, by Don M. A. Espriella 2 vols. There is good authority for saying, that this valuable little work is written by Robert Southey.
The Fatal Revenge, 2 vols. by D. J. Murphy.
*** D. R. has also just received Rees' Cyclopaedia, vol. 8, part 2nd—Subscribers at a distance are solicited to send for their copies, and those who have not been regular in taking up the work are particularly requested to call, as the work is expensive and requires punctuality.
A handsome collection of Paper Hangings and Bordering, of select patterns, for sale as above. Also a quantity of choice Chewing Tobacco, of superior quality.
August 22—
CHARLES H. VARDEN MERCHANT TAYLOR,
RESPECTFULLY informs the gentlemen of the district of Columbia and public in general, that he has just received by a late arrival from Philadelphia,
A CHOICE ASSORTMENT Of superfine Cloths, Cassimeres, single and double milled, superfine Coatings, black silk Florentines. Likewise an elegant assortment of Spenekeis and rich silk Mole-skins for waistcoats with a variety of other articles suitable for the season.
Regimentals and Navy Uniforms made in the most elegant and uniform style of fashion.
Richard Horwell's celebrated patent parallel SUSPENDERS far superior to any hitherto in use can be had on the same terms retail, as at his manufactory.
November 27—tf
Mr. JOHN RUST.
Sir—Your not being a resident of this state, I take this public method of notifying you that I shall proceed to take sundry affidavits at Richmond court house on the third day of October next, to be read as evidence in an injunction pending in the district Chancery court, held at Williamsburg, state of Virginia, wherein I am plaintiff and you are defendant. You will also take notice that I shall take affidavits to be read as evidence in the above mentioned injunction, at Westmoreland court house on the 5th day of October.
PETER RUST, Richmond county state of Virginia. September 14—3w
BANK OF COLUMBIA.
THE President and Directors having this day declared a Dividend for the half year ending the 20th inst. at the rate of EIGHT per cent. per annum. The same will be paid to the Stockholders or their representatives on or after Tuesday the 20th inst.
WILL WHANN, Cashr. September 19—6w
PUBLIC SALE.
ON Monday the 31st of October next will be sold at Public Auction a two Story BRICK HOUSE, with adjacent FRAME Building, and the Lots No. 10 and 11, on square No. 925, near the Marine Barrack. The house was lately inhabited by Lt. Col. Wharton, now in the occupancy of Mr. Thomas Carberry. The terms will be made known on the day of sale, at Stelle's hotel.
The sale to commence at 12 o'clock. SAMUEL SPEAKE, Auc. September 19—tdos
JOHN GOULDING
Is now landing from on board the Polly from Baltimore, A few barrels of West India COFFEE and hogsheads of New Orleans SUGAR, Bottles in hampers, Red and white Champagne WINE in boxes, Fresh TEA, &c. On hand, as usual, most kinds of choice old Wines, in bottles and in casks, best Albany Ale, Philadelphia Porter and Ale, Spermaceti Oil and Candles, Train Oil, Castile Soap in boxes, with sundry other articles in his line, to be sold for cash, and as usual cheap to his kind and punctual customers.
George Town, Sept. 16—2m
NOTICE.
THE subscriber has taken up a stray COW & CALF, after the most diligent enquiry for the owner—the Cow is chunky, of a pale red color, and one of her horns broken, she calved about 8 or 9 weeks ago—the subscriber means in a short time to kill the Calf unless the owner claims her, on whose appearance he is ready to deliver the Cow and the value of the Calf, on his defraying the expenses incurred.
ADOLPHUS F. PLATE. September 16—3t
THE COMMERCIAL COMPANY OF WASHINGTON.
Now landing from on board the Sch. MARIA, capt. Fitzhugh, and for SALE, at low prices.
 Jamaica Spirit,  Antigua & New England Rum,  Muscovado Sugars,  Molasses,  Coffee,  Muscadell and bloom Raisins,  Holland and country Gin,  Spermaceti Candles,  Spermaceti Oil,  Spanish Segars,  Corks,  Powder and Shot of the best quality,  White Lead, in oil,  A few crates of Stone ware.  They have also on hand and for Sale.  Madeira,  Marsala,  and Catalonia,  Claret in boxes of 1 doz. each,  Cognac, and  Bordeaux,  Hyson and Young Hyson, Tea,  Best Salid Oil,  Mould and dipt Candles,  Soap,  Whiskey, and  A few Logs of Mahogany. 
FURNITURE FOR SALE.
ON Monday 26th inst. will commence on the dwelling house of the subscriber on Jersey Avenue, near the Capitol, the sale of a large quantity of excellent household and Kitchen furniture—viz. Mahogany dining, breakfast and card tables, ditto sideboard & sofa; a number of carpets but little used from 7 1-2 by 6 1-2, to 4 by 3 yards, one settee several dozen of chairs, writing tables, washstands and basins; a quantity of double and single beds, bedsteads, curtains, blankets and sheets to suit, in good preservation; large and small looking-glasses, open stoves, grates, andirons, shovels and tongues, one large urn, a quantity of china and glass ware, knives and forks, pickling and preserving jars. Also a variety of kitchen furniture too tedious for specification; and two excellent milk cows accustomed to the place. Terms of Sale. All purchases under 50 dollars. cash—from 50 to 100 dollars, ninety days and upwards 100 dollars 120 days, with interest calculated thereon and notes satisfactorily endorsed payable either at the City or Columbia Banks.
JOHN COYLE. Sept. 9—epts
[Price 62 1-2 cents, 119 pages 8 vo.] A general account of GEN. MIRANDA'S EXPEDITION, Including the trial and execution of Ten of his Officers, And an account of the imprisonment and sufferings of his officers and men who were taken prisoners, Upon the authority of a person, (a Printer residing in New York) who was an officer under Miranda; who was taken and condemned to ten years im- prisonment, and who, after suffering nearly two years, effected his return home. This is an interesting pamphlet, alike so to the federal republican and the republican. It is a plain narrative of facts, (though some of them may be false facts) it partakes not of the mar- velous, the whole appears credible. The proprietor hopes the sale will soon prove sufficient to indemnify its publi- cation, and afford something towards the relief of the captives.
To be had at the Book store of R. C. WEIGHTMAN, Pennsylvania avenue. September 7—2t
MARSHAL'S SALE.
WILL be exposed to Public Sale on the 30th day of September next, at Rhodes's tavern in Washington city, all the right, title, and interest of Wm. Esenbeck, to LOTS numbered Two and Three in Square 257 in said city—said property is seized and sold by virtue of a writ of fiere facias , issued out of the circuit court of the district of Columbia for the county of Washington at the suit of John C. Severman, against said Esenbeck.
The sale will commence precisely at 11 o'clock, A. M. Terms cash. WASHINGTON BOYD, Marshal D. C. Aug. 29—2awts
PROPOSAL,
By JOSEPH MILLIGAN, George Town,
For publishing by Subscription, ADELINE MOWBRAY;
OR THE MOTHER & DAUGHTER, IN TWO VOLUMES.
By MRS. OPIE.
CUSTOM, and perhaps propriety, have rendered it necessary to bespeak the favorable opinion of the public to a new book: but the writings of Mrs. Opie have long held such an undisputed claim to excellence, that nothing more seems necessary than to point out the leading object of the present very interesting tale, to recommend it to general patronage.
Those who have attentively read the writings of Mr. Godwin, well know, that however correct his abstract positions, and however logical his deductions may be—still they are, in many instances, by no means suited to the actual state of society. His opinions on the matrimonial engagement would, if generally adopted, infallibly destroy those bonds which are at once the most efficacious restraint upon licentious passion, and the best, nay the only security for domestic happiness. To counteract his fatal theory appears to be the principal design of the work now offered—in which the characters are so well supported, the incidents arise so naturally from the situations in which they are placed, the reasoning is so perfectly just, the whole narrative so beautifully pathetic, and the impression which it is calculated to produce on every ingenuous mind, so favorable to the cause of morality, that the publisher confidently anticipates its meeting the same universal applause in this country which it obtained in England.
CONDITIONS.
To those who may subscribe before the first of October next, the price will be seventy-cents per volume, in boards, after which it will be advanced to eighty-seven and a half cents per volume. A ugust 12—eop1m
J. CROSSFIELD.
HAS just received per the schooner Maria from New-York a large assortment of Groceries, which he offers for sale at the corner of twelfth and D streets beween Pennsylvania Avenue and the Tyber wharf, and next door to Col. J. P. Van Ness—Consisting of,
 Madera,  Teneriffe,  Sherry,  Lisbon,  Malaga,  Sicily Madeira,  Claret and  Burgundy,  Jamaica spirits,  St. Croix, do.  Gin,  Molasses,  Souichong,  Hyson,  Young Hyson and  Hyson skin,  Brown Sugar,  Coffee and Almonds,  Mould and Dipt Candles,  Soap, Cotton Wool  Muscadell Raisins,  Sugars, &c. &c.  Sept. 7—6t.
STRAYED OR STOLEN
FROM the commons (near the Eastern Branch), on Saturday the 27th August, a tolerable large Brindle COW, about 8 years old—she had some white on her belly, face, and part of her tail; had a gimlet hole bored in each horn, the mark in her ears not recollected—she was raised on the country. Any person that delivers the said Cow to the subscriber, shall receive three dollars reward, paid by JEREMIAH BOOTHE. Washington, Sept. 7—2aw 2w
MARSHAL'S SALE.
WILL be exposed to public sale on the 23rd day of September next, at Rhodes's tavern in Washington city, all the right, title, and interest of BENJAMIN PERKINS to lot No. 1, in square Seventy-five in said city, together with a small frame workshop thereon; the above property is seized and sold to satisfy two writs of fiere facias issued out of the circuit court of the district of Columbia for the county of Washington, the one at the suit of Timothy Caldwell, and the other at the suit of Alexander Cochrane use of Hugh Smith, against said Perkins. The sale will commence at 11 o'clock, A. M. Terms cash. WASHINGTON BOYD, Marshal D. C. August 22—2awts
I WILL RENT for the next year, several LARGE FARMS, situated on the Potomac in the state of Virginia, about 20 miles above this place. These Farms will all be seeded at the proper season with Wheat and delivered up to the persons that rent on the first day of January next, or sooner if required—they will be shown to any persons desirous of renting by Mr. James Middleton, who resides at M'Carthy's island near them, or by the subscriber. JOHN W. BRONAUGH. George Town, August 31—4w
FOR SALE.
THE Subscriber has just received and offers for sale at his store near the Navy Yard a general assortment of LADIES & GENTLEMEN'S SHOES, Which he will sell for Cash at a low price.
JOSEPH CASSIN.
N. B. He has always on hand an assortment of GROCERIES of the first quality. September 2—tw
DR. WILLIAM GRAYSON,
HAS taken a part of the house lately occupied by Mr. JOHN TEMPLEMAN on Bridge street, two doors above Semmes' tavern, where he begs leave to offer his Professional services to the citizens of George Town, and the Public in general. George Town, Sept. 14—tf
Fresh Teas, Nutmegs, sugars, Coffee, &c.
W. & C. SMITH have just received by the Maria from New York,
 6 Chests  20 Boxes  100 Canisters  25 Chests  15 Boxes  100 Canisters  20 Chests  18 Half do.  30 Boxes  10 Chests hyson skin do.  1 Case nutmegs and cloves.  52 Hds. St. Croix sugars—part of them very first quality.  40 Bags best Martinique green coffee.  12 Bags Corks.  20 Small baskets best Marseilles refined olive oil.  10 Quarter casks London particular Teneriffe wine.  Georgetown, June 20—2wtf.
Treasury Department, United States, April 28, 1807.
WHEREAS the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund at a meeting held on the 23rd day of March 1807, did among other things resolve, that the Eight per cent. Stock created in pursuance of the several acts of Congress passed on the 16th day of July 1798, and 7th day of May 1800, should be reimbursed on the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and nine. This is therefore to give notice that the principal of the said Eight per cent. Stock will, on surrender of the certificates, be paid on the first day of January 1809, to the respective Stockholders or their lawful representatives or attorneys duly constituted and authorized, either at the Treasury or at the Loan Office, as the case may be, where credits have been given for the amount of Stock respectively held by them.
It is further made known for the information of the parties concerned, that no transfers of the said Eight per Cent Stock either from or to the books of the Treasury, or from or to the books of a Commissioner of Loans will be allowed after the first day of December, one thousand eight hundred and eight. And the interest on all certificates of said Stock, which shall not have been surrendered in pursuance of this notification, will cease and determine on the day preceding the day hereby fixed for the reimbursement thereof.
And whereas the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund at their meeting held on the 23rd day of March as aforesaid, did also resolve, that the sum which after making the current payments for the years 1807 and 1808, and after reimbursing the Four and a half per Cent Stock, might remain to complete the annual appropriation of Eight Millions of dollars, for those two years, should, among other purposes, be applied to the purchase of the Eight per Cent Stock at private sale, and that such of the Cashiers of the Bank of the United States, and of its office of Discount and Deposit as the Secretary of the Treasury shall designate, be the agents under his superintendence for making the said purchases. Notice is hereby accordingly given, That James Davidson jun Cashier of the office of Discount and Deposit at Washington, has been appointed agent for that purpose in Washington, to whom such of the proprietors of Eight per Cent Stock as may be willing to sell the same within the prices limited by law, are requested to apply.
ALBERT GALLATIN, Jan. Secretary of the Treasury
THE RE. HON. CHARLES J. FOX'S HISTORICAL WORKS.
BIRCH & SMALL of Philadelphia announce that they have just received from London, and will publish on or before the 10th September, The History of the early part of the reign of James the Second, by the Rt. hon. Charles J. Fox , to which is prefixed a copious Address to the Reader, by Lord Holland, under whose care it was published, with an Appendix containing a correspondence between Louis XIV. and M. Barillon on English affairs, and other original and important papers.
It will be printed in one handsome Octavo Vol. price Two Dollars & 50 Cents, in boards, containing the whole of the whole London 4to. which cost Thirty-six shillings sterling in England. August 24—3t