Virginia Argus (Richmond, Va.), 1809-06-06 00:00:00

VIRGINIA ARGUS.
[XVIIIth YEAR.]
A FREE PRESS MAINTAINS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE PEOPLE.
[No. 1660.]
RICHMOND:—PRINTED (ON TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS,) BY SAMUEL PLEASANTS, JUNIOR, PRINTER TO THE COMMONWEALTH.
Four Dollars Per Annum—Paid in Advance.
TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1809.
[12 1-2 Cents Single.]
Richmond Price Current.
[CORRECTED WEEKLY.]
   CASH. D. C.     Tobacco, - - - - - 4 50   Wheat, - - - - - 1 08   Flour, super-fine, - - - 5 50   Flour, fine, - - - - - 5 00   Corn, - - - - - 2 50   Hemp, per ton, - - - 170 00   Iron, - - - - - 120 00   Bacon, - - - - - 00 10   Whiskey, - - - - - 00 44  
Congress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Thursday, May 25.
DOCTRINE OF LIBELS.
Mr. Randolph said that among the various topics of difference between the two great contending parties in the United States, during the existence of the administration of Mr. Adams, there had been none perhaps of greater magnitude in the public estimation than a celebrated act commonly called the sedition act; and there had been none perhaps which had more tended to the downfall and overthrow of the administration under which it was enacted. The question then made by the people of the United States was not whether that law contained a good law of libel or not, but whether Congress had power to enact any law of libel or not; whether that clause of the constitution contained in one of its amendments, declaring that Congress should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, did not completely foreclose Congress, and preclude them from legislating on the subject at all. And (said he) by a very great body of the American people, as I understand, a verdict has been given that Congress do not possess the right of passing any act on this subject whatever; and I trust and believe that there will never exist another Congress which will have the temerity and hardihood to meddle with the rights of the people and states on this point. There are some of us, Sir, who were members of the House of Representatives at the time that the law in question expired. I well recollect, and probably you do also, Mr. Speaker, the very splendid and beautiful declamation with which a member at that time from South Carolina, (Mr. Harper) exhorted the majority of this House to re-enact that law, on the ground that it would be a shield and protection to them, as going out of power, against their adversaries, into whose hands power was about to be transferred, as the sedition law would allow them to give the truth in evidence, and the common law does not. And he then foretold, what I confess I listened to with the most perfect incredulity, that prosecutions for libel would be commenced and carried on in the courts of the United States at common law. Sir, I was not only incredulous myself at that moment, but had the uncharitableness to think that the gentleman himself did not believe in the opinion which he advanced. I believed it impossible for an administration coming into power on the terms on which the last did, ever to sanction a prosecution at common law for a libel where the truth could not be given in evidence. The doctrine contended for by the federal party, & ably supported by a member (Mr. Bayard) who is now translated to the other House, that the common law of England is the law of the U. States, was a doctrine more abhorrent, if possible, to the feelings of the republican party in the U. States, than the sedition law itself. For if the sedition law was objectionable because it established a law of libel which permitted the truth to be given in evidence, a fortiori, the common law doctrine, was more so, which not only established a law of libel the more hideous, because the truth was not permitted to be given in evidence, but established the whole system of penal laws in the British books which might be found in relation to this subject. Accordingly, the best pens and the ablest minds in the party to which you and I had the honor to belong, were employed in attempting to refute
the heresy and against the sedition law. It is unnecessary to call to your recollection the writings of Hortensius, the resolutions of Col. John Taylor, of Caroline, and the still more illustrious report of the present chief magistrate, going to explode the doctrine by irresistible arguments. To this succeeded a tract by a gentleman of no obscure fame, who has rendered himself somewhat conspicuous as a law character, by his commentaries on that great commentator, Sir Wm. Blackstone, still going to show that the common law of England was not the law of the United States; that, although it has been adopted by the several states with various modifications, it is no further law than as they have adopted it, and under the limitations made to it by each state—but that as a law of the United States, in their federal capacity, it has no validity. Since, if it had, of the different common laws in the United States, which should we adopt? Or should we take the common law of England, of a monarchy, founded upon an hereditary nobility and a great hierarchy, unsuited to the genius of a republican government?—But, Sir, such unhappily is the difference between men out of power, and men in power, that, if we are to believe the representations made at the last session of Congress, by a member from Connecticut (Mr. Dana) the correctness of which I presume no man would have the hardihood to doubt, prosecutions for libels at common law have been entertained in the courts of the United States against citizens, and consequently have been carried on by the attorneys for the districts wherein such prosecutions commenced. Yes, Sir, such is the difference between men in power and men out of power; such the difference between profession and practice: and yet, to my infinite surprise, this awful truth, this fact, which never came to my knowledge before, appeared scarcely to excite a sensation either in this assembly or the public, in the men who were most clamorous against the sedition law. Yes, Sir, we did execute, and most justly execute, the sedition law. I for one had as thorough a contempt for some of those who fell under its penalties, as the judge who indicted them. The question was not whether James Thompson Callender was not an infamous libeller, any more than the famous Middlesex question was whether John Wilkes was an infamous character; but it was a question as to the deprivation of the birthright of the citizen in one case, and the subject in the other—and the people wisely discriminated between the persons who were the subjects of prosecution and their own best and dearest interests. We said that Congress had no right to pass any law at all on the subject. It cannot be denied, that if we are to have a federal law of libel, that which permits the truth to be given in evidence is as good as any. It was not to the nature of the law that we objected, but to the having a federal law of libel at all; though indeed, Sir, the permission to give the truth in evidence is but an idle mockery when we consider that the officer, whose duty it is to provide an impartial jury, is but the breath of the nostrils of the prosecutor. You ought to recollect that in all cases where the government becomes a party, whether pro or con, you too often have an administration of policies, instead of an administration of law and justice. It is true that the constitution does declare that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; but if Congress, or the courts below, can at once saddle us with the common law of England, there is no necessity for prohibiting the abridgement of the freedom of speech, or of the press. We know what the common law of England is—an unlimited licence to print, and an almost equally unlimited licence to punish. This restriction of the constitution therefore is wholly nugatory, if the courts are permitted to entertain prosecutions for libels. Sir, that the present chief magistrate of the United States should permit an attorney of the United States to hold his office one second after having commenced a prosecution in a court of common law for a libel, is what I will not believe—for he could not do it without libelling, by that act of omission, the fairest page of the history of his own life, to wit, his celebrated report made
in the session of the Virginia assembly, which commenced in December, 1799. But I am willing to have some better security than the disposition of any executive, for what I conceive one of the highest, proudest attributes of American freemen. I know it may be said, as it once was, when the writ of habeas corpus was set at defiance, that for as much as the right is contained in the constitution and supported by it, all legislative provision on that subject would be mere work of supererogation and yet Sir, who has heard of any recovery under the constitution for the violation of the best, dearest, most invaluable right of a citizen? In fact, take away the writ of habeas corpus to-morrow, and I would not give a pinch of snuff for our constitution; for without it, every man may be imprisoned at pleasure. Government might possibly demand a forced loan, with which if the citizen did not comply, he might be carried to jail.—There is no free government where this wonderful contrivance, this best hope of man, this sheet-anchor of freedom, the writ of habeas corpus is not found. And yet we may be told that, as the freedom of speech and the press is secured by the constitution, all legislative provision on the subject is not merely superfluous, but not respectful to the constitution: And so our citizens are to go on to be prosecuted at common law; and when they get no remedy, they are told their rights are guaranteed by the constitution—but receive no satisfaction. I therefore think it would be a very wise provision on our part, at this time, to prevent a recurrence of similar cases, guarding against the future by woeful experience, a school in which it is said a fool himself must learn, although he will learn in no other—and as far as that epithet may be considered as applying to myself, I do most candidly confess that I have been compelled to learn from this school—for when the gentleman from South Carolina uttered that brilliant declamation in order to induce this House to re-enact the sedition law, and hang it over their heads as a shield from prosecution, I really thought it a mere speech for the people, for I had no conception that a court of the U. States would ever entertain a prosecution for libel at common law. I therefore submit to you the following resolution, premising, before I conclude, that my object will be, finding the constitution inert on this subject, as it only contains an acknowledgment of the right, to administer wholesome fine and imprisonment to those who shall hereafter undertake to carry on such prosecutions.
“Resolved, That a committee be appointed to enquire whether any and what prosecutions have been entertained by the courts of the U. States, for libels at common law, and to report such provisions as in their opinion may be necessary for securing the freedom of speech & of the press.”
Mr. Dana said perhaps that the resolution, as now expressed, did not go to the whole extent to which the gentleman intended. That prosecutions had been instituted for supposed slanders or for supposed seditious words, was unquestionable. For two, three or four years past, prosecutions of this character had been pending in the circuit court of the United States in the district of Connecticut. That some of the prosecutions attempted to establish the imputation of crime against individuals, and in cases not comprehended under the provisions of the statute, so much reprobated under the name of the sedition act, was unquestionable. Prior to the institution of these prosecutions, however, from an apprehension of what might be done by men who had professed much zeal for liberty, but not in practice given stronger instances of regard for it than those who professed less, in the state of Connecticut a bill was introduced into the legislature for securing the freedom of the press. That bill consisted of one section, which was copied from the reprobated sedition act—that very section which provided that the truth should be given in evidence; and it was called an act for securing the freedom of the press. And before any prosecutions were instituted, when only a district judge presided in the court, that judge declared that he should consider the act of the state of Connecticut relative to giving the
truth in evidence, as binding on the federal court in that state. This was the opinion of one judge; there was some question how it would be ultimately decided before a full court. Such a law formed a more abundant protection against any persecution which might be directed against individuals under the form of a prosecution, than any professions whatever. In the state of Connecticut (said Mr. Dana) there is one further security—that our jurors are designated by lot. The names of freeholders selected by certain officers in the towns are put into a box, and then selected by lot. There have been seven or eight prosecutions commenced, I scarcely know for what, whether for libelous or seditious words—against clergymen, & public preachers, for words uttered by them; and very considerable expenses have been incurred by them. But I cannot say that any man ever suffered any farther than this; that they were at a very great expence in defending themselves. They had a great security in one respect: that the talents of the bar were against these prosecutions; and there was such a peculiar talent of going backwards in the prosecution, that the suits generally went out of court with a nolle prosequi , from some error in the indictment, some defect in professional skill, or some error in clerkship. The only case in which there seemed to be any possibility of conviction, was one in which a question was made as to the power of the court to take cognizance of the subject. The question was on the prosecution of a printer there for publishing what had appeared with perfect safety in another state. The judges declared themselves divided in opinion on the question of jurisdiction. That diversity of opinion was certified and the question expected to be brought before the supreme court last February. On applying to the judge I found that the clerk of the circuit court had not forwarded the certificate, and of course the case did not come up here as expected. I suppose that the whole thing will die without any noise. Another reason why the persons in Connecticut were not disposed to make very much noise about it while prosecutions were depending, was, that he state was not a large one; that it could not be supposed to be in great favor at the palace. It was supposed, sir, (whether correctly or not I will not undertake, to say, but I rather incline to the opinion that it was an erroneous supposition) considering the manner in which appointments were made in that state, and under the belief that it was through the means of certain influential characters that the district attorney did institute those prosecutions with the approbation of the administration of the United States. This was an opinion in the state; and supposing the influence of the Executive to be exerted, they felt that it would be in vain to make much clamor, and rather chose to contend alone against it. As the prosecutions are now at an end, I think it very desirable that the subject should be investigated. As respects the district attorney's not being removed, I do not think that he is much to be censured in this case. I am not certain that he acted altogether on his own opinion. I rather suppose that he was impelled by the influence of certain persons who are generally supposed to have the chief weight in appointments under the United States in that state and who are therefore by some called the council of appointment; and I suppose that the district attorney could scarcely oppose the will and pleasure of these gentlemen. I very much question therefore, whether any peculiar degree of fault is to be attributed to him, except in putting the United States to so much expence without ever bringing the question to a decision. This, sir, is about the general state of the business. As it cannot be said that the court has in fact entertained the prosecutions and some of them have been dismissed, the substitution of the word institute instead of entertained, may accomplish the gentleman's wishes.
Mr. Randolph consented to the amendment.
Mr. Randolph's resolution having been agreed to without opposition, he laid on the table the following:
“Resolved, That provision ought
to be made by law to secure the right to an impartial jury, in all cases, civil & criminal, maintained in the courts of the United States.”
Friday, May 25.
VOTE OF APPROBATION.
Mr. Randolph said that for the last eight years or thereabouts an alteration had taken place in the manner of doing business at the commencement of each session of Congress. He said he recollected when the first Congress under the administration of Mr. Jefferson had met at this place, instead of Congress being opened as heretofore by the President in person and by a speech, a note in these words had been received by the Speaker, inclosing a message from the President:
“December 8, 1801.
“SIR, The circumstances under which we find ourselves at this place rendering inconvenient the mode heretofore practised, of making by personal address the first communications between the Legislative and Executive branches, I have adopted that by Message as used on all subsequent occasions through the session. In doing this I have had a principal regard to the convenience of the Legislature, to the economy of their time, to their relief from the embarrassment of immediate answers on subjects not yet fully before them, and to the benefits thence resulting to the public affairs. Trusting that a procedure founded in these motives will meet their approbation, I beg leave through you, Sir, to communicate the enclosed message, &c.”
It is unnecessary, I believe, (said Mr. R.) to state that the hint contained in the message that no answer was to be expected, was taken by the House and from that day no answers have been given to the messages of the President at the opening of Congress. It would ill become me, Sir, who so highly approve now the change introduced by communicating to the two Houses by message instead of by speech, to say any thing that might imply a disapprobation of it. I like it, Sir. To tell the truth, the stile of communicating by speech was more in the stile of the opening of the British Parliament by the king. I therefore like the mode of communication by message. But I am not so clear, though we were then half right, that we were wholly right; on this subject I do not mean to give a definite opinion. No man can turn over the journals of the first six Congresses of the United States without being sickened, fair y sickened with the adulation often replied by the Houses of Congress to the President's communications. But nevertheless the answer to an address, although that answer might finally contain the most exceptionable passages, was in fact the greatest opportunity which the opposition to the measures of the administration had of canvassing and sifting its measures; and, in my mind, whatever goes to take away this opportunity, goes so far to narrow down the rights of the minority or opposition, commonly so called, and in fact to enlarge the rights of the majority and the administration party, so called—& I beg leave not to be understood as speaking of the state of parties at this time, but of that which has always existed. This opportunity of discussion of the answer to an address, however exceptional the address might be, when it had received the last seasoning for the Presidential palate, did afford the best opportunity to make a review of the measures of the administration, to canvass them fully and fairly, without there being any question raised whether the gentleman was in order or not—and I believe the time spent in canvassing the answer to a speech was at least as well spent as a great deal that we have expended since we discontinued the practice. I do not say that any answer is proper or ought to be given; but I do believe that when this House goes into a committee of the whole on the state of the Union, it is for purposes a little more elevated than to dissect the message of the President of the U. States, or to strip it up and transfer it to select and standing committees. If that be the whole object of going into a committee of the whole on the state of the Union, I can see no reason for having any such committee, nor why the message should not be taken, in the first instance.

ance, dissected by the knife of the operator, most in the fashion of the day, and referred to different committees. And it has a tendency to cast a sort of ridicule on our proceedings, when this august assembly resolves itself into a committee of the whole on the state of the Union, and resolves that the message shall be referred to such and such committees—and would induce shallow observers to believe that in fact there is little or no use for such a committee. But whatever may be my opinion on the subject of opening the two Houses by message, I do think that there are occasions, and that this is one, on which it behoves this assembly to express its opinion on the state of public affairs. I will not recall to your recollection, sir, because perhaps, and most probably it passed over your mind without making any impression, that sometime during the last session of Congress, I stated that if the gentleman in whose hand the reins of government were about to be placed did not even tolerably perform the task assigned to him some allowance ought to be made for the state in which he found the nation.—And, sir, when I see the situation of the country so materially changed for the better, am I and this House to sit still and regard it but as newspaper talk of the day and express no opinion on it? And what is our opinion? It is either in approbation or disapprobation of the conduct of the Executive. In my opinion it is due to the Executive that he have an expression of our sentiment on this subject. In the part of the country in which I live, dinners have been given, feasts have been held, and the song and toast have passed round in commemoration of the event.—And is this House to be insensible, and to leave the President of the United States in ignorance or doubt whether his conduct has or has not received the sanction of their approbation? Or is he to get that information from inoffi- cial sources? I hope not. I hope he will get it from ourselves. I therefore move you—
“That the promptitude and frankness with which the President of the United States has met the overtures of the government of Great Britain towards a restoration of harmony and free commercial intercourse between the two nations, meets the approbation of this House.”
(Debate to be Continued.)
SENATE.
Monday, May 29.
Mr Thruston presented the petition of John Mason and others, praying that such part of the act supplementary to the act to incorporate the inhabitants of the City of Washington as exempts the City of Washington from taxation by the Levy Court of Washington county, be repeal- ed.
Referred to Messrs. Thruston, Ander- son and Brent.
Mr Giles, from the committee to whom was referred so much of the President's message, as relates to the revision of our commercial laws, for the purpose of adapt- ing them to the arrangement which has taken place with Great Britain, reported a bill to amend and continue in force the act entitled “An act to interdict the com- mercial intercourse between the U. States and Great Britain and France, and their dependencies, and for other purposes” which was read, and ordered to a second reading.
A message was received by Mr Gra- ham, from the President of United States, transmitting a report of the Secretary of War, showing the progress made in carry- ing into effect the act of April, 1809, for raising an additional military force, and the disposition of the troops.
The President laid before the Senate a letter from Mr Smith, Senator from the state of Maryland, stating that he was ap- pointed by the Executive of that state, a Senator in conformity with the constitu- tion, until the next meeting of the legisla- ture; that this meeting will take place on the 5th of June; and requesting the de- termination of the Senate as to the ques- tion whether an appointment under the Ex- ecutive of Maryland, to represent that state in the Senate of the U. States, will or will not cease on the first day of the meeting of the legislature thereof.
Ordered that the consideration thereof be postponed till to-morrow.
Mr Giles gave notice that he should to- morrow ask leave to bring in a bill to fix the time of the next meeting of Congress.
The bill, from the H. S., entitled “An act respecting the ships or vessels owned by citizens or subjects of foreign nations with which commercial intercourse is per- mitted,” was by unanimous consent, read three several times, and passed.
May 30.
The consideration of the bill reported yesterday, by Mr Giles, was postponed till Thursday.
Messrs. Giles, Franklin, and Hillhouse were appointed, on the part of the Senate, on the committee of the two Houses on the business requisite to be done during the present session.
Mr Pope offered the following resoluti- on:—
Resolved, that a committee be appoint- ed to enquire whether it be expedient at this time to pass a law for taking the census of the inhabitants of the U. S. and territories thereof.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the letter from Mr Smith of Maryland, communicated yesterday.
On motion by Mr Giles,
Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to the 5th June next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Munday, May 29.
The house were this day principally en- gaged in discussing one or two points of order.
A few minutes before twelve o'clock, Mr Randolph moved the consideration of his resolution approbatory of the conduct of the President of the United States to- wards the restoration of harmony and free commercial intercourse with Great Bri- tain. [This resolution had been refused a consideration on Saturday, by the vote of the chair.]
The speaker decided, that agreeably to a custom of the house, one hour in the morn- ing had usually been appropriated to the presentation of communications and peti- tions, and to the transaction of other ordi- nary business of the house; that he had some communications to lay before the house from some of the departments; and that, inasmuch as this period of time had not ex- pired, the motion of the gentleman from Virginia was not concurred to be in order.
Mr. Randolph appealed from the deci- sion of the chair; and after debate, the question was taken by yeas and nays, and the decision of the chair confirmed. Yeas 77—Nays 48.
The time to which transaction of ordina- ry business was limited, having expired, Mr. Randolph again moved the consid- eration of his resolution, with the amendment offered by Mr. Bacon.
Mr. J. G. Jackson asked, whether this motion was in order?
The speaker answered, that it was.
The question for considering the resolu- tion and amendment was taken by yeas and nays, as follows:—Yeas 67—Nays 61.
YEAS—Messrs. Baylies, Basset, Blais- dell, Breckenridge, Campbell, J. C. Cham- berlaine, W. Chamberlin, Champion, Chil- tenden, Clay, Cobb, Dana, J. Davenport, jr. Dawson, Ely, Emott, Goldsborough, Gold, Gray, Hale, Heister, Hubbard, Jen- kins, Jones, Kenan, Key, Knickerbacker, J. Lewis, jr. Livermore, Livingston, Lyon, Matthews, M'Bryde, Miller, Milnor, Mum- ford, Nelson, Newbold, Newton, Nicholson, Pearson, B. Pickman, jr. T. Pitkin, junior, Potter, Quincey, Randolph, Richards, Ross, Sammons, Sheffield, Stanley, Stanfor, Sted- man, Stephenson, Sturges, Swoope, Tag- gart, Talmaadge, Thompson, Upham, Van Horn, Van Rensselaer, Wheaton, Wilson, —67.
NAYS—Messrs. L. J. Alston, Willis Alston, jun. Anderson, Bacon, Bird, Bibb, Boyd, John Brown, Robert Brown, Burwell, Butler, Calhoun, Cochran, Cox, Crawford, Crist, Cutts, Denning, Desha, Eppes, Find- ley, Fisk, Franklin, Gannett, Gardner, T. Gholson, jr. Goodwin, Helmes, Holland, Howard, Hufly, Jackson, Johnson, Kenne- dy, Lyle, Marion, McKee, M'Kim, Mont- gomery, N. R. Moore, T. Moore, Mor- row, John Porter, P. B. Porter, Rar, Penn, Rhea, Tenn. Roane, Sage, Sawyer, Say, Seaver, Shaw, Smilie, Smith, Southard, Taylor, Tracy, Troup, Whitehill, Whit- man —61.
The motion for an indefinite postpone- ment being still under consideration, Mr. Dana and Mr. Randolph occupied the floor about a couple of hours.
A message was received from the senate, notifying their concurrence in the bill per- mitting certain foreign vessels to clear out with domestic or foreign produce to ports with which intercourse is permitted; and stating, that they had appointed on their part a committee of enrolled bills, to act jointly with such committee as the house might appoint on their part.
And then the house adjourned.
Tuesday May 30.
THIRD CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Mr Randolph said that it was now pre- cisely ten years since he had the honor of being a member of this house. The first session of the sixth Congress was held at Philadelphia in December, '99; and at that session a law was passed for taking the second census of the inhabitants of the U. States. It had been then allowed on all hands that that law was delayed so long, that the marshals had not time to make the proper enumeration in as accurate & faithful a manner as it ought to have been done. On the third census of the people the gross numbers of this house, but the relative weight of the Southern and Wes- tern, and, in fact, of the middle and East- ern states, for perhaps none were increas- ing with greater rapidity than the two great middle states of New York and Pennsylvania. He thought it proper that provision should be made at this session for taking the third census. Such a provision could not accelerate the time, but would enable the officers of the U. States to take proper means to ensure the excellence of the work. He therefore moved—
“That provision ought to be made by law for taking the third census of the in- habitants of the U. States.”
Mr Ly n expressed his pleasure at see- ing this proposition introduced. He said it was important that the people of the U. States should be represented according to their numbers. The district which he had the honor to represent contained more than 100,000 souls. The state of Ohio had by this time a population of 200,000 souls and had but one Representative; the state of Tennessee had perhaps dou- bled its population. It behoved Congress to set about the business as soon as they could.
Mr W. Alston concurred that it was ne- cessary that the census should be taken in every part of the Union as nearly at the same time as possible.
Were the law now to be passed, it might be taken in some parts of the United States between now and January next, and in o- ther parts in not less than three years. He hoped, he said, that the House would not be thus troubled with unnecessary business. If the passage of the law were deferred for a session or too, the different parts would be more equally represented, though an immediate census might be favourable to his part of the country, be- cause he was convinced that it was los- ing ground in the general scale of popula- tion of the U. S.
On the suggestion of Mr Quincy, with the consent of Mr Randolph, the motion
was ordered to lie on the table.—Ayes 101.
Messrs. Gholson and Fisk were appoint- ed a committee of enrolled bills on the part of this House.
Mr Morrow reported a bill supplemen- tary to an act entitled an act making an appropriation for carrying into effect an act between the U. States and the Chick- saw nation of Indians; and for establish- ing a land office in the Mississippi territory—Read twice and Referred.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Mr J. G. Jackson from the committee on our foreign relations, reported a bill to repeal the act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbours of the United States and the several acts supplementary thereto and to revive and amend the act entitled an act interdicting commercial intercourse with Great Britain and France and their dependencies.—Twice read and made the order of the day for Friday next.
AMERICAN SEAMEN.
Mr. Dana said that he rose for the pur- pose of calling the attention of the house to a subject which could not but be in- teresting to the councils of the nation. It related to American Seamen. He wished to propose a resolution, the object of which was to designate American seamen and to ensure to them the benefits properly ap- pertaining to that character. It was a proposition which could not impede any object which the administration could have in view, or embarrass any negotiation with foreign powers. He was the more desir- ous to bring up this subject, because it was extremely difficult to ascertain the number of foreign seamen in the service of the United States. In answer to an enquiry made at the last session with a view to ascertain the number of foreign seamen who had been naturalized, an an- swer had been received, which, although not much deception had been prac- tised, showed that it might be pre- sumed that there were on board Ame- rican shipping between ten and twenty thousand seamen, who were not natives of America. In the course of twelve years, the whole number of persons naturalized according to the laws of the U. States, and registered as seamen, did not amount to four hundred and fifty! It might be set down for fact, Mr. Dana said, that under our existing laws not less than 10,000 cer- tificates of protection are annually afloat, which are obtained by false swearing. To this fraud he wished to put an end. At present vessels might claim the privi- lege of carrying the American flag, with- out a single American Mariner on board, a permission contrary to the usage of all civilized nations. For the security and encouragement of our seamen therefore, he proposed the following resolution:
Resolved, That for the benefit of the seamen of the United States, it is proper to make provision that registered ships or vessels shall not be entitled to the privilege of ships or vessels of the United States, unless a certain proportion of Mariners on board the same shall be mariners of the United States.
On the suggestion of Mr Burwell, with the consent of Mr. Dana, the resolution was ordered to lie on the table.
ARMED TRADE.
Mr Dana said he wished to propos- another resolution, the object of which contemplated a provision for arming the commerce of the United States, not as against any particular power, but it was an attempt to draw a line of discrimination between armaments for defence and arma- ments for attack, between the principle of resistance to aggression of foreign na- tions and the principle of reprisal; in fact, an attempt at experiment, whether we could not transfer to the water that sys- tem which exists on the land, for a practi- cal demonstration of which he would re- fer to gentlemen from the western country, where he understood that the citizens individually or combined, armed for their defence against predatory incursions or attack. This was a species of arming distinct from arming for a tack or plun- der. The resolution which he held in his hand was similar to one proposed at a late day last session; it was however directed against one principle, and that was the principle of blockade by proclamation. It completely contravened the principle of the French decrees as to British ports, and the principle of the British orders in council. The resolution was as follows:
Resolved, That it is expedient to make provision, by law, to allow merchant ves- sels of the United States to be armed for defence in voyages to ports of Europe, the West Indies, and Atlantic coast of Amer- ica, and accordingly, to furnish the doc- umentary evidence which may be proper in any such case to manifest the defensive character of the armament allowed; and at the same time by law to require secu- rities for the vessels, respectively, that they will not proceed to any port known to be actually blockaded, nor carry arti- cles contraband of war to the dominions of a belligerent power, nor violate the laws or treaties of the United States, or the rules of public law by them acknowledged, but will observe the instructions which may be given by the President of the U. States for preventing all such viola- tions, and that due satisfaction shall be made for all damages and injuries if any should be committed in contravention thereof.
It was referred to a committee of the whole, on motion of Mr. Dana.
Various memorials and petitions were presented and referred. Among others Mr Helms presented the petition of Gen. John Hurd, late collector of Amboy now lying in jail at the suit of the United
States, on the peculiar hardship of whose situation Mr. H. expatiated.—Referred to a select committee, with instructions to report by bill.
Mr. Gould presented the petition of Mrs. Hamill, widow of the late Gen. Alex- ander Hamill of New York, stating that her husband was a Colonel during the Re- volutionary war, and as such entitled to half pay; but that from his delicate situa- tion as a member of Congress he had re- linquished his claim, the amount of which the petitioner prays may be allowed to her. Mr. Gould moved a reference to the com- mittee of claims. Mr. Gholson moved to refer the petition together with one which he conceived to be similar, to a select committee. On this motion a debate of near two hours, upon the subject of claims generally, took place, in which Messrs. Gholson, Gould, Mason, Southard, Lyon, Talmaadge, Nelson, Quincy, Smilie, Sou- thard, Ga denier and Randolph partook. The petition was eventually referred to the committee of claims by a small ma- jority.
VOTE OF APPROBATION.
The unfinished business of yesterda- y was resumed, ayes 63.
Mr. J. G. Jackson withdrew his motion for indefinite postponement, and Mr. Nel- son renewed it.
Mr. Johnson spoke in support of Mr. Bacon's amendment.
When he sat down, several members rising to speak, a motion was made to adjourn and carried, ayes 66.
Thursday, June 1.
The resolution approbatory of the pre- sident was then taken up.
Mr. Rhea, (Tenn.) and Mr. McKee sup- ported the motion for an indefinite post- ponement, and Mr. Gardener opposed it in a speech of upwards of three hours in length.
Friday, June 2.
On motion of Mr. J. G. Jackson, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill repealing the several em- bargo acts, and reviving and amending certain sections of the non-intercourse laws. Mr. Basset in the chair.
The bill was read from the chair. Af- ter the reading of the first section,
Mr. Gardener moved that the commit- tee rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again, with a view of referring the bill back again, to a committee to digest and present in a single bill an entire system of nonintercourse, without reference to other laws.
On this motion, Mr. J. G. Jackson entered into the merits of the bill, in a speech of considerable length, and took a view of our relations with France and Great Bri- tain.
He was called to order—but the chair- man decided that he might proceed.
Mr. Livermore and Mr. Quincey opposed the bill for the same reason that induced Mr. Gardener to make his motion.
Mr. Randolph rose to speak—shortly af- ter he commenced, he was called to or- der.
The chairman said the gentleman might proceed.
An appeal was made from his decision; and after much conversation, the decision of the chair was reversed.
The motion for the committee to rise was then carried.
The house adjourned until Monday.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 31.
The following is the bill submitted by Mr. Giles to the Senate on Monday.
A BILL
To amend and continue in force the act entitled “An act to interdict the com- mercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and their dependencies, and for other purposes.”
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, That the act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States and the several acts sup- plementary thereto, and the act to en- force and make more effectual, an act en- titled, an act laying an embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States, and also the 13th, 15th and 16th sections of the act to inter- dict the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France and their dependencies, and for other purposes, be a d the same are here- by repealed: Provided however, That all penalties and forfeitures, which have been incurred on account of any infraction of any of the said acts or sections, shall be recovered and distributed in like manner as if the said acts, and sections had contin- ued in full force and virtue.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That so much of the act to interdict the com- mercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France, and their dependencies, and for other purpo- ses, as is not repealed by this act, shall continue in force until the end of the next session of Congress: Provided, That no- thing therein contained shall be construed to prohibit any trade or commercial inter- course which has been or may be permit- ted in conformity with the provisions of the eleventh section of the said act.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that during the continuance of this act, no ship or vessel shall be permitted to depart for any foreign port or place with which com- mercial intercourse has not been or may not be permitted by virtue of the last men- tioned act: And no ship or vessel, bound to a foreign port or place with which com- mercial intercourse has been or may be permitted by virtue of the said act shall be allowed to depart, unless the owner or owners, consignee or factor of such ship or vessel shall, with the master have giv-
en bond with one or more sureties to the United States, in a sum double the value of the vessel and cargo that the vessel shall not proceed to any port or place with which commercial intercourse is not per- mitted by virtue of the said act, or be de- rectly or indirectly engaged during the voyage, in any trade with such port or place, nor shall any article on board of any other vessel destined for such port or place. And if any ship or vessel shall, contrary to the provisions of this section, proceed to any such prohibited port or place, or be directly or indirectly engaged in any trade with such port or place, or shall depart from any port of the United States without clearance, or without having given bond in the manner above mention- ed; such ship or vessel, together with her cargo, shall be wholly forfeited, and the owner or owners, agent, freighter or fac- tors, master or commander, of such ship or vessel shall moreover, severally forfeit and pay a sum equal to the value of the ship or vessel and of the cargo put on board the same. Provided always, That the provisions of the eleventh section of the last mentioned act, shall extend to the prohibitions imposed by this section; which prohibition shall cease to operate in the manner and under the limitations prescribed by the eleventh section afore- said, in relation to any nation with which commercial intercourse may hereafter be permitted in conformity with the provi- sions of the eleventh section aforesaid.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That all penalties and forfeitures arising under, or incurred by virtue of this act, shall be recovered and distributed, and may be remitted or mitigated in the man- ner prescribed by the act to interdict the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France and their dependencies, and for other pur- poses.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That all the vessels which may have arrived at any port or place within the United States, from Great Britain, her colonies or de- pendencies, since the twentieth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and nine or which may arrive before the tenth of June next shall be exempted from all the forfeitures and penalties incurred in con- sequence of any violation of any of the provisions of the said act to interdict the commercial intercourse between the United States and Great Britain and France and their dependencies.
NEW YORK, May 29.
LATEST NEWS FROM ENGLAND.
Intelligence from London three days later than we had previously published, via Philadelphia, was received yesterday at the office of the MERCANTILE ADVER- TISER, by the Spanish schooner GOOD VOYAGE, in 40 days from Liverpool. We have selected the articles that follow from London papers to the 13th of A- pril, and a Liverpool paper of the 15th. Vigo has surrendered to the Anglo Spanish forces. No confirmation of the report that hostili- ties had commenced between France and Austria is given in these papers.
LONDON, April 13.
Extract from a Letter dated Stockholm, March 24, 8 P. M.
The king has this afternoon been removed under a strong escort from Drommsham to Gripsholm, a Palace about 45 English miles from Stockholm. He has hitherto been kept closely confined, and has not been permitted to see the Queen.
About 600 Cossacks, who had come over from Aland Cressenamm, being a part of the army who had taken the former Isl- and, were on their march to Stockholm, when they were met by a flag of truce in the name of Duke Charles, and an armis- tice was immediately signed to wait the Emperor of Russia's answer.
By two Gottenburgh mails which arriv- ed last night, we have received intelli- gence from that place to the 1st inst. and from Stockholm to the 25th ult. The re- port of the rising of the Dalecarlians, for the purpose of effecting the liberation of their dethroned and imprisoned Monarch, appears altogether unworthy of credit. The unfortunate Gustavus has been trans- ferred to a fortress fifteen leagues more remote from his capital, where his contin- uous closely confined, and all intercourse between him and his Queen is carefully prevented. The Duke of Sudermania ex- ercises the functions of royalty with uncon- trolled power, and Adelsparre, who first gave the signal for insurrection, is arrived at Stockholm with a division of the wes- tern army. The inhabitants are stated to have conferred upon these troops every possible mark of approbation and regard.
It appears that the Russians had made considerable progress in their operations when a flag of truce was sent by the Duke of Sudermania, proposing an armistice. The proposal was acceded to, the armistice concluded, and the terms dispatched by the Russian General to the Emperor Alex- ander. Whether Sweden is to enjoy tran- quility, and we are to be excluded from the Swedish ports, will, however, depend upon the decision of Bonaparte to whom the question of peace or war is ultimately referred.
Our port letters of this morning contain little of importance. We regret to learn that Sir Arthur Wellesley had not so late as yesterday embarked for Lisbon. The Surveillant frigate which is to take him out, is said to have received counter or- ders.
We understand that an unhappy differ- ence has arisen between Admiral Lord Gambier and Rear Admiral Harvey. The latter is in consequence come home in the Tonnant and will strike his flag.
At 11 o'clock this morning a Gazette Extraordinary was published, containing official details of the surrender of Vigo to the gallant peasantry of Galicia, and the complete reduction of the Island of Mac-

tinique. Vigo capitulated on the 27th of March. The garrison were allowed to march out of the forts with the honours of war to the glacis, where they surrendered themselves prisoners of war, and were to be conducted to an English port. They consisted of 46 officers, 958 inferior officers and privates fit for duty, 500 sick; total 1304 men. The captors found 447 horses, 62 carriages, covered waggons and carts; and the military chest, containing 117,123 francs in French specie.
Price of Stocks this day, at one o'clock, 3 per cent. consols, 67 7-8—5 per cents 98 1-8.
BALTIMORE, May 31.
Extract of a letter, dated
New Point Comfort, 26th May, 1809. "The ship Nancy, Captain Rd. Kearney, put to sea on Tuesday last: soon after passing the Capes, found the ship had sprung a leak, which gained on us; and, after about four hours sail, put about for the Capes; but the wind being a head, we could not make the Capes till Thursday evening about 5 o'clock as per sea account. While out, we were boarded by the British frigate Melampus, which took us in tow for about half a day, and supplied us with four men to assist in pumping, and treated us with a great deal of humanity. The leak continued to gain on us so that when we arrived here we had near five feet water in the hold. To mend the matter the pilot has run the ship on shore on a bar, at the mouth of the Severn river, where we now lay; how long we shall remain here I know not. I am much fatigued at present, not having had more than eight hours sleep since Monday morning last."
FROM THE BOSTON PATRIOT.
A CARD
The Treasurer of the Boston Female Asylum, in behalf of the Board of Managers, with pleasure acknowledges the receipt of $36 dollars, from the hands of Mr. OELVIE, as a donation to the public for the frequent aid to this infant institution for the helpless orphan: they publicly tender their warmest thanks, to this eloquent and benevolent stranger; a meed of praise is justly due for his disinterested friendship in the conspicuous display of his talents on Thursday evening at the Theatre, to increase the funds of the Society and thereby extend its charities.
Saturday, May 20, 1809.
FRENCH IN PORTUGAL.
Latest London papers believed to have been received in this country, are of the thirteenth April; at which period it was not known that the French had reached Lisbon. A report at Boston from St. Michael's, says the French had possession of it. But capt. Sawyer, arrived at Boston, sailed from Lisbon on the eighth of April, when the French were not near that capital. — Ped. Gaz.
June 1.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Vincennes, to his friend in Louisville, dated
VINCENNES, May 1st, 1809.
We have serious times here on account of the Indians, two companies are ordered out and are encamped near the town, and the presumption is, that at least two more will be ordered out, and perhaps the whole militia of the county, as we have certain information of there being upwards of six hundred Indians encamped within 4 days march of this place, with every appearance of a hostile design. — Burrows (Interprete) was sent to them yesterday.
By virtue of a deed of trust executed by Robert M'Tyre on the 13th day of October, 1807, and recorded in the county court of Chesterfield on the 13th day of June, 1808, for the purpose of securing to John Baker, executor of Solomon Gordon, the punctual payment of a debt par mortem described in the said deed of trust; will be SOLD, on the premises, to the highest bidder, on Friday the 23rd day of this present month, the TENEMENT in the town of Manchester at present in the occupation of Mr. Nathaniel Builders, formerly known by the name of LEATH'S OLD TAVERN, and designated in the plan of the said town by the No. eighty eight, containing one hundred feet in front of the main street, and one hundred and sixty six feet back, with convenient buildings thereon for the accommodation of a family, or a house of public entertainment. The above described Tenement has been once advertised and sold under the deed aforesaid, but the purchaser not having complied with the terms of the sale, it will positively be sold on the day above mentioned under the provisions of the act of the last assembly of Virginia, entitled an act concerning executions and for other purposes.
THE TRUSTEES.
Manchester, 24 June, 1809. G. P.
The Editor of the Augusta Chronicle, in the state of Georgia, is requested to insert the above in his paper for one week, and sent his account to Samuel P. Savaans, Jun. Editor of the Argus, for payment.
THE TRUSTEES.
JUST PUBLISHED, AND FOR SALE AT THIS OFFICE, [Price 25 Cents,]
SERMON,
DELIVERED AT THE CAPITOL, ON SABBATH, APRIL 30TH, 1809, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
Female Humane Association
OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
BY THE REV. CONRAD SPEECE, A. M.
Published by request of the Association. May 27, 1809. Gt
THE Executors of Col. John Hoomes, late of the Bowling Green, do hereby desire of ascertaining the claims against said decedent's estate that arrangements may be made for discharging them—request all who have claims against said estate, to make them known to Ben: W. Coleman, Esq. of Elgin, near the Bowling Green. Those interested in the estate are hereby informed that the bonds and accounts due the estate are now placed in Mr. C's hands for collection. No further indulgence can be given.
JOHN G. WOOLFOLK,
JOHN HOOMES,
Executors of
JOHN HOOMES, dec.
Bowling Green, 20th May, 1809. wit.
Virginia Argus.
RICHMOND.
TUESDAY, June 9, 1809.
FOR THE VIRGINIA ARGUS.
In my last number I proposed to continue the subject of the phenomena of shooting or falling stars. These have been generally treated by philosophical writers under the head of meteors. The latest authors however agree, that the phenomena of shooting stars and meteors are very different. The altitudes of shooting stars are much higher and generally the same, at least two hundred miles. The altitudes of meteors are much lower and seldom exceed fifty miles. In the Acts of the Academy of Sciences at Paris for 1771, there is an account of a meteor, that was seen on the 17th of July of that year, which was observed to have been 54 miles high when it began, and 27 when it exploded. The celebrated meteor of the 18th of August 1783, which was seen throughout all Europe, had an altitude at its greatest height of 56 miles. Falling stars also are observed to move in every direction, but meteors, at least those which have been accurately observed, have a direction from west to east. Both these phenomena may readily be accounted for by the rotatory motion of the Earth. Shooting or falling stars, as I observed in my last number, are only electric matter or sparks produced in the highest regions of the atmosphere, and appear in greatest number in that part of the atmosphere, which belongs to the hemisphere of the earth that moves with greatest velocity. Meteors on the contrary have been ascertained to consist of stony matter. The following extract is from the 4th volume of Cavallo, which is copied from a paper by Lloyd Williams, Esq. in the Philosophical Transactions for 1802.
"On the 19th of December 1798, about 8 o'clock in the evening, a very luminous meteor was observed in the heavens, by the inhabitants of Benares, and the parts adjacent, in the form of a large ball of fire; that it was accompanied by a loud noise, resembling thunder; and that a number of stones were said to have fallen from it, near Krakhat, a village on the north side of Goomty, about 14 miles from the city of Benares."
"Of these stones I have seen eight, nearly perfect, besides parts of several others, which had been broken by the possessors to distribute among their friends. The form of the more perfect ones, appeared to be that of an irregular cube, rounded off at the edges; but the angles were to be observed on most of them. They were of various sizes, from about three to upwards of four inches in their largest diameter; one of them measuring 4 1-4 inches, weighed 2 pounds & twelve ounces. In appearance they were exactly similar externally, they were covered with a hard black crust or incrustation, which in some parts had the appearance of varnish or bitumen; and on most of them were fractures, which, from their being covered with a matter similar to that of the coat, seemed to have been made in the fall, by the stones striking against each other, and to have passed through some medium, probably an intense heat previous to their reaching the earth."
"I shall copy a few more extracts from the same volume of Cavallo, with the intention of establishing the fact of stones falling frequently from the atmosphere, and that meteors consist of stony substances. Afterwards I shall show the probability of the stones having been originally projected from volcanoes on this earth; and to have fallen on parts of the Globe very distant from those from whence they were projected; owing to the opposite hemispheres of the earth moving with different velocities; for if the motion of the earth was uniform; every projected body must fall in the spot from whence it was projected."
"The well known and celebrated Cardan, in his book de varietae rerum , lib. 14. cap. 72, tells us, that he himself, in the year 1510, had seen 120 stones fall from heaven; among which one weighed 120 & another 60 pounds; that they were mostly of an iron colour, and very hard, and smelt of brimstone. He remarks, moreover, that about three o'clock, a great fire was to be seen in the heavens; and that about five o'clock the stones fell down with a rushing noise."
"The Abbe Stuy, assistant in the imperial cabinet of curiosities at Vienna, in a book printed at Leipzig in 1790, describes two stones said to have fallen from the clouds; one in the Eichstedt county in Germany, and another in the Pechin circle in Bohemia in July 1753. He also describes two more which were seen to fall not far from Agram, the capital of Croatia in Hungary; concerning which, he relates that the bishop of Agram caused seven eye witnesses to be examined upon oath."
"It is related in the history of the academy of sciences 1769. P. 20, that three masses fell down with thunder, in provinces very distant from one another; and which were sent to the academy in 1769. They were sent from Maine, Artois, and Cotenin ; and it is affirmed, that, when they fell, a hissing was heard, and that they were found hot. All three were like one another; all three were of the same colour, and nearly of the same grain, & small metallic and pyrital particles could be distinguished in them; and externally, all three were covered with a hard ferruginous coat, and on chemical investigation, they were found to contain iron and sulphur."
"On the 13th of September 1768, about half an hour after four in the afternoon, there was seen near the castle of Luce in Maine, a tempestuous cloud; from which was heard an explosion of thunder, like the firing of canon, but without the appearance of lightning: there was then heard a remarkable whizzing noise in the air; and some persons travelling, on looking up, saw an opaque body descending in a curved line, which fell in a green patch of ground near the high road to Mons . They all ran instantly to the spot, and found a kind of stone, one half of which was buried in the soil, and which was so burning hot, that they could not possibly touch it. This stone
weighed seven pounds and a half; was of a triangular, or rather of a pyramidal form the part which was buried in the earth was of a grey ash colour and that which was exposed to the air was extremely black, covered with a very thin black crust, somewhat puffed up in places, and which appeared to have been melted. The interior part of the stone, when examined with a magnifying glass, appeared of a grey ash colour, spotted with a prodigious number of minute brilliant metallic spots, and of a pale yellow. The interior part, when stricken with steel, would not yield any sparks; but the exterior coating did."
"The specific gravity of the stone was 3.535. And the chemical analysis of it, shewed it to contain, in 100 parts, 8 1/2 of sulphur, 36 of iron and 55 1/2 of vitrifiable earth."
"On the 16th of June 1794, a tremendous cloud was seen in Tuscany, near Siena, and Radacofani, coming from the north, about 7 o'clock P. M. sending forth sparks like rockets, throwing out smoke like a furnace, rendering violent explosions, and blasts, more like those of cannon, and of numerous muskets, than like thunder; and casting down to the ground hot stones; whilst the lightning that issued from the cloud was remarkably red, and moved with less velocity than usual."
"The testimony concerning the falling of the stones from it, appears to be almost unquestionable; and is evidently from different persons, who had no communication with each other."
"For first, the fall of four stones is precisely ascertained; one of which was of an irregular figure, with a point like that of a diamond, weighing 3 1-2 pounds and had a vitriol smell. And another weighed 3 1-2 pounds, was black on the outside, as if from smoke; and internally seemed composed of matter of the colour of ashes, in which were perceived small spots of gold and silver."
"Signior A. Montauli, who saw the cloud as he was travelling, described it as appearing much above the common region of the clouds and as being clearly discerned to be on fire."
"This curious observer gives an account also of a stone which he was assured fell from the cloud, at the feet of a farmer, and was dug out of the ground into which it had penetrated; and he says, that it was about five inches long, and four broad, nearly square, and polished; black on the surface, as if smoked; but within, like a sort of sand stone, with various small particles of iron and bright metallic stars."
"Other stones are described by him, which were said to have fallen at the same time, were triangular, and terminated in a sort of pyramidal or conical figure, and others were so small as to weigh not more than one ounce."
"In the year 1795, a stone of remarkable large size was said to have fallen from heaven, near the Wild Cottage , Yorkshire, which stone was afterwards exhibited in London."
"A labouring man who saw it fall afterwards went to the place, in company with others, who had witnessed part of the phenomenon, and dug the stone up from the place, where it was buried about 21 inches deep."
"It smelt (as it is said) very strongly of sulphur, when it was dug up; and was even warm and smoked. It was found to be 30 inches in length, and 28 1-2 inches in breadth; and it weighed 56 pounds."
"M Southey relates an account, juridically authenticated, of a stone weighing 10 pounds which heard to fall in Portugal, 19th February 1796, and was taken still warm from the ground."
"From the above and other similar accounts, says M. Cavallo, "The general fact of stones having actually fallen from the sky, seems to be established beyond the possibility of a doubt."
"But the account which we had last year in all the newspapers, of a very large stone having fallen in one of the New-England states, is another corroborative instance of the kind."
"Whence therefore do these meteors or stony bodies derive their origin and motion? This is an important question. I shall first briefly deliver a few hypotheses from Cavallo on this head, and then show that no theory is so rational, as that to imagine them volcanic productions projected from this earth, and owing to a difference of velocity in the opposite hemispheres of the globe afterwards carried to an immense distance from that spot from whence they were projected."
"It was Doctor Halley's opinion, that a stratum or train of inflammable vapour, gradually raised from the earth and accumulated in an elevated region, suddenly took fire at one end, and the successive inflammation of the stratum, like the inflammation of a train of gun-powder, produced the apparent motion as it were of a ball of fire, which constituted the meteor. But the least examination of the different parts of this hypothesis (says Cavallo) will readily manifest its imperfections."
"Professor Clapp, of Yale College, in New-England, supposes that meteors are solid bodies revolving round the earth, as the comets revolve round the sun, and now and then some of them coming so near as to fall upon it."
"Cavallo enlarges upon this theory of Clapp's and supposes that the attractive force in proportion to the centrifugal, is rather stronger than that which is required to keep the revolving body in the same immovable orbit; and that consequently the said body must move in a sort of spiral, coming continually nearer and nearer, to the earth. The greatest objection which Cavallo himself has to this theory is that the revolution of so many bodies round the earth as are necessary to form all the meteors, seems rather unlikely."
"A Mr. King has given an hypothesis concerning the fall of stones at Siena in Italy. He establishes his supposition upon a careful examination of all the circumstances that seemed to be at all concerned with that wonderful phenomenon. He remarks that the space of ground within which the stones fell, was from three to four miles; that the phenomenon took place the very day after the great eruption of Vesuvius, which is not less distant from Siena than 200 miles, and that Vesuvius is situated to the south of the spot; whereas the cloud
came from the north about 13 or at most 18 hours after the eruption."
"There are some writers, and even men of celebrity, who maintain that these stony meteors are projected from the moon with such a force as to exceed the gravitating power of that satellite, but afterwards coming within the sphere of the earth's attraction, they fall down."
"If we admit, however, that the opposite hemispheres of this earth move with different velocities, a principle which may be demonstrated in the most rigid manner; then Mr. King's hypothesis will serve to account for the fall of stones in every quarter of the globe."
"The mountains Vesuvius and Etna are well known to project upwards red hot stones of immense and different sizes; as likewise, to different heights according to the force with which they are thrown from their volcanoes. But these stones, were the motion of all the parts of the earth uniform, would always fall back to their respective volcanoes; in the same manner as a stone or ball let fall from the top of a mast of a ship when sailing, falls at the bottom of the mast."
"But if we suppose that red hot stones (which frequently happens) are projected from Etna or Vesuvius at the period when that hemisphere of the earth in which these mountains are situated moves slowest; then these stones being possessed of a less centrifugal force than those parts of the earth to the west of Etna and Vesuvius, it follows that before they can have gained their highest altitude some point on the surface of the earth to the westward of Etna or Vesuvius, must have come perpendicular below them, and therefore they must fall at a greater or less distance from their respective mountains, according to the height to which they have ascended. The difference between the centrifugal force which they possess at the moment of projection from the volcano, and the centrifugal force of those parts of the earth immediately beneath them, when they have attained their greatest altitude, may be so great, as to cause them not only to make one revolution of the earth, but several revolutions before they fall, that is, they will describe a sort of spiral round the earth continually approaching it; until they either fall entire, or burst and explode in pieces at a distance from the ground, after getting impregnated with the dense vapours of the atmosphere."
"The noise which they make resembling thunder when they explode, is a natural effect arising from getting immersed in a dense watery cloud. But a wide distinction (as Cavallo justly observes) must be made between this noise and common thunder and lightning, which are the effects of electricity, discharged from the clouds; and which have nothing to do with the fall of stones. Many stones, however, have been known to fall from the heavens without exhibiting either noise or any luminous appearance. Such, for instance, was the stone mentioned to have fallen in Yorkshire."
"A very strong circumstance to prove that meteors are stony substances projected from volcanoes on this earth is this, that they are almost invariably the attendants of earthquakes and the eruptions of Vesuvius and Etna. The celebrated meteor of the 18th of August, 1783, is well known to have been the attendant of one of the greatest earthquakes which ever scourged Italy, and during the whole of this month, according to Sir William Hamilton, both Etna and Vesuvius were perpetually throwing up immense masses of hot matter."
"Indeed, it would be impossible other ways to account for any coincidence in time, between the falling of stones and earthquakes; for if these stones did not proceed from the bowels of the earth, no reason could be assigned for their falling during the periods of earthquakes and volcano eruptions more than at any other time."
"This fact, therefore, next to Geometrical demonstration, is one of the strongest proofs which could be urged to prove that the opposite hemispheres of the earth move with different velocities in the same manner as the opposite parts of a wheel; for if they moved with the same velocity as has been hitherto supposed; then every body projected perpendicularly upwards, whatever altitude it might attain, would always fall to the very same point from whence it was projected, and even if we supposed that stones were thrown from volcanoes at an angle of forty-five degrees with the horizon, it is impossible to conceive they could reach even one hundred miles distant from the place of ascension; but as they rise almost always perpendicularly to the horizon, unless it were for a cause of this sort they never would proceed beyond the environs of the mountain."
"From the opposite hemisphere of this earth moving with different velocities, we may, therefore, easily account for the phenomena of falling stones, without having recourse either to the Lunar or Heavenly regions as the places of their nativity. And it is certainly much more probable that the volcanic rock which last year alarmed the citizens of New England, was a child either of Vesuvius, Etna, or Hecla, than that it was generated in the Heavens or dropped from the Moon."
"In my next number I will demonstrate that the curve which the points of the earth describe, approaches nearer an elongated epicycloid than any other, and will show some properties which this curve has different from that of the cycloid."
J. W.
Manchester Academy, 28th May, 1809. There is every probability (says the Baltimore Evening Post of Wednesday) that Mr. Randolph's motion of appropriation will cost the nation 8 or 10,000 dollars. —The subject was yesterday resumed and little other business transacted.
The public ought not to overlook the facilities which the present administration has given to a reconciliation with Great Britain. They afford ample proof that no predilections for France exist, that sincerity pervades the American cabinet and legislature. Let us enumerate those facilities, for they are truly worthy of remark:
1. On the offer of reasonable atonement for the attack on the Chesapeake, a pro-
mise of rescinding the orders in council of the tenth of June, and the view to a reciprocal treaty, the president's proclamation for the restoration of intercourse.
2. Doubts arose on the question with the tenth June referred to the departure of vessels from British ports or to their arrival here. On application, the secretary of state instantly decided in favour of construction, which hastened the resumption of trade with England.
3. Mr. Giles has brought forward bill in the senate, which exonerates vessels from Great Britain, her colonies or dependencies, entering the ports of the United States, after May 20, from the penalties of the non-intercourse law.
These three facts must convince the public of the zealous wishes of the administration for the revival of commerce, must tend entirely to remove that odious charge which was formerly attempted to be fixed on Mr. Madison, that he was influenced by French counsels. — Monticello
When such men as Mr. Gardnier claim for three hours in favor of a vote after the election of the president, although will not justify a charge of inconsistency against the orator, it is sufficient to a republican vigilant and wary. When an unblushing advocate of aristocratical principles labors so strenuously in praise of man elevated to power exclusively by democratic party, there must be some sign on foot to cheat him into an unhappy dilemma. — Mon.
HAVING executed a deed of trust Benjamin Oliver, jr. William Cunningham, and Samuel Richardson, conveying certain property therein mentioned to them, for the purpose of making sale thereof, in order to discharge all debts for which I am bound for my father, and my mother, —It is therefore my wish that all said creditors may as soon as possible, in their respective claims known to the above named gentlemen, that they may know how to carry the sales, which will take place on the 1st of August next.
4th June, 1809. JOHN M. SYME tds
Valuable Property FOR SALE.
PURSUANT to a deed of trust executed to us, by John M. Syme, of the county of Hanover, for the purpose of satisfying debts for which he is bound for his father and his own debts; we shall, on Thursday the first day of August next, if fair, if not, the next fair day, upon the premises, proceed to sell, four hundred and sixty-three acres, (by a late survey) of prime and valuable Land, adjoining the town of New Castle, upon Pamunkey River, and the ferry across that river. Also, ELEVEN NEGROES, consisting of men, women, boys and girls, all the stock of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, and implements of Husbandry, &c. conveyed by the said instrument. Such title as we hold as trustees will be made the purchaser or purchasers, and possession of the land given at Christmas, with the privilege of seeding wheat this fall. The terms of sale will be one third cash, one third in six months, and the balance in 12 months, from the day of sale. Interest will be expected upon the distant payments. Bonds with approved security will be required of the purchasers of the personal property, and bonds with deeds of trust upon the land and ferry of the respective purchasers. The land, &c. will be shown by Mr. WM. CUNNINGHAM, living in New Castle, or either of the Mr. SYMES, to any person wishing to view the premises — Creditors will be allowed to purchase, and their claims discounted.
According to Mr. John M. Syme's notification above, we or either of us, will receive the amount of any claim, and it is our wish that they be made known prior to the day of sale.
There are some previous liens upon this property, or some of it, to secure certain debts, which will be first paid, according to their several dates. Proposals for any part of the above property will be received by either of the trustees prior to the sale.
BENJAMIN OLIVER, jr. WM. CUNNINGHAM. SAML. RICHARDSON. New Castle, June 4th, 1809. tds
Ten Dollars Reward.
RUN AWAY from the subscriber on the 29th of last month, my negro man NELSON. —He is a bright Mulatto fellow, about 22 years of age, 5 feet 8 or 9 inches high, stout and well made, has a bushy head of hair, of a yellowish colour, is apt to smile when spoken to, and looks down and stammers in his speech when closely examined. I will give the above reward to any person who will deliver him to me in the town of Goochland, or secure him in jail, so that I get him, besides paying all reasonable expenses.
June 2d, 1809. WM. POWEL, Sen. w4 p.
City Hotel to Let.
THAT spacious convenient HOUSE and LOT, with out Houses, Stables, &c. situated on the street that leads from the main street by the Governor's to the Capitol which was lately in the occupancy of Mr. James Vaughan, as a Tavern. It will be let for one or more years, and possession given immediately. For terms apply to Benjamin Mosby of Powhatan, or B. Tate of this City, who are authorised by me to let the same.
RICHARD CROUCH. Richmond, June 1st 1809. t.
Dissolution of Partnership.
PRICHARD & ADAMS by mutual consent, dissolved partnership on the 23d ult. Lewis Adams assumes the payment of all demands against the late firm, to whom all debts contracted with that firm belong and payment is to be made.
(Copy) Wm. PRICHARD. LEWIS ADAMS. June 6, 1809. (1)

One Thousand Pounds
WANTED, FOR the interest of which a plantation of 500 acres of valuable land will be given, until the money is refunded. Nearly 100 acres are rich low grounds, now in cultivation, lying on navigable water, the improvements new and very good, in a healthy and desirable country. Enquire of the Printer. September 8, 1809. tf
Wm. M'CAY, Watch & Clock Maker, In consequence of the late fire, has removed To the next House above his former Dwelling, on the Main street; Where he continues to MAKE and REPAIR all kinds of WATCHES and CLOCKS, as heretofore.
Grateful to his numerous friends for the great encouragement he has hitherto experienced, he will omit no exertions to merit their future support. He has on hand, an assortment of JEWELRY and SILVER WORK, for sale; & constantly keeps good workmen employed, to execute in the newest style, and on the shortest notice any orders in the above branches, with which he may be favored. W. M. C. has also erected proper furnaces, with every necessary apparatus, for the purpose of CASTING BRASS to any given pattern; and has in employment, some of the most skillful founders, or casters of Brass to enable him to complete all orders in that line, in the very best manner.
N. B. The highest price given for old Gold, Silver, Copper Brass and Pewter. May 4th, 1809. gw
JUST RECEIVED FROM NEW YORK AND FOR SALE AT THIS OFFICE.
A FRESH SUPPLY OF CHURCH'S & LEE'S GENUINE Patent Medicines.
INCLUDING Worm Lozenges, Ague and Fever Drops, Cough Drops, Restorative Balsam, Alternative Pills, Hamilton's Elixir, Essence and Extract of Mustard, Hill's Balsam of Honey, Hahn's Antiphlogistic Pills, Turlington's Balsam, Anderson's Pills, Rich Ointment, Eye Water, Antispasmodic or Fit Drops, &c. &c. Eye Salve, May 11, 1809. tf
MALTHUS ON POPULATION.
THE first American edition of this valuable work is just published, and may be had at this office. It is in two large octavo volumes, very handsomely executed by Mr. Weightman of Washington City. Subscribers will please call or send for their copies.
HOSTLER WANTED.
A liberal price will be given FOR A Good Hostler, At the Bell Tavern, either by the month or year. Richmond, 27th April, 1809. tf
To Rent, And possession given immediately, THE TENEMENT
AT present in the occupancy of Mr. Williamson, and directly back of the Hon. Creed Taylor's. Apply to EDWARD W. TRENT. May 4, 1809. tf
FOR SALE.
Forty Thousand weight Isle of Wight Bacon, Amongst which are 900 Hams, 500 Barrels Herring and Shad, 100 Sacks Salt, Liverpool filled, 20 Bales Georgia Cotton, 40 Tierces Rye Whiskey, 8 Barrels Ditt, 45 Kegs English White Lead, 30 Do. Spanish Brown, 20 Tons American and S. Vess. Iron, will be Sold low for cash only. GROCERIES, AS USUAL. Russell & Wallace. Richmond, May 23, 1809. 3m.
IN COUNCIL,
January 20, 1809. PROPOSALS will be received by the Executive for manufacturing three hundred and ninety Rifles during the present year, being the number directed by law to be provided annually, including the deficiency of last year. Extract from the minutes. DAN. L. HYLTION, Clerk of the Council.
IN COUNCIL, May 18, 1809.
PROPOSALS will be received by the Executive for raising seven eighteen pounders opposite Drew's Point, Nansemond River, until the 1st day of July next. Daniel L. Hylton, c. c. 11 July.
IN COUNCIL, May 29, 1809.
PROPOSALS will be received by the Executive till Thursday the 29th day of June next, for repairing between Five and Six Thousand stand of public Arms. The repairs will be of various kinds; and the Executive would prefer a contract at so much a piece, for each stand, to be made completely fit for service. The arms may be seen, and further information obtained by application to Alexander Quarrier. Extract from the Journal. DANIEL L. HYLTION c. c.
REMOVAL.
THE subscriber has removed near the Basin, where he continues to keep a house of
Private Entertainment.
He has also for sale, a general assortment of GROCERIES. Likewise sells all kinds of country produce on commission. HEZEKIAH PURYEAR. Richmond, May 17th, 1809. tf
FOR RENT,
In a central part of this city, a few GENTEEL ROOMS, With a kitchen, stable, smoke house, &c. and an elegant pump of water. Enquire of the printer. tf
NOTICE.
By virtue of the last will and testament of Pleasant Younghusband, dec. WILL BE SOLD, To the highest bidder, on Tuesday the 13th of June next, at the courthouse of Botetourt county, being court day,
One Tract of Land,
Containing 254 acres, more or less, it being the same tract of land deeded to Pleasant Younghusband by Thomas M'George and Judith his wife, as by indenture bearing date the 2d day of July, 1800, on the following terms, to wit: one third cash, one third in twelve months, and the remaining third in two years. Bonds with security, to carry interest from the date if not paid in three months after they become due, and a deed of trust on the land to secure the two last payments, will be required. ELIZA T. YOUNGHUSBAND, Administratrix SAMUEL P. PARSONS, Adm'r. With the will annexed 2d mo. 17th, 1809. 1ds N. B. The above sale is postponed to Botetourt August Court. E. T. YOUNGHUSBAND, Adm'r S. P. PARSONS, Adm'r. 5th mo. 6th, 1809.
A Bank Note
OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, taken from a black boy, who called himself James Smith, and says he found it in the street—not thinking it proper to let the boy keep it, I detained it for the proper owner, who may have it on giving satisfactory evidence of his or their right to it and paying the expense of this advertisement. JOHN McDONALD. Richmond, March 10th, 1809. tf
MATTRESSES
OF ALL SIZES AND KINDS, MADE and repaired, agreeably to order, in the large wooden house opposite the Old City Tavern, two squares below the market bridge, Richmond. J. S. PLEASANTS. May 31, 1809. tf
INSPECTOR'S OFFICE.
WASHINGTON, April 27, 1809. (ORDERS)
ALL Officers of the Army who are on furlough or absent from their respective corps or stations, will report themselves without delay to the Adjutant and Inspector of the Army, Maj. Nicoll, at the city of Washington; stating on what authority they are absent and the period for which their furloughs were given, and all officers who shall hereafter be absent from their respective corps or stations, will report themselves monthly as herein directed. By order of the Secretary of War, A. Y. NICOLL, Adj. & Inspector. Those Printers who are authorised to publish the Laws of the 10th Congress of the United States are requested to insert the above twice a week for three weeks and transmit their account to the Accountant of the War Department for settlement. April 1 29. (3w.)
Negroes for Sale.
BY virtue of a deed of trust executed by William Cannon to William Gurrant and the subscriber, bearing date the 1st day of December, 1808, one hundred and seven, and of record in the County court of Buckingham, to secure the payment of money due to Daniel Bagby and others, as expressed in the said deed, will be SOLD to the highest bidder, for ready money, at John Anderson's Tavern, in the town of New Canton, on Saturday the 24th day of June next, FIVE NEGROES, viz. Beck, Maria, Milly, Sam and Aggy. The subscriber will only convey such title as he has received by said deed. Thomas Pittman, Surviving Trustee. New Canton, 20th Mar. 1809. 1ds.
Land for Sale.
BY virtue of a deed of trust, bearing date the fifth day of Oct. in the year eighteen hundred and seven, executed by Peter Clarkson, to the subscribers as trustees, for the purpose of securing a sum of money therein mentioned to be due to Richard Ward Birkhead and Thomas Birkhead, will be sold in Charlottesville, before the door of Triplett T. Estes, on the first Monday in June next, that being Albemarle court day, a
Tract of Land,
In said deed conveyed, supposed to contain 415 acres and a half, lying in the counties of Fluvanna and Goochland, according to the provisions of an act entitled an act concerning executions and for other purposes. The subscribers will make a deed as trustees only. JOHN WARD, DOUGLASS B. COCK. (3w.) May 3d, 1809.
General Assembly, begun and held at the Capitol
in the city of Richmond, on Monday the second day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and five, and of the Commonwealth, the thirty-first.
AN ACT giving further time to the proprietors of certain lands, forfeited for the non payment of taxes, to redeem the same.
[Passed February 1st, 1806.]
BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That the proprietors of lands forfeited to, and vested in the Commonwealth, by the non payment of taxes, agreeably to the act, entitled, "An act more effectually to provide for the payment of taxes upon lands within this Commonwealth," may redeem the same by paying into the treasury of this Commonwealth, on or before the first day of March, in the year eighteen hundred and seven, all arrears of taxes due thereon.
This act shall commence and be in force from and after the passing thereof.
A Copy from the Roll—Teste, J. PLEASANTS, Jr. Keeper of the Rolls.
General Assembly, begun and held at the Capitol
in the city of Richmond, on Monday the first day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and six, and of the Commonwealth, the thirty-first.
AN ACT to amend an act, entitled, "An act more effectually to provide for the payment of taxes upon lands within this Commonwealth."
[Passed 20th January, 1807.]
BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That when the taxes on any tract or parcel of land shall have heretofore remained, or shall hereafter remain unpaid for the space of two years, such tract or parcel of land shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth, and shall not be subject to location Provided nevertheless, That the tract or parcel of land so as aforesaid forfeited, shall be subject to the redemption of the former rightful and proper owner at any time within three years after such forfeiture shall have accrued, upon payment of the taxes due thereon, according to the following rules: to wit: That if the said taxes shall be paid in the first year after such forfeiture shall have accrued, there shall be paid an interest of twenty-five per centum per annum on the amount of the said taxes from the time they became due, till paid. If the said taxes shall be paid in the second year after such forfeiture shall have accrued, there shall be paid an interest of fifty per centum per annum on the amount of taxes due at aforesaid. If the said taxes shall be paid in the third year after such forfeiture shall have accrued, there shall be paid an interest of one hundred per centum per annum, as aforesaid. Provided also, That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to affect the rights of infants, femes covert, or persons of unsound mind, until one year after the disabilities shall have ceased, on their paying all taxes due, with an interest thereon at the rate of ten per centum per annum on the amount due as aforesaid.
All acts and parts of acts coming within the purview of this act, are hereby repealed.
This act shall commence and be in force from and after the first day of March next.
A Copy from the Roll—Teste, J. PLEASANTS, Jr. Keeper of the Rolls.
General Assembly, begun and held at the Capitol
in the city of Richmond, on Monday the fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eight, and of the Commonwealth, the thirty-third.
AN ACT providing for the redemption of certain lands forfeited for the non-payment of the taxes thereon.
[Passed February 6th, 1809.]
BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That all lands heretofore forfeited or hereafter to be forfeited to the Commonwealth for the non-payment of taxes, by virtue of the laws now in force, shall be redeemable at any time within three years from the time when such forfeiture hath heretofore accrued, or shall hereafter accrue, and until the first day of March next succeeding the expiration of the said term of three years, on payment of the taxes due thereon, with an interest of ten per centum per annum on each year's tax, from the time when the same became or shall become due, until the time of such redemption. Provided, nevertheless, That all lands heretofore forfeited, shall be redeemable in like manner, and on payment of the like interest, on or before the first day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and ten.
Be it further enacted, That if the auditor of public accounts, half on or before the first day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven, and on or before the first day of March in every year thereafter, deliver to the collector of the taxes of each county, a list of all such forfeited lands therein, as on the first day of March preceding, had become redeemable, which list shall be forthwith posted or hung up in the most public place in the courthouse of the county.
Be it further enacted, That on the first Monday in August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven, and on the first Monday of August in every year thereafter, the collectors shall proceed, by public auction, at the door of the courthouse of each county, to sell to the highest bidder, each tract of land contained within the list of such forfeited lands, as were redeemable on the first day of March in the preceding year, for ready money.
Be it further enacted, That if at any such sale, the former owner or owners of any forfeited tract of land or about to be sold, or any person for him, her or them, or in his, her or their behalf, with or without any authority or direction for that purpose, shall appear and pay the taxes due thereon, with interest as aforesaid, until the time of such sale, such tract shall not be sold, but an entry of such payment shall be made by the collector on the list also aforesaid, and a receipt for such payment given to the person making the same in the name of the former owner or owners, and thereupon such land shall be taken to be redeemed, and the forfeiture accrued thereon, shall be, and the same is hereby fully waived and remitted.
Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the commissioner or commissioners of the revenue, annually, on the first Monday in August, to attend at the courthouse of their respective counties, and to take and make out a list of all the sales so to be made by the collector, specifying the name or names of the former owner or owners, the sums paid and to whom sold; which list the commissioner or commissioners shall forthwith transmit to the auditor of public accounts, who shall charge the collector with the amount of sales appearing thereon.
Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every collector to pay annually into the public treasury, all such sums or sums of money as he shall receive by virtue of this act, deducting a commission of five per centum thereon, which payment shall annually be made on the same day on which the taxes collected in the same year shall be payable.
Be it further enacted, That the lists of sale so certified and taken by the commissioners, or either of them, shall be sufficient to charge the collector or his security or securities, his, her or their heirs, executors or administrators thereon, on any motion to be made to recover the same by the auditor of public accounts. And if
any collector shall make default in the payment
of any monies by him received, by virtue of this act, at the time hereby required, such collector, his, her or their security or securities, his, her or their heirs, executors or administrators, shall be liable to all such fines, interest, damages and costs, and be recovered in the same manner as in case of a default in the payment of the commonwealth's revenue.
Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every collector making a sale by virtue of this act, to make and execute to the purchaser a deed in fee simple for the lands purchased, reciting the cause of sale, and in every action or suit at law or in equity, in which a former owner or owners of any tract of land so sold and conveyed, his, her or their heirs, devisee, or other person or persons claiming under him, her or them, shall contest the validity of the sale so made, the said proband shall be on the party so contesting.
Be it further enacted, That the commissioner or commissioners for discharging the duties required of them by this act, shall be entitled to receive from the public treasury a commission of one and a half per centum on the amount of sales, on a warrant from the auditor of public accounts.
Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the auditor of public accounts, at the public expense, to cause a copy of this act, and of an act passed the first day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and six, entitled, "An act giving further time to the proprietors of certain lands forfeited for the non payment of taxes, to redeem the same, and also of an act passed on the twentieth day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven, entitled, "An act to amend an act entitled, "An act more effectually to provide for the payment of taxes upon lands within this Commonwealth," to be published, for six months successively in the present year and for three months successively preceding the first Monday in August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven, to be published in some newspaper of general circulation, edited in each of the United States, if any such there be.
And be it further enacted, That the duties enjoined by this act to be performed by the collectors, shall, where the sheriff is collector, be performed by the high sheriff in person, and every purchase made, wholly or in part, by the sheriff for his deputy, or by any other person being a collector, or by any other person, wholly or in part, for the use of such sheriff, deputy sheriff or other person being collector, shall be void; and every sheriff, deputy sheriff or other person being a collector, making any purchase, either wholly or in part, for himself, or procuring any other person to make such purchase, wholly or in part, for the use aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay the sum of $500, to the use of the public, to be recovered by bill, plaint or information, in any court of record having jurisdiction thereof.
This act shall be in force from the passing thereof.
A Copy from the Roll—Teste, J. PLEASANTS, Jr. Keeper of the Rolls.
The High Bred Imported Horse,
Sir Peter Teazle
The property of Col. John Tayloe of Mount Airy, and the subscriber;
WILL STAND the ensuing season at our
stables, in Albemarle county, ten miles above Charlottesville, and will cover mares on the following terms—ten dollars the leap, to be paid in hand, twenty dollars the season, payable the first of November next, thirty dollars to ensure a mare with foal, and in either case, one dollar with each mare to the groom. The following articles of produce will be received in payment: tobacco inspected at Warrenton, Warren, Milton, or any other inspection below on James river, at 5 dols. per C—flour delivered at Milton or Warren at 5 dols. per bbl.—whiskey, delivered at our house or in Charlottesville, at 50 cents per gallon, provided those articles are delivered by the first of November; or approved notes of hand (to be assigned) on any person living in any adjacent county to the amount of 20 dols. will be taken for the season, if offered before the expiration of the season. A deduction of 20 per cent. will be made for cash, if sent with the mares. The season will commence the first of March and expire the first of August. We are provided to furnish (gratis) extensive and excellent pasturage, consisting of red and white clover, blue grass, &c. well enclosed in separate fields, besides lots for mares and colts, or mares sent before they have foaled. Grain will be furnished at 25 dols per bushel, for which the money must be sent, and servants boarded at 95 per week. We assure gentlemen that the greatest attention will be paid mares in every particular, left in our care, but cannot be liable for any accidents or escapes which may happen.
Sir Peter Teazle is a brown bay horse now in high health and vigor, full sixteen hands high, of the most favorite blood, for action in all his gaits, substance, bone, constitution, shape, gentleness and color, no horse can excel him. He never started, paid or received forfeit, being never in training. We only think it necessary further to observe for the information of those gentlemen who may not have an opportunity of seeing this fine horse, but have seen Knowlesley, that there is a very striking likeness in their form and general appearance, Sir Peter Teazle surpassing him in the eye, ear and sprightly carriage.
The well known superiority and high estimation of his stock, both in England in this country, will, it is presumed, entitle him to a liberal share of the public patronage. It will be seen from his pedigree annexed, that in him is united from his famous sire and dam, the most approved crosses in England—In short, we believe that this horse is as well calculated to produce as valuable a stock for any service whatever, as any other horse that has yet stood in this country. His superior size, elegance and blood justify the assertion. He covered last season in Frederick county, and proved himself a remarkable surfoal getter, as we have certificates in our hand to establish.
William Woods. Geo. M. Woods. Albemarle, Feb. 20, 1809. oaf 8t.
PEDIGREE.
Sir Peter Teazle was got by lord Derby's Old Sir Peter Teazle, unquestionably the best stallion in England, his dam Lucy, by Conductor, S. B. pa. 178, his grandam by Spector, his great grandam by Blank, his g g grandam by the Donshire or Flying Childers, acknowledged to be the fleetest horse ever trained, his g g g grandam by True Blue, his g g g grandam by Cypruss Arabian, out of the Duke of Rutland's Bonny Black. Sir Peter Teazle his sire, was got by Highflyer, his dam Papiilon, by Snap, English S. B. pa. 337. Highflyer, his grandam, was got by Herod, his dam Rachel, see S. B. 261. Conductor was got by Matchem, out of a Snap mare, S. B. pa. 291. Spector was got by Crab, out of a Partner mare, S. B. pa. 242. Matchem was got by Gade, Gade by the Godolphin Arabian.
LANDING
From the Schooner Richmond, Isaac Scammon Master.
50 Boxes Raisins, 10 Boxes Soft Shelled Almonds, 5 Casks Green Cider, 10 Barrels Prime Pork, and 1 Pipe London Particular Madeira Wine, IN STORE, 17 Hds. Brown Sugar, 25 Do. Molasses, 5 Tierces Green Coffee, 75 Boxes Havana Cigars, 3 Dales Welch Plains, Ramy Flour in Barrels and Half Barrels, Young Hys. Hyson Skin, and TEAS. Souchong 10 Boxes M and Candles, FOR SALE by Geo. W. H.
RAGS.
THE SUBSCRIBER WILL PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE FOR
LINNEN or COTTON
RAGS;
(For the VIRGINIA MANUFACTORY.)
AND will contract with country Store-
keepers for all they may be able to
collect, which will be paid for in cash, on
delivery at my store, near the Courthouse;
where may be had a general assortment of
GROCERIES, BOOTS, SHOES, & PA-
TENT NAILS.
WILLIAM FARR. Richmond, 22d Jan. 1809. w12m
The Subscriber offers for Sale,
A LOT,
SITUATED at Rocketts, convenient to navigation,
on which is erected two frame buildings,
one of which is large and two stories high, and
suitable for a Tobacco Manufactory or Ware-
house; the back part of the lot may be improved
to great advantage, in buildings of any description.
Also, the LOT, where he now resides, on
Rocketts hill, a very pleasant and healthy situation,
commanding a beautiful prospect of James
River, and the plantations laying the rear, from
the Falls to Warwick.
WILLIAM GOODWIN. May 25th, 1809. 3w
LANDS FOR SALE.
THE SUBSCRIBER being advanced in
years and infirm, which prevents him
from attempting to dispose of them on the
different spots, offers the following Tracts to
the inhabitants of Richmond and its vicinity—
He will simply observe, that it will be seen by
the dates of the surveys, that they are not common
speculation lands. They cost him a large
sum, but will be sold without reserve, either
by private sale, or exchange for property in
this neighborhood, if any offers are made, else
at Public Auction, on the first Thursday in Oc-
tober next, if it happens to be the race week,
else on the Thursday of the said week and
month, on a credit of 6 and 12 months.
The Subscriber is thus early in publishing
his intentions, because he wishes to offer an
opportunity to those, who might become in-
clined to purchase, either in person or on their
friends and acquaintances visiting the neigh-
borhood, to get some knowledge of the situation
and value of the same, by which alone they may be enabled to judge,
whether or not great bargains may be expected
from the purchase of them.
G. F. STRAS.
4535 Acres, (more or less by 200 acres) in