The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-05

Messrs. HUMPHREYS and ]. l.. Don sidsnn, fo,
disbursing considerable sums. snder the
treaty with Algiers but his accompts with
these persons have been settled--and thci,
own accompts with the treasury have beer
closed, except, perhaps cnmparatvel,
small sum which remains due from the Els
tate of Mr.. d. The Comptroller has given
certificate on this subject, which is sait
to have been completely sa,isfactory-tha,
Mr.. b. did not appear indebted one silver
tn the u. Son this subject l will barely
say that many mistakes seem to prevail in
the public mind, with regard to balances
which may appear understanding OH the
books of the Treasury. The accompts
may be settled in fact by the agents of the
government-yet it will sometimes occur
that from the absence of Vouchers, which
are to be strictly executed according to the
forms of the Office, the account is not closed
on the Treasury Book, and the balance
still appears to be due. /:
=. The case OF MIR. Timothy Pickering
ought at least to have furnished an instruc
tive lesson to the Federalists ON this subject,
though the case of Mr.. Barlow is a much
more favorable one than his.--Barlow is a
man of fine and liberal talents-his letters
To the Privileged Orders, to the People of
Piedmont, and to the Citizens of the u. 5. cX-
hibits large fund ofideas on the principles OF
government, the benefits OF our confedera
ted republic, and the rights and laws of neu
trals-his attachments too, to the u. s. and
his knowledge of the situation and manners
OF France, will conspire to give him the dis
position and the means of furthering the views
of supporting the rights of his country
This subject is al interesting one ---bu,
have time barely to touch it, at present
The defalcation which has been charg.
Ipf tf, pof. lie, 81
Bill which has been introduced by Mr.
EpPes. and is now pending before the Fl
OF X. for increasing the accountability of
public agens. The Officers zpithin the u
>. are to make Quarterly Returns, and il
they taii TO adjust their accounts within three
months thereafter, the Comptroller is tc
direct suits to be instituted; & whether The
officer gains or loses his suit, he is to be cas-
in the Costs---Such as are nor 7vlthin the u
>. are, of course, to be entitled to longer in.
diligence. The Bill may still be takea up
and passed, during the Present session.
| George Jefferson, Esq. (of our City, a
worthy aud an honorable man, has been
nominated our Consul to Lisbon the riches,
consulate perhaps in Europe. David Ba.
lie Warden, Esq. has been nominated as
Consul-General TO France.
g AS returns ofthe Census have not been
received from some of the States on accoun,
of their not being time enough. as has been
said for the Marshal's Assistants to make
them--a Bill has been passed by both Houses
of Congress, for allowing the Assistants ;
months longer TO make their returns, and tc
the Marshals months. This bill passed
the Senate only last night
But l now approach topic, To which il
is impossible for me to do adequate Justice
In what way shall l express my own feel
ings---or the sensation which it has diffuset
around me ? Those at distance, can have
no idea of it---had any one have predicted
70 me, thalI should have witnessed such
scenes, should really have laughed at the
folly of the prophet. g. The collective wis.
dom of the nation" as some have fondly
termed the Congress of the u. States de
generated ipto spoutny club or Bear.
garden The spectacle has been distress
sing hey ond any description. have seer
men, whose locks we're bleached by the
hand Of time and whose names are enrolled
upon the revolution, denouncing these pro-
ceedings with all the FIRE and yivacity Of
youthful feeling have seen the first men
of he nation, " up the;rhands i'll astonish-
ment aud wonder. Go to the opposition
and ask them for the cause--ask them, why
they have Gisgraced their country. They
are the sole authors of the scenes which
is by far the most important one, which has
| occurred on the theatre of Congress durRe
| the present winter--but ] must attempt Il
| reduce it into as small compass as is en-.
| sistent with the due comprehension oft.
"On Friday last, (the 22d ult) the bill
from the committee of Foreign Relations
was taken up in the House of Representa-
| tives in committee of the Which, This bill
| originally consisted of but one section ex-
empting such vessels and property as be-
| longed to American citizens, from the ope-
ration of the Non Intercourse system, as
might leave British port, prior to The I'd
of February. Mr.. Eppes moved the com
| mitee to add two new sections; the object
of which was, to declare the Non-fmportati
on system really in force on the I'd Of Feb
to give 1t efficacy by making proclamati q
of the President the only evidenoe of the
Cessation of British violations OIL our III utr a
rights, and to open the door of Cancellation
To G. Britain, after the I'd of February -
These two new sections were agreed to by
the committee. The first section have
uniformly thought erroneous as being like
ly to break up the whole engagement, and
thus putting us once more at sea embar-
raised between two belligerents, and plum
dered and lnSulted by both as likely
to prevent an arrangement with G.. Britain
by thus preventing one taking place with
France. 1t is moreover obvious, that this
section will increase the difficulty of pre-
venting smugging-and that the collectors
must keep a very good look out, LEST YES
sells which had left British port long after
the Cd of February, should come into our
norris under the nrptpnce Of heinO hInwp M