reimburse the petitioner for any adtual expenses
he had been at on account of medicines, but was
opposed to an acceptance of thereportin its pre
lent form.
Mr. Huntington supported the motion for an
acceptance, he observed that the petitioner by
virtue of his being a colonel, was under no obli
gation to exercise the office of a physician, and
therefore his being a colonel did not render his
demandlefs valid and just—that it would be efta
bliffiing a very bad precedent indeed, if an offi
cer ffiould not be compensated forfervices of this
kind—Mr. Huntington gave a ffiort account of
the services performed by the petitioner, from
which it appeared that his labors had been incef
f'ant, and rendered in the moftintereftingcircum
ftances, of which abundant proof was contained
in the papers that accompanied the petition.
Mr. Matthews and Mr. Burke fpoke ( of the very
important services performed by the petitioner
and said that no claim could be better founded.
The question on the motion pafled in the as
finnative, and the report was referred to Mr.
Trumbull, Mr. Matthews, and Mr. Burke—who
are inftrudted to report a bill or bills pursuant
thereto.
The blanks in the bill to promote the progress
of ufeful arts were filled up and the bill palled.
In committee of the whole on the report of the
Secretary of the Treafury—for making provision
for the support of the public credit.
The proposition, viz. To have two thirds fund
ed at an annuity or yearly interest offixper cent,
redeemable at the pleasure of the government,
by payment of the principal, and to receive the
other third in lands in the weftcrn territory, at
the rate of 20 cents per acre—was read.
It was moved by Mr. Boudinot—that the clause
refpe<sting the western territory fhoulcTTje struck
out —and proposed the following amendment in
lieu thereof—and to receive for the other third a
certificate drawing an interest of 6 per cent, per an
num, payable in ten years—which certificate Jhatl be
received as specie in payment for lands in the western
territory.
This amendment after some debate was nega
tived and the question on the proposition being
put, it palled in the affirmative.
The next proposition or alternative being read,
the principle of irredeemability contained in it
was objected to—and producing a considerable
debate, precluded a decision before the committee
role.
THURSDAY, MARCH n
Several petitions were presented and read.
In committee of the whole on the Report of the
Secretary of the I reafury, for making provision
for the support of the public credit.
The following proposition was read, viz. To
have the whole sum funded at an annuity, or
yearly interest, 'if 4 per cent, irredeemable by any
payment exceeding five dollars pr. annum, 011 ac
count both of principal and interest; and to re
ceive as a compensation for the reduction of in
terest, fifteen dollars and eighty cents, payable
in lands, as in the preceeding cafe.
The debate this day turned principally on the
irredeemable quality proposed in this alternative.
After a lengthy difcufiion the proposition was
negatived.
The next proportion was then read, and fur
ther debate ensued. The committee rose with
out coming to a decision on a motion made by Mr.
Jackson to strike out what relates to irredeema
bility in this alternative.
A second memorial from George Scriba, refpedl
ing a purchase of lands in the Western Territory,
was read.
Mr. Trumbull brought in a bill for making com
pensation to Col. John Ely, for his services, as a
Surgeon to the late army of the United States
which was read.
Mr. Wadfworili had leave of absence for four
teen days. Adjourned.
FRIDAY, MARCH 12
The bill for granting compensation to colonel
John Ely, was read thefecond time, and referred
to the committee of the whole house, to be taken
into consideration this day fortnight.
Several petitions were read ana referred.
Mr. Bland observed that private memorials
and petitions have encreaied lb much, that very
Ihortly the attention of every individual member
of the house ■will be taken up in the investigation
of the fadts set forth in those petitions, to
the great interruption of the business of the na
tion.
He therefore moved the following resolutions
in substance.
I ft. That all memorials and petitions for claims
presented to the honfe, be referred to the heads
of departments to report thereon.
}d. That the committees to whom memorials
and petitions have been referred, be discharged
from any further attention to the lame, and that
they be referred as above.—Laid on the table.
In committee of the whole on the Report of the
Secretary of the Treasury, for making provision
for the fupportof the public credit.
The third proposition or alternative was read viz.
« All To havs Sixty Six and Two Thirds Dollars funded at
(( y-aiij, .ntcreft of Six per. Cent, i,-redeemable alio by any pay
»n Four - a,, , d T , w ° th,rds D ° iijrs p" ™
<( both ot principal and interest—and to have at the end
■' a Ui'' 1 ? -«* dollars and eighcy-eight ccnts, funded
at the like mtereft, and r<ue ot redemption*
Mr Lee moved that the whole proposition
fliould be rejected—which occasioned a debate,
and the question being taken oil the motion, it
palled in the negative.
Mr. Jackson's motion for striking out fhefe
words " irredeemable also by any payment ex
ceeding four and two thirds dollars, per annum,
on account both of principal and interest," was
then read, and after some further debate, was
alio negatived.
Mr. Fitzfimons after premising some observati
ons refpecSing a more rapid extinction of the
principal, than is contemplated by the secretary,
proposed that four and two-thirds dollars should
e llruck out, in order to introduce ahigher rate
of payment per annum.—He mentioned (ix per
cent. 011 account of principal and interest.
Mr. Madison mentioned a still higher sum.
Four and two-thirds dollars after some debate
were struck out, and the proportion with the
blank pafled over.
The following propositions were rejected, viz.
4thly. To have an annuity for the remainder of life, upon
the contingency of living to a given age, not less distant than ten
years, computing interest at 4 per cent."
sthly. To have an annuity for the remainder of life, on the
contingency of the furvivordiip of the youngeftof two persons,
" computing interest in this cafe also at 4 per cent.
The Committee then rose, and the house ad
journed till To-morrow.
■ T!" d .' hate ° ur U J lu ' ,i " Tutfday, Feb. 2 3 , should have been
introduced by the prof option Jot the ajfumption 0/ the State debts.
THE GIFT OF SUBLIMITY
TO WILLY SHAKESPEARE
ON - the biforked hill, with Fame's ever-green crown'd,
Encircled with azure fercne,
Whilst the sylphs of his fancy plav'd wantonly round,
Willy Shakespeare enliven'd thefcene.
As all thoughtful he fat, kcen-ey'd Wisdom drew near,
Just sent from the regions above,
And, (looping, she whifper'd this truth in his car,
" Thy lays breathe the spirit of Jove."
To his fide came the muse oi the bowl and the blade,
To hail him great prince of her art ;
Whilst Comedy near all those dimples difplay'd,
That gave a bnfk pulse to the heart.
Bright Genius approach'd him with pleasing refpeft,
In her arms a young eagle ftie bore,
To (hew, if unshackled by icy neglcft,
To what wonderful heights she Lould soar.
Recumbent before him.straight droptthe fwcet maid,
When expanding the wing ot her bird,
11 lake the quill of Sublimity Shakespeare," she said,
i( And go falhion the tear-starting word."
To Genius he bow'd as he pluck'd forth the quill ;
To the breeze were his vellments unfurl'd ;
Like a Sun-bcain with Fancy he fled from the hill,
To charm and illumine the world.
For the good of mankind he rare precepts convey'd,
And his drains had such pow'r o'er the Ear,
That whenever he pleas'd from Ihe concourle thatflray'd,
He could call up the smile or the tear.
Old Time knew his worth—with the sigh of cfteem,
From theearth bid sweet Willy arise ;
With his Genius he fled, but has left us his theme,
Which Ola]l ever be dear to the wife.
THE TABLET,
" Why (hould an afior complain of being called from the The
atre, when he has either finiftied his part, or can carrv it on but
badly."
SHORT as the life of man is reprefunted to be,
it is still long enough for him to accomplish
all the purposes for which he was created. When
the affairs of a person are perpetually involved
in hurry and confufion, it betrays a want of sy
stem or diligence : But it is no proof he is too
circumscribed with refpedt to time. Had he
more time, or had he less to perforin, the fame
difficulty would exist, while he errs in laying his
plans,pr is dilatory in executing them. The best
systems will not succeed, when managed by indo
lent men ; nor will the inoft adtiv industry turn
to much account, where there isa defeiftof system.
It is not the quantity of buflnefs any one has to
perform that embarrafles him, for nothing can
perplex a person of method and activity.
The complaints therefore of the shortness of
life are not founded in reason. If a man has liv
ed to the age of three score years and ten, with
out having accomplilhed the main objedts that de
serve attention, no period would be long enough
to gratify his expectations. The genius of eve
ry person is limited within certain bounds, which
aremoreorlefsextenfivein different men. Those
of a narrow coinprehenfion come to their full per
fection, before they half run out their existence.
Were the life of such people limited to forty
years,they should not complain of the shortness of
it, because if it were ten times as long, they
would make 110 new attainments. There are o
ther men whose faculties are formed upon a
larger scale, and who continue to make improve
ments till they are sixty years old. But whate
ver is the period, when the talents cease to be
progressive, aman gains no advantage from living,
more delirable than he has already gained.
If a person, having pafled the middle age of
life, finds that he has acquired little honor or
property, he may generally concludt there is
-383-
■No. XCVI.
fuiiVe deficiency in his capacity or exertions. To
lac ha man length of life will bring no acquisiti
on of character or riches. Why then Ihould we
complain ol that which is in itfelf no evil > Had
human nature been so constituted, that our facul
ties did not soon arrive at their molt perfect point,
great would be the misfortune that our fublunarv
exiltence had not a longer duration, Confined
however to as small a compass as it is, if we em
ploy our moments with care and diligence, we
may fini/h our career, with joy and reputation.
NEW-YORK, MARCH 13.
A Correspondent fays,—" I Jove short Speak
ers, who hit the mark with a single ball—One
< ball thro the heart will as surely kill as a thou
sand grape /hot —"
Extratiof a letter from Boflon—March 3.
" The dispatch with which business is carried,
on in our House, as we rail it, nraft in a great men
fure be attributed to the activity and genius of
our Speaker, Gen. Cobb. His independence,
quickness of apprehension and comprehension—
his industry and attention are universally ap
plauded : And in turning a question when the
vote, has been equal, he does it with a prompti
tude and native firmnefs, which nothing but a
mind directed by right principles could inspire.
" The papers will inform you how ourlegifla
tors go on Altlio Praifegod Barebones, in his rage
of Law-Reform, has let in a flood of impertinen
ces, yet the measures adopted by the Court have
been far better than some persons wish to efFed:
elsewhere.
1 lie House lias expressed its disapprobation
of paper taxes—voted rheprodud: of the Excise to
pay the interest of the State Debt—has raised the
salaries of the Superior Judges, &c._and repea
led the Warden
There is however much anti-federalifm in
the house; and **«»has btoughtforward in the
lenate, a budget of alterations to the federal con
ltitution.—One of which is that the members of
Congress, shall depend on the legislatures of the
ltates for their pay, and the quantum ofit—blef
fed effed: of individual folly ! Tofuppofethat one
set of the fervaots of the people, ihould make
wages for another—and a higher set too !If our
legislature should adopt this mess, I hope that
Congress will fend out an amendment that the
pay of the state legislatures, shall be ftatedbv the
representatives of the union."
4 Pjj'tCommittee of both House s of the Legijlature of
Majfachafetts, have reported the following propofi
as the basis of further amendments to the Con
futation of the United States—viz.
Fir/}.-—'That Congress shall not interfere in the
regulations of the elections of its Members, ex
cept in cases, where the State Legislatures shall
neglect, or refufe to make regulations ; and that
the qualifications of Senators and Representatives
be expressly defined in the Constitution.
Second.—That Congress erecft no company with
exclulive advantages of commerce.
Third—That Congress have power to establish
a uniform rule of inhabitancy or settlement of
the poor of the different States throughout the
United States.
Fourth.—That republican forms of Govern
ment be established in the diftridis which are, or
shall be ceded to the United States.
Fifth—That Congress shall by law provide for
calling forth the pojft comitates for executing the
laws of the United State.
Sixth—That the general Government exercise
no power but what is expressly delegated.
Seventh—That a part of the internal resources
of taxation be appropriated to the United States,
and that a part thereof be exclufivelyreferved to
the refpe&ive States, with such exceptions, how
ever, and under l'uch limitations as a war and o
ther extraordinary exigencies may require.
. Eighth.—That no system for forming the mili
tia be established, and that no establishment of
troops in a time of peace, beyond a limited num
ber, be made, if disapproved by a Specified num
ber of the State Legislatures, within a limited
tune after the bills for thofepurpofesfhall belaid
before them.
Ninth,—That the Judiciary powers of the Uni.
ted States be more explicitly defined, and more
accurately distinguished from those of the refpe<9>
lve States.
Tenth.—^ That the Senate shall not possess all
the Executive and Judicial Powers now veiled in
that body.
Eleventh.—That it be left to the several States,
to make compensations to their Senators and Re-
refpediively, for their fervi'ces in
Congress.
Twelfth. —That the State Legislatures have
power to recall when they may think it expedi
ent their Federal Senators, and to fend others in
their flead—And that the Senators be chosen, all
at the fame time, and for the term of four years.
ARRIVALS, NEW YORK.
Thursday
Friday.
Sloop Rambler, Rogers, Edenton (N. C.) 10 days.
Schooner Hetty, Peebe, Chariefton, 21 days,
Ship Union Dekay, that was a Ihore on the East
bank, is arrived at this port with the loss of her Rudder and other
imall damage.
Cast. Cook arrived off Georgetown-Bar Ftb. A 3 , and landed his tip.
i wth the loss oj hn horjer and cargo on dept.