Philadelphia, Nov. 6.
O F F R A N C £
THE collection of duties and taxes in France,
which continues upon the old eltablilhment of
•■defpotifin, becomes difficult and precarious : The
people complain of the anniverfkry feitivals, and
veSued philosophic declamations, while they feel
wot the benefits expected from their emancipa
tion : In many places the arm of the collectors
£ias been Itrengthened by the alfiitance of the
.military
The relief anticipated from the property of
•the clergy is found inadequate to the public ex
igencies, it was I'uppofed that property would
counterbalance—as the ajjignats, or notes funded
011 it, have already depreciated 6 or 7 percent.
011 the 28th Augoft, Ivl. de Gouy, after a speech
of two hours, came forward with a proposal to
pay off in one day, a debt of 100,000,000 llerling
—the creditors to be paid in ajjigiiati—the whole
kingdom to be mortgaged for the security ; this
proposal me: with fomeoppofition, it wasthought
tiiat such an enormous sum of paper money would
be extremely fubjedl to depreciation ; the aflem
bly resolved however to resume the discussion
that day fortnight.
Some paragraphias fay that the National Af
fernbly begin to discover that it is dangerous to
pull down an old house without being provided
with materials to erect a new one ; we rather
think that any existing difficulties in the way of
the French revolution do notarise from the want
of materials ; as every civilized community fur
nifhes those neceflary to conititute a goodconfti
tution ; the proper arrangement is the grand de
iideratum ; till this is made on the ltricft prin
ciples of justice, or a sacred regard to the equal
rights of all—a permanent settlement of a cun
ftitutioit is avain expectation.
Whether the absorption of all the powers of
government in one unwieldy aflembly, uncon
trolled, and without refponAbility, who govern
'by temporary refolvps, and deal out a constitu
tion by peace-meal, docs not naturally generate
infurmounrable obilacles to the completion of
the revolution of francs, time will discover.
There was a time when the clergy and nobili
•ty of France appeared to be zealous in the. cause
of the revolution—fearful jealouiies are enter
tained respecting them at prefenc ; that policy
which would have conciliated their attachment
to the cause of freedom was certainly the mod eli
gible—whether this consisted in stripping them
of their revenues, and levelling their honours
with the dust, mull be left to the telt of expe
rience.
The revolution of France is without compari
son the greatest event in the annals of time ; the
extraordinary steps which have been taken by the
national aflembly are said to be fandlioned by
the peculiar circuinftances in which the kingdom
was placed ; deep-rooted prejudices were to be
eradicated—the throne of despotism was to be
undermined and its very foundations destroyed ;
3nd before the people could be brought to realize
their emancipation—the veil of tyranny molt be
" rent from the top to the bottom"—in doing
this, though the rights of property may for a
time be violated, yet an equal conltitution will
bring order out of this neceflary confulion, and
'eventually secure under the aul'pices of liberty
the happiness of the people ; this at least ap
pears ta be the fentimenc of the national alTeni
bly intheir address to the people of France.
OF GREAT BRITAIN,
Great Britain has put herfelf to. an enormous
expence in equipping >a formidable fleet—and
for what .'—This is an enquiry not easily answer
ed. Can the fulleft acknowledgment on the
■part of Spain of an equal right to trade with the
natives of Nootka Sound., and areftitution oftwo
merchant ihips conipenfate for these expendi
tures ? Surely no. The debt of Great Britain
was thought to be fufficiently great : Mr. Pitt
has always appeared solicitous for its redu<stion ;
his popularity is said be suspended on this fa
vorite point ; but war always adds to the debt
and taxes of a country ; in (hort, the recent con
duct of the Britilh minister is truly enigmatical,
and cannot at present.be folvedby any other fup
podtion than this, that the world has been deceiv
ed in refpedt to the embarrafl'ments of that coun
iry—and that they have such. a surplusage of
-wealth, that fportiug with a few millions will no;
3>e feit by the people.
From the length oftimeconfumed in equipping
*she Britifti navy—and the extreme difficulty found
ran manning i(—the difference between herfitua
vtion wfaeu /evered from America, and what it
;J"ormerly was when united to her, is inoft itrik
£ngly apparent. Should this circumftarlce abate
'theßritirtl spirit of conquest and domination, it
-may conduce much to the tranquility of the hu
man race—one, among many thousands of the
bieifings derived to mankind from the American
revolution.
" It. is Angular indeed, that England, high as
.'it, is in.,cultivation, and which in former times
-ttiwd t-e produce snore cora than was licceflitry for
the home consumption, should have been of late
years under the neceflicy of depending on the
produceof foreign countries for apart of its fup
piy."
Theelder Mirabea-j, lpeakingof the Ameri
can Congress, lays " I cannot but admire, that those
vehom we once ejleetned a rude and barbarous people
hav; already fit an example to the old world in the
intricate feience of government. I »/ay fijely pro
nounce the npref-ntatiues in the American legiflat'ire
to be the firjl body of philosophers who have ever had
it in their power to atfcmble peaceably together in a le
gi/lative capacity, and deliberate upon the rights of
nations and of men. Theioorltl indeed,has been long
enough under the controul of bullies and ruffians. it is
time that men oj fent/ment, learning and benevolence
began to have the fill ay ; these are the lights that must
guide our fpedes to that true dignity, -which their /la
tion in the chain oj created intelligence demands.
The prodigious demand for American produce
the last year iias been produdlive of the greatest
agricultural exertions the pad season :—and our
labors have been crowned with abundant success.
The consequence has been a reduction in» the
prices—but not Jo great wetruft as to operate un
favorably : It would be a great misfortune in
deed, (ho'uld this circumllance slacken our indus
try, or discourage our enterprize.—lt is doubtlef*
the policy of the United States not only to make
our ltores so abundant as out of the excess to be
able to supply the whole world beside ; but also
if potfible to inakeit for the interest of all other
nations to trade with us, by-affording absolutely
the cheapest market.
How various are the fenttments-of mankind up
on the fame fubjetft ! While some have supposed
tliatthe United States might derive a revenue by
a tax on emigration to this country—others pro
pose that a bounty should be paid on the importa
tion of foreign artizans. Whatever may be the
refultof such a proposition, certain it is, that no
country ever afforded such inducements tocuii
grauts,for it may be prettyfafely aflerted,that eve
ry industrious sober mechanic or hufbandmaii, who
oiice fixed his foot on these hofpitablefhores,never
had cause to regret the change of hemispheres.
Whilellie United States more than realize the
anticipations of the friendstothe present: coufti
tution—-not one of the numerous forebodings of
it? enemies, has ever come to pass ; these things
ought to be had in remembrance, for tho compan
ions are odious, they sometimes answer very va
luable pnrpofes.
The present is undoubtedly one of the mod
interelling periods in the hiltory of man : The
world is in labor—and liberty we trust: will ere
long open its eyes on every nation under heaven.
—The human mind, as if inspired with new fa
culties, now penetrates through the thick veil of
error and prejudice, and dares to think for itfelf.
The rights ofourfpecies arejuftly appreciated,
and properly aflerted : Opinions derive 110 longer
afantftity, from the ruil of age, and the cobwebs
of antiquity : America set the glorious example—
and the flame has spread from nation to nation,
till the inolt degraded people now declare the}
will be free.
I he abuie of Terms is an evil that has produ
ced much mifchief among mankind :—Murder, by
being called war, is advocated by many who would
revolt from doing a personal injury Intrigue
and fiiieff: in politics are denominated addrefr
Overreaching in trade is the art of making a bar
gain Flattery is but complaisance and uni
verfal deception, is a complete knowledge of the
•world.
A correfpon dent observes, that as there are no
land-jobbers in the United States, it is foraewhat
surprising that the treaty with the Creek nation
should have been To indecently attacked, as it ap
pears to have been in fomeof the late papers :—
Had the cafe been otherwise—and individuals
or companies conceived themselves injured by
the treaty's contravening their right to millions
of acres fairly purchased, and falerunly ceded by the
whole Creek nation, we might have expe&ed to
hear that The President and Senate of the Uni
ted States, with all the executive officers of go
vernment were jainm'd into the Coinmiifioner's
closet to fabricate this odious treaty ; but, as be
fore observed, no land-jobbers existing in the
United States, the outrageous insult on govern
ment is truly unaccountable.
Another correspondent observes, that on a sup
position that a deep fchenie of land jobbing has
for a long time existed—that in the moment of
inebriation some of the Creek nation have been
induced to put their mark to acts of ceflion, which
when in polfellion of their reason they have de
clared to be null and void, inaimuch as they had
no authority for what they did, their nation not
being privy, or consenting to such deed of ces
sion—in such cafe, to form a treaty that fliall put
it out of the power of the land-jobbers to carry
fire and sword into such territory so ceded, is a
mod abominable, high-hand infringement of
personal right, and a violation of the Constitu
tion—it is an ex po'ft fadlo law—in Ihort, it is
" a Knoxonian plan"—smuggled into "theCoui
mlfllonei-'s closet"—smuggled into the Senate of
631
ilic United States—Anuggled under the fignatune
oi Tiie President—and smuggled into the appro
bation of the people of the United States ! ! !
Extract of a htt:r jront a Gentleman at Alexandria,
to his friend at Baltimore, dated the 29th ult.
" J u st the moment of closing this letter,
liave been informed, by ;i gentleman from tin
Southward, that, yeiterday, jCapt. Moivhray, it
a veflel from England, arrived at Port Royal,
Rappahannock river, after a very ftiort paflage,
(report fays, 22 days) by which veilel there are
the inolt authenticated accounts of a WAR hav
ing absolutely taken place between England and
Spain, and that tire Captain had a<£tully read the
declaration ot war previous to his leaving Eng
land.—How far this may be true, I cannot fay >
but, from several circumllances, lam apt to give
credit to it."
Extract of a letter from Virginia, Ocl. 17 ,to the Editor.
" Crops of tobacco and wheat, as v/ell as corn,
are very abundant; all of which are incomparably
low to what they were last year : Tobacco, best
James-River, may be had for 17s. and 18s.—wheat
pr. bushel. weighing 60 wt. at 4/6. and 5f. —and
all other commodities low in proportion."
It has been said that the methodist church in
the United States consists of 57621 persons ; a
correspondent who remembers the times of Mr.
Wh itfi eld, fays, that a much larger church
could have been collected forty years ago, frpm
the followers of that celebrated itenerant who was
the father of the methodifts.
On the 25th of October last, Mr. William
M'Cloud, fnuff manufacturer and miller of Mr.
Isaac Jones's fnufF-mill, on Brandywine-Creek,
going up the race Jt>ank unfortunately fell into
the Creek and was drowned. He had not been
miffing above 20 minutes before he was found> and
every means which medical Ikill could devise,
used for his recovery, but without success. He
has left a wife and child to bewail his lols.
The Law Lecture willcommencein this city
about the ijth Dec.—[The ds/ign of the plan is it
jurnijh a rational andufejul entertainment to gentle
men of all projejjions—and in particular to ajjifl in
Jarming the legifiator, the mapiflrate, and the lawyer.
At the close ef the whole caurfe, some le[hires and ex
ercises in rhetoric and cempofition are to be given by
Dr. Smith.
A fpccimcn of American worthy the attention of the
curious, is to he Teen at Mr. R. LeflL*s in Market-ftrect. It is a
model of a flour mill, upon a new conftru&ion, contrived by Mr.
Oliver Evans t of Delaware fiate. This machine, without theaflift..
ance of manual labour, fir ft conveys the grain defpofited to be
ground, to tbe upper floor, wbere it is cleaned ; thence it descends
to the hoppfcr, and after being ground in the usual way, the flour
is conveyed to the upper floor, v» here by a simple and ingenious
contrivance, it is spread, cooled, and gradually made to pafsto
the bolting hopper. The whole contrivance does the greatest ho
nor to the inventor, and is likely to be of some precuniary advan
tage to him, as he has obtained from Congress an exciufive right
to the profits of the invention for 14 years. A number of malls
have already been conftru&ed on this plan, which are found to an
swer perfectly in pra&ice. To make inanimate nature thus yield
to the powers of man's inventive faculties, and produce what ma
nual labour would otherwise be obliged to effect, must be of the
greatest advantage to a young country where hands are wanted.
Numbers of those formerly employed in manufa&uring flour, will
now guide the plough, cultivate our vacant lands, and lubour to
encrcafcthe real wealth of the country. (Cch. Adv.)
There will be an Ec li pse of the Sun—vifiblc.
Beginning, at — — -
Greatcft obscuration - —
Ecliptic conjun£tion - -
End - - s
Duration — - — s
Digits eclipsed, about on the Sun's northern limb.
At places northward from Philadelphia this Eclipse will be
larger; and to those southward, ("mallei ; but will not be central
to any part of the Earth.
THE UNITED STATES.
"\T7HILE Discord rends the caftern hemisphere,
* * Peace i with her train of virtues triumphs here;
Beneath her frailes fair fctenct rears her head,
And all the arts their various treasures spread ;
The Ikies benignant (hed their genial pow'r,
And plenty, in a rich profufion, (how'r ;
Our commerce catches every wind that blows :
To earth's remotest shores our produce goes :
Our sacred laws, freedom and justice frame,
And rival nations cclebrate our fame !
Hail happy States ! may fate propitious give,
That long thy sons iB harmony may live :
On Union built, till time dissolve the sphere
Thou free, and great, and glorious (halt appear !
PRICE CURRENT. PUBLIC SECURITIES.
FUNDED DEBT.
6 pr. Cents
3 pr. Cents
Deleted 6 pr. Cents
UNFUNDED DEBT
Final Settlement and other Certificates 12.si ii.si.
Indents — 7fi - Ift.
Siate debts — of. 8/2.
LATEST ARRIVALS AT THIS PORT.
Brig Betsey, Pottei, New-York, € days
Mary Ann, Lemon, Liverpool, 59
James, M'Calmont, Oporto
Schooner Favorite, Grath, Grenada, 25
Iqduftry, Peeples, St. Euftatia, 20
Sloop Laurel, Shore, Portsmouth, it
Hope, Acken, Chidcflon, 10.
THIS DAY
>3 fa M/-
if' 7/2-
5/9 6/
H. M.
0 16
1 19 P. M.
1 2ojr
2 22
2 6