picioß of our being influenced by impro
per motives; but til! such proof be affor
ded, I mult think it would be better to a
roend the bid as I proposed, which would
leave those coins on their prefetit footing
duiitig only the (horfterm to which their
circulation is limited by the bill.
£ro.n what fell from feme gentlemen,
he laid, it appeared that they thought the
examination of the relative value of coins
could only be ascertained by an alfayer.—
He affirmed that any person acquainted
with the use of an hydrostatic balance
might easily examine them:—That it was
with reludtance he said any thing which
might look like a fcientific parade, but he
thought it his duty to bring forward the
inquiry he made; and what had fallen
'fraiß some gentlemen compelled him to
explain and lupport his motion.
To explain what he had said refp«£ting
the hydrostatic experiment, he observed,
that it had pleased nature, or rather the
great author of nature, to annex to moll
bodies, and particularly to metals, a dif
ferent weight: Happily each species of
substances have different weights, which,
with propriety are called their fpecific
gravities : That most happily for our pur
pofe,acubic foot of water weighs lOOOozs.
avoirdupois ; and a body when immersed
in water, displaces a mass of water equal
to the bulk of the immersed body, in dis
placing which mass of water, the body, if
suspended to a pair of scales, is found to
lose a weight exadtly equal to the weight
of the mass of water so displaced ; ib,
that if any piece of money be weighed
firft in air, and then in water, its lol's of
weight in water will be exattly the weight
of an equal bulk of water, whicli mud at
once give the comparative weight of that
piece of money and of water. And as
by this method pine gold has been found
to be about nineteen times heavier than
water, and copper nine times—which has
beengenerally th&alloy used in gold coins,
if copper be mixed iu any propoition (or
any other metal whose fpecific gravity is
known) the fpecific gravity of the com
pound may be found, and the exact pro
portion of each ingredient ascertained ;
and here I will remark, that as in the ast
eftablifning a mint, arid regulating the
coins of the United States, the proportion
offilver and copper, which are declared to
be the composition of the alloy for our
gold coins, ia not e.%aA!y fixed ; t h erc
muit be a difficulty of finding the real va
lue of that coin without an a&ual and ac
curate allay, and also room for varying its
value. But as this is happily left to" the
uiferetion of the director of the mint,
whose abilities, accuracy and integrity ate
lo remarkable, no inconvenience need be
appiehended, as there is no doubt that he
will observe the trust reposed in him,
a;iu that he will point out, from time to
time, the exact proportion of these two
ingredients of the alloy, which are left by
bill t0 h,s discretion. This I looked
»<pon as a defect in the bill, and mention
ed when it was before us the lalt session,
as a reason why I wi/lied to have it recom
mitted—but to return to the question.—
As 1 have found that the fpecific
® t e gold coins of England, France,
Spam and Poitugal was, as well as I can
«ow remember, about seventeen and an
a > and that of some German coins not
teen that is, that the former weighed
entecn and an h a ]f [J mes more t] lan an
equal mass of water, and the latter not fif
«'.i times as much, or in other words,
lat a cubic foot of the former, weighed
7.J00 oz. whilst a cubic foot of the lat
er wouM not weigh 15,000. I f ay as I
f* e tound thl6 be the cafe, I wish to
know now whether any later experiments
10 0 coins have been made to p/ove
tthe ';eisthe difference stated in the
.1 there have been such experiments
h llwnhdraw my motion, if not, I must
"lutt upon it.
_ MONDAY, December 3.
ofw^ r °^ nd J- sims > was
mto ; and, On mo
»uttM 4*. ey * was referred t0 " fele(ft com -
Km TXr. tPPOimed "*• Mcff -
Wtkh ' wit *° w of Hiz.
theiH ofc'er, killed at PenAfcot, praying
mUifcr ° f 1 PeDfion " thc -'dow of!
M? WT T read - and '«<» ou the table.
Uth P r «f«nted a petition from a
C f h " lafto ".S- C. praying
T Pif,a bankru P t ; read
•a that buC,«f 6 c onimittee already appointed
the h0 a letter
'• flan fn/tk j °i theTrcafur y. endofing a
f- h ° f tHe puHic deb '"
\opiet i-. „ g , r ™ d ' " was ordered that joo
P r ioted for the ufc of the house.
1 prcre ' lted th " p et[tion ° f E"-
SwWrZ w »« rcad and referred to Mess.
tiylveiUr, Ward and Ivicchell.
i p r ' D »y ton '» motion, laid on the table on
7 il ' Wii called U P •>/ that gentleman ;
That the Secretary of War be directed to lav
before thu houfc, a iiffc of the names oTthe per
' Circ«Tr t0 hIS ° tfice for by the
: f' i Coum > 1,1 purfuancof the ast entitled
an a<a to provide for the settlement of tne claims
' heretofore TiiM'tT' by the I,mitatio "
toTnvaS, r' '° rCgulate the ciiul "
the fJ J T ' ; togethcr with 'he rates of
ability It" thC , CaUseS a % ned dif
faA w P T ed Wuh a Sterne.* of such
Mr n C,rCUmI l anCes W rek£e
. Dayton oblerved, that he considered it
the indifpeniable duty of the legislature to en
quire into this business, in order to avoid ,m
---pofition. He held a paper in his hand conta.V
ig an account oi a number of persons admitted
on the pension lift by the Circuit Courts, on ac
countof complamts, which if they were gener
f crmZef WOU cncre afe the penfionhfUn
luch manner as tea times the present revenue
fnppon" g 3,65 W ° uM " 0t be 'o
Mr B Bourn observed, that the govern
ment had veiled a discretionary power with the
Secretary of War to check the grant ofpenfions
■n improper cases; that the Secretary was pre
panng a report on thisfubjed ; and that a full
statement of the whole business would be laid
for°tlie refolutfon. H ° ° ee^
Mr Sedgwick said he hoped nothing was in
tended by th; motion to counteract the benevo
ent news of the legislature, m the only acSt of
legislative generoficy ever exhibited by this g- 0 -
vernment, the law of the laftfeffion making par-
P r ° Vl J oa for invalids. Mr. Sedgwick
™ thou the necessary information on the
subject would come before the house in course;
but he was anxious that no steps lhould be taken,
°[ lm p r °pcr grants of pensions.
~ U l_ ratC designs of government, or divert
the jufhee and humanity of the country from a
clals of citizens who have fou e ht the battles of
, to whom the United States are so
much indebted for their present freedom and
happiness
f C Mr.W. Smith, Mr. Lawrance,
and Mr. Hilihoufe, supported the motion. It
was said that the law was found inadequate to
the purpose for which it was made; that while
m some cases it was not carried into executi
on, in others very improper grants of pen
nons had been made. Information was wanted;
this information may be obtained; the law is de
fe&ive, and ought to be revised. Justice, there
fore, to real objedh; to guard against imposi
tions, and to make that provision which the fi
nances of the country are competent to—impose
a necc-i: ty that the motion lhould be adopted. In
reply to the objection, that information would
ceme in of eourfe, from the War Office, it was
said, the motion wtnt to several points, on which
it was not the duty of the Secretary to report, .
unless he was required to do it.
Mr. Dayton's motion was agreed to. '
Mr. Boudinot, »f the committee appointed for '
the purpose, brought in i
A bill to determine the northern boundary of
the territory ceded by the date of North Caroli
na to the United States—read the firft time.
In committee of the whole, on the Secretary's
report of the estimate ©f appropriations for the
year 1793.
Mr. Sedgwick in the chair.
The committee proceeded in hearing a reci
tal from the chairman of the items in the esti
mate. The sum fpecified for the contingencies
of the war department was struck out, and a
blank left. The reading of the estimate being fi
nitfied, Mr.Fitzfimons submitted sundry resolu
tions pursuant thereto, which were read and
laid on the table. The committee then rose, re
ported progress, and had leave to fit again.
In committee of the whole, on the bill to a
scertain the fees demandable on admiralty pro
ceedings in the courts of the United States.
Mr. Dayton in the chair.
The committee made some amendments, they
then rose, and reported progress.
Adjourned.
TUESDAY, December 4.
The bill for determining *he Northern
boundary of the territory ceded to t'ie United
States by the State of North-Caioiina, was
read the second time, and committed for
Thursday next.
A letter was read from the Secretary of the
Treasury, conveying the accounts of the Com
miflioners of Loans, See. pursuant to a resolu
tion of the house. These accounts were re
ferred to the committee of the whole on the
estimate «f appropriations.
The petition of Gafpar Kuhl, praying for a
pension, was read and referred to the com
mittee on similar applications.
The petition of Elijah Boftwick, presented
the last session, was referred to a feledt com
mittee, confiding of MelTrs. Sylvester, Key,
and Gtove
Order of the Day, on the Estimate of
Appropriations.
In committee of the whole—Mr. Sedgwick in
the chair.
The papers above mentioned,received from
the Secretary of the Treafurv, on which the
estimate of the expence of the Loan-Offices
was founded, were read.
The accounts of the Loan-Officers of Mas
sachusetts, New-York, Pennsylvania, Mary
land and Virginia, were particularly called
for, and read in detail. The expences of
tbefe offices were very different, owing to the
business being much greater, by reason of
transfers, in some states than in others. The
amount of the expence was generally com
plained of It was oblerved that some other
mode of doing the business ought to be adopt
215
tfierebv Several i! e 5 x '" ce occafioiied
were n-'.de i!, ? ?: te,at! »' correction,
tic'e,. eft'mate, respecting tnis ar-
d ; jila ' 5 for the CO,,tin
i«odX;i d thatthe biank >* w
c„.S' n ° i;on wa> withdrawn, a„d was f uc
That ll\-V'?!i t,,C Allowing purport—
qu ft d „ er V denl ° flhe U " l!ed Sa '« re .
<* faint "t t0 be laid bet "'e 'he Houfc
» f o^ SCOn^" U " ng " ,e ,umm '
'° J be a PWO P r. at rd tor
in the > n <-'dental, and conjetiural charges
Dte rde r anmcnt - Th " was o g b
dJltt " °r al ' ni ' fdf - and con,r " r y <o
POD t CC , otlheHoufe --' 1 w » s urged that the
the h:ld o o t ,h WOUld , betOCdll ° n ' L o*""'
the Hn f ht war department, to lay before
cordfn it ' nCCeffar y documents-l/ w ,sac:
'he UnftJd n s° VCd V th n t ' he WOrds Prcfl<itr " l of
b ' at « "tuck out of the mot.on-
Cd to lal b t , aryot War lhoUld be d
for ftrikL, " ,e , H " ofe ' &C - Thc "'otion
on th S cut was loft—and then the question
i o»,he motton as original, made, was pit and
r,n^ he rer ° lut,ons moved yesterday by Mr. Fitz
fimons e rea ead __f he V ft
oa w g u Cdt °- Thr fourlh - "Cpcaing .
reporterf 6 W " hdrawn ' The committee role and
progress.
th-« e „ r abovc Rated being reported to
tne House, was agrerd to.
Mr. F tzhmons, of the committee on the re.
funH . rcrf tary of State, relative to , he
comf ofrh^T 1 -' h r " ,e fu PP ortot lh c inter,
ouife of the l/ntted States with foreign nation.
on us; tJble reP ° rt ' Wh ' Ch WaS r " d ' and laid '
The b.ll to reimburse certain extr, expenses
Creek 7'!"" lrca "' n S°f peace' with
remind, taken in[Q confidera|ion _
liOoTn"" c had.agr-ed to fili the blank with
200 dollars, and reported accordingly.-This
Xmfe fT debate 0n thc fub j (ft - ,n which
er's wer ofthe „ a PP ' ca "0"0f the comrniflTion-
Mr n\ Cr '*} !>'■ cralln '"d-Mr. Snmpter,
onoofrd ,h' Kltc 1 hc l "' and Mr - Wtlltamfon
PP ed the report of the committee— Mr Bou
d'not Mr. MiMedge.Mr.Atnes, and M,' Page
tpokein favor of it. ®
colmi.? deftion ° n a ? rec ; n s to lhe "port of (he
uZZw— Dega " V£d - lhe d >" a " d n °«*»
AYES
Mrffrs. Am,,, Baldwin, Barnwell, Benfon
Sr'r Jk" 1 ' 1 W - I, ' ind Filifi'nons,
Gilmao Goodhue, Hctfter, Huger, Learned
Muhlenberg. Murray, Milledge, Paae, Sedgwick,
worfr'w I SM ' Tha ' d " r ' Tuck ". Wads.
worm. Ward 24.
NOES.
Meft-s. A (lie, B. Bourn, Clark, Dayton, Giles,
I Grcf ""P' Grove - Hillhoufc, Jacobs,
u ; o CC * I ' lvcrm <>™ , > Moore, Niles, Schoon
makjerj.l. Smith,,,f. Steele, Sumpter, Svlveftcr.
V—H, t White, W.lliamfon, Willis, A. Orr
-25.
A motion to fill the blank with noo dollars
was loft ; a moti.n for goo was agreed to—the
btll WH' ordetedtc be engrofled, and thru the
noulc adjourned.
Philadelphia, Dec. 5.
YeAerday the Senate and Houfc of Reprefen
tativcs of the Commonwealth of Pcnufylvania
met at the S*ate-houfe in this city.
The superior court of New-Jtrfey, held at
Trenton Uft month, conferred the degree ofSer
geant at_ Law on EiiAia Boudmot and Joseph
Bloomfield, Efqrs.
It mentioned in the North-Carolina Jour
nal of thf 14th inft. that depredations arc daily
committed by the Indians in the vicinity of
NaOiville—and that a military force was col
le&ed under Gen. Sevier, who was *bout to
march imo the Indian country, fr*m whole ex
ertions an ufiporiant blow waa expe&ed.
The Lts;ht House on Cape Henry was light
ed the seventeenth of' November.
Extra?! from a letter dated Amfleriam, Sept. 27,
• —- ■ ■ - JL A , . i-L.n - C_u D . .L.*
i 79 2 - received by the Chejlerjield Packet.
" The French affaiis grow daily more feri
ous ; ihe Pruflian army has advanced beyond
Ch»lofis» which waa rhe principal rendezvous of
the French, who retreated in great difoider.—
The Duke of Brunfwick approaches Paris, by
Aon' and cautious marches, and it is imagined he
will rcach it about the lft of O&ober ; riois and
the mod abominable rneafures continue in that
devoted city. As the Pruflians approach, it is
expe&ed the mob will become more outrageous,
that the rr.urder of the King and Queen cannot
be prevented, and that the city will probably
be plundered and destroyed. The new national
convention has aflcmbjed and declared itfelf
constituent ajij supreme, they however submit
to the mob in every thing, and fanflion their
vile proceedings. The armies have had several
actions, in which the undisciplined French have
been generally worsted. As th' Friend of Li
berty, I weep over the fate of that unhappy
people."
Extrafl of a letter from Majfathufitts, dated OSoier
»3> '79 2 '
" It is happy for the union tliatthe northern
States are tranquil, and firm in support of the
government. I cannot but hope the mal-con
tents are a small minority in any of the states.
Theciiftra&ions in the government of France,
I wilh may be a warning to Americans.—
Unhappy Frenchmen, what will be their
fate? Unless Providence, by unexpected e
vents, check the natural course of things, the
confederate kings with their armies, may im
pose on the French just \Vhat.i'orm of govern
ment they chafe. Their aflembly always ap
peared very destitute of men oi abilities, and
for a long time past they stem to have been
governed by the mob oi I'arij.—- How
'nen at filled oui' Nati ( . cl,ni i J ° rcd
'"«*Con gr e,s,:c: N Nt7 t C i;Ur.Venti<,n
public benefit. T i e f. at '- to ß rcat
ttiefr nJi' ,'£ ey lO : hear '° »>»<h wh«
own "nd ih° ri "T ,ht ' r
held \T ll)Cm "lf ,he V wcre D; " '■<> t*
el'a, l 0 ° n rr n , v acc " um - D,d -y «*"««»
tiun to iiv 8 r , cvcr '"•* a P a ' li " n
«»«> to lay, wuh a late vvrifrr «* a 1 j
XmTAZ'"-- 6 10
The argument in falh.on T)lal ,
be■ fa-rhful as Vicc Prei.de,„ the o
fe!l r Onhtibhori ' Who hlJ ' ds firit
of a Const T" C " H ™P t and v.ol a uo„
Constitution he pretends to refpeft It
would be too much that one rat „ saM have
the marring of two Conftit u ri ons
of S /T ra /' i ate L WriterS h «e«fTumed the signature
,hat n,i & ht lead 10
(hrw wh » <°« of fedc
c)' »re.-Read their pieces and the,,
Tl/ n » »"fiake. A aaijtrm hieralifi . re
pull,can federal] and an anti-fe&aHflXlu pas,
for the lame ln the twilight olTtuth. P
[Intended for our /ast Gazette. 1
From what quauer of the Union (alks a cor.
respondent) f pi i ngs the opposition to the re-elec
eTub ic^ A st dara! ? Fr ° m those ftat " where
republican tnftitut.ons abound f Where, to use
h!r ™ and " Uly re P u h'tcan language of
b t confident patriot, the mean, of k„Llfd£
are so umverfally dominated,not one kuln
n'TtZ l" bro ' J i kt *P 'n ignorance
P . fpr'ng tr„m those patriots who are the
belt acqu,,nted w„h the whole teflor of thai
gcntl.man s political career, through the «rdu
us conflict of this country, tor all that refcn
wish m° h °'s ' V ft ' ma, '° n ? Do " " o «S'<>"e
fnerdw" I have d-iflingui (hed themfrlves a,
Url » th< ; equal rights of nrro, either in pit.
itfelf im'th" C ? th ' ! °PP° r " ion mamfeft
me L C Wh ° can P°>»<°ut the
f, r,' a """J' o "' wh<rn the y ever fugeefted,
fcioufly or honclt.; supported any*
zrea, hnrt f P™" 10 ""!! lhe '"'"efts of the
g at body of the people, by diffufing light and
o/rrrr amo, "^ hrr "' lhrou gh the medium
Of publ.c femnune, of learning? Doe, it ap.
pear on the part oftheoW and (rc>rfrepublicans-»-
or can 11 be traced to the compatri.t, of Mr
Adams in a (ingle mftance ?_Thefe queries muflr
be anlwered in the negative. The inference ls
plain. Let not the people be deceived by ibe
peaous pretence, to patriotism of those who
tcck t° ocfiroy their confidence in the long tried
and faithful guardians of the public libei ty.
It must be acknowledged by every one, that
the mtans of happiness were in the power of
the people of the United States, jirmVw to the
au r picions event of adopting the cotftitutim,
to as g'eat an extent as they now are—but
the most stubborn adversary of the measures
of the general government which have called
those means into exercise and effect, will not
aflert that no change for the better has taken
place.
NOTICE to MARINERS.
That on Thyrfday morning last, the 18th inft.
the Lanthern of the l.ight-houfe on Tvber, took
fire, and was entirely conlimed, iu confluence
of which unfortunate accident, rio light can ap
pear for some time. It is expe&ed that the
building will soon be repaired, of which due
notice will bp given.
Lately died in New-York, Dr. James Coos
wel l —a man, whose virtues and abilities mak.e
his death a public loss.
P.iCKET NFWS.
Just at the time the Pruflians were near ftarv-
ln g;
The Duke and all his Auftrians near Bur-
goyn'd;
Just as the French this state of things obferv-
ing;
Laid down their arms themselves, and
chang'd their mind.
Just at this moment fails the luckless
And now the lies make a confounded racket-
PRICE OF STOCKS.
6 per Cents, 21f
3 per Cents, 12/4
Deferred, 1 gj
Full (hares Bank U. S. 45 per cent, prem,
$ Shares, 56
TO DISTANT SUBSCRIBERS.
(£3" A recent regulation at the Poft-Office,
requiring that newspapers should be left there
the Day bcjorc they are to be dispatched, will
prevent this Gazette from leaving the city by
Weduefday's post, av usual—till a new arrange-
men;.
Savannah, Nov. 17