wearefl 'channel of commercial intercoure
with that extensive and rich country.
At present, the land-carriage between
the navigable waters of the Mor.ongahila
(a fork, of the Ohio) and, the navigable
waters of the VotoniacH, is less than, 40
miles ; and a good Waggon road is open
between the t\v<s water:-.. Men of judg
ment 011 the iubject of inland navigation,
have examined the ground between the
hrancLics of the Potonwk, and
those of the Ohio, and have Ken decidedly
of opinion, that the iand-carriage between
the two places where boats rimy come to
each, can be reduced to fifteen miles; and
they have fcur.d nothing to convince thein,
that theft waters may not, hereafter, be
made ti>•commutncate with each other.
The lettltrs 011'(tie Ohio and M:!ifippi,
w ill of coiirfe carry their heavy produce to
a market down those rivers; but their re
turns will be mo ft natural through the Po
tomac's, for they cannot ascend the Wef
t -rn Waters, without great expsnce or
much lofsof time ; the current there being
so rapid, that a sharp boat with fix oars
can scarcely afcenct fifteen miles a day.
[to bs continued.]
To the Editor of the General Advertiser.
Sir,
I have observed in some of your late
pipers certain ftri&urcs on a speech of one
of the Members of Congress from Mas
sachusetts, which I consider both harsh
and unmerilted, and tending to prevent
that freedom of debate which has been so
wifely provided for
The writer's opinion and inferences are
by no means worthy of notice, otherwise
than as they fnew a difpolition to pervert
the truth, and abuse the liberty of the
press. That Member's character as a
friend to genuine liberty and good go
vernment, is too well eftabliihed to be af
fedled by such miftatements and scurrility,
as is contained in the paper of "Monday ;
neither is such a mode of writing calcu
lated to make a favorable imprifiion on
the minds of many of your readers.
Paris of a sentence, or even of a fpscch,
may be fp stated by designing partisans as
to appear very exceptionable, and this ii
believed to have been the cafe in the pre
sent instance ; because, independent of the
knowa principles of the member, some
people of character who were present,
declare they heard no expressions that
would bear the conftruttion which lias
been attempted.
Gracchus fays 'f he would be unfaith
ful to his country, to let such sentiments
pass unnoticed in thi3 he claims some
merit to himfelf, while he pays but a poor
compliment to his friends in Congress,
who let such expressions as he has stated,
pass without reprehension ; and to be a
ufefal watchman, he ought to pay mere
attention to his recitals.
For the Gazrtts of the United Srjrfs,
Mr. Fenno,
According to the " opinion" of a wri
ter in the General Advertiser, " on the
conduit that America ought to adopt in
future"—it appears that the wisdom of
this country would be evidenced in the
firft place, by throwing every thing into
confufion among ourftlves, and in the se
cond, by immediately plunging into a
war with all the world—our agents at home
and abroad are to be difmifTed—and all
the measures which have given prosperity
to our country, and secured that prospe
rity by peace and domestic tranquility, are
to be subverted and overturned. If this
is the way to preserve our name in exist
ence as a nation, if this is the way to ena
ble us to help our friends, preserve our
peace, our liberties, and our independence
—then the modern doctrines of volunteer
quacks in politics which run counter to the
experience of man in all past ages, ought
to prevail—ln vain have the people of A
merica fought for freedom, deliberated on
the best measures to secure the inestimable
jewel, and eftabliflied a just, wife and com
petent government as the only mean con
ducive to that object—if, the nature of
our species is inverted, and confufion and
every evil work is the only preparative to
peace liberty and fafety—the politics of
maniacifm will not prevail, for the parti
zans of diforganifati.m are not like Samp
son, willing to be crushed themselves in
the ruins they contemplate with so much
p'.eafure—Our Councils will not be influen
ced by hairbramed politicians who, refleft
itijr on the fortunes which have been accu
mulated in the convulsions of Europe, are
anxiously defiioiis of trying their hand in
tjai> happy retreat of -freedom and peace.
Y. Z.
From the Columbian Gazetteir.
OBSERVATIONS.
The coldelt day in December, 1789, in
this city, was the 20th of the month—
the Thermometer was 21 degrees. Fri
day miming hft being 10 1-2 degrees
colder. In Jan. 1790, the coldest day was
20 degrees —in February 9 degrees —in
March 6 degrees. By this the coldest day
in the winter of 1790, w?.» 41-2 degrees
colder than Friday morning last.
The coldest day in Philadelphia, in Jan.
1789, was 18 degrees—in February do. 7
degrees —in Jan. 1790, 12 degrees—in
Feb. do. 6 degrees—in March do. 3 deg.
in Dec. do. 6 decrredß
In Philadelphia, in Jan. 1791, 8 dfg". 1
.a Feb. do. 5 deg.—in March do. 2 deg.
From llie above remarks, being all I
could coll" ft, we may not ex peel to expe
rience but very little colder weather in the
course of this winter, than was experien
ced the latl week.
On the 2 & 24th ult. was held the exa
mination of the several fehools in the Tren
ton Academy. The scholars who had been
itudying Reading, Writing, Arithmetic
and Book-keeping, exhibited such proofs
of attention and improvement, as were very
fatisfa&ory to the trustees and visitors.
The Grammar school, under the care of
Mr. Whitefide, was examined in presence
of the Governor of the State, the Hon.
Isaac Smith, the Rev. Mr. Armftrongand
Samuel W. Stockton, Esq. who expreiTed
their approbation at the proficiency of the
(Indents, several of whom diftinguilhed
themselves for their progress in the ma
thematics and natural philosophy.
A number of the ihidenU of this aca
demy have been fitted, from time to time,
to enter the junior clals in Princeton col
lege, with credit to tliemfelves and their
tutors. Others have been qualified for
the mercantile and mechanical branches of
business, which are here particularly at
tended to—and all, whofc morals are un
impeached, and who have made fufficient
proficiency, are entitled to a certificate,
under the fcal of the corporation, setting
forth the branches of literature which they
have fuccefsfully studied.
Such is the healthfulnefs of the city of
Trenton, that not an instance of mortality
has happened since the firft establishment
of this acadcmy, among the many scho
lars who have ccme hither to putfu'e their
{tudies. Thi3 circumstance, added to the
eligibility of its situation, being on the post
and stage road from Philadelphia to New-
York, and the cheapncfs of boarding, ren
ders it a cfefirable place for persons at a
distance to fend their children for the ru
diments of their education.
An Observer
There arc at present about eighty scho
lars in the fevcral fchooli: the house is in
complete repair, and would accommodate
a much larger number with convenience.
As the schools arc under good regula
tions. and will be carefully attended to by
the trustees and visitors, it is hoped those
who may think proper to fend their chil
dren to this seminary will not be disap
pointed in their expectations.
For the Gazette of the Uhitfd St.ites.
To the SIEUR GENET, Minister
WHENCE is it, fir, that you alone,
among the diplomatic characters in America,,
have been felecled as the notorious object of
public animadversion ? Intercfting to vour
felf, as it i 3 to Americans, this question
Mr; Genet, demands your attention.
. G. BAKER.
New-York, 28th Dec. 1793.
TRENTON ACADEMY.
of Fiance.
In answer to this queltion, will you, in
the spirit of calumny and felf-admiration,
presume to fay, that the American press,
devoted to the cause of despotism, perse
cutes you a 9 the martyr of liberty ? Inftcad
of thus yielding to the fedu&ions of pas
sion, rather, fir, for once, render homage
to the simplicity of truth, and refledt whe
ther a more correct answer may not be
given ! Shall I mention one for your coii
fideration ? Yet deem it not lingular, that
a person unpra&ifed in the infidioufnels
of Courts, unversed in the sophistry of St.
Omers, and unambitious of rivaling you in
artinc;, fhou'id give an answer very differ
ent from yourfelf, an answer which is plain,
simple, palpable. You alone, among the
diplomatic characters in America, have noto
rioujly offended againjl diplomatic propriety.
Delegated, as French missionary, to the
constituted government of the American
Republic, your million, as relative to this
'government, was either a mission of peace,
or a mission of perfidy. What then has
been your conduct, as relative to the Ame
rican government ? Have not your pro
ceedings, instead of evincing a Minister 01
peace, branded you as the Apostle of dis
cord ? And was such the purpose of the
nation whom you claim to represent ? No !
fir, however zealous you may be to ca
lumniate the French nation by confound
ing them with yourfelf, we acquit them of
the charge : Never can we believe that
the republicans of France would appro
bate a million of perfidy. To do juitice
to the French people, we must then be
careful to difcrimiuate between them, and
yourfelf. And, making this discrimina
tion, we are constrained to regard some of
your proceedings, fir, as meriting no (light
reprehension.
Could we totally abftraft your diplo
matic character from your proceedings,
while you hold and abuse that character,
n-e might regard your language aa but the
intemperate effufions of a felf-admiring
fcioliil: And, in this abftrafted view, the
combination of fatuity and vanity, being
regarded a$ innocuous, might afford mat
ter of tranficnt mirth. But when, in abu
sing your diplomatic trust, you claim that
your language (hoidd be refpefted as tue
voice of France, the fubjeft instantly as
sumes a very different afpeft ; and your
published declarations, vhether resulting
from ignorar.ee, vanity, fawticifm, or per
fidy, become seriously interesting ty the
friends of true republicanism : For, whe
ther you betray the republican cause, from
ignorance, vanity, fanaticifm, or perfidy,
whether you betray it from want of wis
dom, or from want of honelty, ftil!, fir,
you injure the cause which you ought to
benefit, and which, notwithstanding its be
ing profaned by your profeffions of devo
tion, is precious and sacred to Americans.
" That you are not destitute of talent,"
ha 3 been already conceded in the address
which 1 presented to you, through the
Gazette, in conference of the letter, of
the 13th of August, which you wrote for
the press, and sent to the President. My
generosity, as one of the people, having made
vou thi3 concession while there appeared
some rOom for hoping that you would
liflen to the voice of inftruftion and reform,
although your own own conduct has since
reduced you, in point of character, to be
but a mcndicant pensioner on the charity
of, public opinion, yet, while I scorn to
despoil the beggar, I scorn to revoke my
generous concession. But left, from your
pronenefs to eulogize yourfelf, you should
abuse this concefiion to your own injury,
let me remind you, that, in kind, as well
as In degree, talents are various. And, as
" you are not destitute of talent," so nei
ther was an ancient rutcd incendiary, one
trait of whose character seems not altoge
ther inapplicable to yourfelf:—" Satis lo-
quent'ue, fapicnt'ht parum."
Considering that a person in your station
ought not to be so ignorant of classic lite
rature as you profefs to be of some of the
molt celebrated works on national law, al
though I do not question your profefied
ignorance, I now credit you as having the
ability to understand a fhoi t sentence from
,Sa!lu(t: I, accordingly, omit giving you
a version of this which I have just cited.
And, leaving it to your own moments of
temperate reflexion, if ever you have any,
I observe, that the charaAer at large may
ba worth your attention. You may find
it delineated by Salluft, in his history of
the Catalinarian war. And, while you
are meditating on this fubjeft, let me urge
you to reflect, that, however much or
however long you may have abused our
patience, yet the incendiary, who makes
profeflions of virtue in the cause of vice,
and boalts of patriotism for the purposes
of sedition, will not eventually find more
support in America than your prototype
found in Rome.
The inftaioufnefs of your profejjions, the
illegitimacy of your dodrines, the audacity of
yourpretenfioiis, have conspired to provoke
and juftify typographical ftri&ures. Ap
• pearing before the American public in the
novel and amphibious character of typo
graphical Minister, your claims to public
animadversion are various, urgent, and un
rivalled. Whether we contemplate you as
the foi-difant oracle of national law, as the
expositor of the American Constitution, as
the exotic guardian of the sovereign people
of the United States, as the public accuser
of their constituted authorities ; of whe
ther we contemplate vou as a diplomatic
Proteus transforming yourfelf into a mul
tiplicity of shapes, and adopting .such r*v,i
rious forms as you may think adapted t$
aid your machinations—whetheryou adopt
the form of epiitolary correspondence, di
plomatic communication, consular protes
tation, circular address to American com
mittees of beneficence, circular inftru&ions
to French consuls, or any other form which
anarchial zeal may suggest ; still, fir, we
find no cause to deny you the character of
which you seem (o ambitious, the charac
ter of an Apostle or Discord.
You may aff'eit a tremulons concern for
the Prefideiit, and, with the modesty pe
culiar to yourfelf, profefs to the public,
as in your letter to (jovemor Moultrie,
your " grief at feeing General Wajhington,
that celebrated hern cj liberty, accessible to
men whose schemes could only darken his glo
ry." But in vain may you expect that
such arts will delude the informed Ameri
cans. The weeping of the insidious cro
cadide deludes none but the ignorant.
If he has become the object of your pi.
ty, General Washington is fallen indeed.
Are you so vain, Sir, as to imagine, that
his, or his country's glory depends on you?
Learn then to know thyfelf; and be as
sured, that it is not the breath of Genet,
but the energy of truth, which swells the
trumpet of fame.
After considering, that, in your letter
of the 27th of October to the Secretary of
State, you have charged President Wash
ington with usurping power which the
constitution does not allow him ; when we
further observe, that, through your sub
altern Dannery yon profefs, to the Exe
cutive of Maffachufctts, an anxious fenft
bility left holWities Should interrupt " the
cver-deor fraternity ** between " two nati
ons yet JiJlers," and that >ou also at the
j fame time exhibit a manift-ftiJ ugair.ft our
National Executive ; the language offuch
communications excites, in the American
mind, at once, contempt and indignation.
Ate we to br duped, or terrified, from the
maintenance of our own internal sovereign
ty, by the insidious profeflions, or mena
ces of a diplomatic or consular di&ator ?
Will you, fir, fay, that there is danger
of hostilities between France and America?
If so, whence does this danger arise
Whence, but from functionaries who, irt»
trusted with affairs of France, abuse the
confidence of an high-spirited people ?—
Whence, but from such persons 33 your
felf ?
Mr. Genet! will you, while Minifler
of France, pretend to be ignorant, that
your Mailers have rcprefentedfedcralifm at
the evil genius of anarchy, of rebellion of
royalifm, as a monfttr threatening deduc
tion to the unity and indivisibility of the
Republic ? Did you t'uen, in ordering
Dannery to denounce the PreCdent, pur
fofe to excite in America the very spirit
which has been excited at Marseilles, at
Lyons, at Toulon ? Speak, Sir! what
was your purpose in that infidious'denunci
ation ?—What, but to divide and command
the American People ? Accordingly, the
moment of our national dismission, would
have been the moment of your congratu
lating yourfelf as Di&ator over America.
Not to particularise ail the insidious
communications which you have been ea
ger to publish, and without now remark
ing on the illegality of the do&rines which
they contain, the publications alieady no
ticed, efpeciallv those relating to the affair
of Duplaine, fufficiently brand you as the
Apostle of Discord. And, on reviewing
the conduct of our public fun&ionarieg, and
considering your various insinuations and
direst c harges again It them, the mind is
hnpreflcd with one concluding sentiment.
To be the first of warriors, and
yet to be accused for being the friend of
peace, is the peculiar honor of Walhing
ton ; an honor worthy the first func
tionary of the first republi.c in
the universe. Formanifefting himfelf
to be the vigilant friend of peace, as well
as the firm affertor of our national sover
eignty, he is honored by the approving
voice of his country, and has ftiared, with
other officers of our government, in your
calumnies, and in your honorable hatred.
ALFRED.
AMERICA.
JAMAICA, Nov. 9.
Un decided Engagement.
Extract of a letter wit. ten on board the
privateer brig Eagle, Captain Ogie
dated at Cape Nicliola Mole, October
28.
" Last Thii' fday noon, while in com
pany with the sloop Satan, Capt. Young,
V !