v-rjyaeat ? He believed the gentlemen would join
1 toi in faying they concurred in these sentiments ;
and if so, where was the propriety of refufing to
agree to this clause ? He hoped they would re-con
sider the matter, and that by dividing the question,
the clause moved te be struck out might be retain
ed.
Mr. Nicholas said the question could not be di
vided ; if it could, a member could never vote a
greeably to his wijh. For his own part, he had
lather the paragraph in question should be retained,
nnd have liked the motion better had it not included
sit. '
Mr. Giles said gentlemen might refufe to strike
cut the whole, and then move to strike out a part,
and so attain their otyft. Bur, said he, aJmitting
the paragraph to be founded on truth, was it a
thing they had any thing to do with as legislators ?
Was it proper to remind the people of Europe
that they are not so happy as we ? Huppofe, added
he, any individual was to go into the house of his
neighbor, and fay to him, " am very rich and
}-?ti are poor 5 I am very happy, but you are very
referable j" would fncli a conduct be well receiv
' ed i He believed not: and he was unwilling to do
that in a national capacity, which he disapproved
in an individual one.
Mr. Sitgreaves said, he felt himfelf perfectly in
different as to any division of the question, because
bis mind wat prepared to give an unqualified vote
to every sentiment contained in the answer report
ed. He did not believe it to be either unnatural
or unbecoming in us to derive happinefa from a con
trad of our own fltuation with that of other na
tions who were less favored. He believed it was
the only way in which,<ve could justly appreciate
the value of our fltuation. He believed everything
appeared greater or less, worthless or valuable by
comparison, and that our happiness and prosperity
would not appear evident, except eontrnlltd with
nations less so. He perfeflly agreed with the gen
tleman from Virginia (Mr Giles) that what was
condemnable in private life, would he equally so in
public, and he should think it wrong'for a man to
exult over his neighbor's poverty or misfortunes in
the way he had mentioned ; but though he should
fiot ebufe to o£fend his neighbor, he saw no im
propriety if he, in the bosom of his family, patm
ed his faults and follies, in order to watn those uli
der his care against, the like, and that they might
be fufliciently grateful for their superior advan
tages. He thought there- would be nothing in
such a condu& either unnatural or unbecoming,
and therefore did not wish to fee the paragraph
struck out.
He did not in any degree doubt the wisdom and
firmnefs of the •dminiftration of the government :
in the language of the answer, he entertained " a
grateluleonviftion, that the wife, firm and patriotic
adminißration of the Prcfident, had been signally
conducive to the fuecefs of the present form of gov
eramect." This, he said, was not only his senti
ment—it was the sentiment of America.—Such a
sentiment was the anly reward which could be giv
en to labours like those of the PJCuient : he tir#t
they ouglit not to'be withheld by that house, when
every public body, from one end of the continent
to tire other, were poflring thrui forth. He saw
so reason for being io veiy cautious of cwmplimeat,
which would in effect convey reproach inllead of
praise. If these sentiments were universally felt,
there could be no impropriety in their expressing
them : but if that House, indeed, believed that the
sdminillration of the Prefidtnt had neither been
wife, firm nor patiotic, then they would concur with
the motion for striking out. It had been insinuat
ed, that the present situation of this countty, with
refpeft to its foreign relations, was owinj; to the
want s>f firmnefs arid wisdom in the adminiftiation-
His opinion was direfily the contrary, and he be
lieved that it was the opinion of America. This
opinion was fully exprefTed by that Hottfe or a re
cent occasion in the last fcflioTi, and he did not be
lieve it had seen any cause for changing its opinion
It was no reason for qualifying the expreflion rela
tive to the prosperity of the country, because pri
vate credit had been in some degiee deranged, as
that derangement could not be attributed to any
*&. of the government. He was sorry that ftich
circumllances should have been mentioned, to tar.
nifh the bright appearance of the country. These
circumftaiices were *but like a speck upon the fun
Why were they not told of the fires which had hap.
pened at New-York and Savannah, as well as of the
derangements of oar merchants ? Such trivial mat
ters were not to be mentioned in a national view
If the gentleman from Virgiria (Mr. Gilss) did i
rot regret the refignatioa of the Prcfident, he did :
he beiieved America did, and he believed this re
gret was extremely natural andipreper—He did not
thjok it undignified. That gentleman had said the j
gemrunent would go on without him, and that I
there wete many others capable of filling the Prefi- 1
dential chair. This might be so ; but did it sol- |
low, that they should not regret the loss of a valua
ble public servant ) Should we not regret him, said
by, OB account of the univcrfal confidence placed
in him ? Confidence in the officers of government
was valuable, he said, untkr every form, but'pir
ticalarly in a republican government : it was the
chief principle from which it derived its energy.—
Coold 1 his be denied ? If not, certainly regret was
natural, because thi* confidence would not be so
great in his fncceffor, tho' he might be pofTcfTed of
equal talents and virtues.
Mr. Sitgreaves said, ht should not agree to the
notion of the gentleman from S. Carolina, (Mr.
Harper) because it was fub&ittiting other words in
place of those nfed, for no good reason whatever.
Those wctds would not change or improve the sen
timent or the phraseology, and there was therefore
Bo ulP.ity in adopting them. Upon the whole, he
believed the answer reported, to be free from the 1
chargeof adulation. He believed there was not a
sentiment i« it, which was not jnftified by fa£l—
It wat expreflive of national regret at the departure
of our chief magistrate from office, and of national
gratitude for his services ; sentiments, which be be
lieved would not be agreeable to the American peo
ple to withhold from him.
[Debate to be continued.]
Tliurfday, December ry.
The ordir of the day being called fur on the 4n
fwer to the President's Speech, the house resolved
ltfelfintoa committee of the whole, Mr. Muhlen
prg in the chair, when Mr. Giles's ranion foi
linking „ui the la (V eight paragraphs of the answer
being under bonfideration, after some obfervatioos
from Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Rutherford and Mr. Li
vingrton, the motion was put and neg»ti»ed.
Mr. Harper then renewed his motion for (biking
out the seven last paragraphs, for the purpose of
introducing a paragraph containing nearly the fame
sentiments, which, after" a few observations, was
negalived, 25 members only being in favor of it.
Mr. Parker renewed his motion for linking
oat the word. « the freeft.and moll enlightened in
the world, which, after considerable debate, gave
way to an amendment of Mr. Thatcher to have the
expreflion read " the fpeftawle of a free a..d en
lighted natron, offering," &c. whuh wart carried
by a considerable majority^
Mr. Livingfton next moved an amendment in
the sixth paragraph, to strike out from the ward
tianquil" to M period,"* and to introduce in its
Head " present period with that," so as to read
" to compaie the present period with that imme
diately antecedent," &c. which was carried 42
10 37-
Mr. Livingfton next moved .to strike out the
words " wife, firm and patriotic administration**
m the next paragraph, and to introduce in their
Itead the words " wisdom, firmnefs, and patriot
ism," which after much debate was loft.
The committee then rose and reported the Ad*
dress with the amendments, which the house took
Up, and having gone through, Mr. Sitgreaves mo
ved an amendment to strike out the " while we par
ticipate" to " countrymen," and tu insert after the
words '* to interest our attention, and'' to the fol
lowing viz. " at the fame time that we as
sure ourfclvrs that *your jll (t confidence in the pa
triotism, fdf-refpe&, and fortituec-of our country
men, will not, in any event, be difappointcd, and
that they will nor, on any oecafion, forget what is
j due to the charafler of our government and nation."
j This motion ocgafioned considerable debate, and
was at length defeated by the previous question,
which was put in these wards, " (hall the main quef
tiou now be put." The Yeas and Nays were cal
led for, and taken as follow.
YEAS.
MefTis. Ames, Bradbury, Coit, Craik, Daven
port. Ejje, A. Fofler, D. Fuller, Cilbert, Glen,
Goodrich, Grifwold, Harper, Hartley, Hender
fon, S Lyman, Malbone, Sitgreaves
N. Smith, Isaac Smith, W. Smith, Swift, That
cher, Thomas, Thompson, Van Allen, Wads
worth, Williams, Hindman— 31.
NAYS.'
MefTrs. Bailev, Baldwin, Baird, Blount, Bry
an, Chriftic, Claiborn, Clopton, Coles, Dent,
Dearborn, Franklin, Freeman, Gallatin, Gilei,
Cillelpie, Gilman, Greenup, Gregg, Grove, Har
1-ifon, Havens, Heath, Holland, A. Jackson,
G- Jacklun, Kitchell, Livingfton, X. icke, W.
Lyman, Maclay, Macon, Madison, Moore,
Mnhlenbera, Nicholas, Page, Parker, Patron,
Richards, Sherborne, Jfrael Smith, Siradwick,
Swanwick, 11. Sprigg, Van CuriLudt, Varnum,
Venable—4B.
In the laourfe of thit debate, which was of a
considerable length, some very warm expressions
took place betwixt the Speaker, Mr. W. Smith,
and Mr Harper on.the point t>f order. The lat
ter gentleman appealed from the chair to the house,
nnd was pronounced by the house to be out of
order.
Mr. Blount moved t® strike out the last sentence
in the 44 far your country's fake, dtc.—
» hen the Yeas and Nays were taken as follow :
ye a. a
MefTrs. Bailey, Baird, Blount, Chriflie, Clop
ton, Cole*, Gallatin, Giles, Greenup, Hcat-n,
Holland, A. Jackson, G. Jackson, Livingfton,
Locke, W. Lyman, Maclay, Macon, Moore,
Parker, Pattoo, Swanwick, Varnum, Venable— 24.
NAYS.
MefTrs. Ames, Baldv%, Bradbury, Bryan,
Claiborn, Cort, Craik, Davenport, Dearborn,
Dent, Ege, A. Fofler. D. Foster, Franklin,
Freeman, Gilbert, Giiiefpie, Gilman, Glen,
Goodrich, Gicgg, Grifwold, Grove, Harper,
Hartley, Havens, Henderfon, Hindman, Kit
chell, S. Lyman, Madison, Malbone, Muhlen
berg, Nicholas, Page, Read, Richards, Sewall,
Sherbbrtie, Sitgreaves, N. Smith, Ifratl Smith,
Isaac Smith, W. Smith, Sprigg, Stradwick,
Swift, Thatchcr, Tbftmaa, Thompfcn, Van Cort
landt, Van Allen, Wadfworth, Williams—s4.
On the question being about to be put on the
anfwef r as amended, Mr. Blount said he wished
the Yeas and Nays might be again taken that pos
terity might fee that he was not coufcnting tp
tlriVaddrcfs/ - The question was carried 67 to 12'.
The Noes were MefTrs. Blount, Coles, Giles,
Greenup, Holland, A. Jackson, Livingfton, Lyvke
W. Lyman,...Maclay, Macon, and Venable.
Meflrs. Am:s, Madison and Sitgreaves were ap
pointed a commii'ueto wait upon the Prcfident to
enquire when and where he would receive the an
swer to his addrets.
Adjourned..
F»r tie Gaiitti or tii Unitsd Statu.
Mr. Fenno,
Confrdering Theatrical exhibitions, when conduced
with an earncft desire to please those, who support the
Theatre, by frequent attendance, as the only rational
entertainment the Citizens, in Philadelphia, can pofli
bly partake of in public.—After the laborions hours of
business, the theatre presents itfelf, to smooth the vari
ed scenes of life, to fee Nature pourtrayedor " catch
the manners living as they rife" either in the exh bra
cing smiles of Comedy, or the impreflive scenes of the
Tragic muli, these form " a confummution devoutly
to be wished," by every admirer of the Drama.
I well remember that for two seasons pafl, the per
formances have been much approved of, ttie perform-,
ers received that indulgence and almoli unbounded en
couragement their refpeflive merits entitled them to s
and, at the clofeof earh season, th?' Managers thanked
the public, for their "very generous and liberal sup
port." How then can those very Managers, now
ternc forth, •rid assert, the very contrary to b* the
fail : it fcfas then true, or if not, tlieir acknowledge
ments mu.t be considered only, a* fatyricil eulogium*
on a parfimoniouo public, whom they ieem inclined to
force ihto any msafure they may plcafe to adopt.
Mj Wign«ll,has gratifird the Phialdelphians, in
bringing Mrs. Merry ti> America, such exquilite per
formances as hers, must convince, even the molt preju
diced, that the ltage can, and ought tu pourtray na
ture in i!| the beauties of exprefi(<on and ailion. In
these Mrs. Merry tnfwers our nioft sanguine expec
tations. Were there such helpa to her at her abilities
deserve, and demand, the New Theatre would fully
compenlate the Managers ( even at the advanced
price ofadmiilion) for their labors. Excepting this
paragon, this excellent thea'rical Star, the present
company is much inferior in numbers and abilities to
any former leaibn : hew then, can the public expect
to have that entertainment generally they have been
used to. \[f we may judge from a comparative fettle
of the abilities of t'lofe Performers who have left the
Theatre ( on .what account the public are no otherwise
concerned than in th«4ofs) and .those newly engaged,
it plainly appears, the public are not benefited- I
have* arranged the merits, upon- a ratio, making fif
teen cq«al to the htgheft perfeflion, upon a general line
»f aifting, of tltofe absent, and of those engaged to
supply their stations, leaving the generality of the
company to their own merits, fcveral of whom are
really refpedtable
Performers absent. New Perforn»»rs.
Mrs. Whi'lock, 13 Mrs. Merry, 15
Shaw, 10 Mechiler, 4
Marshall, 9 Miss L'Eftrange, 4
Cleveland, j Mrs. L'Eftrange, 3
Green, 4
Rowfon, 3
Mif# Braodhurft, 10
Mr. Fennell, 13 Mr. Cooper, II
Bates, It \Varren, 9
Chalmers, Iz Fox, £
Whitlock, 11 L'Eftrange, 4
MarOiall, > 7
Cleveland, ' s
Green, 5
119! j6
From this it appears that the former Companies
were much fnperier in number and abilities, to the
prelent arrangement. I have omitted feversl perform
ers belonging now and formerly to the fame theatre,
whose performance* merit, on the fame feale, viz.
Mr. Moreton, 13, and who undoubtedly is the only
chaste male Adlor on the New Theatre stage. Mr.
Wignrll, 10. Mr. llariiood, ( whom the public are
happy to recognize once again) 13. Mr. Francis, 9.
Mrs Oldmixon, 14. Mrs. Morris, 8. Mrs. War
rell 9.
The above system of Merits, are more from public,
than private opinion ; and the general receipts of the
T heatrewrn speak r.ioft feelingly to the understandings
of the Managers, and Subfcribcrs, whether the advan
tage this Scafon, will be more favorable than any for
mer one. , PHTLO THEATRICUS.
FOR THE GAZETTE OF lUE U.VITED STATES.
A'EiV THEATRE.
HENRY IV.
THAT " huge hill of flefh," the fcnfible, wit
ty, Ray, humorous, cowardly, gluttonous, lying,
thieving FalitafF, not been, " any time ihefe
two-and-twenty years,"* exhibited in a more mif
terly and inip.ctlive style, than by War es, on
Weiuefiley evening.
Indeed this piece of acting was given with to
petfatt comprehcnlian of al! the minutiz of the
cliara&er, that criticism or comment were rain :
From the opening of the play to the ciofe, it was
supported with such naivete, animation, and confif.
tencyV *»» to authorize the opinion, that no perfor
mance in America ever afforded higher fatisfaQion,
or pnffefled better claims to pre-eminent met it.
Shakefpcaie, in thecouifeof his dramas, furnilhes
the critical observer with tbe original models of most
of the prominent. chaiaAers in modern plays. Dr.
Johnson ebfrrvfs, thai his " Pistol" is the model
of i.ll the bullies on the Engllfh stage, Dr. Young's'
Revenge is wholly built on the tragedy of Othello,
but it ie unneceflary to rite instances : the remark
must ftvikr every one ; and all that is left to regret,
is, that this fyffem has not been mote generally
putftied. Falftaff, unrivalled Falftaff, still (lands
untouched by the pen of any modern imitator.
And here Sbakrfpeare mtrft forever (hine without a
rival. His overheating excellent* in this finilhed
part, must inevitably swallow, ai in a vortex, all
who attempt to interfere with him. Indeed Shake
speare htmfelf is thought to have fallen off some
what in the continuation of hit Fat Knight, in the
Merry Wires of Windsor. As he is said to have
written this play in order to continue the cbara&er,
by command of Queen Elizabeth, perhaps his ge
nius may have been cramped or laid under reftraiiit
by the loyal command.
If any parts of Mr. Warren's performance were
particularly deserving of commendation, the whole
of his firft dialogue with the prince ; the soliloquy
on hoaor ; tbi merit i> the delivery of which was
such as to render Ihouts of applause iriefiftible ■}■ —
his account of his soldiers ; —and that part of the
fecund aft where he upbraids the prince with deser
ting him, " a plague of all cowards," might be
mentioned as inllancei.
Mr. Cooper has great merit in Hotspur; hilac-'
tion is good ; tho' too redundant. If he erred, it
was in not being " hot" enough—in general, this
leading trait in the chara&er did not miss his atten
tion—at times however he was remiss. The solilo
quy on the contents of the letter, and the scene
with his wife, were admiiabie.
It may not be improper to notice here some re
marks ot a writer, who criticises on Mr. Cooper,
with little " candor" or consideration. Hi» acti
on, fays this writer, was " mechanical." Is not all
aflion mechanical ! After dellttuting Cooper of all
claim to meiit, he concludes with an enumeration,
including all the more important poigtaof thf cha
racter, wherein he acknowledges him to have been
" peculiarly fortunate."
Mr. Moreton, when afllng " Hal" was in his
element, and did ample jnftice to the part ; ht
spoiled all in the Prince, by hi* rant. , In this p» r
Within thi« period have died two performers, of
diftinguilhed excellence in the character of Falftaff—
Garrick and Henderfon. Htd they llv'd to " die here
after," there night have been oppsrtunity of inftitu
trng a comparison :At " 'tis better as it is:" and a
" younki-r" must rely for his knowledge of them, on
the " abflra<si and brief chronicles of the times."
ricular, however, lie hM much amended. It mult
all be ffiakcn off, before he can become a peife£t
actor.
Mr. L'EHrange (are some parti in the King
with confidcrable energy, and effect. W.
Philadelphia,
v FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1796.
Rktvkn or yorti . 1 £ t Si«
™* £ >i« J E 2
PRESIDENT S ■ J" b i •2J 11.
VICE-PRESIDENT - ! N *• *"■ ■* p •■"• O -
New-llamplhire, | .
1 MafTachufetts, 1613 * 1
j Khode-Hland,
i Connecticut, 94 5
j Vermont,
| New-York, ti 11
i New-Jwfey, 7 7
i Pennsylvania, 1 21413
• Delaware, 3 3 I
Maryland. 7443! 2
Virginia, I 1 ao 115 31
Kentucky,
T«nneflee,
North-Carolina,
, South-Carolina,
Georgia,
Total, !_J .
From the Aurora.
" Mr. Fenno has afle rted, that the Senate'* anfwar
to the PreSdenf « speech paired that House unmnimoujlj.
Wt know te the contrary."
Ext raft from the Journal of the Senate of tie United
States, Saturday, December 10, 1796.
" The Senate resumed the consideration of the re
port of the committee in answer to the address of tho
Prelident of the United States to both Houses of Con
gaefs, and after further amendment* it wat uninimouf*
!y adapted as follows," tv.
It is a melancholy fail, that the true cavfe of the
present fHgnatioft- in aur commcrcial concerns is tie
high price of produce.
Surely our patriotic farmers will not look on tamely
till our merchants are all ruined and their fl»ippn>y rot
ten, for the vain hope that another famine in Europe
may eccur to favor the present exorbitant prices for
their grain.
Arrived—Ship Peggy, Elliot, Bvordeaux, j4 day*.—
Left Bourdeaui October 11.
BY THIS DAY's MAILS.
BOSTON, December 9.
Majfacbufetls 9 Eleflort.
O* Tuesday lait (he sixteen Electors of this Com
monwealth convened in the Senate chamber, agreea
ble to a refolveof the Legislature, pa£fird at the laltfef
lion. The whole number being preftnt, they adjour
ned to Wednesday, when they again met conformably
to the Confiitution and Law of the United States,
and proceeded to the choice of President and .Vice Pro*
fident. The vote, Hood as follows ;
John Adams, t6
Thomas PinckneyS. C. 13
Samuel Jolmfon N. C. %
Oliver Ellfworth Con. 1
An ejiprefs was difcatefced to Philadelphia, with a
certificate of the votes, signed by each Eletfor ; anoth
er certificate goes by the regular port. One is depofi
tcd in the office of the Diftfiil Clerk, and one in the
Secretary's office of the Commonwealth.
NEW-YORK, December ie.
I \ SERIOUS ALARM.
Renewed attempt* to ftt fire to different parti
ef the city have been discovered On Tuesday
night a (hed in the rear of Messrs. Lindfey and
Knox's ivork fliop, in Liberty-fired, was observed
to be caught from coals ef fire concealed in an oiled
cloth, similarly secured with those lately ;depofited
in Mr. Smith's and Depcyfter'e cellars in PearU
street. The hotife of Mr. Lewis Ogden, in Pearl
ftrect, has been twice set on the
malicious intention it indubitable, and he has fens
his black man, fufpe&ed, to prison : Another at
tempt, we learn, wa* made on Tuesday night in
Eeckman-ftreet i a bed was set on fire under a child,
and his criei alarmed his family ; yesterday morning
the back-doot of Mr. R. Leroy's house in Green
wich-street, adjoining Mr. Lindfey'*, was observed
to have been affe&ed from the fame means ; the
fire having burned through the lower part of tiic
door before it expired.
Sufficient evidence ja thai obtained of the evil
intentions of a dclperate gang which iafeft* the
city ; and the vigilance of the citixen* Ihoulc be
excited proportionably to the mifchief which may
arise, if they are not early discovered or checked in
their attempt*. An additional night-watch of con
fidential person*, to be employed by the inhabitant*
of the different ward* ; —or an association of them
selves for the fame purpufc, have been thought of
as some means of procuring additional security, and
in some puts of the city have already been adopt
ed. We conceive that a reward fllould also be of
fered for the discovery of villains; and a sub
scription to defray the expence thereof (which
should be liberal) we have no doubt would be ra
pidly made up by the inhabitant*.
In addition to the above, we hear that attempta
have been mad e to set fire to' the large and elegant
range of store* belonging to Mr. Dclafield, scar
the exchange.
Attempt* were likewise made to set fire to th«
(hip Mohawk, Capt. Moore.
At»o meeting of a number of the inhabitant* of the
firlt and second ward* of thi* city, at Mr. Rat
toonc't tavern, on Wednesday evening the 14th
December, 1796, it wa* nnanimoufly agreed—
Th iT it appear* attempt* have been made by evil
disposed person* (unknown to ui) to set fire to the
citjSiu diver* place* i it is therfcorc recommended
that night-watch, compofcd of citizen* from each
ward, be eftablilhed, to serve in rotation, until a
more regular fyltem can be eftablifhcd ( and that
a guard of twenty men from thi* meeting be ap
pointed to patrole the firlt and part of the second
ward* of thi* city, a* far as Wall-ftrcet, for this
and the four succeeding night* 1 and that Melane
ton Smith, James Van Dyk, Andrew Mortis, Si.
mon Schermerhom, and Henry Wyckoff, be a
oommittee to appoint the watch ia the mean time I
ind it it farther recommended, that fianlar met
, lutes he adopted by the citixen* of the different
ward*. William Niilson, chairman.