9.
New Theatre.
* # * The Public are refpeflfully informed, that on
account ofthefudden indisposition of Mr. Morcton,
the charafler of Hamlet will be performed by Mr.
Cooper. %
THIS EVENING, Monday, December 19
Wil be-prefented,
A TRAGEDY, called
HAMLET,
Prince of Denmark.
Hamlet, Mr. Cooper
King, Mr. Warren
Ghost, Mr. V EJlrange
Horatio, Mr. WigneU
Polonius, Mr. Morris
Rofencrans, Mr. War nil, jun,
G'jildenftern, Mr. Mitchell %
Francisco, Mr. Darley, jun.
Marcellui) Mr. Fox *
Bernardo, Mr. Warrefl\
Oftric, Mr. Francis
Lucianus, Mr. BliJJett
Grave Diggert, Harwood tff BliJJett
Queen, Mrs. L'FJlrange
Ophelia, Mrs- CUmixon
Player Queen, Mrs. Harvey
To which will be added,
A Musical Drama, in one adt, catted
The Purse;
Or, Benevolent Tar.
Baron, Mr. Warerll
1 heodare, Mr. Fox
Edmond, Mr. Darley, jure.
Will Steady, Mr. Har-wnod
Page, Miss L'FJlrange
Sally, Mrs. Qldmixon
• The music compofcd by Mr. Reeve.
, The accompaniments and new airs by Mr. Reinagle.
Box, One Dollar twenty-five ctnts. Pit one Dollar.
And Gallery, half a dollar.
Tickets to be had at H. & P. Rice's tlook-ftore,
No. 50 High-ftrect, and at the Office adjoining the
Theatre.
The Doors of the Theatre will open at 5, and the
Curtain rife precisely at 6 o'clock.
Places for the Boxes to be taken at the Office in the
front of the theatre, from !o till 2 o'clock, and from
lo till 4 on the days of performance.
No money 6r tickets to be returned, nor ,any
person, on any account whatsoever, . admitted behind
the scones.
• VIVAT RESPUBLICA!
OLD THEATRE,
On TUESDAY EVENING, December 20,
Signior F A L C O N I
Will continue his Philosophical Performance.
Among several new Experiments, too tedious to
•numerate, there will be
The Learned Swan.
This piece has always been the admiration of the
Ipe&ator;.
The Sympathetic Windmill,
Which wUI work or stop at the command of the
company
. The incompressible Sealed SNOTF-feOX ;
The so rtluch admired RING.
Signier Fafconi ambitious to contribute as much
as is in his power to the amusement of his patrons,
has improved hit performance by the
Battle between the Elephant and the
Ourang Outang.
Extrafled from button's natural history on this
fubjeft, and the chafe of the Yahoo, a near fpeciesof
thefaid Ourang Outang.
This performance will undoubtedly give great f'a
tisfaflion, particularly on accouut of the Elephant's
being in this city ; but as it is supposed many people
have not seen it, this will give them an idea of the
sagacity of the animal, and his manner of fighting and
defending himfelf, only by the help of his trunk.
With other new scenery and feats not done before.
The whole to conclude with the appearance of a
SHADE, which will dance a hornpipe in a beautiful
dancing-room' as well as any master,
poors to be opened at 5, and the performance
to begin prcifely at 6 o'clock.
*,* Tickets to be had at Mr. North's, next door
to the theatre—Boxes may be taken at the fame place.
Boxes, ane dollar; pit, half a dollar ;gallery, three
Sths of a dollar.
Days of performance will be Tuesdays and Thurs
days.
To be Rented,
A Large Vault and Cellar,
That will contain 100 pipes, situate in Walnut
between Fourth and Fifth-ftreets. Also a COACH
HOUSE and STABLE, with Stalls for five h.orfes.
N. H. Goods Stored by the month.
Enquire of Benjamin W. Morris.
November 30. mwfti
FOR SALE, ~~
About 1,600 acres of Land,
WELL situated, laying on and between Marsh
and Beech Creeks, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in
four separate Patents. For terms of sale apply to
Wm. Blackburn,
No. 64, South S^cond-ftreet.
-jr. rtnvftf
Insurance Company ot North^Vnierica.
THF STOCKHOLDERS in ?re desired
to take notice that the second Tucfday in (being
the 10th dny of the month) is the day fixed by charter for
the f!e<stion of twenty-five DireiSors for the ensuing year.
Tic ck<3i(jn will he held at their office, and commence
o'clock, A.M.'
l hefubjeft >f the bye-laws of the Corporation will be
submitted to their cenfideration at this meeting.
EBENF.ZER HAZARD, Sec'ry*
Dec. 12. tthioj.
Opposite the State-Houf= Garden and Congrefj-
Hall; each Lot heing 45 feet front on Sixth-street,
and ijo feet deep to a 14 leet Court, v agreeable to a
plan which may be seen at the Coffee-Houfe or at the
office of Abraham Shoemaker, No. 114, So. Fourth
ftreet, where the terms will be made known.
December ; 6
New-England Rum y Salmon, Beef,
Chocolate, Rice, Boston mould and dipt Candles, a
few tjtarter-cafks of Sherry Wine, a few barrel? of
Cyder, and a few quintals of excellent T ible COD
FISH—for sale by
Ezekiel Hall,
No. 42, North Water-flreet.
December 14th, 1796.
CONGRESS OF tux UNITED STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, December 14.
Continuation as the delate on the address in atifwer
to the President's speech. ■
Mr. W. Smith observed that the supporters of the
present motion expreflcd their willingness to compli
ment the President, but seemed to with to take away
all the materials for doing so. They will not allow
h mto be complimented upon the prosperity of the
country, or upon its free and enlightened state, or up
on his wifdoni and patriotism, ( Mr. Giles laid he
had never denied the patriotism cf the Preiident ; he
believed him to be an honest aiVl patriotic man, but
denied the firmneis and wifdomof liis administration)
Mr. Smith, said the preftnt motion went to rtrike out
what related to the wisdom and patriotism of the Pre
sident's administration, but he was at a loss to dis
cover the difference between the wisdom and patrio
tism of thePreiidentindlh.it of his administration;
nor did he fee what gentlemen could fubftitvteas com
plimentary to the President in place of what was pro
posed to be struck out. The firit paragraph, he said
related to onr internal tranquility which was compar
ed to the state ot several of the European nations in
yolved in war. And why, he asked, 'should a foreign
nation be offended with us for Ipeaking of war ? It
ought hot to offend them, becaufewe rejoice that we
are at peace, and to appreciate the high value of such a
state it. was necessary to contrail it with the tniferies of
war. Had not, foreign nations, he rfced, held up this
country aa an example of wisdom in avoiding war ?
They had done so , and yetthis country was not in re
turn to refer to them. —With refpeil to the wisdom
and fortitude of the PrefideAt he wished gentlemen
would point out er.e (ingle aft, where those qualities
were wanting. It had been asserted that the adniinif
tration of the President had not been wife and firm as
it refj»e£ted our foreign relations ; but let it be remem
bered that the principal ground of complaint of the
French minister related to the conduit of Congreft and
not to the executive, and to afls of the executive func
tioned by Congress. llow then can gentlemen cast
the whole blame upon him, Therewas no a<St of the
President which had been offenfrve to the French na
tion, which had not been fandtioned by Congress, If
there was any blame, therefore, it fell upon them.
Mr. Smith instanced the a<S refpedtiug prizes, procla
mation of neutrality, icc. and hoped they should hear
no more of separating the President from the other
branches of the government, or. the government -from
the people.—The gentleman from Pennsylvania ( Mr.
Swanwick) said that Great JBritain and France tho't
themselves prosperous \ And what was the inference
he drew ? That if we call ourselves profpersus, they
will be offended by the Contrail. This could no be
the cafe ; foi* if these two nations thought themselves
prosperous, as he rcprefented them, they" would doubt
less be plcafed or laugh »t our folly in fuppoling them
otherwise. But he wondered how that gentleman
should have so greatly changed his opinion fincc tail
session. When'the British treaty wa# before them, he
mentioned the great increase of commerce and manu
factures which had taken place ; that they had out
grown themselves, as a boy, said he, outgrows his
cloaths : yet now gentleman will not allow the
prosperity of the country.
With refpeft to our being the freeft and most en
lightened nation in the world ; he wiftied gentle
men' would fperify the nation that was more so
He knew of none. He did not believe that any
nation enjoyed<hat civil & religiout freedom which
was the portion of the citizens of this country, or
that was so enlightened, particularly as to'what re
lated to affairs of government. If gentlemen knew
of any other nation so prosperous, he would a/k
them if they should be willing to change filiations
with such a nation ? he believed they would not.
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Giles) objected
to regret the President's from public life,
as there were many others who would fill the office
equally well with him. But he would arte, where
was the man who had so much of the people's con
fidence as he, and who could so well iafure an o6e
dience to the laws ? He believed there had been
fituationsin his Presidency, in which.no other man
could have steered the veflei of state through the
(hoals and quickfnndt with which it wat ftirrounded.
He mentioned the western infurreilion, the
business of the French minister Genet. Was it
not, he asked, to be regretted, that such a man
was about to leave the honorable (latioahe had fill
ed ? Gentlemen seemed to think, there was too
much of adulation in the answer.—Truth, he said,
could not be considered at adulation ; a»d let gen
tlemen point to any part us it, and fay, there is
no truth in this. If it wat founded in ta£t, it was
juflito express their gratitude to the man to whom
this country owed so much. He wished gentlemen
to advert to the rfdrefs presented to him on his
coming into office, and on hit re-election. riad he
done any thing to forfeit the refpeft then (hewn to
him ? What would be thought, he asked, if they
were to (Irike out that part of the answer now ob
jected t» ? It would be {aid to be not only witlihol
ding jjraife, but exhibiting him to reprehension.—
If struck out, and fomi cold, iinmeamog words
substituted in their place, it would convey to the
world an idea, that he had involved the country in
difficulties, destroyed public and private credit,
and been the eaufe of other mifehiefs, which had
been repreferted to exifi.
When this great man wat going forever to retire
from public life, it was expefled by the nation,
that they fhonld express their love, gratitude and
affeflion towards him. These fentimentt had been
expressed by every legifjature of the United States,
which had met since his retirement was announced.
Why, then, (aid he, should we alone be lilent" ?
Why fend him into reiiremcnt with daggers in his
heart ? He could not fee any reason for reprefling
feelings which lud been so generally.expressed.
It was objected to the answer, that it wished his
example might be the guide of his fueceffor ; but
he prayed, whoever he might be, that be might
follow his steps. Upon the whole, he said, there
might be an inaccuracy of exprtflion, a redundancy
of stile, but he did not believe thete was a sentiment
liable to objeAion. He hoped, therefore, the mo
tien to strike out would not prevail.
Mr. Dayton (the Speaker) said, that he did
not life to accept the challenge given by the gen
tleman who spoke last from Soutb-Carolina, and
to point out a nation more free and enlightened
than ourt, nor did he mean tocontcft thefaft of our's
being the freeft and most ealightsned in the work!
aa declared in the reported iJ.'rcfs, but he »«l tie
vertheleft of opinion that it did not become them
to make that declaration, and thu» to extol them
ftlves by a companion with and at the expence of
nil others. Although those words were in his view
obje&ionable, he was far from assenting to the mo
tion for Unking out the seven or eight lad chafes
of the address. The queilion of order having
been decided,. Mr. Dayton said he would remind
the committee that if they wished to retain or even
to amend any feftion or sentence of all that was
proposed to be (Iruck otft, they ought to give their
negative to this motion, as the only means of ac
complishing their purpose. It was fufficienl there
fore for those who wereoppofed to the queflion for
striking out the whole, to (hew that any part within
it ought to be preserved. Not unnecessarily to
wade time by lengthening the debates, he would
take the clause firft in order, and confine his re
marks to; that alone. This part of theaddfefs had
certainly not been read of hau been misunderstood
and mifrcprefented by tire member for Pennsylva
nia. Did it, Mr. D. alked, draw a comparison,
as had been suggested by that gentleman, between
the. relatively happy ft&te of tlie country in the
present and the year immediately preceding : Did
it go further than to fay that the situation of the
United l States was more profpeious at this period,
than at that, which immediately preceded the ope
ration of the present government ; certainly it did
not ; and were proofs necelTary to fubflantiate this
fa£l, or arguments wanted to enforce it ? The (late
of this country nnder this government was he said
that of order and union, their situation at tbif pe
riod alluded to was a melancholy scene of disunion
and diffoltition. This happy change was alcribed
and juflly ascribed in the report to our free and ex
cellent form of government, and the interposition
of an overruling Provideucc in our national affairs,
aeither of which, he trusted, a majority of that
house would be prepared to deny or dispute. . He
could not discern the least possibility of giving of
fence to other nations in contrafling the blessings
derived to this country from a ftatc ef peace wi'h
the calamity in which a fl*te of war involves those
who are so unhappy as to be engaged in it. The
cxprefiinns were such as could not be construed
either to impeach, or indeed to have any allusion to
the forms of government under which they lived.
If those forms weri such as belt suited the disposi
tion and circumltances of those who
them, and were bed calculated to render them hap
py, surely it must be admitted fhat war was not
less a calamity even to those the mod favorably
ciretimftanced in that refpett, and it could <oot
therefore be confidercd a refie&ion upon them to
call it so, nor to deprecate such a (late of things,
or to contrast it with that of peace which this coun
try was so happy as to enjoy. He had hoped, he
said, that the mover upon reviewing this clause
would have excluded it from his motion ; but, as
lie did Kot think proper to do so, Mr. Dayton
could fay with great confidence that a majority of
the honfe could not be faund to rife for ttriking
out a proposition which embraced the acknowledg
mant of a (late of good government as preferable
to disunion and anarchy, and a (late of peace as pre
ferable to that of war, and contained expreflions
of gratitude to Providence for an overruling care,
fignaHjr manifefted in our affairs.
Mr. Ames said, if any gentleman intended to
vote for the present motion, to strike out the whole
from an idea of adopting the amendment proposed
by the gentleman from S. Carolina, (Mr. Harper)
who offered a substitute, he would observe to them,
that he wished that influence to be done away, as
those who would strike out the whole, wanted no
fultirure. The two motions were opposite, and
the friends of the one ought to refill the other.
The gentleman who made the motion, had not done
so from any objetf ion he himfelf had to the origi
nal, but in order to accommodate dheia, It was
well known, that a committee as five members, of
very opposite politics to one another, had been ap
pointed to prepare a refpeftful address in answer to
the President's speech (here Mr. Amesrtad their
inltru&ions). As it was the duty of-the commit
tee to prepare a refpe&ful address, it might be
•matterof disapprobation, but not of fmprife, that
they had taken notice of the several fnhjefts touch
ed upon in the President's speech. It will not be
improper to notice, said he, that there was some
difference of opinion in the committee, with refpeft
to the woiding of that part ot the answer now
moved to be ftvnck out ; but from a convi&ion of
the delicacy of the fubjeft, and a desire to prtferve
inviolate that decorum which, he was sorry to re
mark, this debate had broken, such an accommo
dation took place, as met the approbation of every
member. They had therefore some reason ty hope,
while they regarded every membai's right to think
for himfelf, that it would have met with the ap
probation ot both fides of the honfe. For this rea
foa, except the sentiments should be found objec
tionable, he should wifli the address to be kept en
lire, rather than that the fubllitute proposed should
be introduced into it, as that would not have the
advantage of the fame agreement of the commit
tee, not could i. be f« maturely considered as the
teport which was before them ip print. He was
not disposed to go mto the detail of this discussion
From the unanimity of the committee, he mi"ht
indeed truly fay he did not expe&, and was unpre
paired for it, although he. thought he might depend
upon no other refour:es than the spontaneous emo
tions of the moment would supply, when he heard
gentlemen doubt the truth of the firft paragraph in
qnfftion. Still he#iofe rather to look for its defence
upon the general impreftion of obvious truth, than
to exhanfl himfelf by exhibiting it in detail. He
would refer to fads. If there was one voice in
America an any fubjeft, it was a confidence in the
constitution, and that the country had been exemp
ted from war, by the patriotism and wisdom of the
President. These were not sentiments they were
called upun to prove by vOHching documents and
fa£h : it wa* the fixed imprrffion that faSs had
left on the mind, on which be chose to rely. He
appealed for the truth of them to every heart, (-ex
cept that of # the gentleman from Virginia) who
did not tegret the retirement of the President. He
believed hit appeal would not be in rtin. But was
there a propriety in making such a dfclaration ?
He iv >uH briefly hqtn're info the nature of t!re se
veral obje&ions to the draft of the addreis. It had
been said, that it was neither natural nor becoming
to make comparisons between this country and Eu
rope—between the present government, and the tu.
multuous system which exiited prior to its inftitu.
tion. He appealed t» the fen(e and propriety of
every oni, whether thi» doctrine was hot Angular
as well a 9 extravagant ?
Was any thing more natural, than tW a man
in profpeaous cireumflances should increase hit hap.
pinefs by comparing his situation with those in a
less favorable (late ? The man who did not this,
left one half of the harvest of his happiness un
reaped. By this comparison, a spirit of thankful
nef9 was txci'ed towards the beneficent power who
beftowtd these bleflings. Some gentlemen may,
though it would be Itraßge, think differently on
this occalion, but he thought the sentiment both
natural and becoming. If even a man whnfe life
has not been greatly distinguished by hfs enjoy
ments, fees the fuffe-ings or the fliipwreck of others,
will it not be his duly habitually to thank Gad far
his blessings? But if he has been a fufferer
if he himielf has escaped fliipwreck or fire, will he
ftifle more refine'd sensations of grati*ude for the
advantages he does enjoy ? Or, if a man's neighbor
fuffer from fire, will he not feel thankful, that he
has escaped the calamity ? He cannot be thankful
enough for what he enjoys without adverting to the
calamities he has escaped. Nor di<s he conceive any
mote imprepriety in thus introducing gratitude,
than the introduction of it by clergymen into their
daily prayers.
But it had been fa?J, to contrail our country,
with others in a state of war, is difrefpeftful. If
that be really an objection, it might be easily ob
viated by adding " unhappily" after the word
" war." It would certainly be improper to exult
over the misfortunes of others; and the word un
happily would express that we deplore them ; but
when calamities did $xift, it was not improper to
rejoice that they were not our own. ' - ■
A gentleman had taken occasion toobferve, that
the cty of foreign influence had been founded thro'
the country. He should not be rudely explicit as
to the foundation there was for this cry ; butVhen'
it was once raised, the people would attend ta'fafts.
The world would judge between those who wished
to support the government and others. Mr. Ames
alluded to the factious spirit which foreign agent*
endeavored to flir up amongst the people of this
country. England he said had been outraged fyy
an appeal from government to the people, and par
liament addressed the king to fend an imperial en
voy out of their country, for interference with
their internal concerns; and yet a similar ipftance
had occurred, and met with no reprobation A
remarkable fact, and more of the fame kind ap
pear. We are at peace. But we mutt not call
ourfclves a free and enlightened people, left it
should be construed that other nations are not so.
This over-eau:ioufnefs, said he, may be the way to
aflert Ataierican dignity, but he did nol think so.
Foreign influence exitts, and is dilgraceful and
pernicious, when we dare not commend our c&nfti
tution, nor even thank God for its success in our
prayers* He did not think the French nation had
any reason to complain against this country. There
was not only no reason, they wanted even the co
lor of a pretext.
Mr. Ames referred to the words of the Prefi
detjt in his speech : •' Standing for the iaft time,"
See. He congratulated us that tfie experiment of
the form of government had so well fuweded. The
committee, he said. were charged to return a r«-
fpeftful address. The paragftph objected toy was
an appeal to facts. Whether the experiment had
been unfuecefsful or not, was to be determined.
He should think it had indeed failed, if he enter
tained all the opinions of gentlemen wh» had advo
cated this motion to ftrikc out—who denied the
prosperity of the country—reprobated its neutral
system—thought our principles tending to despot
ism—and the executive m?giftrate wanting in wif.
dom and firmnefs—that their miferiea originated in
banks and funding corruption. He should think a
republican constitution a chimera in its nature, and
a curfc in practice. But he entertained no opinion
of this kind. He believed this constitution had suc
ceeded remarkably well. If this was true, would
I it not be also ufeful to make the
! ever foreign nations might do? (for he did not
| much regard what they did.) And if the period
was come, that our government was brought into
'a peculiar Situation; if, in plain Eiighfh, we are
brought (as Mr. Giles alledges) to the eve -of a wsr
France, there was never a time when it was
more our duty, boldly and loudly to declare, wt
arc ready to meet them, to cling to our government,
and the more so, as it is villified by thejr agent,
and to-tay, 'we mean to support it against foreign
power asd foreign tnfults. This was was the time
to support our dignity with moderation—net to fay
that we defy you, but that we are Americans, and
neither-Freßch nor Englifa, This was the time, if
the facts stated by the |gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Giles) werefoanded, to (how our unanimity,
and not an appearance of imbecility and difeord.
Another thing occurred to him. It had been
said, that the Prefidcnt no doubt was an hoaeft
man and a patriot, but it was not believed he was a
wife man. "The gentleman frop Virginia confuJer
td his administration as neither wife nor'firm, but
his integrity as a private man he had no objection
agatnlt. If the committee were to make an ad
dress after this manner, the house has nothing to
fay with refpeft to your admmifl.ation ; except
that it is not firm, nor wife, and some of us iniitt
dilhoneft and treacherous, though we allow you
have had no hand in the iniquity, still we believe
you a wife and peaceful man, and /hould be glad to
addiefs yen as such. In one word, fjr, we are glad
you are going to live snugly in this an
address of refpeft or insult ? Was this the refpeft
to be /hewn to the firft man in the nation in the
world i There was not a word in tUe address which
did not accord with his fentimer.ts. He did not
believe with the gentleman from S. Carolina (Mr. •
Smith) the Piefideut *oulj carry with him to
retirement daggers in his heart, if that house refu.
fed to do him justice. He bears in his bread that
confcioufqefs of refthude, that armour which'