Gazette of the United States, & Philadelphia daily advertiser. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1796-1800, December 28, 1796, Image 2

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    New Theatre.
For the Benefit of the Unhappy
Sufferers
By the late fire at Savannah,
THIS EVENING, Wednesday, Deccmbw »8,
"Will be presented,
A COMED"t, is four ails, called
The Child of Nature. v
front the French of Madam Genlis, by the authtrefs
of Every one hat his Fanlt.
Marquis of Alminia, Mr. Wignell
Count Valantia, Mr. Mureton .
Duke Murcia, Mr. Warren
Seville, ' Mr. Warrell
Greaada, Mr. W'etrrell, jun.
jft Peafaat, Mr. Copper
id Peafint, Mitchell
Marckidaeft Meridi, Mrs. Morris
Amanthis, Mrs. Merry
End of th« Comedy (for the fecontl time) a new
Ballet Dance, eompofed by mr. Byrne, called
The BOUQUET.
11l which will be introduced the favorite
TAMBOURINE DANCE.
The-priacipal parts by mr. and mrs. Byrne, mr. War
rcll, jun. and miss Milboarne.
To which will be added,
A COMIC OPERA, in 2 afls, (written by the au
thor of the Poor called
The Agreeable Surprise.
Sir Felix Friendly, Mr. Warren
Compton, Mr. Darley
Eugene, Mr. Darley, jan.
Chicane, Mr. Warrell
John, Mr. Warrell, jup.
Thomas, Mr. Mitchell
Farmer Stump, Mr. A organ
Cudden, Mr. Bltftt
Lingo, (firft time) Mr. Moreton
Laura, Mrs. Oldmixon
Mrs. Cheshire, Mrs. L'EJlrange
Cowslip, Mrs. Warrell
Fringe, Mrs. Harvey
0" On Friday
The Wheel of Fortune;
To which will be added,
A celebrated OPERA,
By the FRENCH COMPANY «f COME
DIANS,
Called,
La Melomanie,
Or, /
MUSICAL MANIA.
There will be no performance on Saturday aext
•n account of the preparations for some new pieces for
the ensuing week.
jgj" Box, One Dollar twenty-five cents. Pit one' Dollar.
And Gsllerjr, half a dollar.
Tickets to be had at H. & P. Rice's tSoak-ftore,
No. j® High-street, and at the Office adjoining the
Theatre.
Places for the Boxesto be taken at the Office in the
front of th<) theatre, from is till 1 o'clo«k, and from
Ic till 4 on the days of performance.
Ladies and Gentlemen are requfftcd to fend their
fervanta to keep places a quarter before 5 o'clock, and
to order them, as soon as the company are seated, to
withdraw, as they cannot on any account be permit
ted t* remain.
riVA T RES PUB LICA !
College-HalL
Readings and Recitations,
Moral, Critical 9 and Entertaining.
Mr. FENNEL! >
■RefpedUully informs the Public, that
On THURSDAY EVENING, December 19, at 7
o'Jlock, will be repeated
An ExriANATour Ad»ress.
After which will be reeited an Allegorical Poenj, in
three.parts, called
The CAVE or NATURE;
Or, A Pifiure of the Virtues, Vices, and Pafliens,
of the Haman Mind.
Oecafional admiffien tiekets to be had of Mr. Poulfoa,
Jan. at the Library j at mr: M'Elwee's looking-glass-store,
No. 70, South Fourth-street j and at Mr. Carey's, Book
seller, Market-street.
This Evening, the 28 th inft.
A* 6 o'clock in the evening, will be fold at 'public
auction, (if not before disposed of at private falc)
at the City-Tavern,
All that capital mansion-house, llables, out-houfes, &c.
and three contignoustra>ftsof land situate on the Welt-fide
of Schuylkill ia the township of Blockley and county of
Philadelphia, generally known by the name of Lanfdown,
containing 199 acres I»i perches more or Ids and a messu
age plantation and trad of land in Blockley town (hip a
forofaid adjoining Lanfdown, containing 64 acres one
perch.
The premises are f» well known as to need no particular
•defctiption. Few feats in America can compare with
Lanfdown for convenience and elegance; it commands a
•variety of rich beautiful profpefts and is remarkably heal
thy. Terms affile will be made known by
PHILIP NICKLIN, -) Attoraies in
\ fad to
ROBERT E.GRIFFITH, j James Creenlcaf.
Ttrrtory of the United Statej, N. W. of the Ohio.
Tdrnir (
V. > Foreign attachment.
Parkke. j
Notice is hereby given,
To JOSEPH PARKER, late of Kalkalkia in the (now)
county of Randolph, in the aforefaid, Mer
chant, that in pursuance of the laWs of the Territory in
that cafe provided, a foreign attachment hath issued out of
the county court of common pleas of the said county,
against the lands and ten err ects, goods, chattels and ef
fects, rights and credits of the said fofeph Parker, at the
suit ol George Turner, Esquire ; and that unless the said
Joseph Parker appear hy himfclf, or Attorney, to give
special bail to l'uch suit, judgment hy default will be en
tered against him, at the court to be held in and for the
said county, neit, after the expiration of twelve months
from this date ; and the estate or elt ares so attached, will
be fold for the faii,fact ion of all creditors, who fliall ap
pear to be justly intitled to a demand thereon, and shall
apply for that purpose. Dated at Kalk*fkia, aforefaid,
this twenty-ninth of March, 1796.
JOHN RICE JONES, Attorney for Plaintiff.
| CONGRESS oe ran UNITED STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESEtTrATIVPJ.
\_Dekatc on the Militia Bill continued
Monday, December 19.
Mr. Baldwin was id favor of striking out the
feftion ; but if gentlemen thought it was deciding
upon an important principle too hastily, he had no
ebjedtion to its lying over for the present. "it might
be recolledted that this was one of the firtt great
objedts which engaged the attention of the present
government ; it was then discussed very fully, and
a long and intelligent report had been made on the
fubjedt from the military department. It was at
that time thought best not to decide hastily ; but
to lay'the plan befpre the people that the public
opinion of the system might be ascertained. He
thought that opinion now fully appeared to be a
gainst the measure ; they seemed to think the plan
would be a laborious,expenfive operation, not worth
pursuing. He thefabjedt warnow called
up to fee whether they were prepared to determine
upon the principle. He acknowledged that he was
ready to vote against it; if other gentkmen were
not, the fnbjeft might be postponed. He believed
the plan not worth pursuing, and that some other
plan, perhaps the old one, might be so improved
as to atrfwer the end in view. He understood the
mover meant the house to determine only upon the
principle ; he should vote for striking oat the "firft
fe&ion for the reasons he had given.
Mr. Rutherford said that thegentleman who had
gone before him, had so narrowed the ground he
meant to have taken, that he had little left to fay.
He believed the government, of the United States
had nothing to do with the militia of .the individual
foveteign Hates ; this was the opinion of nine
tenths of the people. The condiiution was ex
press, it fays : when the militia is called in'oa&wal
service, they shall be under the dire&ion of
the general government. But, until that take
place, the different dates have the command of their
own children—their own families. If, said he, the
United States, continue to grasp and go so far,
they will defeat the end in view ; for, said he, as
soon as individual states arc told they are unequal
to their own business, all is over. For if a farmer,
said he, obtrudes his authority over his foil, after
he has entered upon a farm 011 his own account, and
fruftrates all his plans, no good, but probably much
ill, will arise fiom this officionfnefs. So it is, said
he, betwixt the Union and her children, the states.
With refpedt to the diftridt he represented, they
wanted no new regulations as to their militia laws.
The law proposed, indeed, would go to cross out
all the exertions of the individual states ; and he
hoped nothing farther would be done in t' at house
on the fubjeft, than to recommend it to the several
states to revise their militia laws, and to put their
militia in the heft possible state of defencc.
Mr. Sitgreaves differed in opinion wi'ih the jentle
man from Ge6rgia ( Mr. Baldwin) that lhe business
might be postponed without inconvenience. He hop
ed the decision would not he delayed. He had his
doubts on the ftrbjed ; but it was defirible that a de
termination should be had, beCause those Hates which
considered their systems as defe&ive, waited to fee
what Congress would do. He knew this was particu
larly the ease withrefpeft to the state of Pennsylvania,
and therefore he wiflied the fubjedt to hive an end.
Understanding, however, that this plan had undergone
, much consideration, and was not likely to be fuccefs
ful, he should not fay any thing more on the fubjeft.
Mi. Harper said he wished noi unneceffarilv to pro
tradl the bulinefs, but he did not think' it fhn'uld be so
lightly difpeneed with. It had been the labour of two
committees in two successive feffiens, which confided
of men well versed in military concerns,&who had seen
the defers of; the present system ; he thought, there
fore, that a hill which had been formed with so much
labour and attention, ought not to be kicked out of the
house with so little ceremony. He wished gentlemen
to fay what they wowld ■ give them in exchange for
this bill. It waseafy to make objedlions, but a fubfti
twte should be offered. Mr. H. again condemned the
present system. The gentleman from Georgia had
said the public voice was against this measure. He
wished to know how this had been tolledted ? the pub
lic voice, as far as he had heard it, ( and he had had
an opportunity of.hearing.it from one end of the con
tinent to th'e other ) was dire&ly the contrary —for
all seemed to condemn the present system.
The Gentleman from Ne\v-Jerfey (Mr.<lend<frfon)
had complained that is would throw the military bur
den unequally upon the citizens He believed the
contrary would be the cafe, as every man in the course
of his life would be called upou to perform his ftiare
of service. That gentleman had spoken of certain
persons being exempted from service. The bill con
tained no such exemption ; nothing but inability
couid exempt a man from service. The age fixed up
on was a period of life before men generally enter
ed into business ; and everyone passing through this
military discipline, would diffufe military habits and
discipline through the union, and form a nation of sold
iers ready to defend theircountry whenever it 6 necessi
ty should call them. Not, he said, that the rich man
should be exempted, but that all men, without excep
tion, should be equally liable. So that every citizen
would become a soldier, without which a free govern
ment could not be fspported.
It had been said, if this bill were to pass, it
would derange all the present military eftabliftiment.
It would do no such thing, but would be engrafted
upon it. They were also told that volunteer corps
had equipped themselves at great expence. This
( he did not approve, because the public defence,
which should be general, fell upon volunteer corps
who might be more rich or more patriotie than
1 others. He hoped, therefore, the motion to strike
out would not pass. ,
Mr. W. Lyman observed that the gentleman
who condemned the present system in toto, allow
ed that it was pradticabl* in some parts of the uni
on, so that it could net be quite fobad as he repre
sented it. JHe believed it was capablc of improve
ment. The greatest objedlion to the system now
in force was, that it did not fall equally upon all
classes; il an improvement was made in it,' in this
refpeft, one of the greatest obje&iens to it would
be removed. In every free nation, the citizens
must be ready to defend their country when in dan
ger from attacks from without, or diftur'oances from
within j but if the principle of a fcletS corps ,was
introdueed, you introduce a diftindt principle, which
wii! war against the other part* of the system. In
a military point of view, it was impcllible he laid,
to carry tliis principle into operation, for the mo
ment you introduce it, you will have no other corpi.
He differed from -the gentlenian from S. Carolina
(Mr. Harper) ih speaking of the opinion of the
people on the bill proposed ; he believed they were
wholly diffatisfisd witiyit. Before this bill was re
committed, he would propose amendments to other
parts of it. ,
Mr. Hartley faijl there were several new mem
bers in the had not beeo prtfent at the
former dificuffions of thisfubjedfc ; and he thought
it best not to hurry the bufißefs, but to give a little
time for these gentlemen to make themselves ac
quainted with thi fubjedl. If they now agreed to
strike oat the firft fedlion, it would put an end to
the plan proposed. He believed the feledt corps
proposed was not a new thing ; there was such an
establishment in Switzerland, and such a corps had
frequently been under consideration in the date of
Pcnnfylvania ; but the .greatest objection to it was,
the great number of confcientkias. people in that
date irho refufe to bear arms. The people of the
| Eastern dates, he fair], were araied befote this go
vernment was eredted ; but this was not the cafe in
; Pennsylvania and in the South This feleft corps,
he said, ilverc to be anne<Tat the public expence }if
! this difficulty wasgot over, he thought there would
be few left. He suggested the propriety of the
committee's riling, in order to give time for consi
deration of the fubjedt. For his own part, he
should vote for it.
Mr. Gilbert hoped the committee would rife ;
for he believed this fubjedt had not been discussed
daring this csngrefs, and many members were, of
course, unacquainted with the business.
The motion for the committee's rising was pot
and carried 37 to 31.
Mr. Livingflon said that there had been a com
mittee appointed last session on the fubjedl of im-.
proving the penal"code ; but for want of some ne
ceffiry information, no report had been made.
That information being now arrived, and doubting
not, the house was still desirous of ameliorating the
penal code, he should beg to lay the following re
solution an the table.
" Resolved, that a committee be appointed to en,
quire whcther,any and what alterations are neceffa
ryra the penal laws of the United States, and that
they report by bill or otherwise." Agreed.
Mr. Galiatin presented a petition from Stephen
Moylan, of this city, commissioner of loans, pray
ing for an increase of salary.
Mr. Gallatin obtained leave of absence for ten
days. ,
Mr. A. Foster, from the committee of enrolled
bills, reported that the bill for the more effedtual
promulgation of the laws of the United States, was
truly enrolled, and it received the signature of the
speaker accordingly.
Mr. Harper enquired if it would he in order; to
move that the committee of the whole be difcharg
cd from a farther consideration of the militia bill ;
and, on being informed it was in order,, he moved
that it be so* thw purpose of recommit
ting it to a feleS; committee. His ohjedt was that
the bill might, be so modified as to ltand a better
chance of passing ; because if this was not done,
and feftion was determined to be struck
out, the plan would be loft, which he thought of
great importance.
After fable obje&ions urged against the motion
by Mr. W. Smith, Mr. Hartley, Mr. W. Lyman,
Mr. Kiteheli and Mr. Heath, and 10 favour of it
by Mr. Harper and Mr. Craik, it was put and
loft.
Mr. Heath said, owing to a want of fufficient
energy in the revenue laws of the United States,
conhderable films of money had been loft by reve
nue officers, as was feCn by the report from the
treasury department. He thought it possible for
the laws to be so amended as to prevent fiinilar de
falcations in future. For that purpose he wifiied
the following refoltition to lie on the table:
" Resolved, that a committee be appointed to
enquire whether any and what alterations ire necef
firy to enfoicc the payment of money due from
shevarioL-t revenue.cffi«sis of the United States."
Agreed. Adjourned.
Mr. H'Hliamt's obfcrvaiious on the Militia- E * .
Mr. Williams kid, a well regulated militia must
be acknowledged as the best support in a free re
public ; and as every man tfuft be intended in car
tying into effect such a fydem, it became us to pay
every possible attention to this very importp.nt fub
jea. He thought the present fyttem very excep
tionable ; and the one proposed and now under
consideration, appeared to him compulsive; arbitra
ry, and not agreeable to the spirit of a republican
government. The annual encampments would be
very expensive and injurious to morals and industry.
Ihe regiments thus composed would extend over
a great furface, and would want that compad* so
lidity which military corps should possess. In the
bill, all (except those exempted) between 20 and
25 yeats of age, are to do duty. This was -a pe
riod, he fatd, that the ,purcft morals ought to be
inculcated in youth, inilead of which we might
reasonably expect that a greater part of therawJuM
in confequet.ce of their being encamped, imbibe
immoral principles, which would be exceedingly
difficult to remove. Besides, this is a period that
young men take upon themselves an adiive part in
life, ard begin the world for themselves.
As the claufc now flood, the public must be at
a very great expence, such as in our present cir
cuir.fti.nces, we arc unable to "bear. To agree to
the firft claUse would be legislating in the dark, as
it was impoflible to know what number of citizens
there were within that age," ana of course we can
not form an eftimateof the expenees. If such a
system was to take place, he said, we ought to have
been furnifhcd wi.h the number as near as circum
stances would admit. But as a gentleman observed
the other day, that before gentlemen negatived ihc
present mode, they would do well to propose a bet
ter, Mr. W. said, he was of that a le
gionary system would not only preferable to
the one under consideration, but more
ble to the minds of the people ; fully as client,
and would call but for little aid from the public.
A legion, he said, was the moil efficient corps
in every point of ticw. A fele& legion might ea
fily fce fomed from every I rigade of militia, agree
ably to a certain rule of appui uuiiittciu which fhouldi
be fixed by law. Mod brigades could form o>te
troop of horse, one company ot artillery and a l„t
----talioti of infaatry. The regiments which compose
jhis brigade of reserved militia lhould be divided
ints infantry, cavalry and artillery slaflcs. Tbcfe
claflVs (hould be determined by lot, or by the ar
rangement of the commandant of the brigade. li
vely regiment fiiould furmfli a certain proportion
of infantry, matrofles and cavalry. The clafiea
lhould be obliged to furnifh the men for these corps
completely equipped with arms and accoutrement*,
with a military hat or cap, with a coatee, ano a
pair of overalls. The classes which furnifhed these
legionary soldiers to be exempted from the prelent
military regnlstions. They shall be denominated
the Reserved Corps, and (hall ouly meet on die
regimental parade once in tkreo years, to be in.
fpedted and to recruit the legion.. The cla/Frs, iq
cafe of desertion or expulsion, fhquld be obligaieil,
by pecuttiary penalties, t» replace the man wnode.
fens or is expelled.—lf the classes refute to raise
the men diredted by law, or the by-ordits of a tu
perior officer, every individual of luah cl«U» fholtid
be fined with severity.
The teim of the legionary enlistment to be for
years. During their service in tkc legim
they might be exempted from all works on the ruad
—from all civil duties as jurors, and from pet tonal
tax. Every three years of service to be dittin
guifhed by some honorary badge, and that period
of service to exempt the legtorftry soldier from ail
military duties except when the country was in dau-
S er - . ' -
The legionary soldier, when his time expires, to
receive a military dipUma, expressive of nis pairi.
otifm and-attachment to law and oidet.— Xhe le
gionary cavalry and infantry to be iilfpeCted and
exercised fn squads convenient to their ,retidence
times in the year by the legionary adjutant,
who fhquld be liberally-rewarded >»y govammeiit fur
Ltvmiiitary ferviccs. The artilieiy ifruuld be «u>
camped days, and fhcuia e excrcifed and
infpeited by some able -aitiiiery officer ia each di
vilion. This service to coafilt in practical experi
ments, and government (hould provide fur this ex
pence. This corps to be entitled to a ftipcuomy
in point, of pay, and military honor.
The legion* of each fiate to be mfpe&ed yearly
by the adjutant-general of each Hate, whole ranlc
and emoluments tliould be lefpeitabie. lie lhould
make yearly repoits of the legionary corps, 01 the
legionary adjutants, and of the defetls of the law,
to the commander in chief of the hate, and to the
secretary of war. He should be refponfibl* fur the
good appearance and difcipliitt of the legion, and
therefore e.very legionary adjutant fboulei oe recom.
mended or appointed by him. The firft iay the
artillery (hould be infpedted, the ficond day Hie ca
valry, the third day the infantry, and trie tourtli
day the legion fhoHid be exercised in mock engage
ments. The officers and soldiers of the legW to
receive a compensation for less of time.
In older to accompiifh an uniformity in arms, go
vernment might furnifh them, and ctiArge them'to
the classes at firft colt. He believed molt of the
Rates could furiiifh the legion with arms.
The legion fhouid bear the nam. of the county or
brigade diflriA, and should oc ofliccit'd iu the nrii
firft inftaoce from the prelent officers of the uinim.
The brigadier-general of the refeiveu corps
always command the legion, and fupei lor encourage
ment fhouid be given to the noii-commiliione«l offi
cers. The brigadier-general to be relpoufiiile lor
the raising of the legion, to apportion the rtquifi
tion to each regiment, and the commandant or each
regiment to apportion the regimental reqrtifition to
each company. Any negiedt or drfobedtcncTVtf or
ders to be puniflied with levcrity.
~ The penalties of neii-atteNdance and other offen
ces would defervc consideration. - He believed no
system would be efficient, if Jthe fines were ndt giv
(ii to the officers commanding the companies, (or
i their use and equipment, and no fyltem will be so
just as to determine every species of guilt by a court
martial.
The court members (hoold receive the fame fay
as if on any other duty. *
the legion was colledted, to be fubjedl to
the articles of war, except as to corporal p&nilli--
mcnt. If would be belt tu arrange a fyflom tor the
*gk»i, ft om the annual reports of the adjutant-ge
neral to the secretary of war, who (hould report
annually the defedts of the law. '
Mr. Williatns said, it appcarsd to him that there
was a certain proportion of out citizens better cal.
eclated and more disposed for military duty than o
ihers. The principles here laid down would give
them an opportunity to distinguish themselves ac
cording to their genius; but in the clause in the
bill before them, all were to be considered as form
ing the militia, let tiieir genius or abilities be ever
so much at variance with the service. Of what use
could it be, said Mr. W. to discipline men who dif
liked the service? In his opinion, itwas only a lofl
of time.
Mr. W. concluded by faying, that he had throw®
these ideas together, and fubmilted them to the
consideration of the house. They appear to hint
to obviate many objrftions which had been urged
against the bill .before tltm, and to remedy exilting
evils. The house would perhaps think differently ;
it 10, they would of conrfe rrjedt them. He fliould
at all events vote for ftrikipg out the firft of
the bill before them.
For the Gazette of the United Sutcs.
Mr. Fbnno,
I HAVE jutt returned from a rational and ele.
R- nt entertainment, in which taiy feelings have been
f- overpowered with enjoyment, that lam impcl
'♦ to express the delighttuf impreffiens I received,
and which ltill remain upon my miad. I Attended
this evening, with a numerous and refptdtable au
diencej at Mr. Fennell's jfiift " moral, critical, and
entertaining reading," delivered in the Hall of the
University, km til thecommon exprftationof enter
tainment, which nsvelty generally excites ; but
those expeftatfons were so greatly exceeded by the
varied, exquifitc, and refined pleasure, which, with
the reft of the audience, 1 received, in the coutfe