/ New Ihe at re.
The French Company's Night.
THIS EVENING, SATURDAY, January 14,
Will be preferred, by the French company,
A COMIC OPERA called
LA MRLOMANIE.
Dans Lequel Mons. Fieron, n'ayaat jamais paru fur
aucun Theatre, remplira le role du Melonianie.
The mufie by M. Champein.
Guronte, M. Fieron
Chrjfante, M. V'tellard
St. Real, M. Lavency
Crispin, M. St Marc
Elize, Mile Tejfeirt
Lifette, v Mile. Sophie
After which, A COMEDY in three adls, called
The Married Man.
Taken from Le Philofophie Mirie of M.. Deftauches,
by the aut'norefs of Every one has his Fanlt, &c.
and performing at the Hay-Market theatne, London,
with considerable appl^ufe.
Lord Lovemore, Mr. .Moreton
Sir John Claffick, Mr. Wignell
Mr. Clafiiek, Mr. Warren
Mr. Tradewell Classic Mr. Bates
Dorimont, Mr. Fox
William, Mr. Warrell, jun.
Lady Claffick, Miss L l EJfrange
Emily, Mrs. Francis
Lucy, Mrs. Harvey
Ta which will he tdded, by the French Company,
A Comic Opera, in one a<sl, called
Deux Petites Savoyards.
The mulic by M. Dateyrac.
Xe Seigneur,, M. St. Mare *
, Clermont, M. Poignand
Le Bailly, M. Viellurd
Jaqne, . M. Lavancey
Michel, Mile. TeJJiirc
Jofet, Mile. Sophie
' Box, One Dollar twentf-five cents. Pit one Dollar.
And Gallery, half a dollar.
gr Tickets to be had at 11. & P. Rice.'s flook-ftore,
No. 50 Higfr-ftroet, 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 oe taken at the OlEce in the
front of the theatre,'from 10 till a'o'clock, and from
10 till 4 on the days of performance.
Ladies and Gentlemen jtre requested to fend their
servants to keep places a quartor 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 to remain.
VIVAT RESPUBLICAI
College-Hall.
Readings and .Recitations,
Moral, Critical, and Entertaining.
Mr. FENNELt
Refpeilfully informs the Public, that
THIS EVENING, Saturday, Jam 14, at 7 o'clock,
Will be delivered,
( first part)
THE EFFECTS OF REVENGE,
Exemplified by feleftions from the
character of Zanga, Dr. Young
(second part)
THE PROGRESS OF JEALOUSY TRACED
In the character of Othello,. Shakespeare
During which will be recited
Othello's fpeecli to the Senate
The celebrated fc«ne with lago
Aad the most striking paflages during his paroxysm of
jealousy
(third part.)
THE EFFECTS OF JEALOUSY,
Exemplified in
Othello's fotiloquies before and after the murder of
Deidemena
Alonzo's soliloquies before and after the death of
Leonora
With critical observations on the authors.
Subscriptions are received by Mr.Zachariah Poulfon,
jun. at the Library, where the Ladies and Gentlemen
who may be inclined to honor the undertaking with
their patronage, are refpe&fully requeued to fend
their names and receive their tickets.
Occasional admiflion tickcts to be had of Mr. Poulfon,
Jun. at the Library ; atrar. M'Elwee*slooking-glafs-!lore,
No. 70, South Fourth-street ; and at Mr. Carey's, Book
eller, Market-ftrcet—Half a dollar each.
Mrs. Grattan
Refpeftfullv informs the Ladies and GentlemenAjf the
City, that the second
LADIES' CON CERT
Will be on TUESDAY NEXT, the 17th of January
it Mr. Oellers's Hotel,
ylcr I.
Grand Sinfonio, Haydn.
Holy Lord, Mrs. Grattan, Handel.
.Concerto Violin, Mr. JSHlingham
; i rk> and Chorus, Siege of * Belgrade, # Storace.
J4ct 11.
Concerto in Bb. Mrs. Grattan, Doflek.
Ah non fai, Mrs. Grattan, Sarti.
Quartett, V - Pleyel.
Grand Chorus pirate, Storace
.*'.[* 'jHie Concert to begin at hilf fix ; and at
half past eight; the music will attend for the Bali.
Mrs. Grattan begs leave to inform the Ladies and
Gentlemen, that the fubfcriptfoH-took is at h<fr house
No 39, North 'Sixth-flreet, for the reception of those
names who wish to honOr her with their commands. —
A fubfcriptioo for eight nights 16 dollars, including a
Gentleman and Lady's ticket, both taansferrable—
Half-fubferiptions 8 dollars, including cne ticket.—
Single ticket » dollars. ■ . ' '
Mrs. Grattan takes the liberty of requeftiiig the
fubferibtr* to lend for their tickets any day after
Thursday, the 15th of December, at Ne. 39, North
Sixrh-ftreet.
Single tickets to be had the day of the Concert
only. \at the Bar of Mr.. Oellers's Hotel.
Bank of .the United States,
January 2nd, 1 797.
The Directors have this day declared a Dividend of
Sixteen Dollars -on each Share for the lait fix (months,
which will be paid t» the StockhoMers after the Izth
i/sftant. G. SIMPSON, Caihicr.
Department of State,
. December 19, 1796.
Sir, ,•
BY the dire&ion of the President of the United
Statei, I have the honor to inclose a report of the
Dire&or of the Mint, lujjgelting the expediency of
some alterations in its establishment, to render it
less expensive to the public, mure accommo
dating to dipofitors. The report is accompanied
with statements of ihe gold, filvei and eoppercoins,
iflued from the Mint, from its commencement to
the 24th of the lift month, accounts of the gold
and silver bullion, which has been deposited, and
an account of wattage, and a deficit in the silver
coinage, which require an appropriation of two
thousand eight hundred and twenty dollars and
seventy one cents, to reimburse depositors.
I am, with great refpedt,
Sir,
Your moil obedient servant,
TIMOTHY PICKERING.
The SpEAKER,'of the House of"l
Representatives of the >
United States. j
Mint of the Unitfd States,
November 29, 1796.
Sir,
I HAVE the honor of inclosing for the Prefi
dent of the United States, my report on the
State of the Mint, with the abttra&s referred to
therein.
With sentiments of esteem and refpeft,
1 remain,
Sir,
Your most obedient, and very
humble servant,
. ' ELIAS BOUBINOT.
To the Secretary of State.
* —
The Director of the Mint of the United States,
refpettfu'.ly reports to the President of the United
Statfesori the (late of the Mint—
THAT during the experience of twelve months,
he has turned his attention (as far at has been i»
hispowe ) to the inilitution under his care. He
has seen, with regret, an opinion generally pre
vailing, that the eftablilhment is Hu-neceflarily ex
pensive, and less produ&ive than was rationally
txpe&ed by its advocates and friends.
The Director finding forne foundation for the
charge, has endeavoured to discover the cause, as
nothing appears in the general nature of the mfti
tution, to warrant the idea.
The ifTue of the enquiry is, that the extraordi
nary expeaces attending the Mint, are, in a great
meafnre, owing to its original plan and the prin
ciples 01 \rhich it was etiablifhed. Among others,
the whole coinage, including the refinement of the
precious metals, was directed by law to be executed
at the public expence, the depolitor being fully
indemnified ftom all charges whatever : On this
principle, not only the cliginal cost of the works,
and the falariet of the stated officers, fall en the
public ; birt also the whole amount of the work
manship, with the alloy, waftagc and contingent
sxpences.
The want of experimental knowledge in the
bufir.efs, at the Srft establishment of the Mint,
prevented any tolerable precise estimate of the cx
pences necefferily process; but soon
after the commencement of the Kwfinefa, it was
found impracticable to proceed with propriety,
unless an addition was made to the elhblilhment by
the appointment of a melter and refiner.
This important and neceflary officer, is not
krmwn in foreign Mints, as the p-ecious metals are
. there gen«rally deposited of the proper ftaadard, or
above it ; er they are purchased by the Mint, and !
become public property; there being profefiional
refiners and independent of the Mint, vvhofe business
it is to purify metals under standard ; but there
being 110 such artiils in this city who follow the
. business, it became indispensably neceflary to Exe
cute this service in the Mint.
This circumllance was not forefeen, or if fore
feen, was considered as included in the duties of
t the aflayer ; but the neceflKTy of so .essential aeheck j
1 on that officer, forbad this meaiure, had it been
1 othefwife practicable. This added eonfiderably to
' the annual expences of the Minr.
Formerly the Director' could not make any
' charge .for this process, aefcinft depositors ; the
! whole expence therefore fell 09 the public. Thus
on assaying one dopofit of about 96,000 oz. of lilver
bullion, it turned out near 24,0010 oz. under stand
ard; to refine which, it coli the United States
. upwards of 5001. so that the depositor peally gained
that sum, by bringing his bullion t<j the Mint.
This operated very unequally among the depelitois.
The citizen who brought bullion in this debased
' state, to the Mint, received a3 much co'in for the
standard silver therein, as h- whose bullion was
previously refined equal to the standard, and ready
. for coining at a very trifling expend.
Again—The inftit'utioa of the mint, without
any appropriation of capital, either to purchase
the precious metals in bullian, and anticipate psy
ments dueon deposits, or to coin for the public,
has been another caufc of considerable expence.
. Depending upon depositors alone for the precious
metals.it became neceflary for their encouragement
t and iatisfaflion to coin every depefit as soon as pof
, fible after it tame into the treasury of the mint, to
; prevent its remaining unproductive to the deposit*
s or ; by which mems the clippings and grains were
. obliged to be -melted and coined as they arose, of
-1 ten th'ee or four times for one deposit.
Tints the melting, refining and coihing one de
pcfit oi 20c oz. of silver, or 20 oz. of gold, would
cost the public as much as near 1000 oz. of either,
and a much cteater proportional wattage ; whereas
l | could the bullion be purchased foi the public at the
market price, and kept in the vaults till a large
t ; quantity might be coined at once, or a capital of
about ten thousand dollars be flowed to the mint,
so as to anticipate the payments to depositors,
without being obliged to an immediate coinage on
f every occasion, a very gieat public saving would
take place, not only as to the wastage, but in the
expenditure of the materials and labor used in the
process, oiid no injury done to the United- States,
bat mtlifloan of the tnuaey fur s (Wt time. In
a word, the drfferance would be qnuch the fame, as
between the wholel'ale merchant and the hiickfter.
This measure would also have a tendency to fix
the jTiice of bullion, and indemnify the public for
fomt-part ttf the expence v of coinage. The only
qucftion that would arile t3, whether, on the prin
ciple of economy, it would be a prudent measure
on the part of government ? Stippofe the exptnees
of coinage, incluJing wattage, tobe fixed at three
per centum to the depositor, while in foreign coun
tties'it colts nothing. The consequence would be,
that bullion in America, might vary its (.rice three
per cent, according to the balance of trade ; while
bullion in those ct-untries must be supposed invaria
ble in its pric*", let the balance »f trade (land at it
will. BulHim then, in those countries will always
be at the highest price it ever can be at in America,
since it is the price of coin { but in America it may
be three per cent. lower. If theiefore the.United
States, by coining, free of all expense, contribute
to keep the price of bullion higher than it is in
countries where the coinage is paid for, a volunta
ry expent-e is.created, of which there Gaii be no
jull rcafon to complain.
A representation of some of these difficulties,
with the dangerous fituatioH of the mint, for want
of protesting laws to fecurs the inliruments of
coinage, the metals and the cois, as also to prevent
counterfeits, has been heretofore jnade by the *01-
cersof the mint, without little other fuccels (.ban
a rcl'olution of Congress, enabling the dire&oMo
retain the cxpifnce of refining the precious metals
under (iandard ; but the waltage, alloy and coin
age, are (till dead charges on the public treasury.
While therefore this policy, on the whole, is
considered as beneficial to the United States, the
complaint againtt the mint for if* heavv -expences
to the public, are without solid foundation, as it
is impoffiblc to carry on an inflitution of this na-
under these eircuinftancet, and which requires
from 15 to 29 workmen and laborers to attend it,
without great expence. Add to this, that the al
loy of silver and copper, with the loss by neceflary
waltpge, must unavoidably rife to a coniiderable
annual amount.
But these and ether difficulties
attending an Infant inilitution, the late
great advance in the prices of materials and labor,
the aggregate expeoces of are greatly re
duced, either from the superior knowledge of the
persons employed, gained by experience, or frjom
new arrangements found to be more advantageous
than those made on the spur of the occasion. This
will appear mure evident, by a view of the pre
greffive reduction of the contingent expences in
the quarterly accounts rendered into the treasury
department, and it is hoped that there will be a
farther prbgreft in this dcfirable economy.
When theprefent diredtor entered upon the ad
ministration as the mint, there was no appropria
tion of money for the purchase of copper , for the
coinage of-cents. This he clearly fortfaw would
prove a fourceof farther expence, by often leaving
the workmen without employ. He made applica
tion to Congress by their eommittce, on (his fub
jett ; but all that was obtained was thirteen thou
sand dollars, which was coined into cents, and re
turned into the public treasury, or remitted for the
purchase of copper, before the rising of Congress
the latt spring. No farther appropriation was
made, till it was too late to procure the#rtecefTary
irr.poitaiton of copper for the I'ummer'i coinage,
whereby much time has been loft, and foms consi
derable expence of workmen has been added to the
fummsr's account.
It is now hoped, from the present arrangement,
no such inconvenience will "arise hereafter; but a
continual and ample supply as copper coinage be
produced adequate to the public wants.
As the laws relative to ihe Mint now ftartd, the of
ficers are obliged to pay to each depositor the coins,
aritingfrem hit deposit, fn ftri<st order, and to reserve
three pieces of coin trern each nufs ; yet no appropri
ation has been made to replace the reserves, or to make
good the waftape ; it is therefore impossible for the
officer* of the Mint to conjpiy with .he law j and the
depositors cjjmplain of being kept out of their property,
till provision is made ry Congrtfiifor their relief.
By a number of new half johannes brought ,to the
Mini for afiayiirg, said to have been coined in the Uni
ted States, it appears that J coinage for that purpose is
carried on in fomc slate in the Union, Some as these
are found to be under standard in their quality, and
between two and threepenny-weights less than their
true weight. These are fatfs which the Director
thinks it his duty tocommunicatcto the President.
From the various experiments made since the estab
lishment of the Mint, it is found unnecessary to make
ufc of silver in alloying oi gold, unless it is for the pur
pc£-of beautifying the coin; in which cafa it (hoald
be composed at the proportion of one-third silver to
two thirds copper.
By the following abilraft of the bullion and coin re
ceived and issued from the Mint,-fince its firft eltablifh
rntnt, may be fee.-,, as well the nature of the deposits
mad;, as the coins returned to the Trcjfurer, and the
dates of the receipts a£d issues to this day, with the
amount of the copper coinage.
From this it appears, that there is due for wastage.
during that period, the quantity of fifteen hundred and
ninety-nine ounces, fixtcen penny-weigkis and fifteen
grains, of silver, equal to eighteen hundred and forty
five dollars, ninety-five cents and five mills ; besides a
(icfirit of eight hirndred Jltid forty four ounces, fereu
teen penny-weights and five grains of silver, equal to
n'me hundred aild seventy-sour dollars, feventy-five
centiand sue mills; making in the whole two thou
faiid eight hundred and twenty dollars and l'eventy one
cents ; for which an appropriation ought to be made by
law to fatisfy a deficient deposit.
The Director thinks it neceflary to-mention, in ex
culpation of the former officer* of the Mint, that by a
report made on this l"ubje&, it appears that there is yet
conliderable quantity of old pots arid telt bottoms,
from which it it expefled (hat Nearly the amount of the
deficient silver, as stated above. will be extracted.
ELIAS BOUDINOT.
Miilt of the United States,
29th November, 1796.
Denomination and value of Coins, issued from' the
Mint of the Unitetl States, from the commencement
of the eltablifhment, to Nov. 24, 1796.
?c-5 Eagles, i2,r06 Half Eagles, 66 quar
ter Eagles, Value 146,445 Dollars
Silvlr.— 271,941 Dollars, 323,144 Half Dollars,
5 594 Quarter Dollars, 22,135 Difmes, 96,646 Half
Difmes, Value 443,032 Dollars, 30 Cents.
C0p.ptR.—4,040,753 Cents, 258,014 Half Cents,
Value 21,697 Dollars, 40 Cents,
There has lyen deposited at the Mint (for coinage)
frarrt the commencement of the ellablilli.aent to .N.v
14th, 1797 —10,670 aunces, 10 penny-weights ami 13
grains of golchbaHiwn, gross weigtic; being 9,837 oun
ces a»d 14 grains, flandai'd weight—and offiiver bul
lion, 416,89 a ounces and 1$ p«nriy weights grol'j
weight; being 40i,j0» ounces and 19 penny-weight*,
standard weight. t
m —
CONGRESS OF the UNITED STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Tuesday, January 3.
Mr. Bwigjst Foftcr, from the committee of
claims, made rep ;on the petition* of Jame*
Betts, John Day, William Caldwell atid John arid
Elizabeth London, which were againfl the petiti
oners, were twice read, and concurred in by the
house.
Mr. Coit, from the committee to whom it was
referred to report their opinion on the equity and
expediency of extending the allowance made to
the reprefrptatives of soldiers in the late army,
whi* were fiyn by the enemy, to the reprefentativet
of those who died in the service, reported that no
confideratios ef expediency or equity would jufti
fj or require the extealiou contemplated in the re
ference.
Petitions were presented fiom John Stadles, Wil
liam Brown, and William Mackay, for compenfa*
tion fdr tbeir services during the war, vvhic'h were
severally referred to the committee o£ claims.
Mr. Swanwick, from the committee of cem
merce and manufa&sres, made reports on the pe
titions of John Jewel, Lewis H. Guirlame, Willi
am Uftick, jun. and for the remif
fios of duties 011 merchandize destroyed by the late
fire at New York, which were to this effect that
it wonld be introducing- a dangerous piinciple to
the the United States, to grant relief
in cases of this kind, which were more the obje£t»
of private i.ifurance, than of public contribution."
The prayers of the petitioners therefore rejec
ted. The house soncurred. Mr. Swanwick, from
the sams committee, also repo<ud ea the petitiou
of Jeremiah Cecil, and others, pilots within the
Chefapeak bay, praying that a law rpijjlit be palled
to regulate uniformly the conduct ef pilots through
out the United States, that though they did not
conceive it necefiary at present to pass a law to re
gulate thecondud of pilots throughout the Union,
they thought it would be ufeful to pass a law for
the regulation of the conduit of pilots in the \ya-t
ters of the Chrfapeak, and recommended a refulu.-
tion to that effeit, which was agreed to, and refer
red baek to the committee to bring in a bill.*
Mr. Swanwick also reported on the petition of
Bartholomew Satazen, a fufferer by fire at Cape-
Francoi§ t that, during the prefrnt- negociation
witW the French republic, no ileps could be taken
with refpeft to this and other petitioners to the
fame efleft. The prayer was therefore recommen
ded not to be granted, and the house concurred.
Mr. Grifwold, from the committee to whom was
referred the petition of Amos Ayles, prayiug to
be put 111 poflrflion of certain lan'Js to which he
profeffes te have a claim, made a report. The re
port was againll the petitioner ; but, upon motion
of Mr. G. Jackfen, who was of opinion tha peti
tioner was entitled to the lands in queflion, Slid that
if a little given he could prove it to'the
fatisfa£hon of the house, the decision upon the re
port was poltponed to the firft Monday in Februa
ry-
On motion of Mr. Swanwick, so much of the
report of the committee of commerce and manu
fa&ures as related to the petition of Aaron Shef
field, on the ground of hew evidence being recei
ved, was re-committed to that committee.
The #rder of the day, on the report of the
committee of ways and means on the fubje£t of cer
tain balances due from individual Hates to the Uni
ted States, was entered upon, and a very h»ng de
bate took place. After several attempts to get the
business postponed, which were the house
went into a committee of the whole on 'he resolu
tions as reported ; ?M, after so we debate, the
committee rose, and obtained leave to lit again.
Mr. Parker, from the committee appointed t©
wait upon the Picfider.t of the United States with
the resolution calling for information refpeaingthe
treaty with the dey and regency of Algiers, re
ported, that they had waited upon the President ac
cording to appoint mtr,t r and had received an an
swer according to this effed : » That the President
« f the United Stales, before he had heard of the
rtfolutioß, had direfled the papers to be made out,
and that when ready he would direst them to be
fenl to the house of reprefearatives."
Mr. Harper said, that a report had been made
by thi secretary of the treasury during the last frf.
fionof abatement of the internal Tevenue of the
United Stares, with an account of the collection of,
expence* &c- He said it was a mere temporary
order, but, as it was desirable information, he
thought it would be well for the house to be fur
nilhed with a similar statement tfy«iy feflion, he
proposed a resolution to that efTed, which was a
greed to.
Mr. W. Smith from the committee of ways and
means, made a report on the provilion nec«fl"ary
for improving and effedtiallv fkcuring the internal
revenue#, recommending the abolifliiug of the tax
upon spirits, in certain cases, and laying it upon
the Hills according to their Capacity.
Mr. S. from the lame committee, also reported,
that having taken into contideration the jfubjed „f
railing farther revSHue, and the report of the fe-
T.kYfi the trC f fury thereo "' thc y nx-oinmend.
Ed the following dired taxes, viz.
A tax ad valorem on all lands with their im
provemants, with ecrtain exceptions, including
town lots, «•
Ditto on slaves, with certain exceptions.
The leport was twice read, and atler foVne ep
pofinon ,0 the day as being to» early , rora M r.
Craik, who w.fhed to confylt l^ s confidents on
this bufanefs, it. was made the o;der for Monday
next. '
Mr, Blount laid a resolution on the table for the
pm-pofe of making some alterations in a law whick
relpected the importation of goods into Noith-Ca
toima. Adjourned.