NEW Trit 3 TRE.
THE M»a»gcs deem it tbcji t© info'm the
Public. *h»t he tntcMnnmrn i 6' the Theitrr are un
avoidably fn(p-nri f d 'till Mftid'y ncx', m conlequence
•f i|»r tfnfottunttf indi'pofiuon <sf Mr. Moxtiow,
the imuricMi* deftftion o( Mr foot** ( and the un
p*?rcd*nted. peicmyory refufal of Mr. Finnili
to ptifoim the ehaiiQer twite announced for him.<Of ,
the fi'-ft c ntlcman the Mangers millcwr fpetk i» ,
t.rros ot acknowledgment, approbation ant * f rie,, «*
ftito. for that uniform exertion in hi» ptoldSon
+ bich has at once advanced the intereils of V drama ,
and justly rendered him a favorite of i's patoni. On
M'-. 0«t>«' s condadt, thev esn make no r-mark « |
this lime, ««the vi«'atio» of his contrast is the fubj«t
of a fuis, now depending in theSunreme Coort: and
in relation to Mr. Frn»ei:, they are content, *t pref
eot, 10 r.hferve, that, independent,of the sood faith
whirk engiprments ought to infptre, the. liberali
ty that he has hjthe-teexptneitced fiom the managers,
s> well as from the public, had na ura!ly taifed an ex
peftatioa, that he wnnld not u»f»ra>efully have taken
td-antige of the e«tftinj#ate ofth- Theatre, either to
eicbarrals tne former, or to obftrutt the amulemenu of
(he Tatter •
The Managers, having thus refpci&folly rcpre
fenttd the re*l cause of the poftpenemeiat of
their Entertainments (an event equally unexpeft
ed and prejudicial) cannot avoid adverting to
the difficulty of executing, with universal appro
bation, so ardupas a talk as that which they have
undertaken j but they folemnlydeelare that in every
department of their duty towards the public, and
in all their trat fad ions with the performer, their
incefftnt effyrt-has been to give fatisfadion ; and
■ndrr this declaration they »nxioofly hops that they
fball experienop favor and
terpretation of their eo«du<S, and a spirit of mu
tual accommodation.
WKJNELL V REINAGLB.
February 10.
Proposals for Publishing
A n«w Commercial Work in the City of
Philadelphia, to be entitled
The Philadelphia Price-Current,
A N D
Nmutichl Recorder.
rb TH.S PUBLIC.
THE Subscriber having been erigag
ed in carrying on a publication in Boilon
under the title ef the " B'Jlon frit* Current, ar.d
Marine Intelligencer /' a work, for utility and ex
tent of circulation, equal perhaps to any publica
tion ef the kind in Europe or America, is now
induced to risque an attempt to publifti a flmilar
paper under the patronage of the citizens of Phi
ladelphia. He Brakes rhe attempt from a perlua
fion that a publication for general benefit, and re
tentive information, will receive as much support
from the liberal minds of the merchants and others
cf this city, as places of less opulence in th-Uni
ted States—and although little immediate bene6t
ftiould rcfuit to the citizens lrom such a publica
tion. yet it prevent idea abroad which
fotr.e have ioduftrioufly circulated, that the trade
of this extenfiv city was on the decline, and ccr
tratf ed into so narrow a sphere that it *ould not
support a Price Current.
1 he general anxiety that prevails in the com
mute ial world at this critical period, renders a
work of tjir Kind particularly ufeful a*d naceffiry
—Nor can the utility be doubted, when it is con
ildered how cxtcn/ive the trade and particularly
the infuranec are afFe&cd in'thlicjty.—A sarefu 1
pHpiication of the failing and arrival of.v«ffcl« in
different part* of the world—advice from veflels
ft*—accidents happening; in and out of port, —
are ever circnmftances that ought to be known by
the merchant and underwriter, and one kforma
tion ct thi6 Jsipd may save more than the coll of a
hundred paper# through liiV The Editor engag
es to use his utmost endeavors to mike it honora
ble and.profitable to himfelf, fenfiblc that it can
b« done only by making it acceptable to his patrons.
Thi* publication wilicontain, ageneral PriceCur
fenf ofallartides ofimpoitation&eiportation,with
the duties on irtiportntion, in this City,
and Boston—Foreign Price Currents, in general ;
to obtain which the various European publications
will be procured, particwUrly thtfe of London,"
ol, Bristol, Hamburgh, 6cc. —all arrivals
and clearinces in the principal ports In America,
and every article cf nautical information which
csn in any manner he ufeful or interefling to mer
chants in general ttwill likewise contain Prices
of Stacks in the different parts, of the United States,
eorre&ed by eminent Brokers—Custom hou£c im
portations— Law, Arrets and Decrees ot commer
cial tendency, &c. &c.
••nditions.
jft. To be printed <vith a new type, on goodpaper
of a large crown size, and contain 4 pages folio
id. It will be publifned twice a week, and deliv
ered to fubferibers in the city early on the morn
ings of publication, and forwarded to those out
of the city with the greatest expedition and care.
3d. The price will be four dollars per annum ; pay
able, one dollar on rhe delivery of the firli
number; one dollar at the expiration of three
months and th residue at the end of the year
4th. Subfcril ers for the work in any other place
than the city, to pay one half yeai* fubfeription
money.
sth. The work to begin as fooo as five hundred
fubferibers arc procured, of which notice will
be given.
Subfeription papers will be placed in the
various public offices, &c. aird lent in the course of
the week, to the citizens in general, for thair pat
ronage. JOSEPH N. RUSSELL.
PoVuary to. tuf&m.U
New To-k 'January 24> .*798-
PROPOSALS
By Arondt Van Hook,
Froj ; *or of the Rfj»< njr Roo*i ;
For Publishing by Subfsription,
An Appeal to Impartial Posterity,
Br Madame Roland ;
Wife of ihe Miniifer of the Interior in France.
CONDITIONS.
These fearce ix,d very valuableHiftorical Mr
moirs, (which ran through two Lordor. edi
tion! in a few monthi,) will be comprifad i« »
vols. OiSlavo, of 4CC pag« each.
They will fce printed rn fine p»per and a new
type, and delivered to Subfcriters, neatly bound
ind lettered, at I dollar and jo eenta per vr.l
ume—-one third of the Subscription money tobe
paid rn delivery of the firft volume—the*rt
maindrr when tie work iscompleat.
To Trintera, Bookfellet?, and others, who
acquire Subscriptions, the usual allowance will
be made.
Subfcriptiens are taken at the Ueading-
Room, No. 149, Water ftreef— the Printing
office, 14,, Pearl-fire»t —and at the different
Beoklioret in New-Y»rk - Also, by William
Young, corner < f Serorvd and Chefnyt flreet, nd
the Editor cftffe Ga«(le of the United States.
Philadelphia.
, As soon at a fufficient number of Sul lcriberi
are obtained, the work will be put to preft, ard
(otnpleated with the uttioft difpstch.
Feb. 10. eoflam
Twenty Dollars Reward,
FCR taVirg up a runaway fcrvant Girk named
Abigail Miller, latt- riy calling herfclf Dctfey
Smith, and fending her toNorth Front-ftrcet, No
>he is of a chonky make, and v»ry dark
complexion, with round features, and black bufny
hair; pr«bahly n.uch altered by pairt and pow
deri, as ihe is luppofed to }e fc creted in houses of
ill fame, though no more tijan fifteen years of age.
etbtmzry 19. co2w
CONGRESS. J
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 1
V
WEDNESDAY —FEBRUARY 21.
■ < Mr VtnV.li, from the committee to whom was
referred tht amendm nt> of tha tenate to tk< bill ,
appropriating a (uu> of mouey for holding a treaty '
with the !nd;'tnt, their title to land is I
the (late of Tenacffea ot North Carolina, nade a J
report, recommtsiding an agreement to all the a- 3
mendments, except oat, to which they recom
mended a dlfagrctmeat. The amendments agreed C
to related to Jlriking out the dates of Tcuacfiee
and North Carolina, leaving the diredien to eke
Pr fident of the Uaited States, in general terms to t
hold sack treaty or treaties with the Indians (with- (
eat mentioning any particular tribo) as he Ihall
think proper. The amcridaoent which the com
mittee recommended to be diifented from, was in '
the following words : v t
" Provided nothing contained, in this aft stall J
be conflrued to admit an oblipa'ion on the part of
the United States to extingailh for the benefit of
any Nate, or individual citixen, Indian claims to 1
any ljnds lying withia the ttrriUry of tha United *
States." !
This ameldniFHt produced a debate which lifted [
the greater part of the day. It was opposed
by Mifirs. W. Claibornr, Nicholas, Venable, 8. 1
Smi'h, R Williams M'Bowcll, Oallatia, and
Macoa, on the ground of its being a new thing to '
iatrodace such a clause iato a biM of this kiad ; I
that the bill was compete without it, and tkat to
agree to this amendment would amount to adeni J
al of the claim againd the United States of the pt
titieners from the state of Tenref-e and Otht rs,to *
an extinguilhmeut ef the Indian title to their lands,
wLich they were fitisfied was well founded, and a c
denial of which wruld be eqaally unjail aad im- (
politic ; that it would be bell to kt this qaeflion
remain untouched for the present, leaving it to
the President to afl it he (hall fee proper ; as if c
the petitioners and others had » cki r, the amend- 1
mcnt proposed eouldnot take it away ; it could
therefore, have no other cfifeil than a bad one, sit ,
might, an.l it was believed would be considered as a
declaration igiinfl all pcrfons who had claims cf :
this kind agsiinlt the Un'ted States ; that the per- '
sons who would be affeclcd by such a dedaraticn
were very numerous; that those who had been t
drivm from off their lands in the state of Tenacf a
fee, and who had in e »fe<iuence exi erienctri the ,
greatest difirefs, might he induced, fromadefpair
of redrrfs, to go over to the Spanish territory, or J
iufift upon holdidg their lands in dcfiaace of the
late treaty with the Cherokee Indians; that the t
former alteraitive was by do means defiralile, but
the latter might involve the Uaited States in a iVar
with ih, Indiaas.
This amendment of thethe Senate was advo- ?
cated by Mcffra. Sitgrcaves, N. Smith, Uaiper, f
Sewall, Gordon, Otis, and Dana, as nccefl'ary \
to eflablifh the principle upon which the law t
was paffrd. The bvifinefs originared, they flat-
td, upon a memorial froaa the inhabitants of
Ter#eiTee, « h<Te claims for rcdrefs agaiaft the
United States, had always been advocatei upon
the gtotiod of jufiice; whereas it was believed i
,hat the pre f cnt bill hafi been agreed to upon the
ground of policy, by the greiter part of t.' ofe 1
who vo'ed fnr it. It was Heceffary, therefore, (
to introduce a daufe of this kind, to ihew upon
w'l at ground the law did pass, otherwise it might
hereafter be infilled that the law was predicatad
upon a convidlion of the jufiiee of ike claims of J
'hefe aitizens upon the United States, which it
was prefumed,*"ne house were neither prepared
it prefcnt, to admit n r deny. They wjlhed '•
this queftiAn undecided, and denied that
his clause which was introduced for that pwr
pof*, could be condrued as a declaration agaiuft
tha right of t e claimants to' redrafs from the '
((overnaient of the United States. It was in- '
tended, and could only be so considered, as a 1
saving rlaiife against eonfequences which might i
be attempted to be drawn from the law, and .
whieh it was not intended to provide for.
The Yeas and Nays being called for upon the
■ ellion of concurring with the felafl commit- '
;ee i* their djfagreement to this amendment 1
from the Senate, thrv were 'aken at follow : '
r E A s.
Meflrs. Baldwin, Baird, Benton, Blount, i
Bryant, Burgess, Cabell, W. Claiborne,
Clay, Clopton, Davis, Dawfon, Elmen- i
dors, Findley. Fowler, N. Freeman, Gal- >
latin, Gillefpie, Grove, Harrifon, Havens,
Holmes, fonts, Livitigfton, Locke, Lyon,
Machir, Macon, M'Clenachan, M'Dowell,
Nicholas, I* Parker, Rvtt
kdge, Skinner, S. Smith, W. Smith,
Stanford, Sumpter, A. Trigg, J. Trigg,
Varnnm, Venable, R. Williams.—46.
NAYS.
Meflrs. Allen, Baer, Bartlett, Bayard,
Brookes, Buliock, Champlin, Chapman,
Cochran, Coit, Craik, Dana, Dent, E
vans, A. Tofter, D. Foster, Glenn, Good
rich. Gordon, Gregg, Grifwold, Hanna,
Harp, r, Hartley, Heifter, Hindman, Hol
mer, Irniiy, Kittera, Lyman, Matthews,
Morrjs, Otis, Reed, Schureman, Sewall,
Shepard, Sinnicklon, Sitgreaven, N. Smith,
Sfiraguc, Thatcher, Thomas, Thompson,
Tillinghaft, Van Alen, Wadfwortb, J.
Williams.—4B.
The report of the feleft committee hay
ing been negatived, the question was now u
pon agreeing to the amendment itfelf.
Mr. Bayard moved to amend the amend
ment, by linking out the word territory and
inserting the words " limits of the United
States," which moiion was carried 47 to 41.
The question on the amendment was then
put and carried 47 to 46.
Mr. S. Smith called up for decision the
resolution which he laid upoa the table the
other day, for obtaining from the colleflors
of the fevtral ports of the United States a
statement of veflels captured or detained fcy
foreign ■ nations, belonging to the Uuitcd
States since the id July, 1795.
Mr. J. Williams doubted whether the col
lectors could give the information required.
Mr. S. Smith believed they could. The
Senate he said. had adopted a resolution of
a fimiiar purport with this, but he did not
think it fufficiently particular, which was
the reason of his introducing this.
Mr. Gordon did not fee any neceflity for
adupting this rtfolution, since the Senate
had already pafled one of a fimiiar tendency.
Mr. Thatcher was in favour of the re
solution ; butdidnetthink it went farenough
back.
Mr. J. William* moved to ftrikc out the
ift July, 1795, in order to '"krt "f">"the
ratif taticn of the Britijh Treaty."
Mr. S. Smith thought the ift July, 1795
a proper period ; but if the gentleman fram
' Maflachufetts would bring forward a propo
'f fition to have aftatement from the commerce
ment of the European war, he should not ob
jett to !{. Many attempts had heretofore
been obtain a correft lift sf .captures
but it had never been cJFcfted. The lalf fef- I
Con an imperfeft account was laid before the
house collefted from newspapers ; he belie
ved the ceurfe now proposed would produce
more fatisfaftian than had yet been «.btained
on this head.
Mr. Thatcher moved that the statement
should commence from the ill •of Oftober,
1792, when neutral vefTels were firft. ltopped
in the ports of England, a period which whs
a few months previous to the breaking ,out
of the war betwixt France and England.
Mr. S- Smith consented to this alteration
Mr. Harper moved to ftriTte out the ift
of Oftober 1792, for the purpose of inser
ting " from the ratification ef the Briti/h
treaty." He did not fee why the House
(hould a(k for a long- (lory of captures since
the year The iibjeft required wis* a
simple one, and lay within a much narrower
eoripaf-j. Tt was merely to obtain a come
parative ftatenient ofcapturesmadeby Franc
and England within a certain period. To
take the account so far back, would only
serve te ret-®i the enquiry, without being
of any real uft. •
The question was put on this amendment
and negatived, there being only *3 voted in
favor of it.
The question then recurred on the resolu
tion as amended by Mr. Thatcher's piopo
iition.
Mr. Allen moved to add, " and so
cause." He did not know that the propof
ed enquiry, could be of any other use than
to fatisfy curiosity ; but", if any part of it
could be of use, he thought it would be
well to have the cause of capture afiigned.
Mr. Otis hoped this amendment would
not obtain, as it would be very puzzling,
indeed, to know for what cause our vessels
had been despoiled and captured.
Mr. J. Williams said, if it were
to distinguish betwixt fa.r and illicit traders
amongst the captures, he should be glad;
but he feared this objeft could not be accom
plished.
Mr. Sitgreaves remarked, that thongh
the colleftors could not in all cases, give J'.n
answer to this enquiry, they might in some.
Indeed, be did not know that they tould
give the other information required, any
more than .this, as he knew no mode by
which they coyid get pofTeffion of it. If 1
they could not answer this enquiry, it would
be easy for them to fay so. He hoped,
therefore, it would be agreed to.
The motion was put and negatived, there
being only 26 votes in favour of is.
The question was then taken on the reso
lution, and carried, there being 58 votes in
favour of it. Adjourned. ■
—— 1 ■ ' MIWWMIW— *
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.
House of Representatives.
February to. _
Mr. Leib presented a petition from a
number of the inhabitants of that part of the
Northern Liberties, lying between Vine
ftreet and Pegg's-run, and the river Dela
ware and Sixth street, prayißg to be incor
porated.
Also, one from the managers and trustees
of the school, near the Rifiug Sun tavern in
the Northern Liberties, praying the grant
of fix hundred dollars, to enable them to
complete the house for the accommodation
of the said institution.
Mr. Everly presented a petitionfrom Hen
ry Frayly, ftatiag that there are balances
due him from the counties of Lancaster,
Berks, Northampton and Montgomery, for
drums, fifes and colours, furnifhed the mil
itia of said counfies, and praying relief.
The committee to whom was referred the
petitions relative to the poor of Delaware
county, reported in favour of the petition
ers.
A report in favour of the petition of Ed
mund Milne, was read, and ordered to lie
on the table.
A report upon the petition of a number
of the inhabitants of York county, praying
for a division of the fame; in favour thereof
was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
The bill for railing by lattery a sum to
defray the expences of erefting a fchool
houfe in the Township of New-Hanover, in
the connty of Montgomery, was considered
by paragraphs, and ordered for a third r«a
ding.
The bill entitled, " An aft extending the
powers of the Judges of the Supreme court
of common Pleas,"' was considered and or
dered* for a third reading. Adjourned.
February 12.
Mr. Sterret prefentcd a petition from a
number of the inhabitants of Mifflin county
praying pecusiary aid to Dickenfon college,
which was read, and ordered to lie on the
table. •
Mr. W. Maclay presented a petition
from a number of the inhabitants of Dau
phin county, of a similar tenor to the above
mentioned petition, which was read, and
ordered to lie on the table.
Mr. Bonnett presented a petition from
a number of the inhabitants of Bedford
county, of a similar tenor to the last men
tioned petition, which was read, and order
ed to lie on the table.
Mr. Leib presented a petition from John
Bioren and Patrick Madan, accompanied
with a cofiy of their proposals for printing
the laws of this commonwealth, and praying
that a number of copies of the said work be
fubferibed to for the use o£.the state, which
was read.
1 Mr. Kelly presented a petition from a
number of the inhabitants of the common
wealth, stating that the aft to declare and
regulate efcheata, is defeftive, and praying
that a supplement may be pasTed to remedy
the said defefts, which was read.
1 Mr. Wain presented a petition from a
- number of the citizens of Philadelphia,
- praying that the law would be made more
- efifeftual for the prevention of vice and im
e morality* which was read and referred to
the members of the city, with inftruftions
to report by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Preston prefentcd a petition from s
Philip Thomas, Hating thnt he 1
and proceeded to improve a traftof land on <
Conewago Creek in Allegheny county, but
before he had completed the said improve- i
ment according to law, liis good intentions I
were arretted by the lpfs of his fight, -which
he fears will endanger his legal claim to the i
said land, and therefore prays relief, which
was r<ad.
The committee to whom was referred the
bill, entitled "An aft to enable the G«»vcr- '
nor of this commonwealth to incorporate a '
company for making an artificial road from 1
}het;ity of Philadelphii through German- <
town by the of Chcfnut-Hill to the 1
twelve-mile ftoiTC on the Reading road, and
thence to Reading, is the county cf Berks." '
reported a bill of a similar title, which was i
ruad the firft time.
The committee to whom was referred, the
9th inft. the petition of Benjamin Kerr,
praying leave to ereft a mill-dam in the Al
legheny river, made report in favour of the
petitioner.
The committee to whom.was referred, Ja
nuary 15th inft. the report of the commit
tee on the petition of Matthias Pinyard,. ta
ken from the files of the late house, report
ed a bill, entitled " A supplement to the
aft establishing an explicit fee bill," which
waj read the firft time.
Mr. Sterrett read in his place, a bill, en
titled " An aft to establish a ferry over the
Juniata river, opposite Mifflir.burgh, in the
counfy of Mifflin, and veiling the right in
James Taylor ar.d James Sanderfo.i their
heirs and assigns," which was read the firft
time.
Ordered, That Monday next be assigned
for the second reading of the bill, entitled
" An aft to regulate the general eleftions
'within this commonwealhs," and that it be |
the order for that day.
The bill entitled •' An aft for railing by
way of lottery a sum not exceeding five hun
dred doflars to be applied to, the defraying
the expences of treftiurj a school house iu
the township of New Hanover, in the coun
ty of Montgomery," was read the third
time and agreed to.
The bfll entitled " An aft to grant a sum
of money to the trustees of thr academy i
and free school of Bucks county," was read
the third time, and agreed to.
The bill entitled " An aft to enable the
owners and pofleffors of Bristol-Island mea
dows, in the township of Brrflol and coun
ty of Bu.ks, to keep the banks, dams,
sluices and flood-gates in repair, and to raise
a fund to defray the expences thereof," was
agreed to-
The bill entitled " An a<3 extending the
powers of the judges of the fupfrcme court
and common pleas," was read the third time
and patted with amendments.
The house resumed the consideration of
the report of the committee, to whom was
referred the petition of a number of the in
habitants of Northampton county, praying
for a division of the said county, postponed
January 30th last. And the resolution there
in contained was adopted-
Ordered, That the committee who bro't
in the report, be a committee for the pur
pose exprefled in the said resolution.
Adjourned-
February 13.
Mr. Watson presented a petition from a
number ef the inhabitants of Bucks county
praying that the law for the prevention of
vice and immorality, may be made more ef
feftnnl. Referred to a fpeeial committee of
five members.
Mr. S. Maclay presented petitions from a
number of the inhabitants of this Hate,
praying fur the removal of the feat of go
vernment. Laid on the table.
The petition frorn-a number of the inhab
itants of Berks county, praying pecuniary
aid to remove the ebftruftions to the naviga
tion of the rivtr Schuylkill, was read a se
cond time, and referred to a fpeeial com
mittee, to report thereon.
Mr. Philfon presented a petition from a
number of the inhabitants of the townJhip
of Londonderry, in Bedford county, piay
ing that the said township may be annexed
to the county of Somerset. Referred to
the members from the counties of Bedford
aod Somerset.
Tfie committee on the petition of a num
ber of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, pray
ing that the pra&ice of usury may be reg
ulated, reported a bill, entitled " an aft for
the prevention of usury," whiah was made
the order jef the day for Wedncfday the 2jft
inft.
An aft for the incorporation of the con
gregation of the protestant episcopal church
of St. John, ki YVeft-Ci»J'o in the county
ef Chester, was reported, read and made
the order of the day for Saturday next.
Mr. Evans moved that a committee be
appointed to join a committee of the senate
to infpeft thj general accounts of the bank
of Pennfvlvania, in order to ascertain the a -
msuit of it's capital stock, of the debts
due, of the money deposited, of the notes
in circulation, and the cash in hand, and re
port-generally. Laid on the table.
The report on the petition of Edmund
Milne, \Vas read a second time, and the re-1
solution therein contained adopted.
Ordered that the committee who brought
in the report be a committee for the pur
pose exprefTed in the said resolution.
The bill for'incorporating the society for
the relief of distressed pilots, &c. was a
dopted, together with the' amendments made
: thereto by the Senate.
The bill for defraYJ n g the expance of sur
veying five trafts of land granted to Corn
planter, a chief of the Seneca nation, to
gether with the amendment of the Senate,
was concurred in.
1 The ccmm ttee of the whole reported
, progress in the bill for repairing and main
taining the public reads, and begged leave
to lit again, which, was refufed.
1 Adjoursed.
February 14.
Mr. Hendricks presented a pciii'uri fro»
a number of the inhabitants of Wtftmorr
land county, praying pecuniary aid to Dick
enfon college. Laid on the table.
Mr. Key» prtfented a prtition from the
inhabitants of Donegal and Mountjoy town
fliips, in the county of Lancaster, praying
an alteration in of holding their
elcftions. Referred to the members from
L?ncafter county.
Mr. Morn presented a petifion from tht
President, managers and company, far the
erefti«n of a bridge over the Delaware, at,
the borough of Eafton, praying for leave
to raise the sum of 12,500 dollars by way
of lottery, for the completion of the said
bridge. Referred to a fptcial committee.
The committee appointed, reported a bill
to amtnd and perpetuate the aft for extend
ing th» powers of the justices of the peace
within this ftatt, which was laid on the ta
ble.
A bilfwas reported aiithorifing th» clerks
of the refpeftive markets in the Northern
Liberties, to regulate the weights, &c. and
afligned for Saturday, the 24th inft.
Two bills were received from the senate.
The committee appointed on the petition
of John Bioren and Patrick Madnn, pray
ing the patronage of the state to an iptend*
ed edition of the laws of Pennsylvania, re
ported a resolution to appoint a committee
to bring in a bill conformable to the prayer
of the petitioners.
The committee on the Petition of Eliza
beth Rankin, reported in favour of the pe
titioner.
The committee appointed for the purpose
reported a bill granting a sum of money to
the truflees of Difckenfon colh ge.
The committee appointed to take into
confederation that pait of the governor's
addiefs which refpefts the Wyoming con
troversy, made report, recommending the
appointment of commiflioners to repair to
the county of Luzerne, in order to view and
determine the refpeftive claims therein.—
Made the order of the day for Wrdnefday
neyt.
Mr. Lieb moved, that a committee be
appointed to enquire into the propriety of
repealing the law against lotteries.—Laid on
the table.
Other bills, as reported by refpeftive
committees, were disposed of, and the
house. Adjourned.
The following petition is now before the
Legiflatuie of this Comro o"nwealth.
To the Senate and House of Reprrfentativej
of'the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in
General AJfcmbly.
The Memorial and Petition of sundry in
habitants of the borough and county o£
Lancaster,
Respecttullt Shew:
THAT your memorialists deem it; not
only expedient for the interests of this com*
pnonwealth, but ftriftly roafonable' that a
participation in the advantages refnlting
from the exportation of the products* of this
state to foreign countries, should not be fa
cilitated to the inhabitants of another state,
to the matiifeft injury of. our own export
trade; and, more efpeeially, whilst the le
gislature of such other state, declines to
concur with that of Pennsylvania, in open
ing the long contemplated canamunicatipn
between th« navigable waters of both Hates.
That, although this populous and fertile
state poflefies only one sea-port town, the
waters of the river Sufquehanna pursue a
course of many hundred miles through the
heart of the country ; and, by itsinterlock
ings with other boatable waters, as well as
by means of the turnpike road froqi tie bo
rough of Lancaster to Philadelphia, the
communication between the interior country
and that capital seaport is rendered cafy and
commodious.
That the town of Columbia, at Wright's
Ferry, on Sufquehanna, will, by,its favor
able position (independently of other town#
above it, on the fame waters) become a
very convenient mart and place of depot, for
the river trade, tending to the mutual ben
efit of the agricultural and commercial in
ter eft s of Pennsylvania in general.
That, with an obvious reference to those
important interests, the Legislature of Pent
fylvania, by au aft passed the 9th of Mareh
1771, declared the river Sufquehanna, "Jts
far down as IVrigbt's Ferry," to be a pufe
lia stream and highway, for the purposes «f
navigation up and down the fame, and the
measures since carried into effeft, nndtr the
fanftion of the Legislature, for improving
the navigation of that river, above thV town
of Columbia, have greatly contributed to
facilitate an intercourse cf trade between the
northern and western parts of the state an!
the port of Philadelphia.
That your memorialists conceive the gen
eral prosperity of Pennsylvania, lefpefting
not only its foreign trade, but its agriculture
and manufa&ures, to be in a very considera
ble degree dependent on the promoting fucli
a reciprocity of these several iuterefts among
its citizens, as may yield to the state the
greatest advantages which can be derived
from an union of those refonrces. Unde*
this imprelfion, your memorialists liave no<
ticed with concern, meafiwes pursued by
pcrlorts not acting under any public authori
ty of this state, for clearing the channel of
the Sufquehanna, between Columbia and
that part of the riter which it interfeftcd by
• the southern boundary line of this state.—<■
• The avowed defigti of these •pefatioas( whicll
your memorialists nndcrftand are intended to
be pcrfilled in) is to render the city of Bat
■ timore the mart for the products of a great
portion of Pennsylvania; and for fupplyiug
. in return foreign merchandize for the ea»-
, fumptiun of its inhabitants:—And the ob
vious tendency of an intercourse of that ra
-1 ture and extent, with another fate, without
- it's government interchanging similar bene
t fits with this commonwealth, as,it has the
power of doing, is to permit that other state
to erjcy an undue advantage overtur o"wn,