The RIGHT CONSTITUTION of a COMMON
WEALTH EXAMINED,
(in continuation.)
OUR author is 110 where so weak as in this
reason, or under this head. He attempts to prove
his point by reason and examples, but is equally
unfortunate in both. First, by reason. '• The
" people," fays he, " mult belefs luxurious than
" kings, or great ones, becaul'ethey are bounded
" within a more lowly pitch ofdelire and ima
" gination : Give them but panem et tircenfes,
" bread, sport and ease, and they are abundantly
" latisfied." It it to be feared that this is too
goad a charaifter for any people living, or that
have lived. Ihe difpolition to luxury is the
fame, tho the habit is not, both in plebeians,
patricians and kings. When we fay their delires
are bounded, we admit the desires to exist. Ima
gination is as quick in one as in the other. It is
demanding a great deal to demand " bread, and
" sports, and ease." No one can tell how farthefe
termsntay extend. If by bread is meant a fub
fiitence, a maintenance in food and clothing, it
will mount up very high ; if by sports be meant
cock-fighting, horse-racing, theatrical represen
tations, and all the species of cards, dice, and
gambling, no mortal philosopher can fathom the
depth of this article; and if with " bread" and
" sport" they are to have " ease" too, and by
ease be meant idleness, an exemption from care
and labor, all three together will amount to as
much as ever was demanded for nobles or kings,
and more than ought ever to be granted,to either.
But let us grant all this for a moment; wefliould
be disappointed ; tliepromifed " abundant satis
" faction," would not be found. The bread
muftfoonbe of the fineft wheat; poultry and gib
bier mull be added to beef and mutton ;
tertainments would not be elegant enough after
a time ; moreexpence mult be added :—lnlhort,
contentment is not inhuman nature ; there is no
pallion, appetite, or affection for contentment.
To amuse and Hatter the people with compliments
of qualities that never exilted in them, is not the
duty or the right of a philosopher or legislator ;
he mull forma true idea and judgment of man
kind, and adapt hisinllitutions to farts, not com
pliments.
An ESSAY on FREE TRADE and FINANCES.
(Continued from No. LI1I.)
THE fell erne of ifluing any more continental
money, I take for granted, no body will think
of, and therefore I conclude, that all the ways
and means which have hitherto beentryed, have
proved utterly inefficient for the purpose : And
1 further conceive, that it will be allowed, that
the mode I propose, if put into practice, would
be lufficient. I further contend, that no other
mode within our reach, is or can be equally eafv
to the people, and equally productive of Ef
ficient money for the various purposes of our uni
on ; this is then the only practicable way our
union can be supported, and of course the union
depends on it, and without it, mult inevitably
fall to pieces. To fay all this, may be thought
■very prcfumption in an individual; be it
so, ft ill I am fafe, for 110 man can contradi«ft me,
who is not able to find and explain some other
way of supply, equally easy to the people, and
equally productive of all the money which the
support of the union requires : But in as much as
the eagerness of enquiry for several years past
has not been able to discover any such other mode,
I conclude there is 110 fucli, and of course, the
one I have proposed is the only one that can be
adopted, to faveourunion from diilolution ; and
Wilder the impression of this full persuasion, may
I be permitted to address our public administra
tion, not only in Congrcfs, but in all the states,
in the ftronglanguage of Lord Chatham ; set me
down as an ideot, if you do not adopt it, or rue
your neglecft ; and 'tis not certain that, our pof
tei ity in the next age, and all our neighbours in
the present, will not set you down for ideots, if
you don't adopt it fooy, before the mifchiefs it
is designed to obviate, lhall grow up to such de
cree cf magnitude and strength, as to become
incapable of remedy ; for what can they think
when they fliall fee that you fuffer our union'
which is committed to your care, to fall topieces
under your hands, because you will not attempt
it that support, which to fay the least of
it, is inlts nature practicable, and the due prac
tice of which would produce the great remedy
required.
But you will fay perhaps, we admit your prin
ciple to be just and good, but we cannot raise
our ideas up tv your height of scale or degree of im
pojl ; your tax is too high, it grafts too mi<ch, and
is thereby in danger of lofntg all, it will scare our
people out of their wits. I don't think muchof
this, if the wits which the people now have, are
not fufficient for tlieir salvation, it matters little
how soon they are feared out of them ; but 'tis
not certain that their wits are so volatile, their
is at least a possibility, a chance that they may
have wit enough to adopt the reniedv, that will
prevent those which (if iiot prevent
ed) will soon drive them out of their fecuriry
their property —their national honor—their coun
try and wits too ; at least I think it needless for
you to loofc your wits, for fear the people will
loose theirs. But I would ask you seriously, do
you think thatalefs scale of tax than that which
I propose, would be fufficiently productive for
the publick service, or thefupportof the union ?
I think you mult probably fay no, on the bare pre
fujnption, (for the produce of an untryed tax,
can't be reduced to a certainty) to what purpose
then, I further ask, would it be to set on foot so
expensive and troublefonie an operation, which
when computed, would be utterly inadequate to
its purposes ; or what funds have you, out of
which you expe<ft to draw the deficiency ?
If there is any wisdom or effort in our councils
and plans, tliey mull reach through ; they must
connect the means with the end, and make the
one adequate to the other. Would you not laugh
at a sailor, who should moor a fliip with an inch
rope, and so loose the fliip, for fear his owners
should find fault with him for wetting a cable.
Where means are inadequate to their end, they
become ridiculous, especially when adopted in
matters of consequence, people lose all confi
dence in their effects, and therefore lose all cou
rage and inducement to ufeftrong efforts to make
them operate. lam clearly of opinion, if our
people have loft their confidence in our public
councils, and are backward in pushing them into
practice, the re a foil is, not becaufethey areftupid
and blind to their interelts, or wanting in zeal to
promote them, but because their courage is all
worn out and their patience exhausted, by a seven
years course of visionary, ineffectual, ill contriv
ed and half digested plans, which promised lit
tle in theory, but constantly in practice, proved
the baseless fabricks of avifion, and vanished at
last, not only without use, but with consequences
very detrimental to our national character of
integrity and wisdom, as well as to the interests
and morals of our people ; not the least discourag
ing of all which, was this constant effect which
they all had, viz. that thofeftates or individuals,
which promoted them with molt zeal, ardor and
effort, always loft most by them.
(To be continued.)
NEW-YORK, OCTOBER 17.
L AST Tuefdaya Deputation from the Society
of Friends, waited on the President of the United
States, and presented him with the following
Addrefu °
The Address of the Religious Society called Qjuikers,
Jrom their yearly meeting for Pen-nfylvanin, New
Jersey, Delaware and the vieflern farts of Mary
land and Virginia—
To the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES.
BEING met in this our annual Assembly, for
the well ordering the affairs of our religious so
ciety, and the promotion of universal righteous
ness, our minds have been drawn to consider, that
the Almighty, who rulcth in Heaven, and in the
kingdoms of men, having permitted a great re
volution to take place in the government of this
country ; —we are fervently concerned that the
Rulers of the People may be favored with the
counfe! of God—the only sure means of enabling
theni to fulfil the important trust committed to
their charge ; and in an especial manner, that
divine wifdoin and grace,vouchsafed from above,
may qualify thee to fill up the duties of the ex
alted station to which thou art appointed.
We are sensible thou haft obtained great place
in the elteem and affections of people of all de
nominations over whom thou prefideft; and ma
ny eminent talents being committed to thy trust,
we much desire they may be fully devoted to the
Lord's honor and l'ervice—that thus thou mayll
be an happy instrument in his hand, for the fup
preffionof vice, infidelity and irreligion, and e
very fpccies of oppreflion on the persons or con
sciences of men, fothat righteousness and peace
which truly exalteth a nation, may prevail
throughout the land, as the onlyfblid foundation
that can be laid for the prosperity and happiness
of this or any country.
1 he free toleration which the citizens of tliefe
States enjoy in the public worship of the Almigh
ty agreeable to the dilates of their confidences
we esteem among the choicest of blellings ; and
as we desire to be filled with fervent charity for
those who differ from us in matters of faith and
pravflice, believing that the general aflembly of
Saints is composed of the sincere and upright heart
ed of all nations, kingdoms and people so we
trust, we may justly claim it from others ; and
in a full perfuafiop that the divine principle we
profefs, leads unto harmony and concord, we can
take no part in carrying on war on any occasion
or under any power, but are bound in conscience
to lead quiet and peaceable lives, in godliness
and lionefty, amongst men, contributing; freelv
our proportion to the indigencies of the poor
and to the neceilary support of civil government'
acknowledging thofethat rule well to be worthy
of double honor ; and if any profeffmjr with us
are or have been of a contrary difpofieion or con
duct, we own them not therein, havino- never
been chargeable from our firft establishment as a
religions society, with fomenting or couiuenanc
ing tumults or coufpiracies, or difrefp e « t0 tU ,
who are placed in authority over us.
We wiih not improperly to intrude on thy time
or patience, nor is jt our practice to offer aduh
tion to any, but as we are a people whose p,-i,
pies and conduct have been mifreprelented ami
traduced—we take the libertv to allure thee tint
we leel our hearts affectionately drawn toward,
thee and those in authority over us, with prayers
that thy Preiidency may, under the bleiW of
Heaven, be happy to thy fell" and to the people
that through the encreafe of morality and true
religion, divine Providence may condescend to
look down upon our land with a propitious eve
and bless the inhabitants with the continuance of
peace, the dew of Heaven, and the fatnels of the
earth; and enable us gratefully to acknowledge
his maniiold mercies ; and it is our earnest con
cern, tliathe may be pleased to grant thee every
neceflary qualification to fill thy weighty and im
portant station to his glory, and that finally, when
all tenelliul honors shall tail and pals away, thou
and thy refpecftable consort may be found Worthy
to reccive a crown of unfading righteousness in
the mansions of peace and joy forever.
Signed in and 071 behalf of the said netting, held
in Philadelphia by adjournments from thei&tb of
the <)th month, to the id day of the loth ,/tonth in
clupve, 1789. RICHARD WALN, Clerk.
The A/ij-wer of the President of the United
St ates, to the Ad dress of the religious Society
called (Quakers, from their yearly meeting far
Pcnnjylvania, NNew-Jerseyy y Delaware, g.ni tbi
■wejteru parts of Maryland and Virginia.
G ENILEMEN,
I RECEIVE with pleasure your affectionate
address, and thank you for the friendly fentiwents
andgood wiflies which you express fortheluccefs
of my adminilh ation and for my perfoual hap.
pinefs.
We have reason to rejoice in the prospect, that
the national government which hy the favor of
divine Providence was formed by the common
councils, and peaceably eltablifhed with the com
mon consent of the people, will prove a bleffiug
to every denomination of them ; to render it
luch my belt endeavors shall not be wanting. Go
vernment being among other purposes inliituted
to protedl the persons and consciences of men
from opprellion, it certainly is the duty of rulers
not only to abstain from it themfelves,but accord
ing to their ltations to prevent it in others.
The liberty enjoyed by the people of these
States of worlhiping Almighty God agreeably to
their consciences is not only among the choicelt of
their bleflings, but also of theirrights—whilemen
perform their social duties faithfully, they do all
that society or the State can with propriety ex
petft or demand, andremain refponlible only to
their Maker for the religion or mode of faith
which they may prefer or profefs. Your princi
ples and condud: are well known to me, audit
is doing the people called Quakers no more than
justice tofay,that (except their declining to lhare
with others the burthen of the common defence)
thereis no denomination among us who are more
exemplary and ufeful citizens I allure you ve
ry explicitly that in my opinion the conscientious
scruples of all men fliould be treated with great
delicacy and tendernefs,and it is my wiih and de
sire that the laws may always be as extensively
accommodated to them as a due regard to the
protection and ellential interests of the nation may
juftify and permit. (Signed)
E WASHINGTON.
HEALTH.
MANY pcrfons fuffer in their health from causes which might
easily be avoided : Bad air is vefy deftru&ive to health. I will
mention a circumstance but little attended to : Many complain
that their cellars will not keep meat, butter, &c.—tbe reason
generally is, that there is no circulation of air in their cellars; con
fined air corrupts, and will corrupt meat or vegetables if put into
it; therefore to remove the air complained of, every cellar should
have windows to admit a conflant flream of frelh air ; in summer
the windows should be the northern fide the house; in winter lef*
air is necefTary, but some mull be admitted.
The greatest evil arising from corrupted air in cellars is, it ls
constantly mixing with the air in the house, and by its poisonous
effluvia endangers the health of the family. From thiscaufe un
doubtedly fatal sickness has often been produced.
PRICE CURRENT. NEW-YORK.
Jamaica Spirits, - sfy-
Antigua Rum, - 4^o.
St. Croix, do. - 4/6.
Country, do. - - 2/10.
MolafTes, - 2J2. 0 2JI.
Brandy, * $fg. a 6f.
Geneva, ... sfo.
Do. in cases, - • 28/T a 2gf.
Muscovado Sugar, - - Sojl a 7 2 f>
Loaf, do. - - y3 m
Lump, do. - - y l g*
Pepper, - - - 3.f:
Pimento, - St/ 2, a 2/.
Coffee, - - xfo, o- l j9*
Indigo, (Carolina) - - 31- a
Rice, - - 24J. o- 2 3f-
Superfine Flour, - 4 %/'
Common do. - - 43/ a 4.5>
Rye do. - 26f. 0. 27/
Indian Meal, - 1 '
R\e, - - 49/ pr. bush.
Corn, (Southern)
Do. (Northern,) - 4/j- a iJ '
Beef, firft quality, - - 4. a
Pork, firfl quality, -
I Publiihed by JOHN FENNO, No'. 9, Maiden*
Lan e, wear the Ofecgo-Market, l' r ' &