THE OBSERVER. No. 11. The Nation which would be fcrved by Men of honejly and great abilities, mujl pay well. IN my excilrfiond tliro several parts of New Eng land, I have noticed a class of citizens, who complain ot the compensations allowed by Con gress to the principal officers of government. The liberal character of the Americans is an evidence that those complaints arise more from their ilrong jealousy for liberty, than from parfi nicny. A jealous concern for public liberty is a noble paifion, which will guard the freedom of yourpolterity, but at the fame time it needs the rigid correction of reason. A weak and ignorant administration is one common means of subvert ing popular rights. Those very principles in the human mind, which make men jealous of their liberty, without restraint, will lead tliem into licentiousness. The end of a good government is to divide out liberty in proper portions to every citizen,that all may be free, and none opprefled. In a state of anarchy, every neighbour becomes a tyrant in his own little sphere of afflicting ; in absolute governments there are few tyrants, awful in their course—and to approach them is approaching death. If youmuftbe wretched, it matters little whether the minister of a prince or an ill-natured neighbour be the instrument. Civil government is the only poflible guard against these evils. If you were a nation of slaves, the l'word, bayonet and prison would give efficacy to the ineafures of weak and unprincipled rulers ; but you are free, and if governed at all, men of high talents and approved integrity, your most literary and indus trious citizens mult be called into employment. Such men never have need to beg business, for the refonrces of their own minds and their applica tion is a fund of wealth. If the public design to have their services, the reward must be adequate to their abilities, and bear some proportionto the gains they make in private life. No man will leave a private employment, which promises him a thousand dollars per annum, for an office of half the sum, in which he is respon sible to the public opinion, and perhaps endan gers thelofs of his reputation forwifdom ; a facri tice for which no pecuniary fatisfaclion can be made. Honor or the pnblic notice may with a few be an inducement ; but these few areperfons of great vanity, and have not the abilities for a difficult or confidential trust. Men of difcern nient, and such you want, know how to estimate their own consequence in the State, they know that if for the present you employ mean abilities for the fake of being served at a cheap rate, the public system will soon be deranged, and that you mult then purchase their aid at such price as they please. It is a better way to commence your government on such principles as will be perma nent. Let public officers be few, and make them responsible both for their capacity and lionefty. It is too much the custom of this country to pity a man,who fays " I did as well as I knew." Igno rance ought to be no excuse before the sacred tribunal of the public. He who accepts an office doth it at his own ril'que, and there are as many reasons why he ffiould bear the consequence of incapacity as of knavery. Make this the known rule for decision on public characters, and the ignorant seekers of office will become less trouble some in their solicitations. Give an honorable reward which will command the service of your mod distinguished citizens, to whatever depart ment they are called. Such men have a character to lose, and ambition will unite with every other consideration to call forth their greatelt exer tions. If this proposal doth not please, it is easy to change the system, for in every country there are rogues and dunces in plenty, who will serve you at any price : but remember that the first WILL CHEAT YOU OUTOf THOUSANDS, AND THE LATTER DISSIPATE MILLIONS BY THEIR IGNO RANCE. The compensations determined by Congress, are as small as can possibly command the service of your bell characters—a left sum by throwing the execution of your government into unfkilful hands would have endangered the whole. The pay of the Senate and Commons great as it may found in the ears of some, circumftanccs being all considered, is not extravagant. It is a preva lent idea through the union that these gentlemen lliall hold no other office under the empire or particular States—moftofthem toferveyouliave relinquillied lucrative employments—after the firft year Congress will not probably be together more than fifty days in a year—tho' your repre fentativesbe encreaf'ed, the expenceof a legisla ture will be much less than the funis given by the several States to support the members of the old Congress. Your whole civil lift, including every department, would not half defray the lioufhold exp ences of an European Prince. The highest officers in your judiciary, and revenue, have not a better provision than grooms of the stable, noble keepers of hawks andhounds, and dependants still more infignificant than thofe,receive in other na tions from theliands of Royalty. Useless officers are the vermin of a State, but foma officers are necessary to its very exiftenee. Let them be few as poflible, but men of approved ability—pay them well—make them relponfible—and if after this any are unfaithful, demand what atonement you please, it will not be too severe. NEW-YORK, October 31, 1789. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Sept. 19, 1 789. GENERAL ESTIMATE of MONEY requisite for the WAR DEPARTMENT,/*s2 16 Corporate, 5 960 8 Musicians, 5 480 8 Artificers, 5 480 232 MatroflTes, 4 11,136 19,668 INFANTRY. 1 Brigadier-General, with the pay of Lieute tenant-Colonel-Commandant, for 12 Months, at 50 Dol. per month, 600 « Majors, 45 1,080 7 Captains, 35 2,940 7 Lieutenants, 30 2,520 8 Ensigns, 20 >,920 1 Pay-Master, 10 120 1 Quarter-Mailer, 10 120 1 Adjntant, 10 120 1 Surgeon, 45 54 0 4 Surgeon's Mates, 30 1,440 28 Sergeants, 6 2,016 28 Corporals, 5 1,680 14 Drums and Fife*, 5 840 490 Privates, 4 23,520 39>45 G SUBSISTENCE. 1 Brig. Gen. 12 Months, at 48 Dol. per Month, 576 3 Majors, 20 720 11 Captain;, 12 >158+ 23 Subalterns, 8 2,208 l Surgeon, 16 192 4 Mates, 8 384 Rations tor 840 Non-Commiffioncd Officers and Privates, at one Ration per day each, are, for 365 days, 307,440 Rations, at 17 gothsofa Dollar, per Ration, 40,990 46,848 Cloathing, 840 ) 940 Suits at 26 Dollars Contingencies, too J each, *4-44° 130,412 QUARTER-MASTER s DEPARTMENT. Tranfportation,including the Transportation of the Recruits raising in Philadelphia, to the Fron tiers, the Transportation of Cloathing, Medicines, Ordinance and Military Stores for the Troopson the Frontiers, the ncceflary removal of Ordinance and Military Stores, the hire of Teams, Pack-Horses, Tents, Boats, Axes, Camp-Kettles, Boards, Fire- Wood,Company-Books, Stationary for the Troops, and all other expenses in the Quarter-Mafter'i Di partment, 10,000 HOSPITAL. For Medicincs, Instruments, Furniture and Stores for an Hospital for the Frontiers, also for at tendance when neceflary at Weft-Point and Spring field, 1,000 ORDINANCE DEPARTMENT. For Salaries to the Store-keepers at their several deposits, viz. Wtft-Point, I Virginia, f3,at 40 Dol. per Month, 1,440 Springfield, ) Charlcfton, 1 Store-keeper, at 100 Dol. perann. 100 ? Assistants at 15 Dol. per month, 360 1 Store-keeper at Philadelphia, 500 1 do. Rhode-Island, 96 1 do. Lancaftcr, g6 1 do. Fort Harkemer, 120 His Subsistence, 1 dollar per week, 52 .172 Rents of Buildings for Deposits. Philadelphia. 6a Virginia, , j0 Weft-Point, 400 -1,50 a 60 Laborers at the several deposits, 400 Repairs of Arms, 10,000 Cleaning 30,000 Muflcets, at 12 goths, 4,000 18,666 60 Contingencies of the War Department, 3,000 Contingencies of the War Office, 800 Salaries of the officers, 3,95° Carried forward, 167,828 60 Cop)' °J the original File, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Secretary of the Treasury. (SignedJ H. KNOX. Dots. 90ths. Brought forward, 167,82860 Dcdutt the amount of the Salaries of the Officers, Ditto for Contingencies, 800 which are estimated 111 the Civil Lift, 4,75° (Or dollars 163,078, and 66 Cents.) 163,078 60 ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Secretary oj the Treasury. Treasury Department, September 19, 1789. AESTRjICT of JOURN AL of tht first sessi on of thi SENATE cj the UNITED STATES. F R I DAY, May I. The Report of the joint Committee, to whom was recommitted, the mode of communication between the Senate and House of Re prcfentatives.as made by the Committee on the part of the Senate, was taken up and not accepted. The fame report of the Committee on the part of the House, and the acceptance thereof by the House vas conftdered in the Senate, and it was deteimined that it should lie until further order. A motion, "Thatwhcna mcfTenger shall come from the House of Rcprcfentativcs to the Senate, and Ihall be announced by the door keeper, the incfi'engcr shall be received at the bar of this House by tit Secretary, and the b ill or pspcr that he may bring, shaH iherc be received from him by Iht Secrdarv, who (lull deliver' Prefideni of the Senate," was committed to Mr. Ellfwortn Lee, and Mr. Read. And the Committer were inftrufted't port a mode of fending bills and melTa.es from the Sen... lit House of Representatives. Adjourned. 1 SATURDAY, May 2 . Agreed, That until a permanent mode of comunicjtion f u be adopted between the Senate and House of Reprefeniative ' Senate will receive mefljges by the Clerk of the House, if theH r lhall think proper to fend him, and papers sent from the H"I = (hall be delivered to the Secretary at the bar of the Senate hnn be conveyed to the President. ' 7 A mefiage from the House of Representatives, bv Mr r»ai their Clerk. ' ' cckk '/> Mr. President, " I AM commanded bv the Hoi; ft- of Representatives, tobrin to the Senate, the proceedings of the House on a resolution of tit' Senate, of the 27th of April : Also to communicate to the Setiaf the appointment of the Reverend Willi jm Lynn, D. D. to be on' of the Chaplains to Congress, agreeably to the resolves of the i-°th of April,"—And he withdrew. 0 The concurrence of the House of Representatives on the tefol.e of the 17th, is as follows: " In the House of Representatives of the United Stat~ " the 29th of April, 1789. " The House proceeded taconfider the following refolutionof the Senate, to wit, " In Senate April 27th, 1789. " Refohed, That after the oath (ball have been adminifteredt, th« President, he, attended by the Vice Picfident, and the Mem ber< of the Senate, and House of Representatives, proceed toSt" Paul's Chapel, to hear divine service to be performed by the Chapl lain of Congress, already appointed—whereupon, " Resolved, That this House doth concur in the said resolution amended and read as followeth, to wit, " That after the oath (hall have been administered to the Pre. fident, the Vice President, and Memberi of the Senate, the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives, will accompany h !m toSt. Paul's Chapel, to hear divine service performed by the Chip. lain of Congress." Mr. Strong, by order of the Committee appointed the 28thof April, on a bill patted the House of Representatives, entitled"Aii aflto regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths," reported fundiy amendments ; and Monday next was aligned 13 take the fame into consideration. Adjourned. PRICE CURRENT. NEW-YORK. October 31. Jamaica Spirits, ... ft Antigua Rum, ... St. Croix, do. - . wft. Country, do. - - jy lo . Molafles, ... s y 2- „ 2 y,_ Brandy, ... .fa. „ S r Geneva, ' " ' SJ3- Do. in cases, . . s (\r a 2 gf. Muscovado Sugar, - . 80/ a jtf. Loaf, do. . - 1/3. Lump, do. - . Wij, Pepper, ... 3/". Pimento, - 4 2T Coffee, - - iji. a ljg. Indigo, (Carolina) » - a 6/i Rice, - - 24f. a 23f. Superfine Flour, - . - Common do. - - 43f. & Rye do. « . 26/1 a sjf. Indian Meal, - - • iߣ 4Q\f. pr. bujh. Com, (Southern) - 4f. Do. (Northern,) - 4/*. a 4/6. Beef, firft quality, - r 48/r a 50/ C Pork, firit quality, » - Bi_/&. Oats, - - - 1/7. Flax-feed, - . - 6f- Ship bread per cwt. - - 2\f. Country refined bar-iron* - 281. a 301. Do. bloomery, - . 25L Swede* do. - 451. Ruflia do. . » 30]. Pig-iron, - - 81 10fa 91. German steel, per lb. - - 9d. Nails American, by cask. per. lb. 4d. - 12*/. Do. do. do. 6d. - - 11 J. Do. do. do. Bd. - - gj*/. Do. do. do. lOd. Do. do. do* i2d. f . , 0,7 Do. do. do. 2od r T* a i ' Do. do. do, 24d. ) Pot ash, per ton, •» . 391. a 40/, Pearl ash, - „ 481 501. Becs-wax per lb. - - 2^3. Mackaiel per barr. - » 26f. a 30j. Herrings, - 1 bf. Mahogany, Jamaica, per foot, • IoL Dominico, do. - • 9^ Honduras, do. - - » 7 1 inch do. - 4'' Pitch pine scantling, - - ?/• Cyprus 2 feet shingles, - - *1- Do. 22 inch do. s » - *!• \l- Cedar 2 inch do. - - lo s Do. 22 inch do. - - Do. 18. inch do. 1 V Butt white oak staves, - - 3 Pipe do. do. - - - 9'- Hogftiead do. do. •» - 61* iO J* Do. do. heading, - * * IrisH barrel do. staves, - ~ 5J- Hogftiead red oak do. - - s*' 5/" Do. French do. - » 5 Hogshead hoops,. - Vj White oak square timber per square foot* ! ° • Red wood, per ton k - - ' Fuftick, - - ' r Beaver, per lb. . - 12/. a to/- Otter per Ikin, 9r 3y' Grey fox, - V 7' Martin, ... 47' Racoon, - . - 3/ 6 3 Vj Mufkrat, ... iod.<"¥- Beavcr hats, . - Callor do. ... - 4 J" Publifked by JOHN FENNO, No. 9^^'] L «ii e, ncarthe Ofwcgc-Markct, Ntw-losK. t 3