MR. ADAMS'S LETTERS. LETTER XXIII. Amsterdam, Oct. 27, 1780. SIR, /~\L EST ION twenty-fifth.—" Do they who have loft their or fortunes by the mar, en dure it patiently, as cow-patriots, Jo tbat nothing can be feared from them ?" Losing fortunes in America lias notfuch dread ful consequences, to individuals or families, as it has in Europe. The reason is obvious ; be. caule the means of fubfillence are easier to be ob tained, so that nobody fuffers for want. As far as I am acquainted with fufferers. they have borne their lolles, both of poverty, and relations, with great fortitude ; and, lo far from producing in their minds a desire of lubmiffion, they have on ly served to irritate them, —to convince them more fully of the precarious and deplorable situ ation they would be in under the government of the Engliih, and to make them more eager to refill it. Oueftion twenty-sixth—How has it gone with " the cultivation oj the land, before the troubles, at " their commencement, and at present ? What change " has taken place Agriculture ever was, and ever will be, the dominant interest in America. Neverthelels, be fore this war, perhaps, she run more into com merce than was for her interest. She depended too much, perhaps, upon importations for cloath ing, uteniils, &c. and indulged in too many lux uries. When the profpetfl opened in 1 775, of ail interruption of her commerce, lhe applied her felf more to agriculture ; and many places that depended upon the lumber trade, tilefifhery, &c. lor the importation of even their bread, have turned their labor and attention to railing corn, wool, flax and cattle, and h*ave lived better, and advanced in wealth and independence fatter than ever they did. For example, the towns in the neighborhood of the sea, in the Maflachufetts' Eay, uled to depend upon the filhery and com merce, to import thein their wheat and flour from Philadelphia, Maryland, and Virginia, and rice from South-Carolina and Georgia : The communication being interrupted by sea, since the war, they have planted their own corn. The caftern parts of the Maflachufetts' Bay, before the war, depended on the commerce of lumber for the Weft-India market, and of masts, yards, and bowsprits, for the royal navy of Great Britain, to procure them cloaths, meat, andftrong liquors. Since the war, they have cultivated their lands, raised their own corn, wool, flax ; and planted the apple tree, instead of drinking rum: In consequence of which they are more temperate, wealthy, and independent than ever. North-Carolina depended upon the commerce of pitch, tar and turpentine, and tobacco, for the importation of many things. Since the war, they have turned their labor toraifemore of the things which they wanted. Maryland, Virginia, and North-Carolina, de pended upon the trade oftobacco to import coarse cloths for their negroes. Since the war, they have raised less tobacco, and more wheat, wool, and cotten, and made the coarse cloths themselves! So that, upon the whole, the letlening of com merce, and the increase of agriculture, has rendered America more independent than lhe ever was. I have the honor to be, &c. JOHN ADAMS. MR. CALKOEN. ANECDOTE. LORD LYTTLETON, upon inviting his Son to pass the evening with him, received for answer, he was engaged to pass the evening with ten or a dozen friends. Whereupon his Lordfliip, grown old in the knowledge of the world, replied' " 1 am to hear, George, yJiu are so very fortunate. Having made the belt search I could for three score years, I can hardly fay it has been my fate to meet one friend; and you, it seems find them already by dozens." LONDON. EXTRACTS. i oni a POEM on the Bill lately pafled for regu lating the Slave Trade. By Miss HELEN MARIA WILLIAMS. From the MONTHLY REVIEW, Jqr March, i 789. j HE accounts lately given, fay the Reviewers, to the public, refpot'ting the Slave Trade, were horrid enough to call into vigorous exercise the amiable feniihi.ity of the. female breast. By ladies this subject lias been contemplated through the pure medium of virtuous pity, unmixed with rhofe political, commercial, felfiih considerations which operated in (feeling the hearts of some men againftihe pleadings of humanity ! To find THEM, therefore,writing on i-.,by 110 means exci ted wonder.—Though among the Ir.ft, Miss Wil liams is not the least deserving notice. Ineafy, harmonious verse die pours fourth the fentiinents of her mind nor do we recollect among tlie poems that have lately attracted our attention, to haveperufed one with more pleasure than that which now lies before us. She thus addrefles her country on the fubjeift of her poem : 13rITAJN! the noble, blest decree That sooths despair, is fram'd by thee ! Thy powerful arm has interpos'd, Ancl one dire scene forever clos'd ; % Its horror fhali no more belong To that foul drama, deep with wrong. O, firftof EUROPE'S polifh'd lands, To ease the captive's iron bands ! Long as thy glorious annals shine, This proud diftin&ion (hall be thine : Not firft alone when valor leads To ru(h on danger's noblcft deeds : When mercy calls thee to explore A gloomy path untrod before, Thy ardent spirit springs to heal ! And, greatly gen'rous, dares to feel ! Valor is like the meteor's light, Whose partial flalh leaves deeper night; While mercy, like the lunar ray, Gilds the thick fhadc with fofter day. Tlielaft lines of this extra# lead us to observe, that our poetess is peculiarly happy in the choice and application of her limilies : The traders in Haves are described as beings, Whose harden'd fouls no more retain Impreflions nature ftamp'd in vain ; All that diftinguilhes their kind, For ever blotted from their mind ; As dreams that once the landscape gave, Refle&ed on the trembling wave, Their substance change, when lock'd in froft, And reft, in dead contraction loft ; Who view unmov'd, the look, that tells The pang that in the bosom dwells. The picture that follows, of the wretched Ne gro just landed in the Weft-Indies, and fold; is extremely natural : When borne at length to western lands, Chain'd on the beach the captive stands, Where man, dire mcichandize, is fold, And barter'd life is paid for gold ; In mute affliflion, fee him try To read his new pofleffor's eye ; If one blest glance of mercy there, One half-form'd tear may check delpair ! What is said of avarice mull not be here omit, ted : His sway the harden'd bosom leads To cruelty's remorseless deeds ; Like the blue lightning -when it springs With fury on its livid wings, Darts to its goal with baleful force, j Nor heeds that ruin marks itscourfe. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. ABSTRACT of JOURNAL of the first SESSION of the SENATE oj the UNITED STATES. O SATURDAY, July ,8. N motion to ftrtkr out of line 13th these words, " To be ap pointed by the said principal officer," passed in the negative w .?.* r - to cx P u "B e 'lie proviso in lines 17th, 18th, and i 9 tb, to si fj'PV'&dnti'trihelifi, Thatno appointment of fnch chief clerk lhall be valid, until the lame shall h.ve been approved by the Pre lident of the United States." Upon the queßion, "Toconcur.n this bill as amended ?" and one °! the Senators present requiring the yeas and nays, the deter minatioi) was as follows: Y EAS. Mr. Baffett, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Dalton, Mr. Ellfworth, Mr Henr )'> Mr - Morris, Mr. Patterlon, Mr. Read, * AYS ; Mr. Few, Mr. Grayfon, Mr. Gunn, Mr. Johnson, e' Lan S do "> Mr. Lee, Mr. Maclay, Mr. Wingatc. 00 the bill was concurred with amendments. a 11 MONDAY, July 2.0. the day, proceeded to the second reading of the bill, entitled, <• An ast to regulate the collection of the duties imposed by law on the tonnage of {hips or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandize imported ",to the United States " And after debate it was committed to Mr. Morris, Mr. Lanc don, Mr Carroll. Mr. Dalton, and Mr. Lee. to report such ad ditions and alterations as they may judge requifit ■ A the House of Rcprefenfcativts Mr. President, The House of Reprefcntatives have passed a bill, entitled "An bu j 011 imported into the United Staus "nr i' raer ehandize adminifteied to ot'her oei'fonfh . b{ command of anv fliiporvcftel " IhalU e rv * charge oj « And the owner S T 'l deeb « pU ''t " " le words 5 A T t; R t A Y, Jul/ The honoiable Rufus King, from flie Stale of New-Y. (sea«d, produced his credentials and took his feat" jnd u'" '''' was adimiiiltercd to him according to law ' ' ' ,L oai " M O N D A Y, July ?7 . The honoi'able Philip Schuyler,froin'the State of New- York pearcd, produced his credentials and took his feat; and th- ' was adininiftered to him according to law. ' " Mr. Patterfon had leave of abfencefor (our da"*. A melfage from the House of Representatives, with a hill titled, •' An att for fettling the accounts between the United St™" and individual States," for concurrence; and informed the S that the President of the United States had affixed his a bill, entitled, '• An ad for theeftablilhmentof an txccutiren" partment, to be denominated the department of Foreign Ass "• and had returned the fame to the House of Rcprefeutatives The lirll mentioned bill was read a Srlt time. Proceeded to the third reading of a bill, entitled, "Ana r > regulate the collection of the duties imposed by law, o'n the ton" " of Ihipsor vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandizes ,i,JS into the United States^ And resolved that the Senate do concur therein with amend ments. TUESDAY, July 28. Mr. Johnson, in behalf ol the committee appointed thetttliM May, reported a bill, entitled," An ad for the puniihmt»tof ce» tain crimes against the United States which was reads ftrft time' The Secretary carried to the House of Representatives the bill' entitled, " An ast to regulate the coition of the duties imposed bylaw on the tonnage of ships or vessels, and on goods, waresand merchandizes imported into the United States." Oil motion, the Senators from the State of New-York pro cecded to draw lots for their classes, in conformity to therefolieuf the 14th of May : And two lots, No 3 and a blank, being by the Secretary rolled up, and put into a box, Mr. Schuyler drew blink and Mr. King having drawn No. 3, his feat Ihal'l accordingly be' vacated in the Senate at the expiration of the sixth year. 3 The Secretary procended to put two other lots into the bo* marked No. 1, and No. 2; and Mr. Schuvler having drawn lot No. t, his l'eat shall accordingly be vacated in the Senate, at the expiration of the fccond year. A rncflage from the House of Representatives. Mr. Prtfident, The House ( f Representatives have confidrred the amendment proposed by the Senate upon the bid, entitled, " Aft»fttort«uliK the collection of the duties imposed by lawon the tonnageofftipi or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandize imported into tif United States," and concurr* d therein, Adjoufned. ADVERTISEMENT. EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE OHIO COMPANY. WHEREAS, in the opinion of the Agents, it is very much for the interell of the proprietors at large, that all the lands of the purchase (hould be divided and allotted as immedi. ately as may be—And in order to accommodate them generally, by the option of they may think pjopcr, and drawing their rights or shares (where they may polTefs more than one) either together in contiguity, or by dctaching and annexing them to diflipct clafTesor divisions (at their own ele£lion) to give them the greater chance for variety in foil and fituation—ltisunani moiifly refolved,That as foonas the exploring committee (hall hate appropriated the lands for donation fettlemcnts.in quantity fuffici ent for all the proprietors,W inthrop Sa r ge nt, Joseph Gil i m an,.and Return J. Meics, Esquires, who are hereby appoint ed a committee for that purpofe,fhall immediately makcout,upon alarge fcale,a complete map or plan of the whole purchase from the best information,which they may be then able to obtain,expreflin«; all the lands of the eight acre, three acre, city lots aud common*, one hundred and sixty acre, and donation lots, the relerved lots of Congress, school lots, and lots appropriated for religious pur poses—also, tne two townships given by Congress for an universi ty,and the towns or situations tor towns to be reserved by the com pany for a future allotment.—That, all the residuary lands ihail be, by them, the said committee of thrc#, divided and numbered upon paper, into forty equal'grand divisions of twenty-five shares each,as like in quality as may be: That each grand division be divided into five sub-divisions of five lhares each, and eachfub divifion into fe&ions of single shares :—That as soon as the map or plan is completed, the agents will form or class their fubTcrib crs (who shall not pi evioufly class thcmfelves) by feftions or single shares, into sub-divisions ot five, and grand divisions of twenty five, and immediately proceed to drawing }>y lot for said lands; by grand .divisions, sub-divisions 'and feftions : That in all draughts of sub-divisions (into fe£Lions] which may be raaefcup ot: proprietors,holding four,three, or two and single (hares,it shall be the usage tor the greatest proprietor, or holder of the greatest number of shares, to take his lands in contiguity, by lot, either in the southern or northern part of the lub-divifion, where they.shall be numbered from north to south, and in the western or e'aftern (by lot also) where they may be numbered from weft to east; and where sub-divisions maybe made up of two proprietors of two shares each, and one of" one (hare, the two greatest proprie tors shall receivetheir feftions, by lot, either in the fouthernor western part of the sub-division. Re/olved, That the before na med committee, be dire&ed to prepare the names and numbers, and make all the necefTary arrangements for the intended draught: That previous to the drawing for this ultimate grand division of lands, there shall be returns of the proprietors, as they may be clafled by the agents (or otherwise) lodged in the Secretary's office, and it is recommended in all cases to donfulr the inclinations and interests of the proprietors in the order of clafiing. Rfjblvcd, That the agents will give public notice of the timeand place of drawing, and that there be two perfonsno ways interest ed in the draughts, who shall be sworn to the faithfully drawing out the names and numbers from the boxes, and who alone shall be employed in this business for the draught of grand divisions* sub-divisions. and fe&ions. Resolved, That the Secretary cause the foregoing refolations t# be published in the newspapers of New-Yoik, and the New- England States ; to the end that the proprietors at large may have the option of clafiing themselves as they may think proper : And they are hereby requeftcd so to do, and to express themselves upon thisJubjea, cither to their refpeftive agents, or by informa tion in writing addressed to, and to be lodged with the Secretary* at his office in the city of Marietta,previous to the firftMonday o» March, 1790 —Upon which day it is expetted the division wiU take place. WINTHROP SARGENT, Secretary to the Ohio ConfW' Marietta, 3d November, J 789. advertisement. THE Gazette cf the United States circulates in every the Union—being honored by fubferibers in Georgia, South anabiorti Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennjylvania, New-Jeff) > New-} e»k, Connecticut, Rhode-lfland, Majfachufetts, and DiJlriQ of Maine, Canada, Europe, Wefl Indus. This ex ttnjive circulation renders it a proper vehicle Jor Advertisements of a general, commercial and governmental import:—By the partus dejire and advice, therejore, (>/ a number of its patrons, this will be open for the reception of advertisements of the aboveJefcripM** which as they will convey intelligence of an inter (fling nature, the ' tor hopes their insertion will meet the approbation of his friend l * general. Should the number at any time amount to more than dp a s c 1,1 the Gazette, they will be given in a Supplement. f£V\ r O New-York, Nov. 28, 1789. Publi/lied by JOHN FENNO, No. 9, Maiden'; L*NE, NEW-York.— P r