MR. ADAMS'S LETTERS.
LETTER XXV.
Amsterdam. Oct. 27, i 730.
SIR, ■ "
QUESTION twenty-eighth.—" has America
_ " gained, or lojt, by the mutual capture of
" Jhips ? How much is the benefit, or prejudice, of
" it by calculation?"
America lias gained. She took early, from
the Englifh,ordinance and ammunition (hips, and
supplied lierfelf in that way with thole articles
when Ihe had them not, and could not otherwise
obtain them ; she has taken, in this way, a great
number of British and German soldiers ; lhe has
taken a vail number of seamen, who have gene
rally inlifted on board our privateers ; Ihe has
taken great quantities of provision, cloathing,
arms, and warlike stores ; /lie has taken every
year more and more, fmce, 1775, and will pro
bably continue to take more and more every year,
while the war lasts. I have certain intelligence,
that there have been this year carried intolJofton
and Philadelphia only, ninety-nine veflels, in the
months of July and August. On board of thel'e
veflels there were not less than eight hundred fea
infn : IV'any of the ships were very rich. The
veflels the Englilh have taken from the Americans
wercof (mall value : This year they have been
few in number.
I am not able to give you an exa<ft calculation.
The Quebec ships were worth from thirty to for
ty thousand pounds sterling each, and there were
two-and-forty of them in number.
Privateering is a great nutfery for seamen ;
and if the Americans had not imprudently facri
-ficedfuch a uumber of their frigates and priva
teers in the attack and defence of places, these
alone would, by this time, well nigb have ruin
ed the Britiih commerce, navy, and army.
I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
MR. CALKOEN.
LETTER, XXVI.
Amsterdam, October 27, 17S0.
SIR, '
I BELIEVE you will be pleased, when I tell
i you, I now come to the twenty-ninth, and lafl.
queUion, which is, " What are the real damages
" sustained, or ft ill to be fuffered, by the loss oj
" Charteflon ? And mhett influence it has had upon
" the minds of the people ?"
An interruption of the commerce of indigo
and'rice ; the loss of many Negroes, which the
Engli/h will steal from the plantations, and fend
to the Weft-India i (lands for sale ■, a great deal
of plunder of every fort ; much unhappinefs a
mong the people, and several lives of very wor
thy men will be loft: But the climate will be
death to Luropean troops ; and, at an immense
expence of men and money, they will ravage
for a while, and then disappear.
The effect of thel'urrender of Charipfton, and
the defeat of Gates, has only been to awaken the
people from the dreams of peace.
1 he artifices of the English, holding out ideas
of peace, seem to have deceived both the Ameri
cans and their allies, while they wereolily con
triving means to succour Gibraltar, and invade
Carolina. The people are now convinced of their
mistake, and generally roused. But these dis
asters will have no more efFe<ft towards subduing
America, than if they had taken place in the
East-Indies.. I have the honor to be, &c.
JOHN ADAMS.
MR. CALKOEN.
SEASONABLE HINTS.
AT this inclement season, as our seamen are
often put to difficulties, and our mercantile
interest l'ubjeet to great loss in consequence of the
obftrucftion which happens to the navigation by
the formation of the ice in our rivers and bays,
whereby veflels have been impeded in their couife
lometimes to the great injury of veflels, loss of
property, and endangering, if not actual loss of,
the lives ot many of that valuable class of men,
the seamen—as well as attended with iufferino
and hardlhips ; which it becomes the humane to
endeavor to provide against, so far as isconfiftent
with tlieirabilitics : With this view, I have wish
ed t.iat the following simple method oJ" breaking*
away the icca-head of the veflbl might generally
1:2 known —for which purpose the printers of the
several newspapers on the continent may give it
a place in;heir papers.
V. hen a veflel is inclosed with ice, which is
practicable to make a way through, let a boat be
taken a-head of the veflel, and fixed with a rope
through the ring-bolt in the head of the boat, up
to the iiea ! of the bowsprit; then hoist the fore
part of the boat up a little, so that it will have
a bearing forward 0111 his rope ; fallen the stern
of the boat to the head of the veflel, and break a
way tlie ice about the bow of the veflel, so as to
let the stem of the boat fink a little into the
water, and about one third of the length of the
boat from the stern, to have a bearing with the
keel of the boat on the edge of the unbroken
ice a-head : now load the boat with eight or ten
barrels of Hour, or other heavy 1 umber fufficient,
and let two men get into the boar, and rock it
from fide to lide continually, at the fame time
have the neceHavy fail set onboard the veflel, and
the boat will break away with her keel, the ice,
so as to admit apaflage for the veflel.
This method has been fuceeffively pratftifed in
divers inftanccs, so as to bring vetlels through a
body of ice which appeared • .herwife impracti
cable ; and at tlie rate of three miles an hour,
has cleared apaflage out of creeks, and up creeks,
through a body ot iGe which would bear, as my
informant mentioned, a fled and two horses, to
the admiration of foine Ipectators.
The very aukward manner which some foreign
ers, who maybe unpradtifed in navigating north
ern ihorcs, have attempted to disengage veflels
from among ice in our river, has induced the
writer of this more particularly for their infor
mation, to communicate this simple method of
breaking it tor their benefit : The American na
vigators, being remarked for their activity and
ingenuity, may not fiand in need of any hints
on this head. B.
From a Philadelphia paper.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
ABSTRACT of JOURNAL of the first SESSION
oj the SENATE oj the UNITED STATES.
TT h U r s d a Y. Aueuft 6.
HE Senate proceeded to a ftcond reading of a bill, entitled,
, "An ast for allowing a compensation to the President and
ice President of the United States," and committed it to Mr.
Morris, Mr. Read, Mr. Elmer, Mr. Schuyler, Mr. Langdon, Mr.
Carroll, Mr. Ellfworth, Mr. Strong, Mr. Few, Mr. Izard Mi. Lee.
"CONGRESS of the UNITED STATES.
In the House of Representattves.
MOND AY, [uly 27, 1789.
The House proceeded to consider the repoit of a committee of
the whole House, to whom was referred the report of the commit
tee appointed to confer with a committee of the Senate, in prcpar
ing joint mles to be eftablilhed between the two Houses, for:he
enrolment, attestation, publication, and preservation of the acts of
Congrels; and to regulate the mode of prefcnting addrclTes and
other acts to the Preftdent of the United Sines : Whereupon,
Rclolved, That the following be eltablilhed joint rules between
the two Houses, to wit:
That while bills are on their pafLge between the two Houses
they shall be on paper, and under the fignatureof the Secretary or
Clerk or each House refpe£tively.
Aft' r a bill shall have paired both Houses, it shall be duly en
rolled on parchment by the Clerk.of the House of Reprefcntatives,
or the Secretary of the Senate, as the bill may have originated in
the oneor the other House, before tt (hall be presented to the Pre
ndent of the United States.
When bills are emolled, they (hall be examined by a joint com
mittee of one from the Senate, and two from the House of Repre
fcntatives, appointed as a Handing committee tor that purpose,
who shall carefully compare the enrollment with the engrolfcd bills
as palled in the two Houses, and correcting any errors that may be
discovered in ihc enrolled bills, make their report forthwith to the
refpeftive Houses.
After examination and report, each bill (hall be signed in the
rclpcftive Houses, firft by the Speaker of the House of Reprefcn
tatives, and ihen by the President of the Senate.
Alter the bill shall have thns been figncd in each House, it shall
he presented by the said committee to the President of the United
States tor his approbation, it being firft endorsed on the back of the
roll, certifying in which Houfethe fame originated, which endorTe
rnent, mall be ligned by the Secretary or Clerk, asihecafemay be,
01 t.ie House in which the fame did originate, andQiallbe entered
on the journal ot each House. The laid committee lliall report
the day of prefemation to the President, which time lhall alio be
carefully entered on the journal of each House.
All orders, resolutions and votes, which are to be presented to the
President of the I nited States for his approbation, lhall also in the
bme manner he prcvionfly enrolled, examined, and finned, and
lhall be presented in the fame manner, and by the fame committee,
as is provided in cafe of bills.
That when the Senate anil House of Reprefcntatives lhall judge
it proper to make a joint addrels to the President, it lhall be pre
lented to hnn in his audience chamber by the President of the Se
nate, in pretence of the Speaker and boiliHonlcs."
Read, and resolved, That the Senate doconcur in the report
A menage from the House of Reprefcntatives, will, a bill, 'en
titled, " An ast lor registering and clearing veffcls, regulating the
coaftiug trade, and for other Durpofes"—
An enrolled bill, entitled,' " An ast for the support of li K l„.
houtes, bcacons, buoys, and public piers"—
An enrolled bill, entitled, « An atl to provide for the Govern
ment ot the territory north-weft of the river Ohio"
An enrolled bill, entitled, 'An ast to eftablifli Executive De
pal tment to be denominated the Department of War Severally
ligned by the Speaker of the House of Reprefcntatives.
rhe three last mentioned bills were signed by the Vicc President,
and delivered to the committee of enrolment for presentation—
Which was accordingly done.
Proceeded to the firft reading of a bill, entitled, •' An ast for
fofoteV n ®ur n p d ofcs" nag the
And assigned Monday next for a fccond reading
enu lTd Se . C . r t ary r/ n a d K?A! ,e u H ' )UrC of R n-efentativcs the bill,
enti led, An ast toeftablifh the Treasury Department." with the
resolution of the Senate to htfjl on their eighth amendment: Also
The concurrence of the Senate in the rcfolve of the House of
~n ,ta " V " ° f lhc "I th < >f Au S u ". the appointment of a
eeffaTv .0 I"" fAj '° °°" Wct the bufinels ne
celfary to be f ranfaft<d previous to arecefsof Congvefs. Adjourned.
ADVERTISEMENT.
T\ TRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF THE OHIO COMPANY.
\'V H /'^| £AS ' ' h %°P mio ».°f the Agents, it is very muc h
1 ' for tlie interest of the proprietor! at large, that all the
lands of the purchase fWld be divided and alloftrf as imtnedi
ately asmay be-—And in order to accommodate them ecneT.llv
by the opt,on of clailirtg as they may think proper,
tfirir right* or stares (wheie they may poffcfi more than onel
cither together in continuity or bv detachin- ? >
for
one hundred and sixty acre, and donation lo; s , th , r ,
of Congrefc, school lots, and lots appropriated fm- !
poles—also, the two townOiips given by Conerefr f :;10US P>»-
ty,and the towns or situations for towns to bereft T Un " lrr '-
pany lor a luture allotment.—That, all the ref,r>„, , ytm co '»-
be, hy them, the said committee of three di vlt | j7 ""H
upon paper, into forty equal grand div.r.ons of twe
each, as like in quality as may be: That rarl, ! y ; c
divided into five sub-divisions of live Ih a res each ? 1)6
divilion into fc£lions of (ingle Ihare* -—That as f " Cd:llfu'l
- plan iscompletcd, the agents will f„, m c laf s Xil7u m !l >
ers (who lhall not picvioufly class thernfelves) bv fertir r
fliares, into lub-divifions of live, and grand d'iJir on . s orr "iglc
five, and immediately proceed to
by grand divif.ons/fub-d.v.&ms and lain I rl" Udi;
draughts of sub-divisions (into feftiotisj wind, may'be j A
proprietors holding four three, or two and single fare, jfffi
the usage for the greatest proprietoi, or holder of rh, lb ?
number of Shares, to take his lands in contiguity, bylotefth
the southern or northern part of the sub-division where if V
be numbered from north to fonth, and in the wcftctnn #
(by lot also) Where tIK y may he numbered weft A
where sub-divisions niHy be made up of two nmnri r c
Ibares each, and one of one lharef the ?! ' TO
tois lhail receive their feftions, by lot either inthe f P J oprit "
weltern part of the sub-division. V hcraor
med committee, be dnetted to prepare the names and
and make all the ne «<Tar>- a. rangenients forthe intended draueht
-1 hat previous to the drawing for this ultimate grand divZrf
L I "' ,mnS ° f thr P r °P ri «"", as they may be
classed by the agents v orotherwifc) lodged in the Secretary', O L.
and Itts recommended in alleafcs toconfi.lt the and
interests of the proprietors in the order of clafling.
Rtfc/reJ, That the agents will give public notice of the timeand
place ot drawing, and that there be twoperfonsno ways , ntC] T
te 111 the draughts, who (ball be sworn to the faithfully drawing
out the names and numbers from the boxes, and who alone (hall
be employed in this business for the draught of grand divili™
sub-divisions. and feftions. '
7 hat th e C Secre,ar y caufethe foregoing resolutions to
be publifocd in the newspapers of New-York, andthtV™
England States ; to the end that the proprietors at large mavhw
the option of clafling thernfelves as tfiey may think proper And
they are hereby requeued so to do, and to express thernfelves
upon thufubjeli, either to their refpeftive agents, or by info™,
tion in writing addrelfed to, and to be lodged with the Secretary
at his office in the city of Marietta,previous to the firftMondavof
March 1790—Upon winch day it is expected the divifton will
take place. W 1 ST HROP S ARCEST
AW*, 3JMr, K B 9 . Sm "" r> - !e
advertisement.
T "f Gazetle "J United States circulates in every pm if
the UtilOn—being honored by fuhfcribers in Georgia, South ardNirtt
Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennjxlvmit, Ktw-Ttrfci
New-York, Connefficut, Rhode-ljland, MaJJdchufetts, Kew-Htipfm,
and Diftjiß of Maine, Canada, Europe, and the Wejl him. Thiiex
ten five circulation renders it a proper vehicle for Advertisimesii
°( " general, commercial and governmental import:—Hy the firticulir
dejirt and advice, therefore, oj a number of its patrons, this titer
rout be ope* J or: he reception of aivertifements of the above dcfirittm-,
which as they will convey oj an inter ejling nature, the Edi
tor hotes tl,eir insertion will meet the approbation oj hiiJriais ii
general. Should the number at any time amount to more than a page»
the Gazette, they will be given in a Supplement.
JOHNFZm.
PRICE CURRENT. A'EW-YORK.
DECEMBER
JAMAICA Spirits, 5 J 3 .„ 5 /g '
J Antigua Ruin, 4Jy. a $J.
St. Croix, do. 4/4. a 4/8.
Country, do. ?/io. a 3/.
Molafles, 9/5. 3 ays.
Brandy, 5/9. a 6/
Geneva,
Do. in cases, aßf. a tgf.
MufcoTido Sugar, 80s. a "*J.
Loaf, do. 1/3.
Lump, do. " ififc.
Pepp". 3/3
Pimento, 1/9. a <?f.
Coffee, 1/8. a \j[j.
Indigo, (Carolina) 3f, a 6rf,
Do. French, 18/T
Rice, 22 f.
Superfine Flour, 45/ I
Common do. 42^
Hye do. 2sf.
Indian Meal, 18f.
Rye, 4 /9. pr. bujh.
Corn, (Southern) 4^
Do. (Northern,) a 4fo,
Beds, firft quality, 45/". a 48/
Pork, firft quality, jof. a 7$J.
Oats, \pj.
Flax-feed, 6 f6 a 5/9.
Ship bread per cwt. 2i_/T
Country refined >
bar-iron, \ 281. « 301.
Do. bloomery, 251. a 261.
Swedes do. 451.
Ruflia do. 301.
Pig-iron, 81 los a 91.
German steel, per lb. gd.
Nails American, by cask. ) .1
per. lb. 4 d. 7
Do. do. do. 6d. 12d.
Do. do. do. Bd. q^d.
Do. do. do. iod.}
Do. do. do* i2d.( , , 01 ,
Do. do. do. 20d.r 7^a Barf '
Do. do. do, 24d. j
Pot ash, per ton, 391. a 401.
Pearl ash, 48] a 501.
Bets-wax per lb. 2/3.
Mackaiel per barr. 26/T a aof.
Herrings, 18\f
Mahogany, Tainaica, }
pei foot, \ loi
Dominico) do. 9d.
Honduras, do. 7d.
Logwood unchippcd, > R]
per ton. £ Cl
- chipped. 141.
2 inch white oak ) r
plank, per m. \ lol * 10f
-1 inch do.
2 inch white pine plank, 81.
inch do. 61. 10f.
1 inch do. 3!. \of.
2 inch pitch pine do. 101.
1J inch do. 61. 10f.
1 Mich do. 41.
Pitch pine scantling, 31. 8/!
Cypius R fut shingles, 11, 10/
Do.. 22 inch do. al. 8/T
Cedar inch do. il. icf
•*s. Dollars at Bs.
Do. ±'>. inch do. 11. 6J.
Do. 18. inch do. iSf
Butt white oak staves, 35/.
Pipe do. do. 91.
Hogfhcad do. do. 6\. tof.
Do. do. heading, 81.
rrifli barrel do. staves, 31.5/
Hogshead red oak do. 51. ij-
Do. French do. 51.
Hog (head hoops, 41.
White oak square timber?
per square foot, )
Red wood, per ton, 281.
Fuftick, 101.
Beaver, per lb. 1?/ « 16i/i
Otti r per fk.in, 9f. 3 n f.
Grey fox, 4/7.
Martin, 4f\ 0.
Racooo, 3/6 a 7/6.
Mufkrat, loi. a 14^.
Beaver hats, 64/
Castor do. 48/r
Chocolate, 14 d.
Cocoa, a 80s.
Cotton, lfg.
Tar, pr. bar. 1 if. anf
Pitch, 16J.
Turpentine, lSl.aiof
Tobacco, James River,
Do. York, 44. a 3\d.
Do. Rappahanock, 2d a 3s«.
Do. Maryland,coloured, ss*-
Do. Weftern-fliore, 2d asH
Lead in pigs, pr cwt. SoJ.
Do. bars, 68/
Do. Shot, 68f.
Red lead, 6§f
White do. dry, 95/
White do. in oil, 5A * 2 /
Salt-petre hams, i\d.
Spermaceti candles, 3/
Mould do. nd. a if.
Tallow dipt, 9\d.
Soap, $d. a Bd.
Castile soap, 9d. a 1 oi.
Englilh cheese, pr. Ib. 15"*
Country do. $d.
Butter, if.
Hyson tea, 11 f a iif
Sequin do. 6f6-
Bohea do. 2fs.
Ginseng, 3fa 4/6.
Staich Poland, yd.
Snuff. 2/3.
A Hum fait, water mea- r
sure, pr. bush. )
Liverpool do. a/.
Madeira wine, ? g O / a go/.
pr. pipe, >
Port, 46/.
Lisbon, pr. gal. sf'
Teneriff, 4 f
Fyall, 3/3.
Dutch gun-powder,pr. vs ' t-
Nail rods, pr. ton, 36/.
Lintfeed oil, pr. gal- v; rr
Whale do. pr. barrel, 50/ *s°J'
Spermaceti do, 6/.
Shake-flown 3/^