MR. FENNO,
THE Secretary of State, in his Repoit on the fubjefl of eftablifh
incj a uniformity in the weight-., measures and coins of the
United Srates, has given us an ample testimony of his fcicntific abi
lities, and from a scries of public condutt, a proof, that refined
fcienee, and republican virtue, arc not incompatible.
The idea of using the Pendulum as a univcrfal standard for mca
lure, is not new ; but the public is principally indebted to the Se
cretary for the general application of it, and making it likewise
the basis of both weights, and cubical, or solid mensuration.
In order to make a universal standard for any purpose, it will
be found neceflary to have recourse to fomc unalterable principle
lor that purpose. The Secretary has chosen Gravity, which pro
duces nearly the fame efle£ts, over every part of our globe : From
■which circumftancethis importantconclufion refults,v!z. that two*
persons, in different parts of the world, will each, by the applica
tion of pendulous bars to their clocks, or regulators, of such a
length as to produce seconds, constitute the ftarxlard Yard of the
Secretary ; and so nearly of a length, that they may be indiicrim
inately used for all common purposes; but where great exa£fcnefs
is neceflary, it will be requisite to reduce the Pendulum to the
ftandaid of fomc particular latitude. This Rod, or Pendulum, the
Secietary divides into five equal parts, called feet, these feet into
ten equal parts, called inches, these inches into ten equal parts,
called lines, and lastly, these lines into ten equal parts, called
points. The Standard when thus graduated is compleat. The
foot, or one fifth part of this rod, gives the cubical dimcafions of
the capacity of the Buftiel, which becomes the Standard, or Radix,
out of which all the other cubical measures of capacity take their
rife. The inch of this rod, gives the cubical dimensions of the
capacity of a vefiel, the weight of which capacity, or cubic inch
of rain-water, constitutes the ounce ; which becomes the standard
of Weights. The money-unit, or dollar, with the alloy alieady
eftablifhcd by the United States, will be equal to the weight of
the ounce, or cubic inch -of rain-water.
Hence trom this universal standard, (which is nearly as fixed as
Gravity,) all kinds of Measures, Weights and Coins, may be re
gulated in the most harmonious manner. In forming the stand
ard for this plan, there is nothing left to caprice and whim, which
circumstance alone must banish discordance, and entitle it to a
ilc-cided preference over all the vaiious regulations now in nfe.
January 17,1791. E.
FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
IT is a republican principle that, the majority
shall Govern : In all communities this majority
is composed of the middling and poorei clafi'es
of the people; these clafles, united, arefuperior
to all opposition ; and whenever they are set in
motion, to pursue an objed: on just principles,
the general good is invariably promoted their
prosperity always includes that of the other class,
the rich and independent. I presume it will be
granted, that the education of the children of
every rank in society, is a consideration of the
firft importance, and ought to be an objeA of at- |
tention to every man whose bosom glows with a
spark of philanthropy, or good citizenlhip. The
affluent are so sensible of the advantages of learn-
that they never neglect a suitable proviiion
for their own offspring ; but this chaiity, which
beoiiii at home, is never extended but in a paitial
manner. I believe it will be found that no com
petent proviiion for an utiiverfal diffufion of the
means of education ever was or can be made, but
at the instance of those who constitute what is
denominated the niafs of the people. Oit the
middling and lower clailes then this business de
volves, and they are fully competent to the un
dertaking. Uniting their strength, and exert
-sn<r their force, they may accomplifli the desira
ble object. If the peotle fay that a law shall
be made obliging every town, consisting of a
(riven number of inhabitants, to support afchool
or schools, in which the children of every house
holder shall have a right to be inftrutfted, it shall
be done.—Or if the citizens of any corporation
unite in so laudable a design as to provide for
the establishment of public i'chools at the expence
of the whole community, every individual of which
to be benefited by the institution, if they chufe,
what is there to hinder the plan from being car
ried into execution ? As I laid before, this rnuft
be done by the middling class of people—in the
country, by the yeomanry, the labourers and far
mers—in the fta-poris, by the mechanics, the ar
tifls and inferior traders: These are immediately
interfiled the rich more remotely, tho efl'enti
ally j -but the affluent having it in their power to
provide for their tun, it is only from tisesfity,and
by bein°- out-vuiid\>y the majority that they will
ever be brought to contribute to the support of
such competent institutions, which they can do
without. We hear much about Charity-Schools—-
they are mere illujions by which the poor are di
verted from a proper attention to their interett;
thpy never were competent to the exigencies of
the poor in any country. If by united exertions
the free citizens of this country can provide tor
themselves, I hope they will never depend on
charity. ' , ,
I conclude the present remarks by a quotation
from an ingenious and animated address to the
citizens of" Delaware, which appeared in the
Delaware Gazette .of Bth inft.
" It is too notorious to need formal proot,that
" in those parts of our own and other countries,
*' where public schools, and places of liberal
<< education, are numerous, encouraged, and
« amply fupportecf, there without many excepti
-4S ons, flourifh improvements in society, and the
arts of life, and every thing contributing to
" national happiness and prosperity ; there go
« \erniuent is Ipirited and energeuck ; there
« wealth and eminence rife with equal and ra
pid strides ; there is molt permanency and
" tranquility. The l'eafon is plain—Every rank
" and order of citizens, in the mechanical as well
" as the liberal profefiions, are men ot inforniati
" on.difcernmentand reflection ; capable not only
" of managing their business in such a mariner as
" to procure themselves affluence and eaf«,butof
" making and communicating such interelling
" discoveries and inventions, asfhall be of exten
« five utility. Thus may the artill contribute
" his mite, with as much fncccfs as the more
" splendid character, towards encrealing the
" wealth and glory of his country."
A MECHANIC.
MR. FENNO,
As you publijhei the Resolutions of North Carolina
in their imtfiaturt state, it will be proper to do it
correctly. The Resolutions finally pajfed, areas
follovj. Tours, B. C.
North Carolina.
In General j4tftmbly, December 14, I 790.
WHEREAS, the secrecy of the Senate of th<
United States, the alarming measures oi
the late session of Congress, and thefilence obfer
ved by the Senators from this state, in not correl
nondir.g with the legislative or executive thereof
Irongly impress this general aflembly with th<
leceility of declaring their sentiments thereon.
Resolved, that the Senators reprelenting thi:
late in the Congress of the United States be,anc
hey are hereby directed, to use their conltani
nid unremitted exertions to have the doors oi
he Senate of the United States kept open, thai
he public may have access to hear the debates ol
he Senate, when in its legislative or judicial
apacity.
Relblved, that when in Congress they be di
ecfted to coi-refpond regularly and conilantly
vith the Legislature, but during the recess there
if with the executive.
Resolved, that they use their endeavours to
o have such of thejournals as are not of a lecrei
lat ure printed, and transmitted by post or other
\ife to the executive, regularly, during eachlef
ion of Congress.
Resolved, that the Senators of this state use
heirutmoft endeavours to effetfi ceconomy in the
■xpenditur'e ps the public monies, and to decreaft
he enormousfalaries given to the public officers
md others, who, however much they may be
leferving of the public gratitude or liberality foi
he eminence of past or present services, oughi
>nly to be compensated agreeable to republicai
economy.
Resolved, that they strenuously oppose every
rxcife and direct taxation law, Ihould any be at
empted in Congreft.
Resolved, that the Seuators from this state be
md they are hereby strenuously enjoined, to ex
;rt themselves to effect an alteration in the pre
et rout of the mail, or to eftablifli another gene
al post through the interior'jjarts of this state.
jy way of Halifax, Warrington, Hilllborough.
ialifbury, and Charlotte, so as to give that faiis
action which is not now experienced,but which i:
jfl'ential in such a government as that under wliicl
we now exist.
And whereas, from the present distribution ol
he federal judiciary, the inhabitants ofthisilatt
lo not receive the benefits intended them by
Jongrefs: Therefore resolved, that our Senators
>e dTrected to have the diitridt and circuit courts
ippointed at two places in this state, to make it
-.onvenient to the citizens.
Resolved, that his excellency the governor be
•equelted to transmit a copy of the foregoing re
olutions to Samuel Johnfton and Benjamin Haw
ciris, Esquires, the Senators representing this
late in the Congress of the United States, and
mother copy to the legislature of each state.
W. LENOIR, S. S.
S. CABARRUS, S. H. C.
A copy from the journal of the houfe.of Coin
nons. J- Hunt, Clk.
PITTSBURGH, Dec. 2j
Extratt of a letter from lieut. Ebcnezer Frotbingham,
of the Ift U. S. Regiment, to a brother officer, da
ted Fort Pitt, 23d Jtine last.
" I had determined to write to you very par
ticularly from this place, but you will excufeme
when you know the grief and pain oi lieui t 1
now feel. I arrived the day before yesterday ;
Mr. Ernest informed me that he had the evening
before received a packet of letters for me from
home ; my heart gladdened in expectation of hear
ing from my wile and friends ; but O ! the afto
niliiment of my foul, when on opening my let
ters I found my clear wife was no more : My
faireft, my brightest profpeifls oil this fide eter
nity are blasted in the very bud ; flie died sud
denly, only five days illness. ; went off in a faint
ing fit without a groan. The molt comfortable
afi'urance {he palled to her Saviour's arms,,is my
only consolation in this my hour of grief and
woe : why was (he removed so soon, even whilil
my fond heart was anticipating the help and ad
vantage I fhoukl receive from her virtue and pi
ety ? But (hould I complain, when (he is such
an infinite gainer ? Yet I feel as though my lo's
was irreparable. May my foul be well prepared
710
to go an 4 soon tojoin her spirit above, wliei-e lin
and i'orrow are known no more.
" My dear fir, do not place yourhappinefs on
calculations in this world, where grief and dis
appointments await us. May your hope and
mine be beyond the reach of all ti anfitory things."
Lieutenant Frothingham being 011 the late ex
pedition against the Indians, was killed in bat
tle ; his friend thought proper to publish the
above extract, in order to lhew the great piety
and.Christian dependance of Mr. Krothingham,
and liowfearlels he must have met death.
January i.
The arrival of Mr. Robias at this place from
Sandm'ky, and the accounts brought by him of
the difpoiition of the Indians, is rather unfavora
ble. It appears that they are early
in the spring to turn out for war, and commit
depredations on the frontiers ; that they are
greatly elevated with the ill'ue of the late cam
paign, and (when speaking of it) fay they are
more than men. It may be neceilary forthc in
habitants 011 the frontiers tolceep a watchful eye,
although there may be no great danger', as a re
port of this kind never loses by frequent re
peating ; and we flatter ourselves their attenti
on will be called toa more diitant quarter, 1 in or
der to proted: themselves.
The navigation of the Ohio has been closed
this sometime, so that all communication,by that
channel, is for the present stopped between this
country and Kentucky.
HARTFORD, Jan. 10.
Some of the public creditors in Pennsylvania, have presented
COngrcfs with a petition, the stile of which, in imitation of Gib
bon, is most sublimely and elegantly obfeure, but the design of which
is to induce Cougrcfs to the funding fyftein and give iix per
cent, interest on the whole public deot at once. They call them
(elves the patriotic viclimt of the war; when in truth three fourths of
them are [peculators, who have purchased most of the public paper
for less than half its value.
They begin their tedious address with charging the Secretary of
the Treasury with in recognizing the justice of their
claims m the utmost latitude, in the beginning of- his report, and
then recommending a plan of funding the debtat less thanjwas ori
ginally promised. They proceed to charge Congress with having
lojl the disposition to do jujlice, altho they had acquired the power.
After fouie common place remarks on the moral and political obli*-
gation of contratts and the importance of public credit, they enumerate
the many promiies made to the creditors by Congrcfs under the
confederation, and then charge the present lcgiflature of the Uni
on, with having clandeflinely obtained an unreasonable concejfion from
the creditoes, and with having infringed the original contract ur.d de
flroyedits principles. They charge the indire&ly with be
ing callous to their merits and fujferings, and tarnishing the glories of
America with broken contrails and violated faith. i hey declare the
old Congrels to have been a wife and virtuous body, v/bopratlfzd
right, as far as they were able ; but the present ast for
vilion for the public debt, thi-v fay. is nv
thepnbHcfaith, a flriking controfl to the il'ujlrious example of the
Cengref, and a dangerous infraction of the- fundamental laws 4fjujiict.
In short, the whole petition is bui a round about way ot leiling,
Congress they area nefl offcoundrels.
CHARLESTON, December it
Johoßoydcll, Esq. hie Alderman of Cheap Ward,..w.as elefl
ed lord Mayor of London, on the 29th September.
EDINBURGH, September 30.
Thurfdav laftarrived at Greenock., the Peggy, Captain Mar
quis, from Leghorn, on board of which came pafTenger, Charles
Colville, a native of Arbroath, from Algiers, from whom we
have received the following information:—ln July,
Ihip Dolphin, O'Bryen, matter, belonging to Philadelphia, was
captured by ail Algerine xebec, and the crew, consisting of .15
men, carried into slavery, four of whom belong to Scotland,
the above Charles Coiville, John Robertfon, lon of John Roberi
l in, cooper in Glasgow, George Smith, of Portfay, and William
Paterfon of Aberdeen. The three lad still remain in slavery, and
fix of the reil were cut off by the plague about two years ago, at
which timeabove 800 christian slaves fliared the fame fate. Col
ville obtained his liberty, upon his friends paying 3501. as 2ran
fom, part of which was obtained by a contribution set on fooc
by that ornament of mankind, George Dempfter,'Efq. of Duni
chen, who negociatcd the whole business with Charles Logic, Esq.
the liritilh consul at Algiers, as appears from the pass granted
Colville from that gentleman. He left Algiers,-in July lalt, and
has brought letters from the above mentioned persons to their
Iriends.
CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, Jan. 11.
In committee of the whole, on the bill repealing after
the last day of next the att laying duties oil
difiitkdfpirits, ire. and impofitig others sa tbzrf
flead_.
r pH£ 1 Jth fetftion was read, which refpetfts the
Jl duty on spirits distilled from materials the
growth or produce of the country.
Mr. Jackson moved that this fectioil {liould be
(truck out. He observed that this he conceived
to be the (tage of tlve bill in which aftand ought
to be made by its oppofers ; this clause respeCts
the produce of the country —and here the friends
| of American manufactures and produce ought o
make their exertions to defeat the bill. Het
read a particular estimate, by which he falu
appears that the proposed provision was emi
ufineceffary. He then, offered some general
fervations 011 the bill: Direct taxation, faia 1-»
has been objetfted to —this power is as fuJJy "
cognized in the conditution as the right of .■
ing excises—those therefore who are oppof «<
the latter, have as good a right to offer the'
jecftions as those opposed to the former.
Secretary fays we ought to leave direift taxi
a rcfource for a future emergency ; but is it 1
better to have tiro resources than one.? The