[-w.
a],
ac-
Mr. Ames moved that the bill to regulate the Poft-Officc of the
United States (hould be taken up : which being agreed to, the
house went into a committee ot the whole.
Mr. Livermore in the chair.
The firft clause of the bill was read
tea
i*
Mr. Wi lli a MSQK oblerved that according to the heft calcul
tion he could make, the income of the poll-office upon the fyften
in the bill, so far from producing the revenue which had been
contemplated, would not yield fufficient to support itfcjf; he
therefore moved that the bill ftiould be recommitted to a fcle6l
committee ; that the information >• ceived since the bill had been
reported, might be unproved to render it Jess defective ; Mr-
Boudinot and Mr. Fitzfimons were in favor of the committee's ri
sing, in order to recommitting the bill; the motion however be
ing obje£ted to, was withdrawn.
The clause which empowers the President of the United States
to establish poft-offices and poll roads, it was moved Ihould bt
ilruck out.
The motion was supported by faying that this is a power veiled
in Congress by an express clause in the Conllitution and therefore
cannot be delegated to any pcrfon whatever; the objrflj that are
connected with this power are of great weight in themselves and
are properly cognizable by the Lrg.flatureof the Urn on only
The words after lome debate were llruck out.
The prmciple of farming the Cross-Roads wasobiefted to bv
Mr. Smith, (S. C.) the dea of farming fa.d he is new ii this coun
try ;it is indicative of weaktiefe in the government. If the ro
wnmeK make a fate of the income of an office which fall, below
the vaUie, there is so much loft to the public ; if ,he lale i, abo«
the valuf—the farmer must indemnity himfclf by exto tion • he
moved that the whole clause resetting farming should be struck
;ion,
• ,r-» B .>T NO I ° br " Vtd , " lat V ht idca farming as contained
inthe bill, has reference only to thecrofs roads-,n general Port
Offices in those roads cannot be supported by the United States,
but at a loss : Still for the accomodation of ihe inhabitants in D ar
..c ar places, the Poft-Maltc,-.General Ihould be empowered tn
fftablifh such Port-Offices as may conduce to their convenient
provided the comment was put to no expence—the mhabitan s
cdVJhP nnm g n"°T fd thc poftagc ot the l «tei*, e ftablifli'.
cd such Pofl-Omces. But there appears to be a propriety thai thr-
Poft-Mafter-Gener»l should farm out those cross road'! which
may be prndufhve. '
Mr. Am es advocated the claufc-he observed that Great-Bri
lain in consequence of farming thc Poft-Office, had made the
come prod,giouOy produft.ve The general objeft.ons to farming
he admitted were well founded, but the present objea was per-
Aaps the least exceptionable of any that c an be mentioned.
The motion for striking out this clause was negatived
and made
The committee then rofc,'and the house adjourned.
ranee
your
eft, I
difin-
1 fer
i your
vhich
■ may
t, bt.
'ithin
The Aflembly came to the following resolution,
the ground of the qualification of a citizen to
vote forreprefentatives, and to enjoy all the ad
vantages of an active citizen.
" The National AHembly cohfidering tliat
they are obliged to establish Tome conditions by
which a citizen is to exercise his rights, have
thought it their duty to make thele conditions as
easy to fulfil as polfible ; that it is not by the
price of work in art. naturaUy Jubjedt to much
Tarianon, but on that of the tillage of the earth,
lhat the price ought to be fixed ; and, therefore
they declare prov.fionally, that in fixing thedai'
v P rlce ot labour, necellary to become an attive
citizen, they mull not exceed the sum of twenty
sols, without pretending on this account to chancre
the superior prices now laid on, which maybe
paid for such labour in different provinces "
When they finiflied their labours, M. Rabaud
de Sr. Etienne made a splendid speech.
" All Frenchmen have already perceived, "
:lieve
thher
)f the
iot be
:d for
>poses
t, can
e ob-
Ifcr
Ctl
fakl he, " the utility of the diVision of the king
dam, and nothing can be a greater eulogy on the
nation and the age—nothing can more demon
ftrably prove the ascendancy of reason in the
Winds of a people filled with patriotism and in
telligence, than the uniyerftl adhesion of all
parts of the empire to this great and general re
form. It is in consequence of that quick dif
cernmenr, of that profound sagacity which feeins
to take the place of inftinft, and which has late
1} characterized the trench people, that in the
space of one month, all the provinces, all the
cities, all the citizens, have applauded the rege
nerative decrees which have substituted the poli
tical equality of all parts of the kingdom in the
room of a inonftrous and contradictory inafs of
inequalities, of which antiquity, chance, abuse,
pnviledge, favour, and despotism, were the
chaotic materials. That which Lewis XIV.
"would not dare to undertake, that which he would
not have been able to atchieve, the Nation could
conceive, approve, and accomplish in the course
of a few months;—it is the interest of all to feel
and recognize this great truth—that despotism
commands, bat it is reason only that persuades."
January 21.
<Jn Monday last a letter from Conflantinople
read at rhe Nationly Aflembly, full of enthu
la.'c ex preffioiis in praise of liberty : it seemed
as if eloquence had dictated every line. The Se
nators were filled with aftonifhnient, and the il
n.on was really such, that they thought they
hearing a citizen of Sparta, or Athens,
pea mg from the Dardanels. And in faift the
etter was written from a gentleman who had
°!.' uen 'he voluptuous lifeofthe French metro
po is or the purposes of visiting the ruins of those
ancient Republics—it was M. de Choifeuil-Gouf
r, tiie trench Ambaflador to the Porte, who
nt a thousand Louis (500 for himfelf, and 500
name of some Turkey Merchants) to the Pre
cnt of the National Aflembly, with compli
es, and congratulations to his free country.
s not ;
fettle-
e dan
tis bt>
preot
trd and
mft in
necef
at that
,e State
ift oft
'urther
house.
red to
of the
enable
itionsl
a bill*
Lte i n '
; r pro
ion or
in ctr
Aristides" came too late for this paper.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
Paris "January ij,
PROVIDENCE, April 3..
Last week Mr. Abner Merrifield, ofMedway
n the •■State of.Maflaehufetts, havin e purchased
p°»teC"h Ch ' ll "a""' wa
£on w 1 S , hor,,eSVard Wlth tbe g«ods in a wag
gon, when Ins property was seized by a revenue
ofheer, and lent to Bolton—By act of Coiizrefs
feked ?i!if T g&>a and team * re
on 1 Mr m 0 OUr out ofthe uni-
ei '7 field ® dealt « this town, and
expei-ded much money therein.
Laws ofthe United States
CONGRESS OF THE UXJZZO STATES :
ft j » 1 . AT THE SE ° N » sess+on.
Begun ,nd held at ,V C,«> N, w-York, on Monday the fourth
Of > uary, one thouttid seven hundred and ninety!
An AC r to p- omoce the Progress of ufeful Arts
Si-ESP--—•sSftss
i fcov r 'T g r I ' 'or 'hey, hath or have invented or
..(covered any ufeful art, manufacture, eng.ne, machine orde
Vice, Or any improvement therein not before known or us d and
praying tnat a patent may be erant'-d ihriL-foi ir rK,tt j
be ~w t» | t0 an p d f llc > fald Secreta!-y of Sute,
R Department of Wn, and the Attorm y-Ccneral or anviwn
rfefuiTnd y """ d "' m r'" ' nvc " ,inn " r discovery fufficLtly
na're ofthe'if " lc " Cr^P atl ' nt to ™de °»<the
nHed Sta ~V, I u° Prrnd "" «*'■" U
ution rd Vf k" R J" al! . c p" ons ' ind luggethous of the said pe.
L f'l i i S 'hefc'd invention or d.fcovery,clearly, truly
and fully, and thereupon anting to fuchpetitioner or petitioners
or , th,:lr ht rs ' •>dm,ni(lrators or assign, forany term no!
exceeding fourteen years, the 10l • and exdufive right and liberty
the^id' nS ' con "K' "fins =nd vending to others to be used'
,' n , V k n a°" ' Jr d,fcove, y • whlch letters-patent lhall be de
edk A,to L rn "- Gcn «>l °f the United States to be exainin
" dayS neXt aftcr thc delivery to him
'f he (hall find thc fame conformable to th.s ast, certify,! to be so
the p e r°T u nt 'n! nd pref!:nt thc le »«-"-P"ent, so certified to
the Prefidcnt, who (hall caule the (eal of the United States to he
thereto affixed, and the fame lhall be good and available to the
PurDof °h gralUC " by f °: CC °[ thls ast ' to a " and --very intent and
and (ha " bf record «> in a book to be
Kept tor that purpose in the officc of the Secretary of State, and
£ i P V Cnt " his a ß cn t» and the delivery thereof (hall
entered on the record and indorsed on the patent by the (aid
Secretary at the time of granting the fame. X
oatem P" 3 ' 4 ! Th ' l ' th ° S rantc< " or grantees of each
patent (hall, at the time of granting the fame, deliver to the Secre
tary of State, fpecification in writing, containing a description
accompained with drafts or model,,** explanations
*I , tbc " st " re of the invention or difcoverv will admit of a
model.) o. the; thing pr tliuigf, by him of them invented or dif
rifi", " "«ref» ] dii» thofaid patent*; which fpc
onlv '°!1 ft and said /nodrls so exact, a, not
only to d.fting.ulh the invention or difcovcry, from other things
before known and used, but also to enable a workman or otlir
person, (killed in the art or manufacture, whereof it is a branch
or wherewith it may be nearest connected, to make, conftruft or
use thc fame to ;he end that the public may have the full benefit
thereof, after thc expiration of thc patent-term ; which fpecifica
tion (hall be filed IP the office of the said-Secretary, and certified
copies i hereof, lha 11 be competent evidence in all Courts and be
fore all Jurifdifttons, where any matter or thing, touchingor con
cerning furh patent, right, or privilege, (hall come in question.
And be it further enar'ted, That upon the application ofanvper
■ <>n to the Secretary ofSiate, for a copy of any of such fpecificati
on, and lor pcrnvffion to have fimibr m">del or models made, it
(bail be the duty of the Secretary to give such copy, and to permit
t e person so applying for a similar model or models, to take, or
make, orcaufe thefametobe taken or mlide, at thccxpcnceof
luch applicant.
And be, tfurther enatlcd, That if any person or persons (hall de
vtle, make, conftruft, use, tmpioy, or vend within these United
V aies, any art, manufacture, engine, machine, or device, or any
invention or improvement upon, or in any art, manufacture en
gine machine or device, thefole and ex'clufive right of which,
I,c so as aforcfaid granted by patent to iiny person or persons
by virtue and -n purfuancc of this ast, without the consent ot the
patentee or patentees, their exccutors, administrators or affiqns
hrlf liad *nd obta:ncd in writing, every person so offending, (hall
a "d P a y 'he said patentee or patentees, his, her or their
"" ut , or '- ariminilirators or assigns, such damages as (hall be
(red by a jury, and moreover (hall forfeit to the person aggriev
ed, the thing or things so devifcd, made, aonfirufted, used, em
ployed, orvend.d, contraiy to Ihe true inient of this ast, which
ma> be recoveied in an action on thc cafe, founded on this act. *
And be it further ena&ed, That upon oath or affirmation made
before the Judge of the Diftrift Court, where the defendant re
(idts, that any patent which (hall be iiTued tn purfuanceof this ast,
was obtained furr- ptttioufly by, or upon falfe suggestion, and mo
tion made to the said Court, within one year aftcr i(Tuing the said
patent, but not afterwards, it (hall and may be lawful to and for
thc Judge of the Diitrift Court, if matter alledgcd (ball
appear to him to he futh' ient, to grant a rule that the patented ot
patentees, his, her, or their executors, adminiftraiors, or assigns,
(hew cause why process (hould not issue against hibi, her, or
them, to repeal such patents; and if fufficient cause ffiall not be
(hewn to the contrary, the rule (hall be made and there
upon the said Judge (hall order process to be ilfued as aforefaid,
against such patentee or patentees, his, her, or their executors, ad
minilirators, or assigns. And in cale no fufficient cause lhall be
(hewn to the contrary, or if it (hall appear thathhe patentee was
not thc firft and true inventor or difcovcrcr, judgment lhall be
rendered by such Court for the repeal of such patent or patents;
and if the party, at whose complaint the proccls issued, (hall have'
judgment given againfl him. he (hall pay all such costs as the de
fendant shall be put to in defending the suit, to be taxed by the
Court, and recovered in luchmanner as costs expended by defend
ants, shall be recovered in due conrfe of law.
And be itfuithcr enacted, That in all actions to be brought by
such patentee or patentees, his, her. or their executors, admini
flrators, or afligns, for any penalty incurred by virtue of this ast,
the said patents or fpecifications shall b t prima facie evidence, that
the said patentee or patentees, was or were tiie firft and true in
ventoFor inventors, discoVerer or difcoverersof the thing so fpeci
fied, and that the fame is truly fpecifitd ; but that nevertheless, the
defendant or defendants may plead the general issue, and give this
ast, and any special matter whereof notice in writing (hall have
been given to the plaintiff, or his attorney, thirty davs before the
trial, in evidence, tending to prove that the fpecificauou filed by
she plaintiff dors not contain the whole of the truth concerning
his invention or difcovcry \ of that it contains mote than is nc-
419
published
M^ dr , > ' r t^ Prod M C - l ' 1C ef r ea ck ' frr!i > Ed ; and if .the concealment of
P® . the addition of more than is lic-eflhrv, Uiall ; ,i,n eartn
fpc'c fi ( vl r n ', C3,,not bC i'V the
,be a S&i" "" Verd,£t a " d JUdgmtm
wfmih"^ U " , "' r \" 7,121 such P 3,cn!f e »» afrtrefaid, dial',
IT:: pd , ,cm ' pa >" ' ~C f«» W the fevcral
FW en, P'°y^'» waking out arid prrf«ti:r T uk f aß , r , .
catin r n CC ' Vmg i' ng thc P elitlon > ! lf; V c ™.s ) for hit:,,; Ipecif.
canons, per ctyy-iheet coii-*i,iin s (me hundred. word*. t'r-n crtii,
dZhr ,"* P a ' em -, ,w " dDll^; ; for atfix.ng great feat, one
tcntee 'in T d *i " f de,lvmn S !he •"« to the pa
tentee, including all intermediate services, twenty cents
FREDERICK -AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG,
, „ Speaker Of the Ihuje of Reprefntatwr*.
JOHN ADAMS, I'tcr-Prcfient aj the Unittd Slxtr'.
ami. Pnpdcnt of t(ie HenuU,.
Approver, Aprm. the tenth. 1700
, 'WASHINGTON, Prejident of the United Stales
{ 1 it i/E Copyy
THOMAS JEFJXRSON, Sccrctary of Stair.
New-york, april 14.
F-xtrnCls fromjurjry letters to a gentleman in this city.
Ma * ch 2j. but there are many wife men among thfcm.
who are good state pilots ; it is however hard labor for them to
get the ship along agamft such an undertow, and the/ir/runnlnj at
the fame time : We may give them a hinf when wc conceive theV
are o»t or the way, or move tooJlotufy in the right way.
April i. The flow progrels in public business, excites very
general concern. The Anties laugh : The friends to the National
Crovernmept mourn. Why does not rife up and fay « Everv
man has madeup his mind, therefore let us talk lefi and vote more."
It appears to me that Congress are like some physicians, who have
long attended a paticot, that they have moll perUQW allured will
be well ; but the cure not being performed, the fufferer and
his friends are much rtiore fenfihle of the lapse of time and th<-
consequent loss, than the honest doctors are. Whether this fimilc
properly expresses the idea or not, the plain truth is, that by a del
lay ot the capital concern of the nation, public credit the
umverfal expettation has been difapp jinted, and the public'coji
ndence conliderablv abated—while local state politicians are fur"
nifhed with pretexts for keeping up the cry of » state fovereien
fy." 6
Ar>t it 4. The members ought to bear in mind that their con
ititucnts in general think their pay is high, and was established
without much loss of tme.. I conlefs myfelt mortified with the m
decifion of that assembly, which ou s ht to strike the world with
Its wisdom, energy and d.fpjtch—Men of fentimen: are aftomfli
ed and extremely disappointed;
" - .a , r .... i n> .
F.xlrad oj<l Yrttt, from Phiiidrlphia, April
-- L - •' * 1 - L..r.. r •
lamSt a lofj to know why th£ tiii,din ;; business has lain ovei
Report fays fomthing about a coropromife' icfarfling the affump
iion : Time is passing and I begin to in nk they will fay bye and
hye U is too lato in the fe(Ti.,rt to go thro with such important bu
nnefsas funding the debt, Ac "
ExtraS of a Letter 'from GnrgeTotun, Aftiiz, t 7 g o .
I cjn with pleafurc inlorm vou tint within three weeks past wt
hove had arrivals of at least 30 boats, at the mouth of Watt's
Branch, 14 miles from this, load d with flour, wheat and tobac
co-many of them from the head waters of Potowmac. I have
seen several of the Boatmen, and they are much pfeafed with the
navigation The Powtomac company's hands are now at work
•in the rocks at the great talis. I hope they will get through that
work this prefeflt year," then the boats may pal's to the little fall?
fLTic" hrncc; " the lower pan df which as
ot Mill Stones might run, as would manufacture ,00 bar! els of
flour per day, where ships could go up to the spot.
" There is no fcrfcßion in this -jjorlJ" the lov
ers of discord and confuiion, derive all their con
sequence from the universality of this idea.—ln
a tree State it unfortunately happens that there
are always more persons disposed to condemn
than to applaud—but the misfortune to the pub
| lie is, that censure is generally more grateful
than approbation —ft is apparent from the tenor
of certain recent ftrictureson public affairs, that
the objeift is men, and not measures ; in this mode
of pursuing their objetft, the disappointed fhe\r
their wifdom—for the universal acquiescence of
the people in the measures of adminijtration, pre
cludes them from all hope of fuccels in attempts
in that line ; but if a stigma can be affixed on
charattcrs, and the public confidence fhqken a> itl
destroyed, the mifchievousdefigns of an antifede
ral junto may be effetfled.
The Hon. Mr. Lie. nd the Hon. Mr. Gu nn, Senators of the
United Sidles, arrived in this city on Sunday evening last.
Yea. rday was married by the Reverend Buiki, offici
ating Rtttor of the Parish of St. Peter, in this city, the hon
Lewis William Otto, Charg* des Affaires of his most Christian
Majelty, to Miss Fanny de Crevecoeur, daughter of the hon. St«
John de Crevecoeur, his Mod Christian Majesty's Consul for the
Stales of Connecticut, New-York, and New-Jerfcy.
TO fund—-or not to fund, that is the question !
Whether 'tis better toafTume the debts
By States contrafled for the gen'ral weal,
And by a lib'ral scheme of finance, prove
No little, local motivesguide our sages.
In Congiels met, to plan a nation's fate,
And fix the credit ol the States forever ;
Or—by opposing—end both Credit
And the Debts together—■
A consummation devoutly wifli'd
By tbofe who sicken at our growing greatness ;
For in that vote what ills may lurk,
Deftruflive of our concofd—peace, and honor !
When the long patient Creditor!,
Whofc puifes fay'd us in the trying hour,
See faith and justice flee the land,
And hope, no more support their honed expefbtios,
Say, Ihall we not combine a host,
'Gainst Revenue— Congress, and the Union ?
ARRIVALS SINCE OUR LAST. NEW.YORK,
Packet Rorbuck, Cowfe, Fakn uth, 42 days.
Brig Carolina, Mead, WilmnKMn, 6 days,
Brig Betfev, Motley, 9 days.
Sloop Jennv, 'Schermehotn, Sfwnna, 16 d»y».
Sloop Leah, Fowler, Dirty, Nova Scotia, 14 day«.
Sloop Phfcnix, Bartlett, Wilmington, 7 days.
—Slpop Venus, Belknap, St. Myth's, 17 days.