rickfburg (including Falmouth) as ports of delivery only ; ai*.d a
collector for thediitrifci shall be appointed to refideat Tappahan
nock, which shall be the sole port of entry ; also a surveyor tor
each of the ports of Urbanna, Port-Royal, and Fredei ickfburg ;
and the authority of the officers ot the said d-ftrift (hall extend
over ail the wattrs,fhores, bay.*, harbors and inlets,comprehended
between Smith's point, at the mouth of Potowmack river, arid the
point forming the south shore of the inouth of Rappahannock ri
ver, and thence up the last mentioned river to the hight ft tide wa
ter thereof. The district of Yeocomico river including Kinfale,
shall extend from Smith's point on the south fide of Potowmai k
river, to Boyd's hole on the fame river, including all the waters,
ihorcs, bays, rivers, crecks, harbors and inline.s along the fouih
shore of Potowmack river to Boyd's hole aforefaid ; and Ycoco
mico including Kinfale, (hall be the iole port of entry ; and acol
leftor shall be appointed to re fide on Yeocomico river. The di
strict of Dumfries including Newport, shall extend from Boyd's
hole to Cockpit-point on the south iideof Potowmack river ; and
a collector shall be appointed to reside at Dumfries, which shall
be the sole port of entry ; an.l the authority of the officers ot this
district shall extend over all the waters, fhorcs, bays, harbors and
inlets comprehended between Boyd's hole and Cockpit-point
alorefaid. For the district of Altxandiia shall be appointed a col
lector and surveyor, to reside at Alexandria, which shall be the
4 ole port of entry ; and the autlwrity of the officers of the said di
.trict fhaJl extend over all the waters, shores, bays, harbors and
inlets on the south fide of the river Potowmack, from the lad men
tioned Cockpit-point to the highest tide water of the said river.
"For the district of Follcy landing (hall be appointed a colle or,
who shall reside at Accomack court houle, and whose authori
ty shall extend over all the waters, fhorcs, bays, harbors and
inlets of thecounty,of Accomack. Foi the diflrictoi Cherrystone
be appointed a collectoi to xcfide at Cherrystone, whose au
thority shall extend over all the waters, shores, bay*, harbors and
inlets comprehended within Northampton county. For the dis
trict of South Qqav a collector shall be appointed to reside t ereat,
whose authority fhll extend over all the waters, fhorcs, bays, har
bors and inlets in that part of Virginia, comprehended within the
limits of the said state. For the district of Louisville a collector
ill all be appointed ro reside thereat, whose authority shall extend
over all the waters, shores and inlets included between the rapids
wid the mouth ot the Ohio river on the south fide thereof.
(To be continued.)
FROM THE (LONDON) POLITICAL MAGAZINE.
CHARACTER OF DR. FRANKLIN.
TT'EVV men have gained universal celebrity from
Ji- fucli an origin. The principal conductor of
the American Revolution, had been a journey
man Printer in Philadelphia. Such are the def
tinatiotis of that Providence, which lias ordained
the production of an oal: from an acorn.
IDr. Franklin came to London in 1726. The
love of science can be tiaced from this early pe
riod, though he appeared here in the line of his
business. He had procured letters to, and was
well received by Mr. Koikes,afterwards President
of the lloySl Society, and through him knew Dr.
Clark. He was not,however, gratified with a fight
of his friend, which he often lamented, and which
he had labored to obtain : great age and increas
ing infirmities prevented an introduction to Sir
I. Newton.
Of his origin lie made no fecrer. In a conver
sation at Paris, in company with the Compte
D'Aranda, and the Duke de la Rochefoucalt, he
replied to an Irifli Gentleman,who had aiked him
fcnne queitions about Americ'a, and particularly
about the state of the paper manufactory there,
lew men can give you more information on that
subject than in y fie If, for 1 was originally in the
printing trade.
The princi]>les and qualities of Electricity were
scarcely known in the lalt age. The Eledlric
Fluid was barely mentioned at the end of New
ton's opticks. It was reserved for Mr. Franklin
to investigate its properties, and of that branch
of science he may be confidefed as the father.
Theory was advanced to practice and utility, by
the invention of the Coudud'jr.
Nor were his observations coniined to this sci
ence. There were few fubjeiTts of common uti
lity,upon which he did not comment; none which
lie did not improve and illultrate ; of which his
advice to Servants ; to Tradesmen 5 to Settlers in
America ; on the cure of Suioaky Chimnies ;
'Rules for Clubs and for Conversation ; Maxims
to convert a Great into a small Empire, written
with the cauitic spirit of Swift, abundantly prove.
To be generally ufeful, that he might be univer
sally celebrated, seemed to be his ruling princi
ple.
The memories of the aped are now supposed to
be retentive. The truth, however, seems to be,
that the tablet of the memory becomes callous at
a certain period, nor is it susceptible of new im
preHions, and particularly of verbal knowledge.
Franklin was an exception to this rule : he ac
quired French after seventy ; he spoke fluently
and even fcientifically in that language.
In fociery he was sententious, but not fluent, a
liftner rather than a talker, an informing, rather
than a pleallng companion ; impatient of inter
ruption, he often mentioned the custom of the
Indians, who always remain silent lome time be
fore they give an answer to a quelHon, which
they have heard attentively, unlike fonie of the
polite{t societies in Europe, where a sentence can
scarcely be (iniflied without an interruption.
It is a testimony to truth, and bare justice to
his memory, that he used hi 3 utmost endeavors
to prevent a breach between England and Ame
rica. His Parliamentary examination in 1766—
itil his converfaiions till 1775, had the fame be
nign tendency—Had his councils been followed
ho would have proved a friend indeed to this
country. From the period cf the well known
aSo ft* before the Council, he entertained a moil
ardent refentnient, too often the cxcrefence of
great minds. Folitenefs and moderation Could
not restrain the most pointed and bitter sarcasms
againli the conducft of England in mixed compa
nies ; and it is remarkable, that when the (hip
in which he failed lalt to America had tQUchtd
at Portfmonth, he was requelted t<r refVefh hini
felfon shore ; but he declined it, faying he was
refolved never more'to set his foot upon Engliih
ground.
The testimonies of Franklin's merit were con
ceived in the highelt strain of penegyrick : In
the year 1777, Lord Chatham adverted, in a re
markable speech, to his forcible arguments
against the war, and to the sagacious advice of
the American Newton.
Upon his reception in the French Academy,
D. Alemberr, the friend and correspondent of
Frederick the Great, welcomed him with that
well known line which revived the boldness and
the sublimity of Lucan.
* Eripuit ccrlo fulmen, fccptrumquc tyrannis.'
The Congress of America have enjoined a ge
neral mourning, and the public hratitude has
celebrated his obsequies ; fciencc (hall hereafter
record the name of Franklin in the truest regis
ters of fame.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF FRANCE.
Saturday, June 19.
A LETTER was read from M. Necker to the
Alleinbly, informing them, that the repub
lic of Geneva had supplied the territory of Gex,
(which was in great want) with 1400 quintals of
corn, on condition of having the fame quantity
returned them a few months after the harvelt.
M. Neckir added, that the Genevoi? had taken
that opportunity of renewing their offer of a pa
triotic donation to the state. This generous
proposal of a neighboring ftate,the ally of F ranee,
was warmly applauded, and ordered to be record
ed in the minutes. Some other offers of a similar
nature were afterwards made by fonie individuals
in the canton of Berne
M. Nouriffart, from the Committee ofFinances,
moved, that the Aflembly fliould anthorife the
CaiHed'Efcompte to pay into the public treasury
thirty millions of n»tes.
M. Camus rose and obierved, that altho he did
not mean to oppose this motion, he thought that
the utmolt precaution (herald be taken that the
national treasure should not be improvidently
squandered, and that an exa<si account should be
rendered of the expenditure.—This, heobferved,
had not lately been the cafe ; for the estimate
of the expence of the royal houfhold, for tlie firft
four mouths of the prelent year, was rated at
8,380,000 livrcs, whereas the futn aiftually paid
had b-en only 4,500,000 livres. He then Hated
fevcral fiinilar inttayres, and remarked upon the
impropriety of allowing the annual accounts to
lie over unsettled for so longa period, as from the
year 1775, to 1783. He cited the example of
Lewis XIV, who, at the end of every month, au
dited, with his own hand, M. Colbert's account of
the finances. He concluded his speech by propo
sing a plan of a decree to authorise the Caifle d'
Efcompte to pay in the sum moVed for to the
Royal Trcafury, and 10 effeel several other pur
poses of economical i cgtilations.
M. di Caiitclar then rose, and entered into a
vindication of the condu<ft of the Committee of
finances, and M. N~cker. He said their 1-abors
had been imnienfe—3nd that in a little time they
would be at an end.
The Abbe Maury then rose, and uttered the most
bitter complaints agdinlt M. Necker, for not com
plying with hisrequifition of producingthe three
accounts he had called for, viz. The expehce—
the receipt—the public debt. He said, although
the Minister had not had time to produce these
accounts, he had found time to write pamphlets
againlt hiiu. After the Abbe had -vented his ill
luimour in a number of (atirical observations up
on the Minister, he, all at once, surprised and
alarmed the Aflembly, byadvaneinga very hein
ous charge ogainft him. lie aflerted that M.
Necker had made a concealment of 600 millions
of livres. It was supposed that the Abbe would
hardly have brought forward an accusation of
this nature without some ground, the Afleinbly
were of courie conliderably agitated. The Ab
be in the mean time went on, and condemned in
very pointed terms the statements on the finan
ces lately submitted.by M. Necker to the Afl'ein
bly. He was equally severe upon those publiih
ed by M. Necker's two immediate predeceffbrs,
M. de Calonne, and the Arclibifhop of Sens, all
of which he alferted to be falfe, and abounding
in omillions and errors.
M. Regnault rose, and moved thar the memoir
and di (course the Abbe had juit delivered, (hould
be printed for the use of the members. This
Motion parted unanimously. Tlie Abbe was then
desired to deposit liis discourse at the table.
f his he refufed, and finding that this request was
likely to be infilled oil, he made a precipitate re
treat from the Hall, and the Assembly recalled
their order for printing it, and decreed that the
( aide D'Efcompte Ihould pay into the public
I realury 30 millions of their notes.
M. 3ouc!)s read a letter from Avignon, by
590
which It appeared, that the people hart com.
pleatly annihilated Papal tyranny and fuperUi.
tion in that country. The Ecclesiastics kept
their hold as long as pofiible, but were at laii:
compelled to yield ; and had it not been for the
efforts of the National Guard?, fonie of the moil
obnoxious would have been hanged. The peo
ple were in the greatest joy at being re-united to
France, andmolt of the Aritlocratics havino-] e ft
the country, peace and tranquility univerfaliy
prevailed.
MONT> AY, JUN 1" 2 [
M. Voulland rose, and gave amoli: melancholy
relation offonie late tumults in the ciry ot'Nif.nes
In this city the Aviftocratics have a strong party
which they have been at pains to strengthen by
every polhble means. On the igthinft. the dra
goons, who had refufed to afl'ociate with the re
giment ufGuienne, for the fafeguard ofthe ciry,
appeared in the streets with white cockades in
their hats. This conducfl gave rife to a tumult.
They were insulted in all parts ofthe city, and
M. Boudon loit his life. On the day following,
the patriots lhut thelnfelves up in the fort, and
being besieged by the dragoons, the place was ta
ken by rtorm, and a hundred persons peri/lied in
the atiault. In another part of the city a funilar
Icene of bloodlhed took place between the patriots
and their adversaries, and among the Wain were
found a number of Capuchi/is. It is ftronglyfuf
pe<fted that this horrid maflacre had been pre
vioully meditated, the greatelt part ofthe officers
of the dragoons having been provided with dou
ble charges of powder and fliot, above the usual
allowance. It is alio suspeCted that the Munici
pal officers were engaged. Two of thefeare ap
prehended, and the other has made his-efcape.
The Aflembly, in consequence of this relation,
immediately palled a decree, inverting the King
with authority to continue the powers of the com.
miflaries for the eftablilhment of the ad mini lira
tive Alleinblies of the department of Gar, and to
charge them to do their utmost to maintain peace
and good order in the city, and to call in the af
filtance ofthe National Militia, and other mili
tary corps if neceflary, and declaring the Munici
pality ofNifmes deprived for a time of that part
oftheir functions.
A celebrated artilV having presented 10 the
Afiembly a fine bull of M. Roulleau ; it was im.
mediately placed opposite to where those of
Franklin and Washington were intended to be
fixed. The resemblance is striking.and ftrong'y
expreflive of the genius and misfortunes of that
great man.
Wednesday, June S3.
The business of moment this day in the Mem -
bly, was a debate on the provision to 1m fettled
on the dignified Clergy nowcxiiling.— Mr Tliou
ret proposed a plan of a decree on a fcmewhat
larger scale than that of the Committee :—The
following articles were ultimately decreed.
Art. I. From the fiilt of January, 1790, the
provilion to Archbilhops and Sifhopsnowexifting;
(hall be as follows, viz. Tliofe whose revenues
do not exceed 12,000 livres, ihall remain as they
are
11. Those whole revenues exceed that sum to
a certain extent, shall enjoy 15,000 livres ; bat
the maximum is fixed at 30,000livres, theArck
biihop of Paris only accepted, who shall have
75,000 livres.
111. The Aarchbifnops and Bishops shall conti
nue, as usual, to enjoy the pofleffion of their hou
ses and gardens, situated in their Episcopal Ci:y
ov Suburbs.
Friday, June 2J.
" The National Afl'embly, confidenng that the
sale of the National Domains is the best method
ofextinguifhing a great part of the Public Debt,
of giving life to industry and agriculture, of in
creating the general mass of National wealth, by
the division of property into many parts, auiode
tending much to public improvement by the ta_
cility it gives to private citizens to become pro
prietors thereof, Decree, That all the National
Domains, of which the enjoyment has not been
reserved to the King, ihall, with the exception of
Forefbs, be alienated byvirtueof, and conformi
ty to the regulations of theprefent Decree."
The late Decree in favor of the Conquerors of
the Baflile having given rife to fouie jealousies
in Paris, a deputation from 863 of those heroes
appeared at the bar, to make a voluntary facrifice
ot the Decree in their favour, in order to prs
- the peace of the city. This was accepted.
Monday, July 19-
The Afl'embly were informed, by a letter from
M. Necker, that the Republic of Geneva had
madeofler to supply the territory of Gex, which
was reduced to extreme scarcity, with a quantity
of grain, and, at the fame time, had generously
j renewed their proposal of a patriotic contribute
M. Houdon, a celebrated artist, presented to
the AHcmbly the buds of WafliingtonandFranlt
lin.
I he Members were much pleased with tlus
mark of his refpe<t, and appoin' ed the Fref;Jf n J
to express to hiin their fatisfatfipn.
Tuesday, June 22