(SqzgM PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FEN NO, No. 69, MARK,STREET, BETWEEN SWHD AND THIRD STREETS, PHILADELPHIA [No. 6 1, of Vol. ll.] Saturday, November 27, 1790. lOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES. OBSERVATIONS ON THE Whale-fiftiery and Seal-catching T I has been verified from experience, that Whales change their places of resort in confequencc of the continual warfare against them. At the lirft settlement of this country, Whales were commonly found 011 these coalts, and not unfrequently drove aftioie. The Whjt.e iisHERY, carricd 011 by the Dutch, Engliih, and our countrymen, in the northern seas, was for merly very productive ; but of late years, veflels frequently returned home without the lead suc cess. The present rout of Whales is alongthe Brazil coafl ; and they are still tending south ward, so that there can be little doubt but in a few years, the Wh a le-t is h ery w ill beprofecu ted in as high a southern, as it has been in a northern latitude. A very serious inconvenience will arise from this change, which is indeed already experien ced ; and more particularly when vefl'els are un fuccefsful, which often happens : Thac is, the extreme length of the voyage, which occasions an increase of the expences of outfit. To reme dy, in an eflential manner, this very serious in convenience, wjiich may eventually discourage this valuable branch of fifhery, the following hints are suggested. Froin foine lat;e voyages to the Faulkland ifl ands, which have been fufficiently fuccefsful to prove the experiment, there can be no doubt but by connecting the two objects of WHALING and SEALING, a very profitable voyage would be made. Should the whaling voyage prove fuccefs ful, the veflel returns home to a sure and certain iiiarket. If only partially fuccefsful, or totally uufuccefsful, let the veflel run to the Falkland- Islands, and undertake the killing of Seals, which are to bte found in different parts of those innu merable inlets and islands. A' knowledge »f their haunts, norwithltandiuo; the pretenlions to the contrary, can be readily acquired by a perse vering search. Seals abound in vast numbers, and keep together in herds. They arefo harm less and taine, as to fuffer themselves to be knock ed down with clubs, the only weapon used in killing, then). The point is to get between them and the shore when in a rookery, ag it is phrased, of i jco Seals, not ten will escape, anda crew of twelve men will sometimes kill as many, or more, in one day. The Nantucket and eastern part of Long-Island Whalemen, will find themselves pe culiarly adapted for this business, as beingaecuf toined to live aihore as well as follow the seas— hunting is familiar to them. Many advantages are lolt by the inexperience of the crews in this trade, and the novelty of the business. They are generally at firll so terrified with the grinning and howlings of the Seals, as to fuffer a few to break thro the line which intercepts their com munication with the sea, which if once accoin plifhed,it is almost impossible to prevent the whole herd from escaping. Great resolution and alert ness is therefore required, and the latter being a qualification which ordinary seamen are seldom remarkable for ashore, will prove the superior advantages of our Eastern Whalemen, in this par ticular, which is a very eflential one. Seal-catchitig-has hitherto beenprofecuted mere ]y for the fake of the ilcins. The Hair-Seals are fervicable for Leather, and will fell at market from 10 to 12cents, pr. lb. especially the smaller kind, which are in great estimation for fine shoes. 1 he Fur-Seals are an objeiS of remittance to Canton, and tho hitherto fold from half to three quarters of a dollar, pr. Ikin, will, no doubt, up on a fair experiment of the China-market, bring niore. The ikin of the Fur-Seal with the Fur on, vvhen properly drefled, makes exceeding hand lome Waillcoat-Patterns, and might be introdu ced for that purpose ; they are of a more durable nature, and would be very serviceable, especially to labourers, having all the advantages, without the inconvenience ofleather. There another advantage to be derived, which has hitherto been overlooked, and that is, the making of Oil from the Seals, which are remar kably fat and oily. There can be no doubt at all, but a very conliderable benefit would arise on this score, and no perfonscan be better qualified to make the experiment than the Eastern Whale men. The crew of a veftel will be at very little expence for provifioiis, except bread, as great plenty of Hogs ai e to be taken with dogs, and wild fowl, iuch as Ducks, Geefp, &c. are so abun dant and tame, as to be knocked down with clubs, and affoid verj good fultenanre. Their feath ers may likewise be saved—and afford another object of profit. By wintering in these Hands, frequent chances offer of going out witli boais an-! taking Whales, which approach very near. L.ilu'wifegreat quan tities of Oil may be made fious Sea-Lions, and a large fifli called the Black which are very plenty, and lb large, as to itlii. -- . two to three bands each. < By exploring this hitherto little frequented pait of the otherad vantages may possibly be found ; but that fii ifingfrom sealing is alrea dy proved from actual experiment. Skals like wise abound on the oppolite shores of Patagonia, where the trade may be carried on without any difficulties but what may arile from a coait, as yet little navigated. i lie writer of thef? observations has been in duced to offer them solely from a motive of commu nicating to his fellow-citizens at large, a branch of commerce, that protnifes considerable benefit to the United States, conceivingit to bethedtity of every person to add, as far as is in his power, to the common stock of national profit and hap piness. 1 lie remarks are founded upon an ac tual knowledge of facSs. The few voyages which have hitherto been made, have been conducted with affected secrecy. It is impoflible, however, to withhold foi any length of time, what is ne ceflarily imparted to many. To blend the two voyages ofWHALtNG and Sealing, appears to be extremely feafible, and likely to produce a sure success ; and every means that may tend to pro mote the navigation of the United States, will, however, humbly represented, be, no doubt, can didly accepted. The Tablet No. 150* [Continuation from ths fact number.] " Conquejl andplunder bring,uith riches, a train of pfrniz:-» J" L. £j j tl:i: d"'~' 'f 1 >" the attending indufiry and compter ot, is femicioui ulfo." contemplate the caufcs which haveope -1- rated in the rile, the progress, and the decline of nations, is a talk which no legislator or civilian can too often impofeupon himfelf. Tliofe, who employ their reflections in this wav, willdif cover foine events, which, nnder certain cy'cum ftances,have a pernicious influence upon society ; while others, of a like nature, in a different state of affairs, produce aferies of the molt important advantages. For instance, wealth and luxury may push one nation into sudden deftru<flion, while they raise another into power and distinc tion, and contribute to enlarge the circle of ge neral enjoyment, as well as to secure the continu ance of rational freedom. I will now submit to the coaafideration of the reader, a few iketches up on the situation and character of the Romans, with a view of ascertaining what occasioned the rife and downfall of that nation. It shall then be enquired of him, whether he seriously believes the affairs of the United States can ever ftouiiih. or decay, from similar causes. That the Romans made such a confpictrous fi gure upon the stage of human affair*, was origi nally owing to the mere accident of their being introduced by such a founder as Romulus. Had any of the neighboring rtates been conducted by a leader of superior address, and who pofieffed greater talents for plunder, the name of Rome had perhaps never reached posterity. To the single circumstance therefore of his intrigue and enterprize, mult be alcribed their original afcen dancy over other nations. After they had once taken the lead, and begun to spread their con quests and dominion about the contiguous coun try, it was alinpft impofljble,tbeir career ihould be checked. There was no system of combinati on in the adjacent dates, that could bring their forces to a<st in such concert, as to make an effec tual stand against the Roman arms. Their go vernment was eredled for the sole purpose of war. Their situation was favorable to this obje<ft. and no other. The age in which they lived was mar tial. They were pooV, and of course, habitudes of simplicity and felf-denial rose naturally from that poverty. Personal fafety, and the defence of the slate were so blended, that the idea could not befeparated. Valor wasalmoft the only qua lity in repute, because it was almost the only one that was ufeful. The love of esteem is so strong a passion", thatmoft men cultivate those qualities which will gain it This account* for their so 653 %ffSp>o [Whole No. 165.] much boasted amor patrice. Their fidelity to go vernment was no lei's secured by the rigors offu perftition, than it was incited by a desire of plun der. Who does not perceive, in such a fabric, a con n ant effort,exifting within itfelf, to fall to pieces ? >uch a people cannot be supposed to keep them ielves together without perpetual war. If they have no foreign wars, they probably will have contentions at home ; and what they call the pe i iod of peace, is precisely the time, when they molt harrafs and destroy one another. In short, they must be gaining conqtiefts over other nations, or they fall into factions, and precipi tate themselves at once. The effect of conquests is wealth and infolencc. Their public v irtue i efults from nothing but their danger and their poverty. But the period must arrive, when their situation will beno'longer hazardous or in digent. What is the consequence ? Theirfevere discipline, and rigid maxims, which were a sub stitute for private virtue, are shaken by fatftion, and relaxed bypleafure. Riches,pouringin from conquests, introduce crimes and profligacy, and thus the spirit, and even the name of civil liber ty is loft in the general depravity. Is there not an efl'ential difference between theefFedcof wealth thus acquired, and that which is the reward of arts and industry ? Why does a robber or a gam bler make a wanton use of the property he ac quires ! Becaul'e, the disposition, which urges him to afl'ume such a charaifter and condutfl, im plies luch a want of principle, as renders hini un fit to hold any of the blessings of life. Wealth will notprofper in such hands. The cafe is much the fame with a nation of plunderers, as with a private robber. Both have hearts too unfeeling and abandoned to use the gifts of providence with decency and moderation. Excess and brutality will mark their actions. They are strangers to those restraints and refinements, which the ul'eful employments of civil life create and support ; and which guard people against those atrocious crimes, no less than againlt the dangerous ex tremes of vicki and folly. It is a maxim that will generally hold good, that no individual or community will make a pro per application of wealth, which they have not honeilly acquired. I will even carry the idea further and suggest, that wealth is apt to bemif applied by those who have not been personally inllrumental in earning it, under circumstances that required some care and industry. It may il lustrate the idea toflate a cafe. No person will presume to fay that the citizens of Philadelphia do not make a prudent and even a commendable use of their riches. But if that city lhould fall in to the hands of an arinyof Tartars, and the pro perty be divided as plunder among the soldiers, who does not paint to himfelf the horrid mifchiefs that would be perpetrated ! Howfuddenly would the discipline of that army be dissolved ! How quick would their military ardor be dissipated and loft ! Each soldier would imagine, the sooner her squandered his (hare, and the more outrage he committed with it, the more confidently would he appear with himfelf, as a barbarian and plun derer. It ihould not therefore too haitily be in ferred, that we Ihould experience such deftrutfive consequences, from the affluence which attends arts and commerce, as the ancients did, from that which followed their conquelts. I dwell the more minutely upon this partof the ftibjecl, and exem plify it in many different shapes, because there are many people who really apprehend that the liberties of this country must be swallowed up, if we adopt such regulations as will make us a com mercial, a wealthy, and a splendid nation. To destroy such suspicions, as far as they are ground left, not only relieves those who feel from them painful and ufelefsanxiety, but makes them bet ter citizens and wiser politicians. Itcannotthen, be too strongly urged upon all men, who take a part in public affairs, or who wifli to discern the effed: of public measures, to obtain a fatisfacftory solution of the following question ; -whether to encourage commerce, and the mechanical and liberal arts be a circuvijlance, unfavorable or not in the long run, to the freedom and happiness of a community ? There is a certain point beyond which, it is said, wealth and refinement cannot be carried without vitiating the personal qualities of men, and ren dering them unfit agents to manage and retain the blessings of civil liberty. In what light such an opinion Ihould be conlidered, shall be mad*, the fubje<ft of another pffay. T» it continual.)
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