CONGRESS.
PHILADELPHIA.
MONDAY last being the day appointed for the. meeting of the
national legislature,in this city,now the feat of government of
the United States, thirtv-onc members of the house of rpprefent
atives afTembled in the hall, in Chefnut-Strcet, which number not
being fufficient to constitute a quorum, they adjourned to yester
day, 11 o'clock, A. M.
Fifteen members of the Senate also assembled iu the Senate
chamber ; viz.
Members OF THE SENATE
His Excellency The VICE PRESIDENT*
Hon. Meflrs Langdon, Hon. Messrs Morris,
Wingate, Maclay,
Daltrtn, Izard,
Ellsworth, Butler,
King, Hawkins,
John 0 on, Basset.
Dtckinfori, M un toe,
Few,
1
Members prcjmt. of the House cf win
The Hon. The SPEAKER.
Hon. MefTrs Ames, Hon. Mc flirt Lawrance,
Benfon, Lee,
Baldwin, L ; .vcrmore #
Blood worth, Madison,
Boudinot. P. Muhlenberg.
Brown, * Schureman,
CadwalUdef, Seney,
Clymer, Sherman,
Fitzfimons, Smith, (S. C.)
Floyd, Sturges,
Foster* Sylvester,
Gilman, '• batcher,
Goodhue, Williamfon,
Griflin, Wynkoop.
U tiger,
Huntington.
iTUESDAY, Dec. 7.
Hon. Mr. Scot, and Mr. Hcijicr, appeared and
took tbeir feats.
an<
✓Hon. W. B. Gila, Member from Virginia, eleft
fd to fupplythe vacancy occasioned by the death
jbf the Hon. T. Bland, appeared, produced his
(credentials, was qualified, and took his feat.
r The House being formed—
On motion of Mr. Boudinot, the Clerk was di
rected to inform the Senate, that a quorum of the
House being now aflembled, they are ready to
proceed to business.
A meHage was received from the Senate, by
their Secretary Mr. Otis, informing the House
that a number fufficient to constitute a quorum of
the Senate, being aflembled in the Senate Cham
ber, they are ready to receive communications
■from the honorable House.
■ A committee was appointed, conlifti jig ofMefl'rs
BoudinotfLaviraiiceandSmith, (S.C.)to joina com
tiiittee of the Senate, to wait on the President
of theUnitedStates,and inform him that a quorum
ofbothKoufes are now aflembled—a meflage
fcnt to iHo Scns'.e, by tfce- C'lcrk, (to infoim
them of the above vote.
A meflage was received from the Senate in
forming the House that they have appointed a
committe confiding of the Hon. Mr. Morris, and
the Hon. Mr. JLangdon, to join a committee of
the Hon. House, to wait 011 the President of the
United States, and inform him that a quorum of
bothHoufes being aflembled, they will be ready
in the Senate Chamber to receive fuchcommuni
cations as he may be pleased to make.
A motion was made by Mr. Liverwort, that the
Jloufe should concur with the Senate ; this being
objected to, the motion was withdrawn.
The House then non-concurred that part of the
Senate's meflage which afligned the place of re
ceiving the President—and the Clerk was diredt
ed to inform the Senate of the fame.
After which a meflage was received from the
Senate, informing, that they concur in the vote
of the House—and the committee proceeded to
wait on the President.
Mr. Laivrancs
tions which were
The petition of Jacob^Sapl.
of Francis Ackley. V
Mn. Fitzflmoru Several petitions and
of Alexandf which were read
jontl laid on the tables
Boudinot, of the joint Tommittee on the
fftirt of the House, reported that they had waited
on the President of the United States, and deli
vered the message of both Houses.
The President informed the committee that
he would meet the two Houses in the Senate
to-morrow 12 o'clock. Adjourned.
Philadelphia, Dec. 8.
/ Yffterday there was a Levee at the house of THE PRESIDENT
(•f the United States—at which were present His Excellency The
Vice-President, and many Members of both Houfcs of Con
erefs fevtral of the Heads of Depaitments, besides a number of
refpeQable private charaQers. Ignatius Palyart, Esq.
Consul General from Her Mod Faithful Majtfty, the Qui en of
Portugal, was presented (atthe Levee) to The Pkes:dent
•f the United States, by the Hon. Thomas Je itt rson, Secretaiy
•f State. , .
THERE is a report that the forces tinder the
command of General Harmar, have received
a check from the Indians ; but as the acci
dent is said to have happened forty days ago,
and no official information has been received by
Supreme Executive, it may be presumed that
It.lie account is premature.
!the following peti
laid on the table, viz.
, of John Lewis, and
ifentei
This day purcliafes of Public Securities will be
made by the Secratary of the Treasury, at 'his
Ortice in ChcfnutrStreet.
4 c
Extract of a letter from Pittfbirg, dated Nov. 18
" We have tliisday had intelligence by a half
blooded Indian, who is come in from the Indian
country, that general Harmar has taken the Mia
mi town without resistance.
" The person who brings this account left De
troit the 23d of Otfiober. He fays the Indians
attacked the army two or three times on their
march, but were always repulsed with
Ext ran of a letter J ram a member of Congrcfs, now
at JVew-Tori, to his friend in this city dated De
cember 2.
" Mr. S ■, has this moment-received letters
from England of the iyth of Ocftober, and from
the hostile movements there, the alliances form
ed in Europe, and the Hidden departure of a
number of (hips of war and transports for the
Weft Indies, war seems inevitable. I give you
this information because it maybe relied on."
Sometneie are, observes acorrefppudent, who shake their heads
with solemn motion, and pretend to wonder what can be ths rea- ,
son of the new settlements on the MiJJijippi, and adjacent to (he Nat
chez. This is a " wilderness,** they fay, ftiirounded with fava
gcs and the scalping knife »»d >f a people are bent on making
new settlements, let them fettle " in the moll cultivated parts of
the United States ; and the curie will not be diminilhed by en
countering nature in her moll rugged form." What can such men
design !—What do their grave obfervattons amount to, but this,
" that man, absolutely regardless of his own happiness and wel
fare, Ihould resign himfelf, with ferenfi flupidity, to the tender mer
cies of every wealthy lord and mailer, who chooses to command
him ?" Thefc men imagine they perform all the offices oJUJe, if they
endeavour to add to their present wealth, power and credit, without
any fort of refpett or teodernefs for the " mass" of that society,
under the protection whereof they live, who if they can make any
immediate advantage to theinfelves, in railing the value ot their own
property," in the cultivated parts of the United States," spare no
language or effoits to depreciate the moll promifiug settlements
of other places.
Let not, however, the dreary description they present us, dis
courage the flattering profpe&s of the adventurers on the Miffifip
pi. Let it be remembered that this placc itfelf, this'emporium of
America, now shinning with all the arts and customs of polifhcd
life, was once a wilderness, inhofpitablelike the defarts by the Mif
lifippi. Rather let these friends to mankind fed happy on the
occasion in being the means of forming a fettlemcnt, where the
people may live free as nature, which is before them, where every
sensation, favourable to happiness, may be indulged, and where
there is nothing to remind them of the tyranny of man !
(Independent Gazetteer.)
ToobP rveaprogrefs in ourarts and manufattures mud give plea- 1
fare to every American. Musical instrument making is now carri
cd to great perfection in this city. An ingenious artiil has lately
turned out ot his hands several forte pianos, in point of workman
ship, nothing inferior to the imported. Independent of the en
couragement which everv American would naturally be inclined
to give to home manufa&ures, these, inftruinrnts, on another ac
count, claim a decided preference. The wood which enters into
the composition of imported instruments, seasoned in London
will not iland this Climate. It is well known, that the air of that
capital is more moifl than ours ; then of course the imported in
ftrumentwill crack and split when once affe&ed by our drier air.
A; *.««. reafv' b.k «<■ irtty.*rlti3 forte
piartos They aie k£f-t wifntovlnng but glue. Scr..**
are also abColutely neceflary, that they may stand the I'udden chan
ges here from drought to humidity .and back again.
Experience, corroborates this : Imported forte-pianos
require frequent repairs and in a f«w years are unfit to use.
These objections aje removed by the carc our artist takes in fea
fonitighis wood, and in itrengthening every part of his work with
iubftantial iron screws.
The large emiflion of paper money voted by
the National Aflembly of France, and the tumult
that accompanied the decree, seemed to forbode
confufion. The latelt Engfilh arrivals however,
dispel our fears ; the Aflembly has been with more
calmness deliberating on the fubjetfl of taxes ; the
storm that feeined immediately to threaten the
Nation, has blown over, and things leem to have
resumed a more quiet appearance. G. Adv.
In taking a view of the present situation of the United States,
there is no idea more forcibly impreflfcd on the mind, than the
peace and tranquility which prevail under the auspices of the ge
neral government : The inferences which naturally result from
this confederation are highly complimentary to the public admi-
niftration of our affairs—With one solitary exception only, not a
whisper of disapprobation has been heard—and this is so confcf
fedly local and partial,-that it can hardly be supposed to have the
smallest influence -jut of the limits ofthe State where it originated,
and even there, it is to be presumed, that a deep impression of the
importance of prcferving the harmony of the States, will forcibly
operate to prevent the smallest schism in the sacred bond of Union.
What then remains, but that our civil fathers (hould proceed with
confidence in perfecting the great work they have so ably begun ?
The prtfent feflion commences under the most favorable circum
ftauces ; the public approbation of men and measures has been fu
generally exemplified in the recent elections, that we may justly
expect, that energy, independen ■ and dispatch, in the public bu
siness, which past success ? d pub: . nfidence inspire.
Civil government is the Sift gift of Heaven to man—lt is the
only fafeguard.of liberty—that form which Heaven has bestowed
on the people of the United States, appears the most conducive to
this great objefl, because it provides for an equal and jufl r:pi e
frntation of the various interests of all : Had the representation
been comprized in one branch, it may well be doubted whether
j the public business would have been conduOed with that dispatch,
01 been so cordially accepted by the people as it has been—the de
cisions of a majority of one body, can r.cver be supposed to fprak
the sense ofthe people so fully as lhat of <r«fl-for the oppofitioi,
in opinion which frequently occurs between the two branches,
and that mutual jealousy which 's always difcernable, plainly
prove that an imereft always exists among the people, which
cannot be recognized anrl hav: justice done t« it, in a frngle affem-
667
The liberty of the Press, with some persons,
means only a right to abuse, and render odious ,
public charaiflers ; others fappofe it ronfifts in
an exclulive propogation and defence of their par
ticular ftntiments.
The abuse of public chara&ers, however, as
such, while they enjoy the public confidence, is a
gi ols inlult on the nujelty of the people : Men
in private life julUy consider their reputation as
an invaluable jewel—ami the laws have provided
a sacred barrier for its defence : In the eye of the
law. every man is fuppoi'ed to be innocent, who
is not impeached of a crime—and peifonal at
tacks on private fame excites the honell indigna
tion of every good citizen—lt is therefore pre
pofterons in the highelt degree to call that liberty,
which fubjecfis those charaOtes to indifcriminatc
obloquy, wljom the people, for real or fuppoi'ed
qualifications, have (elected as the guardians of
theirrights, and the sdminiitrators of their laws
—it is converting a blelfing into a curse with a
vengeance;, to attempt to render those ridiculous
whom found policy would lead us to refpett and
honor : Measures and not men are the proper
fubje<sls of to a free press ; butthepar
tifans of discord are generally so imcompetent to
an investigation of public tranfatftions, that they
find it much easier* to excite attention by having
recourse to flandef and detraction, than by ana
lyzing and pointing out the defedls of govern
ment : That species of freedom which some per
sons are clamorous to fee exercised by the Press,
which anathematizes all who prefumeto think for
themselves, in oppolition to the demagogues of the
hour, is in reality nothing less than impudent
intolerance—" that turkish policy that will bear
no brother near the throne."—From such defini
tions of a free press, may the enlightened citi
zens of this free republic ever turn with abhor
rence—" the collision of sentiment is the parent
of light and truth"—and while our prefles are
really free, every decent proportion will have a.
candid consideration—every friend t* the happi
ness and liberties of the United States will boldly
offer his opinions, and the public will give them
w.eight in proportion to their intrinsic merit aud
importance.
LATEST ARRIVALS AT PHILADELPHIA.
Brig Minerva, Weft, Ruflia, 117 days.
, Boys, Lilbon, 42
Philadelphia, Strong, ,
Charleston, German, Charleston, 17
Sloop New-York Packet, Holden, [N. Y.] 4
Lively, , St. Auftatia, 30.
Postscript.
BY THE MAIL ARRIVED I. AST EVENING
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 8.
Latest INTELLIGENCE from SPA If
BOSTON, NOV.;*},'
Negociation still and that o
jrcat-Britain, of the think, and talk vari
rioufly. If we are to of both parties,ar
immediate WAR seems inevitable : In each they are arming with
the ulmoft vigour and activity ; particularly since the National
AflemMy of' France hath ordered, that 45 fail of the line, befidei
frigates, be immediately got readyto aflift Spain, in cafe of a War.
The squadron which returned into this port the Bth tnft. is get,
ting ready with all expedition, to proceed to sea— And every Jkip
in the Spanijh navy is ordered ir.to commiflion--and we working oil
them without intermiflion, even on Sunday.
" Hoftiltties have taken place between us and the Emperor of
Morocco. Two cruizers of the latter have been brought into this
port, within these few days, and two or three others have been
carried into neighbouring pbrts. The Moors are preparing to at
tack Ceuto, where theie is a garrison of 12,000 men. Indeed it
; s expected they will assail all the citiej belonging to Spam oa the
African Coast."
THE following intelligence
from one of the molt x<
in Spain, to a gentleman w
HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.
AN adjourned meeting of the Hibernian Society, for the relief
of Emigrants from Ireland, will be held jit Mr. Patrick Byrne's
Tavern, in Front-Street, on Monday next, the 13th inft. at
fix o'clock in the evening, when a Trefident, Vicc-JVefident, Se
cretary, Treasurer, two Counsellors, and two Physicians, ate to
be chosen.
At this meeting, the folllowing proportion is to be debated
" All fumsof money, paid by any person at the time of his be
coming a member—all sums paid in lieu of the yearly dues—and
all the donations made to the Society, shall, from time to time, be
veiled in some public stock, in the'name of the President for the
time being—who (hall, as occasion may require, transfer the fame
to his successor. And the said stock (hall at all times be confiaer
ed as the capital of this lociety : Th» principal of which (ball ne
ver be made ufc of, 01 drawn upon for any purpose whatsoever.
Signed by Order,
MATTHEW CAREY, Src'ry.
$TsKk gnl/enitat iift* titKonc number s of this humane inflt
tution, are rejnefled to gwe in Unit ntmes at any time prevtvnl It the
meeting, to any of the mnbers tij the ftciety.
By Thomas Lang,
No. 21, Church-Alley,
And fold by Travcis Bailey, Joseph Crukshank, Wxi
i,uu FriCHArd, and Rice and Co. in Market-Street ; ana
by Thomas Dosson, William Young, and Robert
Campbell, in Sccond-Street, Philadelphia,
Price 12s. 6d. (not half the price oj the London edition)
The Poems of Ossian,
SON OF FINGAL.
Tranllateil by JAMES MACPHERSON, Esa.
This day is published,
THE