THURSDAY, Dec. 16.
Mr. Seney presented a petition from the citizens of Baltimore
town, praying for the eftabliibment of an Health-Oiiice iu that
ou the table.
Mr. Fitzfimons presented the petition of Isaac Mansfield, a late
Chaplain in the Continental Army.
Mr. Jackson from the committee appointed, brought in a bill
t>o continue an Aft,declaring the assent of to certain Afcts,
«>f the states of Rhode-Island, Maryland and Georgia. Read the
firft time.
In committee of the whole on the militia bill. Mr. Liver
more in the Chair.
The committee made some progress in the difcuflion of the bill.
Seyeral amendments and alterations were pi op oted and fa me of
them adopted.
Mr. Oilman moved that persons upwards of 45 years of age,
instead of upwards of 50, as in the bill, Ihouid not be enrolled in
the militia. This motion wa& agreed to.
A motion made by Mr. Parker, that such persons, as are unable
to furnilh themselves with military accoutrements, Ihouid be (üb
plied by the United Slates, after some debate was negatived.
The residue of the conversation this day was on the fubjedt of
exemptions irom militia duty. Several motions were made; but
no cflVntiai alterations took, place in the bill. A ikeich of the de
bates this day is prepared ; but the length of the preceding pre
vents its appearing till our next.
FRIDAY, Dec. 17.
Hon. Benjamin Bourne, Esq. Member from Rhode island, ap"
peared, produced his credentials, was qualified, and took hit feai*
Hon. J. Hathorne and J.Sevier, alio took their feats this day.
Mr.Seney moved thattjie petition from the town of Baltimore
should be referredto a feleft committee.
Mr. Smith, (S. C.) observed, that as the fubjeft of regulating
Harbors," &c. would undoubtedly come before the legifluture, and
a general pro.vision be made refpe&ing the object of the petition
—he submitted it to the gentleman whether it would not be bell
that this petition should be referred to the committee that would
be appointed lor that purpose.
Mr. Seney acquiesced, as he faidhis wish was to have this petition
referred to a feleft committee.
Mr. Madison prcfented a petition from Francis Taylor—which
was referred t© the Secretary of War.
On motion of Mr. Gilman, the petition of Ifeac Mansfield,was
referred to the Secretary of War.
An Address was presented from the people called Quakers,
praying an exemption from militia duties, and penalties on that
account.
The bill for continuing an Ast declaring the consent of Con
gress to certain Acts of fcveral states, was read the second time,and
ordered to be cngroffed for a third reading,
A message was received from the Senate informing, that they
have palled a bill supplementary to an ast making further provi
sion for the debts of the United States, in which they desire the
concurrence of the House, which was rrad the firifc time.
In committee of the whole, on the Militia bill.—The fubjtft
of exemptions occasioned further debate. The committee agreed
to sundry alterations, and proceeded iu the difcuiEon to the 3d
fcftion ; they then rose and reported progress.
Adjourned till Monday next
BOSTON,
In alate paper, the nntnber ofvelleh in the port
of Philadelphia, was stated to be 148 —on the
day this account wa9 publiihed in this town,
(nov. 3.) a gentleitvan took pains to count the
veffpts ia ttiiiharbour-—and Foundthat there were
then in this port, 21.6 above 50 tons burthen—
78 of which were fqu are-rigged yeliejs
PORTLAND, Nov. 29.
DIS'iRICT OF MAINE.
On Thursday last arrived here ihe (hip Ariad
ne, Capt. John Mufley, in fifty three days from
Bourdeaux.—The political affairs of France are
in the utmost confufiqn —Paper bills of credit,
funded on the late property of the Clergy, are
in general circulation.—French guineas and
French crowns arc rarely seen.—Dollars may be
purchased, but at an advanced price : For the
paper currency has evidently depreciated. A
number of French ships of war had been dispatch
ed to 1 Martinique for the sole purpose of quelling
the disturbances in that Island—The Markets at
Bourdeaux were extremely low.—Captain3 D.
Smith and E. Preble, of this town, were there
■when Capt. Mufley failed
£xtrafl oj a letter from Paris> Sept. 13, 179 0 '
" Mr. Necker left Paris on the evening of the Bth ioft. This de
parture, which almost wore the appearance oi a clandestine retreat,
so far from exciting the lead sentiment of public regret, was on
thecoutrary highly fatisfa&ory to a crowd ot persons, whose aver
sion to this minister this year, is as groundless as was the enthusiasm
ihey discovered laftyear.
" In the month of August, 17&9, the return of Mr. Necker to
ihe capital was a triumphal entry. The people infilled upon
drawing his carriage—the streets and public squares were illumi
nated—the air rung with shouts of joy and applause—he was the
saviour of France. To fpsak with moderation of his personal qua
lities, or his administration, was a tort of high treason against the
nation. To appear to doubt his genius, or his virtue, was confef
ling one's felf an Aristocrat. And in the midst of the general de
lirium, which on the evening of that ever memorable entry perva
ded the capital, the fatal lamp chord would perhaps have punifh
cd the temerity of him who should not have proltrated himfelf
before the national idol of the day.
"In the month of September, 1790—a1l is changed !—Oppref
fed with disgust, contradiction anddefpondency, fubjeft to attacks
daily renewed—justly perhaps, but at any rate, bitterly blamed
by fome—infamoufly calumniated by others—torn by the libel
lers, who to the. shame of the Nation* but too often possess them
fclvcs us the public Opinion—abandoned by this public opinion,
which had ever heen the main spring of his political existence,
Mr. Necker finds himfelf compelled, by the universal murmur of
a numerous and powerful party, to resign the helm of State, on
•which he had so long placed his hopes of glory and happiness.—
The fame people which had proclaimed him to be the Saviour of
the State, tumultuoufly demand his difmiflion, of the National Al
fembly—equally ignorant of the reasons why last year he was the
tutelary Genius oj France, and why this year he is suddenly become
its enemy.
" But this is not all. Scarcely had this venerable Minister of
State, of late so popular,now (o strangely difcountcnanccd —scarce-
ly had he left the gate* of Paris, ere.,he was arretted as a fugitive
whofc crimes perhaps mijfht call for public punishment, though
he produoed fuffceient passports from the King, and the Municipa
lity of Paris. On Saturday the 1 tth, Mr. de Jeffe, PrcGaent of
the National Atfembly, introduced a letter received Jby him from
Mr. Necker, then ia a Tavern at Aicy fur Aube a under the ccn
December i
fin em ant of the National Guards ; in which !ettr the Minister
informed the AfTembly of his detention ; and itVt* recalling to
mind his fervin,; the State to the utmost of 1»U ability, supplicated
that they would not futier, that in return for his exertions, he
Ihould be deprived of that personal liberty whidh the laws fecur
cd to fcvery citizen.—After this, was read the report of the Mayor
and munictpaV officers and Notables of Arcy fur Aube, in which
they state that, confiderinj* that the National AfTembly lias de
creed the refponlibility of Ministers of State —that the palTports in
cjueftion, announce Mr. Neckfr's departure from Fiance, and that
responsibility is null when the fubje£l Has parted the frontiers;
therefore the people, sensible of the importance of the principles
of refponfibity, have determined to detitn Mr. Necker, and his
fellow travellers, till orders tor their relcafe should be received
from the National AfTembly.
41 After some debate the .Afljmbly r4fo!vcd , That the President
should have it in charge to answer to the Municipality, that no de
layJhould be offered to the journey if Mr. Meeker, and his companions;
and that the President inould write particularly to Mr. Necker,
and read his letter to the Aflembjy. This being immediately
done by M. de Jcffe, the miflive was found to be extremely dry
and laconic, being nothing more than an inclofure of the decree.
A Grange contrail with the (entiments exprefTed a vear before to
the Minister, by an AfTembly, which perhaps owes its existence
to him : But, at the fame tune, a ft.rik.ing lei Ton (in addition to so
many others) for those who are intoxicated with the fumes of po
pularity, and to those who might be tempted to facrifice their
tranquility for the attainment of this empty phantom.
4t At the time that Mr. Necker thought himfelf obliged to quit
the icenc, his grand adversary, de Calonne conceived the mo
ment to be favorable tp his rr-appejrance. He has just published
" Observations on Financt," aadreffed to the AfTembly. In th*
preface to this work, the mod copious abuse is heaped upon Mr.
Necker, and his adminiflration.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 10.
On Tuefdav lift the ship Sampson, Capt. Thomas Moore, arri
ved here from London. In this vessel came paflengrr the Right
Rev. D»6lor John Carroll, recently coofecrated Bilhop of the Ca
tholic Chutch in the United States. On the landing ot this learn
ed and worthy prelate, he was refpe&fully waited on by a num
ber of his fellow-citizens of variotfs denominations, who conduc
ed him to his refidencc. In the fame vessel also came passenger
(and was landed in Virginia) the Faght Rev. Doctor James Madi
son, Bifbop of the Episcopal Church of Virginia, who was, on
the 20thof September last, consecrated at Lambeth Chapel, Lon
don, by his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, aififted by the
3ifhops of London and Rochester.
Philadelphia, Dec. 18.
By the PittfbuVg paper of the 4<h inft. we have received the fol
lowing particulars of the WESTERN EXPEDITION. A party
of 600 men arrived at the Miami Village two days before the maiu
army, and found the town deserted, ;.ad fomcof the houte® burnt,
under the ruins of which large quantities of grain were found con
cealed ; also in hole! in the ground, to the amount of or cooo
bushels. Col. riarden who commanded all the militia, entered
and encamped in the town before the arrival of the remainder of
the army. About five acres of the ground was picketed—A party
of 300, under the command of Col. Trotter, and Major Rhea, were
fentout, and dilcovercd the trails of the Indians for several miles.
They saw 30 Indiana, but did not attack them—not knowing but
there was a superior force in their tear. They saw 5 towns which |
were all burnt. The next day Major Fontaine, with a party oi I
200, and the horte, went out —tbey proceeded 6 or 7 miles,
saw trails of Indian* in leveral places. Marching in columv.i in a
swamp, Lieut. Armstrong who commanded one of the columns,
was ambutcaded by a paity of Indians, formed in a half moon.
Our people retreated -The Indians rushed in with their toma
hawks—The regulars bayoneting them till Armstrong's men were
all cut off—Many of the Indians fell—We loft 70 men this 'lay.
Next day was employed in burning corn—we killed 2 Indians.
The day following set out and marched 8 miles homeward and
encamped. In the night Col. Harden, Major •» yilys, Major Fon
taine, McMullan, and Col. Hall, with about 400 men,
went back to the town—ihey arrived about day light, and in four
parties marched to different cutter* of the town—eaci: party
was attacked, and Ikirmiftied three hours. Major McMullen
drove a party of the Indians into the r.ver Miami. Col. Harden
was obliged to retreat with iols. Maj*r Y/yliy*, with about 60
men, were cut off by a party which ca.i;* \u his rear through ,ome
hazels. Lieut. Frothingham teil at lijis time. , Major Fontaine
having ordered his men to retreat, of counge rode
directly back into the throng of the In awns, cutting and uafking.
nil he was wounded, and canied on by two o; his men ; he was
afterwards seen dead and Icalped. ]Vi<*jor yll ys "was left mor
tally wounded ; he wifoed to be helped on his horse :ogivc tnem
another charge; but in the hurry of the wircat it cou!d not be done.
The whole amount of the Indians kkk'u u. iuppofed to be 20C.
Our loss is about 160 killed and 20 wcdnci.'c.
The foregoing is the account brought by fetcrftl of the militia
who are returned.
The last purchaTe of public debt made by ttic Treasurer of the
United States, which wason Tuefdsy Uft-he gave fifteen shil
lings and ten pence on the pound, • for fundca fix p er cents*
Since which they are got ap*to 16/8. and are (till nfi.ig.
V/ednefday evening the Hon Judge Y.'ilfon, lav/ profeffor in
the College of Philadelphia, delivered hi* intioauttcry letture in
the College-hall. The President of the UnitedStai.es, with his la
dy—also the Vice-Prefideot, and both houses ot Congress —the
President and both houses of the Legislature of Pcunfylvaaaa, to
gether with a great number of ladies and gentlemen, were pre
fer! t ; the whole composing a molt brilliant and refpe&able au-
dience.
After Mr. Wilson's le&ure, a commencement was held for
conferring Do&ors degrees in medicine. The bufmefs of the com
mencement was introduced by an address from Dr. Rulh, pro
feffor of the theory and pra&ice of medicine in the College. The
candidates, Isaac Sayre, A. B. of New-Jersey, and Moses Bar
tram, A. B. of Philadelphia, were then examined on the fubjed
of their refpe&ive theses—the former in EngUfh, on the cauje and
cure of pulmonary c&nfuniption ; the latter, in Latin on Aliments.
The degree of Do&or of Medicine was conferred on both by the
Provost ; also the degree of Do&or of Laws on th; Hon. James
Wilson, Francis Hopkinfon, and Edward Shippen, Esquires.
The important fubjetfts of deliberation fabmit
ted to the National Legislature—and on which
they will be called to decide, mult render the
debates of the prelent fellion highly interelling.
from past experience we juitly antic:pate a
full and candid ilifcullion of every proportion ;
and the success of public measures already adopt
ed, will doubtlels inspire a confidence in all parts
of the Legislature, iri discharging the powers
with which they arc inverted by the Conftiturion.
Onr commerce, our navigation, our agricul
ture and manufactures, thole greac objedts of na
tional concern> on the profperuy ot which de
pends that of every individual citizen of the
United States, derive an invigorating principle
675
from the Speech of the President of the United
Strtes.—They appear to have engrofled a great
fiiere of his contemplations during the reeefs—
and with that zeal with which he embraces every
idea with the public liappinefs, he re
commends them to the serious confederation of
the National Legislature.
The eftabliihinent of a judiciary fy/tem for the
United States, is afubject on which the greatest
diversity of opinions has been entertained—when
this business came before the legillature of the
Union, the division of sentiment without doors
did not appear to be excluded from Congress.—
After long and interelting debates, in which the
moll: patriotic concern for the rights of the peo
ple an*lthe particular states, was abundantly ex
emplified : the public judgment preponderated
in favor of such afyftein ; and accordingly the
law eitabliiliing the neceflary courts was palled.
But the legillature feelingly interested in the
happiness of the people, and the security of their
persons and properties, keeping in view the im
perfection, and consequent pofiibility of improve
ment of every human inrtitution, at the close of
the laftfeilion, directed the Attorney-General to
make report at the present, of such alterations and
impiovements in the fyllem, as experience may
dictate to be neceflary, or the public good may
require.
From the acknowledged abilities of that re
fpe&able character, we may expect much jufticc
will be done the fubjedr.
The organization of the militia of the United States, is a mofE
important fubjeft of legiflatiye consideration ; the observation of
the President of the United States, that the preient time affords the
most favorable opportunity to lay the foundation of an efficient
and competent militia, by availing ourselves of the experience and
abilities of our the officers ot the late continental
array—is a trait of that everwakeful vigilance, which fuffers no
thing to escape its attention, that may contribute to the crcdit and
security of the United States : this idea is weighty, and will doubt
less have a due influence on the minds of our civil fathers, in ex
pediting the militia establishment of the Union.
TheSenatore—whofe times expire inMarch next
are Hon. Me (Ira. Carrol, Dalton, Eifwortli, El
mer, Folter, Hawkins, Maclay, llead, and Schuy
ler. Messrs. Carrol, Elfworth, Foster, and Read,
arc re-eledted for fi:c years.
M. Duperne has been appointed Ordonnatuer
du Trefor Publiqueor dire&or of the public
Treasury of France, in the room of M. Necker.
The paragraph handed us refpe&ing American paper we cannot
suppose is well tounded—the specimens of almoil every Tpecie*
itianufa£tured in this ftatc which have been feat to Eit^laad —have
aftoniflied the manufactured m that country—consequently we
cannot suppose that the quality of our paper is not equal to eveiy
public and private life whatever.
The following ciiaraifler of the Comedy en
titled the Father, or American Slimidy-Kin, ap
peared in a JateCeorge- Town paper :—As this
excellent Comedy very justly Hands in the firft
rank of American productions, and equal to any
of the most finilhed European dramatic pieces,
it is presumed, that it cannot fail of proving not
only an agreeable, but a very pleaiing Evening's
Entertainment ; it being replete with ftnlimcnts
\ wholly calculated ro improve, reform, and refine
the heart, whillt, at the fame time, it diverts,
amnfes, and delights.
AT an adjourned meeting of the Hibekniak Society
for the relief of Emigrants from Ireland, the following gentle
men were re-elcftedofficers for the ensuing year :
The Hon. Thomas McKean, Esq. President,
Gen. Walter Stewart, Vice-President,
Mr. Mathew Carey, Secretary,
Mr. John Taylor, Trcafurer.
Charles Heaily, Sfq. and > Councilors.
Jasper Moylan, Esq. )
Dr. James Cunningham and > p hvfic ; arlJ>
Dr. John Carson, S
PRICE CURR£iir,——PUBLIC SECURITIIS.
FUNDID DXAT.
6 pr. Cents 16/4. i6Ji.pr.£.
3 pr. Cents 8/4 8/1.
Sefered 6 pr. Cents 7/4. 7/6.
UNFUNBED OUT
final Settl. and othej Certificates 14/4 —1418.
Indents 8/4 8/5.
State debts • 9/ 9/3.
To the Merchants, Traders, Foreigners, and the Public in general.
Gentlemen,
AGREEABLY to the plan which the Subscriber submitted to
the public confederation, and under the mod flattering alTur
ance of public patronage, he takes the liberty of announcing, that
THE MERCHANTS,
and
EXCHANGE COFFEE HOUSE,
will be opened at the corner of Market and Water-Streets, for the
accommodation of the Merchants, Traders, and other Citizens o£
Philadelphia, on MONDAY next, the«oth mft.
The Subscriber deems it unnecessary to repeat the declaration®
of his fincei e intention to profecutc his undertaking with.jhe moit
refpe&fol afliduity : But he tannfit forbear making a piltlic ack
nowledgment of his gratitude, forthe eccouragemr . he has alrea
dy experienced ; nor |suppress his, invariable wilh, thai those gen
tlemen who may honor hisCoffee-Houfe with their prcfence, will
communicate such articles of intelligence received from their cor
respondents as thay shall think proper, and in preference, will up
on every occasion, point out the defers of his plan, or favor him
with hints for improving its execution. cM
The Sobfcribei will prepare entertainments,either at noon, or in
the evening, for fele£l paities, upon the fhortcilnotice, and on the
molt reasonable terms. He can accommodate two or three Gen
tlemen with lodgings ; and proposes at two o'clock on each day,
when the public bulinefs of the Coffee-Room is over, to provide at
cheap, but good and plentiful ordinary, for such guelU zi (hall
please to honor him with their company.
1 am, Gentlemen,
Your nioft obedient and htimble Servant,
Dec. 18.
or 83} pr. cent,
or 42J do.
3?i do.
711 d».
4»i *•»
46* afc.
jVINCENT M-iP£LOSI.