On motion, this message was referred to a select committee of
seven, viz. Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Madison, Mr. Bourne, Mr. Law
rance, Mr. Fitzfimons, Mr. Smith (S. C.) and Mr. Vinirig.
A meflage from the Senate by Mr. Secretary Otis, informed
the House thet they have concurred in the refolutiou on the report
of the Secretary of State, on the memorial of Andrew Brown.
The amendments proposed by the Senate to the new revenue
bill were read, and referred to a committee of the whole house
to-morrow.
The house resumed the consideration of amendments proposed
to the land-office bill. Several additional amendments were pro
posed, some of which wereagreed to, others negatived.
A motion by Mr. Sherman, to strike out " the Attornev Gene
ral" for the purpose of inferring the Secretary oj the Treasury, as
iuperintendant of the general land-office, occasioned coniiderable
debate, and was finally negatived.
Mr. Gerry proposed a clause providing (in substanCe) that pub
lic securities, as well as fpecic should be received for the land, at
the lall price previously given for said securities by the Secretary
of the Treasury. This motion occasioned further debate, and was
finally carried in the affirmative—Ayes 34 —Nays 21.
It was then ordered that the bill be engrossed for a third read
ing.
The Speaker (at hair after three) informed the house, that he had
some private communications to make, which occasioned an or
der for clearing the galleries.
FOR THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES.
MR. FENNO,
IN a majority of the remarks of N. W. on the Eng
lish language, which some time ago appeared in the
Gazette of the United States, there is a yuflnefs which
•mill insure them the notice of every friend to propriety.
It is indeed a matter of serious importaiice to correCl
the wrong use or misapplication oj words in co/tverfa
tion—[or from thence the admission is easy into the fa
miliar kinds of writing, and the power oj habit (or
cuflom)is so difficult to be resisted, that they will many
times be unintentionally transjered into the moreferious
kinds of compaction.—J have noticed the improper use
tj some words which are not mentioned by N. W.
I have been surprised to find the Sound which fe
perates New-York from Long-Ifiand, called a river—
and this not only in discourse a?nong the Citizens of
New-York, but also in print, and even in the geogra
phy of the United States : I could not help imagining
how difficult an European would find it to discover on
a }nap the East river. Nor do I apprehend he would
find, a found and a river, used as synonymous by
Geographers or Lexicographers.
America is used very generally both by writers and
public speakers, when they on.ly intend the territory of
the United States. This is figuratively just, as a part
?nay be taken for the -whole, or contrary wife. Yet I
do not conceive it a just expression—it seems to resemble
the stile of eastern Potentates too much—tho J would
be jar from reprehending it, if I thought it added any
dignity to the United States. It may have firft come
into use as being much Jhorter to fay Americans, than
citizens of the United States : Some use Atlantic A
mericafor the United States—others United America—
the last is the mo/l proper,
It may appear paradoxical to a[fert, that fir ft and
iaft are luordj of the fame meaning ; but it can be
supported by quotations frpm authors of reputation—
■who, when they would convey the idea of an affair of
great importance, fay, it was a thing of the firft im
portance —others, it was of the iaft importance orcon
fequence, ire. According to -which we may justly fay,
the firft is la]}, and the lafl is firft.
ARIsriDES.
EXTRACT
PERHAPS I fliall be told that men such as the
great characters of antiquity are no longer to be
found. lam however of opinion, that there is
not the least foundation for speaking or thinking
in this manner. Was Chatham in greatness in
ferior to a Roman ? Will his son, who when yet
a youth, thundered forth in the Senate like L)e
mofthenes, and like Pericles rivetted the attenti
on of those who heard hitn, and who now, when
little more than thirty years of age, makes him
ielf be feared and refpe<fted as the Prime Mini-
Iter of England, ever think or ac r t with less dig
nity than his father ? What men have once been
they may always be. Greece or Rome never had
on their thrones, or at the head of their armies
a great man whose equal may not be found atpre
fcnt inEtirope. Wherever there is a defireforit,
■wisdom and virtue profit, at court as well as in
private life, in the palaces of Kings equally as
in the cottage. Wife solitude is never so respec
table as in a palace : There in profound tranqui
lity, may one weigh the most important affairs,
live calmly, happily, and contented, when one
does without ostentation whatever duty requires
and when one knows how to avoid the contagion
of frivolous and weak minds. One may acquire
inltrudlion every where, and at all times ; and if
we cannot return and begin a new career, we
may at least employ properly that time which re
mains, nnlefs the man who has it in his power to
display the lamp oftruth chooses rather to be fa
tisfied with the feeble light of the glow-worm.
EPITAPH
fid Yousc Lady, who was drowned in herfjthyear,
SOFT as the balm the gentle gale diftills,
Sweet as the fragTance of the new-mown hills,
Her opening mind a thousand charms reveal'd,
Proov of those thousand which were still conceal'd.
The lowliest flow'r in Nature's garden plac'd,
Pern tted just to bloom, and pluck'd in haste.
Angels beheld her lipe for joys to come,
And call'd, by God's command, their sister home.
LONDON
Extract of a letter from King/lon, Jamaica.
" An extraordinary circumstance happened in
this town a few days since, to a young Jewess,
daughter of Mr. Jacob Mendez Guntfa, deceased.
This girl, who is about 14 years of age, had from
her infancy been entirely dumb, and deaf;
being prelent when her father was in the ago
nies of death, flic was so affetfted as to fall into
violent fits ; on her recovery, to the utter afton
ilhment and terror of all persons present, she be
gan to articulate, and, with every mark of the
inoft poignant grief, bewailed the loss of her de
ceased parent, in terms perfpiflly to be under
stood. This phenomenon,' as wonderful as it
is interesting, will doubtless prove a theme for
difcuflion to the speculative philosopher, who
wishes to account for every uncommon appear
ance proceeding from natural causes."
NEW-YORK, Feb. 11
Extra!} from GovirnorPtnckney's mejfage to the South-
Carolina House of Representatives, January 10.
(at Columbia.)
" BY one of the arts accompanying this, you
will perceive that the United States have consent
ed to a flu me and fund, upon the principles there
in mentioned, fonrmillions of dollars of the debt
of this state. Upon conlidering the terms on
which the aflumption is made, I am hopeful when
the true balance of our state debt is known, the
aflumption will nearly cover the whole ; and
that our public income in future will not only be
fully fufficient to pun<ftually discharge all de
mands as they arise, but to enable us in a few
years to extend to every part of the state those
benefits of inland navigation, under the want of
which they have so long and inconveniently la
boured. Convinced that no measure of domestic
policy can by any means compare with this in im
portance, I take the liberty of recommending it
to your serious attention whenever you may be
of opinion that the public are in actuation to at
tempt it.
All the aifts of Congress palled duringtheirlaft
feifion are herewith transmitted, and a copy of
die definitive treaty concluded between the Uni
ted States and the head men and warriors of the
Creek nation. Copies of a letter from the gover
nor of North-Carolina received in February last
on the fubjecl of amendments to the general go
vernment, and of a resolution of the legislature
of Virginia refpecfting the right of the citizens of
the United States to hear the debates of the fe
deral Senate, are also transmitted."
January ij.
" The governor's meflage was referred by
both houses to a special committee.
" The committee of the house of representa
tives in their report on the meflage, approve of
the conducft of Virginia, and recommend a co
operation.
At a meeting of the commissioners of the land
office of the state of New-York, held at the ci
ty-hall, in the city of New-York, on Wednes
day, the second day of February, 1791.
PRESENT.
Excellency George Clinton, Esquire,
Hi»
Aaron Burr, Esq. Attorney-General.
Gerard Bancker, Esq. Treasurer, and
Peter T. Curtenius, Auditor,
WHEREAS a road hath lately been explored,
marked and laid out under the direction
of this board, commencing on the road leading
from Kingston to Peenpack in Ulster county, a
bout one half mile foutherjy of Wawafink church
and extending from thence westerly to the houle
of Jobannis Ofterhoudt, atLackewack, and then
crofting the Rofandili creek, and continuing wes
terly ot the molt direcfl route which the country
will adroit of to the Blue mountains; and thence
continuiag westerly as the fame is marked to the
Delaware river, nearly oppolite to the mouth of
the Tockpolick creek—Resolved, that proposals
for contracts will be received at any time bet ween
this and thtfirft day of April next, at the secre
tary's office, for makiag that part of tbefaid road
which lies between the house of thefaid Johan
nis Ofterhoudt and thefixteen mile tree from the
Delaware, and which tree stands about one half
mile ealt of the Calkooi. creek, in the manner
following, to wit The said road to be cleared
of trees, logs and under brush, two rods wide at
least ; and such parts of it to be causewayed as
may be neceflary lor the pafling along the fame
with loaded carts and waggons, and good and
fufficient bi idges uade over all creeks not ex
ceeding forty feet in width ; the rocks and large
ft ones to be remove* out of the said road, and
the fide hills dug ant levelled, fothat such load
ed ox carts and wagpns may with ease andfafe
ty pass along the fan)'.
A true copyfrom the miniites.
LEWB A. SCOTT, Secretary.
HARRISBIRGH, Jan. 25.
By letters Mufkingum the 17th
in ft. we are enabled o present the folio-win? in
telligence to our reatlrs.
751
Governor.
About 6 weeks ago, a small party of the nioft
enterpi lzing of the Mufkingum people, commen
ced at a settlement at a place called the Big Bot
tom, about 24 miles from Marietta by land', and
about 40 miles up the Mufkingum. They had
>uik a block house, arid had began to make im
provements—when on the 2d inft. in the dulk of
(he evening, not having barred the door, the
house was surprized by a party of about 40 In
dians, consisting chiefly, if not wholly, of the
Tawawa,Shawanee and Kekkappoo nations. The
otifet was so impetuous, that the unhappy vic
tims had not time to find a gun, but fell an easy
facrifice to the vindictive and cruel enemy, whose
horrid policy would not admit the last ot the un
fortunate party who were in the house to the
claim of mercy, notwithstanding it was fuefl for
in the most moving manner. One person only
of the whole escaped, by being out, who lay con
cealed about forty rods from the place, and was
witness to the awful scene. The number who
perished on this occasion, were in all 14; among
whom were one woman and two children. Thi ee
prisoners were taken from a small cabbin 1 mils
from this place the fame evening, whose fate is
doubted to be still more unfortunate.
Philadelphia, Feb. 16.
The United States, on the broad basis of an lio
neft policy, and an efficient government, cement
ed by Union, must very shortly exhibit a fpeifta
cle on the theatre of the world, novel, attra<ftive
and august ! —Already do we behold an astonish
ing change in the deportment of some of the
European powers towards us—and from the uni
ted force of refpedt and interest, we may antici
pate the moment, when arivalffiip for our friend-
Ihip ffiall give us an opportunity to avail ourselves
of the molt favorable political and commercial
overtures.
Theacceffion ofKe'ntucky and Vermont to the
Union, is an event that appears to give univer
sal fatisfacftion : The facility and promptitude
with which this business has been accom plifhed,
evince a cordial disposition in the minds of our
civil fathers, to extend the blessings of the gener
al government to the inhabitants of the remotest
pat ts of the United States—Thus link after link
is added to the chain, which connedls the great
American family in a union ofinterefts and affec
tion, and which we trust will exist, co-eqHal with
time.
The State of Vermont will be an important
memberofthe Union. Its length is 155, andits
breadth6o miles. Its foil is strong and fertile—
is finely watered, and affords the best pasturage
for cattle. The bulk of its inhabitants are har
dy and enterprizing, emigrants from Connecticut
and Maflachufetts, and their descendants. No
State in the union|afFords a more efficient militia,as
many of their acftions in the late war fufficiently
teftify ; and there are nearly 18,000 men upon
its militia rolls. The number of its inhabitants
is estimated at nearly 100,000, and will therefore
be entitled three representatives to Congress.
[General Advertifer.~\
The time of the dilToiution of the firft Houfeof Representatives
under the new Constitution, draweth nigh—and the public busi
ness moves with encreafing celerity : Tho the remaining period
of the feflion is fliort, there is every profpeft of finilhing the moit
important fubjefls : Some articles will probably lay over to the
second Congnfs ; but they will be taken up with the advantages
of more popular information, and the light thrown on them by
the deliberations of their predecessors.
The first Congress under, the New Constitution.
May be called, in the language of truth,
THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITE®
STATES!
Of its character,
" It needs no other Elogium, than a recital
Of its own ACTS
It cemented the union of the States ,
It destroyed the daemon of Anarchy ,
and fixed
The public confidence and tranquility,
On the firm pillars of
Liberty, Law, and Government.
It snatched frtim impending ruin,
PUBLIC CREDIT :
" RAISED THE FUNDS
EXTENDED COMMERCE ;
ESTABLISHED A REVENUE
Without imposing exceflive burthens on
The People.
It invariably
Watched over and protefled
The Rights of the individual States,
and of the Citizens,
And tho th' historic page may scan some errors,
" On the whole,
We are warranted in this wish—
May its successor equal it"
In Firmness,
Integrity,
Pat rioti sm,
Attention to Business,
and
Public Confidence.
PRICE CURRENT. PUBLIC SECURITIES,
FUNDED DEBT.
6 pr. Cents 17/ I 17/3 p r . / 86| pr. cent.
3 pr. Cents of gji 45 do.
Defered 6 pr. Cents o,fi. 46 do.
UNFUNDED DEBT.
Final Settl. and other Certificates 15/916/" 80 do.
Indents gj~ 4fi do.
N. and S. Carolina debtj, nji io.