» Report of the Secretary of the Treasury, on the subject of a (continued.^ IT is cvide; *, ?lfo, that the nation mult p*v as much gold and silver as before, for the commoditir-s which it procures abroad; and whether it obtains this gold and cheaper, or not, turns upon the solution of the question just intimated, refp fling the re lative proportion of active commerce, between the two countries. Besides these considerations, it is admitted in the reasoning, that the advantages supposed, which depend on a favorable ba lance of traie, have a tendency to affe£l that balance difadvan tageoufly. Foreigners, it is allowed, will in th s cafe, seek some other vent for their commodities, and some other r.ia:ket, where they can supply their W2pts at an ealier rate. A tendency of tics kind, if real, would be a fufficient objettion to the regulation. Nothing which contributes to change a beneficial current of trade, ran well compen'ate, bv particular advantage?, for so injurious an effeffc It is far more easy to transfer trade, from a less to a moie favorable channel, than when once transferred, to bring it back to its old one. Every source of artificial interruption to an advantageous current is, therefore, cautiously to be avoided. It merits attention, that the able minister, who lately and so long presided over the finances of France, docs not attribute to the duty of coinage, in that country, any particular advantages, in relation to exchange 2nd trade. Though he rather appears an advocate for it, 'tis on the sole ground of the revenue it afford?, which he represents, as in the nature of a very moderate duty on the general mass of exportation. And it is not improbable, that to the singular felicity of situa tion of that kingdom, is to be attributed its not having been sen sible of the evils which seem incident to the reguiation. There is perhaps no part of Europe, which has so little need of other coun tries, as France. variety of foils and climates, an immense population, its agriculture in » state of mature im provement, it poflefles within its own bosom. most, if not all thr productions of the earth, which any of its most favored neighbors can boast. The variety, abundance and excellcnce of its wines, constitute a peculiar advantage in its favor. Arts and manufac tures are'there al(o in a very advanced state—some of them of con siderable importance, in higher perfection than elsewhere. Its contiguity to Spain, the intimate nature of its connexion with that country ; a country with few fabrics of its own, consequently numerous wants, and the principal leceptacle of the tretfures ol thenow world. Thefecircumftances concur, in fecuringto France, so uniform, and so considerable a balance of trade, as in a great measure to counterafl the natural tendency of any errors, which may txift in the system of a mint; and to render inferences from the operation of that system there, in reference to this country, more liable to mislead than to inftruft. Nor ought it to pass un noticed, that with all these advantages, th -government of France has found it necefTary, on some occasions, to employ very violent methods to comp 1 Jthe bringing of bullion to the mint ; a circum stance, which affords a strong presumption of the inexpediency of the regulation, and of the impra&icability of executing it in the United States. This point has been the longer dwelt upon, not only because there is a divcrfity of opinion among speculative men concerning it, and a diversity in the pra£lice c>f the most considerable com mercial nations-; but becaulcthe atts of our own government, un der the confederation, have not only admitted the expediency o> defraying the expence of coinage out of the metals themselves ; but upon this icta have both mad .< deduction from the weight of the coins, and established a difference between thtir regulated value and '.he mint price of bullion greater than would result from that deduction. This double operation in favor of a principle so quefttonable in itfelf, has made a more particular investigation of it a duty. The intention,however,of the preceeding remarks,is rather to (hew that the expe&ation cf commercial advantages ought not to decide in favor of a duty of coinage, and that if it fiiould be adopted, it ought not to be in the form of a deduction from the intrinsic value of the coins—than abfoliaely to exclude the idea of any difference •whatevqr, between the value of the metals in coin and in bullion. It is not clearly discerned, that a small difference between the m int price of bullion, and the regulated value of the coins, would be pernicious, or that it might not even be advisable, in the firft instance, by way of experiment, merely as a preventative to the melting down and exportation of the coins. This will now be somewhat more particularly considered. The arguments for a coinage, entirely freeware, that itpreferves the intrinsic value of the metals ; that it makes the expence of fa brication a general inftiead of a partial tax ; and that it tends to promote the abundance of gold and silver, which it is alledged ■will flow to that place, where they find the belt price, and from that place, where the) are in any degree undervalued. The firft consideration has not much weight, as an obje&ion to a plan, which, without diminishing the quantity of metals, in the coins, merely allows a less price for them in the bullion at the na tionnl factory or mint. No rule of intrinsic value is violated, by considering the raw materials, as worth less than the labric, in pro portion to the expence of fabrication. And by divesting foreign coins of the privilege of circulating as money, they become the raw material. The lecond confederation has perhaps greater weight. But ii may not amount to an obje£lion, if it be the best method of pre venting disorders in the coins, which it is in a particular manner the interest of those, on whom the tax would fall, to prevent. The practice of taking gold by weight, which has of late years ob tained in Great-Britain, has bcCn found, in some degree,a remedy; but this is inconvenient, and may on that account fall into disuse. Another circumstance has made a remedial operation. This is, the delays of the mint. It apppears to be the practice there, not to make payment for the bullion, which is bronght to be ex changed for coin, till it cither has in fatt, or is pretended to have undergone the process of Tecoining. [To be continued. " Philadelphia, Feb. 25." Extract of a litter from a gentleman in Edinburgh, to his friend in this city, dated id OR. I 790, "■ BY some "Americaif papers I find that a Na tional Univerficy is in agitation In my poor judgment the measure will be dangerous. Privi leges, in time, may be annexed to study in that University, which cannot be gained by studying in any other. Opportunities may present for filling vacant Profeflorfliips, sb as may subserve the deligns of some ambitious President. These, in the tirlt feats of government, instiga ted by principles too common, may vvifli to ex tend their own power, and to abridge the liber ty of the fubjecl, Many Profeffors in Scotland, otherwise of distinguished abilities, have disco vered how zealous they were fo> principles, ■which, if carried their just length, would con demn the revolution of r6BB, in their prelections and publications : especially tliofe occasioned by the American war. Drs. Campbell and Gerard, of Aberdeen, and Profefl'or Fergufon, ofEdin bargb, who, in 'wis liiftory, endeavors to varnifli over"Sylla's cruelties, are not the only inftanc.es. flen who boast of free-thinking and liberality of ientiment, thought it no inconlifteney with this to maintain Britain's right of enslaving America. But a Dunbar at Aberdeen, and a Millar at G!af gow dared topublifh a jufter state of the natural and unalienable rights of mankind. " Some years ago the College of Glasgow ex pelled several Students for daring to find fault with their measures, and carried their perfec tion again ft one of them so far, that they hinder ed his being licenfcd till he had made some hu miliating acknowledgments. An attempt was made some years before this, tS vest in the Eng ]ifli (Jniverfities an exclusive right of printing certain books. The consequence would liave been that the inoft ufeful histories and political tradis, if they happened not tofuit thetafte of a Prince, or Prime Minister, would not have been re-printed. But where different States have each their own college, the employing them for thus perverting and poisoning youth would be anun iuccefsful attempt. Besides, when you have five or fix colleges, if you have good libraries and phi losophical apparatuses, and prefer to profeffor fhips t lie heft men you can find, afpirit of emula tion, highly favorable to tie advancement of learning would be excited andcheriflied. Learn ing would never have spread as it once did in Greece, had the States, in the time of their great est union, eretled a common Academy. At one time Wurtenburg, at another Halle, at another Leipzig, has been the inoft flourifhing German University. One man of distinguished merit in philosophy, belles lettres,medicine, law, divinity, draws icliolars from the most dillant parts of Germany. A number of small States, having the fame language, tho differing in internal govern ment and police, from thef'e instances appear to me to have the highest advantages for improve ments in arts and sciences, if they are not retard ed in thepurfuit of perfection by the proud idea that they have already attained it. This is the cafe with the agreeable and courteous, but indo lent and luxurious inhabitants of Vienna, that metropolis of the hereditary dominions, and they fancy alio not only the metropolis of Germany, but the most knowing, cultivated, and improved city there : In faift the reverse is the cafe. There is hardly any protestant city there, which they fall not far ihort of; but, the progress of feience in other parts of the empire they know not, their best books having till lately been contraband goods. Educated by Jesuits, they counted the fuperficial knowledge imported to them by the fathers, the very n: plus ultra of science. From passages in some American papers, I appre hend that the States are in some danger, from a fitnilar cause, of not improving, as they ought, their great natural talents, and high advantages for improvements in learning. lam sorry some men of abilities among you speak with so urjnft contempt of acquaintance with the claifics : To this the fineft British writers owe a great portion of their excellence." LAWS OF THE UNION. CONGR.ESS OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE THIRD SESSION, Begun and held at the City of Philadelphia, on Monday the sixth of December, one thousand fevert hundred and ninety. AN ACT for the admiifion of the State of VER- MONT into this Union. THE State of Vermont having petitioned the Congress to be admitted a Member of the United States— Re ;t eua&ed by the Senate and HouXe of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress aflfembled, and it is hereby ena&ed and declared, That, on the Fourth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, the said State, bv the name and style of " The State of Vermont." shall be received and admitted into the Union, as a new and entire Member of the United States of America. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Reprefcntatives. JOHN ADAMS, Vice,-Prefident of the United States, and Prejident of the Senate. Approved, February eighteenth, 1791. (-EORGE WASHINGTON, Ptejident qjthe United Stater (True Copy) THOMAS. JEFFERSON, Secretary of State AN ACT to continue in force for a limited time, an art pafled at the firft session of Congress, en tituled, " an adl to regulate procefies in the courts of the United States." BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of th. United States of America in Congress assembled, That an a£t pafled on the twenty-ninth day of September, in the year one lV >oufand seven hundred and eighty-nine, entitled, " an ast to re gulate proCeff<s in the courts of the United States," fhail be, ann the fame hereby is continued in force until the end of the next feflion of Congress. nd nrt longer. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, Speaker of the House of Representatives, JOHN ADAMS, Vice-Prefiderit oj'the United States, and Pre/ident u/ the Senate. Approved. February eighteenth, 1701. GEORGE W ASHINGTOX, President of the United States. (True copy.) THOMAS JEFFERSON, Secretary of State, R F-'° L yED, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the XV United States ofAmei ici in CongreJ) assembled, That Andrew Brow n, or any other printer, be permitted, under the direttion ■ ; the Secretary of State, to collate with, and correct by the origi nal rolls, the laws, resolutions and treaties of the United States, to be by him printed. And that a certiHcale o! their having been 764 Co collated and correfttd, be annexed to the bid rfitiw". PitM viied. Thai fucft collation and correction be at iheexpence ot(3B fairf Andrew Brown, or such other printer, and'that (he perfonwl Iperfons to be by him or them employed in th*t service, beUpraj proved by the Secretary of State. FREDERICK AUGUSTUS MUHLENBERG, j] Speaker oj the House rjKep'cfevtatuxt. ] JOHN ADAMS, VicesPrefislcit a) the United Staits, < and President of the Senate. Arrnovf.D, FrjiswAßr J7 g,. }. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prijidttstof the C'mted States- *, PRICE CURRENT. PHILADLLPIUA. PF. R QUANTITY. FEBRUARY 25.— Dollars at ANCHORS pr. lb. 6U > AlJum, Engliih, pr. cwt. Ditto, Roch pr. lb. 10d A flies, pot, per ton, £5 a-qjJios Arrack pr. gall. icj 12s (yd Brandy, common, 7 s6d Cognise 8f 4d Braziletto, pr. ton. 12/ a 16/ Bricks pr. M 30s Bread, Oiip pr. cwt. J 9 J 6 Ditto, pilot ,3,jf Ditto, small water 45J 48* Beer, American, in bot. / , pr. doz. > pr. bbl. 30 s f Oak pr.M feet, 4/1 or 4/18* 0 Merch. pine 4/ ioj 4/ 15s Sap, do. 2l'.ys6d 3/* O N.Eng. 2lss 2/ysbd 03 L Cedar 4/ 5s The above arc the Shallop prices ; for the Yard p> ices add 15s pr M. Brimllone m rolls pr. cwt. 241 t*- (I r 1 fli pr. bbl. 555 60/ 3 j lirjinn 55f W ( Country 45* Buticr pr. lb. 10d fid in kegs 10d Cedar,red timber pr.foot 2s2s6d. Chocolate pr. lb. 1?d Coal pr. buftiel u Sd Coffee pr. lb. 1 s 2d Cinnamon 18s 20s Caflia $s Cheese, English i. f 3^ Country 6d 7 f Sprr. pr. lb. 3 J 6d -i J Wax 3 J Myrtle Wax is zd | Mould,tallow nd \9.d rj L Dipped Cotton x Cuirants IS 6 2S Cloves CoDperaS nrv-Wt. ljs6d 6OJ 62564 Cocoa 6z>6d 6756 d DucKß u^a J P r - piece 80s 83s --—Ravens Is.- 65s jos ./lour, Superfine, pr. bbl. 45J Common, 4 2s Bur middlings,beft 35J Middlings 34* Ship-ftuff pr. cwt. 12s 15s Flax pr. lb. Sd qd Fustic pr. ton, 135J 150.C Feathers pr. lb. 2j q<{ pr. bu(h. Flaxfeed 7/101 8/ Glue, pr. cwt, Ginger, whiterace Ditto, common 50/ Ditto, ground pr. Ih. i f Ginfcng, 2 s Gunpowder, cannon,pr. ) quarter cask, ) 3' ys Ditto, fine glazed Gin, Holland, pr. gall. 5s D-"». pr. cafe, 30J 33J f Wheat pr. bush B*Ba!6r !l y e .v I Oals 1 s 8d 2s 6d Indian corn 2s6d 31 I Bailey 4 f yd j Befl shelled 20s (_ Buckwheat 2(6 Hams pr. lb. yuHd Hemp, pr.ton, 50/ Hogshead hoops, pr. M 5/ 6/ Herrings, pr. bb!. 20s Hides, raw pr. lb. 9d 10d * Hops 2S Q'l ?s 6d Indigo, Trench, 7 s 6d 12j Carolina 4J 7 j Irons, fad pr. cwt. f Callings 22s 6d 305 | Bar pr. ton, 29/30/ 2 P 'S '0/ 5 | Sheet 60/ 65/ (. Nail rods 3(5/ Junk, pr. cwt. 27s Q£r Lard, hogs gd 10d Lead in pigs 40J 42.1 6d '-n bars 6 os Lead, white Bcj 85.) red 49 ., 6d Leather, foal pr. lb. is zd is qd Lignum vita pr. ton 42s 4,5 r Logwood y/ j.t 8/ M a], Indian, pr. bbl. 1 gs' ——Rye . 2 8j Mackorel,boft Common 30/5816// pr. lb. 70J 2S 4d isSd is ad zsBJ Mace Mustard Madder, belt Molafles pr. grill Marble, wrought, pr. foot, 13; Ma ft (pars • Mahogany 8d \id Nutmegs pV lb. 6oj 75s Nails, ic^i?.d&c lod— 8d S^dqd C LinTeed, pr. gal). 31 gd 1 Train is 10d 2s Spermaceti 3s yd 1 Whaie 1 s 10d is g Olive 6s 6d | Ditto pr. cafe 28.1 30J Best fwcet in ) CJr flatks.pr. box, J s°-'6d6os l_--ba(kets 12 bottles 2&f Oak timber pr. ton 40/ Porter in casks, pr. gall. 2.r London,pr.doz.t2i6i 15* 'oftCfjAsnrrican pr. do*, pj '-.tch, pr. ob]. lor Pork, Burlington, *"~V> ■— ; —Lower county 7csß-f Carolina £0* las, Albany 7 sGd K $ SA j Pepper, pr. Ib. zs ad Pimento , s f j Rice pr. cwf. «>2s Rofm pr. |)bl. 2 - s Raifros, best, pr. keg r^ s D'Ho pr. jar '.> 2f ■itto pr. box r Jamaica pr. gall. s 'j 6i M j Antrg'Ja j Windward g *, J4arh<idors 41 jj j Country, N. E. 3 s 31 id LTaflfia 2J4J 2s 6d SafTafras pi*, ton 40 fox Saltpetre, pr. cvvf. 6/10* Sulphur, flour 40141 c Shot ' £ 0f (German pr. rwt t 60*70/ uj jEnglifh, bliftercd 82s Gd pr. ton (Crowley's or. fa%. 4/10s Snake root pr. lb. ij 6d 2s 8d Soap, Common cd 6d ■ Hrftwn 6d Caflile 8i qd Starch nij Snuff \s6 i zsAd £s6d Spermaceti, rrHivd. gj Sail Clcxh, Erwlifli, } . , " > pr. yard, $ ls6d 2Szd Bolton, No. I. 2.fQi No. 11. is id Ruflin fh eating, pr. p. go/ ['Lump, pr. lb. is d j Loaf, finale refined is6d J <j Ditto, double do. j~. , Havannah, white 11 d oo j Ditto, brown, Sd iod lMufcovada,pr.cwt. Spirits Turpentine pr. gall, jjqi f Allum pr. bulb. ►J 2 j 4i < Cadiz 0/ °° ( Lisbon is^disbd Ship buiid. W.O. frames'; 80/ P- ton, g of Do. 1.0. & red C. do. 6/6/5* Shingles, short, p. M. 15/20/ long dreficd goiioo/ ■ing, heart, 90/150/ d P 4 2J 4,5- f Scan: 17 M I r»• r . i"" rip? pr. i!>oo pieccs iti '* » /I J » 5' 3 d W. O. hogshead ) R. O. do. 52 s6d < | Leogan K Barrel L Heading Otter, bed pr. piece 30. iT Minks 3s6d $r Fox, grey 2 » 6d 6/ red 6j js6d If) Martins j~ <{ Fibers 2s6dss r £ Bears 12s6d 25s Racoons ?..f 4/ Musk-rats ts6d I Beaver, pr. lb. 5/ icj L Deei, in hair u6d 9Ssd , Xar,NJ. Jersey, r>4 gal. p. bbl. qt — I —Carolina, 32 galJ. 13(6d Turpentine 17 sSd — Spirits, pr.gall. 3/ qd • f J aniFS K. new belt 3256 i •£ -— inferior 23/25/ o old • 35/ 38/ Rappahannock 22 s6d O J Colo. Maryland 40J 60/ • Dark 90s Long-leaf 20s S3 Kaftern-lhore 15/ 16/ 1 Carolina, new 23/2,5/ / I | old 3Q.f 1 Hyson pr. lb. ysSjqd-j c/a. I Hyson fk'n, 4/ 4/ 6d ! Souchong, bed 7s6dßt H ! Congo, 3 J ?<* L-Bohea, 2J 6d Tallow, refined 9^ Tin pr. box, 110/ 112s 6d Verdigreafe pr. Ib. 4^4 s 6d Vermillion, HS.^d Varnish, 2.f 2/ 3d f Madeira, pr. pipe 40/80/ • Lisbon 38/ Teneriffe 22/io.f 24/ Fayal pr. gall, r^sid3J Port pr. pipe 39/ 42/ Ditto pr. gall. sslo(t5 sl0( t Do. in bottles, pr. doz. 30/ Claret 30/ 45.C Sherry pr. gall. 6s yd 9* Malaga 4* . Bees pr. lb. 2J 2s le-bone, long pr. lb. fliort, pr. lb. • J 2 * 1 £ 1 t Wax. Whai COURSE OF EXCHAXCE, Bills of Exchange, London, 90 days, 70 Ditto 60 days 725 Ditto 30 days 74 Amsterdam, 60 days, pr. guilder, 2JII 3 f 30 days gs id France, 60 ,diya,pr. t j; jiv. (i.r 8i 30 davs 61 jctf -;.V 7' 5' 5 l 5 f s''s s 4 / i s .t 8/1 os
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