The amendment to the 23d lection was also agreed to, fubjetfting newspapers conveyed in the mail, to a postage of one cent for 100 miles, and a cent and a half for any greater diltance. Seiftion 25, as amended and agreed to, author ises the psrt-mafters of Portsmouth, N. H. Borton, Providence, New-York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Charleston, S. C. to fend the let ters to the houses of the persons, to wljom ad dre(ied,and to charge, for such convejance, one cent on each letter, in addition to the portage. Having proceeded through all the amend ments, the house adjourned. THURSDAY, December 29 The letterof t lie Attorney-Generel of the Unit ed States, lent from the President yesterday, was referred to the committee who have before them the report on the judiciary system. The petition of James Rumfey, refpedting his invention of a (team-boat, was referred to tlie committee on ufeful arts, &c Two petitions, of William Langley and Adam iiffart, praying compeniation for Cervices, were •ead and referred to the Secretary of War. The House resumed the consideration of the Pod-Office bill. Many of the amendments were attain amended—the time was taken up in dif cuiling the various proportions offered from all parts of the House—the franking section was re ltriifted in several particulars—A motion to re duce the portage of newspapers to an half cent eac h and another providing for the transporta tion of periodical pamphlets by the mail—both failed. The several feiftions being gone through w ; t h a motion to recommit the bill and amend ments occasioned further debate, which conti nued to the time of adjournment. Mr. Hartley obtained leave of absence for 8 days. Mr. Hillhoufe obtained leave of absence for 20 days—and then the House adjourned. FRIDAY, December 30, A number of petitions were laid on the clerk's table by several members—these were taken up in order, read, and referred—thofe for pensions and compensations for services and disabilities, to the Secretary of War A memorial of John Churchman was read, re newing his application for the patronage of Go vernment, to enable him to undertake and pro lecute a voyage of discovery towards the North Pole—laid on the table. Mr. Bourne of the committee of enrolment, reported the bill for carrying into effeift a con tract between the United States and the state of Pennsylvania, as duly enrolled—the Speaker then affixed his signature to the lame. A mefl'age was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Secretary Lear—com municating a copy ot the ratification by the state of Virginia, ofthe amendments proposed by Con gress to the Constitution of the United States. A petition from a number of the inhabitants of Northumberland county,Pennfylvania, against that part of the revenue law, which lays a duty oil spirits distilled from the produce ofthe coun try,and praying for a repeal of the law—was read and fcaid on the table. In committee of the whole, on the bill to ex tend the time for fettling the accounts of the United States with the individual States—Mr. Muhlenberg in the chair. The bill being read, Mr. Clark proposed an additional fedUnn, providing for enhancing the salary of the firft clerk in the Commiflioner's of fice to the funi received by the principal clerk in the Auditor's office— which was agreed to. The committee then role and reported accord ingly—the house acceptcd the report, and or dered the bill to be engrofled for a third reading. The report of a select commiifee, refpe(fting the Secretary of the Treasury's exhibiting annu al accounts of the receipts and expenditures of public monies, was taken into confideration — This report consisted of two resolutions —one requiring the account, the other that a commit tee Ihould be appointed to examine and report thereon. After considerable debate, the firft resolution was adopted—the other disagreed to. Adjourned till Monday. FROM A LONDON PAPER. VOLTAIRE AS Voltaire is quoted as the great Oracle of re publicnnifm (as his ashes are looked upjn as the embers from which the democracy of France has been lighted up into its present flame) let us f-r contra, give, in his own words, what that no torious atheillical hypocrite has (aid of kings: — In his celebrated address to the members of the Academy of Paris, in the year I 746, will be found these words : In speaking of Louis the XI Vth. he fays, "Do you think, gentlemen, that the honors resound ed by f 0 many voices to the memory of Louis the XlVih. did not open to tlieinfeves a way 10 the heart of his fiiccefTor?—lt will one day be said, that both journeyed to immortality ; lometitnes by the fame road, sometimes by different routes. Posterity must fay, that this was the true pursuit of glory ; that the monarchy of France displayed a greatness of foul in the happiness of its people ! i hat land and lea gave telfimony of its magnifi cence—and the smallest objects, as soon as they began to have any relation to it, a flu in eel a new character, and received the it a nip of Sterling grandeur!" At the conclusion of this memorable harangue, we find Voltaire again either a strong royalill, or the mod profound hypocrite. His words are, in descanting on the character of the late king of trance, " We are happy, we have known his virtues ever since he began to reign. We have always thought of him, as all ages, and all na tions will think. Never was there a love more sincere, or better exprelled : By all hearts it is felt, and by your eloquent tongue it is declared. Medals worthy of the most polite times of Greece eternize his triumphs and our happiness. O ! that I could fee in our public places, fiatues of that humane monarch carved by the hands of our Praxiteles's, environed with all the symbols of public felicity : O ! that 1 cottld read at the foot of each flattie, these words, which are engraved upon all our hearts, "To the father of his country." After this, what mult the public think of the admirers of Voltaire ? FROM THE LONDON CHRONICLE. THOMSON One of the most elegant compliments ever paid to this charming Poet was by a person of his own name, who sent him the fol lowing Verses : To Mr. James Thomson, on his Seasons. HAIL Nature's Poet, whom she taught alone To sing her works, in numbers like her own, Sweet as the ihrufh that warbles in the dale, And foft as Philomela's tender tale; She lent her pencil too of wond'rous pow'r, To catch the rainbow, and to form the flow'r, Of many mingling hues—and smiling said, (But fir ft with lauiel crown'd her Favourite's head) " These beauteous Children, tho' so fair they shine, " Fade in my Scafons; let them live in thine." And live they (hall, the charm of every eye, Till Nature ficken,and the Seasons die. Philadelphia, December 51. All accounts of the late a<ftion with the Indi ans refletft honor 011 the condud: of Genera) St. Clair and his gallant troops. It is true the army was defeated, but it is highly probable they were overpowered by superior numbers.—The annals of the late war do not exhibit a more lengthy and severe conflidl; and although the iflue of it was unfortunate, thereputation of the American arms remains unimpeached. Whatever may be the consequences of the In dian war, the United States are not responsible for them.—The predatory incurlions of the Wa ba(h and Miami Indians, began in the early part of the late war, and have continued without in termission to the present time. These Indians have constantly refufed the in vitations of the United States to treat .of peace, although the neighbouring tribes did, at several periods since the late war, conclude treaties with us. Some people have supposed that this war has been lighted up by the encroachments of the whites.—This does not appear to be the cafe.— The VVabafh Indians have not any claim to the lands within the boundaries by several treaties with the Western Indians ; —nor have they urged any such claim : they appear to have been incited to a continuance of their depreda tions, by a thirst for blood and plunder, with both of which they have been but too abundantlj gra tified. When the insolence and criu-liies of these ban ditti (hall be fully explained to the public, toge ther with the means used to bring them to a just f'enfe of their situation, without having recouiTe to the last extremity, the humanity of the United States will be abundantly apparent, and their con duct receive, as it merits, the approbation of the enlightened part of mankind. Six Cherokee Chiefs, with a woman and boy of that nation, accompanied by Mr. Carey, inter preter, arrived in town on Thursday last, ; bout twelve o'clock. They were attended by Colonel Proper, of this city. The following are the names of the fix Chero kee Chiefs : Iniunetua, or Bloody fellow : a General. Chadlaw, or King-Fisher : a Colonel. Nattawego, or the North Nation : a General Kuthaguila, or The Prince : the Old Warrior, Teyeftifkey, or The ttifturber : a Captain. Shucvvegee, or Captain George. The Squaw, Jean Dougherty Chriftiaii Fcbiger, Esq. is unanimously i e-elecft ed Treafurcr of this Commonwealth, by the Lc giflaiurc. 283 William Thomson, _ A veflel arrived at Boftoti brings a corjfmna ioy erf the deftruiftion of Port-au-Prince. Port-au Prince was a large and populous city, containing more than 20,000 inhabitants—lt is now an heap of rubbifii and its citizens reduced to indeferibable distress. We can inform our readers from the best au thority, thai in the late aiftion of the 4th of No vember, under Major-General St. Clair, the fol lowii'g gallant conduct of Major Butlei , brother to the late General Butler who commanded one of the battalions of levies from this state, took place—the Major having received the wound which broke his leg, he retired to be drefled, and the moment it was over, got himfelf put upon a horse, and returned to his battalion, and conti nued with it until it was ordered to retire. 7 he Subscription-Book for opening the Canal and Lock Navigation between the l ivers Schuyl kill and Snfquehanna, by the waters of Tulpe hocken, Quitapahilia, and Swatara, in the coun ties of Berks and Dauphin, having been kept open for fifteen days, agreeable to law, were doled on Saturday last, when it appeared that there were 40,000 shares fubferibed, being 39,000 shares more than the law requires, the whole number is to be reduced down to one thousand shares, by lottery. The committee of the House of Representatives appointed to conflder and report 011 the a<ft :e ---fpecfting dramatic exhibitions, have reported in fubltance, That as the public sentiment will for. ever prescribe the language, and ltamp the ch«- raifier of public exhibitions, it becomes unnecef (ary for the Legislature to place the Theatre un der the trammels of censors. Late letters from Jamaica to a gentleman in this city, mention that the Ipirit of revolt among the negroes had at length reached the ifljnd —that the white inhabitants were fincerel/ alarmed for their falety, had proclaimed martial law, and were taking every precaution in their power to prevent a general infur*6tiou. The flame is spreading, and threatens the Weft-India islands with ruin and devastation. Wednesday lad the Senate of this Commonwealth, voted that the choice of a Federal Senator fliould be by a concurrent vote 11, to 6. The amnesty, allowed in France to the fugitive princes, and others who have opposed the revolution, is very honoiable, as-well as wife and politic. Men overturn a tyranny, because they fear it ; and what they fear they hate. The druggie for liberty in flames both passions, fear and hatred. The moment of triumph is a dangerous trial of the heart; for it finds the latter palfion thii sting for the deftru£tion of the obje&s and persons, which it lately feared and continues to hale. The amnesty evinces the magnanimous confidence of the National AlTembly in the liabili ty of their own work ; no longrr fearing their foes, they have the nobleness of foul, as well as wisdom, to forgive them. It is to the honor of the age that opinions are no longer punilhed as crimes. Go on, enlightened Frenchmen, your mildness (a nation al virtue now resumed) in the use of your privileges, will make liberty appear amiable in the eyes of other nations. Hitherto a free people have been considered as a kind of fcc taries ; it bas been a diftin&ion in the world, and a proud one too of more worth than all its titles. But the time is coming, and the French, il they are wife and prudent enough to make their work strong as they do it, will hasten the period, when the major vote of the world will be given in favor of liberty—when the want, or the loss of it, will be considered as a stain, a mark of ignominy and degradation, which slaves, the most uled to it, will not have the patience to carry. The example of a free people is important to the world. The common objection against free governments, is, that they run into licentiousness. Afi ce people, therefore, by refuting obedience to the laws, do an injury not only to themselves, but to mankind. It is not kings only who are terrified by feeing the effects of this disobedience— it seems, in their view of the matter, a duty with men of sense and virtue, living in countries whose governments need reforming, to oppose the work of reformation, and to pre serve the public trjoquility, even at the piiceol delaying, perhaps of finally losing the opportunity of changing things for the belter. How would itaifcourage the European lovers of liberty and good order, for they are the fame fort of men, to find that we in Ame rica have made a new form of government, as free as the air, and one that has been found as good to dispute about as ever was made ; but the people will not obey it. Surely then no Ameri can who is h;ilf as proud of his country and his liberty as he has caufeto be, will give occasion for his own and his country's dis honor, by opposing or countera&ing the excise laws. There is no liberty without government —and surely there is no government where men govern the laws* Men may love liberty in their hearts who join in the cry against the excise—but if they are wild e nough to oopofe it foicibly, they are the worst enemies of liberty. • excise has a bad name—but never was more pains bellow ed to ma.ke the a£l deserve a good one. Will not the men who think it a dangerous law, give those who would explain it an hear ing ? Will they not fee the effects of the law before they pro nounce it oppreflive ? It is to be feared that great misrepresenta tions have taken place. But the truth, though flow, will arrive at last, and thousands will be surprised to find how grossly they have been imposed upon, in relation to this obnoxious law. With so much good sense as our countrymen arc known to possess ; and after so much as they have done and fuffered to esta blish an equal government, by laws and not by men, it is lmpof fible to conccive that an\ men, uniefs in a fit of mad paflion, can be found so wickcd and foolilh as to fly in the face of authority, and to oppose those very laws which they, by their representatives, have had pait in framing. PRICE CURRENT— PUBLIC SECURITIES. FUNDED DEBT, 23 f •a/ 6 ra 13/8 6 pr. Cents 3 pr. Cents Dcfered 6 pr. Cents UNFUNDED DEBT. Final Scttl. and other Certificates Indents Bank Subscriptions, THE annual eje&ion of Officers of the American Phi losophical Society, will be held at their Hall between the hours of 2 and 5, p. m. on Friday the 6ih ot January next December 31 pr. £ . 115 pr. ccnt. do. do, 20/"6 102& do. 63i >2/9 Dollars. JONATHAN WILLIAMS, Sec'ry
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers