Thf committee on tiie petition of John Stagg, jun. chief clerk in the oftice of the Secretary for the Department of War, reported that his sala ry be augmented to the funi of 800 doll srs per annum, to commence from the lit ot J.inoary inft. whicli report was laid on the table. Mr. B. BdUine presented a memorial from the legislature of the State of Rhode-lfland, praying a further alluiriptioii of her State debt, which was read and referred to the Secretary ol the Treasury for information. Mr. Livermore of the committee, appointed to bring in a bill agreeably to the report of. the committee 011 the petition of George Webb late receiver of continental taxes in. the ol \ 11 ginia, reported a bill for that porpofe, which was read the firft time, A report was read from the Secretary at War, >n the memorial of Benjamin Lincoln in behall ,f hiurfelf, Cyrus Griffin and David Humphreys, Commilfioners for treating wiih the Indians, south of the river Ohio, and referred to a (eiei't committee of Mr. Ames, Mr. Boudinot and Mr. Steele. . Mr. Benfon, laid on the tnble a resolution, to this effect, that a committee be appointed to brine in a bill apportioning representatives a mong the several states, according to the firft enumeration, &c. THURSDAY, January j. Read a second time, a bill granting further compeufation to certain receivers of continental taxes, and referred to a committee of the whole honfe on Wednesday next. ' Several petitions for conipenfations, penfious, &c. were read and referred to the Secretary of War. A petition ot Daniel Freer, praying the renew al of certain certain certificates of public debt ■which had been destroyed, was read, and refer red to the Secretary of the Treasury. The committee to whom was referred lhe re port on the memorial of Benjamin Lincoln and others, reported in favor of the prayer of the memorial, which was read and laid oil the table. The House proceeded in the consideration of the poft-office bill. The fedtion offered by Mr. Fitzfimons which provides that the stages which transport the mail, {hall be authorized to carry paflengers was fur ther difcufled, after confulerable debate Mr. Barnwell offered a proviso—suspending the ope ration of the clause in thole states in which cer tain persons are verted with an exclusive piivi ]ege, by the law of the (late, to carry paflengers in waggons or coaches, till the expiration of their patents. Further debate took place on this proviso, which was finally negatived—the Ayes and Noes being as follow : Meflis. Baldwin, Barnwell, Griffin, Huger, Lawrance, Madison, Murray, Seney, VV. Smith, Sterretl, Sturges, Sumpter, Thatcher,Vining— l4. Meflrs.Ames,A<he,Benfoii. Boudinot, B.Bourne, S. Bourne, Brown, Clark, Findley, Fitzfimons, Gerry, Giles, Gilman, Gordon, Gregg, Grove, Heifter, Jacobs, Key, Kitchell, Kiuei a, Learned, Lee, Liverinore, Macon, Moore, Muhlenberg, Niles, Page, Parker, Sclioonmaker, J. Smith, 1. Smith, Steelfc, Sylveaer, Treadwell, Venable, Wadfworth, Ward, Wayne, White, Williamfon, Wyllis— 43. The qaeftion was then taken on the propofi tion offered by Mr. Fitzfimons—which was also negatived—the Ayes and Noes being as follow : Messrs. Ames, Benfon, S. Bourne, B. Bourne, Findley, Fitzfiuions, Gerry, Gilman, Gordon, Gregg, Huger, Kittera, Lawrance, Learned, Li vermore, Macon, Muhlenberg, W. Smith, Steele, Sturges, Sylvester, rhatcher,Viiiii>g,Wadfworth, Ward—2J. Medrs. Afhe, Baldwin, Barnwell, Boudinot, Brown, Clark, Giles, Griffin, Grove, Heifter, Ja cobs, Key, Kitchell, Lee, Madison, Moore, Mur ray, Niles, Page, Patker, Schoonmakcr, Seney, J. Smith, 1. Smith, St errett ,Snmpter, Tread well, Tucker, Venable, Wayne, White, Williaml'dn, Wyllis—33. Several new amendments were offi?red, and re- jeifled Ic was then ordered that the bill be engrofled for a third reading. The house proceeded in the consideration of the bill relative to the ele&ion of Prefidenc and Vice-President, &c.—An amendment to the loch fecftion was proposed by Mr. Gerry—and Mr. Giles moved to recoin two of the fediions— but without deciding on either, the House ad- jojirned FRIDAY, January 6. The petition and memorial ot John Churchman, presented a few days since, was taken into consideration, and, after some de bate, a motion for referring it to a felctt committee was agreed to, and MefTrs. Page, Wadfworth and Wayne, appointed accordingly. Mr. Benfon's motion for the appointment of a committee tote port a new rcprefentation-biH, was taken into consideration. Mr. Gerry moved an amendment to the motion by inserting the ratio of 30,000 ; this occasioned considerable debate : Mr. AYES NOES AYES Ne E s Amrs moved another amendment which was to iufcrt 119 mem bers as ihe whole number to be chof«n by the union. These mo tions were fuperceded by a motion from Mr. B. Bourne, to refer the original motion with the amendmetrt propetcd by Mr. Geriy, to a committee of the whole House, which being agreed to, the fubj £1 was made the order of the day for Thurlday next. The Houic proceeded in the consideration of the bill relative to the eltthon of I'relident aivd Vice-President, &c. Mr. Gups moved to recommit the whole bill, which, after some debate, was agreed to, Aid made the order of the day tor Tuesday next. Mr. Lawrance reported a bill to ascertain and regulate the claims to half.pay, and to invalid pensions—this bill provides for a par t al repeal o| the limitation ordinances df the late Congref y and makes the most ample provision tor the cases of all those who have claims on the public juitice read the firft and second times, and made the order of the day on Wednesday next. The report on the memorial of Benjamin Lincoln and others, was taken into consideration—this being in favor of the memori alilTs, it was moved that a resolution should be adopted purfuaot thereto, which was for granting a sum of money equal to defray ing their reasonable and necessary expenc&s —After considerable debate, a fubllitute for this motion was proposed, in moving that a committee should be appointed to bring in a bill, appropriating 1611 dollars, pursuant to ihe prayer of the memorial. The House, without deciding the queflion,adjourned till Monday nexu LONDON, November 8 On the 3111 ulr. M. de Montmorin went to the National Allembly, in obedience to orders, to in form them how the King\acceptance of the con (titntion had been received by foreign powers. The letters written in answer to the King's 110 tification by the Emperor, by the Kings of ♦Eng land and Denmark, by the States-General of Hol land, by the republic of Geneva, by the Electors of Treves and Saxony, and by the Dukes of Deux Ponts and Brunfwick, (imply wiill the welfare of the King of Fiance and his fubjeOts. The Eleclor of Treves fays formally, that "as to any thing else he has no answer to give." The King of Spain fays in plain terms, that " the King was not free when he accepted the cbnflitution." The King of Sweden " refuted to receive the packet which was officially sent to him." And lie alfigned, as the motive of his refufal, " his own will and pleasure not to receive any iniffion from France." M. fie Monctnarin observed, that as soon as Louis XVI. was informed of this answer, he had ordered his amballadoi: to renew his application to his Swedish Majesty ; that if Guftavus should perlilt in his refufal, to quit Stockholm without taking leave. This resolution of the King was highly and loudly applauded. The Empress of Ruflia, the court of Rome, the King of Sardinia, the Queen of the Swiss Cantons, and the Eledtor of Mayence, have not returned any answer. The National Aflembly have decreed thanks to the King of Great-Britain, to the English na tion, and to Lord Effingham, Governor of Ja maica, for his generous conduct in relieving the planters of St. Domingo, from the horrors of fa mine, and furnifhing them with arms and mili tary (lores, against their rebel negroes. The Prince of Wales, it is reported, has clear ed ten thousand "pounds by the present meeting at Newmarket ! , HARTFORD, December 26 Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Cape-Fran• cois, to the Editor, dated Nov. 19, I 791. " The day before yesterday, a 74gun {hipand one frigate, arrived at this port, to aflift in quell ing the disturbances, but have only made them greater —the officers being of the Ariltocratical parry, the Allembly have demanded thetn—and I am inforrped that the seamen have rifeu and delivered them to the guards of this place, that they may be sent to France." BALTIMORE, December 30, Extratt of a letter from a gentleman at Cape-Fran cois. to his friend in this town, dated the ift injL " 1 he mulattoes were driven from Port-au- Prince by the regiments of Artois and Norman dy, and were, when the dispatches came off, en camped at the Croix de Bouquet—Report fays a bovc ISO of them were left dead in the llreets. A terrible pillage attended the fire. The women and children were taken on board the King's (hips; and, we are told, few have fultained other injury than the loss of property." Extrafi of another letter Jr'om a refpettable mercan tile house in the fame place, to a gentleman in this town, dated the %d inji. '' Further particulars from Port-au-Prince have come to hand since our last. We learn, that from 30 to 32, instead of 27, squares are destroyed, (the town is coinpofed of 44) and ihefe the most valuable. All Captain's-ftreet is consumed, and but very few, if any, of the principal merchants have escaped. Not one of the fufferets had time to save his books or papers. We are momentari ly expe*fling further information. We are, as yet, quiet here, and have little to apprehend from the mulattoes. At Fort-Dauphin they have deli vered up their cannon, and joined our army in that quarter. We have every reason to suppose that Aux-Cayes has fuffered the fate of Port-au- Prince. The infill-gents were in the neighbour hood of the town, when advices, received last evening, were dispatched—Fort St. Louis was 291 then in their potTeffion. It is said they had warn ed the planters to retire to their plantations, on pain of fire and sword. The whites, at Leo ganne and Petit-'Guave, are di farmed. Sr. Marc has, probably, experienced the fame fate." Philadelphia, January y. Reports from India, via France, fay, that Lord Cornw;>llis has found it necessary to retire, Tippoo having laid walte the count!y in such manner as to impede his march. At the Revolution Society Dinner in London, Mr. Paine gave the following Toast " The Revolution of all tub VVoR L D." Accounts from Detroit, received by a gentleman from the G?- nellee country, fay the Indians in the late battle at the Wellward, amounted to between 3 ar.d 4000 That they were command ed by one of the Miffalago Tribe, who had been in the British ser vice the late war—that he planned and conduced the attack That the account of the commencement and continuance of the afition, agrees with Gen. St. C lair's letter to the Secretary of War. A late acconnt from Port-au-Prince, pubhfhed in a New-York paper, fays, that it was not the people of colour who burned the town, but that it was dene by the inhabitants—and that it was a premeditated plan of the Aristocrats ! — How often is the faying contradicted \n fafl, that no man is an enemy to himfelf! The following resolution was adopted in the Houfeof Repre sentatives of this Common wealth, and sent to the Senate for their concurrence, on Thuifday last. That in commemoration of the important and meritorious ser vices rendered to his country by Ciorce Washington, whose character and conduct have triumphed in proportion to the diffi culties thev have encountered, and have attracted the admiration and refpeft of all nations where valour and virtue are held in esti mation, there be procured at the public's expence, a full length portrait painting and marble bust, expreflive of his per foil, and as far as poflible charafteriftic of his talents. Refolvcd, That the said painting and bust be depofued where everthe Legislature (hall deem expedient. Prejudices are battered down by writers—yet, prostrate in the dust, they maintain their authority over the multitude. They re sist reason, Hut they yield to time. They must be fuffered, even in the counfcls of nations, to wc#r out. No truth is better proved, than that trade should be free : yet not one nation has fully yield ed obedience to the principle. Commercial reftri£tions and pro hibitions are even multiplying, and the hands of industry, (one would almost tear) are going to be bound fatter than ever. This is the golden age, tho not in the fabulous sense. The desire of wealth governs politics, as well as trade ; the aflembly house, as well as the work-shop. The enquiry, in the former, is only, how shall we make a law to increase the riches ot the people? The answer is, by letting them alone—give their industry room to atl in, without the obftru&ion of government's meddling, and it will find its own reward. The European nations, unfortunately for them, and for the world, have colonies ; the system ot commercial monopoly follows the system of conquest. Tis there that one abuse is made to produce, and to juftify, another. Every trading nation needs some naval defence ;—but the ambition and avarice of the great maritime powers, havtvcairied these burdens to an oppreflive extreme. A great navy, they pretend, must be kept no to defend colonies, and seamen must be hired to catch cod-fifh and whales, at three times their worth, to man a navy. All their (hips barely fuffice to defend their monopoly; a tenth part of them would protect a free trade. But it is fortunate for mankind that the excels of these abuses is providing a cure for them, The colony and monopoly system of Europe has kindled their wars; their navies have been the chief instrument and heaviest charge of them. Their national debts have been contracted, in a great mea sure, to defray that charge. They have drained all that the mo nopoly of trade could supply, and more is still wanting; and now they begin to perccive, that free trade only can furnifh ft. Before the constitution of the United States was adopted, or even published, the opinion of the public was fettled on this point, that the old form of government was carrying us hastily forward into anarchy and ruin ; men of fenle and virtue w< re zealous and a£live in using arguments and perfuaftons to get the constitution received by the people. Then they watched and la boured long and hard and succeeded ; they felt an affe&ion for the work they had so much assisted : But now the government is going prosperously forward, it is to be apprehended, that such men will withdraw their attention and affe&ion, at least in a gteat degree ; they will fay let it now take care of itfclf, it is able to doit—But they may have cause to lament their neglect; a thousand occasions happen in which a good government would almost stop Us course if it was not affiftcd by the zeal and virtue of the men of abilities and merit who live under it. The only reason aiTigned for enhancing the postage ofnewfpa pers sent more than 100 miles, fifty per cent, is, that it will pre vent a monopoly of the business on the part of those Printers who publilh at the Seat of Government, to the injury of the Printers at the Southward, where labor and materials in that line, are dearer than at the Northward. This is one of those bad rules fhat will not work, both Wavs—for if it would tend to equalize the matter at the Southward, it will entirely prevent any papers being sent to the Northward. The half cent originally proposed as a postage on newspapers, would be found fully competent to defraying everv expence. All that is to be considered with refpeft to the contra£l;> tor carrying the mail, is the weight—the trouble would not be encre-ifed, pro vided all newspapers were lodged in the poft-office, as they ought to be—but it has never yet been made to appear that the newspa pers might not be included in all the mail contrasts, without one faithing's addition to the expence. A writer in the Farmer's Journal, printed at Danbury, (Conn.) fays Were some regulation established whereby editors of pe riodical works might rcceive commnnications tree of postage, the publishers of the National Papers would, undoubtedly, re ceive many entertaining and inftruftive essays, from every part of the Union, which are now withheld for want of a proper convey ance. FOREIGN APPOINTMENTS. Pierre Francois Barbe de Marbois, Vice-Consul from his Most Christian Majesty within tfie states of Conne£licut, New-Yorkand New-Terfev, to reside in New-York. Charles Gottfried Paleflce, Consul-General from the King of Pruflia, within the United States of America. PRICE CURRENT.—PUBLIC SECURITIES. FUNDED DEBT. 6 pr. Cents 23/4 pr. £. 3 pr. Cents 1 3/ 1 ° Defcred 6 pr. Cents 14f UNFUNDED DEBT. Final Settl. and other Certificates 20/6 Indents 12/6 ■-.11r n_ _ _ » Bank Stoek—half (hares 97 per cent premium. —whole (hares irora 50 to 55 per cent n6f pr. ccnt. 69 do. 70 do. 102J do. 6a| do.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers