&#z((U oflS A NATIONAL PAPER, PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS BY JOHN FENNO, No. 69, HIGH.STREET, PHILADELPHIA [No. 101, of Vol. lII.] ADVERTISEMENT. (p- TO comprize in the present volume of this Gazette all the Laws which are and may be enafied by Congress in the present feffton, it will he necefary to extend the numbers to the lajl of May. The fourth ■volume, therefore, wilt commerce with the beginning of June— and will te printed on paper of larger dimenjions than thf present, provided the liitor's receipts of arrearages Jhall enable him to dolt—the price to con tinue at Three Dollars per annum. Three years are nearly expired Jince this publication firfl made its ap f trance; during which, scarcely a fngle injlance has occurred of re mijnefs in punßually dijpatching the papers from the Printing-Office— tlteirfailures in reaching the subscribers, have been owing to causes which were entirely beyond the controul of the publisher. Under the new regulations of the Pofl-Office Department, the Subfcibers for the GAitrrt of the United Statss may therefore promise themselves the advantage of the flriflejl punßualityon the ' part of the Editor— which, aided by that energy we have the greatejl reason to expe£l will 4ijlinsuijh thefuperintcndance of the Gentleman now at the head of the Pop-Office Department, will ensure afieady tranfmijion of Newspapers to all parts as the Union. SECONP CONGRESS OF the UNITED STATES. AT THE FIRST SESSION, Begun and held at the cify o\ Philadelphia, in the State of Penn sylvania, Monday the tw< nty-foutth of O&obfcr, one thouland seven hundred and ninety-one. AN ACT eftablifliing a Mint, and regulating the Coins of the United States. Section -•'D E enabled by ihe Senate and House of Repre- IJ fentatives of the United Stales of America, in Congress a(Tembled; and it is hereby ena&ed and declared, That a mint for the of a national coinage, be, and the fame is effoWtfhed ; to be iituate and carried on at the feat of the govern ment' of'ttie United States, for the time being: And that for the well conrilifting of the business ot the said mint, there (ball be the following officers and'perfons, nanrfely—a dire&or, an affayer, a chief coiner, an engraver, a treasurer. Sec. 2. And be it further enaftcd, That the director of the mint llia 11 employ as many clerks, workmen and servants as he shall from time to time find necessary', lubjeft to the approbation of the Prefidcrit of the United States. iSec. 3. And be it further ena&ed, That the refpeflive fun&ions and duties of the officers abovementioned, fhal 1 be as follow she 'dire£lor of the mint shall have the chics management ot the bu'fincfs thereof, and (hall luperihtcnd all othei officers arid per sons who lhall bi employed therein. The aflayer shall receive and give receipt-s for ail metals which may lawfully be brought to the mint to be coined ; shall alTay all such of them as may require it, and (hall deliver them to the chief coiner to be coined. The chief coiner shall .aufe to be coincd all metals which fhail be re ceived by' him'frr that purpose, according to fucli regulations as lhall be prelcribcd by ttrs or any future law. The engraver fhail fink and prepare the nectflary dies for such coinage, with ihe pro per devices and infenptions,' but it shall be lawlul tor the func tions and duties of chcf coiner and engraver to be performed by ©ne person. The treafuror shall receive ftom the chief coiner all the coins which shall have been, struck, and shall pay or deliver them to the persons refpe&ively to whom the fame ought to be paid or delivered : He shall moreover receive and fafely keep ail monies whith shall be tor the use, maintenance and support of the mint, and shall dlfburfe the 'lame upon warrants figticd by the direttor. , Slc. 4. And be it further enabled, That every officer and clerk of the fa id taiihf, shall, b fore he enters upon the execution of his ©ffice, take an »ai h or affirmation before some judge of the United States, faithfully and diligently to perform the duties thereof. Sec. And be it further ena&cd, That the said aflayer, chief coiner and treasurer, previously to entering upon the execution ot their refpt&ive offices, shall each become bound to the United States of America, with one or more sureties, to the fatisfaftion of the Secretary of the Treasury, in the sum of ten thousand dol lars, with condition for ihe faithful and diligent performance of the duties of his office. Sec. 6. And be it further enabled, That there shall be allowed and paid as compensations for their refpc&ivc service the said dire&or, a yearly salary of two thousand dollars; to the said af faycr, 3 yearly salary of one thousand five hundred dollars ; to the said chief coiner, a yearly salary ot one thousand five hundred dollars ; to the said eng'raver, a yearly ,salary of one thousand two hundred dollars ; to the said treasurer, a yearly salary of one thousand two hundred dollars; to each clerk who may be em ployed, a yearly salary not exceeding five hundred dollars; and to the several subordinate workmen and servants, such wages and al lowances as are cuftor.iary and reasonable, according to their re fpeftivc ftaiions and occupations. Sec. 7. And be it Imthcr enacted, That the accounts of the officers and persons employed in and about the said mint, and for services performed in relation thereto, and all other accounts con cerning the bufiuefs and administration thereof, shall be adjufled and fettled in the treasury department of the United States ; and a quarter yearly account of the receipts and difpurfements of the said mint shall he rendered at the said treasury tor settlement, ac cording to such forms and regulations as shall been prelcrib cd by thatdepartinerit; and that once in each year a report ot ihe tranfaflions of the said mint, accompanied by an abftratt ot the fcttlements which fhail have been from time to time made, duly certified bv the Comptroller of the Treasury, fhall'be laid before Congrcfs tor their information. Saturday, Aphil 14, 1792. Src. 8. And be it further ena&ed, That in addition to the au thority vcfted in the Prefidcnt of the United States by a resolution of the last feflion, touching the engaging of artists, and the procur ing of apparatus for the said mint, the President be authorized* and he is hereby authorized to cause to be provided and put in proper condition such buildings, and in such manner as (hall appear to him requisite for the purpose of carrying on the business of the fatd mint; and that as well the expenses which (hall have betn in curred pursuant to the said resolution, as those which may be in curred in providing and preparing the said buildings, and all other expenses which may hereafter accrue for the maintenance and sup port of the said mint, and in carrying on the business thereof, over and above the fuins which may be received by rcafon of the rate per centum for coinage herein after mentioned, shall be defrayed from the Treasury of the United States, out of any monies which from time to time shall be therein, not otherwise appropriated. Sec. g. And be. it. further enabled, That there shall be from time to time struck and coined at the said mint, coins of gold, silver and coppter, of the following denominations, values and dc fcriptions, viz. Eagles—each to be of the value of ten dollars or units, and to contain two hundred and fortv-feven grains and four eighths of a grain of pure, or two hundred and leventy grains of standard gold. Half Eagles—each to be of the value of five dollars, and to contain one hundred and twenty-three grains and fix eighths of a gram of pure, or one hundred and thirty-five grains of standard gold. Quarter Eagles—each to be of the value of two dollars and a half dollar, and to contain hxty-one grains and seven eighths of a grain of pure, or sixty-seven grains and four eighths of a grain of standard gold. Dollars or Units—each to be of the value of a Spanish milled dollar as the fame is now current, and to contain three hundred and seventy-one grains and four sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or four hundred and sixteen grains of standard silver. Half Dol l ars—each to be of half the value ©f the dollar or unit, and to contain one hun dred and eighty-five grains and ten sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or two hundred and eight grains of standard silver. Quar ter Dollars—each to be of one fourth the value ot the dollar or unit, and to contain ninety-two grains and tnirteen sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or one hundred and four grains Ot standard hlver. Dismes—each to be of the value of one tenth of a dollar or unit, and to contain thirty-seven grains and two sixteenth parts of a. grain, of pure, or forty-one grains and three fifth parts of a grain of standard silver. Half Dismes —each to be of the value of one twentieth of a dollar, and to contain eighteen grains and nine sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or twenty grains and four fifth parts of a grain of standard silver. Cents—each to be of the value of the one hundredth part of a dollar, and to contain eleven penny-weights of copper. Half Cents—each to be of the value of half a cent, and to contain five penny-weights and half a penily-wcight of copper. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That upon the said coins refpeftively, There (hall be the following devices and legends, namely : Upon one fide of each of the said coins, there shall be an impression emblematic of liberty, with an infeription of the word Liberty, and the year of the coinage; and upon there- J verse of each ot the gold and silver coins, there fhali be the figure or representation of an Eagle, with this inferiptipn, u Unitej> States of America," and upon the reverse of each of the copper coins, there shall be an infeription which shall eXpTefs the denomination of the piece, namely, cent or half cent, as ti.e cafe may require. Sec. ii. And be it further enacted, That the proportional va lue of gold to silver in all coins which (hall by law be current as money within the United States, shall be as fifteen to one, ac cording to quantity in weight, ot pure gold or pure silver ; that is to fay, every fifteen pounds weight of pure silver shall be of equal valise in all payments, with one pound weight of pure gold, and so in proportion as to any greater or less quantities of the respec tive metals. Sec. 12. And be it furtherenafted, That trie standard for all gold coins of the United States, shall be eleven parts fine to one part alloy ; and accordingly that eleven parts in twelve of the entire weight of each of the said coins (hall consist of pure goid, and the remaining one twelfth part of alloy ; and the said aJoy (hall be composed of silver and copper, in such proportions not exceeding one halt silver as (hall be found convenient; to be re gulated by the Director or the mint, tor the time being, with the approbation of the President of the United States, until fur ther provision lhall be made by law. And to the end that the nr ceflary information may be had in order to the making of such further provision, it (hall be the duty of the Dire&or of the mm!, at the expiration of a year after commencing the operations of the said mint, to report to Congress the practice thereof during the said year, touching the composition of the alloy of the fsid gold coins, the reasons for such practice, and the experiments and ob servations which (hall have been made concerning the efte&s oi different proportions of silver and eopper in the said alloy. Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, That the standard for all silver coins of the United States, shall be one thousand four hun dred and eighty-five parts fine to one hundied and seventy-nine parts alloy ; and accordingly that one thousand four hundred and eighty five parts in one thousand fix hundred and sixty four parts of the entire weight of each of the said coins shall consist of pure silver, and the remaining one hundred and seventy nine parts of alloy ; which allov shall be wholly of copper. Sec! 14. And be it further enaded, That it shall be lawful for any person or persons to bring to the said mint gold and silver bullion, in order to their being coined ; and that the bullion so brought shall be there aflayed arid coined as speedily as may be afterlhe receipt thereof, and that free of expense to the person or persons by whom the fame shall have been brought. And as soon as the said bullion shall have been coined, the peifon or persons by whom the fame lhall have been deliveied, shall upon demand receive in lieu thereof coins of the fame (pecics ol bullion which shall have been so delivered, weight for weight, of the pure gold or pure silver therein contained : Provided nevertheless, that it final I be at the mutual option of the party or parties bringing such bullion, and of the Director of the said mint, to make an immc dtate exchange of coins for standard bullion, with a deduaion of one half per cent from the weight of the pure gold, or pure silver contained in die said bullion , as an indemnification to the mint for the time which will necessarily be required for coining the said bullion, and for the advance which .hall have been so made in coins And it shall be th,e duty of the Secretary of the I rea fury to furnifh the said mint from time to time whenever the state of the Treasury will admit thereof, with such fuins as may be n?ceflary for effecting the said exchanges, to be replaced as speedily as may be ou'.ot the coins which shall have been made of the bullion for which the monies so furmfhed fhal! have oeen 401 tib&o [Whole No. 509.] exchanged ; and the said dedu£lion of one half per cent. fli«tll conftituie a fund towards defraying the expenses of the said mifu. Sec. 15. And be it further ena&ed, That the bullion which shall be brought as afortfaid to the mint to be coined, (hail be coined, and the equivalent thereof in coins rendered, if demand ed, in the order in which the said bullion fhal! have been brought or delivered, giving priority according to priority of delivery on ly, and without preference to any peifonor persons ; and it any preference shall be given contrary to the dire&ion aforefaid, the officer by whom such undue preference shall be given, shall 111 each cafe forfeit and pay one thousand dollars ; to be recovered with cods of suit. And to the end that it may be known if such preference shall at any time be given, the alTayer or officer to whom the said bullion shall be delivered to be coined, shall give to the person or persons bringing the fame, a memorandum in writing under his hand, denoting the weight, finenefs and value thereof, together with the day and order of its delivery into the mint. Sic. 16. And be it further enatted, That all the gold and sil ver coins which shall have been struck at, and issued from the said mint, shall be lawful tender in all payments whatsoever, thofeof full weight according to the refpeftive values herein before de clared, and those of less than full weight at values proportional to their respectiVe- weights. Sec. 17. Ajtd be it further enabled, That it shall be the doty of the refpettive officers of the fa id mint, carefully and faithfully to use their best endeavors that all the gold and (ilver coins which shall be struck at the said mint shall be, as nearly as may be, con formable to the several (land a ids and weights aforefaid, and that the copper whereof the cents and half cents aforefaid may be composed, (hall he of good quality, Sec. 18. And the better to fccure a due conformity of the said old and silver coins to their refpeftive standards, Be it further na£ted, That from every fcparate mass of standard gold or filver # which (hall be made into coins at the said hunt, there (hall be aken, set apart by the Trealurer and rcferved in his custody a ertain number of pieces, not less than three, and that oncc in ivery year the pieces so set apart and sieved, (hall be allayed inder the infpettion of the Chief Judice the United States, the Secretary and Comptroller of the , the Secretary tor the Department of State, and tin Alio .cral of the United Mates (who are hereby required to - cl ior that purpose at the raid mint, on the last Monday in Jul} ar.h year) or under the infpetlion of any three of them, i. ai ncr as they or a ma jority of them lhall dire£fc, and prefenCc of t te director, af fayer and chief coiner of the said mint; and if it 'iall be found that the gold and silver so assayed, (hall not be infeiior to their refpettive standards herein before declared .bre than one pan in one hundred and fort/ four parts, the offic » or officers of the laid mint whom it mdy concern shall be he'd ej:c«feable ; but if any greater inferiority (hall appear, it (h 1 tifnd to the President of the United States, and the said oiheer - ofiiccrs (ball be deem ed difqualified to hold their refpe&ur* offices. Sec. 19. And be it further envied, ( hat if any of the gold or silver coins which (hall be struck or coined at the said mint (hall be debated or made woife, as tvj the propoition of fine gold or .:ne silver therein contained, ff>r f; 11 be of less weight or value than the fame ought to be pu (nam to the dire&ions of this adt, through the default or with the confluence of any of the officers ,or persons who (hall be employed at the said mint, for the purpose of profit or gain, or otherwise with a fraudulent intent* and if any of the said officers or pcfons (hall embezzle any of the metals which shall at any time be committed to their charge for the purpose of being coined, or any of the coins which (hall be struck or coined at tho said mint ever fuc or per foil who shall commit any or either of the said offences, ihali be deemed guilty of felony, and (hall fu.Ter death. Sec. 20. And be it further ena&cd, That the money of ac count of the United States, inall be exprefled in doilaisor units, difmes or tenths, cents or hundredths and milles or thousandths, a diftncbeing the tenth part ot a dollar,a cent the hundredth part of a dollar, a mille the thousandth part of ? dollar, and that all accounts in the public offices and all proceeding of the courts of the United States (hall be kept and had in conformity to this it gulation. JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Speaker of the House of Reprejentatives. JOHN ADAMS, Vice-Prejidcnt of the United States, and Vrejidenl oj the Senate. APPROV ED APRIL THE SECOND, 1792. PHILADELPHIA. ENERAL St. CLAIR has resigned the com v-X maud of the army, and we have been favor ed with the following copies of letters that pafl ed between the Prefidenc of the United States and the General upon that occalion. Philadelphia, March 26, I 792. Sir, I BEG leave to offer you my unfeigned thanks for the honor conferred upon me, by the appoint ment to the command of the army of the United States the last campaign. Though that campaign was unfortunate, I am not confjrious thac any thing within my power to have produced a more happy iff'ue was negledlea. As J was prompted to accept that command by no motives of either ambition or interest, but by a fervent wilh to be of service to my country, and a belief, perhaps too fondly entertained, that I could be so— tliac I am led to decline it in future, proceeds neither from disgust nor disappointment. Having been much afflidled with sickness dur ing nearly the whole of the campaign, though I flatter niyfelf the public interefls did not fuffer by it, and though my health is now tolerably re (lored, my constitution has received a very severe GEORGE WASHINGTON, Prejtdent of the United States.
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