would wifli well to. and afllfl all in hi? power to carry fueh ?n undertaking into execution; this I think is requiring no gre:;t exertion of patriotism or love of our country, provided it will not be materially prejudicial to his interefl; it becomes, there fore, every citizen's duty to fubferibe to this scheme; and whether it will be prejudicial or advantagcou", to o*.rn a share or shares in this company, ihall now be the objetft of my en quiry. To contend that to receive 25 per cent on money, is advan tageous, would be to the highest degree ridiculous and abl'urd : the only question is, whether the cutting of this canal is prac ticable at a reasonable expence ? Colonel Senf y one of the molt fkilful engineers, perhaps in America, has estimated the ex pence at 1. which together with the debts of the com pany amounts in the whole to about 60,0001. this is generally thought a very high estimation, and perhaps the expence will prove still lower than is generally thought. In the time of Charles the 2d, it was in contemplation to join the rivers Forth and Clyde, in Scotland, by a canal 35 miles long, 4 feet deep, and 24 wide, and the expence was calculated at 75,000!. Supposing the ground of the present canal to be similar to the ground in that, the expense of the prelent, upon the fame cal culation, would be but 42,85/1. But the ground through which the present canal will be cut is much more favorable to the intention, than the ground through which the Seottifti canal palled. In that cafe too, it was necefTary to carry the canal over large rivers, by means of aqueduct bridges, built at a ve ry great expence, and which frequently flood in need of re pairs. From the great descents too in different parts of it, numerous locks were requiiite ■* here from the nature of the ground, no aqueduct bridges will be necefTary, and the equali ty of the country, will render many locks necdlefs. But allowing the expense to be 60,0001. the number of boats which will use this canal, will easily pay 25 per cent on this sum. The company have divided their stock into a thousand lhares, each share will therefore amount to 601. the interest of which will amount to 151. This.share, therefore, when the canal is compleated, will be worth to an Englifti money-hold er 3031. the interest in England being 5 per cent; to a Dutch man it will be worth still more, the interest in Holland being less : but allowing a holder to receive the interest for whicty the bank discount, 6 per cent, a share in the intended canal will be worth 2501. —20 fliillings in 6 per cents, fells at present for 24s ; fliaresin the canal company, at 2501. will be equally profitable to the buyer, as if he were to buy il. in 6 per cents, for 20 shillings, which he can immediately fell for 24 shillings. The above calculations suppose the canal to be finifhed ; hut as it will be some time before it will be in a situation to take toll, something must be deducted on that account; it is calculated that the canal will be near fix years in preparing, allowing ten pounds for the interest of the different iol. per annum payment*, the whole amount of a share will be 701. It is, however, most probable that the canal will be finifhed in less time than fix years, consequently the interest will be less ; but whether it is a less or a greater time, the value of shares will rife very high the firft three months after the fubfeription is full. It is a well known fact: to a number of persons in town, that there are agents here who are dirc&ed to buy up shares for employers in the northern states; a very little de lay, therefore, may prevent those who would wifhit, from lie coming fubferibers. A fubfeription of this kind in Philadel phia was filled up in one hour. To the profits arising from the canal, Tome thing is to be ad ded for the increase of the value of the lands which the com pany will own on both fides of the canal, and for the ferry they arc to establish over Santee river, oppoiite the canal; which will be the most profitable ferry in the state. Upon the whole, I am of opinion that every peiTon who tho roughly considers this fiibject, will think that it is such an one as every good citizen will promote, both in regard to the in terest of this country and his own. FROM THE COLUMBIAN CENT/NFL Mr. Printer, IN the Congreflional debate, on the Mint Bill, I took notice that the qbjeftion of some members to having the head of the President for the time being, struck on the coin of the United States, originated in the fear, that at some future pe riod a person resembling a Nero, a Caligula, or a Hj-.lioga bulus, might sustain that important oifice. This objection like many others which proceeded from the fame source, to me appears weak and deceptive. The choice of a First Ma gistrate of the United States, originates in THE PEOPLE— and the man whom they chufe, let him be whom he may, is deserving every honor that a free people can confer, notwith standing certain visionaries may think proper to style him a Nero, or what they please. Indeed, Mr. Printer, the people are not much indebted to those members for the opinion they form of their judgment! Or, do they in the plenitude of their wisdom and discretion, suppose that they are guardians of the good sense of the com munity. and every object of the people's choice must firft re ceive their approbation ?—lt feenm so, or whv do they liifpeft that t'ie people of America will elett a Caligula for their President >—My opinion is, that rulers exceed the bounds of their duty, when they attempt to call in question the propriety of the choice of the people—and if it could even be fnppofed that they would ever unite to chufe a person refemblin" a Nero—that person ought to be honoured and refpefted. ° April 7, ;792. A CITIZEN. AN enthusiastic French writer, on the folly of dreading a Counter-Revolution in France, fays—" We want not Generals to lead 11-—ln such a cause everv province in France will sup ply its Conoh, its TuRfA-N-, and a glorious band of patriots, cnu.ous of WASHINGTON'S immortalized character the ENEMY OF DESPOTISM." ANECDOTE of THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. WHEN the late Mr. Peyton had finifhed the fix pictures representing the definition of the Turkish- fleet (in which Mortimer painted the figures) he gave directions to have them engraved and requefttd the Empress would permit him the honour of infcnbing the prints to her—at the fame time Ihe would communicate to her Ambafiador I.er commands relative to the language in whic!, the dedication should be written as He did not: know whether (he would have it in Ruffian or French. Her reply was memorable :—" Let the dedication C fp ° ken by the artHt Wh ° P ainted - C pf™TAN?CDOTF- —A criminal confined in Newgate for Ufc», being aflced how he liked his situation—replied very we.l, and JJjmight h.mfelf in a much better condition than his Governor Huntington; who was continually trem bling from fear of being turned out of office ; while he was per fectly Happy in an established provision for life. On the bill declaring the eijfent of Congreft, to cer- MR. GILES moved to ftrlke out theflrft clause, and made sundry remarks on the unequal operation of a law of Maryland which should fubjeft the veflels of other States to a tax solely for the benefit of the port of Baltimore. It is designed by this bill to raifeafund to be applied for the removal of a natural obftrutfion in ihe navigation of that port —and hence he considered it as a perpetual tax on the citizensof other States —in this view he obje<sled to it, as a partial im position—it was mnch complained of, he said, by the neighboring ports ; he hoped therefore the clause would be struck out. Mr. Seney supported the clause ; lie observed that tho the port of Baltimore would be benefit ed in the firft instance, yet it was by no means a partial business, the accommodation and fafety to shipping refuJting from "it had an important reference to the commerce of the union ; it con tributes to the fecuritv of navigation both foreign and —and the importance of the trade of ttyat place was fufficiently obvious from the amokint of the revenue collected there ; the fa lutaj-y effects of the regulations which have been adopted and fan&ioned by Congress, he conceiv ed were fufficient reason for continuing those regulations. Mr. Goodhue and Mr. Gerry offered a few re marks in opposition to the regulation, and said the provision might be extended with equal pro priety to various other parts of the union—it ought not therefore to be taken up except on general principles. Mr. Murray defended the regulation of the bill on general principles—he considered it in the light of a turnpike road—which though it may fubjecft the ciiizens to a tax, they are abundantly compensated by the benefits relulting from the accommodation thereby provided ; the tonnage paid is a finall duty, applied expressly to this ob jecl, and cannot reasonably be considered as an oppressive or partial tax—and it is paid by those who are immediately benefited—and is in every sense reciprocal. REFLECTOR. Mi". Miles laid he had seconded the motion for (Inking out, on a miftnken apprehension—he had supposed the money to be colletfed was to go in to the public Treafary, but the remarks of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Murray) had undeceived him and he thought his comparison to a turnpike road was in point ; he then en larged on this idea, and said he could not conceive what injury would result from extending the principle to any part of the union where similar obftrudtions exist:. Mr. Sterrett supported the he gave a Ihort hiltory of the business, and then enlarged on the general policy of the measure ; it had been objed-ed to by one gentleman on cofiftitu tional ground—this was an obje<3ion which he had not expetfted, but he conceived it totally un founded, as no partial preference was contended for, but merely the continuance of a regulation which had been fanAioned by the general go vernment, and was clearly within the spirit and letter of the clause which has reference to the commerce and navigation of the States ; it is a regulation of a general nature, that tends ta ihe advancement of the trade of the union as well as of that particular port. Mr. Ames and Mr. Wlii:e both spoke in favor of the clause—the latter obl'erved that it appear ed to him perfectly constitutional. Mr. Giles denied that the benefits resulting from the regulation were reciprocal ; they are confined to the town of Baltimore—and if the clause is agreed to, he said he should move for a bill to confer similar benefits on all other sea-port places laboring under natural impediments in their harbors. Mr. Hartley supported the clause on general principles, and said he should advocate a law which has for its object similar regulations in refpecft to any other place laboring under the like difficulties. Mr. Wadfworth said as an owner of 'ne should give his consent to anv law which pro vides for removing the obftruct'ions in naviga tion. NoSuipofitions arc paid with more chear fnlnefs than those which are designed ro procure fafety and accommodation ro the shipping. He enlarged on the advantages which refiilc to the general interefl both of the merchant and 418 CONGRESS. PHILADELPHIA FRIDAY, March 9 tain a els of the State of Maryland, frc. farmer from the (hippingbeing able to per.r.rare far into the country by the navigable rivers - ft. milar applications, said he, may be made fro m 0 - ther quarters, and if they should he would give his aflent to them. Mr. Fitzfimons added Tome observations in fa. vor of the clause—and then the queftioii bein* put the motion for striking out was negatived. WEDNESDAY, April 25. A motion by Mr. Gerry that the house should meet at 10 o'clock, A. M. was agreed to. The report of the committee on the petition of Charles Caldwell and William Robertfon was read and laid on the table, the report was in fa vor of the prayer of the petition. The House took into confederation the amend ments proposed by the committee of the whole to the bill providing for calling forth the mili tia, to execute the laws of the union, fiipprefs in. furrertions and repel invasions : The House a greed to fonie and disagreed to others of the amendments—a clause was added for limiting the a<fl to two years ; the bill was then ordered to be engrofled for a third reading. Mr. Bourne of the committee on enrolled bills reported that the bill entitled an a& to indemnify the estate of the late Major-General Greene, for a bond entered into by him daring the late war, was examined and found truly enrolled. The meflage of the Senate proposing a confer, ence on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses refpeifting the militia bill was taken into confe deration—and a committee of conference appoint ed, confiding of Mr. Clark, Mr. White aud Mr. Murray. A meflage from the Senate by Mr. Secretary Otis, informed the Honfe that they concur in the resolution for adjourning the sth of May next. The House took into confiderationthe amend ments proposed by the committee of the whole to the bill to regulate procelles in the Courts of the United Stares, and to provide for the com pensation of the officers, jurors and witnesses— they made lome progress in the business, but,, without finilhing it, Adjourned. THURSDAY, April 26. The bill providing for calling forth the mill, tia, &c. was brought in engrofled, read the third time, the blanks filled, and the bill pasted. Mr. Williamfon of the committee to whom was referred the report of the Secretary of the Trea sury refpeifting loft or deltroyed certificates, brought in a report, in fubitance, that provision ought to be made in the cafe—but that there will not probably be time to do it the present feflion—and therefore propo/es a resolution for referring the fubjeit to the next session. A report from the committee to whom the pe- tition of Lewis and Charles Guaranjai was refer ed, was read—this report was lengthy, and in favor of Lewis Guaranjai. The report on the petition of C. Caldwell and William llobertfon was referred to the commit tee of the whole on the bill making further ap propriations. TheHoufe proceeded in difcuffirjg the amend ments to the bill regulating procefles in the Courts of iljje United States, and finifhed the fame. Mr. Steele moved an additional clause provid ing for compensating attornies in the territory south-west of the Ohio, who may beemployed to profecnte in behalf of the United States, in the Courts of North-Carolina, as the attornies of that State are compensated. This amendment was not agreed to. _ 0. A motion to re-co:nniit the bill beingmadeand ' negatived, it was ordered that the bill pass to the third reading. Mr. W. Smith moved to take into coniic.era- tion the report of the committee on the memo rials of Mr. Ceracchi, the Roman sculptor tin® motion was seconded, and the question being P it wis negatived. The House took into confederation the rflolu- tions of the committee of the whole relative t" alterations in the excise law, and agreed to t fame—a committee was then appointed to pie pare and report a bill accordingly. Mr. Heifter moved as an instruction to 1 committee, in fubflance, as follows —rhat t lev be inflrucfted to report a feparateat't for the (ititics 011 spirits distilled from articles the growth 01 the country ; this motiofi was disagreed to. In eommittee of the whole 011 the bill to ati thorize the grant and conveyance of a certain traift of land to John C. Symmes and his a 001 ates. Mr. B. Bourne in the Chair. The com mittee reported the bill with one arneni men , which being taken into confideraiion v t House, and further amended, was agtee< to. The bill was then ordered to be engrolied third reading. r , Mr. Gerry moved that the House should refo. itfelf into a committee of the whole, 011 nie > for reducing the rates ofpoftage on new pap l :' this was seconded by several metnbei s, an question being put, it was negatived -9 to (
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