employed in coUe£tiag the dutle:, Zee—T
adopted.
Mr. \V. Smith ca'led the attention of the Huufe to a report
of the Secretary of State, on t'ie fubjeft of procuring frefti
f.otn fait water —md proposed a refutation purl'uant to the
Secretary's report, authorizing him to cause the several col-
Jeftors to be provided with blank clearances, on the back of
which ihall be printed directions for the process. This refu
tation was agreed to.
Mr. Heifter moved the f>llowing refutation in substance
That the Secretary of the Treasury be requeued to report to
this House at their next fitting,—The quantities, kinds and
values of foreign merchandize imported intu the several dif
trift; of the United States, since the operation of the
Laws — r pecifying the ports at which l'uch importations were
made and the laws under which the duties were paid ; this
resolution was not agreed to.
Mr. Fitzfimons of the committee appointed to enquire into
the causes of the failure of tho late expedition under General
St. Clair, brought in a report, which was read—after a detail
of facts; the report contains the following result in substance,
That the failure of the expedition was principally to be attri
buted to the deficiency of the neceiTarv articles of military
stores, fee. the failure >. the quarter-masters' department,
failure of the contractors and the want of experience and dij -
cipline in t'ie army.
The commander in chief, General St. Clair, is fully exone
rated from all blame or imputation whatever.
This report was ordered to be printed.
It was then moved bv Mr. W. Smith that tie Hou*e fliould
resolve that they would take the said report into conlideration
early in t'.ie next fefiion ; this resolution was agreed to.
A message from the Trelident of the United States by Mr.
Secretary Lear, informed the House that the President has
approved and signed the following acts :
An ast relative to the compensations of certain officers em
ployed in the collection of t!.c duties of impost and tonnage:
An ast concerningfpirits distilled within theUnitedStates; and
An ast providing more effectually for the national defence, by
eftablilhing an uniform militia throughout the United States.
A qaeffage from the Senate informed the that the
President had notified the Senate that he hid approved and
figriedan ast for the relief ofperfons imprisoned for debt—and
an ast to continue in force an ast: providing for mitigating or
remitting certain forfeitures and penalties arifmg under
breaches of the revenue laws—and to provide for the payment
of invalid pensions.
The committee on enrolled bills., reported as truly enrolled
a bill to compensate the services of the late Col. George Gib-
son—which was signed by the Speaker.
In committee of the whole on the bill entitled an ast, in ad
dition to the ast to provide for the Territory North Weft of
the River Ohio.
The committee difcufled the several feftions, ar.d made
sundry amendments, which were reported to the Houfc—The
Hoafe adopted these amendments, and then the bill was or
dered to be engrolfed for a third reading.
A resolution was offered for indemnifying the officers who
have attended the committee of enquiry for their extra necdlary
expencej, also for compensating the clcrk employed by the com
jnitfee on this oecafion—laid on the table.
A mcfiage from the Senate informed the House. that they con
cur in the resolution authorizing the Secretaiy of State to provide
the printed clearances, agreeably to his report.
Mr. Wiliiamlon called up a rrpcrt of a feleft committee on the
petition of sundry inhabitants ot the flute of North-Carolina,
praying Congrtfs to authorize that state to pass a law impofmg a
duty on tonnage, to be appropriated to defraying the expence of
cleaiing obftrudions in the navigation of a particular part ot that
state— the report is in fdvoi of the petitioners, and was agreed to.
Mr. Parker moved the following resolution : That the Secre
tary of the Trcafury cause Aich returns to be made as will shew
the quantities and qualities of the exports from one state to ano
ther ioaftwife—to report the next fefiion—-laid on the table.
An engroflcd bill, entitled, " An ast in addition to an ast to
provide for the territory north-weft of the river Ohio," was read
the third time, the blanks filled up, and the bill patted.
A mcfiage from the Serrate, by Mr. Secretary Otis, informed
the House that they have palled the bill making certain appropri
ations therein fpecified, with an amendment—also, that they
hare patted the bill relative to the claim of J, B. Cutting, against
the United States. The amendment to the appropriation bill,
appropriates the lum of 50,000 dollars, for the purpose of car
rying on and facilitating the intercourfe-with foreign
nations. This amendment was concurred in by the House.
The remainder ojyeflerday l s proceedings are unavoidably pojlponed
till our next.
DUBLIN, February aS.
The popery bill received a firft reading on
Friday in the House of Lords, and was ordered
to be printed.
March t. Yeflerday the Members of the House
of Commons a(Te»flb]ed in the Coffee- Rooms, as
the House had been entirely destroyed by fire
the day before.
The Speaker said, he was happy in being able
to inform the House, that not withstanding the
dreadful accident which had happened, none of
the records or journals of the House were de
stroyed, except the roll which contained the fig
natures of the Members, which had been burnt
with the table upon the floor, in a drawer of
which it lay.
A committee of the House met in the Speaker's
Chamber, which escaped the conflagration. They
fat a wry considerable time, for the purpose of
enquiring into the cnufe of the late dreadful fire
which consumed the House of Commons.
None but Members admitted into the Cham
ber. We tinderftand, however, that though se
veral evidences were examined before the com
mittee, nothing fatiafa<ftory transpired as to the
real caofe of that dreadful cataflrophe.
Philadelphia, May cj.
Lad evening Corgrefscloiecl their feflion—when both Houses
adjourned to meet again on the firft Monday in November
next.
Monday arrived hcrr, in 38 days from Marseilles, the ship
Louifc», Crtpt. Birkhead. The Captain informs, that the partie>
<or and a gain ft the revolution, had, in feme instances. proc.eded
'o act? of violence, and that fcveral persons, on account of their
political fentimcnts, had been put 10 death.
wa:
Adjourned till 6 o'clock, f. m
Eufut j u! - 0f,2,| i April, dates, that
mage h?s been tultanied thee and at St. Kuts by heavy ~.. ,
'ha. x
The moll recent account, from Hifpsniola, teem with difa-ree
bit reprefcmationa o! the {Ue ola Hairs in that rflat, Dilfe'i
loni among the whites appeal to be the cause of u,,mafias
n eVVe "'T ,hf thW ~^e, s ll,^
d„n I fro,n ,s returned, and the other two have eon.
Mvfrf A "10 CrtatC many cmmi,s - The "oops that have ar.
ouflvf,,li "°' tT'T lo r ,no ". lh » n ""king up 'he bffes prev,-
tn loree riIUC D y iiifu:re£lioti-_.and the iufurgeots continue
By the Clip Catharine, from London, arrived at Norfolk
papers are received to the 6th March—in addition to the ar
ticles under foreign heads, the following mifcelianeous epitome
oi intelligence is extracted from them :
-I lie Austrian fortes 011 their way to the low countries are
truly formidable the object, to secure the tranquility of the
peaceable citizens, and prevent external attacks. The forces
ot tiie emigrant Princes appear to have no retting place, they
are perpetually (hitting their quarters. .
A rebellion now exists in the kingdom of Morocco, and it
|is laid the Spaniards aflift the usurper The affairs of the
Dutch «Vest and East-India Companies, by articles under the
t'rankfort head, arc verging fact to ruin—and the credit ot
their bank is said to be lb low, that the merchants will not trust
their money in it.—On the 27th February M. Marbot pre
sented to the National Assembly, in the name of the extraor
dinary committee of finance, a plan to fubftitutc for the whole
nials of aflignats now in circulation, other ailignats, to fabri
cated as to defy forgery or imitation. The Afiemfcly referred
tins to the three committees of finances.—The political augurs
° re . m *fchief from tiie frequent conferences between the
Miniiters ot Pruftia, Spain and Sardinia, and Prince Kaunitz.
Tiie concourse of lpectators to fee the Turkilh Ambalfador
enter Vienna, was as great as that on the arrival of the Pope,
in 17^2.—A treaty offenfive and defenfive, between Auitria
and I'ruffia, is ligned.—An article urder the Leyden head, of
the 23th February, fays, there can be no doubt that France
win be vigorously attacked in the month of April or May, if
between that time and then, affairs lhould not be changed by
the civil war which appears on the point of breaking out —
The lame article fays, there are but French emigrants in
Holland, notwithstanding there is no cabinet in Europe moi«
active than that ot the Hague.—The French funds are in lucl
discredit at Amsterdam, that 1000 French livres were offeree
or. the exchange for 163 Holland florins. Notwithfiandin;
these acconnts, peace and general tranquility appear to pre
vail in France ; and the AlTtmb'v are proceeding with spirit ii
the administration of the government.
The bills to repeal taxes, as opened in the Eritilh budget
have been read the third time, and palled the House of Com
mons.
The remains of Sir Joshua Reynolds were buried with great
funeral pomp, after laying in ftatc at Somerset-House. Forty
two mourning coaches, a mute on each fide, and 46 noblemens'
and gcntlemens' carriage; attended and formed the procession.
Doctor Priestly has been unanimously eleftcd fuccelfor to the
late Doctor Price, and has commenced his ministerial labors
accordingly.
CO N G R £ S S
The new government when it was
was known to have many evils to redress, and
many good things to attempt. It is a pleasant
retrofpetft which we have now to take. We find
that every session has advanced the work which
the fenfe"bf America as well as the preamble of
the conditution has marked out as the duty
of Congress. Two primary objecfts appear 10
have given birth to the new form of government.
During the war, all America felt ihe want of
national credit. Our liberties were expoftd to
extreme hazard, because Congress had only pa
per means of refource.—lt is true a free people
fuppliea by an ardent enthusiasm in the common
caui't> almost every thing that was wanting. But
at length time that cools all strong emotions,
and adverle fortune exhaulted the powers of
I paper money. The illustrious General in his
farewel letter, Congress in their jaddrefles to the
people, the attempt to prevail on the (tates to
grant the five per cent, import, and the general
sense of America, shewed the necellity of a go
vernment adequate to the support of national
credit. Accordingly, Congress in the 2d feflion
made provision for the public debt, and induing
it, they have not been unmindful of the other
common obje<S, the protection and advancement
of our trade and manufactures. The laws which
impose duties on imported articles, have given
a spur to the activity of trade and manufadures.
she wealth of the nation has grown with its in
dustry in a wonderful manner. Experience, the
judge of nations, and their forms of government,
has decided in favor of the American.
Among the objects of the present feflion, the
provision for the Indian war has been the mod
adverse. The government has nothing to hope
for. It has more than land enough to fell—and
as to the honours of vitftory, experience has not
afforded much to expect. Neither the pride nor
the cupidity of the administration could desire
the continuance of the war.—Unwelcome as the
profccution of it certainly is, government had
no choice to make. The frontiers were bleed-
ing.—An enemy, scorning peace, can be made
to forbear only .by chaftilement.:—The war with
the Indians, which has continued ever since that
with Britain, iinpofes a heavy burden on the
people.—Yet tire duties imposed will cherifli ma
nufactures, and encourage the railing of hemp,
flax, cotton, and various producfts of the farms.
The fuccels of manufactures is now put beyond
hazard, and the demand for raw materials will
increase that intercourse between the different
states, that mutual dependence and common in
terest, which every friend to the union will re
joice to fee.
431
~a
The alterations made in the excite law arc it,,
tended to conciliate the affa<Sions of the com
plaining part of the country. The rate of duties
holds out lignal advantages to the manufacture
of grain spirits. They will 110 c l'urely condemn
a law which affords to those who produce grain
who diffil the (pints and wlio consume them, i'i
preference, which considering ■ lie duties on all
other spirits, gives them reason to delire the con
tinuance of the law, rather than its total repeal.
All America has a common intereit in the en
couragement of the cod-fifhery. The filhermea
as a militia by sea, afford a security to the ex
ports and imports of the nation 111 time of war
which is absolutely indispensable We have no
other means of effecting the fame important end.
The act for the encouragement of the fiiherv,
while it costs no money, will halten the naval
strength of America to a very early maturitv.
At length a mint is eltabliihed, and the coin
of the United Siates being itgiilated with accu
racy, we shall no longer be subject to the capri
cious changes of the foreign Itandard ; a copper
coin will be of no finall accommodation and lav
ing to the poorer classes of society.
1 he militia law will probably feeni a feeble
fy flem to many persons versed in military affairs.
The great difference of the militia laws of the
several slates is such, that fume will improve,
and ethers perhaps run retrograde in consequence
of this law of the United States. But improve
ments and amendments will be made from time
to time, and it is to be hoped tuat eventually
th is ail will not be one of the lea ft perf'etft parts
of the national system.
Of all the fubjetJts which have occupied Con
gress, none has been so fruitful of debate as the
, law apportioningreprefentatives. The conilruc
lion of the confHuition adopted and expietfed by
the President in his objccftions to a bill prefeiued
to him, finally prevailed, and has become a law.
—The people of the United States have reafbii
to felicitate thenifelves that the difference of opi
nions in refpedt to apportioning representatives
turns on finallei- inequalities than any other na
tion has in its aflemblies.
The law for admitting the unfubfcribed debt
to be loaned, completes the system of credit, ex
cepting the proviilon for the state debts,which at
the next session many expeift to fee afTui'ned.
The humane purposes of Congress in favor of
the invalidsare in some roeafure thwarted by the
unconstitutional objections of the judges. Ie
'might be arrogant to express adoubt whether the
opinion they have exprefled be lound. It is
hoped the invalids will not be negleCied.
The table of Congress is still covered with bu
siness, Yet the people have reason to hope it
will in due time be dispatched, under the direc
tion of the fame national principles which they
have seen adopted thus far by Congress.
Some part of the meafurcs of government may
want wisdom, and some parts of the couutry may
want moderation and candor, but on the whole,
no nation hr.s prospered more, or enjoyed tran
quility in a greaterdegreethan the United States
since theeftablifhmentof the present happy con
ftitution—andfurely none can look forward into
futurity with more pleasing anticipations.
Since government has a tight to pay off its debt in full propor
tion to its ability, with what propriety can it be said that the
debt is irredeemable ?
There is nothing which gives general, much lels nniverfal fatif>
fa&ion. Some complain of the administration of the new go
vernment, while they acknowledge the conditution to be excel
lent : Others conlider the system «s eirentiaily defective, and fav
that there is the greaieft danger of its imperfpttions being over
looked, in the wisdom and Iplendor ot its administration.
SHIP NEWS.
ARRIVALS AT THE PORT OF PHILADELPHIA.
Ship Adriana,
JLouifa,
Brig Molly,
Sch. Sally,
Dolphin,
Sloop N. Y. Packet,
Carlton,
Rainbow,
Betfev,
Speidwell,
Ranger,
Lively,
Roba,
Dolphin,
§0= Price of Stocks as in our lap.
Bank of the United States,
May 8, 1792.
RESOLVED, That the specie proportion of the third pay
ment due on the firft Monday of July next, on each share of
the Bank of the United States, may be made at the Rank, or at
any of the offices of difcouut and deposit; and that transfers of
public debt on account of Inch payment, may be made on the
books of the Trealury of the United States, or in ehe office of any
of the Comtnifiioners of Lo«jns in any of the States, certificates of
which transfers to be oepofued in the office in which the specie
proportion of such payment (hall be made.
Rrfolved, That the transfer books be closed fourteen days pre
vious >0 the firft days of July and January of each year.
Robcrlfon,
Birckhead,
Rafer,
RufTcl,
Smith,
Dunbar,
Bdilcy,
Wilton,
Mackie,
Lewis,
Smith,
Liverpool
Marseilles
Havre de Grace
Port an Princc
Ncw-Y ork
N. Carolina
New-York
Hifpaniola
N. Carolina
Aux Cayes
New-York
Story,
Bunker,
Eafterbrook,
Car-hart,
Savannah
Rhode-Island
N. Carolina
Virginia
Bv Order,
JOHN KEAN, Cashier.