m
m
FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS MERCURY.
C H A R AC r E R OF
M A R T H A.
! She comes! the Grates round
her throng,
Sylvania's idol, and the pride of song !
When Fancy tunes to her th' eulogial string,
The theme mujl pieafe, tho' Discord's felf
Ihould ling.
See, in her train, a seraph-council moves !
Soft, dove-ey'd FRiSNDsH k p fmilcs, when
Taste approves ;
Gay Wit hex lancet wields, where Prudence
leads,
And proves..Th* heart, while kot a
While fouls, created of a viler mould.
In cfape alone can move, and charm in gold ;
Or, on penurious Nature to retort,
oupivcly languijh o'er an iieot thought:
Thy foft attra&ions, to no sphere confin'd,
Contemn the boundaries ot the narrow miud ;
An etnjjirf, equal to thy poweis, is thine,
la every brightened scene, thyself toshi Nt
Sweet, as the pure, ambrosial breath of even,
Thy converse wings the foul to raptare's heaven,
Such was thf Voice, which taught " all heartj"
to glow,
When liftemng Delaware forgot to flow.
Genius 'may wither, beauty cease to bloom,
And Fanc v build her Sifter Fashion's tomb ;
But thou (halt charm thro' life's revolving year,
Lov'd in it's Spring, and in its Winter dear.
FROM THEr VIRGINIA HERALD.
THE present situation of the United States in
refpeft to the nations of Europe, having
been anticipated in a prophetic speech of a re
fpe&able% member of the Convention oi this
State, when the constitution of the federal go
vernment was under consideration, it may not
be without its use to recur to an argument which
then had weight in the determination of an im
portant question. The firfl and second fe&ions
of the new constitution were under considera
tion. They involved the fubjeft of direst taxa
iion x and it was objetted that the exercise of such
a power, by the general government, was unne
eejfary% impracticable, and uvfuje. In answer to
ihtjirjl obje&ion, Mu JVhvui s° N said, " I beg,
gentlemen, to consider the situation of this coun
try, if unhappily the government were to be de
prived ,ot this power. I lhall not review that
eoncourfe of dangers, which may probably arise
at remote periods of futurity, nor all those
which we have immediately to apprehend ; but
I will mention one Tingle consideration, drawn,
from fa£l itfelf. I hope to have your attention.
By the treaty between the United States and his
Most Christian Maj'. sty, among other things it is
Aipulated', that thegieat pnnciple.on which the
armed neutrality in Europe was founded, (hould
prevail in cafe of juturr. wars. The principle is
this, that free lhips lhall make free goods, and
thatv<(fels and goods shall be free fiom con
denjaaiiq/). .Gnat-Britain did ant recognize
it*—while all Europe was against her, (be held
out without acceding to it. It has been consi
dered for some time pafl, that the flames of war,
already kindled, woujd spread, and that France
and England were likely to draw those swords,
which were so recently put up. This is judged
probable. We should not be surprised in a
Ihort time to consider ourfelvej as a neutral na
tion—France on one fide, and Great-Britain on
the other.
M What is the situation of America ? She is
remote from Europe, and ought not to engage in
their politics or wars.
+' The American veflels, if they can do it with
advantage, may carry on the commerce of the
contending nations. It is a fourcc of wealth,
■which we not to deny to our citizens.
But, Sir, is there not infinite danger, that in de
spite of ail our caution, we should be drawn
into the war ? If American vcffels have Fench
property on board, Great-Britain w»ll seize
them. By this means we shall be obliged to
relinquish the advantage of a neutral nation, or
be engaged in a war. A neutral nation ought to
be »e<pc&able, or elffi it will be insulted and at
tacked. America, in her present important
fituatvon, would run thr v ifque of being drawn
in a« a party, and lose advantage of being
neutral. Should it happen that the Britilh fleet
(hould be superior, have we not reason to con
clude, from the spirit displayed by that nation
to us, and to all the world, that we (bould be
insulted in our own ports, and our vcffels seized ?
But if we be in a rcfpeflable fituation —if it be
known that oar govei*nment can command the whole
refaurces oj the Union, we (hall he fuftered to en
joy the great ad vantages of carrying on the com.
merce of the nations at war; for none of them
would choose to add U.S. to the numbir of
their enemies."
Every one knows that the power contended
for, was tepofed in the general government.
Evav one knows that the filtration of this coun
try, predicted in the argument, and the war an
ticipated by the speaker, have occurred ; and
every one ought to know, that it is the true in
terest of the United Spates, to obf?rve a ftri&
neutrality. What American then will be so
imprudent* as (Irom-motives of precarious profit
to himfclf) to jeopardifc the peace and profpe
fity of his country, hv any ast which may bring
into suspicion the fmcerijy of the difpnfjtion of
the general .government, ss declared in the Pre
fiden.'s Pioclamation ? Patriots will abhor
such a condutt. But ii is not enough that ihey
restrain only themfclves from political iniquity ;
oor country abounds in fourccs of fucccffful
f peculation, and fwtndlers of rvery cast, as well
natives as fortifners, arc multiplied among us.
The most lac red obligations aic not fufficient
a; ways to repel the power of avatire : It is there
lore necessary that the eye of vigilance fhnuld
be abioad, to difcriromate those who dare,
in coriirjnpt-of constitutional authority, to vio
lace the (aw of nation*.
From the AMERICAN DAILY ADVERTISER♦
Of the United States taking part in the pre
sent War between France & Great-Britain.
I. A SUDDEN and great diminution of
jLjL the exports and imports of the Uni-
ted States.
11. Tlie reduction of the price of wheat
from 8/4 to 2/6 per buftiel,
111. An increase of the price of all imports
—Salt would probably lift from 3/6 to 3/. pr.
bushel.
IV. A failure oi' the interest on the public
debt, by which meansmany thousand widows,
orphans, and aged citizens, would immedi
ately tie reduced to poverty and misery.
V. A contradiction of all that has been
said by republican writer?, that wars origi
nate.in the pride, ambition and avarice of
Kings—and that Republics love peace, and
negotiate mistakes and insults with their
neighbours
VI. Great difirefs among all clafll-s of otir
citizens, from the loft of fathers, husbands,
brothers, and sons, who would perilh in bat
tle, or in military hospitals and prison fliips.
VII. A great encreafe of the public debt,
and a heavy tax upon our farms to pay it.
VIII. A revival of the idleness, extra
vagance, fraud, and profligacy of manners,
which were produced by the late war, and
which are now nearly baniflied from our coun
try.
IX. An iticreaTe of the influence of the ex
ecutive part of the general government,
whereby the balance of principle 1 ! and con
duit would turn in favor of monarchy and
aristocracy.
X. Peace, after a seven year's war, with
disgrace to our country—bankruptcy to thou
sand of individuals, and a concentration of all
the expenditures of the war, in the hands of
half a dozen contractors, quarter-maftei s and
speculators. NUMA.
Philadelphia, May 25.
i 6 Within tliefe last three weeks the Auf
trianshave had the advantage in four anions ;
the French fought gallantly under Dumourie-,
but were obliged to quit their ground, altho'
much fnperior in number, and are quitting
almost every place they had,gained polTeHlon
of. Li?ge, Bruflels, Oftend,
K1 under t, Lou vain, &c. are all abandoned.—
Our fleets are in high condition, some already
at sea, and others quite ready. The loss we
have sustained at sea from their declaration
of war eight days previous to our knowing
their intentions, and commencing hostilities
in consequence, has been trivial indeed, not
one sixth what our merchants were apprehen
fiveof; this is owing to the greatest exer
.tions in the naval department, the coafl of
France being literally covered with our fri
gates ami fioops of war ; so that if by chance
any of our trade is picked up, before they get
into a French port they are frequently re
captured, and not uncommonly The captor
also. At the instant lam writing, there ift no
communication whatever with France, it is
ten days since we have deceived the least in
formation from Paris ; without being the least
sanguine, I may fay that all things, as far as
human forefight goes, seem returning to a
renovation of the former system, but with at
tention to the lower orders of the people, who
will f om the interference of this country, be
relieved from many impositions."
By account? from Ireland, per the Ann and
Mary, it appears that the government have
put a flop to the emigration of redemptioners
from the north of Ireland. None, therefore,
but persons of property, who may be able to
advance the pafl'age money for themselves
and families, can attempt coming to the
United States, and even tliofe find an almost
insurmountable difficulty in difpoflng of their
property—so that the people of Ireland feein
to be in a manner completely imprisoned, and
obliged to remain under their present yoke.
This, however, they do not so much complain
of, as that of being difarmed— r though this has
not yet been complied with by the northern
volunteers.
Napper Tandy, who was charged with be
ing accefTary to some infurre&ions at Dun
dalk, was ordered to take his trial. This,
however, he declined, not expe&ing much
fair play from the laws now dictated by the
executive ; and, in consequence, he has made
a retreat to France, as is generally fuppo'ed ;
from whence, it was thought, he would loon
set out on a visit to the United States.
The Governor of the Bahama Islands has
iflued a proclamation, permitting the impor
tation of provisions in foreign bottoms into
those islands for fix montfis, from the 1 ith of
April, 17*3-
The Commissioners appointed to receive
Subscriptions to the Bank of Pennsylvania,
have giv»n noWe, that the Subscription will
bs opened on Monday the gd day of June next,
at tlie Lodge, in Lodge-Alley.
Tlie Humane Society of Boston have voted,
that five guineas be presented to the Rev.
Mr. Shaw and Mr. Eliflia Doane, to be by
theni difiributed among those persons who so
humanely exerted thetnfelves in the preserva
tion of the lives of the officers and seamen of
the (hip Gertrude Maria, Capt. Klien, from
Denmark, wrecked on CohaflTet, the 13th Feb.
last, to be diftributcd in fuchamodeas they
shall judge will be most acceptable.
His Excellency Arthur Fenner, Esq. is re
elected Governor, ar.d the Hon. Samuel J.
Potter, Esq. deputy Governor for the State
of Jihode-liland.
NEUTRALITY.
PROBABLE CONSf^UENC'ES
Extraß of a letter from London % April 5.
411
Portsmouth, (N.H.) May 15.
Caps. Samuel Briard arrived here last evening
from Tobago, which he left the 21ft April, and
informs, thdt the islands of Sr. Chrillopher,Gre
nada, and Antigua were opened for the import
ation of lumber and pTovilions in American
veflels :—And that on Friday 10th of May, in
tot. 38. 40. long. 68. SO. spoke the Britfih fri
gate Andromeda, Capt. Satifbury, of 32 guns,
cruizing on this co»ft. The officer who came
on hoaFd Capt. Briard's vefltl, informed, rhat
the Winchelfra manvf war, was alio cruizing in
thefc seas. The Andromeda had been 44 days
from England.
In confequtnce of the opening of the ports of
the BtitiCb ({lands, two vessels have (ailed trom
Portfinouth, for -St. Kilt's with produce and
lumber.
The ExtranrcHnary-Commifljon of Guada
loupe, the 2ill March last, decreed, " That the
ports of BaU'e-terre and Pbinte-Apitre will be
freely opened to the veflels of the United States
of America.
That Paid veflels will have liberty to export in
return for their cargoes all kinds of colonial pro
duce, payfnghowevef the local duties, and those
called Domainc d'oceident."
The Aflembly of St. Lucia, has decreed—
11 That reckoning from the 17 [ h March, all the
ports of the jfland (hall be opened to all ncuirai
veflels."
A merchant of this city, has received let
ters dat£d the 4th of April, by a fh'p arrived
at Alexandria froiji Gibraltar; from one of
these letters, the following extra# is copied :
" Since the commencement of hostilities
against France, our small squadron stationed
here, have capturecf 16 French (hips—eight
of them With valuable cargoes of sugar, cof
fee, cotton and indigo, from the islands, some
ith wines and brandy for the northern ports,
and others with aflortcd cargoes from Mar
seilles, bejund to the Weft-Indies.
" We soon expe&'here a confide rable squa
dron of British, Dutch, and Ruffian ships of
war ; these are to be joined by about 20 ships
of the line fronp Spain, that are ready at Car
thagena, jvhicty will make a very formidable
fleet—what* tbpir intentions are, time will
discover, foipe great enterprize mull be in
agitation, rfhe French have failed in their
expedition agairill the Island of Sardinia, and
met with considerable Joss ; their squadron
has retired to Toulon, where we imagine they
will remain during the war."
The following particulars, from the Gene
ral Advertiser, are colle&ed from
on board the brig Sally, from Cape-Francois :
Dumourier really went over to the Auftri
ans some time in the of April. He
tampered firft with the old commillioners to
Belgia; informed them that he row found
Frenchmen unmanageable under a republic,
and that they required all the rigour of mo
narchical energy to keep them in a proper
degree of subordination. He next communi
cated his change of sentiment to the Conven
tion by letter, (who probably received the in
formation from the commillioners as Toon at
least) and explicitly declared to them that
France mult ■have a King.
The paflertgers in the Sally, do not appear
acquainted with the circumstance of commif
-fiiMiecs being dispatched by the Convention to
apprehend him ; but mention, that Beurnon
ville was ieSrjt off to take the command of the
army.
Duinowricr, they fay, before he quitted his
post, made known his sentiments to his army,
particularly to a body of about 12,000 most
attached to him. These latter hesitated a
moment whether they fhoiild join him, but at
last determined to remain firm. His etat
major, affirm, others mention,
that a great number of officers Accompanied
him in his difgrateful flight—butnotont piivate.
The following is a copy of the presentments
made by the Grand Jury, at the last dillii£t
court held in Richmond, Virginia.
WE of the grand jury do present as a griev
ance the great extent of the prison bounds, as
established bv the diftrift court.
We of the grand jury conceive it our duty to
notice the grievances under which this county
at present labours.
i ft. By presenting the defc&ive state of our
laws, which render replevin bonds ineffe&ual
for the recovery of debts, even under the u!ti
ma»c decrees of our supreme court.
2d. WejpeffiK the uufoitunate fr.uation of
this dittrift, the courts of which are limited by
law to 24 days in a year; a period though per
haps fufficnnt in many other parts of the state,
entirely inadequate, here, vvhere the public bu-
Cinefs (milled to preference, occupies the far
greater part of the time, insomuch that many
appeals lie now undetermined from the inftitu
ticn of this court, an augmentation of the
docket every term.
We hope that a vigorous interposition of the
executive might soon alleviate those evils, and
surely never was there a ftrouger call for their
exertions, when it is considered that by the best
information not less than ten thousand replevin
bonds do now or Will exist befoie the usual time
of meeting t)f the Aflembly, by which, so many
of the mod valuable citizens are deprived of
their property, and the folc objettef all govern
ment, the speedy afid impartial ad mini ft rat ion of
justice is utterly defeated.
Whilst we view with plcafure the rising opu
lence and growing prosperity of some of our
sister flares, founded on the exa& diftribuiion of
justice and the conformity of their conftituiions
to that of the general union, we cannot but la
ment, that this state, from contrary eaufes, i$ in
danger of losing that pre-eminence, to which
our population, production*, and local advan
tages naturalty entitle us. 1 1 - j
Nothing is more obvious than that the profpe
iity of every country will be prccifely propor
tioned to the confidence and credit it acquires
amongst other nation?; whilst these subsist entire,
money can never be wajitmg for agriculture,
manufactures and commerce, the only sources
of wealth ; and reafbn, as well as,the examole
of nations, fh w that the speedy and equal diftri
butfon of justice is the ouly way to acquire
Daily paper.
them.
The New-York Daily Advcrti|>r of the f>&
inft. fays—Affairs in S:. Domingo, particularly
iu Cape-Francois, still wear an alarmtng afpeft.
By a vessel which arrived here yesterday, we
learn, fjm the forces there have had fevrral &ir
milbes with the blacks -thit the blacks ha'vfta
been fuccefsful iu two {ktrmiifces, and had kill
ed (Apri* 29th) upwards of §p whites, and that
the commander "1 the French poopk, to prevent
falling into the hands of the negrot'i, had blown,
out his own bra ins with a pifto).
At Cape Nicole we are informed,
they are fitting out several 10
cruize on the American coalt.
The following gentlemen a*e chosen renre
fentativcs to Congrtfs J torn the slate <»t Miirta
chufetts—vi?. .Samuel Holten, D wight Foilcr,
William l.yman, andPeleg WatHwoith, Efq'»>«
The amount of Rice (hipped from the port
©f Charleftor, S. C. fryin tfy? eft January last,
to the 1i th inft viz. 885Q t'trees; and #0,850
barrels, averaging each 550 wt. neat.
COMMUNICATIONS,
Ii may be the good luck, of an ignorant and
stupid nation to obtain liberty—-but it is only
for a wife and sober people no prefeiye it ; we
have a raltion who arc at work night and day
to four the public against the national govern/
mcnt ; by this means they hope to get it into
their own hands. If our people were as gross
and stupid as the arts used to deceive thejn im
ply that they are, it would be impoflible to
preserve liberty. All the fables that could be
invented, good bad and indifferent have been
told— ©veiy corner of the human heatt has betn
ransacked 10 find there forne spark of paflion or
prejudice that could be puffed iuto a flame 3r*
gainst Congress. The leaders of parties—the
ambitious men hold forth against powei—they
preach humility—they dread the lhadow of au
thority, They fear the loss of our pure manners
and principles, and fo»efee that government
will corrupt ; yet ihefe felt denying ord nance
men, have been found in the a6t oT corrupting
the citizcns by opcnlv their votes.
Let amMtion wrao its golf's hea£ hi flierp-
-let-the fottlcries and frothv olaxinis which
inculcate,purity and v.trtue from the gaming 12-
[>le be printed and reprinted as fi*ft pdlinr.at
truths; let lies be multiplied and the itnluftry
in circulating them quicken in pace ; it is all in
v»in. The American nation owe their free go
vrrriment tint ro accident, but t to thei-r general'
light and knowledge. A people who c6ald be
cheated into anarchy by such gross arts as are
pra&ifiiig for the purpose could neither hive
framed such a fjoveniinent as we enjoy—nor
hive fenfc enough to maintain it, if by accidtnt
they had obtained fucJi an one.
Oppofwg government,embarraffing its mea
fares, and Towing jealousy and fufpicton a
gainst its officers h a trade, and a servile one
too. Sometimes we niuft wade in the mire,
and at others we must work in charcoa'.—
For it is iinpofiible to smut government and
its officers without getting fmiitted. After
serving the time out, a man sets up for a le
former. Nothing seems so proper to reward
the bawlcr agairft the vices of a government
as to put him into place.—lt is plain our ar«
slander aretnakmg a iroifronhr he
caufe they are impatient for their wages—
There are among the clamoiers of the day
not a few who we have reason to believe if
they were in place would contrive to pay
themselves.
We live and learn. It appear-; by fom«
late fcribblings, that he is an aristocrat who
would have the laws govern. If we enquiry
of the advocates of genuine liberty and equa
lity, we are happy to find the whole nation
has rtnbibed the fpilit proper to give efficacy
to their government; there are, however,
not a few who make a great noise about their
republican principles whose style nf life seems
to be raised with a jealous pride above equa
lity. A nabob in a gilt coach drawn by four
or fix liorfes and a train of servants, talks
with great efiedt against diftindtions in fociery
—while he hears of titles with terror, hit
slaves tremble at his nod.—Those declaim
with afincere incorififtency against the flip*
posed anti-republicanism of the States, which
are found mod disposed to support the fede
ral government. An equality crtlrr (hould not
look down upon the people with scorn, nor up
to the laws with aversion and Ijatred.
Who would suppose, after reading the abu
sive reflections on the government of this
country which diftinguilh f.ime publications,
that the people of the United States polTeft
and exercise the rights of free fuffrage in the
mnft unlimitted degree ?
Thole who revile the Jrcc!) elected officer!
of the government, aim a dagger at the vitalj
of liberty. When the people have eftabliftied
a government and organized its adminiftra.
tion—to make the public fuffrage the signal
for slander and defamation, is but a mifera.
ble compliment to republican principles, and
the public judgment.
SHIP NEWS.
ARRIVED*/ the PORT iJ PHILADELPHIA.
Ship Hannibal, Conyngham, Canton
Luce,
Sch'r Rang»r ;
PRICE OF STOCKS.
6 per Cents, 17/
3 per Cent*, gjs
Deferred, 10J
Full /hares Bank U. S.
TMENT oj STATE, to w,t
DEPA
OFFICIAL information having been received
that the Municipal Officer* of the city of Dun
kirk bave withdrawn the BUOY which marked
entrance into the road of that harbour, no
tice ttiereof irhereby given to >!l matters of vrf
fels of the United States, mariners and others
whom ii may concern. Given under my hand
this 24th day of May, >793*
Ui. JEFFERSON-
Boftua
.t per Cftxt. act v,