PHILADELPHIA.
The following Letter hut Iten trnnfmitted by
the Secretary of the Treasury to the Col
!eßots of the different ports in the United
State:.
CIRCULAR to the Com*sctohs of
the Customs.
Philadelphia, Augufl 4th, 1.793'
Sir,
T aoffcaring that repealed contravene
I tions of oui neutrality have taken
place in the ports of the United Stales,
without having been discovered in time
for prevention or remedy, I have it in
command(rcju ihfi J'refident, to address
to the collcftor6 of the refpe£tive difttipls
a particulai inllruftion on thefubjeft.
It is expected, that the officers of the
cuftomsin each diftritt,will in thecourfe of
their official functions have a vigilant eye
Upon whatever may be passing within the
ports,haibours^rceks,inlets and waters of
fuch-diftriA, of a nature tp contravene
thet'wsof neutrality, and upon discove
ry of any thing of the kind will give im.
mediate notice W the governor of the
late and to the attorney of the judicia
iiftrid, comprehending the dittiift o
he cuftflms within which any such con
ravqntion (nay happen. *
l*o afiift the judgment of the officeis
in thi* head, I transmit herewith a
fchedulf.of rules, concerning lundty par
ticulars, which Toavr been adopted by the
President. »s dedyttious from the laws of
neutrality, eftabliftled and received among
nation*- Whatever (hall be contrary to
these rules will, of course, be to be noti
fied,.. as abovementiontd.
There are fume other points, which,
purfoant to oilr treaties and the determi
nations of the executive, I ought to no
tice to yoB.
If- any vessel of either of the powers at
war toithFrance (hould bring or fendwith
in your diltrid a prize made of the fub
je£b, people of property of France, it is
immediately to be notified to the Govern
or of the (late, in order that meafuics
may be taken, pursuant to the 17th arti
cle of our treaty with France, to dblige
such vcfl'el and her prize, or such prize
when sent in without the capturing ves
sel, to depart. |
No privateer of any of the powers at
war with France, coming within a diilritt
of the United States, can, by the 23d
article of our treaty with France, enjoy
any Other privilege than that ofpurchafing
I"tub viduals as Jhallbe Aeceffary for her go
ing to tie next port of the prince otflat'efrom
•which fht bat her commtjfion. If lhe should
do any thing bcfide this, it is immedi
ately to he reported to the governor and
the attorney of the diilrift. You willob
ferve by the rules transmitted, that the
term privateer is underltood not to extend
to veifJs aimed for merchandize and war,
commonly called with us letters of marque,
nor, of course, to vefiicls of war i» the im.
mediate Service of the government of ei
thei ot th« powers at war.
No armed, veifelwhich has bern or (hall
be originally fitted out 111 any port of the
United States by either of the .parties at
war is henceforth to have afyltim in any
diftri& of the United States. If any
such armed vtffcl lhallappear within your
dilliift, (he is immediately to be notified
to the governor and attorney of the dif
tfiHj which isalfo to be done, in refpeft
to any prize, that such armed vessel (hall
bring fend in. At foot is a lift of such
Armed vcffcls of the above description as
have hitherto come to the knowledge of
the executive.
The pu<chafing within, and export
ing from, ihe United Stales, ly ivay of
merchandize, articles commonly called
contiaband (being generally, wailike in
ftruraeuts and military stores) is free to
all the parties at war, and is not to, be in
terfered with. If our own citizens an*
dertake to carry them to any of those
partie«, they will be abandoned to the
penalties which the laws of warauthorife.
You will be particularly careful to ob
serve, and to notifyas dire&ed in other
instances, the cafe of any citizen of the
United States, who shall be found in the
service of' either of the parties at war.
In cafe any vefiel (hall be found in the
ast of contravening any of the rules or
principles which are the ground of this
inftruftion, (he is to be refufed a clear
ance until (he (hall have complied with
what the governor (hall have decided in
reference to her. Cave, however, is to
be taken in this, notunneceflarily or un
reasonably to euibauais trade or to vex
soy of the pvtiesconcrtwd.
In order ih«t contraventions may be the
betttr afcertaiued, it is de fired that the
officer who (hall firft go on board any ves
sel arriving within your diftriA (hall make
an accurate furry of her then condition,
as to miiiiary equipment, to be forthwith
repotted to yon, and that prior to her
clearance a like fumy be made, that any
tranfgrelfion of the rules laid down maju
be afcettained.
But as the propriety-os any such >n
fpe&ion of a vejfel of war in the immediate s
service of the government of a foreign nati
on is not without queltion in refettnee to
the usage of nations, no attempt is to be
made to infpeA any such veffeltill further
order on the point.
The President desires tjie to fignify *o
you his mod particular expectation that,
the inftruftion contained in this Jitter
will be executed with the greatest vigil
ance, 3&ivity, care and impartiality. O
missions will tend to expose the govern,
ment to injurious imputations and suspi
cions, and proportionably to commit the
good faith and peace of the country ; ob
jects of too much importance not to en
gage every proper exertion of your zeal.
With consideration,, I am, Sir, i
Your obedient servant,
RULES adopted ly the President of the
United States, ■ ■
I. Tlje original arming and equipping
of veflcls in the ports of the United States
by any of the belligerent parties, for mil
itary service, offertfive or is
deemed unlawful. j \
11. Equipments of merchant reffels by
either of thebelligerent parties in the poits
of the United States, purely-for the ac
commodation of them, as such, is deemed
lawful.
111. Equipments in tbe ports of the
United Statesof vessels of waT in the im
mediate service of the government of any
of the belligerent patties, which if done
to other vessels woDld be of a doubtful na
ture, as being applicable either to com
merce or war, are deemed lawful ; except
those which (hall have made prize of the
fubjefts, people or property of France,
coming wjch their prizes into the ports
of the United Stages, pursuant to the se
venteenth article of our treaty of amity
and commerce with France.
IV. Equipments in the ports of the
United States, by any of the parties at
war with France, of vessels fitted for mer
chandize and wac whether with or with
out commissions, which are doubtful in
their nature, as being applicable either to
commerce or war, are deemed lawful; ex
cept those which (hall have made prize of
the fubje&s, peopleor property of France,
coming with their prizes into the potts
of the United States, pursuant to the se
venteenth article •of our treaty of amity
and commerce with France.
V. Equipments of any of the veffelsof
France, in the ports of the United States,
which are doubtful in their natiiie, as be
ng applicable to commerce or war,
deemed lawful.
VI. Equipments of every kind in the
ports of the United States, of privateers of
the powers at war with France, are deem
ed unlawful.
VII. Ecu/ipmbnts of veffek in the
ports of the United States, which are of
i nature solely adapted to war, are deem
ed unlawfulexcept those (tranded or
wrccked, as mentioned in the eighteenth
at ticle of our treaty with France, the fix
t«enlh of our treaty with the United Ne
therlands, the ninth of our treaty with
Prussia ; and except those mentioned in
the nineteenth article of our treaty with
France, the seventeenth of our treaty
with the United Netherlands, the eigh
teenth of our treaty with Ptufiia.
VIII. Vessels of either of the parties
not armed, or armed previous to their
coming into the ports of the United States
which shall not have infringed any of (he
foregoing rules, may lawfully engage or
inlift therein their own fubjefts or citi
zens, not being inhabitants of the United
States; except privateers of the powers
at war with France, and except those
vessels which shall have made prize of the
fubje£ts, people or property of France,,
coming with their prizes into the ports
of the United States, pursuant to the
seventeenth article of our treaty of amity
and commerce with France.
Lijl oj Prwatce'"J refer red to in the Circular Lellcr
to the CoticCiert oj the i ujims.
Crtrze- Cent!, 1
Sam tulottei, > Fitted qui at Churl, Jen,
Vaivqueur dc }iajtillr, \
Petit Democrat, Philadelphia,
i/eJauare.
506
Foreign Intelligence.
VIENNA, May it.
THE lute Hungarian Diet have
granted to his Msjelty jooc
recruit*, to complete ihe national !
regiments, and 3000 more being
wanted, the States have given or
ders to raise them without delay.
The-remaining troops in Hunga
ry;Wth Infantry and cavalry, have
also been sent off to the army of
reftrve in Upper Austria ; and those
in TranfyJvania are also on their
under the command of Ge
nertl HeydendorfF.
Last Sunday a considerable quan
tity of atnmuniiion and Wrlike im
plements were dispatched from this
metropolis to the frontiers, besides
ajfuin of 4,000,000 of florins, all in
silver specie, put up in cherts, and
carried by forty waggons.
From the lifts given, it appears
tliafc:there are ft ill 4100 persons of
sexes in captivity among the
Turks, by whom they were taken
during the campaigns of 1788, 89,
and 90. The Porte has b6en una
ble to restore them, since they have
been fold, as slaves to owners un
known, and perhaps at an iromenfe
dlftance from the Turkifli capital.
His majesty has afligned the fund of
the suppressed order of Trinitarians
to the redemption of those unfortu
nate peopfe.
MARSEILLES, June iB.
M M. Savon, two brothers, who
hi*d for a longtime krpt.tbe guillo
tine in atftion in this city, have been
condemned to death in their turn,
by the new ami Jacobin Tribunal,
and were guillotined the day before
yesterday (the 16th) at tour in the
afternoon', amid ft an inimenfecrowd
of fpedators.
conliderable number of per
sons have been apprehended at Aix,
in ctinfequenee, as is laid, of the
dying confelfions of these brothers.
Among the prisoners is a Magistrate.
The Central Committee lormed
at Savon, of the deputies of the dif
ferent clußi of the department, lias
juli beert dilFolved by an order of
the department itfelf.
The Setfions of this city have just
announced the discovery of a great
conspiracy, and their intention to
putTue its authors. Philippe Ega
liteismore firstly confined than
ever in the Tower of Fort St. Jean.
— Hi* Trial goes on unremittingly.
United States.
PORTLAND, (Mafl:) Aug. 3.
Sea Moniter.
Capt. Crabtree. who lately arriv
ed at Frenchman's bay, and now in
tKis- town, givei the following ex
traordinary account of a fea-ferpenc,
the authenticity of which may be
dependended on :—
" On the 20th of June last, being
on ipy pallage from the Weft Indies,
in the morning, having jnft made
Mount-Defart island, dillant nearly
ten leagues, 1 suddenly got fight of
a Serpent of an enormous fize,fwim
mjng on t'he furface of the ocean,
elevated about fix or eight
feet put of ,water, rather prone for
ward. That, part of the body.which
was cut of water, 1 judged to be a
bout the size of a bar tel in circum
ference, but the head larger, having
some refenrhlance of a borfe's. Ac
cording to the molt accurate com
putation which 1 made ill my mind,
of his length, I think it could not
be less than from S5 to 60fse t, and
perhaps longer. That part of the
body which was not elevated, but
of which I had a diftindt view seve
ral times, was larger than the part
o'iit r of water. The body of a dark
browji. 1 was within two bundled
yards of it near an hour j during
whtch time, as it discovered 110 in
clillation toinioleft us, nij felf and
the whole crew obfecved it with the
minuted attention ; nor was its at
tentiou less fixed on us. '1 he eve
was perfectly black, (hai.p, ai.d
piercing. 1 »as so near as !■> <ih
ferve cleaily that there were no fins
or external appendages >0 t.l»e bcjH v ;
l>ut that its motion was by the h
itig.nfihe bodv, like ti lv«i f<»rp
Duiing the tii.ie it was a l.ii ii f e .
vera! flocks of birds flew neat,* !>:V»
it eyed very narrowly. ] obtervta
in it thegreatclt agility and quick
ncls of motion."
There is no doubt but this is one
of the two which have been seen in
tliefe pans. 11 accounts ngrtc ic
fpe<?ting their size and appearance.
Two of them (.perhaps tiie Ifanie)
were once seen.on the (hore aj' the
Cranberry ifl.tnds, but immediately
took to the water on being dilcover
ed. . These are the fMI ever seen »
iu our seas, that *e have any ac
count of, though they have been
seen on the coait of Norway, tnoie
than 100 feet in length.
At a general meeting of ihe citf
zens of Portland, an' tUe 99; h day
of July, Capt. Nathaniel Cell ing
was chosen chairman ; and at an
adjournment on the following day,
the late Proclamation of the jPieii
dent of the United States, declaring
their neutrality in the prelent Eu
ropean war, was taken into conli
deration, and thereupon".
Voted, That the actual tranquili
ty, peace and prosperity of the
United States, are blelfiugs of tUe
highest «>ider, and thai the p*efer
vatiorrof them it efien:ial to the
happiuefs of the present and future
generations.
Voted, That the interference of
any of our fellow-citizens ia the
present European war, would be no
less criminal to the public £ od,
than the private motives of 'f'"H
robbery and rapine aie immoral,
unsocial and detestable.
Voted, That we highly approve
and will ftriiSly eblerve the late
proclamation of the President ofthe
United States, declaring that their
duty and interest require a friendly
and impartial conduct towards all
the belligerent powers.
That in addition to the regulati
on of our own conduifi on t his im
portant occasion, we will kee'p an
eye on that of any deluded citizens
or persons, whn may so far abandon -
their duty and common good
(as defined in the constitution, trea
ties and laws of the Uniied States)
as to intermeddle in the war on any
pretence whatever—and will nfie
our best endeavors that their de
signs may be defeated, and their
offences puniflied according to their
demerit.
Voted, That these proceed!ngs
be printed ; that a copy of them be
tranfinitted to our fellow-citizens
of of Bolton, in return for
their iimilar communication.
By order of the Citizens of Port*
land. Sa. Waldo, SecVy.
PROVIDENCE, August 3.
Saturday last arrived at Newport
the Briiilh fliip Catharine, William
James Davis, matter, mounting 4
Iron Guns, and some of Wood,—
She was bound from Jamaica to
New York, with freight, and a
number of passengers ; bnt falling
in with a Britifb frigate off Sandy-
Hook, and learning that the French
Frigate Ambuscade was at New-
York, Davis thought proper to bear
away for Newport. The passengers
inform, that some time previous to
their speaking the- Biirith frigate,
they fell in with an American ves
sel, bound from Cape-Francois to
Baltimore, having on board Ijo
French paflengers, tind that front
this vefl'el Davis took two bags of
money, said to contain between 6
and 7000 dollars, foppofing it to be
French property. As he was noc
provided with a Commiflion, bis
condutft became a fubjeft of conver
faiion at Newport—and fearing he
flinuld be IVppped, on Wednesday
night he flipt his cables, and put to
sea, leaving the passengers alhore
one of whom had freight on board
to a large amount.
A ■m-'tler in the Netupnrt Mercury afkt
the fcl/ctviug queries in relation tt
the firegoihg nefarious tranfattion.
" W'liy was trot a guard put on
board the fj>ip, if the Captain could
not be arretted rill the examination
was finifherl ?—Or, why vas hit
word deemed fiiffu iem lor his ap
pearance ? I addrtfs nijftlf ta the
gentlemen of the law. Was he
bailable in law,- at the litre he was
frffered- to appear at largt > Why
was the examination so lengthy, viz,
from three to eight o'clock ! Why,