Gazette of the United States; PHILADSLPHIA "W EDN ESDAY EVI'.NSMC, DKCKMBER 24. Making for ail the military pol\s from St. Mai;y's to Nevr-Hampfliirk. and from the Miffifippi to the Atlantic, a diftaoce of 1500 miles one way artd 2MS) the oriiSr, ah aggregate of 1536 ptivai-es, the officers, non conimiffioned officers and inwficla'nj not Reckoned • the whnle little more than 2000 men, from which are to be d«dn£led who from defcrtion and GcknetV are unwil ling and unfible to perform service. And is this number, aflced Mr. Otis, toe great for the service? Too great to de fend these numerous and.cx'enfivi gtfrilons from decay and injury? He trusted no gentleman, hot even the mover, would think so. Ho brlieved the motion tptally premature, and without due cpn.fiderationj when it \tas to be conl'idered the vast ser vice that (hey were called to perform, even in time of profound peace. l*o be sure there was great prsbability that a treaty was ncgociated with the French republic," but was it ceitain that that treaty would bs ratified ? And even if it should, theie was no certainty that'it might not bS nt celfary to make provisions for defending the frontiers and forts from the depredations of some other powers. The present fitua iton of the Britidi negociation, and the poffihle jarring prOviliens of the two treaties, might produce events against which defence maybe neceflary, These ideas, as well as every ether he had advanced on the floor of congress, Mr. Otis declared he had advanced from the tlioft sincere impreflions, and not Irom any desire to promote a fyftembecaufe it had been once found necefTary k ufeful. But another mofh ufeful objeft, which the legiflatuie ought to have in view, was the cultivation ot the fcienee of engineering. That science is not to be learned in a moment ; it is necelTarily work of time k experience to prepare against an urgency which might occur, and as a knowledge which ought to be cultivated with attention. One material argument to be fqre was used in favor of the motion, and which might appear fufficient for- its-adoption did . not gentlemen confjder the value of the acquisition. The battalion not having been raised, might be thought a good argument tor preventing its organization ; but was ic not cu'.tiv .ting a most ufeful and advanta geous science ? One which'called forth the mature deliberation and report of the late Secretary ot war, in order to prepare againll an exigency. ' That officer prepared and re ported to the House duriug the lad fellion a system of engineering tuition and under the expectation of its adoption, the railing of the fourth battalion in question was never carried into execution. But another r«a lon why the delay occured as to this batta lion was, that it was considered a part of the (landing military eftabliftimcnt of the country, to he kept on a permanent footing, and as the 12 regiments were ordered to meet .he exigencies of the moment, were of a temporary nature, more attention was paid to the railing ot tbem to the negle£t of this. Another reifon which he added, was the resignation of the late Secretary, before the measure was commenced—these together prevented the execution of the military organization so far as related to this fourth battalion, and not the warn of its being necelfary for the mod valuable of purposes, to wit; the preservation los our polls and the tuition of our citizens in a mo£l valuable and important knowledge, in preparation for any urgent occasion. He concluded by exprefling a fiacere hope that the House would now lay its hand on this important objeft, and declared that he supported it from the. principle of its mtrin lic woith, with which view he (liould quit not only his political sphere, but he hoped, his exigence. Mr. Varnum thought his culleague had ■not adhered to a true flateihent of fafts. It was true tlwt this part of the army was raised as a part of the eflabliflied army, but it was equally a well kuown truth that th* augmentation of thisfecond regijnrnt tq r 4 battalions was enacted during llate of a larm. Much was then talked of arming in our defence against invafton,and the public mind was fermented to an exceedingly high degree. Indeed it was during, this fermen tation and pretended alarm that the regi ment was begun, and not in that state of total tranpuility represented. He thought the single regiment of artillerists and-' engi neers as fuffieient for any profpeft ofnecef fity the United States ever experienced, but as the three other battalions had baen railed and as the fourth never had, he was content to move th|l it might not be, and he tho't upon the ftfongeft reason, and therefore he originated th* motion hot that he consi dered the artillery corps now existing as" fufficient to protest us in cafe ofinvafion ; he thought no apprehenfiorfs of that'event could be encouraged and not apprehending that event, againft|whieh much more of th\s ( kind «f force would be necclfary, h« could I not but believe CS companies quite fuffici ent for the establishment. y 1 These battalions were not the only de fence of the country—happily for us we have the science generally cultivated •a rtiong_,cur .citizens, -on. whom the great defence of the United States rests. Does not the gentleman knew that in his own state (Maffathufetts) there are forty vo lunteer companies of arlillerifts and engin eer;, uho are industrious in acquiring the j science r Does he not know that each of 96 - them is farnilhed with two field pieefcs, 48 and that they are ready to take the field 48 any day that the necessity of the country .—requires them ? If other flatus have fol -492 ) owed the fame line, and obtained so great » procfiiency ss that date, there cannot be a Niagara, 96 doubt upon the true result of this motion.' Detfoit and Michilimachlnac, 48 j What could two or »ten three regiments Ob lad, the hdufa of tipt. (Urr, and Mr. Rillin(ia<i, in Sitlh Mar Sjlruea ftrr«t, w«a alltuUc* by lota* villain* in a moll dtrin* Mtnr*riimiruirT' A gun it is fu'ppofed was'. fired into each house, the ffiot from which palfed through the windows j but providentially no livM were I aft. This outrage was committed about eight o'clock in theievening. Already the neighbourhood was in flantljr alarmed, the villain! escaped, owing tothe want of light in Sixth ftreer, there Ibeing only tjiree or four lafrps in all the diSance from Walnut to Cedar street. Washington c i TT. CONG RESS Of the united states. i House of Representatives. DBCtMBI* 17. Debdle On Alf., Varnum's motion for re ducing Id Rtgiitent of Artillerists and Engineers to three battalions. Mr. Otis hopetj the resolution would not pass the hoiife. He believed no aft had ever palled the house that was more maturely de. liberated on than the railing of this corps. He would beg gentlemen to recur to the origin and progrrfs of the artillery esta blishment; he believed by such a reference gentlemen wyuld think with him that it was not a part of the temporary urgency, but an aft of a permanent and uieful nature. At its firft ellabliflnnent it had not its requisite parts to form a regiment; tailed the corps of artilleries and engineers. In May, 1794. in a time of the moftperfe& peace, and wichoiit aiiy apprehepGons er alarm, there was an aft passed to augment this corps, by adding three battalions; so as to form a regiment. In May, 1796, an aft was passed confirmatory of the formeraft, making arrangements in the army. In Afjril, 1798, an aft was parted', not only Confirming the former establishment, but for raising and organizing an additional re giment, of three-battalions. This was long htfore the adoption of that general fyllem ' of defence which afterwards formed the mi i litary eftiblifhmtrnt of the United States, aad long before the twelve regiments were raised, which afterwasds formed a part of thatfyftem. In March, 1799, there was a bill palled far organizing the troops of the United States, wherein it was enafted that this corps of engineers should be raifsd to 4 battalions, inflead of thre;. The augmen tation ot the nriillcrifts and engineers was tn take place immediately, altlioiign 'dial cf the infantry and cavalry wa< not to be immediately execute*! .nor until war should brealc out with fotne foreign power. Lad session there were two'afts gaffed for the disbanding of the twelve rtgiments hereto tore raised, and for discharging the cavalry but Hill the organisation and preservation of the artillery and engineer continued ; bo gentleman then thought proper to pre ▼ the raising «f this additional battalion, although the iituaticu of things was nearly the fame as at the existing moment. It appearing, therefore, that no aft has been moie encouraged by the approbation of the house than this for raising and main taining the present regiments of artilleries and engineers, and no reasons having been urged in lupport of the motion, it appears highly proper that so ufetul a corps should be preserved. At leafl it becomes the mov er of the resolution to fliew the neceflity of liis motion, and the appearances existing now which did not at the close of the last session, to encourige fucli a metion, a mo tion so hollile to our growth in military taftics. Mr. Otis was willing that thisfyf ten fliould remain in the hands of the go vernment, whatever changes might proba bly take place asA) men and thitigs. However) left those arguments should appear as a mere theoretfc notion, in favor trf measures he had always advocated, he would introduce a sketch he had taken the pains to feleft, of the difpefition of the t«o regiments of artilleries and engineers, incompleted, from which view, he presum ed, it would appear that there was r*> ft»r pluffage to the aftuitl neceflity of the Unit ed State?, in the preservation of her arms ind pods* and for keeping alive this very tifrful branch of military knowledge. For Point Pfcter, (Sr. Mary's) 48 Fort Moultrie and fort Johnson, in Charleston harbo'f, Fort Green, Savar.naH river, Total for S. Carolina and Georgia, 192 Fort Johnflen, N. G. Fort Norfolk* feort M'Henry, (Baltimore)^ Total tor N. Carolina, Virginia 8c Maryland. Fort Miffltn, Delaware l iver, At' the laboratory, near Philadelphia, 48 144 Total for Pennfylvar.ia, At Weft Point, Foj-t Jay, and other pofls ia N» York bay, Total for the (late of NsW York, S«8 in theharbef of Newport, R. It toft InJepenrffMte, (Boflpn) £salctij and Marblehcatl, Portland, in Mainfe, Total for Matt/chufetts, t)n the diPfeWftt foi ts oa. the Ohio, Miffiflippi Tombighy rivers, Making for ilfe We He in frontiers, si total of 48 96 48 192 96 191 U« '• f artillery do in «*.'« of a foe jtivaling tliis exteufive country? 'i'hry cbuld do but ■little ; the defence mull reft with -the militia, who have their property and their ait to protefk. Certainly it cannot be pretended but the number now in the eftabliOunent is fufficient to keep the frontier pods and the sea ports in repair, and {for what else can th'ev be wanted, since their number, if ra ted, wouJd be totally inadequate for defence. 192 . 936 Whenever a fi»all expence rould> be far ed, Mr! Vanitim thought it highly incum bent on the house to gral'p at the opportu nity, apd thjt opportunity now offered.— He hoped it would be accepted, iincenot the leatt injurious tendency could accrue frpm it.i Mr.jßutledge exprefled his difappeint m4nt at not hearing the gentleman, who made a<nd supported this motion, bring for ward fon)e reasons in its favor, or intro duce {bine dotunients to prove to the house that the present number of artillerids awd engineers was fufficient to keep the polls in repair. The gentleman had, indeedj as was usual with him, exprefled his high opinion of the militia as our mcd fiubftan tial defe nee. lam no more willing than that gentlemen, said Mr. Rutled je, todif trull our militia,; 1 think as highly of them, but I a n natdifpofed to make so free with their services as lie is ; I am dipofed ta let them remain in their employments, in their "Sricul'uMl Sc mecHanica! pursuits & not drag them j out into the field or into garrisons without the molt prefling necessity. I'he gentleman's | iole motive feeuis to be the laving of money. If this is his motive, no means can be deviled more favourable to it than the railing this battalion, for none will prove more expensive than this short sighted economy. View the date of our forts at the close of the revolutionary war, and draw the £ontr»d to the late decayed and roine.d fituatioii of oiir fortifisationv and then let the hcofe determine whether fuf fering them to wade for want of hands to take cai'e of thera will not coll jpore when they come to be repaired or rebuilt, than keeping a few men at each of them to pre vent that decay. This was found to be vadly the most expensive, not to fay expo, fed mode that could be devised. Added to this is the great waste of the military stores, for want of due care. Thefe,two evils, will more than counterbalance the expence, and therefore if the pods ai\d (lares are at all neceflary to be preserved the means oiofl Ije used for that objetl. Mr.H. Were took a review of the differ ent ports at which were garrisons, and con tended that there were too few men for their preservation ; he also observed that, knowing the iirpoffibility of fufficiently garril'oning every port to prevent or rebut the approach of an enemy, the secretary of war was induced to offer a means which, would create soldiers and officers for tlje field or the pods on any emergency, by the efta blillimrnt of a fckool for teaching this most valuable science. The question was whether these battalions were to be a part of the cdablifliment or not. What gentleman could .doubt the fufieriority of this braneh of military knowledge to all others ? Was it not equally well known that being a sci ence, it required time to procure an ufeful proficiency in it i I'he policy of cultivating it was efleemed in Europe, and hence it was that the French armies had so often gained vitftories. The Chief Couful. himfelf was an officer of engineers, and had (tamped the fuperionty of that knowledge by eftablilh inga fcliool of engineers, and I'upporting it by his-ever) effort, allured from experience of its real efficacy. So far had it become ufefol that he inve'ite(i the horse artillery, a fpeeirs which gave celerity to the motions of his armies, and vi&ory to their efforts. (To be. Continued.) Imported In the ship Ib'ladclpbia from Leghorn, AND FOR- SALE, Br TH& SUBSCRIBER, CAI-AtV ' ASTTI.E SO AP in large and ImjU boxes Florence OH in Hotclei r r Lncca ditto in flaflts J of fl, P erior Camels Hair Cremor Tartar and Gum-arabic ! Leghorn Hats affurt:'d Mantuas ai.d silk Stockings Spanilh fools cap Paper \ Also en Handy Hyson and Teiichong Teas ! A small assortment of China Ware Umbrellas, Hair Ribbon, Dorea Muflint ARCHIBALD M CALL. No. 187, Couth Second tireet Jectmber 13 eolm Tkat large and commodious HO USE, At tke corner of Arch and Ninth (tracts. To be Let, THE house, ftablt, coach-house and lots, lately oca-pied fey Major Butter, fitaate as above For terms apply to J. B, Wallace, No. »8, north Fifth, ftrett. . r o<ftoHtr ats law tf To Printers. The following- MATERIALS will be fold reafasiable if applied for immediately. 1 Press, 3. Founts Laiig*Priißer (partly worn) 2 ditto SmallrPic* 011 Pica body, 2 ditto Pica, 1 ditto 'English, 2 . Jitto Brevier, 1 ditto Burgeois, ■> j >■ ' Several pair of Chafes,'fcverat composing (licUs, frdmrs and galleys, some brass rules, Quotations, &c. See. &c: all of the above will be fold very reasonable for Calh. Septembtr. 8. By this Day s Mails NEW-YORK, December 23. The Latest, From London papers 10 tie 17tb of Novem . inclusive, received at the Office of tbt Daily Advertiser. F R A N C E. 1 PAR IS, November ir. It is dated as Certain, that Citizen Lucien Buonaparte I'et out yesterday for Madrid, accompanied Ivy Citizen Felix Dcfportes, Secretary General of the Interier,' and Citi zen Arnaud, the author of Marius Min turnx. M. Spina, Archbidiop of Corinth, who was said, about a month ago, to have left Rome on his way to Vercelli, to confer with Commissioners on the part of the Chief Cori ful, lelative to'the differences at present fub filling between the Catholic Clergymen, has arrived in Paris, and has taken up his resi dence at the Hotel de Rome. 1 hough no apparent change has occurred in the (late of affairs since the departure of Count Cobentzel, the mod ardent hopes of Peace begin to bo entercained, and a number of people (latter themselves, that the fgparate negotiation at Luneville, will soon be suc ceeded by a more general one, which will extend even to England. It is certainly difficult to account for the grounds of this, expeftation, which seems to iiaxe been sud denly taken up by certain circles in this ca pital. But all the powers of Europe are so drongly intereded in bringing the war to a conclulion, that it is at the very moment when it is again ready to break out, that we may expeft to fee them interpo(e in a more • ffe&ual manner and drrcrminc upon making greater facrifices in order to prevent its re commencement. However this may be, it appears that the quedion of Peace or War will now be decided in a very few days. [Journal du Commerce.'] ROME, Oftober 13. It is said that an Englilh fliip of the line has arrived at Civlta Vecchia, to take on board the King of Sardinia. In the conGdory \vhich is to be held on Monday next, the Infant of Spain will be made a cardinal. LUNEVILLE, November 7. The Count de Cobentzel arrived here this rooming at • five o'clock, and Joseph Buonaparte at noon. The former was l'alut ed with nineteen pieces of cannon, and the latter by the ritjging of the only bell left us. The two Miniflers lodge in private houses, until their apartments in the cadle (hall be completely finifhed. -A very fiiie>corp» of 1500 grenadScra •«-' rived rifi>n. , , The "telegrtpKe it ert&ed on the tap at the castle, . ' STRASBURGH, Nov 4. A Ruffian courier pafied through thiscity for Paris ; he travelled with great speed. This is the fecor.d within a week. LEGHORN, OA. 22. We were a good defll agitated in this ci ty, at the approach of the French, but tran quility is now perfedUy eftabliflied. Our inhabitants, who arc of all nations, are na turally susceptible of anxiety and uueafinefs ; and certainly nothing could be more alarm ing to our Commerce, than fHch a sudden military invalion, but the Proclamations of the commander in chief of the Tuscan expe dition, and hit general good reputation, have dissipated our fears : and! the a&ivity of the Port has fuffered nointeruption. We heard groups of people faying on the very fird day after the entrance of the French " let us submit, the French are commanded by a General whom the Picdiuantefe regret." We mud acknowledge that the sudden dif jwteh of the English merchandize which has been sent to Palermo, and the tumult which was excited, jKrhaps designedly, when the commandant of this city evacuated it, weTe not calculated to inspire out merchants with confidence ; it was, however, easy to fee, that the arming of Tulcany, and the con flant incurlions of the peasants and Legions upon the Cisalpine Territory, would lead to something. The Englifk did forelee it, and they have lately done less business in the the port than usual. Ships belonging to the enemies of France ignorant of our being in the power ot its troops are every day comipg into onr Port. These veflels are all good prizes ! and as the winter C»me» on, we (hall no doubt have a great many others, for the Tuscan colours are still flying upon the Mole» LONDON, Nov. ty. No Cabinet Council was held on Satur day, on the Dispatches brought by Mr. Mau rix from Count Cobenzel, «s Hated in some of the Sunday Papers —but a Cabinet' Coun cil met in Downing street yefterda)*.at two o'clock,—.We have reason to believe, thoagh we do not venture potkively to assert it, that Count Cobenzel's language is firm, and that 110 disposition appears on the part of Audria to negotiate witout the concurrence of Great Britain. Count Cobenzel, howe ver, is certainly gone to Lunevifle, and Joseph Buonaparte is certainly there al so. The Paris Papers can have -no other im pwtnnce in the eyes of the Public, than what they derive from announcing, with certainty, the arrival of Count Cobenzel at Luneville. It is thus, therefore, apparent that Negotiations are about to take a feri- ous and drreft course. We sincerely hop* that the French Government may abandon pretentions, which would be an obfticle to Europe at length enjoying a Peace such as (he require*, and has a right to loolt for ; and that France may become ferifible that her private interest cannot be solidly established, except upon what is also the general interest The Million of Lucien Buonaparte is still a mystery; Some Journals have pre tended that it was to Madrid he was going, but this others have as formally denied, and the Condu&ors of the Clef da Cabi net, who boast of being connefted witii the office of the Minister of the Interior, acknowledge that they neither know whit ther Lucien Buonaparte is gone, nor what is the objett of his journey. The Official Journal contains not a syllable on the sub» je£t, bur contents itlelf with ftAing that Citizen Fontanes will soon follow him. It appears that the invasion of T-ufcanny has had,-with relation to the French and no other effeft than that of producing, a new Convention • between General Bellegarde and Brune, by which hoftiiities ar» not to be refumeji untill after ten days notice ; such at le*ft is the state ment in the Monitenr. > We may however suppose that tfieir new arrangement has not been quite as amiiable as this Jourßal would represent, and that it has been on the part of the Aurtrian General merely the result of the difficulty of ciriuipftances. According to some letters from Italy, a French or Cisalpine corps had advansed into the Roman Territory, and had raised heavy contributions. At its approach, the Count de Damns whole good condutt in 1798 may be recollefted, returned with the corps of trosps under his command to wards the frontiers of Naples. The French do not diiTemble the plan of again conquer ing tharkingdom. The invasion of Tuf cany wjll therefore be attended with those confeqoences which from the firft moment we forefaw ; and affairs will probably bf: in Italy, in the end of this year, in the fame Attrition as they were two years ago ; Pied mont, and the territory of Genoa become more and more the theatre of private diflrefs and general .misery It is confirmed, that the workmen who had been aflembled to demolish the Forti fications of Ulm, have been si-nt home. The Moniteor endeavours, nevertheless, to prove, that the French acquired, when they received from the Emperor the three Fortrefles, the right to destroy them. The Marquis de Luechelini, and Signof. Bolla, have each had their audienceaof the ChWf Ct>nful, in form. Bifliop Spina, who iiad at firft been sent to Vercelli by the Pope, has arrived at Paris. This Circumfhnctt tends to prove he has really a desire of con cluding some arrangement with his Holi ness with refpeft To the interest, or rather with refpe£l to the diciptine.of tine Church. An article in the Peterfbiirg .Court Giz zette furnishes grounds for believing that, notwithstanding the confidence which the French have, for fonia tijne past, {hewn refpe&ing the difpolitiomi of that Court, it n far from toltfrating their pretentions or corifideriiig them as compatible with an ap proaching Pacification. NEW-YORK, December a 3' LONDON PAPtRS TO NOVEMBER SEVENTEENTH. Were lall evenine received at the office of the MERC AN TILE ADVERTISER, by the ftiip Brutus from London. Many of the intermediate papers from the 4th to 17th being wanting, we are unable to give a connedled ahain of events. There does not, however, appear td have been any political tranfa&ion of consequence since | our last report. The English Parliament have been convened at an earlier period than usual, to take into consideration the 1 present alarming fcarcjty of provisions, and to deliberate on the political afpedt of af fairs as they refpeft Negociations for peace. The speech of the King of Great-Britain at the opening of feflion, and the articles of intelligence which succeed it, comprise nearly the whole of whatever-is valuable in those papers that have already come into our hands. LONDON, November 12. The alterations in the new great Seal, now finifhed, and in the custody of the' Lord High Chancellor are—that the aims of France are entirely expunged ; the arms of England, of Scotland, of Wales, and of Ireland, are quartered ; and the arms of Hanover are placed upon the centre of the four quarters. His Majesty, in the new seal, instead of being ftiled, 1' King iif Great Britain, France and Ireland,'' stiles himfelf simply, «■ BRITANNIORUM REXKING OF THE BRITISH.— This title has a very extensive and appro priate meaning. It includes not obly the Britith Ifl6, but all fubjefts in every quar* ter of the globe, living under the British dominions. His Majesty, in counsel, has given orders that his title, arms, &c. shall be altered after the expiration of the pre fentyear, in all public instruments, &c.— And orders are likewise given to have the roy 4 carriages altered as above. BRITISft HOUSE OF LORDS. November 11. This day, a little after three o'clock, his majesty came down to the House, and opened the* Session of Parliament with the following mod gracious Speech from the Throne ; the Speaker of the House of Commons and fereral Members attending at the Bar. " My Lords and Gentlemen, " My tender concern for the welfare of my fubjefts, and a sense of the difficulties, with whkh the poorer clafies particularly have to ltruggle, from the present hjg/ u price of provifiops, have induced me' tat K>df, i • l riu -y
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers