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
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! 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,
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Several pair of Chafes,'fcverat composing
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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,
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