fiftd confequeatly of new pleasure. Such hilling projects are therefore proper methods to keep up and encourage expedition, which is the food and relief of life. Our whole delight is in pro ceeding. Besides, these gentlemen who tnrji undertakers when it is grown late in life, do seldom or never consider, that they mult depart and leave their I'chemes unexecuted : they think they have got a knack of living ; and as every one is apt to pre fer liimfelf to all the rell, he is alio apt to Hat ter lumfelf with the hopes of better fortune, and longer life, than any other enjoys. There was a gentleman in D , who, after he was fourfcore, planted in a field a row of walnut-trees, which, it foems, do not bear fruit in many years after they are set ; and when a neighbour told him, that the boys would Ileal the nuts, " Oh," fays old eighty, " let me alone to deal with the ttoys !" And Mr Hobbs, in the 90th year of his age, made him a warm winter coat, wliic'h he said mult la(t him three years, and then he would have such another. LETTERS, Written in Holland, in the Year M,DCC,LXXX, By His Excellency THE VICE-PRESIDENT ofthe United States. LETTER I. Amsterdam, Oct. 4, 1780. si R, YOU delire an exaift and authentic inform ation of the American affairs ; with a previous concise account of their course be fore, during, and after the commencement of hostilities. To give a stranger an adequate idea ®f the rife and progress of the dispute between Great Bri tain and America, would require much time, and many volumes: It comprises the hiltory of En gland, and the United States of America, for twenty years ; that of France and Spain for five or fix ; and that of all the maritime Powers of Europe for two or three. Suffice it to fay, that immediately upon the conquest of Canada from the French, in theyeari7S9, Great-Britain seem ed to be seized with a jealousy against the Colo nies, and then concerted the plan of changing their forms of government —of retraining their trade within narrower bounds, and railing a re venue within them by the authority of parlia ment, for the avowed or pretended purpose of protecting, securing, and defending them. Ac cordingly, in the year 1 76p, orders were lent from the Board of Trade, in England, to the cus tom-House Officers in America, to apply to the Supreme Courts of Justice for writs of alfiftance, to enable them to carry into a more rigorous exe cution certain a<fts of Parliament, called the acts of trade (among which the famous navigation act was one, the fruit of the ancient Englilh jealousy of Holland) by breaking open houses, ships or cel lars, chests, Itores, and magazines, to search for nncuftomed goods In molt ofthe Colonies these writs were refufed. In Maflachufetts Bay, the question, whether such writs were legal and con stitutional, was solemnly and repeatedly argued before the Supreme Court, by the molt learned counsel in the Province. The Judges of this Court held their contmif fions during the pleasure of the Governor and Council, and the Chief Jultice dying at this time, the famous Mr. Hutch i nson was appointed,pro bably with a view of deciding this cause in favor of the Crown ; which was accordingly done. But the arguments advanced upon that occasion by the Bar and the Bench, opened to the people such a view of the designs of the British Government a gainlt their liberties, and the danger they were in, as made a deep imprelfion upon the public, which never wore out. From this moment, every measure of the Britilh Court and Parliament, and of the King's Gover nors and other servants, confirmed the people in an opinion of a fettled design to overturn tliofe constitutions, under which their anceltors had emigrated from the old world, and with infinite toil, danger and expence, planted a new one. It would be endless to enumerate all the acts of Par liament, and measures of Government; but in 1764, Mr. George Grenvi ll e moved a number of refolntions in Parliament, which palled, for laying a valt number of heavy duties upon Itamp ed paper ; and in I 765, the act of Parliament was made, called the Stamp Act: Upon this, there was an universal rising of the people in every co lony, compelling the Stamp-Officers by force to relign, and preventing the ftainped papers from being nfed, and, indeed, compelling the courts of jultice to proceed in bulinefs without them.— My Lord Rockingham, perceiving the impolfi bility of executing this statute, moved, by the help of Mr. Pitt, for the repeal of it, and ob tained it, which reltored peace, order and har mony, to America ; which would have continued to this hour, if the evil genius of Great Britain had not prompted her to revive the reliltance of the people, by frelh attempts upon their liber ties, and new acts of Parliament imposing taxes vipon them. In 1767, they palled another act of Parliament, laying duties upon glass, paper, painters colours and tea. This revived the dilcontents in America: But Government sent over a Board of Commilfion ers, to oversee the execution of this a<£t of Parlia ment, and all others impoling duties, with a mul titude of new officers for the fame purpose ; and in 1 768, tor the firft time, sent four thousand re gular troops to Boston, to protedt the revenue of ficers in the colletftion of the duties. Loth to commence lioftilities, the people had recourse to non-importation agreements, and a variety of other measures, which in 1770 induced Parliament to repeal all the duties upon glass, pa per and painters colours ; but left the duty upon tea unrepealed. This produced an aflbciation not to drink tea. In 1770 the animosity between the inhabitants of Bolton anil the King's troops grew so high, that a party of the troops fired upon a croud of people in the streets, killing five or fix, and wounding some others. This railed such a spirit among the inhabitants, that, in a body, they demanded the instant removal of the troops; which was done, the Governor ordei ingthein down to Castle lfland, some miles from the town. In 1773, the British government, determined to carry into execution the duty upon tea, impow ered the East India Company to export it to Ame rica. They sent some cargoes to Boston, some to New-York, some to Philadelphia, and fotne to Charleftoii. The inhabitants of New-York and Philadelphia, sent the Ihips back to London, and they failed up the Thames, to proclaim to all the nation, that New-York and Pennsylvania would not be enslaved. The inhabitants of Charleston unloaded it, and stored it in cellars, where it could not be used, and where it finally perished. The inhabitants of Boston tried every meafureto fend the fhipsback, like New-York andPhiladel phia; but not being permitted topafsthe Castle, the tea was all thrown into the sea. 1 his produced several vindictive aifts of Parlia ment ; one, for flarving the town of Boston, by fliutting up the port; another, for abolishing the coijftitution of the province, by destroying their charter ; another, for fending persons to England to be tried for treason, &c. These arts produced the Congress of 1774, w ho stated the rights and grievances of the Colonies, and petitioned for redress. Their petitions and remonstrances were all negledied, and treated with contempt, General Gage had been sent o ver with an army to enforce the Boston Port Bill, and the art for destroying the charter. This ar my, on the 19th of April, 1775, commenced hos tilities at Lexington, which have been continued to this day. You fee, Sir, by this most imperfed: and hasty sketch, that the war is already twenty years old. And lean truly fay, that the people, through the whole courfeof this long period, have been grow ing constantly every year more and more unani mous and determined to resist the designs of Great Britain. I fliould be alhamed to lay before a gentleman of Mr. Calkoen's abilities, so rude a sketch, if I had not equal confidence in his candor and dis cretion, which will indulge me as I may have leisure, to continue to sketch a few observations upon your questions. I have the honor to be &e. JOHN ADAMS. MR. CALKOEN. (To be continued.) EUROPEAN ACCOUNTS. PARIS, JULY 24. M. de Be aum arch a is,has facrificed 12,000 li vres in favor of the unfortunate inhabitants of the suburbs of St. Anthony. Altho his office of Secretary to the King enlists him among the No bles, he has desired to be admitted among the Commoners; and this trait of humility, without taking any thing from the diftinguiffied honors of his office, muftneceflarily put an end to the illi beral iarcafms which some persons have allowed tliemfelves to throw out upon him. This evening, M. de la Fayette, no doubt afraid of not being able to operate all the good he could wiffi, and thwarted besides by the im proper conduct of the people, and shocking be haviour of the populace, in doing justice to tliem felves, without the assistance of the law, gave up his commission of Colonel-General of the Parisi an guards ; but he was so earnestly requested to continuein it, andM. Bailly himfelf exprefled with so much eloquence the willies of all the ci tizens, that he triumphed over themodeftyof the hero, who never fought but for liberty, and the equalrightsof mankind. July 31. We have accounts froui Metz, the Marlhal de Brog lio, and the Prince de Lam be sc, notfinding tliemfelves fafe in that place, had en trenched tliemfelves in the Citidel of Verdun where there are three regiments in garrison • but that thoie troops desert apace, and will not fire upon the citizens, who are befiegingthe two fugitives,and are determined to open the trenches or starve the place out. £Dt!>r3URGH, JULY 5. It is with pleasure we learn, that Mr. Midi of Dalfwinton lias lately completed his expcri mem for ascertaining the steam engine in mov~ mg ihrps. The success fully answered his ex pec'iations, and afforded very great plealure > r , the fpeciators present. Therefultof this expe rt ment must be of the greatest utility to society in general, but more particularly to trading countries which abound in coal or wood. LONDON, AUGUST 7. MONSIEUR NECKAR's RESTORATION. The entrance and comportment of this great minister, on his return to the National AHembly were 1110 ft univefally commemorated j when ]y| de Mirabeau and the Bilhop of Aix, had rife* tO . lupportM. Neckar, and he had recovered liiinfelf enough to proceed, he took his handkerchief from his face, and this was His SPEECH. " Meflieurs—l obey your commands, and throw niyfelf before ye! " Bound as to my own happiness, I pant in ceflantly for yours. For ye are, ye will be, the preservers of your country, where I had not the bliss to be born ; but it will be my glory to serve if I can serve any good purpose, if 1 do not live and labour in vain ! " Would to God powers could keep pace with my wilhes, that my ability might be equal to my zeal. " Not that this noble nation depends on such llender holds as powers and purposes like mine. True to herfelf, and fafe in the providential sys tem of nations, what imports it to her, what in dividuals may be precarious or frail ? " The resources of France arc infinite ! What can they not do ? What have they not done ! They have brought ftrengtli out of weakness— or der out of confufion. " The resources of France are infinite !—Ha.e they not surmounted such a feeble mini ft ry as mine ? " The resources of Fiance are infinite—ln all human qualities that array and adorn the national charatfier of men ; and all earthly possibility, of Iky and foil, arts and arms, to constitute political force—What nation is there, that will beableto refill ns ?—What nation, duly enlightened, will noL wish us to be irresistible ? I speak as I feel, and as I interpret on the feelings of all around me!" This panegyric on the popular character—hy perbolical perhaps, but certainly well timed— did wonderful execution. The assembly were all taken at onee ; and there was throughout a silent, fultained attention, sffetfiing beyond any other possible expreflion. Monf. Neckar saw his advantage, and pnrfued it thus faultering for a word or two, and when recovering his articulation, altering bis key— " You hear ine, Mes Comperes, Amis Donees if Nobles —ye hear me with indulgent ears ; you are partial to my purposes ; you are kind to my de fers, But chara(fter you can dive into (apprcfor.- tiir) motives you can weigh ; you know how grate ful I am—how ufbful I wish to be. " Such as I am, I need not tell ye; lam in deed yours—Dispose of me as you will. " I will fay no more." In a dark dungeon in the Baftile, a dead body in chains has been found, in a narrow close cup board, dried like an Egyptian Mummy—a Cad vi<ftim to the ministerial delpotifm of former times. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. JOURNAL of the FIRST SESSION or the SENATE of the UNITED STATES. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1789. THE following members of tlie Senate ap peared and cook their feats :—From N. Hampshire, The Hon. £ £ e whtgate/"' 1 Maflkchufetts The Hon. Caleb Strong, „T, rr C Wm. S. fohnfon and Connecticut, The Hon. | oHver jf nfwort h, D - T . „ C William Maclay and Pennfylvama, The Hon. J Robert Morris> Georgia, The Hon. William Few. The number not being fufficient toconihtutea quorum, they adjourned from day to day, untl WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1789- The fame members present as on the 4th . greed that the following circular letter fbou written to the absent members, requeuing t el immediate attendance. New-York, March 11, 17®9" SIR, AGREEABLY to thfc Conftitntion ofthe Uni ted States, eight members of the Senate, * eighteen of the House of Representatives, » attended here lincethe4thof March. 11 en;y theutmoft importance that a quorum fu c > proceed to bufinefslhould be aflembled as 0 poflible, it is the opinion of the gentlemen 0 Houses, that information of their fituation 1 mediately communicated to the absent me
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