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p j-ft ANDOL p H Bunch,
Si 3E time of the termination of the
il ,;nth, and commencement of the
n Titnth century, having occasioned
|1 jiCubts and exited much difference
[| 'nion, I take the liberty of offering
|*| Wr obfervatiom thereon. Although
11 ay be deemed by many, a matter of
fl uriofity than use, yet it would cer
| fatiifadfory to have the question
a accurately fettled —but possibly
II %<Jay it would be found extremely
1 df« so to fettle it. as to remove all
■ and end all controversy on t.he
S| <* foferve in the Sat'annali Museum an
ARd&id to be) from a Jamaica paper,
WHof which appears fully to have
■ Builder \ himfelf that, the nineteenth
I omittcdVlgmeuced with the present year:
I looked d*>*Woniiig has not fatisfied my
I formed *wmrirrje in the opinion 1 before
Jj him tomed, that the eighteenth century
■ from id with the present year, and the
I The luijth of cource commence with the
I Watkiiot; and this opinion i deduce from
I the Crobable manner in which calculations
I ace® made and continued from the birth
I faviour to the present day.
I ,!e j he coining of the Messiah had long been
I ! ‘ s Stold and expected, when the important
" a 'nt occured, at the fame moment corn
**l e rtcecl the chriftian aera—’Tisiminaterial
rjL Ollier other calculations,or dates from .ill
Mr cr circumftinces, were instantly fuf-
or not —This was the most impor
ratul remarkable event, that had ever
I opened, and when calculations began
bi made therefrom, whether it were one
o or ten years after, they related back to
Il* time of the birth as a data ; or
)t int from which to commence; and there
f( s no fear of mistake, because perforis
diS tainted with the circumstance were in
'lstnce to fix the time of it with accuracy,
ig'wfirft notice of this event appears ro
nt ,yin>een given to the Shepherds by the
l aj .gel who laid “ unto you is born this day
ta( 'tbe city of David a faviour who is chrift
j n Hord.” From this information they
( j e ted this occurrence,and as they journied
ex) fee the child and its mother, the won
n *ful birth became a fubjeft of intereft
pref,
noticed the days which palled after
ii^ ei birth; the one fnbfequent to it they
theifT'^ c second day, and the next the
tlieif* an< * 011 — the amc way they
Sc calculated from the firlt, second
„third months,and from the firlt,fecond
übird years. After the firft year of Ins
to'ena B 0:ie *°PP 0^ea person then made
,I :. ranted with tlie event had alked, tlw\
'•okf.l 4^ ie ? he would have been told
o the •* ! n kis second, in his third—his
time it or >' car according to the faft,
mo^c °f calculation would have
ftj ){ , ..‘continued as the child grew up. A
K jitury being a well known period of ioo
| f[] trs, which had before been calculated
Ik., m the creation of the world, and from
jnher events, began now to be calculated
B&m the birth of chrift, the year in which
%>f was born was reckoned the firft year,the
c xt the fecond,and foontill it reached the
-hundredth ; when ioo years were
G;omplcated, that portion of time denomi
nated a century was accomplilhed, and the
/ear joi commenced the 2u century, with
he year aoo ended the ad century and with
he vear 201 commenced the third century
and so on to the year 1700 which com
pleatcd the the 17th century, the year 1701
icommencenccd the 18th century, that
;itentury will terminate with the year 1800,
(and with the year 1801 will the 19th cen
tury begin—that is at the close of the pre-
I Tent vear, tßoo years will have palled finee
Lour faviours birth, and iS centuries finee
wgfre chriftian mra will then have expired.
iWk The different modes of calculation ap
ißpars to have created all the difficulty on
lubjeft—The Jamaica correspondent
jfKffl many others are dilpofed to exclude
firft year from calculation altogether,
Ijgßro take no notice of it till the whole is
and then to fav the year one, that is
JKnt one year has past finee the event from
fophich they calculate; all through the second
BKcar they call the year one, till the third
|i year commences which they call the year
p two, by which their calculation is kept a
B year behind the acra from which they be-
I gin, which they call calculating by cardi
fl nal numbers—whereas uniform experi
fl cnee convinces us that all calculations from
B particular events are made in ordinal num-
B bcr>, because that takes in time present as
B well as past, and makes the calculation
In and the fart perfect!v agree —the firft year
H *'f an event, of the birth of Christ, for in-
H fiance would certainly be noticed—if no-
B ticed it would be so called, and ail fc.bl'c
ga quent years would conform thereto. So
we find in the Mosaic account of the ere
|| ation, the lame mode of calculation—after
fi the fix days of creation were palled, God
ccttcvl on the ieventh day—now seven days
were not gone, before the day of rest, but
, the day of rest was the seventh enumerat
ing the preceding ones by ordinal numbers.
As to the figures on a dial (stated by the
Jamaica correspondent) or that of mile
stones &c. the reasoning will no; apply in
the way intended; these are not com
mencements of particular aras—we know
the hour usually underftoodby one o’clock,
| that ’tis one hour past meredian or past
midnight, here is no ambiguity or fear of
miftake —so in travelling when we have
gone one mile, we confider ourselves pro
greflingon the second ; when we have got
nearly thro’that, we cannot surely be ft id
to be in the firft mile, or mile one—yet we
must be so by the calculation in the Sa
vannah paper; for we are there said to be
in the firft mile till we pass the ftcond
mile stone, then in the second mile till we
pass the third mile stone, so that to use a
common phrase we travel fafter than we
get along.
But lavs the Jamaica correspondent,
“The word one means something com
pleated, whether it be one hour or ofte
year ; one inch or one mile”—this is true
in speaking of numbers or distances per
fectly comp'eated—but does not prove
that in all calculations the firft year of an
event is excluded in subsequent calculations
from that event —and we know in faift this
isfeldom the case: We can readily have
an idea of the numeral one, as fvnonimous
with the firft, without a previous period—
diftance—or imaginary cypher from which
to commence our calculation. Suppose
for instance the years of a centurv were to
be reprefcnted by a number of dollars, al
most any boy called to number them would
begin with number one, and count on to
one hundred, and no immnginary cypher
would varv the number, and this would be
as just a mode of calculating to determine
the beginning of a century as the statement
in the Savannah paper. Let us imagine
the period finee the chriftian aera to be a
mighty volume, divided into a number of
chapters, equal to the number of the years
finee the birth of Christ—the beginning
chapter would be called the firft—the ne»t
the second, and so on, and we ftiould now
l>e entering on chapter 1800.
The year in which an event occurs is
certainly fomething—lt cannot but be no
ticed, nor can it be called otherways than
the firft year—so we calculate, the firft, se
cond, &c. years of American indepen
dence—so was calculated the firft and se
cond days of creation, and on to the se
venth—so was and is calculated the firft,
second, &c. days of the week—and so
doubtless was calculated the years of the
chriftian aera to the ninety ninth and one
hundredth—with the hundredth vearended
the firft century, with the two hundredth
the ftcond century, and with the eighteen
hundreth vear, or year 1800 will end the
eighteenth century, and with the year 1801
will the nineteenth century commence.
Z.
STRASBURG, Otftober 12.
We have just received the official ac
count of a new viiftory obtained by Maf
fena over prince Charles. The official re
port received by General Chabran, com
mandant of the division of Baste, and
which had been publiihed the day before
yesterday, is as follows:
“ The Auftro Ruffian army, under the
command of prince Charles, has just been
compleatly beaten by general Malfena, on
the borders of the Rhine, and forced anew
to recross that river. Malfena has made
three thousand prisoners, killed a'general,
taken a great number of cannon, and fix
colors.
“ The corps of Conde has likewise been
compleatly defeated at Constance. The
loss of the enemy in killed and wounded
is 6000 men.
(Signed) CHABRAN.”
SALEM, December 24.
The Frigate Eflex, Capt. Preble, failed
from this harbor, on Sunday morning, for
Newport. She fired a salute on going out,
which was returned from fort Pickering.
She failed remarkably well; and, from
the abilities of her officers and crew, we
anticipate a fucceLful cruise.
The late period at which the appoint
ment of officers to this ft)ip was made must
naturally have retarded her preparations
for lea, had not Capt. Waters, the Naval
Agent, supplied, as far as the powers of
one man could extend, all deficiencies.—
To his uncommon exertions, of which we
have heard Capt. Preble speak in the
(Irongeft terms, it is owing that flic is not
longer detained i:i port.
, NEW-YORK, January 2.
A French gentleman who came pr.f
--• 1 fenger in thelloop Louifu, from St. Sebaf-
I { tiai's, end who left Paris about the 2 jtl of
> j October, informs, that Buonaparte haa ar-
lfciLXlCatlC-Ullil»a* ii -- -* • —— ■ - I ■■ ■*■> rw»TTT •■■■HHHBiimil
rived there previous to this gentleman’s
departure, and that his arrival had occa
sioned great public rejoicings; that he
brought with him a treaty of peace con
cluded by him for twenty years with the
grand Seignor, who had ceded to France
2CO leagues of the territory which had
been conquered by Buonaparte ; and that
a secret expedition was preparing, of
which he was to have the command.
(Mer. Aclvertifer. )
From a late Paris fa per, received by the
Louija, from St. Seba/Uans.
Paris, 26 Vendemaire 17th Oct.
Buonaparte has left the army of Egypt
under the command of General Kleber.
Egypt was already under water when
he departed from thence, and the Nile
never aflumed a finer appearance for fifty
years back.
Buonaparte flopped at Ajaccio in Cor
sica, where he (laid seven days. It was there
moßly he learnt the news from France,
and of which he had but very little know
ledge since his departure. In the paflage
from Corsica to France, an Englifli fleet
hove in fight, and gavechace to the French
division composed of two frigates and a
transport. The commander wanted to
run ashore on the coafl of Corsica, in or
der to escape being taken. Buonaparte
fearful of being blockaded in that island,
opposed it, and said it was well to give up
to fortune. Fortune, which he invoked,
was as favorable to him when in fight cf
the coafl of France,as it has been when he
invoked it in fight of the coafis of Egypt.
Night {haded the failing of that fliip which
perhaps carried the deltines of France.—
They landed at Frijus, where our illuflri
ous travellers met with the brilliant recep
tion of which we have already spoken.
The courier which preceded them, in
order to have horses prepared, asked for
them every where for Buonaparte ; and e
very where in the towns and villages the
inhabitants would go to meet him on the
roads and accompany him beyond the
communes. The croud was such that e
ven on the roads it was with difficulty car
riages could make way. At night every
place through which he palled from Frijus
to Paris, was illuminated.
Joy was manifefted to the extreme at
Lyons, when the inhabitants heard that he
was to pass through the city. Every one
(hewed a wifli to feaft him. The town
was illuminated; a little play, entitled
“ The Hero's Return was composed, and
performed instantly. The aftors not hav
ing had time to" learn their parts, read it.
A great croud attended the theatre, to hear
this momentary production, which was
crowned with applause.
However fatigued Buonaparte might be,
he was invited to the fpe&acie. He could
not refiß the prefling folicitationsof all the
citizens; and when he appeared at the
theatre, the clapping of hands and other
testimonies of joy continued for a long
time.
January 3.
By the arrival of the schooner Four Sif
ters, Stanwood, 11 days from Cape Nicho
!a Mole—we are informed, that the United
States frigate Conflitution, Capt. Nichol
son, was cruiflng off Cape Francois for a
large French merchantman and a brig with
valuable cargoes on board.
Congress of the United States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
January 1.
Mr. Macon prefenteda petition of fun
drv inhabitants of the Miffilfippi territory,
residing on the Tombigby and Mobile ri
vers, praying for a confirmation of their
title to certain lands, and for the free na
vigation of said rivers—which Mr. M.
moved to have referred to a (tied com
mittee.
Mr. Jones objected to tfye house legifl.it
ing on this fubjeCt, on the ground that iu
involved a of the Rate of Georgia t<P
the jurifdi&ioti of that territory; and that
as commissioners had been appointed by
aCt of congress to fettle all existing diffi
culties as to the jurifdiCtion of that Rate, it
would be improper for the house to hold
forth any encouragement to the petitioners
—an encouragement which would only
prove delusive, because this house had not
the power to grant the relief prayed for—
He thereiore hoped the petition would be
ordered to lie on the table till the claim of
the Rate of Georgia to that territory fliould
be fettled.
Mr. Talliaferro and Mr. Nicolas advo
cated theopinon of Mr. Jones.
Mr. Gallatin thought it was bringing a
great and important queßion before the
house in a very indirect wav. Before we
decided uponthe claim, a committee ought
to be appointed toenquire what progress
has been made by the commissioners ap
pointed to fettle the claimsof Georgia; and
if the queßion came before the house in
any lhape, it ought to be in the only prep
- ■ --■ 11 !»■ \ jjililif ~ 'ln ~liw llj
f r cn .7, “ l ° «’hom does this terltorvbe
• on => ■ Mr, G. was decidedly agair.ft
reference of the petition to a felcft cnn!
mittee. w
Mr. Claiborne said, the petition con
tamed otr.er objetfs than the rfrht objefl
ed to by Georgia The navigation of^
1 ombigby and Mobile rivers, of which
they were deprived, was essentially necef
Tarv to the commerce of that part of th
world, and their claim to this was certain
ly worthy of attention. The commit
m their report might be silent as to aRv
fubjeft which would involve the objeft on
urged against the reference.
Meflis. Macon, Sewall, and Rutledr e
were also in favor of the commitment.!.
After a long debate, Mr. Macon wavedlk
moden, so as to have the petition referred
to a committee to whom was committed a
similar petition on the 24th ult.—which
was agreed to. Adjourned.
BALTIMORE, January 7.
Captain Gardener of the Hoop Maria
whoarrived atNew-York from Trinidada’
informs, that a large ship from Alexandria’
capt. Sewel, with a cargo valued at 2c 00’
dollars, on her pafTage from Trinidada to
Curracoa, has been captured by a French
privateer of 12 guns, and carried into Ma
greto.
The schooner Spartan, Captain How
of Baltimore, has been taken and carried
into Guadaloupr. Captain H. writes cap.
tain Tenant, his owner, that he was fev.
eral days confined in goal, in irons, but
has been exchanged by captain Murry 0 f
the Insurgent.
The commiflion efiablifhed by the kina
of Prufiia to examine the invention 0°
Klaproth and Achard, of making f U g 3r
from beets, has made its report, the re/ult
of which is that 1500 weight of beets will
make 398 lb. of an agreeable syrup, from
which may be made 57 lb. of white fu*ar.
The process is easy and not expensive. 0
SCOTT, & Co.
Have Removed to the brick-house, next
door to Mr. Kennedy’s.
They have Received from EUROPE by
late Arrivals.
A large £7 well chosen Afibrtment of i
Seasonable GOODS,
Which they intend felling low.
ON CONSIGNMENT.
JAMAICA Sugars in Hhds. & Bbls.
Ditto Rum in Hhds.
Northward do. in Hhds. and Bbls.
Molafles in Hhds.
Apple Brandy in Bbls.
Brown Stout in Hhds.
Porter in ditto.
Glasgow Bottled and
Port Wine in calks.
K# 3 The Highest Prices allowvdfor TO
BACCO and COTTON, and liberal de
ductions wade to those who pur chafe by the
PIECE or PACKAGE,
January 8.
John Bacon, & Co.
HAVING JUST RECEIVED
Per the Helen, Julius Pringle , and other latt
arrivals from England.
A HANDSOME ASSORTMENT OF
European GOODS,
SUITABLE TO THE PRESENT SEASON,
Which they are now opening and dispo
sing of at the mod reduced prices for cash
and all kinds of produce, in the Store
lately occupied byMcfirs.Drrw Wallace ,
second door to John Wilson, & Co.
Broad-street.
They have likewise an AJfortment of
GROCERIES.
December 25. (ts. 24.)
s3* REMOVAL.
David C. Neal,
BEGS leave to inform his friends and
the public, that he has removed to
Dr. Montgomery s neve Brick Building , oppo
site T. Cumming, Esq. Broad-Street.
WHERE HE IS OPENING,
An Elegant and well chosen AJJorlment'/
DRY GOODS,
And GROCERIES,
which he is detern ined to fell at the most
reduced prices for cas4 of country pro
duce.
January 8.