Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 11.
CONGRESS of the UNTIED
STATES.
House of Representatives.
Saturday, February 3.
Mr. W. C. Claiborne presented a
memorial from the inhabitants of the
Natchez diftrift, praying Congress to
turn its attention to that quarter, to
fanftion the grants of land which had
been made by Spain, notwithstanding
any former Britilh grants, and also that
they would lurnifh them with a provifi
cnal government. They (late their
number to be about 5000, and a half that
number of negroes; that their produce
is chiefly cotton and indigo, which they
cannot cultivate to advantage without
slaves.
This petition, together with the Mes
sages of the Prelident of the 3d of June
1797, and ot the 23d of Jan. lalt, which
had relation to this lubjed, were referred
to a fele& committee.
A message was received from the Pre
sident of the United States, informing
thehoufe, that he had approved and sign
ed the aft directing the Secretary of war
to place certain persons on the pension
lift. A message in writing was also
communicated at the fame time, inform
ing the houle that he had received from
our minilter in London, copies of the
two adds of the parliament of Great-Bri
tain, one paiTed the 4th July, 1797, for
carrying mtoeffedf the treaty made be
twixt the United States and Great-Bri
tain ; the other palled on the 10th of the
fame month, for regulating rhe trade
carried on to and from the East-Indies,
which as he conftdered them of impor
tance to the Interests of the U. States,
lie transmitted to Congress.
This message was referred to the com
mittee of commerce and manufactures.
Fucjday February 6.
Mr. Sitgreaves, from the managers
appointed to conduct the impeachment
against William Blount, said, he was di
rected to inform the house, that, in con
sequence of official arrangements made
for the purpose, the managers would ex
hibit the articles of impeachment to the
Senate, to-morrow at 12 o’clock.
NEW-YORK, Feb. 6.
In the present state of our foreign re
lations, it is very natural for us to en
quire, what will be our situation, if com
pelled to adopt measures otfelf defence
• gainft French captures, which would
probably lead to hostilities.
The firft inquiry is, would France,
in case of war, attempt to throw’ troops
into the United States, with a view to
divide them, and thus bring the govern
ment to fubrnit to terms of their impo
sing ; or in other words, purchase their
departure and a temporary tranquillity,
as the Oid Britons bribed their Saxon
and Danifti invaders to leave England.
‘] o all attempts of this kind, the o
eean and thediftance interpose alinolt in
surmountable obstacles. No attempt
would be made to conquer the United
States, in toto, by force of arms. This
would be impoliiblc ; for it would be ri
diculous to make the attempt with a less
army than 100,000 land forces; and it
is not in the power of France, Spain,
and Holland united, to furnifh the ne
cessary lhipping to transport such a body
of’ men with their provision, ammuni
tion, cannon and camp equipage. It
was a great effort in Great Britain, in
our late w'ar, to furnifh transports for
about one third of that number. Any
projed of that kind is too ridiculous e
ven for the French government to at
tempt.
The only mode of wounding the U
nited States bv a land force,would be by
fending a body of troops, five to ten
thousand, into the southern states, ex
eite infurrettion among the blacks and
put arms into their hands ; or by land
ing an armyat the mouth of the Miffifip
pi, to tall upon our frontier settlements.
But to these projects also infupcrable
difficulties prelent themselves. It would
be extremely difficult, if not impoflible
to land such a body of men, even if no
marine force was to interfere ; and if lan
ded, the army would be too inconsider
able to maintain its station on land. No
force of this kind could efcapc ruin for
one month. The actual number of fight
ing men in our country, is doubled lince
our late war; and when our wealth, re
sources and union under an efficient go
vernmentare taken into the account, our
strength may be considered as four times
grearer, than when we were contending
with the British armies.
There is therefore not the lcaft dan
ger to our independence from a con tell
with any , or all the powes of Europe.
The armies of France, numerous and
warlike as they are, would, in thiscoun-
Columbian iEufeum,
try, speedily waste away, in spite of
ad human efforts. Nothing bodes fe
nous harm to the United States, provi
ded the people and the government aft
in concert, with one mind, determined
to be tree and independent— and of this
we can have not the least doubt.
February 7.
If then the United States have nothing
to fear from an invafton, it remains only
to confider what will be the result of a
war, on our commerce—the only thing
that is really to be conftdered.
Great-Britain is the firft naval and
commercial power in the world. The
United States rank at present second in
commerce. It is presumed that the A
mericans employ more tonnage in trade,
at this moment, than Holland, France”
Spain, Portugal, Denmark or Sweden!
1 his is not, however, material. It is
certain, that in imall armed vcflels, we
have no nation to fear, except Great-
Britain ; and policy and interest unite
Great-Britain and the United States in
the fame system ot defence. We now
consume about one third of all the manu
factures of Great-Britain, and such good
customers that nation will never content
to lose by idle controversy.
We are then certain, that whatever
power in Europe, may be bro’t against
us, Great-Britain, the naval and com
mercial power, superior to all the rest,
will be our friend; and her navy, with
the addition of American armed vefiels,
are able to maintain the trade of the tu-o
countries, unimpaired. I go further,
and aver it as a rational calculation,that
without peace, France, Spain and Hol
land, can never again take possession of
the ocean. They may build ships with
out number, and equip them in their
ports, unmolested. But they cannot man
them with experienced seamen; and
without an adequate number ot able tea
men, any number of ships of any force
w hatever, will be no match for the Bri
tish navy, but will inevitably be facri
ficed.
How then can these nations replenish
their ships with able seamen ? The ans
wer is obvious: It is impolliblc, with
out commerce. Seamen cannot be made
on land. While therefore Great-Bri
tain commands the ocean and prevents
her enemies from uting it, their ships
will remain ill manned. And the longer
this conttft continues, the worse will be
the state ot the marine of France, Spain
and Holland ; for the few old seamen
they have, will waste away, or loose
rheir skill and vigor, in indolence, in
their ports.
It is not too much toaflert, that mak
ing allowance for great and unexpected
accidents to the British navy, the naval
power of Great-Britain is competent
forever to keep the seas. Nothing at
least can repair the fleets of her enemies,
but long peace and commerce.
If to this afcendency of the Britith
marine, we add the aftive genius and
growing commerce of the United States
surely we have nothing to fear on the
ocean.
The remarks are not made to encou
rage war—God forbid. But we may be
driven to engage in it, and it is proper
to examine our real strength and re
lour ces.
The violent and outrageous robberies
that have been committed near this city,
within a few days, demand the moil vi
gorous measures of police. Gangs of
men armed and of force fufficient to car
ry terror into any family, however well
guarded, violate the repose of the night,
enter private dwellings, insult the per
sons and threaten the lives ot the inhabi
tants. A secret patrolein thefuburbsof
the city, and a large reward for appre
hending the villains might produce a
good effeft—either by leizing fome of
them or driving them from the island.
ALBANY, Jan. 17.
Died, suddenly, on Sunday evening
in this city, Hanjoott, an Oneida war
rior. This chief diflinguifhcd himfelf
as a volunteer, under Gen. Ganfevoort,
during the siege of Fort Stanwix, in our
revolutionary war-—He composed one
of that gallant party, commanded by
Col. Willet, who in a sortie, carried
destruction thro’ the enemy’s camp. Af
ter the siege was raised, he returned to
his wondering countrymen, loaded with
the spots of the enemy, and covered with
glory.
7he following notice we find in the lafi
Royal Gazette of New-York.
To-morrow, the 21st of January,* is
the anniversary ofan awful day. French
men ! and you other people, who refpeft
innocence and virtue, you are invited to
spend the day religiously and mourn
fully.
* Day of the execution of Louis XVI.
SAVANNAH, February 23. |
Captain Higgins, from Tybee this |
morning, informs, that he spoke with !
Captain Swaine, from Charleston, who
was difpatchcd by the British Consul,
in fcarch of an Englijh ihip, which had
appeared off the Bar in distress, with
directions, if he should fall in with her
to bring her to this port, to Mcflrs.
Gairdners and Mitchell.
Capt. H. also informs, that he saw
several velfels in the offing.
A schooner at Tybee, from Jamaica,
in distress.
Extra ft from Chief Jnfiice M ( Kean's
Charge to the Grand Jury of Fhilad, l
phia, November 27/A.
“ Every one who has in him the sen
timents of either achriftian ora gentle
man, cannot but be highly offended at
the envenomed feurrility that has raged
in pamphlets and newspapers, printed in
Philadelphia for several years pall, inso
much that libelling has become a kind
of national crime, and difhnguifhes us
not only from all the ftatas around us,
but from the whole civilized world.
Our satire has been nothing but ribal
dry and Billingsgate : the conteff has
been who could call names in the great
ell variety of phrases; who could mangle
the greateil number of characters ; or
who could excel in the magnitude or
virulence of their lies. Hence the
honor of families has been stained; the
highelt polls rendered cheap and vile ir.
the fight of the people, and the greateil 1
services and virtue blalled. This evil, ;
so scandalous to our government, and
detestable in the eyes of all good men,
calls aloud for redress. To censure the
licentiousness is to maintain the
LIBERTY of the FR E s s .’ ’ — Excellent
sentiment !
The season has been extremely incle
ment at the eallward. In fome parts of
the dillrift of Maine, the snow has been
three feet on a level, and travelling much
impeded.
Extraft of a letter from a gentleman at
Calcutta, to his friend in Bolton, da
ted July 31,1797.
“ You will perhaps expeft me to give
you a statement of bufinels in this quar
ter ; but it would require many pages to
make but an imperfeft reprelentation;
however it is such, as to insure me a
handsome voyage if the fliip reaches A
merica in fafety ; and I think presents
such advantages, as to induce the Ameri
cans to prosecute it, and make it the molt
extensive branch of their commerce.”
INFORMATION.
Don Carlos Martinez. D'Ytujo ,
Knight ol the royal and diftingniflied
order of Charles the third,his Catholic
majesty’s envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary to the Uni
ted States of America.
WHEREAS the government of Ca
racas, has opened the ports of said pro
vinces, for the importation in neutral
bottoms of certain articles of provilions
and dry goods (agreeably to the lift dc
pofited with his Catholic Majelty's con
sul general in this city, and with all
other Spaniih eonfuls throughout the
United States)’ under the express con
dition that the returns ot said articles
are to be in produce of the said province.
Now, therefore, I do hereby give this
public notice, in order that such per
sons as may be inclined to trade to Ca
racas, may avail themselves thereof, in
forming them at the fame time, that it
will be absolutely neceflary to be fur
nilhed with a paflport from me, for those
veflels which fail from Philadelphia, or
from his Ca tholic’majefty’s eonfuls in
the other ports of t he United States.
Given under my hand in Philadel
phia, the 27th day of January, 1798.
Don Carlos Marlintte, D’Yrujo.
NORFOLK, February 6.
At a late hour lafi night , capt. Colley of
theJhip Flora arrived in town from
Hampton Roads , where his flip now
lies, after a pafiage of 44 days from
Guern/ey. Capt. Colley politely handed
us London papers of the nth, 1 sth5 th and
19/A December ; he gave afiw to fame
of the officers of the BntiJ/.!i jhtps of war
tying in the Roads, from those we re
ceived we hafien to give the following
crude fimmary of
LATE EUROPEAN NEWS.
Generals Buonaparte and Joubert
had arrived on the 6th of December at
Paris ; a great part of the army of Italy
had returned into France ; anew con
spiracy had taken place in Paris, and a
number of the conspirators were com
mitted to the Temple ; the pope refufes
to acknowledge the independence of the
Cifalpine republic, in conttqucnc T
which 10,000 republicans are tna-J.i •
towards Rimini, tofupport the . ; {
ot the Cilalpine ambafl'id ;r. i c.v
exertion is making in Fr • . < . - *
ize the army winch is .0 . u a.;V.*iifc
England, it is at Para, that*
tlx pope has entere&AWo a fectct treaty
w ith the Emperor ot kulha ; that the
king ot Pruflia is dead ; and that tncon
fequence of the ratification ot the treaty
between Portugal and France, the Eng
lifli troops at Lilbon are reduced to ex
treme want. Earl Sr. Vincent Hill
continues olf the harbor of Lisbon.
Ot our Cominifliners, we have no
other account, than what was received
by a vcilcl from Havre, which had put
into Guernsey, in distress, pru*rto cap
tain Colley’s failing, which informed,
that that there were three commitiioneis
appointed on the part of the French Re -
public to treat with ouv’s , and that the
general opinion was, that matters would
be amicably adjutled.
BALTIMORE, February 2.
Arrived at Nonh-Point, on Saturday lafi.
iVi!|> So phi., capt. Wm. Malcom, tiom Brt
men. Capt. Ala'comh informs, that the cur
rent repoi ot the day when he let: Bremen,
was, itu; ,s\,i .m • American comniitlioners
had been ;ccei\i-,:, . . and 1 id commenced nego
ci-uions ; and ha the thud had tU-puiv.'d tor
England.
BOS IV N, February 5.
ConJ!.ignition. \ d’eniav T act noon, about
four o clock, a tire hruxe out 10 one o! the
drilling rooms in >’ie t.ic.iue in Kederal-llrect,
a.id tu.h was 1 lie height ol .>■ flames before
difeovered, and inch the nature ot the coni
ouifiblcs which dic\ liii! ioi>k*h<> .1 01, ili.u no
exertions of leveral ol the attendants oi ihe
thea.re could 1 heck their piugicls ; aiidbeloie
lev"n o’clock, ihe intire inluieol perhaps the
nioil decani building iiithe United Slates was
totally deftrny d—ootiijiig being ictc uiic mi
tumed but .he brick walls.
The property 101 lon his occasion is viy
eacat; but ioriuitately iucli w. s ilia date ol tlie
wind, and t!ie atlivity and intelligence ot the
citizens present, that the adjacent buildings,
though all of them of wood, nd fome 0; .hem
very n*ar, were not in iheleal; damaged.
Only one thare of the properly was insur
ed ; and when we contemplate the elegance of
.lie building—the beauty ol the architefcture
and other ornaments, we must deplore the
lols as a public injury.
*©armr Hfgiflrr*
£ IV T E R E D l N W a R D.
Brig Union, Phipps, New-York, iy,
Ueliance, Hughes, Jamaica, 30
CLEARED 0 U T.
Ship Columbia, Hervey, Jamaica
Brig Jeflerfon, Morris, St Croix
Ceres, Howard, New York
Berkley, Tallman, llofton
ffT THE property of the late Sir George
Houjlott, advertiied for (ale on the. hrd March
next, will be fold on a urdit to the ill March
1799, ‘* ,c purchasers giving lui li lecuriiy a%
may be required.
AT AUCTION.
On Meins Cs’ Mackay’s IVharfi at
o'clock , on Mon Jay next, the 26th mfi.
Wil l BE SOLD,
2 I Fids. Old Jamaica RUNT.
Conditions Cash.
I. D. DICKINSON, Autliontir.
February I*3
GEORGIA. ) B y Nathaniel Bac.ou, Kegillrr
(I>. S.) v of Probates loi the counts ol
N. Bacom. 3 Liberty in the Hate alorelaid,
WHEREAS Adminiili ation of all and lin
gular the goods, riglns and . redits, ■>!
John Jurdinc, Jaieol the county alorelaid, tie
cealed, was in the year J7y l> last pad, gran
ted and committed unto Dorcas Lines & Ma
ry Jurdinc, of the county and Stale alorrfaid :
And wherers the laid Dorcas Lines & Maiy
Jurdinc, hath made application to me for Let
ters Difmiffory of the effat r and eflrftr. of the
laid decealed : These aic therefore to cite and
admonish all and lingular i):e kindred and cre
ditors of the said John Jurdinc, deccafcd, to
be and appear beiore me at my office, on or
belore ihe 24th day of March next, to shew
caule il any they have, why Letters DiftnifTo
ry should notbe graiited them,and bedifinifTed
therefrom, and all inauers and things depen
dent thereupon. * t
Given under my hand and seal, the 22d
day of February, 1798, and in the aad
year ol American Independence.
GEORGIA, 1 liy Ed.o. IVhiie, RiAJler of
L. S. > Probata, for the county of
EduiardWhite. 3 Chatham a d/late afore paid.
WHEREAS on the idth day ot Apri’ $
1794, John Briulon was duly qualified
executor of the last will and tellament of Moles
Ross, lax of Wa ington county, in laid state
dec. and whereas the laid John Urinton, hath
represented to melliat lie has fully aclimnillt-r
----cd the goods,chatties and elfatc ol the dec. and
piays a day may he appointed for receiving
the accounts of the lame, that he may he dis?
miffed from laid adminiftmlion and all mas
ters dependent thereupon.
These aie therefore to cite and admonish all
and singular the kiudied and credi iocs yL all
others in any wile in crested in the cllatc of he
said Moses Ross, dci ohe a.id appear before
me at my ofh. e, in thee yof Savannah, 00 lie.
191(1 day ol March ne , >o P.ie.. caule, i. any
they have, w by the said J ilin Hriniorv’ should
not then be fully’ difchaigcd and difii/ned 11 ois
said adminiftraiion j.iri all relative
thereto. /
Given under ni.y band *•( Savanneh,
tlie 19.fi da) of Fejr -•* and e vei -‘n:
Lord 1798, and nn -d o’ Ame
• re,<ni fndrpe.iijartce.
441