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Mr. SMITH, j
IN your Paper of the nth inst. I observed an in
vitation from Y. P. to the citizens of this slate,
to give a truce to their speculative and other felf
interefted pursuits, and direct a portion of their
attention to the public weal, and particularly to
the expediency of a Specific Tax, which he thinks
the want of energy in our laws, or inability in the
people to comply with former modes of taxation
have made neceifary ; but Y. P. mull certainly be
a ft ranger here, or he could not be so ignorant of
the disposition of the Legislature, as to expett it
wojuld pay any regard to the fentinients of the best
informed petfon, exhibited in a News-Paper, or
exprefled by any other than a member of its own
body ; although it is a melancholy truth that the
Laws hitherto enatted, either from want of legis
lative knowledge or virtue, have not been adequate
to the purpofeß of good government at home, or
of obtaining us refpettability among the other slates
in the Union : Yet a majority of it are too wife to
be infl rutted —hence the consequence of hints of
policy to them, would be the fame as that of reprov
ing a fool, and a wiser inan than Y. P. has written
so difcoungingly on that business, that the one
appears to be as unfruitful, as the other would be
au unthankful undertaking.
That a tax in such fpecificks as rice, indigo, to
bacco and skins would answer the purpose of dis
charging our quota of the continental debt, and of
coutfe of flrengthening our link in the grand chain
of the Union, better than certificates or a depre
ciated medium, no one can doubt ; and that the
O.hccrs of Civil Government and especially the
Delegates to Congress, would prefer the fpecificks -to
certificates or medium , none can heft ate to determine :
that the method of laying, ro/itHing, and appro
priating it, is plain , certain, and easy , is a fail
well eltablifhed, and that the people could pay such
a tax more easily than any other that would answer
the fame good purposes, must be fufficicntly ob
vious.
I therefore am entirely of opinion with Y. P.
that a Specific Tax is not only the best, but the on
ly expedient by which we can raise the m neyne
cefl’ary for dii'charging our quota of the federal
debt with case to the people, and vyhh certainty to
the revenue.—And what ought to be an additional
inducement, it is not perhaps the least of the ad
vantages attending a Specific Tax, that it keeps the
J'lanter from under the thumb of the Merchant,
(a circumstance devoutly to be wished by all who
like fair play) who otherwise will set his own price
on the Planter 5 !; produce, when lie wants money to
pay his tax. A Specific Tax is then not only
piatticable, but fafe and easy—but, whether the
Legislature will be prevailed on to think so, is
known only to thole w'ho can read the book of
fate.
2. O.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 25.
The Sultan is at the point of death. The prince
Selim, his fucccffor, since he has been certain of
arriving at the throne in a fliort time, lias thought
of nothing but commencing a war with Kuifia and
Venice ; and we are allured that, if the Minifler
from France persists to offer his mediation, the
only reply that will be made is, that all interfe
rence is useless. Though the Courts of Vienna
and Peterlburgh pretend ignorance of this resolu
tion, they still are well acquainted therewith.
We are aflured that the Ministers from Peters-
Lurgh, Paris, and I ondon, have lately declared
to the Divan, that the three powers whom they
leprefented were determined jointly to attack and
destroy the States of Barbarv, if the Pore dixknot
oLlige them to difeontinue their robberies by sea,
and enter into a negotiation with all the powfcls of
Europe without diftindion.
LEGHORN, Dec. i .
It is reported here, that the Maltese fleet has
met that of Algiers, that in a moll obstinate fight
the former funk two chebecs, and burnt a third be
longing to the Barbarians, and that the rest escaped
into Tuuis, where, it is hoped, they will be block
ed up. It is much to be wiflied they may; and
llill more so, that thofc pirates were annihilated,
as their cruelties and de*predations iiicreafe daily,
and are a very great hurt to trade.
LONDON, January 23*
The following extrad of an authentic letter
from Leghorn, dated the 15th of last month, will
clear up the doubts which have arisen refpeding
the engagement between the Maltese fleet and the
Algerine squadron;
“ On the 24th of Dec. last the vefiels of the
two powers fell in with each other about ten leagues
off Meflina, and a furious and bloody engagement
ensued, which lasted ’till night. The Admiral’s
lliip blew up in the thickest of the adion, and not
one of the crew escaped.
“ The Maltese have loft two ships, one of which
was funk, and the other burnt, as also three xe
bccks and one galley. The Algerines have loft,
besides their Admiral, two xebecks, two barks,
one polacre, and one row-galley. The Maltese
fought with the greatest bravery, and the pirates
like desperadoes.
The loss of the Algerines in this engagement
is said to amount to 1800 men ; that of the Maltese
must also have been very considerable, because the
crews of their ships of war are very numerous.
** The Maltese fleet having returned in a most
mattered conditio**, it io jirafent very doubtful
on which fide the victory was obtained. The mort
general opinion, however, is, that it terminated
in a kind of drawn battle.”
The King of France is how busily employ
ed in making the way clear to universal toleration
throughout his dominions. So much has his Most
Chtiftian Majesty this objed at heart, that, con
trary to pradice for time immemorial, he has
admitted into the Royal Academy of Sciences at
Paris Members who have withdrawn themselves
from the pale of the mother church..
N E W- Y O R K, April 3.
By a letter from a gentleman at St. Euftatia, who
failed from Portsmouth, New-Hampshire, in the
schooner , with an intention of visiting Turk’s
lilands for a load of fait, we are informed that our
good friends the British, out of pure kindness to
the dates, make a constant pradice of burning and
destroying every American vefiel they can difeover
among these islands. Thus, while their ships are
receiving every protedion and encouragement in
American ports ; while their flag is triumphantly
displayed in our harbours ; while they come and
go as they please—American veflels are seized,
burnt and destroyed, if within gun lhot of their
harbours —the flag of the states treated with con
tempt, and the commotj ads of humanity denied
to its citizens.
A ROB BE RT.
STOLEN out of the Shop of the fubferiber, on
Thursday" night last, a small Gold French
Watch, about sixteen Silver do. and one Pinchbeck
do. tfne Half Joe, and about eight dollars in round
money. TEN GUINEAS Reward will be given
to any person who will apprehend the thief or
thieves, or give information where the above men?
tioned articles may be had again.
THOMAS BRAY.
Augujla ,
STRATED or STOLEN ,
OFF the Common, the night before last, Tvv o
Sorrel HORSES, one of them an oM horse
with a Ihort tail, very poor, new shod befo- e *
and branded on the near buttock LJ; the other
horse in good order, about 14 hands and a halt
high, 6 years old, his off hind foot white, a blaze
face with white hairs on his withers, and a lov
tail. The subscriber will thank and reward any
person who will give him any information refpeft.
ing them.
ROBERT FORSYTH.
Augufa, May 25, 1787.
F O U N D,
UN D E R the old store house which formerly
belonged to Nathanael Hicks, deceased, a
Quantity of CORDUROY. Whosoever has loit
the fame, mav have it again by applying to the
fbbfcriber, proving his property, and paying the
expence of this Advertisement.
A3IAH CLAY.
May 22, 1787.
«r* ■ .1 ——■■■■— x ■■ ■■ ' ■ ■ ■■ I■■ ■— 1- . ' m.
State of Georgia, ) 11/ HERExAS the Sheriff of
Wilkes County. 3 W Wilkes county, by vir
tue of a Writ of Attachment to him direfted, did
attach the goods and chattels, lands, tenements,
and books of accounts of Nathaniel M. Martin,
who is absent from, and without the limits of this
state, at the suit of Sampson Harris, who hath
agreeably to the dire&ions of the Attachment Ats,
filed his declaration in the Superior Court of fan!
county, against the said Nathaniel M. Martin,
and hath obtained the following rule :
Sampson Harris, 1 Ordered, That the (le
vs. > fendant do appear and
jv,f Martin. \ _nlead within j year and
a day, otnerwife juaij
ment by default.
By Order of the Court,
BENJAMIN CATCHINGS, C. C.W.
Notice is hereby given, That unless the said Na
thaniel M. Martin do appear and plead agreeable
to the aforefaid rule or order, judgment will be
entered against him accordingly.
FLORENCE SULLIVAN, Attorney.
November z, 1786.
N O T 1 C E.
A SERMON will be preached in Augusta, at
the Academy, on Sunday the 27th inst. at
3 o’clock in the afternoon, by the Rev. Mr. Be
verly Allen, from south-Carol:na.
May 17, 1787,
The subscriber will dispose of by wholesale, the
GOODS now remaining in the
Public Store,
On a Credit till January next , for Produce, Popr
Medium » and Pierce's Final Settlemints.
■TP HEY consist of a neat and general assortment
1 of European Goods, with a quantity of Salt,
Iron, Steel, and Callings.
On Tuejaay next will be opened at said Store,
a Tmnk of elegant Silks and Sattins, with a variety
of Feathers, Lace, Ribbons, and Gloves, and fold
very low for Specie or the Paper Medium.
ROBERT FORSYTH, State Agent.
Augufa, May 10, 1787.
A PERSON capable of infirufting youth in thi
rudiments of the Englifti language, will
meet with generous encouragement byapply in S ,a
the Reftor of Richmond Academy.
Augufa, May 10, 1787.