Newspaper Page Text
ms one of the most material benefits
■which th ' French people have tie.
rived from the revolutnm. Tin
mild or oppressive mode of collec
ting the revenues of a country, dis
tinctly marks ihs natuTe of the gov
ernment. In Turkey, tlie taxe*
are levied with the scimetar & the
musket. Under the old govern
ment of Fritter, thev were farmed
eut; that is, the « ants of the court
being ascertained, in order focome
at the amount bv a more summary
proeess, thati was requisite hv the
tedious forms of collecting it from
co many individuals, the farmers
general kindly stept in between the
people and the king, and advanced
tfic* sum to the Utter ; they were
then invested with the power ot in
detmtifying themselves among the
peasantry hv every species of op
pression and imposition whic»t at a*
riee and cupidity can invent. The
ingenuity of man can scarcely de
vise a more odious and cruel me
thod of collecting the revenues ol a
country, than that practised in
France, under the Bourbon race
It appears, therefore, that upon this
vrrv important point, (the mode in
whiih public contributions are le.
vied upon the people) the French
have hern relieved from mnumera
ble inequalities »"d oppressions. |
Sirth/y , and lastly, tho feudal
rvMimii. —Ample, elegant and cor
rect histories of the feudal system,
mav he found in Hume, Hobertson
and Gibbon ; and a condensed ac
count of its introduction into Kug
land, its abuses, and its abolition,
during the reign ot ('barbs 11. hv
Black stone, is familiar, I presume,
to every student ot law. I shall not
therefore attempt a lengthened de
tad of the servitude incident to
this strange policy, hut shall con
tent tin self with a brief abstract pf
its most prominent * n d debasing
features. The barbarous jargon,
of aids, rebefs , primer seisins ,
Ward* ships, marriages , fines and
escheats , incident to tins system,
will be, perhaps unintelhgdde to
n-anv of my readers. \ complete
explanation ol the degrading ser
vice-* and cruel exactions meant by
these terms, would surpass the
limit* of this essay, already 1 (ear
extended to too great a length.
But an adequate idea may he for
med, of the consequences resulting
from the feudal privileges, even
among the gentry and lower no
bility, by recurring to Bhick'tone ;
the most abridged, and at the same
time, the most forcible descrip,
tion of that t\ ninin that 1 have
ever met with. He observe—“ the
families of all our nobility and gen
try, groaned under the intolerable
burdens, which, (in consequence
ot the fiction adopted after ttie eon
quest) were introduced ami laid
upon limit bv the subtlety and
finesse of the Nmman Lawyers.
For besides the escutages for
which they were* liable in defect
of personal attendance, which,
however, were assessed h) them
selves in parliament, they might
be called upon bv the king or lord
paramount tor aids, whenever his
eldest son was to be knighted, or
his eldest daughter m»r tied : not
to torget the ransom oi his own
person. The peer, on the death
oi his ancestor, if ot full ago, was
plnndeted of the first emoluments
arising from his inheritance, by
way ot teh>J anil primer seisin ;
and, if under age, ol the whole of
his estate during inlancv. Anil
then, as Sir l homns Sm»th very
feelingly complains, “ wlun he
“ cante to his ow n, utter he was
Out ot xo'trdship, his woods “ de
cayed, turn -es if*dl'-'» down, stock
wasted and gone, Isltds “ let lorth
and ploughed to he barren, re
dtice him still la her, h«* w a s v«t
to pay halt a \ ca l *’ profit as a jine
for suing out his ItvefU * and also
the price & value ot his marriage,
if he refused such wife a> his lord
and guardian had barteied for,
and imposed upon him ; or twice
that value, if he married another
woman. Add to this, the uniitne
ly & expensive ot knight
hood, to make his poverty more
completely splendid. And when
by these deductions, his lortunc
was so shattered and ruined, that
perhaps he was obliged t<« sell his
patrimony, he hail not wen that
•pool pi ivdtge allowed him, with
out pax ing an i xoi biiaitt line tor a
tcense of alienation t his be
pg *hc situation ot the uobiluj
| x M ■§
' at d
i f m’ *
and gentry fcf England, where the
feudal system was mild, compared
with u» bloody ferocity, and stern
rigour, uo the continent of Eu
rope, to what misery and degrada
tion must (be lower orders in so
ciety have been reduced ! Accor
dingly, we shall find that the suf
ferings of toe nobility and gentry
were light indeed, compared to
the brutal debasement to which
the unhappy peasantry were re
duced. There never has been im
posed by the policy or barbarity
of man, a slavery bo complicated
and degrading as that which atose
out of the feudal system. The
condition of our negroes is iuiin
itely superior to the villein, or
bondsman ol Europe. 1 hey
the property of their lords, and
cither attrached to the soil of the
barony, or the person of the bar
on ; they were transferable m
like manner as our slaves ; if they
runaway, or were stolen the) were
recoverable in the same way ;
they were incapable jf acq Bring
property ; of giving testimony
against a freeman , were obliged
to shave their heads, as a mark
of servitude j and although in
England rape and murder were
the only excesses to which the
lord of the manor could not carry
his power, yet on the coniiiiuent
a ikeon might voilate the person
of his fe male slave, with impun
ity ; it was indeed one of tlieir
privileges, (and this was also the
case in Scotland) to have the first
night’s enjoyment whenever theii
bondswomen married.* But al
though the baron ol F ngl
not the power of mu*dering
his vassals,, it was otherwise 1,1
many parts of the continent ; and
particularly in France. In some
districts, they were used in car
riages, instead of cattle, were
compelled to pass whole night*
in preventing the frogs from d:s
tuibing the sleep of their lords;
were obliged to feed find maintain
his dogs ; and,/n certain cantons ,
after the sports of the chase, the
baron had the privilege of tipping
open the bellies of his slaves It bathe
his feet in thtir reeking bowels!
Such was the condition of the low
er classes in France, previous to
'he revolution. Incapable of ac
quiring or possessing property ;
deprived by the cruel destiny of
iheir birth, of the blessings of
liberty ; the honor of thtir fe
males, and the lives of all were e
qually exposed to the brutality anil
ci uilty of their Lords 1
In conclusion, it will be suffi
cient to observe that at one
mighty sweep, this old and terri
ble fabric of servitude, misery and
death,was effaced fiom the civil
institutions of F'rance. Her t r r
iitoiv is ** liberated from feudal
bondsge *'and her “ agriculture
is Unlettered by ecclc siasticcal 1m
posts.” Every m;nin Fiance i
a free citizen; all ihc prop,rt\
is held in fee simple, as with »is ;
bannalites, franc fiefs, cor vees gru
eries, *.v mam tnorlesJa e c bulished
Contributions are levied m an
tquituble proportion; the admin
isualions of justice n» no longer
venal ; and, “ notwithstanding
some of tfie wanton and capricious
beaks which ev?r follow in tin
train of absolute power, personal
safety and private property ait
much more sale than before.”f
S .
I cannot Irani," fjy* EUqknonc, “ that
tver tin. curtim prevailed in England.
H ough it remit lv did in Scotland, (in. (ter
the name of merchet* or marchcta) tiilabo*
.lilted hv Malcolm 111
f Stephens’* wars of the French I’evo
lution.
From the Next) York Mercantile
Advertiser of the 3 d inst.
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE
A (landing rule of the Synod
of New Yoik and New Je rfc\
is to Ipend a portion ol theii
lime at their Bated meetings, in
heating ftom each of thtir mem
hers a lummary account ol the
llaie of Religion in the congre.
nations and neighborhood to
which they belong. Ihe fol
low ing is a lummary Oatement
of the relolt of this conversion
.t their late fefiions in Newaik,
October, iBoB.
“ Ihe S’, nod heard from
each ol iheii numbers an at-
count of the Hate of Rrigion
within their bounds, from which
it appears, that during l be lad
year ihere liavc been in many
of iheir chur< he>, extraordinary
revivals of religion, and greater
numbers added to *be church
than in many rears part.
« Tiele revivals of religion
have been molt rematkable
within the bounds of the Piel.
bytery of New Y'otk. There
the kingdom of Satan appears
to have been greatly fliaken ;
combinations agatnff religion
have been deliroyedj prayer
meetings on Sabbath mornings,
for ihe purpose of imploring the
presence of God on the public
ordinances <*f bis houfej and
religious societies on other days
o m
have been cflablifhed in many
places, and well attended. Ma.
ny pet lons grossly immoral in
then conduct, and lome ddlin.
guifhed for iheir zeal in avow
ing Sc promoting deiflical prin
cip'cs, have been arrested by
the influence of the Spirit, and
hopefully convened. The gra
ces of the | eople of God appear
to have been quickened ; a fpi.
rii of prayer poured out upon
them, and the number of pray*
jrtg people greatly increalcd.—
During he year palt, within the
bounds of that Piefbytery, mote
that ileven hundred have been
a d d to '-he communion of the
church, the greater proportion
n f whom are young per lons.-
'I he diflingudhed dofcttines of
grace, a' tecogmzed in the con.
jeflioii of faith of our church,
have be- n letnatkably ackm.w
ledge d and rejoiced in the sub.
jetts of this work.
“ In the bounds of the other
Picfbvteries belonging to the
Synod, appearances ;« e flatter
ing. In lomc congregaoons in
htfe Pit (byteries there are plea,
ling revivals, and ihioughout
them generally the pleaching of
the woid is heard with avidity,
the vtcant congregations aie
anxious to be supplied with paf
ti is, and there appeals to be an
tncreafing attention to die things
ol icligion.
“ 1 hroughout our bounds
generally, catecherical instruc
tion has been particularly atten
ded to, & appears to have.pro
duced happy effetts. We te
loice that the fervor felt during
the revivals has been unaccom
panied with any irregular taHies
of enthusiasm. It is alio weir.
th\ ol notice and gratitude, that
a far greater number of young
men than usual ate now prepa
img for the mtntftry ; and a
mong the youths who have been
(objects of thole tevivals, many
have it in view in the lame way,
to conltctate thcmfelvcs to the
let vice of their Redeemer.
“ From one of our btethren
in Connecticut, fitting as a cor*
relpondem with us, the pleating
intelligence was received ol le
vivals in mat y pans of that
Itatc.
“ Forthcfe mercies wede(ire
humhy to praise the great Mead
of the Church, and unite our
fervent petitions to our exalted
Redeemer, that he would not
take from us his holy (pint, but
cause the influence of his grace
to delcend on our churches as
rain upon the mown grass, and
as fhuwers that water the earth ;
that his kingdom may come, Sc
the whole earth may be filled
: with his glory.— Amen.
N. B. The Synod of New
York and New' Jcrlev, coniilts
of four Prcfbyteries, viz. Long
I(]and, Hudlon, New York Sc
Y t w Biunfwitk.
Blanks of all kinds executed at
thclhotiefl notice at this
Ossie.
From the Baltimore A r . American.
\Ve are autborifed to publifli
the following corrcfpomJei.ee,
n order co prevent those mil
conceptions to which such Irani'
actions are apt to give rile.
Last evening major BifTell of
the arms, delivered the follow
ing note as add re fled :
No. I.
General James Wilkinson. thcCmn
inaruhr m Chief >j tin' ai my, to
Captain Hobert (toodlot Harper ,
commanding a Company oj / ol
vntrer Artillery.
Captain Harper, under the
veil of pamot’.lni having recent
ly a flailed the general’s honour,
and by wiles, fictions, unprin
cipled Sc inhuman, endeavoured
to deliroy bis military fortune
Sc his fame, General Wilkinson
conceives that injuries of such
uncommon atrocity, without a
ray of provocation to extenuate
them, gives him an inconitfti'
ble claim to conrroenfuiate re
paration. He therefore waves
the privileges of rank, and de
mands from captain Harper the
onlv admifljhle atonement.
Major Btflel of the anny will
deliver this note, and is author,
tied to adjull the time, place
and manner.
Baltimore , Wedncfday noon ,
iCjih October, iBoB
Mr. Harper anfwercd, that
from threats which he had tin
derflood had been thrown out
!>V general Wilkinson, he had
for lonic time expected such a
message, and was prepaied with
an anlwer, which should be de
livered in writing ti e next mor
ning at any hour when it might
suit major BifTell local!. Ma
jor BifTell req ucfling to know i
;he fubllanceof the anlwer, Mr.
Harper told him it was this—
“ I do not intend to meet gen
eral Wilkinson and added
that the reasons would be Bated
in wtiting (he next morning,
when major Bifleli should call.
He promised to call at 9 o’-
clock the next morning in order
to receive Mr. Harper’s answer
m writing.
A little after nine, major
Bifleli called,and Mr. Harper
presented to him the following
anlwer unsea led, requeuing him
to read it.
No If.
General Wilkinson mud ex
cuse me Irom accepting his in*
vitation. It iuppoles an equaii
y, which lituatedas he is. in the
public opinion and in iny own,
1 cannot admit.
Neither can I admit, that
for advifrng Mr. Clark to lay
before congiels the documents
in his pofltflion, rending to
prove theexiltence and nature
of general Wilkinson’s connec
tion with the Spanish govern
ment, which advice appears
from his note of yesterday, to
be the offence whereupon his
challenge is founded, I ain
perfonallv responsible to him.
It was my right and my du
ty to give that advice. To
admit that I am refponltble to
general Wilkinson for having
given it, would be to admit
a principle leading directly to
the lupprefTroii of evidence, and
the impunity of offences.
Robert G. Harper.
Gen. James Wilkinson , com
mander in chief , &c.
Major BifTell replied, that he
was not autborifed to receive
any further communication
from Mr Harper ; but in con
lequnce of Mr. Harper’s verbal
anlwer to general Wilkinson,
of the lalt evening, he was in
(tructrd to leave him a note from
general Wilkinson. This note
Mr. Harper declined receiving,
unless major BilLdl would fiint
receive his anlwer to genctal
j Wilkinson. Tins major BifTell
repeated, that Tie was not au
ihoriied to do, but infiftcd,
on leaving the note, which he
laid on the table, and took
leave. After Im depam*
Mr. Harper opened it, t**. 1
found li to be as follows :
No Ilf.
Gen. \\ ilkinfon to captain
Harper
Major BifTell having teported
to the general captain Harper’s
determination not to meet him,
agreeably to hts invitation of
yesterday, the general can hold
no further communication with
the captain; but having defen
ded to the captain’s level, he
regrets he should be compelled
to bear teflimony to his cow
aidtce, and put him out of the
ranks of honor.
Baltimore October 27, 1808,
morning.
The anlwer of which No. II j
is a copy, was then iraniniiued j
to general Wilkinson.
-
To those who know capt.
R. G. Harper, it is unnecef
lary to fay he is a swindler and
an alien to honer, but to the
whole world it may he neces
sary to proclaim him for a cow
ard, because he has been a
bulley ; and thus to place him
below the consideration of eve
ry man, u ho values the charac
ter of a gentleman.
Frum the National Intelligencer.
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, |
President ot the United States.
S,R * |
Accept the affectionate addrejJ
of the Ketocton baptist Associaa
tion, holden in Loudon county, gj
state of Virginia, Aug. 18, 1808.
You will pennit us to offer you oujfl
sincere congratulations, while wfi
see you about to be relieved fronm
the labours inseparable fiom the®
trust you have been called to sus-l
tarn. But while we anticipate!
your repose in the bosom of do®
mestic tranquility, we deeply laJ
ment the loss of your useful ser*
vices, which we believe have
a blessing to the United States ;
and Virginia especially is indebtl
ed to your zeal and patriotism.—fl
To \ou, sir, under the superm®
tending providence of the GnaM
Faihrr of the human family, wql
feel ourselves greatly indebted for j
our deliverance from the galling
chains of an ecclesiastical estab-i
lishment. We have not forgotteroj
that into your hand our petition on |
this interesting subject was put * j
and we reflect, with great
on the wisdom, fltmness and zeal|
that were manifested in every parfll
of your conduct until the chains
weie broken, and religious iyran.
ny gave up the ghost, and lay buri
ed in eternal death, never to ex
perience a resurrection, we hope,*
in this happy countiv. The re*i
flection becomes abundantly more
pleasing when we view every pars
ol your political life perfectly in
unison with the principles that
shone with such superior lustre at
that early dawn of your politicd|
career. We have seen in your
answers to those who have solici-j
ted your continuance in the itml
portal trust you now hold, the*
reasons you otter tor retiring frond
the noise and bustle of public lifes
and f ce l conscious that age musd
weaken the external system, anJI
as this is the medium through
which the intellectual iaculties disjn
play their force, when the former,
through age or any other cause,
is impaired, the latter must suffer]
a proportionable diminution. But
at the same lime it is with deed
regret that we part with your u»«S
ful talents, although necessity mas
compel the measure, v t -"iiP
changes among public offi ‘“ c f fc:, *■
republican government
secure its permanency without 3
corruption of its principles ; & isl
w ill be extremely pleasant should
the nation succeed in the election
of a person to nil the trust yo®
hold, of like political principle®
with yourself, and that the g oT w
ernmeni may, without
maintain the ground it has take*;