bered among the principal articles of export? For || of man that property is discoverable, but in man. this trade Norfolk stands almost without a competitor. A communication directly from Albemarle Sound with the sea, is attended with serious, if not insurmountable difficulties: the shallowness of that sea-coast where the action of the waves is constantly shifting the sand from place to place, will perhaps choak up any channel that may be made for the passage of sea vessels of heavy burthen. And thus, as Norfolk has the capital and a fine sea-port, she must enjoy the trade. would, therefore, recommend the immediate opening of the Dismal Swamp canal, so as to give it sufficient width and depth to answer that trade.† An American ruled by this sentiment, which he has perhaps never defined, sets as much value on the improvement of his faculties, the cultivation of his reason, on freely manifesting his thoughts, preserving the opinions acquired by the exercise of judgment, as to enjoy in peace the actual products of his industry, or to fructify the yet virgin soil which is to recompense his labours. When an American citizen is asked for the ground of his atItachment to the political constitution of his country, he simply answers, it is my property; this reply exonerates him from all other argumentation, and in fact it appears to me more conclusive than the abstractions of publicists. I am sorry, gentlemen, that my knowledge of the subject is so limited. Thus whatever appertains to the citizen, whatever touches his rights, is sacred in the United States. He stalks freely and proudly on his native soil, fearless of the jealousy of malevolence or the stab of an informer. He accounts not for his actions but to that common law which is the property of all; he gives to his abilities, intellectual and physical, all the developement of which they are susceptible; he is happy enough to desire neither change in his laws nor in the condition of his family. *An act was passed by the legislature of Virginia, subsequent to this correspondence, authorizing these improvements to be inade. The canal is authorized to be made 40 feet wide, and sufficiently deep for the passage of vessels drawing five feet water. For the completion of this additional work, the stockholders of the Dismal Swamp canal company, are requested to advance 20,000 dollars on their present capital stock, being 20 per cent. each share. If this This idea of property, this general sentiment is sum should be insufficient, the law authorizes the creation of new represented more particularly by the notions anstock, to an amount not exceeding 60,000 dollars. We regret tonexed to territorial or landed property. The class ald, that there is no prospect at present of any thing being done to forward the improvement contemplated by the law; such is the singular inattention of the citizens of Norfolk to their best interests-Editors Herald. FROM A PARIS PAPER. of American cultivators is the most influential in the United States. It is supposed with reason that they reckon as more important than any other, the right of property, the principal supporter of institutions founded on the same right. Nearly all the cultivators, improperly called farmers, possess experience and information. They hold seats in the legislative assemblies and the councils of Dis-government; this class has produced eloquent orators, irreproachable magistrates, skilful and cou||rageous captains. General Jackson, who distinguished himself in Louisiana by his heroism and his victories, had forsaken his farm to fly to the defence of his country. Washington was originally a farmer. [Translated for the New-York Columbian.] Statistical and topographical description of the trict of Columbia, by D. B. WARDEN. The United States of America have resolved the most important and most difficult problem that has ever occupied the mind of man, I mean the establishment of liberty without licentiousness, and of order without oppression; these advantages result not only from the social institutions adopted by the Americans, but from their geographical situation. They are not surrounded by jealous and restless neighbors; the wars which they have to wage against foreign enemies cannot menace their independence; they seem to live in a region always calm, from whence they contemplate out fear for themselves, the political storms which agitate and overthrow other states. This consideration, attached to agricultural labors, is not one of the smallest causes of the evergrowing prosperity of the United States. The extensive banks of the Ohio, the vast plains of Genessee, the immense savannas of the Southern states, are peopled with individuals who seek a with-country, with capitalists who think in earnest of the prosperity of their families, such as they obtain by the culture of lands yet in need of clearing, still free, and without misery. There, as in the time of the patriarchs, a happy old man may see his descendants cover tracts of thirty leagues with their habitations and flocks, and this without abuses or violence, without their neighbours complaining of the least want at the Montesquieu has inquired into the principles of different governments, and established them with a superiority of discernment which was to be expected from his genius. However, as the great republic of the United States had not yet existed at the epoch when he elevated the human understanding so high, it wanted a subject of observa-view of such riches. tion which should have revealed to it a new prin- This prosperity displays itself by a progression ciple of government, more durable perhaps, and so rapid, that we must, in some measure, never more energetic than all others. I know of no lose sight of the United States for a single mophrase which can better express my meaning than ment, but we incessantly run the risk of estimathe words spirit of property [esprit de propriete.]ting their situation from imperfect documents. All All the effects which Montesquieu attributes to virtue in republics, are, in the United States, the natural produce of the spirit of property. the descriptions of this country, sketched 8 or ten years ago, have nothing more than an interest purely historical; they express neither her riches Among no other people do we find, in the same nor actual power, nor present us with an adequate degree as with the Americans, a respect so invio-idea of her high and approaching destinies. lable for the right of property; and I employ the expression in its widest latitude, it is not only out The most recent work on North-America, most worthy of being cited, is that of Mr. Warden, for many years consul of the American States in France, and already distinguished for several literary productions. But this work, written in English, is to be published in England, and form part of a vast encyclopedic collection. It is to be wished, that it will be speedily translated, and published separately in our language; it is thus we should be enabled to form a precise idea of the immense progress made in America from 1800 to 1815 inclusively, of the population, commerce, industry, liberal arts, sciences, legislation, and public instruction. The statistical and chorographical description of the district of Columbia, which Mr. Warden has just published at Paris, may be regarded as a detached portion of his labours on an entire view of North America. in favor of the sufferers who are drove from their houses and homes. Four o'clock P. M. our paper now goes to press-people in the rear of the city moving from their habitations-water from the Crevasse increasing, yet great hopes are entertained by many of its being stopped. [Louisiana Gazette. May 10. [Orleans Gazette. The City Council, have appropriated a sum of money for the relief of such unfortunate families as, being obliged to leave their houses in consequence of the inundation, are in distress for a place of refuge and for the necessaries of life-Persons so situated, on application to the alderman of their respective wards, will be assisted in procuring tenement, provisions and other articles of neces The district of Columbia would in itself besity. Those of the first ward are invited to call scarcely worthy of remark, if it did not contain upon Alderman DEPEYTER, at his office in Royal the city of Washington; this city too, if we only street, between Bienville and Conti streets. regard its population and magnitude, would not appear to merit particular attention. But it is the seat of the central government of the American May 11. confederation, a government which, by a charac- We are concerned to say that the appearance of teristic trait of its morality and principles, has the crevasse is by no means auspicious. No propreferred it for residence to other cities, the most gress has yet been made in closing it, and at least opulent and populous. Hence all details which one day more must elapse before even the prehave any relation to this city, acquire a genuine parations are completed. In the meantime a vast importance. It is then with satisfaction and plea- torrent rushes through, increasing the inundation sure that we follow Mr. Warden, in all the parti- of the country both above and below. The green cularities relative to the district of Columbia and between the city and Fauxbourg St. Mary is overthe metropolis of the United States. He describes flowed as far as Chartres street, exhibiting as you it as an exact witness and accurate observer, its look from the levee towards the swamp, the likeclimate, soil, culture and natural productions.-ness of a lake. A considerable portion of BourAs to the city of Washington in particular, he gogne and Dauphine streets is under water, which makes us perfectly acquainted with its municipal has also advanced into the upper part of Bourbon administration, industry, commerce, its establish-street. The Bayou road and the rear of Marigny's ments of instruction, its public monuments, and the manners of its inhabitants; in fine, a clear and concise view of the organization of the central government of the federate states of America fitly terminates the description of the city, or seat of government. In the summer of 1814, this capital experienced great calamities. An English army took Washington and overran its whole compass with torch in hand. The establishments of the navy, the President's house, all the public edifices, among others the capitol, (the government-palace,) which, although not finished, would have done honor to the finest capitals of Europe, became the prey of flames. The damages caused by this con Fauxbourg are also overflowed. Without a wish to ON TIME. It is a ludicrous kind of thought, yet certainly a true one, that Poets and Painters have given us a false representation of TIME, as the measure of duration, by drawing him an old man-they should paint him middle aged; for if he has always exflagration have been estimated at 1,215,111 dol-point of duration, however distant from the preisted, will he not always exist? and is not every All these losses will be speedily repair-sent, equally the middle of eternity? ed. Washington, like Moscow, will rise anew more flourishing than ever, and will not preserve the remembrance of these great disasters, except to display to governments the advantages of peace and the criminal vanity of conquest, lars. New-Orleans, May 8. The large Crevasse that broke in Mr. M'Carty's levee, last Sunday night, we are sorry to learn cannot be stopped. The consequence will be very distressing to the inhabitants of the city, and particularly to those of the Fauxbourgh's St. Mary and St. John. The honorable mayor has done and continues to do every thing in his power to alleviate the distresses of the citizens. We hope that a spirit of charity will be diffused into the hearts of all classes SCALA COLI. Y R H The steps which lead mankind to Heaven,, NO. 15. VOL. I.] WASHINGTON, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1816. [WHOLE NO. 15. PUBLISHED WEEKLY, BY JOEL K. MEAD, AT FIVE DOLLARS PER ANNUM. to give our pages that variety we contemplated, TO PATRONS, POST MASTERS, AND AGENTS. but arrangements are making to present them to When the National Register was commenced, a our readers with matter more interesting. Some fond hope was indulged that we should never have circumstances, which we deem unnecessary to occasion to blot our pages with a complaint of explain at this time, have prevented the publicathe detention or irregular transmission of our tion of the Register, hitherto, until several days paper. With a view to realize this hope, neither after its date, but we assure our patrons the evil expense nor pains have been spared in securely shall be shortly corrected. It would have been. packing it up in coarse strong paper, and care-done before now, at any sacrifice, had not the fully directing it, in a fair legible hand, to the total absence of news rendered it less important. post offices where it was ordered: and we confi- At the close of the volume, gentlemen will dently believe we hazard nothing in saying, that please to notify our agents of the numbers which no papers in the United States are better secured have failed to reach them, who will please to foragainst casualities in the mail than the Register. ward such notice to this office, and all deficiences For this we have a double motive; first, the gra-shall be promptly supplied, agreeably to our oritification of our numerous and respectable pa-ginal engagement, trons, and, secondly, our own interest. When pa- In this number we insert the Analysis of the tronage was asked from the public, we guarantied Tariff, arranged under the direction of the secrethe safe arrival of our papers at the several of-tary of the treasury. This will make references fices where ordered, by supplying deficiences easy, as all articles subject to tariff duty are without extra charge, and which we intend strict-placed in alphabetical order, with the rate of ly to adhere to. The Register has now been in duty to which they are severally subject. operation but 15 weeks, and numerous complaints have reached us from almost every State in the Union, arising from causes over which we have no controul. A gentleman, of known probity, writes from South-Carolina, under date of May 18th, thus: "I take the liberty of stating to you, that the EIGHTH number of the National Register is the first that I have received. Seven numbers are lacking, which, if I do not get, my volume will be incomplete, and will be matter of regret. am highly gratified with the numbers I have had the opportunity of perusing, and hope, on the receipt of this, the deficient numbers will be forwarded, agreeably to your proposals.” It is winecessary to say these numbers were forwarded at the same time,that others were which go to the same State; and why they should not arrive is unaccountable, unless we suppose that something more than mere carelessness comes in contact with the mail. This we are very loth to do: but the following extract from another gentleman in the same State will probably serve, in some measure, to explain: "There are letters and newspapers comes to this office, the twine and wrapper taken off, and some of them broken open. It is surprising to see how things are carried on, in a Christian country, to this height." This was accompanied with a request to show it to the post master general. Further explanation is unnecessary to show that the irregularity of the transmissions of the Register is not entirely attributable to us. SURVEY OF THE CHESAPEAK BAY. Commissioners of the Navy Board, accompanied Commodore Rodgers and Commodore Porter, ford of the Ordnance Department, and proper sur. by the Secretary of the Board, Lieut. Col. Bomveyors and draftsmen, proceeded from the Navy Yard at this place, on Sunday the 2d instant, in the United States schooner Nonsuch, down the Potomac into the Bay. The object of this party is to make a minute survey of the entrance into the ticability and cost of defending it by batteries to Chesapeak Bay, with a view to estimate the pracbe erected on the middle ground, and on corres. ponding points. In addition to this important object, we understand, the commissioners propose to examine the harbours of Norfolk, York, &c. with a view to select the most eligible position for an extensive Naval Rendezvous. This laborious tour will doubtless occupy them for several weeks. We shall lay their report before our readers as soon as practicable. EMBASSY TO RUSSIA. His excellency William Pinkney, Minister Plenipotentiary to the court of St. Petersburg, and Minister Extraordinary to the court of Naples, embarked with his family on board of the United States ship WASHINGTON, of 74 guns, Capt. Creighton, yesterday, the 7th inst. at Annapolis. Salutes We take this opportunity to request post mas- were fired from the Washington and from the ters and agents to inform us of any error in the guns in the harbour. At 11 o'clock she weighed direction of the Register, coming within their anchor, and proceeded down the Bay with a full' knowledge; also if any of our papers should not press of sail-wind from the west. Mr. King, be taken up by the persons to whom sent, occa- from North Carolina, goes out as secretary of lo sioned by their absence, removal, or other cause.gation, and Com. Chancey to take command of the In a new establishment, and with so numerous a list of subscribers as we have, it is almost morally impossible but that some errors will occur; and we shall at all times acknowledge with pleasure our obligation to gentlemen who will enable us to correct them. As yet we have not been able VOL. I. P Mediterranean squadron. Our minister, we are informed, will debark at Naples, and after adjusting our affairs at that court, proceed by land to St. Petersburg. The best prayers of the nation will accompany her worthy and able representa tive. ANALYSIS OF THE TARIFF, OR RATES OF DUTY, TO BE LAID ON ALL GOODS, WARES, AND MERCHANDISE IMPORTED INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, As established by Act of Congress of the twenty- Cotton thread, do. do. 125 27 1-2 Cotton cloths, or cloths of which (For the law, see our 10th number, page 147.) Importations in Amer. For. Arms, side and fire ject to any other rate of duty, (see gold leaf,) 15 Brass, manufactures of all articles from, or of which brass is the ma terial of chief value, 120 Brass wire, 20 7 1-2 8 1-4 20 20 20 25 Cotton thread, original cost of Russia and Hol- Copper, manufactures of all articles from, or of which it is the material of chief value, Cutlery, Cannon, China ware, *N. B. In all cases where an ad valorem duty shall be charged, it shall be calculated on the nett cost of the articles, at the place whence imported, (exclusive of packages, commissions, and all charges,) with the usual addition, established by law, of 20 per cent. on all merchandise imported from places beyond the Cape of Good Hope; and of 10 per cent. on articles imported from all other places. وو 30 30 of fur, 30 of leather, of chip, 30 of straw, Cosmetics, Canes, Clothing, ready made |