tain Willing, who commanded the American party, and who, although they were furprized and totally in his power, granted them every condition which they required, for their prefent and future fecurity. It feems by the account, as if this party had fallen down the Miffifippi by water; but from what place is not Specified. It is probable, and feems in fome degree confirmed by fubfequent events, that the objects of this expedition were not confined merely to the reduction of the country in question, but were extended to the establishment of an intimate correfpondence with the Spaniards at New Orleans, and to further views upon Wett Florida. The state and circumstances of the war, as well as of the forces under his command, together with the winter feafon, which restrained, if it did not entirely fhut up enterprize, in the northern and central colonies, afforded an opportunity to General Sir Henry Clinton, towards the clofe of the year, to direct his views to the fouthward. The recovery of the province of Georgia, although in itfelf neither great nor powerful, was in various refpects a matter of the utmoft importance. Its products were indeed confiderable, and rendered more fo, by their being greatly wanted. In particu. ar, nothing could be more effential to the fupport of a fleet and army, at fo great a diftance from their principal fources of fupply, than its ftaple commodity, rice, which was now dedicated to the fervice of our enemies, whether in Furope or America. The poffeffion of this province would alfo, by presenting a new barrier to the enemy, relieve Eaft Florida from thofe conftant alarms, insurfions, and dangers, to which it had been fo long expofed. And the two Florida's, with this, would all together form fuch an aggregate establishment of Arength at the fouthern extremity of the continent, as could not fail greatly to influence the future operations and fortune of the war. Important as thefe objects were, this acquifition held out one ftill greater. The fouthern colonies produced thofe commodities which were most wanted and most valuable in the European markets. France took off a prodigious quantity of their staple products; and the quiet and fecurity which they had hitherto enjoyed, admited fo vigorous a cultivation, that their export trade feemed little otherwife affected by the war, than what it fuffered from the British eruizers. Thus, in effect, the continertal credit in Europe was principally upheld by the fouthern colonies; and they became the medium through which they received thofe fupplies, that were not only indifpenfibly neceffary to the fupport of the war, but even to the conducting of the common bufinefs and affairs of life. The recovery of Georgia, would not only put an end to that quiet and fecurity upon which so much depended, but would open fo wide a door into South Carolina, as could never be effectually closed whilst it was held by a vigorous enemy; at the fame time, that the vicinity of Charleftown would conftantly expofe it to his enterprize, and that the fate of the whole colony inevitably hung upon that of the capital. All thefe important confequences, and perhaps others, were fully comprehended by the General; and the time and feafon ferving, he entrusted the conduct of the expedition in the land department, fo far as it was undertaken from NewYork, to Colonel Campbell, a brave and able officer, whofe misfortune of being taken with a part of his regiment on their paffage to America, as well as his fubfequent fufferings under a long confinement near Bofton, we have formerly feen. The force appointed to act under this gentleman's command, confifted of the 71ft regiment of foot, two battalions of Heffians, four of provincials, and a detachment of the royal artillery. The tranfports, with this force, failed from Sandy Hook, on the 27th of November 1778; being escorted by a fimall fquadron of fhips of war, under the command of Commodore Hyde Parker. In the mean time, inftructions had been communicated to Major-General Provoft, who commanded the troops in Eaft Florida, to collect all the force that could poffibly be fpared, from the mere neceffary defence of the fort and garrison of St. Auguftine, and to fecond the views of the expedition, by a rigorous invafion of the province of Georgia on that fide, and by even endeavouring to penetrate fo far, as to be able to co-operate immediately with Col. Campbell, in his intend ed attack on the capital town of Savannah, It does not seem from any thing that appears, that the Americans were aware of the object of this enterprize; or, perhaps, the greatnefs of the diftance, prevented their being able to take any mea fure for defeating its effect. The fleet arrived at the island of Tybee, Dec. 234 near the mouth of the river Sa yannah, in fomething under a month. On the following day, the Commodore, with the greater part of the tranfports, got over the bar, and anchored in the river, within the Light Houfe of Tybee; but, from fome unavoidable circumftances of delay, it was not until the 27th that they were there joined by the reft of the fleet. The commanders being totally ignorant of the force of the enemy, and of the state of defence which they were to encounter, seized this opportunity of delay, in endeavouring to procure intelligence. For this purpofe, a company of light infantry, with a naval officer and failors, were dispatched, in two flat boats, up one of the creeks, and had the fortune of feizing and bringing off two men, who afforded the most fatisfactory information. The commanders were now acquainted, that the batteries which had been constructed for the defence of the river, had been fo much neglected, as to be grown out of repair and condition; and, that there were very few troops in the town, but that re-inforcements were daily expected. They also WE gave such exact information, of the fituation of two row gallies, which had been armed for the defence of the river, as afforded means after for cutting off their retreat, by any of those numerous creeks which interfect that country. Upon this intelligence, the commanders determined to lofe no time in the profecution of their enterprize. Colonel Campbell had already feized the opportunity afforded by the delay, in making a new and advantageous arrangement with respect to part of his force. He had formed two corps of light infantry, which were drawn from the provincial battalions, and attached one of these to Sir James Baird's light company of the71ft (Highlanders) and the other to Captain Cameron's company, of the fame regiment. A meafure excellently calcu lated to transfufe the fpirit, vigour, and confidence of veteran troops, equally inured to danger and to victory, to thofe who, being yet raw, were diffident of their own powers, from mere ignorance of their effect. (To be continued.) From the INDEPENDENT CHRONICLE, printed at Bofton. E cannot look back, without terror, upon the dangers we have escaped Our country has stood upon the verge of ruin. Divided against itfelf; the ties of common union diffolved; all parties claiming authority, and refufing obedience; every hope of fafety except one, has been extinguished; and that has reited folely upon the prudence and firmness of our rulers. Fortunately, they have been uninfected with the frenzy of the times. They have done their duty, and have fhewn themselves the faithful guardians of liberty, as well as of power. But much remains to do. Sedition though intimidated, is not difarmed. It is a period of adverfity. We are in debt to foreigners: Large fums are due internally. Our publick debt is formidable: The taxes are in arrear, and are accumulating: Manufacturers are destitute of materials, capitals and skill. Agriculture is defpondent: Commerce bankrupt. Thefe are themes for factious clamour, more than fufficient to rekindle the rebellion. The combustibles are collected-the mine is prepared the smalleft fpark may again produce an explosion. This is a crifis in our affairs, which requires all the wisdom and energy of government: For every man of fenfe must be convinced that our disturbances have arifen, more from the want of power, than the abuse of it; from relaxation, and almoft annihilation of our federal government; from the feeble unfyftematick, temporifing, inconftant character of our own State; from the derangement of our finances, the oppreffive abfurdity of our mode of taxation, and from the aftonishing enthufi. afm and perverfion of principles, among the people. It is not extraordinary that commotions have been excited. It is strange, under the circumstances which we have been difcuffing, that they did not appear fooner and terminate more fatally. For let it be remarked, that a feeble government produces more factions than an oppreffive one. That want of power first makes individuals pretended legiflators, and then active rebels. Where parents want authority, children are wanting in duty. It is not poffible to advance further in the fame path. Here the ways divide: The one will conduct us first to anarchy, and next to foreign or domestick tyranny: The other, by the wife and vigorous exertion of lawful authority, will lead to per manent power, and general prosperity. I am no advocate for defpotifm; but I believe the probability to be much less of its being introduced by the corruption of our rulers, than by the delufion of the people. Expe⚫rience has demonstrated that new maxims of administration, are indifpenfible. It is not however, by fix penny retrenchments of falaries, nor by levying war against any profes fion of men; nor by giving fubitance and ex-istence to the frothy effences and fantastick forms of fpeculation; nor is it by paper money, or an abolition of debts; nor by impli cit fubmiffion to the infolence of ignorant conventions; nor by the temporary expedients of little minds, that authority can be rendered stable, and the people profperous. While the bands of union are fo loofe, we Until Some meafures to provide for the common fafety and defence are neceffary. It ought to be confidered how far and in what manner, this may be accomplished, by perfecting the difcipline of the militia, or by calling them into actual fervice by rotation. Taxation is a fubject of the greatest nicety and difficulty. When men of the first information, have devised a plan, experience only can give it the ftamp of excellence. The established mode is defpicable in the extreme. It is arbitrary, uncertain and unequal; the fmalleft poffible fum is taken out of the pockets of the people, and it is kept the longeft poffible time out of the treasury of the Commonwealth. Thefe important fubjects deserve a distinct investigation. Perhaps at fome future peri od the writer may be feduced by his zeal for the ftability of the government, or by his vanity, to attempt it. But in the mean time, he would warn his countrymen, that our Commonwealth stands upon its probation. If we make a wife ufe of the advantages which, with innumerable mifchiefs, the rebellion has afforded, our government may last. This is the tide in our affairs, which, if taken at the flood, will lead to glory. If we neglect it, ruin will be inevitable. It is in vain to expect fecurity in future, merely from the general convic tion, that government is neceffary, and that treafon is a crime. It is in vain to depend upon that virtue, which is faid to fuftain a Commonwealth. This is the high-flown nonfenfe of political enthusiasm which expe"rience daily refutes. It is ftill more abfurd, to expect to prevent commotions by conforming the laws to popular humours, fo that faction fhall have nothing to complain of, and folly nothing to ask for. There is in nature, and there must be in the adminiftration of government, a fixed rule and ftandard of political conduct. And that is the greatest parmanent happiness of the greatest number of the people. If wa fubftitute to the maxims the wild projects which fafcinate the multitude in daily fuc ceffion, we may amufe ourselves with extolling the nice proportions and fplendid architecture of our Republican fabrick. But it will be no better than a magnificent temple of ice, which the first fog of fedition, will demolish. Anarchy and government are both before us, and in our choice. If we fall, we fall by our folly, not our fate. And we shall evince to the aftonished world, of how small influence to produce national happiness, are the fairest gifts of Heaven; a healthful cli. mate; a fruitful foil, and ineftimable laws, when they are conferred upon a frivolous, perverfe and ungrateful generation. Obfervations on the Manufactures of France. "ONS. de Voltaire fays, in 1669, M forty four thousand looms for weaving cloths were computed in that Kingdom. The manfactures of filk being brought to great perfection produced a commerce of £.4,500,000. Monf. de Boulainvilliers afferts, that the confumption of gold and filver, in the manu. factures of laces, amounted in 1754 to two millions. Another writer fays, the manufacturers of Lyons fend abroad every year as many different forts of workmanfhip in filk, as fell for fifteen millions, and Paris fupplies foreign countries in goldfmith work, jewelry, clocks, watches, gold and filver lace embroider CAMILLUS. ed, and a multitude of toys and trifles, ten millions. An English writer gives a detail of the export of French manufactures to England, and Holland alone, when her commerce was at its height, amounting in the whole, to £.7,692,000. This vast exportation to Holland is greatly leffened; but then they have one to the West Indies, Spain, Portugal, and efpecially the Levant, which at that time did not exist. It is likewife fuppofed, by the lowest calculation that France contains fixteen or feventeen millions of people, the home confumption of manufactures among whom, with a confiderable exportation, must altogether amourt to a prodigious annual total, and forms a fyftem of industry of great importance in the commerce of Europe. The fagacious Machiavel feems to think that a rich foil tends to leffen the induftry of the people, that inhabit it; and if a nation like that of the Switzers is contented with the portion of land it enjoys, and meditates no further acquifition of territory, than a tract of earth, which yields its productions with fome difficulty, will, in the long run, make its inhabitants a wealthy, happy and powerful community. A rich foil, eafy to be cultivated, naturally inclines the inhabitants to indolence and remiff On the DUTCH LOAN. Mr. PRINTER, is well understood that the United States are indebted to the refpective kings of France and Spain for monies loaned during the late war, and it has been fuppofed and afferted by fome perfons, that they are alfo indebted to their High Mightinefles the Lords the States General of the United Netherlands -this opinion is erroneous. The United States are indebted to private money, lenders in Holland, to the amount of feven millions of florins; but the fovereign of the United Netherlands has no intereft or concern in this debt, excepting fuch as originates from the relation which exists between the fovereign and the fubjects-I do not remember to have feen the publication of either of the contracts formed by Mr. Adams with the individuals who loaned these monies-the publick curiofity may be gratified in seeing them; and at this juncture, when our nation has caufe to fear the total lofs of their credit, with the facrifice of their honour, those who read them, and at the fame time remember the debts we owe to France and Spain, may be led to reflect on the cofequences to which the want of established revenue, will inevitably expofe the ftates in confederacy. The first contract was formed on the 11th day of June 1782, and thereby the United States are bound to repay a loan of five millions of florins by certain inftalments, with an annual intereft-the fecond and laft for two millions of florins, which fubftantially refembles the firft, is fubjoined, together with the ratification thereof by Congress, Feb. 10. The original is written on a famped piece of paper of eight billings Copy (L. S.) RENDON. ON the ninth day of Marsh, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, appeared before me Lambert Sythoft, notary publick, duly admitted and fworn by the honourable Court of Holland, dwelling at the Hague, and in presence of the underwritten witneffes, The Hon. John Adams, Efquire, MiniAer Plenipotentiary on the part of the Unit nefs. Thus in Portugal, where the foil is richeft, as on the northern banks of the Duero, there the inhabitants, are pooreft. Nature with a small variation of more or lefs, has been almost equally bountiful to all her induftrious children in all places. I lay fome ftrefs on the word induftrious; because it is evident that the richest foils in themfelves, if the cultivator is indolent, and inattentive, do not always produce the largeft and beft crops. In this fenfe, let us compare England and Sweden, with Italy and Louisiana, and we shall foon find that the scale preponderates in favour of art and labour. From a late New-York Paper. ed States of America, by their High Mightineffes the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, &c. &c. in quality as efpecially qualified and are authorised by the above mentioned States of America to raise a loan with any perfon or perfons, states or companies, with fubjoined affurance in good faith to ratify and fulfil all that shall be done in this refpect by him, honourable appearer, in his above mentioned quality, and by virtue of the above mentioned authority. This original power being exhibited to the notary, with authentick copy and translation of the fame in behalf of the money lenders, to be hereafter named, their fucceffors or af figns, and depofited in the cuftody of the notary, Peter Galenus Van Hole, in Amfterdain. And the honourable appearer acknowledged himself in his aforefaid quality, and thus in the name and on the part of the United States of America, to be duly and lawfully indebted to, and in behalf of Meffieurs Wil hem and Jan Willink, Nicolaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and de la Lande and Fynje, a fum of two millions of guilders Dutch current money, arifing from and on account of fo much ready money, received to his perfect fatisfaction, by him the honourable appearer in his above mentioned quality, and therefore exprefsly and formally difavowing the excufe, de nummis non numeratis, of untold mo nies, and thus the whole to be performed on the following conditions and limitations: That for the faid capital of two millions of guilders fhall be paid annually an intereft at the rate of four in the hundred, the faid intereft beginning with the first day of February of this year, until the actual liquidation and final accomplishment, on the terms and limitations to be hereafter mentioned and appointed. That the above mentioned gentlemen, Meffiuers Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicolaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and de la Lande and Fynje, fhall have the liberty, and, fo far as it is neceffary, are hereby empowered to divide the above mentioned capital, and diftribute the fame under their firm or fignature, and difpofe of to others two thoufand obligations or bonds of participation, being numbered 1 to 2000, inclufive, and attefted by a notary publick in Amsterdam, fhall be of the fame power and value as the engroffed copy itself." That for the advantage of the perfons who are participators in the above mentioned obligations or bonds of participation, a certain number of obligations or bonds, each of one thoufand guilders, yielding, likewife, an in tereft of four in the hundred in the year, thall be diftributed at the undermentioned periods, as premiums to the bearers of fuch numbers as fhall have a right and be entitled thereto, by a drawing, which is to be three months before, in the prefence of a notary publick and witneffes. CAPITAL. First of February 1785, Fifty obligations in all Florins 50,000 1787, Sixty do. 1789, Seventy do. 1791, Ninety do. 1793, One hundred do. 1795, One hundred and twenty do. 1797, Two hundred do. 60,000 70,000 90,000 100,000 120,coo 200,000 That the obligations on bonds arifing from this drawing, fhall be likewife figned by Meffieurs Wilhem and Jan Willink, Nicolaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and de la Lande and Fynje, or the fucceffors of the faid gentlemen, for the time being, and duly attested by a notary, unless the United States of America might chufe to pay off and difcharge in ready money the premiums thus drawn fix months after the drawing, to do which the honourable appearer, by these prefents, referves the liberty for the above mentioned States of America. That the redeeming the above mentioned obligations or bonds of participation, as alfo of the premiums falling thereto, in confequence of a drawing to be done annually in the prefence of a notary publick and witneflès, shall be accomplished at the following periods: On the Firft of February, 1801, Shall be redeemed With the obligations, diftributed anno 1785, 250,000 With a gratification of 10 per cent. 70,000 That for the payment of the yearly intereft and the redeemings or liquidations to be done in confequence of the above-mentioned drawing, of which a due publication fhall be made by advertisement in the publick newspapers, the Honourable Appearer in h's aforefaid quality, and thus in the name of the United States of America, promifes and engages to remit the neceflary monies thereto to the abovementioned gentlemen, Wilhelm and Jan Willink, Nicolaas and Jacob Van Staphorst, and de la Lande and Fynje, and their fucceffors, in good bills of exchange, products of America, or in ready money, without any abatement or deduction. That this obligation fhall likewise never be fubject to any impoft or taxes impofed, or yet. to be impofed,in theUnited States of America, or any of them, and there fhall alfo never be made or formed by the afores United States of America, or any of them in particular, any refolution or convention whereby the execution and performance hereof fhould in any manner be prejudiced or hindered, though it even were, which the Almighty forbid, that any war, hoftility or alienation might a rife between the United States of America, or any of them, on the one hand, and the States of thefe Lands, or any of them, on the other hand, but on the contrary, that in all circumftances, without any exception, the contents of thefe prefents fhall be punctually performed and executed. Finally, that the Honourable Appearer, in his above written quality, promifes and engages, that this obligation or bond, fhall be as fpeedily as poffible ratified and approved by the above-mentioned United States of America in Congrefs affembled, and that the original act of this ratification and approbation with an authentick copy, translation of the fame, together with an engroffed copy hereof, fhall be depofited in the custo dy of a Notary Publick in Amfterdam, to be there kept altogether, for the fatisfaction and fecurity of the money lenders, and to remain there fo long until the capital and intereft of the borrowed monies, as likewife the obligations or bonds arifing from the drawing, as is heretofore appointed and limitted, be perfectly acquitted and difcharged. On failure of a punctual difcharging or acquitting of the capital as well as the intereft at the appointed periods, the whole capital, or that part of the fame which shall at |