dard, in a smaller quantity than two hundred ounces; nor gold bullion below the standard in a smaller quantity than twenty ounces.

No preference can be given in the order of coinage, unless one deposit is below, and another of the standard of the United States, in which case the latter has the preference.

Foreign gold and silver coins have been declared a legal tender for limited terms by various acts of congress. These have now all expired, and no foreign coins are a legal tender excepting Spanish milled dollars, the actual weight of which shall not be less than 17 dwt. and 17 grs., and parts of such dollars, that are of proportional weight.

By a report from the assayer of the mint, laid before congress in December, 1813, it appears,

1. That the gold coins of Great Britain and of Portugal are all uniformly of the same quality, and exactly equal to that of the gold coins of the United States; and therefore, their intrinsic value is at the rate of 100 cents for 27 grains, or 88 cents per pennyweight.

2. That the gold coins of France, especially those issued since the year 1806 inclusive, are also of a uniform quality, their intrinsic value being at the rate of 100 cents for 273 grains,

25

or 87 cents per dwt.

100

3. That the gold coins of Spain are somewhat variable in their quality, their average intrinsic value being at the rate of 100 cents for 2873 grains, or 84 cents per dwt.

4. That the intrinsic value of the French crown, supposing its weight 18 dwt. 17 grs. is 110 cents, and parts of a

cent.

7527

5. That the intrinsic value of the Spanish dollar, exclusive of those issued prior to the year 1806, supposing it of the full weight of 17 dwt. 7 grs. is 100 cents, and 253 parts of a

cent.

In order to secure a conformity of the gold and silver coins to their respective standards, the treasurer is bound to reserve a certain number of pieces, not less than three, from every separate mass of standard gold or silver which is coined, which pieces are assayed once a year under the inspection of the district judge, the district attorney, and the commissioner of loans for the state of Pennsylvania.

The total value of the coins made at the mint, from its establishment to December 31, 1813, is $ 12,806,644 49.

The total expences of the establishment during the same period are:

43,682 36

Total expence incurred by government for the gold, silver, and copper coinage of the United States, including cost of lots, buildings, machinery, &c.

$458,588 39

14. The regulation of commerce with the Indian tribes is one of the powers entrusted to the general government by the constitution, a provision wisely calculated to prevent the dangers which would arise from a perfect freedom of intercourse between them and the citizens of the United States.

For the purpose of carrying on a liberal trade with the Indians within the United States, trading houses are established at different places on the frontier, or in the Indian country, and a public agent appointed to reside at each. There is a superintendant of Indian trade, with a salary of $2000 per annum, whose duty it is to purchase and take charge of the goods intended for the trading houses, and to transmit them thither under the direction of the president; and likewise to dispose of the fur and peltry purchased from the Indians. Three hundred thousand dollars have been appropriated as a fund for this trade, and it has been enacted that the prices of goods supplied to the Indians shall be regulated in such a manner that the capital stock shall not be diminished. The salaries of the superintendant and agents, however, are not taken from the trading fund, there being a separate appropriation for that purpose.

The superintendant and Indian agents are not allowed to engage in any kind of trade other than with the Indians on the public account; and the agents are restricted from purchasing or receiving in any manner from the Indians, guns or other articles used in hunting, instruments of husbandry or cooking utensils of the kind usually obtained by Indians in their intercourse with the whites, or any articles of clothing except skins and furs.

15. Citizens are not allowed to cross the Indian boundary line without passports, nor to reside at any Indian town or hunting camp as traders without a license, which may be granted by

persons authorized for this purpose, on the applicant giving bond with sureties for the observance of the regulations and restrictions made by government respecting the trade and intercourse with the Indians. No purchase of land can be made from the Indians either by states or individuals.

The United States guarantees to individuals an eventual indemnification for property stolen or destroyed by Indians, provided no attempt to obtain private satisfaction and revenge is made by the injured party. Application for satisfaction must be made by furnishing the necessary proofs to the Indian agent, and if it cannot be obtained from the tribe, reparation will be made by the United States, and the necessary sum deducted from the annual stipend paid them by government. An indemnification is also guaranteed to the Indians for any trespass committed by inhabitants of the United States, provided no attempt is made to obtain private revenge.

In order to promote civilization among the friendly Indian tribes, and to secure the continuance of their friendship, the president is authorized to furnish them, as presents, with useful domestic animals, implements of husbandry, &c. from time to time, and to appoint persons to reside among them to teach them useful arts. He is also authorized to defray the reasonable expenses of such Indians as may visit the seat of government, and furnish them with presents; and when they visit the military posts on the frontiers they are supplied with rations, if they can be spared from the army provisions without injury to the service.

OBSERVATIONS

MADE DURING

A SHORT RESIDENCE IN VIRGINIA.

In a Letter from the Editor to his Friend in Philadelphia.

My dear Friend,

Richmond, May 30, 1814.

IN conformity to my promise at parting, I sit down to communicate to you a few of my observations on Virginia. Regarding some of the objects, however, to which you directed my attention, I must decline offering any opinion. Vain and futile will always be the attempt to form correct ideas of the character and manners of a people by a mere residence of a few months among them. Modern travellers, I confess, particularly travellers in America, seem, if we may judge from their practice, to think themselves qualified to delineate the character of a whole people by the slightest and most superficial glance, and to catch their manners while driving through the country with the rapidity of a mail coach; but unfortunately (though perhaps fortunately enough for you), your friend is not possessed of this kind of intuitive genius.

There are, however, a few traits in the character of the Virginians, which are so prominent as to strike even the most superficial observer. These cannot be better expressed than in the language of their countryman, the celebrated author of the British Spy and Old Bachelor: "A hospitality, the genuine offspring of the heart; unbounded generosity; a courage superior to all difficulties; and an instinctive abhorrence of every little, mean artifice, the miserable expedients of vulgar minds." Their vices are such as arise from the same temperament of mind which produces their virtues. The most striking to a stranger is a spirit of gambling, which stalks openly abroad, and displays itself in a variety of forms, such as horse-racing, cock-fighting, &c. These amusements, if they can be so termed, are not even prohibited by the laws.

The purity in which the English language is spoken throughout the United States has often been remarked by strangers. There is a slight peculiarity of pronunciation observable in Virginia, however, which is not confined to the vulgar, but is to be observed among the best educated, and is even to be heard at the bar. This peculiarity is principally observable in the words where, there, stair, and in similar sounds, where the vowel is pronounced by the Virginians like the â in the word far, instead of the à in the word fate. There are a few words, also, which are used in Virginia in a different acceptation from their proper one, but this is by no means so universal as the peculiar pronunciation already mentioned. I shall cite a few instances which particularly struck me.-Visiting a gentleman in the country one morning, he gave me a pressing invitation to spend the day with him, and on my assenting, called to his servants: "Here, Jack, take the gentleman's horse out of the gig, and carry him to the branch*; and, Bill, do you tote the cushions into the hall." On another occasion, being on horseback, directions were given to hang my horse to the fence, while I should stop and refresh myself. The magnolia, which grows in great luxuriance in the swamps in Virginia, casting a most delicious perfume through the woods, is commonly called the laurel, and what we call the laurel is by the Virginians denominated the ivy. A lane, in Virginia, means a road, whatever may be its breadth, which has a fence on both sides. The day after my arrival here, I was much surprized by enquiries if the road was not very bad in such and such lanes, not having observed that I passed through a lane during the whole journey. The meaning attached to this word is a striking exemplification of the uncultivated state of the country. In the eastern parts of Pennsylvania, nearly all our roads are lanes. The long season is an expression indicative of a peculiar product of the state. Whenever we had a louring sky during the month of May, every person was predicting the approach of the long season, which, on enquiry, I found meant a series of rainy days which generally happens in that month, which is taken advantage of by the country people for planting their tobacco, which cannot be done but in wet weather.

In early times tobacco was the grand staple of Virginia, but its culture has for many years been on the decline, and that of wheat is fast taking its place. Tobacco is not allowed to be exported until it has been inspected at one of the public ware

By a branch is meant what is commonly, though improperly, called a creek in Pennsylvania.