As foon as the governor-general of Canada could be addreffed with propriety on this fubject, arrangements were cordially and promptly concluded for their evacuation, and the United States took poffeffion of the principal of them, compre hending Ofwego, Niagara, Detroit, Michalininac, and Fort Miami, where fuch repairs and additions have been ordered to be made as appeared indifpenfable.

The commiffioners appointed on the part of the United States, agreeably to the feventh article of the treaty with Great Britain, relative to captures and condemnation of veffels and other property, met the commillioners of his Britannic Majefty in London, in Auguft laft, when John Trumball, Efq. was chofen by lot for the fifth commiflioner. In October following the board were to proceed to bufinefs. As yet there has been no communication of commiffioners on the part of Great Britain, to unite with those who have been appointed on the part of the United States, for carrying into effect the fixth article of the treaty.

The treaty with Spain required that the commiffioners for running the boundary line, between the territory of the United States and his Catholic Majefty's provinces of East and West Florida, fhould meet at the Natches, before the expiration of fix months after the exchange of the ratifications, which was effected at Aranjuez, on the 25th of April, and the troops of his Catholic majefty, occupying any polis within the limits of the United States, were within the fame period to be withdrawn. The commitlioner of the United States,

therefore, commenced his journey from the Natches in September, and troops were ordered to occupy the pofts from which the Spanish garrifons fhould be withdrawn. Information has been recently received of the appointment of a commifhoner on the part of his Catholic majefty for running the boundary fine, but none of any appointment for the adjutiment of the claims of our citizens, whose veffels were captured by the armed veffels of Spain.

In purfuance of the aft of congrefs, paffed in the laft feßion, for the protection and relief of American feamen, agents were appointed, one to refide in Great Britain, and the other in the West Indies. The effects of the agency in the Weft Indies are not yet fully af certained; but thofe which have been communicated afford grounds to believe the meafure will be be neficial. The agent deftined to refide in Great Britain declining to accept the appointment, the bufinefs has confequently devolved oa the minifter of the United States in London; and will command his attention, until a new agent fhall be appointed.

After many delays and difap pointments, arifing out of the European war, the final arrangements for fulfilling the engagements made to the Dey and regency of Algiers will, in all prefent appearance, be crowned with fuccefs; but under great, though inevitable difadvantage, in the pecuniary tranf actions, occafioned by that war; which will render a further provifion necellary. The actual liberation of all our citizens who were prifoners in Algiers, while it gratifies every feeling heart, is itself an

earnest

earneft of a fatisfactory termination of the whole negotiation. Measures are in operation for, effecting treaties with the regencies of Tunis and Tripoli.

To an active external commerce the protection of a naval force is indifpenfable. This is manifeft with regard to wars in which a fate is itself a party; but befides this, it is our own experience, that the moft fincere neutrality is not a futücient guard against the depredations of nations at war. To fe cure refpect to a neutral flag requires a naval force, organized, and ready to vindicate it from infult or aggreflion. This may even prevent the neceffity of going to war, by dilcouraging belligerent powers from committing fuch violations of the rights of the neutral party as may, firft or laft, receive no other option. From the beft information I have been able to obtain, it would feem as if our trade to the Mediterranean, without a protecting force, will always be infecure; and our citizens expofed to the calamities from which numbers of them have but juft been relieved. Thefe confiderations invite the United States to look to the means, and to fet about the gradual creation of a navy. The increafing progrefs of their Bavigation promifes them, at no distant period, the requisite fupply of feamen; and their means, in other refpects, favour the undertaking. It is an encouragement, likewife, that their particular fituation will give weight and influence to a moderate naval force in their hands. Will it not then be advilable to begin, without delay, to provide, and lay up the mateials for the building and equipping

of fhips of war; and to proceed in the work by degrees, in proportion as our refources fhall render it practicable, without inconvenience; fo that a future war of Europe may not find our commerce in the fame unprotected ftate in which it was found by the prefent?

Congrefs have repeatedly, and not without fuccefs, directed their attention to the encouragement of manufactures. The object is of too much confequence not to enfure a continuation of their efforts, in every way which will appear eligible. As a general rule, manufacturers on a public account are inexpedient; but where the ftate of things in a country leave little hope that certain branches of manufacture will, for a great length of time, obtain; when thefe are of a nature effential to the fernithing and equipping of the public force in the time of war, are not eftablifhments for procuring them on public account, to the extent of the ordinary demand for the public fervice, recommended by strong confiderations of national policy, as an exception to the general rule? Ought our country to remain in fuch cafes dependant on foreign fupply, precarious, because liable to be interrupted? If the necellary articles fhould in this mode colt more in time of peace, will not the fecurity and independence thence arifing form an ample compenfation Etablishments of this fort, commenfurate only with the calls of the public fervice in the time of peace, will, in time of war, cafily be extended in proportion to the exigencies of governa.e.t, and even perhaps to be made to yield a furplus, for the fupply of our citizens at large; fo as to initigate the pri

vateers

in other refpects, far from agree able.

It has been my conftant, fincere, and earnest with, in conformity with that of our nation, to maintain cordial harmony and a perfectly friendly understanding with that republic. This with remains unabated; and I fhall perfevere in the endeavour to fulfil it, to the utmost extent of what fhall be confiftent with a juft and indifpen fable regard to the rights and honour of our country; nor will I eafily cease to cherish the expectation, that a fpirit of juftice, candour, and friendship, on the part of the republic, will eventually enfure fuccefs.

In pursuing this courfe, however, I cannot forget what is due to the character of our government and nation; or to a full and entire confidence in the good sense, patriotifm, felf-refpect, and fortitude of my countrymen.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

Arfwer to the above address prefented

by the Vice president..

WE thank you, fir, for your faithful and detailed expofure of the exifting fituation of our country; and we fincerely join in fentiments of gratitude to an over-ruling providence for the diftinguithed thare of public profperity and private happinefs, which the people of the United States fo peculi arly enjoy.

We obferve with pleasure, that the delivery of the military pofts lately occupied by the British forces within the territory of the United States, was made with cordiality and promptitude, as foon as circumftances would admit; and

that the other provifions of our objects of eventual arrangement are now about being carried into effect with entire harmony and good faith..

We perfectly coincide with you in opinion, that the importance of our commerce demands a naval force for its protection against foreign infult and depredation, and our folicitude to attain that object will be always proportionate to its magnitude.

The neceffity of accelerating the eftablifhment of certain ufeful manufactures by the intervention of legislative aid and protection, andthe encouragement due to agriculture by the creation of boards (com pofed of intelligent individuals) to patronize this primary purfuit of fociety, are fubjects which will readily engage our most serious attention.

A national univerfity may be converted to the moft ufeful purpofes. The fcience of legislation being fo effentially dependent on the endowments of the mind, the public intereft muft receive effectual aid from the general diffufion of knowledge, and the United States will affume a more dignified ftation among the nations of the earth, by the fuccefsful cultivation of the higheft branches of literature.

We fincerely lament, that while the conduct of the United States has been uniformly imprefled with the character of equity, moderation, and love of peace, in the maintenance of all their foreign relationfhips, our trade should be so haraffed by the cruifers and agents of the republic of France, throughout the extenfive departments of the West Indies.

We

verted by her frequent pregnancies, by an exclufive paflion for her hufband, and by the diflipation of the world, in which his tafte and authority obliged her to mingle. But the maternal office was fupplied by my aunt, Mrs. Catharine Porten; at whofe name I feel a tear of gratitude trickling down my cheek. A life of celibacy transferred her vacant affection to her fifter's firft child my weakness excited her pity; her attachment was fortified by labour and fuccefs: and if there be any, as I trust there are fome, who rejoice that I live, to that dear and excellent woman they muft hold themfelves indebted. Many anxious and folitary days did the confume in the patient trial of every mode of relief and amufement. Many wakeful nights did fhe fit by my bed-fide in trembling expectation that each hour would be my laft. Of the various and frequent diforders of my childhood my own recollection is dark; nor do I wish to expatiate on fo difgufting a topic. Suffice it to fay, that while every practitioner, from Sloane and Ward to the chevali er Taylor, was fucceflively fummoned to torture or relieve me, the care of my mind was too frequently neglected for that of my health; compaffion always fuggefted an excufe for the indulgence of the mafter, or the idleness of the pupil; and the chain of my education was broken, as often as I was recalled from the school of learning to the bed of fickness.

As foon as the use of speech had prepared my infant reafon for the admiffion of knowledge, I was taught the arts of reading, writing, and arithmetic. So remote is the date, fo vague is the memory of

their origin in myself, that, were not the error corrected by analogy, I should be tempted to conceive them as innate. In my childhood I was praised for the readines, with which I could multiply and divide, by memory alone, two fums of feveral figures: fuch praise encouraged my growing talent; and had I perfevered in this line of application, I might have acquired fome fame in mathematical ftudies.

of

After this previous inftitution at home, or at a day-school at Putney, I was delivered at the age feven into the hands of Mr. John Kirkby, who exercised about eigh teen months the office of my do meftic tutor. His own words, which I thall here tranfcribe, infpire in his favour a fentiment of pity and efteem.-" During my abode in my native county of Cumberland, in quality of an indigent curate, I ufed now-andthen in a fummer, when the pleafantnefs of the feafon invited, to take a folitary walk to the fea thore, which lies about two miles from the town where I lived. Here I would amufe myself, one while in viewing at large the agreeable profpect which furrounded me, and another while (confining my fight to nearer objects) in admiring the vast variety of beau tiful fhells, thrown upon the beach; fome of the choiceft of which I always picked up, to divert my little ones upon my return. One time among the reft, taking fuch a journey in my head, I fat down upon the declivity of the beach with my face to the fea, which was now come up within a few yards of my feet; when immediately the fad thoughts of the wretched condition of my

family,