to this city and resumed business. Congress has at length formed; the President's speech at the opening of the session, is enclosed. It is certain that the envoys have reached Paris. The report that they have been referred to Fauchet and Adet, is not confirmed, though by many it is considered as probable.

A Mr. Barker offered me five hundred dollars, a few days since, on account of a debt due to you by Mr. Shreve; if you are pleased so to direct, I will receive and remit you the money. Mr. Ross, to whom this business was referred, has not arrived. I repeat, that nothing will give me more pleasure, than to be able to render any services which you may be pleased to require. With the most perfect respect to yourself and Mrs. Washington, in which I am joined by Mrs. Wolcott, I remain your faithful and assured serv't.

The 13th of November was the time appointed for the meeting of Congress, but owing to fears of the sickness in Philadelphia, a quorum was not formed for some days after. The recurrence of this epidemic, and the inconvenience of convening the Legislature at any other place than the seat of government, were adverted to in the speech, and the President suggested that the law of 1794 should be so amended as to admit the postponing of the session without passing the constitutional limit. A bill introduced for this purpose, however, failed.

The speech was delivered on the 23d, and contained the usual summary of events. The arrival of the envoys in Europe was announced. Nothing, it was said, had occurred since the adjournment, which rendered unnecessary the precautionary measures recommended at the opening of the last session. A manifestation of energy and unanimity was advised as the most likely means of contributing to the preservation of peace. Whatever might be the result of the negotiations, and whether the war in Europe continued or not, a speedy restoration of public order could not be soon expected, so long and so deeply had the state of society been disturbed. Protective measures for our commerce, were therefore, at all events necessary. On this subject, the language of the speech was explicit and earnest. In regard to Spain, the difficulties arising from the delay of the au

thorities to withdraw the garrisons from posts within our territories continued, and the running of the boundary line had not been commenced. In connection with this state of things, it was mentioned that foreign agents were busy on the western frontier, intriguing among the Indians, exciting them to form a confederacy, and preparing them for war against the United States. To obviate the consequences of these efforts, a law providing adequate punishments was necessary. The progress of the different boards of Commissioners under the British treaty, in their respective business, was adverted to. Several decisions had been made under the 7th article, and the' awards paid. A provision would be necessary on the part of the United States, for compensation to British subjects, under the 6th article. Upon the subject of finances, the President urged the prevention of any accumulation of the national debt, and that the defence of the country, as well as the support of government, should be provided for as much as possible, by immediate taxes instead of by loans. With respect to foreign policy, the sentiments of Wolcott's letter of October 18th were adopted.

On the 28th, the answer of the House was agreed upon, and the several parts of the speech were referred to committees with instructions. The state of parties there, at the commencement of the session, was somewhat doubtful; on strong questions, the opposition even supposed itself to have a small, though uncertain majority.

The reports of the Secretary of the Treasury to the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, and to the House, contained a more satisfactory account of the state of the national finances than in any previous year, and had not the threatening aspect of foreign affairs rendered necessary an extraordinary expenditure, the country might have dated from this period the commencement of a steady and permanent reduction of a debt which was destined.

to be unfortunately increased. No further purchases of stock had been made during the year, the proceeds of the sinking fund and other appropriations having been applied to reimbursements; but besides the payments in January preceding, to the bank, the following sums had been expended in the discharge of the principal of the debt, viz :

To the second instalment of six per cent. stock,
To the payment of the temporary loans,
To the payment of an instalment of Dutch debt,

Amounting to

$641,674 76

880,000 00

480,000 00

$2,001,674 76

The estimates for the ordinary service for the year 1790, including the sums requisite for the payment of awards under the treaties with England and Spain, amounted to $2,423,849 96. The Secretary concluded:

"Though he observes with sincere satisfaction, that comprising the whole year, the revenue very considerably exceeds the estimates formed in December, 1796, and that it has been on the whole more prosperous than during any former period, yet he dares not encourage an expectation that the increase can be relied on as permanent. In particular, it will be noticed that the receipts from duties on imports and tonnage during the quarter ending September 30th, 1797, were somewhat less than in the corresponding quarter for the former year. Though this diminution may be attributed in some degree to a temporary stagnation of business in the port of Philadelphia during the last summer, yet it is to be apprehended that the revenue will, during the ensuing year, be impaired by the declension of commercial enterprise, occasioned by numerous captures and detentions of vessels of the United States."

The subject of military and naval expenditures came up in February. Sundry resolutions, passed at the close of the 4th Congress, had called for information on this head, and statements were accordingly furnished in detail, showing every sum advanced from the treasury, and its ultimate application.

The internal revenues were also the subject of a detailed report. A resolution had passed the House on the 6th of January, 1797, by which the Secretary of the Treasury was required "to lay before Congress, within

ten days after the commencement of each session, such a statement of the internal revenues as would ascertain with precision the nett produce thereof, and the expense of collection; also, a list of all the officers employed in that service, and the compensations allowed to each of them." The report was not furnished until the 23d February, the Secretary remarking that the papers "were received by him within the time limited by the resolution of the House, and if he had been satisfied that the representations therein contained were accurate, they would have been immediately transmitted." In consequence, however, of an intimation which he had received, that the motives which occasioned the delay might not otherwise be understood, he had made the communication, though in an imperfect form. This allusion was occasioned by the rumors excited by the removal of Mr. Tench Coxe, the commissioner of the Revenue, who was dismissed toward the end of December. Mr. Jefferson remarks on this, that -as no cause was assigned for his removal, it was attributed to political motives. Mr. Coxe, at least, knew the cause, as Wolcott had informed him before it took place, that the charge preferred against him was that of" deliberate misconduct in office."

The statement exhibited the amount and kinds of these taxes for the year 1795-'96—the latest period to which perfect returns could be rendered.

It is worth remarking that, in a report on the compensation of the officers of the excise, made by Wolcott during the present session, it was stated that on the basis proposed by him, the expenses of collecting these revenues but little exceeded the average proportion which attended the collection of import duties in other districts than Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Charleston.

More particular information than was contained in the President's address concerning the situation of affairs on the Mississippi, was communicated in a report of the Secretary of State. It exhibited the proofs of the activity of France in the creation of difficulties, and a satisfactory demonstration that the bad faith of the Spanish authorities had been caused, not by any belief in the preposterous tale of intended invasion from Canada, but by an expectation that war would have been declared between the United States and the French government, in which Spain would have been necessarily involved. In the meantime, they had tampered with the Indians, and strengthened the fortifications that should have been given up. The navigation of the Mississippi had been obstructed, and attempts made to enforce Spanish authority among the settlers. Nothing but the temperate conduct of the American commissioner had prevented actual collision.

The early part of the session passed away without the conclusion of any business of importance. A number of private bills were enacted, some modifications made in the revenue laws, and the time at which the stamp act was to take effect was postponed. The act regulating foreign gold and silver coin was also suspended, so as to make such coins a legal tender for the further term of three years, a measure rendered necessary by the limited circulation of those of the United States.