of all who live by SWINDLING. In a Republican government, every man ought to have some honest and useful occupation. Idleness produces vice, and vice crimes, and crimes disturb social order and happiness."

And why, in a Republican government?" Why is honesty more particularly requisite in a republican. government, than in any other? If we are to judge from experience, the people under such governments are not the very purest upon the face of the earth. The forgeries committed by the republican Thomas, of Philadelphia, surpass in number and magnitude, all those committed in all the kingdoms of Europe, during the present year. This is one blessed effect of the mild penal code of Pennsylvania. If this fellow had been certain of a stretched neck, in a few weeks after his detection, he never would have thus disgraced his family and his country, involved hundreds in misery and ruin, and given a mortal blow to all confidence between man and man.

The French papers, in announcing the departure of Messrs. Pinckney and Marshall from Paris, an event which was only made public in that metropolis three weeks after it happened, gives the following account of the causes of their dismissal :

"These Envoys appear to have mingled great surliness in their mission, and to have been little acquainted with the circumstances of the government, with which they were sent to treat. Their behaviour was marked by an affectation of dignity and of reserve which were very unseasonable. We are assured, that having lately been called on by the Directory to declare, whether they would accept the conditions which were offered them, two of them, Messrs. Pinckney and Marshall refused to assent to them; in consequence of which, they

were

were furnished with passports, and set off twenty days ago, the former of them for the South, and the latter for America by the way of Holland. Mr. Gerry having shewn himself more accommodating, remains behind."

Such is the history of the American Negotiation, with which the enlightened and well-governed citizens of France are furnished. If the state of the press at Paris was such as to permit the real truth to transpire, we should have no hesitation in anticipating the downfall of a government which has added to the grossest corruption the most barefaced falsehood. The surliness of which the American Envoys were guilty, was an unwillingness to accede, as a preliminary to negotiation, to the payment of a bribe of 50,000l. to the virtuous Directors of the Great Nation, the Friends of the Oppressed, and the Enemies of Corruption.-This money, it appears from the official documents, was to be paid as the price of the American Envoys residence in Paris; the pecuniary sacrifice which was to be made to France as the price of peace was much greater. No progress could, even after the payment of the first sum, be made in the negotiation, until the United States should have consented to give cash for the worthless paper securities which France had wrung from her allies the Dutch. Then, and not till then, were the Americans to be admitted to make those concessions which the disturbers of the peace of mankind had exacted from every nation that has been weak enough to comply with their first demands.

The spirit displayed in the message of the President of the United States to Congress, will be felt to be in unison with that which in this country has produced a general armament and a general contribution. Undaunted by the boasted diplomatic skill of France, the Executive government of

America

America has shewn that it is not yet fallen so low as to sacrifice its honour, its independence, and its wealth, to the dread of the domestic intrigues or of the power of the Great Nation. It has shewn that it considers open hostility as less dangerous than a treaty concluded with the most faithless, the most prostituted, and the most venal of mankind; purchased by tribute, and to be maintained only by patient submission to injury. It has shewn itself anxious for peace, but not indifferent for its independence. It has shewn, in short, that it has profited by the example of those European powers who have crouched to the detested republic, and that it is wise while yet wisdom can avail it.

Those who are disposed to speculate on the pro ́fligacy of the French character, will almost consider it as matter of regret that the negotiations between this country, and France did not proceed, so far as to let us into the secret of the pecuniary demand of the Directory on this country. Politically, we trust, that they would have had no effect; and that the spirit of the country is at present so roused, that nothing could add to the indignation which every Briton feels at the recollection of the insolence of our enemy's demands; but it would at least be curious to ascertain what the soi-disant avengers of human liberty would have considered as a sufficient penalty for that usurpation of the empire of the seas which our naval superiority has given us, and which our naval superiority will ever preserve.

French Villainy. Fifty Dollars Reward.--On Tuesday evening the 21st instant, the subscriber having attended the concert at Columbia Garden, with a small party of ladies and gentlemen, and having left the Garden a few minutes before nine to

take

take a turn on the Battery, for the benefit of the air, which we had scarcely entered before the lady, whose arm I held, screamed out that a gentleman that instant passing us, had thrown something upon her that burnt her arm and shoulder excessively, and gave the most excruciating pain. I at first supposed it was occasioned by an accidental touch of the elbow, which sometimes occasions a thrilling, painful sensation. Impressed with this idea, I turned to the man whom I found to be a Frenchman, and civilly asked him if he had struck the lady's arm I held intentionally; he replied in the negative; at the same time the lovely unhappy sufferer exclaimed with an agonizing mind, that her muslin was very wet. At this instant I recognized the powerful smell of Aqua Fortis, and immediately addressed the villain with language that any thing, except the most consummate poltroon, would have' resented, and drew my cane with a view of chastising him on the spot, but was arrested in this attempt by some person behind me; the cowardly nefarious villain loudly vociferating that he would challenge me; and in full expectation of that issue,

I gave him my address in the hearing of perhaps a hundred persons; but unfortunately could not obtain his. Upon conveying the unhappy sufferer into the house of Mr. Corre, a very large scald and blister, almost the whole length of the arm and shoulder was discoverable: the gown and even under dress, entirely eaten through and ruined. And here it was discovered, that myself was probably the intended victim, as the back of my coat was almost destroyed with the effects of the Aqua Fortis, and changed from a black to a deep yellow colour.

The motive for this unmanly, insidious attack, is incomprehensible. The villainous perpetrator is

totally

totally unknown to me; the presumption, therefore, is strong, that the American badge of Federalism, our national cockade, which I have the honour to wear, and which I have pledged myself to defend at the risk of my life, was the cause; and as 48 hours have elapsed since the before mentioned transaction, and hearing nothing from this gasconading villain, it may justly be presumed he will cautiously avoid an interview: therefore, whatever may have been the motives for this villainous conduct, a reward of fifty dollars will be paid for a discovery of the name, and conviction of the perpetrator of this outrage, by

R. C. SKINNER, 156, William Street.

August 24.

SEPTEMBER, 1798.

Williamsburgh, 24th August, 1798.-Sir, the following notification founded on truth, is submitted to you for publication in your extensively circulating Gazette, by your humble servant,

ANTI-JACOBIN.

"To all whom it may concern,

"AS it is at all times highly important that the community at large should be made acquainted with the political character and conduct of those, who are in high stations, invested with authority; and more particularly so, at this critical period, when we are, and have long been, labouring under the most aggravated foreign depredations brought on and encouraged by internal faction, and are further threatened with a desolating and unprovo

ked