able part of the United States, and a misconception of some of its provisions, have given occasion, in particular places, to some degree of discontent. But it is satisfactory to know, that this disposition yields to proper explanations and more just apprehensions of the true nature of the law. And I entertain a full confidence that it will, in all, give way to motives which arise out of a just sense of duty, and a virtuous regard to the public welfare.

If there are any circumstances in the law, which consistently with its main design, may be so varied as to remove any well-intentioned objections that may happen to exist, it will consist with a wise moderation to make the proper variations. It is desirable, on all occasions, to unite, with a steady and firm adherence to constitutional and necessary acts of government, the fullest evidence of a disposition, as far as may be practicable, to consult the wishes of every part of the community, and to lay the foundation of the public administration in the affections of the people.

Pursuant to the authority contained in the several acts on that subject, a district often miles square, for the permanent seat of the government of the United States, has been fixed and announced by proclamation; which district will comprehend lands on both sides of the river Potowmac, and the towns of Alexandria and George-town. A city has also been laid out, agreeable to a plan which will be placed before Congress and as there is a prospect, favoured by the rate of sales which have already taken place, of ample funds for carrying on the necessary buildings, there is every expectation of their due progress. The completion of the census of VOL. XXXIII.

the inhabitants, for which provision was made by law, has been duly notified (excepting in one instance, in which the return has been informal; and another, in which it has been omitted or miscarried); and the returns of the officers who were charged with this duty, which will be laid before you, will give you the pleasing assurance, that the present population of the United States borders on four millions of persons.

It is proper also to inform you,

that a further loan of two millions and a half of florins has been completed in Holland, the terms of which are similar to those of the one last announced, except as to a small reduction of charges. Another, on like terms, for six millions of florins, had been set on foot, under circumstances that assured immediate completion.

be conducted upon principles equally comprehensive, and equally well calculated for the advancement of the general weal.

The time limited for receiving subscriptions to the loans proposed by the act, making provision for the debt of the United States, having expired, statements from the proper department will, as soon as possible, apprise you of the exact result. Enough,however, is already known, to afford an assurance that the views of that act have been substantially fulfilled. The subscription in the domestic debt of the United States has embraced by far the greatest proportion of that debt; affording, at the same time, proof of the general satisfaction of the public creditors with the system which has been proposed to their acceptance, and of the spirit of accommodation to the convenience of the government with which they are actuated. The subscriptions in the debts of the respective States, as far as the provisions of the law have permitted, may be said to be yet more general. The part of the debt of the United States which remains unsubscribed will naturally engage your further deliberations.

It is particularly pleasing to me to be able to announce to you, that the revenues which have been established promise to be adequate to their objects, and maybe permitted, if no unforeseen exigency occurs, to supersede, for the present, the necessity of any new burthens upon our constituents.

An object which will claim your early attention, is a provision for the current services of the ensuing year, together with such ascertained demands upon the treasury as require to be immediately discharged,

and such casualties as may have arisen in the execution of the public business, for which no specific appropriation may have yet been made; of all which a proper estimate will be laid before you.

Gentlemen of the senate and of the house of representatives,

I shall content myself with a general reference to former com munications for several objects, upon which the urgency of other affairs has hitherto postponed any definitive resolution: their im portance will recal them to your attention; and I trust that the progress already made in the most arduous arrangements of the government will afford you leisure to resume them with advantage.

There are, however, some of them, of which I cannot forbear a more particular mention-theseare, the militia-the post-officeand postroads-the mint-weights and measures-a provision for the sale of thevacantlandsof the United States.

The first is certainly an object of primary importance, whether viewed in reference to the national security, to the satisfaction of the community, or to the preservation of order. In connexion with this, the establishment of competent magazines and arsenals, and the fortification of such places as are peculiarly important and vulnerable, naturally present themselves to consideration. The safety of the United States, under divine protection, ought to rest on the basis of syste matic and solid arrangement, expos ed as little as possible to the hazards of fortuitous circumstances.

The importance of the post-office and post-roads, on a plan suf

ficiently

as they respect the expedition, safe ty, and facility of communication, is increased by the instrumentality in diffusing a knowledge of the laws and proceedings of the government, which, while it contributes to the security of the people, serves, also, to guard them against the effects of misrepresentation and misconception. The establishment of additional cross-posts, especially to some of the important points in the western and northern parts of the union, cannot fail to be of material utility.

The disorders in the existing currency, and especially the scarcity of small change, a scarcity so peculiarly distressing to the poorer classes, strongly recommend the carrying into immediate effect the resolution already entered into concerning the establishment of a mint. Measures have been taken pursuant to that resolution for procuring some of themost necessaryarticles, together with the requisite apparatus.

An uniformity in the weights and measures of the country is among the important objects submitted to you by the constitution; and if it can be derived from a standard at once invariable and universal, must be no less honourable to the public councils than conducive to the public convenience.

A provision for the sale of the vacant lands of the United States is particularly urged, among other reasons, by the important considerations, that they are pledged as a fund for reimbursing the public debt; that, if timely and judiciously applied, they may save the necessity of burthening our citizens with new taxes, for the extinguishment

free to discharge the principal but in a limited proportion, no opportunity ought to be lost for availing the public of its rights. G. WASHINGTON.

Letter from the empress of Russia, to the marshal de Broglio.

St. Petersburgh, Oct. 29, 1791.
MARSHAL DE Broglio,

known to the French nobility, banished and persecuted, but still unshaken in their fidelity and attachment to their sovereign, how sensibly I have felt the sentiments which they profess to me in their letter of the 20th Sept. The most illustrious of your kings gloried in callingthemselves thefirstgentlemen of their kingdom. Henry IV. was particularly desirous of bearing this title. It was not an empty compliment that he paid to yourancestors; but he thus taught them, that without nobility there could be no monarchy, and that their interest to defend and maintainit was inseparable from his. They understood the lesson, and lavished their blood and their efforts tore-establish therights of their masters and their own. Do you, their worthy descendants, to whom theunhappy circumstances of your country open the same career,. continue to tread in their steps, and let the spirit which animated them, and which you appear to inherit, be displayed in your actions.

Elizabeth succoured Henry IV. who triumphed over the league at the head of your ancestors. The exQ 2

ample

ample of that queen is worthy being imitated by posterity; and I shall deserve to be compared to her by my perseverance in my sentiments for the descendant of the same hero, to whom I have as yet only shown my wishes and my good intentions. In espousing the common cause of kings, in that of your monarch, I do no more than the duty of the rank which I hold on earth: I listen only to the pure dictates of a sincere and disinterested friendship for your princes, the king's brothers, and the desire of affording a constant support to every faithful servant of your sovereign.

Such are the dispositions of which I have charged count Romanzow to assure those princes. As no cause was ever more grand, more just, more noble, or more deserving to excite the zeal and the courage of all who have devoted themselves to defend it and to fight for it, I cannot but augur success the most fortunate and analogous to the wishes I have formed; and I pray God to have you and all the French nobility who participate your sentiments, and adhere to your principles in his most holy keeping.

despairby the reflection ofthe dreadful evils which this delay might produce to our countrymen, who (invited by the manifestoes of your imperial majesty) have taken arms against the enemy of the Christian name, and deputed us to lay the offer of their lives and their fortunes at the foot of your imperial throne; it was not till we had lost all hopes of otherwise obtaining a speedy answer to stop those streams of the blood of our brethren, which doubtless flow already through this delay, that we have at length dared to prostrate ourselves at your feet, and to present our humble memorial to your imperial majesty in person.

Another duty equally sacred, and which was a principal object of our mission, induced us to take this daring step: it was to undeceive Y. I. M. whom (as well as your ministers) there have been people audacious enough to mislead. We have learned with indignation, that the cavalier Psaro now erects himself into a chief and conductor of our people; a man abhorred by our nation, out of the dregs of which he rose, and where he would have remained, if he had not with an unheard-of audaciousness deceived your imperial majesty's ministers, and assumed a reputation by attributing to himself exploits he never performed. If no ill consequences would ensue but to himself, we should patiently await his appearance in our country, a boast however which he never will perform but in his writings. How he has acted towards us, Y. I. M. will

officers sent to us, ever paid us a single rouble. The flotilla, and the other armaments of Lambro, were equipped at our own expense. One of us (deputies) abandoning his peaceful home, fitted out two vessels at his own expense, and expended in armaments 12,000 zechins, whilst the Turks massacred his mother and his brother, levelled with the ground his possessions, and desolated his lands.

We never asked for your treasures; we do not ask for them now; we only ask for powder and balls (which we cannot purchase) and to be led to battle. We are come to offer our lives and fortunes, not to ask for your treasures. Deign, O great empress! glory of the Greek faith! deign to read our memorial. Heaven has reserved our deliverance for the glorious reign of Y. I. M. It is under your auspices that we hope to deliver, from the hands of barbarous Mahomedans, our empire, which they have usurped, and our patriarchat and our holy religion, which they have insulted; to free the descendants of Athens and Lacedemon from the tyrannic yoke of ignorant savages, under which groans a nation whose genius is not extinguished; a nation which glows with the love of liberty; which the iron yoke of barbarism has not vili

fied; which has constantly before its eyes the images of its ancient heroes, and whose example animates its warriors even to this day.

Our superb ruins speak to our eyes, and tell us of our ancient grandeur; our innumerable ports, our beautiful country, the heavens which smile on us all the year, the ardour of our youth, and even of our decrepid elders, tell us that nature is not less propitious to us than it was to our fore-fathers. Give us for a sovereign your grandson Constantine; it is the wish of our nation (the family of our emperors is extinct) and we shall become what

our ancestors were.

We are not persons who have dared to impose on the most magnanimous of sovereigns: we are the deputies of the people of Greece, furnished with full powers and other documents, and as such prostrated before the throne of HER, whom, next to Gop, we look on as our saviour; we declare that we shall be till our latest breath,

Your imperial majesty's
Most faithful and most
devoted servants,

L. S.) PANO KIRI.
L. S.) CHRISTO LAZOTTI.
(L. S.) NICCOLO PANGOLO

St. Petersburgh, April, 1790.

CHARACTERS.