Liturgy of the Church of England in the United States. This 1792. was the first episcopal church of England ordination in this country. The system of Chemistry, digested and published by Lavoi- Progress of sier and his associates, was now first publicly taught in an Ameri- Chemistry. can seminary, in a course of Lectures delivered in Columbia College by Dr. Samuel L. Mitchill, a professor in that institution.1 The rearing of mulberry trees and silk worms, and the culture Culture of of silk, had so far succeeded in Connecticut, that a minister in silk. Branford had a silk gown made for him this year, at his own home. This was the first clergyman's gown fabricated throughout in America.2 The revenues of the United States were estimated at 3,700,000 Revenues dollars. The tonnage of vessels which paid duty in the ports of of U. States. the United States, between the 1st of October 1791 and 30th of September 1792, including the coasting and fishing vessels, was upwards of 800,000 tons.3 Henry Laurens died in South Carolina, near the close of his Deaths. 69th year; Arthur Lee, in Virginia;5 John Burgoyne, in England; and John Paul Jones, in Paris.7 1 Miller, Retrospect, ii. 390. See 1769 and 1782. 2 Stiles, Lit. Diary. The Rev. Jason Atwater, minister of Branford, showed the gown to Dr. Stiles, who writes: "He raised and manufactured the silk from his own trees and worms." On the 20th of January, 1791, Dr. Stiles "saw a pair of silk stockings, woven at Norwich in a loom made there-weighed 4 ounces-white. Also a handkerchief made at Northford, 24 ounces; both made of silk raised in New Haven and Northford." See 1784. 3 See TABLES. 4 Ramsay, Hist. S. Car. ii. 481-494. The ancestors of Mr. Laurens were French Protestant refugees, who first settled at New York, and afterward removed to Charlestown, South Carolina. His own elevated patriotism, his sufferings in the cause of liberty, and his eminent services as president of congress, and a foreign ambassador, appear in his public and recorded acts. Biographical sketches of him and of his son colonel John Laurens are given in the above cited History of South Carolina. Dr. Ramsay, who married a daughter of Henry Laurens, published also her biography, entitled, "Memoirs of the Life of Martha Laurens Ramsay;" a work which presents a bright example of intellectual improvement, of polite accomplishments, and of Christian virtues. 5 Arthur Lee, LL.D. was an agent in London, for the colony of Massachusetts, before the Revolution. He was afterwards one of the American commissioners at the court of France; he was also commissioner from the United States to Spain and Prussia. On his return to America, he was elected one of the board of the treasury, and a member of congress, for several years, from Virginia. He was one of the most learned men of his day, and an able and distinguished diplomatist. Life and Correspondence of R. H. Lee, i. 56. In this valuable work are several letters of Arthur Lee, the brother of R. H. Lee, illustrative of the characters of both, and of the history of the times. 6 Major general Burgoyne was the British lieutenant general in the American war, who lost his laurels at Saratoga. His history is interwoven with the history of the war; and a sketch of it given in Allen's Biog. and Hist. Dictionary, and in Lord's edition of Lempriere's Biography. 7 Captain Jones was a native of Scotland, born 1747. He was greatly distinguished as a captain in the American navy in the revolutionary war. After the VOL. II. 50 President and Vice President 1793. GEORGE WASHINGTON was re-elected president, and John Adams vice president, of the United States. The president, in re-chosen. his speech to congress, expressed a deep and respectful sense of this renewed testimony of public approbation. While, on the President's one hand, it awakened his gratitude for all those instances of Speech. affectionate partiality, with which he had been honoured by his country; on the other, it could not prevent an earnest wish for that retirement, from which no private consideration should ever have torn him. "But," continued he, "influenced by the belief, that my conduct would be estimated according to its real motives; and that the people, and the authorities derived from them, would support exertions, having nothing personal for their object, I have obeyed the suffrage, which commanded me to resume the executive power; and I humbly implore that Being, on whose will the fate of nations depends, to crown with success our mutual endeavours for the general happiness." Proclama The war in Europe had embraced those powers with whom tion of neu- the United States have the most extensive relations. The presitrality. dent, having reason to apprehend "that our intercourse with them might be interrupted, and our disposition for peace drawn into question by the suspicions, too often entertained by belligerent nations," issued a proclamation of neutrality. In a message to congress on the 5th of December, the president said, it was with extreme concern, he had to inform them, that the proceedings of the person, whom the National Assembly of France had appointed plenipotentiary here, "have breathed nothing of the friendly spirit of the nation which sent him; their tendency, on the contrary, has been to involve us in war abroad, and discord and anarchy at home."1 Offensive conduct of M. Genet. M. Genet, minister from France to the United States, arrived in April at Charleston, South Carolina. During a short continuance here, before he had been to the seat of government, he undertook to authorize the fitting and arming of vessels in that port, enlisting men, and giving commissions to cruize and commit hostilities on nations with whom the United States were at peace; war he returned to Europe, and engaged in the service of the empress of Russia, who gave him a commission in the fleet in the Black Sea, where he was instrumental in capturing the Turkish fleet. He at length returned to France, where he continued until his death. He was honourably buried at the expense of the National Convention. 1 American State Papers, i. 40. The minister was M. Genet. Documents on the French debt and complaints, and Papers accompanying the president's message, relative to British depredations and violations of the treaty of peace, are preserved in the 1st volume of American State Papers. 1793. captured vessels were brought into port, and the consuls of France assumed, under the authority of M. Genet, to hold courts of admiralty on them, to try, condemn, and authorize their sale. The declaration of war made by France against Great Britain and Holland reached the United States early in the same month. The president, regarding the situation of these States, issued his proclamation of neutrality on the 9th of May. In July, he requested the recall of M. Genet; who was soon afterward re- recalled. called, and succeeded by M. Fauchet.1 Genet is Williamstown College, in Massachusetts, was incorporated, and Willamsnamed in honour of colonel Ephraim Williams, who, by a liberal town Col donation, laid the foundation of its funds.2 lege. The Marine Society of South Carolina was established. The Societies. Humane Society of Philadelphia, instituted in 1780, was incorporated. The Agricultural Society of New York was incorporated. The Proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, Massachusetts, Canal. were incorporated. There entered the port of New York 683 vessels from foreign N. York. ports, and 1381 coasting vessels. The taxable inhabitants of Pennsylvania were upward of Pennsylva90,000. The taxable inhabitants of Philadelphia were 7088. nia. The yellow fever prevailed in Philadelphia; of which disease 3645 died. The Wesleian Methodists in the United States were more Methodists. than 60,000; about 16,000 of whom were people of colour. The Baptists were 73,471. Baptists. A fire broke out in Albany on the 17th of November, and con- Fire. sumed 26 dwelling houses, several stores, and printing presses. A printing press was set up at Knoxville, in Tennessee. West Boston bridge was built across Charles river from Cambridge to Boston. Tennessee. The exports of the United States were estimated at upwards of Exports. 26 millions of dollars. John Hancock died in Boston, aged 55 years;3 Roger Sher- Deaths. 1 Marshall, Life of Washington, v. c. 6. 2 It was opened at first, in 1791, as a Free School, the preceptor of which was the Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Fitch, afterward the first president of the college. The first commencement was held in 1795. 3 Governor Hancock was the son of the Rev. John Hancock of Braintree. Losing his father when he was young, his uncle Thomas Hancock took the care of his educaton. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1754. On the death of his uncle, he received a very considerable fortune, and soon became an eminent merchant. [See 1764.] The seizure of his sloop in 1768 made a strong impression on his fellow citizens of Boston; and when the controversy with Great Britain assumed a more serious shape, and affairs were hastening to a crisis, he evinced the most fervent and decided attachment to the rights of his country. He was president of the provincial congress in 1774; and afterwards president of the continental congress. In 1780 he was elected the first gover 1793. man, at New Haven, aged 72;1 Edward Trowbridge, at Cambridge, in his 84th year;2 and John Manly, commander of the continental frigate Hancock in the revolutionary war. Insurrection in Pennsylvania. 1794. THIS year is distinguished by an insurrection in Pennsylvania. In 1791, congress had enacted laws, laying duties upon spirits distilled within the United States, and upon stills. From the commencement of the operation of these laws, combinations were formed in the four western counties of Pennsylvania to defeat them; and violences were repeatedly committed. In July of the present year, about 100 persons, armed with guns and other weapons, attacked the house of an inspector of the revenue, and wounded some persons within it. They seized the marshal of the district of Pennsylvania, who had been previously fired on while in the execution of his duty by a party of armed men, and compelled him to enter into stipulations to forbear the execution of his office. Both the inspector and the marshal were obliged to fly from that part of the country to the seat of government. These and many other outrages induced president nor of Massachusetts under the new constitution, and was in that office at the time of his death. His name appears as president of the congress which signed the Declaration of Independence. 1 Mr. Sherman was born at Newton, in Massachusetts, in 1721. In 1743 he removed to Milford in Connecticut; applied himself afterward to the study of the law; and was admitted to the bar in 1754. In 1761 he removed to New Haven. He was chosen a member of the first continental congress, and continued to be a member, except when excluded by the law of rotation. He was one of the committee that drew up the Declaration of Independence, penned by Mr. Jefferson. After the peace, he was a member of the Convention which formed the Constitution of the United States; and was a member of the Senate at the time of his death. Mr. Sherman possessed a vigorous mind; and, though not favoured with a systematic education, by an ardent thirst for knowledge, and the most indefatigable application, he was enabled to make great acquisitions of knowledge. He was an upright statesman and on exemplary Christian. See Waln's Biography of the Signers of Independence. 2 Judge Trowbridge was born at Newton near Cambridge in 1709, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He was one of the most learned lawyers in Massachusetts, and was first appointed attorney general by governor Shirley, in 1749, and was continued in that office till 1767, when he was promoted to the bench of the supreme court. He was the principal judge in the memorable trial of captain Preston and the soldiers for firing upon the people in Boston on the 5th of March, 1770. His knowledge of the law was profound; and governor Hutchinson, while on the bench, often availed himself of it. He urged judge Trowbridge to continue on the bench at a time when the tenure of the office, from ministerial innovations on the charter, was extremely unpopular, and disapproved of by judge Trowbridge himself; who refused to accept the appointment against his principles. He leaned in his politics to the government side, without becoming obnoxious to his fellow citizens, who respected him for his ability and integrity. Tudor's Life of Otis, 161. Though he had lived many years in retirement from public life, great respect was shown to his memory. tion. Washington, on the 7th of August, to issue a proclamation, com- 1794. manding the insurgents to disperse, and warning all persons against aiding, abetting, or comforting the perpetrators of these Proclamatreasonable acts, and requiring all officers, and other citizens, according to their respective duties and the laws of the land, to exert their utmost endeavours to prevent and suppress such dangerous proceedings. tion. On the 25th of September the president issued a second Another proclamation, admonishing the insurgents; forcibly describing proclamathe obstinate and perverse spirit with which the lenient propositions of the government had been received; and declaring his fixed determination, in obedience to the duty assigned to him by the constitution, "to take care that the laws be faithfully executed," to reduce the refractory to obedience.1 the Secre tary of the It was the fixed purpose of the president to maintain the Treaty beneutrality of the United States until it should be incompatible tween the with their honour and interest. Believing, from the last advices and Great from England, that the differences between the two nations had Britain. not yet reached that point, he on the 16th of April nominated Mr. John Jay an envoy extraordinary to his Britannic majesty ; and on the 19th of November, a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation, between the United States and Great Britain, was signed by that minister and the earl of Grenville at London. The reports of Mr. Hamilton, secretary of the treasury, had Report of suggested the measures adopted by congress in the system of internal taxation; nor could any thing deter him from continuing treasury. to recommend what he considered as essential to the due administration of the finances. Believing that the establishment of public credit on a sound basis was essential to the character and prosperity of the United States, to effect this was his great object. While the legislature was discussing the subject of making farther provision for the reduction of the national debt, the secretary adressed a letter to the house of representatives, through their speaker, informing them that he had digested and prepared a plan on the basis of the actual revenues, for the farther support of public credit, which he was ready to communicate. This very important Report was communicated to congress and it was the last official act of colonel Hamilton in the treasury department.2 The insurgents proceeded to outrages. In July, they robbed the western mail. On the 1st of August, several thousand rendezvoused at Braddock's Field, on the Monongahela; and on the 14th, about 200 delegates from the four western counties in Pennsylvania, including three from Ohio county in Virginia, and 1 Marshall, v. 588. American State Papers, i. 467–471. Marshall, Life of Washington, v. c. 8. |