that purpofe fhould be offered to the Houfe, he would give it his fupport. He concluded by faying, he could not give up the prefent

tax.

Mr Sheridan cordially agreed with every fentiment that had been advanced in fupport of the poor, and in oppofition to the tax. He stated the malt-duties a few years back to have amounted to 750,000l. per annum, and faid, that in confequence of injudicious additions, they had confiderably declined.-He was convinced that the tax fuggefted on dogs was not practicable, nor did he think, if practicable, it was fi to be adopted. He concluded by moving the fecond reading for Monday the 7th of February.

Mr N. Evans fuggefted, inftead of the ad. ditional tax on malt, a tax on coffins. He faid, a tax on oak coffins, in which many had the vanity to be buried, would not only raife a confiderable revenue, but prevent the vait confumption of oak timber, which was a ferious and alarming evil.

Mr Fox faid, no friend to his country would vote against the delay propofed. The Rt Hon. Gentleman (Mr Pitt) argued that the tax would not affect private breweries; that was the pofition upon which it was fupported; and those who knew beft the country objected to it on the contrary pofition; gentlemen would therefore push their confidence to the utmoft degree, if they were ready to fay, the Rt Hon. Gentleman's information, which could be but at fecondhand, was fuperior to that given by country gentlemen from their own local knowledge: Delay was propofed to afcertain a fact, and to that delay, which would be fhort, he could fee no good objection.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer faid, the feafon of the year rendered it neceffary for the tax to be paffed immediately, if paf fed at all; he pretended to have no local knowledge, nor did he with any gentleman to give a vote on confidence: all he called for was a decifion on reafon and argument.

The queftion for the fecond reading was agreed to.

In a committee, Dec. 21. the House went through the additional malt-duty bill, the additional fpirit-duty bill, and the affefied taxes

bill.

The additional malt-duty bill is to take effect from Jan. 5. and to be levied on all malt on hand from the fame time. Its duration is limited to the payment of the first 800,000!. of the capital of the armament-expence.

The duty on Britifa fpirits is to be taken from Jan. 5. and on rum and brandy import ed and under bond, from Dec. 28: Its duration is likewife limited to the payment of the first 800,cool.

By the affeffed taxes bill, an affeffment

takes place on the 5th of April for half a-year's duty. Its duration is limited to the payment of 1,832 000l. of the capital of the armament-expence.

The above bills, with the annual malt-bill, were read the third time and passed on Dec. 23. when they were fent to the Lords; who, after a good deal of oppofition to the additional duty on malt, agreed to them on Dec.29. on which day they received the royal aflent.

In the Houfe of Commons, Dec. 21. Mr Hippefley, pursuant to the notice he gave on a former day, rofe to make a few obfervations on the war in India, with an intention to make a motion that might bring it more fully to the view of the Houfe; previous, however, to any obfervation, he defired that part of his Majefty's fpeech to be read which related to the war in India. He then begged to ftate the fact to which he prefumed that part of his Majefty's speech applied.

Sir

"The Rajah of Travancore negotiates the purchase of the fort of Cranganore, and another place, of the Dutch. Tippoo Sultan objects to the purchase. The Rajah perfists, and Tippoo endeavours to repel it by open hoftility." This was, prima facie, the state of the cafe; but fome circumstances connected with the tranfaction must also be stated to give it its proper colour. About two years fince the Rajah applied for two of our battalions to be ftationed in his country, which was granted. About this time, probably, he first meditated the acquifition of the forts. The officer who commanded this detachment wrote to Sir Archibald Campbell, then Governor of Madras, ftating the advantage which the acquifition of Cranganore, and another place, would be of to the Rajah. Archibald Campbell immediately replied to the letter, and expressed his direct disapprobation of the meature anticipating, probably, the mischief incidental to fuch a tranfaction. No more was heard of Cranganore during Sir Archibald Campbell's government. But foon after Sir Archibald Campbell had left India, the Rajah himself wrote to his fucceffor (Mr Holland) that he had completed the purchase of Cranganore, and agreeably to the approbation of the former government. Tippoo Sultan, in confequence of this purchase, marched towards the Travancore lines, threatening an attack if the Rajah would not relinquith the poffeffions of the forts in questionThe Rajah refused-and Tippoo declared hoftilities. After the attack of the lines, Tippoo wrote an apology for his conduct to our Government, declaring his wish to continue in friendship with the English, and to avoid any caufe of offence towards them. It is even reported, that he offered to leave the fubject to arbitration. On the reprefentation of these facts to the Supreme Government, their opi

nion is stated to have been-" That as the attack had been made by Tippoo in perfan, and as be knew we were bound by treaty to fupport the Rajah of Travancore, fhould our Government accept his apology, it would amount to a declaration of our weakness to all the powers of Indoftan!" From this ftatement Mr Hippefley conceived that it was probable Tippoo Sultan might be lefs blameable than we were aware of, if not strictly juftifiable.

His doubts were not less of the policy, than of the justice of the war. We were to rely much on the Mahrattas, it was faid, and on the Nizam. Had we forgotten our dependance on the Mahrattas in 1767, when they marched to attack the frontier of Hyder, and co-operate with us and with the Nizam, with a view to extirpate the tyrant of Myfore? What was the confequence? They reached Hyder's, from whence he fent them back, with a few conceffions, in peace to their own country. And how did the Nizam conduct himself?—He concluded a treaty of perpetual friendship with us, offenfive and defenfive. He joined our army under Gen. J. Smith, and marched with us against Hyder Ally. When he came in view of our enemy, he deferted us, and joined the ftandard of Hyder-he continued for fome time actively fighting against us, and Hyder in the fequel dictated a difgraceful peace at the gates of our capital. Could we forget too the general confederacy of 1780, among the native powers, at the head of which the Nizam was, and the object of which was to rest out the British nation from India ?

The moment was faid to be favourable, from the increased force of our army, and the inability of France to annoy us. He granted our army never was on fo refpectable a foot ing; the merit of which was strialy refer rible to the zeal and exertion of Sir A. Campbell. Could we fuppofe that Tippoo had not kept pace with our improvement-that his army had not been increased and difciplined pari palju. He had a force of 150,000 men, a large corps of Europeans, well officered, an admirable artillery fuperiorly ferved. Add to this the very finews of war, a revenue of five millions Sterling, and a treasury of eight or nine millions. To thefe refources we were to oppose an exhausted treasury and a tottering credit. The fmall discount on the Company's paper had been mentioned as a proof of reftored credit; but there was reafon to believe that this was owing to the decline of trade, which left monied men no more profitable ufe for their money.

As to France, as a rival kingdom, he be-, lieved we had nothing to fear at prefent; but it should be remembered that no later than 1787 a number of enterprifing individuals of that nation had by their intrigues gone near

to light up India in flames. They probably still existed, at the Durbars of the Mahrattas, of the Nizam, and of Tippoo-they were deep in the confidence of those powers. The good fenfe and difcretion of the French Governor, who arrived in 1787 at Pondicherry, checked those intrigues, and prevented a

war.

Mr Hippefley trufted that the candour of the House would give credit to his motion. He agreed with his Hon. Friend (Mr Gray), that" any peace, where the honour of the country was not bartered away, was better than the moit fuccefsful war." At any rate, it was the bufinefs and duty of parliament to look with a moft jealous eye to the infraction of the fyftem which had been laid down in its wifdom for the better government of India.

He concluded with moving, "That there be laid before this Houfe, copies or extracts of all the correfpondence between the Rajah of Travancore and the government of Madras, or Bengal, on the fubject of the faid Rajah having purchased the fort of Cranganore; and in confequence of the fubfequent attack of Tippoo Sultan on the lines or territories of Travancore; alfo copies or extracts of all correfpondence between Tippoo Sultan, and the faid governments, on the faid subjects: Together with copies or extracts of all information communicated by Sir Archibald Campbell to the Court of Directors, relative to the faid fubjects."

Mr Francis feconded the motion, and said, that as he was not in poffeffion of all the facts relative to the fubject, he fhould therefore wave giving his fentiments fo fully as he otherwife would, and as he hoped he should be able to do in a little time; he, however, had feveral obfervations to make to the House, which in a great degree were applicable to the queftion; and from his being a member of the Government of Bengal, and having refided a long time in that country, he hoped that what he fhould offer would not be confidered fpeculative obfervations. He then took a very extenfive view of Eaftern politics, upon which he argued, as ufual, in a forcible and confident manner; he denied that the transfer of Cranganore, by the Dutch, to the Rajah of Travancore, could give any poffible pretence to Tippoo Sultan's attack upon the territory of the Rajah; and although war was held by him at all times to be the deftruction of every country engaged in it, yet he was hopeful that the Rajah would purfue fuch meafures as may com pletely pull down the reftiefs ambition, and crush the power of Tippoo Sultan. He then feconded the motion.

Mr Dundas made a moft able fpeech, in which he stated to the Houle almost every particular refpecting the different Powers in B 2.

India

India. He was glad that the motion was made, in order that gentlemen might have the fulleft opportunity of viewing every tranfaction that has paffed between the Rajah and Tippoo Sultan, in the business of Travancore and Cranganore. The papers moved for, he, for one, was ready to grant; and as he did not doubt but his Hon. Friend near him would acquiefce in the motion, he fhould referve his fentiments till another time on the bufinefs.

Mr Fox faid, that he should do the fame, and was happy that the motion of his Hon. Friend had not been confidered improper.

Mr Pitt faid a few words, purporting that he fhould wait till the papers now called for were before the Honfe, and accordingly should referve his opinion on the matter till it came properly for difcuffion.

Colonel Macleod accufed Tippoo Sultan of withing to extirpate every Christian from out his country; and of poffeffing every bad quality that ought to bring upon him the deteftation of all the powers in the world. Mr Scott joined the laft Hon. fpeaker in fentiment refpecting Tippoo Sultan, and most heartily wished that his power in India might be crushed for ever.

The motion was then unanimously agreed to. On Dec. 29. his Majefty came to the House of Peers, and being feated on the throne, a meffage was fent to the Commons commanding their attendance. The Commons immediately attended, and being at the bar, their Speaker prefented the bills agreed to by both Houses, and addressed his Majefty as follows:

"Moft Gracious Sovereign,

"Your faithful Commons attend your Majefty with fundry bills of fupply, which they have paffed for the public fervice.

"A large part of this fupply has been granted for the purpose of carrying into execution a measure, the principle of which has received the unanimous approbation of your Commons. Actuated by a generous and wife policy, they have facrificed the confiderations of temporary convenience to those which arife from a juft regard to the permanent interefts of thefe kingdoms. They have accordingly provided for the complete and speedy discharge of the expences recently incurred, in fupport of the honour and dignity of your Majesty's Crown, and the rights of your fubjects, without any lafting addition to the national debt, or any embarrassment to that fyftem which has fo effectually sustained and advanced the public credit of the country. "Your Commons, Sire, are induced to hope, that their conduct on this occafion will operate as a falutary example to future times; and that its immediate effect will be, to eftablish an universal conviction of the internal strength and abundant resources of this coun try, and confequently to afford an additional

fecurity for the continuance of the bieffings of peace. A measure which is the refult of fuch motives, and which leads to fuch confe quences, your Commons are perfuaded, cannot fail to receive your Majesty's most gras cious approbation.

"The bills which it is my duty to prefent to your Majefty, are feverally intituled," [here the Speaker read the titles of the bills; and concluded by faying,

"To which your Commons, with all humility, defire your Majesty's royal affent.”

The different bills then received the royal affent, and the King immediately retired, and the Commons withdrew. The Lords then adjourned to the 31st of January, and the Commons to the 2d of February.

Account of BARJAC, Valet de Chambre to Car. dinal Fleury.

AT the fame time that the Abbé Polet lorded it over the confcience of Cardinal Fleury, a valet, named Barjac, ruled him in temporal matters. Luckily both Pos let and Barjac were men of fenfe, of honour, and even of virtue.

Barjec had been long attached to Fleury, and in quality of valet de chambre, had for merly been the confident of his pleasures and of his vexations. The public knew this; and people in place did not blush to vifit Barjac or to treat him like a man of quality.

He lived in a fplendid ftyle; and the Car dinal, who stood upon little ceremony with certain courtiers, used to fay when his own table was too full," Well, do you go and dine with Barjac." This valet was fo accuf tomed to be courted and careffed, that without growing infolent or forgetting himself, he affumed the tone of a great man, and interfered in ftate affairs, in matters of finances, and in the difpofal of offices, like one of the ministers, and in the same style, speaking of the proceedings of the Cardinal in the first perfon, and never failing to fay, "I have given the Duc d'Antin fuch a commiflion : the Marechal de Villars gave me a call this morning: yesterday I had a deal of company with me at dinner :" and in many other such inftances imitating the Cardinal.

In his letters he was not more respectful; he always affected to put himself on an equa lity even with the Marechals of France, whom be never condescended to treat with those long finales which cuftom and refpect demand, but merely fet his name at the end of his letters, like the Cardinal, and without any greater ceremony.

Barjac had imitated fo fuccefsfully the beautiful fimplicity of his mafter, that his behaviour was not that of a valet; his manners were decent; and he knew the refpect due to rank, to titles, and to people in place; and he did not fail to remind even courtiers, when they forgot themselves, of what they

were ;

were; and repulfed, by affected complaifance, whoever came to him to talk of business in the tyle of a great lord, or man of importance. But he would neither humble himself before the great, nor would he fuffer the great to humble themselves before him; behaving to them always on a footing of equality, without affecting fuperiority, or departing from the rank he had affumed with them; never quitting it, except when others quitted it with regard to him, and becoming affect edly refpectful, when he was treated with haughtiness or with too great humility.

Barjac expected to be vifited, nay to be confulted, and he had a hand in the diftribution of all favours. He was juft in the patronage he beftowed, infifting on being made acquainted with the candidates for his protection, and excluding from employment thofe who did not perfonally wait on him. He u fed to fay, with great indifference, and in very laconic terms, "I do not know him," when he was applied to on behalf of any perfon who did not vifit him.

The Cardinal in his youth had had wants known to few, and the valet had been attached to him with a fidelity and a fecrecy not to be thaken. He had always ferved his mater in the different steps of his elevation; he had the fame turn of mind, the fame principles, the fame address, the same good nature with his mafter, together with all his little fubtleties and artifices. He exercifed over him all the power which an old and faithful fervant has over his master; but this power was always refpe&tful and friendly, and fuch as a man who had for fo long a time managed his business and his gallantries, might be expected to affume over a Cardinal now grown a minifter and a devotee. Accordingly there were no affairs of fate kept fecret from Barjac, and he spoke of them with an air of importance, when he was with the minifters, or with perfons entrusted with public business. He alfo fpoke of them in the plural number, or in the first perfon, as he did of the domeftic affairs of the Cardinal; and when he had been in a more particular manner intrufted with the execution of any bufinefs, or when he had made choice of those who were to negotiate it, he expreffed himfelf with a ftill greater degree of egotifm, for he would then fay, "I have done it; I have concluded it; I have finished the treaty:" and in this way he talked of the principal af fairs of ftate, which were all deliberated up. os in the closet of the Cardinal, before they were laid before the council; the King in the mean time amufing himself with the famous Sifters, at Rambouillet, or in the chace. Thas Barjac governed a part of the affairs of France, and filled up vacant places; he even crafted of the fuperior officers in the army, of the minifters and prelates whom he kad appointed, that they should give fuch

and fuch offices to the perfons he recommended to them; so that the patronage of Barjac was“ more important than that of the ministers, or of the Cardinal himself. He often ordered the brevets that had been figned by the King and counter-figned by a minifter, to be brought to him, and had the places afterwards given away to others; he was always fure of a de lay at least, if not of a total exclufion; and fometimes he accomplished the exclufion, though he did not get the giving away of the place; but it must be owned, that he acted always with great juftice, and had a clearer infight into bufinefs, and was a bet ter judge of mens genius and merits, than the Cardinal, who being fatisfied of his good fenfe and integrity, allowed him to govern.

It was, therefore, neceflary to be acquainted with Barjac before any one could be promoted, especially at the beginning, for afterwards he was supplanted by Chauvelin : therewas likewife a neceffity for paying him a fort of court, but in a delicate manner, and with addrefs: abject behaviour in his prefence was fure to meet with a repulfe, and he then pretended to forget who he was, quitting the manners of an equal, and affuming thofe of a fervant, in order to raise the person who abafed himself before him.

It happened one day, that a certain noble." man went to afk a favour of him. This fav vour he was particularly anxious for, and in order to obtain it he fept beyond the limits of that delicacy which was necellary with Barjac, ftill more than with the Cardinal. The courtier treated him with fo much cere mony, respect, and complaifance, that Bar jac was difgufted: The nobleman went far ther; he invited himself to dinner, and fat down familiarly at his right hand, though it was the first time he had visited him, and defcanting on the virtues and intelligence of Barjac, was attributing to him the whole proiperity of France.

Barjac being able to bear this no longer got up from his feat, took the napkin from his button-hole and whipt it under his arm, feized a plate from his fervant, and placing himfelf behind the Duke's chair, prepared to do the office of a waiter at the table. The other at this immediately got up, protesting that he would never fuffer fuch a degrada tion; but Barjac replied, that though a Duks and Peer of France might forget himself, Barjac ought not to forget what was due to fo high a rank, adding, that the Duke would not obtain the favour he wanted, unless he allowed himself to be ferved by Barjac. The whole Court, the King, and the Cardinal himself, were highly entertained with the account of this facetious reproof, and the great were taught by it, that though there was a necellity for their paying court to Barjac, it was neceffary to do fo with delicacy and difcernment. Edin. Mag.

The

The Speech of GEORGE WASHINGTON, Efq; Prefident of Congress, on opening the Seffion.

"Fellow-Citizens of the Senate, and

House of Reprefentatives, IN meeting you again, I feel much fatisfaction in being able to repeat my congratulations on the favourable profpects which continue to distinguish our public affairs. The abundant fruits of another year have bleffed our country with plenty, and with the means of flourishing commerce. The progrefs of public credit is witneffed by a confiderable rife of American stock abroad as well as at home; and the revenues allotted for this and other national purposes, have been productive beyond the calculation by which they were regulated. This latter circumftance is the more pleafing, as it is not only a proof of the fertility of our refources, but as it affures us of a further increase of the national respectability and credit; and let me add, as it bears an honourable teftimony to the patriotism and integrity of the marine part of our citizens. The pun&tu ality of the former in difcharging their engagements, has been exemplary.

In conforming to the powers vefted in me by acts of the last feffion, a loan of 3,000,000 of florins, towards which fome provifional measures had previously ta ken place, has been completed in Holland. As well the celerity with which it has been filled, as the nature of the terms (confidering the more than ordinary demand for borrowing, created by the fituation of Europe), give a reafon able hope that the further execution of thofe powers may proceed with advantage and fuccefs. The fecretary of the treasury has my directions to communicate fuch further particulars as may be requifite for more precife information. Since your laft feffions, I have received communication, by which it appears, that the district of Kentucky, at prefent a part of Virginia, has concurred in certain propofitions contained in a law of that ftate, in confequence of which the diftrict is to become a distinct member of the union; in cafe the requifite fanction of Congrefs be added. For this fanction application is now made. I fhall caufe the papers on this very important tranfaction to be laid before you. The liberality and harmony with which it has been conducted, will be found to do great

honour to both the parties; and the fentiments of warm attachment to the union and its prefent government expreffed by our fellow-citizens of Kentucky, cannot fail to add an affectionate concern for their particular welfare, to the great national impreffions under which you will decide on the cafe fubmitted to you.

It has been heretofore known to Congress, that frequent incurfions have been made on our frontier fettlements by certain banditti of Indians, from the north-weft fide of the Ohio. These, with fome of the tribes dwelling on and near the Wabath, have of late been par ticularly active in their depredations; and being emboldened by the impunity of their crimes, and aided by fuch part of the neighbouring tribes as could be feduced to join in their hoftilities, or afford them a retreat for their prifoners and plunder, they have, instead of liftening to the humane invitations and overtures made on the part of the United States, renewed their violence with fresh alacrity and greater effect. The lives of a number of valuable citizens have thus been facrificed, and fome of them under circumftances peculiarly fhocking, whilft others have been carried into a deplorable captivity.

Thefe aggravated provocations rendered it effential to the fafety of the western fettlements, that the aggreffors should be made fenfible that the government of the union is not lefs capable of punishing their crimes, than it is difpofed to refpect their rights and reward their attachments. As this object could not be effected by defenfive measures, it became neceffary to put in force the act which empowers the Prefident to call out the militia for the protection of the frontiers : And I have accordingly authorised an expedition, in which the regular troops in that quarter are combined with fuch drafts of militia as were deemed fufficient. The event of the measure is yet unknown to me. The fecretary at war is directed to lay before you a statement of the information on which it is founded, as well as an eftimate of the expence with which it will be actended.

The disturbed fituation of Europe, and particularly the critical posture of the great maritime powers, whilft it ought to make us more thankful for the general peace and fecurity enjoyed by the United States, reminds us at the fame time of the circumfpection with which it becomes us