Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Providence, February 10, 1794.

" At this distance from the great head of the nation, we can only enquire what Congress are about ? What news do they believe York is taken by this time we presume. Congress so believed it, that " they could not keep in their sitting."

What say the wits? I hope wicked wits of Connecticut--they may laugh--but really 'tis no laughing matter. However, Congress are not camels yet, nor is the floor too hot for them, whatever it may be Warm words we may fairly expect--the views of parties appear to be so directly opposite, and not being all grounded on a love of peace, or an enquiry after what is best, we may not expect to see them attuned with a decision.

" At this distance the main object on one side seems to be to get us into a hobble, and then unhorse the present administration and jump in themselves.

"We hear daily complaints that Congress are a great body of wise men, assembled to get money and do nothing. The people at large here have no conception that they can spend two months in talking without coming to a vote. The general assembly of this state, never sit more than a week at a session--and if they had the affairs of the universe to regulate, they would do it in that time. If right, well-- if not, they can alter it next time. With this habit of dispatch, it can hardly be expected that we should wait quietly two months to hear that Congress had begun. They have made one act--but even this is found fault with. It is said we are like the Frenchman, who in a quarrel swore he would have another hem to his ruffle, and in the very quarrel lost his shirt.-- When the Algerines, and others who act like them, have got our vessels, to comfort us, we are told we shall hereafter wear two more stripes upon them. The distress of parents and others (and there are many of them here) who have friends in reach of the Algerines, is not to be described. I shall only say they are very impatient for spirited and effectual measures.

" The body of the people think the wheels move slowly. They are not fully sensible of the weight they carry--and they have but little to talk about. Have you no spare tubs to throw out, to keep our speculative politicians at bay ? Can't you propose to alter the Constitution - Suppose an amendment was to be made relating to the poor -that Congress should have power to make a general law of settlements. It would set us all a talking, and probably would be agreed to--It certainly would be right.

" We want Congress should foretell exactly the day when. the wars in Europe will endWhether we shall be hurt by them, or not-What sort of a government France will establish-When Great. Britain will stop payment, and the king flee to America for safety-What sort of treaties the United States will form with all the world-and when their glory will so dazzle the benighted inhabitants of the eastern hemisphere, that they will look to them for light in the political world, as they do to the meridian sun for light in the natural world?"