Gazette Of The United States

GEORGE-TOWN. (Maryland) June 12.

The District Court of the United States, for the district of Maryland, was opened on Tuesday the 1st instant. at the Court house in Baltimore, by the Hon. WILLIAM PACA, Esq. who delivered an excellent charge to the grand jury, of which the following are the concluding sentences:

Having thus, gentlemen briefly stated the derivation of the authority of the court and your duty—the superiority of one general government, formed by the people, and solemnly confirmed by them.—the necessity of instituting courts of admiralty and courts with exclusive criminal jurisdiction, to take cognizance of crimes and offences against the United States; and having laid before you a general state of the subjects for your enquiry, I cannot part with you without expressing an ardent wish, that in your respective counties and neighbourhoods, you would impress upon your fellow citizens the important duties of economy, sobriety and industry. The supreme Being did not place man upon earth to be a sauntering, unemployed, unaccountable creature. Your own reason and observation, and the sacred scriptures, declare the contrary, and unite in assurances, that idleness is the root of all evil, and the bane of public and private happiness. The welfare and prosperity, the grandeur and glory of these United States, depend upon enlightened manners and habits, a manly and vigorous exertion, and an animated industry. With these sentiments, gentlemen, I dismiss you to your deliberations—having a confidence in the wisdom and justice with which you will discharge your office.