lations and thanksgivings of a people, on all, on every bestowed. Under thy guardian providence, thou individual of whom they had conferred the best of all earthly benefits. Such men need no trophies; they ask no splendid mausoleum. We are their monument, their mausoleum is their country; and her growing prosperity the amaranthine wreath that time shall place over their dust. Well may the genius of the republic mourn. If she turns her eyes in one direction, she beholds the hall where JEFFERSON Wrote the charter of her rights: If in another, she sees the city where ADAMS kind-panied with submission to the laws; so that thy favor led the fires of the revolution. To no period of our history, to no department of our affairs, can she direct her views, and not meet the multiplied memorials of her loss, and of their glory. Lord of Hosts, have we advanced with unparalleled rapidity in the career of glory, prosperity and happiness, fostered by those free institutions which were planned by the wisdom and won by the valor of our fathers, some of whom still linger among us, full of years and full of honors, blessed with our grateful recollections. Let the lively demonstrations of joy, which mark this day as the jubilee of the people, be chastened with holy dignity and sobriety, and accommay be continued and the inestimable blessings of civil and religious freedom perpetuated to the last generations. Grant especially we beseech thee, that by thy Providence and grace we may all be fitted for At the grave of such men envy dies, and party ani- uniting, when the revolutions of time have ceased, in mosity blushes while she quenches her fires. If sci- that spiritual jubilee, which through the age of eterence and philosophy lament their enthusiastic votary nity will be celebrated by the redeemed of mankind, in the halls of Monticello, philanthropy and elo-restored by thy favor from the bondage of error and quence weep, with no less reason, in the retirement sin, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. On of Quincy. And when, hereafter, the stranger, per- this day, when we commemorate the great event forming his pilgrimage to the land of freedom, shall which proved to the world that a nation who wills ask for the monument of JEFFERSON, his inquiring it, guided and fortified by Thee, shall be free, we eye may be directed to the dome of that temple of forget not the oppressed of our race in other lands; learning, the university of his native state-the last and we implore Thee, Father of all men, in thy good labor of his untiring mind-the latest, and the favo-time, to send them deliverance. rite gift of a patriot to his country. Bless now to our moderate use and thankful enjoyBereaved, yet happy America! mourning, yet ment, the bounties of thy hand, which filleth all highly favored country! too happy, if every son whose things with good, and mercifully pardon and accept loss shall demand thy tears can thus soothe thy sorus, through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our row by a legacy of fame. Saviour." The army of the United States, devoted to the service of the country, and honoring all who are alike REMINISCENCE. A correspondent has handed us, devoted, whether in the cabinet or the field, will feel for publication, the following extract from an old an honorable and a melancholy pride in obeying this English paper. New Bedford (Mass.) Mercury. order. Let the officers then wear the badge of "House of commons, Feb. 7, 1783. Mr. Hammet begmourning; the poor emblem of a sorrow which words ged leave to inform the house of a very recent and cannot express, but which freemen must ever feel extraordinary event. The ship Bedford, capt. Moores, while contemplating the graves of the venerated fa-arrived in the Downs on the 3d of February, passed thers of the republic. Tuesday, succeeding the arrival of this order at each military station, shall be a day of rest: The national flag shall wave at half mast. And, at the close of the day, twenty-four rounds. R. JONES, Adj. gen. Gravesend the 4th, and was reported at the custom house the 6th. She was not allowed regular entry, until some consultations had taken place between the commissioners of the customs and the lords of council, on account of the many acts of parliament yet in force against the rebels in America. She is loaded with 487 butts of whale oil, is American built, manned wholly with American seamen, wears the rebel colors, and belongs to the island of Nantucket, in Mssachusetts. "This is the first vessel which displayed the thinteen rebellious stripes of America in any British port. The vessel lies at Horseleydown, a little below the tower, and is intended immediately to return to New The American Philosophical society, at Philadel phia, held a meeting on the Sth July, P. S. Duponceau in the chair, and, on the motion of Dr. R. M. Patterson, passed a number of resolutions in honor of the memory of their former president, Mr. JEF-England." FERSON, and of their illustrious associate, Mr. ADAMS. THE LATE ANNIVERSARY was duly and generally observed, and, at many places, with more than asual magnificence and respect. At New York, the jubilee was celebrated with much pomp and ceremony, and chiefly at the public expense. Among the invited guests to the corporation dinner, was the right rev. bishop Hobart, who, on being called upon by the mayor, to ask a blessing, rose and addressed the Throne of Grace as follows: MR. GALLATIN. In the REGISTER of the 24th ult. we gave an abstract of a sketch of the life of this gentleman, published by the editors of the "National Intelligencer." Some of the facts stated were de pied in a Philadelphia paper, and Messrs. Gales and Seaton addressed a letter to him that, if in error, they might be corrected, to which they received the following reply-which is mainly inserted because of the constitutional question noticed in it: NEW YORK, 20th June, 1826. "Almighty God, we adore thee as the dispenser of Gentlemen: I received your note of the 23d instant, all good, and the ruler of the universe; and we mag- and have since seen the piece in the National Intellinify thy name for the exalted privileges with which gencer of the 17th, which relates to me. This would thou hast distinguished us among the nations of the not have been published had I been consulted. My earth. At thy command, a stated revolution of time public life is public property, but such private details was consecrated as the jubilee of liberty by the peo-are matters of private concern, with which the world ple of old Accept, we beseech thee, the homage, which on this day, that completes the 50th year of our independence as a nation, ascends from the hearts and the voices of the millions of freemen who enjoy this fair land and this goodly heritage which thou hast has nothing to do. Whatever standing I may have acquired, I owe not to ancestors, but, under Providence, to the repeated marks of confidence which have, unsolicited, been bestowed on me by the people and by the government of the United States. If there has been any merit on my part, it is to have risen | fare is only twelve dollars, making the whole charge, without the aid of family connections, and, I may be from this city to Bufalo, a distance exceeding seven permitted to add, without any species of intrigue. hundred miles, only twenty-one dollar's. On the eve of my departure, I have not time to correct some errors relative to my life, which occur in the statement alluded to, and which are of no great importance. I will confine myself to the point on which you have requested some information. The question respecting my eligibility to the senate was purely constitutional. The constitution requires nine years' previous citizenship. I had arrived in the United States in the year 1780, at the age of nineteen. I did not take the oath of allegiance till the year 1785, and I was elected to the senate in 1793. It was contended that I could not be considered as a citizen but from the time I had taken the oath, and, therefore, that, having been a citizen only eight years, I was not eligible. It was urged, in support of my eligibility, 1st, that, having come a minor, pending the revolution, I had thereby become, of course, a citizen: 2d, and principally, that, it having been enacted, by the articles of confederation adopted in 1781, that the inhabitant of a state should be entitled to all the privileges of a citizen in another state, and, it being in proof that I had been successively an inhabitant of the states of Massachusetts and Virginia more than nine years prior to my election, I was, from that time, entitled to the privileges of a citizen. And in order to show that this was not a fanciful construction, set up to suit the occasion, that number of the Federalist was quoted, which, adopting that construction, argues that it was a defect in the articles of confederation, which was corrected in the present constitution, by substituting the word citizen for that of inhabitant. And this you will find to be the fact by comparing the corresponding articles in the two instruments, For my part, I have always considered the question as doubtful, and never found fault, on that account, with those who took the side opposed to my eligibility. In fact, the doubt arose with myself, and I stated, publicly, the objection which might be raised, when I was first put in nomination. It was owing to that declaration of mine that the question was agitated. Had I been silent, no opposition would have taken place. I remain, with great regard, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, ALBERT GALLATIN. MASONIC. We observe that, on two or three occasions, bodies of freemasons have appeared, in full dress, to assist in honoring the anniversary of our independence. The right of such proceedings, we suppose, cannot be discussed; but it may be suggested, for the consideration of the concerned, whether one of the great and universal principles of the order, and its general character, may not be affected by any sort of union with matters exclusively political, however deserving they may be of every testimony of respect which free men can pay them? May it not also have a tendency to encourage a belief held in some countries, that masonry interferes with the concerns of existing governments? TRAVELLING. The steam boat Constitution arrived in Baltimore last week with passengers from Philadelphia, in less than 12 hours, including stoppages. The whole distance is about 110 miles by water and 16 by land. This boat travels at the rate of 12 miles per hour, and with great apparent safety and much ease. She works with, perhaps, as little noise, or jar, as it is possible that a steam boat should. A few years ago, the stage fare from Washington city, (says the National Journal), to New York, was twenty-five dollars. The stage and steam boat fare, at this day, is only nine dollars; and from New York to Buffalo, about four hundred and fifty miles, the OLD WHIGS. From the New York Gazelle, of July 4. An old friend has furnished us with a list of the names of all those persons who left New York previous to the Declaration of Independence, on the 4th of July, 1776, that are now living, and who remained out till the peace in 1783. The publication of these names, on THIS DAY, must call up, in the bosoms of many, the most pleasurable recollections of "by gone days." With this view, we present them to our readers. John Jay, Nicholas Low, Comfort Sands, Robert Smith, John Pintard, Joshua Sands, Wm. W. Gilbert, Elias Nex, sen. John R. Livingston. Officers in the army. Morgan Lewis, Henry Rutgers, Richard Varick, Nicholas Fish, Richard Platt, Robert Troup, Jared Read, Theodosius Fowler, James Fairlie, Garrit Van Wagenen, John Wyley, Wm. Wilcocks, Timothy Hutton, Christopher Hutton, Marinus Willett, Leonard Bleecker, John Van Dyke, Peter Taulman, Isane Nicolls, John Addams. Citizens-Charles Dickerson, Wm. Dodge, Peter Amerman, Wm. Brower, Abraham Brower, Abrm. E. Brower, Charles Duryee, Isaac Vredenburgh, Wm. Bussing, Wm. Heyer, Wm. G. Forbes, Walter Seamen, Jos. Titus, Frederick Archer, Gerardus Smith, Andrew Norwood, John H. Sickels, Andrew Ten Eyck, Peter Ogilvie, Peter Cannon, John Fisher, Jas. Vandyke, Jas. Giles, Gabriel Furman, Hen. Ten Brook, Geo. Janeway, John Bingham, Edward Pattin, Hen. Tiebout, Geo. Tiebout, Wm. Byvanck, Bartholo mew Skates, Jacob Blank, sen. Jacob Blank, Ir. Ant. Brenne, Garrit Sickels, Peter Vanderhoof, Daniel Vavarro, Wm. Mersevie, Wm. Bronne, Silvester Mersevie, Jos. Dally, Wm. Hilyer, David Wolfe, Asher Pike, Joseph Jacobs, Benjamin Jacobs, Moses Judah, John Burger, Cary Dunn, Walter Heyer, Isaac Labach, Abraham Labeck, Matthew Bolmer, William Henry, George Harsin, William Leary, Thos. Arden, Anthony Post. Of the commillee of 100, chosen in April, 1775. John Jay, C. Sands, Wm. W Gilbert, John Delancey, Geo. Janeway, Peter Van Skack. Of the convention chosen in April, 1775. John Delancey. Chosen in Nov. 1775. C. Sands, John Jay. Of the above named individuals, there are one member of congress; six of the committee of 100, chosen in April, 1775; twenty officers in the United States service; four merchants, and 57 citizensTotal 89, from 68 to 82 years of age. FOREIGN NEWS. Great Britain and Ireland. In the house of lords, May 25-The earl of Darnley, after alluding to what passed on a previous evening, relative to the Greeks, stated that he believed that the conduct of the French government, as to the war between the Greeks and Turks was of a piece with their conduct in regard to the slave trade, as every day, ships and munitions of war were despatched from the ports of France to the pacha of Egypt, and under the occasional convoy of French corvettes. In allusion to the conduct of the French government in regard to the slave trade, lord Liverpool stated, that He thought nothing could be more abominable. In the house of commons, on the 20th May, lord John Russel moved his resolution for the more effectual prevention of bribery and corruption, and said that the practices were so notorious that, if the house did not Hot do something to check them, it would be better at once to legalize the sale of votes like any other commodity. Mr. Hume stated that the day previous an offer of a borough was made to him for 1.3,000, being so much for each vote, and 1.500 to be spent. Sir R. Wilson mentioned that a similar communication had been forwarded to him. The numbers on the division were equal; there being 62 ayes and 62 noes-the speaker gave the casting vote in favor of the resolution. Earl Gray, it seems, was opposed to the late proposition of the ministry for a temporary and restricted suspension of the [almost inhuman] corn laws on which the London Morning Chronicle observes: We have no objection to the earl of Gray feeling a natural anxiety to preserve that property to his fami by which had been handed down to him from a long line of ancestors; we merely regret that his lordship did not reflect how different the value of that property was in the hands of his ancestors from what it is in his own. We happen to be well acquainted with the district in which his lordship's estate lies, and to give an idea of the high value of property there at this time, from what it was at no remote period, we will take three agricultural parishes in his vicinity: in 1700, the rent of these three parishes was 1.1,768; in 1794, it was 7.14,210; in 1908, it was 1.33,450-that is, it had increased nineteen fold in the course of a century. In 1700, the whole of the three parishes could have been purchased for 1.37,000; in 1808, they would have sold for 1.836,000. An English landholder, of a century or two ago, commanded a very different share of the good things of this life from what he does now. [The comparative value of money amounts, however, ought to be considered. The time has been when an ox was sold in England for much less than a shilling.] The subscriptions for the relief of the poor in the north of England, amounted to 100,000 pounds. The New Times says-Report states that the popuJace at Bolton were so rejoiced with the news of the bonded grain release, that they actually embraced the soldiery, and cried out, "God save the king and George Canning." The poor people hoped that their bellies might be filled by "free-trade."] France. Paris, May 23. A letter which we have received from Marseilles, May 16, says, "Yesterday the Truite from Alexandria, which it left the 13th of April, commanded by lieut. Robillard, arrived in this port with fifty-five passengers, fifty-one of whom are Turks, Egyptians, or Arabs. These passengers have heen landed at the lazzaretto of this city. It was observed that three of these passengers were saluted by the Truite, which fired seven guns upon their getting on board the long boat, while they were a short distance from the vessel. All these passengers, who, being confined in the Jazzaretto, will, for a long time, have no communication but with the officers of health, are commended to Messrs. Louis Odier Aubert, citizen of Geneva. It is said there are among them three persons of distinction in the service of the Pacha of Egypt, one of whom is a Christian, who are come to France either to negotiate a commercial treaty, or to make a loan, the finances of Mebemet Ali not being in a flourishing condition. It is known for certain that there are among the passengers forty young men, whom the French government has sent for to receive their education. It will be curious to see the jesuits instructing these young barbarians in the Koras. Many things are said which would prove the excessive kindness of the ministry to their faithfal ally the Pacha, if our statesmen had not already taken measures to destroy all belief on this head," Brazil. Intelligence of the death of the king of Portugal had reached Rio, by a Portuguese frigatepon the receipt of which the emperor had issued a proclamation, setting forth his intention to remain io Brazil. He also declared his daughter Maria da Gloria, queen of Portugal; and that he had given t that country a liberal constitution. This constitu tion, it was said, would be transmitted to Portugal its few days. It was reported that the emperor had written to his brother Don Miguel, proposing the union of the latter with his daughter. The U. S. ship Cyane sailed from Buenos Ayres on the 20th April, and from Monte Video on the first of May. Admiral Brown of the Buenos Ayrean squadron had made an attack upon the Brazilian frigate Imperatrice of 60 guns and 500 men, lying in the harbor of Monte Video. By taking an advantageous position under her stern, he succeeded in cutting ber to pieces, and came off with but little damage to his squadron. The commander of the Brazilian ship and 100 of her men, were killed in the action, and it is said would have been captured, if she had not sought safety under the lee of a British frigate, lying in the port! She had seemingly sought the like favor from the U. S. ship Cyane: but capt Elliott being fond of fair play, sailed out of the port. The Brazilian blockading squadron in the La Plata consisted of thirty-five sail of vessels, frigates, sloops of war, gun brigs, &c. The English frigate Briton arrived at Rio from Callao, on the 23d May, having on board general Rodil, as also a large quantity of specie. British goods imported into Brazil, pay only 15 per cent ad val. duty-but those of the United Stater pay 24 per cent. This extra imposition, together with British imitations of our cottons, have materially lessened the demand for our manufactures; no doubt, attempts are making to relieve us of this odious inequality. Monte Video is besieged by the patriots on the land side, by about 1000 men, though the imperial garri son amounts to between 3 and 4000. It appears that the Brazilian squadron attempted to arrest the U. S. ship Cyane, capt. Elliott, as she was proceeding to Buenos Ayres-but the captain said he was bound there, and would go up, and so they let him, though he refused to visit admiral Lobos, notwithstanding he was invited to seek permission to proceed; captain Elliott refused to send his boat on board the vessel of 30 guns who hailed him, but agreed that one might be sent to him, if there was "any thing in particular" to say, and a boat was sent. The Cyane was prepared for action, as all our vessels are when they meet with strangers, that they may ob tain a warm reception, if necessary. The imperial squadron is wretchedly manned and managed. It is said that "when Lobos is asked why he does not engage Brown, he says, "Brown has long guns, and therefore the advantage." "Why not run down and grapple in with him-you would certainly have the advantage at least of being superior in numbers?" "He would board me." The following is a document of much interesttranslated for the (Baltimore] American. Speech of his majesty the emperor of Brazil, delivered in the senate chamber, on the 6th of May, 1826, at the opening of the national assembly: August and most dignified representatives of the Brazilian of that respect due to the constituted authorities, when these have been attacked and menaced, instead of being proceeded against according to law and universal justice. I well know that these, my reflections, are not nesuch dignified senators and deputies; but they will cessary before this assembly, composed as it is of serve as an assurance of the zeal, love and interest which I really take in the Brazilian empire, and in the observance of its constitution. Much more could The harmony which it is desired should exist among political departments, prevails in this constitution in the best possible manner. The whole empire is tranquil, except the province of Cisplatina. The continuation of this quiet, the necessity of the constitutional system, and the desire which I have that the empire be governed by it, point at the harmo-recommend to you, but I deem it unnecessary on my ny that should guide the senate and the chamber of part. deputies, and also the government and both chambers; and that all may be persuaded that revolutions are not the fruit of this system, but of those persons who, under its shade, seek to put in practice their own private ends. The Cisplatina province, as I have already said, is the only one not in a state of quiet, for there have revolted ungrateful men who owe much to Brazil, and who are now aided by the government of Buenos Ayres, which is actually struggling against us. The national honor demands that the Cisplatina province should be sustained, for the integrity of the empire is sworn to. On the 15th November of last year, the independence of Brazil was recognized by my august father, Don John the sixth, of glorious memory, which was followed by that of Austria, England, Sweden and France, the same having been done long before by the United States of America. CONSTITUTIONAL EMPEROR, And perpetual defender of Brazil. May, to a mercantile house in Kingston, Jam. says→→ Colombia. A letter from Carthagena, dated 31st I enclose you a copy of an official note sent by the intendant of Venezuela, senior Cristobal Mendoza, on the 7th inst. to his Britannic majesty's consul in Laguira, who has transmitted a copy to his excelleny Alex. Cockburn, which the latter has just handed this intendancy, translated by his excellency's secretary, and is as follows: REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA. CARACCAS, May 7, 1826. that nothing further of consequence has happened, SIR: I have the honor to acquaint your excellency which can disturb the order and tranquility of this territory, or the personal security and property of the inhabitants. The disturbances which happened in Valencia on the 30th of April, and which have been On the 24th April, of the present year, the anniver-reported every where, have for their object the consary of the embarkation of my father, Don John sixth, department, until the arrival of the liberator presitinuation of general Paez in the command of this for Portugal, I received the unfortunate and unex-dent, whose mediation and advice are earnestly depected intelligence of his death. The most poignant pain has possessed my heart. sired to adjust these domestic differences, and to Finding myself, when least expected, the legitimate Promote such reform as may be useful in our interking of Portugal, Algarves, and their dominions, the nal administration, without affecting, in any manner, our external relations, or altering the national integ course which I ought to pursue is presented to merity of the republic. I have just been officially assuddenly. Grief and the sense of duty alternately sured of this from his excellency general Marmo, Occupying my soul; but putting all other considerations aside, I look to the interests of Brazil. Attend-who arrived last night from head-quarters, and this ing to my word, I shall sustain my honor; I am free republic in the situation confided to me by its goassurance obliges me to continue my services to the to congratulate Portugal; and it would be indecorous of me not to do so. What would not be the ailliction I have the honor to be, sir, with the greatest contormenting my soul when seeking the congratulations of the Portuguese nation, without offending the Bra-sideration, your very obedient servant. zilian, and of separating them, (although already separated), that they should never again be united! I have confirmed the regency in Portugal, which my father had created. I have given an amnesty I have given a constitution. I have abdicated and ceded all the indisputable and irrefragible rights which belonged to the monarchical crown of Portugal, and the sovereignty of those kingdoms, to the person of my much beloved and dear daughter, the princess Donna Maria da Gloria, now Donna Maria the second, queen of Portugal. This was proper for my honor and the good of Brazil. Thus some Brazilians, though incredulous, will know, (what they ought to have known), that the interests of Brazil, and the love of her independence are strong in me; that I have abdicated the crown of the Portuguese monarchy, which by indisputable right belonged to me, only because at a future day it might not compromit the interests of Brazil, of which I am the perpetual defender. It will merit your most sedulous care to provide for the education of the youth of both sexes, for the public revenue, all other public establishments, and first of all the formation of judicious laws, as well as the repeal of others directly opposed to the constitution, that by this we may be guided and exactly regulated. The most part of the senators and deputies, who compose this assembly, must well recollect the evils which some nations have suffered from a want vernment. (Signed) CRISTOBAL MENDOZA. at Carthagena-and the Colombian squadron would brace"-men. Intelligence of the disturbances in Venezuela has reached Bogota, and the extraordinary session would accordingly be prolonged, and speedy and effectual measures adopted to prevent any interruption to the peace and harmony between New Grenada and Venezuela. The receipt of this news in Bogota had not caused much alarm. The delegates from Peru and Guatemala have arrived at Panama. Bolivar was at Guayaquil. The Spanish fleet from Cuba, had appeared off Tampico Buenos Ayres. A letter from Valparaiso, dated April 19, says "It is reported and generally believ ed, that the Chili squadron has been sold to the Buenos Ayrean government. The circumstances of the squadron's firing a salute to-day, and the admiral's flag, together with that of the national, having been hauled down in the smoke, it is thought con firms the fact. They are to be fitted out with all possible despatch." Sandwich Islands. Many of the American whaleships which touch at the Sandwhich Islands, bring away one or more of the natives, who are very use-agement and support, a force and authority not to be ful at the oar, and in other services. There are twen- deduced from any other source, nor in the possession ty of these islanders now in Nantucket, and thirteen of any other people. of them bave been collected into a Sunday school. Influenced by this impression, and, under it, pursuThey are orderly and attentive, and seem eager to ing the investigation, the committee find that the prac learn. tice of employing apprentices, in order to provide East Indies. Official intelligence had reached Eng-scamen for the royal navy, and the merchant vessels land of the capture of Bhurthpore on the 18th of of Great Britain, has been of long standing; and, with January last, by the British, under Lord Combermere, the institutions of that country, its proximity to other who, in his despatch announcing the conquest, says, naval powers, and subject to a government, in which "I cannot compute the loss of the enemy at less than the dictum of the king is, to this extent, the law of 4,000 killed, and owing to the disposition of the ca- the land, and may, at any moment, change a state of valry, hardly a man bearing arms escaped; conse- peace to one of war, either from necessity, policy, quently, as by the surrender of the town, all the or caprice; and where the concurrence of the seastores, arms and ammunition are in our possession, I man is not necessary for obtaining or securing his may say, that the whole military power of the Bhurth-employment in the public service; it is probable it pore state has been annihilated. The prisoners, affer having been disarmed, were set free." Congressional Report. IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, MAY 1, 1826. Marine apprenticeships. may have been attended with a powerful effect, and have been made in that country a most efficient engine of its naval strength. which binding out, it is provided, shall be as effectual, as if such boy had been of full age, and had, by indenture, bound himself. And, in order fully to carry this system into operation, by various acts of parliament, in the second and third years of the reign of queen Anne, magistrates, church wardens, and overseers of the poor, Mr. Lloyd, from the committee on commerce, of the were empowered to bind out any boy of ten years senate, who "were instructed to inquire into the old, who was chargeable to the parish, or who was expediency of providing by law, that, on board found begging for alms; and the same policy has been each vessel employed in foreign commerce, and continued to the present period, having been conbelonging to citizens of the United States, there firmed by the several statutes, to the time of the shall be apprentices engaged in proportion to the thirty-seventh of George III. by which a like authotonnage of such vessels," made the following re-rity is given over all such boys, as, by reason of their port: own, or their parents' poverty, were destitute of emThat, from the geographical position, ample terri-ployment, or lawful means of obtaining a support; tory, and extended maritime frontier, of the United States, stretching nearly from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi-from its naval power, irradiated, even in infancy, with rays of meridian glory; as well as from the present importance, and growing great ness, of the mercantile marine of the country, one of the principal sources, alike of its wealth, and its revenue; the committee have been fully aware of the imposing bearings, however ostensibly unimportant, of the subject referred to them, and of the expediency of rearing and maintaining a body of seamen, equal to the wants of the country, for the extension of its commerce, and the support and protection of its honor, its rights, and its interests, not only on its own coasts and borders, but over the great expanse of By numerous laws for the encouragement of Briwaters, and in the most remote regions of the globe. tish navigation, it has also been enacted, that the mas Under these impressions, and with every disposi- ter or owner of every vessel, used in the sea service, tion to realize them, the committee have endeavored of from thirty to fifty tons burthen, shall be requirattentively to examine the subject of marine appren-ed to take one apprentice; and one in addition for ticeships; in order to ascertain whether its adoption the next fifty tons, and one more for each one hunin the United States would be advisable, or instru- dred tons, where other provision had not been made, mental in producing the results, it is desired should In the West India trade, cach master of a ship is flow from it; or, indeed, whether it could be attaina- obliged to take one apprentice under seventeen years ble, without the risk of injuring, rather than improv- of age, for every one hundred tons admeasurement of ing, interests of great magnitude; or of trenching the vessel. upon those cardinal principles of a republican and equal government, without which, the protection of any isolated interests is, comparatively, of very lit tle value. As the commerce and navigation of the United States have prospered, in a manner unexampled in the annals of any other nation, for the last thirty years, without the system of marine apprenticeships having been established, or in use, recurrence must be had to the practice of other nations, in reference to it, in order to lead to a correct judgment of its effects, or of its adoption to the political and mercantile situation of the United States. A like destination has been indicated for children received and nurtured in the numerous, and most munificent national, municipal, and private charities, which so greatly honor and distinguish the liberal and humane dispositions at least, of the land of our ancestors; and where the system of marine apprenticeship has come in aid of these instituifons, and, as is contended, probably in a great measure by their instrumentality, furnishes a valuable auxiliary, if not a principal means, of sustaining its naval power, and commercial predominance. Vessels engaged in the whale fishery are required to have on board one apprentice for every thirty tons, and one fresh, or green man, as he is technically called, for every fifty tons burthen of the vessel. All these apprentices are exempted from impressment until they are eighteen years of age, but are subjected to it afterwards; in other words, when of comparatively little value, and considerable cost, they are left to the keeping and the charge of the individual who is compelled to take them; and, when matured in usefulness, they are, if occasion require it, forcibly and arbitrarily seized-for the most part, with equal reluctance to themselves, and loss to their masters, and driven into the service of the state, to man its vessels of war, and fight its battles. In doing this, the committee are naturally led to review the policy and practice of that nation, from whom we date, not only many of our principles of These apprentices may also, with the approbation general policy, but from whom we also derive most of one or more magistrates, be assigned over, and of our habits and our usages; and whose long expe- transferred, like stock or cattle, from one sea-master rience, extended maritime power, and almost unlim- to another; and sent from Dan to Beersheba, from ited commerce, give to her systems, for their encour-Oonulasky to the Orkneys, at a period of life, and |