on or before the 31st day of December, 1788, a model of the moft ufeful engine or machine, to be moved by water, fire, or otherwife, and by which the ordinary labour of hands, in manufacturing cotton, wool, flax, or hemp fhall be faved in a greater degree than by any engine or machine now used in the fate of Pennfylvania, a plate of gold, with fuitable device and infcription, of the value of twenty dollors. 2. To fuch perfon in the flate of Pennfylvania, as fhall raife and clean the greatet quantity of hemp, in the year 1788, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of thirty dollars--the proof to be exhibited by the first day of May, 1789.. 3. To fuch perfon in the fate of Pennfylvania, as thall raife and clean the next greatest quantity of hemp, in the year 1788. a plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars-the proof to be exhibited by the 1ft day of May, 1789. 4. To fuch perfon in the fate of Pennsylvania, as fhall raife and fwingle the greateft quantity of flax, in the year 1788, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of thirty dollars-the proof to be exhibited by the firft day of May, 1789. 5. To fuch perfon in the united fates who fhall raife and clean the greatcft quantity of cotton in the year 1788, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars-the proof to be exhibited by the firft day of May, 1789. 6. To fuch perfon as fhall exhibit, on or before the gift day of December, 1789, the moft approved fet of fpecimens or patterns of printed linen and cotten goods, flamped with in this flate, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars. 7. To fuch perfon, in the flate of Pennfylvania, as fhall exhibit, on or before the 15th of April next, the beft and most beautiful fpecimen of letter prefs in a bound volume, of at leaft 150 pages, executed by Pennfylvania made types and on Pennsylvania made paper, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars. 8. To fuch perfon as fhall exhibit on or before the gift of December, 1789, the best specimens of Pennfylvania made earthen ware, approaching the nearest in quality and useful. nefs to the delft, white ftone, or queen's ware, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars. 9. To fuch perfon as fhall exhibit on or before the 31st of December, 1789, the best and greatest variety of fpecimens of Pennfylvania flint glafs ware, a plate of gold, &c. of the va lue of twenty dollars. 10. To the perfon who will manufacture in Pennsylvania, the greatest quantity of glass bottles, flrong and hit to contain fermentable liquors, or produce to this fociety the bell fpecimen of fheet glafs, manufactured by him in this flate, a certificate of which facts to accompany the fpec mens, to be exhibited on or before the 31ft of December, 1788, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars. DO 11. To fuch perfon in the flate of Pennfylvania, as fhall make the greateft quantity of pot-afhes, not less than five tons, from the prefert time to the goth November, 1788,1 plate of gold, &c. of the value of f ty dollars. 12. To fuch perfon in the flate of Pennsylvania, as fhall make the greatest quantity of pearl-afhes, not lefs than five tons, from the prefent time to the goth November, 1758, the proofs to be exhibited on or be fore the gift of December, 1-88, 1 plate of gold, of the value of fifty dollars. Specimers of these two lat articles to be produced to the fociety. 13. To fuch perfon in the flate of Pennfylvania, as fhall fhear, from his own fheep, the greatest quanti of wool, in the year 1789, not less than two hundred pounds, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars. The proof to be exhibited on or before the first of September, 1789. Refolutions unanimously agreed to by the general affembly of Virginia, on Saturday, November 3, 1787. (Introduced by mr. George Majon). 14. To the perfon who fhall pre- RESOLVED, that the prefent pare the greatest quantity of bleached wax, not less than five hundred pounds, fit for making candles, and for exportation, on or before the ift of July 1788, plate of gold, &c. of the value of twenty dollars. 15. To the perfon who fhall difcover and produce to this fociety, the greateit variety of fpecimens, with certificates of the greatest quantity of painters' colours, drawn from the follils and earths of the united flates, on or before the 31it of December, 1788, a plate of goid, &c. of the value of fifty dollars. 16. To that perfon in the fate of Pennfylvania, who fhall, on or before the 1t of January 1789, make the greatest number of fmiths' anvils (not lefs than twenty) equal in quality and goodness to thofe ufually imported from England, a plate of gold, &c. of the value of thirty dollars. The fociety think it neceffary to inform thofe, who may become candidates for the above premiums, that they will be expected to prepare clear and fatisfactory proofs, fuch as their refpective cafes may require; and that it will be left in the option of the claimants to receive the respective premiums in cafh, or in a plate of gold, engraved with fuitable devices, or infcriptions, of the value fpecified in the different articles. Published by order of the board, SAMUEL POWEL, of a circulating money, has been in a great meafure occafioned by the general fear and apprehenfion of an emillion of paper currency-inducing monied men to lock up their gold and Silver, preferring the lofs of intereft, to the risk of lending or letting it our here. Refolved, that money, by the common confent and cultom of commercial nations, is, and ought to be, confidered as a fcale or flandard, by which to eftimate the comparative value of commodities; and that nothing can be more improper and unjust, than to fubflitute fuch a ftandard as would be more uncertain and variable than the commodities themselves. Refolved, that an emiffion of paper money would be ruinous to trade and commerce, and highly injurious to. the good people of this commonwealth, and that by weakening their manners and morals, deftroying public and private credit, and faith between man and man, it would increafe and aggravate the very evils it is intended to remedy. Refolved, that making paper cure rency, or any thing but gold and filver coin, a tender in difcharge of debts, contracted in money, is con trary to every principle of found policy as well as juflice. ..... At a meeting of refpellable inhabitants of Berkley county, Virginia. vice-prefident, Ron of the gentlemen now ESOLVED, that it is the opi GEORGE FOx, fecretary. nion met, that the united flates are under the greatest obligation to the memhers of the late convention, for their alliduity and perfeverance in accom plishing the plan of federal govern ment. Refolved, that two of the gentlemen now prefent, do wait upon the clergymen of different perfuations in this county, and requeft them to prepare a fermon, to be preached at every place of worship, on the fabbath they think moft proper, to return thanks, in a special manner, to Almighty God, for infpiring the members of the late memorable convention, with amity, wifdom, and unanimity, to form a federal government, with fo great judgment and found policy, amidst fo many and various interefts. Refolved, that the members of the prefent meeting do pledge themfelves to one another, to contribute all in their power, to eftablish and fupport the plan of federal government pro pofed by the late convention, as it appears fufficient, and well adapted, to fecure PEACE, LIBERTY, and SAFEto the citizens of the united TY ftates. Done at Martenfburgh, the 28th day government recommended by the ge neral convention of the united flares; and that the fafety, profperity, and happiness of Virginia, as well as the other states, depend greatly thereon; we, therefore, direct you, our reprefentatives, to declare, that this is the opinion of your conftituents in this corporation; and that we request an immediate recommendation be made from the legislature of this late, to fubmit the fame to a convention of delegates, chofen by the freeholders thereof, in conformity to the relolvet of the convention in that cafe made and provided. Inftructions of the freeholders of Fre deric county. the freeholders of Frederic Ta meeting of a number of county, Virginia, on Monday the 22d day of October, 1787, the fol lowing letter of instructions was unamoufly agreed upon. To John S. Woodcock and Charits Mynn Thurfton, efquires. We, the freeholders of the county of Frederic, by choofing you our reprefentatives in the affembly, have Inftructions of the inhabitants of Fre evinced our confidence in your inte dericfburg, Virginia. AT Ta meeting of the freehold ers and inhabitants of Fredericfburg, Virginia, on the 19th day of October, 1787. The federal conftitution being read, and maturely confidered, it was unanimously approved of, and refolved, that our delegates for the county Spotfylvania, fhould be inftructed in the following words: To John Dawfon and James Monroe, efquires. We, the freeholders and inhabitants of the town and corporation of Fredericfburg, convinced of the inefficacy of our prefent form of government, and of the propriety of immediately adopting the fyllem of grity and abilities for the general purposes of legiflation. It is not a diminution of that confidence which at this important crifis induces us to inftruct you. We conceive the voice of the people may give weight to the vote of the delegate. From the commencement of the conteft with Great Britain till the conclufion of the war, which has ended fo gloriously, we faw with pleasure the recommendations of congrefs fubmitted to, more implicitly than the edic of an abfolute prince; during this period, a confederation was formed, adequate to the purposes of its inflitu tion, while difinterefted patrioufa univerfally prevailed. That this fpirit fhould long continue unabated, was not to be expected, History proves e neceffity of a fupreme power, and Ficacious laws, in every ftate; and the it conftituted confederacies, ancient d modern, have not been able maintain internal peace, or to ex= their natural force with effect ainit foreign enemies, where each mber of the union retained its foreignty; but we need not recur to itory of other nations for of of thefe pofitions. Peace was no ner restored than the federal gonment relaxed. The wifelt and ft neceflary recommendations of igrefs, as well as their molt folemn npacts, have been either totally regarded, or partially complied th: hence hath enfued a breach of h both with respect to foreign ions, and our own citizens ; hence t debility of government which enemies regard with exultation, I our best patriots with anxious cern; and hence will inevitably ue, anarchy, confufion, and all direful confequences of a diffoon of government, unless an eftual remedy be timeoufly ap:d. 66 66 A noble effort has been made to orm, and an excellent plan proled for our acceptance. The quefought not to be, is this plan fect ?" but " is it an improve nt on our prefent fyftem ?" Pertion in human affairs is not to be ed for. We conceive it is well culated to fecure to us our inde idence as a nation, and our civil ts as individuals. We conceive t without a more energetic federal ernment, we cannot exift as a na1; that if the prefent attempt reform, fhould fail, there is little fpect of fuccefs in future. Such ag our fentiments, gentlemen, we ruct you to vote for holding a vention as early as poffible, to ofe confideration the propofed ftitution may be fubmitted; and t you exert your utmost influence oppofition to thofe, if any fuch there are, who may attempt to fruftrate a measure, on which our peace, liberty, and fafety, effentially depend. We are, refpectfully, yours, &c. Signed by order of the meeting, JOSEPH HOLMES, Chairman. Refolutions of the inhabitants of Peterfburg. Athe inhabitants of the town of Ta meeting of a number of Petersburg and its vicinity, on the twenty-fourth day of October, 1787, (col. Banifter in the chair), the following refolutions were unanimously agreed to: Refolved, that being fully impreffed with the incompetency of the powers of congrefs, for the effential objects of government-and feeling the abfolute neceflity of an immediate review and amendment of the confederation, this meeting with much fatisfaction beheld a generał convention of deputies affembled for that purpose, compofed of characters the moft diftinguished for experience, abilities, and integrity. That, fenfible as we are of the vaft difficulty of forming fuch a plan of government, as fhall at once combine the diverfity of interefts, and fecure the rights of the refpective states, subject to the general controul of one fovereign authority, we view with admiration and gratitude, the wif dom, unanimity, and magnanimous fpirit of accommodation, difplayed by the late convention, in the profecution of the arduous object of their appointment. That a work of fuch momentous import, framed by our beft and wifelt characters, upon the most ample deliberation and difcuffion, and founded upon the most enlarged principles and extenfive information, deferves to be received with every mark of confideration and refpect: and we are anxioufly defirous, that a flatc convention be immediately called, as we conceive every delay unworthy of the magnitude of the object, and incompatible with the urgency of our public affairs. That we approve of the propofed plan of the federal conftitution, as formed to cement the union of the dates—to establish vigour and confifence in government-to extend an uniform adminiltration of juftice to promote the general interests of commerce-and to fecure refpect abroad, and peace at home; and that fhould it be even fuppofed, that in fome lefler matters, the exclufive intereft of this flate may not have been particularly confidered, yet we are free to declare, that we have not any poffible hope, that under the circumftances of the feveral flates, a better federal conftitution can ever be obtained nor have we the fmalleit expectation, that the like exertion of fuch eminent qualifications can ever again be commanded for a fimilar purpose; deeming it certain, that there remains now for the united ftates, this only alternative, either by a fpeedy adoption of the proposed conflitution, to become a great and refpeftable nation-or, by rejecting it, to precipitate the diffolution of the union, exposed to infult and contempt, from without-to wars and diffentions, from within. That thefe refolutions be forwarded to the delegates of Dinwiddie and Prince George, who are requested to ufe their influence for immediately calling a convention, to be held at as early a day as circumftances will poffibly admit. numerous evils which have followed the intemperate ufe of diftilled fpintous liquors, in the state of Pennfylvania. They decline taking notice of the baneful effects of thefe liquors upon property and morals; and beg leave to confine this memorial to their influence upon the health and lives of their fellow citizens, and the population of ther country. That among the numerous difeafes, which are produced by the ure of dillilled fpiritous liquors, they would only mention the droply, epilepfy, pally, apoplexy, melancho ly, and madnefs; which too feldom yield to the power of medicine. That where diftilled fpirituous liquors do not produce thefe terrible and obftinate difeafes, they general ly impair the ftrength of the body, fo as to leffen its ability to undergo that labour, either in degree or duration, which it is capable of with out them. That the prevailing ideas of the neceflity and advantages of fing diftilled fpiritous liquors, to obr ate the injurious effects of extreme heat or cold, upon the human body, are altogether without foundation and that they increase the evils which they are taken to remove. That the inconvenience arifing from exceffive labour, heat, or cold, are to be removed with much more fafety and certainty, by the use of cyder or malt liquors. Your memorialifts therefore pray, that your honourable house would take the facts herein ftated, in their ferious confideration; and as guardians of the health and lives, 20 lefs than of the liberties and moral of their conflituents, that they would enact fuch a law, for check ing the improper ufe of diftilled f rituous liquors as to their wifde and humanity may feem proper. JOHN REDMAN, Preí. |