will the demoralizing effect be confined to them. It will evince a relaxation and want of tone in the administration, which will be felt by the whole community. I shall do all that I can to secure economy and fidelity in this important branch of the administration; and I doubt not that the Legislature will perform its duty with equal zeal. A thorough examination should be regularly made, and I will promote it.

"It is particularly gratifying to me to enter on the discharge of these duties, at a time when the United States are blessed with peace. It is a state most consistent with their prosperity and happiness. It will be my sincere duty to preserve it, so far as depends on the Executive, on just principles, with all nations, claiming nothing unreasonable of any, and rendering to each what is its due. Equally gratifying is it to witness the increased harmony of opinion which pervades our union. Discord does not belong to our system. Union is recommended, as well by the free and benign principles of our Government, extending its blessings to every individual, as by the other eminent advantages attending it. The American people have encountered together great dangers, and sustained severe trials with success. They constitute one great family, with a common interest.

"Experience has enlightened us on some questions of essential importance to the country. The progress has been slow, dictated by a just reflection, and a faithful regard to every interest connected with it. To promote this harmony,

our Republican Government, and in a manner to give them the most complete effect, and to advance in all other respects the best interest of our Union, will be the object of my constant and zealous exertions. Never did a Government commence under auspices so favourable, nor ever was success so complete. If we look to the history of other nations, ancient or modern, we find no example of a growth so rapid, so gigantic; of a people so prosperous and happy.

"In contemplating what we have still to perform, the heart of every citizen must expand with joy, when he reflects how near our government has approached to perfection; that, in respect to it, we have no essential improvement to make: that the great object is to preserve it in the essential principles and features which characterize it; and that it is to be done by preserving the virtue and enlightening the minds of the people; and, as a security against foreign dangers, to adopt such arrangements as are indispensable to the support of our independence, our rights, and liberties. If we persevere in the career in which we have advanced so far, and in the path already traced, we cannot fail, under the favour of a gracious Providence, to attain the high destiny which seems to await us.

"In the administrations of the illustrious men who have preceded me in this high station, with some of whom I have been connected by the closest ties from early life, examples are presented which will always be found highly instructive

and

and useful to their successor. From these I shall endeavour to derive all the advantages which they may afford. Of my immediate predecessor, under whom so important a portion of this great and successful experiment has been made, I shall be pardoned for expressing my earnest wishes that he may long enjoy in his retirement the affections of a grateful country, the best reward of exalted talents and the most faithful and meritorious services. Relying on the aid to be derived from the other departments of the government, I enter on the trust to which I have been called by the suffrages of my fellow-citizens, with my fervent prayers to the Almighty that he will be graciously pleased to continue to us that protection which he has already conspicuously displayed in our favour."

PRESIDENT'S SECOND SPEECH.

Washington, Dec. 2. This day at 12 o'clock, the President of the United States transmitted to both Houses of Congress, the following Message, by Mr. Joseph Jones Monro, his secretary:

"Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and

of the House of Representatives, "At no period of our political existence had we so much cause to felicitate ourselves at the prosperous and happy condition of our country. The abundant fruits of the earth have filled it with plenty. An extensive and profitable commerce has greatly augmented our revenue. The public credit has attained an extraordinary elevation. Our preparations for defence, in case of future wars, from which,

by the experience of all nations we ought not to expect to be exempted, are advancing under a well-digested system, with all the dispatch which so important a work will admit. Our free government, founded on the interest and affections of the people, has gained, and is daily gaining, strength. Local jealousies are rapidly yielding to more generous, enlarged, and enlightened views of national policy. For advantages so numerous and highly important, it is our duty to unite in grateful acknowledgments to that Omnipotent Being from whom they are derived, and in unceasing prayer that he will endow us with virtue and strength to maintain and hand them down in their utmost purity to our latest posterity.

"I have the satisfaction to inform you, that an arrangement, which had been commenced by my predecessor, with the British Government, for the reduction of the naval force, by Great Britain and the United States, on the Lakes, has been concluded; by which it is provided, that neither party shall keep in service on Lake Champlain more than one vessel; on Lake Ontario more than one; and on Lake Erie and the Upper Lakes more than two; to be armed each with one cannon only; and that all the other armed vessels of both parties, of which an exact list is interchanged, shall be dismantled. It is also agreed, that the force retained shall be restricted in its duty to the internal purposes of each party; and that the arrangement shall remain in force until six months shall have expired, after notice given by one of the parties to the other of its

Upon chests, weighing under 110lb. 25 per cent. With reservation, however, of the same remedy as is prescribed in the sixth article of the law of the 3d of October 1816, in the case of inadequate tares.

We enjoin and command, &c. Passed the Second Chamber of the States-General, on the 16th of December 1817, with a majority of 85 against 7.

SARDINIA.

(From the Piedmontese Gazette) The King of Sardinia, by a decree of the 9th of Dec. has abolished

1. The prohibition against the erection of primogenitures and feudal rights, enacted by the 9th section of the edict of the 29th of July 1797, or by any other law; restricting, however, to those primogenitures and majorats only which shall be erected in favour of persons to come in terms of our lavs, the capacity of establishing similar limitations, and in favour of their descendants in the male Line, leaving in force the laws ena:ted before the 29th of July 1797, in such matters.

2. When the person who erects such majorats, however, shall leave four children or upwards, he shall not have the power of entailing more than a third part of his patrimony; and where he shall have less than four, he shall not be able to tie up more than the half of it.

3. It shall always be allowed to the person who erects such primogenitures and majorats, to transmit through them the title of no

on them.

4. It reserves to the sovereign the right of enacting, with regard to the Duchy of Genoa, such provisions as he may judge convenient.

This decree is introduced by a preamble, of which the following is the most important passage:

"Desirous to maintain in the class which, by their peculiar institution, stands nearest the throne, and whose especial duty it is to watch over its defence, that lustre and inheritance of glory which forms its noblest prerogative, we have determined to return to the laws that existed with regard to primogeniture before 1797. But for the same end, other and more important provisions still are required, for the abuse of titles must be restrained (which must emanate from us alone); and therefore the rules of their concession, transmission, and extinction, shall be fixed with relation to their dotation and prerogatives."

CONSTANTINOPLE.

(Letter from Constantinople, 20th June. Puuted in the Hamburgh Mail.)

The representations of the Ru sian minister, Count Von Strogonoff, which were founded on the most reasonable and just demands of Russia, seem not to have led to any thing decisive in the Divan. The influence of the Grand Vizier over the Reis-Effendi and the Tefterdar had hindered it. The Sultan, who, on the other hand, earnestly desired a good understanding with Russia, addressed on the 3d of March to the Grand Vizier the following energetic and remarkable rescript.—

"BALTI

"HALTI-SHERIF.

"There have been many and long deliberations already held upon the note which the Russian Ambassador has delivered; yet no journal of your sittings has yet been laid before us. It is now above 40 days since this business was laid before you for discussion. Why have you not come to any resolution upon it? From this deLay we must believe that you emplov yourselves in your sittings only in things of no consequence. Will you then wait till the Russian Ambassador is angry, and proceeds to threats If you believe that war is unavoidable, think on the means of defence: show us minutely the Lecessary causes of war, and the extent of the resources which you will employ. But on the other hand, if time and circumstance do not allow us to undertake a war, prevent the discontent of the Rusan Ambassador as soon as possiHe by a suitable answer."

The impression which this rescript made on the Divan was easily to be foreseen. It gave oc

casion to a second, which was in the following terms:

"As my Ministers, after mature consideration of all the circumstances, have considered it necessary to give up all thoughts of war, and to embrace the wise part of reconciliation, it is absolutely necessary that the conferences should be immediately opened, and that the note in question should be delivered without delay by the Reis Effendi to the Russian Ambassador; but the greatest care must be taken that this note be well and clearly drawn up; and not like the first, in which there was no sense at all, in order to give Russia to understand that it is our intention to arrange matters amicably."

The inclination of the Grand Seignor to peace, and this decisive Janguage, were sufficient to cause the fall of the opposite party. The Grand Vizier received a severe reprimand; but his instrument, the Reis Effendi, was disgraced, and his office given to the Djanil Effendi, a man who has already frequently filled that place.

A

CHAP

lowing message was received by the Senate and House of Representatives, from the President of the United States:

"The Government of Great Britain, induced by the posture of the relations with the United States which succeeded the conclusion of the recent commercial convention, issued an order on the 17th day of August, 1815, discontinuing the discriminating duties payable in British ports on American vessels and their cargoes. It was not until the 224 of December following that a correspondent discontinuance of discriminating duties on British vessels and their cargoes in American ports, took effect, under the authority vested in the executive by the act of March 1816. During the period between these two dates there was consequently a failure of reciprocity or equality in the existing regulations of the two countries. I recommend to the consideration of Congress the expedience of paying to the British Government the amount of the duties remitted, during the period in question, to the citizens of the United States; subject to a deduction of the amount of whatever discriminating duties may have commenced in

of that convention, and been collected previous to the 17th of August 1815.

Feb. 3, 1817. JAMES MADISON." This message was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed. PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT.

On the 4th of February votes were taken for the choice of persons to fill the offices of President and Vice-President; when James Monroe was declared President, and Daniel D. Tomkins, VicePresident, by a large majority.

On the same day the President was solemnly inaugurated, after which he delivered the following speech:

"I should be destitute of feeling if I was not deeply affected by the strong proof which my fellowcitizens have given me of their confidence, in calling me to the high office whose functions I am about to assume. As the expression of their good opinion of my conduct in the public service, I derive from it a gratification, which those who are conscious of having done all they could to merit it, can alone feel. My sensibility is increased by a just estimate of the importance of the trust, and of the nature and extent of its duties