BOSTON TOWN-OFFICERS.

Selectmen-Charles Bulfinch, Ebenezer Oliver, Jonathan Hunewell, Joseph Foster, Nathan Webb, Benjamin Weld, Joseph Lovering, Joseph Austin, Robert Williams.

Overseers of the Poor-William Smith, William Phillips, Redford Webster, Thomas Perkins, Samuel Snelling, Ozias Goodwin, Wm. Mackay, Jos. Coolidge, jun. Joseph Richards, Bryant P. Tilden, Ephraim Eliot, Jona. Phillips. Master of the Almshouse-George Deblois.

Board of Health-Benjamin Whitman, esq. president. Thomas Jackson, treasurer. Nathl. Greenough, secretary. Ward No. 1, James Robinson, 2. David Stanwood, 3 Christopher Smith, 4 Josiah Marshall, 5 Jonathan Loring, 6 John Mackay, 7 Stephen Beane, 8 James Loring, 9 Samuel Dorr, 10 Benjamin Whitman, 11 Thomas Jackson, 12 Henry Bass. Health office, Faneuil-Hall.

Visiting Physician of the Port-Dr. Thomas Welsh.

Committee of Finance.-Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Board of Health.

Town Clerk-Thomas Clark; office, Fanueil Hall; salary $1000 per ann.

Treasurer and Collector-Andrew Sigourney; office, Old Statehouse; salary $2500 per ann..

Superintendent of Police-Charles Bulfinch; sal. $1000. Jeremiah Bridge, assistant; $500. Office, Fanueil Hall. Assessors of Taxes-Francis Green, John Boyle,

$816 each.

Clerk and Inspector of the Market-Nathaniel Meriam. School-Committee-The Selectmen, together with Drs. Thomas Welsh, Aaron Dexter, John C. Warren, Rev. Horace Holley, Charles Lowell, Samuel Carey, Mr. Francis J. Oliver, Charles Davis, John Heard, jun. Peter O. Thacher, William Smith, and William Wells, esquires.

Auditors of the accounts of the Treasurer, Selectmen, Overseers of the poor, and Board of Health-Stephen Codman, Francis J. Oliver, and John Osborn, esquires.

Firewards-Thos. Melville, Andrew Cunningham, John Winslow, Stephen Cadman, Jonathan Hunewell, Daniel Messinger, William Sullivan, Benjamin Smith, Nathaniel Curtis, Edward Cruft, James Phillips, Bryant P. Tilden, Nathan Webb, George Blanchard, Samuel M. Thayer, Joseph Tilden, Joseph Austin, Benjamin Rich, Joseph Lovering, Gedney King, Francis J. Oliver, John D. Williams, Wm. Harris, John Winslow, jr.Andr. Cunningham, sec'y.

02

ARTILLERY.

Statement of the Field Artillery of Massachusetts, and its distribution, as reported to the Legislature, by the QuarterMaster General, Jan. 1, 1814.

In the following extract from Mr. MADISON'S (now President of the U.S.) pamphlet, in 1795, when Washington was President, and strong apprehensions were entertained of a War with France-the effects of War are thus admirably portrayed:

"Of all the evils to public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded; because it comprises and develops the genius of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes-And armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the dominion of the few. In war too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments, is multiplied ; and all the means of seducing the minds are added to those of subduing the force of the PEOPLE-The same malignant aspect in republicanism, may be traced in the inequality of fortunes and opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and morals engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare !”

ANECDOTE.

Jan. 15, 1814. In a debate in U. S. H. of R. on the bill authorizing the President to raise the 14 regiments of infantry, (heretofore authorized to be enlisted for 1 year only) for 5 years, or during the war-Mr. Robertson (of Louisiana) said, "I consider the proposition (of Mr. Sheffy, of Virginia) to confine our forces to defensive operations, as the most paricidal ever offered in the House. There is nothing so disgraceful in history." To which Mr. Shef fy replied, "Is it paricidal, after the unsuccessful efforts of two years, after the expenditure of one hundred millions of money, and the loss of twenty thousand souls, to check ourselves in this career of ruin ?"

STRONG AND PENNINGTON.

MR. BURDICK, I send you two statements which appear very opposite to each other.

Jan. 13,1814. Gov. Pennington sent a message to the legislature of New-Jersey, on the opening of the session, in which he said"There can be no principle more destructive of order, and subversive of government, than that part of the members of the community should have a right, at their discretion, to abstract themselves from their country, and say, we did not approve the war, (between U. S. and G. B.) and, therefore, are no parties to it."

Jan. 13, 1814 Gov. Strong, in his speech to the legislature of Massachusetts, on the opening of the session, said—“ The right of fully investigating political subjects, and of freely expressing our sentiments in relation to them, is secured to us by our Constitutions, and is essential to the public safety and the preservation of a free Government. Without the exercise of this right, the most oppressive laws would not be repealed, nor the most grievous abuses reformed; and whoever attempts to invalidate this privilege, whatever name he assumes, is not a friend to republican liberty." Another extract:-" When the government of a nation engages in a war that is unjust or unnecessary, the people are bound, notwithstanding, to submit to the laws which are enacted agreeable to the constitution, and are justified in defending themselves against hostile invasion. If they do nothing more, the government alone is answerable for all the sufferings endured or inflicted." Another extract:-" In the tumult of arms the passions of men are easily inflamed by artful misrepresentations-they are apt to lose sight of the origin of a contest, and to forget, either in the triumph of victory, or the mortification of defeat, that the whole weight of guilt and wretchedness occasioned by war, is chargeable upon that government which unreasonably begins the conflict, and upon those of its subjects who voluntarily and without legal obligation, encourage and support it."

ANECDOTE.

MR. BURDICK-During a debate last Jan. on Turreau's letter, in the National Legislature, Mr. Wright (of Maryl.) introduced a toast which he said Mr. Pickering (of Mass.) gave at a dinner, given in Fanueil-Hall, Boston, to Mr. Jackson, the British minister. Having quoted it incorrectly thus, "the fast anchored isle—the bulwark of our religion"— -as soon as he sat down Mr. Pickering handed him on a piece of paper the real toast, "The world's last hope-Britain's fast anchor'd isle"-and at the bottom of the toast, Mr. P. added these words, "I am willing the sentiment should be inscribed on my tomb-stone"-which Mr. Wright rose and read, upon which Mr. Clay, the Speaker, jocosely remarked, the toast had nothing to do with the debate; but he would rather have a new toast than an old one. This was understood to be the first time a toast was ever given in Congress.

V.

N.B. The assertion of Mr. W. that the dinner was given to Mr. J. was also incorrect. The dinner was in commemoration of the an

niversary of the Ancient and Honourable Artillery Company-and Mr. Jackson and other strangers of distinction, Mr. Gerry (now V. P. of the U. S.) and other distinguished citizens, were present, on invitation from this hospitable and honorable corps. Gentlemen are often in the habit of making mistakes similar to Mr. W. and on subjects sometimes more important. Would not one of your 'Manuals' be very useful for the pockets of all who have treacherous memories-[** The Editor is perfectly willing that the experiment at least should be tried.]

BANKING CAPITAL.

MR. BURDICK, In 1804 the banking capital in the United States was estimated at $28,000,000, including the United States bank of $10,000,000. At the present period (1814) there are 36 banks in Massachusetts, with a capital of about

In New-Hampshire, 9 banks
In Rhode-Island, 14 banks,
In Connecticut, 9 banks, about
In New-York city, 8 banks

رو

$13,000,000 1,500,000

out of the city, 20 banks, about In Philadelphia, 8 banks, viz. Pennsylvania, 3,000,000; Phila. 1,800,000; Farmers' and Mechanics' 1,250,000; North-America, 800,000; Commercial, 750,000; (Mechanics, N.Liberty, and Girard's, unknown). The other banks in Pennsylvania, previous to March, 1814, not ascertained correctly; but it appears that in March last 42 new banks were erected, at one time, in that state; the proposed capitals of 12 of these 42 give an amount of 35,000,000; and the capital of the whole is probably not far from 66,000,000! which, with those in Philadelphia would amount to about

[The act chartering the 42 new banks obliges each to
pay annually into the state treasury 7 per cent. on the a-
mount of their dividends.]

In Baltimore (Maryland) 9 banks
The citizens of Philadelphia petitioned congress in

January last for a national bank, of

And a similar petition was presented from New-York.

1,708,000

1,680,000

15,250,000

10,700,000

76,000,000

8,300,000

30,000,000

I have not sufficient data to go through all the states; but enough is given to show the astonishing increase of banking capital. But I would just remark, that in the year 1808, there were 10 banks in New-Hampshire, 24 in Massachusetts, 7 in Connecticut, 13 in Rhode-Island, 4 in Vermont; and in all the other states in the Union there were only about 28. Interesting reflections on this subject might be made; but the nature of your publication requiring brevity, Lomit them. Your friend,

G.

Banks in Massachusetts are taxed annually for the use of the Commonwealth one half of one per cent. on the amount of original stock paid in. Nearly all the charters of the banks in Massachu setts expire in October, 1831.