t

ther-The plenty in one corner of the country, and fcarcity in another-The distance of one place, and nearnefs of another-The changes of circumftances in the courfe of a few weeks or days-Good or bad roads, or good or bad weather-The comparative quality of the goods-Thefe, and an hundred other circumftances which can never be foreseen, actually govern the prices of goods at market, and ought to govern them. If a price is just to one who brings his goods fifteen miles, it is certainly too much for one who brings them only one. If ten pence per pound is a juft price for veal at prefent, I am certain it must be too much a month hence, when veal will be much more plentiful; and yet the grafs not yet come on. If one fhilling and four pence per pound is reasonable for a fat turkey, ought not I to have more for a fatter, which is both better in its quality and weight-being lighter to its bulk, becaufe fat is not fo heavy as either lean flesh or bones. If it is reafonable to pay me one fhilling per pound for any meat in a good day, I fhall expect more if I go out in a ftorm; if not, I will ftay at home on a bad day, and fo you must ftarve one week, and pamper the next.

All thefe circumftances you muft allow to restrain and limit one another. He who is nearest, and has goods in plenty, will by felling cheap, moderate the demands of him who comes far. If you pay very dear for any article one day, the news of that spreading abroad, brings in prodigious quantities, and the price falls, and fo it happens in every other cafe. Thus it appears that it is out of your power to tell what is a reafonable price, and by attempting to do it, you not only refufe to gratify the expectations of the people, but you treat them with injuftice.

I have one more remark to make upon this fubject; that to fix the prices of goods, efpecially provifions in a market, is as impracticable as it is unreafonable. The whole perfons concerned, buyers and fellers, will use every art to defeat it, and will certainly fucceed.—

HE Prefident and Faculty of the College of New

T Jerfey, beg leave to embrace this opportunity of

congratulating your Excellency on the prefent happy and promifing ftate of public affairs; and of fincerely withing you prosperity and fuccefs in the ensuing campaign, and in what may yet remain of the important conflict in which the United States are engaged.

As this College, devoted to the interefts of religion and learning, was among the first places of America, that fuffered from the ravages of the enemy-fo, happily, this place and neighborhood was the scene of one of the most important and seasonable checks which they received in their progrefs. The furprise of the Heffians at Trenton, and the subsequent victory at Princeton, redounded much to the honor of the commander who planned, and the handful of troops which executed the meafures; yet were they even of greater moment to the cause of America, than they were brilliant as particular mililitary exploits.

We contemplate and adore the wisdom and goodness of divine Providence, as difplayed in favor of the United States in many instances during the course of the war; but in none more than in the unanimous appointment of your Excellency to the command of the army. When we confider

the continuance of your life and health-the difcernment, prudence, fortitude and patience of your couduct, by which you have not only facrificed, as others have done, personal eafe and property, but frequently even reputation itself, in the public caufe, chufing rather to rifque your own name than expofe the nakedness of your country-when we confider the great and growing attachment of the army, and the cordial efteem of all ranks of men, and of every state in the Union, which you have fo long enjoyed-we cannot help being of opinion, that God himself has raised you up as a fit and proper inftrument for establishing and fecuring the liberty and happiness of these States.

We pray that the Almighty may continue to protect and bless you—that the late fignal fuccefs of the American arms, may pave the way to a speedy and lafting peace; and that, having furvived fo much fatigue, and fo many dangers, you may enjoy many years of honorable repofe in the bofom of your grateful country.

JOHN WITHERSPOON.

I

AM informed by my correfpondents in Scotland, that feveral letters have been published in the newspapers there, containing the most virulent reflections upon me, on account of an advertisement by JP, merchant of Glafgow, relating to the fettlement of a tract of land in Nova Scotia, in which he mentions my being concerned. One or two of these papers have been fent me, and contain fo many mistakes in point of fact, as well as betray fuch ignorance of the fubject they attempt to treat, that it would be a difgrace for any man to enter into a formal quarrel with fuch opponents. Were I in Scotland at this time, I fhould think it a very great departure from prudence, to take the leaft public notice of these invectives. Few perfons have been lefs concerned than I have been, through life, to contradict falfe accufations, from an opinion which I formed early, and which has been confirmed by experience, that there is fcarcely any thing more harmlefs than political or party malice. It is

beft to leave it to itfelf; oppofition and contradiction are the only means of giving it life and duration.

But as I am now at fo great a distance, and the fubject of the fcandal is what paffes in America, fo that impartial perfons in general, may be less able to judge of the probability of facts, and cannot have proper opportunities of making a complete enquiry, I think it neceflary to ftate this matter with all the perfpicuity and brevity of which I am capable. The accufation, I think, may be reduced to the following argument-Migrations from Britain to America, are not only hurtful, but tend to the ruin of that kingdom; therefore, J. W. by inviting people to leave Scotland, and fettle in America, is an enemy to his country.

It will not be improper to mention in the entry, that my having any concern in fuch an extenfive undertaking, was wholly accidental and unexpected. I was invited and preffed to it, from a motive that was not at all concealed, that it would give the people who intended to come out, greater confidence that they fhould meet with fair treatment. This very reason induced me to confent; and that I might the more effectually answer that purpose, one of the exprefs conditions of my joining with the company was, that no land fhould be fold dearer to any coming from Scotland, than I fhould direct. This was the more neceffary, that either through mistake, and the power of European ideas, or through mifguided avarice, fome advertisements had been published in the Scots newspapers, which would not appear surprising to perfons born and educated in Scotland, but which are infinitely ridiculous to one acquainted with American affairs. In particular, one I cut out of a Glasgow newspaper, and fent home, relating to Newfoundland, where perfons were invited to go to make their fortunes, by renting each family thirty acres of land, at the eafy rent of fix-pence fterling at first, and gradually rising till it came to two fhillings yearly for Now how abfurd is this, when in many places you can buy the fee fimple of land for the fame or lefs money than is here asked for rent? Befides, how fhall thirty acres of land maintain any family, in a place where land is so cheap, and labor fo dear?

ever.