Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Brought forward 11,440,000

6. Reserved out of the Mediterranean fund, for meeting extra

ordinary expences

100,000

[blocks in formation]

The value of merchandise, paying duties ad valorem, imported in 1802, amounts, after deducting the exportations of the same year, to thirty-one millions seven hundred and six thousand dollars. The value of the same, imported in 1803, amounts to thirty-four millions three hundred and seventy thousand dollars. The additional duty of two and a half per cent. constitutes the Mediterranean fund, and, calculated on the importations of two years, would yield annually eight hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars. But several articles, which, in 1802 and 1803, paid duties ad valorem, have since been charged with specific duties: the deduction on that account will not amount to fifty thousand dollars, and the proceeds of the additional duty may be computed at seven hundred and eighty thousand dollars; and for the eighteen months commencing on the 1st July, 1804, and ending on the 31st December, 1805, at one million one hundred and seventy thousand dollars.

The expences authorised by the act constituting the fund are,

1. For the navy, in addition to the annual appropriation

of 650,000 dollars, viz.

There had been advanced from the ordinary revenue,

prior to the 30th September, 1804

350,000

A further payment will be made before the 1st January,

1805, of

130,000

To be paid during 1805, on account of this fund

590,000

1,070,000

2. Reserved for other extraordinary expences which may be incurred for the same object

100,000

1,170,000

These duties began to operate on the 1st of July last; but as they are payable six, eight, nine, ten, and twelve months after importation, no part will be paid in the treasury in the present year, and a sum of only 550,000 dollars is expected to be received during the course of 1805. For that sum only credit has been taken in the estimate of receipts for that year, while a part of the 1,170,000 dollars, chargeable to the fund, has already been expended, and the rest is included in the preceding estimate of expences for 1805. The difference (620,000 dollars) will, at the end of next year, consist of outstanding bonds, payable in 1806; and, if the additional duty should cease at that time, that outstanding balance will, as collected, replace the sum advanced from the ordinary revenues, in anticipation of the proceeds of the fund; for it is hoped that the situation of the treasury will render it unnecessary to borrow on the credit of the fund.

BALANCE IN THE TREASURY.

The greater part of the balance of 5,860,981 dollars, 54 cents, which, on the 30th day of September, 1803, remained in the treasury, was then

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.

440

07

sensidered as applicable to the payment of certain extraordinary demands. As no such payment has been made during last year, besides the first installment of 888,000 dollars, due to Great Britain, nor any other extraordinary expences been discharged than the advance of 350,000 dollars, in anticipation of the Mediterranean fund, the balance remaining in the treasury, on the 30th of September, 1804, still amounted to 4,882,225 dollars and 11 cents. That sum, with the surplus for 1805, the sum advanced to the Mediterranean fund, and the arrears of direct tax and internal revenue, may be sufficient to discharge the balance of 1,776,000 dollars due to Great Britain, the loan of 200,000 dollars to Maryland, and 2,000,000 dollars on account of American claims assumed by the French convention. As the greater part of these demands will be paid in 1805, the balance will not probably, at the end of that year, exceed the sum which it is always expedient to retain in the treasury.

PUBLIC DEBT.

The payments on account of the principal of the debt are, during the year ending on the 30th of September last

And are, during the three years and a half, commencing on the 1st day of April, 1801, and ending on the 30th September, 1804

3,652,887 15

13,576,881 86

During the same period, a new debt of thirteen millions of dollars has been created by the purchase of Louisiana, viz.

Six per cent. stock

11,250,000

Amount of American claims assumed by the convention, two millions thereof being already provided for, out of the surplus in the treasury

1,750,000

13,000,000

Another view of the subject may be given in the following manner:

The balance in the treasury, on the 1st day

of April, 1801

1,794,044 85

And on the 30th of September, 1804

4,882,225 11

Making

3,088,180 26

From which deducting (proceeds of sales of bank shares)

1,287,600

Leaves for encrease from ordinary revenue

1,800,580 26

From the 1st day of April, 1801, to the 30th September, 1804, the following debts contracted prior to that period have been discharged:

[blocks in formation]

If the revenue during the ensuing year prove, as is probable, more productive than has been estimated, the surplus will be applied to pay 1,750,000 dollars, yet unprovided for, on account of American claims, and will so far diminish the amount of the loan authorized for that object.

Hence it appears, that the United States have, during three years and a half, ending on the 30th of September last, discharged a larger amount of the principal of their old debt than the whole amount of the new debt, created in consequence of the purchase of Louisiana; and that their existing and growing resources will, during the ensuing year, suffice, after defraying current expences, and paying more than 3,750,000 dollars, on account of the engagements resulting from the French and British conventions, to discharge near three millions and seven hundred thousand dollars of the principal of the public debt.

PUBLIC EXPENCES OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR 1805.

CIVIL list, including the civil expences of the territory of
New Orleans

[blocks in formation]

Military establishment

Naval establishment, including 71,340 dollars, 76 cents, as

611,911 50 310,982 31 269,550

942,992 48

an appropriation for the crew of the frigate Philadelphia 1,240,445 29

ESTIMATE.

Legislature, including stationary, printing, fuel, &c.

228,565

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

$2938 99

A map of Virginia, laid down from actual surveys, and the latest as well as most accurate observation, is now preparing by Mr. Madison, president of William and Mary college; a rough draft of which will, in the course of two or three weeks, be submitted to the inspection of the members of the general assembly of Virginia. The labour and expence attending the

12. About ten o'clock at night, a man dressed in sailor's apparel was found at the rear of the Exchange Coffee-house, Norfolk, frozen to death.

On the evening following, at Portsmouth, Virginia, a young man blew his brains out with a horse pístol.

New York, Dec. 18. For many years past, New York has not witnessed a fire so extensive as that which, on the 18th of December, in the morning, dealt destruction to a valuable portion of the city. At an early hour, the flames burst with dreadful fury from the house, No. 104, Front-street, where the fire originated, and the adjacent buildings. The night was very cold, and at three o'clock very few persons had assembled ; at four the bucket ranks were very imperfectly formed. At this time, owing

to the force of the wind, which blew fresh from the west, and the combustible nature of the houses, and especially of their contents, the flames were spreading with frightful and fatal haste. In the course of an hour, between twenty and thirty houses had become a prey to the fire, and, with regard to them, the engines were altogether unavailing. Great exertions were made to supply the engines; but as the water in the harbour was at ebb, and as the pumps and cisterns furnished a very small quantity, they were hot served as the occasion required. The floating engine, however, stationed at a convenient spot, proved of essential benefit, and plentifully supplied the small engines in its immediate neighbourhood. The progress of the fire was in the direction of the gale; and as it commenced at 104, Front, it of course proceeded towards the Coffee-house-slip, involving in destruction almost every building situate in Front-street, and on the east side of Water-street, between Gouverneur's-alley and the slip. Meantime, the coals and brands, carried along by the wind, fell on the shipping in the wharf, and the houses on the opposite side, and thus the fire was communicated to a still greater extent. Fortunately, however, the vessels sustained no Inaterial damage, and the progress of the fire on this side of the wharf, after it had consumed a few wooden houses, was arrested.

About five o'clock in the morning the conflagration was at its height, and the general scene at this moment, as seen from the roof of the Tontine, was grand and awful. For ty houses wrapped in flame; columns of murky smoke ascending in thickening volumes, and sweeping before the wind; showers of redhot embers scattering danger far and wide; the hiss of blazing timbers; the crash of falling walls; the busy stir of thousands, carrying furniture, serving water, and working engines; the melancholy appearance of women and children, driven from their homes, now involved in

ruin; all conspired to fill the mind with horror. The destruction of property on this occasion has been immense. The value of goods destroyed is more than a million of dollars. Among other buildings, we have to mention the excellent fireproof stores of Bailey and Bogert, and Joshua Jones, the office of the Morning Chronicle, and old Coffeehouse.

The following is a list of the particular houses, owners, and occupants affected:

Seventeen buildings in Front-street.

One three story wood building, occupied by J. Sullivan, wholesale and retail grocer.

One three story wood building, occupied by M. Blake as a flax-seed warehouse.

One four story fire-proof building, occupied by J. D. Martin and W. R. Wheaton, merchants.

One two story wood building, occupied by D. Sullivan as a flax-seed warehouse.

One two story wood building, occupied by M. Ward.

Two four story fire-proof stores, occupied by Bailey and Bogert, commission merchants.

One three story wood store, occupied by J. Forbes.

One three story brick building, occupied by Mr. Shonnard, boarding-house.

One three story brick building, occupied by J. B. Kursheedt, merchant.

One three story brick building, occupied by J. Sullivan as a dwelling.

One small wood building, occupied by C. M'Carthy, grocer, where the fire is said to have begun.

One three story wood store, occupied by Hannah Russel, tobacconist.

One three story wood store, occupied by Roche and Betts, grocers. One three story wood store, occupied by A. Ogilvie, grocer.

One three story wood store, occupied by W. Bradbury, grocer.

« ПредишнаНапред »