assembled on the 21st of June, lieutenant-general Cancrin, the minister of finance, opened the business of the meeting by a speech, in which he took a comprehensive view of the accounts submitted to the consideration of the council. He observed, that the report from the sinking fund commission showed that all the payments of the public debt had been effected in 1823 with the most scrupulous punctuality. Some important measures had been adopted since the preceding report; one of which was the temporary suspension of the burning of the assignats, and the employment of sums destined to that object in the extinction of the public debt. The loan bank was to proceed to further loans on a new basis. This measure was dictated by the necessity of giving vent to the great capitals which remain unemployed in banks. He next entered into a statement of the debts of the state, whether consisting of perpetual or terminable annuities, as they appeared by the accounts made up to the 1st of January, 1823. Among the debts inscribed in the great book in 1823, mentioned 19,999,849 rubles, in consequence of the loan contracted at London with the house of Rothschild in 1822. The state debt consisted, on the 1st of January, 1824, of

The amount of assignats at present in circulation is equivalent to five hundred and ninety-five million, seven hundred and seventy-six thousand, three hundred and ten rubles. The loan bank, in the course of 1823, made loans to the extent of four thousand one hundred and fiftysix rubles in silver, and six million, six hundred and sixty-seven thousand, and fifty-seven in assignats. During the same year the profits of the bank amounted to one thousand seven hundred and thirty-three rubles, sixty-four and a quarter copecs in gold; twenty-seven thousand and thirty-four rubles, forty-four and a qr. in silver; six hundred and fiftyfive thousand two hundred and fiftyfive, ninety-five in assignats. The capital of the commercial bank is thirty million of rubles; the deposits, consignments, &c. amount to one hundred and eighty-two million, five hundred and nineteen thousand, three hundred and one rubles. The number of bills protested was inconsiderable, compared with those of the preceding years; and the amount of the sums which remain to be recovered is less than that exhibited by the account for 1822. The profits of the bank for 1823 amount to nine hundred and forty-seven thousand one hundred and seventy-one rubles, twenty-five copecs. General Cancrin concluded by saying,"This sketch of the situation of our credit establishments in 1823, proves they continue in a flourishing state, and that no disagreeable accident has disturbed the progress of any of

them.

"The too great accumulation of capital remaining unemployed in the two banks, has, without doubt, been unfavourable to them. This inconvenience, which has, in spite of every effort to check it, existed for

several

several years, could not be remedied in 1823; because, on the one hand, weighty considerations prevented the loan bank from resuming its operations before the year 1824; and on the other, it was impossible to give to discounts, entirely depending on the state of trade, an extent which would not have been in harmony with it. It was, on the contrary, necessary to proceed with all the circumspection which operations of this nature require. The opening of the loan bank, however, affords at present, if need be, the means of putting in circulation the capitals which are lying idle in the commercial bank."

ST. PETERSBURGH, DEC. 31. This evening some very considerable augmentations of the import duties for next year were made known among others are the following:

ble

Raw sugars raised one silver ruper pood.

Coffee, two rubles.

Cocoa, one ruble fifty copecs.
Pepper, one ruble fifty copecs.
Pimento, ginger, cassia, one ruble.
Sago, two rubles.

Rice, twenty-five copecs.
Leaf tobacco, three rubles
Cloves and nutmegs, five rubles.
Olive oil, fifty copecs.
Twist, one ruble.

Porter, ten rubles per hogshead.
Rum, twenty-five per cent.
Wines (except Austrian and Greek)
five rubles per hogshead.

Almonds, ninety copecs per pood.
January 2.

effect from the 1st (13th) of January, 1824, has just appeared. It is signed by his majesty, Dec. 18 (30.) Raw sugars are to pay one silver per pood.

ruble

Coffee, two silver rubles. Twist pay now, undyed, five silver rubles; dyed, six silver rubles per pood.

Nutmegs, fifteen rubles.

Mace, twenty-two rubles per pood.
Cassia lignea, ten rubles per pood.
Cinnamon, ten rubles.

Olive oil, one and a quarter rubles per pood, gross weight. Rice, forty copecs.

Tobacco, leaf and stalk, four rubles.

All kinds of white cotton goods, seventy copecs per pood.

Half transparent and transparent cotton goods, except tull, muslin, and lace, two rubles twenty copecs per pood.

Camlets, shalloons, serges, and calamancoes, one ruble per pood.

Patent cords, toilinets, and other woollen goods mixed with thread and other yarn, one ruble, fifty copecs.

Wine is raised five rubles per hogshead.

Stockings and caps, calico, cords, canvass, piqué, Manchester, such white goods with white borders, white counterpanes, raised from fiftyfive to seventy copecs per pood.

Wool, spun and dyed, from seven rubles seventy copecs, to eight rubles twenty copecs; unspun and dyed, from six rubles eighty copecs, to seven rubles eighty copecs.

All these duties are in silver ru

MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF

THE UNITED STATES,

On opening the 18th Congress. "Fellow citizens of the senate and house of representatives,

"Many important subjects will claim your attentions during the present session, of which I shall endeavour to give, in aid of your deliberations, a just idea in this communication. I undertake this duty with diffidence, from the vast extent of the interests on which I have to treat, and of their great importance to every portion of our union. I enter on it with zeal, from a thorough conviction that there never was a period, since the establishment of our revolution, when, regarding the condition of the civilized world, and its bearing on us, there was greater necessity for devotions in the public servants to their respective duties, or for virtue, patriotism, and union, in our constituents.

"Meeting you in a new congress, I deem it proper to present this view of public affairs in greater detail than might otherwise be necessary. I do it, however, with peculiar satisfaction, from a knowledge that in this respect I shall comply more fully with the sound principles of our government. The people being with us exclusively the sovereign, it is indispensable that full information be laid before them on all important subjects, to enable them to exercise that high power with complete effect. If kept in the dark, they must be incompetent to it. We are all liable to error, and those who are engaged in the management of public affairs are more subject to excitement, and to be led astray by their particular interests and passions, than the great body of our constituents, who, living at home, in the pursuit of their ordinary avocations, are calm but [1824.

deeply-interested spectators of events, and of the conduct of those who are parties to them. To the people, every department of the government, and every individual in each, are responsible; and the more full their information, the better they can judge of the wisdom of the policy pursued, and of the conduct of each in regard to it. From their dispassionate judgment, much aid may always be obtained; while their approbation will form the greatest incentive and most gratifying reward for virtuous actions; and the dread of their censure, the best security against the abuse of their confidence. Their interests, in all vital questions, are the same; and the bond by sentiment, as well as by interest, will be proportionably strengthened as they are better informed of the real state of public affairs, especially in difficult conjunctures. It is by such knowledge that local prejudices and jealousies are surmounted, and that a national policy, extending its fostering care and protection to all the great interests of our union, is formed and steadily adhered to.

"The commissioners under the fifth article of the treaty of Ghent, having disagreed in their opinions respecting certain boundaries, it has been agreed by both parties to endeavour to establish it by amicable negotiation, rather than seek the mediation of a friendly power, as prescribed by the treaty.

"The negotiation which had been long depending with the French government on several important subjects, and particularly for a just indemnity for losses sustained in the late wars by the citizens in the United States, under unjustifiable seizures and confiscations of their property, has not, as yet, had the desired effect; but a minister is proceeding to 2 M

France

France to resume the negotiation.

"For arranging their respective rights and interests on the northwest coast of the American continent," adds distinctly, that this "occasion has been judged proper for asserting, as a principle in which the rights and interests of the United States are involved, that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European power."

After stating that America had proposed to the powers of Europe to declare the African slave-trade to be piracy, the message gives the following important exposition of the policy to be maintained by the United States in respect of South America. Mr. Munroe first disclaims every right or thought of meddling in the disputes of the European powers in "matters relating to themselves;" but that "with the movements in the western hemisphere, the United States are more immediately connected;" that he, therefore,

"Owes it to candour to declare, that the United States would consider any attempt on the part of European monarchies to extend their system to any portion of the western hemisphere as dangerous to their peace and safety;" that "with the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power, they have not interfered, and will not; but that any interposition for the purpose of oppressing or controlling any of the States, whose independence the republic has, after mature consideration, acknowledged, she would consider in no other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards herself," in other words, as a just cause of war.

The president regards this resolute policy so important, that he repeats, "It is impossible," says he, "that the allied powers should extend their system to any portion of either America, without endangering the peace and happiness of the United States, and therefore impossible that the latter should behold such interference, in any form, with indifference."

The other parts of the message relate chiefly to the internal affairs of the republic. The finances are declared prosperous, the annual receipts being 16,100,000 dollars, and the expenditure 11,400,000 dollars. The army is well organized and disciplined. The piracies in the vicinity of Cuba are suppressed. In the navy it is recommended to establish higher grades of rank. The mail roads in the union extend to eightyeight thousand, six hundred miles, and the amount of postage last year was 1,114,354 dollars. The message concludes as follows:

"If we compare the present condition of our union with its actual state at the close of our revolution, the history of the world furnishes no example of a progress in improvement in all the important circumstances which constitute the happiness of a nation, which bears any resemblance to it. At the first epoch, our population did not exceed three million. By the last census it amounted to about ten million, and, what is more extraordinary, it is almost altogether native for the emigration from other countries has been inconsiderable. At the first epoch, half the territory within our acknowledged limits was uninhabited, and a wilderness. Since then, new territory has been acquired, of vast extent, comprising within it many rivers, particularly the Mississippi, the navigation of which, to the ocean, was of

the