the object would be to strengthen the Federal Constitution. Mr. WHITE informed Congress that New Hampshire had declined to accede to the plan of a convention on foot. Mr. HIGGINSON said that no gentleman need be alarmed, at any rate, for it was pretty certain that the convention would not take place. He wished, with Mr. HAMILTON, to see a general convention for the purpose of revising and amending the Federal Government. 65 These observations having put an end to the subject, Congress resumed the Report on Revenue, &c. Mr. HAMILTON, who had been absent when the last question was taken for substituting numbers in place of the value of land, moved to reconsider that vote. He was seconded by Mr. OSGOOD. (See the Journal.) Those who voted differently from their former votes, were influenced by the conviction of the necessity of the change, and despair on both sides of a more favorable rate of the slaves. The rate of three fifths was agreed to without opposition. On a preliminary question, the apportionment of the sum, and revision of the same, was referred to the Grand Committee. The report as to the resignation of Foreign Ministers was taken up, and in the case of Mr. Jefferson, his mission was dispensed with; Mr. Dana's intimated return to America was approved of, unless engaged in a negotiation with the Court of St. Petersburg. (See the Journal.) The Eastern Delegates were averse to doing any thing as to Mr. Adams until further advices should be received. Mr. Laurens was indulged, not without some opposition. The acceptance of his resignation was particularly enforced by Mr. IZARD. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2ND-THURSDAY, APRIL 3RDFRIDAY, APRIL 4TH-SATURDAY, APRIL 5th. See Journals. The Grand Committee appointed to consider the proportions for the blanks in the Report on Revenue, &c., reported the following, grounded on the number of inhabitants in each State; observing that New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maryland had produced authentic documents of their numbers; and that, in fixing the numbers of other States, they had been governed by such information as they could obtain. They also reduced the interest of the aggregate debt to two millions and a half. nual interest of debt, after deducting one million of dollars, expected from A committee, consisting of Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. MADISON, and Mr. ELLSWORTH, was appointed to report the proper arrangements to be taken in consequence of peace. The object was to provide a system for foreign affairs, for Indian affairs, for military and naval establishments; and also to carry into execution the regulation of weights and measures, and other Articles of the Confederation not attended to during the war. To the same committee was referred a resolution of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, requesting the Delegates of that State to urge Congress to establish a general peace with the Indians.66 MONDAY, APRIL 7TH. The sense of Congress having been taken on the truth of the numbers reported by the Grand Committee, the number allotted to South Carolina was reduced to one hundred and fifty thousand, on the representation of the Delegates of that State. The Delegates of New Jersey contended also for a reduction, but were unsuccessful. Those of Virginia also, on the principle that Congress ought not to depart from the relative numbers given in 1775, without being required by actual returns, which had not been obtained, either from that State or others, whose relation would be varied. To this reasoning were opposed the verbal and credible information received from different persons, and particularly Mr. MERCER, which made the number of inhabitants in Virginia, after deducting two fifths of the slaves, exceed the number allotted to that State. Congress were almost unanimous against the reduction. A motion was made by Mr. GERVAIS, seconded by Mr. MADISON, to reduce the number of Georgia to fifteen thousand, on the probability that their real number did not exceed it, and the cruelty of overloading a State which had been so much torn and exhausted by the war. The motion met with little support, and was almost unanimously negatived. A letter was read from General Washington, expressing the joy of the army at the signing of the general preliminaries notified to him, and their satisfaction at the commutation of half-pay agreed to by Congress. TUESDAY, APRIL 8TH. Estimate of the debt of the United States, reported by the Grand Committee. On commutation of half-pay, estimated at 5,000,000, at six per cent. 300,000 30,000 Aggregate of interest $2,362,320 A motion was made by Mr. HAMILTON, who had been absent on the question on the ninth paragraph of the Report on Revenue assessing quotas, to reconsider the same. Mr. FLOYD, who, being the only Delegate from New York then present on that question, could not vote, seconded the motion. For the arguments repeated, see the former remarks, on the seventh of April. On the question the votes were Massachusetts, no; Rhode Island, no; Connecticut, no; New York, aye; New Jersey, aye; Pennsylvania, aye; Maryland, no; Virginia, aye; South Carolina, no. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH. A memorial was received from General Hazen in behalf of the Canadians, who had engaged in the |