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Humanity, justice and policy, require, that the diseased and wounded Seamen, when brought into Port, should have a home and the means of cure provided; and that the disabled and aged Seaman, who has worthily served the Country until his strength is exhausted, should have an Asylum where a comfortable subsistence may be found for his last days.

This truth has been felt in all civilized and commercial Nations. It was early felt in ours, and Laws were passed upon the subject; but they have thus far not accomplished their object. They direct 20 cents per month to be retained out of the pay of Officers, Seamen, and Marines, and that, from the proceeds, Hospitals and an Asylum should be erected. As yet not one Building has been completed, although the deduction has been regularly made from the Pay since the passage of the Law in 1799. The reasons for the failure were stated in a Report by the Commissioners of the Fund, at the last Session of Congress. A part of the Fund was absorbed by and expended, during the late War, in the Pay of the Navy. This sum has been repaid, under the Regulations and by the Order of this Department, in the course of the last 3 Years. There is another sum, however, of 50,000 dollars, which was declared by Law to be due to the Fund, on the 26th February, 1811, and was directed to be paid out of any Moneys in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, which has not yet been paid, except dollars. This sum was by 80,000 dollars less than it ought to have been. The sum which had been paid by the Navy, amounted to, at least, 130,000 dollars, as is readily shown by calculating the number employed in the service.

It is most respectfully suggested, that the whole sum of 130,000 dollars should be restored, with interest upon it now amounting to 262,600 dollars. It is not the Money of the Government or Nation. Not one cent has been paid to the Fund by the Nation. It has been taken out of the Pay of the Officers and Men, and belongs to them as justly as any portion of their private estates.

It is now mentioned, in this Report, because their rights and interests are necessarily the object of attention by this Department, and because the Money is wanted to erect the Buildings for their accommodation.

Sites have been purchased for 4 Buildings at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Norfolk, which, with a small one at Pensacola, may be made sufficiently extensive to answer all the necessities of the Service at any future period.

Two Buildings, an Hospital at Norfolk and an Asylum at Philadelphia, are progressing very satisfactorily, and if the Funds were put in a proper condition, the whole might be completed in 2 Years, and form, together, an Hospital Establishment, at least as creditable to the Country and beneficial to the Service, as that belonging to any other

Nation. The completion of this Establishment is demanded by the plainest policy. In this Country the services of our Seamen are voluntary; no impressment or other mode of compulsion is, or ought to be applied, to force them to perform the duties of Peace, or fight the battles of the Country in War.

But in proportion to the voluntary character of the Service, ought to be the effort to render that Service pleasant, and to create every inducement to join it. And when it is perfectly understood by all who are acquainted with the character of the Seaman, that his foresight is seldom directed to any other object than a place of refuge, when disease and misfortune overtake him, surely that place of refuge ought not to be wanting.

In this view, it is hoped, the Payment of the Debt before mentioned will be made; and if something were added to it, it would be justified by the consideration, that the Nation has not yet given one dollar to so desirable an object. Respectfully submitted.

Navy Department, 1st December, 1827.

SAMUEL L. SOUTHARD.

DISCOURS prononcé par Sa Majesté le Roi de Wurtemberg, à l'Ouverture des Etats, le 15 Janvier, 1828.

(Traduction.)

MESSIEURS, Chers et fideles Sujets,

L'IMPORTANCE de différens Articles de Législation qui vous ont été soumis lors de votre dernière réunion, et qui n'ont pu être disentés à cette époque, m'a engagé à convoquer une Session Extraordinaire pour s'occuper de leur délibération.

Cette Session n'ayant point d'autre objet, et une Commission Spéciale s'étant occupée pendant long temps, et avec un zêle digne d'éloges de l'examen préparatoire de ces divers Projets, j'ai lien d'espérer que vos opérations, dirigées par cet esprit de confiance réci proque, qui a protégé jusqu'aujourd'hui notre Constitution, et l'a développé d'une manière si heureuse, atteindront bientôt leur but, et que le Pays n'aura qu'à s'en réjouir.

Les Projets de Loi sur lesquels vous êtes appelés à délibérer en vertu de la Constitution, comprennent des objets d'une importance évidente pour le bien être du Wurtemberg.

D'après les changemens qui ont été proposés dans la Loi sur le Recrutement, tous les Individus qui en sont reconnus capables, doivent prendre part à une mesure qui a pour but la protection de tous, sans cependant qu'on en exclue les adoucissemens qui peuvent être reconna admissibles.

Le Projet de Loi sur le Droit de Bourgeoisie à accorder dans les Communes, est destiné à régler une des branches les plus importantes de notre Administration intérieure, d'après des principes qui, tout en conservant aux Communes les droits que leur assurent les Lois, ont pour but d'écarter les obstacles qui pourraient s'opposer au bien général, et particulièrement au développement toujours croissant de l'industrie.

Encourager de plus en plus cette industrie dans des circonstances qui continuent d'être si peu favorables à l'économie rurale, tel a été l'objet constant de mes soins.

Ce sont ces motifs qui ont dicté les Propositions qui vous ont été faites relativement à une nouvelle Ordonnance sur les Corporations Industrielles; et vous pourrez remarquer qu'on y a eu égard au principe reçu chez nous, que les changemens à faire dans la Législation pour pouvoir être durables, doivent être introduits petit à petit et pour ainsi dire par la main de l'expérience.

Plus est grande l'influence que les rapports commerciaux avec les Etats voisins produisent sur le libre et actif exercice de l'industrie, plus il m'est agréable de vous annoncer que les Négociations qui ont eu lieu sous ce rapport avec la Bavière, garantissent l'espoir fondé d'un résultat prochain et satisfaisant.

Conformément au vœu que vous avez exprimé, quelques dispositions destinées à étendre le nouveau Projet de Loi sur les hypothèques vous seront soumises, ainsi qu'une Loi pour la répression du vol.

J'ai appris avec plaisir que les craintes qui s'étaient manifestées lors de l'établissement de la Législation sur les hypothèques ne se sont pas réalisées, et qu'au contraire elle obtient de plus en plus la confiance publique.

J'aime à me persuader que lorsque vous vous occuperez des changemens à faire à la Loi concernant la Famille Royale, (haus-gesetze) vous aurez toujours devant les yeux les droits des Membres de ma Maison, et sa dignité extérieure. De mon coté, mes sentimens paternels doivent vous donner l'assurance que j'aurai égard à toutes les circonstances.

Je m'abandonne donc avec confiance à l'espoir que cette 4me Session, comme celles qui l'ont précédés, sera l'image du bon accord qui unit le Souverain et ses fidèles Etats, et que ce lien, se resserrant chaque jour davantage, résistera à tous les évènemens que l'avenir cache dans son sein.

SPEECH of the Minister of the Interior, on the Closing of the Session of the States of Wirtemberg.-2d April, 1828. (Translation.)

MOST NOBLE AND WORTHY GENTLEMEN,

I FEEL myself particularly fortunate, at the moment at which I have received the command of His Majesty to announce to you the termination of the Extraordinary Session of the States, to be enabled to inform you of the recovery of our beloved King and Queen.

We have witnessed the impression which their illness has made on every Class of their Subjects, and also the continued anxiety and incessant attention with which our Sovereign, in spite of bodily suffering, has regarded the progress of our deliberations.

His Majesty offers to you His thanks for the zeal with which you deliberated upon the Projects of Law laid before you, and for the impartial manner in which you attended to the interests both of the general and particular parts thereof, and also for your acknowledgment of the well-meaning intentions of the Government.

His Majesty is gratified by the readiness which you evinced to satisfy the just claims of His Royal House, in a manner suitable to its dignity, and to the resources of the Nation. He was not insensible of the difficulties which, in the arrangement of these matters, were opposed to the fulfilment of the general wish.

The wants of the High School, and the personal interests of its Masters and of its Directors, have been settled in such manner as to be consistent with the age and with the object of the Institution. In consequence of this arrangement, the former will the more readily attend to their vocation, and the latter fulfil the duties incumbent upon them.

By the completion of the new Law of Mortgage a great step has been made towards the reformation of the rights of the Burgher Citizens, and the explaining and simplifying points so important in the daily administration of justice.

The improvements respecting the survey of land will also serve as well to assure private credit, as the equal distribution of publick duties.

The Laws of Administration which have just been decided upon, will attest our advancement iu civilization, agriculture, and industry. The arts and sciences will find in these Laws their developement, their support, and their encouragement.

May a glorious success crown our united endeavours, and may the important arrangements concluded with the neighbouring States, which delighted us so much at the commencement of this Session, become of mutual advantage to the Contracting Parties.

Another event, not less gratifying, has marked the period of this Session: our Negotiations with the Court of Rome, after having been prolonged for so many Years, are now terminated in a manner

equally satisfactory to the Catholick Church and to the Constitutional Rights of our Government. The newly-appointed Bishop, and the Chapter to be nominated by him, will, in the course of this month, enter upon their functions.

Thus do we separate, with a beneficial feeling of mutual confidence, and of the most sincere concord, which cannot but strengthen more firmly the union between the Government and the States.

Happy the People who have such a hold upon the affections of their Sovereign!

DECREE of the Emperor of Brazil, completing his Act of Abdication of the Crown of Portugal.—3d March, 1828.

(Translation.)

THE period having arrived which I in my high wisdom had appointed to complete my Abdication of the Crown of Portugal, conformably to my Royal Decree of the 3d of May, 1826, and it being most fitting to give to the Portuguese Nation, always jealous of its Independence, an indubitable proof of my desire to see it for ever separated from the Brazilian Nation, (of which I have the distinguished glory and honour to be the Sovereign) in a manner which should render even the idea of their reunion impracticable; I think it right, of my most free and spontaneous will, after having weighed the importance of this matter, to ordain, as I do ordain, by this my Royal Decree, that the Kingdom of Portugal be governed in the name of my very beloved and dear Daughter, Donna Maria II., already Queen thereof, according to the form of the Constitutional Charter, by me decreed, given, ordered to be sworn, and sworn to; and I, moreover, most expressly declare, that I have henceforth no claim or right whatsoever to the Crown of Portugal, and its Dominions.

The Infant Don Miguel, my very beloved and esteemed Brother, Regent of the Kingdoms of Portugal and Algarves, and my Lieutenant thereof, is so to understand this, and to cause it to be published and executed.

Palace of Boa Vista, this 3d day of March, 1828.

With the Signature of His Majesty, THE KING.

SPEECH of the Emperor of Brazil, on the Opening of the Legislative Assembly.-3d May, 1828. (Translation.)

AUGUST AND MOST WORTHY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BRAZILIAN

NATION,

I OPEN this Assembly with the satisfaction of informing you that our relations of friendship with the European Powers continue, and become daily more intimate.

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