Judges of the supreme court, members of council. judges of admiralty, treasurers, secretaries, attorney-ge nerals for the state, clerks of record, clergymen, receiv ors of public money whose accounts arc unsettled, mili tary officers in actual service, and persons I•ho deny the being of (;od, the truth Of the Prot( slant religion, and the divine origin of the Old and New Testament, cannot hold a seat either in the Senate or !louse of Commons. No business can proceed in either house, unless a ma jority of its members be present.
We arc not able to state precisely what the public expenditure of this state may be at present. A few years ago, it fluctuated from about 38,000, to 45,000 dollars. The public debt, which was chiefly contracted during the revolutionary war, consists in bills of credit to the amount of I50,0001., which arc either in the trea sury, or in circulation. Ily the determination of the commissioners, the debt, which the Union owes to this state, amounts to 500,882 dollars, or 200,7521. sterling. The money necessary for the exigencies of the state is raised by the following taxes : I. Eight-pence for every hundred acres of land, whatever its situation or quality may be. 2. Two shillings for every hundred pounds of taxable property, in town lots. 3. Two shillings for every inhabitant, whether white or black, freeman or slave, from 12 to 15 years of age. 4. Ten shillings for every stallion. 5. Forty shillings for the licence to keep a tavern, or for selling spirituous liquors. 6. For every sentence or decree, from eight to twenty shillings, ac cording to the different courts by which it is pronounced. The justices of the peace arc, in virtue of their office, collectors of the taxes; they receive six per cent. on the amount of the taxes which they collect, and sixpence for every mile which they travel on that errand. In 1795, the taxes amounted to 18,4471., 4s. sterling, or 39,200 dollars, in the following proportions : The taxes on town lots, to 2500 dollars; on lands, to 63861. 10s. sterling; the poll-tax, 25,400 dollars; the taxes on law suits, billiards, and horses, 2500 dollars; making in all 46,118 dollars, or 18,4471. 4s. sterling. Deducting from this sum the expellers of collecting the taxes, and the loss arising from defaulters, there remains a neat surplus of 15,6811. sterling, or 39,200 dollars.
Ill North Carolina, as in all the other states of the Union, the establishment of any religious sect or denomi nation, in preference to others, is expressly prohibited by the constitution. The western parts of the state, which have been settled within the last 50 years, are chiefly inhabited by Presbyterians from Pennsylvania, the descendants of people from the north of Ireland. The Moravians form a very numerous sect, and have many flourishing settlements in the state, particularly in Surry county, between the rivers Dan and Yadkin. The Quakers have a settlement in New Garden, in the coun ty of Guilford, and several congregations in Perquinlins and Pasquetank. The Methodists and Baptists are nu merous, and are daily making converts. In the districts of Wilmington, Newborn, Edenton, and Halifax, the inhabitants, amounting to about three fifths of the popu lation of the state, profess themselves of the Episcopal persuasion. At present, however, they have no house for public worship, nor is there much external appear ance of religion among them in genet al.
The character of the North Carolinians is neither re spectable nor engaging. indolence and indifference are their prevailing dispositions ;—lispositions which display themselves not only in the slovenly and inactive limner in w fen they conduct their secular business, but in their general neglect of religion. The Sabbath is disregarded, or is distinguished only by the convivial mirth of the white inhabitants, or the noisy diversions of the negroes.
The wumeo, though remarkably affia tionate, mingle but little in society ; nor are they treated with that respect and attention which is universally paid to their sex in more civilized countries. The men, of course, want that po lish and refinement of manners, which the society of the fairer part of our species, and an anxiety to win their regard, alone can impart. Living on their plantations, at a considerable distance from each other, and in a state of seclusion from the world, they delight to meet toge ther in convivial parties, and enjoy the visit of a stranger with a relish which displays itself in the most unbounded hospitality. But even ill thenr hospitality there is a coarse ness, which can only he redeemed by the benevolence which it indicates; and their conviviality almost invaria bly degenerates into gross intemperance. Drinking, gambling, and every species of dissipation, engross, the time and the attention which should be employed in the culture of their plantations, or the improvement of their minds. To the amusements of cock-lighting and horse racing they are as passionately addicted as our keenest British sportsmen; and enjoy the spectacle of a boxing match, in a style of perfection of which our most know outs hit% e scarce an idea. When two Carolinian pugilists have exhausted their strength in fair bruising, they have at length recourse to gouging, which is thus performed. Each of the combatants endeavours to twist his fore-fingers in the ear-locks of his antagonist. When these are fast clenched, the thumbs are extended each way to the nose, and the eyes gently turned out of their sockets. The victor, for his expertness, receives shouts of applause; while his eyeless antagonist is laughed at for his misfortune. We regret, for the honour of hu manity, to state, that this shocking entertainment is not confined to North Carolina, but is sometimes enjoyed by the lower classes in its sister province and in Georgia.
From this short sketch of the manners of the North Carolinians, it will easily be perceived that the edue a tion of their youth is an object of little attention. There. is not, in the whole state, a single college or university; a defect which is the less excusable, as it is expressly enjoined in the original constitution, that there shall be one or more seminaries or learning maintained at the public cxpence." Academics or schools, however, have been established at Newborn, Salisbury, and I Iiils borough. The academy at Salisbury had, in 1786, about lifty scholars, the tuition of a clergyman. The number of students in Hillshorough may be from 60 to 30: what number there may be in Ncwbern we have not been able to ascertain.
The increase of population in North Carolina has been amazingly rapid. In the year 1710, it contained no more than 1200 fencible men: and in 1810, it contained 563,516 inhabitants, and is, in regard to population, the fourth state in the union. To this rapid increase of numbers, successive emigrations from Penhsylv ania, Virginia, and other states, have greatly contributed. Now, however, the increase arises more from its OW11 stock than from emigration ; for, though colonists do arrive from these quarters as formerly, many settlers, on the other hand, emigrate again to Georgia, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Te. nesscc.
The town:, in this state are few, and of little importance. Newb:rn, Edenton. W Imington, IIaeltax. Ililkhorou.;11, and F. vett, ville, are the most considerable. „ al have each, i•: its turn, been regarded as the capital. Si•a.e. 178S, the scat of government has been fixed at Raleigh. (cc