The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-11-23 00:00:00, page 1

Office of Finance.
NOVEMBER 8, 1782.
NOTICE is hereby given to all whom it may
concern, That counterfeits have appeared of the
Motes issued from this office, struck on copperplate, in
the following form—" At fight pay to the Bearer
Twenty DjlUrs, for which this fhJl be your fufficient
Warrant." Which notes are fign^d by me, and di
re&ed to Mr. John Swanwick, Philadelphia. There were
fame Notes of the tame kind for Fifty and tome for
Eighty Dollars, which may perhaps be allo counterfeit
ed, though none have bem yet difeoyered. The coun
terfeits are badly executed, and might with care he de
te&ed,but (from an apprehension that such arts would
be practiced) I long since desisted from iffaing them,
and cancelled thole which were brought in tor payment.
There are now out only sixteen thousand fix hundred
and seventy dollars ; and as no great inconvenience can
arise from putting a hop to the circulation of so trivial
a sum, the public are cautioned against receiving any
Notes struck on copperplate and signed with my name.
All perlons holding those which are genuine, are de?
fired to fend them to Mr. Swanwick and receive the
money. ROBERT MORRIS.
The 27th instant, at Twelve o'clock at noon, at the
Coffee-Houfe,
Will be Sold at Public Vendue,
A PLANTATION, lying in Mount Bethell town
(hip, Northampton county, 18 miles above Eafton,
g miles below the mountain and the fame distance from
the Water-Gap, within one mile from two or three
good landing places on the river Delaware ; there are
also two grist-mills, a saw mill, two smith's (hops and
a tanyard within one mile of said pUntation—^bich
consists of about 376 acres, 100 acres of which are
cleared ploughland, which has yielded 30 hufhels 0!
wheat per acre for ten acres together ; 100 acres of
meadow ground, of which 15 acres are cleared, a good
bearing orchard of about two acres; the remainder of
the land is well watered and timbered, and large quan
tities of logs, posts and rails, &c.&c. may be cut there
on: there are three good dwelling Hoofer on fail place,
two of which are double houses, as also B^rns and ta
bling in good order. Conditions will be made known
at the time and place of sale.
Nov. X. JOHN BAYARD, AuAioner.
The 25th of November 1782,
At NIN E o'Clock in the M ORNIN G,
Will begin the SALE,
•f a Large and very General ASS OP. T MENT of
MERCHANDIZE,
Suitable for the approaching Season,
(Particulars of which wiil be pubhfhed by the Beil on
the Morning of the Day of Sale)
With a QUANTITY of
Houfhold Goods, Kitchen Furniture,
At the City Auction,
On MONDA r Next,
JOHN BAYARD, Außi neer.
N. B. Toe City Auction will be constantly held
every MONDAY; and as the Store is always open
for the Reception of Goods, it is defined (when not in
convenient) that the Goods may be sent before the
Day of Sale.
The 26th of November, instant at 10 o'Clock in the
Morning,
Will be Sold by Public Vendue,
(If the weather proves fair)
At the Widow CHEVALIER'S in Arch Greet,
r,HE Houfhold FURNITURE, PLATE, &c. be-
I longing to the estate of Peter Chevalier, deceas
ed; also a Pair of elegant GLOBES, compleat.
ALL perlons who stand indebted to the said estate
are desired to make immediate payment ; and those
who have any demands against it are desired to bring in
their accounts dirtily, properly attested, in order to
be adjusted, to
JOHN CHEVALIER,,
ADRIAN RENAUDET, )Execufors.
MARY CHEVALIER,'
On TUESDAr,
WEARING APPAREL, &e
SATURDAY,
On WEDNESDAY,
VOL. XLI
^W^^B^
GEN ERAL ADVERTISER.
Published every TUESDAY, THURSDAY and SATURDAY.—Price Six-Pence.
Mr CLAYPCOLE,
MUCH is said about town of an offer, which, as
the report goes, has been made by one of the
candidates for the office of col'eßor of excise
for the county of Philadelphia, viz. that he will give
up one third of the legal allowance upon the sums he
may pay into the treasury, if appointed the officer for
the year ensuing. The nature and tendency of this
proposition well deserve to be considered. 1 (hall ex
amine them briefly.
The excise upon wine and spirits retailed, formerly
qd. per gallon, was about fourteen months since doub
led. It produced within the county, during the last
twelve months, as I underhand, about 25001. Whether
this be so, or that it brought in a few hundreds more,
is not material at present. For argument fake, I Bate
it at that sum. On the old excise, taking 12501 to
be the amount, 5 per cent, allowance produces to the
collector 62 ; . ros. and one per cent, on the additional
excise, adds 12!. 10s. both together 75L He that of
fers to abate one third of the commission, as some
term it, wishes to purchase the appointment for 251.
If it be queried how else is the office (upported ? for
an office of great and conftaot attendance, and even
drudgery, and requiring much vigour and severity,
muR have an income, otherwise fifteen candidates would
not solicit it ; es pecially as it seems necessary that the
colledor keep a clerk to answer the numerous cabs
in his necessary absence from home. I anfwei, the
lega' emoluments are, firft, the granting of permits
for the liquors entered. Fifteen hundred of these in a
year, if indeed they ri'e so high, will contribute but
751. to the annual profits, adly, the clear half of all
seizures brought to condemnation, the charges bring
paid out of the moiety belonging to the common
wealth. What this may render, one year with ano
ther, is not easily calculated ; for as the additional ix
cife, so lately imposed, has added to the temptation to
evade paying the duty, the officer's advantage in this
refpeft may be improved, whilfi the revenue is far
from being doubled. It is tafy, however, to perceive
from this- Rate of the matter, that the income of the
officer depends mainly on the aßivity and adroitness
of he person who mail be chosen. Some men might
poffbly lay up money out of this colleaorflup, be
sides providing for a family, whilst others would fiarve
in it, and collect very little for the Rate.
Hence it must clearly appear, that choice cannot
be dropped out of fight in this appointment. How in
consistent thenis it fr any one to think that an abate
ment of one third, two thirds, or all the allowance up
on the sums collect'd, can be an inducement in dis
posing of the office. If it were proper to admit of bid.
ding about the excise, the only advantageous mode of
doing it; would be to farm cue revenue to him who
should offer the highest price, and let him make the
most of it. But the idea offriling of places in a free
fiate, affords but a wretched presage of public vir
tue. It is indeed inconsistent with stern republican
principles that offices should be so openly asked for.
The ablest men, who are often the most wodeft, mod
be fought after. Suppose thi very employment were
set up to public au&ion, it is manifeft the man of
the lougett confeience would be the highest bidder ;
and as he paid for it, so he would contrive to fell and
indemnify bimfelf. When the purchaser of a feat in
parliament pays 30001. or 40001. for his election, i.-it
not manifeft he must deal at a proportionate rate with
the crown for his vote. When things come to this
pass, all idea of chufing, upon the score of abilities
and character, vanishes, and the widest door is opened
for abuses. Let whatever checks upon collectors of
excise or other revenue be invented, dill the bet
check will be, that men of integrity be appointed;
this will secure the public far better than bonds, oaths
or the severest laws to punish extortion or peculation.
As for public prosecutions, I think we have had effi
cient samples of their infufficiency to punish frauds in
public trust. r
The honourable congress, it is said, had an offer of
this kind, some time since, from one who wiffied to be
keeper of the new prifoo in Walnut street, wherein p r! -
foners of war are confined ; which that body confider
ed as an insult. Had another candidate outbid him,
yet it might have been erfy for the purchaser of t..e
place to have made an estate out of it. A small but
daily deduction from the ration allowed to the nume
rous prisoners in cuflody; an important escape now
and then, and mild or rigorous treatment of such, as
could make a proper return to the jailor for his favour,
would soon bring in any moderate price given for the
appointment. Suppose congress had been led into tnis
kind of traffic, what are we to guess, that an auditor s
place would fetch; he who has to examine and fettle
the accounts of quarterns ffers, commissaries &c. &c.?
Without any bribe palling, an inducement to adjust
matters properly, might be loft to him by the peculat-
O R, THE
THE
ing accountant, under the guise of a game at whifi*.
But the place of fu perintendant of finance, without
doubt would bring a wonderful price; enough to sup
port many regiments. Ifhould not think that any long
purfed scoundrel coald be a loser by bidding 50,000!.
nay even 100,000!. per annum for it. Some pers
haps may think that congress has miffed a vast advan
tage by their delicacy. But had they set their office#
to sale, after this manner, what could have prevented
the united fiates going to vendue before now !
I trust the authors of these offers, did not fee the ten
dency of their propositions, yet they lead direaiy to
the venality of officers. That any thing of this nature
should have happened, indicates fufficiently the sove
reign preference given to money, Mr. Burgh, in his dis
quisitions, declares, that " to fuffer the buying and fel
ling of places is the mofi effedual method that can be
invented, for plucking upby the roots, all emulation or
desire of excelling in any thing, either ufeful or orna
mental to a country, as it is but loft time to acquire ac
complishments, which are useless if money is to prevail -
by this practice the noblest disposition is attacked and
the basest encouraged, and that the slate gardners here
by cultivate the weeds, and pluck up the plants." It
will be said, that Mr. Burgh fpeaksof the sale of places
by courtiers or ministers cf fiate for their own profit;
w ich in England is forbid by divers statutes, and where
a fheriffis sworn not to let to farm the profits of his poll.
But when, before now, did we hear of a free state set
ting her office to sale for the public advantage. For
merly in Ptnnfylvania, people thought very differently.
By an aft of assembly, passed in 1705, for regu
lating flexions, which is still in force, any person who
offers to serve as a reprefintarive, without wages, or
for lower price, Shall be expelled.
Theconftitution points out the proper remedy, wbea
competition runs high ; " lessen the profits of the office,
and then choose the officer."
This however can scarcely be necessary, as to the
permanent offices of the state. They are mostly fop
ported by fees, fettled about 30 years since. The ad
vance in the value of necessaries, since that period, has
reduced, an? will reduce them still farther. It should
be confider'd, that 1001. per annum in 1750, will not
now purchase the one half it did then. It has been
found expedient in the mean time to treble the wages
of assemblymen, i^flead of 5C per dem, they take iff.
But fheriffs and others, who depend on fees, are left
to the fame nominal recompepce for most of their ser
vices. Should offices of trust be rendered too mean for
decent characters, they must descend to such as wilt
probably make the public groan for its illjudged pat
rimony.
The permanent offices in the state are now mostly
filled by whigs, who ac epted them in the darken
kours of public affairs; in circum fiances, when ma
ny, who now tern forward to serve the public, want
ing vigor of mind or decided affection for independen
cy, flood aloof, and took care not to render their peace
with our tyrant enemy, too difficult. Till rhe 22d of
June, last year, these officers were toiling for continen
tal paper, so debased for a long time, as not to afford
offi e rent, paper, books, and other accommodations;
during that (pace the more they had to do, the more
they were distressed.
I fiaifh with remarking, that there are public ser
vices, which may, and some which ought to be set up
at vendue. Su^h as the furnifhing of rations, or
clothes to an army. In like manner, a melon may be
engaged to build a bridge or a c^urt-houfe. So a prin,
ter may properly offer to work by the sheet for the
public, as a lam,le of the paper and performance may
be pro duced.. This mode may be adopted whenever
character is not involved, nor petfonal confidence plac
ed. ANTI VENALITY.
* This refers to the well known anecdote of a Bri
t:fh commissary, who haying an account before gene
ral Howe, when in Philadelphia,, on losing at play a
competent heap of cold to the commander in chief, at
a ball, had his accou its passed next day, without diffi
culty#
* Continental officer of the Pennsylvania Line, begs
1 { that the proper person or.perlons would vouch
fafe to inform him, whv tleofficers of that lino, now
on duyv in this hate, cannot receive their fubfirtance
money for May, June and July fail, as Fennfy vania.
has paid in a confi.lerable sum on account of the cur
rent ex pences of this year, and toe officers of some
neighbouring flutes have lately received th e ir fubfift
aoce money for May, June, July, ^uguft ang Sep
tember last ; their dale not having paid any thing ca
pital, if any tiling at all, on account of this year's
taxes.
NOVEMBER 23, 17^.
[NUMB. 967.