The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-01-16 00:00:00, page 3

these occasions, I appeal to Major General Rodney and
Brigadier General Collins, and for my good conduct
through the campaign, to those Gentlemen, and to Ge
neral M'Kinev, who, tho not present with that part of
the militia with which I served, was yet acquainted with
facts' and particularly, being then PreJident of the State,
was so kind, in a letter to General Rodney, as to mention
my serving as a private, after the honors I had borpe, in
very obliging terms.
So much pleated with my conduct was the prefect Ho
norable Chief ,tfice of this State, that as soon as the
administration devolved upon him, as Speaker of the
House of Adkmbly, by the captivity of the President,
and the abfeiice of the Speaker of the Legislative Coun
cil, he immediately, in the beginning of October, 1777,
sent me a commiftion of Brigadier General of The Dela
tuare State, inclofed in a letter written in the warmed:
expredions of approbation, which I now have in my pof
/ feflion. That commission I afterwards resigned, on ac
count of force objections relating to the militia and the
militia laws, which I mentioned to the Gentleman, who
Succeeded in the Government.
But —need I mention any other proofs of my behaving
properly during my residence in The Delaware State, than
the honors I received there.
Here Gentlemen, gratitude and concern for the pub
lic ^ooc'l demand, that I take some notice of the ungene
rous attempt to injure the dignity of a Sovereign State,
the ally of the greater King in the world, for the poor
purpose of hurting me.
Examine the conduct of that State, and you will find
that it has been, throughout the war, as Ready in the
common cause as any other That it was exemplarily
punctual in furhilhiug its quota of men and money, until
particular circumfiances, well known to you, and for
which Cong-rife, thcmfelvus, I believe, make proper al
lowances, would not permit its exertions to correspond
with its iuclinm.ions---and did, its exertions arc upon a
par at lead with those of force other States. The pru
dence, vigor and integrity of its measures, you may judge
of by thtfc two iidlinces. Early in February. 1781, Ibe
Delaware State tf^ the bold, Jingular Rep, of linking its
whole quta of Continental money by taxes in one
year, and accordingly paid the quota into the Con
tinental Treasury, with a considerable overplus, to pro
vide for allowances that might be made by Congress to
any of the Southern States. By this tingle decisive ope
ration, that State avoided all the embarrassments and
expences which other States incurred by calling for the
new money, founded on the resolutions of Congress in
March", l7Bo, and exchanging it at great loL for the
old---got rid totally of paper currency---and, at the fef
fr>n of the Legislature in May following, declared, by aft
of Assembly, gold and tilver at the usual prices, therein
afeertained, to be the " lawful money" of the State.
The Delaware State was also the frjl of the Union, I be
lieve, that introduced order into that chaos of politics and
morals, in which Strength and weakness, fafety and ruin,
virtue and iniquity, Strangely met together, and wrought
in wild conjunction-- --by flopping the rage of tender
laws, and instituting equitable modes of adjuring, in all
cases, the confulions that had been occasioned.
Yet, it has been publilhed to the world, by force of
your writers, that the State is generally difaffecled, or,
as others express it, that two of the three counties of
which it contiits, are difaffetted.
Such authors are deceived, or mean to deceive. There
. are difaffefted persons in the State ; and so there are in
every State. But, a majority of the people are well af
fected ; and the powers of Legillation are now, and have
been for fevers! years, in the hands of as firm and de
termined friends to the Independence of America, as any
upon this continent. The former leaders of the difaf
fedted have been expelled the State; and those who re
main are in general a poor ignorant sett, and, in a poli
tical conliberation, totally contemptible.
Ne-w-Castle county, I underhand, is graciously admit
ted to be a well affected county, because it bravely 6p
pofed the Britij'b army in its paflage through it. So it is---
and so it has proved itfelf, not only by that gallant ad,
but by every other part of its conduct. But, unluckily
for my detractors, all my honors in The Delaware State
originated from New-Castle county. Honors, thus de
rived, are, by their own coufeffion, honors indeed
The members of that much esteemed county, though.
have never yet had the happiness of residing in it, propo
sed me as a Delegate to Congress in 1779, and I was cho
sen by every vote of both branches of the Legislature.
After serving in Congress, that county, in 1780, elected
me a member of the House of Affembl,. In 1781, it elected
me a Councillor ; and that fame year nominated me for
President, to which office I was railed unanimously by
the two houses, in a full session.
How I behaved in that Ration Whether I approved
myfelf firmly attached to the true intereJis of the United
States in general, and of that State in particular---Whe
ther my measures inclined to the support of the active
friends to our liberties--- Whether I preferred the welfare
of the Republic to every other consideration---or, whe
ther I regarded'my own emoluments, rather than more
generous confederations^ are questions, which, if your
writers desire to have answered, I Should be glad, if they
would be so obliging as to apply to the people of the
State
Perhaps some of them are displeased at my accepting
the office I hold in this State. I am under too many
obligations, not heartily to forgive any expressions of such
displeasure, which they will ufe : --and they will pardon
me, when they confider how earnefily I entreated to be
excused from taking the Presidency of that State, that I
served a year, and that I could not avoid, without involv
ing myfelf in exceedingly disagreeable circumstances,
taking the Presidency here.
There is another reflection, Gentlemen, connected
with this charge against The Delaware State, which is of
too serious a nature to be passed over in silence. That
State is a Member of the Union, and, tho' a small one,
yet, from its situation, is of importance to the Union.
Do you think that your writers difeover a proper refpeCt
for the common weal, when they represent in the news
papers, and in strong terms, that two thirds of that
State, and all those in this who differ from you in some
men, to bring off the ammunition. He declined complying with
the proposal, and, if I remember right, for this reason that,
as the enemy had been in peffeffion of Wilmington for a day or
two, it was very probable they had passed the river, and fecuredl
the ammunition.----To General Redney I appeal for the truth ofl
ihis fad, I
of their Sentiments, that is, a majority of this, are de
voted to our enemies, are willing to renounce our Inde
pendence, and desirous to return to the former fubjeCtion
under Great- Britain ? Is not this confirming, as much as
they can confirm, the oft- told tales, that have, with such
an odd vicissitude, enlightened and bewildered the House
of Commons and the BritiJh Cabinet? Is not this at
tempting to realize the Ignis fatuus, which their Gene
rals, chafing on northern mountains and on southern
plains, have always found to elude their pursuit, till at
last, tired with their wanderings, they have been content,
inßead of the flying meteor, to catch---captivity.
If the House of Commons and the BritiJh Cabinet so
far believe such writers, as to be encouraged to continue
this iniquitous war one year longer, or even to continue
it so long as to occasion the death of one fellow-citizen
more, than would otherwise fall, what will such writers
deserve ? And it may be presumed, that they would
think it a rudeness to suppose they are not worthy of cre
dit. If these men can dillradthe affairs of this State, or
persuade our enemies that they are diftraded, is it net
worth considering, whom they mean thereby to Serve?
and, whether they are not inviting the war into the bow
els of Pennsylvania ?
Before I conclude this part of my address, permit me,
Gentlemen, to ask, what is your opinion of that gallant,
experienced veteran, Major General 'John Armfrong, or
of that worthy, brave officer, Major General James Ir
vine ? If you will allow me to airfwer, I will fay, it is
very high---,for their merits appear to me to be univer
sally acknowledged.
The former was appointed a Brigadier General by Con
gress, March 1,1776, before Generals Lord Stirling, Mif
flin, St Clair and Stephen. The 19th of February, 1777,
these f ur lad-mentioned Gentlemen were elected Major
Generals. The 4th of April following, General Arm-
Jlrong resigned his commiffi^n, and on account of these
promotions. He remained, I think, without any mili
tary employment, until his country called him into an
elevated rank.
Why then was it so criminal and Shameful in me to
resign? What are the dißinguilh ng circumstances that
acquit them with the honor due to them, and that con
demn me to guilt and infamy? They will pardon me, I
am sure, for venturing, in refutation of this cruel attack,
to form some kind of comparison between their cases and
mine, and endeavouring to Shelter my bunted fame under
the cover of their unblemished characters, I feleft them
from a number of inßances, because they are so well
known, and so much eßeemed in Pennfilvania.
They both resigned before the Treaty with France,
and before the Convention of Saratoga. Here our cases
are alike. They remained,! believe, after their resignations,
unemployed in a military line, till their appointments to
be Generals. In the critical campaign of 1777, I bore my
mulket as a private. This, I hope, does not make against
me. Zhad been a Member of Congress from the begin
ning of the controversy entrusted again and again by
that Assembly with their most important affairs and I
had the command of the whole militia of Pennfyvania
from its establishment though, indeed, with the title
only of firß Colonel. These circumJlances, I apprehend,
will justify me in an attention to honor, as much as the
rank of th fe Gentlemen. The promotions over them
were made in the regular mode of proceeding, by the
representative Sovereignty of the United States, under
whom they served. The promotion over me was made
in a manner that has never Since been adopted, and by
performs under whom I did not serve. This, I trust, will
not operate against me. The members of Congress were
not their enemies. Those who then reigned in Pennsyl
vania were mine. This seems to incline the Scale in my
favor. The? were, indeed, officers of regular troops---
I, 'tis true, commanded militia---but Rill our cafes' run
parallel, unless my accusers will fay, that honor ought
not to be as much regarded by militia officers as by regu
lar officers which they will hardly fav. They re
signed at the firft flight put upon them. I bore a /ts,
and a second and did Dot resign till the third. This,
fiirely, will not be to my disadvantage. Whether either
of those Gentlemen was in aßnalfervice, in the rank they
then refpettively held, after the promotions they disap
proved, and after application for redress had been un
fuccefsful, I do not know--I was in aflual service---in
the only rank left me for weeks after the firft and
second injuries done to me, " in the face of the enemy"---
and in " great danger," as the |[ Convention that con
firmed the Brigadiers over me, and that turned me sut
of Congress, have unguardedly left upon record.- -
Permit me also to ask, Gentlemen, what is your opinion
of the officers of our line, not at prefect in camp, who
were pleased to confer upon me the difiinguiihed favor of
the address, that has been lately published? Don t you
think, that they may be admittedas good judges of
honor? Don't you believe, that they would rather have
perished, than have Rained their well earned laurels,% by
addressing me as they have done, ; f they were rat con
vinced that my condud was justifiable in the judgment
of men of honor ?
The affairs of America were then in an infirm Rate, and
it was known that the BritiJh General and Admiral me
ditated an invasion of Pennsylvania with a powerful army
and fleet. Yet I have never underwood, that either of
those Gentlemen was-charged with “ faultering on the
approach of danger," or in the least censured by you, or
others, for his resignation, or for continuing without mi
litary employment, until they were promoted to their
hon arable and deferred commands of the militia.
General Irvine was appointed a Lieutenant Colonel by
Congress, November 25,, 1775- July 29; 1776, Major
Wood was appointed a Lieutenant Colonel. September 7,
1776, Lieutenant Colonel Wood was appointed a Colonel.
Later in the fall of that year, Lieutenant Colonel Irvine
was appointed a 'Colonel, and, after trying to obtain a
brevet of precedence from Congress, and not Succeeding,
he resigned in June, 1777. He remained, I believe, with
out any military employment, until his country called
him into an elevated rank.
Your opinion is surely favorable to the army, and to
those Gentlemen, who are so refpedable a part of it.
Their merits, you mus acknowlege. F< r —their labors
gave you ease—their wounds gave you fafety —their po
verty gave, not a few of you, wealth, and all of yen,
conveniencies—and their valor gave you that quiet,
which some of you employ, so much to the advantage
and reputation of your country,
in abuling me. [ To be con fe.}
X Minutes of the Convention, p^ge 66.
Several Boules ot old Country made
K E T C H UP
To be Sold at the House of S. GOSLING, in Walnut
ftrret, ar the old Forage yard, near the furnace, at
Ten Shillings per Bottle. D ^ 27+
To be SOLD by the Subferiber,
Living in Chamher's-town,
A Valuable TRACT of LAN D, situate in Berk
ley county, Virginia, containing 335 acres, 100
of which is bottom, capable of producing hemp or
grass, 30 of which can be watered ; 140 acres cleared
and on ler fenc*, 80 of which is bottom; a large ap
ple orchard noted for good fruit : there runs through
fa'd Lsnd a never failing lime-stone Spring, capable of
turning a merchant mill, with 24 feet of a natural fall,
Several Small Springs, a house, kitchen, stable, and Se
veral out bonfes : said Tra& lays within 4 miles of
Martir fburg (he county town) within 3 of that noted
traf tof rhe late general Let's, and within one and a
half miles of the honourable major general Gates's
feat. Any person inclining to purchase, on paying the
one-half or one-third of the purchase money down,
may have a rrafonable time for the payment of the re
mainder. An indisputable title will be made, and im
mediate poss ffion given to the purchaser.
Nov. 20, 1782 WILLIAM CHAMBERS.
State of Delaware, ff.
To A L L whom it may concern.
NOTICE is hereby given, that a Court of Admi
ralty will be held at the Court-house in the town
or Dover, in Kent county, in the Delaware ftafe, on
Wednesday the 29th day of this instant, January, at 10
o'cock in the forenoon of the fame day, then and there
to try the truth of the faft alledged in the libel of capt.
Thomas B 1, (qui tam,) &c. against the Brigantine
Morfon, her Tackle, Apparel, Furniture and Lading.
To the end and intent, that the owner or owners there
of, may appear and Shew cause, if any they have, why
the fame Should not be condemned according to the
prayer of laid libel. By order of the judge,
BENJAMIN VINING, remitter
Jan. 8, 1783. of the court of admiralty.
Will be Sold on Thursday
The Twe ty-third Day of this Irftant, January, at the
Fort of LEWIS, in the said Rate, The
CAR G 0
Of the Brigantine Morfon, captured by the Ship Re
nrtte, Captain B II:
CONSISTING of 400 firkins of Butter,
390 barrels and half barrels of B:ef and Pork,
iio b xes o tallow Candles, 200 dozen of felt H.tr,
too barrels of Bead and Flour, upwards of 300 pieces
Ozmhtugs, Ctc>s and Lilh Linens, an Affo.tment
of Hard-Waie, a quantity of Cheese, Qjrens- Ware,
Tin-Ware, and a Variety of other Articles, &c.
CHARLES POPE, M,rihal.
Dover, January 9, 1783.,
N. B @ The late Partneifhip of PETER and WIL
LIAM WIKOFF, by mutual content, expired lift
month, and all perfens indebted to faia Partnership,
are requested co m % ke fpsedy payment to the fub'eriber
who is fully authorised to receive and fettle the fame.
J^n. 14 1783, PETER WIKOFF.
At bis House :n F ont Arret, between Arch and Race
Streets, oppefite to Elfcry's alley, An
Assortment of European Goods,
Sa table to the Seaton : Among which are—
SUPERFINE and middling Broadcloths, Swaidkini,
Coat:%3, Ratteens, Frizes, Carablets, Serge Mi
norquer, Bedticking, Britannias and other low priced
Li ens, Bohea T^a, Wool-cards, Nankeens, R.veng
Duk, Oznaburgfy bordered Handkerchiefs, Needles.
&c &c
By Virtue ot an Order of the Court of
Admi altv of the Delaware State,
just Imported in the Ships Congress and
Intiped hum France, and to be SOLD By
Peter Wikoff,
St, Petersburg, June 2, 1782.
The return of the lift of the population of the dip
trid of Schui/ka, delivered thia year to the chancery
of the government of Mofcou, offers a Singular sass;
There lives in that diftriQ a peasant named F6odoc
Eafilly, who by two wives, whom he has successively
married, has had a very extraordinary number oi
children. The fi r ft has given him 69 in 27 births
file has had 4 births of four, Seven of three and Sixteen
of two. The second has been brought to bed butS
times, of which fix of two children each, and two of
three. These two wives have made him father of 87
children, 4 of which only have died, so that his fami
ly amount at this day to 83 children.
Extras from the English News-Papers of the 29th
August, 1782.
The following anecdote is related concerning the At
las, a 90 gun Ship, lately launched at Chatham, the
proper emblem of that Ship was an Atlas bearing the
globe, which idea was to Succeed the better, as the
figures placed at the heads of Ships necessarily take
the squashed attitude of the Atlas of the fable; but on
this occasion the globe was railed so high, that one
'▼as obliged to lessen its Size, and by a Angular circum
flance it has happened that the carpenter, who chan
ces to be an American, has made disappear all that
part of it which represented North-America.
A Near Fowling PIECE was found a
" f-w dav£ ago, The owner by applying to Justice
PASCHALI, describing it and paying charges, may
hav- it ar^n