The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-03-31 00:00:00, page 2

The above table must place the fubjeß before every
reader in a striking point of light. It is evident from'
thence, that the voted salaries and allowances which
appear on the minutes of the 23d of December last, and
which are dated above, however refpeftable, are at
this day (which is about three months fmce the vote
passed) above twenty per cent, worse than they then
were, by the depreciation. The heufe, therefore, had
little occasion to reduce any at this time, yet some are
reduced' by the bill one third of the nominal fume. It
must be apparent to the most inattentive, that Should
this bill pass as it stands, unless force great feheme of
finance takes place, there must be a new bill for the
support of government before the year is comp Lated.
It may, perhaps, be aSked, are not the members of
assembly, themselves, in the fan e predicament with the
other officers? No, by no means: They have Several
times, since the revolution, offered hills to the confide
ration of their conftitoents for railing their own wages,
without attending to the necessities of prothonotaries,
regifiers, Sheriffs, &c.&c. But of late no such delicacy
has been attended to ; a hafly vote at the close of the
fitting has done the business. The last house, for in.
fiance, in their firft felons, by a reference to the
price of wheat, established their own pay by law, in
a manner which tended equally to provide with mo
deration for the officer^abovementioned, but the fame
house, at their last sessions, resolved a far greater al
lowance to themselves in the face of an aft of the le
gislature. And at the close of the firfl sessions of the>
prefect assembly (December the 23d,) we find the al
lowance again nearly doubled, by a vote of twenty
killings per diem to each representative. I have no
detign in this to reflect on the present wages as extra
'vagant:my objections lie, against the manner in which
our representatives, in this fummary'way, order the
public money into their own pockets, and the superi
or attention they pay to themselves. It is well re
membered by so that in 1777 Mr. John Jacobs,
being Speaker of Assembly. when a bill was brought
in, to raise the wages of the members, whilst all the
ether servants of the state were passed by : this gen
tleman vigorously opposed and reprobated the pro-,
pofitipn, as indelicate and improper in the highest de
gree. He would have conferred, that the then house
mould pass an as lproviding for their successors : But 1
finding the members determined to make a precedent
of this nature, ke left the chair and never joined the
draw-back. These things Should certainly claim our
attention. We have been admired by the world ; but
it is only from France, that we have experienced
friendship.
War is not the work of a day. It requires pa
tience, endeavour and perseverance, to bringjt to an
issue. We need' not fay after this, why it is not
closed. France has Readily pursued the objeds of the
war. We have not once aSked from her, without re
ceiving; and we have more than once received, with
out asking. Her policy and our policy are the fame.
Let us then do ours Ives, what we have in our power,
relying for the rest on our Ally, and that kind Provi
dence, which has done more for us, than we have
done for ourselves.
To THE CITIZENS of Pennsylvania.
IN the Packet, of Saturday, I made force observa
tions on the Bill for the support of government
and the adminifl ration of juflice," published tor con
federation by our representatives: I attempted to shew
that it was inconfiflent with the conflitutioo,. and that
the salaries given to the different officers, in money so
connected' with the old continental cu rrency, as to de
preciate with it, were inadequate; and by no means
Calculated to make them independent of the legislature..
refpea eflimating proposed, specie. they 23d, their the ive value times were the in at
President, To the or Com \
Congress, Delegates 17 4 in To 1. 110 0 about 1. b 0 about 1. 0 1 10 1 2 6
present assembly proceed proposed, contrafl to the salaries with the vote of the of December I Shall now
by Day then, Allowances The the are
President, 700 404 750 562 Vice 0 o 0 0 do. do. 0 o 10 0 -
Justice, 865 1,00 1350 Chief 00 0 0 do. 1800 do. 0 0 0 0 -
Justice, ' 700 404 750 562 Second do. 0 0 00 00 do. 10 0
500 750 562 Third and Fourth 10 Do. v o 288 0 0 0 do. 0 do. 10 0
Attorney-Gener 1, 300 250 173 187 00 0 0 do. 0 0 do. 10 - 0
Speaker Assembly, 4 17 of 10 do. 1 0 26 0 1 10 o do. 1
Secretary Council, 500 to &c. 288 0 0 do. 10 0
Assembly, 7 15 Members of 00 do. 100 1 0 11 do. 0 0
Accounts, 17 4 of Public Auditors 10 de 1 0 n v
Council, 13 9 50 26 Members of 1 do. 1 do. 0 18 0 0
Chief, 1154 2250 &c.) 1687 manner 1. in I. 2000 0 00 0 about 1. about 1. 10 0 0 0
Specie, published By Specie, reckon- Voted Aft tn in De- In at the
ing Exchange , Exchange 23, Confidera- the cember then so
130. 1780. tion. at of 100 for i.
house afterwards. What Mr. Jacob' .at that time
contended for, the people before the next and every
following election Should impose on their representa
tives, and insist, that no Assembly Should ever fix
their own wages ; but every present one provide for
their successors, and thereby remove from themselves
every suspicion of felfilhnefs in difpoflng of the pub
lic money.
We fee, that a salary is defined for the “ Secretary
\of Council,, being Register of forfeited estates, in
cluding the ex pence of clerks." To underhand this
aright, it fliould be known, that by law he took the
fees to which the governor's feeretary was entitled,
under the former government of Pennsylvania ; he
had besides,, under the attainder la % such fees or al
lowances, as the Council might mike to him, for ser
vices concerning the forfeited eftaie<; out of this he
paid a clerk, who is absolutely necessary to transcribe
the multitude of papers proceeding from the Prefiden:
and Council.. Considering the money in which the
Secretary of Council has received his fees, his income
must have been very moderate; it mud have been in
adequate. The people at large have yet to learn,
that the Assembly have, also printed for consideration
a bill for regulatingand establishing fees, which tak.
ing up seven folio pages, done in small types, is too
lengthy for a news-paper. The salary above-men
tioned is' connected with this last mentioned bill, for
tho' the fee bill afeertains a sett of fees for the Secre
tary of the Council, it direds them to be taken " for
the use and benefit of the State." On this feheme I
mud remark, that the whole salary will not procure for
Council any man of abilities, were net clerks necessary,
much less a clerk besides to drudge in the office at co
pying. This is so manifeflly the afe, that it is treated
by many, who have feen.the bill, as an attempt to
remove the present offi^r, and then indireßly to
break in upon the conftituti.nal right of Council, to
appoint the officers of State. Thw preamble of the
bill itfelf, flrange as it may appear, affords a deciding
objection against this plan of giving the Secretary a
salary, and taking - his fees into the .reafury. It re
cites, that' 'whereas it has been found by experience
that in general, officers deriving an immediate benefit
from particular infiances of their duty, are more rea
dy in undertaking, or diligent in executing them,
than where they have no present advantage from them,
&c. Be it thereforegenafted, &c." In the present in
stance of the Secretary, the state taxes will be bur
dened with another falaryman, but the business not so
well attended to, as the preamble acknowledges ; nor
the fees so productive td the public, in any degree as
they are to the officer.
Some people will account for the salaries designed
dn the'bill, and also for the Secretary's in particular,
by alledging, the spirit of oeconomy prevailing in the
present Assembly. But others, who examine affairs
with more attention, will perceive, that in other in
stances no such disposition has appeared.
The officers of the state have frequently buffered,
by inadequate salaries paid them in depreciated mo
ney, and no indemnification has ever been thought of,
and a disposition to keep them in this state of distress
and difficulty, seems Hill to prevail.
In these circumstances I leave it to the people at
large to judge, what mud be the event—the faithful
and able officers of the commonwealth, driven from
their poffs, muff soon be succeeded by others, who
wilknot Suffer under such difficulties. For it is no
secret, that men can be had, who would: undertake to
fill the several departments, without salary or fees.
Such would' nevertheless live in clover, and even fat
ten upon the abuse of public places ; but under their
administration every thing would be set to sale ; Rie
laws would be executed 011 none who had pelf enough
to gild the hand of those, who held the executive or
judicial powers. A PENNSYLVANIAN.
Philadelphia, March 31.
In our last wegave a short account of the engage -,
ment on the 16th between the French and Eritdh fleets
off the Cheffapeak; since which we have, the following
particulars from good authority:
On the 16th inst. after a violent southerly wind, which
had carried the French fleet to the N. E. of Cape Charles,
it being foggy, the fleet having ther larboard tacks
on board, they difeovered, at day break, a frigate
about two gun shots to windward ;'the Admiral had
scarcely made the signal for a chafe, when he difeovered
many large vessels io his rear ; he then m)de no doubt
but it was the English, who having b&n informed of
his design, and having had greater advantage of the
weflerly and N.' W. windi,hadarrived, Imoffat the
fame inftant' on the coast of Virginia; he immediately
made the signal for the line to be formed with the lar
board tacks on board; the wind just then blowing
from the N. E. the English Beet being about two
leagues to the southward, upon the fame tack; at nine
o'clock the fleet put about on the other tack, and half
an hour afterwards the enetny made the fame move
ment; at 10 o'clock the wind freshening, the fleet
again put about on the other tack, the enemy conti
nuing on the opofite tack, forcing fail, and with the
advantage of failing, which they bad over the French
fleet, they were soon in such a position as to be able to
gain the wind; at noon they put about, and before
one o'clock their van was n&t more than half a league
from the rear of the French line. After many well exe
cuted manoeuvres on both sides, the engagement be
gan at half after one o'clock, and at three quarters
after two the firingiceafed on both sides. The Eng
lish fleet being in the rear and to the windward of the
French fleet, M. Deflrouches made the signal for re
eflablifhing the line of battle with the larboard tacks
on board, without having regird to each vessel's par
ticular place, which was executed in a short t me ;
he then intended to tack the second time upon the
enemy, who appeared to be more damaged than him
felf, and were then all gathered together in a cinder,
with their fails aback, and their rigging very much
cut ; but the signals made by the Conquerant and the
Ardent, informed him that these vessels, and particu
larly the firft (who had sustained for a lung time the
fire of three of Hie eaewiyA ihi,% ml in the end was
so nearly engaged with her opp^fite flop in the line,
that they appeared to beaboard each other,) had great
need of force immediate repair. The French fleet con
tinued therefore to run on this tack, with a small fail,
ready to receive the enemy, if they thought proper
to hazard a second engagement ; but they v^y pru
dently kept themselves in the rear, and to windward
during the rest of the day, without taking advantage
of the superiority of the failing of their fleet, which
were all Iheatbed with copper, to renew the engage-*
ment.
Too much praise cannot be given to that firmnefs^
and courage which the capains, officers and crews of
the French fleet have shewn on this occasion, as also
of the ' troops embarked on board them ; their valour
has flood them in stead of a lhip, which the enemy
had more than them; and if the success of the expe
dition had depended on a second 'attack, the Admiral
would have looked upon it as certain, in spite of the*
superiority of their forces.
There ought not to b e omitted a particular circum—
fiance in the action, which gives the greater honor to
the Romulus. . The ship London, of 90 guns, having
endeavoured to break the line, this frigate had the
bravery to keep her wind and fire a broadside into
admiral Graves, who likewise difeharged his, but was
obliged to relinquish his defign'. The Romulus ought
to have been funk, from the small distance they were
apart : however/ by a Singular happiness She received
no damage.
Captain la Touche, before he came into the Dela
ware, took a large Ship and sent her to Newport.
By a gentleman who arrived here on Thursday even
ing frpm the southward, we have been favoured with
the following, which are all the particulars come to
hand, of the action on the 15th at Guildford Court
house; no official account being yet arrived:
The action began in the morning with skirmishing be
twen Colonel Lee's legion and the enemy's advanced
parties: reinforcements were sent to each, and in the
afternoon the action became general, and continued ve
ry Severe, for an hour and an half, when general Greene
retreated about a mile and an half from the field, car
rying off all his wounded, as did lord Cornwallis
about 7 miles,; the killed on both Sides were left on
the field : Our 'of sfrom the beff accounts was be
tween two and three hundred killed and wounded.
The enemies lots not preci'ely afeertai^ed,. but was
very considerable : An officer, who rode over part of
the ground the day after the action, counted 60 dra--
goons lying dead on the field. In the beginning of the
atlion the enemy made an attempt at our artillery,
they were repulsed, and the whole party taken ; the,
afterwards renewed the attempt with a very strong
force, and so far succeeded as to oblige that part of
our army to give ground, and they carried off four
field pieces, which we were not able to recover. The ,
troops in general behaved with great bravery, and an
officer of rank, who has been in many anions during
this war, declares this was the fevered he ever had
seen. By the last accounts, the two armies were 12
miles asunder, and we are in hourly expiation of
hearing further particulars.
A few days before this action, a party of tones,
who were on their way to join the enemy, fell in with
Tarleton's horse, who immediately charged them, and
before the miflake was difeovered, killed 25 on the
foot, the rest took to the woods, and rhe' several mes
sages had been sent after,them, few- had ventured
back..
Extract of a letter from Halifax, in North-Carolina,
dated March- 20.
" This forenoon the honourable Mr. H— arrived
from general Greene's head quarters, and brings the
following mod important intelligence:
" That on the morning of the 15th instant an engage
ment was brought on between a small part of our re
gulars, joine i by a very considerable body of Militia,
and most or general Cornwallis's army. The affair
opened by colonel Lee earl, in the morning, and was
conduced with equal conduct and spirit by colonel
Washington and forme other choice troops, joined as
above, so As to terminate greatly ' to the honour and ad
vantage of the American arms. As I said before,
Lee displayed before the enemy early, when our mam
body were at the distance of three mile's, and by his
very extraordinary mode of address deprived his ex
ceMency lord Cornwallis of 140 men dead on the field-
It is easy to suppose, an affair of this kind would
make matters Serious on both Sides : A general charge
of the British, as soon as our main body came up,
made a vain attempt to cut off the few regulars in
the field ; but colonel Wathington, at the expence of
captain Fauntlerby and captain Barrett, with ten pri
vates, killed and wounded, entirely destroyed the par
ty, commanded by general O'Harra, himfelf amongst
-the Slain : The rest fell vvith a co onel Loveless and al
most every officer in the divifiou. Don't be surprised
when I tell you that, in consequence of force North-
Carolina militia making a flart, and other puts of
the army, after a conßifl of an hour and an half, re
tired about two miles, as did the enemy. A colonel
Dixon of ours fays, he came over a part of the ene
my's dead, after they bad decamped, and, from his
own observation, as well as Some women and others,
who were paying the last relpeds to the deceased, they
fay the enemy mull have firfered greatly : We, on the
largest computation, dd n^r loose more than zoo-
General Greene is well Satisfied with what is done, and
is determined to follow up bis froke, having, since the
aßion, received larger reinforcements than his Sols
amounted to."
On Saturday last departed this lie, Mrs. MARY
FALLON, wife of Doßor Jamcs Fallon, of this
city ; a Lady, whole amiable life and converfatipn,
rendered her most ju'lly lamented both by her rela
tives and friends, and, indeed all who knew her. She
was interred on Sunday evening, her remains being
attended by a very large and /efpeßable number of
citizens, as well as firangers, of character and dis.
tinflion.