The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-07-27 00:00:00, page 2

For the Pennsylvania packet.
IN all ages and in Alccuurries, little minds, in times of
danger and public calamity, remain buried in the gloom
of obfeurity, unless some opportunity,hidden and dark in
deed, as their covert, should tempt them secretly to flab
the man whose laurels they never cease to envy.
Butthis not often happens, for in times like these the
public generally prizhiq tot'ne full the worth of their fer
vants, by their favour u^rl them from malevolence and
detraction; and wfilft ' deflowing with one hand, the
wreath hold toe other ready to defend the temples round
whico it is twined. Shrinking then, t. efe infe'd tribes, far
retired, either languid) in Tent stupor, o r else join the
popular tide again ft timfr enemies, whrm they have not
heart to meet but in their productions, as if heroes would
yield much applause to writings without c^ncurrin; deeds,
or would join the Scribbler in the pra/e th'at re louud to
grace their actions. But w^n the danger of the times is
part, then they appear abroad an i vulture dike, only long
to prey on the well earned bays, their ignoble ineriion ne
ver could claim, But then, should it not be remembered,
that in times coming, it the public Ihohld again need their
tried servants, how can they Curve them when their cha
raaers mangled by incendiaries, their Generals accused as
wanting spirit, their Statesmen as wanting, probity and
honor? Who will confide in them, tho' never so free from
meriting t e<barge, since the silence of their country seems
to give conft nt?
These reflection s'l am led to by viewing the late attacks
on divers characters, t® whom we all are much indebted
for our prefntglorious and happy function, with refpe&
to our enemies None of these more glaring than that on
toe Honorable Robert Morris, Esq , whole services as they
are and have be u extensively known and felt, so seem the
morr to cri.ua theenvy and detr Rlion of these who had.not
fouls to aspire at equalling them.
Let us then, candid reaper-, view the Several charges
made again ft this worthy citizen nor think ©urftlves un
concerned in th^ pursuit since to guard the patriot, who
can do so well as ye—who nobly disdaining private ease
have gloriously alleged your titles to the name, and proved,
by valour undisputed and a conduit worthy Romans, that
ye not only love virtue but will lefend it?
You will afily reco! eel t cat some time fine Common
Sense, ,in attaching Mr. Dene, ventured some injurious
reflections against Mr. Morris, particularly insinuating
that his acc mats with the pu lie were large and unsettled,
&c. thereby in the end wishing to have jt believed that
large funis of uubiri money were in bis possession, which
instead of account.i; for he was employing to his own
emolument, &G. You will also recalled that Mr. Morris
answered this performance on the 7th of January last, and
therein clearly proved that. Mr. Paine had been guilty of
direct fahhood in stating this matter an i the length of time
tie Commercial Committee's books had been in his hands,
fur that, infirid of e:n: pofleffed of them, from October
1777 to Sep emb 1778, he had only had them to work in
from December 1777 to June 1778, and instead of being
indented to the public they were so to his house 50380 li
vres 2 lows 9 deniers, or about 22041. 2s. 6d. sterling in
France. After f® glaring a refutation Mr. Paine replies
on the iith of January, and equivocally falling in other
innuendoes, &c. fays not a syllable in contrariety to Mr.
Morris's ftcte of the matter, thus tacitly acknowledging
himfelf to have wickedly and baldy traduced a worthy
(and by y@u honoured) citizan, without being able to al
ledge aught in juftification of fueh a condufl'. Amazng
then, that instead of being overwhelmed with the oppro
brium such a thing must retort on a man of sensibility,
persisting flill to injure him by indirect attacks, &C. we
find him in the proceedings in the State house Yard, May
25th, named as a member of a Committee on Mr Mor
ris's concern with die polacre's cargo. Here a noble field
was opened for the exertions of penitence and candour, for
having once injured him, confeffedly so, now die might,
by calling in justice and candour to the investigation as
sist to refeue his (Mr. Morris's) name from the obloquy
that the circumflances of the times, &c. involved : in,
and thereby make a coofi T • attenement for his preceding
con lull., But alafs brent was ids conduct; the
me ifure of his infant t yet cempleated.
Here, then, let us ily view the account of Mr.
Morris and the objection. de to him in the report, and
without partiality to men or things fairly contrast them.
One circumflance makes us stumble on the threshold of
enquiry. Why, Candour, —fay, why was the report, &c.
only pudifhed Saturday, being the last day a news paper
came out before Monday the time fixed for the next Town
Meeting? Why but that Mr. Morris mi, ht ftmd convid
ed beyond the poffib lity of a reply, and though on the
face of the report it appears many things were yet to be
explained by Mr. Morris, yet not an opportunity is al
lowed him before the public opinion is determined and the
citizens adembled on his conduH at the State-House; in
deed no less important a query than this was to be an
swered by Mr. Morris. Did you know any thing of
the public's being in treaty for this cargo? for if you did
they ought to have had the preference, and your inter
ference was affing in opposition to the public weal.
Convinced I am, Mr. Morris did not know of the Com
mercial Committee's either being in treaty or that it was
their department to make the purchase; this being, as it
is, the case, one infatuation carried to great extent and im
plying trifling with the public,appears removed,ill ground
ed, and totally loft,and thereby one bad idea they wished
to foment, rendered abortive.
The Committee fay, Mr. Morris's intention was to serve
toe public, by giving.them the firfl choice, but that no
purchaser should have fieptin between the owners of the
cargo and public, and that Mr. Morris's profit, tho' never
so fmali, was unjur, since it ought not to have been had
from tne public. Now it appears that no profit at all a
rose from this tranfaHion to Mr. Morris; he fold to the
pudie, when he thought he had bought for thirty times
4/6, when the owners would not have fold for less than
thirty times 7/6, so that if the owners had held Mr. Sol
likok to an ill understood bargain, Mr. Morris had loft
by the sales, and as they made the bargain void, if Mr.
Morris had not induced them to ratify the sales, by mak
ing it a fine qua non, of his accepting the commission, of
felung them as a fa&or, they must have been returned to
the owners, and then the public have been obliged to pay
twenty prices higher. Is this true ? If it is, what think
you, worthy citizens, of the poor, unworthy and con
hrained plaudit the Committee give him for it? " It ap
pears that the sales made to Messrs. Meafe and Mitchell
came cheaper to the public than they otherwise would have
done, but this was owiisg to mistake, not design, yet we
give Mr. Morris credit for making a ratification of them,
a condition when the other part of the bargain was dissolv
ed." Sad is the reward between reluctantly, instead. of
generously and openly acknowledging the merit ot,an ac
tion like this; tocouple it with “ mistake not design, &c,"
furry am I to fay bears not the mark ofthat candour, which
dignifies even a bad cause, and which without bad is the
best. If the difeontents occasioned by the sales oft. ecCr
fgo afterwards, where irremediable, why mention them, if
not to recall them, tho'under mild aulpices to an enflam
ed remembrance, and thereby to renew the impreflions of
incpnveniencies, winch in t^e general they were willing to
belive originated in the impossibility of pleating all.
Here then I leave this Committee to their own feelings
If eve^ they should be unfortunate enough to fall under
the lafiiof flanker or cloud of malevolence, may they be as
well able' to confute tire one and rife with equal luftre from
beneath the other, as he does, in whose integrity and ih
nocentel believe most of his fellow citizens are well latis
fied. But before ( drop my pen, let me once but slightly
touch on that ill-natured remark that concludes, the Town
Committee's performance- Wretched indeed it is to feefo
bright a chataHer as Mr. Morris claims in the words al
luded to by them, objected to, or the merit of it kffened
because his industry railed the fountain of his benevolence,
and because he did list receive that from ancestors which
they do not deny he < mp oyed ufefully for his fellow then.
Where Philadelphians, wuere were the merit of bettowing
that liberally which came unearned to his hands, dr of
employing to public utility what he had neither " toiled
nor (pun for?" But merit and apflatife is one to him be
cause he made indufiry as it flowed in riches ^pon him
diffufe it to the community, and thereby became a well
choien servant to the distributions of omnipotence, who
makes riches toe portion of one m; that he may like a
truity Reward anfwf- r ole bemwohrit dehg.^ of the giver
by making them ufeiuli to ait —
Thus much a love cl virtue and patriotism has called
from me, and thou, venerable Citizen, in whose defence I
write .
Oh while alqng the fiream of time thy name
Expended flies and gathers all its fame,
S y shall my little bark attendant fail,
Puriue the triumph and pauake the gale,
When Statesman, Heroes, Chiefs, in duh repefe,
Where sons ihali blulh them fathers were thy foes —
JUNIUS.
B O ST O N, July 12
At a legal Meeting oj the hce ataers and other Inhabitants
oj the Toima 0/ 801 l B,\ at Faneui -Hall, on Friday last.
The Hon. SAMUEL ADAMS, Esq ; Moderator,
v^ •HE following Gentleman, Mr. Samuel Rugley, Capt.
& Amafa Davis, Mr Thomas Walley, Ellis Gr a y,
Elq: Mr. Stephen Hjgginfo. b Samuei Earret, Efqft
and Captain Joan Ballaru, were ttye by Ballot, a Com
mime to meet inConvention atConwrd, on the 14th of July
current, with such Committees as may be sent from the
other towns, for the purpose of carrying into effect such
meafares as have been recommended by CONGRESS
in their late address, and the resolutions and proLeediQgsof
the people of this town, in consequence of laid address, at
their meeting on the 17th of Jane lart.
Ora a motion, voted, that every inhabitant of this town,
be, and hereby is earnestly called upon to report to the
Committee of Correspondence, Infyedion and Safety, the
names of any persons whose chaialers are suspicious, that
a matter of so much consequence to the fafety of this town,
may be properly and effectually attended to.
Last Saturday the clerks of the market made a seizure ol
a quantity of bread, being at least one quarter part under
weight—And we hear they have determined to publish the
hame of the Baker who (hall be found guilty of the like
offence.•
July 15, Wednesday 7th inflant arrived here a gentle
man from Penobfeot, which he left last Saturday fen'night -
by him we leafn that on the 25th ult. a brig left the ene
my's fleet, fuppefed by her courie to be bound to New-
York ; and on Thursday following failed a sloop, frappof
ei to be bound to Halifax for a reinforcement. The enemy
had not made any movements, but-were fearful of an at
tack. This gentleman's account of the strength of the ene
my does not exceed 700.
A number of women, it is said, were raviffied by the
Britons in Connett icut, in fight of their nearest friends
and connexions; and a number of persons killed in cold
blood.
Just as'the conflagration of Fairfield began, eight or
nine of the British loldiers took the opportunity to desert ;
one of them arrived in this town yesterday, and/being ex
amined by authority, declared that New Haven was fpal
red from burning, not through lenity, but from the inter
ceflion of some influential tones at New-York, who had
an interest there; aed that it wakgiven cut in the British
army, that all the sea-ports in Connecticut were to be laid
in allies. This inhuman arid barb rdws design it may not,
however, be in their power to fulfil, as al accounts agree
that the militia of Connecticut have turned out with un
common alacrity and spirit.
Yesterday no less than 89 British prisoners, at large in
this town, were apprehended by the committee of corre
spondence and f fety in this town; a number of whom had
been permitted by thecommiffary of prisoners to work on
board the Brize-Caftle, even without returning to the
guard-ship at night. This is not the only instance in
which this committee have approved themselves a vigi
lant and most ufeful part of our government, and merited
the particular thanks of their fellow citizens.
Three days, ago arrived in a fafe port 3 prizes, one ta
ken by the Centipede privateer, laden with fhfh and oil,
from the coast of Newfoundland ; another with the fame
kind of cargo, and from the fame coast prize to the Roe
buck ; and a third laden with provisions of various forts.
The Pilgrim has taken two vessels from New-York,
laden with tobacco, bound to Europe, a ship and a sloop,
both valuable ptizes : The ship arrived very lately at a fafe
harbour. The Pilgrim has captured 3 other vessels since
she left port.
A fmali privateer from Charleftown, S. Carolina, lately
met with an armed ship of the enemy, of much superior
force : The enemy took the privateer to be from New
port, and aiked directions for that part; upon which she
was told so near New-London, that she very narrowly
escaped being carried in there.
No less than 90 prizes, captured from the enemy, have
Seen brought into this State within three months.
The Argo, a Continental sloop, and the Maccaroni, a
privateer from Salem, have taken and sent into a fafe port,
a ship of force, and an aimed brig from New-York : The
engagement was long and smart: There are many instan
ces besides this, of our armed vessels behaving with great
spirit and intrepidity.
Friday morning arrived at Salem, a snow and brig, pri
zes to a privateer out of that place, laden with Iriih pro
visions of all kinds,
It is computed, that within the last fix or seven weeks,
upwards of 20,000 barrels of provision, wet and dry, de
signed for the use of the enemy on this Continent, have
found their way into our ports—This is no fmali supply to
ourfetves, and no inconsiderable loss to our cruel invaders,
wh® may soon feel ft, and be checked in some of their
barbarous plans, by the want of these flores.
7 befolhrwtng proceedings of the ii& n of Roxbury, u„n the
fubjeft oj appreciating our ctor/ncy, and reducing the exor
bitant prices of the necessaries of life, made and agreed to
in public toivn-meeting, on the iztb 0) July inf. fcfffent
l, contradict tho report oJ late circulated, that that ternm
'' had rtioiied to fell as dear and furchafe as cheap a;
they could" and fufficiently flamy the character of the
authors of fa gr fs a taftGod.
qC^ HE inhabitants of the town of Roxbury, most deeply
X aft-tted withybe flateof the pu' lie currency, and ap
prehensive ofthe calamities thataoa'it us, should we any
longer negieH to afford our aid for reducing the exorbitant
prices oft e neci ffaries of life, feel ourselves urged by the
love we bear to our country, by the justice we owe our
brethren in the field, by the eomplaiws of theaged and
infirm, by the tears and lamentations of the widow and the
orphan, and by every other motive that can effect the hu
man heart, to make the most strenuous exertions for the
removal of the evils we feel, and for prevention of these,
which we have but too much reason to expeß. --imprefftd
with these sentiments and relying on the aid of cur bre
thren in town and country, we most deliberately aod'fo
iepinly enter upon and agree to the following resolutions.
Refolded Titat the meafu res agreed upon and adopted
by the inhabitants of tlie town of Boflon; appear tons well
calculated to answer the important design, and deserve the
countenance and support of all ranks of people.
Revived, That this town by their committee, will meet
the committees of other towns on the 14th of July current;
in order that some plan may be devifed.for our relief, and
that measures may be adopted for carrying the fame into
full execution. And inasmuch as the articles of merchan
cize, and the produce of the country, ought to bear ajuft
proportion to each other (making due allowance for the
rifque of importation) in order that the inhabitants of
town and country may stand 0^ equal footing.
Rfolded, That so far from raifirig the prices of articles
produced in our farms, or of any other article we shall ex
hibit for sale, we will reduce them until they are in just pro
portion to articles offoreign produce ; and that we will use
our utmost endeavours that al! tradelmen, mechanics and
labourers, shall observe the fame rule in their demands for
their wares and labour refeeHively.
Refolded, That we will afford our utmost encouragement
and support to any just measures that may be agreed on id
convention at Coneord, for putting cur currency upon a
refpedable footing, and for promoting the public hapoi
peis; ano that until the result of said convention is made
known, that a committee of twenty one persons be chosen
in the different parts of the town, which committee is here
by directed to determine according to their best fk 11 and
judgment, what proportion the prices of foreign and in
terval produce ought in justice to bear to each other, and
niake their report once a month, and caufethe fame to be
made public by posting the lame at the feve/a meeting"
houses and othei public places in this.town, which shall be
the prices of articles therein mentioned, and for the time
therein Specified ; and if any inhabitant of the town shall
to fe " a " y article at a h ^her rate than that esta
blished by said committee, he shall receive that severest of
all temporal punishments, the difpkafure and contempt of
the people- -and upon conviction of a second offence be
fore said committee shall have his name published in the se
veral Boston news-papers, at the expense of the town, as a
pef lof society, and unworthy the confidence and esteem of
all mankind.
di^^^^^&&&^^^^^
Port oj Philadelphia, Pennfyß&ania, ff.
TO ALL whom it may concern.
AJO TICE is hereby given, That a Court of Admi
ralty will be hel' at the State-House in the city of
Philadelphia, on the eighteenth day of August next, at
Ten o'clock in the forenoon of the lame day, then and
there to try the truth of the fa& s alledged in the bill of
°°° n ,*'^' (?"' t4m , &c.) against a certain schooner
or veffeq (name unknown) burthen about fifteen tons,,
'" r/L er ' ac ''™' a PP are l an d furniture, and her cargc,
consisting 0. flour, &c# To the intent that the owner or
owners of the said schooner, her cargo, &c. or any per
fens concerned therein, may appear and ffiew cause, if
any they have, why the fame should not be condemned
according to the prayer of the said bill.
By order of the Judge,
J ul Y 2 4- ANDREW ROBESON, Reg.
Port of Philadelphia, Pennfyl<uania, ff.
'_° ALL whom it may concern.
MOTICE is hereby given, That a Court of Ad
r" be held " the State house in the city
of Philadelphia, on the eighteenth day of August next,
" j l °' cl ° ck in the forenoon of the farae day, then
r T try the tru:h of the fa& alledged in the bill
of John Young, Elq ; & c . against the sloop or vessel of
war cal ed the Haerlem, lately commanded by William
h her ^ ums ' tackle, apparel and furniture: To
the intent that any person or persons concerned therein
may appear and shew cause, if any they have, why the
fame should not be condemned according to the pray%
of the said bill. By order of the Judge,
J^V 2 , ANDREW ROBESON, Reg.
F 0 T S A L~e7~
" hundred and forty-feven bushels of
,"RLE^ MALT, and three barrels of
R% T': y f°° d ' v^ y t 0 WILLIAM
1 N ^ri,'? Fifth-ftretr, a few doori abora
Markuftreet, Philadelphia, %