The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-12-23 00:00:00, page 2

For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.'
“ C'eft d'un Roi que I'on tient cette maxiroe august,
" Qie jamas on n'eft grand qu' autantque Pon est jafte.”
Boileau.
“ 'Twas a King's * maxim, and the rule's anguft,
“ That " He's the greater man, who is most just ''
IW AS much pleased with perusing a law lately pub
lithe Iby our General Assembly for regulating the fees
of the officers in civii government, as it appears to be a
law founded id equity ; and notwith landing Some may fay
that necessity has awakened us to a sense of justice, yet
it is such as cannot fail of meeting the approbation of
every good man, and of doing honour to the members
under whole administration it has been enabled. The
want of a regulation of this kind has been long most sensi
bly felt, and whilst this will no doubt be universally ad
mitted and acknowledged, it affords a pleasing expectation
that the law above mentioned will prove an introduction
to a more extensive regulation, " Righteosfuefs (as is
most emphaii ally declared by the prophet) exalts a nati
on," and is a declaration with which every sensible mind
mufi accord ; this it was that rendered some ofthe ancient
Republics so ^efpeCtable and glorious, and it is this, and
this alone, which if attended to will render the present go
vernment rGfpe&able both at home and abroad, whilst a
contrary conduct will inevitably produce a contrary effect.
I would therefore most seriously claim the attention of ray
countrymen in general, and of our legislators more parti
cularly, to tills chridian, phil&fophic and politic marine,
which will naturally and analogically lead them to consi
der and review several other laws which, now exist, in
which the reputation and dignity, and (perhaps to (peak
religiously)the very (nivation of tne government are deeply
concentii the laws more particularly alluded to are
those made for supporting and maintaining the credit of the
present currency and making it a tender as of equal value
with gold and filvet, in all cases whatsoever. When those
laws were enamel they were no doubt made with good
intent; but such has been the unhappy event of things,
that they have proved altogether inadequate to the pur
poses intended; Niis is seen, felt and acknowledged by all,
and various conjectures have been alledged as the cause or
causes of this unhappy effect; but the matter has now
become so extensive, and the circumstances attending it so
intri rate and , erplexed, that it is perhaps cut of the pow
er of human reason properly to investigate it, and adiga
such actual efficient causes as (if ever possible to be known)
would be any way likely to produce a compleat rectification
and cure of the political malady; yet notwithstanding it
must be the with and th fire of every good man to save his
friend, his neighbour and himfelf #s much as possible from
any epidemical and even political disorder. Tiiefe remarks
are made without reserve, and I trull in plain intelligible
language, and with that freedom, which our conditution
cherdhes and (upports, and which I am persuaded every
good man will allow of H can honestly fay I am not a&u
ated with the lead spleen or resentment to any man or
set men. lam a native of Philadelphia, a free, and hope
an houeft member of die State of Penofylvania. I neither
am, or expe& to be particularly urterefted in the matter
now difeuffed, "have never since the commencement of this
dispute either bought or fold a single ounce of specie, not
yithftanding I have, had frequent opportunities of doing
both, nor have I had the lead concern in trade or mer
chandize for near these three years; so that I presume I
may beefleemed as an impartial disinterested person ; and
as such, I beseech of us by the (acred ties of religion and
morality to attend seriously to the matter here offered to
our consideration, and adopt the maxm of oneof the an
cients. " Qiod tibi fieri non vis, alteri ne fc-ceris ;" or in
scripture language, promote the doing unto others as we
would be done unto, which is,a maxim of eternal never
failing validity. That the officers of civil government
Aloud be compensated for their services in the manner
prescribed by me Assembly is allowed to be just, and at
, Agefilaus, of Sparta.
been made: And that all negroe and mulatto slaves now
owned, an J heretofore refiient in this State, who have ab
fentei themfclves, or been clandestinely carried away, or
who may be employed abroad as seamen, and have not
r jurne 1 or been brought back to their owners, masters or
miflrefcs before taepiiTing of this Aft, may within A/e
years be regeftcred as effj&ually, as is ordered by this
Aft concerning those wno are now within the State; on
producing fuco Have before any two Judices of the Peace,
and fat&viag toe Did Justice by due proof ofme
former refidehce, absconding, taking away, or absence of
such (live as aforefaid ; who thereupon Ihall direct and or
der the (aid (lave to be entered on the record as afore
laid.
AND WHEREAS attempts may be madeto evade
this Aft, by introducing into t is State, negroes and rnu
lattoes buuod by covenant to serve for long and unreasona
ble terms of y&rs, if the fame be not prevented.
Be it therefore enafie i by the authority aforefaid. That
no covenant of personal servitude or apprenticeship what
soever, dull be valid or binding on a mulatto or negroe
for a longer time man seven years ; unless such servant or
apprentice were at the commencement of such servitude or
apprenticeship under the age of twenty-one years ; in which
case, such negroe or mulatto may be noldea as a servant or
apprentice, refpedwely, according to the covenant, as the
case th JI be, until he or the attain tue age of twenty-eight
years, but no longer.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That an Aft of Assembly of the province of Pennsylvania,
passed in the year one thousand (even hundred and five ;
intitled ''An Act for the trial of negroes ;" and another Aft
of Assembly of (aid province, passel in the year one thou
sand seven hundred and twenty-five, intitled ''An Aft for
the better regulating of negroes in this province ," arid a-
Mother Aft of Assembly of laid province, passed in the
year one thousand seven hundred sixty and one, intitled
<' An Aft for laying a duty on negroe and mulatto slaves
impor ed into this province , and also, another Aft of
Assembly of (aid province, passed in the year one thousand
Seven hundred and Seventy three, intitled ''An Aft for
making perpetual "Ao Act for laying a duty on negroe and
mulatto Slaves imported into this province ; and for laying
an additional duty on said Slaves," Shall be and are hereby
repealed, annulled and made void.
the fame time naturally leads us to a(k whether all other
membersof the community are not equally intitled toan
adequate rational compensation for Services performed, or
benefits done by them, to the State or to their neighbours ?
To this every honest man will undoubtedly answer in the
affirmative : Yet, notwith (landing, we cannot but daily
fee this just, rational and chriftian principle most afionifh
ingly violated, under pretext of the laws now in force;
the daily complaints of all ranks of the people mus f have
entered the ears of all that have the least intercourse with
the world. How have reputable, honed, independent
livers, who had procured their property in the molt just,
gradual and honourable way, been reduced to unexpected
and unreasonable difficulties and diftrefits! How have
multitudes of innocent orphans, the heirs of fair and ample
inheritances, been by this means cut off from the present
advantage of liberal education, and the once confident
means of future Support! How have uumberlefs tender,
weak, and aged widows, who by the long continued in
dustry of the former partners of their affection, assiduity
and toils, had beet) Seemingly set fecerc from any obligati
ons to a felfifh ungenerous world, been as it were almost
at one stroke levelled with the dull, and who if relief is
not Speedily afforded them, either by the repeal or altera
tion of thelaws, must be reduced to a state of actual beg
gary; how have the lamentationsand groans of these
reached from one corner of the State to the other!
ft is to be hoped the matter aimed at is Sufficiently ex
plained and understood, audit is presumed there is not a
single man in the State, whether in office or out but must
and will acknowledge the truth of these observations, and
therefore it is to be hoped there cannot be a single person
in the State who will or can juhly obje& so the desired and
necessary regulation. If it be objected that fucha regu
x lation would weaken and hurt the credit of our currency,
it may be observed that the la's have been altered, repeal
ed or amended on many occasions for particular purposes,
(and perhaps on none by any means more important than
the present. The credit of the currency has been already
as much affected by public ads (if they are the cause) as
it can possibly be by the regulation now desired : However,
be that as it may, " fiat juftitia" Should be the rule of our
conduct, and Common justice Should universally prevail,
without which I cannot conceive how we can alk f^r or
expert the blessing of Heaven. If the cry of the labourers
who reaped down the fields, of old time, entered into the
ears of the Lord of Sabbaoth, on account of their wages
withheld from them, how much more wid the cries of the
widows, orphans and numberless others, (if justice and equi
ty be withheld from them) pierce the fame ear of omnipo
tence, and be a means (in the language of the holy Apos
tle) of causing us to weep and howl for the miseries which
may come upon us, as well as upon those to whom he
wrote. This is not only the language ofan individual, but
the Serious attention of the people on the ocCafion is So
lemnly Summoned by Congress, in their last circular let
ter, who fay " The complaints of ruined widows, and the
' Cries of fatherlefs children whose whole Support
" has been placed in your hands, and melted away, have
“ doubtless reached you. Take care they afeend nohigh
“ er!" Since I began the foregoing I had opcafion to step
into a neighbour's house, where after some difeourfe as is u
sual about the times, the old lady, who had been left with
a good estate, a widow upwards of sixty years of age, with
tears.in her eyes, and without doubt Sorrow in her heart,
exclaimed thus, “ The Lord have mercy upon me!
“ where Shall I no, or what Aral! I do? the times have ru
“ ined me !"— Her niece who was fitting by, a lady of a
bout 40 years, appeared much affected, and I could fee
the tears flow in her eyes, the fight was too much fcr me,
and after endeavouring to coirfole them by a few words I
took my leave, tins relation is ftriclly and literally true,
and I would to God that every mhn in authority did but
now feel as I then felt, I am confident they would promote
a redress. Concerning religious principles there has been
much controversy and dispute, yet the wife and good all
agree that religion is a firople thing and comprized in few
words, “ to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly." —
The case appears to be much the fame with political prin
ciples ; there has been much laid in favour of this and the
other plan, yet the true politics are natural and plain,
being (or which at least ought to be) according to a well
known maxim in law, founded upon justice : And the fur
ther this principle is departed from by the influence, argu
ments or lelfifhoefs of this or theother man, or set of men,
the further flull we be entangled in a labyrinth of confu
fion, and not only Subject ohrfelvfs to the murmurs and
difeentent of multitudes of Singular Sufferers and their con
nexions among ourselves, as well as to the censure and re
proach of foreigners, but, as I verily believe, to the dis
pleasure and punishment of the Almighty Governor of the
Universe, which God forbid!
HONESTU S.
By Captain Yellot, who arrived at Baltimore or. Thurs
day the 9th inflant, in 13 days from St. Euftatius, we
have the following advices, extracted from Enghfli,
French and Dutch newspapers, viz.
UTRECHT September 9.
BY authentic advices received here, it is past a doubt,
that during the winter a negotiation will be set on foot,
to terminate the differences that have kindled a war be
wecn France, Spain and England. The Empress of Russia,
who has already acquired so much glory by giving peace
to Germany, has much at heart the re establishment of it
in other parts of Europe. This august Princess has it is
Said, made overtures on this Subject, to an ally of Great-
Britain, to engage that power to aft in concert with her
on so Salutary a , work, andthe Ambassadors Extraordi
nary to be feat by that ally fcr that end to the Court of
Versailles, Madrid and London, are alreadyinominated.
But it is feared this undertaking will meet with so many
difficulties, that it will miscarry, because not one ofthe
three powers has yet met with any reverse to oblige her to
desist from her pretensions, unless that through Sentiments of
humanity they mould give up Something, to prevent the
calamities of war from Spreading further.
LONDO N, September^!.
A letter from the Hague which came by the last packet
mentions, " That on the loth instant the States General
met, and the Britift memorial was again read, andc&nfi
dered; but they came to no conclusion, further than de
claring, that they had not the Stipulated number of fltips
BASSETERRE, (in St. Chrifiopher's,) Nov. 24.
We are just informed, that the privateers have fallen
in with a fleet from Martinico and Guadalope, bound to
St. Euftatius, under convoy of two armed vcfitls, which
were taken after an engagement of four hours, by two
brigs, one of them belongs to Nevis.
+ It is reported the Greyhound has tak^n fix of the a
above convoy.
A New-York privateer has brought ip a prize, said to
be one of the above convoy.
Dec. I. The most important/piece of intelligence which
has been handed to us these four years, was received yester
day with some degree of credibility, " That the people of
Philadelphia had revolted from Congress and avowed their
allegiance to his Majesty, as not choufing any longer to
submit to the tyrannical proceedingsof that infamous As
sembly. If this is really true, the power of tebellion will
soon be broken, and once more peace may wave her olive
branch in that wretched country."
In the town of Boston they are in the fame condition,
they having applied to the Congress for the payment of
the expences of the Penobfcot expedition, which was re
fufed by that body, on which the people revolted.
ExtraX of a letter from St. Euftatius, dated Oft. 27th.
“ Last night arrived here Fourteen French vessels and
Five American Sugar and tobacco is in great plenty
here."
CHARLESTOWN, (S. Carolina) Nov. 9.
Several vessels of force from the Count D'Eftaing's fleet,
among them the Ariel and Lively, two British vessels
lately taken by the Count at the Southward, came up
this morning.
The London Papers brought by Capt. Yallot, arrived
at Baltimore, down to Sept. 28, further advise, That the
13ritifh Nation never experienced so difgraceful an a:ra
as the present : Defeated in America, by sea and land ;
defeated also in the Weft-Indies by sea, and the grand
fleet under Sir Charles Hardy's command, fairly chafed
into Port, by the combined fleets of France and Spain.
That Old England, to speak rationally, is perfectly be
coming a trunk, her noblest limbs are lopping off, one by
one, and having no extremities to return the blood, the
circulation of course must flop, and the Body perish-
That Public Credit had not got such a fliock since the be
ginning of the American war, as by the capture of Grena
da, on which Island were made, the last year, 50,000
hogsheads of sugar, most of which had fallen into the
hands of the French, with 12 fail of laden mips in the
harbour. That the trade of the three captured Tflands,
Dominica, St. Vincent, and Grenada, in 1775, the firft of
the ever to be lamented American war, amounted to near
ly a Million and a half. That the French loft, in killed,
at the several attacks of these Islands, 2000 men. That
Mr. Oliver, late an Alderman of London, was at Gre
nada, when it was taken by the French, where he had large
polleffions. That the bombardment of Gibralter, besieged
by 30 000 Spaniards on the land Ade, and at the fame
time blockaded by sea, was to have commenced the 18th
of August. That the garrison of this important place
consists of 5000 effective men, and that of Minorca, of
2500. That Governor Johnftone had proposed to Lord
George Gemaine, an expedition against Chili and Peru ;
that his plan was highly approved, and preparations were
making that it might take place as soon as the channel ser
vice was decided. That Sir Charles Hardy's, fleet when
joined by that under Sip John Lockhart Ross (gone on a
secret expedition, supposed for the deftruftion of trans
ports on the coast of France) would consist of 50 fail of
the line, three 50 gun ships, 20 frigates, 7 firelhips, seve
ral sloops, bomb vessels, and cutters ;---That Admiral
Graves commands the fifth division of this fleet. That
the combined fleets had returned to Ereft; and that
of war to leud Great Britain ; and as fcr the troops, they
could not spare an) without laying open their own coun
try to the mercy of their enemies. This was notified im
medar'y to the Britilh Atnbaffador, but not as their final
answer, which is to be given in the middle of OXober."
Extras of a letter from Paris, September/.
“ A peace begins again to be talked of here between
this Court and that of England, to which his Catholic Ma
jesty and the Americans are to be allowed to accede as the
preliminary to a cessation of hostilities, by which American
independence will be confirmed ; n the f Jee of all the pow
ers in the glebe. Of this, however, we are certain, that
when the articles come on the tapis, which will be during
the winter months, no terms will be litlened to but such
as are adequate, to the advantages whi h we have alreaby
gained, as well in Europe as the more distant quarters of
the Globe."
It is now asserted, that the Empress of Russia, in con
junction with the Kin^ot Prussia, has proposed terms of
peace to the Court of Versailles and Madrid, accompanied
^'.th fuQ de; nations as may tend to make them effectu
al.
Letters from the Hague mention, that the treaties of a
mity and commerce betw ten the States General and his
Pru ffian Majesty, which are nearly eXptr^d- are now re
newing with some additional secret articles, which the pre
sent critical situation of affairs seem to dilate.
A letter from Cork, Sept, mi, fays, " Nota day passes
but we are receiving accounts of rhe depredations com
mitted by Paul Jones and his squadron on our coast. A
report is current this day, roti: he is with his whole fleet
at anchor in Brantry Bay, and had withmm; five prizes."
The French are so elated with their late success, under
the Count D'Orvilliers, as to make it their general boast
that they will never condescend to a peace with Great-
Britain, unless Ale will firlt submit toa limited navy as the
grand preliminary of a negociation for that purpose.
The unfortunate account from the East Indies, which
advises the loss of Col. Leslie, with 3000 Europeans, thro'
the treachery of the Mahrattoes, has damped the (pirns of
the Eafl-India Company, at the late fuctefies of their
arms, those people being very numerous, and capable of
giving great annoyance to chew settlements, efpecialy
when incited and aided by the French.
Administration has set off foot a fubfeription in several
parts of the kingdom, for the more effedual propagation
of the gospel in America. With the (word in onehand,
and the gospel in the other, a whole nation is to be destroy
ed anJ saved at the fame time.
PHILADELPHIA, December 23.