The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-03-25 00:00:00, page 3

For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
Number I.
I A M one arrived at that age and experience, who
having seen the end of all popular apphufe, that like
the morning mist, it vanities away, am induced, by a
purer principle, love to my country, to undertake, at this
rime, a series of papers addressed to the public. Never
was there greater necessity for every man to put his hand
to the oar; we are becalmed far from the harbour ; the
mariners are afleep 4 and it behoves to call, with a loud
voice, Yoho, upon deck there.
At the beginning of the present contest, the idea was
entertained, that the non-importation agreement would
lay Britain under the necessity of relinquishing her claims,
and cultivating the affection of her Colonies. This idea,
however vainly entertained, was pernicious to us; as we
thereby deprived ourselves of all those articles of foreign
commerce, which were ueceffary for carrying on the war.
After the commencement of actual hoflilities, April, .775,
we were still of opinion, that Britain, in a Short time,
would fee her true interest, and offer reafonade tennis of
accommodation. Hencecame the resolutions of temporary
enlistments, and many partial and Short lighted measures,
which have been greatly ruinous to the hope of a speedy
issue to theXonteft. The negled of taxation has also been
the offspring of these falfe and delusive hopes ; it being
apprehended, that peace must Shortly ensue, and then we
might tax with ease and at leisure.
For my part, I was far from believing that a few years
would fee an ei^ of the debate. Britain bad seen the Spi
rit of the Americans in their refinance to the Stamp-Ad;
she had seen that arms alone could effectually force upon
them claims contrary to their liberties ; she had counted
the cost of this, and had it in view to prevail, or to pe
rish in the undertaking. I had frequently said in conv^r
faticn, that the continuance of the war might be 21 year^ ;
I had painted to myfelf, in the most favourable event of
things, our sea-ports possessed by the enemy ; our armies
obliged to retire to the barrier of the mountains, where
far inland we Should bear of them pushing and being
pefhed, beating and being beaten ; on yonder hill, on this
plain, and in that valley. Britain was among the firft
powers of Europe, triumphant from a former war, Ready
in her purpose to reduce us, and it was not to be supposed
that she would easily desist from her pretensions. Her
commerce furnifhed her with great refcorces, and not for
many years would file fink under the expences of even dis
tant campaigns.
America, on the other hand,was animated with a pure
fpirt of liberty ; she was nervous, and unbroken, she had
all that, for which, on earthi t id dear, to, contend. Beat
en from the sea-coast, her inhabitants could retire within
the barrier of the mountains, and 6ven after they had ce&-
fed to be able to oppose regular armies, could continue an
incurfive war, until encreafing in the woods, and by the
firearms of the weft, they could roll back on their oppres
sors, and expel them from the foil. From this view of
things, I could not be of opinion, that accommodation
couli f peedily take place; Britain with all her strength
and passion, had it not in her power to conquer ; and A
merica would never yield.
The alliance of these States with France, was a great
zra of our hopes ; we began to believe, that Britain could
net even for a Short time carry on the war in America,
and at the fame time resist the monarchy of France. This
wasamiftake: Britain, by her situation as an island, is
secure from the inroad of the French armies,and her fleets
must be beaten before the neighbouring power can attempt
an invasion. Hence, on the part of France, it has hitherto
continued, and it will continue to be, principally a naval
war. In this, it is impossible for us to give any percep
tible assistance, in any other manner, than by distressing,
in fame degree, the trade of our enemies. France there
fore has herfelf the main battle to fight; anj as long as
Britain Shall be able to hold up against the naval power of
the House of Bourboun, she will continue to fragile, and
like a person in the rage of madness, to beat all whom she
finds around her.
The idea of a peace prevailed in the spring of the year
1779, and by railing falfe expectations, wirich in the end
were disappointed, tended to destroy the patience of the
people; it being natural to the human mind, to prepare
itfelf for long labours, and to sustain them patiently,
when it has at firft expected that they would be long ;
but on the contrary, to repine and be diff itisfied, when
evils are drawn out to a greater duration than was at firft
expected.
In the ccurfe of the past winter, the idea ofa peace has
been kindled up; and for this reason, principally, that
Commissioners on our part have been appointed to nego
cuite for that purpose. It is, without doubt, prudentand
humane, to make every proper advance towards an ac
commodation ; to be prepared to receive terms of peace,
that when offered there may beno delay in putting a flop
to the effufion of human blood. Besides, proposals ofac
commodation make a gradual progress on the human
mind, and though they may not have an immediate and
vifibie effect, will, in the e^d, be found tohave made a
white; who takes a black mate to bis bed, a refiraint be
yond any law? Would a law strengthen this barrier? I
th re a tendency to such marriages, even where negroes
abound ? Would it be confident with natural right
for a Legislature tc prohibit a match of this fort ? It
is neither bestiality nor incest ; under what class of
crime is it to be ranked? As to the competency of
Negroes to give evidence, it has been tried for many years,
even in the case of slaves, in the Slate of Massachusetts,
without inconvenience.
If the reason be good against negroes, there is equal reason
for debarring a multitude of profaneftodworthlefs whites
from giving evidence but the difficulty in both cases is eased
by allowingoftefiimouytotbeircharaders The fameanfwer
will serve for allowing them the right to hold offices. The
people are called by the con ftitution, and their dearest in
terests to chufe perlons most noted for wisdom and virtue,
is likely they will chufe negroes or mulattbes, who
are degraded by a tinge thby cannot wafli out. Certainly
these members of Assembly pay no compliment to theriv
selves, or their cooftituents, in supposing negroes will be
their successors. The people they m^y be assured, will
neither ele& rascally whites, nor the debased blacks.
LIBERAL.
F ROV I DEN C E, February 19.
Wednesday last Capt. Gideon Crawford, in the Sloop
Nancy, of this port, arrived in the river from Gott*n
burg, in Sweden, after a tedious passage of 106 days- He
failed from Sweden in company with Capt. Claghan, who
arrived at Befton the last of December.
Captain Crawford was sixty days beating on the
coast, and fuffered much in the late Severe weather.
—About three leagues to the Southward of Block Island,
he met with a very large body of ice, which he fail
ed round, and within Block-island he was obliged to
fail through a large quantity of ice that had floated from
up the western found ; his vessel however received but little
injury.
Extract of a letter from a principle merchant at Gotten
burgh, dated October 15, 1779, received by Captain
Crawford.
“ By an American vessel lately arrived at the neigh
bouring free Port of Marftrand, I have been favoured
with the Form of your House, in Consequence of which
I take the liberty of addressing to you this letter, a»d to
make you a tender of my best services in this part of the
world, The extending of commerce which every mer
chant must have in view, and the immense field for (pecu
lation which the glorious independence of America opens
at present, make me bold to presume, that commercial
bufiaefs might be tranftaed between youfr country and this
to mutual advantage. Being a native of Sweden, I think
myfelf equally a judge thereof, as I hope to hMve it in my
power to effeauate whatever plan may be flruck out to
promote it, and at the fame time to deserve the confidence
of those who may think proper to honor me with their
friendfllip and correspondence. Permit me to suggest to
you a few observations for your government i Sweden cob
fumes large quantities of tobacco, indigo, rice, &c. which
hitherto have been imported direAly from England, Swe
dish exports which would answer far an American mar
ket, in my opinion, are, iron in bars, wrought ditto,
wrought brass and copper, steel, wire, nails, fail cloth
and cordage, all kinds of India goods, particularly tea,
china, silks, &c. What other European goods might be
wanted, could easily be ccl|e&ed at Marftraud from the
neighbouring countries. The port of Marfirand is conve
niently situated for distributing the products of all these
countries to furnifh returns to America. Ships can enter
and fail from Marftrand at all seasons of the year. This
town is situated only 12 English miles from Marftrand,
and no place in Europe is preferable to it for purchasing,
of teas, both with refpe& to price and quality."
[Gottenburg is a trading town of Sweden, with an
excellent harbour, in the borders of W. Gothland, near
the entrance of the Moludai river, in the W. Sea. It is
regularlarly fortified, having two citadels on the land
fide, and a citadel on the sea fide, for its defence. It is
the feat of a Bishop, and contains 13000 inhabitants. In
1731 an East India Company was ere&ed here. Its na
vigation is considerable, as ships can fail from thence to
all the sea ports without the Categat, and not be obliged
to co through the Sound or Baltic. It lies 228 miles S. W.
of Stockholm, and 164 N. of Copenhagen. Lat. 52, 29
N. Long. If, 36, E.—Marstr an d is a very old Staple
town of Bohur Lehn, in Gothland, in Sweden with an
excellent harbour, to which is an entrance on the Couth
and noth fide, and defended by the impregnable citadel
of Corlftein Bufehing.]
It is evident from the last Speech * of the King of Eng
land to his Parliament, that his " thoughts are still for
war." Yet on this Continent we are led to indulge the
thoughts of peace. There is danger from this veternum of
the mind. We have Struggled with the maladies of the
debate,until the present hour, still approaching nearer tothe
end of our labours; but we are to confider, that the most
dangerous period which the patient has to pass, is between
the abatement of the fever and the spring of health. Then,
trusting too much to the unconfirmed vigour which he
feels, he takes the cool air ? and is fenfnle of a rklapfe.
It is high time that we be routed in every State from
New Hampshire to Georgia. We are yet in the midst of
a wide ocean, knowing not what fiorms may descend up
on us. It behoves us to be alert, active, iaduflrious, in
defatigable ; dismissing party quarrels and partial consi
derations, and holding in view the great object, the ge
neral liberties of cur country. We may set it down as a
certain truth, that we Shall have no solid ground to exp*Ct
peace, until our enemies Shall cease to retain poffrffion of
a foot of territory within any of the Thirteen United
States.
PHILADELPHIA.
At a General Assembly of the Governor and company
of the State of Connecticut, holden at Hartford by ^ad
journment, &c. on the 6th day of January 1780.
An Aft for repealing an Aft, intitled, " An Aft for
" supporting the credit and currency of the Bills of
" Credit emitted and made current, by the Congress
" of the United States of America, and the Bills of
" publifyCredit of this State ;" and for the furtherance
and promoting commutative justice.
BE it enabled by the Governor, Council and Repre.
fentatives, in General Court Assembled, and by she
authority of the fame, That the said Aft, intitled as afore
faid, be and the fame is hereby repealed and made null
and void.
Be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid That
the Bills of Credit heretofore emitted by authority of Con
gress, or of the General Assembly of this State, shall be a
Legal Tender, as money in all payments within this State
according to their current value; having regard as well
to the times of making all Contraßs, as to the time of ren
dering judgment. To whichall Courts within this Stare,
in tkeir refpe&ive jurifdiaions, are to conform themftlves.
Provided nevertheless, That the Bills of Credit hereto
fore emitted by the United States, shall remain a Legal
good impression, and to have fended to throw the minds
of men forward to this object. For this reason, Ido not
mean to censure the fending Commissioners with powers
to negotiate a treaty, but I would not have the people of
this country, to form from them any apprehensions, that
the Congress know more than is generally known, or that
force advances on the part of Britain, have laid the foun
dation for this measure.
An An ti-Anclican.
* November 25, 1779.
Teo' be nominal value, to answer all debts due from
the inhabitants of this State, to their creditors in other
States, until such time, as the State er States to which
such creditors belong, (halt make similar laws to promote
equal jaftice.
Lebanon, March 10th, 1780.
In CONGRESS; March 20, 1780.
Resolved, That it be r commended to the Sta es to
revise their Laws enabled pursuant to a former refoiotion
of Congress, making the Continental Bills of Credit a ten
der in difeharge of debts and centrads, and to amend
the fame in fit b manner as they shall judge most condu
cive to justice in the prefent,Rate of the paper currency :
And,
Tnat it be further recommended, that the said Laws be
enaded in such manner, that no persons may take unjust
advlutage to defeat rhe good purposes of this resolution, by
availing ;hemf Ives of the notice thereof before the palling
of the feveralAds.
March 22-
Revived, That the office of commissioner of cloathing
accounts, eflablifhed by a resolve of Congress, of the 2d
of March, 1/79, be difeontinued after fix months from
the date hereof; and that all persons having eloathing
a counts for the year 1777, and who do not exhibit them
to the [aid commissioner within that period, shall not re
ceive any compensation for any arrearages they may
thereafter claim to be due to them.
Extrad from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMS O^ Sec'ry.
4§#¥s# 4-4-404. 444-444-44444
Philadelphia, March 23, 1780.
To be SOL I) by Public Au&ion,
At the Coffee-House, cn Wednesday the 29th inst.
at lit'rlo k.
^ p?ir of excellent COLOGNE MILL STONES, and
one pa r of .m.dl FRENCH BURR STONES,
for a Chocolate Mill-
WANT E Dr
AW OMA N that can COOK, and assist in doing
the wok of a Imall family ; none need apply but
one that can be well recommended, and to such, food
Wages will he given; Enquire of the Printer.
CA ME to the Plantarion of the fubferiber,
in Salzburg tclwnfhip, Northampton county, a
black MARE, about 7or $ years old, and has nei
ther brand :or ear mark. The owner is desired to com 3
prove his pr ,'rty. pay charter, and take her awav.
NreHOLAS UEBERROTH.
~f7v E HUNDREDTOLLARS
rewa r d.
Philadelphia, March 13, 1780.
AL L persons who have any demands against
me as Deputy Quarter-Master General, and have
net brought in their accounts, are earnestly requested to
do it immediately, that they may have certificates given
and their accounts fettled : Those who negba this no
tice, and do not bring in their accounts before th^ firft
of April nrxq will be excluded from the firft payment
I am enabled to make.
JOHN MITCHELL, D. QM. G.
TO BE SO L D,'
For Continental Money, Bills upon France, er Loan-
Office Certificates drawing irftereft on France,
APL ANTATION containing two hundred and
eighty.four acres of land, pleaf^ntly fixate on the
main road lead : ng from Trenton to Allentown, within
two and a half miles of Trenton and the fame distance
from a landing, which makes it much mere valuable as
a team may hiu ! four loads of wood ir , day from it to
the landing. There is a final! dwelling hotiie and a
frall orchard on it ; about fifty acres cleared, the rest
good woodland, on which there may belabour twelve
acres of meadow made. For terms apply to Mr. Alex
ander Nelson, Merchant, in Water {freer, abeve Wal
nut ftrert, Philadelphia, or to the fubferiber in Tren
ton, State of New-Jersey, where the premises may be
viewed and the terms m^de^known.
BERNARD HANLON.
To be SOLD at Private Sale,
Or exchanged for milk Cows and Calves, in the town
of Northumberland,
A LOT and TENEMENT. The Lot contains
sixty feet in front and two hundred and forty feet in
depth. A good deed will be given. Enquire of the
Printer.
Lost rest rday, off a borfe at M r . James Hun
ter's, a pair of SADDLE BAGS, containing
ciHunpft other articles of wearing apparel, three fhirtr,
almost new, unmarked ; two pair of white frk ftorkings,
orc i air of them marked W. S. and forrie handkerchiefs,
containing also a pocket-book, a book of accounts, a
bundle of papers, of confidence to the owner, but of no
value to any other peffon, and a letter directed to Ro
bert Morris, Esq; of Philadelphia, enclosing eight
Loan Office Certificates, granted in Philadelphia, as
follows: Four Certifi ates in the name of Thomas Lei
per, No. 918, No. 919, No. 920, and No. 921, for 600
dollars ea^h, dated January 24, 1778 ; four ditto in the
name of Matthew Irvine, dated November 13, 1777, No.
553, for lono dollars, No. 1149, No. Irgo, and 1158,
tec 600 dollars each. Left also from the heifers on the
said horse, a pair of fc?ew barrelled Piftris, inlaid and
mounted with fi!yer. Theabove reward will be paid bn
recovery of the Piftoh, and of the Bags with their con
tents, and proportionally for any part of them, A large
part especially will be paid for the books and papers by
Mr. Jrmes Hunter, or the fubferiber at Frederic fb„rg.
P. BLACKBOURN.
March 4, 1780.