The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-07-08 00:00:00, page 3

After this I heard retting mere- on the fubjed u^ftl
tiro 2d ink. when I received a letter of that date from
Mr. William Henry, as Chairman of theGeneral Com
mittee, viz.
" S I R, Philadelphia, July 2d, 1779.
“ THE inclofed is a pefolugion of this day, and is
fenr/wd on evidence which appears to be :qconteftfb!e.
We consider- the intcreft of his Most Chriftiao Majefiy,
whefefervice you aril in, as icneceffarily Suffering by
giving greater prices than there areoccahen for, mid in
his behalf as well, as for the purpose of appreciating our
own currency, we can no longer be silent fpedators of
practices which tend to the injury of both.
" -The Committee from a point of politeness, have in
clofti their resolve to you, prior to its appearance in the
papers, white will be tomorrow, and mail! be glad to
confer with you on the fubjeCt, at ariy time and place
you my please to appoint An exaA copy of this,
with the resolve, is sent to T/Ir. Hol w/.
" By order of the Committee,
" WILL lAM HENR Y, Chairman.
" Robert Morris, Esquire"
In COMMITTE E, July H, 1779.
" Whereas a quantity of flour has been purchased by
Jonathan Rumford, Junior, of the state of Delaware,
under the direction of M'r. Holker, Consul and Agent
CJefieral of t^e marine of France, and Mr. Robert Mor
ris, merchant of the city of Philadelphia ; and whereas
the price given for the said flour exceeds the regulated
market price, arid thereby tends to depreciate the cur
rency of this country; as well asto put our good allies
to an unnecessary expence, both of purchase and en
cregfed commissions.
" And whereas it is ohr intention and determination
to support the interest of our Allies, as well as the cur
rency of our country, and to preserve the former from,
inpofition and the latter from depreciation, and in all
cases to do as We would be done by: ,
Therefore resolved, That the aforefaid flour Re de
tained under the car^ of tie committee, and that M*r.
Holker and Mr. Morris be properly notified thereof,
in order that such measures may be taken as {he case
may require.
i ßefolved, That the thanks of^this committee be
given to the committee of Wilmington for their infor
mation and aflift/nce repeating the above, and that
we hold ourselves accountable to them for one hundred
arid eighty-two-barrels received."
Signed by order of the Committee,
W ILLIAM HEN RY, Chairman,
This letter and the resolution having positively cep
demned Mr. Holker and myfelf, without hearing uro
I could not think it proper to wait on the committee
after judgement was pronounced, arid therefore wrote
Mr. Henry a note in these words.
"SIR, Philadelphia, July 2d, 1779.
“ I have received your favour of this dy, inclofing
a resolution of the committee refp^ing the flour pur
chased in Wilmington by directions of the honourable
Mr. Holder, arid cannot help regreting, that the com
mittee did not think proper to propose a conference on
the fabled before they w'^nt so far in censuring the con
dud of persons by no meins bppole 1 to those flefirable
eijefts, “ appreciating 'the continental currency and
lowering the prices of corymb lities.''
“ I should most chearfully have waited on you and'
given the information which £ think you ou.gr.t to have
been possessed of, before such a rcfolve was paded But
the reflections in your letter and that resolution b^ing
entirely underferved, I have no doubt of being able
effectually to juftffy myfelftb the public. I thank you
and the committee for communicating the intended
publication, and remain Sir, your- obedient humble
servant, ROBERT MORRIS.
“ To Mr. William Henry, Chairman of
the Committee of Philadelphia."
It may be ebferved that I tell the Committee, I should
mohehearfuhy have waited on them and given that n
formation I thought they ought jo have been posse ed
of before such a resolve was passer in this I meant only
inform itior. as to my feff and the part I had aded in
the business for Mr. Holker deems it incoufiftont wim
t.^ dignity of his royal master to account for his con
d& as Agent to any authority not derived from his
Majesty, except in such matters as are conceded with
Congress or the Governments of a ft te. On conferr
ing with his gentlemen on the proceedings of the Com
mittee, he laid before me the copy of this answer to
Mr Henry's letter to him, and has given me leave to
pubhfh it. As it contain a ftell exculpation of my
conduct I shall do so. It^ in these words:
“ SIR, Philadelphia, July 2d, 1779.
"I only aft in any of t.e United States of North-
America in my capacity of Agent General of the Royal
Marine, under the auti ority and fandion of Congress,
I had therefore this morning the honour 0 informing
them of the tranfadion of the Committee of Wilming
ton and of the arrival of the flour to this city. I re
fped your motives, but as I am-not a CQinpetentjudge
of the means you employ to accomplish your wishes,
I mull refer you t^Congrtfs, to whom alone His Ma
jesty's reprefent?tives or Agents can give any account
of their adions. Therefore I car. only thank you for
your politnefs and attention on this occasion. lobferve
with furprize that you have sent a copy of your letter
to Mr. Robert Morris, with one of Lie resolves of the
Committee; this must have given you unnecessary trou
ble, as I am alone accountable for the purchase of this
flour, he having only acted in. confluence of my ex
press orders and directions.
" I am, Sir, your most obedient servant.
“ HOLKER.
" To Mr. William Henry, Chairman &c."
Had the committee thought proper to confnit me be
fore they puffed those hafly resolutions, in the preamble
to which they not only imply a censure of us, as depre
ciatory of the Continental money, but insinuate that it
is done for the fake of encrealing the commission ; I
should have shewn them that I had nothing more to do
in that particular affair than to receive rod examine the
invoices and pay for the flour agreeable to order. This
being really the case, Mr. Holker would have declared
it underpins hand then as readily as he h^s dons since,
not being afraid to abide the confluences of bls own
conduce and surely, under such information, the com
mittee would not have uttered thtfe echfures against
me. I would "have gone farther, and informed them,
that from rhe firft moment I agreed to assist Mr. Hol
ker in the business of his agency, my advice to him was
to draw the supplies of provisions wanted for the fleet
from the Continental Commifories, rather than pur
chase them himfUJ alledging that flour was scarce, the
price pot only high but likely to rife , that if he, under
these circumflances, employed one set of .purchasers,
and the Continent another, competition wduld probably
take place between them, the price rife rapidly, arid the
blame most likely be thrown on nim cr his agents. This
advice was adopted; Congr fs were applied to, and or
ders procured for the Commissaries to grant the neces
sary supplies. I would aft whether this advice favours
of a define to increase commissions, or implies any prac
tices such as the committee can be no longer silent Spec
tators of.
Mr. Holker continued to defend on commifcrial Ap
plies until repeated disappointments from aimoft every
quarter,made him exceedingly uneasy, and he judged it
absolutely necessary 'to make pitychafes himfelfi My
advice was hill either to emplo,the Continental Pur
chasing Commissaries or persons of such character as
might be depended on for prudent good management:
this was agreed to, and pursued, in e cry infiance, Con
gress, or the Committee of Congress for the ComrYffarf
department, being privy to all the measures adopted',
and we hake never heard the charge of railing prices
until rias. Mr. Holker is poffeffed.cf am,Me materials
to support his tranfaaicus whenever he shall think it
necessary or proper to do so. The committee Reni tt
have considered their regulated price of 201. per hun
dred for flour as having extended to Wilmington, which
is in another government; and it appears they mug be
right, since the committee of that place have agreed to
aft subordinately to them. Mr. Rumford, who bought
the flour, I suppose had conceived it in that light, or
probably ce would not have made the purchase.
In Mr Henry's letter to me it is said “ We cohfijer
thy intereltof his Most Chrifiian Maje sty, whole fit
vice you aft in, .as unnecessarily fuYering, by giving
2re -ter prices than thebe are occasion for." Certainly
Committee will perceive that mey gave too hafiy
an assent to this paragraph, for they surely will net
pretend to determine how speedily the exigencies of ptib^
lie affairs may have required the fup,ply in quefi'ion;
and they cannot : but recollect that the regulationof the
price of flour did in the firft inftauce create a scarcity,
which induced an application from them to the Com
mittee of Congress for 190 barrels of flour to serve out
to t.e citizens, s they could not get fupplicd btherways
at tie regulated price..
It seems to me that the infatuation conveyed by the
words, increased commiffiori, ought not to have been
hazarded against a merchant of reputation without
the fulleft evidence - as coming from a public body
who will always be more under the restraints of deco
rum than is perhaps\ incumbent on every -individual.
I shall notice it, but with that decency of language arid
fmtiment which it is ray duty to myfelf to mike use of
A merchant dpubtlels has it always in view to encr^fe
his commbhons; but he must know very little of buj'l
nefs indeed wno thinks to do that by railing the price
ot,the commodities his employer deals in, for in this he
certainly drives him to employ another Victor or fed<
a cheaper .market so that he would inevitably fall «e
yiictim of his own ripricity. Several gentlemen of the
Committee must know that I was ma#y years in the
receipt of much larger and more extensive cemmiffons
fut Gc purenafe of produce than at present, and as
th t business increased on my ha^ds until the exports
from tnis country were flopped it is evident that my
employers were hcneftly and faithfully served. Why
,L^en liquid it be supposed I would Suddenly depart
"from my iohmer prithee.and principles, and Sacrifice
trie ihiyreft of my employer for For what ? For the
increase of my property by a trifling coinmiffion, which,
gained on fuca terms, would necessarily reduce the
\ alue of my whole fortune,, a,confid.rable part of which
is in Continental paper, and cf confequeuce, however
feme men may circulate for their own purposes that. I
ama depredator of it, my own private interest would
0. rfeh lead me, were I deficient in better motives, to
cxermuj. u 1; I always have done to support and raise
1.0 v-tme. Inave called the proceedings of the commit
tee cn n.s fubfe& any tney certainly were so, and I
am confident ' tney will trunk their ce nfuresare undeser
ved whe.. u ey ..ave candidly considered what I have
said.
I am really at a lores to conceive why myname fliould,
without fufficient grounds, be so frequently mentioned
i^ ' public papers and held in such an odious point
01 view. It cannot arise from any,doubts of my at
tachment to tile general cause of America, my exerti
ons from trie firft promulgation of the flamp aft to this
day do not leave room for a Angle suspicion, especially
as those exertions were greatest when our affairs were
at the worst. It cannot j.uflly arise from any part of
my coqdud as a private citizen for near twenty years
I was engaged in a very great feene of business, and ex
tended the commerce of this port to places little known
to you be.ore my time. This encreafed the demand for
your produce, railed the value of your lands, encou
raged your indullry, and rewarded your labours. I
imported thousands of good Nttlcrs into Pennsylvania,
after that business had ruined almost all that went be
fore me in it.
With pleasure I can now look round me, and fee amongst
my fellow citizens some whole fortunes I have made; many
for whom 1 laid the foundation of their present importance ;
hundreds whose cir<umAabces I have bettered, and thousands
to whose maintamanc: I have contributed. Ask those that
deal with me, wneth? lam 'generous, open, au^ decisive
in iny deali g; ask the numerous tradesmen I have employed
and do employ whether I pay them punaually and chearfuhy §
ask that ufeful body cf men who follow the sea, whether I have
ndt been their coolant friend and bene.fa&or'Whenever it was
in mypower ; and ask the honest labourer whether 1 havtever
fetieczed a,pittance from his hard service. It gives me pain to
mention these things. It is not trom a d (petition to boast
my own praises, but a & cere and.honed de(ire ofpoffeffing so
much of your extern as i *now m'yfelf lodefervop and. cer
tainly the present committee ought not to confides me as an
enemy, for I nave not only fold my goods agreeable to their
regulations, but have advised others to'comply with them,
My mercantile chatafter cannot have given just cause tor th 4
attacks made bo me; for 1 have constantly fold off my cargoes
sis they arrived % #nd'to consider me as a depredator of the
Continental Money, and at the fame time as the holder of very
considerable furas of it, is too absurd to deserve refutation.-^
However, I muff add, that I have always paid too mush tef.
pee to the credit of the paper money for my Own interest
For by making purchases of bills of exchange, lands, &c. at
prices that now woe>d appear nothing, 1 might have amalTd
no inconsiderable fortune. Instead of doing these things, 1
have freely and liberally flaked my property in the export and
import trade with various success, frequently meeting with so
many and such heavy Joffes as would have deterred a left reso
lute trader from continuing the pursuit. The inflances of my
success I need not motion, for these are counted up by look
ers on in a ten-fold proftAtion,
hThls [know, that there ^re peepte who have niide ^.uA
7B r e without rifquing a Billing, and by the few small lat>#
purchases I have made, 1 fare learnt thjt in that way alone 1
might have been - greater gainer; with infinitely less trcu%
'and without any rilque.
Myenemies at prefett seem pretty numerous, and they rte
such on improper motives; for I declare that lam not confci?
ous of having given any man-jolt catife for being so.
Hf the difguf tof any part of my teller citizens proceeds fio±
my opposition to th present comtitution of Permfyivama, set
ly Ovhen t-y come to confider chat a freedom of opinion ofc
Teh fubjefts is efmrmal to a free government, and that to a&
in coMoimify.with out opinions where the obj^a is public good,
is th: duty of a good mm ; they will pardon endeavours which
were wen rdvact, even ii foundedin error, and io their overt
zeal - nt c one fide, find a re,fonable a/ology for mine on tb<
offoir, F<r 1 will n< t foppofs they have been actuated bf
p4v,u views, breach I fee) nothirigin rcy'own bosom to jugi
fy the suspicion of others; My condua in promoting measures
fir le.corhrienr.g the coriflitution was by those that opposed
nie &cknu%ie,;^o rt he candid; open and liberal,! never was
guilty of peifl^l ahufe nor had 1 any peifonahties n view.
In.it '>er wanted of wop'# accept any ctffice myfelf, nor h.d
I an,connexions to p'oVid&for. My sole objia was toebtais
such a corftitutfoo a, would j n my opinion answer the ends of
pond ^avertmvf;' ird it was to He 1 matter of indifference
wnat men were in the feats of authority, iffufficHnt fewrity
were provided for the liberty, life and property of individual
I am very defiou, of bring oroy-aprivate /nan, and when
1 became others,fe if was in obedience to a fentirnent I had
adopts bh>qin tons of diftrbfs ;t war the duty of a good ci
bz^b tc aft in whatever station his country might call him to,
3; • f> far am ! from courting the coring, ante of public employe
metyth t 1 'fhall with the greater! plehfure refigh that which
I now hold ip such worthies hands as you, my fellow citizens,
may appoint. Write ! was your fervan; it,was my pride to
h;rviyc• faitffOrt,, toferve you chearfolly; 1 have done so,
near four year, a d^nadetia great facrifices of private interest
as any man.cmOtyQOU. I r/ride thertt.with alacrity : 4 had
apd hirirrtam a proper fehfe of the honor of facoficing my
,%crb, my labour and my ease, tothe rider of my country.
I' yen ^pfaaiuc frinall at ail times fee l myfelf overpaid, and
if 1 mifi of that revved, J (Wl confale myfelf wbb an appro,
vinq eoctiepce; hndflihall at all times be ready to give my
tribore of praise to these more fortunate men who with clearer
abilities or .better Opportunities may have tendered you mere
eflc Tia ' or more agreeable, ftivices# . &
ROBERT MORRI S.
Philadelphia July 7, 1,79.
PHILADKPH JA, July 6.
1 / hi COMMITTED j^yl
^^7 HEREA3 tfe Committee of the borough of
^% WilnoAa: ton : have transmitted to the Committee
of this city the following refolmicns:
" F.efolvf4 That to prevent monopolizing and fore
ftalkteg, the, Committee of. Philadelphia be requefleri
" not to grant pranas for .goods to be brought tc this
" place, except rd such perfafis as produce a recomm/.n
---“ clarion front the Committee cf Wilmington. .
" Also Resolved, 1 at any person or persons landing
," goods litre, brougi t from the city pf Philadelphia, with
out a-permit from the Committee of that place, the
“ g^ods shall be immediately feiz<d and detained, 'uutil
'' fatisfadion be given to this Committee."
■ And whereas the Committee of Philadelphia, anxious to
coinci te with tueir brethren, and at the fame time desirous
to prevat any inhonvemencies that may arise from the
want of isfortoation refpe&ing the above, .do hereby give
police, that this Conrod-tee will not grant a permit f c r
any goodsio pat's to, or through th<fborough cf Warning,
ton uulefs ^e persons applying for such permits be re
commended by the Committee of that place.
Signed by order of the Committed,
Q y ' V#ILLIAM HENRY. Chairman.
Captain Tracey, of the fchooher Dauphin, arrived at
Boflon (he 24th ult. in 45 days from Ereft, informs, that
before he failed thenewa arrived at that port, that the
inlands and forts cf Jerfe, and Guernsey had been taken
and plundered by a number of privateers fitted cut from
St. Malo and Nantz. Some private letters give informa
tion that the fame report prevailed at L'Orient.
Captain Tracey failed in.company wi,h five ships of the
line and five frigates, having tinner convoy 2. large num
ber of transports and letters of marque; defined to rein
force Count D'Eftaing at Martinico,'. and to garrifod St
ponHngo. After the arrival of the above reinforcement it
is more than probable Count D'Eftaing^ill appear on curcoaf.
. On Monday morning an elegant Oration was spoken to
a very numerous and refpe&able audience, in the Dutch
Calvmift Church, by Mr. Brackenridge, in honour cf
those patriots who have offered their lira for their country
in the course of the present centeft.
. The fame day, an entertainment was given by the ho
nourable the Congress to the Mmifler Plenipotentiary of
France, the Frefident and chief Magistrates of this State,
the Consul ofFrance, several continental officers gi&il a^d
military, and many Grangers of diftinaion. The compa
ny were entertained with mafic, and the following tdafis,
irr Kduced by thirteen vollies from Col. Nicola's regiment,
were drank. ..
G The United States of America 6, the grace of God
FREE and INDEPENDENT
^ His Most Christian Majefly, the 'Protectcr of
the Rights of Mank nd,.
3. The Queen, Princess and Royal Family of France.'
4 His Most Catholic -Majesty and the other Branches
of the Royal House of Bourbon.
5. General Wethington.,
• 6. Theallied arms of France and America.
7. The friends and patrons of liberty throughout the
world.
8. The merceries of those heroes who have nobly died
io defen lin^ the rights of their country. -
9. May t,ie ensuing campaign give new laurels to oar
b^ess, and fre/b lujW to our #ar,. ,
10. May affeßion cement the union which wisdom hae
Rimed between France and America.
11. May the cap and ftas of liberty soon crest the arms
of Ireland. ~, &
11. May America never forget fhatvirtue, valour and
feience are the bulwarks of her independence.-.
5;. Peace, liberty and happiness to all mankind.
In the evening a sett of brilliant fireworks were exhibit
ed, particularly excellent rockets, which, after afeendm,
to ait amazing height in the air, burst, and displayed thir
teen stars. . ,
The whole was conduced with great order and deco
rum ; no unfortunate accidents happened, but joy and in
nocent feffivity pervaded all ranks of people.
*, The REPUBLICAN SOCIETY! are requeued
to meet This Evening, at Seven o'clock.
July Bth, 1779.
(New Advertisements, &c. omitted this day for rarri
of room, shall be in opr next-)