The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-08-01 00:00:00, page 2

[lt would have given us pleasure to have received a
defcripton of theentertainment given the 1 sth of the
present month, by his excellency the ambassador of
France, from the hands of the directors ; other avo
cations, it is to be supposed, have hindered them
from favouring us with such description : we have
therefore endeavoured to gratify such of our readers
as had not the fatisfa^ion of being parties and spec
tators at that elegant entertainment, by attempting
to do it ourselves from what information we have
had, and a paper we have been favoured with, re
fpeeling the proportions of the edifice built upon the
occafion.]
THE chevalier de la Luzerne, minifler plenipoten
tiary from his most chriflian majesty to the unit
ed slates of America, having fixed upon the 15th of
July for the celebration of the birth day of the dau
phin, a prodigious number of people resorted from all
parts to this city and its neighbourhood to teftify the
part they took in an event that has crowned the with
es of our august ally. We (hall give the particulars of
this exhibition with so much the more fatisfa&ion as
they afford a frefh proof of the harmony and good un
derstanding between the two nations, whom mutual in
terest binds, and the most sincere sentiments of friend
fhip have united forever.
At nine in the morning his excellency invited to his
apartments all -the French, resident in Philadelphia,
to return thanks to the Supreme Being for the late
blessing he has bestowed on the nation: this aft of de
notion was concluded with fingiag Te Deum ; after
which the chevalier de la Luzerne received the visits
and congratulations, of the officers of government, and
other refpeßable citizens who repeated those protefta
ti,ons of joy which he had before been complimented
with by the congress, and all the other slates and cor
porations in particular. At the fame time was present
ed to him, an ode replete with patriotism and enthusiasm,
uponfthe birth of the dauphin, composed by Mr. Smith,
a young lawyer, who displays a, very great genius. A
lady equally manifefted her patriotism by a fine ode
upon this event, but we are not authorifed to give her
name.
His excellency invited more than fifteen hundred
guests both from this and the neighbouring slates to
attend at this entertainment, which began at eight in
the evening. In tirecourt yard belonging to his apart
ments, he had caused to be built, for their reception, a
hall of the most excellent architecture, and the court
yard itfelf had assumed, in less than two months, the
form of a regular garden.
Groves formed into arches and hung over with glass
lamps, the profpeds judiciously disposed at a small
diflance, where appeared a splendid illumination, re
presenting a palace ornamented with a great number
of pyramids and columns; the fireworks played off by
intervals from the most distant part of this perfpedive,
fn innumerable croud of people that covered the fields
round abou', a green tell raised in a part of the gar
WHATEVER diffuses knowledge to the public
ear, whatever informs and animates the foul,
whatever is calculated to ready the judgment and amend
the will, whatever extends to rouse, to alarm the stu
pid and careless, to enliven and prompt the generous ,
end noble, torife' to fuppdrt and defend the cause of
liberty and of human nature, doth answer an invaluable ^
purpose. And that news-papers do in a great measure,
at this important day, that is big with the fate of Hates•
and empires, as wed as of kings and kingdoms, an-;
fwer this, grand end, is obvious to the impartial atten
tive mtq. 'Tis in th?m the great cause of liberty, now
defended, is canvaded by many able pens; 'tis in them
many aRs and laws of the Rates are published, (and
I could with the number was increased) by which means :
the people are in force measure informed ' what their ru
lers areemployed upon, and what laws they are bound
to obey ; 'is in them we read narratives cf some men's
leaving affluent fortunes and dbmeflic ease rto court
honour at the expence of labdtr and toil; of their
■ marching up to the mculh'bf the roaring cannon, and
defying the devouring (word, and nobly fabipg in the
field of battle, in Supporting their country's cause ; 'tis
in them we are informed of battled and' sieges, victories
and defeats,:- their relations nave a powerful tendency
to stimulate our fouls to deeds heroic! 'tis in them be
read specimens of eflays on various fubjeHs, as religion
and morally, laws and police, arts and faiences ; 'tis
in them we read some ufeful and diverting pdems,.a
%necdotes and fables: and not to mention the'many ad
vertifements of lands, merchandize, &c.
News-papers are both ufeful and entertaining so all
orders and degrees of men: from them we have in some
treasure the (bate and condition not only of America,
butallo of a considerable part of the world ; though I
'grant their teflimony, being in the many cases built on
report and hearsay, may sometimes prove falfe and fie
ti-tious, and indeed where is the history that does not!
from them the flat6fm?n, the moralist, tie religious,
the husbandman, the lover of arts, and even the fair
sex, receives iriftruHion; from them tne owners of new
lands in distant towns is informed of the taxes due from
him to the state, and thereby has an opportunity of
preventing their (ale ; by them merchants, traders, me
chanicks, and in a word, all orders of men are in
formed when and where many valuable articles are to
be purchased; from reading them many children have
been inftruHed in reading, Spelling, &c. and contract
ed such a taste for knowledge as has induced them to
the fludy of books in general, by which means their
minds have been much cultivated and improved.
Now what thinking person would value a few (hillings
per year to purchase so valuable an article, so replete
with indruaion and diversion as news-papers are !
I cannot pass over in fileace one thing more, viz. That
it is really for the advantage of the inhabitants of each
slate, who do not take mere than one paper per week,
to have that printed in the fta'e in which they reside;
for the Gazettes of each slates have some things in them
relative to the condition of the slate, which other pa
pers have not, such as ads and laws passed by the slate,
advertisements of lands for taxes, &c.
IMPARTIALIST.
^ri the UTILITY of NEWSPAPERS,
d^n concealed by porches of green, n sky clear and se
rene, all contributed to render this garden a rrioft ro
mantic and delightful recess. A hall after ihe Italian
manner takes up the middle space. It is built upon a
plan of 75 feet in length and 45 in breadth. It is sur
rounded with an insulated colonade detached from the
main building, of a regular architecture, and an e
legance well supported throughout. The Doric order,
which is most used in this building, is no where ne
glefted, unless in those particular parts where its plain
riels and simplicity, would not agree with the elegance
of the pillars, which are decorated with the bases and
proportions of the lonic. They are placed upon a fin
ale Zocle, 2nd fuppoft an architrave whose regular
frize is adorned with triglyphs only, upon the level of
the columns. The cornifh is concealed, and the arch
of the roof, which terminates all the parts, is raised
backward of the architrave, and has a projection up
on w; ich are distributed several groups of geniuffes,
supporting garlands, which falling upon the architrave
form a cornifh of flours of various kinds. T^e four
angles of the vault are supported by four palm trees, to
the feet of which f-veral geniuses are seen tying branch
es of lillies and roses. At the fartheft extremity of the
hall, and opposite the principal entrance, are the arms
of France upon a globe, suspended in the midfl of a gio-•
ry whose rays break upon the square of the ceil
ing, all whose parts it seems to enlighten, at the fame
time Rightly obfcu>ed by thin -clouds. At the other
extremity the arms of the united states (whose escut
cheons are charged with thirteen pieces, argent and
gules, having at the top thirteen stars upon an azure
ground) are supported by the American bald eagle,
having in his right talons an olive branch, and thir
teen arrows in.his left. In his bill a legend with these
words, E pluribus unum. Under the arms and be
hind the architrave, appears a riling fun, which pierc
ing- through an obfeure cloud, and darting forth flakes of
fire in proportion as it diffi pates the tempestuous gloom
that Grounds it, throws the glare of its light upon
the arms America is perfonified by two young savag
es, who serve as supporters, the one flayed by a ftaff
which bears the cap of liberty, looks at the fun by.
which it i* half enlightened, and holds up his arm as a
(hade against the heat of his rays ; the fecund surround
ed with the natural productions of his country in form
of an article of exchange for the riches of Europe, per
fonified by a genius fixed upon the hbrn of abundance,
diffufug its treasures. About the middle of the hall
are several figures supported by the colums. The cy
phers of the queen of France, crowned with and en
cirled by garlands by a Cupid, are supported by Hy
men, the rays from whose flambeaux (hine upon them.
This groupe look toward the cyphers of the dauphin,
likewise crowned with garlands by a genius and sup
ported by Mercury who covers him with his wand.
Some principal parts of the dauphin's arms, peculiar
to the province of Dauphiny, are alternately spread up
on the triglyphs with other figures. The galleries
formed by the columns are ornamented with pilasters
and pannels of a colour different from that of the body
of the building. The ceilings are flat and set off with
fophites. From the midst of those of the architrave,
and betwixt each column hangs a branched candleflick;
the rest of the ceiling is enriched with wide frames,
within which light clouds are painted, and also ate
hung crowns: at the four extremities of the two grand
galleries are four figures, resembling the white marble
placed in niches, and representing Diana at the instant
of difeharging her javelin; FRra adorned with gar
lands; Hebe holding the cup of Jupiter; Mars lean
ing upon his armour, where is engraved the cypher of
bis excellency general Washington. The galleries up
on the right fide of the entrance, have at each of their
extremities a fide board raised pyramidically covered
with refreshments, flowers and lights. Betwixt these
two fide boards, and toward the midst of the hall is the
orchefira, under which is a elefe room. The two
(paces between, that remained on each fide, are set off
with four doors that give entrance into two falcons,
which open into one behind the orchestra. From the
saloon is a passage into the dining hall, ninety feet
long by Forty broad, having seven tables proportioned
in size to the number of guests. This hall, as well as
the saloon, was lighted by glass branches; the space
betwixt the tables, their situation, that of the serving
fide board, the number of avenues that facilitated the
coming in and going out, infinitely increased the plea
sure of the fight, and the magnificence of the attend
ance. This whole building is covered on the outside
with a roof after the Italian mode, supported by pilaf
ters forming three porticos at the two ends, and four
on the fide opposite to the firewoiks and the illumina
tion.
This splendid building and exhibition of which we
have given a description, and which was finished in less
than fix weeks, was the work of Monsieur L'Enfant, a
French officer in the service of the united flares, whose
talents for design and architecture, and his facility for
conceiving and executing plans the most extensive, have
merited and gained the applause of all connoiffeufs.
The distribution of the various halls, the judicious
manner in which they were furnifhed and illuminated,
the surprising effect of the illumination out doors, the
particular beauties and universal harmoney throughout
do the greatest honour to this lover of the fine arts.
Mr. S. Pratt executed the greater part of the paintings
from the designs of this officer*.'
By four o'clock in the afternoon on the day before
mentioned, every possible precaution had been taken
to prevent accidents. A detachment of French troops
mounted guard within the garden and several compa
nies of militia were posted in the different avenues to
hinder the excessive crowding of horses and carriages.
They deserve great acknowledgments for their vigilance,
and it is to their care we are indebted for ho bad acci
dent having happened in a crowd of more than 15000
persons.
* The carpenter work, which is remarkable for its
neatness was done by Mr, S. Roberts, who has (hewn
as much judgment, as activity and expedition in com
pleting this edifice. The pillars are admirably finifhed
in white lime plainer, by Corfe.
The presence of his excellency the president, and all
the members of congress, of their excellencies the go
vernors of Pennsylvania, of New-Jersey and Delaware,
and the principal civil and military officers of those
states gave as much solemnity to the entertainment as
the dress and beauty of the ladies added to its charms.
Their excellency's general Washington and le comte
de Rochambeau, who had arrived in town the day be
fore, increased the general fatisfadion and seemed to
bring the laurels of York town to the cradle of the
dauphin.
An Indian chief, devoted to France and the united
slates, had also arrived at Philadelphia to attend the
entertainment. He was apparelled and adorned in the
fafhion of his country, and he did not fail to express
in the three languages which he (poke well, the sincere
parthe and his countrymen took irf the event that was
then celebrated. The singularity of his mein and be
haviour contrafled perfectly well with that of the other
gwe fts.
The entertainment began with a concert, succeeded
by fireworks, of superior and unrivalled excellence,
and a brilliant ball. At one in the morning supper
was served up, followed by a continuation of the ball,
and joy did not cease to sparkle in the eyes of every
one present.
Ten Dollars Reward.
WAS STOLEN, on Saturday night
VV last, out of a ftabh near the church in Second
ftreet, 2 neat SIDE-SADDLE, with a double reined
BRIDLE, the saddle had a new quilted buckskin feat,
blue (addle-cloth, and was every way in good order.
Whoever will return bid saddle and bridle, and give
such information as will bring the thief to justice,
fh:11 have the above reward, by applying to the printer,
Philadelphia; August ift, 1782,
To be SOLD cheap for Cash.
A Commodious Brick MESSUAGE and bank Lot
of GROUND, lituate on the east fide of Front
ftreet and weft fide of Delaware, W^ter-ftreet, the sixth
door from Vine-street, in the city of Philadelphia, con
taining in breadth 15 feet, and extending in depth,
from ttreet to street, 40 feet, fuhjea to the proprieta
ries quit-rent (if any) due and to become due, and to
a yearly ground-rent of zl. sg. sterling, payable to the
heirs and assigns of John Denton; This Meffuage is
three fforieshigh, has a good vault ; lets for two tene
ments, having the advantage of two fronts, and now
rents for 751. per annum.
Two 0 her Lots of GROUND in the
said city, one of them situate on the east fide of Dela
ware Eighth-ftrect, between S ffafras and Mulberry
ftrcetp, containing in breadth on farl Eighth-ftieet 15
feet, and in depth 49 and a half f et, to a 5 feet alley,
leading into Schreiver-ftreet, together with the privi
lege of (aid 41ey and street. The other of them fituafe
on the nor;} fide of the said ,chreiver-ftre£t, contain
ing in be^dm 16 and a half feet, and in deph 45 feet.
On t^ !?'? ot there is a new two ftdry high Brick Te
„emmt and Kitchen ; and both these Lots together are
subj-a to a yearly ground-rent of two piftolea and
a gth^ per ^nnum.
Allo, A Frame Tenement, Bake-House
and Lot of Ground, situate on the south fide of Wood
ftreet, between Thiid and Fourth streets, in the North
ern liberties, containing in breadth i 3 feet, and in
depth 46 feet, clear of ground-rent.
For Terms apply to RICHARD WHITEHEAD,
Scrivener, the north weft corner of Vine and Water
ftreets ; where Deeds, Mortgages and other Writings
are done as usual, with Care ard Dispatch. July 31.
^w^^^^xM@M^^@^a<
A S some person or persons, through
curiosity and envy, -nevertheless out of
low meaning, have at times intercepted
Letters, direded from Europe to the sub
scriber, and have lately taken three out of
fix, which arrived in the ship St. Helena,
from L'Orient; the fu bferiber engages the
gentleman (if that title can be granted to
that kind of men) who have praftifed that
fhameful way (from which, yet, nothing
will relult that could make the fubferiber
blush) when he will have read, and read
over again, those Letters, and commented
upon, to fend them by way of the poft-of.
fice; and not deprive a man, a father,
and a merchant, of intelligence from his
friends, his family, and his correspondents.
July 31. R D. ROBERT.
WAS left in possession of the Subferiber,
living in Race-Street, between Third and Fourth
Streets, Philadelphia, a BROWN MARE, four years
old; laid mare belonged to do&or Allison, junior, de
ceased, the executors cr administrators of the decreed
are defined to come and fetch her away and pay the
charges, oth^wife foe will be fold by the fifteenth of
next month, by
PETER COVENHOVE N.
July 31.
A Woman with a good Breast of Milk,
wants to take a Child to Nurse. Enquire
of the Printer. July 31.