The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-02-03 00:00:00, page 2

This seems to have been the only mode that could
be adopted to crush us. Equal in ourselves to France,
Spain, and the revolted colomfts, what remained but
for the rest of Europe under specious pretences, to
w^ge a general naval war against us ? This they have
done, under the auspices of an ambitious woman,
whom we once assisted, in a manner not perhaps in
tirely confident with the law of nations, and who
would have probably seen the crescent ride over her in
triumph, had it not been for the fuccour that we af
forded her.
As to the firft obferyation—Should these fleets join
the smallest offence offered to a transport or other'
vessel by so m e privateer perhaps, or even some Ame
rican rover under English colours, might give a pre
text to break with us. Power, in this case, would
We now fee a part of the Ruffian fleet boldly an
choring in the ports of a power which they men to
d'flrefs. Shall we supply them with all they want,
and let them go forth to aft against us; or Shall we
frike a sudden blow, and shew them and all the world,
that we are not to be offended with impunity ?
The late earl of Chatham was for beginning hostili
ties with the Spaniards, because they would not de
clare their intentions plainly. Some thought this un
just, but as it turned out, the measure would have
been a wife one. The empress of Russia has declared
her design explicitly enough, though the has not com
menced hoftilitie . Were neutrality only to be sup
ported, surely one power could not have occasion to
arm 16 thips of the line and four frigates, and besides
desire the affftance of her neighbours for this sole
purpose. No! certainly Something further must be
intended ; and not to mention the insolence of an
choring near the British coasts, while they are employ
ed to convey Stores to our enemies, there is the great
est r^afon to believe, when the Squadrons are joined
and reinforced by those of the other maritime nations,
that it will n t be long before they find means to aft
offensively. It is an easy thing to pick a quarrel. I
would have Britons beware of their danger, and use
the means of prevention, while they are in their power.
Not doub some will fay :- ' No quarrel has yet
commenced—the empress of Russia is a powerful prin
cess, and we have enemies enough to deal with alrea
dy, without adding the northern powers to the num
ber."
IT has ever been common for States, as well as indi
viduals, to envy their prosperous neighbours. This
has been exactly the case with regard to Great Britain
and the furrourading European powers. It is long
iince they have envied her greatness, and they have
uniformly determined to take the advantage of her
in the hour of difficulty and danger. Specious pre
tences will never be wanting, to excuse the evil pro
ceedings of such malevolent neighbours, and if they
can once do an injury, there is not the least doubt,
but they will find the means apparently, to juftify it.
What we have been so often told of late, is a me
lancholy truth, namely, that mod of the European
powers are determined, if poflible, to humble, what
they call the pride of Britain. We have fe-n them
for some time gradually preparing for this purpose,
and I think it is at last pretty plain, that they ar p re
solved, that Britain Shall '' be no more a name , in
Ihort, not only to lower her spirit, but, if it b prac
ticable, to destroy her very existence as a date.
Our very good friends, the Dutch, were the firft
who led the way to this conspiracy. They, who by
treaty, as well as in honour and gratitude, were bound
to assist us, laid this insidious scheme, which has taken
place among the envious nations. Denmark and Swe
den, to the best of their abilities, will contribute to
injure us ; but above all. Russia, which, (as has
been already remarked in your paper, has the least to
hazard in regard to her trade) has resolved to head
the confederacy.
eur charaaer, and made us worthy the friendship of
foreign powers.
Before we could exneß allies, it remained with us,
to shew, that we deserved them. If w® could not as
ses tthis, we had but /lender claims to the public
espousal of our cause. From a desire to weaken an
enemy, it might have been secretly encourage I, but
no dire& and open support coul,have been expelled.
The days of croifading were past. How often does it
happen, that the prejudices of one country, are among
thefreceived opinions of another ? We were adjudged
by Greatßritain, to use toe language of CongreE,
" to be in such a ftateas to present victories without
bloodshed, and all the easy emoluments of flajuteable
plunder." Experiment therefore became needffary on
our part, to convince the world that we had courage,
as the king of Prussia expressed it, " to throw fixes
for our liberty."
We now approach feenes, new and singular, where
every step exposed some truth, or removed some pre
judice ; taught us what we were, or what was pro
per to be done. I behold America, as a roan deter
mined on some glorious end, pressing forward, with
out looking repentantly back, or for once, wishing to
return to that point, from whence her career com
menced. Till every thing is (wallowed up in effemina
cy and luxury, the heroic afts of this period will con
tinue to be productive. We cannot therefore too fre
quently recall them to consideration. They gave us
a military character. They discovered a noble and
afeending spirit, amidst the most pressing misfortunes
They shewed an elevated humanity and politeness
amidst our triumphs, and determined us to be a dis
ttnct PEOPLE, from those of Great Britain, as well
in sentiment as SITUATION. But like the advan
tages arising from deep, we have enjoyed their opera
tion, without its being fufficiently attended to or
perceived.
®&®@®@©@®@©@®@®@©©@
In this critical situation, fortune seems to have
thrown a chance in our way, the improvement of
which must depend enire'y on our own coaduß, tho'
people have differed in op nion, relative to the manner
in which we Ihould aft at so nice a crisis.
From the LONDON GAZETTEER, of Sept. 21.
constitute right, and our former moderation would be
an infufficient plea to extricate us from the conse
quences. As to the Second aflertion—That the em
pr fs of Russia is powerful—At land She is ; but in
that regard we have nothing to fear. What file is at
sea, we have chiefly contributed to make her, but no
thing except the present situation of our affairs could
render her formidable to us upon the watry element.
S ould we take this opportunity of checking her, she
w II probably never be so again. Russia was never calcu
late I for a naval power. Peter the Great fought
against many obfiacles of nature to make her so ; he
Succeeded but in part. Peterfburgh, Cron ftadt, 'and
a few other places of little note in that vast empire,
can never be put in competition with 'the numerous
lea-ports of England.
After all, if it be asked what I would advise? with
out arrogating to myfelf the character of a deep poli
tician, I must fay I think I fee clearly that we shall no
longer be sovereigns of the main, nor perhaps dare to
shew our faces there, unless we check this confederacy.
We have now fix Ruffian men of war near Deal. It
will be easy to prevent them from ever gett ng out of
the channel, and by adopting a proper conduct tiefe
may be Secured w thout the matter ' being known to
the second Squadron, which is expected, which may
fortunately in such case also fall into our hands.
Should such an event happen, befifes the great acqui
sition of twelve or thirteen large Ships, we shall firike
such a terror into the nations as may probably break
the confederacy, or at least have sustained such a ma
terial Infs as will render it ineffeaual.
" The company, divided into separate parties, occu
^em'e^^ with a prodigious variety of pursuits
and diversions ; for inffanc., some elected sovereigns
and magistrates, others held conferences on and rati
treaties of peace, of commerce, and of alliances,
defensive and offenfive. (At this game the greatest knave,
He continued in his error till morning, when the
conductor appeared, and for a considerable time fruit
lefsly endeavoured to convince him of his mistake.
Towards the sequel of the debate, Death (for so the
conductor was named) remonstrated to the following
purport : " Did'ft thou not at thy entrance read the
infeription, which exprefsiy informs thee, that none
arc Suffered to remain here longer than twelve hours,
at fartheft ? Haft thou not remarked '' Uncertainty"
and “ Instability" inferibed in every room, and
" Frailty" on every decanter, punch-bowl, tumbler,
glass, and ladle ? Art thou ignorant that I have been
incessantly calling on some or other of thy compani
ons every moment throughout the night ? And was
all this infufficient to remind thee, that thy own turn
must shortly come ?"
"I cannot but admit the truth of these circum
stances, and acknowledge the force of your argu
ments" replied the traveller : “ I am thoroughly
nfible that none have ever been allowed to remain here
longer than I have done ; yet I must own, I did ex
pect, that some indulgence in this infiance would have
been extended to me; and it is not without regret,
that I find myfelf compelled to accompany you now ;
for though you may introduce me to much more per-'
manent and definable enjoyments than any this place
can afford me, I Ihould nevertheless like to spend a few
more hours before my departure. If you think me
chargeable with folly, there were otherwhere last ni^ht
to whom the fame infatuation might with equal jus
tice be imputed.
I observed the generality of us (farther than
taking needful sleep and refreshment) were so eagerly
engaged in tiie divers amusements and employments
of the house, that we gave ourselves no leisure to re
flect on the uncertainty of our stay, or to think in the
least ot that country to which we were shortly to
remove.
As to the fear of what may follow upon this.—
" The lion is not hurtful when his teeth are drawn
and his claws paired." The other powers are infigni
ficant in regard to their quota of ships, and it will be a
long time indeed before Russia can fend such another
fleet into the English channel. The winter will lock
up her vessels, nor can she so speedily build more. The
northern fates will hand amazed at the stroke given to
her naval power, and the jafinefs of the proceeding
may be stated in a proper manifesto.
Our governors have been termed weak and timid; I
hope they will wipe off the aspersion. I would not have
them enter upon rath measures. This matter may be
conduced with prudence; in which case it will certain
ly terminate to their honour, and contribute to En
gland's glory. H ALES U S.
*** There are some requisites for carrying this
scheme into execution, wherein art may be justly and
properly employed ; but these the author of the above
leaves to the wisdom of government. Indeed were he
ever so capable, it could only tend to defeat the end
proposed for him to describe them.
/IVER the entrance of a well known inn, is the fol
lowing irfcription, in legible characters: “ None
" are ever permitted to remain here longer than twelve
" hours." And in order that this house, which is
founded for the reception of all mankind, may be Ef
ficient to accommodate the vast concourse of guests
who resort to it, it is absolutely requisite that one
succession of them Ihould be continually departing, to
make room for anot er. For this an I other reasons there
is a conductor to summons hence the visitors, whene
ver their presence is commanded elsewhere. All must
therefore hold themselves in constant readiness, since
the time of their departure (which is quite uncertain)
depends entirely on the will of the Supreme Governor
of all things, a Being of infinite wisdom, power, and
goodness!
A certain traveller arrived one evening at this inn,
and forgetting the infeription, shortly began to ima
gine, that he was fetfled on the premises, and that
the use of the house and its conveniencies were his
own during p'eafure.
LONDO N.
A F AB L E.
WHEN Louis XVth began to reign, France ex
hausted by a war of 15 years, in which the had
contended with all Europe, groaned under the weight
of an enormous debt. A great part of the public re
venue was employed to pay the interest of this debt:
Law, a native of Scotland, and one of the greatest cal
culators of that day, undertook to difeharge it. He
had before proposed his plan to the duke of Savoy, wno
replied, that h^ was not powerful enough to ruin him
felf. The regent of France, a prince of a bold and sin
gular chamber, fuffered 'himself to be seduced; he had
a debt of an hundred millions fferling to pay off. Law
w^ not difeouraged : he eftabhfh/d a bank in his own
name, which acquired a prodigious Credit, and the
bills of which circulated at par with gold. The go
vernment united with it the Miffifippi company, the
profits of which were faief to be immense. The people,
deluded by the hope of gain, were eager to purchase
the bills of this company and bank thus united. These
bills had very soon, notwithstanding their quantity, a
value superior to that of gold. Money that was before
laid up now circulated with profufion, and France had
in effea by this credit a great, though illusory opu
lence. It was ( eclared that the bank for the future
Ihould be a royal bank, and then it was entrusted with
the whole revenue of the kingdom, and with almost
the whole foreign commerce, retrained at that time
by the most severe prohibitory laws.
Thus the bank appeared to be established upon the
broadest foundation ; and the confidence of the public
in it went so far, that in 17^9, that is in about two
years, the bills of this bank represented thirty times
more silver than ws in circulation through the whole
kingdom. A report w~s spread that Law had discover
ed inexhaustible mines of gold at Miffifippi. Gold de
preciated ; nobody chose to keep it; paper was consi
dered as thaohly riches ; the press s could ' not furnifh
it sass enough ; and such was the delirium, rhr,t a per
son thought himfelf very happy, who for a thousand
livres in silver had porchafed a bil tor no more than
three hundred. People fold their land, their furniture,
their diamonds, for paper; and only the friends of
Law, or of those who a£ted under him, could enjoy
the privilege of fe c h a bargain. The government it
felt, deceived by a success so prodigious, made new
emissions of bills to pay the creditors of the flute. This
was the day for the ruin of the best ehabLiflied fortunes.
The parliament opposed, as far as it was able, these
innovations, but was obliged to give way.to the torrent
of public opinion. Government, however, seduced by
the facility of making taefe e.niffons, multiplied 'hern
to such a degree that the price of all consumptions
fom became excessive, and it was perceived to be im
polE Ie to preserve a level in this respect with neigh
bouring states. this naturally led to the eftimarioii
of gold above paper, which immediately fell toa
equality with gold, and went on to depreciate.
The government beli-ved itfelf able to stop the de
preciation by severe laws; and th a n appeared the
whole train of expedients commonly attending a paper
“ Some (not contented with their own) endeavoured
by force to possess themselves of other rooms, in wnich
attempts they were sure to meet with oppofitioo, inso
much that one part or other of the house, during m y
abode in it, has by these means been rendered a feene
of uproar and confufion.
Our principal error l : es in placing our affections too
much on earthly things, and disregarding, or at Raft
thinking ^i slightly on the concerns of eternity. Our
conduct in this refpwft is directly the reverie of what it
ought to be ; for instead of considering this life in the
imperceptible proportion which it bears to futurity,
we appear to take all our measures, and direj all our
pursuits, as if we were sent here to reside forever, and
seem to imagine that we were created for no other pur
pose- yet constant experience furnifhes incontrovertible
proofs that we cannot with certainty count upon a fin
gte moment as our own.—Permit me toconclude with a.
text of scripture rather varied; " Seek only the king
dom of Heaven and its riches, and all the tralh and
trumpery of this world (which contains nothing else)
shall be given unto you, as play-things meet for chil
dren, to amuse you untill you come thither?
'!/' allowed that nothing teaches like experiences
The truth of the following fliort hiflory of a fyftenr
of paper money in France may be depended on. It
is taken from the most authentic accounts of that pe
riod, and ihews that in all countries, the fame caus
es produce the fame effects. The publication of it
at this time may be ufeful as well as entertaining,
and convey some seasonable and important lessons to
the rulers and people of the United States.
Your's A. B.
or he wfr could furtheft over reach his neighbour, was
accounted by many the ablest negociator and Ihrewdeft
politician.) The larges trooms in the house were em
pires, the lesser ones kingdoms, republics, &c. Of
those who occupied the appartments, the major part in
each were Piled fubjefts, and were divided into diflind
elafies, such as nobility, gentry, tradesmen and pea
fints, (the tw® last whereof chiefly applied themselves
to commerce and agriculture) over whom either a fmalt
part of their owp number, or one single person, presi
ded and governed with laws.
As the rest of our transactions were in general
much of a piece with those already enumerated, f (halt
not enlarge further on the fubjed, but conclude by
remarking, that I perceive I have hitherto attached
myfelf too clofrly to this place and its products, which
now appear to me but of trifling eftimation."'
" Your lift remark on the vanity of this inn, and
all contained in i%" rejoined the condu^or. c< is a ve
ry just one ; the fame reflection occurs to all at the time
of my calling them hence; but what is exceeding
strange, seldom to any before that period."
APFLICATI O N.
Mr. GILL,
BOSTO N, January xi, 1781.,
From the Cgntinen tal Journal.