The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-05-23 00:00:00, page 2

£ S Lord North knows that in all our tranfaftions as
£"1 well civil as military the conduct of our enemies
ought to be an example for us, he mast have turned his
eyes to the continent, and observed that the French have
made fitch arrangements in their finances, as will enable
them to continue the war with much more probability of
success than we dare to promise ourftlves. We are
already exinufted by extravagant expences,and difireffed
with enormous taxes ; and although the friends of go
vernment agree, yet notwithflanding we have made so
many efforts, if we w:ih :d at this moment to make peace,
we could not procure it but on terms the most disgrace
ful. In the course of two years more, our fixation must
become much more deplorable. While we lavish our
treasures, our enemies ekercife the Arided ceconomy in
their expenditures. Since the beginning of toe war, their
extraordinarie§ have not exceeded eigat millions sterling
per year. They have lately borrowed about 2,500 000
livres ; they have nevertheless not established one Ihilling
of a permanent debt; they have not added a single duty
to those of the peace eftabbfhment ; they have established
no new funds for the payment of tnofe txtraordinaries.
The interefi is paid with the money saved by oeconomy.
There has been a general reform through France —in the
royal palace —in the queen's boufehold —and in the amuse
ments of the royal family. By means of this reduction of
expences, the Director General of the finances has saved a
revenue adequate to the payment of the interest of the
loan, and tne total of the extraordinaries. The savings
have produced 950 000 livres per year. All this has been
effected without the leaf! appearance of arbitrary power.
The value of their coin has not been raised ; their proper
ty h s not been reduced. There has not been the leaf! re
ducing of the capital of the national debt, nor any delays
in the payment of the interest of the national debt. On
the comr try every thing done, tends to eftabidh ruoft so
lidly the public credit, and to endear to the nation for
ever the Micifter who projeftstne measures, and the So
vereign who adopts them. In short, no one's property has
been invaded, although the government has exerted the
greater efforts to rane funds for continuing the war. The
Ki l g of France, like a real fattier es his people, thought
it .i:s duty rati er to retrench the expences of his house
hold than to take any thing from his fubje&s. And al
though he is now my enemy, 1 cannot refrain my ac
knowiedgmend, that this young Prince merits the relped,
the efieem, the admiration of all Europe. How melan
choly a profpe& have we before us! Our enemy have an
able minister and a patriot King to hired ti eir affairs;
white ours are tonduded, though doubtkfs by a patriot
King, yet by a lef, fkilful financier. A'ter the example
of Mr. Necker, it is absolutely necessary for us eabohfh
many posts which in a long course of time hate become,
in t e opinion of certain persons, as necetfary as they are
lucrative.
Feb. 12. The third of this month it was debated, weh
ther the lodia-Cbmpany should be permitted to build two
ill ps of war in Afi 1 ? The fropofition wts rejected by a
majority 0 16: votes, there being 327 against it, and 165
f° r it-
Wewrit impabently for the determination of the great
queßion concerning new-modelling he prefect fyfle% of
our finances. The court has always a great majority in
its views 01 a motion to form a committee cn this fub
jeft rum whi h all perlons having places or pensions
should te excluded, proves this. It was rejected by a
majority of 101 against 55.
The following concludes a spirited Address to
the People of Ireland, by a Native, taken
from a late irifh Publication. The Length f
of this excellent Performance will not allow"
us to give it entire.
-WILL now, my countrymen, venture to assert, that
i trade and m nufaftures never can flourish in this king
dom, until we are emancipated from British authority.
Can you imagine that the tyrant, who (ported with the
privileges of our American Brethren, reels a finctre
affection for yours? There is a consistency in his cha
rader, which destroys the supposition.
Security to property and to the acquifiticns of industry,
is the only method to excite man to labour, or to inspire
him with a with to increase his store. It is for this reason
that commerce never has been known to flourish uncer ab
solute governments. The lowering hand of liberty has
ever been found necessary to raiie it to maturity and per
fection. '
Why should men wish to accumulate wealth, of which
they may be deprived the next hour, and which exposes
them flill more to the tyranny of their tult? In such
states the wretchedness of individualsconftitutes their fafe
ty. Tie florm of paffiou, the furious lightening that
fl Abes from the eye of enraged majesty, glide past the bum
ble cottages to burst upon stately towers and splendid pa
la.es. W ilft the meanest peasant lives without fear, the
rich owner of fertile and unbounded plains is under conti
nuri apprehensions.
In the case of Ireland it makes not any difference whe
ther tais dominion be placed in the hands of one man, er
of many. Our slavery is compl te, as long as we are fub
jeft to regulations made by a legislature, in the election
of which we had net 1 voice, and over whole members we
havenot the lead confront If any thing could add to a
slavery in its nature (0 perfect, it would be, that we are
under the government of a power, whole views may be
diflinft, and whole inttrefts may be opposite to ours.
Which cf us in those cases thall be thefirft to fuffer, re
quires little penetration to forefee.
Indeed the very argument nfed by those who flile them
selves men of moderation, to make us cease in our de
mands, is the firongeft reason for urging the point with the
greatest earnestness. The more beneficial those privile
ges are, which have been now restored unto us, the more
careful flr uld we be in securing them beyond the power of
recal. Unless our conifitutipn be mane independent of
an external jurddidion, to increase our commerce is only
to render us a more valuable plunder. Whilst this jurif
didion remains, the advantages which must result from
this new change in our situation, can only tend to expose
us ftal further to the rapacity of our Governors, and to
m ks their power m ire dreadful, by presenting additional
inducements to excite it.
LONDO N.
'Speech d Mr Burke in the House of Commons, February
Bth, 1780.
Unless England relinquishes the claim of fupremacyom
this nation, we should dread growing wealthy, as the
captives of some lavage nations have dreaded growing fat,
the miserable wretches knowing that they were pampered,
only to haftea the period when the sleekness of their ap
pearance should point tnem out as victims to the infernal
appetites of their masters, by loathing their food, endea
voured to keep themselves poor and lean.
It was thus that our poverty became our consolation.
We derived comfort, a case which often happens in this
life, from the extremity of our diftreis. We were not
troubled with fears, for we had nothing to lose.
Thus, my countrymen, have { endeavoured to shew
you that the misfortunes of Ireland have solely arisen
from the power usurped by the British Legislature of
binding you by their laws.—l have pointed out some of
the most grievous exercises of that power, and have fur
ther attempted to prove, from the uniform disposition of
the British government, that the present, or indeed any
relaxations, whilst the authority which granted them, re
mains unquestioned, can have no other tendency, than
to makgus a more valuable property to England.
As long as memory retains her place within our breasts,
we must be in continual dread, left she may return to her
former measures It is not at oncethat nations more than
indivi luals, can totally conquer rooted dispositions, fixed
habits and inveterate prejudices; how much more natur
al was it then to ascribe those wondrous conceptions to the
dread of converting into an enemy, a nation become for
midable by her spirit and her soldiers. This I used as an
argument, to induce you to push to the utmost you pre
fect,advantages, end not defer, until after ages, an oppor
tunity tco precious to be loft, and when loft, never to be
recalled, and to rouse you at this critical time to employ
every effort to procure the abolition of this fatal power,
witnout which, you cannot flourifh in commerce, become
respectable as a nation, or free as a people. A demand
of this nature will be a most perfect touchflone of British
sincerity. If it be her intention that the rights now re
covered by this country should be inviolable, and that
the liberties of Ireland are to remain sacred, what reason
can Ihe employ for retaining a power, useless to her, and
dreadful to us? W y keep possession cf an authority,
which must be eternally creating mutual jealousy and dis
trust? We grof ly deceive ourselves, if we think that
the wounds inflicted 011 this unnappy country can ever be
cured, unless the hand which gave them, b r disarmed.
They may be fkiuned over, but it is only to break out
hereafter with tenfold virulence. Our posterity, instead
o i bleliing us for their inheritance, will curse their timid
and degenerate ancestors, who, when they had it in their
power to acquire the fee simple clear of every incumbrance,
only irinfmitted to them GARBLED PRIVILEGES,
MUTILATED RIGHTS AND DOUBTFUL LI
BERTIES.
EXTRACTS roni the Journals of Congress.
Saturday, April 15.
THE Committee to whom was re erred the inftruc
tioni to the Delagates of the State 01 Maffachnfetts-
Bay, re a i/e to the Staff departments of the army, deli
ver'd in a report, whicu was taken into consideration,
and (hereupon,
Resolved, That any State which shall furnifh the offi
cers of the Hofyital and Medical Staff belo. ging to such
State in the service pt the United States with fuco articles
of cloathing as those officers are retpe&ively entitled to by
a refoluiion of Congress of the 20th of November, 1779,
and make returns thereof to the Cloathier General, shall
have credit for such supplies in their account with the Uni
ted States.
April 18.
A report of the Board of War was read; thereupon,
Rtfolvmd, Tnai nx blank coinmiffions be sent to Col
onel Broadnead, command ng officer at Fort Pitt, to be
filled up with the names of such faithful Indians of the
Delaware tribe as he thall jadge to be deserving of that
honour; but no tank to be given to any of them higher
than that of Captain
The report of tne Committee on the letter of the 27th
of February from Colonel Broadhead was taken into con
sideration; whereupon
R Solved, That a copy of Colonel Broadhead's letter,
ana t.e papers referred to in it, be sent to the Governor
and Council ol the State of Virginia and the President
and Supreme Executiv Council ot the v tate of Pennsyl
vania.
Resolved, That Colonel Broadhead shall be supported
by Congrels in any a^s or orders which the nature of
the fervue and the difeharge of his duty as command
ing officer at Fort Pitt, hata made or thall make neces
sary.
The report of the Committee refpedipg Loan-Office
Certificates was taking into consideration, when sundry
prop fitions were moved :
The firft being read, viz. That Congress will, as soon
as may be, make such provision lor discharging or COll
-the Loans that have been made to these United
States, on Loan Office Certificates, as that the holders of
them Ihall sustain mo loss thereon by any depreciation of
the Bills loaned fubfequ&it to the refpeftive dates of said
Certificates.
A motion was made by Mr. Peabody seconded by Mr
Madison, to postpone the consideration thereof;
And on the question for postponing,
The yeas and nays were required, and
It passed in the negative.
A division was then called ; and on the question to a
gree to the firft clause, as far as the words “ thereon" to
inclusive,
R solved in the affirmative.
On the latter clause from " thereon" to the end,
The yeas and nays were required, and
It was resolved in the affirmative.
April 19.
A report ofthe Board of War, on the Petition of Lieu
tenant Colonel Piefre R. de Rouffi, was read ; where
upon
Resolved, That Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Regnier de
Rouffi, late of the second New-York regiment, in consi
deration of his faithful services and losses while in the ser
vice of these United States, receive Bills of Exchange on
the Honourable John Jay, Enquire, for the sum of five
hundred dollars in specie, and a warrant on the Treasur
er, for three thousand dollars in currency of these States'
April 21. ,
A report from the Board of War was readj where
,upon,
Congress came to the following resolutions;
Whereas it appears to Congress that accidental pre
ferences have been given in some infiances to particular
officers, owning as well to local (ißcumflances as to the
want of a certain ratio by which the fubfiftance of each
refpeftive claimant might be afeertaiued, agreeable to the
length of time he had beyn in capt.vity ; and where
as it farther appears to Congress that twenty-fix officers,
taken at Fort Montgomery the 16th cf O^ober, 1777,
and fourteen taken between the 16th of Oflober, 1777, and
May, 1778, and feventeeni taken August 2xd, 1777, at
Staten-Island, have received thefum of thirty-two pounds,
New York money,more than other office. 3 who were cap
tured about the fame period of time ; and moreover that
those who were on parole upon Long-Island, before the
arrival of the Philadelphia prisoners at New-York, have
received an allowance of two dollars a week for their
board, of which those confined in Philadelphia had not
the benefit:
Resolved, That, as Congress mean to extend their care
and attention, without diflinaion, to all their officers
who have the misfortune to be captured by the enemjn
the sum of four thousand one hundred and ninety.fodr
pounds, New-York money, in fp^tie, equal to ten tbeu
fand four hundred and eighty-five dollars, be placed in
the hands of the Commissary General of Prisoners, out of
which he be directed to pay to each of the officers confi
ned in Philadelphia, while the enemy had possession of
the city, and now in captivity, the sum of thirty-two
pounds like money, equal to eighty dollars, and the far
ther sum of to the fame persons
refpedively, to be computed at the rate of two dollars a
week from the time of their being prisoners until their
board was paid by the public :
That a farther sum of money in specie, equal to one
thousand four hundred and ninety-three pounds, New-
York Currency, equal to three thousand seven hundred
and thirty-two dollars and one half, be put into the hands
ofthe Commissary General of Prisoners, for the purpose
of levelling all the officers, agreeably to the different terms
of their captivity, to the end that each individual may,
according to his circurnftances, participate of an equal
share of the public provision.
And whereas it has been represented to Congress, that
a farther sum of money is requisite for all the officers in
captivity, as well as those who have been lately captured
as those who have been in that situation for any length of
time, for the purposes ol paying their board, purchasing
cloathing and other necessaries ; therefore,
Resolved, That the sum of twelve thousand four hun
dred and sixty-three pounds, like currency, in specie, e^
qual to thirty-one thousand one hundred and fifty-feven
dollars and a half, be advanced to the Commissary Ge
neral of Prisoners, which he be directed to difiribute a
mong all the officers in captivity ; and that the consider
ation of an, farther allowance or comparative preference
be postponed to some future period :
'1 hat a farther sum cf two t: oufand five hundred pounds,
like money, equal to fix thousand two hundred and fifty
dollars, be advanced to the Commissary General of Pri
soners, for the purpose of (applying the fi^k soldiers and
Tailors in captivity with necessaries, and for other contin
gen expences relating to the prisoners.
Ordered, That the Board or Treasury be directed to
report with all convenient speed, the ways and means of
furnilhing the foregoing sums.
Ordered, That the poftfeript ofthe report of the Board
of War be re-committed, and that the Board be directed
to report a propermode of supporting the prisoners therein
described by tne Commissary of Prisoners.
Another report from the Board of War was read ;
whereupon \
Resolved, That General Washington be impowered,
when properly applied to for that purpose, to authorize
an Agent or Commissary of Prisoners, appointed by the
enemy, to reside in such of these States as he shall direct,
and with powers similar to those granted to a like officer
in behalf of the United States, and allowed by the enemy
to be exercised within their lines.
April 25.
According to order Congress proceeded to the farther
consideration of the report of the Committee resetting
Loan Office certificates ; and in debating the following
paragraph, viz.
“ That, in making such provision, no depreciation cn
the Bills loaned shall be admitted at an earlier period
than nor any greater depreciation on any
of the Bills that have been loaned, than that of forty
dollars of the said Bills for one Spanish mi led dollar."
A motion was made by Mr. Houston seconded by Mr.
Muhlenberg, to fill up the blank with the “ ift of March,
1778
On which the yeas and nays were required, and
It passed in the negative.
sa¥^#+4^*^
Nicetown, in the Northern Liberties, April 24.
WAS taken up by the fubferiber last Saturday, a bay
MARE, about 14 hands high, has a star in her
forehead, (hod all round, branded on the near thigh,
but dull, paces and trots, and appears to be 5 years old.
The owner, proving his property, and paying charges,
may have her again, by apph ing to
ANTHONY HUBBORD.
f" O™R S A L E,
SUNDRY LOTS in this City, on Lombard,
Front, Second and South-ftieets—alfo a few Lots in
the Diftria of Southwark. For terms apply to Charles
Wharton, one of the Executors to the Ertate of Jo
seph Wharton, deceased.
TO BE SOLD BY
JOHN DUNL AP,
( Bound or unbound )
ANY QUANTITY OF
DILWORTH's SPELLING BOOK,
Printed on fine strong paper and A new type.
N. B. Those who buy by the thousand shall have a
large allowance.