The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-06-05 00:00:00, page 2

•:ter the late letter from pur representatives in Ptiila
deiphia; anti what nieaGtaLfef any) thou Id be adopt
e, to obtain that fedrefs of grievances wnich taey
fern to have lolicited in vain.
( No. 2. )
To the OFFICERS of the ARMY.
Gentlemen,
A fellow soldier, w^ofe in'er^fl and affeflidns bind
trim Wrongly to'y,u, wnofe past bufferings have been
as gr at, and whole future fortune may be as despe
rate as yours—would bed leave to add refs you.
Age has its claims, and rank is not without its pre
t^nfions to admire : but" though unfapported by both,
he flatters hinihlf, that the plain language of fioceri
ty and experience will neither be unheard nor unre.
garded.
Like many of you, he loved private life, and left it
with regret. He I 'ft it, determined to retire from the
field with the necessity that called h'm to it, arid not
till then—Not till the enemies of his country, the
(lives of power, arid'the hirelings of injustice, were
comp died to abandon their schemes, and acknowledge
Arn ri a as terrible in arms as the had been humble in
remonftrarce. With this.object in view, he has long
Shared in your toi's, and mingled in your dangers —
He has felt the cold hand of poverty without a mur
mur, and has Been the insolence of wealth without a
sigh.—But, too much under the direction of his wither,
and sometimes weak enough to miflak'e desire for opi
nion, he has till lately—very lately believed in the jus
tice of his country. He hoped, that as the clouds of
adversity scattered, and as the funfh ne of pe Ce and
better fortune broke in upon us, the coldness and Ie
verity of government would relax, and that, more
than juAice, that gratitude would blate forth upon
those hands, which had upheld her in the darkest ftiges
of her passage, from impending servitude to acknow
ledge I independence. But faith has its limits, as well
as temper and there are points beyond which, neither
can be Wretched, without finking into cowardice.or
plunging into cr dulity This, my friends, I conceive
to be ym? Aquation. Hurried to the very verge of botfi,
another step would ruin you forever. To be tame and
unprovoked when injuries press hard upon you, is
more than weakness; but to look up for kinder usage,
without one manly effort of your own, Would fix your
character, and shew the world how richly you deserve
'thofe chains you broke. To guard against this evil,
let us take a review of the ground upon which we now
fland, and from thence carry our thoughts forward
for a moment, into the unexplored field of expedient.
A f ter a pursuit of seven long years, the objed for
which we set out is at length brought within our reach.
"Yes, my friends, that (offering courage of yours, was
active once—it has conducted the United States of Arne
rica through a doubtful and a bloody war. It has
placed her in the chair of independency, and peace re
turns again to bless--whom ? --A country willin' to re
dress your wrongs, cherish your worth and reward
your services, a country courting your return to pri
vate life, with tears of gratitude, and (miles of admi
ration, longing to divide with you that independency
which your gallantry has given, and those riches which
your wounds have preserved? Is this the case? Or
is it rather, a country that tramples upon your rights,
disdains your cr'es and insults your distresses? Have
you not, more than once, fuggeAed your withes and
made known your wants to Congress? Wants and
wishes which gratitude and policy should have antici
pated, rather than evaded. And have you not lately,
in the meek language of entreating memorials, beg
ged from their justice, what you would no longer ex
pe& from their favour? How rave you been answered ?
Let the letter which you are called to confider to mor
row make reply.
If th s, then, be your treatment, while the (words
you wear are necessary for the defence of America,
what have you to expe& from peace, when your voice
fhal fink, and ymr flreng h dissipate by division?
When those very (words, the instruments and compa
nions of your glory, (hall be taken from your sides,
and no remaining mark of military diflinHion left,
but your wants, infirmities and fears? Can you then
consent to be the only fu fferers by this revolution,
and retiri g from the field, grow old in poverty,
wretchedly (s and contempt ? Can you consent to wade
through the vile mire of dependency, asd owe the mi
serable remnant of that life to charity, which has hi
therto been (pent in honor!—lf you can—Go,—and
tarry with you. the jest of tories and the (corn of
whigs,—the ridicule, and what is worse, the pity of
the wor d. Go, fl rve, and be forgotten ! But if your
spirit should revolt at this-, if you have sense enough
t> difeover, and spirit enough to oppose tyranny un
der whatever garb it may assume ; whether it be the
p'ain coat of republicanism, or the splendid robe of
royalty, if you have yet learned to diferiminate be
tween a pe pie and a cause, between men and princi
ples—awake—attend to your fixation and redress
yourfives. If the'prefent moment be loft, every fu
ture effort is in vain; and your threats then, will be
as empty as your intreaties now.
I would advise you, therefore, to come to some final
opinion, upon what you can bear, and what you will
fuffer. If your determination be in any proportion
to your wrongs, carry your appeal from the juttice
to the fears of government. Change the milk and
water style of your last memorial; assume a bolder
tone-decent, but lively, (pi r ited and determined, and
fufpe& the man who would advise to more moderati
on and longer forbearance, let two or three men
who can feel as well as write, be appointed to draw
up your last remooftrance; for I would no longer give
it the fueing, foft, unfuccefsful epithet of memorial.
Let it be represented in language that will neither dis
honor you by its rodeuefs, nor betray you by its fears,
what has been promdd by Congrfs, and what has
been performed,—how long and how patiently you
have buffered, how little you have asked, and how
much of that little has been denied. Tell them that,
though you were the firfl, and would wish to be the
last to encounter darters: though defpai- itfelf can
never drive you into dishonor, it may drive you from
( No.^ )
GENERAL ORDERS.
Head-Quarters, March ii, 1'783.
The commander in chief, having heard that a general
meeting of the officers of the army, was proposed to be
held this day at the new building in an anonimous pa
per, which was circulated yeflerday by some unknown
person, conceives, although he is fully persuaded that
the good sense of the officers would induce them to
pay very little attention to such an irregular invita
tion, his duty as well as the reputation and true intei
eft of the army, requires his disapprobation of such
disorderly proceedings. At the fame time, he requefls
the general and fiel I officers with one officer from each
com nny,arf a, oroper teprefentation from the ftaffof
the army, will assemble at 12 o'clock on Saturday next at
the view building, to hear the' re port of the committee of
the army to Congress. After mature deliberation, they
will devise what farther measures ought to be adopted
as mod rational and bed calculated to attain the just
and important object in view. The senior officer in
rank present wi'l be pleased to preside, and report the
reult of the deliberations to the commander in chief.
(N 0.4.. 4.)
To the OFFICERS of the ARMY.
Gentlemen,
THE author of a late address, anxious to deserve,
though he should fail to engage your esteem ; and de
termined at every rifque to unfold your duty and dis
charge his own, would beg leave to (olicit the further
indulgence of a few moments attention. Aware of the
coyness with which his last letter would be received,
he feels himfelf neither dTappointed nor difpleafel
with the caution it has met. Ye well knew that it (poke
a language which, till now, had been heard only in
wifpers, and that it contained some fentimeots which
confidence itsfelf would nave breathed with diftru ft.
But their lives have been short, and their observations
imperfed indeed, who have yet to learn, that alarms
may be falfe ; that the best designs are sometimes oblig
ed to assume the worst afpeft ; and that, however fy
nonimous surprise and disaster may be in military
phrase, in moral and political meaning, they convey
ideas as different as they are diftnß
Suspicion, deteflable as it is in private life, is the
loveliest trait of political characters. It prompts you
to enquiry, bars the door againfl design, and opens
every avenue to truth. It was the firft to oppose a
tyrant here, and still stands centinel over the liberties
of America. With this belief it would illy become me
to flifle the voice of this honest guardian ; a guardian,
who authorifed by circumflances digested into proof,
has herfelf given birth to the address you have read, and
now goes forth among you with a request to all, that
it may be treated fairly ; that it may be considered be
fore it be abused, and condemned before it be tortured ;
convinced, that in a search after error, troth will ap
pear, that apathy itfelf will grow warm in the pursuit,
and though it will be the last to adopt her advice, it
will be the firfl to aft upon it.
The general ordtof yesterday, which the weak may
miflake for disapprobation, and the designing dare to
represent as such, wears, in my opinion, a very dif
ferent complexion, and caries with it a very opposite
tendency. Till now, the commander in chief has re
garded the steps you have taken for redress with good
writhes alone. His ostensible silence has authorifed
your meetings, and his private opinion has fanftified
your claims. Had he disliked the object in view, would
not the fame sense of duty which forbade you from
meeting on the third day of the week, have forbidden
you from meeting on the seventh? Is not the fame
fu bje& held up for your difcuffien ? and has it not pass
ed the seal of office, and taken all the solemnity of an
order ? This wil give fyflem to your proceedings, and
flabili yto your resolves. It will ripen (peculation in
to sass ; and while it adds to the unanimity, it cannot
piffibly lessen the independency of your (entiments. It
may be necessary to add upon this fubjeh, that, from
the injunction with which the general orders close, e
very man is at liberty to conclude that the report to be
made to head quarters is intended for Congress. Hence
will arise another motive for that energy which has
been recommended: for, can you give the lie to the
pathetic descriptions of your representations, and
the more alarming predictions of our friends ? To
such as make a want of signature an objection to opini
on, I reply, that it matters very little who is the au
thor of sentiments which grow out of your feelings,
and apply to your wants; that in this instance, diffi
dence suggested what experience enjoins; and that
while I continue to moye on the high road of arpument
and advice, which is open . to all, I ihall continue to
be the sole confident of my own secret. But, should
the time come, when it (hall be necessary to depart
from this general line, and hold up any individual a
mong you as an object of the resentment or contempt
of the rest, I thus publicly pledge my honour as a sol
dier, and veracity as a man, that I will then assume
a visible exiflence, and give my name to the ar>oy
with as little reserve as I now give my opinion;.
the field: that the wound often irritated, and never
healed, may at length become incurable; and that
the flighted mark of indignity from Congress now,
must operate like the grave, and part you forever:
that in any po itical event, the army has its alterna
tive. If peace, that nothing (hall separate them from
your arms but death: if war, that courting the au
spices, and inviting the direction of your illullrious
leader, you will retire to some unsettled country,
(mile in your turn, and " mock when their fear com
eth on." But let it'reprefent also, that should they
comply with the requefl of your late memorial, it
would make you mure happy, and them more refped
able. That while the war should Continue, you
would follow their standard into the field—and when
it came to an end, you would withdraw into the (hade
of private life, and give the world another fubjeftof
wonder and applause ; an army victorious over its ene
mies --victorious over itfelf.,
W H I T E HA LL, April 5.
The king has been pleased to constitute and appoint
his grace Wm. H-nry duke of Portland, the right ho
norable ohn Cavendish, commonly called lord John Ca
vendish, the right honorable Charles Howard, com
monly called earl of Surrey, Frederick Montague, efq.
and fir Grey Cooper, bart. to be commissioners for
executing the office of treasurer of his majedy's ex
chequer.
The king has been pleased to grant to the right ho
norable John Cavendish, commonly called lord John
Cavendish, the offices of chancellor and under-treasu
rer of his majesty's exchequer.
The king has also been pleased to grant to the right
honorable Charles Townfhend, the office of treasurer
of his majesty's navy.
U T R E C H T, April i.
AN express, which is arrived at the Hague from Pa
ris, and which has occasioned many miniflerial
conferences, is said to have brought advice of the court
of London having desisted from her former resolution
in refpeß to the Dutch colonies of Trinquemale and
Negapatnam, provided our lords the dates general will
defid on their fide, from the indemnification for losses
in (hips and merchandize sustained by the republic since
the declaration of war of Great- Britain, and if besides,
theit high mightinesses will consent to let the English
participate of the commerce of the island of Ceylon.
The brig Flora, captain Tatum, arrived here last
Tuesday morning from Portsmouth, which (he left
the 12th April ; by her we have the following Advi.es:
We are credibly informed, that one night last week
the following Angular affrir happened at a public
house on the road between Ripley and Cobham, in
Surrey:—ln the afternoon, two pedlars went into
the above house, and having a pack with them, re
queued that they m^ht leave it there till their return
in the evening, which being agreed to by the land
lord, they departed; but not returning in the even
ing according to their promise, by the family's
bed time, the maid frrvant was ordered to fit up a
while for them , but (he had hot (at long before her
eye was attracted by a motion in the pedlars pack,
which greatly alarmed her, and 0 cafioned her to go
diredly and make the circumstance known to her mas.
ter, who in consequence got up and went down flairs,
and having fully convinced himfelf of the truth of the
girl's story, loaded his gun, and fired at the pack,
St. J AM E S's, April 2.
His majefly in council was this day pleased to de
clare the right honorable David vifeount Stormont,
lord president of his majefly's most honorable privy
council, and his lordship took his place at the board
accordingly.
His majefly having been pleased to deliver the custo
dy of the privy seal to the right honorable Frederick
earl of Carlifle, the oath of keeper of the privy seal was
this day admioidered to him, and his lordship took his
place at the board accordingly.
His majefly having been pleased to appoint the right
hon . fi r Frederick North, knight of the mod noble
order of the garter, commonly called lord North, and
the right honorable Charles James Fox, to be his ma
jefly's principal (ecretaries of date, they were this day
by his majefly's command, sworn his majefly's prin~
cipal secretaries of date accordingly.
LONDO N, April 5.
Extras of a letter from Paris, March 24.
" The uneasiness which we have been under on ac
count of the armament preparing by the English, in.
tended for the Eaf llndies, is now entirely diffipated
the two courts anting in concert for the re-eflablifh
ment of peace in that part of the world, upon as solid
a bafo as that upon which it will be fixed 'in Europe-
The day before yesterday, the English officer who is
commissioned to go over land to India, set off from
hence, accompanied by a person dispatched by our go
vernment for the fame purpose. These two will em
bak at Toulon, and will then proceed direftly f or
Alexandria, and if they meet with no unfortunate
encounter in their journey through the defarts, it is
supposed that they will reach India towards the latter
end of June "
April 8. Yesterday the honorable Charles Jam?s
Fox took the oaths and his feat in the house of com*
mons, upon being re-elected for the city of Westmin
ster.
Captain Carpenter, of the navy, arrived yesterday
afternoon at rhe admiralty, with advices from fir E.
Hughes, containing an account of an engagement be
tween the fleet under his command, and M. Suffrein,
which was desperately sustained by the English. fir E.
Hughes having opposed a forcteof 15 ships of the line
with only 10. Sir Richard Bickerton, with the rein
forcement under his command, is mentioned to have
joined fir Edward Hughes some time after the above
mentioned aflion was fought. The above accounts
were, immediately on their coming to hand, laid be
fore his majefly.
The Rodney packet left Madrafs on the Bth of Nov.
last, and brings an account of a fourth a&jon between
fir Edward Hughes and Mons. Suffrein, which hap
pened in the middle of Oflober. It was the (harpeft
action that perhaps has been known ; both fleets Suf
fered much, and ended in a drawn battle. On our
fide three captains were slain, viz. Watt, Wood, and
Lumley. One of fir Edward Hughes's frigates had
(poke with fir Richard Bickerton's fleet, a few days
fail from Madrafs; but this was after rhe above
aHion.
Lord Cornwallis has certain'y declined going out
commander in chief of the British forces in India, in
con sequence of the prefect change of administration.
The new loan, about to be negociated for the cur
rent year, is to be 12 millions; eight were to have
answered the ex pences of the state, had the late mi
nistry continued in office; the additional four are re
quired, for purposes too obvious to mention.
The funds have progressively fallen ever since the
present miniflerial revolution was publicly announ
ced.