The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-01-11 00:00:00, page 2

As a fuccadaneum for militia, we were honoured
with a very friendly epistle from the earl of Shelburne,
putting us on a plan to arm ourselves. It was truly a
generous scheme, that we poor, difaffeßed Scotchmen
should embody ourselves at our own expence, and frrve
his majesty for nothing; and that we should run the
rifque, many of u% of ruining ourselves for the 'good
of the nation ; whip others are enriching themselves by
its defiru&ion. This is a very pretty scheme, and
" pressing volunteers with a vengeance." Doubtless the
scheme will be followed, and I hope it will have the
happy effi a of (hewing miniflry that Britain is neither
a despotic monarchy nor an oligarchy.
Bad as we are, the greater part of us can vie in loy
alty with those luminaries, the duke of Richmond, Mr.
Burke, or the famous chairman, whole' charader de
servedly makes him the detestation of all parties ; and
if we art used with tolerable good manners, there is no
danger of rebellion. Our behaviour has hitherto fliewn
it too glaringly ; but there is a possibility of exaspe
rating us, and I am afraid that those pointed sarcasms,
those difrepeßful reflections which have lately been
thrown out against us, have fluck closer, and taken
deeper root than the miniflry are aware of.
I will mod readily grant that all a Scotchman has
to lose appears but little in his own eyes ; and I know
that oatmeal, and the poor fare of Scotland is reckon
ed nothing at all in the eyes of an Englishman But
poor as the fare is, there g a nation supported by it,
and our enemies have as small a claim upon it as upon'
any other part of Britain. Our lives too are as dear to
us, and as worthy of protection.
But to conclude.—wit draw the Scotch soldiers
from the army, and the Scotch sailors from the navy,
and what a figure would they both cut: While there'
fore they are fighting fortheir country abroad, justice
it is that their friends and relations should b~ pr ^teßed
at home. I would ask Englishmen—is Scotland a part
cf the Britith dominions? If it is, it has a right toall
It is not a fortnight since I left Scotland, and I can
give the better account of the real mind of the people
concerning their usage, and it isin vain to palliate mat
ters, since their refolubons may burst upon the guilty
heads of bewitched minifiry before they are aware. Is
there a tongue not bound up by ministerial influence,
be-north the Tweed,' that has not execrated them? Is
there a heart that has not wished them sincerely out
of place, that those who were acknowledged hones lmen
might be reinflated? To call me a rebel, in one word
is to give me the mod deteflable character you can'be
fiow.
From what motives was this refufed? The miniflry,
without ceremony, pdd us the very polite and court
ly compliment of calling us a rebellious people (read
Scotchmen!) who ought not to be trusted with arms,
lef fwe fliould make another 1715 or 45 (read and be
amazed!) or that we had nothing to lose, and ought
hot to be so solicitous about a militia. —These are ex
ceelihg pretty arguments, founded no doubt on that
Lberaluy of 0 inking, which, it is said, the English are
remarkable for. They seem without all doubt, the
fentimeuts of a liberal mind This is evident at firft
view. If we are inclined to the service, and more at
tached to the family of Stewart than to that of Hano
ver, in the name 0 God why are so many Scotchmen
allowed to bear commissions in the army? Why are
those commissions proflituted to support partizans of
an avowed enemy? Why did they propose to recruit
the army from the Scotch militia ? —Thefe are para
doxes that I freely acknowledge all my mathematics
are not able to solve. Could there ever have entered
into the wife head of minifiry a more prepoflerous
scheme than to recruit the army with a set of rebels?
ft would almoll tempt me to believe that some of them
had heard of the prayers of the famous robbe, “ Lord
-' turn the world topfy turvy, that honefl people may
* 4 get a livelihood." Besides such a scheme was con
ferring an honour on our jufticts of the peace, which
they were not aware of (or it is mod probable they
would have thought it too great for them) and which
lam Cure they do not deserve—they even exalted them
to the rank of recruiting ferjeants! What honours
are in store for us Scotchmen is yet a secret in the
womb of politics! ft would be the greatest presumpti
on possible to suppose that any of his majesty's pre
sent minifiers, or any of those who " jufl got up, look
" ed about them, and then quietly lay down again,"
had any other thing in view when they opposed the bill,
but the good of the nation; and without all doubt it
will turn out so, for in the miniflerial creed, to put
arms into the hands of the Scotch, and to put a sword
into the hand of a madman are fynonimous terms.—
Ye", they are fo—(laves ought to be kept in all due
fubjeflion. Hiniftry, the hour of emancipation is ap
proaching; when you may probably be better taught
what your real authority is, and what the liberties of
Scotland are.
The following Piece, copied from a London Paper of
tiie goth of August last, may (erve to (hew the tem
per of the people of Scotland, on the late refufal of
the British Miaiftry to grant their request, to be
embodied as a national militia.
Nemo me impune laceffit.
rfr H IS, fir, is the favourite, heroic motto of the
¥ Scotch nation, which animates them in the day
of battle, which rouses their spirits to revenge when
affronted ; and to put that revenge in execution in the
prefect moment, may be attended with circumstances
more difagreeabe 'than has yet entered the minds of
mmifiry. The Scotch, fir, are accused of pride; if their
pride is equal to the meanness of some miniflers, Ifhould
reckon it a pride which carries disgrace notoriously
humped upon its forehead; but if being impatient of
infohs is calle their pride, it is such that it diftin
puilh s them from the more groveling beings. In this
refpe&t, although a Scotchman, I will not hesitate a mo
went to pronounce them the proudest people upon
earth. But ther pride is rather praise-worthy than
dtberwife. From this natural disposition, in the day
of abuse, the worst is to be feared : from it the minif
tr y may have cause--too great cause to repent their late
unguarded, ill advised resolution, of refilling them
what they have an equal title to with England, a mi
litia.
the privileges that any other part enjoys, if alike cir
cumflanced. Qhe circumflances are the fame with
England, liable to the fame inconveniences from ene
mies, and those enemies are hoflile alike to both. An
swer me, is Scotland worthy preserving? If you an.
fwer yes, it is beyond all doubt that 4000 men are not
fit to protect it ; if it is not, then Scotchmen do for
yourfe ves. Let Englishmen fee that you can preserve
it independent of them, and let the name of North-
Britain be scratched out of a I your annals., r
Such a systematic course of opposition as every pro
posal for your advantage has met with, deserves such
a reward. I hope, nay I am certain, that the day is
approaching when the example of Ireland will be fob
lowed by every true-hearted Scotchman ; and the En
glish, to their cofl, lhall.be convinced that Scotchmen
were never born to be (laves, nor Scotland to be a deer
aark. That every endeavour for the goed of our coun
try, the chaflifement of insolence, and te prosperity
of his majesty's arms may be crowned with success, is
the sincere wish of
After the death of Caesar, Anthony, who shared in
his spoils did not long enjoy the possession of empire
and of his royal mistress. Glory and love had heaped
their cboicef lfavours upon him, and they suddenly dis
appeared. Glory was eclipsed at the battle of Aflium
and love was extingurfhed soon after. Anthony, before
his death, had the mortification to find that Cleopa
tra's heart was rather devoted to ambition, than fyfr
cepiib!e of real affection.
How many persons are there who daily experience
the fame fate as Anthony, as how many are there who
will experience it hereafter. If, in the several coppts
of Europe, prime ministers and great officers of ftpte,
were to be divefled of the'ir employments, how many
instances of inconflancy of women should we not be
hold ? The fame woman, who had before been liflen
ing with so much fatisfa&on to tie gallant addresses
of a secretary of state, would now, perhaps, scarce
deign to acknowledge an acquaintance wi-h nim! The
moment of her lover's disgrace, would be that of te
expirati in of her love.
3 I R,
VY HEN we relief upon the singular end which
✓ several great men have experienced, it seems
as if the fame fortune which had taken a delight in rail
ing them to thehigheft pinacle of glory, during three
fourths of their life, had been desirous of lowering
them when they had but a little time to live.
Philosophers and men, who make a right use of their
underdanding, at the time when fortune is the mod
favourable to them, prepare themselves '0 bear with
fortitude the mod difgraceful events. They confide,
the favours of fortune as the appearance of a deceitful
health, and all with as much prudence as physicians
who look upon too high a complexion as the certain
presage of an impending disease. It is the fame with
happiness t at has never been interrupted ; it announ
ces the storm that is forming io the cloud, and which
the least agitation may burst.
We cannot but look with an eye of pity upon those
Sybarites, who, intoxicated with their prosperity, and
entirely taken up with the prefect moment, give the
name of extravagance or melancholy to that wife pre
caution which reflects upon past evens, and meditates
upon those that may happen in future. When we
confider that there is no period of life which ought to
appear more suspicious to a sensible man, than that in
which he seems to be perfeftiy happy, it is but rea
fonable that he.fhould fortify himielf against the mif
fortunes that may threaten him, that he should sup
ply himfelf previously with every affiflance that may
enable him to bear a reverse of fortune, that he should
endeavour to find inflruftion in preceding examples,
and by searching into the probability of future events,
strive to diminilh the rigour of them.
It is an easy matter to prove from experience, that
the great men, who for a confiderafle length of time
have been the mod favoured by fortune, have in ge
neral been exposed to some fatal r^verfe. Their mil
fortune has equalled, if not even exceeded, that of
persons who have been esteemed the mod wretched.
A singular dory upon this point is told by Herodo
tus. It is of a tyrant whole desires had all been am
ply gratified during a series of several years. He no
sooner wished for any thing than he obtained it. For
tune was so remarkably favourable to him, that he
conceived it to be impossible that a date of felicity so
rare and uncommon should not be the omen of some
approaching storm ready to burst over his head. Im
pressed with this idea, he thought he might possibly
dispel the cloud, by procuring some fubjeti of nnea
finefs to himfelf, and by endeavouring to interrupt
this constant series of fatisfaftioii. With this view
he threw a very beautiful ring, for which he had a
particular regard, into the sea. A few days after he
found it again in the belly of a fifh that had swallow
ed it, and which was served up at his table. This lad
Broke of his good fortune was soon followed by his
deftruHion, for he fell into the hands of h s enemies;
who, after having deprived him of his dominions, con r
demned him to fuff r an ignominious death.
Pompey and Julius Ctefar were for a long time the
greatest and most fortunate of men. Justice was done to
the merit of the former by his country, which intrud
ed to his hand her nearest concerns, and confideriog
him as the support and father of the Roman people.
The second subdued the whole universe, and govern
ed it. But what humiliating fate did they not expe
rience after so much greatness and felicity? The for
mer was slain by two despicable slaves, the latt r was
massacred by those whom he hd lo ded with favours
A melancholy end which bears little resemblance to
the brilliant parts of the lives of these celebrated he
roes!
I mean to pursue this fubjed another time, audio
the mean while am, fir,
SCOTICUS.
Soho Square, Aug. 28, 1732.
From the London Public Advertiser of Sept. 5.
Your humble servant,
H.
GOVERNMENT pay 1301 per ton for brass
cannon, and t6l. per ton for the balls; about
81. per quintal for gunpowder. An artillery
horse stands the nation in about 121. so that, allow
ing an adequate price for carriages, &c. &c. every
twenty four pounder ready for action, (lands the
kingdom in not less than 3241.
In consequence ^f the general rage for invefling mo
ney in the funds, to profit by the rife on a peace, on
private securities money can scarcely be got on any
terms.
Among other articles compofiog the present now
fending by government, to the dey of Algiers, are two
or three brace of piflols, they cost one hundred gui
neas the pair: ft is needless to fay, they are as va
luable as gold and London workmanship can make
them.
The long protr^Red health of the garrison at Gib
raltar, is the befi evidence of the minister's virtuous
policy in cultivating a good understanding with the
above-mentioned power.
No absolute determination has yet been adopted
with regard to the Am rican refugees, nor will their
be any, as a correspondent is informed, till after a
very flrif t invefligation is made cf the refpeaive me
rits of these emigrants. It is a mistaken notion that
all of them fubfiftby the charity of government; ma
ny of them have petty employments under the slate,
wuich they exercise with industry and fidelity. A
great personage has spoken of these people with such
benevolence as reflects honour on his feelings as a
chriftian.
" L seems Great-Britain, under her repeated disas
ters, and with a view to contract her posts, and only
carry on delenfive war here, bad ordered the evacua
tion of Savannah, &c. but the great naval victory we
lately obtained, and the distresses of the rebel army, and
defection prevailing among them, had led us to ima
gine this plan, if not entirely laid aside, was at least
removed to a very great distance.
" To our utter astonishment, however, an order
was ftnt some weeks ago for the evacuation of Georgia
and East Florida. Upon a representation of the cru
elty and impolicy of such a measure, the order has
been suspended as to East-Florida; but it is carried in
to execution with regard to Georgia, and at a time
too when Savannah was in as complete a state of se
curity as at any period, the British troops within the
town being at least four times the number of the rebels
without, by the be^ accounts.
''The misery and ruin brought upon the unhappy
loyal inhabitants by thi; order can hardly be conceiv
ed, far less expressed. Indeed the piHure of horror
drawn by some of our worthy friends from Savannah,
now encamped with their wives, children, negroes,
and effects, on the burning sands at Cockfpur, until
the whole can be collected, would draw t ars from the
most obdurate, and where they ae all to go to pro
cure any comfortable asylum and avoid flarving, God
knows. My heart bleeds for them."
Aug. 28. If Charleflown is, or is not to be evacu
ated, for the purpose of recovering our Weft India
settlements, there.is the firongeft ground to expert the
most flattering success, from the very signal tests of
fup^rior bravery displayed by the officers there on
several occaffons. After the defeat of Greene, the
names of Leslie, O'Hira, Hovyafd, M'Leod, Haldane,
&c &c. were mentioned in terms of the bigheft com
mendation and applause by lord Cornwallis.
The present seems no favourable period for effefr
ing a compromise with America; for the evacuation of
Savannah and CharleFown, are such concessions as will
probably spirit up tiie colonies to enhance tire exor
bitancy of their demands. Since we are 00 longer to
profectute an offe'pfive war on the va ft trad of land, for
the ri^ht Jf fove/eignty over which an obfiinate con
left has been, so lon^ maintained, the inhabitants of
that country 'will, in eff'ea, enjoy every privilege they
have fougic to obtain ; and notwithflanding our refu
fal formerly to acknowledge them independent, the re
call of our forces is, to all intents and purposes, a ta
cit acquiescence 'in their demands. Being no longer
harassed by onr fleets' 2nd armies, they will naturally
direct their, <tt&>tion to trade and commerce, of which
they are poffi (fed of such prolific and inexhaustible re
sources as cannot fad, in a short time, of abundantly
recruiting the impover fhedrflate of their finances. To
give them time for repairing the mifehiefs of a long
and deftruftive war, and at the fame time to persist in
the plan of fubjeding them to the controul of this
country by the force of arms, seems to be a species of
policy contrived to answer two purposes, one of which
mud inevitably oppose and defeat the other.
Wednesday fe'nnighr, as a poor man was digging
potatoes in a little garden which he bad adjoining to
his house in Bandy leg.walk, Surry, the spade going
slantwise from the be 1, flruck against an iron chest,
which the man with the affiflance of his wife soon dug
up, and upon its being opened, there were found up
ward of 900 broad ° pieces of gold, of the value of fif
ty (Killings each, and 100 Crown pieces of Edward the
fifth. It is supposed that this treasure was hid in the
time of the civil wars: but whether that is the case
or not, it has railed a worthy unfortunate family to
an easy competence.
An ambassador of Eng'a'nd, at the court of Con
flantinople, having been informed, that the grand
Turk had condemned a baker to be burnt in his oven,
for having fold bread under weight, shewed great as
tonishment at the (everity of that judgment. The
grand seignior being informed of it, sent for the am
bassador, and risked him, What was the punifliment
for such an offence in England? The ambassador re
plied, the baker was obliged to pay a fine of five
pounds, and after that was at liberty. Well, replied
the grand seignior, I find there is more jaflice and
humanity in my judgment than in yours ; 1 condemn
perhaps a ffogle man in a century, and you ilarve a.
tho ofand people io a year.
Extract of a letter from Vienna.
" The bishop of Laubach has sent a circular letter
to the clergy of his diocese, which makes much noise,
August 26.
Extras of a letter from Charleflown, July 8.
LONDO N, August 20.