The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-09-25 00:00:00, page 2

from Philadelphia.
The natural and obvious result from this fiate of the
case is, that the harvest of the present year, will not sup
ply the inhabitants. A conclufiqa truly alarming.; and
which will not admit of reasoning or explaining away. Nor
this happened from a failure of the usual produce of our
cultivated lands ; but from the common and fatal effeffs
of war. In the firft place the labourer and the cattle are
drafted into public service, which has lessened the tillage;
and in the second, the almost unavoidable waste of an ar
my the great consumption of grain in the horse depart
ment, and the deftru^inn of growing fields, wherever ooth
armies p:fs or take pofi, have totally destroyed the usual
©economy of ho/xe-confumption. From whence it will
readily appear, there is less grain railed, and me con
sumed, tnan id any former years. And if we take into
our view the progress of the fly, .the profpea is fhli mere
gloomy. To this we mud add, the many thousands of
poor fouls, that have been forced from their farms on
the frontiers, who infield of furnifhing their own bread,
are compelled to leek a living in * the interior country.
Shall it then be urged, merely as a commercial reafoa,
that the ports should be openedf xportation of pro
vision? Shall " the n f cefffous mere... t, for t..e lake of
“ the advantage and benefit o- commerce," produce a fa
mine in the land, and flay thousands w hunger ? Shall
we deliberately ruin our country for the importation of
non effemials and luxuries ?— Let ns take a vi<w of the
imports ! —We shall nad them principally tc consist of
rum, fir ar, tea coffee, and the finer ! uof dry goods ;
the co -=, ^ more bulky, ai 4 less profitable, are
rar d, a salt, ts ~'ofi nectary of all, is now
alarm) kl -xe How far < regulations may have ef
fected , ' ~ is not my bufirefs here to enquire. I
only c ndiatthe greater part of all our imports con
fi: m ' rags not absolutely necessary, when placed in
coiu, . on with bread; and therefore they ought not to
be acqu. lat the rifque of a famine, by injudicious ex
ports Let the ship owner ano the merchant view this
matter as they will, the artisan and the laboring poor are
deeply imerefted in it. We have lived in a land of plen
ty, and want has been a stranger to our doors Then let
us no: produce it at an early period by our own folly.
Great ceconomy in the public departments, and careful
living amongst ourselves may piffib'y bring the year a
bout. But confident I am, we have not a grain to spare.
It is needless to endeavor a refutation of the principles on
which the fi Citizen of Philadelphia" proceeds. He assumes
that all tne inconveniences of the war have not lessened the
quantity of merchantable provisions above one fifth, and
thence calculates, that there is a surplus for exportation of
258,000 barrels of flour. But it must be evident, to eve
ry mind, that two years ago we had a great surplus of
grain on and, and that previous to the last harvest we
had fcarceiy bread to put in our mouths. And of course
as the harvest of the two preceeding years have not supplied
the inhabitants, the prefect harvest cannot admit of ex
portation.
To ship off the ftaff of life, at a time of approaching
scarcity, would be the summit of madness. 'Tis too dan
gerous an experiment to make. We are in a situation dif
ferent from the eastern world. If grain is scarce in one
wuntry, they have recourse to others where it abounds.
To the PEOPLE of PENNSYLVANIA.
EVERY restraint eu trade, in a free country, ought
to >e imposed with the utmost caution. No fuperfi
cial or partial view of the matter should induce a govern
nientt< i r b the common course of things. Much has
been laid, both it, public and private, on the fu'jeß of em
bargoes. Cungrefs have recommended a continuation of
the embargo on provisions, and the Affemb y of this State,
now fitting, will of course enter on the matter. A late
writer infills, with much earnestness, that '' the interest
of Pennsylvania and Jersey is facrificed to fame of their
lifter States," who export their staple articles to foreign
markets, whilst the merchants of tins city are deprived of
the natural advantages of their country. He skews us that
'in the year
bushels barrels
3771 we exported 51,699 of wheat, and 252 744 °f flour*
1772 ditto 92,012 ditto 284,872 ditto.
1773 ditto 182,391 ditto 265,967 ditto.
Now if we estimate five bushels of wheat to a barrel of
four, it will appear, there has been auout one million and
a half of bulhels of wheat exported per annum for those
three years. And the exportation of 1774 was quite as
great. In 1775 the country was in full vigour, abounding
with labourers and horses; whence it may be presumed,
that the harvefWof that year, also produced its one and a
half million to fp^e ; but the cessation of trade on the 10th
of Sept, confined it all in the Country, except the froall
quantity of new wheat hurried to the mills before the ports
were shut. Yet as the general ravages of war, and the
demand for men and horses, had not then distressed the
country, tee farmer sowed his usual quantity of feed; and
the harvest of 1776 had also its extra quantity of one and
a half million. The, exports of provisions during these
years, were very small; as both Delaware and Chefapeak
were frequently blocked up by British cruizers. Hence
it followed, that at the time of the harvest of 1777 we had
on hand almost the who e extra quantity of the two for
mer years, v;z. three million bulhels of wheat. Here
we must coferve, that the p rk and corn, annually export
ed formerly, is not taken into the account; which bing
now consumed in the country, may be supposed a lull e
qu valent for all the flour shipped off since the stoppage in
2)75. Therefoteas I h ve already said, we had two years
crop in store before the ohrveft of 1777. Perhaps it may
be contended, that the allowance of the perk and com is
not fufficient to counterbalance the cargoes which, at dif
ferent periods, during those two years, got to sea. I will
therefore strike off half a million, which will leave the sur
plus on hand two millionsand a half. Now I desire to know
what is become of these two millions and a half of wheat ?
Did a flight, drought, or mildew destroy the harvests of 77
and 78, which compelled us to consume the fiock of the
former years? Or did the ravages and waste of war, the
decrease of men and horses, oblige us to have recourse to
this surplus for the annual supply. It is a fad universally
agreed to, that, the whole hock of provisions on hand
before the last harvest, did but barely supply the inhabi
tants. Here then we find that in the two last years, we
had consumed, not only the crops of those years, but the
whole surplus of two millions and a half of wheat; which
at five bushels per barrel of flour, is 250,000 barrels per
annum; and this estimate is only made upon the exports
An ACT for permitting the exportation of certain articles
of provifox under certain limitations and refridions, and
prohibiting the exportation of an, other.
WHEREAS a regard to a competent supply of pro
visions for the army, and to distress our enemies and
weaken their operations against us, by preventing the sup
plies they might obtain by capturing our vessels trading
from this State, render an embargo 011 the exportation of
provisions in general highly expedient:
Bh, in as much nevertheless, as it hath pleased God to
bless us with a liberal produce of the fruits of the earth,
and the exportation of certain articles of provision under
proper imitations and reftridions, might tend to public
advantage: Therefore,
Berit enabled, and it is hereby enabled, by the Representa
tives oj the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennfylvanta,
tn Gene al Assembly met, and by the authority 0, the fame,
That from and after the publication of this Aft, it fliall
and may be lawful for any person or persons, as herein af
ter described, trading to and from any port in this State,
to ship and transport from any of the (aid ports, on board
of any armed vessel, carrying not less than eight carriage
guns, well mounted and manned, and none of said guns
being lets than 3-pounders, any of the following articles
of provision and no other, in the quantities, and under
the limitations and reftridions herein after described. viz.
For every 3 pounder carriage gun on board any vessel
carrying eigne carriage guns as above, it shall and may be
lawful to ihip and tranfpert twenty barrels of flour, or in
lieu thereof sixty bulhels of Indian-corn : And for every
4 pounder carriage gun, on board such vessel, twenty
five barrels of flour, or in lieu thereof feventy-five bushels
of Indian-corn, and so in proportion for guns of larger
size. And that none be cunfidered as well manned, where
there are not three men ,0 every 3 pounder ; four to eve
ry 4.-pounder; and five to every 6-poun ler, and so in pro
portion to guns of larger fiz®, exclusive of officers and a
proper number of hands to navigate and work the vessel.
And be it further enaaed by the authority aforeJaid, That
any person or persons who shall ship or transport any Hour
or Indian-corn as above, from any port in this State, ffiall
previous&hcreto, obligate themselves to the Supreme Ex
ecutive Council of this State, in such manner and form as
the said Council play fee meet to require, that they will
bring in returns in tneir said vessel or vessels refpedively,
into feme port in this State, three bushels of salt for every
barrel of flour so (hipped ; and four bushels of fait for eve
rybufhel of Indian-corn, if tobehad at the place to which
said vessel or vessels may go. And if salt is not to be had,
that they bring a proportionable quantity of such articles
to be had there, which arc most wanted here. And that
no person or persons whatsoever, be permitted to ship or
transport fr >m any port in this State, any of the above
mentioned articles of provisions, as in this AR directed,
who has not, before the passing of this Ad, taken an oath
or affirmation of allegiance to this or some one of the Uni
ted States according to law. And if any person or persons
shall ship or transport from any port in this State, any of
the said articles of provisions, who has not given such assur
ance of allegiance,every such person and perfonsfhall be sub
13ut Talk, where ffiall we apply for bread if our stock fails?
The voyage to Europe, in a time of war, is too long and
uncertain. A famine in America is irrevocable death to
the people. It is too serious to be trifled with. There is
nothing in the universe we can barter for, which is an e
quivalent for bread. I well know there are many articles
of foreign produce, which we have great need of ; but all
these may be procured by tobacco, and many other com
modities which our country can furnifh. If the Virginians ,
have a profit, (as the writer asserts) of 25 per cent, upon
all the tobacco flipped from this port, and also import
their own goods 25 per cent, cheaper than we do, it arises
from the nature and culture of their country; and happy
ought we to esteem ourselves, in having so useless an ar
ticle to export. If properly managed, it may procure us
such foreign goods as are absolutely ntceffary. Whatever
may have been the views of Congress in recommending an
embargo, whether to preserve provisions from capture, or
to furnilh a fufficient supply for the army, the measure is
clearly a good one, and deserves the confirmation of our
Assembly. If feme means were devised to ascertain the
quantity of grain in the farmers hands, it might prove of
great utility, and the propriety of exporting or non ex
porting be more certainly determined.
As there appears much demur about the importation of
salt, on account of the limited price, whereby a real scar
city may succeed, I should apprehend it would be expedi
ent, for the legislature to interfere in the matter, and ap
point Commissioners to freight out a number of vessels,
with tobacco and such other articles as don't come under
the head of provisions, for the foie purpefe of supplying
their constituents with salt. For if the limited price is (as
the merchants declare) low in the extreme, the loss should
either fall on the community at large, or the consumer be
obliged to pay the actual cost; w^ich in such case might
be determined with precision, if a fleet of salt-vessels failed
from hence at the fame time, by which means the losses
would soon be known, and the average expence deter
mined.
On the whole, as an individual deeply interested in the
welfare of the community, I deliver my protest against ex
porting provisions of any fort. My own life and the lives
of thousands areata flake, and muff not be bartered away
for gain. It on the contrary, the ports should be opened,
and general diftrefsenfue, remember you have been fore
warned, and your deftru&ion must be laid at your own
doors. Let us recoiled that tne Eail India company's ser
vants starved half 2 million to death, by purchasing up
rice. And surely, to export a scarce commodity, would as
certainly produce the fame effed, as to monopolize it..
EMBARGO.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Pennsylvania.
Thursday, September 23, 1779.
The Bill intitled " An Aft for permitting the expor
" tation of certain articles of prevision under certain limi
'' tations and reftri&ions, and prohibiting the exportati
" on of any other," was read the second time, and being
then again read and debated by paragraphs, was ordered
to be tranferibed for a third reading, and in the mean time
printed for public consideration.
Extract from the Minutes,
JOHN MORRIS, Junior,
_ Clerk of the General Assembly.
To be SOLD at Public Vendue,
On Saturday the 25th irftant, in the evening, at the
Coffee house,
fr HE Schooner GENERAL GATES, as she
1 now lays at. Mr. Salter's wharf, with all her guns
and materials as she came from fia ; an inventory of
which may be seen at the time of sale.
To be S ofb fy'PuUic Pefhf
On Monday the 4th day of Oftober next, at Twelve
o'clock, on the preraifes,
A THREE story brick House, and Kitchen appur
'' tenant thereto, fruate at the corner of Lombard
and Front streets. The house is extremely commodi
ous, in good repair, and hath long been an acepftomed
tavern known by the name of the Khuli Khan. The
terms will be made known at the time of sale.
Philadelphia, September 24.
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,
At the Coffe'e-houfe, on Wednesday the 6th day of Oc
tober next, at Six o'clock in the evening,
"T 1 H AT well finifhed brick House in which the fub
' scriber now dwells, situated between Fourth and
Fifth-ftreeta in Arch-ftrcet ; the lot is one hundred and
forty feet deep, and is bounded by a wide alley known
by the name of Apple tree Aller, where there is a large
two Itory frame building eie&ed the full width of the
lot and very near fifty feet deep, which is conftruaed in
such a manner as may be easily converted into two com
modious dwelling houses at a very (mall expence. PoG
session will be given in fix weeks.
At the fame time will be exposed to sale, (if not fold
before by private sale) a Schooner that will carry about
thirteen or fourteen hundred bushels: ihe is a prime
fabler, well found, not much the worse for wear, and it
fit for either sea or river, as she lays at th^ Bird-in-hand
wharf. An inventory may he seen at the time and place
of sale. WILLIAM TOD.
N.B. A genteel new Post Chariot to be fold.
ALL persons having any demands against
the estate of Samuel Patterson, latent Csecil
county, Maryland, deceased, are desired to bring in
their accompts, properly proven, that they may be fet
tled and paid, and those indebted to pay without any
further trouble.
MARY PATTERSON, Executrix.
THOMAS WALLACE, Executor.
ALL persons having any demands against the estates
of Frances or Marthew Humphres, late of Talbot
county, Maryland, deceased, are desired to attend on
the fi ft week of November next yith their accompts,
properly proven, and those indebted to pay, and fettle
all demands whatsoever. As several attempts have been
made to fettle the above estates, it is hoped all concern
ed will pay proper attention to this advertisement, and
prevent further trouble.
THOMAS WALLACE, Administrator.
N. B. As there are some of the books belonging to
the above estates wanting, it is hoped the possessors will
fend hem to Mr. William Bordley's.
WA 5 t 0 U N D,
On the 23d instant, (September) near Pine and Fifth
ftreets, Philadelphia,
A QUANTIT f of Wearing Apparel, viz. one
blue coat, one blanket, one striped cotton gown,
one ditto gingham, one shirt, one white dimity petticoat,
one pair of white dimity pockets, two pair of white
gloves, with sundry other articles too tedious to mention.
There was one silver Tea- spoon detained from a thief
some time past, marked MCE. Whoever has loft the
fame, or any of the aforefaid goods, ray have them
again by applying to Justice M'Mullin, in Southwark,
proving property and paying charges.
Provided always, That nothing in this AR shall be con
strued to extend to prevent the taking on board such provi
sions as shall be necessary for the (lores only of any ships
or vessels of war, or others trading to and from this State,
or drove in by distress ;or to prevent the (hipping or trans
porting such provisions as may be requisite for the use of
the fleet or fleets of his Most Chriflian Majesty, our il
luftrioMs ally.
AND WHEREAS it may so happen, that the si
tuation of the war and of public affairs may be so altered,
before the expiration of the time fixed for the continuance
of this Aft, as to permit the exportation of provisions with
out danger:
- Be it therefore enabled by the authority aforefaid, That the
Supreme Executive Council may at any time, before the
by proclamation under their seal, revoke
the said embargo and prohibition; any thing in this AR
to the contrary notwithstanding.
je& to all the forfeitures and penalties, as persons flipping or
transporting such articles contrary to the direfboos ©f this
A&, to be recovered and applied in the fame manner.
And be it further enabled by the author?, ajo?efaid, That
if any flour, wheat, rye, Indian-corn, rice, bread, beef,
pork, bacon, live flock or other provisions whatsoever,
except as above directed, or herein afterwards excepted,
shall at any time hereafter, during the continuance of this
Aft, be laden or found on board any fid? or vessel, in any
port of this State, outward bound for sea, contrary to the
true intent and meaning of this Ad, it lhall and may be
lawful for the naval officer or officers of such ports, or tyeit
deputies, or any other person or persons whatsoever, to
seize such flour, wheat, rye, Indian-corn, rice, bread, beef,
pork, bacon, live flock or other provisions whatsoever,
together with the ship or Blips, vessel or vessels, in which
the fame shall be so laden and found; and such vessel, to
gether with the aforefaid articles as shall be so laden or
found on board her, at the time offweb seizure, are here
by declared to be forfeited; one third part thereof to the
ute of the State ; one third part to the naval or other offi
cer, making such seizure ; and the remaining third part
to the use of the informer or informers, 011 whole informa
tion the fame shall be so seized and prosecuted to condemn
nation. And that this AH shall remain and continue in
full force, until