The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-05-03 00:00:00, page 2

From the Courier DE l'Europe, of Feb, 18, 17^3.
ENGLISH LITERATURE.
A LETT E R, addrefled to Abbe Raynal, &c.
By I HOMAS Payne, M. A. of the University of
Peunlylvama, Author of Common Sense.
(Philadelphia, printed preprinted in London, 1782.)
SHANKS to the reputation of the author of the
polir&Eand philofophicdhiflory of the Europe
an fetdements in the Eafl and Weft Indies, and to the
avi'dity of the typographical gentry, Europe has been
glutted fur the lafl three ye^rs with the pamphlet
which is here refuted. A Grman journalist with
justice observed—l hat it was rather the work of an
author Levied in the cause of liberty, and transported
by his enthusiasm, than of a political calculator, who
deliberately and wifely combines fads with their
causes: It should have been therefore entitled—A De
clamation upon the American War. This declamati
on, however, in many parts of it, carries the flamp
' of genius ; yet the author, who has imposed on him
fef the hazardous tafg of composing the hiflory of the
American revolution, mus fbe read, more to inflame
the imagination than to inform his reader by events.
There are very few events given in this work of the
Ab ? e 'Raynal, and as Mr. Payne has shewn. those
few are, notwith handing, more or less fnlfified or
altered . Who would havethought it; the leadingfaft
ofthb war, the real cause of the infurreSion of the
colonies, has escaped the Abbe, and almost e^ery
other writer who has medled with this flrange re
volution ! What then are we to think of hiflorical cer
tainty when we find contemporary writers, so near
the flames of the war, surrounded with newspapers and
journals, miflake concerning the fa&s which ought to
b- the best known; the least contested! This hifto
ricai phenomenon, so well suited to establish pyroh
rifm, meets us here, Mr. Payne proves, that the
Abbe is wrong, in a ffigning the beginning of the war
to the. duty on tea, or refufal to pay taxes: The true
cause, according to him, was the Declaratory Aft, which
was puffed upon repealing the Stamp. Aft ; for the De
claratory Ad, in fubj^ing North-America to the
pow^r of parliament in all cases whatsoever,
opened the way to the unbounded progress of defpnt
ifm. This displayed itfelf, fcon after, in the lea Ad;
but this feeondary flep was only the occasion to the
Americans ; the cause already exifled.
Mr. Payne is a ftonifhed, that the Abbe Raynal, has
Dot noticed a multitude of actions, glorious for the
Americans, from that which gave a turn to their af
fairs at Trentoq, and the surprise of the Britilh troops
at Princeton. He gives us. as to this last a&ion, par
ticulars, wnich are curious, unknown, and the more
to be depended on, as he had it in his power to enquire
into all the fa&#. From this operation singly it ap
pears, that general Wellington, who conduced it,de
serves the title of an officer of cenfumate abilities for
war.
The Abbe Raynal had thrown out suspicions con
cerning the motives of the powers who armed them
selves in behalf of the Americans ; and to these suspi
cions he had fubjoiued gloomy predictions upon the
consequences of this revolution to Europe. Mr.
Payne has endeavoured to remove the firft, and to re
assure us against the latter. Heaven grant that he has
had a clearer view than the Abbe, and that this eman
cipation of America be not the source of new ftrife !
We shall not dwell upon the very curious particu
lars which are to be met with in this pamphlet, for
the bare mention of them would exceed our limits:
yet we cannot forbear transcribing two or three ideas,
which may be of some use at this day.
At firft it was said, it was repeated, and it is Bill
repeated defy—That America, though, separated from
England, was bound to the nation by a thousand ties;
especially by that national spirit which lefults from
sameness of manners, of language and religion ; a spi
rit, he strength of which, if not easily calculated : but
Mr. Payne assures us, most positively, that those ties,
this refemb ance, is no more ; and that America is de
tached politically, and what is ffill more, Morally,
from England. The passage is too curious to be
omitted.'
[Here follows a paragraph of 20 lines, or mote, in
which Mr. Payne speaks of the older people, who had
English ideas and habits, dying fhft off the scene, and
young folks, with alienated feelings, riling in their
Bead, &c. &c.]
Let ui note, that it is Mr. Payne who talks thus ;
an author on the spot, who has seen, who has con
templated ab these effects : employed by the public, he
had within his reach the means of eflablifhing them.
Let us note further, that he has written one of the
b< fl pieces which lave appeared during the war; a
work, in which reasoning is joined with warmth, which
is very uncommon. Fr>m these traits our readers
must recognize Common Sense; a pamphlet which'
has prodigious success.
With what spirit doth he paint the late miniflry
2nd the present, at leaf!thofe members of this lafl,
who havea notion of bringing back America to her for
mer dependence, by ordering her good conditions !
The firft minifl y, fays he, a&ed, as if they supposed
that the Americans wanted understanding ; the
la ter treats them as if they wanted memory.
The peace, or the preliminaries of peace, were not
fgeed when Mr. Payne published this pamphlet ; but
the peace was in view, and the appearances of it has
afford d him feme reflexions. he supposes, that as
a cocfequence of her political fyflem, England will be
desirous to preserve some post to the northward, such
as Canada or -Halifax; which, in his opinion, would
be very bad policy for her. For, fays he, " if Eng
land do not people Canada, this colony will be more
mischievous to her than advantageous ; if she flocks it
with inhabitants they will revolt, and the colonists, or
th ir defeendants, will become Americans. As to
Halifax, of what use can this port be to the English,
after losing the united Rates ?
Mr. Payne has indeed conjectured ; time rauft shew
whether bis prediction be well founded.
6I R,
I Congratulate you 00 the glorious profpef t which
now opens to the view of the poor, diftreff^d,
flarving, rack-rented tenants in the Highlands of
Scotland; to the view of some hundred thousands dif
bandsd soldiers difearded seamen, discarded seamen,
artificers without employment, labourers without
work, female servants out of place, and all descriptions
of men in this country, this ruined and forlorn coun
try.---America, the fertile plains of independent A
merica invites you thither, the earl of Shelburne has
generously provided an asylum for all who are wee
ry and heavy laden, for all who have too much rent
and burthenfome taxes to pay :- -the pride and inso
lence of English dukes, earls, lords and '(quires, must
now lick the dust. The earl of Shelburne has laid the
axe to the root of the tree, and humbled the haughty
indeed; that all overborne Engl fhmen may defect a
land which holds out to them nakedness, want and
penury, and emigrate to America, flowing with milk
and honey. Such, is now, the happy prefpea before
all who struggle with adverse fortune in England ;
Shelburne has opened the door to your happiness; will
you hesitate one moment to walk into the blifsful man
lion ?
All mouths shall (peak of Shelburne the great; the
extenfiv^ proprietors of land fhdl curse him ; butthe
commonality, the people, shall sing forth his praise ;
when 4he once fertile glebes in Britain bring forth on
ly briars and thorns for want of inhabitants.
A. H.
Foreign Intelligence.
CONSTANTINOPLE, January 13.'
THE news which has been spread of ulterior resolu
tions of the divan to fulfill their engagements,
refpefling the treaty of Kainardgi, is confirmed ; and
we can now affirm, that the differences arisen ,between
the sublime Porte, on account of the late commotion
in the Crimea, are not only removed to the fatisfallion
of both powers, but the divan have signed a new con
vention which the Ruffian minifler had proposed to
them. It is true, that during the sedition in the Cri
mea, where the court of Russia protested the Kan Sehin
Gheray, to replace him on the throne, altho' he was
the legitimate sovereign, those people thought the
Porte could not permit him without difhonouring the
national valour. However, we do not learn that they
have demanded a war. But the grand fignior having
dismissed the grand vifier, and given his post to Kiaja
Bey, the latter immediately took such efficacious mea
sures, that the populace where constrained to keep with
in the bounds of duty.
A fire lately broke out near the mosque of the sul
tan Achmet, which reduced ten palaces to ashes. The
capitan Bacha immediately ordered some small
houses to be pulled dowo, which would have communi
cated the fire to the rest of the city, and thereby flop
ped the progress of the flames. It is said that the new
grand vifier ordered the throats of 10 or 12 persons to
be cut, on being accused of having concealed combus
tible materials in different quarters of the city.
PETERSBUR G H, January 24.
The vice chancellor, comte d'Oftermann, has just
communicated to the ministers of the refpeXive foreign
courts, the treaty of friendfhip and commerce, con
cluded on the 18th of October last, between Russia and
Denmark.
They write from several towns in Poland, that the
Porte hath sent a considerable body of troops towards
the frontiers, to observe those of Russia, and that a
great number of Janissaries and other troops are in
march from Belgrade and Romelia. We are assured
that the princes of Moldavia and Wallachia have re
ceived orders to forbid the exportation of hories.
M E N T Z, January 30.
The news of the signature of the preliminaries be
tween the four belligerent powers hath caused great
joy here and in the neighbouring countries ; although
far removed from the ravages of war, we feel the ef
feXs by an increase of the prise of several commodi
ties.
PARI S, February 16.
M. Grand-los Mefle hath a ready' completed his
loan of three millions, authorifed by the king.
The five ships which he fends to China are part load
ed, and the rest are loading with all forts of merchan
dize suitable for India, to be exchanged for those of
that country.
LONDON, February 26.
A letter from Peterfburgh fays, that the empress
has deferred making promotions in her navy, until
she knows what English officers are inclined to enter in
to her service; some of whom are hourly expected in
that city.
Extract of a letter from Scilly, Feb, 23.
" We have had very boisterous wheather here for
some days past, and the wind still continues to blow
very hard at S. W. Several ships have passed this place
difmafted; and this morning, at break of day, a large
Blip was difeovered on shore off here, but die wind
blew so hard, that no boats could put to sea: at last
the Crew hoifled out their long boat, and several of them
got fafe ashore in her. By what we can learn, she is the
Fredericks, a Swede. Ten of the crew were left on
board, who, it is feared, perished, as the Blip funk
soon after."
Extras of a lettar from the Hague, Feb. 6.
" The dates of Holland and Weft Friefland, who
had prorogued their deliberations to the 5m of this
Fioni the Public Advertifer,'
To the CALEDONIA N.
month, have contented ft the raffing of the taxer i^
this province, on the fame footing as last year. As
to the pacification, it is assured that the republic has
accepted the Armiflice, and that, in consequence of
the dispatches received, it is probable that t^ere will
be, in the prel minaries which file could not submit to
some alterations that may render them admissible.
" Their noble and great mightinesses will nominate
this week a minifler to reside on their part with the
united flares of North-America.
" On the propofirion of the deputies of Holland, and
in consequence of the former order of the dates of the
other provinces, it has been found good, and resolved
unanimoofly, that the p operations and armaments at
sea shall be carried on with ardour and activity ; that
there shall be no delays in this department ; and that this
resolution shall be communicated to the refpeaive col
leges of admiralty to serve them as an inflruftion for that
purpose."
They write from the Hague, that the dates general
have prohibited the exportation of all forts of corn or
puife from the different provinces, on account of the
scarcity that prevails there.
The letters by the Mermaid, Reynolds, lately arriv
ed from Antigua, give mod dismal accounts of,the si
tuation of that island, a very long continuance of dry
weather having totally ruined the crop of sugars for
the present year, and unless they have some rain spee
dily, the plants for the ensuing year will also be de
stroyed./
A letter from Bourdeaux fays, that the famous light
house, Landing on a rock, at the mouth of the river
Garoune, called La Tour de Cordova, by some means
took fire, and was entirely consumed, with two men
in it ; notice of it was sent to Bourdeaux, that the cap
tains of ships might be acquainted with the fame.
February 28. The departure of the marquis of
Carmarthen is postponed till the new ministerial ar
rangement shall be formed. That nobleman is said to
have declared, that he will aft only under the auspices
of men whose characters will add dignity to, not receive
it from, their official Rations.
The situation of this country at this moment is tru
ly alarming; for not only she is without a minister,
but there is at this instant no very great profpe& of
her getting one fpeeddy ; and here we feel one of the
mos tfatal consequences of the peace ; for if it has left
us without an enemy, it has left us, at the fame time,
without rulers: if we were at war in such a situation, we
should inevitably be undone. It is the wish of, a pa
triot, that, whenever a new minifiry is arranged, it
may be so strong, that the cabinet may be able to
(peak like Englishmen to foreign powers, in the fulleft
confidence that they will be supported firmly by par
liament in all negotiations or measures that shall ap
pear to be for the public good: but so jarring are the
different parties each of which is desirous to give a,
minister to the public, and so heterogeneous the mix
ture of principles and men who aspire to great employ
ments in th? date, that let the admioifb ation be firm
ed whenever it may, it will r.ot, because it cannot, be
of long duration, as it probably will carry io its own
bosom the feeds of dilution. Such was the m ni
flry that immediately followed the resignation of lord
North, and which, having with difficulty kept together
for a short fpsce, soon crumbled to pieces, and was
dissolved. While the cabinet of England remains in this
unfieady slate, it will be absolutely impossible for this
country ever to make any connexion with the conti
nental powers, which may restore that balance, which
the union between France, Spain, Holland, and Ameri
ca, has destroyed. Foreign cour's will not treat with
ministers who are not sure of holding their place, from
month to month:and thus a flruggle for power at
home, leaves us without allies abroad, nay, the work
of peace cannot new be compleated ; for tnere are now
no ministers to negociate and conclude the different
definitive treaties, of which the preliminaries have been
already signed ; and consequently the commercial in.
terefts of this country cannot be improved, as honest
men would wish and expert. These are the blessed ef
feßs ofour divisions at home!
Not withfianding the various reports relative to new
ministerial arrangements, the truth is, that none have
been as yet concluded : lord Gower ceases to be spoken
of as the person likely to be placed at the head of the
treasury ; and that office, by the last report, now lies
between the duke of Portland, and Mr. W. Pitt: but
this report seems to have very little foundation in truth;
for while it names the duke as likely to succeed lord
Shelburne in the treasury, it entirely excludes Mr,
Fox from a share in the adminifiration : now there is
nothing more improbable, than that the duke of Port
land would go into office without Mr. Fox, who quit
ted office because his grace was not seated at the head
of the treasury bench ; on the other hand, it would ap
pear rather b Id in Mr. Pitt to accept such an office,
after having been a member of that administration,
which made the peace that the house of commons so
feverety censured.
Cool and de iberate judgment, and a talent for, and
address in business, are qualities more effenti dly neces
sary in a minifler of flare, than brilliancy of imagi
nation. In subordinate flations, men who enjoy the
'litter blessing, may contribute more to public benefit,
than when the reins of government are entrust d to
their own management ; because, delighting in theories
and (peculations, often too refined to be reduced to
practice, they will attempt to improve government to
a degree of perfection of which it is not capable : but
tne emanations of their minds may enable less enterpri
zing, but more judicious men to feled, from a ma(s
of great and original ideas, such materials as may be
modified into regulations of the most salutary and hap
py tendency. The bold and daring policy of the earl
of Chatham, was agreeable to the genius of the day
in wnich he lived; but such lias been the revoluti
on in public affairs witnin a few years, that the opera,
Co sos deliberate judgment are more necessary to the
fiate, than the atchievements of genius, and the exploits
of ambition.
Cohesively and individually the English have ever
been esteemed a generous people; and though we are
in danger of losing the national character of generosity,