The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1778-05-13 00:00:00, page 4

fiom tie London Evening Post of January „.
'The following is an authentic copy of the letter which was
Cent to Lord North, by the Plenipotentiaries of the United
States of America.
To the Right Hon. LORD NORTH, Firfl Lord of the
Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Principal
Minifler 'of the King of Great-Btitain.
Mv Lord,
TROM motives of duty, and an earned desire of miti-
L gating the calamities ot war, we proposed, near a
1 year since, to the Kingof Great-Britain's Ambassador
here, an exc' ange of prisoners in Europe. The arfwer we
" received must have been made known to your Lordship, and
the world Will judge of its . decency. It wou d have been
honourable for that roble Lord, ' and happy for thousands,
who have since fuffered unnecc&rily, if he had considered
that moderation is the mark of wisdom, and humanity an
ornament to the highest flat on. These are the sentiments
at lead which have governed the Congress and people ot the
United States. They have writhed that this war, into which
they entered with relevance, might be difhnguuhed by the
humanity with which it was conduced; aud tnat companion
might heal the wounds that were inflided. Therecoids of
Cong'efs, my Lord, are filled with proofs of tender care and
attention, not only to the wants, but to the comfort and
accommodation of their prisoners.
We have wished in vain to find such infiances in the ads
of rhe British government, for unhappily ah we have seen
on this fabjed is, the public declaration of rhe Governor
and General who was chosen to commence this war, that
the A uerican offi rirs and fol iers should be treated with
equal indignity, and all devote", without diftindi n, to the
most ignominious fate, in tet* too low for us co repeat.
We have never heard of this proceeding having been c nfured
by the government from widen he derived his,.authority,
Neither has the invitation to t ie Indian Drages, at a public
treaty, to drink the blood, and feaft upon the body of rhofe
whom' you called your fulfils, been ever disavowed.
It is an u tv ifil complaint, that the practices of those in
authority under you, have been conformable to the princi
ples of these public aasv
Col. Parker, a gentleman of rank, was thrown into a
common gaol in Bollen, covered over with wounds, where
be perished unpitted, for want of the common comforts
which his fixation and humanity required.
“ Col. Ethan Ailen was dragged, In chains, from Cana
da to England, from England to Ireland, from Ireland to
Carolina, and from thence to. New-Yorit; at a time when
the officers taken from y u, in the fame expedition, we f e
tested not only with lenity, but every poffide indulgence.
The barbarous treatment of Mr. Love), in Button, has no
parallel. Of the prisoners made in Fort Waftiington, two
thirds cf rh^m perilled by the unexampled cruelty and ri
gours of their captivity. Even in E gland, the ^verities
which the American prifoncrs foffer are, according to the
tedimony of every one we have seen, of the mol grievous
kind. Stupes have been irAided on some, to make them
c mmit the deepen of all crimes, rhe fighting agamft the li
berties of their country. Numbers are now groaning in
bondage in Africa and India, to which they wie compelled
by menaces of an immediate ignominious death; as contrary
to every iule of war among civilized nations, as to every
dilate ofhommity.
It is with the greater regret we mention th fe cruelties.
For the honour of huma ity we hope they will not be com
mitted agan. Your Lvdfhip mull know, that it is in the
power of those we have the honour to represent, to make
ample retaliation upon the numerous prifoneti of all ranks
in their poffuTon; and we warn and bes ch you not to
render it their indfpenfible duty. Upwards ot five hundred
British seamen have been geberoufly rested, set at liberty by
our cruized in these seas, and fear At the public expence to
their country. We trull, you will think youtfelves bro>d
to dismiss an equal number cf ftamtn, taken in these rice
of the United States.
We afo deft e, t' r at a peffon appointed by us may have
pcimiffion to furnifh the fubjeas of the United States; vho
are in your prisons, with the necessaries they may want from
tire p to time ; and that a general cartel may be immediately
fettled, by which the unfortunate .n bth files may be re
linvert as foin as po^Me from the miseries c f impnfoament..
W: mud bog a speedy ar.f.ver., that we may t:a"fmif,
without delay, the d?termin..tioa of your Court to our Con
flicuentu
We have the honour to be, with the hi,eft refpe&,
My Lord,
Your Lord flip's mod obedient.
And nr fl humblefrivants,
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,
SILAS DEANE,
ARTHUR LEE,
Commissioners Plenipotentiary from the Independent
and United States ot America.
Faff, near Paris, Dec. 12, 1777
The answer received from gove nment the 3d of January,
3778, on the fubjed of the American pofoneis, is to the.
following effe&:
« His Majedy's servants do rot approve of the proposal
of infpeaors. They underhand t' e edablifhment f the pri
soners to be what is usual and proper in fueb cases ; if there
has been any neglect, they have given 9 a orders to have
it rectified, and they will always be ready to redress any
complaints that shall 'be made. The orifoners ihall be per
mitted to receive, under proper regulations, any charitable
donations in their favour. Besides t! is, government are
chfpofed, and have it in their intentions, as opportunity shall
offer, to exchange them in America against British prisoners
there. If any complaints are male through die hands of
Mr Hatley, o r through any other proper cha ml, they
will be taken into confiieration, according to the dhfe, and
redressed."
The Speech of the Right H.n the Ear! of ABINGDON,
in the Hotje of Lords, on Thwfday, the 11th of Decern
her, 1777.
My Lords,
7 A M just come up from the country, as I supposed,
[ to do, with the rest o' yout Lo'dfmps, cur business
in Parliament phut I find that re are already met here
to day, id order to he ent about our bnfinefs into the
country, as if thfy'%fix fs of Parliament was not cur
bufm:o', a d tra yve ore called up only to do the bu
fiteis of Mimfers. Supplies are voted, and, at this
L A N C ARTE R, Printed by J OH N D U N L A P.
tremendous conjbn&ure of ever ts, Here is, it ''',^
no further need of the geat CONSIIIUiIONoL
Council of the hiticn.
But, my Lords, befc re I go, I will leave ore w^rd
behind me; it is n important word, and its subj 61
matter is of a very puffing notice.
My Lords, when a nobie Duke, wpHe manty and
spirited conduct against this wa? of fl^vety will ever
have the testimony of my warmest app'awe, made Iris
motion the other day for an empty into the state o'
the nation, his Grace said, that he a firerl his rmto%
might be undtrftood as a general motion, op.n to
every enquiry, and not limply confined to any pro
pofit'ons of bis own'; it is therefore, my Lords, ur.dtr
the Ihelter of this noble Duke's motion, that I hve
now a motion of my own to make, in addition to
those that have beeft already received.
My Lords, humanity has ever been the charts 'ri
flic of Englishmen ; but, my Lords, whether corrup
tion has, with cur morals, charged our very feelings,
or whether it be owing to that EXOTIC influence
which has so long directed our councils, or rot, it is
not for me to determine; but, my Lords, intend of
bumarity, our national cl:ara&?r is LOW damped
with INHUMANITY; erd, what is worse; we have
the DAMNING PROOFS' before cur eyes.
My Louts, lam reformed, and my information 13
to be depended upon, that the American prisoners in
this country (men wo are made prisoners in the glo
rious c use of LIBERTY, and are nick named rebels,
only to fan&ify the ie ellion of Ministers against th
f eedom of this country) are treated with a SAVAGE
BAR BARMY.
My Lords, I have heard some of thrir complaints
and they have gone to my heart. I will give you one
0 them in instance.
My Lo-ds, we all know, or the Rev. Bench of Bi-
Chops will tell us so, that there are certain religious
0 rotons against inoculating for the,mail-pox. These
o^j &ions the Americans, for the molt part, have ;
a.d, in proportion to the credulity of the objection,
do the fears ot the disease in reafe. It was necefDry,
no Lords, to premise this ; now for the £&. In one
of the prisons, a prisoner was inoculated for the small
pox; and, after the eruption appeared, the patient
was put into a cell with five Americans, who h d ne
ver had the disorder. They expressed their fears ; and,
Ido fuppof, they were therefore called " COW
ARDS;" but this your Lurdflops may be assured of,
that neither fears, nor tears, nor payers, were able
to remove these, from ihe <well
My Lords, i this be ^BELTED, and does not
meet with CONDIGN pumfhment, all government
hire is at an end, and civil society no more; for, my
Lords, wh?t is civil Society, but a public combination
for private ; roteflion.
Mr piefen: motion therefore, my Lords, is, " That
an bumble Address be presented to bis M^jefy, re^efling
that be wiL be p eased to dired, that all orders and ia
ft r u&ins ^bicb bave been given by the officers wbyfe
bajinef it is, to the fevered gaolers, o r keepers of other
boufes ^ confinements from time to time, face the corn
men ement of bailies, and the bringing of American
p ifners into this country, dozen to the if of the prefnt
month December, rtf ceting tQe bifoy and treatment of
tbsJailprijeners, may be laid before this H use; and
that the returns wbi.b have been made to office from the
fatd prtf ns of their numbers and deaths, together nvitb
the accounts of each article of expence, attending tbeir
confinement, may likewise be produced."
. M) Lords, I nave made this motion, not only from
the feelings cf humanity, But from motives of POLI
CY Your Lero(hi,s will remember, that there is
11ch a thing as the law of RETALIATION. Wist
you are making prisoners of the Americans by fi ties
aid hundreds, they are making prisoners of you by
WHOL? ARMIES. The fat# of General Burgoyne
iiKNOWN ; arid if General Howe does not again
flft bis pofuion, his fate will be the fame. My Lords,
1 will only add; that I hope this motion will be agreed
to, arid it will be productive of good ; but, my Lords,
asit will be tome time before it can have its etted, I
ibul foody to your L rdfh ps, that it is my indention
in the mean while, to promote, as much as lies in me,
a übicription for the relief of the e unfortunate pu
foriers, in hopes of procuring the contribution of every t
n bi Lord of this Heue; lor, m Lords, the m:j ri
ty Lords, who have benefited by the American war,
can,afford it. Thle wo hav: not (the Bi/bops) will
remember, that CHARITY COVEXETH A MUL
TITUDE of SINS; and as to the m nority Lords,
they will oe all led to it from PRINCIPLE. Thus,
my Lords, I shall not delpair o? there be i nr cobefted)
at least is much money for these HONEST WHIGS,
as was procured for those lory Priefs, who, for at
tempting to undermine the liberties of America, were
driven out of THAT country, and are, perhaps for
toe fame purpoles, now p nfioned in THIS,
PENJSrLM^NfA, fs.
A PROCLAMATION.
Bythe SUPREME EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
of the Common Wealth rs Pennsylvania.
'K%7'"EREAS the fallowing named persons,
late and heretofore inhabitants of this State—
Thoris' today — Enoch Story, fate merchant; Samuel
Garrigues, the elder, late clerk of the market and
t,a e : ; Jarnos Stevenson, late baker; Abraham Carlile,
ioute carpenter; Peter Defbong, miller; Alexander
Bartram, trader; Cbrifian Hook, attorney at law;
Peter Wider, fcrivencr; Lodowick Kerker, butcher;
Philip Marcbinton, trader; Edward Hanlon, cooper
rd vintner; Alfred Ciffion, gentleman; and Arthur
Thomas, breeches m.kcr ; all now, or late of the city of
rhiLriJphi' : And 7Umas LivezLy, 1. tees th: t'-iG
(hip of Ruxborough, mirier ; Jobss Roberts, 'a e cfthe
trwnfhip cf Lower Meriori, miller; Robert Iredafe,
the younger, and Thomas Iredale, both late chine
towriflrip of Horfham, labourers ; fefua Knight, by?
of the towntyp of Abingdon, blacksmith; %C
Knight, tanner ; Isaac Kright, Irfhlncrn r; A'birfX
Walton, late of the iowrdhip c! Biberry, hvfbardma^ ;
John Smith late gauger cf the portef PrredelpFa;
and Henry Hugh Ferguson, corm ffary of pri,or?rs for
Genera! Howe, all late of thecounty of Philadelphia :
And Samuel Plies, F/quite, late Sheriff of the county of
Bucks ; Walter Willet, late of the townflrip of South*
ampton, byfoardman ; Richard Hovenderi : late cf trie
towffhip >f Newtown, tradn ; and IVilham Mclandfcr^ ^
cf the to • nfirip o' Warnrioftef, hi fb m'n^n ; alliafe
es the defray of Bucks: Ard Henry Skj les, Ibrmas
Bulla, and De .vid Dawson, hefbandmen ; jacob fames,
late of tie tewr.fhip ot Goftien, inn keeper ; fefrfb
Thoma; (' eretofcre tub fheriff) yeoman; Nathaniel
Perron, junior, labourer ; and John Swanwick, late of
thecuftom-houfe, Philadelphia ; all la^e 0 the county
oi Chester : And John Rankin, and Evan Griffb, I uf
bavemen ; William Love, late of the townftip of
Yoik ; fobn Milfon, late of the townflrip cf Huctirg
don; and g4^s Brakin. late of the township cf Ty
rone ; all late of the county of York : And Willirm
Lrimas, fames Pugh, Sar uei Kofler, fobn Kofler, ffl.ua
Thomas, Hugh Pugb, ard fofepb Sutton, hufbancm^n ;
f:bn Holder, miller; Henry Ofaalt, boule carpenter;
facob Holder. nd George Holder, labourers ; and Owen
Roberts, faw-miU-man; all Die cf the county of
Nprihampton: Ard Mtcbacl Witman, in keeper ;
Fattheiv M ri-rich, cf Lebanon, inn keeper; George
Brine. 0 E rie town Grip, miller; fahn Reine, arid
l.aglUU Holtzing'er, hr fbandmen; all L.teof the county
cf Lancaster: And brands Sanderson, heretofore cf
the Borough of Lmcchey and late of Baltimore,
in the Stare of Maryland, c pper-fmith, have D
v^aWy hrimri) to, and knowing!) and willing',
aided and .Jilted the enemies of this State, and cf
the United States cf America, by having j inert their
armies at Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia,
wi hin t is State ; W E the Supreme Executive Coun
cil forefmd, by virtue of certain powers and autho
rities to us given by an A& of Geneva! AdfemHv, en
titled, “ An A& ter the attainder cf dryers Traitor-,
ri they render net thern'elves by a certain dry, and
for veiling trieir efl:i\s in ibis CoriLoo-Wealth; and
for more cftc&ualb dricovering tie fine; and for
a curtaining and fancying the Iwhri debts And ch%<
thereupon,'' do hereby ftrdtly charge and reunion
tre 13 d Enoci St ry, S muel Garrigues, Jernes
Stet^nfon, Abrah: m C.rlifle, Peter Deffiong, Alexan
der Bartram, Chriftun Hock, Peter Miller, Lodowirk
Kerker, Phibp Marchinten, £dwa,d Hanlon, ATcl
Cliffton, Arthur Thomas, Thomas Litezhy, John
Robe ts, Robert Ledale, Tlom $ Iredale, Jo
fhm K ight, John Knight, Ifeac Knight, Albin
lon Walton, J)hn Smith, Henry Hugh Fergufen,
Samuel Biles, Walter Willet, Richard H vendor,
William M dan 3, Henry Skyles, Thomas Bulb, Da
v d Damion, Jacib James, Jofiph Thomas, Nathaniel
Vernon, jw ior, John Swanwick, John Rankin, Evan
G flib, William Love, Jot n Wilson, Jernes Brakin,
Wild on Toom s, James Pugh, Samuel K frier, John
Koller, Jofliua Thomas, Hugh Pugh, Joseph Suttor,
John Bolder, Henry Oiwalt, Jacob Holder, George
Hol fer, Owen Robert?, Michael Witmtn, Matthew
McHugh, George Brine, John Rdrie, I ykholt
Haitz nger, and Francis Sanderion, (the said Francis
Sa A rion having a real elate in this Common-Wealth)
to r.nder trieuri rives r< fpe& v ly to some or one pF the
juries of the Supreme Court, or of t^e Joffices of
the Peace of one of the Counties within this Stat', on
er before 'r.mrid.r. , the 'twenty-fift^ day of June next
tn:wing, and alo abide their legal trial for such
th, r treasons, on pain that every of them the kid
Enoch Story, Samuel Garrigues, James Stevenson, —
Abraham Ca rifle, Peter Defhong, Alexander Bar-'
tram, Chrittian Hock, Peter Miller, Lodowick Ker-
Ir, Philip Marchinton, Edward Hanlon, Alfred
( listen, Arthur Thomas, Thomas Livizley, John
Robert, Robert Ired'ab, T orras Iredaie, Jo
shua Knight, John Knight, Isaac Knight, Al
- Walton,, John Smith, Henry Hugh Fergu
f< n, Samuri Bil4s, Walter Willet, Richard Hovendon,
William Moland, Henry Skyles, Th mas Bulla, Da
vid Dawson, J cob James, Joseph Thomas, Na
thaniel Vernon; John Swanwick, Jo^n Rarkin,
Evan CD ffith, Wil'iam Love, John Wilson, James
Brakin, William Thomas, James Pugh, Samuel Kof
ter, John Koffer, Jofliua Thomas, Hugh Pugh, Joseph
Sutton, John Holder, Henry Ofwalt, Jacob Holder,
George Holder, O^en Roberts, Michael Witman,
Matthew M Hugh, George Reine, John Reine, In
gleholt Holtzinger, end Francis Sanderson, net ren
dering himfelf as aforelird, and abiding the trial
a'orefaiJ, fliari, from and after the fa d twen y fi:h
day of June next, stand and be att i,W M c'l'i:'i,S'
Traafon to all intents and purpefes, and shall buf
fer such pains and penalties, and undergo ail such
forfeitures as persons attainted of High Treason ough
to do. And ail the faithful fubje&s of this State are
to take notice of this Proclamation, and govern them
selves accordingly.
GIVE N, by order of the Council, under the Va^d of
His Excellency the Ftefident and the Seals the States
at lancafier, this eighth day of May, in'the „ar of .
cur Lard One thousand seven bleared and fefenty.
eight. B order of Council,
THOMAS WHARTON, Junior, TeLkrf.
GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH.
Attejled by order of the Council,
T. Matlack, Secretary.