Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-02-28 00:00:00, page 2

The PENNSYLVANIA SPY. No. IIL
By P^LINURUS PEEPER, Esq;
Palinurus in unda,
Virgil.
IT is but within these few days that I havetho
roughly recovered from a terrible fright I met
with about four months ago. Scarcely had I
'aunched my little bark into the ocean of publica
tion, when I was attacked with a most violent
torn) of critical, which had well nigh overwhelm
ed me in the waves. Curiosity, natural I lup
pofe to every author, tempted me to repair to the
London Coffee-Houfe on the very evening after my
firft {peculation had made its appearance. Anxi
ous to know what kind of reception it would meet
with, f fixed myfelf near a box, in which I ob
served four or five persons very attentively peru
sing several news-papers th\y had met with on the
table. Now, thinks I, either my vanity will be
gratified, or my pride humbled. For I must in
genuously confefs, that, old as I ana, I am not
quite indifferent to the voice of fame. Nor can I
deem it a mark of folly or arrogance in an author,
to be desirous of pleating as well as improving his
leaders.
At length a middle-aged man, whom I took to
be a North-Briton from bis dialed, holding the
Packet in his hand, addressed himfelf to the per
son who fat next him. “ Pray, Sir," said he,
“ de ye ken the owthor here, wha' Reels 'umfel'
" Paul —ee —netv —rus Peeper ? —" What, Sir,"
replied the person, who happened to be a little
hard of hearing, “ did you fay, that Paul you knew
mas a Piper ?" —“ No, no," replied a young
smart, who had been educated, as I was after
wards informed, at Oxford—" thd gentleman asks,
“ whether you knew the author in the Packet for
" this day, who Riles himfelf Pale—i—nuru§
" Peeper ?" “ Pale-eyed who ?" fays the deaf
man.—O, Sir !" answered an eminent punster,
who fat in the next box, bawling as loud as he
could into the good man's ears, “ 'tis a fellow,
" Sir, that goes about peeping Palin, as the
“ Greeks fay,—Again and Again, according
" to the Englifo —or in the vulgar tongue, that
" plays 80-Peep in,our house, in my house, and
“ every body's house in town. May Earns blow
" and blast the fellow's peepers. For I fee from
“ this firft specimen of his, that he means to en
“ tertain the town with all the scandal that he can
“ pick up, relative to Governors, Counfellors,
“ Legislators and Corporation men, College, Li
" brary, Tavern, Coffee-Houfe, Balls, Affem
“ blics, and I know not how many other places,
“ persons and things, public and private, into
" which he intends to pry for the fake of ocular
" deinonflration."
" Very true"—replied a young graduate of
our College and Academy, who happened to be
fitting in the fame box—" I am quite of your
“ opinion, Sir.—However, I think he had better
“ let the College alone. For I can assure him, if
" he attempts to peep into the management there,
" he'll soon raise a nest ofhornets about his eyes."
This was too much at once for an old man, and
a young writer — Parce Seneotuti! I was almost
ready to exclaim—l hurried instantly to another
part of the room, where I found two Common-
Councilmen of my acquaintance very sagely deli
berating, whether Mr. Peeper, in the firft place,
was or was not a party writer; and in the second
place, whether it appeared from his own words,
that he meant to stand up as an advocate for the
Corporation, against any person that had infringed
or should attempt to infringe upon their rights; or
whether he meant, under the name and character
of a Member of that body to betray their cause,
and furnish their adversaries with weapons to over
throw the fabric, which their venerable Lycurgus
had empowered them upon proper grounds to
cred ?
Very alarming truly was this conversation to
me; and I was really shocked to find two of my
brethren endeavouring to afeertain my political
character from a performance, in which I had
most cautiously avoided every thing, that might
be deemed to have the least tindure of party.
I had almost determined, in consequence of
this storm to haul up my bark, and trust myfelf
to the uncertain elements no more. However
after my fright was a little over, I began to flat
ter myfelf, that a second attempt, with lels fail
and more ballast, might weather afecond tempest.
I chdfe a fubjed of a serious nature; applied it
seriously to our present circumstances, and closed
with aferious mixture of religion and politics.
A few hours after its publication, I hurried to
Bradford's. —'Twas a dead calm—Not a syllable
pro or con. Difappeinted and discouraged, I kept
my house for a few days. Upon hearing some
time afterwards that a Neros Coffee-houfe was open
ed at theCit,-Tavern, I determined to drop in, one
evening or another, in hopes of hearing some re
marks upon my last publication, which, to my
knowledge, had never yet been mentioned in the
course of any conversation, either by friend or
foe. I was the more eager to get to this Coffee
houfe, as I was informed that it was frequented
by the Literati, and that I might be sure of meet
ing there with a knot of excellent connoisseurs.
'Twas about (even o'clock, P. M. I entered a
new, neat and convenient room, well divided into
boxes, furniffied with tables, and elegantly lighted
up. Not a single face was there, that I could
recognize. Perhaps I had not hit upon the pro
per hour; for there were not above four or five
gentlemen in the room. It may seem strange to
the reader, but nevertheless, 'tis very true, that
I had scarcely seated myfelf, when I over-heard
a young gentleman, who was dressed in second
mourning, reading No. 2. of the Pennsylvania Spy,
to an officer, who seemed to listen with a careless
fort of attention. To do the young man justice,
I must fay, that he read it withgreat diftin&nefs
and propriety. But he had no sooner finifhed,
than he cried out—“ Now, Captain, what think
“ you of this piece of American manufa&ure? I
" fancy it would hardly pass muster even among
" our Garretteers at home."—“ Faith," replied
the officer, “ I listened with all the attention I
“ was master of; but, upon honour, I do not
“ understand what the author would be at."—
“ Why, I'll tell you, Sir, what he would be at,"
answered the young critic—" He talks a great deal
“ about Providence universal and particular —and
" for what purpose? Why truly to acquaint you
“ at the elofe of his piece, that he can fee further
“ into the schemes of Providence, than even the
“ virtuous and sagacious Pitt; and that all wife
" and good men, when they have perused his per
“ formance, will be of the fame opinion."
To have my well-meant labours thus misunder
stood, misrepresented, laughed at by one, threat
ned by another, sometimes neglected, at other
times vilified—thefe were fad difeouragements.
The shock was so great, that I had resolved against
a third attempt, and had even acquainted the club
with my disquietude and resolution, when, one
evening, my Printer, as I was palling by his door,
hurried out, and dipt a letter into my hand, the
contents of which were as follow:
To Palinurus Peeper, Esq;
WHAT ho! Palinure! Art thou napping,
my old Trojan? Or have the critical Mohocks put
out thy two peepers, and rendered thee incapable
of Landing any longelin fpeculis, or walking over
the large field of observation, from whence thou
didst promise us so many agreeable flowers and
fruits ?■ Come forth, my venerable old gentle
man—the storm is over— and every one is waiting
with no small degree of impatience for No. 3.
Surely amid the vast variety, which lay before
thy speculating mind, some fubjeds might 'ere this
time have been feleded, which would have pro
fited, or at least amused thy readers.—Give us a
touch upon the times. Say something, that will
make the Jlricken deer go weep. Let us have a
merry or a serious ledure upon our prevailing fol
lies or extravagancies. Don't fear the critics —for
I do assure thee, that most of the circle of my
acquaintance are of opinion, that though we
can find something to blame, yet there is likewise
much to commend in thy two lucubrations. If
thou wilt continue to publish, thou mayst be sure
of one constant reader, in
Thy friend and neighbour,
Chejnut-ftreet, UCALEGON.
Feb. 10, 1774.
The public will sooner or later be made ac
quainted with the impression this epistle left upon
my mind, and the effects it had upon my future
conduct as an author.
T.
•fc,*-^^^*#^*^*^^*-^^^*
SAVANNAH, (in Georgia) Jan. 5.
IYESTERDAY arrived the brig Neptune,
I Capt. Russel, with 50 passengers from New
ry, and a ship from Bristol, with 300 more is dai
ly expeded. A French ship with sugar and indico
was totally cast away among the Bahama Keys.
CHARLESTOWN, (S. Carolina) Dec. 24.
On the 2d of this month the brigantine East
Florida Merchant, Capt.Lofthoufe from London,
with a valuable cargo for St. Augustine, after be
ing at anchor about a fortnight off St. Augustine
bar, attempted to get over; but it falling a dead
calm, the vessel struck upon the bar, where Ihe
lay before she went to pieces, for about ten days,
during which time about two thirds of her cargo
was ashore, but considerably damaged, but happily
none of the people were loft.
On Wednesday last the new Theatre in this
town was opened with Mr. Kelly's Word to the
Wife, and High Life below Stairs, with an occa
sional Prologue and Epilogue spoken by Mr. Hal
lam and Mrs. Douglass. The performance gave
universal fatisfadion; Mr. Hallam in particular,
in Captain Dormer, displayed his extraordinary
theatrical talents, in a most spirited manner. In
deed all the performers did great justice to their
characters; but that gentleman's superior abilities
were so remarkably striking, that we could not
pass them over unnoticed. The house is elegantly
finifhed, and supposed tor the size, to be the molt
commodious on the continent. The feenes which
are new and well designed, the drefles, the music,
and what had a very pleasing effect, the disposition
of the lights, all contributed to the fatisfaclion of
the audience, who expressed the highest approbation
of their entertainment.
Jan. 7. At the last affixes at Ninety Six, an
information was exhibited by the Attorney-Gene
ral at the inftanee of the Super- intendant of Indian
affairs, against Richard Paris, for receiving from
the Cherokee Indians a grant or conveyance of a
large trad of lands, reserved by his Majesty as
part of their hunting grounds. The defendant .
confeffed the information, and was adjudged to
pay a fine of 4001. and the grant to be vacated
agreeable to ad of Assembly.
I he General Assembly is to meet here to-day.
We hear the Earl of Dartmouth has by express
command of his Majesty, sent circular letters to
all the Governors in America, containing a num
ber of queries relating to the Provinces where
they preside, to which they are to transmit answers
with all possible speed.
Last Monday arrived a ship from the north of
Ireland, with 150 people on board, intending to
fettle here b
fan. 18. On the 25th ult. a man named White
and his whole family, (fix in number) were mur
dered in his own house at Ogeechee, in Georgia.
The perpetrators are supposed to be Creek Indians.
Jan. 2%. Since our last we have had several
alarming accounts of hostilities committed by the
Creek Indians against his Majesty's fubjeds in the
Province of Georgia.
The murder of the person named White and his
family, at Ogeechee, on Christmas Day, for
merly mentioned, served only to alarm the Set
tlements, and induced another settler named Sbir
rol, who proposed to make a stand against the In
dians, to set about ereding a stockade fort, one
fide of which he had compleated on the 14th of
this month, when a party of Indians, about 15 in
number, came upon him about 9 o'clock in the
morning, attacked and killed 7, and wounded 4
others; one having run off at the firft onset, the
people in the honfe were reduced to 3, viz. two
white lads and a negro, who behaved with great
bravery till four o'clock in the afternoon, when
the negro had the good fortune to shoot one of the
Indians, supposed to be their leader, as they im
mediately drew off without carrying with them the
dead bodies of four of their number killed during
the attack. After this Serjeant Stuart, with a
party of the Rangers, came to their relief. Capt.
Barnard of the Rangers, buried the dead, reconnoi
tered the boundary line, and returned, having dis
patched Lieutenant Keating with a party of Rang
ers to William's Creek, near the old line, where
some people intended to build a fort.
On the 17th of this month, Col. Grierfon set
out from Augusta for the Frontiers, with a de
tachment of the militia, for the protection of the
inhabitants, and to make difeoveries of the real
intentions of the Indians. At Wrightfborough he
was joined by some other detachments, and mus
tered in all 100 men. On the 20th they marched
to the old boundary line, and encamped at Wil
liam's Creek, and sent out parties who returned
without making any difeoveries. On the appli
cation of the survivors of Shirrol's family, 2 offi
cers and 12 men were dispatched to protest them,
and to assist in bringing off their cattle and other
effects, who hearing of two or three Indians being
seen within two miles of them, the officer who had
the command insisted on their retreating immediate
ly, and they returned in the night of the 23d to
the Camp, where a Court Martial was holden,
and the principal officer, being found guilty of
breach of orders and neglect of duty, was cashiered.
It was thought neceflary to fend another party on
the fame service, and Capt. Goodgion, Lieut.
Grant, and two other officers, readily offered
themselves, and set out with about 33 men.
When they came within a mile or less of where
Shirrol lived, they were furprized by a confider
iible number of Indians, who fired upon them
from an eminence and killed Lieut. Grant, with 6
others, and wounded two, one of them mortally.
The Indians were all naked and painted black,
with a little red about their eyes, the signs of war.
'I heir number is said to be upwards of 100. The
remainder of the party got back to the camp a lit
tle after sunset, and immediately all the detachment
deserted, except between 20 and 30 men, who
had only in their power to assist the out settlers, in
getting down the country to places of greater
fafety.
A letter from Augusta, dated on Tuesday last,
January 25th, fays, “ It is now beyond a doubt,
that the Creek Indians are our enemies, and that
they mean to extirpate us if they can. They have
lately killed near 30 wffite people, and it is gene
rally believed there is not atrader left alive in the
nation. All the people up this river are moved
off, and this place is now become the frontier of
the province. Col. Grierfon, who has been out
with a party ofmilitia as faras Ogeechee, returned
yesterday afternoon, after a small skirmish with the
Indians, in which poor Grant and some others fell."
We learn from Fort Charlotte, that Captain
Taylor, of Col. Savage's regiment of militia, was
to set out, this day, with a party of volunteers, to
destroy the Indian settlements on the Okonee
and Ockmulgee rivers; a measure which many
wish may not be attempted, as they are apprehen
sive it will be attended with fatal consequences.
This day a messenger arrived express from the
country of the upper Creeks, with dispatches to
the Honourable John Stuart, Superintendant of
Indian affairs, who is now in Georgia concerting
measures with Sir James Wright, on the present
critical juncture. The messenger was seventeen
days on his journey, and fays there were no dis
turbances in the Creek nation when he left it, the
principal Indians being all from home. The late
murders, it is said, were committed by the Cowe
tas and other lower Creeks.
Feb. 4. During the course of the past week, we
have had various reports of several raore people
having been killed by the Creek Indians; but on
enquiry, those reports do not seem well founded.
Among others, a report prevails that the Creek
Indians have declared that they only wait till Sa
vannah river is easily fordable, when they propose
to fall on the inhabitants of this province.
Itis likewise said, they give out, that they .in
tend to do little or nothing further till the trees
are covered with leaves, when they are to be joined
by the Cherokees.
There is some reason to believe, that Lieute
nant Grant was not killed in the skirmish with the
Creek Indians, as mentioned in our last, but was
taken prisoner by them, after being dangerously
wounded.
The Assembly of Georgia have passed an unli
mited vote of credit, to enable his Excellency Sir
James Wright to take such measures as the pre
sent exigency may require; his Excellency has
augmented the Rangers in the pay of that province,
and ordered every third man in the militia to be
draughted, in order to form separate bodies, to be
properly Rationed for the protection of the inha
bitants.
The settlement of Wrightfborough was nearly
abandoned, when an old Quaker, named Maddox,
declared his intention of making a stand against
the Indians, and was thereupon joined by some
others, who, under his direction, immediately set
about building a fort.
The people on the frontiers of this province
seem resolved to defend themselves, if attacked,
and are busy in erecting forts for the fafety ofthe
women, children, and those unfit to bear arms,
as well as for the preservation of their effects, par
ticularly the settlers at New-Bourdeaux. Long
Canes, &c. a fort is also building in Prince Willi
am's parish.
His Honour the Lieutenant Governor has or
dered the garrison of Fort Charlotte to be rein
forced, and a large supply of ammunition and
provisions to be lodged there for the relief and
assistance of such poor people as may be driven
from.their habitations by the savages. His Ho
nour has likewise ifTued the proper and necefl'ary
orders to all the Colonels of the militia; in short,
every measure has been taken that the present
circumstances of the province will permit.
WILMINGTON, (North-Carolina) Dec. r.
'I he persons who on their journey from this
province to Pittfylvania, (the new colony 00 the
Ohio) were attacked in their encampment on Lou
isa river, and murdered by the Indians, were a
son and negroe of Capt. Russel, and a son of Da
niel Boon, of Rowan ; John and Richard Minden
hall, of Guildford, and another man, name un
known. Their bodies were ripped open, but they
were not scalped : A parcel of painted hatchets,
war clubs, &c. were lying by them. As these
unfortunate adventurers were on the hunting
grounds of the Delaware and Shawanefe, they
are supposed to be the perpetrators of the massa
cre.
Arrived this week, the Sampson, from Phila
delphia; the ship Margaret, Spear, from the Isle
of Sky, with about 300 passengers, and a ship frora
Bristol, by the way of the Weft-Indies.
Newbern, Dec. 29. Yesterday the Assembly,
without having passed any law, was prorogued to
the firft of March next.
Jan. 12. We are informed by a letter from
Cross Keys, that on Friday night the 7th inst. the
store of Mr. Patrick Travers, of that place, was
robbed by some villains not yet difeovered. Mit
chel Carol, the store-keeper, who had been wri
ting in the store, was found most inhumanly mur
dered, a broad ax was lying by him very bloody,
and on the back part of his head, appeared a vio
lent contusion. He was stabbed in five different
places in the neck, and had several wounds in the
head. The jury brought in their verdid, wilful
murder by persons unknown. The robbers carri
ed off all the dry goods of value, from the store,
part of which belonged to Mr. Thomas White,
lately imported from Philadelphia, to a large
amount. This villany was not difeovered till
Sunday morning, the perpetrators having locked
the door, and carried off the key. A fubfeription
of 500 l. is entered into as a reward for difeover
ing the persons concerned in this horrid affair.
B OST O N, Feb. 17.
It having appeared to the General Assembly,
now fitting, that the Hon. Peter Oliver, Esq;
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature,
hath refufed to receive his salary from the Gene
ral Assembly, as usual, but hath received it as a
grant from the crown, out ofthe revenue unjustly
and unconstitutionally levied and extorted from
the inhabitants of the American colonies; it is
therefore resolved by the Assembly aforefaid, that
the said Peter Oliver has proved himfelf an enemy
to the constitution of this colony, that his actions
tend to the perversion of law andjuftice, and have
rendered him obnoxious to the good people of this
province, therefore that he is difqualified, any
longer to hold and ad in the office of a justice of
the court, and ought to be removed therefrom;
and it was resolved that a petition and remonstrance
be presented to the Governor to that purpose.
It is supposed the jurors will not serve, or be
sworn, should Mr. Oliver offer to fit as judge; all
the other judges have disclaimed the receipt of any
salaries from England.
NEW-YORK, Feb. 21.
Friday last the (loop Orley, Capt. Osborn, be
longing to New-Haven, arrived here from Domi
nica, in 50 days, but last from Bermuda In lat.
31, he fell in with Capt. Stringham, from Domi
nica for this port, lying too under a Trifail, in a
gale of wind; and on the 15th of January, lat.
31,41, lon. 36, 32, he spoke with Capt. Holland,
in a schooner from Antigua for Philadelphia.
With Capt. Orley came passenger Capt. Glaffen,
late of the schooner Polly, of Egg-Harbour, who
informs us, that in the night of the 15th of Jhnu
ary, outward bound, he was cast away on the
rocks about 4 leagues from the island of Bermuda,
vessel and cargo entirely loft, and that it was with
the greatest difficulty the crew saved their lives;
that the fame day a large double-decked brig, with
black sides and a brimstone bottom, came to an
anchor near to the place where he was cast away,
but that die was obliged to cut in the night, and
was not heard of afterwards.
Capt. Lockton, in a brig from the Weft-Indies,
for Philadelphia, on this coast fhifted his hold,
stove lohogflieads of rum, carried away one ofhis
masts, and was obliged to bear away for Bermuda,
at which place he arrived fafe; as also a brig from
Virginia in distress.
Saturday morning the sloop St. John, Captain
Partridge, arrived here from Newbern, in North-
Carolina: Last Thursday off the Capes of Dela
ware, he spoke with Capt. Holland, in a schooner,
15 days from Jamaica; and a few days before with
a snow from St. Croix for Philadelphia, 15 weeks
out.
Saturday afternoon the brig Mary, Captain
Anderson, arrived here from Liverpool, in 12
weeks: He failed from thence in company with
thebrig Union, Capt. Ross, for Marblehead ; and
spoke with the following veltels, viz. Jan. 18th,
in lat. 23, lon. 55, a brig from Virginia for Anti
gua: The 23d, a schooner from North Carolina,
for St. Croix, in lat. 25, lon. 61: The 16th inst.
a schooner from Saltertuda for Rhode-Ifland, lat.
23, 58, lon. 75: And on Thursday last, a brig
from Hispaniola for Rhode-Ifland, off Barnagat.
The fame afternoon the (loop Delight, Capt.
Sage, arrived here from Turk's-Island in 16 days,
And on the 13th instant, spoke with a brig from
Virginia for Liverpool, all well: and left Capt.
I ell in,a Poop, and Captain Brown, in a brig, both
belonging to this port, at Turk's-ffland.
In consequence of several petitions lately pre
sented to the corporation of this city, by the in
habitants thereof, for the better regulating the
ferry from hence to Long-Bland, have agreed to
the following refolution,viz. a ferry fromCoenties's
market to the landing place of Philip Livingston,
Esq; and Mr. Henry Remfen' on Naffan Island;
another from the fly-market to the present ferry
houfe at Brooklyn; and a third from Peck's-flip to
land at the place last mentioned.
We hear the Tea lately sent out by the Ho
nourable the East-India Company to South-Caro
lina, has received some damage by its being de
posited in a damp store in Charleftown.