The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-02-10 00:00:00, page 2

Item the ANNUAL REGISTER, or a
V View of the History, Politicks, a® Literature, of ths
year 1760.
On the Different Conditions of YOUTH
arid AGE.
THE different conditions of youth and age, with
regird to this world, their enjoymentsand views,
I have often made the fubjed of much-pleaßig contem
plation.
The glow of warm blood, the 'vigour of health, and
the strong powers o' ir%£,wi?m -have ever reprefeiwed
to my mind the morning, cf life, like the owning of day;
where every thing is frefli and cheerful,inviting enjoyment,
and centtibutive of great pleasure, love, pastime, and
even hufinefe, arc pursued with high delight. Everything
appears c^rimoL as in the fyfop of Spring, imp ring vs
with rapture, and inviting us to bhte< But as all fuhlu^
nary trnfphrts have but tranfory evidence, the edge
which tailing gives to our appetites, a fall meal is fare
to blunt ; therefore, thof: who feck no higher apjoy
taring '' r from their passions, will ba sere so experi
ence satiety hi their indulgence; nature having doom
ed us to weariness in all the fail gratifications of our sen
ses . 1,
Thofeonlz continue happy, who are so precautionary
pradeat as to lay in early a fiock for tr^e permanent fa
tisfraon; which is ofa nature !efs violent, but infinite!,
mere durable. This Here muff be competed of vir
tue, wisdom, and their fruits, which are kaowle^,
temperance and property, the needful inffftme^ ts of fe
licit,-
Youth, therefore, te be happy, acquire
the attainments ofAge, toattriin which reason will Save
recourse to the experience of grey hairs. It is in the
difpepfing of wisdom that age appears venerable ; and;
without the power of doing it, it forfeits its high dignify ;
for a head grown hoary in follies is a woeful objed of de
rision.
Cur paffons in youth are very powerful fedecers ; they
hurry 03 into hafly enjoyments, which have often their
endtig io very long and fruitless repentance. Apank thefa
imminent evils, which have their foundations in early ijri,
we have tio kind of defence, but in the e%„i%. ^/'ater
days, which thofeare the fooft happy who soonest acquire
and regard. f .
The long pradifed in life have found the futility of al!
raptures, and know that none are worth purchafug dtthe
price of great hazards. The lover's aream of . extacks,
and the prodigal's of hi, delight, are equal deletions
prartifed by passion on reafdn ; for in rational eojovnmts
only duration is lo be found. We grow fftdily sick of
what we only admire, but are often laftinfy gratified with
what we reafon^bly approve.
Thus thrift youth, to be happy, acquire some of the
qdalfos of a^ei and age, to be cpmf&rtnbfy mud retain
time of thereof youth. The fcongpiffieaiand affeaions
of both ^ras are alike deceitful ; ae in oe^tyge we have
not attuned to the vigour oHoutm judgment, and inthe
other we have past it, z^d got into th?date of fecund dotage,
without the benefits of rettr^ni, that wsre odr fee,rities
in our firg chisel- hood , and we are apt to continue full
in the erdeof Experience, when the papers of roakw. ar^
all decaying or become loft.
Aga pilfered in the mind is deerfpidity in the witter,
retiring in the evening to the comfortable ihetter of a fire,
fiae, where, ricare from the rage of elements, and weary
of vain puriU^ it can please irfelf with prattling of evils
over vme, and pleafurcrthat it has parted with the enjoy
meet of without regret, feeding nothing bhrto wear
down the h.§ stage of life with ease, and leaving
buftie and folly to these to whom by nature they be
icej.
Tirt gteatefl wifdem that can ornament henry heads is,
to quit the crowd with a good grace, ^nd vclaptarily to
leave flidy foaety before they become forcibly excluded
from it. Infirmity must take slitter in'tbl kindness of
true friinchhip, and that is not to be expected from the
m^y, btr. tie few. >w'
Tnlkativenpfe is the foible and gratification of old age,
and has been b diftiuguifhed, by obfertfation, from Ho
mer's days to the prefect time. A cheerhdnefs refined
from youth gives a gtacefulwefs to this humour, and re
commends even its imperfections, if not to common ap
probation, at lead to particular goodwill.
Ify&iuh has its advantage of high fpifits aud fonder
fuits, aid age can boast its comforts of composure add re
figmtion. One Rage of life is to be represented by the
pteMurable appetite with which we fit down to a meal;
the other, by the Satisfied indifference with which we ar?
forego rife from it, and the willing difyoritioa we make
after it for refi.'
It is folly in youth to place too flrong ^reliance on
long Ilie ; it is weakness in age to be over-felicitous about
it. fu the farmer case, the expefylidh is mdeged with
uncertainty ; in the latter the &so , is akeadid by anxie
ty, became the chances cf probability are entirely against
it. . °
All that we are fare of in this lift is, that we tnufl quit
it, we know not when : Aad all that it moil behoves us to
do is, to be prepared for that call ; which wisdom and
virtue are our conitfat adraowforra to. It little matters
howling weliv^m this world ; but it greatly does, in
what manner we five ip it. W^ have a full right, while
we are here, to cl rational enj,me.its ; • nd it'is our
faults, if we fui'sr other puriuris to become our deluders
into difaujeft WeSouki in ad.'thiags be the feeders of
our own peace and welfare and & promoters of those of
oth^s. While we made such the rules of our con lu&,
we Ihali be cer^iniy good and happy ; equally ready to
continue with life, and ready to refigri it.
Youth has no more bids than sober reason can insure to
it; nor has age more unhafpineS than inJifcretioo
brings upon it. All depends on our anting right parts in
thofe/htfer^rt flages of car being ; our credit and felicty
brine such as we ourfelvcs make them : So that it is not
Providence, but perverfe^th, that makes us offierwife
tain happy,
I to Sir,
your humble fervent,
BRUTUS.
By Capt. Claghan, arrived at Boston from Gottenburgh,
we have the 'following Advices, viz.
PARI S, September 28.
WE have accounts from Cadiz, that as well fofccre
cy fake as on account of the hot weather,, the pre
parations for the liege of Gibraltar are carried on much
thereby flight than by day, 3,,000 bombs and near 400
pieces of cannon, have been brought behind the wall of
the lines of St. Roch, and as there are but 1000 Gunners,
it is laid that his Catholic Majefiy will ask for Some from
France, as well 4s Engineers In truth, ft is thought the
fotrilsn; which amounts to but 3500 men, will be infuffi
cient to guard all the posts, and fer^e upwardsof 900 pie
ces of artillery. Notwithftaodiog the vigilance cf Don
Barcelo force yeffels have found means to get into Gibral
tar with provisions j however that commander has taken
several Portuguese veflels laden with provisions, on board
one of which were force Englilh officers and difptfraes for
the Governor,of Gibraltar. ^?
Rott^dhir, October 6. By accounts, dated Nantz,
September 2&, we hear a fleet of „ fail of French v<fiels
frrm Cape Francois ^re arrived at Brefy and that the
combined fleets were ready to Aril with the firft favourable
wind#
LONDON, September 27.
No advices fre.q Gibraltar, it is laid have been received
by ^mvrnmenilater than the aitirof August, when the
blcußch: y^s continued as from the beginning § nor had
th - SpauLl r^y or n^vy been reinforced with any troops
or fti^fhg, as fi^s )<% reported here.
F^raCof^rkte from Faris, September ~
" A peace b-^ta again to ^ talked of here between
thin C ; d that cf, England, to which- His Catholic
Merely <,d Htf.Antywj, are co be allowed to accede
% as the P.i<:rciDhry era egfadon of hofiilies, by which A
rc,r'Qn/id<tepßd e;& w ill be confirmed. Of thi% how^
vey, we ate ^e_& the: when the articles come on the ta
pisj re.^ RfU b; idkeed to bvtfuch as are adequate to
•4 ieh wg have already gained, as well ra
Eptepe _ § ? .•. r? dhttaat Guaricvs of the Globe,"
LoidSandv.;j has afluted a Great Perfon.^e, within
r. I« 3 &%Q that he may rest <afy refptfb'ngthe home
defence, f. r fa ke will erga^e 19 have 64 fltips of the
lisa reabyto priced to fee by t:elsth of April next.
An A,cot fr^m the Con;refs arrived at the Havannah
the Bth of July, wh@ had pm infuumental in planrijog
an expedition to Weft Florida, which country has been
offered to the Spaniards, as feme gratuity for their loan cf
750,000 k Sterling to the United Stares. It confiffs of
two frigates, fcve-ri privateers and armed veffele, a regi
r^r.t of fol hers, and a great number of armed people who
go there to fettle.
October 1. According to private letters from Hol.'
land by tbe lafi nwl, we are assured that the States Ge
neral are in rhe utmost perplexity how to aft in this criti
cal conjuraur,, Sir Jofoph Yorke had insisted upon a
categorical chiwcr to hie last memorial, which was very
fpir red, iri four days. The States required a month,
which ware refund and wto debating when the post came
away upon thefteps proper to be taken.
T^e last letters from Gibraltar by way of Lisbon men
tion, that the blockade .of that place was not compieatly
formed by sea, and that they had a communication ftiil
with the Barbery cuafb
oa. 6 This day r comorifflon was figged by his Ma
jesty in Council for th? prorogation of Parliament to
Thprbty thexlthday of November; alfe a proclamation
for their meeting for b,e difprtch of business.
0$ 11 T smormnga meffeocer arrived at the Ad
miraky tram Frimouth, soon after which another wasdif
patebed to PortfmotKh, face which it is reported that the
combined &ts were a few l^gu^'off the firft mentioned
dirc^
A ceffd+ion of arms has agahi been proposed on the
part of Fra ?cr and toe Rebel Colonies, through the roe.
diationdl th, ging o f Serlhti.:, whicS the British cabi
net have f^ A ;cd an lifted to, unlefythe depv^leoce of A
merbne 0 ^ present flue, be nude the ground work of
Juch ceffa^on,,
Exir^a if a letter frem Portfmm& October 1.
"This cvrifc; arrivedlris Mci<fo%frigate Maidftone,
frc.itthe W R ladies. Admiral Byron is come in her;
but nothing cew ha? ?r?ufyb&t"
Extract rs a letter from Arofterdam, Oft. 7.
« Tne Freren frig te called the F&P&s has just entered
the Texri, in company with the Eolith fllip of war the
Sushis, !riay ,keu by Paul Jernes, of which he has ta
ken the camermd, his own (hip hayfag fork foen after
the actum. Capt b Rieot commanderof the Vengeance,
fern I.'Orient, and an American p/ivateer grimed the
Alliance, €,% Landais, pauof JotesVfquadran, are al
fe arrived, and 'haw Bought in with them the Counters
of ScarbcTon,h aimed fafo
•' A Iriter from Nantz, dated the 28th ult advifer,that
a convoy of 57merchant ships, from Cape Francois was
just arrived at Brest, The letter adds, the fleet was prepa
ring to put to sea."
Extras of a latter from Brest, September 95.
" Mr. civ la Touche Traville'sfguadron will be ready
for failing in three or four days, and it is thought will fail
as fcun as the prptifiong can be got on board. Thegra*d
fleet will be able ^ depart by tie6th or 7th of next month.
It appears decided, that the campaign is fiojfhed, and
that the S,aaifh flbps will winter at this Port and at
Rochfort, in order to be ready in goad time the next
fprlng”
Extract of a letter from Nantz, September 14.
" Captain Sampfon j of the Mercury packet-boat failed
from Boston on tire 4th of August, and arrived here the
4th of this month. He brings word that a day or two
before hisdepatture he was informed by th? Commissary
of prisoners, (who was then going for'New York with
goo prifone b > for an exchange) that he, the Cominiffary,
had put into irons and confined in a dungeon, a young
Gentleman of good fortune and family,' on whom it
was determined to proceed in every reforest, as Cap.
tain Cunningham ffiould be treated after his arrival in Enz
b^d." 6
oao. !;. There are very few British or Irifli seamen
in the Spankh fleet, and no Americans , they are mostly
natives, excepting only a few Genoefe and Venetians,
who meet with every ettouraftwit,
PHILADELPHIA.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Friday, February 4, 17S0-
The Bill intitled, “ An AH for regulating and eftafo
“ hfhing Admiralty. Jurridiftion,"was read a second time,
and being debated by paragraphs, was ordered to bu
'transcribed for a third reading, and in the mean time
printed for cerifideration.
Extraft 'rom the Minute#,
THOMAS PAIN E,
Clerk of the General Affercbly.
An ACT fcr regulating zud efiablifhirig Admirals,
Juriidiaion.
ff± , H F,F AS it is uecemry that due provision be
_ made for the trial and determination of offences,
crimes, controvirfies and suits, within thecognizanae of
the maritime law, arid not en^pirable at common law.
Be it therefore teamed, and it is hereby enabled by th<
Reprefeiicstives of the Freemen es Pennsylvania in Gene
ral Afcmbly .met, and by the authority of the fame, That
a person of known integrity arid ability shall be appointed
and commissioned by the Styrenic Exec&dve Council of
this Ccmmanwealtli, far arid during the term of gff
years, in case k^flull so lo^g behave fell, by the name
and ftilo cf Judge qr the Admiralty, which Judge shall
tolti a Court of Admiralty, and therein havo cognizance
of all coutroverfa, foits and pteas ofiraritime jurirdiftion,
- not cognizable at the c<Mt:rcon lawl offences and crimes,
ccher than contempts againk the said Court, only excepted;
and thereupon shall puss fenteuce and decree according as
the maritime law, the law of nations, and the laws of this
Commonwealth thall ,squire.
Provided always and be it further enaaeel by the au
thority aforesaid, That in all cases of prize, capture, or re
capture upon tee water from encutits; or by way of re
pti^l ; or from p^atei, the fam? Ihall be tried; adjudged
and determined, as well, as to the question whether prize
or oof? as to the plaims of the parties interefied or pre
tending to be interefled in the fame, by the law of nations,
arid the ails and ordinances of the Honorable the Congeefs
of the United States of America, before the laid Judge, by
vritnefies, according to the cturfe of the civil law. And
in all such cases of prize, capture, re-ufoure and seizure
upon the water afonriag an appeal from t^e final decree
;ofthef^id Judge of Admiralt: ihaM lie and be allowed to
such Judges or Court, as the laid CongrMihgve appoint
ed, or may appoint for the hearing and determining of
ft.ch,appeals; such app.Ms to be brought and eonduaed in
the manner, and within the time hireded end limited, in
and by the arts and ordinances aforefa id ; frecrity being
6rf lriver., in such sum of money as the laid Judge of Ad
rciraUy shall deem faffici^t, to profegute such appeal to
effect
And be it further eo^aed by the authority aforefaid.
That the Captain or Commander of any fh':p. or vessel of
war, or Prize-raafter, or other perfen, having charge of
&y capture or re-captere, of other pro perty, seized v^n
Dewater as aforeftid, why flail condna OT'Tmg the fame
tote port, shall imraedtariy delver the fame; without di
minution, to the Marihal of the said Court of Admiralty §
and within d?ys after the arrival of fu<h prize as
aforefaid, shall .extibh, er yaufo to be fxhiWtsq a libel,
or bill in writing, before the [aid Jpd,e, therein fitting
forth, in ample andpsrUcular oai@&, the time and ether
circumflanffe of the frhfrg and taking of the fame, and
cf Hie ferries 0 ^ Isyntt nt thot the fhipor veffe! so Seized
was in, at the time Qeg filch flip or vnffel was taken or
seized, sod the parties aiding thertin, to the be ft of hi#
knowledge, and ihall also, 'without delay or diminution,
deliver, or cause to be dehyrred to theßegifttrof the said
Court of Admiralty, upon the oath or hffirtrafon 1 of luck
person, §ll banks, 4ocp*euts, cammiffiphs, parchments,
papers, and other wrjnrfl, appertaining to, er found on
board any such ship or veffil, in eider that the said Judge
may have the benefit qf soy evidence which may arrfe
therf^nm, in forming f ; s sentence.
And be it further enarted hyrt!,*‘arrthority aforefaid,
That if any petfen lhril negiert. or refute to deliver up any
such capgure or feizore a& aforefaid, to the Marshal of the
said Court of Admiralty, or shall embezzle or keep hack
any part of any such capture, or fhali withheld, embezzle
or deftray any book, diwumeur.% commiffons,papers,
parchments or other writings, appertaining to or found on
board of any ship or veffri, fejad a: a prize as ^for^faid,
such person, so ottending, shall be liable to attachment,
and to fife, or to fine and impriforirnent, at the difetetron
of the said Judge, as a contemner of the said Court cf
Admiralty; and moreover, (halt forfeit, to the life of the
Commonweahh, all such offenders share or part of such
capture, to be recovered by indirtment; and the said
Judge shall by order, flay, during the profecutiOT, such
Ihareor part, in the hands of the Marshal, to the end,
that the fame may be secured upoa the conviction 0: fcch
offender, and paid t& the Treasurer of this Sta^e-
And be it further ehafted by the authority aforesaid,
Thar immediately after any such libel, as aforesaid, shall
be exhibited before the said Judge, he shall direct the
Regifterof the said Court of Admiralty, to give notice in
fame publicness paper, tu be publiffea in the city of
Philadelphia, of !he day appointed for the t rial of such
prize, and the said Regifler fh^U intta therein, if known,
the nr.me, size or burthen, and other description of the
veffelfo taken and brought into port, and aifo, the name
and firname of the late mafier or commander of the farce,,
and of the p®rr or place from whence fech ship or vessel
last failed, and of the port or place, for which such ship
or vessel was destined, and in case of . a recapture, he shall
fi?forth, by what ihip or other vessel, tbe fame was firft
taken; to thsend, that all persons concerned, may ap
pear and fliew cause, (if any there be,) wherefore such
capture or recapture, goods, merchandize, or other pro
perty, ffiould not be condemned and adjudged to the li
bellants.
Provided always, That if it be made appear to the fa
tisfartipp of the said Judge, that the cargo of any such
(hip cr ^elfel seized as prize, as aforefaid, is damaged,
or coafifts of goods, which, in their nature, are so petifh
able, as not to be kept till the trial be finished, without
great toss, that then, and in such case, the said Judge shall
nominate and appoint three judicious and indifferent per
fens, of the city or county 'where th^ said goods may
be, who shall carefully infpert, and appraise the fame, and
report the condition thfrsef, and deliver the said appraise