Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-01-10 00:00:00, page 2

For t!! E PENNSYI,VA* 1 APACKET.
The following fragment falling inti my bands face
my last, if it is thought ‘worthy of being prejetveil
in the Packet, its at the fervite of the Printer —
and if in tumbling over the oid trunk of papers
any morf ftould appear—probably they may be
handedforward.
No. ,11. 6
A FRAGMENT from the evorkt of
Yorick Americanos.
A LASS arid is poor G ratio gone—alafs
poor Gratio —how—did 1 fay alafs
poor Gratio—no—alafs poor Plurio—-Gfatio had
goodness, meekness, kindness, and every chriftian
virtue—Gratio cannot be poor —he's rich —most
infinitely rich, in every joy that fouls possess, in
that exalted Rate, where merit, through mercy,
meets with its reward —We that are left behind,
only are poor, and poor indeed —0 ! where shall
I repair the loss of Gratio—l take my solitary
walk—'tis solitary truly—tho' the brilliant beam
ing orb of day, Rill rises with all its ufualluftre,
still (beds its kindly influence o'er my head—though
all the little feather'd world in wonted tranfpert
welcome his return, with their once enlivening
notes —tho' the herds low and the lambs bleat—
tho' the cottage rustic joins the general chorus,
with his honest unmeaning felf p'eafing whiftle—
tho' the healthy milk maid decently pin'd up, steps
o'er the Rile to take the morni'rg tribute from her
generous kine, and tunes her artless song—though
thousands, ten thousand spangles glitter o'er the
plain —tho' the summit of yon lofty mountain late
hid in nightly miffs, now boldly prominent above
the clouds, yields a ftupendeous fight—tho'all the
glories of yon western catarad, profufely tumbling
downits rugged cliffs, glitter with all their morn
ing fplendor—tho' Srephon the bold and brown,
prepares to lead forth his lovely blooming Chloe
to the nuptual alter, and all the little circling vil
lages are dressing for the feftive day—tho' a joyful
g neral calm o'er spreads all natures face—l pen
lively set and mourn for Gratio— tbefe once were
pleasures we in concert felt, for Gratio had a
heart —a heart so much refined, so delicately fra
med, formed offuch tender fibres, it sweetly vi
brated to each feene of harmless joy—By long
intimacy, and close connexion, like plants con
tiguous, mixing farina, our fouls (pardon the
expreflion) became incorporated—his every tender
sentiment he engrafted on me—We felt ahe plea
fires of the spring, the joys of harvest, and the
forial endearing feenes of winter with doubled
force—And ah! how Gratio would sympathize
with grief— to hear the friendlefs orphan tell his
tale, and mark in my Gratio's face, the emotions
of his manly foul—to fee the big drops roll down
his cheek at hearing of another's woe —but Gratio's
gone
" Fair Daphne's gon,, andvirtue is no more."
Oh ! if kind heav'n allows departed fouls
To view their friends, bereft, forlorn, behind,
May'ft thou my Gratio watch my wandering step,
Guide me aright, when'eer I chance to stray;
Guard my weak heart from litl'ning to the wiles
Of flattering ploafurcs, big with future ills;
Prompt me to persevere in virtue's paths,
Sull point the road that leads to eadlefs joy,
And O!my Gratio, whisper in my ear,
'Now far inferior are these joys beneath,
If e'er my heart rebels, nor deigns to feel
That social sympathy, so oft' thy song,
If other's woes, pals heedless through my mind,
If ee'r I turn from suppliant grief my ear,
And impionfly refufe an aiding hand
Then Gratio sternly, with remonstrant powers
Shake my whole frame, and foften every nerve,
For 0 ! may I, whilst ftation'd here below,
Feel with full sympathy another's woe.
For Me PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
Lifelefs the breast that charm'd the World before,
And tbofe love-darting eyes must roll no more.
Pope.
IT is an observation of Solomon, thot it is bet
ter to go to the boufe of Mourning than to the
house of mirth; and never was any obfervatiqn
better founded in nature, or more confirmed by
experience. The mind is apt to receive from dis
tress some tender impressions which it cannot easily
shake off, and by which it is improved in virtue
and in piety. Of all considerations which tend
to rouse the foul from the dull security in which
she often indulges herfelf, none I think strike so
forcibly, or appear more alarming than that of
death: This is a knell to the heart, which wakens
all our dread, and calls up all our fortitude to
contemplate it. That tremendous period is a
check to human pride; it lays low in the dust the
most exalted Ration, and blends mankind in a
common mass. Who that can once confider the
consummation of all things, if he has any reason
left, can ever fuffer his imagination to feed him
with airy grandeur, when in afew years, perhaps
in a few hours, he must quit the Rage to make
way for succeeding generations.
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Await alike th' inevitable hour;
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
1 he uncertainty of human life can never be too
frequently pressed upon the minds of men; it tends'
to bridle their appetites, to give them pause in the
career of their indulgencies, and throws a melan
choly veil over the glitter of wealth and the pride
of power. There is nothing in which young peo
ple are ready more miserably to deceive themselves,
than by tripling to their external advantages, look
ing forward to a late period ofexiftence, and then,
and not till then, resolving to refled. Beauty
and Rrength often lay the foundation for their
own deftru&ion; the one trusting to its invincible
force, is entangled in its own toils, and conquered
by its own efforts; while the other, by a too pow
erful display ofits brightness, engages innumera
ble foes, who secretly efface its luftre, and by
insidious means counter-^ its influence. In what
then can that security be found, wherein consists
unchangeable felicity? Virtue; —Virtue only can
confer it; and the contemplation of death has a
most evident tendency to strengthen good habits,
and confirm pious resolutions.
The clock strikes one, we take no note of time,
But from its loss. It is the knell of my departed
hours,
Where are they?—With the years beyond the
flood.
This is a Rriking representation which the ini
mitable author of the night-thoughts has made a
human life ; cue take no note of time, and yet eve
ry hour once past is irrecoverable; and as he beau
tifully exprefTes it, fled to the years beyond the food.
What can betray men into this miserable dotages a
bout life, and its uncertainty? Do not we every day
fee our fellow-creatures, who but lately looked as
gay, healthful, and blooming as ourselves, tum
ble in Rantaneoufly into the dark reccfs of oblivion,
and them and {heir excellencies remembered no
more ? How many facrifices of beauty have been
made within these few months to the general ty
rant? Where arc the radiant circles of the last
year? Let they who are best acquainted examine
how many blanks will appear in the different par
ties, who but a season ago were unitedin the com
mon pursuit of pleasure and indulgence. How
many parents now bewail the fair profpe&s of
their age; how many lovers languid) in inexpres
sible misery for the death of her, who could only
render human life agreeable ! If men would but
fuffer themselves to make a just estimate of life,
drawn from observation and experience, I am
persuaded the ardour for pleasure, and the paint
ings for enjoyment would considerably abate; and
while the mind coolly reflected on human things,
it would hold them in greater contempt, and
place its felicity in something more unalterable,
more truly fatisfa&ory than the fhifting feenes,
and unmeaning trappings which this world exhibits.
Notmany days have pad since I had occasion to
make thefe.reflections from a recent facrifice of
youth and beauty, which had fallen within the
tyrant's grasp.
Oft to her tomb, ye sparkling tribes, repair;
Lifelefs die lies, who once like you was fair.
Pride strike thy fail ; —fond nature ihed a tear;)
See all life's airy phantoms center'd here,f
While virtue only blooms thro' Heaven'sC
eternal year. )
When it pleases God to call these from life
who have already travers'd its rounds, and expe
rienced its viciflitudes, the mind cannot be much
effected. Time has a claim upon us all, is the
faithful minister of death at last, and never fails,
even without the assistance of disease, to secure
prey for this destroyer. But when, not content
with the old, the useless, or the deformed, he
sweeps down his rapid stream the young, the pro
mising, and the beautiful, then it is right to weep ;
thereis a merit in complaining. Who can hear
the last groans of an expiring beauty; who can
fee the bloom whither on her cheek, her eye for
get to roll, her breast to throb, and her tongue to
enchant, without being melted into a sorrow
which bids defiance to language ! No, we cannot
sure.—Such were the pangs that those felt who
saw the gay Amanda fall ; she whole sweetness en
gaged all hearts to love her, whose beauty excited
all to admire her, whose virtue secured the most
refpeaful reverence, and whose delicate behaviour
challenged the greatest tenderness. It is impossi
ble to pursue the theme ! —Nature is too power
ful, affection too prevalent.—Suffer me therefore
to conclude with the following quotation from the
inimitable Thompson, who thus to the seasons
compares human life :
'Tis done, dread Winter spreads his latest
glooms,
And reigns tremendous o'er the conquer'd year.
How dull the vegitable kingdom lies !
How dumb the tuneful ! Horror wide extends
Her desolate domain. Behold, fond man,
See here thy pictur'd life; pass some few years
Thy flow'ring Spring, thy Summer's ardent
strength,
Thy sober Autumn fading into age,
And pale concluding Winter comes at last,
And (huts the feene. K.
^^H^^-O^^^§§^§^
BOSTO N, Dec. 27.
Messrs. Richard Clark and Sons, Benjamin
Fantieil, and Thomas and Elisha Hutchinson, the
perlons in Boston to whom the East-India Compa
ny's tea came consigned, instead of resenting the
affront offered to their characters (by the suppo
sition that they would accept a commission to be
come instruments in the hands of arbitrary power
to destroy the libei ties of their country) and re
jecting the odious commission with the disdain it
deferred, and must have met with from a real
friend to his country, appeared to be so bent to
aft upon it, conformably to the views of those
from whom it came, that rather than give it up,
they chose to encounter the resentment of their
country, and of every friend to freedom and the
English constitution in the American colonies, in
Great-Britain, and all its dominions. They pre
sented a petition to the Governor and Council,
fitting forth, that the EaR India Company having
consigned them a quantity of tea [which they not
being willing to refufe] some of them had been
cruelly insulted, and threatened with deftrudion
both to their persons and property, that their
houses had been attacked and much damaged in
the night by a multitude, that the tea, on its ar
rival, was threatened with deftruCtion, &c. there
fore the petitioners desired leave to resign them
selves, their property, and the tea, to the care
and protection of the Governor and Council ; and
that measures might be t tken, on the arrival of the
tea, that it might be landed and secured, till they
could openly and fafely dispose of it, or receive
further directions from their constituents.
On this petition, the Governor, as heartily dis
posed as the Minißry could wish, to enslave his
country, called a Council, which met on the 19th
of November, when the petition and the uneasi
ness of the people being laid before them, and
some time spent thereon, the Council, for further
consideration, adjourned successively to the 2 3d,
the 27th, and the 29th of the fame month, when
there being a full Council, they again took the I
petition into consideration, but previously made
some observations relative to the fubje&of it.
They observed that great unhappihefs had been
cccafioned for some years past, by a dispute bet
ween Great Britain and her colonies, concerning
their refpedive rights. That Great-Britain
had claimed a right to tax the colonies without
their own consent, which right they always stre
nuously denied, and had, though in vain, repeat
edly petitioned and remonstrated against it, avert
ing an exclusive, inherent, and unalienable right
to tax themselves, without which they should be
absolutely slaves. That the late measure offending
to the colonies tea, charged by the British Parlia
ment with a duty payable on importation, was
manifeftly contrived, not only to enforce the un
just and unconstitutional aft of parliament for tax
ing the Americans, which claim being once ad
mitted to operate, would; of course, be extended
to all other articles, and the rate heightened at
pleasure, but would tend to establish among them
a ruinous and hateful monopoly. That the
people were made farther ureafy by reports and
apprehensions, that the money thus unjustly at
tempted to be extorted fr®m them, is intended to
be applied to the establishment of judges and an
administration ofjuftice, independent ofthemfelves,
though paid with their own money, and under a
bias to favour and increase their oppreflion. That
the people finding these efforts to enslave them,
and all their petitions for redress rejected, their
uneasiness is increased almost to defparation, and
is not confined to Boston, but common to the co
lony and all America. Therefore the board
thought it their indifpehfible duty, to mention the
above as the causes ofthe latedifturbances; which,
however, they do not juftify, but have advised a
prosecution against the authors of them.
This representation the board thought necessary
to be made prior to their taking notice of the pe
tition, of the agents above-mentioned, to the con
sideration of which they then proceeded, viz.
“ The petitioners beg leave to resign themselves,
and the property committed to their care, to his
Excellency and the board, as guardians arid pro
testors of the people, praying that measures may
be directed to, for the landing and securing the
tea, &c."
With regard to the personal protection of the
petitioners, the board have not been informed,
that they have applied for it to any of the justices
of the peace, within whose department it is to
take cognizance of the case of the petitioners, and
all other breaches of the peace, they being vested
by law with all the authority necessary for the
protection of his Majesty's fubjecis- In the prin
cipal instance of abuse, 'of which they complain,
the board have already advised, that the authors
of it fliould be prosecuted acccording to law ; and
they do advise the fame, in the other inßances
mentioned in their petition.
With regard to the tea, committed to the care
of the petitioners, the board have no authority to
take either that, or any other merchandize out of
their care; and should they do it, or give any or
der, or advice concerning it, and a loss ensue, they
apprehend they should make themselves responsible
for it. With refped to the prayer of the petition,
“ that measures may be directed to for the landing
and securing the tea," the board would observe on
it, that the duty on the tea becomes payable, and
must be paid, or secured to be paid on its being
landed. And should they direct, or advise to any
measure for landingit, they would of course, ad
vise to a measure for procuring the payment of the
duty, and therefore be advising to a measure in
consistent, with the declared sentiments of both
houses, in the last winter session of the general
court; which they apprehend to be altogether in
expedient and improper,
The board, however, on this occasion assure
your Excellendy, that as they have seen with re
gret some late disturbances, and have advised to
the prosecuting the authors of them, so they will
in all legal methods endeavour to the utmost of
their power, to prevent them in future.
Whereupon advised that his Excellency renew
his orders to his Majesty's Justices of the Peace,
Sheriffs and other Officers, to exert themselves to
the utmost, for the security of his Majesty's fub
je&s, the preservation of peace and good order,
and for preventing all offences against the laws.
His Excellency thereupon demanded of the
Council whether they would give him no advice
upon the disorders then prevailing in the town of
Boston, and it was answered, in general, that
the advice already given was intended for that
purpose.
n't a Council held the 2 IJI December, 1773.
HIS Excellency acquainted the Council that
the reason he had summoned them to meet
at this time was, that he might have their advice
relating to the high handed riot on the evening of
the 16th instant, between the hours of 6 and 9
o'clock, committed by persons disguised and un
known, on board 3 vessels lately arrived from Lon
don, then lying at a wharf in the southerly part
of the town of Boston, known by the name of
Griffin's wharf, After long debate it was
Advised, That the Attorney General be direded
to make diligent enquiry into the offence aforefaid,
in order to dilcover the offenders, and that he lay
his discoveries before the Grand Jury for his Ma
jesty's Superior Court of Judicature, &c. for the
county of Suffolk, at their next term, in order for
prosecution.
A great number of the towns in the government
of the Massachusetts Bay, have had legal meet
ings, to determine upon measures to prevent the
importation apd sale of the India Company's tea.
Among these, the towns of Plymouth and Ports
mouth, agreed to, and passed several very spirited
resolutions, for the security of their rights and
liberties.
A week after the proceedings at Plymouth, at
another meeting it was mentioned that some of
the people were diflatisfied with the proceedings
of the former meeting, and desired the votes then
palled, to be reconsidered- This being propo
sed, passed in the negative by 32 against 20. It
was then proposed that a protest against the former
proceedings flioyld be read; this also paTed in the
negative.
The diffatisfied party have published their pro
test, [tending to defeat the measures of their coun
trymen, and promote the designs of the Minißry]
This protest is signed by 40 persons, one of whom
has published a recantation, declaring he was over
persuaded to sign the protest, and now is convinced,
and repents of his error.
Dec. 30. At a meeting of the freeholders and
other inhabitants, qualified by law to vote, of the
town of Lynn, duly and legally assembled on the
16th day of December, 1773, among other spirited
resolves, palled unanituoufly, was the following,viz.
“ Resolved, that those Consignees have ihewn
a ready disposition to become the tools of a vile
and corrupt Ministry, supported by a venal and
tyrannical Parliament, to oppress and enslave their
native country, and come under the fame class of
infamous creatures, with the Governors, the Com
missioners and their dependants, that of enemies
and traitors to their country: have manifefted
the stupidity to facrifice Liberty to avarice, and
the wickedness; when occasion ihall serve, to riot
on the spoils of their brethren ; and have forfeit
ed their right to personal protection and fecurity.''
From the MASSACHUSETS SPY.
Mr. THOMA S,
BEING a native of the town of Plymouth,
and having many connections there, I have
upon all occasions been felicitous for its honour. I
have ever esteemed the inhabitants of that town al
most universally, as men who place the lone of their
country among the firft of their moral virtues; and
as such are ever ready to exhibit to the world the
practice of that virtue in promoting the fafety, hap
pinels and reputation of the community in which
they are born; and in fupportiug the constitution
under which they live. Such being my sentiments
of the Plymouthians, conceive, Sir, if you can,
what was my joy and secret fatisfa&ion, when at a
late meeting of the people of Boston, the patriotic
resolves of that town were read and applauded by
the universal eclat of the assembly; it was too great
to be ex prefled: 1 thought myfelf on this occasion
honoured ; but upon being informed a few days af
ter, " That there was a protest entered against those
resolves fubferibed by forty referable inhabitants,"
I confels it lomeuhat damped my joy ; being there
fore desirous to know who tbefe refyeaable inhabi
tants were, I appealed to Draper's Gazette, and
upon reading over the names I could scarcely refrain
from laughter. In Ihort, refpeflable as these inha
bitants were, I was 1b far from being fearful of the
loss of the town's honour, that I was convinced
there could be no better evidence of its existence. I
found fix or seven of the firft names in the second
column to be the foul of all the rest ; and when the
public are informed, that those few are composed
of a Colonel, (a relation to his Excellency) a "Judge,
Clerks of Courts find Barriflers at Lane, they can
easily determine by what motives they were influ
enced. One half of the others are so extremely poor,
that their qualifications for the election of a repre
sentative, (ifthey attempted to vote) would be un
doubtedly disputed: I mean net to impute poverty
to them as a crime, but to account for the strange
ness of their conduct upon this principle, that the
neceflity of their circumstances required their com
pliance with the demands of those, on whom they
are dependent for their daily lubfiftence. These
mufl sign the protest, orfarve. The other half is
made up of boys, and men of weak understandings,
whs, like Esau of old, not knowing the value es
their birthrights, were easily prevailed upon to fell
them for a mess of pottage.
This being a just representation of the persons,
sure I am, that their protest will not leave a fngle
impression on the mind of any honest individual,
unfavourable to the town of Plymouth: But that
it will be considered as it is, the impotent attempt
of a few to render ineffectual the laudable exertions
and virtuous zeal of the inhabitants ofthat town.
The puff of a little party of men, who, by toying
with children, bribing theheceffitous and pampering
the ignorant, have endeavoured to render them
selves conliderable, to represent the opposition to
the present minißerial or Hutchinfonian manoeuvre
as chimerical and vain, and to suppress those exerti
ons of the people, which are the best proofs of their
virtue and religion. I trust their enterprize wilt
be as unfuccefsful, as their intentions are wicked.
And I know not whether it would be more to the
honour of their fellow townsmen to punilh them,
for their political fins, after the modern form, than
to leave them, with dumb contempt, to the indig
nation of heaven, and the remorse of their own
confeiencits. AN OLD COLONIST.
NEW-YORK, Jan. 3.
The General Assembly of this province meets
here on Thursday next, in order to proceed on
business.
The fire (mentioned in our last) firft appeared in
the Council Chamber, but by what means it was
kindled remains*as yet undifeovered.
His Excellency's lots on the occasion, must be
very great, for besides a rich and costly set of fur
niture, he has loft all his public and private papers,
plate, cash, &c. &c. with a valuable set of jewels
belonging to his Lady.
Col. Fanning has also been a great fufferer, but
has been happy enough to lave the papers belong
ing to the Surragate office.
We have the pleasure to inform the publick
that his Excellency, Lady and daughter are well,
and that the only life loft on the occasion was that
of a servant girl named Elizabeth Garret, about
16 years old, who perished in the flames.
The great seal of the province was raked out of
the ruins on the evening of the 31R of December,
without being the least defaced.
The day after the the above fire his Excellency
our Governor sent the following letter to the Wot
flripful Whitehead Hicks, Esq; Mayor of this city.
few-York, geth Dec. 1773.
SIR,
“ Deeply impressed as lam with a grateful sense
" of the flrenuous endeavors of the citizens to
« extinguish the raging fire which happened at
“ Fort-George last night, and greatly threatened
“ the fafety of the whole city, I find myfelf irre
“ fiftably impelled to request you to communicate
“ to them my cordial and affectionate thanks, for
“ the skill and activity with which all ranks exerted
0 themselves on the alarming occasion.
I am, Sir,
Your very obedient humble Servant,
'Wm. TRIO N.
“ The WorfhipfulWhitehead Hicks, Esquire,
Mayor of the city of New-York."