The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-03-17 00:00:00, page 2

teftor or invader ofali remote poffeilidri^; while king
doms, to which in point of territory, file was but as a
drop of water to the ocean, felt themselves humbled
by such pre-eminence. A monarchy more dangerous,
than what Charles-V- and Lewis XIV. were accuft dos
projecting, was now feriowfly to be dreaded. The
intular situation of Great - Britain; put every thing in
her power, France, accessible by land, could be over
run by a combination of the neighbouring Bates, but,
England, could alone be approached by what fire wa§
defended.
It was now more than ever the real Bate of Great-
Britain was investigated. Her own writers hid given'
the clue to foreign politicians. Her Strength was cal re
lated ; her trade afeertained ; and her wealth and po
pulation comprehended. The result was favorable to
America, while it unfolded to foreign nations the pro
per line to pursue.
In the thanks returned by the English house of lords
to their king, upon his communicating the prelimi
nary articles of peace, ratified in 1762, they mention
“ the great obje& of the war so fully answered. A
vast extent of empire added to the Britifn crown—
and, new sources opened for tie trade and manufac
lures of the nation." But, notwithstanding all this,
other and further sources of wealth and revenue were
become necessary to save her power from diminution.
Upon fuming up her accounts, at the close of this
war, she found herfelf in debt about one hundred and
forty millions. If her conquests and commerce had
enriched her, and if her riches had encreafed her pow
er, this power was a perpetual drain to her riches,
and e^ch day called for a frefh accession for its sup
port. War may be defined an effort to keep what we
have, or to acquire something we want. The power
of Great-Britain was imm^nfe; and, in her eyes, its
maintenance a national duty. It is more than con
jeXure, that the Shining metals of Mexico, Peru, and
Fotofi, had long fascinated her ministry, apd were
mow looked upon for this purpose. We know of no.
thing that could have prevented this, had her arrira
ment Succeeded against these States. Formidable be
fore, it would have been irrefiftable ; where, not only
Spanish America, but the Weft India Islands mutt
have submitted to her dominion. She said," we will
firfl reduce our colonies. From them it is but a hep
to Spanish America and the Weft-Indies. When these
are added to our dominion , we will fend a few vessels
to the Brazils to receive their submission, give them a
vice-roy, and brin^ home a cargo of diamonds. Af
ter,this, we will fit down and talk of what may be
done in other quarters of the globe."
It was evident to Europe, that tlre indufiry of the
colonies comprehended in itfelf, and its consequences,
nearly one half of the trade of Great Britain.t If
this could be regained and confirmed by conquefl,
Europe had every thing to fear. But if so immense a
monopoly was laid opon to all the world, Endand
would be reduced to a proper level, and the peate of
mankind established on a more permanent foundation.
In fine, every maritime nation perceived, and was
sensible, that Great-Britain had usurped a right to the
fea,l which nature had designed Should be common
and unappropriated. Nor could any truth be more evi
dent, than that our reduction would render her em
pire universal, and their dependence complete. It
was now the contest appeared to them, no longer con
fined to America, but directed against them all. From
this moment, the presiding spirit of courts began to
work ; the perhaps fanciful balance of power to change ;
and the cause of these Bates to be interwoven with
the councils of Europe.
The relative position of some of the possessions of
France to these States, seemed to point her out as our
mod natural ally. It was in her vast resources for a
navy, we beheld a Shelter from that of Great-Bri
tain. In. her wealth and connexions, a supply of mo
ney should we stand in need of a loan. In her large
army a Succour, should the enemy overpower us with
numbers. In her manufactures clothing for our troops.
In her magazines all the ammunitions and apparatus
for war. On the other-hand, she was the nation mod
immediately concerned in our fate. It was in our
success she contemplated her revenge for the misfor
tunes of the last war. Incur independence a new Se
curity to her islands. And in our alliance, an exten
sion .to her commerce, and of course an encreafe of
wealth and maritime greatness.
Thus from weak we became firong ; from depend
ent colonies, independent States : from a people with
out friends, the ally of one of the fir ft powers upon
earth.'
I cannot leave this fubjeX, without making a few
observations upon our treaty with France. If we ex
amine this by its principles, we shall not find, perhaps,
in the history of mankind, a nobler exception to the
felfifhnefs of kings. Had France copied the policy of
England, she would have eflablifhed articles, that for
years might have filled her treasury with our wealth.
When Russia begin to appear in the world, England
f The commerce we now carry on with our said
American Plantations is so vast, as prdbably, already
to equal in quantity, and to exceed in profit all the
other commerce we have with the red of the wor d.
Introduction to Anderson's commercial hid.
% In the preamble to aßritith act of parliament,
(1665) granting a royal aid to carry on the war
against Holland ^ its purpose is exprefly declared '' to'
equip and set out to sea a royal navy, for the pre
servation of his majesty's antient and undoubt cl So
vereignty and dominion in the seas." This idea of domi
nion and sovereignty passed even into their treaties.
We* find it Stipulated in that of 1654, between England
and Holland, '' that the ships of the United Provinces,
as well those fitted for war as others, which should
meet in the British seas any the ships, of war of Eng
land, fliould flrike their flag, and lower their top-fail."
The fame submission to the English flag is contracted
for in the treaty made at WeflminEer in the year 1662.
In that of Breda in 1667 ; and in the treaty of 1673,
there is an extension of the Britdh authority, to the
seas, between cape Finiflerre, and the middle point of
the land Van Staten, in Norway.
founded upon her ignorance and inexperience, a trea
ty of exclusive privileges for her traders. Portu
gal received some fuccours from England, for which,
by fir John Metheun's treaty, the has ever since paid
a large annual subsidy in the way of trade. This
is the practice of England. France, disdaining then
war, which we could not have procured in any other
quarter. Individuals from thw country, were receiv
ed every where as brothers, an I treated with all pos
sible regard and politene s. So much did the nation
incline towards us, that no authority could reflriin
the populace from aihfiing our Sailors, whenever th te
happened any riots between them and the English.
Before our alliance .took place, it had become the ge
neral cli-fire of the people. The ladies, who govern
the hearts of men, were among its firft advocates. I
do not mention the early and a&jve part of one of her
noblemen. It has perhaps no parallel in modern times
for dilintereflnednefs ~nd magnanimity. I do not men
tion the dangers and expences of her officers to join
our army. I omit a number of other circumstances
from onfidera tions of policy. It is enough to know,
that, “ when we forget the obligations we ow to this
people, we shall in< ur the character of ingrates."
] would suppose any application Superfluous. We
fee by what links we dand connected with the nations
®f Europe. Why all of them are our friends, and
one our ally. We will make but a single conclusion:
If we fall it muff be by our own folly.get us then close
this part or our lubje&. Let us leave to history what
it hAs not been permitted us to reveal. Her eye can pe
netrate the cabinets of princes. She wll combine and
disclose the train of causes that made the people of
al. countries citizens of America. She will teach kings,
that to oppress their fubjefl, is to ruin themselves.
She will designate the labourers in a revolution, cal u
lated to promote the felicity of mankind. She will
drop a tear over such as have fallen, and “ are Glut
up in their graves for ever." She -t] rend the veil
from falfe patriotism. To each she will assign his pro
per portion of applause, and fuffer no one to swallow
up the whole. Loen shall America be one of the firfl
empires on the gl be ; then shall the fame, not found
ed on merit, be no more, or be fee'n only as a monu
mental record of public delusion. Let this confo e |
the meek, hut deserving, while it lowers the pride of
the afluming, or the specious vanity of such as would
arrogate to themselves, a chain of events, beyond the
production - of human combinations!
Philadelphia, March 17.
Since our last arrived here the ship Flora, captain
Brevier, and brig Marquis de la Fayette, captain
Davifon, from Port au Prince. Also, a prize brig, the
Hope, Miles Lewis late commander, with 6000 bushels
of oats, from New-York bound to Charleftown : she
was taken by the letter of marque Ship Delaware, cap
tain Proal, of this port.
B) authentic intelligence from the Southward as late
as the 2d of March we are informed, that lord Corn
wallis on his retreat erected the British ftapdard at
Hillfborough: that a number of dilaffeXed, under the
command of a colonel Files, were resorting to it, when
they were intercepted by general Pickens and lieut. col.
Lee, and that their commanding officer was among the
slain. tha. lord Cornwallis, after deflroyjng every thing
he could at Hillfhorough, moved down the Haw river °:-
that general Greene was within fix miles of him, and
that our superiority in cavalry prevented the enemy
from moving with rapidity or foraging. That the mi
litia of the southern Gates were affembiing in confidera
b/e force and with great spirit.
Extract of a letter, dated head-quarters. High Rock
Ford, on Haw River, February 28, 1781.
Lord Cornwallis evacuated Hillfborough on the
26th, moved on the road towards Guilford court
house, and crossed the Haw River at Tralinger's /ord
twenty miles below this place last night.'
Our detachments have been fuccefsful in several
attempts upon the enemy's pickets, having killed and
wounded about 30, and made 20 prifonrrs, without
any l o ss. General Pickens, with a body of mounted
riflemen, and heutenant colonel Lee, with the cavalry
of his legion, were detached to endeavour to harhafs
the enemy, and being informed, taat lieutenant colo
nel Tar eton had passed the Haw river, near general
Buttler s plantation, they immediately went in pur
suit of him, but unfortunately came up with a body
of upwards of 200 of colonel Hambleton's corps and
the Nortn-Carolina tories, three miles in his rear, who
were to have joined him that evening: the general at
temped to pass by them, as a detachment of the
British army, which the legion succeeded in- but
When the mihtia came up, the enemy ddcovered'thei;
minake, which obliged our troops to charge them in
doing which, some of the militia could not be ^re
yented from firing, which alarmel colonel Tarleton
ana gave him an opportunity to escape. The whole
or the enemy were routed in a few minutes, and the
greater part of them left dead on the field. Colonel
ties and several officers were among the number."
rer .u fr( ^ a Ne ™ Y ° rk P a P er > March 10, 1781.
, By the Nanny, Boyd, arrived at Charles town in
A° m ^'.,tts, advice was brought, that Ad
mir. Rodney had lent an officer to St. Euftatia de
""" a " ™F a A nd veflels and persons adhering
^nd belonging to the American rebels, should be im'
mediately delivered up tohim ; but the governor not
precedents, asks no priviledge for which flie does
not grant an equivalent. She does not compel us to
take from her market, what we can have cheaper from
another. She dotsnot flipulate that wo shall carry to
her ports, what we can fell to greater advantage else
where. Sheimpofes no restraints on cur navigation.
She leaves her manufactures to be Supported by their
quality and cheapness, and her ally to form connexi
ons at pleasure, with.the red of the world-
But amid ft rhe motives of policy which, led to our
alliance, how pleasing is it, ter find in the conduct and
genius of the people of France, much matter for our
gratitude, and solid cause for the moll permanet union.
While in o^r infancy the French merchants riSqu^d
their fortunes to furm'fh us with rwfe materi da for the
On Wednffday, the Bth ult. at Chefler Town, Ma
ryland, Mrs. RACHEL COUDON, the wife of M*-.
Joseph Coudon of that place, closed her eyes in death,
leaving an affectionate husband And two difconfol'ate
little girls, “ to mourn departed joys." On the Fri
day following, her remains, attended by a numerous
a^d refpeXable train of sincerely Sympathizing friends,
were interred in the burying ground of Chefler parish
church ; when a most excellent difeourfe, suited to the'
Solemn occasion, was' # delivered by the reverend doctor
Smith, from 2d Tim. 4 th, 7th, and Bth.
Of her it m^y be jufliy Lid, she died as univerfall,
lamented as she l:vd Adeemed by all who had the hap
piiufs of her acquaintance. \She was equalled by few,
exceeded perhaps by none, in the Social, relative and
domeflic duties of hfe : but her greater ornament, and
that winch proved her best Support when all earthly
props failed, was her Heady unaffected piety to her
GCl>.
This was obvious to all, but best known to her bo
fc>m triends. And of this ihe gave fatSsfaXory evidence
shortly before the fluttering tongue ceased its motion^
and the immortal spirit took its flight to the regions of
eternal day.
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA-
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Friday, March 16th, 1781.
Ordered, That the bill, intitled “ A further Supple
ment to the AX intitled '' an aXfor making the
river Schuylkill navigable, and for the preservation
of the fifh in the said river," be printed for public
confioeration. Extrafl from the minutes,
SAMUEL sterett, clerk.
A further SUPPLEMENT to the AX, intitled,
" An AX, for making the river Schuylkill naviga
ble, and for the preservation of the fifh in the said
river."
V§, "'’''" federal of the commissioners nomina
* te d and appointed in and by the aX of assembly,
passed on the twenty-fxth day of February, in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven buodr I fevent,
add three, intitled, a Supplement to the aX, intitled,
" an aX, for making the river Schylkill navigable, and
for the preservation of the fifh in the fail river, have,
since the pafh^ -I the fame, departed this life, remo,
v<d from the,n e tg ' bournodd of the said river, or enga
£?, '" 9'her hunneb, so that the regulation* and pro
viffons in the said AX contained, to which this AX is
a further Supplement, cannot now be properly carried
into execution: Be it therefore enacted, and it is here
by enaTed, by the representatives of the freemen of
the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in general assem
bly met, and by the authority of the fame, that David
Rittenhome, Owen Biddle, Mark Bird, BalSer Gheer,
Thomas Potts, David Thomas, Patrick Anderson,
John Mear, Isaac Hewes, Nathan Levering, George
Douglass, John Beefier and Christian Steer, shall be,
and they are hereby appointed commissioners for clear
ing, flouring and making the river Schuylkill naviga
ble, and for putting in execution all And Singular the
purposes mentioned in the aft, passed the fourteenth
day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand
seven hundred sixty and one, entitled, “' An AX for
making the river Schuylkiil navigable, and for the
preservation of the fi sh ' in the said river," or contain
ed in the above recited supplement thereto ; and that
they, or a majority of them, or of the survivors of
tnem, shall have hold and exercise all and every the
powers, authorities, jurifdiXiuns, rights and privi
leges, given and granted in and by the said recited
a " '°,{^ e comnr&oners therein appointed, and shall
be ftrojeX to tne fame duties to all intents and pur
poses, as if they had been the com miLoners therein
particularly appointed.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid,
Phat she forgiving commissioners, appointed by the
said recited a ' entitled, “ A Supplement to the AX,
entitled, An AX for making the river Schuylkill na
vigable, and for the preservation of the fifh in the
said river, ffiall, and they are hereby enjoined and
required, immediately after the paring of thi^ AX,
to deliver over to the commissioners herein , before ap
pointed, all and every the sum and fums' of money
by the % or either of them,. colleXed or received, and
remaining in their, or either of their hands unappro
priated and unapplied to the purposes mentioned in
the said recited AX, together with all books, sub-
Icriptions, and other papers, vouchers and accounts,
a^d all tools and implements, which have been pro
vioed for open ng and clearing the, said river, and are
or shall be in their, or any of their custody, power,
or poffeflion.
And whereas T is represented to she legislature, that,
notwithstanding the good and wholesome regulations
contained in divers AXs of Assembly now in force,
for the preservation of fifh in the said river Schuyl
kill, great injury is done by a pr Xice of driving the
said river with brufh-nerts ; . for remedy' whereof, be
it further enaXed by the authority afor^faid, That if
any person or persons shall, from and after the pub
lication of this AX, take any fifh whatsoever with
brush netts, er such like device, or shall drive the
said river with such netts, or in any manner make use
of the fame therein, he, she, or they, so Qffen ling,
being thereof conviXed before any justice of the
peace, in and for the county, w.h're he, she, or they
shall be apprehended, (which juftice.is hereby aut^,
ized and impowered to hear, try, and determine the
fame,) shall, forfeit for every such offence t ^ sum of
twenty pounds, to be paid to the overseers of the
poor of the township, where such offender shall re
side, for the use of th- poor thereof, and likewise pay
the cofis of prosecution. And moreover it shall and
may be lawful to and for any rarfou or period what
soever, to remove ordefroy ^ny such brush nett,' or
other like device found in any part of the said river;
returning a fatisfaXorf answer, a part of Sir George's
fleet entered the harbour, and carried off all the feameu
and privates under that description.---This is the heft
detail we have yet been able to obtain of that event."
Last Wednesday two very large and fat OXEN wer?
drove thro' this cite. One of them h^s been since killed,
and is now offered for sale at flail No. 59. The other
(yet alive) may b seen at Mr McCutcheon's, in South
wark.