The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-03-27 00:00:00, page 3

in GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Pennsylvania
Wednesday, March 24th, 1779.
The bill intitled, " A further supplement to the aft, in
titled, An alt for fettling the accounts of the late Com
mittee and Council of Safety ;" was read the second time,
and being again read and debated by paragraphs, was or
dered to be transcribed for a third reading, and printed
in the mean time for public consideration.
Extras from the minutes,
JOHN MORRI S„ Junior,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
fl farther SUPPLEMENT to the aft, entitled, An
aßfo- fettling the accounts of the late Committee and
Council of Safety.
WHEREAS it is of the utmost importance that
the public accounts be fettled with all possible ex
pedition: AND WHEREAS, from the representation, of
the Auditors, appointed by the laid fupplemeat for that
purpose, to this House, it appears necessary to extend the
powers of the said Auditors, so as to give them authority
to fettle the accounts of the Navy Board and Board of
War of this ft ate.
Be it therefore enabled, and it is hereby enabled by the Re
ferefentatives ofthe Freemen of the Commonwealth of Penn
sylvania, in General Afembl, met, and by the authority of
"(he fame, That the fail John Nixon, John M; Nefbitt,
and Benjamin Fuller, Esquires, be and they hereby are
nominated and appointed Auditors, for the purpose of
fettling the accounts of the State Navy Board and Board
of War; And they are hereby invested with tne fame
power and authorities for the settlement of tbofe accounts,
as are given to them by the said ads for fettling and ad
justing the accounts of the late Committee and Council of
Safety of this state.
To Ma. D E A N E.
SIR,
TH E Committee of Congress, which have been fitting
near a quarter of a year on your affairs, have at lafl
brought in their report. What that report is, is a secret to me.
You firft made your appeal to the public on the fifth of
December, and promised them a history of “ matters im
portant for them to know," (those are the words of your
address) yet in a few days after you defarted them, and
left them to find those matters out.
Where you left the public I took them up, and the ge
neral belief now is, that the matters so important jor them
to know are found out without your afliftance, namely,
that you negotiated a peered pre-ent amounting to two hun
dredthoxfand pounds fleriing into a purchase, and embezzled,
or was privy to the embezzling, the public difpatcbes to pro
mote the impoftion; and that you may have no pretence
hereafter to fay, that you were slanderously fufpeHed,
without any person undertaking to prove the circumflan
ces on which the suspicions were founded, I hereby give
you this notice, before your affairs be finally determined
oh in Congress, that if you will appeal to that Honourable
House in behalf of your own futtering character, and to
clear up the suspicions you lay under from my publicati
ons, that I wil 1 obey any order, and meet you at the bar
of that House, and submit to any examination from them
®r you on the points in question, provided the doors be onen.
But if this condition fliould be thought too much, I am
contented to yield up something to supposed convenience,
and will on my own part rest fatisfied, that the President
and Council of this state, and Members of Assembly, if
they please, be present, with such Members of any other
state who may be on the spot.
COMMON SENSE.
Market-fl reet; Philadelphia, March 26, 1779.
IT has long been expected that the trimmers, and such
of the enemies of our country as find themselves under a
necessity of remaining among us, would endeavour to re
gain or acquire the confidence of the good people of this
country ; but it was not expended that this would have
been attempted very hastily : However, as Dodor Smith
has ventured to take the lead in this measure, the follow
ing depositions are published as a full answer to his letters
to the President of the state, and a proof of his real and
undtfguifed sentiments —and there is reason to hope, that
every man of like principles will be exposed whenever they
mail attempt to impose themselves on an injured and in
sulted country. T. G.
Pennfylvahia, ff.
BEFORE me, Plunket Fleefon, Esq; ene of the Ju
stices of the Peace, &c. comes Peter Cress, of the
city of Philadelphia, saddler and harness-maker, and be
ing duly sworn, depofeth and faith, That, on the day on
which the attack was made by the Vigilant on the forti
fication at Mud Island, Dr. William Smith, Pfovoft of
the College of Philadelphia, with a number of ether peo
ple of the city of Philadelphia, was on the banks near the
mouth of the river Schuylkill, viewing the attack with a
large spy-glass or telescope—That after the tiring from the
round-tops of the Vigilant began and was returned from
the Fort, he, the said Peter Cress, was landing behind
and very near the said Dr. Smith, and heard him, the said
Doctor Smith, fay, that ts they, the men in the Fort
meaning, do not surrender, they ought every man of them
to be put to the sword, or words to this effect —And fur
ther this deponent faith not. his
PETER t CRESS,
mark.
Sworn before me, at Phi- 7
ladelphia, this 20th day [ PLUNKET FLEESON.
of March, A.D. 1779. 3
Pennsylvania, ff.
BEFORE me, Plunket Fleefon, Esq; one of the Ju
stices of the Peace, &c. comes John Parker, of the
aty of Philadelphia, bricklayer, and beirag duly sworn,
depofeth and faith, That, on the evening of the day on
which the attack was made by the Vigilant on the Fort
at Mud-Tfland, being in conversation with Peter Cress, of
the said city, saddler and harness-maker, he, the said Pe
ter Cress, told him, the deponent, that having been down
on the bank near the mouth of Schuylkill, he there ' saw
Doctor William Smith, and that he the said Peter Cress,
heard the said DoHor Smith fay, that if the people in the
Port did not surrender, they ought to be every man of them
put to the sword. — And further this deponent faith not.
JOHN PARKER.
Sworn before me at Phila- ,
delphia, this 20th day ofl PLUNKET FLEESON.
March, A. D. 177, J
To the P ÜBLI C.
to THE rustic
HAVING been favored with a copy of the foregoing
affidavits before they went to the press, by Mr. Se
cretary Matlack, at whole house or office they were drawn
up; I have an opportunity to aftura the candid public,
Upon my solemn truth, that the sentiment ascribed to me
in the latter part of Peter Crefs's affidavit never entered
into my heart. He must, therefore, have miflaken the
words he attributes to me, which may eafly be supposed,
as he fays he " was Handing behind me," and is besides
but very little acquainted with the English language. Six
teen months have since elapsed ; and he cohld not, the day
his affidavit is dated, tell the exaft words it contained,
when I waited upon him with a gentleman of reputation,
to ask what the words were. He fays also, that a number
of " other people of the city of Philadelphia were pre?
sent," and yet could not tell us the name of any one of
them, nor to whom I addressed myfelf, nor could he re
member the word telescope which is in the affidavit, but
called it a glass as big (or pig) as bis leg,
For these reafohs (without any reflexion on the man,
t ough it may be feme reflection on his prompters) it cannot
be presumed that for sixteen months be cod'd remember
the identiai words spoken, even if he were a better judge
of the force and propriety of words than he is. And yet
the change of a Single word, viz. " they tyll every man,"
instead of " they ought every man," would make it a ve
ry humane and ebrifian sentiment, as well as more con
formable to what multitudes of good men, with whom 1
generally converse (some of whom were present the whole
of the time alluded to) will declare to have been my inva
riable expressions, should it be thought of any further
consequence to desire their testimony in such a matter.
The truth is, that neither myfelf, nor any of the gen
tlemen who w^re with me till I returned home, and dur
ing the whole time the telescope was made use of, can re
member any conversation of the kind feaforth in the affi
davit, and I have asked as many of them as I have been
able to meet with, I went out that day at the fequeft of
some of my former pupils, who wished the use of the te
lescope, and which I did not chufe to entrust out of my
own care. Some hundreds of people were near the gla^
during my flay on the bank of Delaware, about a mile
above the mouth of Schuylkill. We were all citizens, and
a great diflance from the reach of the cannon and British
army. The company was ,m;and I believe no one who
knows me will think me such an ideot as to have used ex
pressions on that occasion so different from what those who
have converted with me most intimately can declare to
have been my constant expressions. They are too repug
nant to humanity to have been used by me on any occasi
on. It is probable, that when accounts were circulated
that preparations were making to form the fort, appre
hensions might be expressed, that in such case the garrifori
would be put to the sword. It was a natural apprehen
sion on such an occasion ; but whether expressed by me or
any other person then present, I have not yet been able
to learn. What public benefit gentlemen may propose by
ex parte affidavits < f this kind (taken after such a lap(e of
time) or what weight they may have, the world will deter
mine. What further relates to the history of these affida
vits, may be laid before the public at a future time.
WILLIAM SMITH.
Last Monday morning a snow and a transport Blip were
case away upon Brigantine Beach. The snow is called
the Molly, belonging to Boston, Captain's name not
known, and was bound from Baltimore to Amsterdam,
but was taken about twenty-five leagues to the northward
of Cape Charles, by the Delaware, a British frigate, when
Mr. Douglass, Midfllipman, was sent prize mailer, with
fix seamen, who took to the boat, and saved themfeives#
They were brought here prisoners this morning. The
Mate of the snow, who was the only person on board
belonging to the former crew, remains with her, in order
0 take care of her and the cargo; his name is said to be
Coop, or fo^ewhat like it.
The transport Blip is called the Mermaid, Captain's
name unknown, belonging to Whitehaven in England.
She was bound from Halifax to New-York, with High
landers and Hessians on board, many of whora were found
drowned upon the beach.
* # # The pieces signed "An Impartial Enquirer,"
and “ A Conftitutionalift," came too late for this paper,
but will be in our next.
Philadelphia, March 23.
WAS TAKEN on the seventeenth instant,
from a British deserter, supposed to be stolen, a
bay H OR S E, about fifteen hands high, with two white
feet, and blind of oneeye. Whoever has loft said horse
may have him again by applying t® the fubferiber, at
the New Ferry, proving property and paying charges,
otherwise he will be fold on the thirtieth instant to de
fray the expence of keeping.
WILLIAMSON TOLBERT.
N. B. The above-mentioned deserter made his escape
the night he was taken, i.
To the PUBLI C.
TH E extravagant prices at present demanded for
every article used in the Printing business, as well
as for necessaries of life, oblige the Publishers of the
Philadelphia News-papers to advance their prices also---
the tingle paper to Two Shillings and Six Pence, and
Two Shillings by the quantity. This advance may be
thought by some an extraordinary one, but cannot be
looked upon in that light by the man who duly confiders
the matter. By the necessaries of life alone, not the
luxuries, we with to regulate our prices ; and when
News-papers cease to bring a price in proportion to
Bread and Beef, we must quit printing them.
HALL and SELLERS.
THOMAS BRADFORD.
JOHN DUNLAP.
WAS FOUND lying below Chefnut street,
the 25th inst. (March) a REMNANT of
FINE LINEN. The owner proving property and
paying the charge of this advertisement, may have it
again by applying to the Printer. 1.
TO BE L E T,
CU NDRY lots of ground, adjoining the South-street
°of this city, conveniently situated for pastures. Also
fix acres and three-quarters of meadow ground on the
western fide of the road leading to Greenwich Point. For
terms apply to SAMUEL P 0 WEL.
Northern Liberties of Philadelphia, March
ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD,
CTOLEN<n the eighteenth infant, from the fub
' scriber, one cross-bar luteftring gown, one white
mudn ditto, one light chintz ditto, seven fhifts mark
ed E G, one light cotton gown, one striped cotton pet
ticoat, one sprigged lawn apron, one ditto muslin, one
ditto Pnen ; several ffiort gowns, two striped cotton, and
one purple and white ; one black figured gauze hand,
kerchief, one flowered mullin, one lawn with striped
border, one ditto with fcolloped edge, and sundry wo
mens caps. Vendue-matters and others are desired to
stop any of the above cloaths if offered for sale.
THOMAS GRESWOLD.
A KfBASSADO R,
MOVERS MARES this season at the fuhferibera
{j (table at the Bridge across the Middle-Ferry on
Schuylk 11, at Fifty Dollars the season, or Twentv-
Five Dollars the single le. p, and One Dollar, to
the groom, the money tQ be paid at the firft time of co
vering. He is a fine bay, rising four years old, fifteen
hands three inches high, has a beautiful star and snip;
black mane, tail and legs, is remarkably lengthy, bony
and Itrohg made, and is allowed by good judges that
have seen him to be the best horse ever bred in this State.
Those who incline to fend their mares to this horse, are
cefired to enter their names, and the number they ^ro
pctye fending, as he will be limited to fifty rriares; wheri
that number is fuhferibed for, no more will be taken.
Ambassador was get by the noted horse Lofty, im
ported from Great- Britain in the year 1773, his dam by
Northumberland, out of a three quarter blooded mare,
JOSEPH OGDEN.
TH E Members of the Philadelphia Con
tributiondrip for the Insurance of Houses front
lols by fire, are to men at the Court house on Monday
^e twelfth day cf April next, between the hours of Two
and Five in the afternoon, in order to choefe twelve
Directors and a Treasurer for the ensuing year, and to
confider of and determine several matters relative to the
institution, which will then be laid before them.
By order of the Directors,
Marches, 1779. CALEB CARMALT, Clerk.
LABOURERS wanted immediately, and
FO>d wages given. Apply to Nicholas Diehl;
or Christopher Graff, on Tinicum Island. 6t.
To be SOLD at Public Sale,
On Thuriday the fi ft day of April next; on Chefnut-hill
in Germantown Township, Philadelphia County,
AT W O story stone H OUSE, with a valuable or
chard of one acre possessed of the best apple and
pear trees: There is a stable and exceeding good well
belonging to said house. The title is iridifputable. At
tendance will be given by
MARTIN HAUSER.
CA M E to the plantation of the fubferiber^
in Tinicum townlhip, Bucks county, in the be
ginning of December last, a dark CO W, about four
years old. The owner is desired to prove his property,
pay charges and take her away, or file will be fold to
pay the cost against the firft day of May.
Feb. 26. JOHN PRAUL.
To be SOLD by the Subscriber,
Living in the Path Valley, Cumberland County,
A TRACT of LAN D containing three hundred
" and seventy-eight acres patented, with allowance
of fix per cent, for roads, &c. situate in said Path Val
ley; on which are ere&ed a good dwelling-house, 4
large barn, a well accustomed grist-mill and saw-mill
upon a never failing stream, a convenient still-house
together with sundry &her out houses: There are about
fifty acres clear on said traft, of which about fifteen are
good meadow, and will admit of forty more being made;
the whole convenient for watering. One other traft ad
joining the aforefaid, containing two hundred and thir
ty-seven acres patented, with allowance, &c. on which
are ere&ed a small-house and barn, about seventy acres
of arable land clear, about the one third of the whole
may be converted into meadow and watered. Both
tra&s convenient to a good range of wood pasture will
be fold together or apart as may best suit the purchaser
or purchasers. One other tra& in said Valley, adjoin
ing John Elliot, fen. containing two hundreJand eight,
acres patented; no improvement. And one other tra&
near Paul's Gap, in said Va'ley, containing three hun
dred acres ; no improvement#
¥ WILLIAM ELLIOTT.
Middle ferry on Scbnjlkil?, Marco 1,, MY$
The ELEGANT HORSE