The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-12-23 00:00:00, page 1

Newark, Dec. 20.
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,
In the town of Newark, Newcastle County, on Friday
the 31st instant,
A LOT of GROUND containing fix acres, with
a brick house thereon z 8 feet by 28, one story
high, four rooms on a floor wfch a fire-place in each
room, a cellar under the whole haufe, a l:rge frame
kitchen adjoining, an apple or hard, a paled garden, a
draw-well, &c. a lot of half an acre fit for building ;
both lots Situate in the centre of the town, on the north
fide of the Street: Also» meadow lot of two acres at said
town. Indisputable titles will be given for each lot.
Also will be fold on said day, a riding chair and har
ness, horses, cows, farming utensils, houfhold goods,
Indian corn and buckwheat by the bushel, whet and
rye in the ground. The vendue to begin at Ten o'clock
at the above mentioned house, where attendance will be
given and the terms made known by
ROBERT WILLCOX.
A QU ANTITY of excelled: Liverpool
BASKET SALT, also LOAF and LUMP
SUGAR, and CANDLES by the box,
TO BE SOLD BY
J A ME S HAY E S,
Next door to the Pest Office, in Market Street, Phila
delphia.
-^-777 jr—[J-— ————
WHEREAS I have built and compleated, at
my own co#, a Bridge 140 feet long, and a
Caufewry, at the Head of Chester, Kent County, Ma
ryland, which I find very expensive and difficult to keep
up : This is therefore to give notice, That I intend to
petition the General Assembly at their next fitting at
Annapolis, for an A& to enable me to receive Toil for
said Bridge and Caufew^y, to keep them in goo I repair.
JOSEPH BOUCHELL.
FIFTYTD L LARS REWARD.
STRAYED or STOLEN about four weeks
ago, from Penrcfc'a Island, a large roan HOR SE,
supposed to be branded, a natural pacer, between fix
and seven years old, his tail has been nicked and he car
ries it on one fide. Whoever brings the said ho.fe to
Jonathan Fenrose, in Southwark, Cull have the
above reward.
The HIGHEST PRICE
IS GIVEN FOR
CLEAN LINEN RAGS,
BY
JOHN DU NL A P.
JO LANK BOOKS ruled and plain,
Fine Writing Paper,
Dilworth's and Pennsylvania Spelling-Books in large or
Small quantities.
New England and Manson's Primers,
Seaman's Daily Assistant,
Large and Pocket Almanacks for 1780,
TO BE SOLD BY
JOSEPH CRUKSHANK,
PRINTER, in Market Street, between Second and
Third fc a?t„ opposite Elbow-Lane, who bus
LINEN RAGS.
Mount Greem?, Dec. 15.
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,
On Monday the 27th inst. at Elijah Weed's, in Dowir
ing's Town, for cash <@y,
,¥4 W O sour-horse teams coraplcat, Several good
draught horses, two elegant mares fit for either
breeding or the saddle, two neat spring colts, two ele
gant faddri horfet, one pair neat pistols and bp&rs,
orte Silver watch, one Silver mounted hanger, one pair
filvlr spurs, ditto stock and knee-buckles, one gold
breach, faventeen and a half yards fin# Irish linsn, one
feather bed and feme beddings about half a doz#n va
luable hooka, two horse canteens, two chefa, and a
large quantity of exceeding good wearing apparel of
v*rio^ kinds, fitted for both winter a^d Summer, con
sisting of a cambist cloek, a great cott, and sundry
foits of broadcloth, Silk breeches and writs, puffi and
velvet ditto, ribbed and dimity ditto, drifts and Stocks,
S'.k and worftsd hole, h t^, boots, Shots, napkins, and
many other articles 100 tedious to mention here; late
the property of CoL Cornelius Sheriff ot Chester Coun
ty, deceased. The sale to begin at Toi o'clock, A. M.
when due attendance will be given by
RICHARD HOWELL, ]a Am : n ;fr fnrc
ALEXANDER M CARAHER, jAdmmiftrators.
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GFNFF A 1
THURSDAY,
OR
[ Published every 1 ueiday, Thursday and Saturday. ]
An ACT for the gradual abolition of Slavery.
(Printed for consideration.)
WHEN we contemplate our abhorrence of that
condition, to which the arms and tyranny of
Great-Britain were exerted to reduce us: When we look
back on the variety of dangers to which we have been
ezpofed, and how miraculously our wants in many instan
ces have been fup'plied and our deliverances wrought, when
even hope and human fortitude have become unequal to
the conflict, we are unavoidably led to a fcricus and grate
ful fenfeof the manifold bleflings, which we have undefer,
vedly received from the hand of that Being, from whom
every good and perfect gift cometh.
Impressed with these iddas, we conceive that it is our
duty, and we rejoice that it is in our power, to extend a
portion of that freedom toothes, which bath been extended
to us ; and a release from that State of thraldom, to which
we ourselves were tyrannically doomed ; and from which
wehave now every profya of being delivered. It is not
for us to enquire, why, in the creation of mankind, the
inhabit ants of the Several parts of the Earth, were diftin
guifh^d by a difference, in feature or complexion. It is
fufficient to know, that ail are the work of an Almighty
Hand. We find in the distribution of the human spe
cies, that the most fertile, as well as the most barren
parts of the Earth, are inhabited by men of complexions
different from ours and from each other, from whence we.
may reaSonably, as well as religiously, infer, that he,
who placed them in their various situations, hath extended
equally his care and prot' &ion to all, and that it becometh
not us, to counteract his mercies,
Weefteem it a peculiar blefflug granted to us, that we
are enabled this day to add one more step to universal ci
vilization, by removing as much as possible, the furrows
of those, who have lived in undeserved bondage; and
from which, by the ^ffumfec! authority of the Kings of
Britain, no effectual legal relief could be obtained.
Weaned by a long course of experience from those nar
row prejudices and partialities we had imbibed, we find
our hearts enlarged with kindness and benevolence towards
men of all conditions and nations; and we conceive our
selves at this particular period extraordinarily called upon,
by the blessings which we have received, to manifeft the
sincerity of our profeffion, and to give a lubflantial proof
of our gratitude. AND WHEREAS the condition of
those perfous, who have heretofore been denominated ne
gro and mulatto slaves, has been attended with circum
stances, which not only deprived them of the common
blessings, that they were by nature entitled to, but has
cast them into the deepest auctions, by an unnatural fe
peration and sale of husband and wife from each other,
and from their children ; an injury, the greatness of which
can only be conceived, by fuppofi»g that we were in the
fame unhappy case.
In justice therefore to persons so unhappily circumflan
ced; and who having no profpea before them, whereon
they may rest their sorrows and their hopes, have no reason
able inducement, to render that service to society, which they
otherwise might, and also in grateful commemoration of
our own happy deliverance, from that Rate of unconditional
submission, to which we were docmed by the tyranny of
Britain.
Be it egaded, and it is hereby enabled by the Represen
tatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylva
nia, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the
fame, That all persons, as well negroes and mulattoes, as
others, who shall be Horn within this State, from and after
the passing of tris Aft, shall not bedeemed and consider
ed as servants for life, or slaves ; and that al! servitude for
life, or Slavery of children, in consequence of the Slavery
of their mothers, in the case of al! children born within
this State from and after the patting of this A& asafore
faid, shall be, and hereby is, utterly taken away, extin
guished and forever abolished.
Provided always, and be it enacted by the authority
aforefaid, That every negroe and mulatto child born with
in this State, after the passing of this Ad aforefaid, who
would, in case this Act had not been made, have been
born a servant for years, or life, or a Slave, fnall be deem
ed to be, and shall be, by virtue of this Aft, the servant
of such person, or his or her assigns, who would, in such
case, have been entitled to the service of such child, until
such child shall attain unto the age of twenty eight years ;
in the manner and on the conditions whereon Servants
bound by indenture for four years, are or may be retained
and holden ; and fliall be liable to like correction and pu
nishment; and intitled to like relief, in case he or she be
evilly treated by his or her matter or mistress; and to like
freedom dues and other privileges, as servants bound
by indenture for four years are or may be intitled; unless
the person to whom the service of any such child shall be
long, shall abandon his or her claim to the fame : in which
case, the Overseers of the poor of the city, township or
diftria, respectively, where such child shall be so abandon
ed, shall by indenture bind out every child so abandoned,
as an apprentice, for a time not exceeding the age herein
before limited for the service of such children.
PHILADELPHIA.
T II E
^ra&T^^H r%%v
ADVERTISER
DECEMBERS, i 77 9.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid,
That every person, who now is, or hereafter shall be the
owner of any negroe or mulatto slave or servant, for
life, or years now within this State, or his lawful attorney,
gallon or before thefaid day of next, deliver
or cause to be delivered in writing, to the Clerk of the
Peace of the county, or to theChak of the Court of Record
of the city of Philadelphia, in which he or the shall respec
tively inhabit, the name and firname and occupation or
proteffion of such owner, and the name of the county and
township,, diftriH or ward, wherein he or She refrleth,
and alf)the name and names of any such Slave and Slaves,
andfervant and Servants tor life o- years, together with their
ages aad sexes severally and reipethvAy set forth and an
nexed, by such person owned or ftatedly employed, and
then being within this State, in order to afeertain and dis
tinguish the Slav s and servants for life and years, within
this State, who shall be such on thefaid day of
from all ether persons, which-particulars shall by
said Clerk of the Sessions and Clerk of faf i City Court be en
tered in a book to be provided for that purpose by said
Clerk, and that no negroe or mulatto now within this
State fnall from and after the said day of be deemed
a Slave or servant for life or years, uplefs his or her name
Shall be entered as aforefaid , on such record, except the
negroe and mulatto children that have been born Since the
passing of this Aft; and except, also, such negroe and
mulatto slaves and servants as are herein after excepted; the
said Clerk to be entitled to a fee of for each flav
or servant, so entered as aforefaid, from the tefyeftive
owner or master.
Provided always, That if any person in whom the owner-
Ship or right to the service of any negro or mulatto shall
be veiled at thepiffingof this Aft, (other than such, as
are herein before excepted,) hi^ or her heirs, executors,
administrators and assigns, ana all and every of them seve
rally, shall be liable to the Overseers of the Poor of the
city, township or diftria, to which any such negro or mu
latto Shall become chargeable, for fuclfneceffary expence,
with costs of suit thereon, as such Overseers may be put to,
through the neglect of the owner, matter or mistress of
such negro or mulatto, notwithstanding the name and 0-
ther descriptions of such negro or mulatto Shall not be en
tered and recorded as aforefaid ; uulefs such negro or mu
latto shall at the passing of this Aft be under the age of
sixteen years, and unless his or her master or owner, Shall,
before such slave or servant pass his or her Sixteenth year,
execute and record in the proper country, deed or instru
ment, Securing to Such Slave or servant, his or her free
dom, when such Slave or servant shall attain the age of Twen
ty-eight years. .
And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid,
That the offences and crimes of negroes and mulattoes, as
well slaves and servants as freemen, Shall be enquired of,
adjudged, corrected and punished, in like manner as the
offences and crimes of the other inhabitants of this State,
are and shall be enquired of, adjudged, corrected and pu
nished, and not otherwise ; except that a slave shall not be
admitted to bear witness against a freeman.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That in all cases wherein Sentence of death Shall be pro
nounced against a Slave; the jury by whom he or She Shall
be tried, Shall appraise and declare the value of such Slave,
and in case, such sentence be executed, the court Shall
makean order on the State Treasurer, payable to the
owner for the fame, and for thecofts of prosecution, but
In case of remission or mitigation, for the costs only.
And be it farther enaded by the authority aforefaid,
That the reward for taking up runaway and abfeonding
negro and mulatto slaves and servants, and the penalties
for enticing away, dealing with, or harbouring, conceal
ing or employing negro and mulatto slaves and servants
fllall be the fame, and Shall be recovered in like manner,
as in case of servants bound for four years.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid,
That no man or woman of any nation or colour, except
the negroes and mulattos, who shall be .egiftered as a
forefaid, shall at any time hereafter be deemed, adjudged
or holder within the territories of this Commonwealth,°as
Slaves or servants for life, but as free men and free women ;
except the domestic slaves attending upon Delegates in
Congress from the other American States, foreign mini
flers, and consuls, and persons, passing thro' ©r Sojourn
ing in this State, and not becoming resident therein ; and
seamen employed in Ships, not belonging to any inhabi
tant of this State, nor employed in any Ship owne I by any
such inhabitant; provided that such domeflic slaves be
not aliened or fold to any inhabitant, nor, (except in the
case of Members of Congress, foreign ministers and con
suls) retained in this State longer than fix months.
Provided always, and be it further enafted by the au
thortiy aforefaid, That this Ad nor any thing in it con
tained shall cot give any relief or fhelterto any abfeending
or runaway negroe or mulatto Slave or servant, who has
absented himfelf or shall absent himfelf, rrom his or her
owner, master or mistress, residing in any other State or
Country, but such owner, master or mistress, Shall havelike
right, and aid to demand, claim and take any bis Slave or
servant, as he might have had, in case this Aft had not
T H E