Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-11-27 00:00:00, page 2

E 7 ~ 7 !ffl %i Buzcoh !Wit°::A D:f
cffaiws. Continued from our ^tf.]
JX a survey of public .nbu r es, it wou'd be unpar.
§ dutiable to overlook th?t of -a Landing army in
t HI ^ ri peace, one of the moss hurtful, and molt I
dacron of abuses. In former times we had no |
mercenary army, it was the militia that went to
t fe |,|y war, that conquered France, &c. So at
R me there was no mercenary army in the ben
times of the republic. Our Hen.VII. ratted no imall
jedoufy by h:s i?)b Yeomen of the Guards, aug
mended by hin from 50, the whole,fan J ing arny
of his times. In the days of Ch. 11. the army
was got to 5,000; in our times to 50 000 There
can no account be given of tins alarming increase,
but the increase of corruption, and decrease of
attention to hbr'y. An army in a free country,
fays Ju+je Blrkf ne, ought only to be enhited for
a fomt and limitted time. The loldiers should
lire intermixed with the people, no Separate
c'mps, no barracks, no inland fortrefles fhobld be
allowed, yet it's notorious that our foidiers are
i ri ifted for life, on pain of death if they Jelert—
The mere slavery of a soldier's life, and the rigo
rous discipline, and Turkish feveines. so great a
number of b^ave, free-born Egli'h lubje&s are
exposed to in the army, are {efficient to render it
the abhorrence of every true Enghlh spirit, and
the peculiar d b race of m r country and our times.
in a land of liberty i: is extremely dangerous to
make a dißind orddr of the profeflien of arms.
1 hole who hi ve the command of the arms in a
country, favs Arifotle, are matters of the date,
a^ .4 have it in their power to mike what revolu
tries they plcafe.
The {oldie' y are th rr/eives bound for life, tin
d^r the moil abjed flayery, for what is more per
fft fl 4verv, than for a man to be without reiie.
Obliged to obey the comtnand of another, at the
htzard of his life, it he obeys, and under the pe
nalty of certain death if he disobeys, while the
fnialleft mifbehaviour may bring upon him the most
painful and disgraceful punilhment? When a
country is to be enslaved, the army is the inftru
ment to be used. No nation ever was enslaved
but by an army. No nation ever kept up an ar
my in times of peace, which did notjofe its liber
ties. Mr. Hume calls the army a mortal distem
per in the British government, of which it must at
last inevitably petifh. Mr. Pierrepoint laid, in the
Foufe of Commons, A. D. 1660, it was inconfift
ent for an army and a Parliament to subsist toge
ther, and that the trained bauds were fufficient.
The Commons resolve, A. D. 1673, that the con
tinuance ofany standing forces in the nation, be
sides the militia, is a great grievance and vexation
to the people. Nothing will make a nation so un
conquerable as a militia, or every man's being
trained to arms. A militia confining of any others
than men of property in a country, is no militia ;
but a mongrel army.
No kingdom can be secured other^ife than by
a r mmg the people. The poffeffioa of arms is the
d'L dim between a freeman and a slave. The
Parliament would have eftabiuhed a republican
gov rnrm nt, upon the resignation of RicbardCrom
nuc'l, if t l ey hr 1 not been bullied out of it by
Mork and the arm% who brought in again upon
their country the curse of the Stuarts.
Til ugh cither commanders, nor men, of the
Fe<v- England militia, who took Louifburg, A. D.
1745 had ever seen any military service; though
the ground between the p'ace of lending and the
t^wn was boggy, unequal, and almost impassible,
though the town w:s defended by fevefal batteries,
particularly one of 35 cannon o' 42 pounds each,
a draw bride, and circular battery, of 16 guns,
of 24 pounds each, and at the mouth of the har
bour a batte r y of 34 guns 42 pounders; though
the walls, ramparts, and bafions, mounted 64
guns, and though there were in the place to mor
tars of 13 inches caliper, and 6 of 9 inches, and a
parrifon of 1200 regulars; those militia-men pro
ceeded with all the regularity and intrepidity of
veterans, a*d tock the place accordingly. A good
militia is offuch importance to a nation, that it is
the chief part of the constitution of every free go
vernment —A good militia will always preserve
the public liberty.
In the time of the republic, when England was
in the way to her bigheft pinnacle of glory, the
chief attention was paid to the fleet. Kings, on
the contrary, trust chiefly to the army, as being
the proper infrument for gaining the great objeft
of Kings. It is doubtful, fays our celebrated fe
male hiflorian, whether a naval force could be ren
dered ufeful in any capacity, but that of extending
the power and prosperity of the country.
A nation is rhen, and only then, secure against
foreign inrafon, when it has within itfelf, by
means of 1 fleer, or of the people's being generally
trained -0 arms, a greater force than any that can
prof,ably be brought against it ; and when there is
such a prevalency of public spirit, integrity and
contempt of riches, that the government are not
likely to betray it to a foreign enemy. A nation
is then, and only then, secure against the encroach
merits of its own government, when there is no
such prevalency of luxury 2nd corruption, as to
give reason to apprehend danger from the court,
and when the people have in themselves a fufficien
cy of public fp.rit to prevent their being bought,
and a fufficiency of force in their own hands, and
ready for immediate exertion, to prevent their be
ing violently crushed by a tyrannical court or no
bility. As soon as any one of these barriers is re
moved, there remains nothing but the fearful ex
peflation cf the enslaving chain, that is to gall
every free and stubborn neck. If your liberties
are going, you ought to bestir yourselves for their
preservation, if they are gone, for their reco
very.
Farther, have you considered, my dear country,
men, that it is not in your option to preserve, or
give up your liberties as you please, any more than
your lives. Liberty and Life are the rich gifts of
/'!.gracious Heaven. And you cannot think it
lawful to spurn fro^ you your Maker's god-like
bounty, which he gave you in trust to be preserved
and enjoyed by you. Besides, if it were lawful
for you to fell yourselves for nothing, you will
The people at large, when they loose their con
fliturional guard, aie like a rope of sand, easily
divided asunder; and therefore when the anting
parts of the constitution (hall abuse their trust,
and counteract the end for which they were ettab
lifhed, there is no way of obtaining redress but
b; associating together, in order to form a new
chain of union and strength in defence of their
constitutional rights.
By the readiness of the people to enter into the
associations, it may be effectually determined, whe
ther the majority are desirous of the proposed re
formations. This, as has been observed before,
is a matter of supreme consequence, for refinance
to government, unless it be by a clear majority of
the people is rebelion. Therefore with all due
submission to the judgment of Bishop Burnet upon
that pint, the true criterion between rebellion
and reformation consists not in the attroeioufnefs
of the abules to be reformed, but in the concur
recce of the people in desiring a reformation :
For whatever the majority desire it is certainly
lawful for them to have, unless they desire what
is contrary to the laws of God. Confederacies
and associations have been usual in all countries,
especially in England.
The objects of such a general association as I
propose are, 1. the securing of public ciedit, 2.
obtaining the undoubted sense of the people, on
the state of public affairs, 3. presenting petitions,
signed by a clear majority of the people of pro
perty, for the necessary a^s of Parliament, 4. to
raise, and have in readiness, the strength of the
nation, in order to influence government, and
prevent mifehief. Let the petitions be drawn
up and presented in the most refpedful and most
unexceptionable way that is possible, so that the
fault may all come upon government (if they re
jed the petitions) and none upon the people. Pe
titioning, in better Englilh, is no more than re
questing or requiring, and men require not fa
vours but their due. When an injured nation
calls aloud for redress, and can have none from
government, the people may be expected to do
themselves justice, fays Sbippen on the South Sea
affair. Parliament has declared it no resistance of
Magistrates to fide with the just principles of law,
nature, and nations. The soldier may lawfully
hold the hands of that General, who turns his
cannon against his own army ; the seaman the
hands of that pilot, who wilfully runs the flrip on
a rock—Ten millions of people are not to fit
still and fee a villainous junto overthrow their li
berries.—Formalities are then at an end. —The
question, in a season of such extremity, is not,
who has a right to do this or that ? Any man has
a right to save his country. In such cases, fays
Sidney, every man is a Magistrate, and he who
best knows the danger, and means of preventing
it, has the right of calling the senate or people to
an assembly.—ls the contest is between a design
ing minister, a mercenary army, and a corrupt
parliament on one hand, and, on the other, the
body of the independent people, the decision may
prove difficult, but is most likely to be in favour
ofliberty, if the people can only unite and a& in
concert. For if the cause be unqueflionably good,
the people will soon have purse, and army, every
thing else in their hands.
The people may be brought, by inveterate ty
ranny, to bear patiently to lee the molt worthless
part of mankind (for sorely the great by mere
birth, in all ages and countries, ate commonly
among the most worthless of mankind) let up
above them, ard themselves obliged to crouch.
But fametimes the people grow uneasy under this.
And if the people ronfe to vengeance, woe to
those who Hand in the way. Let merit only be
honoured with privilege and prerogative, and
mankind will becontented. A crown of grass,
or a couple oftwigs, was the reward of the most
heroic actions. Nothing is much more formida
ble than a popular in furreftin. All wife govern
ments wii'l carefully avoid irritating the people be
yond measure. Ard all found patriots will avoid
routing the people, if redress can be any other way
obtained. Therefore Ido not propose having
recourle to force. What I propt,fe is to apply
rhe power of the people, guided, limited, and di
retted by men, of property, who are interested in
•he security o' their country, and have no income
by place or pension ; to indemnify them for brirg
irg Have yor ruin upon their country. And
now let us confider whether a scheme may not be
laid down for obtaining the necessary reformation
of Parliament.
ceraF^ =:' pretend t b..:t you have power to en
Have your pofteritv for ever. J therefore charge
you before Almighty God, and as you (hall here
after aniwer to him, to take care how you trulc
id a matter ot such awful importance.
Before all other things, there must be effablifhed
A GRAND NATIONAL ASSOCI
ATION FOR RESTORING THE
CONSTITUTION.
Into this must be invited all men of property,
all friends to liberty, all able commanders, &c.
there must be a copy of the ASSOCIATI
O N for every parilh, and a parochial committee
to procure fubferiptions from all persons whose
names are in any tax book and who are willing to
join the association. And there must be a grand
c mmittee for every county, in the three king
doms, and in the colonies of America.
The foregoing extrads contain a specimen of
the authors femtiments of the rights of the people
under the English constitution of government,
the means of preserving those rights, and reform
ing errors, defeats and abufe> in government.
What the author fays concerning the necessity of
a majority of the people being agreed in making
such reformation, &c. is to be understood ofa ma
jority in any one particular dominion or realm, in
which such reformation is to be made, for in
stance if a majority of the people of Great Britain
should chufe to alter their form of government,
or make any reformats in the administration of
it, they would have a right to do it without con
futing the people of Ireland or any of the colo
nies, the fame principle wi4 apply to every colo
ny or other dominion having a diftind aed plena
We are assured that Major Skeene the younger,
who was released from close confinement, on his
parole of honour, lately made his escape from Con
nedicut, and got to Croton's river, whence for
half a joe he procured a fellow to put him on board
the Asia man of war, where he arrived last Mon
day, and ftiil remains. As Roman Catholic prin
ciples have lately become fafhionable with the Bri
tish ministry, perhaps this gentleman may think
that no faith is to be kept with hereticks, as the
ministry deem those to be in politicks, who assert
their rights and freedom, and are ready to risk
their lives, in defence of the English constitution,
and those principles on which the King holds his
crown, and the Englilh laws and government were
established.
!ry power of hfcfluou withiniTelf, th ugh united
wrfn other denrirrions in he lame crown. And it
the virtuous axd patriotic inhabitants in Great
Britain (being a majority) would associate, and
by a vigorous exertion pf their united endeavours
procure redress of public grievances, and a refor
mation of public errors and abu'es in the govern
ment there, it might lay a foundation for perma
nent union, peace and happiness throughout the
British dominions. The united Colonies in Arne
rica, (though unanimously determined to maintain
thsir lights and liberties) are sincerely desirous of
a restoration of harmony between them ard their
brethren in Great Britain .and of continuing uni
ted under the fame cr^wn, provided their govern
ment may be adminiftred according to the true
principles of the constitution.
,+<,+-!,- +4"+*+~s+-#--}-$ —frQ-, ^
NEW-Y O R K, AW„&2 3 .
BY a letter received on the 20th ioft. it appear
ed, that Capt. Harris belonging to Poughkep
fie, had actually inlifted a number of recruits for
the ministerial army, and that he was then at Nas
sau ferry ; upon which Colonel M'Dougal, on
the fame night, with a number of friends to their
country, went over, in order to take him. They
feaiched a number of houses, but to no purpose,
till they came to Degrufhe's ferry, where they
fonnd him in an upper room in a posture to defend
himelf, which appeared by two pistols lying on
his bed, close by his fide, loaded and primed,
which however as they came upon him unexpect
edly, he had no opportunity to use.—They took
him with two of his men, and brought them all
fafe to New-York, where they are now under a
ftri& guard.
The Watertown paper of the 13th instant con
tains an act of the Legislature of Massachusetts
Bay, entitled, An ACT for encouraging the fit
tingout of armed vessels, to defend the sea coast
of America, and for erecting a Court to try and
condemn all vessels that shall be found infefting
the fame. Also, an ACT for paying the minute
men, volunteers, &c. who were present at the battle
of Lexington, according to their rank, the distance
they came, &c.
Extra# of a letter from a gentleman in Glasgow, to
bis son in this city, dated /dug. 22.
" The old Highland Watch, who were station
ed in Ireland, upon being ordered to Boston, they
all refufed going, to a man, and declared they
would not go and fight against their brethren, who
last war fought and conquered by their fide."
PHI LAI) E LPHI A, November 27.
EXTRACTS of several Letters brought by Capt.
Robbins, in thefebooner Tme Sifters, lately seized by
an armed vessel in the service of the United Colonies.
Published by Order of the Cengrefs.
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec.
Extra# of a letter from a gentleman in Corke to an
officer in Boflon, dated August 19, 1775.
“ M Y imagination cannot point out the extreme
uneasiness of your friends and relations here, at
the very disagreeable situation you are in: Your
letter of the 7th of July last has been some conso
lation, as by it find you and family were well. God
protest you is all I can fay, and to assure you of
our hearty wi(hes that a lpeedy and happy recon
ciliation may take place. I promise you we are
not a little alarmed here, for when all our troops
are gone, the rabble here, 'tis dreaded, will take
advantage, and commit disorders of every kind.
I fee, from the War-Office, 31 battalions are to
go to you in Spring, each to consist of 12 compa
nies of 63 privates, making 22,003 men. Shock
ing work it is !
66 As to your private affairs, these bad times,
I will venture to give you myopinion: First, take
great care to what officers you give your money,
as these gentlemen's bills oftner prove bad than
otherwise, and as they are more liable to death
than others, at this time, you could never recover
Ihould any of their bills go back protested. In the
next place, as you must be in a money-making
way, and as affairs are in, at best, a very precari
ous situation, you should make lodgments of what
you can spare, and as faft as you can, i, iLondon:
This is what I would do, was lin your situation."
XBft of the Battalions inelofed in the above Letter.
“ 31 battalions to compose the American army
in the Spring of 1776; each to consist of 12 com
panies of 60 rank and file, making 22,320 men,
viz. 4th, sth, 6th, 7th, 8:h, loth, 14th, 15th,
16th, 17th, 22d, 23d, 26th, 27th, 28th, „th,
37 th > 38 th , 4^h, 42d, 43d, 44th, 45th 4.6 th,
47th, 49th, 52d, 55th, 63d, 64th, 65th. The
18th and 59th to return home.
" Six battalions of Hanoverians, 3 to Gibraltar,
and 3 to Minorca: 3 regiments to return home
from Gibraltar and 2 from Minorca."
Extra# of a letter to an officer at Boston, dated
Yougball, August 20, 1775.
“ I TAKE the opportunity of a sloop going
to Boston, toafle you how you go on: If I had
known in time of her going, I would have sent
you something acceptable, as I suppose your pre
lent situation requires many things to make it to
lerable. I was very happy to find you were not
of the detachment to Bunker's Hill; never was
such a Slaughter! I shudder at the recolleaion! so
many of our friends but the other day parted, so
butchered ! 11 e ate preparing to lend you more
Extra# of a letter to an officer in Boflon, dated
Corke, September 8, 1775.
“ PEOPLE are much divided in their senti
ments about the Americans. Placemen, Penlion
ers, Tories, and Jacobites, with forne stupid, ig
norant, mercenary Whigs, ate violent against them,
but the bulk of the people of England and Ireland
are strongly in their interest. My brother so far
retains the prejudices of his late profeffion as to
be a great enemy to them; but I own I am of the
number of thole who think they are hardly afed,
and wilh they may retain their liberties. I entire
ly coincide with General Lee; and can't help
thinking that the declaration of the Continental
Cosgrefs and their address to the people of
England must convince every one who has
the least particle of judgment or attention, of the
justice of their caub. It is the general opinion,
(and General Burgoyne's letter to General Lee
seems to countenance it) that had the ministry
certainly forefeen the unanimity and firmnefs of
the Americans, they would hardly have ventured
on the steps they have taken. How this unnatural
combuftiou will end, the Lord only knows: but
one thing I know ; that 1 wilh you and my other
friends were removed from a service, at once so
difgraceful and so dangerous.—Never did the re
cruiting parties meet with such ill success in every
part of this kingdom as at present ; so invincible
is the dislike of all ranks of people to the Ameri
can service. The inhabitants of Bandon, Youg
hall, Birr, and other towns, have entered into a
refoliation not to fuffer any arpong them to inlift
for the purpose of enslaving their American bre
thren. There have been no less than five parties
at once in Charleville, and after stunning the
town, God knows how long, with their fifes
and drums, they were able to pick up only one
recruit, who was under Mr. Roberts's influence.
Though the principal Romanies in Cork and Li
merick have formed Associations and offered boun
ties to such recruits as shall lift on this occasion,
yet have they very little success ; for though the
heads of that communion are in the interest of go
vernment, the lower class, who have not sagacity
enough to make proper diftindions, are, to a man,
attached to the Americans, and fay plainly, thelrifli
ought to follow their example. Even Lord Ken
mare, who on this occasion took tne lead, had his
reeruting party severely beatin Tralee, and their
drum broke to pieces. The renowned Captain
Harlequin, whose success in this town last war
has encouraged him to renew his antic tricks here
now, finds himfel f, with all his buffoonry, sadly
disappointed, and several of those he had trepan
ned have already deserted. Many of the draughts
that are come here to fill up the regiments order
ed abroad, swear they will never drawa trigger
against the Americans ; among whom they have
all relations. And most of the Englilh and Irilh
soldiers that left this last April and May exprefTed
io much repugnance to the service they were or^
dered on, that I am fully persuaded, if your army
was not Ihut up in Boston, it must fuffer exceeds
ingly by desertion.
“ But though I write thus freely, I wou'd have
you very guarded, for all the letters from your
fide are opened; and yet, there are many letters
in this town which give a most tragical account of
your present situation. The carnage on Bunker's
Hill is to every humane breast (hacking beyond
expression."
help, five refuse •-%±.v% th p be, irg of
September, 1 uih Unifyub<ncriwbg,>r other by
them, We wait with much impdiicocc fqrthe meet
ing of theE'ghfh pariirimerrf. Icannot write to
you as fully as 1 would noh as I imagine tins
will undergo infpeAion. It ycu can find time if
you will wrie me one line now and then, be al
lured you will give very great pleasure to a perlon
who sincerely regards you. According as I hear
in your next, if y<u think I may venture politicks
I will give them to you very fully."
Extra# of a letter to an officer at Boston, dated
Fort Henry, Aug. 2 „/, 1775.
" NEVER was I f® much lurprized as to
hear or the stand the Americans have made against
01s Majesty's troops. 1 muftown my opinion was,
that if they ever came to an action it would be
of no longer a duration than they could take to
their heels and run away; but by the accounts
how much have I been mistaken in them; and I
believe most people that had served in America
were of my opinion. lam sincerely sorry your
army being blocked up ia the manner we hear
you are; the disagreeableness of loch a situation
I have experienced, but hope it will not be of
longer duration than till the arrival of the next
reinforcement of troops which are now near Cork.
Our papers mention an army of 22000 men com
manded by General Sir Jeffery Amherst, joining
you in the Spring—but 1 hepe the command will
not be taken from General Howe, for whom I
have a very sincere regard, and wish him success and
happimefs. Many Noblemen and others have
offered to raise regiments at theirown expe.ee in
this country, but none of them 1 believe have
been accepted of as yet. Lord Bellamont was
one of them, ,and he has now advertised that the
Lord Lieutenant has given him the infpedion of
the recruiting parties of the g'h, 33d, and 34th,
which he (hall regularly attend to; what his
scheme by this is I cannot conceive."
Extra# of a letter to Lieutenant 7 ones, of tlf 613 d
. regiment at Boflon, dated at corke, Septem
ber loth, 1775.
" THEY * will be feourged severely, aud it
is the opinion the soldiers will have all the forfei
tures. I wilh you all health and that you may
finifh as gloriously as you have begun. The fei
jeants give one guinea to every man besides the
King's bounty : these peop e are to be formed in
to companies additional to each regiment to re
cruit it. Wehave taken it into our headsheethat
the Admiral and his fl et has not keen as active as
they should be, and are told he is lent frr home,
I am, Sir, mett affcaiucatety yogi's qver.
R. GORTON."
* Tbe Americ as.