Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-03-18 00:00:00, page 2

f — rs t r jry's expeifence of the
a Britilh,miD^Wy to corrupt arid
p~r£or, veryffohruptibie afford no
r such apprehensions Sir Robert Wal
be esteemed a quack in politics, who on a
.mfie'h frobfervations dared to publish that
ftigraa tin human nature, with ail the
fa writer of maxims or pohtical apho
•^ry &&~i: had bis price! But to fot
tfern Cato a little further, I recom
y@ur enquiry whether Cassandra is fair
^the sequel of this paragraph. Thro'
Qis essay, Cassandra appears appre
7&aL the Commiffionefs are to come
pen way to treat with the Congress,
eral current of information, conjee
ties, and analogy to what has hr
to pals for government rides of aflien, have
Jed it, that they are to treat feparatgly, dividers
impernre, if dividing be but poffibie. Would
iod it appeared leis so! I must further confess
^one of those jealous and suspicious mortals,
no have not all that confidence in every indivi
al of my countrymen as to suppose them proof
amd all kinds of argument in the power of mi-
Serial Commissioners. Cato affects to have these
'midioners considered as Ambafladors from the
Venation to the representative body of the
'Cookies. ,1 would gladly understand his
"fortes' ttering conclusion. I charitably
inch am idea never entered the head of
ndra?" Did they profeffedly come in that
ffter, ftirelyas generous treatment would be
^hem as the ©uftom of nations authorizes:
nuch qUeftion whether, as such, they would
utinefs with any other perlons than the col
y cf the Delegates in Congress. If not,
juld be the impropriety of appointing
m a guard to intercept the communications
umhefjof dependents would be very wiring to
{"with them? f'would beg leave to ask Cato
'felf, whether he supposes they would look up
themfelvus as persons invested with any other
panders than that of messengers from their fo
ereign to a milled and hair brained multitude, to
ffer them pardon and peace on condition of lay
ing down their arms and returningto their duty ?
Certainly, then, whatever single individual would
throw himfelf at their feet a^d implore forgiveness
for the crying fin of refilling the will of his law
ful, rightful, and most gracious fovereigri, would
appear to them a proper object to treat with : Cir
cumstances of this fort are not fuppo'ed to have
place, in belligerent independent states. No Am
ador expels such applications, nor any sub
s ar^ presumed inclined to treat separately:
io precautions, therefore, of this kind are in any
leafure necessary. Cassandra having put a case,
or; y out of the common road, does hardly,
opinion, merit the estimation of an enthufi
madman, for proposing such precautions, as
parties bearing flags of truce are daily obliged to
Submit to, whoare blindfolded and led into a elofe
room till the propofols' are made and answered,
nd then returned in like manner beyond the lines.
Cato rather appears to me to pre'ume his country
men quite new in thefe.matters, and if he can but
haranguethem a little on the grandeur of the cattle
they are engaged in, he hopes to render them com
&,fast enough fe entertain expelling Europe with
cie of Cervantic generojity, in repelling a ty
t's arms and then submitting to his proposals
of pardon and amnesty on his part, and future af
fe&ion and obedience on theirs.
Cafo talks of our long profeffing an ardent de
sire for peace. This is readily granted.. But has
le altogether forgot how long it is since our last
SjeC petition for peace has been most contemp
tubufly reje&ed? Does he pay no regard to the
niillions we have involved ourselves in debt to bring
Nero to terms which nothing but a conviction of
)ur having too many necks for him to cut off
ould ever have moved? We have not hitherto
jad the least evidence of these olive-branch gen
try's having any, thing more to offer than pardon,
moft^racious pardon on condition' of most humble
fuhmiffion. Let ^ hear their proposals, fays Cato.
What, hearthem at aft adventures ? Cato ! Sure
ly not, if they do not come in proper character and
n the treaty in a fair and honorable way. I
deftly declare that my opinion is, that the fla
ry, ruin and deftrudtion of millions, lather than
„e happiness of any, besides favourites, tools, pen
ey and their partizans on this fide the water,
morelikdy to be the result of agreement than
mire Operation.
If Cassandra be scrupulous of Cato's virtue, and
concerned left he should be cajoled or corrupted, 1
confe's my ( elf diffentient from him in that parti
cular. 0 d birds ore not readily caught with chaff,
nor votaries for undefined Dependency easily cor
rupted. What the terms are that Cato would not
accept I pray he wood favourus within a future
number of his letters. I cannot join with Cato
that any arts ofcorruptton yet untried by the mi
nistry bid fairer to answer their end than fending
the Commiflibners.^ Emifraries ofinferior charac
ter have long enough tried their hands and have
had little success. The times are becoming still
more danger^, for those expedients, and Cato's
own chara^'r (ifo p#tecfions have not, on all oc
casions, saved him from a little rubbing in holding
forth Ids do&rineief confitutional dependency.
I could with Cato would be so kind as to let us a
• little into the bufaefs on -which those Commifloners are
'to be sent! Th ; % certainly would detejminpevery
wife and firgb n^n to take one fide or othG of the
qdeftion , rbu^^ sequel of the paragraph
before us, it seems they are to hold but a reconci
liation with Great-Britain upon dependent confti
utional principles. Cato wishes for no other
•erms. Nor does Lord North, if his parliamen
tary declarations may be credited.
The notice Cato has taken of Common Sense
speaks for itfelf. It is more than probable such
flomachs as our advocate for dependency, (i. e.)
fla^ ry, often revolts at doles they can neither di
,r expel. If Cato-Azar's letters undergo
and large editions in three or four weeks
^rs of Mr.T- sP e have
''h more propriety declare what
proportion of votaries the refpe&ive doctrines
meet with.
I sincerely agree with Cato, " That some among
us have been constantly enlarging their views and
stretching theft] beyond their firft bounds, tilß at
length, they have wholly er anged tb^ ground;"
but I am greatly mistaken if th* consequence of
this change, and the abfol^ impossibility of ever
returning these new fugled enquirers into their
former state of implicit trust in whatever generous
gentleman were found kind enough to take the
whole care of managing public business off their
hands, be equally pleating to Cato as to me. It
seems pretty clear to Cato, that the taxing power
of the British Parliament will not speedily go down
in the Colonies : This, therefore, he would have
us believe, was the foie objedt of cur uneasiness
from the beginning. This, he presumes, will be
profeffedly given up, and then, fays he, and his
whole party will fay loudly, What more can any
honest man demand to make up the breach, to heal
the wounds, and eftablilh a lasting peace on confli
tutionaiprincip es? I will venture to tell them what
more; and I will declare this my unvaried senti
ment since the year 1765, that no man, nor num
ber of men have, ever had, or of right ought to have,
a pejperto tie my hands that I flieuld not put mo
ney into my pocket, more than they should have
to take money out of it. This dodrine, Cato
would hold up as an entire innovation, a new
stretch of some of those busy-bodies he is pleased
to stile profound legislators. Whether his head or
his heart is most culpable in this, or any other part
of his political conduct, let his acquaintance de
termine.
Our happiness in connexion with Britain, to which
Cato is ever and anon deferring our attention, was
not alt gether owing to the care she toek in making
laws for us. Ignorant as we were, we made and
adopted a jurisprudence which kept us moderately
quiet, and in that condition we have, under God,
alcribed all our outward blessings to the (miles of
Providence on our honest industry. Had Great-
Britain been as wife as St. Afaph, and not aimed
to govern too much, we might still have been quietly
pursuing each one his own proper business without
disturbance. If Cato can purge off that lust for un
due power, which has too evilently taken pofTefliun
of too many persons in Great-Britain, and but too
sensibly manifefts itfelfin some individuals in Penn
sylvania, he may adapt the remedy to the radical
evil which threatens the ruin of our facial hap
piness.
Peffibly indeed, as Cato suggests, some men may
have harboured the idea of independance from the
beginning of the controversy. Ifufpe& there have
been a few thinking men who have had a lurch that
way from the beginning of civil fociety,and I free
ly own their principles have been fufficiently odi
ous to the " better fort" who were made, ordain
ed, constituted, appointed and predeftinated from
the foundation of the world, to govern, and to all
intents and valuable purposes, pofefs the furface of
this globe, and all its inhabitants, except the he
reditary, adopted, or felf created Lords above fpe
cified. Of what consequence the abettors of hu
man freedom may appear in the eyes of * * * *
* * * ^, Esq; the sublime oratorical Cato and
party, I will not take upxn me to determine, but
unluckily a fbiall quotation from Mr. Rittenhoufe's
oration, pubhfhed in the fame paper with this ani
madversion, decides its author among the mob.
Cato is at great pains to sum up the declarati
ons of the Continental Congress, and (hew that the
idea of independency is dire&ly repugnant to them
all: But mark, fellow countrymen, when all these
declarations were made I We will acknowledge,
that hadthe King received the petition of the Con
gress and withdrawn his forces immediately, built
up our ruined towns, relinquished the “ unjust
claim" of taking our property tinder color of its
being granted by tools who never owned a farthing
of it, and recompenced the fufferers in the preflure
of this unjufi claim, we could not have refufed the
terms with any degree of consistency. But does
not the man presume upon your understandings
who would persuade you to think yourselves bound
by declarations, conditional certainly on your fide,
when declarations, conditions and all are rejected
with disdain ?
Dodor Warren, brave foul ! is called from
his grave to fan&ify Cato's imposition upon
your easy faith. Doctor Warren's compatri
ots yet live, and as it happens several of thera in
this city. Ask them by name, Cato, what they
believe Doctor Warren would have written to day
had he lived and written on the fubjed? Doctor
Warren was noble, bold and generous ; but after
his profered terms were reje&ed, few men inhabit
ed the globe whose resentment was more deter
mined.
I acknowledge the sentiments of the representa
tives of some colonies do them less honor than I
could have wished, especially when, for certain
purposes, their proceedings in November are pub
lishing as frefh news in the last of February or firft
of March.
Having nearly equalled the length of my copy;
I, for this time, bid you adieu; declaring myfelf
an orderly, civil, and very sociable
INDEPENDENT.
For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
PfUERIES addrefed to the writer who signs him
felf CATO.
I. T"\ OES the Honorable Assembly of Pennsyl
vania in their opposition to Great-Britain
aft with or without the Governor? If in the last
way—-are they any thing else but a Provincial
Congress ?
2. Does any one paragraph in the letter from
the Committee ofinfpe&ion, in Philadelphia, to
the County Committees, show that they had the
leaf design to take the legislation of the province
into their hands ?
3. Can an inlult to the Representatives ofthree
counties, the inhabitants of which amount only to
twelve thousand people, be called an insult upon
the Majesty of the People of the province
of Pennsylvania, when the province is said to con
t^m four hundred thoufaad fouls?
4. Have not the citizens of any community ^
right to aiiemble themselves atany time they please
to confaft together about the belt means of promo
ting their happinels ?
5. May not confitutional power (as it is called)
sometimes become dangerous to a state ?—Are
not the liberties of Britain now finking beneath
the weight of its constitution ?—or can any thing
be constitutional in a free country, whieh is con
trary to the principles of equal Jaws and equal
liberty ?
6. Was not the Committee of infpedion cho
sen for the express phrpofe of opposing the ty-
Iranny of Great-Britain in every way ? Was not
I their power recognized by the Congress? Were
they not authorized by the last convention to call
another when the state of the province made it
necessary?
7. Have the Assembly of the province made
2dy provision for the poor of our city in tafe they
should be driven from their habitations ? Was
not a convention necessary for that purpose alone ?
8. Did not the fame men who opposed the con
vention, oppose the meeting of Congress in 1774
—the nonimportation and non-exportation agree
ments —the arming of the province—and the expe
dition to Canada ?
9. Do not rtiechanicks and farmers constitute
ninety-nine cut of a hundred of the people of
America ? If these, by their occupations, are to
be excluded from having any share in the choice
of their rulers, or forms cf government, would it
not be best to acknowledge the jurildifiion of the
British Parliament, which is composed entirely of
Gentlemen ?
10. Is riot o?e half of the property in the city
of Philadelphia owned by men who wear lea
thern aprons?
11. Does not the other ha|f belong to men
whose fathers or grandfathers wore leathern
aprons?
12 Have not the Assembly, in voting seven
teen new members to represent the unrepresented
parts ofthe province, acknowledged the justice of
the Committee's complaints, and given a perma
nent fan&ion to their vote for calling a Conven
tion ?
# s+#-4--ft+s+*-+-*+4-!"+++ *
LONDON, December^.
MR. GLOVE R has formed a calculation
upon undoubted authority of the national
loss for the present year owing to the American
quarrel, and he makes it Twenty-seven Millions
fterh'%.
Should the consequences of the present ruinous
measures of Ministry be the loss of the whole Con
tinent of America, the Weft-India Islands must
of course fail to the Americans, the property of
which, from the evidence at the London Tavern
yesterday, both of Mr. Walker and Mr. Edwards,
is proved to be no less than Sixty Millions
What a Rake do these desperate gamblers play for !
Dec. 13. On the firft inst. died, in the County
of Devon, Sir Richard Spry, Rear Admiral of
the White.
The House of Commons are adjourned to the
25th of January
The Duke of Grafton is at present busy in pre
paring a plan for reconciliation with America,
which he deligns to bring into the House of Lords
early after the recess.
Orders are sent to the commanding officers of
the regiments lately arrived from Gibraltar and
Minorca, who are replaced by the Hanoverian
troops, to compleat their refpe&ive regiments to
their full complement of men, ard to be in readiness
to embark on the firft notice for North-America.
Dec. 29. Before the Provincials were in posses
sion of Montreal, they were joined by 1000 Ca
nadians ; and so probable did it appear to Gene
ral Carleton that they would become masters of
Quebec, that he sent home a ffiip load of stores,
to prevent their falling into the hands of the
Americans
We hear that yesterday at noon General Bur
goyne arrived in town from Boston, with dispatch
es from General Howe for government, which
were immediately carried to his Majesty at St.
James's. It was soon after reported, that they
contained terms of accommodation.
1 he Boyne man of war, which arrived at Ports
mouth last Tbefday, came express from Boston.
This (hip brings very disagreeable news. Seve
ral officers are come home in her, who do not in
tend to return on that service again. By the above
ffiip there is an account that several ofthe trans
ports that failed from England with provisions,
stores, &c. were not arrived, and it is thought
they were fallen into the hands of the Provinci
als.
Private letters from Parig, bring advice, that
two gentlemen, who appear to be persons of dif
tin&ion, have been in that city some days; that
they have often private conferences with the mini
stry ; and it is fufpe&ed that they are Americans,
and came thereto fettle on terms with regard to
opening a trade with France.
The regiments that are relieved by the Hano
verians are arrived at Portsmouth from Minorca
and Gibraltar. Two companies of the 25th re
giment are miffing.
Extrafl cfa letter from Portsmouth, Dec. 26.
“ Arrived here the Elizabeth, Captain Tune,
from Quebec. She failed from England the be
ginning of September, with a cargo of the follow,
ing stores for General Carleton's army, viz.
10,000 stands of arms, clothing for 10,000 men,
500 barrels of gun powder, and a large quantity
of ball. On her arrival at (Quebec, the Governor
would not fuffer the stores to be landed, but or
dered the (hip to fail immediately for England,
left they should fail into the hands of the Provin
cials."
It is said that General Burgoyne, who is late
ly arrived, has opened the eyes of the Ministry,
both with refpet'f to the personal courage of the
Americans, and the number of well disciplined
troops Which our armies will have to beat [them]
if this war is continued.
Advice is received from Jamaica, that a num
ber of English vessels had been seized at the island
ofCuba by the Spaniards ; and th.it a number rs
Spanish armed ships were cru zing to intercept all
provifionveffels bound to Jamaica ; and that it
was hardly poflible for any veflel toefcape. This
intelligence is authentic!
A letter from Portsmouth this day fays, that
the sailors being apprehenfive * at pre's warrants
will soon be issued out to man those ships that are
ordered for America, kuve armed themselves, and
go in bodies, being determined not to be forced
into the service by illegal and unconstitutional
methods.
The Provincials have established a court of Ad
miralty, with very e^tenfive powers ; and it is
faidthey have published a proclamation, making
it death for any person to hold any correspond
ence or communication with Great-Britain
„an. 2. His Pruffiin Majesty has at length open
ly ovowed bis intention of taking all the ports of
the Viltula under his immediate dire&ion. Though
the other Northern Powers teem to indicate as yet
no defiie to retrain him, such a measure must lay
a foundation for future commut ons.
In the House of Commons of Ireland, on Thurs
day, Dec. 21, the bill to grant the old and new
additional duties, was read a second time.
On the question being put that the bill be com
mitted, Dr. Clement reported from the Committee
of Comparison, that thii money bill had been alter
ed in England, by leaving out the twd clauses rela
tive to the 4.000 troops allowed to be lent abroad,
according to his Excellency's mtffage; and the
question puffed in the negative.
Mr. Malone moved, that this bill be rejeßed,
which was carried hem. con.
Mr. Ogle then moved, that the bill be burnt be
fore the door of the Parliament House, by the
hands of the common hangman, and that the She
riffs of Dublin be ordered to fee it dore.
Mr. M I ne replied; the bill was returned under
the great seal of England, and it would be a great
indignity to it.
Mr. Robert French was against the motion t He
could wish, he said, the House would aft with firm
nefs, but it should also regard its own dignity.
Mr. Ogle answered, the great seal would .help to
burn it; and he should never regard the great seal
when it was affixed to an affront to the House.
Mr, Solicitor General said, he did not imagine
any affront was intended by the alteration.
Mr. Ogle then withdrew his motion.
The Stamp-bill was then read a second time, and
rejected nem. con. on Dr. Clement's reporting these
words, " and such commissioners and inferior offi
cers as shall be appointed by the Lord Lieutenant,"
had been added in England.
Extrafl of a letter from G^ftort, Dec. 29.
" Some of the troops are marched for Petersfield
arid Guildford, and are to be viewed by his Majesty
some time next month."
In the Liberty, Thompson, which arrived 03
Sunday fe'ennight from Quebec, was brought over
one of the American Riflemen, who was taken
prisoner. He is committed to the Bridewell at
Bristol, till farther orders.
By a letter from Cork, dated Dec. 23, we are in
formed, that the Marquis of Rockingham tranfporr,
which failed from Portsmouth, with the 32d regi
ment on board, was 'wrecked between Cork and
Kinfate the twerity-fecond, when Lieutenant Maifh.
Ensign Sandirrian, the Captain of the ship, all the
crew, except four, with all the women and child
ren, and upwards of 100 soldiers, were drowned.
By the last advices from the co dt of Coromandel
we learn, that Mahomed Ali Khan, Nabob of Ar
cot, who is nearly in a state of dotage, had applied
to our M y for their afliftance in fixing the suc
cession of his goverrifnent on Omiral Omrah, his
second son, in prejudice to the elder: That this
commiffron was entrusted to the condeft cf Gme
inferior servants of the Company, who have b^en
promised their douceurs upon its success. Cur cor
respondent, who favors us with this intelligence, is
perfe&ly acquainted with the characters and <lifpo
fitions of the two brothers, and w holly ascribes this
conduct of the father to a jealousy inherent in Asi
atic Princes in their decline, who are always then
alarmed at feeing their immediate fucceffbr too
popular during their own lives. He paints the
eldest son in the most arriiable, the second in the
most odious colours, owing to his cruelty, pride,
craft and duplicity. lie trusts that our S—- =.,
who must have all the tender feelings of a father,
will riot stain his honor by joining in such an un
natural scheme.
HOUSE of COMMONS, Thursday, Dec 2T .
Tie American Prohibitory Bill, ovith the amend
ments, was brought into the House; and a motion n.as
made by Sir Grey Cooler, that the amendments made
by the Lords to the said bill be now taken into cenfde
ration.
Mr. Hartle, opposed this motion and the bid at
large; he observed, that this bill was a farewell to
peace and America ; that we might b/uife the beet,
but not crufo the head of America ; that America, af
ter all our exertions avainfi her, would fill reaMe ,
whereas Britain, he feared, would totally fnk to rum,
unless some British Phoenix should hereafter arifefrom
her afbes. He concluded uitb proposing an amendment
to the motion, That the word now be lejt out, and the
words " this day fix weeks," be inserted in the faif
motion.
Sir Jofepb Mawbey seconded the amendment.
Mr. Bailey ( Member for Wefibury, a gentleman who
has a large efate in tby lEef- Indies) likewise fuffurt
ed the amendment, and pointed out the ruin that would
ensue to all the Weft India islands if this bill puffed.
He was personally bitter againf Lord North, and let
fall a few bafly ex, refions on tkejufice of P ——r,
for which be was called to order. He even went so
far as to fay be was afoamed of being born in a coun
try where men's property could be so rctfly granted
away to commanders anafe&men of men of war.
Governor fobnfone swas for the amendment, le
caufe events had happened since the bill was fr^f be
fore that House, which made him wif) to prevent its
fading. He joined with the member who fpeke before
him, in opinion, that it would ruin the Wtf-lndLa
islands, especially if their resources bf corn and four
from Canada, Jo much ittffed upon by adminilraticn,
were cut off by the loss of Canada ; and he ended u,n
the minifer for information, which he said be hada
right to expert, whether Quebec was, or was not, in
the bands of the Provincials at this time. Hefappodd
he should have no answer, though the Lords in Admi
mdration in the other House, when called upon, bad
given the intelligence that was requeued.
The qupfion being put, that the word 9cw do ftard
part cf the original motion ; it was carried.
1 bed the main question ocas put, and being carried,
thefeveral amendments werefeparately put and a^rc A
to, and the bill puffed. It was ordered back again to
the Lords.
WILLIAMS BE R 6, (PirginicQ March 1.
Extrafl of a letter from a member of the Broainci.t
Congress of North Ca alina, to Col. Howe, dated at
Halifax, February 24, 47,76.
" A gemletnan by the name of Smith b2 e
now lodged seven cf th: haArs of the JA?w c<s
in Halifax jail, among whom aje hmrvl tie;cf.%