The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-03-11 00:00:00, page 2

Perhaps, on hearing these glad tidings, the senate
might be filled with that resentment which the motives us
an engrofler feldsm fail to excite, and might point at his
devoted forehead the thunders of legal vengeance. But
they should remember that resentments are unworthy of
their high office. That these men, tho' indeed prompted
by the execrable thirst of gain, have already enabled
the husbandman to increase his tillage, and have encou
raged his labours. That not only from theiretforts hath
the impending danger of want been averted, but the fair
profpea of plenty expanded tothe view. That consider
ing the nature of the commodity in which they had dealt
the expence they had neceffa'ily incurred, and the great
rifque they had been exposed to, the profit was far from
being very exorbitant. That if they should repeat the
experiment, as many of them certainly would, those who
undertook it would thoroughly regorge their former gains.
That even those gains were far less than it would have
cost, for public purchasers, public fuperintendants, and
public distributors with their endless attirail of directors,
deputies, defendants, appendants, purveyors, matters,
clerks, aids and afhflants; and in short that they have
been the cheapest Rewards the public could possibly have
employed. Above all thiugsgoverment should never for
get that reftriaions on the use of wealth may produce a
land monopoly, which is most thoroughly pernicious,
and that if the rights of property are invaded, order and
juflice will at once take their flight, and perhaps forever.
That {peculators should have incurred the public odium,
is natural, for their principles deserve it. It is true, they
prevent a real want, but in order to do this, they create
an artificial scarcity. Those, therefore, who know that
such scarcity is artificial, and who feel the effects of it,
and who not only ad but reafor. too from their feelings,
will always revile and reproach the avaricious authors of
their calamities. Amid all these revilings and reproach
es however it is somewhat remarkable that King Pharaoh
and bis prime Minister Joseph, are the firft monopolizers
which history gives us any account of. It is remarkable
that the commodity they speculated upon was bread. That
the King made every penny by it which he possibly could.
That hi whole plan was founded on amiracle. And that
no censure whatever is passed on the use he made of that
intelligence which the deity had imparted to him,
Butfurther, before we attempt to punish, or prohibit
monopolizers, it is worth while to confider, whether it is
possible for them to have any very considerable influence,
either one way or the other. If people in general monopo
lize, these two things may be relied on : First, that the
cause must originate in some radical defect of commercial
policy; and secondly, that it is impossible to execute a
law for punching the delinquents, if only a few indivi
viduals monopolize ; then let it be considered, what im
mense property would be .necessary to effeCt any great
purp^fe. When we hear that a man is worth a million
dollars, it founds high. But we must not fuff r ourselves
to be seduced by founds. Such a man could no fr purchase
above twenty thousand bushels of wheat. Now this is not
more than was formerly in the power of a very (mail dealer,
and it would go but a very little way towards monopoli
zing the wheat of one State, much less of the whole Con
tinent. Besides this, we know that moR men among us,
who possess large personal property, are engaged in other
business. Few of them are even fufpeßed of engrossing,
and that few can do very little in effect, though the name
may be very great. Nor is this all, for money, notwith
flanding, the quantity emitted, is so scarce at present, that
the richest can hardly get enough for their necessary oc
casions. Much less can they expend it in schemes of (pe
culation. And if they would, and did so expend it, they
would certainly loose by the business. But as for the ef
je& of lawsto prevent engroffiug. we shall find, that fait
and flour, the two capital articles, for which people in
power have Shewn most solicitude, are dearer than any
other article whatever. Wine on the contrary, about
which they seem to have given themselves no concern at
all, is the cheapest thing at market. We Shall also find,
that fait which hath lately been let alone, is ever nomi
nally cheaper than it was some time ago; and that flour
itself bids very fair to be so, unless kept up by some auk
ward Strokes of civil policy.
In order that we may have an adequate idea of the prac
ticability of monopolizing, wemuft recur a little to calcu
lation. This would be very extensive if wechofe to go in
to it. But we may Simplify it greatly, and yet derive the
full effe& from that mode of reafeming. Ou the lowest com
putation, ther cannot be less than 200,000 bushels offalt
consumed in fix months, between Connecticut river and
James river; nor less than 400,000 gallons of rum, in the
fame time and space. Reckoning therefore the bethel of
fait and the gallon ©f rum, each at too dollars, it would
require 60,000,000 dollars to engross a fix months supply
of these two articles only, which sum is as much as could
be railed by 120 men, each of which could command half
a million for that purpose over and above his other neces
sary occasions. Where shall we find 120 such men, or where
is the chance that not only these but all other articles should
be monopolized? If this thing should really happen, it
must be, because the great body of the people are engrof
fers. If this is the fad, then nolaws can be executedagainft
them, and indeed such an unnatural combination must be
owing to very extraordinary circum flances, which no direct
laws can reach. What these circumstances are, and how to
obviate them will hereafter appear. We will therefore pro
ceed to the examination of those laws which have been made
against monopolizers under the name of regula ions. Laws
from which it is possible that more of our.(Offerings have
originated, than from any other cause.
J am, Your friend.
An AMERICAN.
Brrata in the Piece Signed "An American," of Sa
turday last. 2§, 12 I. dele of. 10 §, 61. for proreifed
read premised. ii §, 18 I. read manufactures avert brought
to great perfeaion. 16 §, 5 I. for then read men. 16 §, 7 I.
for enaming read exatong.
PETERSBURG H, Nov. 5.
WE have received the disagreeable news, that the Ruf
fiau frigate the Natalia, which was lent te England to
bring over a cabinet of pictures purchased there tor the
Emprefe, is unfortunately loft. This was the very valu
able Lord Orford's Houghton collection.
Hague, Dec. 20. Circumstances have changed relative
to Paul Jones's fquadroa, at the Texel, the States Gene
ral have suspended the effect of their refoiution, of the x,th
of November. By a future refoiution taken by their
High Miglitineffes on the 16th of the fame mon'h, it ap
pears, they on that day received a letter from the Prince
Stadtholder, in which his Serene Highness informed them,
" That conformable to their above mentioned refoiution
of the 19th of November, he had sent the necessary or
ders to Vice Admiral Rynft, who commands in the road
of the Texel, that he should ufeevery means, not except
ing forcible ones, to oblige Paul Jones to put to sea with
the firft fair wind, and that Paul Jones had declared he
was ready to obey the orders of their High Mightinesses,
and would fail as soon as he was provided with every neces
sary ; but that it since happened, that on the 25th of No
vember, Admiral Rynft fentCapt. Van Overmeer on board
the Seraphis, to give notice to the commanding officer,
that he must provide himfelf with a pilot and fail ; he was
answered, that that ship was no longer commanded by
Paul Jones, but by the French Captain Cotenfaude Cofge
lin, who had taken possession of her in the name of the
King of France.
Toe Prince then refers to Vice Admiral Rynft 4 letter,
and adds, " That till he received the further orders of
their High Mightinesses, he had wrote to Admiral Rynft
not to use any forcible means till further orders, with re
gard to the mips in queflion, and that the Commanders
should prove they had French cbmmiffions. Butthat the
former orders should nevertheless remain in force wiih re
gard to the ffiip called the Alliance, actually commanded
by Paul Jones ;" " and his Serene Highness at the fame
time charged the Vice Admiral to take care, that conform
able to the treaty of November 3, 1756, none of the pri
soners who were not brought into the road on board that
vessel, shall be carried on board her." The Prince further
hopes, that the States will approve his conduct in this af
fair. Their High Mightinesses having deliberated upon
this, they immediately thanked the Prince Stadtholder
for what he had communicated to them, and entirely ap
proved of his proceedings in the affair in question, and
they meant todeliberate upon what is further to be done.
St. PIERR E, (Martinique) Dec. 16.
The Continental frigate Confederacy, of 40 guns, Capt.
Harding, arrived here Saturday last. She left Philadel
phia 25th ORcber, bound for France, but met a severe
galeof win# on the banks of Newfoundland, in which she
loft her bowsprit and all her masts. She got in under ju
ry-masts. M. Gerrard, late Minister Plenipotentiary
from France to the United States, and John Jay, Esquire,
who is to represent America atthe Court of Madrid, were
a board. The fafe arrival of Miuifters so important in
their public, and refpeftable for their private characters,
occasioned the greatest fatisfaflion.
The 18th iaft. a signal was made for the appearance of
26 vessels, which (hewed no colours, and soon after for a
ihip of war and a frigate, and after them twelve others.
It soon appeared th t it was a French convoy, chafed
by an English (quadron. The batteries along ihore wer#
manned early to be prepared for any event. At half after
two o'clock, am English frigate, which had got a head of
the convoy, and wes endeavouring to prevent their escape,
was attacked by the Aurora, of 26 guns, Capt. des Flottes,
off the bay of Fort Royal, who wished to give the convoy
under his charge, an opportunity to get in. But the En
glish ship Elizabeth being a faft sailor, had all® got a head
of the convoy, and the whole squadron was near. The
frigate and convoy would infallibly have been toft, if M.
de la Mothe Picquet had not Rood out, and thrown him
felf between the English fleet, and that part of the convoy
which was off the harbours. The English frigate now ha
ving the Aurora only te contend with, sheered off. M.
de la Mothe Picquet, attacked an Fnglifh fhip,which was
soon after supported by two others. Having sustained
alone, the fire of these three ships fora considerable time,
he was joined by the Reflechi and Vengeance. And the
Englifli squadron had been collected and formed. Our 3
ships engaged the 7 English, till M. de la Mothe Picquet
finding he could not five the rest of the convoy, which
had already fallen into the enemy's hands, and feeing those
he had disengaged from them, fafely in port, towards
evening retired, as did also the English. Of the 26 ships
in the convoy, 12$ with the frigate Aurora, got into Port
Royal, five were burnt, nine fell into the enemy's hands.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Wednesday, March 10, 1780.
The Bill intitled, “ An Aft directing the apportioning
and assessing of county rates and levies; poor-rates; the
taxes to be layed for the opening, amending and repair
ing of roads and highways; the taxes to be layed for (up
porting the nightly watch, the lamps and pumps, and for
pitching, paving and cleansing the ftreetfr, lanes and al
leys, and for regulating, making and amending the water
courses and common sewers, it ) the city of Philadelphia,
conformably to the State taxes on taxable persons, and
on estates real and personal ; for explaining and amending
the Ads, passed in the year 1779, for assessing and levy^
ing the said State taxes ; and for increasing the recom
pence of county Coromiffiopers and Assessors, was read
a fecund time and being debated by paragraphs was ordered
to be tranfciibed for a third reading, and in the mean time
printed for consideration.
Extract from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
An ACT directing the apportioning and assessing of
county rates and levies ; poor rates ; the taxes to be
layed for the opening, amending and repairing of roads
and highways; the taxes to be layed for supporting the
nightly watch, the lamps and pumps, and for pitching,
paving and cleansing the streets, lanes and alleys, and
for regulating, making and amending the water-cours
es and common sewers, in the city of Philadelphia,
conformably to the State taxes on taxable persons,
and on estates real and personal ; for explaining and
amending the Ads, passed in the year 1779, for affef
ing and levying the said State taxes; and for increaf
inp the recompence of County Commissioners and As
sessors.
WHEREAS in and by divers Ads of Assembly,
county rates and levies ; poor rates ; taxes neces
sary to be levied for the opening, amending and repair
ing of roads and highways ; and the taxes for fupportiog
the nightly watch, lamps amd pumps, and for pitching,
paving and cleansing the firsts, lanes and alleys, and
regulating, making and amending the water-courses and
PHILADELPHIA.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Friday, March so, 1780.
The Bill intitled, “ An AR to prevent trespasses and wafie
from being committed upon the lands of absent persons,
end upon vacant and unappropriated lands," was read the
second time, and being debated by paragraphs, was or
dered to be transcribed for the third reading, and in the
mean time printed for consideration.
Extract from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE,
Clerk of ihe General Assembly.
An ACT to prevent trefpaKes and waste from being
committed upon the lands of absent persons, and upos
vacant and unappropriated lands.
WHEREAS divers disorderly persons have of late
entered upon the lands of persons residing beyond
leas or without the bounds of this State, and upon lands
out of the possession of any particular perlon ; and upoz,
lauds reputed to be vacant and unappropriated, under pre
tence of certain claims and rights, or otherwife^ and ha,4
common sewers in the city of Philadelphia ; various modes
of assessment are directed within the several counties,
townihips and diftrißs, and within the city of Philadel
phia refpe&ively:
AND WHERE AS the making of the said affeft
mentS [as is directed in and by the several Ads of Assem
bly aforefaid, hath been found to be very tedious and ex
pensive, and the fame are now become neediefs in most of
the counties of this State, by the prefect manner of asses
sing the State taxes upon taxable persons, and estates real
and personal, and it would save much time and trouble if
the county, city, township and diftriQ rates and taxes
aforefaid were assessed conformably to the State taxes :
Be it therefore ©naded, and it is hereby enabled by the
Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and by the au
thority of the fame, That from and after the passing of
this A&, all county, city, townffiip and diflrict taxes,
herein before enumerated, thereafter to be layed and as
sessed on the taxable persons, and estates real and person
al, within any county, the city of Philadelphia, or any
township or diftrid, fh^ll be apportioned and assessed,
according to the returns and afleffments which were made
for the lafl State tax, layed in the particular county, and
nor othetwife.
Provided always, and be it further enaßed by the au
thority aforefaid, That nothing herein contained shall ex
tend to any State tax on ready money; ncr to debar any
pitfon who may think him or herfelf aggrieved by vir
tue of any thing dene by virtue of this A&, of any ap
peal to which he or the was otherwise intituled ; nor to
alter the mode of colltding any of the rates, levies or
taxes aforefaid ; nor tw alter the mode of taxation in any
county in which returns for a State tax have nor been
made within months, before the laying of such
couhty, city, townfllip or diflria rate or tax.
And be it farther enacted by the authority aforefaid.
That if upon appeal, concerning any rate or tax as afore
faid, it shall appear that any real estate hath been trans
ferred from the person or p< rfons charged for the fame in
the lafl State- tax, and be ore the laying of such county,
city, township or diftri& rate or tax, so appealed against
the Commiffiuners of the county, Justices of the Peace,
Wardens of the Watch, or Commissioners for paving the
streets of the city of Philadelphia, as the case may be,
fliall transfer to the name of the purchaser thereof, and
charge fuoh purchaftr in the duplicate with the rate or
tax assessed upon such estate. 4 • %
AND WHEREAS it will not be reasonable that coun
ty Assessors, in laying the county tax, and the Assessors
of the city of Philadelphia, in laying of city taxes acord
ing to the directions of this Aft should be paid as hereto
fore ;
Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforefaid, That
the said Assessors (hall in executing this Aft, be intituled
to like recompence, as is hereinafter allowed to county As
sessors, and no other.
AND WHEREAS divers owners of lands, whereon
improvements have been made, and on tenements, may
not reside in the county or diftrift where such lands or te
nements are situate, whereby it may be difficult to colh ft
the taxes assessed on such real estate, in pursuance of the
Acts of Assembly, passed in the year One thousand seven
hundred and seventy nine, the laying and assessing and le
vying of State taxes ; for remedy whereof,
Be it enabled by the authority aforefaid, That the te
nant or tenants, or other person refilling on, or occupy
ing such real estate, his, her and their lands, goods and
chatties, as well as the lands, goods and chatties of the
owner or owners thereof, fliall be liable to be diftrained
for to fatisfy the said taxes, or any of them ; and in case
the tenant or tenants, cr other perlon or persons, residing
on, or occupying such real estate, hath or have paid, or
fliall pay any tax, layed thereon, by virtue of any of the
said Aris, or hath or have been or shall be diftrained to
fatisfy such tax, such tenant or tenants may retain the
fame out of the rent, by him or her or them payable for
such real estate, to the landlord ; or the said tenant or te
nants or other occupyer or occupyers of such estate shall
recover the fame, with costs of suit, of the owner of such
estate, by action of debt, if under fifty pounds, in a sum
mary way, io like manner, as ball debts are recoverable;
but if the fame ext eed Fifty pounds, in any Court of Com
mou Pleas.
Provided always, that nothing in this A& shall in any
manner alter any contrast heretofore made between any
landlord and tenant, concerning the payment of taxes;
nor to repeal or alter the d reCtions of the Aft of Assembly
intituled, " An Aft for raising the additional sum of
five millions, seven hundred thousand dollars ip the year
One thousand seven hundred and seventy nine," passed on
the day of October la ft, obliging tenants holding
under a lease, whereby the rent had been reserved in cur
rent money, to pay over and abovethe said rent, all tax&
es on his holding.
AND WHEREAS the recompence at present allowed
to county Commissioners and Assessors, is found to be un
equal to their expences and labours ; wherefore,
Be it enabled by the authority aforefaid, That hence
forth the recoinpence of the said Commissioners and As
sessors, shall be Ten (hillings ,er diem, of money at Ten
millings for a bushel of wheat, and shall be estimated and
fetisfied in like manner, as the recompence and fees of
county Commissioners and Assessors were eßimated and
fatisfied before the passing of this Aft.