The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-06-23 00:00:00, page 2

their crafty policy prompted them to a& covertly, and
screen themselves under the faultion of treaties,which they
Scrupled not themselves to violate. The question there
fore was only, Whether it is better to engage an open
enemy, or a concealed one ; his lordihip attributed
the absurd and unnatural behaviour of this quondam
ady, to the baneful influence of French gold ; for no
thing rife could have effaced from her remembrance
every trace of ancient amity and reciprocal Support :
nothing else could have made her forget how file was
id to conquest by king William and the duke of Marl
borough, lighting against that aspiring family, whole
banners she now appears so willing to support. The
pernicious consequence of this versatility must redound
more to Holland than Great Britain, for the pernici
ous principles of France were well known, and might
be dreaded by all her confederacy, when their sup
port became no longer necessary. In this war, there
fore, we were asserting the real interests of both coun
tries. His lordship concluded by faying, that this con
test was necessary for the chara^er of this country.
We must Submit to the grossest ill-ufag*, or assume the
means of vindicating our rights: and he hoped, in
any Situation, we (Would resolve to redress with spirit
those injuries we can no longer brook with honour.
(To be continued.)
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
An ACT for th^ Repeal of o much of the Laws of this
Commonwealth as make the continental Bills of
Credit and the Bills emitted by the Resolves pr Alts
of the Assemblies of the Hid Commonwealth a Legal
Tender, and for other Purposes therein mentioned.
WHEREAS the honorable the Continental Con
gress, and the different legislatures of the
United States of America, Struggling in support of
their inborn rights and invaded liberties, have been
necessitated, by reason of the scarcity of specie, toe
mit large sums of paper currency ; by the rapid de
preciation whereof, the said United States have labour
ed under great difficulties in procuring the necessary
supplies for carrying on the present war : And whereas
the quantity of specie being of late considerably in
creased within the said United States, the said Congress
have, in the mod prefling manner, recommended to the
different legislatures of the fame states, to repeal all
laws, making the paper bills of credit of the United
States, a legal tender, equal to gold or filter.
In compliance with the said recommendation, and
for attaining the good ends and purposes thereby in
tended.
Sell. I. Be it enabled, and it is hereby enabled by
the representatives of the freemen of the common
wealth of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met, and
by the authority of the fame, that so much of all and
every of the laws of this commonwealth, as declare
the bills of credit emitted by the honorable the Con
tinental Congress, or by the resolves of the assemblies
of the late province of Pennsylvania, or by the pre
sent or late assembly or assemblies of this common
wealth, to be a legal tender, in discharge of debts, con
tra&s or demands; and so much cf the said laws, as
iru^fe any penalty or forfeiture upon persons refufing
to accept any of the said bills of credit, in fatisfadian
of any debts, centrads or demands ; and so much of
the said laws, as impose any penalty or forfeiture upon
persons refufing to receive the said bills of Credit, in
payment f r any live flock, necessary of life, commo
dity, article or goods whatsoever, or upon persons of
fering such goods or articles for a less price or smaller
sum of money, to be paid in gold or Silver, or other
current money, than in the bills of credit aforefaid;
or upon persons giving or receiving a greater nominal
sum of the said bills of credit for a less in gold and
silver, Shall be, and the fame is and are hereby repealed
and made void.
Sed. 2. Provided always nevertheless, that the
foregoing clause Shall not extend, or be construed to
extend to repeal, alter, or make void any laws or sec
tions, or elaufes of laws, whereby the paper bills of
credit emitted in pursuance of an alt passed on the
£sth day of March, one thousand Seven hundred and
eighty, and the paper bills of credit emitted in pur
fuance of the aft passed on the Seventh day of April,
one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, are made
receivable at the fame rate as gold and silver, in the
payment of the arrearages of purchase money, due
for lands or lots fold, or to be fold or conveyed by
this date, forfeited estates only excepted.
Seft. 3. Provided also, that nothing in this aft con
tained, Shall affeltany tender made in due and legal
manner, under and according to the directions of any
of the said laws, or any suits, actions and judgments,
which have been commenced or had, or which are now
depending, or which hereafter may be brought, for or
by reason of any tender made before the palling of this
alt.
Sell. 4. And be it further enaded by the authority
aforefaid, that all debts, duties, rents, annuities, and
other demands, granted or contracted for by any deed,
will, mortgage, bond, specialty, bill of exchange,
note, affumpfit, or otherwise, Since the firft day of Ja
nuary, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven,
which were expressed to be paid and discharged in any
foreign money, or in gold and silver money of any
denomination, cr in bullion, or in any commodity,
and which have not Since been paid and fatisfied, or
difeharged, Shall be deemed, construed and taken to
be yet due and owing from debtors to creditors, in
such money or other commodity, as iu the said con
tracts were expressed, and the fime may be sued for
and recovered in any court of juflice within this com
monwealth, having competent jurifdi&ion, in so much
gold or Silver money, as Shall be equal in value to the
debt or duty, according to the terms of the contract.
Sell. 5. And whereas most of the debts contracted
beore the firft day of January, 1777, are due and ow
ing from persons, who from principles of honor and
-bonefly have declined paying their creditors with a
depreciated paper currency, when by law they might
have so done, and it would be unreasonable, that such
debtors Should be compelled to difeharge their old
debts in gold or silver money, until it shall become
more plenty and easier to be acquired ;
Selt. 6. Be it therefore enacted by the au'hority
afo.efaid, that where any judgment already hath been
or hereafter Shall be entered in any court of record
within this commonwealth, by default, upon the con
feffion of (he party, the report of referrees, or the
verdict of a jury, or otherwise, for any sum of money
contracted for, or due for rents, ground-rents or an
nuities, before the firft day of January, 1777, (debts
due to the hate excepted,) the said court is hereby
authorized, if the fame be not ascertained by the said
confe ffion, report or verdict, to afeertain how much
of the said sum of money is due to the plaintiff for the
principal sum due, and how much thereof is for inte
rest, damages, costs and charges, and to give judg
ment for the whole sum, which judgment Shall remain
as a lieu upon the real estate of the defendants, in the
fame manner as judgments at law bind such estate,
and thereupon the said court Shall award execution
against the defendant, for so much of the said sum on
ly, as the said interest, damages, costs and charges
Shall amount to, which money Shall be levied, recover
ed and paid in gold and silver money ; but no execu
tion shall issue for the principal sum, until two years
after the passing of this act, or until permiflion Shall be
given for that purpose, by an ad of the assembly of this
commonwealth; but the defendant Shall nevertheless
pay the interest of the said principal sum yearly, as it
Shall grow due, and in default thereof the plaintiff Shall
be entitled to writs of execution, as often as there Shall
be occasion to recover the fame.
Sell. 7. Provided always nevertheless, that if the
defendants in any such cause Shall not be at the time of
rendering the said judgment, seized of a fufficient real
estate within this commonwealth, in his own r ght, to
Secure the said debt, and Shall be about to depart from
this date, without leaving such real estate, and Shall
refufe to give other security for the said principal sum,
to the fatisfaaion of the said court, then and in such
case the said court are hereby authorized and required
to award execution for the whole sum contained in the
said judgment, as well principal as interest, damages,
costs and charges ; any thing herein contained to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Sett. 8. And in order to prevent unnecessary suits,
and to give debtors a reasonable time to prepare them
selves for payment of their old debts, before any suit
can be brought ;
Be it entiled by the authority aforefaid, thatno suit
Shall be commenced against any person (other than the
Subjects of his Britannic majesty,) for any debt or du
ty contracted for before the iff day of January, ^777,
under or by virtue of this act, where the sum demand
ed, exceeds fifty pounds, within less than fix months
from the passing of this alt, unless the creditor Shall
have demanded from the person of the debtor, or by a
note in writing left at the place of his abode, Satisfac
tion of the fa d debt, at least three months befote bring
ing his suit, or unless the creditor or some person for
him, Shall swearer affirm, that he apprehends a dan
ger of losing his debt by the delay.
Seft. 9, And be it further enabled by the authority
aforefaid, that nothing in this aft contained Shall ex
tend to revive any debts or demands which were, on or
before the firft day of January, 1776, barred by any
alt for the limitation of actions then in force; and
that no debt or demand which was not barred by such
alt for the limitation of actions, on the said firft day
of January, 1776, Shall be barred by the said alt, un
til two years after the passing of this all, and until
such time as is limited by law, according to the na
ture of each case-
Sect 10. And whereas divers persons as agents, fac
tors, bailiffs and receivers, Sheriff's, attornies at law
and in sass, executors, administrators, guardians, trus
tees and other persons, in right of t< eir respective of
fices, trusts and appointments, may have received sums
of money for the use of their principals and persons
interested, some of whom may have applied such mo
nies to their own use, others may have kept the fame by
them until it depreciated to a mugh greater degree,
and others may have placed the fame out on interest,
for the use and benefit of their principals; and it is
fit and right that justice Should take place in such va
ried cases, as nearly as may be afeertained,
Sell. 11. Be it therefore enacted by the authority
aforefaid, That where any agent, factor, bailiff, or re
ceiver, Sheriff, attorney at law or in fad, executor, ad
ministrator or guardian, trustee or other person, has
in right of his office, trust or appointment, received
any sum or sums of money for the use of his or their
principals, or persons interefled, and have applied the
fame to their own private use, in such case he or they
Shall be accountable to his or their principals, or per
sons interefled as aforefaid, for so much gold and sil
ver money as the said bills of credit, or other money,
so by them received, were worth at the time of such
application, according to the rate of depreciation, af
fixed to the all, intitled, " An Aft directing the mode
of adjuring and fettling the payment of debts and
contrasts, entered into and made between the firft day
of January 1777. and the firft day of March 1781, and
for other purposes therein mentioned," passed the third
day of April, 1781. And where any such agent, fac
tor, bailiff, receiver, Sheriff, attorney at law or in fad,
executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or other
person, having received any sum or sums of money as
aforefaid, Shall render an account on oath or affirma
tion, of the manner of his disposing of the fame, and of
the profit or loss arising thereupon, and the prinaip.ll
or other person interefled as aforefaid, Shall not be able
to disprove the fame, in case of loss, then and in such
case such profit or loss Shall go to the benefit or pre
judice of the principals or persons interested as afore
faid, allowing a reasonable compensation to such agent,
fallor, bailiff, receiver, Sheriff, attorney at law or in
fact, executor, administrator, guardian, trustee, or
other person, for his trouble in managing the fame ;
and if any such agent, faltor, bailiff, receiver. Sheriff;
attorney at law or in fall, executor, administrator,
guardian, truflee, or or other such person, receiving
as aforefaid, Shall decline to make such oath or affirma
tion, and to ren er such account, it Shall be presumed
hat he applied the said monies to bis own use, and he
From European Prints, brought by the Franklin, cap
tain Angus, we Irave the following advices, viz
CONSTANTINOPLE. Jak 1.
ON the 27th ult. one of the wives of the Grand
Signior was brought to bed of a princess, who
was named Moleck, or the Angelick Sultana. It is
said that the English minister exerts his utmost politi
cal abilities for the accomplishment of a projed which
he has in view; the execution of which is strongly op.
posed by the French Ambassador.
Cadiz, Feb. 9. Our Ships being perfectly armed and
fitted out, and the wind favourable, the fleet failed
this day, under the command of Don Lewis de Cordo
va, and is composed of 30 failof the line and 6 frigates:
they will be joined at sea by some other frigates and
smaller vessels, which were sent out to bring the earliest
intelligence of the approach of the English fleet, divin
ed to revidual Gibraltar, which place we hear is at
present much in want of provisions.
Madrid, February 13. A courier has passed thro'
this place in his way to Liibon, with orders for the
Ruffian squadron at anchor in the Tagus.
Vienna, Feb. 21. While Europe exhibits the most
dreadful picture to humanity, we are informed that the
illustrious Catherine 11. empress of all the Ruffias, is
seriously meditating on the means to prevent the effufi
on of blood, the ruin and destruction of nations. We
are assured that that sovereign is not only offering her
mediation to Great-Britain and Republic of the United
Provinces of the Low Countries; but it is also certain,
that great princess, who is now the admiration of Eu
rope, thinks very seriously of immortalifing her name,
by procuring, through her good offices, a general
peace to afflicted Europe, There is no doubt but that
our great monarch is at present employed on the fame
object. The arrival and departure of couriers continue
daily. The count D'Aguilar, ambassador of the king
of Spain, received one yesterday from his court, and
had the fame day a long conference with the prince de
Kaunitz, as had also the French ambassador, each Se
parately. Mr. Keith, the Bririfh ambassador, conti
nues likewise to hold conferences with that prince.
Hague, March 12, Inthe assembly of the States of
Holland and W. Friefland, held on Wedßefday laftjhe
Shall be accountable tnei etor in the manner lierein be
fore- mentioned in such cases.
Sell. 12. And whereas by an a a of a ff emb ly o fthis
commonwealth, passed the twenty- seventh of Nove
ber, one thousand seven hundred and Seventy. n ; nA
titled, " An Aft for the better support of certain’^f™
ficers of this state, and for ascertaining the f oec °fr
fines and penalties which they may incur bv a A 1
of duty :" The fees of the said Officers % th e^S
and penalties which they might incur by a
duty, were regulated by the p r i ce of wheat, which
been found inconvenient and uncertain; Guilds
Sea. 13. Be it therefore enabled by the ant a -
aforefaid, Thatftm and after the passing of this
the fees due to the officers, in the said aft mentioned &
all fines and penalties, which they have or
by a neglea of duty Shall be paid, levied, col e^d
and received by and from them tn gold and silver mo
ney as they were regulated by law or pradice
the late government of Pennsylvania, before £
day of July one thousand seven hundred and feve^
Sect. 14. And whereas by a n aft o f assembly of
commonwealth, -passed the eighth day of March
^dft hundred end eighty,ltitled, ^
Act to restore and afeertain divers fines, penalties
forfeitures, herein after mentioned, which may
curred by the breach of certain ads of assembly of this
commonwealth," the s a id fines, penalties and
feitt, therein mentioned, were also regulated
the price of wheat, which mode has been found
convenient uncertain and inadequate : Be it there
fore enacted by the authority aforefaid, That all fines
penalties and forfeitures of every kind, imoofed
virtue of any a a s of the afolJ of the ^7p^
° P %,, ia , whieh are now in force, Shall be levi
ed, collefLd and recovered, in so much gold and silver
^7' "} ^ f ?d feveral aa s is particularly ^
y f a "/; e '? e ^ ve| y Specified; and all fines, penalties
and forfeitures, irnpofed by any ads of assembly of
t^ 3 . commonwealth, since the revolution, Shall be' le
vied, collected and recovered, in so much gold and
f tne ^ fpecified in the refpeaive
for the s ai d fines, penalties and forfeitures, were worth
:^^^^ ^^
a &ed by 'the ^thority^fo^^^
contrilb which have been ent red A °
from or since the firft day of March, 178'r, or%ll"be
Tr ^^^"^ ^ a " be ^ a nd difetoga
according to the fpeciil nature of the contract, that is
:°^"' T'\'° r r g ° ld and filver > fhaN be
paid md discharged in the fame ; and contracts made
for paper currency of any emission, Shall be payable
in tne fame emission, excepting only that contrary
entered into as above for old continental currency (if
any such there be) Shall be liquidated and paid at spe
cie value, which value Shall be afeertained and de
termined by a justice of the peace or the justices of
the common pleas, as the case may be within thete
respective jurisdictions. '
, ^ eC ^ l6 ° And b ° " enacted by the authority afore
faid, that nothing an this act Shall be extended to pre
vent the receiving the bills of credit emitted in conse
quence of the refofution of Congress of the 18th of
March, 1780, in tax^s, to be laid in pursuance of an
act of general assembly of this state, entitled " A
supplement to an act, entitled, An act for funding
and redeeming the bilh of credit of the United States
of America, and for providing means to bring the
present war to a happy conclusion," passed the 19th
day ° f 'e^be^ VBo. Signed by order of the House,
FREDERICK A. MUHLENBERG, Speaker:
Enacted into a law at Philadelphia,
on Thursday the twenty-firft day
of June, in the year 1781.
Samuel Sterett, Clerk of the general assembly.