The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-04-27 00:00:00, page 1

TUESDAY,' APRIL 27, i 7 7%
^^W^ <&&^^Ua^A I=^^^ & ^^<!^ (D^rarh/^3
OR THE
GENERAL ^^^ if ADVERTISER'
TH E Indrpendance of America is now talked of by
feme 4s a matter which not only belongs to her of
right, but, we are told, Great Britain could receive no in
jury from feeing it established. Let us take a view of the
question.
There is, in many men, a facility of changing their
means and arguments, while they possess a fufficiency of
real obstinacy in pursuing their ends, and apparent perse
verance in what they call their principles.
I think this truth is pretty strongly evinced in the con
duct of the Americans, and of those who have thought pro
per to espouse their cause in this country, we all know in
what a stile, at the beginning of those troubles, the for
mer pretend to talk (though it must be owned their deeds
often contradicted their words) and we cannot forget how
they altered their tone in the progress or the dispute. We
have had opportunities enough of remarking how their
friends and abettors kept pace with them in their plan. It
is now useless to insist upon the great encouragement they
received from this fide of the water, which, income cases
proved as, effectual as fleets and armies, which, Heaven
be praised, these pseudo-patriots could not equip. He
who would deny the fraud, must be the weakeftof men,
or he must have boldness enough to overmatch the heads
of opposition, in denying what is plain to the meanest ca
pacity.—But this by the bye-^ Without examining the
pretented right of the American- colonists to Independency
or giving a detail of the means they used to acquire it, let
any impartial man recoiled how those who supported oppo
sition echoed tire voice of their friends abroad, and, like
them, espoused and abandoned opinions at will, as occa
sion served both, however, still keeping in view the grand
points of distressing Great Britain, and promoting the in
terest of her enemies, how often was the idea of Indepen
dency reprobated? How often was jt said to be neither
the wish of America nor her interest to be separated from
the Mother country ? But no sooner did the Congress
judge things ripe for declaration of Independency, than
the colonists argued quite differently, and their good friends
hare at home held forth a language of the fame kind with
that adopted by those whose cause they were determined
to support. In effefl, those who paid no regard to the most
fol mn declarations, found it easy to break through the
barrier of opinion.
Since by various successes of the war, it has become a
serious question, Whether the Americans will not be able
to gain what any r^fowable person mufi once have sup
posed to have exceeded their modfanguine expectations;
while things are hanging in this uncertain balance, in or
der the better to remove every obstacle that might oppose
their favourite scheme, the abettors of rebellion have art
fully almost removed out of fight the question of right and
justice, and hkve insinuated the expediency of declaring
America independent; i. e. every thing to her, in order
to receive nothing in return.
As I believe many well-meaning persons have been de
ceived into this opinion, it will tie worth while to mention
the principal arguments generally used in support of
it.
I. That as Great-Britain existed before Ihe had any co
lonies ; so file may after they are separated from her, es
pecially as by timely declaring for her independency, she
will secure their friendfhip and commerce.
Anfiver. There is fopne difference 'between a nation's lo
sing what she had possessed, and her never having possessed
what consequently she could not feel the want of. As to
the trade of America, most cf the colonies can and do ma
nufadure, and they will certainly never trade with us but
for such commodities as they cannot get elsewhere. As to
their friendfhip the injuries they pretend to have received
at ou, hands, and their malevolence displayed in rejecting
all the pacific offers made by this country, renders the de
pendance on it ridiculous Those who tell you one conces
sion is the effect of fej, will doubtiefs fay the fame of an
other, and will aft accordingly.
11. By declaring the Americans independent, you may,
either avoid a war with France, or if you enter into it, de
prive her at least, of the assistance of the colonists.
Answer. We may avoid a war with France now, if we
think it confident with our honor to do so, after what has
passed; if not, it is no reconciliation with America can
make it so. Our colonies are hot in a date to yield any
material assistance to France, whom they invoke to assist
them. But what aid they can give, they certainly will,
if we leave them to themselves, on the principles '' that
the war is undertaken on their account by the French,"
according to the spirit of the treaty.
111. that Great-Britain wants her troops at home,
which are @f no service in America, who, if you abandon
the thoughts of conquering her, though separated from
your interest, will also never be expensive or troublesome
to you for protection.
Answer. This is a fine spun argument. Either the co
lonies were worth keeping, or they were not. ' As to our
troops, we want them not, as we have no Continental war,
and have a force within us fufficient to defend this country.
If the colonies were not worth keeping, why did the op
pufition once so much extol their worth ? , If they are, why
From a late LO N'D O N PAPER.
[ Price 2S. 6d. tingle, 2S. by the quantity. Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. ]
should we not make every effort yet to preserve them to
the Crown of England?
IV. There is an apparent impossibility th,at you should
ever subdue the people in question ; is it not better to leave
to themselves ; and of what more consequence can their
Independence be to you, than that of the States of Holland ?
Anfajer. It is a matter of very serious concern to give
up a just claim, which, at feme time or ether, may be
enforced, granting that at present it should be urged in
eifeaually. Our troops, supported by our ships, may yet
remain there ; feme of the provinces may yet be secured,
the rest kept in alarm ; and thus, at last, without refling
in the idea of any great successes, the Americans may be
forced to accept of Something materially fliorr of Indepen
cy, or lose some of their Thirteen Stripes, besides having
their trade eminently injured. As to the consequences of
granting Independency to America, a new power thus
emerging as it were from nothing, must gre tly affeft the
ba ance of power, whatever power they acquire, is likely
to be the fame in war and trade, employed to the detri
ment of Great Britain.
I think these are fufficient answers to the arguments
urged for our permitting the colonies to be independent.
Should they at last, in fpight of all our efforts, become so
as to tell us this Independence is for our advantage, it is
an ihfult on our understanding, yet by not tamely giving
up the point we fliall have asserted, and in some measure,
preserved the dignity of our country.'
A I. CASTOR.
Be it therefore enaaed, and it is hereby enaßed by the Re
presentatives of the Freemen at the Commonwealth of Penn
fyroania, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of
the fame, That, from and after the publication of this aft
every person er persons who fha!l obtain a licence to keep
a tavern or public house of entertainment within this
commonwealth, according to the directions and in the
marker mentioned and expressed in and by the laws now
in force, shall pay therefor three times the fees which such
person or persons ought to have paid according to the di
reaions of the said laws.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid, That
if any person or persons within this commonwealth shall,
after the publication of this aft, have or keep any public
inn, tavern, ale house, tippling-house, or dram-lhop,
victualling -house, or public-house of entertainment, with
out such licence to be obtained as aforefaid, such person
shall for every such offence forfeit and pay instead of Five
Pounds the sum of Thirty Pounds; and that every person
having obtained such licence, who shall fuffer any disorder,
such as drunkenefs or any unlawful games, in his, her or
their house, or in any place in his, her or their occupan
cy, shall, for the firft offence, forfeit and pay instead of
Forty Shillings the sum of Twelve Pounds; and for every
other offenee committed by such person again ft the laws of
this commonwealth now in force, relating to or concern
ing inn keepers and tavern-keepers, or retailers of spiritu
ous liquors as such, ^y§ry such offender or offenders shall
forfeit and pay fix titles the sum and sums refpeftively
which were Imposed 'by the said laws.
AND WHEREAS, by the laws of this commonwealth
heretofore pissed, it is ena&ed, that a rate, duty and
sum of Four Pence per gallon should be imposed and levied
on all wine, rura, brandy, and other spirits, bartered, fold
or consumed within this commonwealth, except as in the
said laws is excepted, and that each and every retailer
thereof mould pay therefor the rate and duty of Three
Pounds per annum :
Be it enaaed by the authority aforefaid That instead of
the said rate, duty and sum of Four Pence per gallon,
there shall, after the publication of this a&, be raised, le
vied and collected the rate, duty and sum of One Shilling
per gallon, and so in proportion for any greater or lesser
quantity for all wine, rum, brfyy, and other spirits bar
tered, fold or consumed within this state, except as afere
faid; and that each and every such retailer thereof, as
aforefaid, fliall, instead of the sum of Three Pounds per
annum, pay the sum of Nine Pounds yearly and every
year; all which rates, duties, sum and sums of money
An ACT to increase the fees an tavern licences, the fines
on tippling houses, and the rates of excise.
WHEREAS the fees heretofore paid for tavern li
mces, the fines imposed on fach as keep taverns
or tippling houses without licence, and the rates of excise
on fp ritGoris liquors are altogether inadequate to the exi
gencies of government, and to tie good purposes for which
the said fees and excise are now by the constitution of this
commonwealth appropriated, and the said fines imposed ;
and as tavern-keepers, and dealers in fpirituops liquors,
make much greater profits at this time than they did when
the laws regulating the said fees and excise were passed, it
is but just and reasonable that they should 'contribute pro
portionably towards the support of government, and to
defray the great debts unavoidably incurred in carrying
an the just and necessary war in which these United States
are at present engaged for the preservation of their rights
and liberties :
PHILADELPHIA.
shall 6? raised, levied and collected in the fame manners
and according to the directions and exceptions, and under
freble the rtfpedive penalties in the said laws mentioned,
expressed and imposed.
And he it enabled b, the authority aforefaid, That all mo
nies arising from tavern licences (except the fees to be pai^
thereto to the Justices and Clerk of the General Quarter
^effions and Clerk of the Colimon Pleas of the city of
Philadelphia, and of each county of this state, a^d except
also the fees thereon to the Secretary of the state) and each
and every of the fines imposed upon and paid by each and
every person and persons who fhal l keep inns or taverns
without such licence as aforefaid, and also all and singular
the monies arising arid collected from the excise aforefaid,
after deducing trie Collectors fees shall, by the refpeftive
officers be paid into the Treasury of this state, for the
use of the fame, within three months after the fame have
been collected by and paid unto them refpeCtively from
time to time, under the penalty of forfeiting and paying
double fuch,fum and sums which they or either of them
shall have in their hands, and shall negleft or refufe to pay
as aforefaid, to be recovered agairiftthem, or either of
them, by action on the case, or of debt, or account ren
der, as thecate may require, in the name of the common
wealth of Peanfylvania."':
And be it further 'ena^ed by the authority aforefaid, That
all and fin^uhr the monies heretofore received on account
of. the excise by the former or present Collectors thereof,
in the different counties of this commonwealth, and not
paid according to the, true intent and meaning of the said
laws, shall be paid by the said Collectors refpeßively into
the Treasury ot this commonwealth, within three months
from and after the publication of this aft, under the pe
nalty of forfeiting -and paying double the sum arid sums
that they or either of them fnall neglect or refufe to pay
in the manner aforefaid, to be recovered in the manner
herein before direfW.
JOHN BAYARD, Speaker.
Enabled into a law dt Philadelphia, on Monday the fif
teenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and feveny-nine,
JOHN MORRIS, Junior,
Clerk of the General Affembiy.
Philadelphia, April sa.
To be SOLD by the Subscriber,
AN Englidiforrel MAKE, fourteen h#n</s and
one inch high, of a good carriage, beautifully
marked: She would make an excellent pad for a Lady,
Enquire of the Printer, or of , 1 '
DANIEL CLYMER.
T O 'O
AN unimproved Trad of patented Land, of an ex
ceding good.quality, confining of three thousand
eight hundred and thirty , eight acres, situate on the
head waters of Little Coneonough, Chest and Clear fidd
Creeks, in the county of Bedford. Enquire? of the
Printer.
ONE HUNDRED POUNDS REWARD.
ABSCONDED from his bail, on Tuesday the
zoth instant, (April) John Shelman, Assistant
Commissary at Reading: He was irdi&ed for forgery at
the Supreme Court held at Philadelphia April the 20th.
Stud John Shelman is about five feet seven or eight
inches high, thin long visaged, fair complexion, dark
long hair tied behind, a remarkable lon# nose, /lender
built, talks remarkably quick and fluent^ he wore when
leen at Philadelphia, a Ihort bear/km coatee, a hat cut
1D ^nd rode a g r y horse, or mare, when
crossing the ferry into New ferfey. Whoever appre
hends said John Shelman and lodges him in any on
the Continent, so that he be and appear at Philadelphia
^ trav ,f the afoiefaid indictment at the next Supreme
Court held at Philadelphia aforefaid, shall be entitled to
the above reward and reasonable charges, paid by
JAMES FORREST.
TOBIAS RUDOLPH.'
^^±2^^^^^^)%^^^
The HIGHEST PRICE
1 IS GIVEN FOR
CLEAN LINEN RAGS,
BY
JOHN D U N L A P.
'""r' HE Contributors to the Pennfylvanh Hos
, pital lie desired to attend the Annual Efcaion
of Managers and Treasurer, to be held, according to
Law, on the third day of the next month, between the
hours ofTwo and Six in the afternoon, in the Managers
room of said Hospital.
April 19.