The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-06-10 00:00:00, page 2

violation, of the fame Treaty which their High Mighti
nesses feerc to regard as the most sacred of all. His
Maj Ry hath made already repeated representations
on thn necessity end justice of this Search, practiced in
tall like cirCumßances and fully authorised by the
Treaty. It was known in London, that there were in
the Texel federal Ships laden with naval military Hores,
particularly with masts and timber for Ship building,
r adv to fail for France, Zither in the train, or under
a Duch convoy. The event but too well proved the
truth of these informations, since those very Ships were
found under convey : the greatest part of them efcap
e<, and carried to France those efficacious Supplies
of which She Stood so much in need. Whilst your High
Mi^tideSßs thus affiftedthe King's enemies, in fa
vouring the transportation of these Succours, you ma
pped a heavy file on the fubje&s of the republic, to
prevent their carrying any provisions to Gibraltar, al
though that place was comprized in the general gua
ran ycf all the British possessions in Europe; and al
though, at the fame time, Spain had troubled the
commerce of the republic; in an outrageous and unex
emplary manner. , r
It is not only on these occasions that the conduct of
your High Mightineffis towards the King, and to
wards his enemies, forms a contrast in a very Striking
manner to the eyes of the impartial , world. No one is
ignorant of what passed in the too well known affair of
Piul Tones- the Shelter afforded to that pirate was ai
redlv contrary to the Treaty of Breda in 1667, and to
the very placard, of your Hieh Mightinesses of 1756.
Moreover, although your High Mightinefa hath kept,
an I Still keeps an absolute silence on his Majesty's just
demands, you have haflened, at the firnple requisition
of the King's enemies, to assure them of an absolute
and unlimited neutrality, without any exceptions of
the amtient engagements of the republic, founded on
the mod solemn Treaties. Yet the King is willing to
>-rfuade himfelf that all that hath passed is to be the
%f s attributed tothe real disposition of your High Migh
tiness than to the artifices of his enemies, who, after
they had Sown difeord amongst the members of the date,
seek, by alternate menaces and prayers, to animate
them against their natural ally.
His Majesty cannot belive your High Migntinefles
have resolved to abandon a system which the republic
hath followed with so much glory and success for above
But if'fuch was your High Mightinesses resolutions;
if you were determined to quit the avarice with Great-
Britain, by refufing to fulfil your engagements; this
resolution will give birth to a new Rate of affairs. The
King will fee that change with a sensible regret; but
the consequences which will follow will be necessary and
inevitable. If by an ad of your High Mightiness,
the republic ceases to be allied to his Majesty, the re
lation between the two countries will be totally chan
ged • and they will have n® other connections, no other
ties' than those which subsist between friendly and
neutral powers. Every Treaty being reciprocal, if
your High Mightiness will not fulfill your engage
ments, the consequence muff be that those of the King
will cease to be binding. ..,,
It is in partaking these incontestable principles that
his Majesty has ordered the under-signed to declare to
your High Mightinesses, in the most friendly and at the
fame time in rhe mod serious manner that if, Contrary
to his expectation, your High Mightiness do not give
in tire weeks from the day of presenting this memorial,
a fatisfaaory answer, touching the Succours claimed
for eight months; his Majesty will regard th rt conduit
as in abandonment of the alliance on your High Migh
rineffts part* and will no longer behold the United
Provinces than on the footing of other neutral powers,
not privileged by Treaties; and consequently will
cause a fufpention provisionally, and until! further or
ders in regard to your Sublets of every particular sti
pulation of the Treaties between the two nations, prin
c,,,||y that of 1674,—and confine himfelf entirely to
tie general principles of the law of nations, which
ought to serve as a rule between neutral unprvile
p^d powers.
DONE at the Hague, the 21st of March, 1780.
"Signed Chevalier YORK E.
BRES T, March 12.
THE works at this port are continued with great afti-
A vny. Many workmen are arrived here from other
ports to dispatch the repairing and fitting out of the (hips
defined for America. Several brass cannon, 48 poun
ders have been taken from the batte ties of this port, and
placed on board the Royal Louis, of too guns, on board
of which t^e Count Du baffault will hoist his flag. The
Conquerant o' 7+ guns, belonging to the Squadron under
Cou^t de Guichen, and forced into port by Arefs of wea
ther, will fail with tie above division defined for Arae
'"higue, March 29. The Deputies of the States of the
province of H dland, have delivered unto the Assembly
of the States General, their opinion concerning the re
quisition of the Court of Great-Britain, of the Ripulated
fu^coursi which is in substance as follows: --•'That
having confi lered th* two Memorials preferred by Sir
Tofeoh Yorke, Ambaffadqr Extraordinary of the King of
G*4t Britain, in which declaims the Succours flipulated
by treaty, their Noble and High Mightiness have found
that the guarantee and the fuccours flipulated and pro
mised by all the treaties of alliance now existing between
this Republic an I the Crown of Great- Britain, are only
confined in the most explicit manner to the 1 mhs of Eu
rope, as it is evidently and clearly expressed in the Second
articled the treaty of 1678, in the following words :
" The whole, however, within the extent of Europe on
ly " which has been confirmed, and finally ratified by
the Separate article of the treaty of tee Bth of Janu ry,
1717. That it is inconteftible that the prefe t war began
in America, and that its extension and communication
to Europe, cannot be considered otherwise than an accef
fary eve r to those primitive troubles ; and that it thus
cannot be said, that the case of the alliance (Cafusf^le?^)
any refpeA applicable to the present war. That
for these motives, it is further their opin on, that their
H^ Mynfiueß may excuse themselves from granting .
^e^ccow- required by the Said Ambassador in his two
The Stafesof the province of Friezlaod have come to
the fame refutation.
Hague, March 30. We find that the,States General
have, by tier Agent, Mr. Vanden Burgh Van Spierhigs
Hock, given the following p ovifional answer to the
Englifli AmbafTador's Memorial: “ That their High
Mightinesses are very desirous to coincide with the willi
es ofhis Britannic Majesty, by giving a positive answer
to the Memorial delivered by tris Ambassador, but that
their High Mightinesses forrtee, that from the nature of
the government of the Republic, it is impoflible to return
an answer in three weeks time, as the Memorial roust be
deliberated upon by the different provinces, and their
resolutions waited for. T^at therc High Mightinesses
are assured his Majesty would not wish rigorously to
keep to the beforementiontd time, that their High Migh
tinesses might be able to conclude upon an answer in a
manner conformable to the coeßituticn of the Republic,
in which they had no right to make any alteration, and
they promise to accelerate the deliberations upon thathead
as much as poffible.'' It is further laid, that the En^bfh
Ambassador having read this answer, excused himfelf from
accepting it, on account of the King his Maftes's orders ,
but said he di^ not doubt but that the representations
whi h Count WeMeren had orders to make to his Court
would entirely fulfil the intentions of their High Migh~
tineffes. It is also laid, that Sir jofeph Yorke, commu
nicaied this kis answer to the States General on the zßth
of ritynonth in a conference.
LOND O N, March 30.
Holland is at prefect in a most critical situation :---A
few days before the packet failed, the French Ambassador
presented a memorial to the Stites General, infilling, in
the most peremptory manner, upon an immediate decla
ration of war againA England. The late affairs with
Count Byland is treated in terms of severe repreheofion
by the French, as if it was pre-concerted between the En
glifli and the Dutch only with a view of keeping up a pro
posed neutrality. A very Ihort time was given for the
States to return ananfwer, whidh, if not &isfaßbry to
France, lie would, without any further IoG of tithe, pro
ceed to open hoftiliti^s against Holland.
If Holland should declare in favour of England, a ge
neral war in Europe will inevitably take place; the Em
peror is already exasperated againfi the Dutch, on account
of some points of commerce which they may have infrin
ged, and if he takes arms against them, their ally, the
Ki^g of Prussia, will appear in their favour.
April 4. Our grand channel fleet for the ensuing sum
mer, will receive a reinforcement from the enemy, of se
ven fail of the line of their befl ihips, and nine frigates
and sloops, which are n # despicable armament of them
selves, tiiough our successes have been so much decried.
House of Commons, T^urfday, April 6. Agreed to
the report of the resolution of yesterday on the supply.
That 87,7181. be granted for maintaining Ch Ifea Hofpi
tai, 6,997 k for making new roads and bridges in the High
lands cf Scotland, 33,3561. for additional new railed le
vies, 31791. for Colonel Holroyd's new railed troops of
dragoons; 31791. for Colonel Rainsford's ; 3169!. for
Colonel Humber Rone's. And 86231. for Colonel Fuller
ton's.
BOSTO N, May zg.
Sunday lafl arrived hereafter a short cruize, his Most
Chrifliau Majesty's frigate the Hermoine, commanded by
M. la Touche, who made a visit to Penobfcot, ?nd took a
near viewof the British fort a: Baggaduce. The Nautil
lus and Albany, under the command of the infamous Mo
watt, who bur,nt Falm uth, were at anchor without the
fort, but upon the approach of the Hermoine, immediate
ly retired behind it. T.e Hermoine firft appeared under
British colours, which they did not chufe to trust, and af
terwards fired a gun of defiance, which they did not dare
to aceept. The presence of this frigate, under so brave
and active a commander, is no inconfidetable addition to
the security of our trade.
We are well informed that Captain la Touche has ta
ken 6 British privateers and 5 merchantmen since the com
mencement of the war. Among the firlt, two were taken
together, each of more than 20 guns ; one of which mount
ing 22 guns, was fitted cut by fame ladies of quality in
England, and named the Ladies Resolution.
PHILADELPHIA, June 10.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Pennsylvania.
Thwfday , June 1, 1780.
WHEREAS the exigencies which may arise in a
state of war, are frequently of a nature that require such
sudden and extraordinary exertions, as are impoflible for
the L giflative Body to provide for by the ordinary course
of law : Therefore,
Resolved tnanimorfly, That during the recess of this
House, should the circumfiances of the war make it ne
cessary, the President cr Vice-President in Council, be
authorized and empowered, and they are hereby authori
zed and empowered, to declare Martial Law, so fat as the
fame may be conducive to the public security, and to the
fifety and defence of the good and faithful citizens of this
Commonwealth.
Extras from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAINE,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
Ex'raa of a letter from a gentleman in St Pierre, Mar
tinique, dated, April 24, 1780.
" I fit ill just give you a fmaft sketch of the war m these
seas, four weeks ago, we had a reinforcement from France,
ronfifting of 16 fliips of the line, 4 frigates, and about
80 transports, having on board 6000 troops ; tnis makes us
very strong; we have now 23 line of battle fltips, and on
ly one of 50 guns, all the r-ft from 80 to 64. The fleet
that is commanded by Admiral Rodney, consists of 22
line of battle (hips, amongst which is 4 fifties, and seve
ral of those fliips came from Europe with the Admiral,
in short, they only make a figure ; they are leaky, inso
much, that they can hardly be kept above water, both the
fleets I saw the 16th infant in fight of each other, and
on the 17th they had a skirmish for about two hours and a
half or three hwrs, the particulars of which we have not
heard, both fleets are now out. The French squadron
is commanded by Gen. De Bouline, and is thought will
strike some great blow before they come in again.
The CRISIS, N° IX.
HA D America pursued her advantages with half the
Spirit die refitted her misfortunes, the would, before
Mow, have been a conquering and a peaceful people ; but
lulled in the lap of fott tranquility she rested on her hopes,
and adversity only has convulLd her into action. Whe
ther fubtilt, or finrerity at the close of the last year, in
duced the enemy to an ^ppfearance for peace, is a point'
not material to know ; it is fifficieof that we tee theeffißs
it has had on our politics, and that we sternly rife to re
lent the delusion.
The war on the part of America, has betn a war of na
tural feelings. Brave in distress; serene in conquest ;
drowsy when at rest ; and in every firnation generously
difoofed to peace. A dangerous calm, and the most
heightened zeal, have, as circumstances varied, fucceeci
fed each other. Every passion, but that of dilpair, has
been called to a tour of duty ; and so miilaken has been
the enemy of our abilities and disposition, Ttntt when she
supposed us conquered, we rose the conquerors. The ex
tention of the United States, and the variety of their re
sources ; the universality of their cause, the quick opera
tion of -their feelings, and the fimilatyy of their senti
ments, have, io every trying fixation; produced a some
thing, which favoured by. Providence, and pursued with
ardour, has accomplished in an infract the bufhiefs of a
campaign. We h^enever deliberately^ fought vi&ery,
but fnatchedrit; and bravely undone trail hour, the plot-' 1
ted operations of a feufn..
The reported fate of Charleftotm, like the misfortunes ,
of feventy-fx, has at last called forth a Spirit, and kin.-
dled up a flame, which perhaps no other event could hav&
produced. If the enemy has tirculat d a falfehocd, they;
have unwisely aggravated us into life, and if they have
they have told usa truth, they have unintentionally done
us a service. We were returning with folded arms frem
the fatigues of war and thinking, and fitting itiufurely
down to enjoy repose. The dependence that, has been -
put upon Charleftown, threw a drowsiness over America.
We looked on the bOfinefs dene—the eonflia over— the
matter fettled, ,or that all which remained unfinished would .
follow of itfelf. In this state of dangerous relax, expo. ;
fed to the poisonous infufions of the enemy, and having
no common danger to attrad our attention; we were ex
tirfguifhing by Rages the ardour we began with, and
furrenderiog by peacemeals the virtue that defended us
Afflicting as the loss of Charleftown may be, yet if it
universally rose us from the (lumber of a twelve months
past, and renew in us the spirit of former days, it will
produce an advantage more imperial than its loft. A
merica ever is what she Rates herfeUto Le. Governed by
sentiment, and aCiiog her own mind, she becomes as file
pleases the Victor or the victim.
ft is not tie conquest of towns, nor the accidental cap
ture of garrisons, that can reduce a country so extensive
as this. The Sufferings of one part can ever be relieved
by the exertions of another, and there is no situation the
enemy can be in, that does not afford to us, the farce
advantages she seeks herfelf. By dividing ter force, gie
leaves every poll attackable. It is a mode of war, that
carries with it a confeffiou of weakness, and goes on the
principle of distress, rather than conquest.
The decline of the en%npy is visible not only in their
operations but their plans ; Charles-town original y made
but a Secondary object in their system of attack, and it is
now become their principal one, because they have not
been able to Succeed else where. It would have carried
a cowardly appearance in Europe, had they formed their
grand expedition in fevebty-fix, against a part of the Con
tinent, where there was no army, or not a Sufficient one
to oppose them ; butfalling year after year, in their im
pression here, and to the eastward and northward, they
deserted their firft capital design, and prudently content
ing thenifelves with what they can get, give a flourish of
honor to conceal disgrace.
But this piece meal work is not conquering' the Conti
nent. It is diferedit in them to attempt it, and in us to
fuffer it. It is now full time to put an end to a war of
aggravations, which on one fide, has no possible obje&,
and on the other, has every inducement which honor, in
terest, Safety and happiness, can inspire. If we (offer them
much longer to remain among us, we (halt become as bad
as themselves. Anaffociation of vices will cedu.e us mere
than the sword. A nation hardened in the pra&ice of in
iquity, knows better how to profit by it, than a young
country newly corrupted. We are not a match for them
in the line of advantageous guilt, nor the, to us, on the
principles we bravely fetout with. Our fi>ft days were
our days of honor. They have marked the character of
America whereever the Rory of her wars are told; and
convinced of this, we have nothing to do, but wifely and
unitedly to tread the well known track.
The progress ofa war, is often as ruinous to individuate,
as the issue of iris to a nation ; and it is not.only neces
sary that our force be such, that we be conquerors in the
end, but that by timely exertions, we be Secure in the in
terim. The present campaign will afford an opportunity
which has never presented itfelf before, and the prepara
tion for it, are equally necessary, whether Charles town
stand or fall. Suppose the firft, it is in that case, onlya
failure of the enemy, not a defeat. All. the conquest a
besieged town can hope for, is not to be conquered ; and
compelling an enemy to raise the Siege is to the besieged
a vidory. But there must be a probability amounting
almost to certainty, that would juflify a garrison marchfog
out to attack a retreat.™ Therefore should Charlestown
not be taken, and the enemy abandon the siege, every
other part of the Continent should prepare to meet them;
and on the contrary, should it be taken, the fame prepa
rations are necessary, to balance the lofr, and put our
feves in a condition to co operate with our allies, imme#
diately on their arrival.
We are not now fighting our battles alone, as we were
in Seventy-fix. England, from a malicious difpefirion to
America, has not only not declared war against France and
Spain, but the better to prosecute her passions here, has
afforded those Powers no mnitary object, and avoids
them, to dißref sus. She will fufftr her WefLlndia
IJands to be overrun by France, and her Southern settle
ments taken by Spain, rather than quit the objed that
gratifies revenge. This conded. on the part of Britain,
has pointed out the propriety of France fending a naval
and land force to co-operate with America on the Spot.