The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-02-09 00:00:00, page 2

To the AUTHOR of two Columns and an half in Ri
vington's Gazette, of the 26th of January.
S I R,
I Have seen your bumble attempt at fcurrilit, in the
paper cf the sth, and also your 'retort in that 0
the 26th of January. I do not think it necessary to
pursue this fubjed any farther. If my antagonist
chutes' to fkuik behind a dunghill, the laws of literary
war, do not call upon me to follow him into all the
filth he is willing to wade through. But I have a more
serious reftfon for avoiding you, in particular, as an
antagonist A fenje of gratitude for former favours,
and a fill fu'fying friendflrip on my part, render the
combat altogether unequal. If you have not con
duced yourfelf according to my opinion of what is
right and honourable, I can only be sorry for it, and
regret, that you have not employed the eminent abiir
ties, I know you possess, in a manner more worthy
yourfelf and them. Let others, who may have resent
ments to gratify, take advantage of your mifcondna—
'l have no such refenttnents —nor will ever be instru
mental in holding up your errors to public view, or Tn
making them the fubjeft of private conversation
With refpeft to you, therefore, I wipe my pen—not
with an handful of (havings—but with a piece of clean
cotton • ,and lay it by.
As to monsieur Rivington—l thought the man had
fold off his trumpery and gone to England ;agreea
bly to his advertisement. Bet I find by three am.
twenty ad vertifements in his paper of the 26th, which
I have taken the pains to count, that he is Bill in New-
York—Unless he has told three and twenty lies in one
paper -a thing not'unlikely— If however he is actual
ly in New-York, there let him remain.
F. ft.
WE may confider human life as a garden in
which roses old ne ties are promiscuously
Scattered, and in which we as often feel the
fling of the wounding Nettle, as we enjoy the fra
grhnceof t.e blooming Rose Those bowers of delight,
entwined with the woodbine and jeffamine, under
wnofe riendly umbrage we seek shelter from the noon
day fun, frequently are the abode of snakes, adders,
and other vioemous creatures, which wound us in
those unguarded Scenes of delig t. As the year has
its seasons and winter and summer are ronftantly in
pursuit of each other, so changeable likewise is the
condition of mortals ; and, as the elements are fre
quently dihurbed by dorms, hurricanes, and temper 's,
so if the mind of man frequently ruffled and discom
posed, till the sunshine of reason and philofo'phy burfis
forth, a^d dispel the gloom. Murmuring brooks, pur
ling flreams, nd sequestered groves, what ver the fie
tions of a poetical imagination may have advanced,
are not always the feat of unmingled pie dure, nor the
abode of uninterrupted happiness.
Th ha/lefs Florio pined away some months on the
delighiul banks of the Severn: He complained of the
cruelty of the lovely Anabella, and told his fond tale
to the wt-rs of that impetuous flream, which hurri
ed along, regardless of his plaints: He gathered the
lilies of the field ; bu* the lilies were not so fair as hii
Annabella, nor the fragrance of the blushing rose so
sweet as her breafth; the lambs were not so innocent,
nor the found of the tabor on the gren half so melodi
ous as her voice. Time, however, has joined Florio
and Anabella in the letters of wedlock, and the plaints
of the swam are now changed. The delufian of the
enchantment is now vanished, and what he but lately
considered as the only obj ft worthy of his sublunary
pursuit, he now contemplates ith coolness, indiffer
ence, and disgust: enjoymeut has m=tamorphofed the
rose into a nettle.
Ernestus, contrary to his inclinations, was compelled
by his parents to marry the amiable Clara, whose sense,
tenderneft, and virtues, soon fixed the heart of the ro
ving Ernestus, and what at firfl gavehim pain and dis
gust, by degrees became familar, pleasing and delight
ful : the nettle was here changed to the rose.
The wandering Libertine, who pursues the rose
through the unlawful paths of love, who tramples un
der foot every tender plant that comes within his reach,
and who roves from flower to flower, like the bee, only
to rob it of its sweets, will at last loose his way, and,
when benighted, be compeled io repose on the reliefs
bed of wounding nettles.
The blooming rose is an utter Granger to the wilds of
ambition, where gloomy clouds perpetually obfeure the
beams of the joyful fun, where the gentle zephyrs
never waft throng rue groves, but difeordant blafls
are perpetually bowling, and where the clim te produ
ces only thorns and nettles.
The rose reaches its highefl perfection in the garden
of industry, where the foil is neither too luxuriant, nor
too much impoverished. Temperance fans it with the
gentled zephyrs, and health and contenmtent sport a
round it. Here the nettle no sooner makes its appear
anc, than the watchful eye of prudence espies it, and,
though it may not be possible totally to eradicate it,
it is never fuffered to reach to any height of perfedi
on.
Since then human life is but a garden, in which
Weeds and flowers promiscuously shoot up and thrive,
let us do what we can to encourage the culture of the
rose, and gu rd againf ithe Spreading nettle. However
barren may be the foil that falls to our lot, yet a care
ful and assiduous culture will contribute not a little to
make the garden, at least, pleasing and chearful.
LONDO N.
Sept. 25. A melancholy fad. There have been for
several weeks past from ten to twenty die of the fmall
ftox at Deptford. The writer is well informed that the
acuity, greatly to their honour, have offered to ino
Philadelphia, 'Feb. 7.
The N ETTLE and the R O S E.
Our bane and physic the fame e^rth bellows,
And near the noisome nettle blooms the rose.
culafe the poor, gratis, in order to prevent such an a
mazing fatality in their parish; but their wishes to
save human life are fruftrated by the narrow opinions
of some persons who are for ever exclaiming against in
oculation. The inhabitants of Deptfort are desired to
recollect M. de la. Condamine's representation of the
nature! small-pox and inoculation. Phe Small pox
may be compared to a river, across which mankind
mull piss: inoculation is expressed by a boat, which
may be used as a means of fafely paffiog over this river,
many, however, neglecting this conveyance, plunge
into the waters and Gruggle with the danger of a new
element. To the beautiful fimilie of the late amiab.e
Condamine, we may add the motto of an eminent di
vine to his book in favour of inoculation:" 1 will ask
" you one thing ; is it lawful to save life, or to deflroy
" it?" It would be a real Service to this country, if
government would interpose, in order to promote the
salutary means of saving lives, by the more general
inflitution of inoculation.
On Friday last died, in a miserable apartment in
Whitecrofs- Greet, Daniel Cultron, etq; once poffrffed
of two ihoufand pounds per annum, but who in a va
riety of instances had been made the sport of fortune.
The Imperial treasury is said to be in as poor a Rate
as our.own coffers are, or any other of his neighbours;
but then let it be distinguished, that while, we have been
exhaufling ourselves in an impolitic and criminal war,
for the amount of the tea tax, the Sum of 851. Gerling,
the emperor's temporary impoverishment proceeds
from expenditure of the noblest kind, the aggrandize
ment of his dominions, and extension ot their trade.
Vienna is again become pre-eminent amidst surroun
ding nations ; and the illu Grious Joseph, not so much
distinguished by rank, of all the mod exalted, as by
the more superior renown of councils the most profound,
is now become the arbiter of Europe.
The prowess and loyalty displayed so universally by
the Irilh on the late alarm on their coasts from re
combined fleets, have effectually quieted and concilia
ted the difpofitioos of government towards the volun
teer associations. With such an army of free Subjects,
what county can have any thing to dread, on any fide,
either from within or witnout?
Toe -rand duke and duchess of Russia, after their
visit Ihall be compleated at Vienna are to take the di
rect route through Bavaria and Suabi, into France ;
and after the necessary flay at Paris, they are to pass
thro' Flanders on their way to England, London being,
both in arts and arms, the top of every European
traveller's climax. The United Provinces and the
court of Berlin are to be taken, on the return of these
illuGrious personages to thei r own country.
The little subsidiary treaty between the landgrave
of Hede-Darmfladt and the French, is, as to political
importance, except to the contracting parties, of that
minute nature, that it is unworthy even of a place in
a summer news paper. Hesse caffel, including Wet
teravia, is a landgraviate not to be overlooked : Hesse
Darmftadt, except on the Microscope of politics, is not
to be difeermd.
Hesse Darmftadt, bounded both on the north and
east by the river Maine, and the Palatinate to the
south and weft, is, when compared with Hesse Caflle,
of about as much relative importance as the ide of Port
land to Dorfetfhire, as mess. Curwen's iGqid in Wy
nandermcre lake to the county of Cumberland, or
Brentfort Ayte to Middlesex.
The honour which their majeflys do country gen
tlemen in visiting them at their villas, is attended with
tliis inconvenience, that they are expected, in return
for the royal visit, to make their appearance at the next
ensuing levee at St. James's
Admiral Darby's crude is 0 continue till the latter
end of next month, unless some particular circomftan
ces ihould occur to mike his keeping the sea longer
necessary.
By letters from Fayal we learn, that the Mercury
frigate, one of commodore Johnflone's squadron, had
arrived there the latter end of May, with a French
fchoon'r of war called the Sprigh ly. She was com
manded by a Spanish officer, and failed early in April
from Cape Francois with dispatches for Brest, which
were thrown overboard.
On Thursday night the Constantine, captain Wright
arrived at Hriftol from Jamaica. She failed vith the
fleet the beginning of July, and was out three weeks
beating to get thro' the windward passage, and met
with exceeding b d weather ; but on the 25th of July
(he fed in with the Fox frigate, who ioformed them,
that de Graffe was arrived at the Cape with 28 fail of
the line and 400 merchantmen, therefore the commo
dore thought it most prudent to return immediately
to Port Royal with the fleet. The Constantine failed
again from Jamaica on the 31st of July, in company
with the Tartar, bound to Bristol, and the Rose and
Nancy, of Liverpool.
The people of Jamaica v ere thrown into the utmost
conflernation by this even . If their fleet had been
one week longer from port, they must have fallen a fa
crifice; and now, they are under the greatest apprehen
fions that the French fleet has come down to make a
defeent, in conjunction with the Spanish (quidron and
army at the Havannah, upon the island of Jamaica.
Their fears are increased by the suspicion that fir Sa
meet Hood with the Britilh fie:t had gone to New-
York, believing that de Graffe had gone thither. It
was said that martial law would be eGablidied in the
course of a few days.,
Extract of a letter from Paris, Sept. 3.
" The four regiments destined to co-operate with
the Spaniards in Minorca, have begun their march to
Toulon. Seven thousand four hundred men have been
drafted from the different regiments of infantry in the
kingdom, and are now on their way to Brest, where
they are to embark, some for the Weft Indies, and
some to recruit the army under M. de Rochambeau.
A circumstance happened at Elfineur, on the 24th of
August, which has given the Danes much disgust
against the Englilh. It was the birth day of her roy
al highness the princess consort of prince Frederick, the
king's half brother. Admiral de Fonteny gave an ele
gant entertainment on the occafton, to all the persons
of diGinaion in the neighbourhood, te the coilfuls of
the different nations reading at Elfineur, and to the,
officers commanding the Swedifli and Englilh men of
war in the harbour. Every time the health of the
royal fami y was given, the Dinifh admiral and the
other Daniel men of war, &c. fired twenty-seven
guns; and were answered by the Swedes; but uot
a gun was fired in return by the Englilh; who,
it was supposed, took that public opportunity of af
fronting the son of that woman by whose intrigues the
late queen of Denmark was supposed to have been dri
ven from the throne.
“ Don Cordova will certainly finifh his cruise about
the middle of thi§ month: ten of our largest (hips
will follow him to Cadiz, where, it is thought, they
will remain under the orders of M. de Guichen. The
nine others will Gay at Brefl. Some persons pretend
that they will cruise 15 days longer, notwithflanding
the equinox, and that the will be commanded by M.
de la Motte Paquet. This report is credited merely
from a desire of feeing the Jamaica fleet intercepted.
" As soon as the account of the combined fleet being
in the channel, and of their design to fend a ffrong de
tachment with a large body of troops towards the har
bour of Cork was received here, every possible precau
tion to prevent improper alarm, and every exertion to
put the coafi into a Gate of defence, were inflantly ta
ken by government. Nothing can exceed the celerity
with which the intelligence and consequential orders
were communicated to every part of the kingdom, nor
the alacrity with which they were obeyed : so that if the
enemy had made the menaced attack, they would with
out doubt have met with the most formidable resist
ance.
The number of troops in the pay of Great Britain
the 24th of June last, was 142,000. The new levies
that are now making, and will be wanting, if the war
proceeds, will make the amount of 18,000 more in ano
ther year.
Extract of a letter from New-Y®rk, July 30.
" We have the pleafnre to hear that the (hips fla
tionea off the Delaware river have been fuccelsful in
reGraining the trade from Philadelphia, having already
made three or four captures ; and it is thence hoped
a total flop will e put to it, which muG prove a great
blow to the congress, who lay hold of a good deal of
Ipecie io return for the cargoes of their fllips from
that quarter."
Exiraß cf a letter from Dublin, Sept. ,4.
" Our apprehenffons, on account of theapproach of
the equinox, now begin to subside ; bnt the vigilence
of government is by no means relaxed. I cannot my
felf help cemhdering these alarms as a most fortunate
circumGance, since they have proved the means of de
monstrating the universal loyalty of the kingdom, and
especially of the volunteer association. Immediately
on the firG report of an intended invasion, a general
fpi it diffufed itfelf of consulting what means could best
contribute to the defence of the kingdom. Those
corps which consisted of the inhabitants of Cork, and
of the counties along the south coafi, made immediate
offers of affifiance to the commander in chief. Those
who were at a diflance, transmitted their tender of er
vices to government. Addresses and resolutions, filled
with every expression of the purest loyalty to their so
vereign, and attachment to government, were trans
mitted to the caftte from all parts of the kingdom, Ga
ting their readiness to undertake any service that should
be thought expedient by government to watch over the
peace of their counties--to perform duty in garrison--
or to march at a moment's warning to any part of the
kingdom. These offers so clearly demonfirative of the
loyalty of their principals and the patriotism of their
spirit, were received by the lord lieutenant with every
mark of the most cordial fatis faction and unbounded
confidence and his excellency had no hesitation in de
claring, that if the events of war or further intelligence
should make it necessary to have recourse to them, he
should think it his duty o make use of their affifiance.
" The Baron de Falkenhayn is set out for Toulon,
where he is to embark with the troops defined for Ma
hon. The regiment of Erlach (Swiss) is not now of
that division, the regiment of Bouillon is substituted in
its room
" I cannot tell what ideas may be formed in England
upon this condua, where the circumstances of Irish
politics are almoG entirely unknown. My reflection is,
that if there has been any supposed jealousy or distrust
between government and the volunteers, it is now to
tally vanish-d, that a measure more politic, more po
pular, or more necessary, was never adopted---that its
effects have been already of the most beneficial nature,
and will produce reciprocal confidence and cordiality
between the people and adminifiration, which cannot
fail of producing the mod definable conseq uences."
Extraa of a letter from Tralee, Sept. 14.
" Last Monday night about 30 or 40 of those delu
ded people called White Boys, went in white uniforms
to the house of Mr. Thomas, of BallicancaJagb, near
Dingle, revenue officer, and after constraining him to
get up and open the door, by force and nenaces took
from him two firelocks, one of which not having a lock:
he, after being {worn by them, whether he hd the lock,
was obliged to get it for them ; they then left him, but
one of the par y immediately returned, and forceably
took said Roberts out, and swore him, whether he knew
any of the said party, and if so, to observe inviolable
secrecy ; upon which he was dismissed, and one of the
party fired a shot in token of approbation.
" Tuesday night a party of White-Boys set fire to *
flack of oats, the property of John Hickfon, at Ca
harbofhpca, value about 21. which was entirely confir
med. , The fame night they set fire to a flack of wheat
at Mautnanbrig, near Dingle, the property of Mr.
Finch, value 51. which was entirely consumed.
" This day the high fheriff, at the requisition of the
grand jury, convened the county to confider of the
most prudential ireans to put a flop to the alarming
risings which have lately ap eared in different parts of
this country, among the lower class of people, veo
are denominated White Boys, and have committed
various depredations on the effects and persons of In
divid »als."
Extract ot a letter from Paris, Sep. 10.