The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-01-18 00:00:00, page 2

To the Printer of the London Evening Post.
SIR,
ENGLISHMEN must now feel the unhappy state to
which their country is reduced, and I hope they will
at length confider the causes of our ruin, and the means of
refloring t^e k ngdom to its former happiuefs, and in
time perhaps to its former greatness. The extreme change
in the filiation of this country, firice the year 63, enables
u$ to aLertain the tneafures that have occasioned it. In
our happy constitution, mere evidently than in any other,
the interests of the King and the people are the fame; eve
ry attempt to separate these interests proves detrimentl
to tooth. ' The T^ry system which took place under Lord
B—'s adminiftrati®n, was an attempt to augment the
power of the Crown. Every man who did not then hear
tily con or in promoting this favourite plan, was turned
out of office : And though the violence of this proceeding
wis checked for a time, yet it is as evident, from the
principles ofthofe who have been advanced, as from tne
meifures pursued, that the system has been uniformly
followed. From the characters of men inhigh office, the
nation is given to underhand that virtue is 00 longer the
road to honours and preferment, and the Royal bounty
is extended to no other merit than that of submitting to,
and affixing the meafur sos Government, however un
just. The intafed influen eof the Crown has support
ed the abettors of this plan, has enabled them to perse
vere till we are threatened with bankruptcy and anarchy.
Is this too a part of their plan ? They who have openly
avowed their intention of bringing our countrymen in A
merica to unlimited fubjedion, may, and ought to be
supposed to have the fame design upon us. When money,
by the f ilure of public credit, becomes so scarce, and
when tr ide is so entirely loft, that we have neither a call
for our minus flutes, nor the means of employing the
manufacturers, they will not fit Rill and starve, wh^n
their indußry can no longer procure them fubfihence,
they will take it by force. At that crisis, I apprehend,
the final blow will be given to the Liberty of this country.
Then will the Crown, armed as it now unfairly is, hold
forth proteaion and fecurtity to those who will unwarily
traft its pfomifes, and those only will be protested. Are
we totally blind ? The en p my threatens our coast, and
we have the two ablefl sea officers in the world un
employed, because they are friends to Liberty ; all
is to be risked rather than any obstacle put in the
way of ar utrary power. A North and a Sandwich are in
this view preferable to a Keppel anda Howe. Let us not
- '-' ^' of the buffings that have been enjoyed
The following is an accurate defc^iption of the iftand of
Grenada, now taken by the French.
GRENADA, and the clu Her of small iftands rear
it, called the Grenadines, is now, excepting Tamai
ca, by far the most valuable colony which Great Britain
pofftfles. It exports no less than twenty thoufaud
hogsheads of sugar, and a proportionable quantity of rum,
esteemed to be next in goodness to that made in Jamaica,
and by many thought equal to it. Besides, it pro
duces coffee and cotton in greater abundance than all the
rest of our islands taken together; its produce in these
two latter articles being esteemed equal in value to one
halfof its sugars,
Grenada lies in 11 degrees 13 minutes north latitude,
being the foutheromoft of all the Antilles, and distant on
ly thirty leagues from the Spanish main. It is about
thirty English miles in length, and where broadest about
sixteen .• But its breadth is unequal. It is computed to be
twice as large as Barbadoes, and to contain in sugar land,
more than one third of what is in Martinico. Its climate
has fomeadv Stages peculiar to itfelf, The dry and rai
ny seasons are remarkably regular in their periods : The
blast has not been hitherto known in the island, and, what
is the happiest circuit fiance ®f all, it lies out of the trail
of hurricanes.
Tnere are very high mountainsin Grenada; but they
are few in number. The rest of the country is divided
into plains and gentle eminences, whi r h are capable of
cultivation to the very top. This iflard is extremely
well watered, and which is remarkable, its principle
flreams proceed from a large lake at the top of an high
mountain, situated in the center of the island, and flows
down the sides of the mountains in different dired
-0113 to the sea. Most of the hills furnifh smaller brooks,
and there are almost every where very fine firings near
the sea : And here are fea-fifh, turtle, and wild fowl in
abundance.
Ther= is good anchoring ground all along the coafl,
and on the east and weft several small bays and creeks,
commodious for veffrls, and for laudi g and flipping
goods; but there are two of the fineft harbours in the
world in Grenada ; the firft of these, called Lewis, fes
at the south east extremity of the island, and is divi
ded into the outward and the inner port; it is for the
most part about seven fathom deep, and a fo f t ozy bottom.
Ships can fail either in or out with the common trade
wind.
The other harbour, called St, George, is situated at the
north-weft of the island, so capacious, that it is capable
of holding a large fleet of l ine of battle fllips.
The Grenadines are a cluster of fnaall islands which lie
between Grenida and St. Vincent, in a north by east di
r Ebon. Their number is not well known, as many of
them are little better than rocks: However, there are (aid
to be tweny three, which are capable of cultivation, and
of producing cotton, coffee, and indigo, some fay sugar.
Trie chifof them still retains the Indian name of Couri
acou. It is of a circular form, and is about seven
miles ia length and breadth. Here is an excellent har
bour. It is now tolerably well fettled ; its produce is
coffee and cotton,and it fends three members to the aftem
bly of Grenada.
The island of Bequia is likewise reckoned among the
Grenadilloes. It is the longest of them all, being about
twelve leagues in circumference; it is likewise said tu be
the most fruitful, and to have a good port.
Grenada, excepting Jamaica, is the only Weft India co
lony which the English possess by the right of conquest.
By the treaty of peace, the French settlers were allowed
a certain time to confider whether they would retain them
estates, and become British fubjeas, or depart the
jfland, and fell their estates, provided it was to British
fubjeds. Seme have chosen the former ; others the lat
ter.
GRATITUDE incompatible with LOVE;
An ESSAY.
AP ROPER application of benefits will supply every
other external advantage in life, but the love of those
we converse with. Love is the spontaneous production of
the mind ; no generosity can purchase, nor rewards in
crease, and no liberality can continue it. The very per
fcn who is obliged, has it not in his power to force his lin
gering affections, and voluntarily mix gratitude with p.f
fion.
Imparted fortune, and well placed liberality, may procure
the benefaCtor esteem ; may load the perlon obliged, with
the kufe of the duty he lies under to retaliate: This is
gratitude; and gratitude for benefits received is all the re
turn an ingenuous mind can beflow.
But love and gratitude are alsicft opposite affections.
Love is often an involuntary passion, placed upon our com
panions without our content, and frequently conferred
without our esteem. We love some men, we know mot
why ; our tenderness is naturally excited in all their con
cerns; we excuse their faults with the fame indulgence,
and approve their virtues with the fame applause, witte
which we confider our own. While we entertain the pas
fion, it pleases us; we cherish it with delight, and part from
it with reluctance; love for love being a 1 the reward we
expeCt or delire. Gratitude, on the contrary, is never con
ferred, but where there have been previous endeavours to
excite it; we confider it as a debt, and our spirits are a
load till we have difchar,ed the obligation; every acknow
ledgement of gratitude is a circumstance of humiliation ;
ar,d some are found to submit to frequent mortifications of
this kind, proclaiming what they owe, as thinking it in
some measure cancels the obligation.
Thus one is the most easy and agreeable ; the other, the
most humiliating affeaion of the mind ; we never reflect on
the man we love without exulting in our choice; while he
who has bound us to him by bertefi % alone rises to our
idea asa person to whom we have, in some measure, for
feited our freedom. They ate eldom therefore found in
the fame breast without impairing each other ; we must
be contented either with giving love or gratitude to those
we converse with, for they cannot have both together.
M@n may be too much obliged, themind becomes bank
rupt under too large an arre r, and all additional benefits
only di ninifh every hope of future return.
In all our connections with society, therefore, it is not
only generous but prudent to appear insensible of the va
lue of those favours we bestow; love and friendfhip must
be taken by stratagem, and not by open force; in confer
ring benefits, we should seem ignorant that we oblige ; and
leave the mind at full liberty to giveor re fufe its affeaious;
for constraint will certainly produce disgust.
If to procure gratitude be our only aim, there is no great
art in making the acquisition. A benefit conferred de
mands a just acknowledgement, and we have a right to in
fif lupon our due; but it were much more prudent, how
ever, to forego our right on such an occafien ; for we re
ceive but little advantage from repeated protestations of
gratitude, while they cost him very much from whom we
exa& them in return.
As Mencius the Philosopher was travelling in pursuit of
wisdom, nightovertook hi'^n at the foot of a gloomy moun
tain, remote from the habitations of men. Here, as he
was rtraying (while rain and thunder conspired to make so
litude flill more hideous) he perceived a hermit's cell, and
approaching, asked for shelter “ Enter, cries the her
mit in a severe tone; " men deserve not to be obliged ;
“ but it would be imitating their ingratitude to treat them
"as they deserve. Come in; examples of vice may some
" times strengthen us in the ways of virtue."
After a frugal meal, which confined of roots and tea,
Mencius could not repress bis curiosity to know why the
hermit had retired from mankind, whose actions taught
the truest lessons of wifdora. '' Mention not the name of
man, cried the hermit with indignation ;" here set me live
<' retired from a base ungrateful world; here, in the sorest,
<< I shall find no flatterers: The lion is an open enemy,
^ and the dog as aithful friend; but man, base man, can
s' poison the bowl, and smile when he presents it."
<<You have then been used ill by mankind ?" interrupted
t he philofopherdryly. " Yes, returned the hermit, on
s' mankind I have exhausted my whole fortune; and this
<' ftaff, and that cup, and those roots, are all that I have
<' in return." “ Did you bestow your fortune among
<' them, or did you only lend it ?" Returned Mencius.
g< I bellowed it undoubtedly," replied the other ; " for
<' where were the merit of being a money-lender ?" "Did
' they ever own that they received your benefits?" still
' adds the philosopher. " A theufand times," cries the
by our anceflors, and may be again enjoyed by our poste
rity under a free constitution, pure and uncorrupted. The
only rational idea of government is, that it is established
for the good of the governed. Whatever its form may be,
its object is, the greate ft happiness of the whole commu
nity ; and we may lay it down as a general and invariable
rule, that there is an imperfection in its form, or that it is
ill administered, when the interest of any set of men in
power does not unite with and tend to the advantage of
the society at large. The great influence of the Crown
tnen creates an interest diftind from, and in the present
system quite opposite to that 01 the people. That influence
extends so wide, so high, so low, that it overwhelms all
consideration of the public good ; and without looking
farther than the last Session of Parliament, we may be
convinced that a majority of placemen, pensioners, and
contractors, have an interest prejudicial to that of the
community. Let us therefore, whilst it is yet time, seek
the cure for this fore ; and let us remember that as the life
of the patient is at flake, it is necessary to probe to the
bottom. Let us firmly endure the agony we may under
go, convinced that there is noother method to restore the
constitution to health and vigor. Let us not spare either
knife or caustic, and let us apply the balm immediately to
the root of the cancer. The operation is, in plain words,
to lop the influence of the Crown. The balm is, a free
and uncorrupt, and incorruptible Parliament. The cau
tious prudence that has submitted to encroachments, from
an apprehension of o_cafioning civil tumults, is no longer
in season. The security, the exigence of the society is in
the utmost danger. Let the wisest heads, and the most
honefl hearts, now unite in endeavouring to re establish
the constitution. We shall at,all events lose our wealth,
but we may, if we will, preserve our Liberty.
TENA X.
" hermit; “ they every day loaded me with profeffiorff
" of gratitude for favours received, and solicitations f©r
" future." "If then," lays Mencius smiling, " you did
" not lend your fortue in order to have it returned, it is
" injuflice to accuse them of ingratitude: They owned
" themfdves obliged; you expected no more; and they
" certainly earn a favour, who sloop to acknowledge the
" obligation." The hermit was flruck with the reply 5
and, surveying his guest with great emotion, " I have
''heard of the great Mencius, and thou certainly art the
" man : I am now fourfcore years old, but still a child in
" wisdom; take me back to the world, and educate me
" as one of the most ignorant and youngest of thy difei
" ples."
" Indeed, my son, it is better to have friends in our
“ passage thro gh life than admirers; and as love is a more
" willing, so it is a more lasting tribute than extorted ob
''ligation. As we are uneasy when greatly obliged,gra
" titude once refufed can never after be recovered : The
“ mind'that is base enough to disallow the just return,
" inflead of feeling any uneasiness upon reco haion, tri
" umphs in its new acquired freedom, and in some mea
" sure is pleased with confeiotWbafenefs^ Very different
" is the situation of disagreeable friends; their separation
" produces mutual uneafintfs, like that divided being io
“ fabulous creation; their sympathetic fouls once more
“ desire their former union, the joys of both are imper
“ fe&, their gayest moments tinctured with uneasiness;
“ each seeks the smaller concessions to clear the way to a
“ wifhed-for explanation; the most trifling acknowledg
" ment, the slightest accident, serves to effea a mutual
“ agreement. But, inflead of pursuing the thought, per
" mit me to foften the severity of my advice by an Euro
" pean story which fnlly serves to illustrate my meaning.
" A fiddler and his wife', who had rubbed through life,
" as most couples usually do, sometimes good friends, at
" others not quite so well ; one day happened to have a
" dispute, which was conduced w th becoming spirit on
" both sides. The wife was sure (he was right, and the
" huiband was revived to have his own way. What was
" to be done in such a case ? The quarrel grew worse by
" their explanations; and at last their fury rose to such a
" pitch, that each made a vow nev'r to Deep in the fame
“ bed for the future. This was the most rash vow that
" could.be imagined ; for they Bill were friends at bot
" tom, and besides they had but one bed in the house:
" However, resolved they were to go through with it,
“ and, as they had not separate beds, at night the fiddle
" case was laid between them in order to make a fepara
" tion. In this manner they continued for three weeks,
" every night the fiddle-cafe being placed as a barrier to
6 < divide them. By this time, however, each hear ily re
<.' pented of their vow, their resentment was at am end, and
“ their love began to return, they wished the fiddle case
“ away, but both had too much spirit to submit. One
“ night, however, as they were both lying awake, with
“ the detested fiddle case between them, the huiband bap
" pened to frieeze, to this the wife, as is usual in such ca
" fes, bid God bless hirt : " Ay, but," returns the huf
" band, " Giles, do you fay that from your heart ?" " In
" deed, I do, my poor Nicholas," cries his wife, " I fay
“ it with all my heart." " If so then," fays the husband,
" I fancy we had as good remove the fiddle-cafe."
To be 5 0 L D 6y Public Vendue,
THIS DA Y. at the School-house late
ly occupied by Capt. Lazarus Pine, de
ceased, in Fourth-street, three doors a
bove Market-street,
SUNDRY Houfhold Goods and Kitchen
Furniture ; an Iron Stove with Pipes ;
a number of Books; a large parcel of Quills,
and a quantity of the bed Ink, &c.
The Sale to begin precisely at 2 o'clock:
Philadelphia, January 18, 1780.
On FRIDAY the 21st of January inst. will be fold
at Public Vendue, at the Co tinental Magazine of
Piov fiohs, on Bickley's Wharf, near Maiket-ftreet
in this city, 1
AQU ANTITY ofß EEF and POR K, some
A dryed HERRINGS, dry CLAMS and
BEAN S. The faie to begin precisely at Ten o'clock
in the morning, ano the money to be paid on the (pot.
JAMES LANG and C ®.>
Have for SAL E, at their house in Market (treat, be
tween Fifth and Sixth ftretts, Philadelphia,
A QU A NTIT Yof imported and homemade
Seine Twine, Cordage, drefcd Hemp, Flax, &c.
Rum, Brandy, Sugais, Pepper, Coffee, &c. And a
chest of choice Boloa Tea. _ _%
JUSF IMPORT ED UIG to be SOLD by
ROBERT CALDWELL,
On Mease's Wharf,
RU M,
WIN E,
Loaf and Mufcqyado Sugar,
Coffee and Cocoa,
Best Allum Salt,
Cordage assorted,
Sail Cloth, Ofnaburgs, Ticklenburgs and sewing Twine,
Belt Poland Starch and Hair Powder,
Peafe, Rice and Oatmeal,
White Lead and Linked Oil,
Muskets, Bayonets, Cutlasses and Cartouch Boxes,
Gun Powder and Flints,
Swivels and Howitz,
Carriage Linch-Pins, with Chains,
H*ok< and Thimbks,
A complect aflor'nient of patent Time-Glasses,
4 d. 6d. Bd. rod. and zed. fhra hing, d-.fk and spike Nails,
Pump Ticks and Scupper Nail#,
Gimbl^ts, Claw-H mmers, Pad Locks and Sail Needles,
Bar and Sheet Le~d,
A great variety of Queen's Ware of the newest fashion.
And a general assortment of Ship Chandlery,