The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-03-24 00:00:00, page 2

which it is directed, that the Salaries of some import
ant officers, particularly the chief magiflrate, shall
' be fixed in lilver, and this is enjoined upon the le
gislature to be done at their firft meeting, in a perma
nent manner ; of such importance have these people
considered the indepehdency of the branches of go
vernment. In like manner our assembly should render
the president and council, as well as the judges, in
dependent not for three years, which by no means
comes up to the florid quotation from the constituti
on, inserted in the preamble, viz. " that it requires
the fairies of the justices of the fucreme court, to
be fixed, as well as their commissions to be independ
ent."
However this article of the conflitufion may be
disregarded at present, the time may come when it
will be found mod essential and necessary. Suppose a
person of overgrown influence, involved in disputes
with his neighbours, gets an afcendency in our legif,
lature ; suppose the judges of the supreme court, de
pendent on this legislature, or rather on this dema
gogue, fqr their salaries from session to session, I ask,
what may be the confluence? Notwithstanding the
transcendent benefit of trial, by jury, will the poor
or leh popular cittzens fland on equal or fafe ground?
The bill affords a comparison, which mud be hu
miliating enough to our delegates in Congress : they
are allowed thirty fhiilings per diem; just equal to the
allowance of the auditors of public accounts. Our de
puties in the great assembly of be United States, in
whom the sovereignty of the union is lodged, niuft feel
themselves neglected and disgraced by this exhibition
and contra ft in the public news papers.
The consequences of such inadequate and'uncertain
ifalaries need only be hinted at, when we reflect they
are to be paid in money so firmly and injudiciously
coiTneded, with the old continental currency, as ne
cessarily to depreciate with it, and given by an As
sembly, who have been seriously considering of a new
emiibor of date money to a very large amount, a
measure, which, if adopted, I fear many of their con
Hituents would scarcely confider as the effect of ei
ther ignorance or mi flake, nor for which they would
admit of any apology.
I shall leave these observations with my fellow citi
zens, and purine the fubjed in the next paper.
A PENNSYLVANIAN.
LONDO N.
HOUSE of COMMONS, Monday, November 13./
LORD Mahon begged that he might be favoured
with the attention of the house, while he called
upon them to turn their thoughts upon a matter of
the very last importance to the stare. It is, said be,
relating to the Dutch. lam informed, and I call up
on Ministers to fay whether my information is authen
tic, that in the month of August last, fix American
traders, being pursued by an English fllip of the tine,
and some frigates, took Shelter in the Dutch island of
St. Martin near St. Euftatia. The commodore of the
English squadron demanded that the American ships
Ihould be given up, threatening that if they were not,
he would put the whole island to fire and sword. The
governor asked whether what the English commander
threatened was of himfelf, or if he aded in that matter
by orders from his court. It appeared that he a&ed
in consequence of orders from admiral Rodney, whose
conduct was presumed to be conformable to the senti
ments of the British ministry.
His lordship observed upon this affair, if it was true,
that it was at once impolitic, and contrary to the law
of nations. At a time when so many powers were in
combination against us, it was madness to provoke a
friendly, at leaft.a neutral power to become our enemy.
Qur behaviour to the Dutch, in the island of St. Mar
tin, was a violation of the law of nations. For sup
pose, said he, that the Ruffians and Dutch were at
war, and the Ruffian fleet should pursue them into the
port of London, and' thereaten to burn the city ifthey
were not given up, would not we have reason to com
plain of such a conduct ? and ought we not to do to
others as we would be done by.
Lord George Germaine disclaimed the doßrine of the
servants of the crown being obliged to answer any,
queflions of this kind : at the fame time, he would
give the noble lord all the fatisfadion in his power, as
he was very desirous of fatisfying gentlemen, as far as
he could, with propriety. He had not received any of
ficial accounts of that matter, but he had heard, by
private letters, from an island in the neighbourhood
of St. Martin, that in August an English ffiip of war
and some frigates, had pursued some trading vessels, not
knowing to what nation they belonged.
As soon as the American vessels had entered the
Dutch harbour in the island of St. Martin, they hoift
©d American colours, and set the English at defiance.
The English commander had thereupon demanded
them, and a dispute ensued upon the principles of the
laws of nations. The English captain remarked a dif
ference between the case of any independent nation
fending their ships into a neutral port, and rebellious
fubjefts doing the fame thing : he had ufrd t teats,
and the ships had been given up. A representation of
this fad had been made to the slates of the United
Provinces, who were about to fend over a slate of the
matter and complaint to this court, when both parties,
the Dutch of St. Martin's he meant, and fir G. Rod
ney, would have an opportunity of being heard either
in accusation or defence.
Mr. Wm. H. Hartley prefaced a motion which he
held in his hand with several observations on the ardu
ous and deplorable situation of public affairs. In such
circumflances as the prefect, unanimity alone could
save us. All the sons of Britain should, if possible, be
united in one noble cause ; that of curbing the ambition
of the house of Bourbon. If some cordial and sincere
offer of reconc liation and friendship were held out to
America ; if some basis could be eflablifhed so mutual
forbearance; if some mutual concessions could produce
ifonihg the ground, requires the thing, as to the su
preme bench. Why is not this done I Perhaps it may
toe answered it is no easy matter to do it. The- date
of Massachusetts having the advantage of all the pre
vious conflitutions, has lately agreed on theirs; in
pMce,lhe habits of ancient intercourse revived, and the
profped of future advantage, would re-unite Great-
Britain with /America. He proposed no specific plan
for reconciliation. He only recommended the propo
sal of some plan or other; of such a plan as night be
thought the most conducive to bring about the propo
sed object. Hethen gave notice, t at on a future day,
Thursday, perhaps, he would make a motion, that an
humble address be presented to his majefiy, a copy "f
which he read to the house. It was of considerable
length, and contained these three thing :
1. Many profeffions of loyalty to his majesty, and
of zeal for the support of the inttrefts of this country.
2. A reprefentartion of the difficulties Great Britain
had to encounter, and of the necessity of unanimity
to such a vigorous condua as might lead s o a glorious
and permanent peaces 3. For that purpose, fomeoffer
or other, dilated by sincere and cordial good will to
the Americans.
For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
THE war that is broke out between England and
' Holland, is one of those great events which will be
either much in our favour, or greatly against us.
Should the Dutch revive the spirit and activity of
their ancestors, which is scarcely to be expected, and
exert themselves vigorously ; and England to be with
out an ally, to balance the weight of the Dutch, it
m+y give a favourable turn to our affairs. The pro
babifity seems rather against us. It is scarcely to be
imagined that England would, bring another war on
her hands, unless ihe had good grounds '0 exped af
fiftancer The blow file has given, in Europe and the
Weft-Indies, to the Dutch trade, muff add greatly to
her wealth, strength and spirit. It will difrefs the
Dutch in proportion. In the Ea ^-Indies, the Du'ch
as little expected war, and w^re as ittle prepared for
it. Should England aft as vigorously in that part of
the world, as she has done in Europe and the Weft-
Indies, flie may easily possess her'eif of the most
valuable parts of the Dutch fettlemrnts and commerce.
She has a large well disciplined army there. Her
peace establishment was a ove 4000 national troops,
and above 25000 feapoys, that is, a corps composed of
the people of the country, under British officers and
fergeauts. It is probable that she has treated the
Dutch, as she did the French, when file took Pondi
cherry from them, and sent orders to India for ftrik
rng some capital firokes there, long before she com
menced hostilities in Europe. If this has happened,
England will immediately get poffeflion of above
half the Dutch East India trade, which will prove
a new resource to her for carrying on the wt
The Dutch, from the lob of property, the injury
and interruption to their trade, the loss of so ma
ny seamen as have fallen and will fall into the ene
my's hands, the distress and confufon among their
commercial people, the political divisions among
themselves, from their refpe&ive attachments to
France and England, are not likely to make any
great figure in the war. Perhaps these rafons, the 1
consideration that they may lose more than they can
get by the war, and that very weighty one, their
having above thirty millions sterling in the English
funds ; may induce them to make a separate peace.
If that should take' place, the terms, would no doubt,
be advantageous to England, and injurious to us. It
is the more probable that this may happen, because
France, the great ally of the Dutch, can be of little
or no use to them in a sea war ; whereas in a land
war, she could easily march a body of troops to their
assistance. One thing seems pretty certain: If the
Dutch carry on the war, they will have very little
money to spare us: If they make a separate peace,
we shall get none from tnem. Infiead therefore, of
amusing ourselves with visionary expectations of af
fiflance from this or that foreign power, or trufling
that this or that event, or any possible event, in the
course of foreign politics, will put a speedy end to
the war, let us think and aft as becomes men of
sense and resolution. Let us remember, that Britain
is contending for every thing that is dear to her.
That every inducement of honour, interef land re
venge, urge her to continue the contest, and tomake
she greatest exertions, if not to conquer all, yet to
recover and retain some of the states. Let us then
lay our account with what is so likely to happen,
and expert that the war will hill last a considerable time;
but let us likewise think, and aft as if we thought, that
our salvation depends on our own Wisdom, virtue and
Fortitude.
From Rivington's New-York Royal Gazette, dated
March 17, 1781.
« NEW-YORK, March 17.
" Last Thursday arrived the ship Nancy, captain
Miller, who left Gravefend on the 9th of January;
Papers by this vessel inform as that in a very short time
after the declaration of war against Holland was pub
lished, viz. from December 21 to - January 9, eighty
fail of Dutch ships, &c. with a man of war of 50 guns,
were brought t® Portsmouth, and that three very large
vessels, laden with mails, bound to Brefi, were a Ifo
brought into our harbours. Three Hundred and sis
ty commission s against the Dutch trade had been al
ready itiued; the channel swarmed with British pri
vateers; admiral Darby had returned to port, but
every flrip of his late squadron fit for sea, was out on
cruises: that two 74 gun ships, and two frigates, had
been detached after several L'uch East India men,
which had failed at the instant of our manifeflo being
published ; that Ter<fia, the empress queen of Hungary
and mother of the prefect emperor of Germany, died
on the ,29th of November, an event, that, in all pro
bability, will occasion a convulsion amongst the Euro
pean powers, and in its confequer.ee oblige the house
of Bourbon to employ their troops for the defence 'of
their own territories.
' ,Admiral Sir Hugh Pallifer is, we a r e informed, ap
pointed to the chief command in the East-Indies. Tne
Duch 50 gun man of yfar, carried into Portsmouth
was taken, after an hour's confliß, by a British 30 gun
frigate, having 6, men killed. -When the declaration
of war aginft Holland was brought to Dover, a French
man and a Dutch man offered two hundred guineas for
a boat to put them over to Calais, and after hawki g
their price about the town several hours, without any
effe& upon the honefl inhabitants, they were seized
by some of the shippers, with private papers of gre^t
moment in their possession, and delivered over to ;he
fafe custody of the proper officer, for a more perfeft
invefligation of their business and charaßer.
" Yesterday arrived a vessel from Portsmouth, iff
Virginia, which left that port on Tueffday night, and'
on Wednesday morning was chafed by a frigate d&
tached from a fleet, which is presumed to be that of
admiral Arbuthnot, bearing up for Chefapeak, diftaot
about forty miles. A vessel had arrived last Tuesday
at Portsmouth from Charles-Town, with a confirma^
tion of fir George Rodney's having taken poffeffioa
of St. Eufiatius, with a vast number of vessels of the
several nations, the present enemies of Great-Britain ;
and that small squadrons had been datached with f^
like orders against the Island of Curacoa, &c.
" The following ft as accurate a view, as at present
can? be obtained, of the n+val force of Great-Britaira
on the American ooaft, under the command of vice
admiral Arbuthnot; and of France, uhder M. de'Af-'
touches, brigadier des armees navvies, general. The
latter was seen on Sunday last, about 30 leagues off
the capes of Virginia ; at that time the wind not fair
for flanding into Chesapeake bay. The former was
left for'y miles distant from Cape Charles, about se
ven o'clock on Wednesday morning, by the captaia
of a small vessel, who departed from the bay on Tues
day night, at which time the French fleet had not
made their appearance, nor did this person fee or hear
of their being in that vicinity. It is said, the French
fleet hd embarked 2000 of their troops on board, dt
is most probable that the object of M. d'Aftouches is,
to land the French troops at York-Towo, where, it is
said, their engineers have been long employed in
throwing up works.
“ The Fantafaue J°ft France armed en flute; but
now, 'tis said, she is refitted, and brought again into
the line."
“ KINGSTON, (Jamaica) Feb. so.
" Saturday last arrived his majesty's sloop of war
De Guuy Tonin, of f 6 guns, express from St. Lucias
in confeqtence of advice admiral Drake received from
Great Britain, by she Childers sloop of war, of an
hoflile declaration publiffied in London, by order of
she king in council, on the 21st of December last, against
the Dutch ; admiral fir G. B. Rodney, with 22 fail of
the line and a number of frigates, was at sea on 2
cruize when the Childers arrived at St. Lucia, and a
faft failing cutter had been dispatched, with instruc
tions from the ministry to him, on the fubjeft of this
important event."
Extract of a letter from the President of the Council
of Georgia, to the Delegates of that State, dated'
March 2, 1781, from the fouthern* camp.
" Notwithfiandmg the most arduous and unc^fin
efforts on the part of the enemy, to suppress all op
position in our state, I hive the pleasure to inform?
you, that r so far from having aecomplifhed it, we are
more and more convinced they never will. We have
at this time three companies in the state, who bid de
fiance to their arts and to their arms. -Captain M'Koy
keeps post in the great swamps below Angufta, and
intercepts the Savannah trade both in the river and
road, and cuts off all communication except by large
parties. Captain Boyakin keeps post in the woods
Southward of Augusta towards Ogechee, and prevents
in a great measure the intercourse between the enemy
and the nnfriendly Creeks ; and captain Dunn patroles
the country above Augusta, to cover the Whigs in
Wilkes from furprize, twenty of whom have been
seized and confined as hostages ; and they occasionally
join and ad together. Repeated attempts have been
made 'to disperse these corps, without effect ; and colo--
nel Twiggs, who has been in with a fl r g, and who was
way-laid on his return and several persons killed, has
no doubt they will be able to continue in arms: for
having a perfect knowledge of the country, and being
entirely light, they can always avoid fighting a fupe
ri'or force. Beedes these, there are upwards of five
hundred men io arms out of the date, who have done
much and essential service. This opposition, however
honorable and, necessary, has not been made or conti
nued but with severe personal fufferings and greaff
loss. Many of our brave and virtuous countrymen,
both officers and men, have fallen since the surrender
of Charles-Town, and t e families of all have expe
rienced the greatest hardfbips and want. By Willi
amson's shameful submission we were obliged to retreat
one month afterwards thro' the m'idft of the enemy,
in t>e course of which we had several severe but fuc
cefsful couffifts. In November bfithe enemy feiz &
our property, and drovf our families out of the
country, without faffering, them to bring the means
of travelling or fubfiflence : and Mrs. Heard had to
walk several days before she got to me. In addition ter
these things, mmy of tie men have been wound
ed; and are all deflitute of necessary apparel, as wdl
as of the means of procuring it: bu- all are deter
miiMd, in all possible events, to persevere. Should
we succeed against Cornwallis, of which there are
hones, we shall push to Augusta immediately, as in
deed we shall at any rate, when ttie hrengh. fleet goo
to the fouthward?'
BRITISH. Guns.
London 90
Royal Oak 74
Bedford 74
Roboff 74
Europe 64
America' 64
Prudent 64
Adamant 50
Pearl 32
Charleftown' 32'
Iris 32'
Guadaloupe 28 |
Savage 16|
Philadelphia, March 24.
FRENCH. Guns.
Due de Bourgone 8#
Neptune 74
Conquerant' 74
Erille 64
Provence 64
Jason 64
Ardent 64
Fantalque 64
Gentille 32
turveillante , 32
Hermoine 32
Guepe 14