The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-12-19 00:00:00, page 3

Philadelphia, Dec. ty.
Exlraß of a letter from Europe, dated June 2d, 17^
" LORD George Germaine, in the debate in the'
House of Commons, on the 6th of May, declared/
that “ he flattered himfelf the completion of the chief
wjfh of his heart, peace with America,, on what he
thought good and honourable terms for Great-Eri
tain, was not fat off; he verily believed, and his be
lief was not meerl, speculative, but founded on recent
information, that the moment of conciliation was
n^r. His lordship described the misery which the
Americans felt at this time, and dated, that the great
est majority of the people there were ready and de
sirous tb return to their allegiance, but that they were
prevented by the tyranny of those who had got the
power of government into their hands. Hedid not be
lieve the Congress would ever treat for peace; but
from the condition of affairs in America, from the depre
ciaticn of their paper currency, from the poverty and
distress of the country, from the great debt it groaned
under, from the great diffatisfa&ion which all ranks
of people expressed at the alliance with France, from
tie little benefit America had derived from that al
fian e ; from all these confideratrons he did believe that
the people of America, the assemblies of America,
would soon come to terms"
“ There may be force ambiguity in the pbra fe
" good and honourable terms for Great-britain
but there can be no reasonable doubt that his lordihip
meant either to return to their allegiance to Great-
Britain, or at least to make a peace with her, separate
from France.
“ Whether the Africans ever will agree to such
terms, or not, being a quefiion concerning a future
event, cannot be decided by witnesses, nor in any o
ther way, but by probable arguments. There is one
argument which his lordship does not appear to have
qonfidered; it is of some weight; ft is this; that in or
der to return to their allegiance to the king of Eng
land, or make a peace with him separate from France,
they muff involve themselves in a certain war with
France and Spain at least, and indeed, according to
present appearances, with Ruffian, Sweden, Denmark,
Holland and Portugal, for every one of these powers
appears to be as decided against the claims, pretensions
and usurpations of Great Britain upon the seas, as
France and Spain are. There is not an American mer
chant, yoeman, tradesman or feamin, but knows
this, or will know it very food.- Americans muff
therefore be destitute of that common (hare of reason
which God has given to men, -to exchange the friend
fhip of all the nations of the world, for their enmity,
meerly for the fake of returning to a conneaion with
Great Britain, which could not protest them, and
which they have the best reasons to dread as the great
est evil which could befal them, from the unheard of
tyrannies and cruelties they have already experienced
from her. His lordship is desired to confider this, and
to ask himfelf, if he was an American, whether he
would wish to run under the broken fragments of an
empire that i^ dafted in pieces like a china vase, and
commence a frefh war against a combination of all the
nations of the world, who now difeover a degree of
esteem and regard fob America.„,.
“ If the Americans are as miserable as his lordship
represents them; will they not be likely to increase
that misery tenfold, and make it perpetual, by espous
ing the cause of a ruined empire and going to war
with half a dozen that are not ruined.
" If we believe the testimonies of witnesses who come
from all parts of America, we shall be convinced that
his lordfllip deceives himfelf. Every man from that
country, who knows the principles and opinions of the
people, declares, that they are with an unanimity that
is unexampled in any other revolution ; firmly deter
mined' to maintain their sovereignty and their allian
ces; and that there is nobody there who utters a wish
of returning to the government of Great Britain or
even of making a separate peace.
“ But if his lordship was a candid enquirer after
truth, and had a mind fufficiently enlightned to difeo
ver the means 0 at are in the power of all men, of ob
taining it, he might have feeri] his error. There are'
certain marks by which the opinions, principles, incli
nations and wishes of a people may be difeovered with
infallible certainty, without recurring to witnesses or to"
far fetched arguments. The press, the towns, the ju
ries, and the assemblies aredour sources from whence
an unerring demonstration of the true feritiments of
the people of America may be drawn.
" There is not in any nation of the world so unli
mited a freedom of theprefs as is now ellabliftied in every
slate of America, both by law and practice. Every man
in Europe who reads their news p^pers must fee it.-
There is nothing that the people dislike that they don't
attack. They attack officers of every rank in the
militia and in the army ; they attack edges' ,governors'
^nd magistrates of every denomination'; they attack
assemblies and councils,- members of Congress and Con
gress itfelf, whenever they diffike their coedua. But
I appeal to every newspaper upon the continent,
whether one paragraph, one wish or hint of returning
to the government of Great-Britain, or of making a
separate peace, has ever appeared.
" The towns in many parts of America are (mart
ciflrifts of territory', on an average perhaps fix miles
fqusre. By the ancient laws of the country, which
ere ftill'in force, any seven inhabitants of one of these
towns have a right to demand of the magistrates a p. b
lic assembly of all. There are nertffarily several of
these town meetings every year, and generally a great
number of them. In these assemblies every man, high
and low, every yeoman, tradesman, and every day la
bourer, as well as every gentleman, and public magis
trate, has a rightto vote and'to speak his fentirrents
upon public affairs, to propose measures, to inßrha
t eir repr fentativ*s in the legislature, &c. This right
was constantly and fr^quent ! y used under their former
government, and is now much more frequently used
under the new. The world has seen some hundreds of
sets of in^ru^ions to rep efentatives under the former
government, wherein they enjoined an open opposition
to judges, governors, ads of Parliament, K'ng, Lords
and Commons of Great Britain. What is there now to
prevent from opposing Congtefs? nothing—Has ^ fin'-:
fie vote of any one of these towns been read, or one'
speech heard, proposing or uttering a wish to return
to the government of Great-Bribin' not one. Is not
this a demouffrAion of the fentim^nts of the people !
" Juries in America were formerly another organ by
which the feutiments of the people were conveyed to
the public: both grand juries and pettit juries have
expr- fled the.r feives in language fufficienßy bold and
free' against a&s of Parliament and the conduct of
Great Britain. - But has any ever uttered a word
against Congress, or the assemblies, or the judges un
der their new government ? or a wish to return to the
obedience of England? not one.
" But it is said the, paper money embarrasses Con
gress What then ? does this tend to make there aif
folve their union, to violate their alliances? would the
paper money ernbarrafs Congress lets if they had a Wat
to maintain against France and Spain than it does now §
would not the embarraffmeot be ranch greater ? does
the paper money prevent the increase and the popula
tion of the fistes? no—does the war prevent it ? no—
&,th the population and the property of the Rates have
r.creafed every year Since this Wai began, and G! the
efforts-of Greaf-Britain cannot prevent it. Ou the con
trary, has the wealth ano population of Great-Brifaio
increased ? has her commerce increased? has the poli
tical weight of the nation in the fcahs of Europe in
cr:afel ?-- Let a melancholy Eriton L 11.
" HE lordlhip talks about the mis ry of the people
in America- Let him took at home, and then fay,
where is misery 1 when the hideous profpea of an in
ternal civil war is added to a war with all the world,
the truth is, that agriculture and manufactures, not of
luxuries, but of necanaries, have been so much irr
creafed by this war, that it is much to be doubted
whether they ever fed or eloathed thercfelves more easi
ly or more comfortably. But b<fides this, the im
mense depredations they have made upon the British
trade, have introduced vast quantities of British: mer
chandize of every fort, and in spite of all the exertions
of the British fleet their trade is opening and extending
with various countries every year, and Britain hefrelf
is forced to aid it, and will be more and more, a re^
cent proof of which is the p-rmiflion to import Ameri
can tobac 0 into the kingdom from any part of the
world in neutral bottoms.
" The great debt is affo mentioned. Do they pay an
interest for this debt? Is every neceff^ry and conveni
ence of life taxed to perpetuity to pay this interefl ?
Is the whole equal in proportion to their abilities to the
debt of England? Would the debt be rendered less by
joiningGreat-Britain against Franeeand Spain? Would
the war against France and Spain be ftrorter, less bloody,
cr less expensive, than the war against England? By
returning to England would not their debt be ten
times more burdensome? This debt is as nothing to'
America, once give her peace- Let the Americans trade
freely with one another and with all other nations and
this debt would be but a feather. Let them come un
der Great-Britain again, and have the communication
between one colony and another obfiruaed, as hereto
fore, and their trade confined to Great Britain, a^
heretofore, and this debt would be an heavier millitone
about their necks than that of England is about
theirs
" A general repugnance to the alliance with France
is mentioned. A greater miflake was never made; on
the contrary, every hep of Congress, every proceeding
of every assembly upon the continent, every prayer
that is made in the pulpet, and every (peculation in
the news- pa pers, demonstrate the high sense they have
of the importance of this alliance. It is said that this
alliance has been of little utility. Has it not employed
the British army ? Has it not cut out work enough for
the British navy ? Has it not wafted for England her
annual twenty millions! Has it not prevented those
from being employed against America? Has it not gi
ven scope to American privateers? Has it not protec
ted American trade? Has it not hurt that of Great-Bri
tain? Has it not engaged Russia, Holland, Sweden,-
Denmark and Portugal, at least to a neutrality ? At
lead has it not contributed much to these vaR advan
tages to America? Has it not taken away from Great-
Britain the dominion 'of tie sea, so far as to allow li
berty of navigation to others? ft is true,- the alliance
might have been of more utility to all the allies, with
the fame expence, if France and Spain had sooner
adopted the policy of fending more of their forces to
America. But they are now so well convinced of it,
that unless miracles are wrought to prevent it, Ameri
ca and England too will soon fee more of the effe&s of
this allianee. Let' Britain tremble at the consequence&
of her own folly and her own crimes..
" His Lordship fays that the people would return to'
their allegiance if they were not retrained by the ty
ranny of those who have got the powers of government:
these are the Assemblies/ Senates/ Governors, and
Congress. Now what power have any of these but
what the people oleafe to allow them ? By what engines
is this tyranny exercised? Is it by the militia ? In or
der to confider this let us confider the cofyfirtution of
the militia. The militia is in fad the whole people, 1
for by rhe laws of every state, every man from fixteen'
to fifty or tixty years of age belongs to the militia, is
ebbged to be armed,-to train and to march upon oc
casion or find a-fubOitufe. The officers are chosen by
tie men, except the general officers, who are appointed
by the'afcmbliet. ft is thievery militia that foi ms the
body of voters wh® annually choose the members of
aTerribly and the fenaters and, in some Rates, jthe go
vernors. Is it possible that these men ffiould tyranaife
over men upon whom they are so entirely dependant;
As well might it be reproached to his Lordship and his'
collogues in adminiftfation that they tyrannised over
their royal master who can displace them at his ple&-
ftire. The assemblies thus annually chosen by the peo
ple or militia, annually choose their delegates in Con
gress, and have power 10 recall them at pleasure.
Will the militia obey either assemblies or Congress in
the execution of tyrannical orders, or any orders that
are not generally agreeable to them? The thing speak s
for itfelf. Is it the continental army then, that is th e
inßrument of their own servitude and that of their coun
try : every offi f er holds his commission at the plea'ur e
of Congress. But his Lordship and his colleagues ofte R ,
represent tire continental army as so small and feeble
as to be unable to make head against theßritifh troops^
and it is true that they are conflanfly employed iiL
that service, and it is true that they are nothing ire
comparison of the militia; what would become of
them then, if the militia, or any considerable number
of them were to join the British troops- There lias
never been any part of the continental army in more l
than three or four of the thirteen Bates at a time,
w itching the motions of the British army, and confin
ing them to the proteaion of their men of war- What
has there been then tn the remaining nine or ten Rates
for an faftrument of tyranny ? This is too ridiculous
10 need many words.
" His Lordship concludes with* a diflinoion, if
possible less grounded than his affections. He fays
that Congress wfli never treat; but that the peo-,
pie and the assemblies will. Where does bis Lordship
find i he ground of his difference between the Congress
and the assemblies? Are not the members of Congress
made of the fame clay ? Are they not themselves mem
bers of the affembhes? Are they not the creatures off
fie assemblies? Are they not annually created? Are
they not dependant every montent upon the assemblies
for their exigence ? Have not the assemblies a right to
recall them when they pfeafe and appoint others, by,
law and the cohffitution? Have hot the assemblies at
right to inftrua them how to all ? If they do not obey
these inftruaioDs, cannot the assemblies displace them
and appoint others, who Will be more obedient ? If the
assemblies desired a reconciliation with England couldl
not they appoint a Congress who desired it too? If the
people defined it, could not they appoint assemblies
who would soon make a Congress suitable for their,
purpose ? Bur I have been too long.
" His Lordship betrays such mifinforrnationof falls•
such an inattention to those obvious marks of the feel
ing of a people as an infallible indication of their de~
signs; and such a want of knowledge of the laws and
Constitution of the United States, as excite aftonifhmen^
in an impartial examiner, and a real commifferatioro
for the unhappy nation who are devoted to deftructiora
from his errors ^nd delusions."
Lately died, deservedly regreted, at Alexandria, Vir
ginia, Colonel JOHN WHITE, late of the state of
Georgia ; a celebrated partisan in the service of the Uni
ted States; a gentleman in whom' were hapily united
the brave soldier, a Ready patriot, inflexible friends
focid companion, and benevolent honest man.
The trial of the honorable Francis Hopkinfon, efq^
judge of the admiralty, is poftpbned till Thursday,
next, 10 o'clock.
From Rivington's Royal Gazette.
" Doctor Rufh's letter to doctor Shipper, in which
he treats the rebel senate with great freedom, will
pofiti ely be in our next."
§*§ An Extra Paper will be publithed
this evening, containing the following Bills,
now depending before the honorable the
House of Assembly, viz. " An act to com
plete the quota of the federal army assign
ed co this state, and to provide for the de
fence of the frontiers."—" An adt to per
mit the exportation of Hour of wheat from
this state, by sea, for a limited time." —“ Bill
for an impost on goods, wares, and merch
andize imported."—Fublifhed for conside
ration.
*** The Committee appointed to carry into execu
tion the resolutions agreed on by the inhabitants of
the city and liberties of Philadelphia, at the State
house, are requeued to meet this day, at 12 o'clock,
at the Coffee house, on business of importance.
(ffDoctor Morgan's letter to doctor Shippen, con
taining new charges against him, &c. shall have a
place in our next.
©^re^i^^ra^e^^w^^
TO BE SO L D,
By Public Vendue, on the Premises,
On the zzd inffant, December, about
Thirty-two Acres of Woodland,
divided into fix Lotts, fitu^te in the township of Bristol,
joining the lands of Doctor Benewell, Joseph Fox y
Thom'as Nedrow and the Old York Read; late the
eftite of JOHN LUKENS, innholder, deceased. The
Conditions of sale will be made known at the time and
place afe/efaid, by
THOMAS NEDROW,} F
and DANIEL LUKENS, ^ x - CTorfc
The sale to begin precisely at one o'clock, if fair/
if not, the next fair day.
'ATTu' m' s aTt7
TO BE SO L D,
^y Lacazc and Mallet,
In Water street, ab ve Arch-ttreet r
Alio, Madeira and Sherry Wines/
By the pipe and quarter-calk, ..
Weft-lndia Rum and some coarse Wooller&
T'o' Fe S O L D,
In Atex?n'ria, by the Executors of JOHN WEST,
junior, hre of Fairfax county, Virginia, on the third
(a, o' j^ua y 1781, if fair, otherwise the next fair
day, FOUR very healthy and able-bodied
Negroe Men :
Two of them flip carpenters, able to perform an,
work in that branch of business; one a good Black
fraith, c^p-b> of d^ng any country work ; and the
oth:r an Houle joiner and Carpenter byu^e.