The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1780-02-24 00:00:00, page 2

PHILADELPHIA.
Lad Tuesday afternoon arrived here Captain Palmer,
from France, by whom we have the French News
papers in December, but have only time to give the
following.
LONDON, November 's, 7779.
The SPEECH of His Mod Gracious MAJES-
T Y, to both Houses of PARLIAMENT.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I Meet you in Parliament at a time when we are called
upon by every principle of duty, and every considera
tion of int rest, to exert our united efforts in the support
and defence of our country, attacked by an unjust and
unprovoked w r, and contending with one of the most
dangerous confederacies that ever was formed against the
crown and people of Great-Brttain.
The defigqs and attempts of our enemies to invade this
kingdom, have, by the blessing of Providence, been
hitherto fruftrated and disappointed. They still menace
us with great armaments and preparations; but we are,
I trod, on our part, well prepared to meet every attack,
and repel every insult. I Know the character of my brave
people; the menaces of their enemies, and the approach
of danger, hive no other effeß on their minds, but to ani
mate their courage, and to calf forth that national spirit,
which has so often checked and defeated, the projects of
ambition aad injustice, and enabled the Britifli fleets and
armies 10 proteß their own country, to vindicate their
own rights, and at the fame time to uphold and preserve
the liberties of Europe, from the reliefs and encroach
in power of the House of Bourbon.
In the midst of my care and solicitude for the fafety and
welfare of this Country, I have not been inattentive to
the state of my loyal and faithful kingdom of Ireland :
I have in consequence of your addresses, presented to me
last sessions, ordered such papers to be collected and laid
before you, as may assist your deliberations, on t>is im
portant business ; and I recommend it to you to confider
what further benefits and advantages may be extended to
that kingdom, by such regulations, and such methods,
as may m®ft effeßually promote the common strength,
wealth and interefls of all my dominions.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons.
The proper estimates (hall, in due time, be laid before
you. I fee with extreme concern, that the necessary efta
biifhment of my naval and military force, and the various
services and operations of the ensuing year, must inevita
bly be attended with great and heavy expeaces, but I rely
on your wisdom and public spirit, for such supplies as the
circumstances and exigencies of cur affairs shall be found
so require.
groat. He Wobid hardly contend that the note given V%
one guinea (hould not be repaid with another, merely be
cause it had afterwards been riegoci ted at an under value.
If to him who had purchased such a note for a groat it
should be laid that he ought hot in justice to demand a
guinea, would he not reply, that when he paid his groat
the chance of getting any thing was so dubious that the
fail v lue bf the note waspaid ? If his reprover mould
p r t^od to be a friend of the deceased, and charge his op
ponent with an usurious disposition, might not the credi
tor very properly ask of such a friend, why he had not
himf.lf givesfor the fame notea (hilling ? Might he not
ask which was the most sincere in profeffions of friendship,
he who had given a groat or he who would give nothing ?
I do not mean to apply this doctrine with all the ftriß
n<s it would admitof. Ido not pretend that rhe modesty
of" fubjeßs flnuid serve as a model or rule for the fortitude
of their rulers. lam very sensible that government have
mor: . en ! irged views of objects than can be taken in by the
weak optics of private information^ Above all things I
am far from willing to hazard the shadow of censure on
my faprriors, I would, however, pray of them not to
confider the breach of moral duties among the common
rrfources of a Financier. Ido not contend that our p per
will appreciate; I certainly do not fear that it will. This
however I do contend, that any effort of the State to pre
vent the appreciation would, according to the rules of
private justice, be wrong ; and ifpublic ads are to be tried
byadifferent flandard, I confefs it is a flaadard lam un
acquainted with.
But it will be (aid that depreciation hath made engroffers
nominally rich, and that appreciation would realize their
hoards. The demerits of engroffers will be examined at a
future period. Admitting, "however, that the effeßs of
their conduct are as pernicious as the cause is despicable,
and admitting them to be as nefarious as it fliall please any
body to describe them, still the point in dispute is far
from decided. If they are guilty of one crime, must go
vernment to punish them be guilty of another? How is
this on the private scale? May A cheat B, because B
cheated C? I know it is easy to exclaim against engroffers,
but it is much more ufeful to reason. Putting the immo
rality of this business out of the question, government I
fear would not find their account in it, for the political
pursuit of engroffers, tories, &c. very much resembles
fox-hunting, which, whatever (port it may give to the
hwntfmen, and however it may purport the defence of
geese and chickens, is always attended with more cost than
profit.
Suppose by some sudden fircke from heaven the money
could instantly be appreciated: Who would gain by it?
Certainly not the engrosser. He has it not. His occu
pation consists in keeping any thing and every thing but
money. Suppose the appreciation takes place by degrees,
in the common course of levying taxes, then all will by
d grees gain and iofe: They will gain on the appreciation
0 the money, they will lose in the price of commodities.
But the engrosser will gain least because he has least mo
ney, and he will lose most because all commodities would
be brought to bear their natural proportion to each other,
and of confluence those which by monopoly had been
railed higher than their due level would necessarily in the
reduction of primes be most reduced.
Thus, then, it is evident, that any attempt to prevent
the appreciation of our money woul4 be equally impolitic
and difhonefl. Let us next examine whether depreciation
was a just and wife tax.
I am your friend,
An AMERICAN.
My Lords and Gentlemen,
I have great fatisfaßion in renewing the assurances of
my entire approbation of the good conduct and discipline
of the Militia, and of their fleady perseverance, in their
duty; and I return my cordial thanks to all ranks of my
loyal fubjeßa who have flood forth in this arduous con
juncture, and by their zeal, their influence, and their
personal service, having given confidence as well as
strength to the national defence. Trusting in the divine
providence, and in the justice of my cause, I am firmly
resolved to prosecute the war with vigour, and to make
every exertion in order to compel our enemies to listen to
equitable terms of peace and accommodation.
After the King retired, a motion was made in the
House of Lords for an address of thanks, aad on a mo
tion for an amendment, the House divided ; for the ad
dress, as it was moved 90, for the amendment 41, ma
jority 49 ; And in the House of Commons, for the address
233, for an amendment 134, majority 99.
The Earl of Hi Ifborough is appointed Secretary of State,
viee Lord Weymouth.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of character in
L'Orient, to his friend in this town, dated Nev. 17th
1779.
“ The Parliament of Ireland have aßed with a degree
of spirit, that furprizes every body. On their meeting,
instead of echoing back the Lord Lieutenant's speech, as is
usual, they in theiraddrefs to the King, demanded a free
trade in every refpe&; and if this is refufed them, there
is no doubt but that they will declare themselves indepen
dent. Between 50 and 60,000 men, have already formed
themselves into independent regiments, and the Duke of
Lender is at the head of this association.
Extract of a letter from L'Orient, dated November
i 3, 1779.
" The Dutch seem at present entirely to disregard
Great" Britain. Notwithstanding Sir Joseph York's me
morials, they allow Capt. Jones to refit his little squa
dron, and give him every assistance possible—nay, he is
even allowed poffeffien of a fatal! fort in the Texel, in
which he has put his sick and wounded feameo. His
own marines confiantly mount guard, and the Continen
tal colours are hoisted. The Euglifh do him the honor
to attend with eight ships at the South and four at the
North entrance of the Texel to watch his motions. In
answer to Sir Joseph Yorke's memorial, and demand of
the Seraphis and Couutefs of Scarborough, the States
General have reply'd, that they were a neutral power,
that their ports were free, and that they did not take
upon them to judge of the validity of ahy prizes brought
into their harbours. It is said that Sir Joseph, in his
second memorial, has declared, that if the prizes are not
given up, orders will be given to the Captains of British
men of war. to make reprizals. Capt. Jones is expected
round here very shortly, if the English do not watch him
too closely.
“ Affairs in Irelandare at last come to a crisis. The
Parliament, in their address to the King, were almost
unanimous in demanding a free and unreftrißed trade,
and if this is not complied with, there is scarce a doubt
but what they will declare themselves independent, and
open their ports to all the world. Sir George Newen
ham declared ; n the House, that they were and ought to
be independent, to all intents and purposes, and that
the Parliament of Great Britain had nothing whatever
todo with their trade. Between fifty and sixty thousand
men have formed themselves into independent regiments
in the different counties, mostly headed by gentlemen
of rank and fortune ; and the Duke of Leiofter com
mands the Dublin volunteers. We have not yet heard
what reception the address is like to meet with ; bur eve
ry day we expeß very interesting news from that quar
ter.
" News is this day arrived in town from London, that
Lord Sandwich has shot himfelf. People have various
eonje&ures on the cause of this."
Extract of a letter from Nantz, Dec. 13, 1779.
" The Count D'Eftaing, with four ships of the line is
arrived from America at Brest. The intended invasion
of England is laid aside till spring, and the refpedive fleets
are in pert."
We have deceived an account of the following vessels
being arrived in theriver, viz. the brig Retaliation,
Capt. Kollock, and the sloop Page, C.?pt. Palmer, from
France ; the brig Delaware, Capt. Collins, and fchoorer
Revenge, Capt. Carson, from Hispaniola ; a brig rom
Cadiz, and several others,
Capt. Wilson, who left the Havannah the latter end
of December, informs, that an expedition was going for
ward from thence, that a largo body of men were em
barked and hourly expected failing-orders. Their desti
nation was fa^d to be Pensacola. On the 7th ult. in lat.
31- 5, long. 6 5 > h ~ puffed a large fleet Handing S. E.
with the wind at Weft ; some of them gave him chace,
but as he was to windward, he easily escaped. It is
supposed this is the fleet which left New-York last Chrifl
mas.
The brig , Captain Prole, from Cadiz, for
this Pert, being blown off the coast, is got into Marti
nico.
Captain Gustavus Cunnyngham made bis escape from
Plymouth goal the §th of November, and arrived at Am
sterdam about the goth.
The schooner Polalkie, Captain Hartwell, from this
porr, for the Wefl-Indies, is taken ana carried into Anti
gua -
The (chooser Baltimore, Capt. Earle, from St. Euflatia
for Baltimore, being blown off this coafl, is taken,and go
ing into Antigua ran on the rocks, where she was beat to
pieces.
On the 15th and 16th of December, there was a violent
gale of wind at Teneriff, in which several vessels were drove
ashore, among them a schooner, Capt. Adams, from Eden
town, North Carolina, which had brought to that Island
17,000 Raves.
The brig A&ive, Captain Mefnard, and the brig ,
Capt. Stocker, both from St. Euftatia; the brig- ,
Captain Chatham, from Teneriff, are arrived in the De
laware with valuable cargoes of rum, salt, wine, dry
goods, &c. and will be up, as soon as the river is clear of
ice.
I*l The public will please to observe, that in the ad
vertisement for the sale of James Talbot's estate, there is a
mistake as to the situation, it being between Second and
Third-streets, instead of Third and Fourth-fireeis.
And be it further enaCted by tiie authority aforefaid,
That every importer, consignee or manufacturer of any
goods, wares or merchandize whatsoever, fliall, from and
after the publication of this Ad, so often as he or they
shall fell or deliver any goods, wares or merchandize, to
any [hop-keeper, retailer or other person, for the purpose
of retailing, deliver to such purchaser as aforefaid, a cer
tificate, fitting forth the kinds, quantities and prices of
such goods, wares or merchandize, so fold or delivered as
aforefaid, and containing the names and places of abode,
of both feller and buyer.
And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That if
any (hop-keeper, retailer or other person whatsoever, from
and after the publication of this ACt, shall fell, cr expose
to sale, any goons, wares or merchandize whatsoever,
without having such certificate, as aforefaid, or producing
the fame, if demanded, by wy Commissioner appointed by
the ACt, to which this is a supplement, or other person pur
chasing from such retailer, he or they so offending, shall
forfeit and pay any sum, not exceeding ten thousand
pounds, at the diferetion of the Court, where he, she or
they fliall be convided of the offence aforefaid.
And be it enabled, That if any person or perfcns what
soever, shall give or deliver, or procure, or order to be
delivered to my person or persons whatsoever, such cer
tificate, as is dir-Red by this AR, and be prosecuted in
pursuance of this AR, in any Court of Record in this
State, the onus probandt (had be on such person or persons,
thathe or they were the original importer, consignee
or manufaßurer of all such goods, wares or merchandize,
as (hall tie mentioned in such certificate, aid being con
vißed of granting, writing or delivering, or causing, or
procuring to be granted, wrote or delivered, such cer
tificate as aforefaid, and failing in fatisfaßory proof, that
he or they were the original importer, consignee or ma
nufacturer as aforefaid, he or they shall forfeit and fufftr
all the pains and penalties of perfects convißed, of offend,
ing against the seventh feßion of the AR, to which thisis
a fupplemenf.
And be it enafted, That the Commiffloners appointed
by the AR to which this is a fupplement,or any of them,
shall have full power and authority, and they are hereby
required to make diligent enquiry throughout their city
or county, of all breaches against this AR, or that to
which this is a fupplementi and shall have all the powers
and authority of Justices of the Peace, to summon all per
sons before them, against whom information shall be made,
or whom they shall fufpeß as offenders against this AR,
or that to which this is a supplement; and if any per
son shall negle& or refufe to attend or obey such summons,
the said Comraiffioner may iffu^ a warrant under his hand
and seal, direßed to any Constable, to compel the atten
dance of the party so refufing or neglecting as aforefaid
and may-bind them over with fufficient security, to appear
at the next Court of General Quarter Sessions, to be held
for the proper city or county, or for default of such secu
rity, may commit the offender to Jail, there to remain till
delivered by due course of law, and all Sheriffs, Coroners
and Constables, within this Commonwealth, are hereby
required and direßed to be aiding and afli fiing the said
Coirmiflloners, or any of them, in the cue execution of
the office enjoined them, by this AR, and that th which
this is a fopplement, and the said Cummiffioners are here
by dir-Red and required refpeßively, (on ev ry firft day
of the General Quarter Sessions for the city or county to
which they belong) to make and deliver, or eaufe to be
delivered to tne Attorney General, cr his D puty, fair
copies of all rantaCtiocs, and recognizances taken before
them, in conformity to this AR or that to which this is
a fupploment, in like manner as is peathfed by Juflices of
the Peace.
A SUPPLEM ENT to the AR intitled, " An Aft, for
the more effectually preventing engreffing and foreftall
ing, and for the encouragement of commerce and the
fair trader, and for ether purposes therein mention
ed."
WHERE AS the evi, praßice of engrossing and
foredaliing of goods and merchandizes, yetconti
nues to be praftifed within this State, to the great injury
of the good people of this Commonwealth, the deprecia
tion of our money, and difeouragement of the fair tra
der.
AND WHEREAS the Aft intitled, " An Ad
for the more effectually preventing engrossing and forefialfo
ing> f° r the encouragement of commerce, and the fair tra
der, and for other purposes therein mentioned, hath proved
in some cases insufficient against the evils which the fame
was intended to prevent; for remedy whereof.
Be it enaCted, and it is hereby enacted, by the
Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and by the
authority of the fame, That if any person or perlons
whatsoever, within this Commonwealth, shall, from and
after the publication of this ACt, buy or cause to be bought^
any goods, wares or merchandize from any importer,
consignee or manufacturer, or other person whatsoever, or
bring, or cause to be brought, any goods, whr?B or mer
chandize from any of the United States, into this State,
and fell the fame, or any part thereof, to any shop keep
er, retailer, or other person whatsoever, for the pur
pose of retailing the fame, he or they so offending, and
being thereof convicted, in any Court of Record in this
State, shall be fined by the said Court, in any sum not
less than the value of the articles so fold, nor exceeding
treble the value thereof, or be imprisoned, not exceeding
one year, or both at the diferetion ®f the Court, unless
the person bringing such goods, be the original importer
from beyond featy cr consignee of the proprietor residing
beyond seas of the fame: Provided always, that nothing
in this A&, shall extend to any raw or manufactured ma
terials, the produce of any of the United States.
The Bill intitled, “ A Supplement to the Aft intitled,
An Act for the more effectually preventing engrossing
and foreftalling, and for the encouragement of com
merce, and the fair trader, arid for other purposes there
in mentioned," was read the second time, and being
debated by paragraphs, was ordered to be trafcribed
for a third reading, and in the mean time printed for
coufideration.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Friday, February 18, 1780.
Extraß from the Minutes,
THOMAS PAIN E,
Clerk of the General Aflembly.