The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1778-04-08 00:00:00, page 2

YORK rowN, ^„ &
q,U such meanness has Britain fallen, that
{ her merchants are carrying on her com
merce not only in foreign bottoms, out under
the protection of Burghs Briefs, which they 4
solicit and obtain at St. Euftatid^hd rue there
by entitled to the privileges of Dutch febjeAs,
a^d to the right of navigating under Dutch co
lours. The facility with which they procure
tbefe briefs has made it become a general prac
tice, and the office-perquifites of the Governor
of St. Eudaba feera to be the principal induce
ment that urges him to grant them —A case
was adjudged at St. Pierres some time ago,
refftfog a French veffcl earring Englilh
merchandize, in which the General acquiesced.
The cargo was given up to the captors, and
the vGlcl to the o vner\ without any freight,
er damages for the detention of the vefiel and
disappointment in the voyage.
Extras rfa letterfrom Martinico, February 8.
" The last advices 'from Europe mention,
that the Grand Signor has given orders to
seize all the Ruffian vtffls i'n the different
ports of his dominions, and that war was ex#
pe&ed to be declared betwixt those two powers
in a very short time. Likewise that the port of
Lisbon would be shut, from the fi;ft of Janua
ry, 1778, againtt al l armed vessels belonging to
his Britannic Mgefty. ~
" Mr. Smith, the gentleman whom i men
tioned to you in a former letter was confined at
St. Vincents, on an accuf^tion of high ireufon,
his taken his trial, and was honourably acquit
ted"
Extras of another letter from 'the fame place,
February 21.
<c I did myfrlf the honour of mentien'ng to
y-u, in a former letter, that a powerful confe
deracy was forming against Great Britain ;
some late advices from France affine us, that
this affectation has taken consistence, and that
the basis of its p ditical views is founded on the
Independence of America ; —that in conse
quence of federal conferences, held between
the Coinmiffioneis of the United States and the
French Miniffry, couriers had been dispatched
to the Courts <'f Vienna, Lisbon and Madrid,
and that as soon as they returned France would
acknowledge the Independence of America; to
which, it was thought, those different Courts
would refpeaively accede. This arrangement,
it was expected, would be immediately pro
cu^five of a more general war, as it mult ne
c.ffarily occasion the interests and pursuits of
tre contracting powers to be inseparable.—
These accounts arrive through such a variety of
channels, that the rnoE incredulous cm hardly
doubt their authenticity. Ihe letters that con
vey them are dated at Paris the 22d of Decem
ber; We ne&l'not be at any loss to account
for the conduct of France in this particular,
which is founded on the fam'e motives that the
has hitherto been uniformly actuated by, and
which clearly evince a itudied fyflem of pru
dent and difereet politics; some accidental
circumstances may, perhaps, have precipitated
her in her measures. The defeat and deftruc-
Eon of Burgoyne's army, I imagine, must have
covered the English Ministry with shame and
confution, and from the day that the fatal tid
ings arrived, they must have been convinced of
their impomney in compleating their favourite
scheme of conquest.
“ The Ad of Parliament, authoring the
Governors of th, English Elands to confine as
prifonefs our captive seamen, &c. expired the
beginning of January, since which it has not
been renewed.
“ The American rebels that fail from this
port are now regularly convoyed by French
frigates ; indeed many of the French merchant
men take the benefit of this protection, as the
faithtefs conduC of the English, in having
commenced hostilities the last war, previous to
the declaration of it, has made them cautious
and suspicious of the fame sinister designs.
These convoys for the prote^ion of our com
merce have greatly alarmed the Engliffi, and
are a considerable step toward an open rupture.
“ The resolve of Congress, that engaged
the payment of Six per cent, interest per an
num, in bills of exchange upon Paris, for a
mount of money deposited in the Continental
Loan Office, has been attended with happy and
beneficial effeCs. It has increased the spirit
cf (peculation amongst foreigners, and has
given rife to a number of them, both in El
rope and the Weft-Indies.
“ The arrival cf the Continental brig Re#
finance gave me an opportunity of feeing as
much refpedt paid to the Continental blag, as
to that of his Britannic Majefly, who proudly
aflumes the foveteignty of the seas, After en
countering those difficulties which an attempt
to reform edablifcd cuFoms generally occasi
ons, liberty was obtained for Captain Chew to
enter into the port, drop anchor, and take ins
departure, without going through any of the
Cuilum house formalities, or paying any of the
fees of office ; and likewise to hoist his pendant
in the haibour, aliho' the French Commodore
was then in port. It has given me a very sen
sible pleasure to fee our Continental Flag on so
respectable a footing.— The design of these co
lours is happily conceived, and has occasioned
general admiration ; I hope the luftre of the
new Constellation will continue to encreafe ;
there is a rising radiance already fpfead about
it, brighter than what .encircles the brows of
fa len A4a,fy. I expert form that it will have
a conspicuous place aligned it in the political
lyiUm, and under its propitious influence, to
dee America rife to Freedom, independence and
bmpire."
Extract of a letter from Trekton, New-ferfey,
March 2O>X %
" A considerable number of the enemy are
over at Salem, mostly Greens; but 1 believe
their day will be short, as the militia from
Cumberland',aided by their Magistrates and
old men (who are exempt by law) are march
ing, with a determination to fight them where
ver they can find them. If Pennsylvania and
the whole of Jeifey were like Cumberland,
Morris, Somerset, and some other parts of this
State, where no oerfon, who is able to carry a
inufket, will be exempt when the enemy come
near, these plunderers must have fucked their
paws in the city, or quit the parts before now."
LANCASTER, April 8.
On Fhurfdav last, the 2d instant, the Gene
ral AlFmbly of this State adjourned to Wednes
day the 13th day of Mav next: During their
fitting they enacted the following Laws, viz.
A Supplement to the act intitled, " an act
for the better supply of the armies of the U
nited States."
An alt for the attainder of divers traitors, if
they render not themselves by a certain day, and
for vetting their estates in this Commonwealth ;
and for more effectually discovering the fame,
and for ascertaining and fatisfying the lawful
debts and claims thereupon.
An act for making compepfation to those
whole servants and apprentices have been in
lifted.
A supplement to the a& intitled " an act to
difeourage desertion, and to puniPo all such
persons as shall harbour or conceal deserters."
A supplement to the aft intitled “ an a& for
the regulating of waggons, carriages and pack
horfes for the public iervice."
An aft for the better securing and punching
persons guilty of the crimes and offences there
in mentioned.
An aft for the more speedy and effectual re
covery of debts due to the United States of A
mefica.
A further fppplement to the act entitled " an
ad for amending the several a&s for eliding
members of AffemblyJ'
An ad for the calling in of the bills of credit
issued by the legislative authority of Pennsylva
nia, under the sanction and authority of the
crown of Great-Britain, and for other purposes
therein mentioned.
An act to revive and put in force the act of
General Assembly cf the province of Pennfil
vania, intitled " an act for the reliefof the poor,
and for other purposes therein mentioned."
A Supplement to the act intitled " an act
for the regulating and eftab'lifhing of fees."
An act for raising the sum of fix hundred and
twenty thousand dollars for the use of the U
nited States of America.
An a& for regulating the prices of the federal
articles herein mentioned for a limited time.
An ad for the further Security of the Go
vernment.
A Supplement to the a& Entitled c 'an a& to
prevent foreftalling and regrating, and to en
courage fair dealing.
An act to bnpower the Justices of the county
of Bucks to hold courts at other places than
usual, and#for the removal and fafe, custody of
the records and other public papeis of the said
county.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Pennsylvania,
IVedrefday, Zpril if, U/''
WHEREAS it is ab olmely nectflary that the
quota of this Rate towards the Continental Army
Should be raised with the utmod expedition: And
that all means thould be tiled for attaining th^t im
portant end, .
1. Refolded, That the sum of Sixteen Dollars, lately
resolved by this Hcufe to he prid to the rec'uitiog
officer for each feldier he shall inlift, shall ado be paid
to any person within this state who (hall procure an
able bodied recruit, to Inlift in any regiment belong
ing to this Rate ; which said sum mail be paid to tha
(aid person By the Lieutenant or nearest Sub Lieute
nant of the county, upon his delivering the said recrut
to him, together with an attestation offuch inliftmeit
under the band and seal of feme Justice of the county.
2. Kefrived, That it be recommended to the Su
preme Executive Council to call upon the Lieutenants
arid Sub Lieutenants of the leveral counties of this
flare, for fair and e^a lifts, diftinguidEog briraliors
and companies, of all the officers and soldiers within
this ffate; which (ball be delivered in on or before
the firft day of May next.
3. Rrfolved, That it be recommended, to the fail
Supreme Executive Council to endeavour to procure
the most exact and accurate accounts of what will be
the deficiency of the quota of this state on the fail
firft day of May next ; and that thereupon, and as
loon as the said deficiency (hall be known, the Coua
cil will fix, afeertain and allot to each of the said bat
talions the quot^, proportion or number of men re
quired of it for compleating the troops of this Rate;
and 23 soon as the said requifi ion and allotment a r e
made known to the commanding officer of the batta
lion, the field officers thereof (hall meet together and
allot, fix and afeertain the number of men required
of each company of the said battalion; And the fame
being notified to the commanding officer of each com
pany, the officers thereof (hall procure by draught,
lot, or any other mean's whatsoever, the number of
men required of the said company: And the said men
thall be delivered by the commanding officers of the
companies rtfoeaively, to the Lieutenant or nearest
Sub Lieutenant ofthe county within ten davs after
such requisition made to the company, who (hall give
a certificate of their being received; and the laid
Lieutenant or Sub Lieutenant (hall deliver the fame
men to the nearest recruiting officer, who (hall also
give a certificate of their receipt. And the said men
(0 draughted or otherwise procured, (hall serve as
soldiers in the Continental Army for the (pace of nine
months, or during the campaign, unless sooner dis
charged.
4. Refetod, That every milit ; a man who (hall vo
luntarily inhft himfelf without draughting or lot, in
pursuance of these Resolves, (hall be exempted front
all taxes for one year, after his time of service elap
sed. Extras from the Minutes,
JOHN MORR I S, Junior,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
In CONGRES S, February 26, 177^.
MfoEed, That every person draughted as afore
faid, who shall supply himfelf with a good firelock
and bayonet, acartouch box, harerfack, or blanket,
and (hall, at the expiration of the term of his service,
produce to the proper Paymaster, a certificate from
his ( aptam cr other commanding officer of bis com
pany, that he hath been conftanßy provided there
with, fball receive for the use of bis firelock, bayonet
and cartoech box, Two Dollars, and for the use of
his blanket hour Dollars, and in a like proportion for
any or either of them: And in case any of the fail
articles (hall be loft or rendered lifeless in the service,
without the negligence or fault of the proprietor, he
Ihall be paid the value thereof.
Extraff from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Extras of a letter from a Gentleman in Martinico so Bis
Friend in Alexandria, dated February 21, 1778.
" The nolle of a war is renewed The last rpffi!
from Bourdcar.g brings letters as l?te as the gift es
December, all which mention that our Independence
was on the po'nt of being recognized by France,
Spain, Portugal, and the Empire: That Defter
Franklin had been presented to the King of France as
Plenipotentiary from the United States; bad bad a
very gracious recept : on, and a long conference with
his M jetty: Th^t a treaty was formed, or forming,
between these powers and America, to which it w^
thought the States of Holland snd the King of Puffia
would accede: That the Turks and Ruffians had ab
solutely commenced hcft : litics ; and, in a word, thst
affairs wore such an a r pe& in general, that it was tt?
common opinion an universal war or universal peace
must very (hortly take place.. This news I give you
as I have received it, but having been so eften deceive,
I wvuld not have you lay too much ftreb upon it till