The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-05-08 00:00:00, page 2

IN C O U N C I L.
PHILADELPHIA, MAY 4 , i 7 Br.
IT is not beneath the dignity of a government,
whose sole foundation is theauthoriy of the people,
it is a duty to explain any public measure, which may
be misunderstood through ignorance, or misrepresented
by design ; and especial y if such a measure is so gene
ral in its operation, as really, or imaginarily to affect
theintereflsof 1 great number of people. Theteis fuffici
ent reason to believe, that there ever has been a num
ber of persons in this city, who, from difaffeaion or
faction, of other undue motives, ferment every uneasi
ness, from whatever cause arising, sparing neither art
nor faUhood to effect their purpose, and too often ira
pofe on the credulous and unwary. That such at
tempts are now making, with refpeß to the resolution
of this board, declaring the exchange between specie
and continental money, is very obvious. We must
cautionr ou fellow citizens against them, and request
they would seriously confider the following reasons, on
which this measure has been adopted ; and then, we
have no doubt, they will not only concur with, but
applaud a Rep which was dictated, not merely by
common regard to the interns of the Rate, but which
was indispensably necessary in our prefect circum
flances.
The e f.Rs ?re known to us all :
Firfl, That the Council, under a positive law of the
flare, and the obligation of their oath of office, are re
quired,on the firfl weekin every month, to publifli what
is the teen rate of exchange between specie and con
tinental money which is to be the exchange be
tween continental money a%d the date money.
Secondly, That the said rate of exchange has been,
by common consent and ufag~ of trade, gradually ris
ing for some time past ; so that at prefect no person, in
his private dealing, pays or receives at the rate of se
venty five for one;
Thirdly, That the neighbouring Rate of New Jer
sey, on t e2 7 t'h ult. declared the rate to be one hund
red and fifty for one ; and the inhabitants of that Rate
were pouring the old continental money into this, re
ceiving ear state money in lieu thereof, at the rate of
feventy-five for one Rate dollar.
Taefe fafls being undeniable, surely it is a gross
error to fay that government bar raffed the exchange.
The people have railed it by common confect, :nd
the Council have only followed them in making a de
claration of what they have done; and in thisiußance,
as formerly, taking the lowefl poflible rate at which
any commodity has been transferred. Did not every
one in his private dealings, possessed of continental
money, pay x price so every article, which included
the daily depreciation? Is not the me chandife and
produce of the country, fold for double, treble, and
fourfold the price in that money, that it was one,
two, or three months ago? Who, therefore, can be a
loser by the declaration? Not the man who wiflies to
employ it in private dealing, whatever it may be ; eve
ry feller having in this case, a voice with the buyer.
The true and real dfappointment falls upon the dif
affefted and the difeonteated, who having by every
artifice evaded the payment of his taxes, fecks now to
pay them at one half of what the good Whig, who
paid at the firft call, or the brave militia man, who
did his tour of duty, has done. And is this reason
able? Is this juR to the virtuous part of the commu
nity? Tre citizens of Philadelphia are foremoß in the
payment of their taxes : dp they desire the people of
the country thou!l pay them at one half, or a quarter
of the value they t emfelves have done ? We are per
suaded the people of the country are too just and rea
sonable to desire it, if the citizens were so unwise as
to ask it.
But there is another confederation deeply affecting
the integrity and confeiences of t e Council, which
every good man must r-sped. Would he define of
Council to publish what all the world knows to be falfe,
and that under the fanftion of an oath, by which they
have solemnly engag'd " faithfully to execute their
office, doing equal right and justice to all men, to tie
bed of their knowledge and abilities, according to
law." The Council could not, without violating eve
ry principle of truth and veracity, declare the ex
change to be feventy-five, when there was not g fingfe
person in the city but must know the contrary. If
they could thus prostitute their confeiences, and add
perjury to falflwod, they would be unworthy th.ir
Nation : and it would ill become them to call, as thry
have lately done, upon the citizens of this Rate, to
join them in a solemn address to the God of truth and
justice, while they were thus breaking the most sacred
injunction of both. The Council are in no refpe£ tin
terefled in the measure, but in common with t eir con
stituents ; but surely magißrates, fherffs, and all other
mini erial officers, whose fees stand regulated, and
who must take them as offered, have some claim for
that “ equal right and justice" which by oath we are
bound to shew all men. The laws, the resolve , and
other public ads have had no effect to prefcrve Wie pa
per from depreciation : nor can we conceive, that our
declaration of what is the current and otherwise well
known rate of dealing, can operate in the least to the
prejudice of any man, but in the payment of public
dues, the greater part of which ought to have been
paid twelve months ago. Our time being wholly
devoted to the public service, we have not tee
fame opportunities of knowing, with accurate pre
cision, the most current rite of exchange, as these
engaged in commerce and general dealing, and
have therefore adopted the lowest known rate,at which
we could difeover any commercial tranfa&ions were ad
justed. On this principle we continued it last month
at seventy five. But surely every one must be fenfi.
ble of the great difference which has happened since
that time. And can the Council be fupppfed to be
ignorant of what is known tqevery other person in the
city, of the years of diferetion, and on a fubjed which
the law supposed them to be somewhat acquainted with,
or it was ahfurd to lodge the power of judgment with
them? It will be hmd,fellow citizens, in the facrifice you
know we make of private interest for your fake, if we
cannot serve or please you but at the expence of our
integrity, truth, and our underflauding also. We
(corn an aff^fted ignorance which we do not feel or
possess. But why filould a measure give discontent
here, which gave none to the Rate of New-Jer^y ? That
hate led the way in the declaration though we have
reason to think the depreciation, which is the actual
evil, may be more generally ascribed to ourselves ; but
the resolution of New-Jersey has furnifhed a most u'n
anfwerable argument for what we have done. We
have nothing to conceal from you, and have there
fore no difficulty to ackn wiedge that, unwilling to
give any one the leaf! difeontent or alarm (though
ill founded) and at the fame time embarrassed with fh^
duties of aw, truth and jufiice, which seemed to clash
with each other, we had resolved to make no Tcla
rat on ; but on this, as well as other accounts, imme
diately to call the AfTembiy, and to seek from them
relief from a burthen, which to an honest mird muff
be di^reffing, if noi hafupport?bl% We trailed that
the cause of ths omiißon would fbrnifh a Sufficient
apology for it • but while we were deliberating, the
resolution of New Jersey reached us, and soon after
we. were informed from undoubted- authority, that the
people of that Rate were pouring quantities of the old,
money into this, not only for merchandize and effects,
but even exchanging it at the treasury, und r an ice
diligence of this, kind^ formerly allowed. The pal
pable gain on this (peculation, was doubling the mo
ney by crossing the Delaware, and tie !• fs to this
Rate was exactly the fame, as they received one Rte
dollar, or its value, for one half of what they had
really paid for it in New Jersey. Now, friends and
fellow-citizens, to your judgment and candour we
appeal, whether, as faithful managers of the public
affairs, we could be indifferent fpea*to r s of such
a traffic? Could we look tamely on, and fee the mo
ney of this Rate carried into another, at one half
its Value, either to be redeemed by us at some
future day as gold and filter, or the faith and honour
of this Rate.expreffly and openly violated? If we have
so much mistaken the character of the ftat> we have
the honour to serve, and all the Sacrifices enumerated
in this address are expelled from us, we frankly ac
knowledge you have not felefted the proper perlons
to administer your government. But if, as we firmly
believe, you wish to be served on principles of inttgri
ty and honour, we shall persevere in that line. We
can fee no reason for a to al floppage of the continen
tal money at this time, which alone can operate mil
chief to individuals and tie community. Let it pass
as it did a few days ago, when our last resolve certain
had no effect upon it to preserve its value. By an aft
of Assembly passed last session, the currency of old
continental money will flop in all payments for taxes on
the firff of June; and by that time 200,000 1. of
new Rate money will he ready to exchange for it. The
Assembly will met in the mean time, and it is to be
presumed, that, should any particular grievances ap
pear, they will be drfpoffed to relieve and redress them.
Permit us now to remind you, that we have irrevo
rably pledged cur lives, fortunes, and sacred honour,
to support the great cause of America ; that every
encouragement we give our enemies, counteracts this
glorious resolution - and that our difconients will un
doubtedly protract all the bleffing^ of which we have
so fair a profpe&.
JOSEPH reed; President.
H AG U E, January 19, 1/81.
WE have just received from Petersburg the fol
lowing advices, in a letter dated the 26th of
December. “ The envoy from the States General to
this court, having received, by an express from the
Hague, the formal resolution by which their high
mi^htineffes acced'd to the armed neutrality, the ba
ron de Waffinaar,Starunbourg, and Deheckeren Brun
tenbour, on tie 23d of this month, celebrated the an
niversary of the grand duke Alexander Powlowitfch, in
the characters of ambaffftdors extraordinary from the
republic; and had the fame day a public and solemn
audience with the empress, in which their excellencies
had the honour to present their new credentials to her
imperial majefly, who received them seated on her
throne. Tuisauguß fovere;gn, having teftified to'thefe
ambassadors the fati&fa&ion the received at the pro
ceedings of their matters, appoi ted a committee to
regulate with their excellencies the grand affi ir of the
treaty to be concluded on between the two powers - this
committee is composed of the count Panin, prime mi
nister of the Rate, count Afterman, -monsieur Bacunin,
aßual counfellor of state to her imperial majefly ; and
Mr. Befboradka, major general and secretary of the
cabinet. The fame day the British envoy defpatched
a courier to his court, and also two others to Copen
hagen. 7 '
We hear by other letters, from the capital of the
Ruffian empire, of the accession of the flares general
to the armed neutrality, and that it was received with
the greatest fatisfaaion. It is confirmed that her im
peri4 majefly has defpatched a Courier to her minister
at the court of England, with orders to declare,
“ That her majeßy had nothing more at heart, than
to live in harmony with Great-Britain : but the dig
nity of her crown, and the welfare of her fubjeds, would
not perm t her to fuffer the violence exercised on her
veffets ; that she, as well as all Europe, was astonished
to have received better treatment from the house of
Bourbon than from the Britiffi, who had in Russia
greater privileges than any other nation ; that altho' she
had fufficiently made known her intentions, with refped
to a perfef tneutrality, they had not put a flop to this
ill treatment; that her imperial mijefly would no long
er bear it, or would flie acknowledge the English tri
bunal, who had arrogated to themselves she right of
judging vessels taken by them ; and that she in conse
quence demanded, without procedure, delay or pro
teff, a complete restitution of her vessels, without which
she should be obliged to have recourse to violent means.
The English party daily loses credit ; the empress
having said, a few days ago, that she would persist in
the plan of neutr&lity without the least deviation. The
memorial presented by die British Ambassador, not
only met with an unfavorable reception, but was found
to be conceived in terms not suitable to the purpnfe.
Tl^ir high mightinesses published, on the twelfth m.
ftant, the following placart, to grant'a premium or re
compence to letters of mart ,which shall take any Bri
tifn vessels of war :
" The Rates general of the United provinces of the Ne
therlands to all who shall fee, or hear read, these pre
sents, greeting.
“ Make known that the king of Great Britain having,
without any legal cause, attacked in a hoflile manner
this republic, and as we ffiould not negled any thing
which may serve for our defence, and at the fame time
are compelled to exercise that privilege which the con
duft of the said crown has made necessary by their ex
ample, and to retaliate in the fame manner as they have
a&ed against us, and in consequence to prejudice, as
much as in our power lies, the said king and his fubjeHs:
For these reasons, and for the preteaion of the com
merce and the navigation of t; efe United Provinces, we
have thought proper to e^ablifh and grant to all fubießs
of these Rates, who shall take possession of, or deßroy,
any British vessels of war or privateers, the following
rewards.
(The articles and rewards in next paper.)
prom Rivington's Royal Gazette, dated Ap. 25, 1781.
Extract of a letter from Plymouth, January 10, 1781.
r “ An account arrived here the evening before last/
that the French had landed upon the island of Jersey,
f^rprized t. Kelerais, took the Lieutenant Governor,
Corbet, in his bed, and made the 95th regiment, Ra
tioned there, prisoners ; they disembark'd 500 ins
boats, 5 miles from St. Helerais. Fortunately for us,
infiead of marching forward brifkiy, to secure the
troops in the barracks, a little way from the town,
and to possess the heights, they wafled their time ira
forcin, the governor to sign a capitulation, till the
troops assembled upon tne heights; when Captain
Mulcaflor, who commanded in the cattle, and Major
Pierson of the 95th regiment, the only field officer,
determmed to pay no regard to the forced capitulation?
by a Governor, prisoner, but to attack them imme
diately, which was done with success about one o'clock:
in the afternoon, after a very heavy fire of twenty
minutes. The enemy loft a French Count) their
commander, and 160 men, the remain er wer trade
prifoners, 300 have been brought in here those left
in the boats eiciped. Our loss was Major Pierfoil
killed, and So killed and wounded.
By this gallant atch^vm^nt rhe French have bera
disappointed tor these < ond ove tl is war, in making
a conquertof the island of Jersey."
A naval Captain has lately returned from visiting
in disguise and undifcovtred, all the ships and dock
yards in Holland, he Raid a fortnight, and in'peae#
every place and vessel with the utmost minuteness :
the directors of the chamber of commerce of Middle
burgh, and of the company of assurance, with numbers
of merchants and traders of that city, have petitioned!)
the States of Holland, to endeavout yet, by way of
negotiation, to come to an amicable acComuiodatioa
with England.
On the ißfh of lanuary, dispatches were made up to
be sent off for the Ruffian court, when a messenger ar
rived from Vienna, with dispatches from Sir Robert
Murray Keith, which occasioned those for kuffia to
be fiopped, and on Friday a Cabinet Council was cal
led, on Saturday morning a conference was held with
the Imperial Ambassador, and on the fame night the
messenger was dispatched firft to Vienna, and to go
from tuence to Feierfburg..
The^Syren frigate is loft as Cuckmere, the crew far
ed. The French and Spaniards are affem ling a large
fleet in the ftraifs, under the Admirals Cordov, Bar
celona, and Mons. Beaufette, to dispute the passage
of the British, destined to relieve Gibraltar, which, we
are informed, would fail with the fame wind that
brought out the Quebec, Captain Smith.
B OST O N, April 26.
According to accounts from various quarters there
is reafm to believe that the Dutch will not sustain the
whole lots in the late seizure of Eußatia and their ship&
by the British. The Enlifa merchants are said to be
deeply intereWed in the property thus violently wreftfef
from the Dutch, and must in the circulation of com
merce be greatly affected by it. The fleet that failed
for Holland from Statia, just before Admiral Rodne,
arrived there, and which he pursued and captured, was r
it is said, injured in England ; and this, it is provable,
will be found to be the case of many of the Dutch mer
chants vessels seized in Europe. Britain, by its rupture
with Holland must lovfe a large vent of its manufac
tures, which the neutrality of that country greatly
favoured. So that though the immediate captors of
Dhtch property may be enriched by this Rep, the Brit
ish merchants and manufacturers must fuffer greatly
by it.
Private letters from Europe, of good authority,
mention, that the King of Prussia has proceeded far in,
if not actually compleated, a negociation in favour of
the several contrasting powers of the armed neutrality,
and for the protection of their territorial dominions, 111
case they should be threatened upon account of any
Rep taken by these powers, in the Congress of neu
trality.
The report lately propagated of the death of the
Empress of Russia, probably arose from the decease of
the Empress of Germany, which , can have no influence
u P°p the political fy flem of Europe. Her Imperial
Mijefty of Russia flill lives, and is at the head of the
armed neutrality, which owes its exigence chiefly to
her influence and negociations.
Tne following is an extras of a letter from Port-au-
Prince, to a gentleman at Salem, d.ttd 14th of
March, 1781.
'' You have without doubt heard of the cruel event
of St. Eufiatia : If one half of what is reported is true.
Admiral R dney has behaved much out of character ;
we, could not have expe^ed worse treatment in the
age of bar arity : He has sent aboard his vessels all
tae mer hants that were there, p&rt of whom are to be
sent to England, and has delivered the townup to a ge
neral plunder: Few French merchants only have been set
at liberty by his orders (it is supposed that it is by rea