The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-06-10 00:00:00, page 2

1h famine which carried off two millions cfpecple a
i^v; years ^o in heegal^for there is great room for
appreutoditetnat therfanrne-will produce a pestilence.
Evrry morning Exhibits the moll Blocking Spectacles
round Mfdrs;the high roads round the town are
ft- wed with dead ' odies, and from the excessive heat
ol oe c noct-, and te conSequent' putrefaction of
tied b/ ^. there is every lang to be apprehended
by # hn< vhon Providence may h^ve placed out of
the retell of one c'readfui tcourge, ni order that t.iey
might fall hv another: 'tut as famine and pestilence
were noffuffirienl (surges for the poor Indians, the
Famines of war are fuper^dded and a victorious
prince, wth a numerous army,- threatens even Ma
dr^b/rith a siege, and lays wafie ah the country round
Nothing cm be more trulydeplorable than the
bate of our feitlemehts in India ; the Carnatic is ne&r-
I- ruin d ; Pengri is very little able to reli^ it ; the
"Milanas and Hyder Ally are almost irresistible by
bin I • and the French are mailers of the sea. Happy
it is for ns, that the hoftthties with the hit mentioned
nation are soon to cerein India.
We can assure our readers, that lord Temple has re
ceived letters of recall ;rom the vicetoyfhip of Ireland,
his lordship baring mentioned it in a familiar corres
pondence to his triends.
Evey ed'ort has been tried to induce the duke of De
vonshire to accept the lieutenancy cf Ireland, and it is
Supposed , is grace wih yield to the tolicitation of his
friends.
The Dutch it Seems, make them Selves very Secure
with regard to the articles which they expert to obtain
in the refill! of re pending treaty. That concluded
with France and Spami. not forgotten. Whether the 4
preftnrmiDifhrs will conclude one proportionally dis
advantageous with Holland, time must determine !
A report prevails, that France has engaged, by trea
ty, to take part with Holland, in tafe uT a future war,
within a li ord time, between that republic and Great-
Britain. The pertioac ous manner in which the Dutch
continue to e'ude the ratification of„p definitive treaty
of peace with England, seems to give confirmation to
this rumour.
A fitter man could not have teen pitched upon to ad
just the commercial io;erc% of this c^uatry and Ame
rica, than Mr. David Hartley, that gentleman having
a rm ft coroprehenfi/e knowledge of that branch of trade,
and a general acquaintance with commercial matters,
added to which, he possesses the efleem and confidence
of Hr. Franklin, and is much known and reSpeCted in
America.
A difpofitioo to foroething like an opposition appear
ed yesterday in both houses of parliament, led in the
house of lords by the duke of Richmond, and in the
house of commons by Mr. Charles Jenkinfon. Lord
T. we hear, lifts under the banner of the former, and
Mr. W. Pitt is to be second in command under the
latter ; it appears a promising beginning.
An acknowledgment of tne independence of the Uni
ted States, with an entire free intercourse of trade,
both with Spain and her Settlements in the weflern
world, is the price that the court of Madrid at pre
sent appears wi ling to pay to conciliate the friend
fhip of the Congress, and to divert them from any ideas
they may entertain of molefling them in their fettle
merits in South America.
April 14. The account which appeared in Saturday
night's Gazette from our Asiatic settlements, wears a
v„y gloomy and disagreeable aSpeCt ; it portends the
annihilation of cur in:erefl in that quarter, unle s
some fortuitous event Ihould happen 10 check the ca
reer of the enemy.
ft is true we have made pe^ce with France, but
there seems little propped of accomplishing that object
with Hyder Ally, and therefore how long we may be
obliged to wage war in India, is at this period un
known.
AH the French troops which were Rationed upon the
coast, and other parts of the country, have marched
into garrison, fiace the preliminaries were signed.
An advancement of the commercial interefls of Eng
land will claim the attention of the new minißry as the
frit preferable object ; and when all grounds of jealou
sy on r he part of America Shall be removed, an afmoft
exclusive sh re of commerce will be the firfl fruits of
her returning confidence.
The United States of America hare been very warm
ly Solicited to enter into a commercial treaty with the
Danes. The matter is at prefect in agitation, and
quite uncertain is the expeded decision.
More than one hundred and fifty vessels have failed
from the port of ORend since the treaty for a peace
was signed.
If the present French minißry continue long in of
fice, there is every reason to expert the p p ace will be
permanent. Vergennes's Syßrm is solid and a just one;
he prefers national benefit to the gratification of na
tional pride, and is determined never to iovo've his
country in a ruinous and expensive war, if he can Sup
port her dignity and intereß in the smoother paths ot°
industry and commerce. Tl is great man observed,
some time since in company, that tho' the pac 6c indo
lence of a Fleury in France had been often censured,
he thought the aCtive haughtiness of the Spanish mi
nister Aiberoni, had done infinitely mere mischief.
Extract of a letter from Brussels, March 25.
'' A maritime treaty is agitated at Paris, to which
all the powers of Europe are to be invited to accede ;
it has for its object the fettling the principles of navi
gation on a new footing, giving a Superiority to any
pow r no further than in their own harbour, and a Ri
pu'ated diflance from their coasts."
By tne Jamaica letters brought over in the Trelaw
ny, we have the pleasure to hear, that the crops were
much finer than they have been for any one season
within the lad five years; and that the next fleet for
the London Markets would be a very large one, if
flips could be procured Sufficient to take the produce.
April 28. Perhaps the annals of parliament do not
furniCi an inßance wherein a bill has been- committed
and recommitted so often, as the bill for opening a
trade and intercourse with America ; and notwithftand
jug all the care that has been taken, every member
Fill complains that "it is very imperfect, and in all
likelihood will do mucli ruifchief.
The dispatches which were brought from Charlef
town, in the London armed transport, describe in par
ticular terms, the peaceful' situation not only of the
town, but all the provinces; the planters being ; gene
rally employed in cultivating their long neglected lands,
and restoring the face of the country to its cukomary
fertility arid fpendour.
Several American flips were taking ip lading in the
Tagus when the last packet failed from Liibon.
Large quantities of naval floret, particularly fails
and cordage, are (hipping for the American markets.
A very large fleet for Quebec is now getting ready
in the river, and expelled to fail early next-month.
Extract of a letter from Paris, March 16.
" It is not in Sicily alone that calamities have been
felt, though what other places have Suffered can bear
no comparison with the diSaflers of that island. In
France, the overflowing of the rivers has impeded com
merce,-and inaty individuals have fuflained Considera
ble losses.
'' At Lyons the Rhone h*s ravaged and defiroyed
part of the Pearace works. At Nantes, the Loire hav
iog Swelled in the night of thegth of this month, en
tered the warehouses of GroSsiflet and La'Foffe, where
it melted all the lugars; the loss is estimated at up
wards of 500,000 livres. At Paris the Seine having
overflowed, was no longer navigable, so that the boats
laden with file wood and rafts could not be got down
the river. Fuel is now wanting, and thecold is Sharp;
individuals canffot obtain 'more than half a cart load of
wood at a time, and last Friday no more could be got
than a quarter of a load, which was even delivered
with reluctance. The city officers being SuSpeCted
of being the cause of this Scarcity, have incurred his
majefly's displeasure. The provofl of the merchants
has been reprimanded, because the duties of his post
oblige him to' Supply Paris with wood.
ANECDOT E of Messrs. Garrick and Whit
field.
WHEN Mr. Whitfield was building bis taberna.
cle in Tottenham Court-Road, he employed the fame
Carpenter as worked for Mr. Garrick, at Drury-Lane
theatre. Trie reverend gentleman was at that time ra
ther Short of cath. and the carpenter had remained
unpaid f or some weeks. Being one day in conversation
with Mr. Garrick, he intreated the manager to ad
vance him a little money, as he had been greatly dis
appointed by Mr. Whitfield. Garrick affifled the
tradesman, and immediately waited upon the reverend
gentleman, when, after being introduced, he apologiz
ed for his visit, and intimated to him what his carpen
ter had insinuated, at the fame time he offered Mr.
Whitfield a 5001. hank note, which was politely ac
cepted, and by r hat means the Temple of Fanaticism was
railed by the Monarch of the Boards.
BOSTO N, May 26.
We here from Andover, that lad Friday evening the
house of Mr. ISaac OSgood, was Set on fire and much
Mattered by lightning; by which the honorable
James Otis, eSq; of this town, leaning upon h ; s cane
at the front door, was instantly killed.—Several per
tons were in the house at the tins*, some of whom
were violently affected by the (hock, but immediately
recovering ran to Mr. Otis's support, but he had ex
pired without a groan.
May 20. Ve^erday being general ele&ion, agree
ab'e to the conflation, his excellency John Hancock,
esquire, was chosen governor and commander in chief
of this commonwealth ; and bis honor Thomas Cufhing,
esquire, lieutenant governor.
The town of Roxbury, at the adjournment of their
town-meeting an the 19th of May instant, gave the
following inftroaions to their Representative; and
dirtied that the fame be printed.
Mr. THOMAS CLARKE.
THIS town, having made choice of yon to repre
sent them in the general court, the ensuing year,
esteem it their duty, as it is thejr right, at this critical
ari'd important period (when we are just emerging from
a long and expensive war, and taking an equal flafion
among the nations of the earth) to inftruft you, rela
tive to several affairs which appear to them of the ut
most consequence, and which you will make the rule
of your proceedings.
You are ever to keep in view the end proposed by
entering into society, viz. the preservation of life, li
berty and property; and remember that these are to
be enjoyed equally by all, agreeable to the compact
expressed in our confutation, which you are to have
a sacred regard to, and confide, as the balls of your po
litical conduft.
You will therefore oppose the introduction of all
bills, and the passing of all afts that are contrary to
the letter or manifetl spirit of (aid conflitution. You
are to guard against the least breach of it in the house
of assembly by the introduction, or continuance of all
unqualified representatives.
As a member of the grand inquest of this common
wealth, you are to watch over the executive and judi
cial departments, and upon difeovery of any mat prac
tices in either, to endeavour that an immediate flop be
put to the fame ; and in case they are highly criminal,
to promote tin impeachment against the offender or of
fenders.
You will endeavour that the affairs of the treasury
be put into foch a slate that the people may know from
the aflual accounts laid before the public, that the
monies railed upon them are received, and faithfully
and (economically expended—You will also use your
utrooft influence, that all committees and other persons
of whatever description, who have been entrusted with
public property of any kind, and yet unaccounted for
be called to an immediate settlement.
You are to endeavour that the public business be
put into such a train of management as may produce
a saving of expences, by reducing the number of com.
mirtees, preventing the suspension of proceedings and
(hortning (effions.
You will promote the ascertaining and cfiabhThing
by landing laws, honorable Salaries for the judges of
the Supreme judicial court, according to the true-mean
ing of the 29th article of our declaration of rights.
in taxing you are to observe, that every town is to
be charged with neither more nor lels than their equi
table Iroportiou.lroportiou.
In impeding duties, you will remember, that fatal!
excises produce the grerieft revenue, by excluding
temptations to Smuggle, and rendering needless a Swarm
of officers, who behdes the enormous expence they oc
casion, prove obnoxious to the community, and ge
nerally serve as tools to government.
You are to give all possible fupportto public credit,
by providing proper funds for the regular payment of
the interest of our slate debt, and furnilhing a Surplus
towards the discharge of the principal.
V/e recommend to you, that the unappropriated
lands belonging to the slate, may be reserved for the
paying our public debt in part, or wholly, by the pru
dent Sale of the fame.
Our own particular and the general Safety, having
united this, with her filler states, by a Solemn confe
deration. You are to Support all a&s of Congress,
wherein they exceed not the power b, that expressly
delegated to them and no farther.
You are to assist in providing funds for the payment
of the interest and principal of our quota of the contig
nental debt, and for the support of all the necessary
civil officers, with Salaries answerable to the nature of
their appointment, and the circumstances of the conti
nent; and are to be careful that Said funds do not, im
their coaflitution or operation, interfere with, or fu-<
percede those remaining Sovereign rights which th@
public good did not require Should be expressly deli
gated to the United States in Congrefe.
Wf rejoice mod Sincerely in the ratification of the
preliminary articles of peace col e&ively ; and although,
some parts have a disagreeable afpe&, yet we wish to
have the whole facrediy adhered to, that neither this
slate nor the continent may be embroiled in any alter
ations that may lead to a fixture rupture.
We heartily bless God, that the war has terminated
so honorably and advantageously; and take this op
portunity of testifying our gratitude to our American
negotiators, for the probity, wisdom and firmnefs with
which they have conduced-
By the fifth article of the preliminary treaty, Con
gress are bound to recommend to the Several States the
revifal of their confiscation ads, and the admiffios of
the refugees. We conceive those aßsto have been pass
ed in justice, and in policy, nor do we perceive by a
ny events that hare yet taken, or probably will take
place, the neceffit, or convenience of their repeal ;
and you are therefore to use your influence, that the
absentees do not return.
That the current cash of the slate may not be drawn
out, and the inhabitants thereby reduced to difficul
ties through the operations of the continental treasury-
You are to forward the establishment of an office at
Boflon, for the receipt of monies appropriated by
the slate for the Service of the continent; and for the
payment of continental debts cue within the state —
whether to officers of the Massachusetts line, holders
of loan office certificates, or other public creditors, in
habitants of this Rate. Should such office be establish
ed, you are to endeavour that the general court Should
have the appointment of the officer to it, they being
accountable for his fidelity.
As it is probable the army will be disbanded in the
course of the current year, we esteem it highly neces
sary for the defence and military reputation of the
slate, that the militia be placed on the most refpefta
ble foundation immediately, and that every encou
ragement be given to it, Short of making a diftina pro
feffion of arms. We recommend to you therefore %
revision of the a&s relating thereto, and such altera
tions and amendments as may best promote this Salu
tary purpose. Attest.
WILLIAM GRIDLEY, Town Clerk.
Inßrsaiors of the town of Maiden, to their Repre
sentative.
To Benjamin Blaney, Esq;
Sir,
ALTHOUGH we have full confidence in your fide
lity and public virtue, and conceive that you
would, at all times, pursue such measures only as
tend to the public good, yet upon the particular oc
casion of our now inftruaing you, we conceive that
it will be an advantage to have your own Sentiments
fortified by those of your conßi^uents. This occasion
is, the return of those persons to this country, who
are known in Great-Bri ain, by the name of loyaiiftr,
but in America by those of conspirators, absentees and
tories. We are convinced that their return will be at
tended with the most pernicious consequences : but we
Should thirk it right to hazard and abide by them,
were the article in the treaty of peace relating to them,
binding and definitive: that it is not, is evident to us
fr@m the articles of confederation, which never gave
Congress authority to Supercede or dispense with the
internal government, and police of individual Rates,
or repeal any afls which they have made, relative to
tiiefe. We are convinced also, that Britain itfelf doth
not view thearticle as absolutely binding: this ap
pears evident from the doubt which their king expres
ses ofour compliance with it, and from the clamour
made by many, in the debaes of their parliament, on
account of the loyalists being neglected in the treaty.
We conceive that these men have no right to citi
z^nthip in these Rates. They have forfaken un—
They left us in the hour of danger — They have cho
sen their fide *nd thrown their weight into the opposite
Scale. Let them abide by their choice.—Let them en
joy the blessings of a government which they prefer
red to every other. They have no right to the privi
leges of our government, bedufe they have despised,
rejected and done every thing they could to prevent its
having exihen ce.
We are Sure that their admittance would be attended
with dangerous con Sequences. Our governments ar"
tree and popular; every man bath an opportunity of
Speaking and Spreading bis Sentiments; this gives an