Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-09-18 00:00:00, page 2

VIEW of tie measures ^^w,Nffu% by
the Principal States of EUROPE.
To the Printer of the Whitehall Evening Post.
SIR,
IN the early ages of the world mankind enjoyed
an uninterrupted liberty and a perfect inde
pendance. Each family was as a little state, of
which the father was the chief, and which ac
knowledged no other superior. 1 hey lived with
out ambition, for every one was contented with
his inheritance; and they had no other riches than
their flocks and herds, which fupphed them with
food arid raiment.
It is not by choice that men have qonfented to
acknowledge the superiority, or pay their adora
tion to the idol of Title : Force has obliged them
to bear the yoke which a Cxfar er Alexander has
introduced by violence. Indeed, they were not
the firft who turned their artfis (originally con
trived to defend men against the savage inhabitants
of the forefts) against men thiemelves, to reduce
them to slavery. Though it most be confeffed,
that the individuals of every trading state must be
restrained by some form of government, yet it
must be allowed that necessity and the importation
of foreign vices, not Nature, was its parent.
Let us, however, quit the regions of antiquity,
and fee what the pretent age will produce us.—
Melancholy indeed is the prolpea! We are said
to grow wiier; but I fear we are hot more hhp
py than were our ancestors. Riches have cor
rupted us, and Luxury will complete our ruin.
We are said to be mote pohlhed and refined ; but
I fear only in the arts of cunning and ambition,
in the thirlt of power, and the love of universal
dominion' . If we take a flight view of the mea
sures now pursuing by the principal Rate's of Eu
rope at this period, we shall perhaps fee this very
clearly. 1
The Turks and Ruffians, after having facrificed
near 60,000 of their fubjeds in each campaign,
have dropped the bloody contest ; but let us not
imagine through motives of royal humanity, since
the generality of Sovereigns pay no greater regard
to the lives of their fubjeds, than they do to the
horses which drag their military baggage from
poll to poll. Man, fay they, lives but to die on
the Bed of Glory.
Long has the Prussian Eagle cast a jealous eye
on the power of the Ruffians, the recent smart ®f
whose rod he has not yet forgotten. He beheld,
with a f.cret pltafure, that Empire exhausting its
military Strength in a cooteft, in which he artful
ly evaded engaging as a party. He considered it
as much more to his interest to 'make himfelf m&f
ter of the most fruitful parts es Poland, than to
engage in a n uncertain war, from which no pro
fit cou'd be reaped.
The Grand Tuik, who at his accession to the
Imperial dignity made fueb a parade of his mili
tary preparations in the end facri6ced thousands
of his Subjects at the Shrine of Disgrace. The Ot
toman forces will probably never make any great
figure in the field against the Ruffians, unless the
manners of tnole two Empires Should materially
change. At present, the Turks are luxurious and
enervated, and easily difeouraged by misfortunes.
The Ruffians are born awd bred in a climate, which
by its severity makes the fatigues of a campaign,
under a milder meridian, in some measure an a
greeable change. Inured to hardships, accuftom
cd to a Scanty fare, and utter strangers to modern
refinements, they know nothing but what they
are taught by their commanders, which consists
only in obedience to military discipline, and, on
every occasion, to purchase glory at the hazard of
their lives. Hence it is that no dangers deter
them, no misfortunes dismay them, and that their
only pursuit is death or victory.
What is the Emperor of Germany doing ?:—
He is at peace with all the world; and yet this
young sprig cf the House of Austria maintains se
veral vatt armies, who are constantly marching on
the borders of his dominions, as if ready for 6&i
on. His Imperial Majesty himfelf is either con
stantly atihe head of one of his armies, or travel
ling from one to the other of them: he endures
all the fatigues of a common soldier, and never
makes any meal but at night, when he partakes of
any fare, though ever so coarse, and such as the
place he flops at will afford. In short, he seems
determined, like Charles of Sweden, to acquire
an iron constitution by continual fatigue and ab
stinence. —If the good of mankind in general, and
the peace and welfare of his own fubje&s, were
the reasons for this uncommon application of all
this ardour of military establishment, the Empe
ror wou'd be justly admired as another Titus.
But, alas ! he that maintains immense forces must
pry them by the Sweat, labour, and industry of
his impoverished fubje&s. Millions bf people must
be half starved to feed and cloath an army of
three hundred thousand men. 0 pernicious thirst
of glory, that entails misery upon a whole nation !
Let us turn our attention to his Most Christian
Majesty. He is just come to a throne, which has
long been surrounded by the party cabals and in
trigues ofinterefted men and females, who strain
every political nerve to obtain the confidence of
their Prince, and then lead him as they please. If
report does aot do injury to Louis, he loses his
pleasures more than the fatigues of Government,
and wants spirit to oppose those harpies of the
state, the Farmers-General, whom he (offers, by
their infamous monopolies, to starve his Subjects;
and, so far from listening to the just complaints of
his unhappy axel diftrefled fubjeds, he lends his
military among them, either to cut their throats,
or end their miseries on a gibbet. As to the power
of France, and her ability to engage in a war, if
we give credit to our own Miner's Speech in the
House, on opening the Budget, we cannot but be
greatly alarmed. Helaft yeartold us that France
was poor, weak, ruined, and in a state of Bank
ruptcy; but now he assures us she is rich, power
ful, and opulent, and we have not a moment's Se
curity of peace. Indeed, it is very likely that as
soon as the French Administration shall be per
fcAly formed, we shall find ourselves engaged in a
dangerous war with the two branches of the House
c' Bourbon.
Tire Spaniards have considerably improved
their revenues and increased their forces: and
when we consider the encouragement given to
dun people to employ themselves in manufactures
and husbandry, and to (hike off that heavy and
idle disposition which rendered them so contemp
tible IN the eyes of other nations, there is great
reason to apprehend that, in a few years, they will
probably make a more distinguished figure in Eu
rope than they ever did under their native Princes.
Their infolchce tbjhe British flag, their illegal
seizures of our merchantmen, their haughty be
haviour to the British court, and, above all, the
immense preparations they are making in all their
ports, leave us no room to doubt but that a storm
is brooding, which will perhaps burst over Gib
raltar, and extend its influence even to Jamaica.
Should that happen, it is ealy to forefee that Portu
gal will then Suffer for her ingratitude to England,
and fall a victim to Spain.
When we turn our attention from foreign climes
to our own, the profpea is terrifying. We look
forward to turbulent and tempestuous times—to
violent Struggles between the Colonists and their
Mother Country—to contests, not for things of
small importance, but for nothing less than Power
and Dominion on the one fide, Life and Liberty op
the other. Tyranny and Oppreffi^n. have opened
the Scene, and blood and daughter will close it.
- dead, horrida bella,
Et Tibrim multo fpumantem sanguine cerr.o!
Our trade with Portugal is dwindled into no
thing, comparatively (peaking, and our prudent
Governors have forbidden the currency of Port
money in this kingdom, because they knew little
was brought into it : In like manner they have
passed an act to prevent the Americans from trad
ing with us, after they themselves have declared
off all commercial connections.
Let us for a moment reflect on the alarming si
tuation of that capital branch of our commerce,
our woollen manufaQures. , The King of Sweden,
with a view to encourage the manufactures of his
own country, has laid heavy duties on the impor
tation of wool en cloths, watches, and many other
articles which they used to receive from us; the
profits from which duties are appropriated in giv
ing premiums to the manufacturers of the fame ar
ticles in Sweden., The King of Denmark has fol
lowed his example, aid has long since forbidden
the importation of foreign cloths into any part of
his dominions, the manufactures cf that kingdom
being now fufficient to supply them. Not only
foreign Powers have refolded to difeourage the
wearing of English cloths, but even the Scotch
themselves, who are so elofely united with Eng
land as to make their interest reciprocal, have
formed an association to wear none of these cloths
which shall be manufactured on the south fide of
the I weed. Have not the Americansbeen called
Rebels for a Similar association ?
I doubt not, Sir, Should this letter fall into the
hands ofeither Placemen or Pensioners, they will
cohfider the writer of it as an incendiary who de
lights in (owing the feeds of anarchy and confufi
on. Interest is the ruling passion of mankind, and
few have resolution enough to soar above its in
fluence. It is frequently difficult to convince a
man of an error in which his judgment is concern
ed ; but it is impossible, if judgment and interest
are connected. We might as soon attempt to de
prive the Leopard of its spots, the Hyaena of its
ferocity, or the Crocodile of its Hypocrisy, as to
convince a rank Courtier that non-resistance and
passive-obedience is a maxim diametrically oppo
site to the dictates of Reason and the laws of Na
ture. The principles we imbibe in our youth are
not easily eradicated even by age and long expe
rience: The man who from his infancy has been
taught to be the friend of the ruling Minister, will
hardly everdefert him in old age: He will confider
him as the fountain from whence he sips the waters
of his existence; and however absurd such a Minif
tei's conduct may be, he will think it his duty to
support him in every measure. For my own part,
when I reflect on our present unhappy divisions
with our Colonies, t e violent Symptoms of a ge
neral European and American war, the wretched
Ministry that are to struggle with that danger, the
miserable state of our finances, and the manifeft
decay ^f our commerce, I cannot help concluding
with an excellent writer— Signs following Signs
lead on the mighty Tear.
SENEX.
Froma London Paper, of July 11.
To the P EOP L E.
AW AKE, my countrymen ! appeal to your
owr understandings, and value as you
ought your excellent form of government. What
man amongst us, when his private rights are in
vaded, does not immediately seek redress for the
injury he has sustained ? What wretch is there
then, so fhamefully degenerated, as to be an un
concerned fpeClator of his country's ruin. As go
vernment was instituted for bur good, we are to
know) whether our governors have our interest at
heart. Actions mhft speak for themselves, we
are not to be deluded by empty profeffions. It is
our duty to prolong the life of liberty, and not
to let the (hackles of slavery be iinpofed upon
this, or any future generation. While our coun
try remains, all good men, I am fare, will unite
in this purpose, to deem nothing too hard to be
endured or done for its interest, provided it be
confident with the laws of that more ancient and
sacred association of mankind, of which God is
the Parent and Governor. Let us look b^ck to
the beginning of the present reign, and fee in
what manner our most sacred rights and liberties
have been infringed, and daringly violated. We
patiently, to our great Ihame, endure innumera
ble oppressions, when oar noble ancestors, at the
expence of their lives, would have had ample re
drels for a single grievance.
The firft stride of despotism and arbitrary power,
was in arresting English fubjeds, and even a
Member of the British legiflacure, by virtue cf
a general warrant, issued by a Secretary cf
State, contrary to the law of the land.
We have seen their hbufes rifled and plundered,
their papers seized, and used as evidence upon
trial.
Their bodies committed to close imprisonment.
The Habeas Corpus eluded.
Trial by jury dilcountenanced, and the firft law
officer of the crown, publickly insinuating that
Juries are not to be trusted.
Printers punilhed by the Minißfy in the fuprerde
Court, without a trial by their equals, without
any trial at all.
The remedy of the law for falfe imprisonment
barred and defeated.
Ihe plaintiff and his Attorney, for their appeal to
^the law of the land, punifheiby expences and
imprisonment, and made by forced engagements
to desist from,heir legal claim.
A writing determined to be a libel by a court,
where it was not cognizable is the firft instance,
contrary to law, because all appeal is thereby
cht off, and inferior Courts and Juries influen
ced by filch predetermination.
A perlon condemned in the said court, as the au
thor of the supposed libel, unheard, without
defence or trial.
Unjust treatment of petitions, in fele&ing parts
to criminate the petitioner, and rufufing to hear
those which might procure him redress.
Perpetual imprisonment of an Englishman, with
out trial, convidion, or sentence, by the fame
.mode, of attachment, wherein the fame person
is at once party, accuser, judge, and jury.
Instead of the ancient legal civil police, the mili
tary introduced at every opportunity, unneces
sarily and unlawfully petroling the streets, to
thp alarm and terror of the inhabitants.
The lives of many of our fellow fobjefts destroyed
by military execution.
Such military execution solemnly adjudged to be
legal.
Murder abetted, encouraged, and rewarded.
A large standing army kept in times of profound
peace, contrary to an express article of the bill
of rights.
The civil magistracy rendered contemptible, by
the appointment of improper persons.
Civil Magistrates tampered with by Administra
tion, and neglecting and refuting to do their
duty.
Mobs and rioters hired and raifed.by the Mini
stry, to juftify and recommend their illegal pro
ceedings.
The freedom of election violated by corrupt and
undue influence, by unpunished violence and
.murder.
The verdids of juries and opinion of judges over
ruled, and determinations of law let aside by
new, unprecedented and dangerous means, there
by leaving the guilty without retrain, and the
innocent without redress, and the lives of fel
low fubjedts, at the mercy ofevery ruffian pro
„ tested by administration.
Obsolete and vexatious claims of the crown set on
foot, for partial and election purposes.
Partial attacks on the liberty of the press, perni
cious libels against the constitution allowed,
to pass unnoticed, when the flighted libel a
gainst a Minister, is punished with the Utmost
rigour.
Wicked attempts to encreafe and establish an
enormous standing army, by endeavouring to
vest in the crown an unlimited power over the
militia.
Resolutions of one branch of the legiflatute set up
as the law of the land.
Public money fhamefully Squandered and unac
counted for, and all enquiry into the civil lift
prevented.
Enquiry into a paymaster's public accounts flopped,
though the sums unaccounted for, amount to
above forty millions sterling.
Public loans perverted to private minifteral purpo
ses.
Proftitutidn of public honours and rewards to
men, who can neither plead public virtue nor
Services.
Irreligion and immorality encouraged by admini
stration, both by example and precept.
Right of taxation assumed without any represent
ation, in direct violation of the law of the
land.
Our fellow fubjeds in America plundered and
butchered by an army, their complaints un
heard, and their oppreflion hourly encreafing.
Lastly, our right of petition denied, contrary to
an express article cf Magna Charta.
These, with many other infringements of our
rights, demand our earliest exertions in the true
cause of liberty and our country. Our children
are dear to us, so are our wives, our parents, our
kinsmen, our friends and acquaintance. But our
country contains within it all those objeds of en
dearment ; and therefore it is the duty of every
good man to be ready to lay down bis life for it,
if be can thus do it service. Rouse up, for Shame !
and revenge your wrongs. A voice from our fel
low fubjefls on the continent, animated with a
true love ofliberty, calls aloud to a&ion; great
Sidney's (hade complains that we are flow, and Al
len's ghost stalks unrevenged amongst us.
BRUTU S.
#<Q4-+ * 4-*4# -+-* +* +*+ $$
By the July Packet, and the fdp Duchess of
Gordon, arrived at New-York, qve have the
following advices'.
B A S S O R /?, February 3.
WE learn, that Sadik Khan is on his march
with 20,000 men to attack this city, which
for eight days past has been in so great a conster
nation, that the English, being sure of ill treat
ment from the Persians, begin to embark their
effeds. Mr. Bea umont, their agent, is Hill a pri
soner at Schirez. The Muffelim is repairing the
fortifications, which are in the most wretched
condition, the walls being mostly built with
earth. As to the French, as they are openly pro
teded by the Regent of Persia they have nothing
to fear.
From the Morea, Aprilzi. Agi Osman Pacha,
grandion of Topal Orman Pacha, was strangled
the 9th of this month, at the time he was making
bis entry at Negropott, of which Lew^- appointed
Governor: 1 0 prevent any difturbarue, the Ja
nissary Aga of the place, who was charged unit
that commiffior. by the Grand Signior, had t! e
precaution to (hut the gates of the fortrefs uh:i:c
he was on the bridge, and to tell the troops who
preceded him and those that followed, that the
bridge was broke. At the fame time notice was
given to the Pacha, who had then only ten or
twelve people with him, that he must go into the
little cattle next the bridge, to fettle his accounts
with the Sultan. As soon as he got off his horse
they gave him the Grand Signior's order, which
condemned him to death, for having refufed to
go and fetch the slaves from Bender, and for hav
ing extorted 700 purses from the Turks and Greeks
of Romelia. He desired to fee his Son and his Se
lidar (one of his principal officers) which ,vas re
fufed him^ he offered §O,OOO sequins for 15 days
respite, which was refu fed; he then made his
prayer, and put the rope about his own neck.
His head was immediately sent to Constantinople.
This Governor had 40 mules laden with silver in
his train.
Poland, June IT. The Permanent Ccußcils
continue to assemble twice a week: The King at
tends .there regularly, and they are buffed about
the administration of Interior Police, particularly
the fixing of impofl's. A general duty is establish
ed: the taxes new raised are double what thev
were formerly, and the privileges of the nobility
do not extend to an exemption from them. The
hearth money tax, as well as that on liquids, is re
newed, and it is thought the contributions cf the
clergy will be immediately colle&ed; it the mean
time we learn by letters from Padolia, aad the
Ukraine, that the inhabitants of those parts refufe
to pay the imposts. They found their refinance
upon having no right to acknowledge the fupre
rnacy of an alTemHy to which they do not fend
delegates.
Versailles, 7une 2§. Sidi Abderaman Bediri Aga,
Envoy from Tripoli to this court, having presented
the King on the part of his Prince, with federal
horses, camels, lyons, tygers, and barbary sheep
which he greatly esteems, tock leave of bis Ma
jesty the 26th of this month.
=—•— —
London
July 6. Wg are assured from good authorit,
that there have been uncommon heats in the Ca
binet for some days past, and that the favourite
language and fyftera which seems to stand faireft
for execution, is to dired our whole force against
the New-England provinces, and to negociate and
concede in federal particulars to the others.
The fame correspondent assures us, that a very
powerful party in the Cabinet are firm and steady
in their resolution to enter into no treaty or terms
whatever with the inhabitant's of Massachusetts-
Bay, but bring them by force of arms to a c'ear,
unequivocal, unconditional fubnjiffion. In short,
to hold them out as objects of terror and example
t) the rest of their brethren in the other pro
vinces.
July 8. We have reason to fear that the Congfefs
now siting at Philadelphia will publilh a manifefto,
in which they will proclaim to all the world the
reasons of their separation from Great-Britaio, and
an invitation to all Europe to trade with them, and
to aflift them in their determined resolutions never
more to submit to the Parliament of England.
By letters from Philadelphia by the way of New-
York, we are assured that the Continental Con
gress have come to several refolu ions of a most ex
traordinary and alarming nature, but that none of
the contents have liteially transpired further than
in general terms, that they are resolved to resume
the government, and throw off all obedience and
dependance whatever on Great-Britain.
Judy 10. ProviGons of all kinds are very cheap
and plentiful all over Araerica, except in Boftoo,
where none but fait provisions are to be procured
at any price.
The Golden Rule, Crag, and the Minerva,
Walker, both from Virginia, for Whitehaven, are
put into Cork, where they sent their letters to
England. It is said they have had very (horc pas
sages, but don't hear of any frefh accounts from
that quarter.
Capt. Wauchoe, of the King George Packet,
who arrived last Friday from Lisbon in ten days,
brings an account that several (hips from Phila
delphia, laden with wheat, and other very valua
ble (hips from the Brazils, were a rived at Lisbon,
and a great many more daily expelled.
July 11. Last week were imported from Ame
rica eight thousand quarters cf wheat and ten
thousand barrels of flour, beng some of the last
(hips that are to be expelled from those parts this
year, as the ports were to be (but soon after they
failed, by order of the General Congress.
Extrafl of a letter from Malaga, dated June %
to a Gentleman in Salisbury.
" All our wines are advancing surprisingly, on
account of the vast quantities bought up by the
King's agents, for the use of the gartifons in Bar
bary, and for the use cf the navy and auny going
on the grand expedition destined agaiß Algiers,
(hey are to fail from Carthagena the I§'h inst.
Ihe whole armada confris of 50 King's veffe s,
large and small, coo transports; and upwards of
20 000 horse and foot, commanded by General
O'Reilly, who is to lay siege to the said city by
land, whilst the fleet is to attack it by sea,"
Advice is received from Pe ei fburgh, that a
conspiracy was la ely discovered agaiafi the Ent
prefs, but it was erufhed without noise, and Se
veral performs were immediately lent into exile in
Siberia.
July 12 Letters by the Charming Peggy men
tion, that the Congress had voted 36,000 men a;
a landing army, besides the militia, and one miL
on of Pennfylyania currency to py them with:
that three of the Delegates be a Committee to a&;
that they are retried to lend ma ifefioes to aU
the Powers in Europe, to let them know their rea
sons for breaking with their Mouer Country;
th^t they are determined not to submit u'l thev
are re-instated in all the privileges they enjy d
before the late aAs, See. and that all the ports be
dope up on the 2o:h of J^„