The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-03-20 00:00:00, page 2

Mr. DUNLAP,
By givin the following a place in your ufeful Packet,
you will much oblige one of your Reapers.
I WOULD not have either you or the public think,
1 that I hive been troublesome to either you or them in
tnis way, nor do I intend to plague toe public in reading
or you in printing much for me. I have for some time
past beheld wars and rumours of wars carriel on in the
newspapers, and [think such ways of fighting are not like
ly to come to an end, or answer any valuable purpose,
but be assured it is nut my design at this time either to
ch dien e or fight wit . any one ; all that I defi. n at pre
fect is to lay a few grievances before our rulers, andt e
imp rtid public tu jud,e if it will not be befi for indivi
duals in particular, and the public in general, to nave
some p rricular regulations entered into wit. refpeft to the
farmers: Tee spring is now fall approaching, w en it
will be t,e in lifpenfi de duty of every care ul farmer to
plan hfsenfuing spring and fu nmers work; b^ if we
& moot have some fubftanti d affar n es from the Honour
able Assembly, or some other r gul tr bo.fy wh) rules over
us, that both ourselves an I our horses th di not be so wan
tonly called as militia in claffcs, as we have be n for tee
lift two springs and summers, we mast lay down our
wrk upon a very contrasted scale It is visible to a de
monstration to every one in Pennsylvania, thit t-.ere is
the .treated necessity for keeping both the farmers and
their horses on t ©r firms the earning ipring and dimmer,
in order to ive the army and in ^b,ta its in gener.l a
greater Ripply of bread and forage tnan can be had at this
time: Is not the present price of bread, grain, and all
kinds of neceflaries for t .e lupport of the army owing, in
a great degree, to taking away thefirmers and their horses
inched time or harvest . r It we do not fov, we of course
canri >t expel? to reap -Tax us any reasonable or extra
vaguit sum, and we will pay rather than be taken from
our firms either in the spring, summer, or fall feafns. At
this preterit time, if the uecedity of our rmy requires a
brigade, or sundry brigades of teams to be made up, to
haul provisions from toe weft file oi Sufquenan la, or any
place else, to camp, priy wnerd can a bu.he! of grain or
m, a l be \ot for ood for the horfcs' Is t ere one Forage-
M Rec from Lebanon to Corrytll's Ferry, that we are
sure of getting one bulh.l from ? If our horses perish for
want of food, we cm rec ive no pay for them ; if we are
able to get the a hon e alive, many or them are worn do va
in such a manner that they are not ¥ ng but a burthen to
us. Such a way of using a fat of m n wh)htve been, and
always will be, tne undoubted support of bota tne army
and tne country, will by no me ns answer. We have
with amazing success carried on a jud war againd a very
powerful, unn rural, and ftu bora enemy, and our en
deavours have exceeded our expect iti >ns ; and now when
we seem to be just on tae eve of a peice with them, let us
not l>c tn? means of our own dedruHion by our mifma
na^ement. I would in the dron est terms urge the ne
cessity of any lawful body w io rules over us, and whose
duty t is to take into their serous conli deration the pre
fe.it' scarcity of grain in this date in particular, and make
such neceff ry regul hi >ns as will e laole us to continue on
our farms the ensuing fpri i ? , fun tier, and fall, to enable
us tohtvehr;er supplies of own produce; for if ourselves
and teams re again dragged out from our business at
home, our army and ourselves will tetl t..e fatal eonfe
quences.
I hope our rulers will readily fee the reasonableness of
this resued, and will regulate our artairs in such a man
ner that we mly once more have peace and plenty in our
land, which is the real desire of a friend to the United
States, and a Pennsylvania Farmer.
Yentylvama, March iotb, 17.9.
Ahbilb^f York Town; f>r the want of which, the ar s
cu n.luvial conoeßio) is log, and that wuich is omitted,
as well is that which :3 told, havean appearance of injuf
tic%
Mrs Morrifs and Mr. Drayton have each of them
been ^exceedingly in Juftriousin supporting Mr. Deane's
inoafitims, t iat they seem not to have had time t) at
i;end my other kind of duty, and as, I believe, Mr.
Deane is now looke I on by half that Hotfe as a dilhoneft
mm, an 1 tie other ha)f bare not flipport h m, it will be
come thtfe two gentlemen to th >w on waat grounds they
have abetted him. Tae suspicions aga nft Mr. Deane are
now too Rron to be furtocated, and theev deuce to? full to
be rejected or explained ^y, and he can but perceive t#at
his caarader is every day finking with the public —That
he ne oci ted a profered prefect into a purchase, and ei
ther hole, or w s privy to the ceding the dispatches to
cover toe imp^fition, are circuinftancts waich I have no
reason to disbelieve.
COMMON SENSE.,
P. S. As he pamphlet I hive ref rred to is Cent to all
the ft ites, the Printers in each will do an aft of justice to
those whose merits are in tnat performance so greatly ne
gleftej, by infecting this piece in their papers,
C — )-—.
Anaccount of General Arnold's march from Cambridge
to Quebec. ( ontmued from o^ r las.)
TH E goto of September we marched early in the
morning, and after encountering a number of ob
stacles, we reached Norrid ewilk, whi<h is tue lad fet
tlemeat up the river, and is near an hundred miles from
the moutu of it Tne country does not appear to be
fettled except on the river fide and hit maaoitints de.-
p^ndenirfly upon hih nd lumber for tueir fubfiftance.—
Tneir falm n are fine and in great pl nty -The country
abounds with a number of animah, among which the
moose (alar,e species of deer) m y deservedly be prefer
red—Th ir habitations, some few excepted, are in gene
ral ordinary. They raise little or no gr in, except Indi
an corn and rye, wuich, with potatoes, tney use for
bread. At this place we to@k leave of tne inhabitants, as
we did not exped to fee any thing civilized for a confi
der bie time, and encamped two miles beyond tne fettie
ment near a fall, over which we are to carry to morrow —
tnis tne third pice. Odober ift. Tne dihmce being one
mile and an nalf to carry, and the road Rony and illy,
made it very fatiguing, and we did not accomp hh it till
tne 2d about noon, at which time Col. Arnold juine I us,
and gave us orders to continue up the river, which we did,
aiid encamped in a thick wood of hemlo k; it rained very
hard all ni^ht. Early in tne m >rning we proceed.d, and
loft ourselves after marching a few miles, having been de
ceived by a branch of the river: The Colonel lent us a pi
lot and we proceeded, though on account of hills, islands,
fallen trees, reeds, &c. we could scarcely get alon^, and
were obliged to ford a branch of the river. As we confi
dereJ ourselves in a favag- country, and did not know the
moment we might be attacked, we for the firft time fixed
a regular guard. A party of men who had been sent out
to hunt returned with a moose, which wis very accepta
ble to us; we likewise caught a number of trout wh ch
abound in this river. Tne 4th we marched to, and cir
ried our boats, &c. over Caratoncka or Devils Falls—
This our fourth c rrying place, and though the distance
was Ihort, it is much worle than either 01 t ; .e preceding
ones, being very rocky and high, so that a miftep or flip
migntbe productive 01 bad consequences. T.e sth. We
proceeded ten miles, to perform which required no fm 11
exertion, as we mar.bed chiefly hrough a swamp. Toe
islands in this river are numerous, though small. We ob
served no trace o/anhum in being; except a note left by
our advanced guard, letting us know they were well.
The 6th. This day's mach about the f me distance as
yefterdiy, having t.e fame impediments to obstruct us
bot by End and water, the letter so bad that several
boats did Hot getup till very late. We receive I positive
orders the th, at day break to firike opr tents and pro
ceed to the great carrying piece, where we arrived about
nine o'clock, and ouni p-rt of our advanced guard, who
had been prevented b w sickness from going on urther.
As soon as the men were refreshed they were ordered to
cut the road, the diflan e of the carrying place was three
miles and an hd, through a thick wood, hilly and rocky ;
we cleared about a mile to-day, and the hunting party
killed a second moose. It rained very hard in t..e night,
and conJnaed the Bth, Which retarded the progrtfs or the
men who were fti iat work upon the road. The 9th. A
very fine morning—and we this day finifhed the road,
while others were unpacking the port., as weconcitded to
leave the barrels benmi us. A considerable quantity of
provision having been oy t^is time consumed, a Ids number
of boats became neceffafy, we accordingly condemned a
number, they having b en made flight at firft, and were
rendered unfit tor service from tne injuries they fultamed
at the niderent carrying places, &c. This evening we
were ordered to p &K our baggage in as final! a compos as
possible, so that it might be carried with more conveni
ence Ihould we be 00l ged to retreat either from an attack
or any other cause. Tne icth. We begaM to c.rry very
early in tne morning, and it wis late tn tne evening be
fore we compleaied it. Notwit..Handing we laboured al
m >ll without intermlifton, and we encamped on t e edge
ot a lake, in a swamp so taicKly timbered ta^t we could
not ilretcn our tents to the r common size , here we regal
ed ourf.lves upon excellent trout, woich were in the
greatest plenty one gentleman in particular having
Caught eleven dozen in an hour or t^o, and not a firn of
any other kind. The firli division of the musket men en
camped tnis evening ondue Ipot we led this morn. Our
men, rom being conftantiy exposed to wet swamps while
they marched, or almutl incefimt wading while on fatigue
with t^e boits, together with tueir diet (salt pork and
bread; began to complain. Many of them were affected
with glandul r obftruttions, every symptom of whimi be
came more vi dent on their bein , exposed to wetting even
their feet, a tiling almoif impossible to avoid ; others were
afflicted with chronic r eumatilms and diarrnaeas, and a
lew with dysenteries, so tnat it began to tie somewhat dif
fi ult to furnilh the number A men require tor the boats.
Col. Arnold, during our march to ton pace, was inde
fatigable, being at different times in the front, center and
rear, animating the troops as much by his prtleuce end
example, as by tire prudent dispositions that he made—
Every one law tne propriety of his orders, all pdd an
implicit obedience to him. No murmuring or ducohieut
was ne rd, w^ile on tne other hand e.cn person exerted
himfeb for the common good 01 t^e whole. At this place
the Colonel informed us^ ma azine ot provisions was to
be laid in, tnat in case of a retreat we Ihould be enabled
to fulfill till we regained the New-England settlement.
Toe policy was good, for not a tew were tenfible that our
fiock was duly utminilhing, and that we might have ob
fia les to encounter, which would oblige us to return or
periih for want of necessaries. We saw the difficulty of
conveying provifious so far, but as we were anxious to have
it done weflattcred ourselves with the gleam of hope te
Colonel inspired us with:
Tne 1 ith. Tne batteans crossed the firft lake, which is
not more than three quarters of a mile wide and the
troops marched on the edge of the lake, which is very
mountainous and rocky. Having reached our boats, we
encountered a carrying place of half a mile to a second
lake, and after the road was cut, tolerably good ; this,
however, kept us befy until evening, at which time we
encamped on the fide ot tue second lake, enjoying as be
fore very fine trout.
At tads plice Col. Arnold laid out a block-house, which
he ordered to be built immediately for the accommodati
on of the sick, whom he ordered to be left here. The
12th. Tne tirft division was ordered to proceed, which we
did after taking an affecting le .ve of t,)fe whose mdifpo
fition^ rendered it impoffibie for them to go on, we cross
ed the second lake, and carried our boats baggage, &c.
one mile and an half through a level rich bottom, and en.
camped pretty late in the evening on the edge of a t..ird
lake. Lieut Col. Steel, w o had been sent with a party
as a feout to the Chaudiere River, returned, and inform
ed us that he had fern no person; he received orders to
]. eed there again—This evening it snowed confidera
(To be continued.)
It is talked, that a bill will be brought into the Assem
bly this fitting, for confifeating all gold and silver coin
which shall be offered for payment in any file or bargain,
except such coin as ihab legally bear the impression and
authority of the United States or f some particular State.
One half to the State, the other half to the informer.
Tne ditatleaed, now finding they have bought gold too
dear, are endeavouring to hedge, by paying it away at a
fraudulent price.
On Friday the 26th ult. was chaced on shore on Wol
lop's Iflind, near Chingoteague, te brigantine Tom,
Captain Paul Huffey, from Borton bound to Baltimore ;
the vessel and cargo are loft, but the Captain and hands
saved.
PHILADELPHIA, March 20.
AND WHEREAS so fraall a rate or affeTment, unless
very often repeated, would not at this time be any-ways
adequate to tne support of the poor cf the said city, di
ftrid, and townships, and such frequent repetitions would
be extremely burthenfome and inconvenient to the Over
seers of the poor, and troubleforae to the inhabitants Be
it therefore tna&ed, and it is kereb, ena^ed, b, the Re
prejentatives 1, the Freemen 0, the Commoraerftb of Penn
sylvania. in General Assembly met. and by the authority of
the fame, That fe much of the said recited ad of the
twenty-ninth of March, One thous nd seven hundred a d
seventy one, as limits the assessment to Threepence in the
Found, on the clear yearly value of the real and personal
estates, and Six Shillings per head on every freeman, not
other ways rated in hie said Three-penny t x, within the
said city, diftria, and townships be repealed, and it is
hereby repealed.
And be it purser enabled by tie authority aforesaid, That
from and after the publication hereof, it shall and may
be lawful for ny two Judges of the City Court, and two
of the Justices of the Peace for the county of Philadelphia,
upon complaint being made to them by the Managers,
elected by " The .contributors to the relief and employ
ment of the poor in the city of Philadelphia," or by a
majority ®f there, or in case of their negk&, by the
Overseers of the poor for the city, diiirid, and townships
aforefaid, or a majority of ,hem, that a sum of money
is wanting, or likely so to be, to support and employ the
poor in the House of Employment in the said city, to is
sue their warrant, under their hands and seals, dire&ed to
the Overseers of the poor of the said city, diftrid of
Southwark, townships of MyameYng, Paffyuuk, and
the Northern liberties, requiring thin forthwith to levy,
collect, and raise by an equal assessment upon the clear
yearly value of the real and personal efiates, within the
said city, diftriD: and townfh : ps refpeaively, the sum of
One Shilling and Sixpence in the Pound upon all taxa
bles, and One Pound Sixteen Shillings per head on every
fretman not othefways rated for his eflare in every High
teen-penny tax, for the use of the poor ; which said as
sessments may be repeated, by the authority aforefaid, as
often as shall be found necessary for the support of the
poor.
^y advices from Chatleftown, South Carolina, Feb.
„d, we are informed, that on the 17th of that month
the Honorable Rawlins Lowndes, Esq late President
of the Rate, and the Honorable William Henry
Dayton, Esq; Chief jufiice, were elefled Delegates
to Congress, for the ye r ensuing, in tie room of the
Honorable Ei ward Rutledge and Thomas Bli,
Efqrs. tlrßed on the fifth ultimo and reficned.
At ? meeting of the AMERICAN PHILOSOPHI
CAL SOCIETY, hell at the College yesterday, the tel
lowing gentlemen were chofsa officers .or the remainder
of the prefect year, viz.
PRESIDENT.
Honorable Benam n Frnkhn Esq L L. D.
VICE-PRESIDENTh
Dr. Thomas Bond, fen. Dr. William Sbippen, fen,
David Ritenhoufe, Esq.
SECRETARIES.
Rev. Er. William Smith, Rev. Dr. J>hn Ewing, Rev.
Mr William White, Owen Biddle, Esq.
CURATORS. ~
Col. Lewis Nicola, Dr. Samuel Duffield, Mr. Pierre
Engine Du Simitiere.
TREASURER.
Matthew Clarkfon, Esq. #
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY of Lfylvama.
, Wednesday, M rch 7th, r- 79 #
The bill inthEd, “An aft for te' relief of't.e poor
of the nty of Philadelphia, the didrift of Southwark
and the townfLips of Moyamenfing, Taffyunk, and
Northern Liberties ," being read the second time, and
again read and debated by paragraphs, 'was ordered to
be transcribed for a th rd reading, and printed in the
mean time for public confideration.'
Extras? from the minutes,
JOHN MORRIS, junior.
Clerk of the General Affemb!,.
An ACT for the relief of th? ,o or of the cry of Fbi&eT
phta, ibe di#ria of Sou bwark and the tmvfbifo ,f
MyamerJir , Pafoank, a^A the No Tern Cibertief.'
% 1/ HEREAS the laws of this Rate, now in foroe foe
V v the rcl es of t ; e poor, fremfundry adventtous
chcumftances, and alterations in the value of mone r and
greatly advant ed primes of provision , ha e not been found
to answer all the salutary and good purposes .thereby in
tended, and some part of them are part cularly incouveni
ent to t. e inhabitants of ts e city of Poiladelphi , t e dif
trid of Southwark, an I the tow n^ips of Moyan enfin%
Pahyuw:, and t e Northern Li erties, un> n d in the corpr
ration 'For the relief and employment ts the poor in t e
city of Philadelph a :' 'AND WHEREAT °y tne said cor
p ration charter, it is enabled, that the contributors meet
annually, and choose from among themselves twelve Ma
nagers and a Treasurer to fuperinrend all the internal
ceeonomy ane j concerns of the poor for one year and
by an act, intitled, 'An aft fer the relief of the poor,"
puffed the twenty ninth of M r<h, One thousand seven
hundred and seventy-one, (and fine re en <bri or conti
nued, by an a& intitled, " An a& to reHee and put in
f,rce the att of General Assembly of ti e province of Fenn
fylv nil, intitle , An afl for the relief of the poor; and
for other , purposes therein mention d," passed at Lancas
ter, the twenty fourth day of March, One thousand seven
hundred and seventy fight) it is enabled, “ That it shall
and may be lawful for the Justices of the county and city
of Philadelphia, upon complaint made to them by the
Managers, elected by the contributors to the relief and
employment of the poor in the city of Philadelphia, or
by a majority of them, that a sum of money is wanting
or likely so to be, to fu port and employ tre poor in the
House of Employment in the fail city, to issue their war
rant, under their hands ana fe Is, diredad to the Over
seers of the poor of the said city, diftrift of Southwark,
and townfllips of Moyameafing, Paffyunk, and the North
ern Liberties, requiring them forthwith to levy ; colled and
raise an equal rat' or assessment not e ceeiing Three
pence in the Pound, at one time, on all estates real and
personal and taxables and Six Shillings per head on eve
ry freeman, not otherways rated for bis eflate in every
meh Three-penny tax, within the said city, uifrß, and
townships respectively /'