The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-04-27 00:00:00, page 2

and honourable in another, from principle, at the fame
time. Principle is not any thing partial, but univer
sal, and in whatever ad of our lives it is wounded, the
delicacy of the whole mi,nd in all its operations is enfe
bled, and it thinks not with that nice honour it thought
with before.
The claim, or rather the pretentions of Virginia, to
lands which can only belong to the United States, has
debased her mind. It has taught her to do difhonour
able things. The inconsistency and injustice of the
measure has had the fame ill effect upon her, as the
paying just and real debts, with depreciated currency,
had upon the morals of the whole continent ; and it is
remarkable, that Virginia was one of the last, if not
the last of all, which repealed the tender law, and that
not until it was two thousand for one ; which shews the
jurtnefs of the remark I have already made ; that when
the mind can bring itfelf to do one wrong thing, it be
comes pliable to every other wrong.
But what has been the political as well as the moral
effe&s of this pretended claim, and the attempt to put
it into execution ? It has been what theefFeds of eve
ry bad measure ought to be,wretchednefs and difhonour.
A few individuals have patented to themselves amazingl
tra—s of lands belonging to the United States, pretend;
edly purchased of themselves, for scarce any money at|
all, to be retailed out to second purchasers for the most;
they could get for them. By this means the state of
Virginia has been exhausted of inhabitants, her abili
ties deminifhed, and herfelf thrown for protection on
the United States, wh®fe property die has invaded.
These are serious matters, and call for a 'Arid enqui-I
ry, not only from the United States, but from the re- j
maining inhabitants of Virginia, who are injured andl
impoverished by this species of monopoly. The effect
is visible to all the world of America, and demands re
dress. Has her monopoly enriched her ? Nd. Has it|
enabled her to fend more men into the field? No. Has;
it filled her treasury and forwarded her share of sup-j
plies? No. It has aggrandized a few ; but it has leftl
her without troops in the iervice ; without money in her|
coffers, and without honour in the union.
It is time, Virginia, that you lay those things to
heart and redeem your fame. You had once a large
sh.-re ; yu were beloved, refpefted, honoured; and
that you may be so again, is the wish of a friend, who
well knows tnat the mifeondud of a few ought not to
be charged upon a whole state.
I would recommend it to Virginia, as well as to the
inhabitants of other states, to read a pamphlet, pub
lished about a year and half ago, entitled, " PUBLIC
Good" in which the right of the United States to the
vacant western lands is justly laid down. And I men
tion this with the more propriety, because a writer, un
der the signature of Caractacus, in the last Freeman's
Journal, has endeavoured (and thatl think, with an -
ungenerous and illiberal insinuation against the author)
to give a meaning to it directly contrary to what the
pamphlet in every argument holds out. Whether
Caradacus had not read the pamphlet, or whether he
supposed other people had forgotten it; matters not.
The account be has given has falfhood on the face of it,
because the pamphlet is in being to speak ; for itfelf.
But as I would not have any man, however estab
lished his character may be, presume so much thereon,
as to fit silent under a charge however falfe ; so I expect
• to fee, from the author of the pamphlet, an answer to
Th t Virginia, who, as a state, is as large as mofl, if
not as any state in the union, and as able, should be
one of the lead and last in point of duty, and all the hon
ourable obligations of associated government, is a mat
ter of painful reflection. But every evil has its origin,
and whenever the mind can accustom its If to the pro
fee tion of any one object which it feels is not right,
and which it knows cannot be honourably (upport^d,
that deviation will infed, more or less, the whole f) s
tem ofthinking and ading in all the other circumfian
ces of life. We cannot be difhonourable in one thing
ed up.
Sue is, I fear, already very considerably in a
rears to the United States, and it becomes the duty of
all the delegates of the several Rates, to keep every
fta e up to its duty, otherwise they fail in their duty
to their own conflituents, and to the whole. There is
such a thing as state delinquency, and it is the highest
crime which can be committed. The articles of con
federation mark out the duty as well as the rightsand
privileges of each state, and it is in vain that we at
temp; to enjoy under the onr,without fulfilling the other.
T is is not from an enemy, but from a friend ; from
one who is interfiled in feeing Virginia recover her for
mer reputation in the union ; who is hurt by the jeers
and reproaches which are every day cast upon her, and
who, from a wish that '(he may flart anew, and leave
all disgrace behind, is willing ' to inform her of it.
Conversing a few days ago with a gentleman, on the
coudua of Virginia, horepeated to me an expression of
Cairns, which I shall recite, sincerely wishing there
was not so much reason for the application.
—_ —_o AGE, thou art (Warned ;
Rome, thou haft lost thy breed of noble sons.
When could they fay, till now, who talked of Rome,
Tbhr her Mele walls encompassed butONE man?"
Ar, ! Virginia would I fuffer myfelf to be told, that I
did not do my duty? No, I would (corn it. I would
lhew to the world that the opinion was untrue, and if
any thing in iny circumstances, either of error or in
ability, had prevented my good will, I would bury it
under the fame of redoubled exertions.
are compulsive ; for was this not thecafe, the indolent,
themean, or the avaricious, (should fir h characters
ever arise among us) would throw themselves on the
red ; and tho' I am unwilling to apply either of those
epithets to Virginia, yet, had there not been greater
exertions made by other state. than has been made by
herfelf, fle would not at this day have a foot of land
she could call her own. She would have been (wallow-
m 8 I was formerly an admirer, and always an ad
fl vacate for the character of Virginia, it gives me
extreme concern to fee her fallen so low in the general
extern. That which is her portion to 80, (he must
Do, or cease to be a Rate. The obligations of a union
To the good P BO PLE of VIRGINIA.
confequeoce will be, that those, again# whom a just
charge is brought, will hope to escape by imitating a
silent contempt; and right and wrong will become un-
Idihinguifhable points.
A LOVER OF JUSTICE.
January 2. A fleet of observation for channel (er
vice, to confiftof twenty-four fail of the line, is order
ed to be got ready by the latter end of February.
Titis squadron will consist of all the capital (hips that
can be procured.
The lords of the Admiralty have appointed admiral
Gambier to succeed admiral Edwards on the New
foundland Ration ; the latter being to return home,
and the former to set off in a few days for that place
with a small squadron.
An evening caper has the following article :—Her
grace the dutchefs of Kingrton, alias the couutefs of
Briftoi, has taken up her eftab ifhed residence in
France ; nd so thoroughly has (he diverted herfelf of
her attachment to this country, and become a true
fubjed to 'the power under wnich the lives, that we
can assure our readers, when the news of lord Corn
wallis's surrender arrived at Calais, this lady ordered
two hundred pounds to be distributed among the in
habitants, and took the lead in encouraging every
demon flration of joy, to an event so honourable to
the arms of France.
There is now an unfortunate person in town from
Philadelphia, who for refufing to abjure the British
government a few years since, (offered much ill usage
from the Americans.' He persevered, however, in his
loyalty, till the British troops entered that city His
joy, on this occasion, was greater than can be describ
ed. All his troubles, he imagined, were at an end; he
should now be protected, his fleadinefs and zeal be ap
plauded, and his former tranquility reflored. But how
delusive were his ideas! The very next day he found
himfelf plunderedand dripped of every thing he had in
the world by the very persons whom he had flattered
himfelf would have been his protestors and guardians.
The above unhappy man, thus robbed and ruined by
his own countrymen, made application to the comman
der in chief, who told him, that if he would point out
the persons who had thus plundered his house, they
should be punished: but it being at the fame time sug
gested, that no other fadisfaHion than this could be
made, the unfortunate fufferer declined any informati
on against the robbers, and thus totally ruined left the
place.
A certain reputable tradesman of this city has loft
by the late lottery about three hundred pounds, though
he never bought a ticket, or insured a number : But 0-
thers have sported with his money ; and one man, who
owed him twenty-five pounds, had pawned even the
very cradle in which his youngefl child lay to support
his insurance. Thus induflrious and I onefl persons (uf
fer by the mad Fiefs and infatuation of others. The con
tagion of example, with regard to gaming, io high life,
seems to have circulated this madness through every
graduation in life; it rune like wild-fire, spreading mi
sery and devaluation all aroun I.
January 4. General Wafhiugton, we are informed,
had, at the outset of the American war, an eflate of
at least 8001. a year. He has received no pay from
congress as commander in chief, except the ex pence of
his table, which his friends infilled upon difourfing, as
that is greatly increased by the port be holds in the
army He has often been solicited to reside in a house;
but, determined to Ihare the fate of bis officers and
soldiers, he prefers living in camp: not; does he indulge
himfelf in any excesses at his table, contented to live
As this year will in a'l probability be an VEra of
petitions and remonstrances, government will be par
ticularly circumfped in the appintmenc of the several
County Iheritfs
Monday forenoon Mr. Laurens, attended by the
deputy governor of the Tower, waited upon the privy
council ; and, after upwards of an hour's examinati
on, during which he acquitted himfelf with great ease
and perspicuity, in answering every question that was
put to him, was referred to lord Mansfield at his cham
bers in Serjeant's Inn, where his lordihip attended in
perfen.
Upon the appearance of Mr. Laurens, the lord chief
justice informed, him, that he would have his liberty
reflored him, upon his giving proper security,
that he would be forth coming within fix months after
his being Summoned for that purpose. Mr. Laurens
immediately expressed his readiness to do this, and
(aid he had those about him who would enter into any
recognizance that should be required for the due per
formance of the conditions on which his enlargement
was to be granted. Accordingly the security required
was instantly given for Mr. Laurens's future conduct,
reserving to him his allegiance to the united states of
America ; and Mr. Laurens was in consequence imme
diately difeharged out of custody.
The enlargement of Mr Laurens fs supposed to be
owing to an unwillingness on the part of minifey, tothe
going into the minericeof his case, in consequence of
the petition presented by Mr. Burke to the house of
commons the day on which it adjourned, as a variety
of matter, very much to the disgrace of government,
wovO, peradventure, have come out in the course of
the enquiry. There are those, however, who go so far
as to fay, that Mr. Laurens has been set at liberty in
the pleating hope, that he may serve as the happy in
firurnent of bringing about a reconciliation between
Great-Britain and America.
Carafrens; for if once a man makes it a point to take
no notice of an insinuation, because it is unjust, the
Mr. Laurens was obliged to support himfelf by the
afli fiance of crutches, and appeared to be in a very weak
and infirm state of health, probably owing to the elofe
confinement he had so long undergone in the tower. Up
on his release, he was conveyed in a chair to his apart
ments in Norfolk-ftreet.
William Oswald, efq; an eminent American mer
chant, is security for Mr. Laurens.
Mr. Laurens has been confined in the tower ever since
the 6th of October, 1780.
L O ND
O N.
The French give out, that in the action which took
place between commodore Johnston and monsieur de
Suffrien, off St. Jago, wherein the latter pretends to
have aArd only upon the defenfive, they would have
dertfoyed the English squadron, had the captains of the
Annibal and Arteoies obeyed the orders of their com
manding officers ; they paid with their lives a disobe
dience which was not lefts fatal to their refpeftive crews.
But the French commodore lays the greateftblame on
captain Duchillou, of the Sphynx, and captain For bin
of the Vengeur, who by their unfkilful manoeuvres,
not only had little or no (hare in the aßion, but even
prevented the execution which the batteries of the other
ships might havf done. Their conduct was thought so
reprehensible, that they were immediately deprived of
their commands.
The Edgar, commodore Elliot's ship, has received
so, much damage in her lat encounter with the rear
(hips of the French squadron, which protected their
convoy, that she is obliged to put into dock to be re
paired in her upper works.
Puns, fays an humourous writer, are not wit, but
many of them are ftriking'y pleasing. The dose of
puns ought to be limitted according to the conflituti
on to which they are addressed ; for some there are who
cannot endure punning in a great degree. The best
pun I ever heard was made by one of the most learn
ed men of this age—' 'What" said he, “ is Majefly,
when deprived of the externa Is (M and Y) but a jeft.?''
Anecdote of Louis XIV —An ambassador having an
audience of this prince, the king flarted an affair to
him, then depending between the two kingdoms, which
the ambassador not being prepared to confer on, he
told the king he would fettle that point with his majef
fty's minifter.' Sir," replied he," 1 have a great many
servants, but I have no minister."
To render a nation profperows and refpeCtable, the
celebrated de Richelieu, the ablest minister of his time,
recommends the following qualities as indifpenfbly ne
cessary in those who direct the great machine of govern
ment : ''A fleadinefs of mind, a solidity of judgmene, a
true spring of prudence, a fufficient tinCture of learn
ing, a general knowledge of hiflory, and the present
conflitution of all the states in theworld, and particu
larly that of one's own country." Whether the pre
sent miniflry of England possess those essential qua
lities, the people at large can pretty competently judge.
The above quoted very dirtinguifhed character, after
examining the necessary qualifications for ministers,
fays. “ I cannot forbear observing, that as many
physicians, do more frequently kill than cure the pati
ent, so will any Rate receive greater damage than ad
vantage from numerous counfellors; For my part,
I think four fufficient; and that one of these should
preside effectually over the rest; he fho. Id be, as it
were, the primurn mobile, giving the motion to all in
ferior orbs, without being moved himfelf by any im
pulse or constraint but that of his own intelligence."
The policy and wisdom of the above observations are
demonstrable, from the glorious administration of the
late earl of Chatham ; and it requires very little sagacity
to know, that in every sphere of life, there is too ge
nerally found, an envy among equals in whom power is
verted. As only one pilot is required at the helm of a
ship, so there is only one necessary at the helm of the
state- The pilotage of lord Chatham was uniformly
fkillful and judicious; he knew how to avoid a threat
ening temped, and could fleer his ponderous charge
fafe into harbour.
The exchange which government have made in the
lift of Irilh vice treasurers, by fubflituting lord Shan
non in the place of Mr. Flood, is thus upon the balance:
minifiry gain sixteen votes in Head of one.
The late earl of Cherterfield, in h s sentiments on fo*
vereigns, fays, “ As kings are begotten and born like
other men, it is to be presumed they are of the humaa
species ; but flattered from their cradles, their heads are
turned, and they seem a species by themselves ; flatte
ry cannot be too strong for them ; drunk with it from
their infancy, like old drinkers, they require drams."
The above noble author thus (peaks of the great
duke of Marlborough: —" He was eminently illite
rate; wrote bad Englifo, and fpelt it still worse : he
had undoubtedly an excellent good.plain undrfiand
ing, with found judgment : his figure was beautiful, his
manner irrefiftihle by either man or women. He was
always cool, and nobody ever perceived the least varia
tion in his countenance: he could refufe more-graceful^
ly than other people could grant; and those who wept
away from him in the most diffatisfied, at to their bu
siness, were yet reafonhiy charmed with him, and in
some degree comforted by his manner. With all his
gentleness and gracefulrefs, no man living was more
conscious of his Situation, nor maintained his dignity
better."
The present Mr. Pitt, who possesses his father's tal
ents, and copies his virtues at a very early period dis
covered the most lively faculties, and exercised them in
the attainment of ufeful knowledge: His applicati
ons are well rewarded : for nature appears to have
placed in him, as in a fanftuary, the most valuable and
shining powers of the mind
The ueceffity of a petition to the sovereign, from
that most refpeaable body of people the merchants, is
the greatest repr ach to his servants that can possibly
be given, A well grounded complaint of regies of
the very spring and source of a kingdom's greatness
demonflrates either an extreme of vice, or of ignorance'
in those who direst public measures.
One distinguishing feature in the character of the
king of Prussia, is his paternal attention to the com
plaints of his people. It is a recorded faCt, that a pri
vate female Pru ffian fu bjeCt, in a middle sphere oflife,
not many y-ars since, presumed to write to his majefly,
complaining of ill usage from some persons in public
employ The king not only read her letter with the
utmost attention, but taking up a pen and ink, wrote
her an answer with his own hand, " and assured her
she should be redressed."
with and as his brother soldiers do. Possessed ofth\
temper, he is the darling of his army, and will cer
tainly be received by posterity as one of the most i|.
lußrious characters of the age in which he lived.