The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1778-02-04 00:00:00, page 2

From tie CORK EVENING POST.
To the PRINTER.
Sir,
A % LRICAN coward'ce, and BritTn valour,
J 1 are terms Io common, t^t [ have teen in
cco o examine whether or no the application of
t rem is int. This nareraKyleJ me to enquire iato
t^e nature of c urage, and endeavour to fine out the
Ciufe that c old make one nation as remarkable for
<'w?-dice as the other was coGpicu us for Dr^yery.
1 > this ioveftigation n appeared to me beyond a doubt,
r ^ a c one country was peopled by em grations from
the other, it was naturally impoflibe that.one couki
be c institutionally brave, and the other conftitution
ady coa.'dd'% I law by expe ience, t^at a dread
of danger was into woven with the human frame,
and that man naturally ibuddered at annihilation ;
born r his I interred, that courage could not be tiie
cried of confutation.
I next was curious to discover, by w^at means
man cuu u be a^e to overcome his natural fears, to
c urt danger, despise death, and, in a manner, rile
In,trior tt himself: I fund that for all this ho was
i. Jebred only torducattoo ; notions iofhlkh in yowh
tk deep root; the renown of one's anchors, the
hennut of ores country, the glory annexed to good,
aci the ndamy stamped on bad actions, are incen
tives o the most hardy,deeds. Nature attacked by
fieri powerful forces nuh Shrink, and yield the palm
trecLcMw. It is eduction that forms the man.
L he doh and lumpifa? education qaickens lorn, and
r:ml/ots in his heart thofc feeds that Ihoot up into
the v.rneft and ma# exquhite lenhbdry. Is Ire !it
vage and blood-thrifty? It is education that foftens
hr manners, and melts him down tr that degree of
lumaoiry which become? a Rhbr. Hrs nature made
hum f, timorous that he iti,s m founds aorifhado^s ?
L is education, that by placing belote bis eves the
example of others, and drawing an ocious picture of
cowardice, infixes into him a Ipirtt of honour that
rr^es him, with a resolution* foreign te his nature,
rurii into the thickest Squadrons, and brave death,
cv" at the cannon's moiflh.
From ail this 1 interred, that Courage is not con
fumincal. but acquired; and that as every nation
having equal advantages from education, must be
equal in point of bravery, so the Enghfh cannot by
any means be fuperi r to the Americans in courage.
but here I may be asked, why one army can ever
beat another of equal force? This 1 mull donfeis is
an obvious but an unanswerable objection. To any
one who is conversant with the military hiftorv of the
Vo Id, it mart be k^cwu tha, victory hits often placed
1 Helf under the enfgos cf one army, while equal
courage, with ftrenghi and numbers Superior, was
to be found on the fide cf the vanquished. This I
can attribute to nothing tut to a greater knowledge
cf the art cf war in gnerri, a confidence of the fcl
tiery m their officers, and above all, to a more com
peat fyflem, and more exaft obfervaoce of military
(hfeiphee. And here, let me prove by example what
I have just alerted The plains of Narva saw a
hundred thoufend Ruffians fiv before ten thousand
Swedes. Can it be in,poled that such an immense
army could run for want cf courage? It is absurd to
furpole it.
7he Ruffians were, since they became known to
ns, a bold people, inured to hardship; but Grangers
to the regular attack of a well disciplined army, they
were amazed ; and having no idea of a battle, but
that of a confuted multitude of men lighting without
order, they knew not Low to face the thick faua
drons and well-dressed ranks of Charles's veteran ar
my, but fhd with precipitation and a frenuhment, till
learning discipline from their conquerors, and being
feat into good soldiers by the Swedes, they aT>
learned to conquer in their turns, and became for
imdabie toChdries. This the Czar foretold. The
Rial battle of Fultowa will regain forever a monu
imnt cf the truth of his predi&i m, and of the p.wer
of Iris discipline. Let us new bring the matter home
t, ouHAves. I think every man will allow that
bz/ery is not the ioT property of any nation — hat
confequendy the Americans may have as great a mare
cf it as we have; what advantage then can we have
over them ? I answer only one, superior knowledge
in dfcipline, and this is likely to avail us little at
present. Had 20,000 men been lent agai ft them at
frit, I believe their fate wou'd hate been long ago
ce^mmed, but cow they have beer force campaigns
i> the field, our discipline is no longer a myftety to
them ; they have learned it, and ate now able to at
tack ui on Qur own ground.
It then the two armies should meet equal in cou
rage, equd in numbers, and equal in military d fei
plie, I fir old tremble for my country; confeious
that whde v&ry in fufoence flu ud hang dubious
ever both, the mention of the found, thedire&mn
of the wind, the influence ofthe fun, or the mere?!
adcmiLvUd A.ccmiLncc aright fix her cn cut© fide
At this instant the fate of both armies—may I not
fay of both empkes? is in the balance. If conquest
{hom'd he ours, it will but open a field to us for fur
ther con^eh. If it should be theirs, we have not
only for ever left that whole wide continent, but
beaten, enervated, disgraced, we he at the mercy of
every hostile neighbour, and even rifque our future
exigence as an empire. Whirl our prayers then are
poured to Heaven to protest our arms, can we after
rhefe reflections but imprecate its curses on the weak
or wicked cou Idiots who Lave reduced us to so
dangerous and alarming a
CRISIS?
M ,4 D R 7 D, Aguft 24.
F °r H E Captain of a fr.ip if this nation, which is
l arrived at Cadiz from ibe Havannah, has de
clared to the President of the above mentioned place,
that off the Isles of Bermudas he saw a squadron cf
fourteen English mips of war, the least of which
was of 70 guns, but could tell nothing of their del
tination. .
Vienna, S&pt. 1 The Emperor is at the camp
cf Laxenbourg, which will finish to-morrow: His
Imperial M jelly intends to let out in twenty-four
hours after tor the camp of Prague.
V/arfew, Oft. 11. There is no hope vet cf an ac
commodauon between Refha and the Forte, it is
fufyeeLd rhar a certain power is endeavoring to en
corcage tie difference between thole two powers, in
order to prevent the former from fending any affi <-
ance to England or America. We expert a rupture
with great fear, as we cannot but forelee the bad
coni'-pence ; f will be of to this republic. All the
Rud/ii regiments are completing, and orders are
given to raise ~o©o men dg a inft next spring for that
purpose.,
Stockholm. Ga. The 16th of ; aff month an Ame
rican (Lip arrived in the port of Morftrand, with a
cargo of r.ce, incigo, tobacco and p. pper. This is
the third flip from America that has arrived there
ties year.
iffnear, 03. 18. Ry the different measures taken
it should seem as if we were at the eve cf a war.
I'he Magistrates of this town feme days ago gave
p irate orders to take an exad account of the inha
bitants of this place, and particularly to notice thole
who were abe in case of need to serve in the army.
A 1 account has alf® been taken of all the holies used
in agriculture and other works.
L O N 1) O N, September 18.
Yederdav General HaMimand waited on bis Ma
jedy a: St. James's, and received his commission as
Governor of Quebec, in the room of Sir Guy Carleton.
Letters have been received lately from Dr. Baylis,
Sir Samuel Pitner, Mr. Grove, and other English
gentlemen at Berlin; all of which speak of the rapid
augmentation of the King of Prussia's forces, and in
fmuate that lome important blow is actually medita
ting by that great and enterprising monarch.
Sept. 20. Yesterday morning the baggage of Gen.
Haldimand set off from his house in Curzon ftfeet,
M^y Fair, for Ponfmouth, in order to be shipped
for Quebec.
Omers have been sent to the commanders on the
different Nations, to make prizes of all drips, of what
nation soever, that shall be found trading with the
Amuleans.
Sept. 24. Yesterday some difpatcbes were brought
to Lord George Germaine's office from General
Hove, which were immediately forwarded to his
Majrify at Windsor.
Sept. 25. Within these few days several confulta
tiors have been held between the most eminent
Crown Lawyers on certain queriiots refpeAing Ame
rica, which are to be introduced into Parliament next
feflion.
October 1. Ministry have received difpatcles from
Lor< 4fiowe, by a naval officer who was sent express
by his Lordlhip. Ihe feeace observed refpefling the
contents of thelediipatches, hath very much theap
peaance of non success.
As Ministry thought fit to p^blifh Burgoyne's let
ter only because it was " dated from Hudson's river,
surely a letter from the Howes, even if dated from
Ner)Zealand, wou'd remove the anxiety of the peo
ple for the welfare of rhoe worthies.
S'e rcb all the nvor/d 'ound.
There are net to be found,
So uncouth an odd pair of brothers.
The be ts in tie city a # e fix to four that th^
Howes will not return from their fifeing party until
the latter end of next month.
A fleet of observation will very soon be sent to
look out for the brothers.
The loss 0/ the Ho^s must considerably retard the
movements of ihe campaign. Some affirm, that they
have absolutely failed for Mexico, determined that as
they cannot coiqu& our eld Coroxs, they will cl
tablilh new.
Our Generals in America differ widely in their
notions of military matters. Burgoyne will not mov^
retrogradely, because that would appear as if be O 1
not intend tom et the e emy. Howe, on the c n
trary, thinks a retrograde motion the m 0,9 direct m
thod of meeting a friend, and therefore no foontr< :
Burgoyne afreach, than Howe decamped, that /G
jun Zion so long talked cf, might he ^irrflt, accum
plifbed.
Should Burgoyne find it neccfLry to winter io Ti
conderoga, he must aLe care how he gets back agaiu#
The Americans are not so panic thicken but they
understand the art of hanging on the rear.
Perhaps the polls evacuated by the Provincials,
have been intentionally abandoned for the purpose of
seducing our forces into the heart of the country,
Certainly Burgoyne will find hirrielf very danger
ously situated. The corps es the bieffians' were "101 l
by extending the lines too far ficin the main body.
To be far advanced in the country of an enemy, is
to be in imminent danger.
The American war was begun, and it is now car
'y"g on, folcly for the n&nour of the nation. In
creased taxation; decline of trade; n uhiphed bank
ruptcies; dearness of provifioris ; fLu^hter abroad.•
and, corruption at home, am therefore, if we believe
the Ministry, all for the g or, and advantage of the'
nation !
It is a pity that the letter of Burgoyne could not
have been accompanied with an account of the cap
ture of Philadelphia. Them fr>uld be some 0L
quest of importar< e before the meeting of Parliament,
that the people may be in good humour to part with
them money for another campaign.
Ciders are gmen for copies to be made out cf the
treaties entered into hice the commencement of the
present reign between Grect-Brcain and the other
powers of Europe.
Copies are affo ordered to be made cut of thefub
lity treaties concluded with the German Princes
during the course of last war, and cf the expeaces
annually incurred thereby.
The Earl of Chatham continues at this time to
e "j°Y 2 better state of health than lie has for several
years past. God continue it!
# Orders have been issued by the King of Spain for
eight battalions of troops tn march to Malaga, where
they are to embark for Africa, to put the tortrefs of
Melille in the best state of defence possible, in case
the Moors should make an attempt on that place.
The triumph, Cole, from Ireland tothe Mediter
ranean, is taken by a Provincial privateer, and sup
posed to be sent into some port in Spain.
A private letter from Perthnonrh, Sept. 29 has
the following article: " It is generally believed hem,
that the Hessian officer who landed here, was hired
to circulate the inconsistent Kory of the, bloody en
gagement between Generals Howe and WHhicgton,
and of the total defeat of the Americans, for we can
not learn of any flrip being arrived from those parts,
and how he came here is unknown to any one. Our
Pofimafter took great pains to fend it to London,
and I fupoofe it has made a great noise in the city;
but the ftoiy, I think, was too absurd for any gen
tleman to credit."
To-morrow evening will be debated at the Crown
Tavern, Bow-lane, the following quefrion, viz.
" May not England be as flouriffiing a kingdom,
should the Colonies in America be loft, as before
they were difeovered ?" The chair to be taken at
eight o'clock.
Letters from Geneva advise, that the noble Jo
seph Lomelhno, the new Doge of that Republic, u & s
crowned the 6th instant with the usual formalities 00
the cccafien.
A dispute has lately happened betwecen the Elec
tors of Asentz and 1 rieves, rilpt&mgthe navigating
of the river Rhine. Each party's forbid the fail-.
'"' °f the other's veffeis, which has caused a great
Hir; but as the matter will greatly affea the States
or Holland, the people flatter themselves their High
Mightiness will interfere, and fettle the matter
between them.
^'e'^' 3 '" e celebrated Liftorian and poet, fays,
Vv hen English Parliaments ate fixed fepiennially
when fulpeMions of the Habeas Corpus A& become
frequent ; when the people are habituated to a Hand
ing aimy; but above all, when the governmenthave
established a system of corruption, io that they are
secure of a majority in I'arliaenent, then, and not
till then, will British liberty be merely a name.
03.23. In confequenceof feme d (patches receiv
ed from the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, orders
on Tuesday lent to Plymouth for two men of war
and a frigate to fail immediately to cruize on the hifi\
coast.
Ato 4. Last night about nice e'chmk the Queen
was happily delivered rs a Princess. His Grac^the
Archbiflop cf Canterbury, several Lords of his Ma
jefty'smoft Honorable Privy Council, and rhe L t
dies of her M.j fly's Bedchamber, were preßm.