The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-05-11 00:00:00, page 1

An ACT for the fufpreffon of vice and immorality.
WHERE A S fu fficient provision hath not hitherto
been made by law for the due observation of the
Lord's day commonly called Sunday, and the preventing
of profane (wearing, curfibj drunkenefs, cock-fighting,
bullet-playing, horse-racing, fliooting- matches, and the
playing or gaming for money or other valuable things,
fighting of duels, and such evil practices ; which tend great
ly to debauch the minds and corrupt the morals of the
fubjeds of this com monwealth; For remedy whereof.
Be it evaded, and it is hereby enacted by the Representa
tives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of PennfybvaniG,
in General Afrmbly met, and by the authority of the fame,
That if any person Ihall do any kind of work ofhis or her
ordinary calling, or follow or do any worldly employment
or bufoefs whatsoever, on the Lord's day commonly cal
led Sunday, (works of necessity and mercy only excepted)
or Shall use or praHice-any game, play, sport or diversion
whatsoever, on the said day, and be conviHed thereof be
fore any Jufticeof the Peace, each and every person so of
fending, fliall for eve# Rich offence, be fined the sum of
q hree Pounds, to be levied by distress and file of the of
fender's goods and chatties, by warrant under the hand
and seal of the said Justice, or in case the offender (hall
have none, he or flie fhall.be' committed to the common
guol or work-house of the county, there to remain with
out bail or mainprize for the term often days.
Prided always, That nothing in this aft contained
ihall be con ftrued to prohibit the dressing of viauals in pri
vate families' bake-heufes or houses of public entertain
ment, or te watermen landing their passengers on the Lord's
day commonly called Sunday, por to the felling of milk
before nine of the clock in the morning, or after five in the
aft.moon of the said day.
And be it further enacted by the.authority aforefaid, That
if any person of the age of sixteen year^ or upwards, within
this commonwealth; Ihall profanely (wear or curse, by the
name of God, Thrift; Jesus, of the Holy Ghoff, in the
hearing of any Justice of the Peace of any county, or of
the Bur^efs or other head officer ex Justice of the Peace of
any city, borough, er town corporate, where such offence
is or (hall be committed, or shall be legally convifted by
the testimony of one witness, or by the confeflion of the
party offending, before any Justice of the Peace of the
county, or Burgel or other chief officer or Justice of the
Peace offuch city, borough, or town corporate where the
said offence shall be committed, that then, for every such
offence, the party so offending, shall forfeit and pay the
Turn of Ten Shillings, or fuffir imprisonment in the gol
,or house of correction at. hard labour, for any time not
exceeding five days.
Andie it further enabled by the authority aforefaid "phit
whomever shall swear by any ether name or thing, in the
hearing of any Justice of the Peace, or is legally convict
ed thereof by the teftimboy of one witness, or by the con
feffion of the offender, shall, for every such offence, for
feit and pay the sum of Five Shillings, or fuffer imprison
ment, for any term not exceedingtwo days, in the,gaol or
house of correction, at hard labour.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid, That
* any person or persons intoxicating or abusing him or her
felf with excessive drinking, 'being convicted thereof by
one or more credible witness before any one Justice of the
Peace, shall, for every such, offence, forfeit and pay the
fam efTen Shillings, or fuffer imprisonment for any term
not exceeding five days, in the gaol or h,use of correction,
at hard labour., ,
Provided also, That no person ihall be nrofecuted or mo
lested for any offence before-mentioned In this aH, uulefs
within ten days after the offence committed.
And be it farther enabled by the authority afo+efaid, That
if any person or persons shall promote or encourage any
match or matches of cock-fighting or bullet-playing, or
appear in any public or private place with a cock or cocks'
prepared to fight for any bet or prize; or in like manner
assemble to play at bullets for any bet or prize ; or shall
enter, start or run any horse, mare or gelding, for any bet
or prize ; or shall promote or be concerned in any ihoot
ing-matcb, for any plate, prize, sum of money, or other
thing of value whatfoevefr, or Ihall make, print, pubblh or
proclaim any advertisement or notice, of any plate, prize,
sum of money, or other thing of value, for the use ofcqck
fighting, bullet-playing) horse-racing, or to be (hot for,
by any person or persons whosoever ; he, /he or they, up
on conviction thereof by indiHment in any Court of Quar
ter Sessions of the Peade and Goal Delivery, to be held
for the city or county where the offence is or shall be
committed, shall forfeit and pay the sum of Five. Hun
dred Pounds.
AND WHEREAS cock-fighting, bullet-playing, horfe
races'and (hooting matches are frequently held, and the
gaming or playing for money or other things, is frequent
ly pradifed and carried on at, in or near taverns or public
' houses.
Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforefaid; That
ifany public-house keeper, or other retailer of Prong li
quors, shall promote or encourage any horie-race, cock-
TUESDAY, MAY 11, ^^
te^QO^A ^^^z^ ^ ^^e— ra^^^ ®^<!Cf^frf^G\\ ^TOA^^l
° R i the
'GENERAL ^^^^^ ADVERTISER
PHILADELPHIA.
[ Price 2S. 6d. single, 2S. by the quantity.
light, bullet-match, (hooting-match,, or other such idle 1
sport, or (hall fell any wine, rum, whiskey, beer, cyder, •
or other strong liquors whatsoever, to any person or per
sons assembled or met for the purpose of attending any
horse-race, cock fight, bullet match, (hooting-match, or
other idle sport, or shall, permit or fuffer any kind bf play
ing or gaming for money or other valuable thing, eighty
at cards, dice, billiards, bowls, shuffle-beard, or in any
other manner whatsoever to be used, pradifed or carried
ca withiri his or her house, or in any place in his or her,
occupancy ; every such public-house keeper, or retailed
of flrong liquors, shall for every such offence, whereof he
or (he,fhall -be legally convicted upon indictment in any „
Court of Quarter Semohs of the Peace arid Gaol Delivery,
forfeit and pay the sum of Twenty Pounds; and his or
her licence, from and after fiich convifhon, shall be, and
is hereby declared to be absolutely nuliand void. ,
"And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid, That
if any person or persons shall lose any ' money, or other
valuable thing, at or upon any cock match, bullet matchy
horfi race or footing match, or at or upon any play, paD
time, or game whatsoever, the person nr persons who.
lofetd, or who (hall lose the said money, or other valuable
thing, shall not be bound or compelled to pay or make
good the ft,e; but every contrast, note, bill, bond,
judgment, mortgage, or other Security or conveyance
whatsoever, given, granted, drawn, or entered into, for
security or fatisfidion of or for the fame, or any part
thereof, shall be utterly void and of none erfea.
And b' it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That
if any person or persons sh li lose any money or other
thing of value, at or upon any cock fight, bullet match,
horse race, (hooting match, or at or upon any play, pas
time, or game whatsoever, and (hill pay or deliv^ the
feme, or any part thereof, the person or persons so losing
and paying or delivering the fame, (halt be at liberty,
within three months then next, to fwe for and recover the
money or goods so loft and paid or delivered, or any parti
thereof, from the refpeftive winner or winners thereof,
tyifh costs o' suit, by adibn of debt founded on this aft,
to be prosecuted in any Court of Record, or where the va
lue is under Five Pounds, before #, Justice of the Peace
within this commonwealth § in which adions or suits no
effoin, protection, wager of law, or more than one im
parlance (hall be allowed ; in which h&ions it shall be fuf
ficieut for the plaintiff to alledge, that the defendant or
defendants are indebted so the plaintiff, or received to the
plaintiff's use, the money so loft or paid, nr converted the
goods won of the plaintiff to the defendant's use, whereby
the plaintiff's action accrued to him, according to the
form.of this aft, without letting forth the special matter.
And be it farther enabled by the author ity aforesaid, That
if any person within this commonwealth ihall challenge
the person of another to fight at (word, pistol, rapier, or
other dangerous weapon, such person so challenging, (hall
forfeit and pay for every such offence (being lawfully con
vifted by the testimony of one or more credible witnesses,
or by the eonfeffion of the party offending) the sum of
Five Hundred Pounds, or foffer twelve months impri--
fonment, without bail or mainprize, and the person ac
, cepting such challenge, shall in like manner forfeit and
pay the like sum of Five Hundred Pounds, er fuftr the
like imprisonment ; and moreover the said challenger, and
challenged (when he accepts) flxall be disabled ever after
from holding any office of profit or honour within this
slate ; and if any person or persons (hall willingly apd
knowingly carry and deliver any written challenge, or
verbally deliver any message meant as a challenge, and
shall thereof be legally convicted as above, he or they so
offending, (hall for every such offence forfeit and pay the
sum of Five Hundred Pounds, or fuffer twelve months im
prifonmept, and be disabled as in the case of giving or
receiving challenges.
And be it further enabled by the authority aforefaid, That
every person and persons whatsoever, that shall, from and
after the publication of this aft, ereft, build, or cause to
be erected or built, any play-hoafe, theatre, flage or
fcaffold, for anting, (hewing, or exhibiting any tragedy,
comedy, or tragi-comedy, farce; interlude or other play,
or any part of aplay whatsoever, orthat (hall act Shew,
or exhibit them, or any of them, or be in any ways con
cerned therein, or in felling any tickets for that purpose
in any city, town or place in this commonwealth, and be
thereof legally convicted in any Court of Quarter Sessions
in this commonwealth, shall forfeit and pay the sum of
Five Hundred Pounds.-
And be it further enuEled by the authority aforesaid. That
the fines accruing or becoming due for any offences again#
this aft, ihall be paid the one half thereof to the Overseers
®f the Poor, for the use of the poor of the city, borough,
township or diftrift where such offence (hall be committed,
and the other half to the person or persons who shall pro
secute the offender or offenders against this a& to convic
tion.
Provided ahvays, That no person shall be indiHed,
prosecuted or molested for any offence or offences against
this a'£l, unle(s such indiHment or prosecution be com
menced within three months ^ft# the offence or effeucea
committed.
Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. ]
And be it further enaPed 'y the authority aforefaid. That
so much of an a# of Assembly, intitled, “ An aft to re
strain people from labour on the firft day of the week ;R
and of one, other act of Assembly, intitled, '' An act 'or
the more effectual preventing accidents that may happen
by fjre, and for frippreffing id/enefs, drunkenness and
other debaucheries;", and of one other aft of Assembly,
intitled, " An aft forthe mate etfeaua'l fupprrflin; pro
fane curing, and (wearing ,? and one other aft of Aflem
tyly, taitled, "An aft to prevent all duelling ^nd fighting
of duels within this province and territories , as is alter
ed or fupphed by, or is repugnant to the provisions of
this afl, (hall be, and is hereby repealed and declared to
be nail and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever.
JO»N BAYARD, Speaker.^
Enabled into a /i<w at Philadelphia, o^ Tuesday the thir
tieth day of March, in the year es our Lord One thou
fund seven buhdred andfeventy-nine.
JOHN MORRIS, Junior,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
^^^^:t^^^^^^^^
TBi tHIGHEST PRICE
IS «;I V^ N FOR
CLEAN LINEN RAGS,
BY
J O HN DU NL A P.
TO BE„SO L D,
For Continental Currency,
AVERY vain,Me tra& of LAN D, situate on the
lower end or Kent 111 nd, in rhe St^te of Mary
land, and known bf the name of Kent Fort Manor.
The fliores abound wd'h fifo, wild fowled cyfters. The
ftduce of the land may be conveyed to any mar
ket cn th^ navigate "^=^ of ft, ^y^nd is bounded
by the extern and weftera bays, wits a ifo drawls
through the woods Irani one bay to the other. The ex
id number of acres is not afc gained. The annual
amount ct the reb, is between twenty five and twenty
fix thousand pounds of cr^p tobacco. For farther par
ticulars &pply to the Hon. Daniel Carroll, Eiq; in
Ann^poH, or to the fol feribir,- pea Dumfries irf Vir.
girip. WILLIAM BRENT.
7^ be SOLD by Public /indue,
On Wedneiday next, at Sevin o'clock in the evening,
at the Coffee-houfe,
TH E Schooner F LY, lying at Meafe'swharf,
with her tackle, apparel and furniitire, as per in-
Venterv to be ieen at the Cofte-houfe aforesaid.
May \.
„ Philadelphia, May
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,
On Wednesday the twelfth day of this inffant, at Five
o'clock in the afternoon, at the house of Peter Hay,
tavern-keeper, in Third-street near SaffafrafsHkeet,
in.the city of Philadelphia, r
A TWO Rory brick meffuage or tenement, brick
kitchen, fbble arid (laughter-boule, .and lot of
ground thereunto belonging, situate on the cast fide of
the third street from the river. Delaware, in the square
between Saffafrafs-ftreet and Vine, street, in the said city;
the lot contains in breadth on Third-street atorefaid
thirty feet, and in length or depth one hundred and
ninety-five feet, bounded southward by ground of Tho
mas Meyer, westward by Third-street afoi efaid, north
ward by ground of Edward Shippen, Jun. Esq; and
eastward with the back ends of the Second.ftreet lots;
fubjed to the yearly ground rent of 71., 10$. lawful mo
ney of Pennsylvania, and allo fubj^a to a mortgage
made of the premises for securing the payment of 5 001.
wirh interest on aJj yet to come: Late the estate of
Magdalen Daubenqiftle, deceased. Attendance will be
given at the time of fate, arid the conditions made
known by WILLIAM DEWEES,
Acting Executor.
IN pursuance of an order of Orphans Court,
will be fold by public vendue, at t'he Coffee-houfe
in the city of Philadelphia, on WednefdAy the twelfth
day of May inst. at Twelve o'clock at noon, a House
and Lot or Piece of Ground, situate on the weft fide of
! h . e ,T in ° r r' in Germa ?t°wn, containg in breadth on
said street fifty feet, and in length or depth two hundred
and reventeen feet, opposite to the White Horse Tagern x
There is on laid lot an elegant new stone house two sto
nes high, with two rooms on a floor, gepteely. pithed,
a good cllv under the ,bole hoafe; also a good
liable and other out-houses, and fame fruit trees -the
whole lot is inclofed with a good board fine o -' freri'
from any ground-rent. Late the e&fe of DANIE?
Mbredjth, deceased.