The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-12-14 00:00:00, page 2

T H E present times of national difficulty naturely in
cline every man, that can feel for his country, to pro
pose every merfure that is likely effectually to serve it. In
former wars, party zeal ran very high, not only in the
hrft political assembly, but also throughout the whole
kingdom ; when lubfidies to German Princes, and the
waste of blood and treasure upon the continent, were com
bated by the minority, who, in opposition to the Court,
fired themselves advocates for their country. Mr. Pitt
v.^ at this time the idol of the party in the Commons.
When be came into office in the last war, never did any
minihe'r display his abilities with such distinguished luftre,
by ensuring conquerts in every quarter of the globe; and
this success he attributed particularly to our military oppe
rations in Germany, which proves, that the Sentiments of
former ministers upon that head were well founded.
During the last war we were superior both to France
and Spain in our navy; but what is our present ft ate? All
the wealth, power, and infinite resources of the enemy,
which were formerly exhausted in a land war on the con
tinent, are now saved, and their finances applied to the
encreafe of their marine. This is the sole cause of our
present alarming situation; and we are now taught from
experience, that even the inhabitants of an island, when
exposed to the insults of a prefidious neighbour, cannot be
ft.fe without allies.
11 id we placed any confidence in our insular Situation,
and withdrawn our aid from the continent in former times,
the confeqaence must have been, that Holland, with other
important territories, would have been in the hands
of our enemies, and we ourselves should only have had the
fatisfadion of being the last people tonqered. Whether
France and Spain make an addition to their maritime
Strength in America or Europe, it is the fame with refpeft
to as; our danger is equally evident. Hence, if we do
zo procure some powerful allies to unite against the com
mon enemy, and, in return, be ready to give them Sup
port when they want ouraffiftance; such negle& will pro
claim our weacnefs, and renderutrcontemptible in the eyes
of Europe.
The great point in war is to approach the heart of your
enemy, and, if possible, entirely to difeomfit him. If
t.2at attempt fails, it is then prudent speedily to decide the
combat in the manner most likely to inspire him with ter
ror, and exhauf ihis wealth and power. Upon this ground,
it would be proper at present to remove the Scene es war,
and, by fending a large army to the frontiers, penetrate
imo the hear: of the enemy's country, and remove the tre
mour from ourselves to the disturbers of pur peace and
tranquility.
A writer of eminence fays, that we can never recur too
often to this permit. Whoever knows the hiflory of this
government, and can judge of its interest or its dangers,
mud know thatifever has been, and ought to be, the con
flant principle of the politics of this nation, at all events to
umble the pride of the House of Bourbon ; for if She now
acquires but a small addition to her power, the religion,
trade, liberty and independence of this nation are inevita
bly at an end. To prevent this, we must Support some
great power on the continent, capable to stand for a time ,
till confederacies can be formed against the enemies of our
country.
Again: Neither this nation nor any other can (land
alone, and without allies. By gaining power at land the
Romans destroyed the Carthaginians. A little accession
of power to France would put her in a condition to repel
the whole collected maritime power of Europe. It is cer
tain France may reduce half her armies, and employ her
Spences in fitting out fleets; and experience proves that
we may be invaded ; must we net then be mad, to con
fide entirely on our own naval force, and with the rest of
Europe be reduced to a dread of, or a dependence on
France, which lies within three hours fail of our coasts,
and only ten of our capital.
If we are to suppose that the spirit of prophecy has long
Since ceased, we must grant that the above suits the pre
sent times. France has become much more powerful now
than the was formerly. Had we kept the valuable parts of
our acquisitions in the last war, we Should have {efficiently
checked her progress.
A CONTINENTALIST.
Gratitude a Mark of True Magnanimity; ex
empliiled in the Hiflory of Topal Osman.
ri,OPAL OSMAN, who had received hfeeduca
& tiouiu the seraglio, !>ehg,in theyetr 1698, about the
age of twenty five, was sent with the Sultan's orders
to the bafha of Cairo. He travelled by land so Said;
and, being afraid of the Arabs who rove about plundering
vaffengers and caravans, he embarked on board a Turk
ish vefftl bound to Damietta, a city on the Nile. In this
Short pa(Sage they were attacked by a Spanish privateer,
and a bloody action enracd. Topal Osman gave here the
firft proofs of that intrepidity by which he was so often
Signalized afterwards. The crew, animated by his exam
ple, fought with great bravery; but superior numbers at
last prevailed, and Osman was takenprifoner, after being
dangerously wounded in the arm and thigh.
Osman's gallantry induced the Spanish Captain to pay
him particular regard; but his wounds were still in abad
way when he was carried to Malta, whither the privateer
went to refit. The wound in his thigh was the most dan
gerous, and he was lame of it ever after ; for which he
had the title of Topal, or Cripple.
At that time Vincent Arnaud, a native of Marseilles,
was commander of the port of Malta ; who, as his bufi
nefftequired, weapon board the privateer so soon as She
came to anchor. Osman no Sooner saw Arnaud, than he
said to him, “ Can you do a generous and gallant action ?
'' Ransom me, and take ray word you Shall lufe nothing
" by it." Such a request from a slave in chains was un
common; but the manner in which it was delivered made
an impreffi@n upon the Frenchman ; who, turning to the
Captain of the privateer, aSked what he demanded for the
ransom. He answered, " one thousand sequins," (near
five hundred pounds). Arnaud, turning to the Turk,
said, " I know nothing of you, and would you have me
V risk one thousand sequins on your bare word ?” " Each of
us ad in this," replied the Turk, " with consistency. I am
" in chains, and therefore take every method to recover
" my liberty ; and you may have reason to distrust the
" word of a stranger. I have nothing at present but my
" word to give you; nor do I pretend to assign any rea
FromtheL O NDON CHRON IC LE.
Osman had mentioned to his benefactor, that he might
write to Constantinople for the money he had advanced;
but finding himfelf in the hands of a man who had trusted
so much to his honor, he was emboldened to alk another
favour ; which was to leave the payment of the rahfom en
tirely to him. Arnaud difeerned, that in such a case things
were not to be done bv halves. He agreed to the propo
sal with a good grace, and Shewed him every other mark
of genorifity and friendfhip. Accordingly Osman, so
soon as he was in a condition, set out again upon his voy
age.
The French colours now protected him from the priva
teers. In a Short time he reached Daraietta, and failed
■p the Nile to Cairo. No sooner was he arrived there,
than he delivered one thousand sequins to the matter of
the vessel, to be paid to his benefactor Arnaud, together
with some rich furs ; and he gave to the maker himfelf
five hundred crowns as a prelent. He executed the orders
of the Sultan, his miller, with the bafha of Cairoj and,
fetttng out for Cositantihop^, was the firft who brought
the news of his Slavery.
The favour received from Arnaud, in such cir cum fiances,
made an impression upon a generous midd to deep to be
eradicated. During the whole course of his life he did
not cease, by letters and other acknowledgements, to tefti
fy his gratitude.
Ju t:re year 1715 war was Declared between the Veneti
ans and Turks. The grand vizir, who had projected
the invasion of the Morea, assembled the Oftaman army
near the iftamus of Corin n, the only pals by which this
peninsula can be attacked bp land. Topal Osman was
charged with the command no force the pals; which he
not only executed fuccehiully, but afterwards took the ci
ty of Corinth by assault. For this Service he was reward
ed by being made a bafha of two tails. The next year he
served as lieutenant-general under the grand vizir at the
siege of Corfu, which the Turks were obliged to abandon.
Osman staid Three days before the place, to Secure and
conduct the retreat of the Ottoman troops.
In the year 1722, he was appointed ferafkier (general in
chief) and had the command of the army in the Morea.
When the coufuls of the different nations came to pay their
refpefts to him in this quality, he distinguished the French
by peculiar marks of friendfhip and protection. ." In
" form Vincent Arnaud ” fays he, " that lam the fonder
'' of my new dignity, as it enables me to serve him. Let
" me have his fan in pledge of owr friendfhip, and I will
" charge myfelf with makingh's fortune." Accordingly,
Arnaud's son went into the Morea, and the feraikier not
only made him presents, but granted him priviiedges and
advantages in trade, which soon put him in away of ac
quiring an estate.
Topal Oilman's parts and abilities soon raised him to a
greater command. He was made a bafha of three tails,
and be^lerbeg of Romania, one of the greatest govern
ments in the empire, and of the greatest importance, by its
vicinity to Hungary.
His residence during his government was at Nyssa. In
the year 1727, Vicent Arnaud and his son waited upon
him there, and were received with the greatest tenderness.
Laying aside the bafha and governor, he embraced them,
caused them to be served with fherbert and perfumes, and
made them fit upon the fame fopha with himfelf; an ho
nor rarely bestowed by a bafha of the firft order, and
hardly ever to a Christian. After these marks of distinc
tion, he sent them away loaded with presents.
In thegreat revolution which happened at Constantinople,
anno 1730, the grand vizir Ibrahim perished. The times
were so tumultary, that one and the fame year had seen no
fewer than three successive vizirs. In September 1731,
Topal Osman was called from his government to fill this
place; which being the highest in the Ottaman empire,
and perhaps tee highest that any fubjeß in the world en
joys, is always dangerous, apd was then greatly so. He
no footer arrived at Constantinople to take possession of
his new dignity, than he desired the Fiench ambassador to
inform his old benefactor of his advancement, and that he
should hasten to Con ftantiiiople while things remained in
the present Situation ; adding that the grand vizir seldom
kept long in his Ration.
In the month of January 1732, Arnaud, with his foo,
arrived at Constantinople from Malta, bringing with him
variety of prefects' and twelve Turks whom he had ran
fomed from Slavery. These, by command of the vizir,
were ranged in order before him. Vincent Arnaud, now
seventy-two years of age, with his son, was brought be
fore Topal Osman, grand vizir of the Ottoman empire.
He received them in the presence of the grand officers of
slate, with the ntmoft marks of affection ; then turning to
those about him, and pointing to the ransomed Turks :
“ Behold," fays he, " these your brethren, now enjoy
" ing the sweets of liberty, after having groaned in slave
' r ry : Tnis Frenchman is their deliverer. I was myfelf
" a slave, loaded with chains, streaming in blood, and co
" vered with wounds : This is the mah who redeemed
“ aud saved me; this is my matter and benefaftor : To
" him I am indebted for life, liberty, fortune, and every
" thing I enjoy. Without knowing me, he paid for me a
" large ransom, sent me away upon my bare word, and
“ gave me a fliip to carrw me. Where is there a Mufful
" man capable of such generosity?
While Osman was speaking, all eyes were fixed upon
Arnaud, who held the grand vizir's hands closely locked
between his own. The vizir then asked both father and son
many quest ons concerning their situation aud fortune,
heard their answers with kindness and attention, and then
ended with an Arabic fentencd; Allah Kerim (the provi
dence of good is great). He made before them the dis
tribution of the presents they had brought, the greatest
part of which he sent to the sultan, the sultana mother,
and the kiflar aga (chief of the black enuclis). Upon
which the two Frenchmen made their obtd.er.ee, and reti
red.
“ Son why you should trust to it. I can only fay, that
" if you incline to aft a generous part, yon small have no
" reason to repent." The commander, upon this, went
to mahe his report to the grand master Don Perellos. The
air with which Osman delivered himfelf, wrought so upon
Arnaud, that he returned immediately on board the Spa
nish vefftl, and agreed with the Captain for fix hundred se
quins, which he paid as the price of Oinau's liberty. He
put him on board a veflel of his own, and provided him a
surgeon, with every thing necessary for his entertainment
and cure.
After this ceremony was over, the son of the grand vizir
took them to his apartments, wher he treated them with
Fre:no.y.
It happens not to every one to fee Corinth.
SIR,.,
Y 0 U have heard it as a common faying, that interest
governs the world ; but whoever narrowly examines
into the particulars, will find that passion, humour, faction,
fafhion, mode and custom, have as coofiderable a share in
the disposal of human affairs.
I was led into a comment on these matters in my own
room last night, after returning from (pending the day
witha country acquaintance, who treated me with every
honefl home spun civility, and loaded my plate with solid
pounds of fhfh as a mark of her hospitality. Dinner being
over, andevery thing fettled, the hearth brushed up, the
wee put on the fire, and the Congress and General
Wallington drank, I began to feel myfelf rather foug-.-
when on a sudden four children bounced into the room all
over melaffes, &c ---They were fine babies to be sure.---
I patfed the bead of a boy, and kissed the cheek of Rgirl,
and thought every thing was finilhed for masters and mis
ses to retire; but a'asl I was miflaken : The daughters
cried for fruit, and the boys for wine: They were indul
ged, and while they were playing about upon the carpet
and fighting with each other, the mother pestered me to
death with their qualities, and every thing they had said
from their earliest infancy. This I bore with philosophy,
till she touched upon mailer Neddy's tafiefor drawing---
when the father, as if waked from a trance, sprung to his
bureau, and spread the table with execrable reams of his
fon's performances, animadverting, as he went on, übon
every ftrake, tho' as coarse as if made by a trowel. Not
fatisfied as I was, with these horrid Anti-Raphaelian
cartoons, he runs to the nursery and garret, and brings
down an arm full of drawings, without an upright line,
in black frames, that he had preserved as the best compo
sitions.
At this instant a servant relieved me with the following
letter:
SIR,
YOU have taken some unwarrantable liberties with
my character; and the firft time I meet you, you may be
certain that I shall lay my cane over your shoulders, and
am,
SIR.
Your humble servant.
Tho' this was cavalier, yet it was better than these pa
rental histories, which I couid not avoid as the menace of
my humble servant.
I have often smiled at this conclusion of a letter, which
custom and time have given an invariable fanaion to. For
what can be more truly ridiculous, than, that after a man
has been venting on a meet of paper every crudity imagin
able, he mould politely conclude with assuring you that
he is,
Your very humble servant ?
The Lawyer declares that he will immediately arrest
you, as executor to Mr. Tap---if you dont immediately
pay him; and is, Sir,
Your very humble servant.
The Captain full of ire, choler and fury, dares you,
sword and pistol, determined to blow out your brains if
you meet him; vowing, if you don't come, he will poll
you for a scoundrel; and is, Sir,
Your very humble servant.
The Merchant expostulates, that you have cozened him
in a purchase, that you have hurt him in a protest of a
considerable bill, and that you have injured his repatati
ou^ut is, Sir.
Your very humble servant.
The Ladies again correspond in Similar forms--and
Mils Biddy Fury, after violently attacking Clara for
a fedu&ion of her favourite swain, tho' absolutely on the
mangin of matrimony, assures her, that flie is,
Her very humble servant.
The penitent Wife, who has only robbed her spouse,
tells him, Indeed, my dear, I own I have injured you
and your family, and am, injured Sir,
Your very hnmble servant.
The Virargo, who h^ drove poor Mr. Jeremiah Sneak
from under his own roof, threatens him vengeance, if he
does not return, but is,-
His affectionate virtuous wife,
And very humble fervent.
It has often amazed me, that customs of this kind, long
established by time, have not been altered; for surely it is
a preposterous conclusion, of an epistle, to assure a man,
whom you have every contempt for, that you are his
very humble and obedient servant.
Manners which Shock our feelings in town, are not ob
served in the country, and though many may argue, that
though the scabbard may be rough on the outside, the
sword is bright and Sharp within, nevertbelefs, it is neces
sary to have even external appearances, to recommend us, as
well as internal virtues. It has net happened to every
perlon to fee London ; therefore so much is not expelled
from the rustic, as the man of education. But I utterly
protest against any man profeffing rudeness, because he
can boast of integrity, and is thought to be an honefl man.
I don't fee that the possession of any cardinal virtue entity
grat kindness Some time before they left Constantinople,
they had a conference in private with the vizir, who divert
ed himfelf of all slate and ceremony. He let them under
stand, that the natureof his situation would not permit him
to do as he desired, since a minister ever appears, in the
eyesof many, to do nothing without a view to his own
particular interest ; adding, that a bafha was Lord and
Master in his own province, but that the grand vizir at
Conft;ntinople had a master greater than himfelf.
He caused them to be &mply paid for the ransom ofthe
Turks, and likewise procured them payment of a debt
which they had looked on as desperate. He also made
them large presents in money, and gave then an order for
takinga loading of corn at Salouica; which was likely to
be very profitable, as the exportation of corn from that
part bad been for a long time prohibited.
Ashis gratitude was without bounds, his liberality was
the fame. His behaviour to his benefactor demonstrated
that greatness of fonl which displayed itfelf in every acti
on of his life. And this behaviour must appear the more
generous, when it is considered what contempt and aversi
on the prejudices of education create in a Turk agaffift
chriflians.
OBSERVATIONS
On modern EDUCATION.
Non uti Dresaleam licet omnibus ire Cariatbum.