The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1778-03-04 00:00:00, page 2

, m afer ojthe PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
J 1
('R AVELLIN G lately from camp I was
overtaken by a ttom, and obliged to take
Diener at rhe tirtt inb that offered. 1 thought my
left very unlucky as I f^hnd the house ercuded oith
e'c^upahy of militia from one of the back counties.
' he mn, however, were ve-y civil, and kiidly
'offered me a corner of their tire place, where I lat
'town, and amu'ei mrielf With observing the cha
rt, rs and manners of these people. The fefont
v' io conduced th s company was a shrewd, laiible
fellow, very loquacious, and valued binder on bis
abilities at harar^u^ Some dispute atn-Jug* hrs'
men about politics g.ve him an opportunity of ad
drelu^theni in a wrmh way. 1 wi ! l give you the
ftt^ true of his speech nearly in his dwh words,
omi rug oniv a h w oaths with which he endeavour
ed no enforce bis Cotfri)K, and corr^img bis ion
pua.fr? in fame infta^c^ Silence living b<.en loud
for demtn led end obtained, our orator delivered ,
himc'' thus:,^
' My lads, you fey yob are going to fight for
liberty; th fe arewo <s io.every body's m uih, but
%& under dami their r^al meaning. Liberty is 'not a
nowerio do wlrit we plcale, and have what we <e
ft "e* this mav be the I be r ty of a wolf or of a beast
of o r ev, but is not the liberty of a man cpnkde:ed
as a merioer of lottery•:i'rue libetty is the being
ft. neU by laws of our own making. But as it
would be impossible to coiled together all cue indi
viduJs of a whole S at| :in order to frame laws for
the >e Hit of the whole, the only remedy is for tl e
infcir&.s of every u. um.y to chox pylons from
artt, Ct themselves, in whom they can confide;
Whibh perlons so ekAcd, (hall make laws to bind
the vhoie: And if, on trial, it appears that the
wiidom oriqtegrity of these elected few, or any or
them, does not answer your expectations, you have
an ooportuni'y at the next annual election to turn
them out, and pur mh^rsin theirroom more to your|
likr g. Thisus true conftmuijnal liberty, and thisj
is the liberty for which we gre now contending;
and I can tell you, my lads, when once you part
with this foundation zone of happiness, you become
flives immediately, and all the effects of your indus
try and labour will be to aggiaiidife court officers,
and not for the advancement of yourselves or fa
todies. Learned men might tell you a great deal
mue an this fubje<ft, and give you a more erTrged
account of conkitutional liberty; but be assured,
so lon° as you have a Sufficient check on your law
makers, or rather, so long as you have the making
4>f your own laws as a people, so long you ^e per
belly fafe, and no longer. Now the Kin;; of Eng
land has sent over fleets and armies to compel or io
give up this invaluable privilege into his hands; but ।
with the blelfmg of God, we will maintain it a
g^nt him and all the world, so long as We have a
roan left tofire a m^et. You mutt know, that
if once they can eftabmh a right to make laws for
ns, without our ^onfent, from that moment our
/yes, our property, all that is worth possessing in
die world, will be entirely at their mercy. This
country, thus attacked, determined to defend itfelf
agdoft she invader. Thirteen States united them
fclves for this pu pose, each State delegated its
powers to certain Gentlemen, who were to repre
sent the whole country, and conduct this grand
flru^tfor liberty, just as your Affembiy represents
the fevlral counties of this State. Thus is the
Continual Congress formed; anti tho' the King
in his speech, and the writers he employs, perpetu
ally tell us that we are under a tyrannic govern
ment, that our leaders are arbitrary and will con
du& us to rifin; yet, when we know that these
Ge : ulemyn are of our own appointment, and that
we can remove them whenever we please, we are
sure thereis no danger; we^we the fluff in^our
own hands, and have nothing to fear. Our Con
gress have hitherto conducted us with wisdom and
integrity; and although in fume instances it may be
thought they might have managed better than they
have'done, yet they have piloted us in Safety thro'
a tempestuous ocean to the present period, and we
hope the worst is over. And so God save the Con
grefs" Here our orator was honoured with aloud
huzza. He.then proceeded—" Silence, my lads,
silence. I would speak a few words of our Ge
neral and the army—You are now on your way
to the camp, when you arrive there you will lee
your countrymen, like the armies of Israel, cover
ing the fountains; they have built themselves a^
cify on tne banks of the Schuylkill, and endure all'
the hardftyips of their homely situation with chear
fu! patience; and what is it think you that blunts
the keen edge of the norths winds, and makes
content to. Smile on the tops of frozen hills ? I will
tell you, it is the love of that liberty I have fat be
fore you, it is the confeioufnefs of the justice of
our cause. Men influenced by inch principles
laugh at danger, and Surmount every difficulty.
'When you have viewed the" wood built huts that
cover the murrain to&s, theb call your eyes dowa
t, the humble va ! r, and you will lee the madett
roof that Shelters your great, your incomparable Ge-
Utrab I luppofe now, when you think of General
Washington you figure to yourselves a flout, bulky
man, of a terrible countenance, covered with gold
face, living in a magnificent house, and having a
g eat train of attendants round him: You are quite
huHaken; he neither has nor needs any of those
external ornaments. Would you hang farthing
candies round the run to encre^e his Juftre? His
glory will admit of no addition. Your General is
a plain man, plaid in his dress, and frugal at his
b. ard; yet a native dignity will command your ref
ped, and the affability of his manners win your love.
i~ i{bia.ve without olibntatiun, magnificent with
out pump, and accomplished without pride: He is
an honor to the human race, and the idol of Ame
rica. Aad Io God save General Washington and
hrs ar^y." A loud huzza doled this period, and
the orator again proceeded—" Once more, my lads,
t.<e more, let us lay a little concerning the ene
my. Lock towards Philadelphia, there the foul
monster lies; it is the dragon's den from whence he
crawls cut for food, and deviates the land. 1 fay
crafts otic, for thank God we have cut off one of
@his w|hgs, and'there he lies growling and licking
his wounds. Burgoyne and IL army is the wing
we have disabled. Our attention is now drawn
to one point; the enemy grows weaker every day,
and we ' ate growing ftrongen Our work is aimoft
done; and with the bleiling of heaven, and the
valour of our worthy General, we Ihah loon drive
thole plunder is cut wf our country, or fubjedt
them to OUT power. We will kill feme, take four/
prisoners, and the rest we will lend home to advise
their matici to manage better the next time hea
ven far I: pieafe to give him thirteen large and popu
lous States in the room of those he has so foolishly
loft. Instead of giving General Howe a whole
province as the reward of his conquests, he must be
c r nrent to gratify him with a ribbon, a whore, a
battle, and a pavk of cards, bawbles more suited
to his rafte. Fear not, my lads, only determine
to be free, ard you will be so. God blels the Con
grels, General Washington, General Gates, and
the American Array. Huzza !3
If you think this honest ferjeant's speech worthy
a place in your paper, by inferring it you will oblige
One of your constant Readers.
Feb. 12, 1778.
BOSTON, February
T) Y an express from Congrels yesterday, we
have certain intelligence that that Honourable
Body have revived, That General Burgoyne and
his army, be retained as prisoners of war 'till the
Convention is ratified by the King and Parliament
of Great Britain. Ihe reaent for which are allo
come, but we have not been aole to obtain them
for this day's papr.
We learn from the Weft-Indies, that so many
Guineamen have been taken by our cruizers, that
at Martinico and other islands the highest price for
Haves is eleven half johannefes.
A Gentleman from Jamaica averts, that when
he left it in October lait, sugar fold for ten (hillings
per hundred, and the belt rum at ten pence per
gallon.<
NEW-LONDON, January 2,
The Alfred frigate, Capt. /Tinman, belonging
to the United States, is arrived at France, where
she called in and fold two Jamaica men of consider
able value.
NEWH AVEN, February 4.
Tuesday night of last week the paper-mill at
Hartford was confirmed by fire, with a large quan
tity of writing and printing paper. There is great
reason to suppose that it was set on fire by some
malicious person. We hear the Assembly have
granted a lottery to raise f. 1500 to enable the
proprietors to rebuild the mill.
Feb. 11. Friday night last we had a violent
snow-storm, in which it is laid fix or seven fail
of the enemy's vessels were driven ashore, at, or
meat Hundington on Long libnd.-
FIS H-K I L L, February 19.
We have undoubted intelligence, that there are
lately arrived in Martinico and Guadalaupe, 22 628
French troops; part of them failed the 6th of Oc
tober from Bourdeaux, and part of them the 9th
O&ober from St. Maloes. They arrived at Marti
tiico the 22d and 27th November. 11,836 of the
above mentioned troops failed from Martinico the
ift December for St. Domingo. They expected
every duj a third division of troops from Brest. We
also lean, that the coast of France, from Dunkirk
to L'Orient, was hoed with 60,000 troops.
Extract ©fa ie:^r from a Genhernan at G/d Milford,
to bis friend in ibis place, dated beb. 11, 1778.
“ Lair Friday eight, fix of the enemy s viffris
were drove ashore on Long-Iflaad, by the foow
ftorm, viz. one thirty two gum frigate, lying over
against Smith Town harbour, very high; one fri
gate thirty guns, and two tenders, on the Weft
Meadow' facts; and two Hoops of war of sixteen
guns each, lye at a plate called The Old Man. ten
miles to the Ealtward of the other. I came off lust
Saturday night, within half a mile of the thirty
two gun frigate. Theepemy have plundered Suf
folk county at an unmerciful rate, no tongue cam
express th^ ravage they have nixdcb"
The following toaff was given extempore, by a
Gentleman, fame days ago:
HERE'S a health to the States,
And the brave General Gates,
1\ hole condud in history wi.> Ibine;
In the year teven ty level),
With the assistance of heaven, -
He defeated th' important Burgoyr.%
BURLI NG TO N, February 2§.
Last Monday a handsome collection of eloathing
and linen was sent to the hospital at Princeton, for
the use of the sick and wounded, being the leafona
bfe and charitable donation of the Rev. Mr. Green's
congregation in Hanover, Morris county.
A traafport (hip, having on b^rd upwards of ±@o
American prifor©s, lately left Halifax under convoy
of an Enghih frigate, bound fur New York. For
tunately a storm arole loon after they left port, and,
separating tke traniport from her convoy, the prif -
ners rose and made themselves n>afteis of the (hip,
and carried her into Marblehead.
Several defertets have come to this city from Phi
ladelphia since our last.
YORK-TOWN, February^.
In CONGRESS, February 26, 1778.
Whereas it appears to Congress by the copy
ofa letter from General Washington to General
Howe of the 10th of this month, that he Ls
consented to the propfitions of General Howe
to the following effect, " That an exchange
of all prifoqeis now in our poGffion, officer for
officers soldier for soldier. and citizen for citi
zen, so far as number and rank will apply, Ie
carried into execution, as expeditiously as the
nature of the case will admit, and without re
gard to any controverted point, Which might
prove an impediment to so definable an end."
And whereas by a lefolution of Congress of
the 19th December last, a relcafe of prisoners
in the power of these States cannot take place,
before the account of all provisions and other
neceffarics, which have been supplied by the
public to such prisoners, are liquidated and dif
charged;'
And whereas it is the wish of Congress, to
accomplish the desirable purpose of exchanging
the prisoners without unnecessary delay ;
Refolded, That an express be sent to the se
veral legislatures, or Supreme executive autho
rities of the refpeaive States, for such accounts
of money, provisions, and other neceflaries,
which they have Supplied to prisoners taken by
the United States, Since the commencement of
the war, as have not been already transmitted
to Congress; that they be requested to make up
the said accounts to the firft day of March next,
and transmit them as speedily as possible to the
Commissioners of Claims at the Board ci Trea
sury: That the accounts of each State from
New-Hainplhire to Virginia inclusively, be sent
to the said Con.mihioners, on or before the
15th day of April next, and of the other States
on or before the firft day of June next; and that
the refpeaive States sustain the losses which
may arise from detaining such accounts, longer
than the time herein allowed them for render
ing the fame.
Refolded, That all officers in the departments
of the Quarter-Master, Pay-Master, and Clo
thier-General, and Commissaries of provisions
and prisoners, the Commissioners of accounts,
and other officers who may have accounts or
charges of money, provisions, or other neces
saries in their refpe&ive offices, for Supplies fur
nifhed the said prisoners, be directed to fend
such accounts to the Commissioners of Claims
at the Board of Treasury, on or before the 15th
day of April next, and that they refpe&ively
sustain the losses that may arise from a neglect
thereof