The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-08-07 00:00:00, page 2

P H I L A D ELP 11 f A.
'// a mretin< rof f be Officers of th- fo^'h bottn'rn of the Hoefer
c^y MiLna, at tbe b use of Fzttiel Webb, in the townjb:p of
Kennet, on ^wday, the i6tb of %j, 1783.
Licet. Colonel Isaac Taylor in the chair.
^ ^ ,HER E AS during the bre cruel and unjust war waged
:v a ainft hefrUn'Ott States' bv the King of Greal-Bri
sn, ^nun,rf pertain, 101 liu all feofe of lionn and virtue,
hr oei rfed theii country, joined her enemies, and used every
r. err inth is pow rt di rels and e flare as: And whereas
<or 'horgf s tor liberty having been fuccHlful, and their cruel
„Mgr, fruthat^d) therr'r realm to fear that those perlons will
cn&wur to 0 ft mate th r mfelves into these States:
Therefore to prevent thi c State from becoming an harbour for
vis ins if every denomination,
Revived u^mmoufy, ri. That we will use onr rtmoft eridea
v urs to preve ,t persons of the above description from fettling
within the limits or this battalion: And we do hereby pledge
ourfe^ves to each other, to unite and Hand by each other in ex
pelling them fr m am ngft us.
And as there is reason to think that some of the aforefaid
persons are harboured arrongfttw; therefore,
Reived uranin , u fy, 2d. That we will hereafter enquire into
the character, and examine every suspicious person that comes
within onr knowledge, and that we will assist each other in ap
prehtnding and ft bring them, that they may be brought to ju
ftce ; and that we will unite in bringing to condign punishment
all person; who aid, abet or harbour any of the said persons.
Refilled unanimously, 3d. That we will concur with the other
battalions of this county, in intruding cur Reprefentafives in
Assembly, a^eable to the above resolutions; and that Colonel
The Taylor, Majors J< hn Craig, Peter Bell, and Captains Wil
liam Whitefide and A'Sfalom Eaird, be appointed as a Committee,
t> meet Committees which may be appointed from the other
battalions in thisicounty, to draw up said inftruftions.
kefelved, 4 h. That these refolurions be published in the Phi
ladetyma news papers. Signed by order of the meeting,
ISAAC TAYLOR, Chairman,
Bonnet's Tavern, Buchs county, , u ? 29, 1783.
Agreeable to the irroratrnn thrown cut in a Circular Letter adapted at
the meeting in N^wtewn, on the 12tb uh. the following Deputies,
cenflitNting a Committee of the c:unt% were this day convened, o^o
For himo| townflrip, Colonel Au^uftine Willett; Benfalem,
John Vand ^ritt, Esq; Falls, William Harvey; Middletown,
Richard Rue and William Goforth ; Newtown, James Hanna,
Tlq; and 001. Francis Murrey ; Suutl arm ton, Arthur Watts, Esq;
Northampton, Gerrardus Wynkoop, Eiq; and Hugh Adams;
Wright's-town, jofeph Sackett, Esq; Warminfter, Joseph Hart,
Esq; Warwick, John Crawford, Esq; and Hugh Rarnfey ; War
rington, Andrew Long, Esq; and Capt. Thomas Craig; Buck
ingham, John Wilson, Esq; and William Bennet, Gentleman;
Solebury, David Forft aed (apt. Isaac Vanhorne ; Plumflead
Major Wilham Kennedy and Alexander Robinson; New-Britain,
David Evans and James Snodgrais ; Rockhill, Samuel Smith,
Esq; and Thomas Arrnftrong; Bedminfler, Col Robert Robin
fun; Tirocum, Colonel Arthur Erwin; Nockamixon, Samuel
Wilfun and Nicholas M Carry; Haycock, Alexander Hughes;
Milford,' Jacub Bishop ; Richland, Jacob Burk ; Springfield,
John Barclay, Esq; and John Smith; and for Durham, Richard
Backhoufe, Esq;
Then, on motion, Joseph Hart, Esq; was unanimously
voted in thr Chair.
The tefolutiors and circular letter which gave birth to the
present meeting being then read a # d unanimously approved of,
It was Refdied netn. en. That as it is the unquestionable right,
so it is the indispensable duty of the Freemen of this County,
to inttruci their Representatives in Assembly in the impending
political ciilis when a ceflatitn of hostilities, and the near ap
proach of a definitive peace, may create pretenfiqns, and origi
nate measures incompatible with the fundamental principles of
the revolution, and deftruaive of those rights and interests which
ve are bound to transmit to pefterity untainted---Whereupon
Refolded, Tint the Chairman and four members be immedi
ately appointed to report to this Committee, a sett of inftrudions
to their Representatives of the County in Assembly, and that in
the mean time adjourn.
On morion, the members appointed were Joseph Hart, Esq;
James Hanna, Esq; Gerrardus Wynkoop, Esq; Major William
Goforth and Richard Backhoufe, Efq;---Adjourned till 8 o'clock
in the evening.
The Committee being'affembled according to adjournment, the
Chairman reported a sett or inftruftio^ to the Representatives of
the county in Assembly; which being read and considered by
paragraphs, were unanimously approved, and are as followeth, viz.
To Tfomas Long, Joseph Savitz, James Wilkinson,
James Tate and Joseph Thomas, Enquires, the R+fere
fntatrues v the General Assembly of this Commowwealtb for the
county of Buchs.
Gentlemen,
W E your free and independent electors, fully sensible of that
liberty, and those confliturional rights, the precious earnings of
the blood and tre^fure of these United Stages, deem it expedient,
at the present critical conjuncture of American politics, to tranf
mtt you inflections for the government of ycur conduct during
the ecluing Sessions of Assembly. Waving the manifold public
grievances which claim redress, we (ball address you cn a few
points which more immediately and essentially affeft our feelings
as patriots, and our interests as freemen. We however think
proper b rely to suggest to yeu, the absolute necessity there is for
you tn adopt suitable tleps to obviate the various evils and incon
veniences which result from difaffefted councils, the dilatory
progrtfs of legislative business, the Ihameful delinquency of se
veral of the western counties, which negle& cr refufe to contri
bute any proportion to the support of the public burdens, and
the enfeebled operations of the executive department. The en
tire confidence we place inyour difeernment and integrity, induces
us to submit interefling concerns to your judgment and direction,
whilst we proceed to give you the following explicit inftruaions.
Ift. We most solemnly charge and enjoin you to exert your ut
most abilities in promoting a law to prohibit the return into this
Commonwealth, of all such persons who were formerly fubjeas
thereof, and have joined, or voluntarily aided the enemies of
these United States in the course of the late revolution : For we
contend on the broad ground of experience, and the plain evi
dence of le^fon, that there-admission of such infamous deserters
into the bosom of our country, would greatly dishonor and en
danger the State. We spurn falfe fears, or vain apprehensions,
when we allege that men of this description, versed in the wiles
of politics, disciplined in the schools of corruption, and sup
ported by a powerful, unbroke, political combination, would, if
fuffered to come among us, bid fair to sap the firft principles of
the revolution, and prostrate the goodly fabric which we have
reared at the expence of much blood, vast toil, and immense
treasure.
xriy. We charge you to oppose with your strongest efforts any
attempt (mould such be made) to repeal the test laws now in
force. It is enough that those who have opposed the virtuous
claims of America, who advocated the cause of Britain, and
bowed the neck to tyranny, should be fathered to live under the
teign influence of a free government: T^ey can have no claim
th a participation of it) administration ; and we are convince!,
from the peculiar circumstances of this Commonwealth, that
this meafu e, in the highest degree inequitable, would forfenfibly
affect the genuine whig interest, as again to rouse those paffians
and inteiehs which flurg the arm cf liberty, and open new
feenes of blood : For it seems impossible that the free spirited
sons of Pennfylvbnia, a'ter establishing her independence with
their swords, should ever submit to be governed by traitors, trim
me s, or time-feiving whigs.
gdly. We darneftly recommend to you, to use your endeavours
to promote a Convention of the States, to take into consideration
the present defective fytlem of the federal government, and to
make such alterations And amendments of the Confederation,
as may give permanency, efficacy, dignity and security to the
union.
4thly. "We also Bfiaiy charge and enjoin yen to efe your best
endeavours to procure a new militia law, with such alterations
and improvements as ate apparently neceffary©
gthly. We most particularly charge you to attend to the pre
fervatiori of public faith, the sole foundation of public credit ;
and upon no pretence of public good, or local policy whatever,
to concur in ahy measure that shall tend to deftroywr weaken
that faith. And we most seriously enjoin you to eßay every
practicable means to comply with the requifitigna of Congress,
for difeharging the national debt, and those solemn engagements
in which we stand to our late meritorious aimy, and the public
creditors of every denomination.
Lastly, We most solemnly command you to Waten over that
great bulwark of equal liberty, the Constitution under which
we live,; and*that„ou enquire into and censure any attempt to
elude or enervate its force.
On motion, 'Rejoined, That the Chairman sigh and present
these inftruaions to the Representatives of the County in As
sembly, as the sense, and in behalf of the Freemen of the fame.
Whereas, by the fifth and sixth articles of the late Provisional
Treaty of Peace between these United States and Great-Britain,
it is there provided, that Congress should recommend to the'Le~
giflatures of the different States, a restitution of all confiscated
property belonging to real Biitifh fobjefts; and that the like
favor should be extended to any ether description of m#n :
And whereas treaties between nations are of a very solemn na
ture, and we would not by any means wiffi to aft or do any thing
which, in its tendency, might impair the faith pledged therein, —
yet are of opinion that, confident with the spirit of the said Pro
visional Treaty, those men may be prohibited from residing among
us, untiTCongrefs difeharge that part of the duty required of them
in said articles, and the Legislature of this State decide whether
they will lend a deaf ear to the flattering recommendation or not.
Therefore, unanimously Refolded, That until Congress comply
as aforefaid, and the Legislature of this State adopt their recom
mendation, we, for ourselves and constituents, pledge our faith,
that we will use every effort in our power to exclude all defcrip
tiuns of men, who have deserted their country and joined the
enemy of these United States, during our late struggle with
Great-Britain, from residing among us ; and that we will confider
any perf or persons who give countenance or shelter to them,
as men devoid of every principle cf virtue and patriotism.
The linain objects of the meeting being thus accomplished, it
was moved by a member, that the Committee should make in
quisition i. to the measures which were employed to incline the
Supreme Executive Council of the State, to remit the punilh
ment of Samuel Burroughs, and into the motives which could
draw down the favor of that honorable body upon a traitor, to
his country, and a most flagitious offender again# the laws, the
peace and the interef tof fociety;—which being agreed to, the
fubflance of a letter from George Wall, Esq; Representative of
the county, being communicated by one of the Committee, Bat
ing, that in consequence cf a petition in favor of the said Bur
roughs, the Council had thought proper, notwithstanding his re
presentation of the character of Burroughs, to remit the punish
ment to which he had been sentenced for horse-stealing. A copy
of the petition alluded to being then produced and read, was dis
covered at firft view to teem with mifrepiefentarions, falfliood and
deception---signed only by eleven inhabitants of the county, the
rest being citizens of Philadelphia or elfewherc. Whereupon, and
after due consideration, it was resolved,
Ift. That this Committee confider the pardon of Samuel Bur
roughs as an impolitic elufion of justice, and are sensible it must
deeply affea the domeflic quiet and fafety of the good people of
this county; inasmuch as it holds out encouragement to the tory
banditti, who daily infelt it, to persist in their lawless outrages
on the best and most refpe&able whigs of the community ; nor
can we difeern any precedent, usage or found maxims of policy, to
warrant the Supreme Execuive power in pardoning a citizen
of one county, convicted on a fair trial by hit peers, for offen
ces committed in the fame, on a petition framed and generally
promoted in a different county, particularly where the represen
tative of the former, as the guardian of its local rights and in
terests, disapproved the measure.
xdly. That this Committee, knowing the petition preferred to
the Supreme Executive Council, now under consideration, to con
sist much of art, difingenuity and fallhood, can never confider
the framers and promoters of it as the best friends to the public
weal, to private virtue, or common honesty.
gdly. The Committee confider it highly dellruaive of that
confidence and harmony which must constitute the basis of public
happiness, for one county to interfere in the local polity and in
terests of another; and we conceive that the citizens of this
county, who signed the petition in favor of Burroughs, are justly
censurable, and we at the fame time sincerely deplore the infatu
ation which fubje&ed our worthy brethren in Philadelphia, un
der^ the influence of artful, designing, interested men, to give
their names in support of an infamous wretch, who belonged to,
and flood condemned on a fair trial by his country, for enormi
ties committed in this county.
Refolded, That these proceedings be signed and published by the
Chairman, in behalf of the county.
JOSEPH HART, Chairman.
David Forsk, Clerk.
Five Pounds Reward.
RAN-AWAY from the fubferiber, on the night of
the firft infant, a Servant LAD about 5 sect 10
inches high, 19 years old, with Short brown hair,
and looks rather down, calls himfelf Samuel Harris,
but as he stole and took with him a pass belonging to
William Grubb, a Biitifh Deserter, it is supposed he
will afftime and pals by that name : had an when be
went away, a green coattee, light waistcoat and striped
homespun trowfers; took with him a brown great coal
with a brown velvet collar, a pair of leather breaches
and a pair cf boots. As he was ysfterday seen talking
with the driver of the Bhzabethtowo Rage it is supposed
he has made for New-York. Whoever takes up ad
secures the said Servant in any gaol, or brings him to
his master, at h:s rivery (tables behind the Ci y-tavern,
shall be enisled to the above reward and all reasonable
Charges paid.
April s. SAMUEL HODGSON.
Foreign Intelligence.
V I E N N A, April ~
THE Turkish fleet, confiding of 30 fail, will rO
main in the Traits of the Heilefpont, to protest
Conflantiuople from any surprise on the fide of the
Black-Sea. Egypt being threatened with a speedy re
volution, has refufed to furnifh the grand feignor
with the vessels demanded by him, thus leaving the
maritime force of the Ottoman empire in a date of
weakness, of which it will be easy to mak3 advantage.
As to the contingents, which the regencies of Algiers,
Tunis and Tripoli, are obliged to furnifh to the Turks,
these fuccours are of too little consequence to be taken
into account.
L OND O N, May 15.
The letters received by the Halifax packet, which
arrived last Monday at Falmouth from New-York,
agree with those brought by the comte de Graffe A
merican (hip, from Virginia, in declaring that the A
merlcans are not in such great want of European ar
ticles 6$ was believed here, a considerable supply of
every thing necessary having been furnifhed them from
France, Holland, and' Sweden: and they are not at
present in circumstances to consume any quantity of
Superfluities. The above letters add, that since the
peace several ships had arrived from France, particular
ly 5 from I'Orient, and many more were expected from
Nantz, Bourdeaux, Oftend, Amsterdam, and the Bal
tick, which, with the goods at this time within the
fEnglifh lines, it was judged would be fufficient to serve
the whole continent for two years to come.
It has been proposed in Congress by one of the de
puties from New-York, not to enter too hastily into
treaties of commerce with any European powers, to
reject the silks, linens, cheques, woollens, lace, &c.
of France, as useless; the cordage, fail cloth, tea,
and indigo goods from Holland, as unnecessary; and
the cloths, fluffs, woollen goods and hardware from
England, as useless; since ail those goods from the
above countries are a difeonragement to their own ma
nufaaurers, and America growing a fufficient quanti
ty of wool, beaver, and other furs, and pofoffing flax,
iron mines, &c. at home, was perfeafy capable of fop
plying their own markets with all the necessary requi
sites of life ; and if that of tea and other Asiatic goods
must be had, they should fetch them themselves, and
not be brought at fecund hand through Europe. A
motion was then made, that Congress should lay a du
ty upon all European and Asiatic goods of seven and a
half per cent, on the value, and that a trade to Spain
and Portugal in corn and other productions of Ameri
ca be encouraged, taking in exchange gold, silver and
wine.
A letter from Peterfburgh fays, that the fleet of men
of war which failed from thence some time ago, are ar
rived off the Dardanelles, and lie within fight of a
Turkish fleet, so that they daily expert to hear of an
engagement ,and that a sloop is failed in order to
bring the intelligence to the empress as soon as possi
ble.
The treaty with Holland is nearly ready for signing.
The negociation has been protracted ever since ths
change of the miniflry, merely for the purpose of in
ducing the Dutch to cede to us Trincomale, to which
they would by no means content ; but, on the other
hand, as we spoke to the Dutch, en vainqueurs, our
file had this good effect, that it made them drop all
thoughts of calling for an indemnification for their
losses during the war: this fubjeft died away after the
firft conference with our commissioners, and the Dutch
have aHually conferred to make us some conceffion^
in the east ; but, on the other hand, we have been 0-
bliged to purchbfe them by conc^ffions, which not the
power of Holland indeed, but of the armed neutrality^
has extorted from us: in a word, we have been oblig
ed to treat on the principle of a mare liberum.
A letter from Paris fays, “ The preliminaries be
tween England and Holland are not yet signed. The
liberty of navigation in the Indian seas is flill insisted
on ; this article the Dutch are not willing to grant, as
being very prejudicial to them; we flatter ourselves,
however, that matters will soon be accommodated.
The duke of Mauchefter assists every day at the con
ferences held by the ministers, and feetrs to take par
ticular notice of doctor Franklin."
May 29. According to advices from Amflerdamp
the Bates general had commenced their deliberations
on the 2d of this month, and had continued fitting de
die in diem ever since ; but it is said they have not yet
finished agitating the treaty which is-to be definitive with
England. The new ministry (the duke of Portland's
adminiflration) in London, not having proved so pli
ant as to accede co any terms, unless that important
settlement of Negapatnam, on the Coromandel coafl,
is ceded to England,;which is most violent byoppofed in
the senate by such deputies as are members of the
East- India company, who represent the importance of
that fcttlement as cf the highest consideration. A mes
senger was to be dispatched to Pans the 24th inflart
(Saturday lafl) but as the English cabinet had on the
9th inflant given its ultimatum, there was no alteraa*
live but to accede, especially as there is no occurrence
of any import with either of the other powers to pre
vent the definitive treaties being signed on the 6 h of
June, &he day appointed.
May 30. Advices from Paris, da'ed May 18, fah
that couriers had arrived there from Peterfburgh and
Vienna, with information of those two courts having
accepted the mediation of England, France and Prus
sia, for the purpose of adjuring the differences which
have arisen between the Ottoman Porte, and the two
courts above mentioned. It is believed, upon very
good grounds, that the interference of these powerful
and refpeOable negociators will produce an arrange
ment so necessary to the peace of Europe; as the e'x
pulfion of the Turks, if it should take place, would
consequently prevent the traffic which both the Eng
lish and the French carry on in the grand feignor's do
minions; and if Turkey in Europe fell into the hands
erher of the emperor of Germany, or rhe empress of
Russia, the commerce of the p ace would naturally de
volve q tue power which had become the poffefer of