The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1783-01-23 00:00:00, page 4

^yre% of the charges you already know to be fa^fe.
Anothe last, conduct has been so singularly ex
afl +hat I hope', cruelly attacked as I have been, you
wd' lexcufe me for being particular in my answer.
That money—when all my apprehensions vend
ed--, issuing forth as an infe&iou—-leaning like
weeping widows and orphans after it---while patriotdin
itf/f Shuddered at its success—-and freedom ^aiccly
could compensate for its injustice---! never relined.
the clivers and counterfeiters of truth come out ot
the notes, in 'which with conscious guilt they hide them
selves to work, and produce the person, who will lay
th a lever denied or delayed to receive that money when
offered to me, in any Stage of its depreciating
Not two hours before I left my home at bat and
not four days before 1 wrote the letter to my brother, 1
received Fifty-Pounds in continental money from Mr.
Vie, of the Northern Liberties. Having appointed
the t^th ^ December 7 , receive upwards of Tnree Hun
dred Pounds of that money from Mr. Samuel kudjon, ox
this citv, on that d a y I left my house. That night I was
obliged, by the badness of the roads, to hop and lodge
at Mr. Norris's, where I found Colonel Coats, who was
to return early the next morning to town. I mentioned
to him this circumstance, and desired he would be to
kind as to inform Mr. Had/on, when he Should lee him,
that I would receive that money from him at any time,
whatever might happen. The Colonel promised me,
" that he would make it his business to fee Mr. Hud, on
immediately on his return to town, and tell him what I
said." He did so. Mr. Hudson was perfectly fitisfied,
andthe next time I saw him, which was in the following
forbid, I received the money. 1 refer for proofs to wit-
Heffes,' with whom I have no manner of connection.
So unexceptionable, so remarkable, and even salons has
been my conduct with refpe& to continental money, at
that very moment too,, when it was thought to be in the
created danger. I persevered in this conduct, and have
fuffered accordingly. Let the most patriotic among you
bring before the public, an instance offuch diligence to re
ceive a large fan of continental money, at that time. Then,
let him ratl---'mit, till then, don't you think, gentlemen,
he ought to be fdent? ,\
Facts are commonlv c:\V.edfubborn things. So they
are. My behaviour with regard to continental money,
cohere my own entered was concerned, is tlie belt comment
on my advice to my brother about it. If I was so conflant
to the cause of America, in that gloomy period, as to be
thus industrious and exemplar, in receiving continental
money, it mud have been with a desire and design to
/übport its credit, whatever % private lofcs might be bv
that conftanpy. Is it to be believed, then, that I would
give any advice to my brother that could pMlibly injure
its credit ?
I have now, gentlemen, laid before you an account of
those actions, for which such torrents of reproaches have
been poured" upon me —Reproaches, not to be equalled
but by those British and %1-Indian Invectives, with
which fame years ago the press laboured against me, for
HAVING ASSERTED AND MAINTAINED YOUR RIGHTS
AND LIBERTIES. Tire worth of the foreign articles has
been long lince fettled; and the value of the home-made
mantfaUuref^, I believe, by this time, as well ascer
tained. -
I have called the late attacks upon me " unprovoked;"
and were they not entirely so? What aft of government
have I done here or in the Delaware State, that can in
the fainted manner countenance a notion that my present
share of power will be dangerous or even injurious? I
defy all my enemies united to produce a tingle instance
of this kind.
Which would you chufe, gentlemen, that the power I
have, should be weli-ufed or ili-nfed? Thp former, to be
fare.' Then help me. Be my associates—l ask, I entreat
your aid.—l invite you to give me your advice freely and
fully. You can do it, cither personally, or by letter.
The firft will honor me. Either will oblige me. 1 Ihaii
receive it, not only cheerfully, but gratefully. Tell me;
what I ought to do, and what to leave undone ; and even
delineate the most expedient manner of conducting af
fairs. The bed way to promote the interest of the re
public, is to prevent my errors; not to arraign them
when committed. Don't lie in ambush, to ibirt out upon
my frailties when they appear, to whoop and rejoice over
them. That would be a miserable amusement indeed !
unworthy the abilities and virtues of many among you---
1 am sensible of my own weakness, and should be glad
to avail myfelf of those abilities and those virtues, for
preventing any disadvantage from it to you or my other
fellow-citizens.
I will only add upon this point—that, I am anting a
very small and a very iliort part in the drama of human
affairs. I with to do right; and to give fatisfi&ion.
The opinions of men are fallible, and fumetimes unjust.
There is one supreme Judge, who cannot err; and when
I endeavour, that my defects may not, for want of inte
grity, be difpieafing in his tight. 1 would have you, gen
tlemen, assuredly to know, that, notwithstanding my
sincere delire to please you, I Ihail little trouble myfelf,
how your applauses qr your censures are bestowed.
Were not the attacks before mentioned “ unprovoked"
in another refpett. Is there a man afnong you, whom I
have offended by adifiefpeQful word or action ? Not
one. Is there a man among you, but with whom, if
known, I have an intercourse of civilities? Not one. Is
there a man among you, that I Should not be glad to
serve? Not one. Are not such circumstances, in such
times, tokens of a temper that detests quarrels ? And
'' Do not believe, that I thus address you, because I fear an
appeal to the public on the conduct of so formidable a body as
you are. You might easily perceive * hen I law you, that, con
fiding in my innocence, I defy your power, and if any of you
bear me malice, I would have you alfuredly to know, I defy that.
'f I am certain, that no a& of your Board can so entirely vin
dicate me to the world, as a full detail of the whole affair. This
advantage 1 am willing to wave; and would readily content to
fuffer fomethirg, tho' in reputation, rather than be relueed to the
necessity, in my just defence, of touching upon points I with to
avoid, or even of diminishing that respect, whatever it is, that
is at this time annexed to you."
Philadelphia ; Printed and Sold by DAWID C.
may not this conclusion be fairly deduced from them,
that such a temper liiicerely laments the necessity im
pofei of refuting, in proper and too much deserved
language, misrepresentations, however extravagant and
dangerous.
M # re pleading beyond companion will be the em
ploymeiit to me, of fop ying all my thoughts and labors
to promote, as much as I am abie, the welfare or you
and the rest of my fellow citizens. This testimony of
my ,ffi dtion fur y m ail 1 wdh to give. I ardently desire
that we may live together, under the true principles
of society, equal liberty and impartial justice,
happy, and generously contributing to render each other
happy. Gre t are the advantages—glorious are the pro
fpedts of Penmfvania. if this be our noble resolution:
Aid this will be our resolution, if we have any wisdom,
or any goodness.
The influences of these principles defeend like the rains
and dews of heaven upon the Lnd, and spring forth in a
vegetation of buffings, uourilhing and cheering the
bodies and fouls of mortals—or glide thro' it like gentle
rivers " visiting and malting glad" our cities, holds, and
woods. To these " living waters poor and rich have
by the patent of nature the fame title. Let us Drive to
secure these gifts of our mod bountiful Creator, against
the usual and dangerous invasions of ambition and ava
rice Let us guard against those who are out of power,
and ag did those who are in power.
If there arc men, who have such an eagerness for rul
ing, and at the fame time such a left-handed method of
managing, that they cannot do even a good thing, but in
a bad wav —who think, that they are ruined, if they
cannot ruin others—that authority is never well exer
cised. unless it be exercised by them—that worth is to
tally dufpifed by their fellow citizens, unless their fellow
citizens will tamely submit to be taxed up to a full fatif
fadion of the over-weening craving conceits which they
. form of their own merits —these are men who would
defeat the hopes of the innocent, and lay waste the la
bors of the diligent —these are men, who would lord it
over the induhrious farmers and ingenious tradefmeu,
the justly celebrated strength and ornament of our Com
monwealth, and yet would never think themselves enough.
paid for this lording—these are men, who would break
the close, civil relationship between the mercantile inte
rest and the other members of the community, and at
an enlightened period, when almost ail the rest of the
human race are difcovernig with rapture, and forfeiting
with ardor, the mild ad unmenfe benefits of trade, now
become of so much moment to the fate of empire;
would check the mod ufeful improvements of commerce,
orgive it laws, that might as well be given toits winds and
tides —these are men. who would diffract every thing,
confound the ease, security, and WELFARE of indi
viduals, and pervert all the jarred ends of government
to their own felf) ends. If these are such men, let us
take care of then).
Let us alf> take care of every man in office, and keen
watchful eyes upon him. We fhoud be better served,
if this vigilance was more general. Let his behaviour be
publickly and privately canvassed. It is the tenure of his
office: but let this be done with decency, not so much for
his fake, as for the fake of ourfclvcs and of our country.
Let us demonstrate that we mean the conimoh weal, and
not the gratification of ill-nature. The public is interested
in its fervarits. They may be said to belong to the pub
lic. No virtues, no services should exempt them from
such ferutinies. It is not only the right, it is the DUTY
of the pubic to make them. Liberty has been so gene
rally suppressed through the earth by a disuse of this
right—by a neglect of this duty; and those who have
been guilty of the impious presumption and carelessness,
have not only debased themselves, as perhaps they de
served, but have allo betrayed their posterity. We have
not yet arrived, it is true, at that eminence from which
focitty so frequently descends with rapidity to the depths
below. Therefore, such fatal eftefts may not be ekped
ed from our inattention. But we may be assured, that
if we fall into it, we shall feel mifehiefs fufficient to con
vince us, how fupid and criminal it is.
Five and twenty years ago, I began my walk of public
bufiuefs in Pennsylvania, with asserting and defending
this inestimable maxim; and for much the greatest part
of those years have pradtifed upon it, by a continued
course of faithful and laborious service in the cause of
American freedom. If my life has now reached its ex
tremelt verge, I cheerfully consent to take my lalt leave
of my beloved countrymen, by solemnly repeating the
guardian truth to them from that station, advantage
ous at least perhaps for this purpose, which they have
been pleased to assign me.
Let us not credulously listen to tales of treachefv
against men, who have dfinterefledl, persevered in ah
opposition to onr enemies. Such men must aft from
principle. The miserable condition of those who have
already deserted us, is well known. Common sense,
therefore, forbids the mad enterprize. Virtue forbids
it more powerfully. The sovereignty of The United
States, purchased by so much blood and so many calami
ties, has been acknowledged and fought for by other
nations. Their honor, their fafety, their projperitv,
are all bound up in their independence. To renounce
that, would be to renounce them all. It would be
to renounce the efleem and admiration of mankind—
and to attain at once, by an uncommon vigor of folly
and baseness, the Singular diftih&ion of being equally
despicable and detestable. It would surrender the li
berties of America prisoners at diferetion to Great-
Britain, and would proscribe all aid and hope of aid
from other Kingdoms and States, in a future refinance
against her oppressions.
If any man could possibly be in a situation, that either
by force or fraud he copld have a chance of re-establish
ing the former domination over us, and Should be wicked
enough to make the attempt, he must inevitably involve
his country in greater misfortunes than She has yet expe
rienced, himfelf in perpetual infamy in this world, and
a just punishment in that to come. He would iin not
only against the living, but, if it ever can be done, against
the dead also.
CL/IrPOOL E, in Mariel-Street.
MERCHANDIZE,
After the Slaughter of so many patriots —After the
deaths of a Warren a f Montgomery a Mercer a
Woofler- -a Nafb---a Harkemer---a De Kalb---and of a
Hayne whom the peculiar circumstances of his case—-
his own eminent worth- —petitioning beauty and vir
tue-- --the breaming tears and humble heaven-taught
prayers of his helpless, half-orphan'd children, Suppli
cating with artless agony, on their little, bended knees,
for a father's life
could not have. After so many brave soldiers, fixed
frozen together in cold churches- --and so many daring
seamen, melted into putrid masses, in the Rifling " black
holes" of prifop-Ships, each of their honest, dying hearts,
in these circles of misery, kill true to his country's
cause After the countless massacres committed OR
trembling old age, tender womanhood, and lisping in
fancy---and after -
- to fuffer fubjtdion on any terms what
ever to the authors of such woes, would ensure to Ame
rica that certain earned of every other wretchedness
their contempt.
With great RefyeU,
Gentlemen, I am,
Torr very bumble Servant,
JOHN DICKINSON.
T Modesty and humanity would be too much wounded by com
pleating this catalogue of Crimean Journals of Cohgrefs, Vol.
JII. pag6 145. ^
On bis Wharff, between the Wharves pf Meffs. Car
fan and Mrion. ab^ve Market ftr>et,
J It is impeffible fir me to mention the death of this General,
without recollecting that of my much eftcemed friend Major
%Lr Marpbefn, flein at Quebec, at the fame moment, if net by
the fame ball that bereaved America of her lamented Montgomery,
This gallant young gentleman, in whom youth and prudence,
gentleftefs and bravery were united, with all the promises of a
great and ufeful char^&er, being (lightly wounded a day or two
before he was killed, turned to his General, and said with a
smile---“ I hope, General, it will be remembered, that I loft
some blood before the walls of Quebec.
Guns, Swivels, Sails, Cordage,
Muskets, &c. &c. Jan. 23.
Sundry Articles saved of the Brigantine
the S. JEAN Captain. P/ter Moizeaua, burnt by
the Enemy a> Lewi^-Town,
Houfhold Furniture & Wearing
A PPA R E L, &c. &c.
Will lAM BROWN, Auamnier.
N. B Hand Bills will be d {continued for the future,
except on particular Occasions.
At the City Au&ion,
On FRIDAY Next,
The 24th cf January, 1783.
At NINE o-C^ck in the MORNING,
Will Commence the SALE
Of a Largte and very General ASSORTMENToi
MERCHAND I Z E,
, Suitable for the approaching Seafan,
(P^rriculais of whirh will he puhlifh^d by thi Bell oh
T e Morning of the Day df Sale)
WuH a QUANTITY cf
Hotlhold Goods, Kitchen Furniture,
WEARING APPAREL,'&&
JO H N BAY AR D, Audi^er.
N. B T hrt Cry Auction will be constantly Held
ev.r\ MONDAY; aty at the Store is always open for
th- Reception ' cf Goers, it is defined (whert not in on
vehierit) that the Goods may be lent before the Day of
Srie.
A CITY COURT will be neid at itte Court Hotife,
=% in this city; on Muridav the 27th ihftant, at ten
o'clock in the forenoon, of which all perlons bound by
recognizance to appear theirat, anu all city constables
are io take notice and give their attendance accrrdiifc
l. All public boule keepers within the city, who (ball
not ' then habe t-ken out 'heir licences for this year, will
be prufecu ted according to law.
William will, (tariff.
Philadelphia, January 18, 1782.
To be Sold, this'Day
At TWELVE o'Clo k,
*'At Public Vendue,
Un^r the Authori; of thz Consul of France,
Southwark Au&ion.
MORNI N G,
Will be Sold bv Public Audion,
A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF
By P. D. Robert,
As USUAL: ALSO,
THIS