Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-01-17 00:00:00, page 2

To the PRINTED or THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
crHE foll^vin^ fated account mas formed for the infpfflion of the Agembly of a neighbouring province
1 at their las fefon, where a bill was ordered to be brought in for the more equitable manumission
of slaves. — dud as the security required on fitting a Negroe free in this province, is thought by many to
be very inadequate to the design ; probably the publishing this account may give a hint to our legislature to
take the matter under their confderation, cither at the prefect, or some futurefefiou.
An ACCOUNT fated on the Manumission of Slaves, fjewing, that in lira of the usual
security required, certainfams paid at several periods of manumission, will amply secure the Publick, as
well as their owners from any future burden.
THE following calculations are formed on a supposition, that on an average, people do not be
come incapable of supporting themselves, until they are 60 years of age that of 10 Negroes
set free at 21 years of age, 6of them die before they exceed their 60th year that the remaining 4
live to the age of 72 years that only one fourth part of these furvivers ever become a public charge
and that for the last 12 years, the sum of £. 10 per annum will be fufficient for his or her main-
tenance.
That we may be n+uch within bounds, we have allowed that more than nine Negroes out of the se
venty may become chargeable, though among the whites we find that not one in fifty of those who depend
era their labour for subsistence, are supported by the public.
Dr. Seventy Negroes manumitted, in Account with the Publick. Cr.
If 10 are set free at the Age of 21 years, accord- By the deposit money for 10
ing to the bills of mortality, 6of them will die negroes, aged 26 years,
before the age of 60 years, therefore being § years above 2 T, at
To one fourth part of the surviving 4 becoming 10s. per annum, is 50s.
chargeable from the laid age of 60 to 72, which each, amounting to - - £25 0 0
according to the bills aforefaid, is the age to Interest on the above £25
which men after 60 live on an average, being 12 from 26 to 66, is 40 years
years, supposed at £.lO per annum for their at 6 per cent per annum 60 0 0 £BS 0 0
maintenance, is - - - £.120 00'
By the deposit money for 10
negroes, aged 31 years,
being 10 years above 21, at
If io are set free at the age of 26 ios. per annum, is 100 s.
years, 6 of them will die before each, amounting to - - 50 0 0
the age of 60 years, therefore Interest on the above £SO
To one fourth part of the maintenance from 31 to 66, is „ years
of the surviving 4as above - - 120 0 0 at 6 per cent per annum 105 0 6 155 0 0
By the deposit money for to
negroes, aged 36 years,
If 10 are set free at the age of 31 being 1 5 years above 21, at
years, 5 of them will die before IOS& p er annum, is igos+
the age of 60 years, therefore, each, amounting to - - 75 0 0
To one fourth part ofthe maintenance Interest on the above £75
of the surviving sas above - - 150 0 o f rom 3 6 to 66, is goyears
at 6 per cent per annum 135 0 0 210 0 0
By the deposit money for 10
If 10 are set free at the age 36 negroes, aged 41 years,
years, 5 of them will die before being 20 years above 21, at
the age of 60 years, therefore lOS# p er annum , ; s 2 oos.
To one fourth part of the maintenance each, amounting to - - ~100 00
of the surviving sas above - - 150 0 0 Interest on the above £IOO
from 41 to 66, is 2 §years
at 6 per cent per annum 150 0 0 250 0 0
If 10 are set free at the age of 41 B the d
years, 4of them w! l die before negroes, aged 46 years,
the age of 00 years, therefore bei ^ aborc at
To one fourth part of the maintenance v jj
L o K los. per annum, is 2505.
of the surviving 6as above - - ioo o o , r + J _
° each, amounting to - - 125 0 0
Interest on the above £125
from 46 to 66, is 20 years
If io are set free at the age of 46 at 6 per cent per annum 150 0 0 275 ° °
years, 4of the& will die before _ , , r ,
, r ßy the deposit money for 10
the age of 60 years, therefore J r . J
To one fourth part of the maintenance neg.oe o , age 51 years,
of the surviving 6as above - - 180 O O bernggoyearsaboveet, at
° lOS. per annum, is 300 s.
each amounting to - - 150 0 0
Interest on the above £l5O
If 10 are set free at the age of„ from 5 1 to 66, is 1 5 years
years, 3 of them will die before at 6 per cent per annum 135 0 0 285 0 0
the age of 60 years, therefore" °
To one fourth part of the maintenance /,120 0 0
cf the surviving 7as above - - 210 00 By taxes which will be paid by 3 5 ne-
negroes (being one half of the 70,
£lllO 0 0 allowing the other half to be females)
amounting to £l2 6 8^ per head,
after deducting what taxes would
have been paid for them; had they
Balance deceived by the public more remained slaves, and allowing no
than it pays, is - - - 581 15 O taxes paid after 60 years of age, 431 15 0
£1691150 £169115 0
N. B. The calculations are all formed on tables, made from the Breflau bills of mortality, by the
very ingenious and judicious Dr. Edmund Halley, which are in such repute, as to be universally used
in valuing annuities on lives, and all ocher purposes of that nature, to which they are adapted. For
instance, it is found by those bills, that of 592 persons of the age of 21 years, only 242 persons were
living 39 years afterwards, viz. at the age of 60 years. Thus for qur prefect purpole we fay, if 592
persons aged 21 years, only leave 242 persons alive at the age of 60 years; how many will ten persons
of the age of 21 years, leave alive at 60 years of age? The answer is 4, agreeable to our calculations.
This account is stated with as much accuracy as was possible, without introducing fractions, which
would have multiplied figures to little purpose. When they did occur in the tables, the nearest whole
number was used, and as that method is ftri&ly observed, both in the debits and credits, it is presumed
any inaccuracy arising from it, mull be immaterial.
If los. is paid to the overseers of the poor, on the manumission, for every year the slave hath ex
ceeded 21, it is found that, although there is allowed for the maintenance of every one becoming chargea
ble, four times as much as the Pennsylvania law requires, there still remains in favour of the publick,
a balance offlso, exclusive 0ff.431 15s. which is the amount ofthe taxes that would be paid by
them, before they attained the age of 60 years: After which age, it is allowed, that those who come
to want assistance should be wholly maintained, when probably they might want but little assistance for
some years afterwards. In the calculation of the taxes no account is made of the probability of se
veral of them acquiring such estates, or following such trades, as would be fubje& to much higher taxes ;
but every one of them is reckoned among the very lowe,fl ofthe taxables. In calculating the interest
on the deposit money, it is carried to 66 years; because the expence of a maintenance beginning at 60,
and ending at 72, brings it on an average to 66. It maybe observed that the interest carried to the
credit of the account, might with great justice be much increased: For instance, ^o years interest on
£.25, only amounts to £.60, (as stated in the account) whereasit is highly reasonable, that when £.25
has doubled itfelf, which it will do in 16 years and 2 thirds of a year, at 6 per cept per annum, the
interest on the doubled sum, to wit, £.50, should thereafter commence as on a principal sum, which will
again bedoubled in 16 years and 2 thirds of a year, and then amount to £.IOO, on which interest:
again reckoned for 6 years and 2 thirds of a year longer (being irwthe whole 40 years) is £.40 more, or
£.140 total; which furri may be justly carried to the credit of the account, instead of the £.Bfc which
is carried out. For this reason no less than the sum of £.255 should be yet added to the balance as
stated. Had the calculation been madeon an allowance of compound interest, in which money (at the
fame rate) doubles itfelf in less than 12 years, the balance would have been still much increased ; but
that method is rejected, as what many might disapprove, although from what follows, it will appear,
that monies put out on interest in the common way, cannot with near so much propriety, be entitled to
compound interest, as in this instance, where the moneyis in constant circulation. Now, that all the
monies deposited on manumifflon will be secure and confantly in use, and therefore entitled to interest,
is evident when it is considered, that the sums so deposited, are paid for the immediate use of the poor :
For, if £.25 be paid on the manumission of 10 Negroes, aged 26 years, in any township, so much less
than the usual ^r tax, will be collected from the inhabitants ofthat toWnfhip; therefore each taxable
remains in his own hands his proportionable part of the said £.2§, and so will continue to do, in all pro
bability, for 34 years; at which period it is supposed, one of these Negroes may nrft require assistance;
and then every inhabitant firft pays a proportionable part of his share of the said £.25 left or retained in
his hands 34 years, as above-mentioned ; and as money is universally allowed to be worth its interest
in whatever hands it may be, it mutt be supposed he has made use of it, as may well enable him to pay
the whole sum with its interest, when it may be called for to furnifh the necessary assistance to one of
these Paupers.
On the wholes it appears by the account as
stated, that the publick receives £. 581 15s. more
than it pays for 70 Negroes manumitted; and that
if we admit a more equitable way of reckoning
the interest, we must add to that balance £.255
more, which would make it £.836 15s.
Then to shew what the annual sum, to secure
the publick on a manumission after the age of 21
years, should be, we fay, if the deposit money is
fixed at los. per annum, it leaves a balance
of - - - - - £.581 15 0
But allowing the interest to form
a principal sum after 16 years and
2 thirds of a year, the bAanCe is £.836 15 0
Then in the firft case, the depofitl
money may be reduced to tf,^ !p er annum.
In the last case to 4/5 3 J
Otherwise, in the firft case eachl
Negroe will pay £.B 6 2^ 'more than
In the last £.ll 19 c|J
is neceffaryto secure the publick from their ever
becoming burdensome.
If either the premises here laid down, or the in
ferences made therefrom, should be found wrong,
it would be esteemed a service done to the cause of
liberty, to have the errors pointed out in one of
the publick papers; for though an indulgence is
wished to be granted to such as are confeientiouf
ly scrupulous of holding their fellow- creatures in
perpetual bondage; it is reasonable that the pub
lick, at the fame time, should be cautiously guard
ed against any injurious consequences.
From the Pennsylvania Journal, of the 12th of
January.
To M E N T O R.
SIR,
TH E man, who, from ignorance, deceives
his fellow-citizens,deferves something worse
than their pity; but he, who designedly and wil
fully endeavours to deceive them, is an enemy to
society. In charity to you, lam willing to attri
bute to the former of these causes, the principal
part of your letter published in Mr. Bradford's
paper of the sth instant, addressed to the merchants
and other inhabitants of this city.
I should think it very unfair to address the pub
lic, upon a cause that is before a Court of Judica
ture ; and I should not hold myfelf excufeable in
doing it, if it was not in order to remove some of
the prejudices that your letter may have occasioned.
You have taken upon you to fay, what the
officers of the Cuftoms intendby this seizure ; what
hardships it will lay the traders upon the river un
der, if this point should be carried; and that they
will be fubjed to the fame rules and restraints,
that mips are. You must know, that this is an
uncandid and unfair state ofthe matter; you must
know so much of your fubjed, as to know that
no such thing is in the power ofthe officers ofthe
Customs, if they were so ill inclined.
You expatiate upon the dangers that are to be
feared from the designs of the officers of the Cus
toms. You build castles in the air, and call for
the aid of your fellow citizens to destroy them.
Are you really, Sir, so very ignorant of the
laws of trade, as to suppose the officers of the
Customs such formidable beings? that they are un
restrained by law, that all those laws are made
for them, and against the merchant.—Read the
laws of trade, and you will fee what heavy penal
ties and other punishments they are fubjed to, if
they exceed their duty. I believe you will agree
with me, that they ought to be very cautious ho\b
they ad. Ifthe rest of their fellow-citizens were
of your sentiments, they would meet with little
indulgence, whatever may be expeded from them.
But you confefs, Sir, that you did not exped to
convincebnt to alarm.
You seem to draw your conclusions upon the
designs ofthe officers of the Customs from the form
of the libel. lam assured that the libel was drawn
by a lawyer ofdiftindion, who, I believe, had no
intention to include in it any thing particularly se
vere; and, I conclude, that some of the exprefli
ons in it are merely matter of form. It is not
uncommon, Sir, in law proceedings, for the form
to obfeure the sense, especially from those, who
are not lawyers—
In answer to the arguments you have brought
to shew that, in this case, the counties of New-
Castle, Kent and Sussex, are to be considered as
part of this colony, I will tranferibe for you part
of an ad of the assembly of this colony, which, in
regulating the fees of the officers of the Customs,
declares, that the Collector shall receive twenty
feven shillings for entering and c 'earing each vessel;
and afterwards “ Provided always, that no fhal
“ lop or boat palling between this province and the
“ province of New-Jersey, or the three lower
“ counties of New-Castle, Kent and Sussex on
“ Delaware, shall be liable to pay any reward for
“ entering or clearing, and that one general per
" mit for all goods flipped on board such fhallops,
“ or boats, to be taken from the maker's report,
" firall be fufficient." For want of such a permit,
as is here directed to be taken, this sloop, of near
forty tuns burden, was seized by the matter ofthe
Custom-House schooner.
Does not all your arguments fall to the ground
before this ad? The intention of which is clear.
It meant to exempt fhallops and boats trading on
this river from the expence attending the entering
and clearing of ships; and fubftiiutes a general
permit in place of all other papers. It clearly
proves that the legislature of this province consi
dered the three counties, as a diftind colony;
otherwise, this ad must be read thus, “ paring
from this province to this province." The legis
lature, Sir, of this province, were too friendly
to regularity and fair trade, to pass an ad permit
ting fhallops, on this river, to load what articles
they pleased, without any controul from the Cus
tom House; such an indulgence would be destruc
tive of all fair trade.
I have putpofely confined myfelf to this ad of
Assembly, tho' there are ads of parliament (passed
for the general regulation of trade) that have been
received and submitted to, (since the paffihg of
this ad) in every provincein America, that clearly
determine the prefect question.
Your observations that the three counties are
under the fame Governor with this province, and
that his Secretary here is his Secretary there ; that
the Proprietors have thought proper to appoint the
fame Agent to receive their quit-rents in both co
lonies, and that the Governor's council (who are
no part of the legislature in either) are the fame
individuals there as here, are really too futile to
merit an answer.
You are mighty eloquent in favour of David
Vandyke, who you tell us is the owner of this
fhallop. You exclaim—“ in fad he is an individual."
Are you fefious, Sir? Is he not half a dozen?
You add “heis a JPaPop-man." —So then, a Wal
lop-man is a fhallop-inan. This may appear an
absurd way of reasoning to feme; but I contend
that it is found logic and very emphatical, and I
believe, Sir, you are well acquainted with the
force of it. You have the modesty to solicit the
public protedion of your fellow citizens, for this
individual David Vandyke, who, you acquaint
them, is an old offender. This is grossly insulting
them.
Your reasoning is curious, Sir. You assert that
the constant pradice of the Custom-House is still
afironger proof, than any you have offered, that
the three counties have always been considered as
the fame colony with this ; yet you inform us, that
the Custom-House required the fhallop-men tw
take permits, and you acquaint us of two cases,
where it was brought to trial ; and you fay that se
veral others were seized, but always given up
without trial. I beg you will excuse me, if I
cannot allow much weight to this last assertion;
especially as I am credibly informed, that there
is proof ofthe contrary, upon record. In the case
of the last seizure you have mentioned, the acqui
tal was procured upon the merchant, who the to
bacco belonged to, producing a permit from the
Custom-House at New-Castle, proving that it had
paid duty.
If you had enquired, you would have learned
(what I am assured of) that nothing more is re
quired at the Custom-House now, refpe&ing fhal
lops, than what has been the constant practice.
That they are only required totake a general per
mit, certifying the whole of what they have taken
on board, and that this has been made as easy as
poilible. You would also have heard, that no
permit is required from fhallops coming from parts
on the river, where no Custom-House is esta
blished.
I am well assured, that you have misrepresent
ed the conduct of the Custom-House formerly,
where you fay, that permits were paid for, but
seldom taken. If some of the fhallops, that ply
regularly as stages, were agreed with by the year,
I assure you, Sir, that they were not excused
from reporting and taking out permits.
This mode of agreeing by the year has not
lately been approved of at the Custom-House,
least it might look like compounding a matter of
duty.
Enquire, Sir, among your acquaintance, and
some of them will inform you, that a fhallop was
seized, in this port, last summer, for having refu
fed to take a permit. Several gentlemen interest
ed themselves in the matter; the above act of as
sembly was produced at the insurance office; seve
ral of the principal merchants were present; and
they were in general convinced, that the a& re
quired matters of fhallops to take permits—some
candidly confeffed it. The fhallop-man, that he
might be well informed, took the opinion of an
eminent lawyer, who, I am informed, advised him
not to contest the matter. Upon this, several of
the principal owners of fhallops gave assurances,
that they would regularly comply for the future :
This, joined to the intercession of some of the most
eminent merchants in town, who declared they
would discourage such behaviour for the future,
prevailed upon the Collector and Comptroller to
recommend the matter to the Commifiioners ofthe
Customs, using as a reason for restoring the fhallop,
that they had received the above assurances. In
consequence of this the fhallop was reftoreA
You make a mighty mystery ofthe cause of thia
seizure: you affect ignorance, that you may ex
cite curiosity, and (as you wish) alarmyowx fellow
citizens. You wish to turn the heat raised by a
late important tranfa&ion, to a little partial pur
pose of your own. I tell you, Sir, that this is
both uncandd and unm nly; it is too bare-faced
to have the desired effect; your fellow-citizens
\will spurn, withajuft indignation, at such an in
sult to their understandings. Recoiled, Sir, that
you acquainted them, that this fhallop was seized
by the Custom-House boat; and allow me to ac
quaint you, that thp officer, who personally makes
a seizure, has a right to demand a trial, and that
he is the only officer of the Customs, who is the
least benefited by that seizure.
From the regard I have for my fellow-citizens,
I have stated this matter truly as it is, and I shall
leave it to them to judge from what I have said ;
as I do not intend to trouble them or myfelf any
more upon the fubjed.
I will conclude byeffuring you, Sir, that I am
as much an enemy to oppression, in whatever shape
it appears, as you can be, and that I have not
been an advocate for it here, but for truth.
A. N.
To A. N.
SIR,
I HAVE read your letter to Mentor, published
in Messrs. Bradfords paper (as above) occa
sioned by his address to the merchants and other
inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia; and shall
take the liberty to make such remarks on both
these publications, as have occurred to me. And
firftl would propose (in order to give a more mo
dern finifhing to your firft period) that some such
Words as these should be added, ^nd the man mho
from interefed vieavi endeavours t@ deceive his fe'-
losw-citizeiis,fhould be tarred and feathered. I should
be sorry, Sir, that you should come under this
predicament; nor should I be willing even to hold
a ruth light to such a luminary as you would ap
pear with t dcrifathers in your cap.