The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-03-27 00:00:00, page 2

Mr. CLAYPOOL F,
beg you will give the inclofed extract from Mr.
Rivington's " New-V or k R o yal Gazette," of the
lothof the present month, a place in your Packet.
I ask this favour not because the extract contains
any thing new, (for whoever will turn to the Penn
sylvania Gazette, No. 1591, published in this city,
on the 21st of June, 1759, will find the fame Memo-,
rial, Word for word, except the dates, which are
altered to serve the present purpose of general Clin
ton ;) -—. but as one proof, among a thousand,
of the desperate situation of British affairs in America,
which ha 9 compelled British officers to make lies
their refuge ? and as an example of the base means
,they make use of to deceive their wretched tory ad
herents. From Mr. Rivington's long est Tlifhed and
well known character we ought to expea impositions
of this kind from him; but in a " Royal Gazette
published by authority," under the infpedion of a?
" British Commander in chief;" as Rivington's pa
per is well known and acknowledged to be, such
baseness would not be permitted under any fovereign<
but a George the third, nor under any military of
ficer but a Clinton. No brave man ever was ' a liar:
There is something in every species of falfhood ut
terly inconfifient with every kind and degree ormag
nanimiry or military spirit ; but such a bare faced
falfhood, as that publication contains, proves an
astonishing depravity in the British officers who have
directed it, and, one should think, could only have
been uttered by drunken folly or desperate impru
. dence. There is another reason for publishing it in
your paper. It contains a proof of General Clinton's
being well informed of the enmity winch subsists be
tween his maker and the king of Prussia ; otherwise
he would not have dared to have publi Ihed a falfhood
so insulting to that monarch. T. G.
COPY of a Memorial presented to the States of
Holland by the King of PRUSSIA, March the'
& 3d, 1779.
High and Mighty Lords,
“ TTPON reconnoitring- Europe, every thing I fee
' opcafions the utmost fpecula,on, but nothing
furprizes me more than to fee the incontinent part your
High Mightiueffes take at this critical time, a time
wherein two of the most powerful catfiolick princes in
the world, are united in a cruel war, to deffroy the
protestant religion, with the liberty of Europe ; and
you appear unconcerned ! after what I f id in my me
morial dated Dresden, November the 10th, 1778, it
is in vain to fay more here: but desire you will look
and fee how often the house of Brandenburgh has
risked its all to save you. Can you forget the year
1688, when your great Stallholder, William, went to
preserve the British liberty ; when your fleets and ar
mies were in England, and you attacked at that time
with the whole power of France, headed by an ambiti
ous and moil ente^prizing prince ? Then, you gave all
over for loft, was preparing your lhips to leave your
country, and fly toßatavia ; at that time you were so poor
you wanted money for the common nectffaries of the
Rate; and_none durst speak in your favour. That
was the time my grandfather, in defiance of every
thing dangerous and difficult, covered your frontiers,
attacked the whole French army, and once more gave
you a being! But do not infer from any thing. I fay
I want your help . •no, it is to join with yofer own
confci.ences, in telling you, your conduct is unnatu
ral and ungrateful : and if the echo of Europe founds
true, you are going to seal your ingratitude by fore
ing a war with Britain: but hear me, what I fay ; I
have made a solemn vow, and the Almighty God,
Himfelf, I have called to witness, that, if your evil
genius forces you to take such a step, I will facrifice
all the battles I have won, the countries I have con
quered, and center every thing in one point; and that
point shall be to attack you with all my armies, and
never leave you, 'till I have taken such revenge,, as
shall make Hollandand Dutchmen, examples of ingra
titude to all eternity."
"Mr. P R I NT E R,
IT is one of the privileges of the Freemen of Pehn
fylvania, that we have a right to publilh our senti
ments upon the Bills depending in the House of Assem
bly, before they are passed into a Law. I mean to
avail m.yfelf of this privilege in offering a few thoughts{
on the Bill published for consideration in your lalt Pa
per, entitled " An Ad to amend an AH for regulating
and eflablifhing admiralty jurifdidion, and to amend
a Supplement to the laid Aft, so tar as the said A&
and Supplement contravene the ninth fc&ion of the
Artic esof Confederation."
, The purport of the Bill is, to have all prizes taken
by continental vessels, or the vessels of other states
(belides this fiate) delivered over to the agents of„
Congress, or of such other Rates, to be disposed of
by them, instead of being turned into money by the
marfhaj. It is somewhat remarkable, that the Rate
of Pennsylvania should be the only one whose agents
are not authorized to snatch the prizes out of the
hands of the marshal, and divide aria distribute them.
The officers of this government, I presume, have no
desire of sharing in such division and distribution.
The pretence for this Bill is, that the forn/er Ads
contravene the ninth Article of the Confederation.
That Congress should have the power to “ determine
in. what manner prizes taken by continental vessels
shall be divided or appropriated," is the objed of this
article. Now this has just as much to do with the
delivering prizes ihto the hands of the continental
agents, as the duty of ^n affemblymah has to do with
the hanging up a criminal. To determine, as to the
Shares of prizes, how they shall be divided, or how
appropriated; how much fell belong to the public,
and how much to the captain and seamen, is the bufi
hefs of Congress ; to execute these resolutions, a^d
make the actual division or distribution, is the office
of the admiralties of the several Rates. Congress have
voted the whole of armed vessels, and the half of mer
chantmen, taken by continental cruizers, to the cap
tains and crews. Why, above all men, should the
continental agents have the disposition of the former ?
of prizes, in which the continent h^ no inrereft.
Every individual, whether seamen or others, within
this commonwealth, have a right to look up to its
laws for full and perfect justice. If the marshal of
our admiralty receives their money, we know very
well how to compel him to pay them. But, who are
to call the continental agents to account ? The pub
lic accounts of the continent are fhamefully behind
hand. Commodore Hopkins's prizes were to be de
livered into the hands of the continental agents five
years ago. Tee accounts are not fettled yet ; nor ne
ver will 'be. I l^ave been very much mifinfermed, if
many of his seamen did not go over to the enemy,
from no other cause than the difa ppointmeht and vex
ation they met with in this bufimfs. Congress, as a
body, I have no doubt, will determine wiftiy in their
resolutions ; but I have no idea of turning over people
who are entitled to the protection of this Rate, to the
justice or mercy of the officers of Congress. Let Con
gress determine, as they think best, as to the division
or distribution of their prizes ; but let our own ad
miralty look to the execution of the refol,ves of Con
gress within our own Rate. This is the only true con
ftruftion of the ninth article of the Confederation.
To carry it further, is mere deception ; and the Bill
at present under consideration, is calculated to be a
more decoy, to lead other Rates into error {for the
aßual division of prize money,' within our own Rate
is merely a matter of internal regulation and inter
nal justice. The real defigh of the Secret authors of
this attempt, I have no doubt, is to have it in their
power to divide and appropriate continental prizes in
the fame manner, in which we have lately seen the
" Congress Wines" divided and appropriated ;
from a number of pipes, down to a quarter-calk,
dealt out to certain great men and their favourites,
according to their imereß and influence.
- The necessary effed and operation of this Bill, if
passed into a law, will be, that the captors of prizes
in the continental service, will Rndioufly avoid the
port of Philadelphia, until other Rates adopt limilar
laws ; and then they will desert the continental ser
vice. Seamen are as apt to be jealous as other peo
ple. Let them fee their prizes fold at vendue,' and
that they get their fharesWithout delay : they will be
the happieftpeople in the world. Tell them, that they
have the honour of having their prizes distributed
among great men, and tharfey must Wait till Con
gress can pay them ; that the accounts are not fet
tled.; that they must wait on the admiralty board ; '
that they muftcall at the treasury office; that they
must speak to the auditors : Congress may soon lay
up their frigates by the walls,
On the whole, Sir, I will venture to - pronounce, that
the legislature are applied to, in Order to procure
their fanftion to the schemes of some men, who have
always been ready to facrifice the public good to their
own gratification. I hope we shall fee virtue and dis
cretion enough in the Representatives of the. Freemen
of Pennsylvania, to reje^ the attempt.
Yours, ; WATERMAN.
®©@@^^x^^
Just come to hand, and to be fold, by
Robert Aitken,
PRINTER and BOOKSELLER,
At Fopfs Head, three doors above the Coffee-houfe, in
- MArket-ftreet,
A new Map of the western Pares
of Virginia,Pennfyivania, Maryland and North-Caro,
li^n^: Comprehending the river Ohio, and all the ri
vers, which fall into it ; .part of the river Miffifippi/he
whole of the Illinois river, lake Erie, , part of thed/kes
Huron, Michigan, &c. and all the country bordering
on tie lakes and rivers ; together with a large o&ayo
PAMPHLET, of 72 pages : .Containing,
A Topographical Description of Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and N>rth-Csrolina; Com
prehendnig the rivers Oh^o, K*nh^wa, Sioto, Chero
kee, Wabalh, Illinois, Miffifippi, fee. The climate,
foil and produce, whether animal, vegetable or mineral ;
the mountains, creeks, roa s, diftinces, htitud%.&c.
and of eve y part laid down in said M ± p, by
THOMAS HUTCHIN S,
Late a Captain in the 60th British /eg.ment of foct r
With a Plan of the Rapids of the Ohio, a
Plan of the several villages in the 11inois country, a
Table of the distances between Fort-Pitt and the mouth
of the Ohio; alhengraved on copper: Abo, An AP
PENDIX; Containing Mr. Patrick Kennedy's
Journal up the ITlnois river, and a correft Lift of the
different nations and tribes of Indians ; with the num
berof fighting men, &c.
N. B. The Pubhiher hate the heft authority for fay.
ing, That it is the most beautiful and correct Map, of
its kind, hitherto offered to the Public.
At the above Store may be had, Wholesale
'and Retail,
A general Collection of modern
BOOKS; together with Testaments, Watty's Plalms
and Hymns, Art of Spiking, CroxallT Fables, Dr.
Lowth-'s English Grammar, Ruddiman'*and Witten
hall's Latin Grammars, Baptist Confeffion of Faith
and Catechisms of various kinds) Dilworth's Spelling
Bsoks, New-England Primers, Stationary. &% °
Printing Work done, and Books Bound, as
usual.
The higher PRICE given lor any Quantity of clean
Linen RAGS.
Wanted, a Wet Nurse, with a good Breast
of Milk, without a Child. Enquire of the
Printer. '1
By the UNITED STATES
in CONGRESS assembled.
A P ROCLAMATION.
AT all times it is our duty, to acknowledge the
over ruling Providence of the gre it Governor of
the Universe, and devoutly to implore his Diving
Favor and Protection. But in the hour of calamity
and impending danger, when by fire and the fivord,
by the savages of the wilderness, and by our own do
meflics, a vindictive enemy pursues a war of, rapine
and devaluations with unrelenting fury, we are pecu
liarly excited, with true penitence of heart, to pro
flrate ourselves before our great Creator, and fervent!,
to supplicate his gracious Interposition for our De
liverance.
The United States in Congress assembled. therefore
do earnestly recommend, Tnat THURSDAY the
THIRD of MA Y next, may be ©bferved as a
Day of Humiliation, Falling and Prayer, that we
may, with united hearts, conftfs and bewail our ma
nifold fins and tranfgreffiohs, and by sincere repentance
and amendment of life, appease his righteous displea
sure, and through the merits of our blessed Saviour,
obtain pardon and forgivenis : That it may please
Him, to inspire our rulers with incorruptible integrity,
and to direct and prosper their councils : To inspire
all our citizens with a ferment and difinterffted love
of their Country, and to preserve and ftrengfhen their
union: To turn the hearts of the difaffe&ed, or to
fru ftrate their devices ; To regard with divine com
passion our friends in captivity, affliction and distress,
to comfort and relieve ^hem under their fufferings, and
and to change their mourning into grateful songs of
triomph: That it may please him to bless our Ally,
and to render the connection formed between these
United,States and his kingdoms a mutual and lasting
benefit to both nations : To animate our officers and.
forces by sea and land with invincible fortitude, and
to guard and protest them in the day of battle, and
to crown our joint endeavours for terminating the ca
lamities of war with victory and success: That th^
blessings of Peace and Liberty may be established on
an honorable an' permanent basis, and transmitted
ioviojate to the latest posterity: That it may please
him to prosper our huibaodry and commerce, and to
bless us with health and.,plenty : That it may please
him to bless all schools and seminaries of learning, and
to grant that truth, judice and benevolence, and pure
and undefiled Religion may u'Biverfally prevail.
And it is recommended to. all the People of these
States, to afiemble for Public Worship, and abstain
from labor on the said Day.
DONE in Congress, this twentieth Dhy of March,
in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven
, Hundred and Eighty.one, and in the Fifth
Year of the Independence of the United States
of America.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, President.
Attest,
Charles Thomson, Secretary.
We, the fubferibers, being ap
pointed AUDITORS, by the Court of Common Pleas,
to audit the accounts of all the creditors of HANNAH
LEFEVRE, late of this city now abfeonded, whose
Goods arm under an attachment, at the suit of THO
MAS NEVHy hereby give Notice, That the Sale of
said Goods, cohfifting of china Cups, Saucers and
Phtes, a Looking-Glass, BedOuilt, Chairs, Giver
Tea-fpocns, and sundry other Houffiold Furniture,
will he held at the Meal-M/rket, in this City, on
SATURDAY, the 28th of April next, at Ten o'Cloclc
in the Forenoon; and Notice is also, hereby, given.
That on Saturday the sth Day of Mar next, we will
attend the . BufineE of adjusting the Accounts and De^
mands, not only of the laid Thomas Nevil, but of all
the rest of the Dbfendenfs Creditors, and fettle their
Shares or Promotions of the Defendant's Estate, at the
Geerge Tavern, the corner of A ch ^nd Second-ftreets*
JOSEPH STILES,
March 23: WILLIAM HOLLINGSHEAD,
ANDREW BURKHARD.
Adore! and Company,
At their stare in Third street, the corner of Arch-street,
have for Sale, Wholesale and Retail, a Variety of
GOODS, suit& for the present and ensuing feafen;
Among which are,'
QOTTON Velvets, plain and spotted
Jeans, cotton Linings of all colours, white Densi
ties, Camblets, furniture Chintzes, India ditto 6-4
wide, Bengals of all kinds, Calicoes, plain and flower
ed Mullin*, Cambricks and Lawns, India Handkerchief,
Gauzes afforded, gauze Handkerchiefs, a neat Affort-'
ment of £ilks, black and white Blond Lace, Bedticka
and matrafs Checks, hat Linings aid Trimmings,
Sheetings and Oznabrigs, Linens of all forts, fuperfine
Holland, Diaper and Napkins, MarfeiUes Qyilting^fu
perfiae figured Dinualk f.r tablecloths, 3 ells and 1-3
wide' Threads aborted, marking Cotton, thread Lace
men* Ruffles, muff n ditto, gold and filler embroider
ed Buttons, fiik Ha dkerchiefs, black and white silk
M'^ts an Assortment of Pins and Needles.
March 27th, 1781.
To be Sold by Private Sale,
A valuable bank House, situate
between Vine and Race-Streets, adjoining on the up
per fide of the alley leading from RoG to Water
street, now in the tenure of the widow Gray. The
house is seventeen feet and a half front and forty feet
deep, five Tories high in Water-fl eet, and three in
Front street, with two rooms on a floor and two flai
cases : it would readily accommodate two families, but
may as well suit one, as the ftrir<R(es have doors to 0-
pen a communication to both. The whole to be fold
rhe^p to any th^t wil enquire within two days, at
JOHN WALL'I 3in Walnut ftre<t near F.c^i.4f^ct%