The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-12-14 00:00:00, page 2

A C|jzpflof Kbo&Jfland, on the Five-percents Duty.
(Concluded from our last.)
▼'{, HFN the enemy appears, and threatens d^firuc
vV tion to our property, and Subjugation to our
perlons we naturally unite to oppose him: common
danger beteg t'e moving Spring, the united efforts of
the states in danger are of course to be expected.
Toe dates at largq being to engaged, each either
tacitly or exprt Rly contents to furnifh a certain num
ber of men, and a certain firm of money, as her pro
portion of the whole—:hat number of men, and that
sum of money, have been apportioned to every Rate
in the union frparately - why then a different mode of
fur plying the exigencies of government? That the ne
cecities of the nation are greater now than heretofore,
Can be no reason; for it is only increasing the demands
upon each date, in an equal ratio, and the finances
are Supplied, so has been f id, that the necessity of
the thing it an insurmountable argument in favour of
the fi-e p-r cent, and toe inexpediency of coll fl eg
monies any other way, a (efficient cause for this mode.
W at ! because we are poor, thdl we therefore distress
our commerce, the en ourag ment of which holds up
the only rational idea we can ever have of being rich?
F our finances are distressed, this is a ready way to
qihrefsihrm further. If the monies wanted are in the
Pairs, proper assessments inthe former wy, if legally
enforced, will raise them: and if they are not, no mode
of collecting or assessing under heaven can answer tie
purpose If the reason hat each state's proportion is
not collected is a Scarcity of mon^y, th^ five per cent,
has a tendency to make it much more scarce If it is
owning to a weakness in the laws, or an undue attend
on to the enforcing them, the five per cent so far from
giving enrgy to the execution of the laws, in such
cases made and provided, will inconleßibly weaken
them, bot in the legislative and executive duties.
Taxes are now aifeffed and collected by the people
themselves, in their own way, as d to center in their
own treasury, to be devoted to such purposes as they
tbemfelve- shall direct, and their officers or servants
accountable to them for the minuted farthing, when
ever they [hall be so called upon. What can we pro
mile ourselves then, when eight times our proportion
is assessed upon us, to be collected by Grangers, ac
countable to we know not whom (for in the line of
taxation we know no power but our own representa
tive body) to center we know not where, for purposes
we must remain altogether estranged to, and, what,
is more extraordinary, to receive no extra credit for
tl e fame ?
What, I fay, can we promise ourselves, by coincide
ing with this recommendation, but distress, confufion,
and inevitable ruin ? If we cannot with the mod fa
lutary laws, and the best regulated police, center mo
nies in our'flate treasury, on which every free man can
place his h&nd an ! fay he has a right, i§ it not absurd
to fUppofe they can be drawn from our citizens by
Grangers, and to be thrown beyond their reach ? Fur
ther, if the immediate exigencies of the continent re
quird this as the only remaining resource, it must be
for some special purpose; why then was not the im
post confined to some given period, that there might
be a time, when, the disorder being cured, the remedy
need no longer be applied ? Tor surely no reasonable
man will undertake to fay, that the united Bates will
ever remain at their last and only resource.
If our Safety as a people depends on what is called a
permanent continental fund, which I very much doubt,
would it not be a Safer, a more equal and just method,
after having ascertained the sum that the fund shall
consist of, to apportion it to each Bate, to be paid
quarterly or annually ? Then such a mode of collecting
it could be adopted as would be most Suitable to the
circumstances of each Rate in particular, known best
and perhaps only to the inhabitants themselves; then
each Rate could raise their just dividend agreeable to
their own internal policy, and when this fund Should
want increase, the addition could be assessed up^ the
several Rates in an equable proportion ; a decrease would
also operate equally, and a total annihilation would
diffuse universal joy.
But as it now Rands, so far from having it in our
power to controul the exchequer, it would be imperti
nent to enquire into the state of it; and if the time
Should ever arrive when the olive-branch of peace
Should overshadow our land, and a cessation of arms
make the burthen unnecessary, I fear too many great
men in power would feel the sweets of the five per cent,
to consent to a discontinuance of it; although a ma
jority of the slates might be brought to think it unjust
and ruinous to keep it another day upon the Shoulders
of the people. The consequences are to be dreaded ;
and every thinking mind must Shudder, when, tracing
it to the result, it is found big with all the horrors of
civil war.
We are now engaged in an expensive war, the exi
gencies of government are of course much greater at
present than they will be in a time of peace, yet pre
cedents now established, at the conclusion of a pacific
treaty will Rare us in the face, and we Shall fee our
commerce loaded with an impost, which the British
king, with all his force, never dared to attempt. The
fatal deed will Rand recorded irrevocable, if found
advantageous to a few leading ambitious men; it
will remain like the laws of the Medes and Persians,
as fixed as though your concurrence was written up
on adamant with the point of a diamond. Detestable
thought ! that freemen Should enslave themselves from
a pretended necessity : for be it known to you, my
countrymen, as soon as you establish a power to draw
monies from your pockets, which you cannot con
troul, so soon you are enslaved!
Writers upon fubjefts of this nature are too apt to
swell the theme with quotations from authors who never
calculated their writings for the meridian of America.
What in the name of common sense have we to do
with the financiers of the tranf-atlantic world ? What
is it to us, by what methods the powers of Europe,
Alia and Africa, draw resources from their forlorn,
diflreffed and enslaved fubjefls? The feience of modern
financiering will suit a land of Raves, but Americans,
I hope in God, will never consent to a scheme which
opens a door for imperceptible draughts of money from
their pockets. What freemen pay ought to be paid
voluntarily ; they have an undoubted right to know
the use it is converted to, and to make a firift enqui
ry into the conduct of the public officers. I hope to
hear no more of imperceptible resources, among a peo
ple so renowned for virtue as the Americans. Let us
pay voluntarily and chearfully our proportion of a (ef
ficiency to Support the necessities of government, in
such a mode as we think proper, and in none other '•
and let us be cautious of recommendations dealing into
effect among us, that may be dangerous to our liber
ties, and an entailed injury to our poflerity, to whose
welfare we ought to be peculiarly attentive.
Many of the foregoing are principles which operate
against the measure at large, to Shew that, in our op
position, we fland upon a much larger balls than the
circle of one flare ; and that the date of Rhode [fland
is not so confined in her polices, as many have thought
fit to fugged.
As every date, from the causes aforementioned, has
local advantages and local disadvantages, it becomes a
wife people unihackled by controul, to confider well
their political Situation, and with critical exaftnefs d : f
tinguiSh the one from the otner, and establish such a
police as Will give due encouragement to the former,
and every discouragement to the latter.
Confider well the consequences, my f llow country
men, before you consent to have a twentieth part of
the produce that shall enter your ports thrown into a
gulf beyond yo?r depth to regain, never to be account
ed for to you, until you are called upon at the point
of the sword to (wear allegiance to an usurper, railed
to the highed pitch of tyranny at your own expence,
and to acknowledge him the foie arbiter of your lives
and property.
By the ship Cq g RESS, captain Geddes,
arrived at Biltiniore, in fix weeks from
I'Orient, we have the following Advices.
CONSTANTINOPLE, August 28.
WE may attribute the terrible fire that happen
ed in this city, to the malefactors, who have
set fire to fix different places. From the quarters of
Giamaja to the cattle of t^e Seven Towers are all re
duced to allies. We may reckon, among the other
great number of houses and palaces which have been
the prey of the flames, that of the emperor Constantine
the Great, the Patriareal church, the Quarters of So
liman, where was the magnificent mofqu'e, so named;
the dreet of the Armenians ; almost all the quarters of
the Jews and Chridians; likewise the Synagogues and
churches of these nations; many magnificent palaces
and dwellin, s belonging to the members of the Divan,
and to other persons of diftin&ion. In the Seraglio
even they have ben in the greatest confufion ; and as
the dimes approached, by degrees, his highhefs was
upon the print of departing to Pera, to the palace of
the ambassador of Austria. It is computed, that a
bove two-thirds, ' of this unhappy city exist no longer
About 5000 people have loft their lives. Many have
been devoured by the flames; others have drowned
themselves; others retired into the mosques built of
done, where they met with a terrible death ; for these
edifices formed a kind of a heated oven by the flames.
Since that horri I hour there have been discovered often,
combustibles kindled to renew the misfortune; which
makes the inhabitants of Pera, who tremble for their
(afety, to keep a drift guard. The popula e are ex
treamly difluib.d. The Turks c r y out against the In.
fidels ; all are very much irritated against the govern
ment : they bellow f rth great threatenings against
the Grand Seigneur, who they declare incapable of
reigning ; which gives a profpea of a general revolt;
perhaps an entire revolution throughout the empire.
The emperor was on the point o< Setting out for
Maria Zell, when be heard of the death of the man
grave of Anfpach and Barrith, the lad prince of his
house, who is dead in the 46th year of'his age. This
news, which seems to draw the attention of the Imperi
al cabinet, at firft Suspended his majefiy's journey.
The dominions of the deceased mangrove, descend to
the king of Prussia, who by the mother's fide was his
nephew.
The malefactors condemned to labour on tie pub
lic works, were heretofore confined in the fortreffes or
firong houses. The great design of Shame was not at
tained. It is now ordered, thar chained together two
and two, they be employed in cleaning ti e flreets of
cities; that for the firft three days they be exhibited
in their usual dresses, but afterwards both men and
women shall have their heads shaved, and be eloathed
in coarse linen frocks. This puniShment has been in-
Aided on some of these evil-doers, taken out of the
house of correction, in this city, and it makes a dread
ful impression on these wretches. They cry out, grind
ing their teeth and in the accent of despair, that they
had rather be dead.
Aug. 25. The emperor has decreed, that hereafter
there shall be only seven universities in his dominions'
At Vienna, for the Auftrias, upper and lower; at
Friburg, in the Brifga w, for Austrian Swabra'; at
Prague, for Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia ; at Pest,
for Hungary ; at Lemburg, for Austrian Poland; at
Pavia, for Lombardy ; and at Louvain, for the Low
Countries. That of Friburg will be put on the foot
ing of t^e excellent Brunswick university, founded at
Gottengin, by George the fcond, king of England
and elector of Hanover. There will be founded there
also a society, like the royal German society of this
city, the members of which will be indulged with the
privilege of writing and publishing their fr e senti
ments on whatever fubjefts, without examination.
The new regulations which have been made concern
ing the clergy and religions in most parts of Furope,
have greatly lessened the revenues of the apoftolick
chamber, which are besides burthened with a debt of
52,900 feudi. Thi4 has led an individual at Rome, to
VIENN A, August 2T.
/ WARSA W, September 7.
Every thing is in the greatest confufion in the Cri
mea. The chan had much ado to save his life ; but
19 Ruffian regiments are on their march to re establish
him on his throne, which will be the easier done, as
the court of Copftantinople doth not seem to interest
itfelf in Supporting the revolters.
COPENHAGEN, August 20.
We are assured that our court has received with
much fatisfa&ion the provisional answer of the slates
general, to the memorials of monsieur S. Saphorin, our
minifler at the Hague, as to what passed at the Cape
of Good Hope, concerning the DanSbury, a Danish
vessel. We confider that affair as hushed.
SEPTEMBER 18.
The count and countess of the north (grand duke
and durchefs of Russia) are expected here. The empe
ror goes to meet them to Molk. The difficulties which
have arisen from the disorders committed by tie
Ruffian ravagers upon the frontiers of Hungary, have
been appealed. These banditti have been severely
; chaflifed by our troops, who burned their villages,
!and the Turks submit to it.
R O M E, August 10.
The consistory, wherein the pope is to give a recital
I of the effects of his journey to Vienna, is again defer
j red till September next : it may happen that then it
ft will be further put off, till it be forgotten.
There is a report, that the republic of Venice has
determined to demolish all establishments, whose cost
shall out-run the use of them.
H A G U E, August 25.
M. Adams, minifler plenipotentiary of the united
Rates nf North America, had a conference on Thurs
day last, with the deputies of the slates general, in the
chamber of Treves. His excellency was received at
his coming, and accompanied at his departure, on the
flairs, by messieurs Van der Santhenvel and Treffens,
members for Holland and Groningueg, in the assembly
of their high mi^htin^ffes. The city of Leyden has
proposed to the Rates of Holland to examine the depart
ment of the marine.
The reports that the passage boats between Dover
and Calais had been flopped, prove to be groundless.
We are assured, that the treaty of commerce with
the united Rates of America will be Signed on Thurs
day or Friday next, and that this week a final resolu
tion will be taken in the assembly of Holland, upon
the proposition of the city of Leyden.
advise the pope to indemnify himfelf by differing some
rich monaftaries, and dismissing many of his officers;
to encourage agriculture and the planting of vines in
his dominions ; to diminish the holidays forbid pilgrim
ages, retrench abuses by hospitals, which countenance
idleness ; to invite indufrious foreigners, though of
different religions; and to permit the clergy of his
slates, who are above 100,000 in number, to marry.
This, fays this author, might make the eclefiaftical
slates the most flourishing of Italy, notwithstanding
the lots of income, which the new regulations of the
princes, who acknowledge the papacy, gradually pro
duce, as the catholic world becomes more enlightened.
If these, or some such steps he not taken, the court of
Rome must fink into the lowed Rate of decay, and be
come contemptible.
051. 4. The Morning Chronicle of this day fays,
that by accounts received yeflerday, we learn that fir
Guy Carleton and admiral Digby have both asked
leave to return home, in consequence of the last or
ders received, contrad Ring their orders received firft.
It is said that Mr. Flood will take no pofl in Ire
land under government, till the king shall assent to a
bill declaring the righs of the kingdom.
Mr. Fox has declared, fluce the last advices from
Ireland, that that kingdom is more irreparably loft
from Great Britain, than North America itfelf.
News has come, no body knows how, that the
French have taken al our factories in Hudfoh's-Eay
The trace thither, Since 1670, has been in the han^s
of a company ; it confits at this day of nine mem
bers and a Secretary. They fit out four Ships yearly,
manned by 150 failora. The annual export fcarctly
exceeds ißoool. sterling; but on the returns 4000 b
duties are r aid.
The Canada of 74 guns, is arrived from Jamaica at
Portsmouth much damaged, in a gale of wind off the
banks of Newfoundland. By this Ship we find divers
otiers of the fleet were greatly injured : the Ville de
Paris, of 104 guns, has come off with the loss only of
her mainsail ; the Ramilies of 74, loft her main top
mast and foremofl ; the Glor enx of 74, her bowsprit
and frozen ; the Centaur of 74, her bowsprit and mizen
maft; the Cina^a of 74, her bowsprit, miz p n-maft,
main-top and foremaß ; tbe Caton of 64, sprung a
leak, and went for New York with the Pallas of 32
guns. The convoy was dispersed, and several frigates
are failed to the we stward, to pick up the Rragglers.
From 40 per cent, upwards has been offered on many
of these Ships.
October 8. We daily hear of damages received by
t e Jamaica convoy ; some funk, others difmafled, by
those which arrive in t e several ports of this kingdom.
Toe Withywood, Edwards was abandoned by the
crw soon after the fiorm ; She made water very fafl.
The name^ of at lean ten others which were difmafted,
have come to hand.
DUBLIN, September 23.
The lord lieutenant has prorogued the parliament
till the 23d of September next. The anniversary of
the coronation of their majesties was yesterday observ
ed here as usual.
The merchants corps of this city, at a general meet
ing at the royal exc ange on the 20th ipftant ; cap
tain Arthur Standley in the chair:
LONDO N.
September 25.