The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-08-14 00:00:00, page 3

For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
IT requires but very little difeernmentto perceive,that al
liancesybetween nations are supported by two forts of
people; those whodo it for private interest directly or in
direaiy, and those who do it on the large scale of com
mon.good, friendftip and affection. To apply this prin
ciple to the present case, I would ask, In which of these
two forts of men in America will France naturally as well
as politically place mofi confidence ?
The Committees of Wilmington and this City, on fuf
piciom that quantities of fl®ur, said to have been purchas
ed for the supply of the.fleet of Count D'Eftaing, had been
applied to other p^rpdfes, and apprehenfiVe that the fame
practices were Hit carrying on, beftired themselves, with
the spirit of citizens and the sincerity of good allies, to
difeover the truth and prevent the ahufe: On the other
hand, the parties concerned in making these purchases, and
who, if any coliuive profits were to arise therefrom, would
be fhar^rs therein, have made, as is common in such cases,
a mighty bustle, and fought to cover themselves, under a
clamour of their railing, '' that the alliance is endangered."
Mr. Rumford, as I am credibly informed, has most pathe
tically given out, “ that he fears the King of France irill
Jo resent the treatment 'which he (Mr. Rumford) has re
ceived, that he till break his alliance <witb AmericaJor it •,"
and, laughable as this may be, he is not the only one who
has expressed himfelf in this stile.
I wonder those gentlemen have not difeovered, fliat a
plot is forming at the center of the earth, from which a
mine is to be sprung to blow them up and the alliance with
them; or that a fubterraneous channel is cutting under
sea to the Weft Indies, by order of the Committees; out
of which a party of men are to pop up and bring the
loaded vessels back again on wheel carriages : ft being
nearly as reasonable to fnppeTe the one as the other.
It seems as if every period of time must have its parti
cular bugbear. A while ago — The church ! Oh, the church
is in danger ! and yet you fee the church flands as unshak
en as ever, having had no other enemies than those who
spread the alarm ; and now, a few men, because their own
unfair practices are in danger of being detected, are crying
out, Ob, the alliance, the alliance! Rest contented, good
gentlemen, there is nothing in danger but yourselves, and
that is nobody's business to lack after but your own. Every
thing else is fafe enough. To convince you of this, look
at the men both in and out of the Committee, against
whom this clamour has been railed. Do they not Compose
the formidable body of this State? And are they not
those, who, from the firft day to the present, have been
the foremoft on every alarm or occasion of public fervicel
Look at the numbers of the last election, 2115 to 281, and
tnen take your choice of the queflion. It would be very
unfortunate were there the least foundation for the reports
which have been circulated, because it would from thence
follow, that out of 2396 votes taken in the City and liber
ties, 281 only were friends to the alliance, and 2115 were
not; as the ticket which those numbers voted for, had in
it all the Members of the old Committee who made the
report on the flour; the other ticket, in resentment, or
pretended resentment to that report, left them entirely out.
Look at the last Town Meeting, when out of several
thousands present, not more than thirty hands were held
up against the motion, for declaring that the Committee
bad difebarged their dut* with bonbr.
Let every tub ftahd :, a its own bottom. If the agents
in whatever line they may ad, have been studying their
private interest to the disservice of their public duty, let
the consequences fall on themselves ; but be so kind, gen
tlemen, as not to be lugging in the alliance on every felf
ifh occasion, as people in their cups quote scripture with
out the least reverence for religion. The alliance, like the
church universal, is founded on a rock, and is in no dan
ger. It needs not the little airs of falfe suspicion to pro
tefl and guard it. Bo not distress yourselves with ima
gining that so finished a fabrick would crumble into ruins,
were it not for woe Agents ! As well may the mouse beneath
'the mountain cry out, " What a load lies on my should
ers!" or a mole just feudding beneath the furface exclaim,
" That the world would fall were fa not there !"
CHARLESTOWN, (So®th-Carolina,) July 2.
A Person lately arrived from the Havanna, positively
* A asserts, that the Court of Spain's recognition of the
Independence of the United States of North America,
had been publicly proclaimed in that city, and that letters
of reprisal against the fubje&s of Great-Britain, were
speedily to be issued. It was generally imagined in Eu
rope, that the capture of Pondicherry, would determine
the conduct of the Spanish Court ; and late English papers
hint, it would not b® surprising if Count d'Almodavar,
the Spanish Ambassador at the Court of London, should
speedily receive letters of recal.
It is somewhat remarkable, that hostilities were com
menced against the French in the Eafhlndies, by the Go
vernors and Councils of Calcutta and Madras, in July
1778, much about the time Count D'Eftaing's fleet arrived
®ff the Capes of Delaware.
PHILADELPHIA, August 14.
Extraa of a letter from Parish dated March 26, 1779.
“ Some persons were furprized,that Doctor Franklin had
mt yet been presented to the King in his new quality of
Ninifter Plenipotentiary of the United States of America ;
ard a thousand conjectures were made about the delay. The
prtfentation however took place the 23d inflant, and is
th^ mentioned in the Court Gazette—,'' The King then
ga^ particular audiences to the Baron de Belsderbuch,
Mirifter Plenipotentiary of the Elector of Cologne, and
to Ir. Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
Stats of North-America." Thus then is our union with
this new political body, recognized formally a second
timeland more consolidated than ever."
In COMMITTEE, Aug. 8, 1779.
Replied, That a Committee be appointed to enquire
into tie present Rate of House-Rents, and what propor
tion bey now bear to the price rented for in the year
1774, and report thereon to the General Committee.
Revived, That this Committee consist of three, viz.
Mr, Cuthbert, Mr. Dickinson and Major Boyd.
Extract from, the Minutes,
JARED INGERSOLL, Sec'y.
N. B. The above Committee will be glad to receive in
formation from any of their fellow citizens refpe&ing the
above.
CITIZENS,
CEVERAL things have been said upon thefubjeß of
' the fifheries: What if we were to lay up our boats for a
little while, and make a small excursion on the land.
Is there no other case where the interest of a few States
ought not to be neglected by the whole ? I should suppose
the appropriation ®f the unlocated lands to be a case of this
nature. Is it reasonable that Maryland and other States
fha.ll contend for the fifheries, in behalf of the more imme
diate interest of Massachusetts-Bay and other States, and
will it not be reasonable that Maffachufetts-Bao and other
States, should contend for an equal distribution of the un
appropriated lands in behalf of Maryland, Delaware and
Jersey, who, by an article of the confederation, are de
prived of any (hare of these lands, for which they have
drawn their swords as well as others, and which are the
joint possessions of the whole. We ought to regard the
affair of the fifheries as a lock on the Northern States to
reduce them to a sense of Justice on this occasion, and to
make it necessary to give their voice against that most ini
quitous article in the confederation, which cedes the just
right of the whole to aggrandize a few. The States of
New-Hampshire and of Rhode-Bland and Providence
Plantations would undoubtedly at this moment be ready
to expunge it ; and all that we have to do is by means of
the fifheries to bring the adjoining States to be of the fame
just and equal way of thinking.
Pennsylvania, tho' she has some share of these unlocated
lands, yet I know thatfrom her love of justice she despises
this unequal article, and her Delegates in Congress will
nec hesitate a moment to give their voice againft.it.
There are then fix States who ought to be, and I believe
are clear and decided in their rejection of it. This is in my
opinion the moment to press it, and if we lose this oppor
tunity, perhaps another never may return. It would seem
indeed yet the resolute conduct of Maryland had been in
tended byProvidence to prevent the closing the confedera
cy, until this circumfianc^ put in her power and in the
power ofothers, to extort from the Eastern States that
justice which with other States too easily alarmed they
have not been willingin every case to grant. Is it not just
that those lands which have been ever, and muff be defend
ed, according to the present confederation, by the swords
of all, should be the common prize of all? Was it not held
out to America and to the world, at the commencement of
this dispute, that these lands were to be a common flock,
from whence we should be able to defray the expences of
the war. The brave citizen of these States was led to be
lieve, that if he rifqued his life, and gave his present ser
vices, nothing more was ever to be required of him. These
lands and the King's quit- rents would render unnecessary
I have often laughed at the innocent whim of Milton, in
placing a number of little duck-winged angels (for such
they are generally represented to the imagination by the
pictures in children's books) somewhere near the equator
I suppose, to " ftowe " the earth by main strength from a
perpendicular position, so as fa throw the plane of the
ecliptic, which he before supposes was in the plane of the
equator, three and twenty degrees and an half distant
from it, which is the position it now Hands in, and which
produces all the variety of fsafons and the different lengths
of nights and days. This, tho' a harmless conceit, is ne
vertheless a laughable way of effecting such a weighty af
fair. It is somewhat like tilting the earth with one's shoul
ders, as one would an upright h©gfhead of wine. But to
suppose that an alliance formed between two powerful na
tions on the solid basis of mutual interest, and corded by
reciprocal exchanges of esteem and affection, is to be
broken for the fake of Mr. Rumford,\ or any other Mr. in
America or elsewhere, is a far more laughable piece.of ro
mance, especially in a case where France herfelf is benefit
ed by the condud which those persons exclaim against.
The conceit is so unreasonable and unnatural; so wild and
fanciful, and at the fame time such a new improvement up
on speculation, that nothing less than a genius refined to
phrenfy, or a mind too stupid for reflection; could ever
think of setting on foot, or expert it should be believed.
I sincerely believe there is not a Member of the Com
mittee of Wilmington, or of the late or present Commit
tees of this City and I.iberties, who would not ride or Walk
night and day, provided he was well, to procure supplies
for the fleet under the commands of Count D'Eftaing, and
having procured them would as anxiously atEft in fending
them ; yet those fame men would think it a part es their
official obligation, both as an ad of duty to their country
and of jnftice to their allies, to fee that the trade of the
one should not be clandestinely carried away, or the inte
rest of the other injured by an unnecessary expence of
purchase, or the misapplication of the supplies when pro
cured.
I should not have taken up the papers with this, or my
felf with the trouble of writing it (being at this time very
unfitted for such an undertaking) were it not to prevent the
extraordinary encouragement which the enemy, lam well
persuaded, would have derived from the reports which
have been circulated, and the probability of their applying
those reports to the difpropbrtibnate numbers at the last
election. For as I have before obferv^d, if those reports
were true, or by constant and uncontradided rephition
fliould affu^e the appearance of truth, the enemy would
entertain the most flattering hopes of being able to effe&
a dissolution of the alliance, and on that ground be indu
ced to prosecute the war, when otherwise they would give
it up. Once afford them the least cahfe to conclude that
the numbers at the election are the numbers for and aQainft
the alliance, and they will take it as a ratio to estimate the
continent by, and derive more hope from that deception
than from a reinforcement of 10,000 troops.
If men cannot be as honest, they ought at least to be as
politic as common good requires; and exclufiveof the fal
fity of such reports, nothing can be a greater aft of iodif
cretion than to raise and circulate them. It is at once
bringing an equal, honorable, and advantageous alliance
into suspicion that was never yet fufpeded, and furnifhing
the enemy both with new life to proceed and new pretence
to misrepresent us in Europe; and all this to conceal them
selves from the too probable suspicion of having;carried on
an illicit trade in the exportation of Hour. It was like
wise the bugbear by which they hoped to carry on an elec
tion, but being too gross to be fwallewed, and too full of
cracks not to be seen through, they failed in the object
thro' the wretchedness of the means,
C. S.
To the STATES of AMERICA.
any tax which might be laid, and prove a fink?
itfelf fufficient to wipe off every public debt,
having the honor to be a Memberof Congress, I
son to believe, and can venture to assure my cou
that it is in their power to borrow at this mom<
than forty million oflivres, on the credit of thefeu
lands, which in consequence of this article of tirncou.
cy are claimed, about to be, possessed, and even no^^ $
sered for sale by particular States. There is no necco
for an individual of the States of America, ultimate!;/
pay one (lulling of a tax for the expences of the war.
may advance it now to get clear of the inundation of t
currency ; but it may every shilling be repaid by the f
of these lands, in the course of a few years. It is not th
citizen of these States, but the emigrant from Europe, tha
will pay the expences of the war. It is fufficient for us
that we have fought: Let those who shall come from fo
reign climes to enjoy the blc^ngs of that freedom for
which we have contended, difuharge the debt which we
have incurred not more on our own than on their account.
Shall I contend for the immediate interest and rights of
Massachusetts-Bay and her Sifter States, against the claim
of Great-Britain, in the matter of the fifheries, and shall
I not in a manner equally ftrenuotis, contend for the im
mediate rights of Maryland and other States, against the
claim of Virginia, and the (harmful pliability of Maffachy
fetts-Bay to Virginia, with regard to unlocated lands., On
the great scale of reflection, what is it to Maryland whether
a European peweror Virginia has hole/, that property which
ought to be divided among the United States ? Common
apprehension and common interest might unite those a
gainst a power which might prove dangerous td all, who
otherwise might from the fame liability which has been
evidenced in admitting the present exorbitant claims of
Virginia, facrifice to-her in future the interest ofa less pow
erful neighbouring State. If this article is not expunged
before the confederation is adopted; I will venture to af
firm, that it will be at the bottom a toured of continual
jeatuHes, heart burnings and resentments between the
States and the cause of a thousand wars, ft is in vain to
talk, for it is certain that nothing but a fair and equal al
liance or confederation between the States can pofficly be
lading, and if our confederation is not lading, we of A
merica shall be of all free people,the mod miserable. As
were the States of Greece, so will be the States of Ameri
ca, so many iron wheels by the vicinity of their revolu
tions grinding upon pne another. Is there a man who does
not p'raife the articles of that fair and equal tre ty into
which we have entered with the Court of France ? Cannot
we copy from that treaty, and by equity and the recipro
city of all advantages, lay the foundation of eternal
peace?
Some will pretend, tha; our ally, having expected tp
find the confederation fully closed, will be disappointed
and alarmed at the circumstance : Our ally Will have great
er reafqn to be alarmed at that want of the love of equity,
which appears in the article; for, certainly, States which
can be unjust to one another, will not be jud to a more
distant neighbour. I have great re 1 fop to believe, .if I
may be allowed to judge by the 'eritiwents of.toe mod in
truded and mod considerable of that nation here that our
allies are fully sensible of the great propriety with which
the State of Maryland has contended for a share of these
lands, and though no doubt it would be agreeable to them
to fee the confederation closed on bast and permanent
principles : Yet they cannot.difapproye of that spirit with
which the above-mentioned State continues to assert not
only her right, but that of others to these lands : Indeed,
had the Court of France been very anxious to have the
present confederation acceded to, its Minister to the U
nited States would have pressed Congress on the fubjeft;
which lam credibly informed he has not done. It is my
opinion, that as the Congress have determined several
months ago, the fifheries shall not be given up to Great-
Britain, so they ought likewise to determine, that these
lands which belong to all, shall not be converted to the
use of a few States in theunion. Let this, I was about to
fay, villainous bar be removed, and we shall really be a
confederated, and I trust a happy people.
A Citizen of Philadelphia.
August 5, 1779.
Philadelphia, August 12.
WILL BE SO L D,
At the Coffee hoafe, at Twelve o'clock, the i%th of
the month,
A CERTAIN tra& of LAND, containing one
hundred and sixty-two acres, situated on Timber
Creek, in Gloucester county and townfhi.p, sixteen miles
from Philadelphia, well timbered with oak, hickory and
pine fit for boards or fcantling, about ten acres clear,
a house and stable, four and a half miles from the land
ing. The premises would suit well for a Glass-house.
Any person inclining to purchase before the day of
sale, may apply to PATRICK LARKEY, in
Water street, opposite the Porter Brew- House.
TO BE S~O~ L~ D~
AL IKEL Y young NEGRO MAN, 1% 0 is
a good farmer or waggoner. Enquire of the
Piinter.
Philadelphia, August 13.
THE AGENTS for the Fri
gate CONFEDERACY give this public
notice, That they will attend on board the said ship
(lying off Chester) on Tuesday the feventeepth instant,
to pay the (hares of Prize-Money due the Officers, Sea
men and Marines now belonging to said ship, arising
from the captures of the ship Poole and Schooner Pat
fey: And on Friday the twentieth instant will be paid
at the Navy-Office in Front-street, the fh%res of those
who have been regularly difeharged from said ship.
fit THE MERCHANTS of this City are de
sired to meet at the City-Tavern, precisely at eleven
o'clock this morning, in order to take into consideration
the state of their trade, and to form a representation of it
to be laid before the Committee. As it is a business in
which,every Merchant is concerned, it is expelled every
one will attend.'