The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-02-17 00:00:00, page 4

Total, 61
tuns of plate, which would produce upwards of two mil
lions of dollars, to which may be added five millions of
dollars in specie, now in the possession of the Ameri
cans, and out of circulation since the depreciation of
paper currency.
The present state of America is truly alarming, the
deranged state of our finances, the murmurs and just
complaints of our army are objects worthy the atten
tion of every faithful fubjed; our case is desperate,
and requires a desperate remedy: who can bear the
thought, that a people, whose resources are so great,
Should fall a facrifice to the rage of a barbarous army ;
who can abide the thoughts of a people, crowned with
laurels, by the success of their arms for fix years, to
give up so just and so great, and so interring a cause,
for want of supplies to an army, whose heroic fame
hath reached the most distant parts of the globe :
Oh! heavens! forbid it, ye friends of Ameri a, for-'
4^ May indulgent heaven inspire America with
Tuns.
New-Hampshire, I
Massachusetts Bay, 8
Rhode-Ifland, 5
Connecticut, 4
New-York, 6
New-Jersey, 7
We have felt the boasted omnipotence of Britain in
a war of fix years, their irrefiflable force hath pene
trated the sandy barrens of Georgia and South Caro
lina, by the affiflance of the (cruff of nations, those
pests of society, who by the light of the moon and
flars, have abandoned their native places of abode for
crimes that merited punishment with ignominy and
disgrace. Those, with the copper coloured wolves of
the defart, are the only.allies of his Britannic majef
ty, king, defender of the faith, &c. Thus, and by
such means hath the power of Britain extended over an
insulted People, a People, that four years ago, were
not numbered among the nations; notwithstanding
the infancy of their state and the disadvantages they
were under, their faint struggles have hitherto baffled
the most formidable power of Europe, and obliged
them to a reliance on our internal divisions and the
deranged state of our finances : this was and continues
to be their grand point in view, assisted by the un
wearied efforts of their emissaries our internal enemies
(the most dangerous of whom have been in our bosoms
and at our councils) whose expectations are, that we
must be conquered for want of money to support the war;
upon this point their expectations are fixed. This is
the alone foundation of the policy of Britain, and we
must confefs, that herein they have made the greatest
progress, in depreciating our currency, difeoncerting
our plans, fomenting divisions, laying embarrassments
on every measure we adopt ; but the fleady patriot,
the virtuous and unshaken friend of America, will
look down with contempt, upon a nation so reduced as
to have recourse to such mean fubterfuges.
The virtuous patriot will rejoice, when he contem
plates on the riches of America, he will find consolati
on when he views her resources, and confiders, that the
present couteft hath tended but very little towards her
impoverishment ; and that the hath maintained a war
for fix years with paper currency, for which the is
not indebted to any foreign power, and although her
credit, for want of virtue, &c. it become doubtful,
yet America is possessed of real money and plate,
enough to astonish Britain and all Europe : From
whence may be drawn with good ©economy, a fuffi
ciency to wage wa r with England, until the would be
glad to accept of peace from America, upon her own
terms.
In order to give the reader an idea of the amazing
wealth of twelve of the United States, I shall subjoin
a reafdnable eflimate of what plate is in their poffeffi.
on, viz.
The SALVATION of AMERICA; is a plain honest
ADDRESS to his Majefly, the PEOPLE : Calcu
lated for the Redaction of the Power and Policy of
"Britain.
May it please the PEOPLE,
EVERY feufible feeling man muftbe an attentive
obfervet of our prefect situation ; every freeborn
Son of America must be alarmed to a degree of pain
ful anxiety, when our zeal and resolution are so much
abated, and a stupid languor spread over us to a de
gree, that some extraordinary event is necessary to
rouse us to the exe^cife of those virtues, that we,once
let the world know, we were possessed of; from whence
such fatal fiupidity, sourness and inattention proceeds,
I muff leave to the drift and faithful enquiry of those
who by their abilities, time and opportunities are en
abled to make such necessary difeoveries, but I soberly
fhink, the period is not far distant when America must
prove whether ihe is in earnest in her pretensions, to
her own rights, or wilt the tamely submit to, and
bend under the iron hand of an enraged conqueror.
The expectations of the enemy never ran higher
than at this instant: they are now pluming themselves
with the flattering profp-ft of butchering and plun
dering a people, whose valour is unconquerable, but
by treachery ; and although our affairs bear a gloomy
afpe& for the present, yet there are means granted us
by indulgent Providence, I presume, for the foie pur
pose of bearing us through those difficulties which our
nieafures and circumstances could not avoid; our in
experience in military operations, with the deranged
state of our finances lead us into those embarrassments
which other nations were obliged to pass through be
fore us.
The object of our pursuit being of the firft magni
tude and of the last importance, necessarily engages
the attention of every friend to hirafelf and his coun
try and excites him to the exertion of every power in
defending those rights to which God and nature have
intitled us.
For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by DAEID C, CLATPOOLE.
Tuns.
Pennsylvania, 8
Delaware, 3
Maryland, 5
Virginia, 9
North-Carolina, 2
South-Carolina, 3
Altho' I may be dif|ffe&ed to the cause and govern
ment of America, yet I fliudder at the idea of falling
into the hands of an army whose tender mercies are
cruelty, who treat all, both friends and foes without
diftinftion,, and should J survive the firft onfety I Jud
der yet more, to think that we must be fubjeaed to
a sovereign, whose government over us is obtained by
conquest, an enraged king, a revengeful parliament,
and a governor to rule us with a rod of iron : These
are the greatest evils a nation can be exposed to, evils
that may be easier conceived of than deferibed ; which
then, of the American States, in our happy union,
would not exert every power in defence of all that is
precious to us, for the prevention, of tyranny, despo
tism and every species of calamity from ourfeives and
posterity. Let us not be difeovraged at the distresses
we feel, real money will alleviate them, the wisdom,
virtue, and good policy of our councils will remove
every distress in their power. Let u$ confider the re
mainder as the natural confrequence of war, which
will cease when the war terminates: and the speediest
method of terminating the present war is, to disap
point Britain refpeding cur finances, to let thero know
we, have specie of our own, that we are now beginning
to^aunch out our money, and that for the time past
we only fought England with paper, and if paper has
baffled her boasted flrength and forge, we can now
baffle and blast her policy with real money. This
would be the most mortal blow we could level against
the powers of Britain ; this would hasten a peace, and
insure our Independence ; this would establish Ame
rica in favour with all the powers of the universe, who
are now waiting for the opportunity of a free trade
to throw their wealth into our lap.
Therefore, in order to prevent the great evils, and
secure the greatest happiness, the People of Pennsyl
vania and of all th^ United States are called upon,
First, To petition their legislatures to adopt this or
some similar plan, as to their wisdom, shall seem prac
ticable..
Secondly, To call in what specie can possibly be
spared.
Thirdly, To call in the plate to be coined.
Fourthly, That the legislatures provide fatisfadory
Securities for the above money and plate, and for the
interest accruing thereon.
Fifthly, That the ports be opened for the exporta
tion of our produce.
Sixthly, That no money be exported, under the se
verest penalties, as in all other governments.
Seventhly, That the above money be applied to the
fo,le purpose of paying, recruiting and supplying the
army.
Eightly, That every department in office be purged
from the corruption so prevalent among us, so de
ftruftive and so obnoxious to the virtuous part of the
community.
Ninthly, That none, soliciting an office of power
and profit, be indulged therewith, but that all officers,
both civil and military, be fought for, and found out,
by marks of honor, honesty, disinterestedness, inte
grity and abilities ; whereby the force and dignity
of government may be supported.
To place men of virtue in office, is the gift of hea
ven ; to have a formidable army, and that army well
paid and fuppljed, ought to engage the attention of
every American, it would not only haflen a peace, but
procure it on the best terms, it would reduce the du
ties of the militia ; the farmer, the merchant, and the
mechanic may conflantly attend upon their callings,
it would remove the just complaints of the army, it
would attach the soldier to the service, it would have
a considerable influence upon others, to induce them
to a military life, and finally, it would reflet honor
upon the nation.
These are some of the advantages, that would result
from the production of the plate of America, which
may be considered as an overplus wealth: the resigning
of it would not distress one individual; it is only to
part with their luxury for a little while, as it would
hasten a peace, the nation would the sooner be ena
bled to repay it by taxes, by a most extensive trade,
by boundfefs tr@& of uplocated lands, with various
other resources in the power of America.
The execution of such a plan will produce no com
plaints (for I would have it a voluntary aft of thd
people) he that has money to spare will be under no
inconveniency, those who ' have plate, may with cre
dit, for the fake of his own and his country's fafety,
substitute something in its stead. Such an expedient
may appear flrange to some, and very disagreeable to
the friends of Britain, but it is not fl range in history;
nations in the fame predicament with America, have
found it the happy means of their salvation.
Tillis have I presumed to offer my sentiments, with
a design for the deliverance of the best country in the
world, and the support of the bed cause under hea
ven. I hope it will be taken ip good part, as it is
submitted-to the wisdom and good policy of those
whose abilities are superior to mine, and fubjed to
their correction, alteration, amendment, or to their
total rejection ;'but permit me to remark, that if fine
great and good expedient is not speedily adopted, I
soberly declare to you (whose connexion with myfeif
is mfeparable) that we are advancing by sure fleps to
a zeal proportionate to the pressing calls of a coun
try, a people, whose precious and, ineftimabJe all is now
on the verge of irretrievable ruin. Something mu#
be done that will yield real, substantial and immedi
ate relief, the course of nature may as easily be inter
rupted as to support an army without money; real
money, must be had, let us no longer attend to vain
amusements and trifling shadows ; there is no other
way of salvation for us to adopt under, the auspices
of heaven, which have hitherto smiled upon our endea
vours. Posterity will readwith wonder and amafement,
that our army has kept together so long as since the
memorable eighteenth of March last, without money,
eloabhing, and in fa&, without a competency of the
other necessaries of life.
the brink of a precipice, over which, if we fall, we
Iliall ting ourselves in a gulf of irretrievable ruin and
univerfiil contempt.
Finally, I beg leave to add ? that vice is our greatest
enemy, and that America will fiand or fall with her
virtue, by which alone, the means in our power can
be applied for our deliverance ; our union in such a
glorious undertaking, the most distant climes would
rtfound with our praise, posterity will read our names
with delight and gratitude, numerous pages in his
tory will transmit the some of such illustrious patriots,
fa long as yonder Sun will witness to falls so truly
great and sublime: and to crown all, the powers
above will approve it well z the blessing of Heaven will
attend it, efptciali, when done wkh a design to efia
bhfh heaven-borp LIBERTY, which is a sore-taste of
the b,eatifc vision.
POSTSCRIPT- —I presume the half of the above
money and plate is very fufficient, with good cecono
niy, to put the affairs of America in such a situation,.
that the views and designs of the politicians of Bri
tain will be entirely frustrated, and our governments
established on a more refpedable footing.
em^n^e&^ewemwm
OF HIS EXCELLENCY,
George Waffiington, Esq;
A New Impression in Metzotinto;
From the original Figure belonging to the State of
Pe^nfylffiia ;
Poster size, i. e. 14 inches by ro inches, exclusive of
the margin ;
Price Two Dollars, or the Value thereof in current
Money, or Six Pound per Doza to Shop-keepers,
or Persons going abroad.
Any Persons wanting the Laid Prints,
Notice is hereby given to the
Public, that a certain JACOB DAWBEDIESTEL,
of this city, has exaded from me, the fubferiber, a
Note of Hand, bearipg date the 25th day of January,
1781, for Four Thousand, four Hundred and Thirty
eight Pounds, ten Shilings. For various reasons con
futing, as well in the illegality of the Note, as the frau
dulent manner of obtaining it, I forewarn any perfom
or persons not to take an Alignment on the laid Note,
as I do not mean to pay ifo unless compelled by law.
Philad. Feb. 9 . GEORGE GINTER.
Will apply to CHARLES W. PEALE, at the corner
of Third and Lombard fleets.
A VERY LARGE
Store and Cellar
To be Let immediately, in Second-street.
BALTIMORE, January %6, 1781.
The Owners of Rolling-Mills,
In the State of Pennfylvaoia, may be Supplied with
PLATES of COPPER,
From twenty to thirty pounds Weight, or any ether
Dimensions they may choose,
NEATLY FORGED,
To make Sheet - Copper,
By applying to the MANAGE R of the COPPER
WORKS, in Frederick county, or to me in Balti
more.
For Terms enquire of SAMUEL PRESTQN MOORE,
in Third ftreqt.
Found, some Time ago,
A pair of green Spectacles,
SETT in SILVER.
Whoever proves property and pays charges may have
them, by applying tg thro Printer.
Philadelphia, February 3, 1781.
This is to certify, that my wife,
MARY STALL, does not live with me; therefor- I
forewarn all perfens from lending or trutting her any
tiling upon my account, for I will pay r.o deb's of her
centreing.'ANDßEW STALL.
TO BE LE T,
A STORE in Second-ttreet, near Chefnut street, with
or without Rooms. Enquire of the Printer.
A Rent-charge of fix pounds, twelve
(hillings, Specie, iflyfag from a Lot on High-street,
well improved. A L S O,
About eight acres of Land, fronting on
Fourth-street continued, into Germantown road; an
high, pleasant Situation for an House.
TO BE SOL D,
About eight acres of Ground in
Paffyunk township, on Roufe's road, with an House
and small Orchard. ALS O,
Enquire at Captain KLING's.
WILLIAM HAMMOND.
—, — __ 1 —— ——
A Citizen of Pennsylvania.