The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-08-18 00:00:00, page 2

thing, I presume but extreme necessity could have in
duced the legislature to adopt a different mode of de
cision to affeft the life of a citizen.
To inquire after every breach of the penal law, to
proted the innocent, to punish the guilty, to guard a
gainst the encroachments of. power, and to keep every
man within the limits, prescribed by the conflitution,
and the law§, is in general, the business of a grand ju
ry : and it must Afford pleasure to <hofe enlightened
minds which are attached to the liberties of mankind,
and zealous for the, independence of America, to re
d'd, that ' this business is familiar to alrnoft every man,
^ho has been at all conversant in matters of public con
cern. Your duty, however, gentlemen, is more limit
ed. Von are only to inquire ofter treasons, misprisi
ons of treason, infurredions, and other high anddan
gerous misdemeanors, committed in any county on
the wefiern shore. A considerable number of persons,
charged with an unnatural conspiracy, to assist our e
nemies in rubverting the liberties of America, are con
fined in the goals, and, on this melancholy occasion,
the governor and council, at the request of the house
of Delegates, have thought proper to appoint this spe
cial court.
For your more particular information, I must refer
you to an aft of assembly, passed in the session of Fe
bruary 1777, entitled “an aft to punish certain crimes
and misdemeanors, and to prevent the growth of tory
i(m." In that aft are enumerated all the species of
treason known to our laws, and many other offences,
tending immediately to the subversion of government-
In vain has the legislature devised this equitable law,
if grand juries should be dead to a sense of duty, and
the mifereant, who has enjoyed the protection of a go
vernment he endeavoured to subvert, is permitted to
escape with impunity.
I cannot fufped that you, gentlemen, who have
been feleded for your spirit, intelligence and patriot
ism will, by an unpardonable negleft of duty, or an
ill judged tenderness to the lives of traitors, encourage
the perpetration of the most atrocious crimes. Those
strong and deciflvq feelings, which actuate the bosoms
of honest whigs, will prompt you to a zealous dis
charge of your duty. But I cannot forbear expres
sing an apprehension, that a rule of evidence, by no
means calculated for the circumstances of this state,
will afford impunity to wretches, of whose guilt a can
did mind could not entertain the smallest doubt ; I al
lude to that clause in the “ ad for the better security
" of government, which declares, that no person (hail
“ be convißed by a petit jury, unless by the oath of
gc two lawful witnesses, to prove each feperate and d f
" tin& faft, charged in the indictment, as treason, or
". misprision of treason, except the prisoner, willing.
“ ly and without force or violence, confefs the fame
" in open court."
After all I have said, 1 would not be underflood to
favour any unreasonable prejudices. In all your de
liberations, attend carefully to the directions contain
ed in the oath you have just taken. You will prefeat
every man, for whose accusation you shall have strong
probable grounds: but, in favour of innocence, you
will disregard unmeaning popular clamours. It con
not surely be necessary to remark, that the extrava
gant surmises of intemperate zeal, or the fuggeflions
of artful malice, have frequently fubjeded an inno
cent man to the expence, the disgrace, and the terrors
of a criminal prosecution.
In the course of your inquiries some difficulties may
probably arise; you will impart them to the court, and
whatever assistance may be necessary for your further in
formation, will be readily afforded.
IT has been suggested to the court, that, notwith
standing your guilt has been afeertained by the deci
sion of an impartial Jury, you confider the proceedings
against you as nothing more than a solemn mockery,
and have adopted the vain idea propagated by the ene
mies of this country, that the dares not punish her un
natural fubjeds for engaging in the service of Great-
Britain. From the strange insensibility you have hi
therto difeovered, I was indeed led to conclude, that
you were labouring under a delufien, which might
prove fatal to your profpeCls of happiness hereafter, I
think it my duty therefore to explain to you your real
situation. The crime you been convicted of, upon the
fulleft and clearest teflimony, is of such a nature, that
you cannot, ought not to, look for pardon. Had it
pleased Heaven to permit the full execution of your un
natural designs, the miseries to be experienced by your
devoted country would have been dreadful, even in the
contemplation! Theends of public justice, the dictates
of policy, and the feelings of humanity all require, that
you should exhibit an awful example to your fellow
fubjeds; and the dignity of the state, with every thing
that can interest the heart of man, calls aloud for your
punishment.
If the consideration of approaching fate can inspire
proper sentiments, you will pour forth your thanks to
that watchful providence, which has arrested you at
an early stage of guilt; and you will employ the short
time you have to live, in endeavouring, by a sincere
penitence, to obtain pardon from that almighty being,
who is to fit in judgment upon you, upon me, and
upon all mankind.
I must now perform the painful talk of denouncing
the terrible punishment ordained for high-treason.
You Peter Sueman, Nicholas Andrews, John George
Graves, Yost Flecker, Adam Graves, Henry Shell, and
Casper Fritchie, and each of you, attend to your fen
fence!
You shall be carried to the gaol of Frederick county,
and thence be drawn to the gallows of Fredericktown
and be hanged thereon: you shall be cut down to
the earth alive, and your entrails shall be taken out,
and burnt while you are yet alive: your head shall be
cutoff ; your body shall be divided into four parts,
and your head and quarters shall be placed where his
excellency the governor shall appoint. So Lord have
mercy upon your poor fouls!
Teter Sueman, Nicholas Andrews, John George G aves,
Yost Plecker, Adam Graves, Henry Shell, Casper
Fritchie, attend !
Mr. PRINTER,
IT is extremely difficult to dissolve former connects
ons, and the difficulty increases with their impor
tance. How painful was the alternative, when the ci
tizens of these states must either have submitted to the
oppressive encroachments of Great-Britain, or renounc
ed the tie which had so long bound them together!
Every expedient was attempted, urged and repeated,
that could exhibit the least profpea of a reconciliation.
Great-Britain, tryumphing upon the (applications of
humanity, and (ecure of our fondeft attachments, en
creafed her demands with an insupportable haughti
ness, and demonstrated by the unsheathed bayonet,
the total alienation of her affections. This obliged us
finally to adopt the measures which now place us a
mong the nations of the earth. That there should be
a few Americans still in the British interest, is not
strange, considering the variety of places and persons
that had, of late years, been very profufely bellowed;
but that friends to their country, those who have free
ly embarked their all in the controversy, whose near
ed connexions have bled in the arduous flruggle, should
now retain a partiality for that nation, is beyond ex
planation. Private interest too commonly absorbs e
very other consideration, and has sometimes pervaded
the whole mercantile community. The citizens of the
United States being long accustomed to British manu
factures, would naturally prefer them to those of any
country, 'till experience should convince them of their
impropriety. The merchant possessed of British goods
could under-fell the importers from France, as there
would be no rifque in the carriage from England to
St. Euftatius. This principle has been adopted by
many, without fufficiently considering they were con
firming prejudices, ^hich must finally be eradicated,
or terminate in the ruin of this country: that they
were defeating the great objects of amity and commerce,
subsisting in the treaty between France and the United
States, and adding to the wealth, and consequently
strengthening the force, of their most inveterate ene
my. There are in the series of human events certain
incidents which sometimes unexpectedly difeover them
selves, and are attended with more conviction than our
feelings or reasonings would ever have suggested up
on the fubjeft. Had not hostilities been commenced a
gainft the Dutch: had St. Euftatius remained a secure
magazine for B itifh and American merchants, that
smuggling commerce would ftili have continued, and
perhaps have gained reputation from the generality
of its extent. Fortunate however for the progress of
the American revolution, * admiral Rodney has put
an end to an intercourse, which was too well guarded
by prudential arrangements, to be fubjeft to the repre
hensions of municipal law. Great have been the futfer
ings of individuals ; we lament their losses ; but we la
ment them as the losses incident to illicit commerce;
and we lament them as acquisitions to our enemy!
Surely we are chriftians, or, at least, believe in the
supreme controul of a general providence: how evi
dent!y has it been manifefled in the re-capture of the
St. Euftatius fleet by the squadron of our ally? While
we admire the goodness of Heaven in wafting to France
the American exports which ought to have gone there
in the firft instance, we are fully convinced that this
event will have the most salutary influence upon the
mercantile interest. But after such persuasive admo
nitions, if St. Thomas, or any other neutral island,
should rife like a phoenix out of the ruins of St. Eu
ftatius, and re-eftabhlh a commerce between England
and any of the merchants of the United States, the in
excusable adventurers may expect calamities far great
er than the loss of their vessels and cargoes. Justice
may delay, but will not finally withhold the fevered
vindications. A CITIZEN.
* Admiral Rodney, tho' a wicked instrument in
the hands of a wicked court, has unintentionally con
tributed to the freedom of America, and the rights of
mankind: the tory merchants, whose confeiences would
smite them at the idea of trading with France chear
fully entered into the Statia trade, and have uninten
tionally contributed their property to the fame ends.
Thus it is that good comes out of evil.
LAUSANNE, (Switzerland) April ze.
FRANCE and the Cantons of Berne, and Zurich
do not agree. The flrft wants to eftabhfh a new
form of government at Geneva, and the two others
are for maintaining that which was guaranteed in >628
Hague, (Holland) May 9. The Danish Ambassa
dor has presented a memorial to their high mi^htinef
fes, in which he declares in the name of the king his
master, that in conformity to a declaration of the court
of England made to the three Northern courts, no
fllips of the Belligerent powers will be permitted to
commit hostilities in the Baltic.
Berne, (Switzerland) May 6. The expedition a
gainst the rebels takes a favourable turn ; colonel Froi
deville attacked their rear with some troops and two
pieces of cannon ; they at firft seemed as if they meant
to make some refinance, but soon requested a parley
when they, in number about 1200, laid down their
*rms. During the parley the chief of the rebels fled,
but was massacred and dragged back to the town, where
his head was exposed upon the gate. We are in hopes
the rebellion will soon be quelled.'
Paris, May 15. Moniieur Neckar, upon his quit
ing the public office he held, retired to his country
house at St. Ouen, where, during three days, he re
ceived visits from his friends. M. de Fleury has ac
cepted of the portfcuille, and has begun business, with
out its being well underflood under what title - he has
however given notice upon 'change, by the proper
agent, that all M. Necker's engagements will be re
spected. M. Neckar has left above 156 millions in
the royal treasury, a sum fufficient for about eight
months expences. M. de la Motte Picquet is failed
with five large ships sheathed with copper ; it is said he
is gone to meet the Spaniards.
Paris, May 18. They write from Brest, that the
irth instant, M. de la Motte Picquet came into that
road with the prizes taken from the English, consist
ing of 21 merchant ships, and a corsair, they having
EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.
L O N D O 'N, May io.
Extract of a letter from Dublin, May 2.
“ A direct trade having lately been opened between
this kingdom and the Imperial port of Oftend, we hear
a consul from the court of Vienna is to be immediate!,
appointed to reside here."
The remaining fndiamen loading in the river are or
dered round to Portsmouth as soon as possible, a con
voy being appointed to fee them to the Madeiras, and
from thence ordered to reinforce fir Geo. Rodney in
the Weft Indies.
It is conjeCtured that there will not be less than three
hundred men, officers, soldiers, and seamen, going out
on board each fndiamen.
Admiralty-Office, May 11.
ExtraCt of a letter from captain Collins, commander of
his majesty's ship Aurora, to Mr. Stephens, dated
Mount's Bay, May 7, 1781.
" Please to acquaint my lords commissioners of the
admiralty, that being off the Land's End, the 3 d inst.
I fell in with and, after a chafe of 14 hours, took the
Le Comte de Guichen, lugger privateer, belonging to
Morlaix, of 16 guns, 10 carronades and swivels, and
80 men. This vessel was some time ago called the
Black Princess, then cutter^rigged, and commanded
sirs lby Luke Ryan, and afterwards by one M'Carty,
and is the fame that did so much mischief on this coast
latt year."
S:. James's, May 9. His Majesty having been pleas
ed to appoint Thomas Shirley, efq; to be captain-ge
neral and governor in chief of his majesty's Leeward
Charibee inlands in America, he this day in council took
the oaths appointed to be taken by the governors of his
majesty's plantations.
May !$• Ihe Galatea and Camilla, on their passage
to Ireland, took the Peoenix, bdund from Cadiz to
Boston, with bale goods, &c.
Yesterday morning died, lieutenant-general William
mher^, adjutant general of his majesty's forces, co
lonel of the 32d regiment of foot, and governor of St.
John's, Newfoundland.
Extract of a letter from Brussels, May 8.
' Last Saturday arrived en express from Vienna,
with orders to augment tie regim ; .r. s ,f the Low Coun
tries one fourth their number with all possible expedi
tion. The emperor has certainly some gr. at stroke in
contemplation, and the king of Prussia whose decline is
manned, will no; it is thought, be able to oppose him
with his former ability."
Extract of a letter from Plymouth, May 13.
m ° rnin ^ arrived here the brig Atlantic, one
of the ships captured here by fir George Bridges Rod
ney s at St. Euftatius. She brings an account, that
" e 2 ° ° ""¥> i n l atb 49, 26 N. and long. 8, 18.
Wert, about 40 leagues from land, in company with
32 fan of merchantmen, under convoy of four m n of
war, they fell in with seven fail of French ships- the
commodore immediately hoisted the signal to disperse -
but the captain of the br g fays he saw many of the
leewardmolt dips captured "
Yeherday the court of directors of the Eafl-Indiz
company look up and purchased fourteen fail of ships,
to carry troops and fiores to the East- Indies.
Extract of a letter from Paris, May 9.
# By letters from Berne of the 4th instant we learn,
tnat a courier arrived there that night, with the news
that the peasants of that canton, to the number of
10,000 men, had taken up arms ; that they had seized
upon Purne and Gruyeres, and had even threatened
Fribourgh. Ihe magifiracy of Berne having assembled
immediately, sent 8000 militia, composed of infantry
and dragoons, with a train of artillery, to that place.
The apparent cause of this infurre&ion is, the abolish
ment of some holidays; but the real one is, the too
harsh treatment these unhappy people undergo from
their bailiffs."
!.'' fwoof the men of war presented by the
Eatt-lndia company to government, are in such for
wardnefs, that they will be ready to launch the latter
end of July at fartheft.
Extract of a letter from Plymouth, May 13.
This morning arrived the Alexander privateer, be
longing to this port, and has brought in with her a
large ship from St. Euftatius, which she retook from
the French, within about 30 leagues weft of Scilly.
Iwo men of war here are getting ready to fail to Ire
land, to convoy the Charleftown fleet to England."
The iith instant, died at Dublin, in the 66th year
his age, the right honorable William Crofbie, earl
Glandore,vifcount Crofbie of Ardfert, and baron of
Brandon ; one of his majesty's most honourable privy
council of Ireland.
May 19. Thursday night and yesterday morning
the Press was so very hot, that every ship in the river
was flripped of seamen, without any regard being paid
to protections.
Orders are given for no more protections to be grant
ed, until his majesty's fltips, now ready for sea, are ful
ly manned.
Extract of a letter from Vienna, April 24.
" It is reported, that a courier, who lately arrived
from Florence, has brought with him dispatches from
the court of Spain, relative to a peace. Sir Robert
Marray Keith, envoy extraordinary from the court
of London, has been very busily employed in finding a
proper house for fir Joseph Yorke, and has, with great
difficulty, executed his commission, the rents of houses
having risen to such an exorbitant price. He has been
offered a houte of no great appearance, for which they
ask him a 1000 guineas per ann. The cause of this
extravagant rife in the price of house rent, is an opi
nion which prevails, that a Congress will soon. be held
in this capital."
funk one merchant ship and a corsair. The fame da
the Franklin cutter carried into L'Orient, two others
of the fame fleet which had been chafed by M. de la
Motte Picquet, one of 500 tons, and the other of 350.
Kinfale, (Ireland) May 3. This morning arrived
here his majesty's ships Galatea, captain Reid, and Ca
milla, captain Collins, from Charleflown, with 28 trans
ports, io army victuallers bound to Cork, 10 oat ves
sels, one navy vidualler, and 13 private traders; seve
ral parted company at sea.