The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-04-10 00:00:00, page 2

,r , rnfc& than the people wlm ire the futfeß of
it l'<9 iffking tiiein and changing them at ptafute. ^
This kingdom then, said I, ihauij be the happiest
one in the universe. It is so perhaps, replied my
ghiie, and may bill be happier than what it noy; is.
You think you fee some blemifties. k,may tefo,
continued he : but itris io be considered, that men
were not designed to do every thing rig it. Kingdoms
are composed of men, and kingdoms like marks-me,;
acquire a kind of petfeftion by practice. The grand
council now before you, has ^ rimes felt the infirmi
ties of its members. It has been deceived. It has
more than once futfered itfelf to be amusers with the
political dreams of vifionar, projectors. Rut this is
no reflection, for it could not be otherwjfe with a na
tion, where there was more genius than experience;
nor can it be foppofed that the people will always hap
pen on the belt choice, ft is not long, finer one of the
fpbilittm, of foe empire, banded in a proposal,. to
make a mortar without Time, which might be UNCI ei
tner in h'ouie building .or ship building, ^nd in both
to equal advantage. Another would establish a chain
of intelligence to all parts of the kingdom, by means
pl electricity, to the great laving of post riders and
hxprefcs. A third had a scheme to render figures in
clay'of equal importance at foreign courts, with the
fined figures in wax. A fourth had a fecr?t to con
vert ntgroe's hair into Spanish vwol, andfor employ
big the negroes themselves in-themanufacture of silks,
miiead .of .woolens, Jo waich m,>ll people supposed
they mig^t bebr u^ht, by a little indufiry. Another
Mas for erecting a gred company, or monopoly, in
tended to embrace ' the whole riches of the empire,
and thereby to become a fund for defraying its annu
al expences. A sixth, was for en r aQing .laws, to con
vince people that they had more fingers than,toes, and
for raising a revenue upon the fopernumerary fingers-
A different '"it had an invention to feed' all the mem,
borfes, asses, and other&nknals (force of which were
very numerous, as appeared by exaCt calculations)
employed by the public, without its coding the public
a fiugle pieceof money. But it is to be remarked,tnat
these extravagancies of genius were ingen r^l correct
ed by the good fenfeof the whole. You perceive a few
men of a grave arp ^t, and penetrating countenance;
these have a thorough knowledge of t eimereft of the
ft ate ; they do not (peak often nor much ; but, what
they fay, is always to the purpose, and they, do a great
deal of good.
You cannot, continued h p , call this a council of
kings ; but, wnat some people eßeem more highly, if
there is a council of wife men in the world, you may
boa it to have seen it.
But how ihall I explain, fail I, those marks of dis
order and embarraSs, with which we feemto be sur
rounded. This could not be otherwise, he replied.
What you fee is more the product of natural causes
than mi(management. We fhnuld not quarrel with
things happening from necessity. These people kept
up none of the d'efiroying animals I have mentioned,
and which the Albu'fians poured among them in hosts,
Neither ha'd they established funds for the mainte
nance of such. All this then was to be done, w.thout
the affiance of fofe-fcheme, fund or magazine. The
council therefore became, in an inflant, the providers,
modulators and managers, of a larg^ army or body of
men, with a multitude of upper and under clerks,
corpmiffaries, do&ors, and priests. that some errors
were committed in so complex a piece of business, is
no ways surprising; but that, an affair so various and
of such magnitude, in the conduct of wh p ch, the oldest
nations have blundered, should bare been so well mm-,
naged, is a matter of infinite aflonilbment. They/
have exalted from the lowed circumflanc^, the cha-i
rafter, of the Korazians at foreign courts. They have
made the king of Albuf acknowledge, that his gene-'
reals had Acquired the utmofl reputation of which they
were capable, by their operations against those of
Koraz fend that the courage of his, soldiers had ne
ver been more tried than against the fo'diers of this
4 country. They, have eve'n carried the glory of their
flag to remote seas, and in many inflanees; humbled
that of Al'uf. You will cgnfefs, there is a raft dis
play of skill tn all this. And yet it would have been,
mere complete, had they been properly and equally
^ided by all parts of the empire. But the delinquents
begin to be sensible of their delinquencies. These
had supposed, that it was unnecessary to .assist tue
council. Some of them were ere^ing amphitheatres,
and exhibiting fpedacles, calculated to draw the at
tention ofitbeif fubjefts from their own as well as the
general interest ; while others, that' abounded in fine
tireams of water, were busied in erecting wind-mills.
But, the paroxifm of folly is over, and al! of them
have nearly returned to their reason. That man (con
tinued my guide, holding a mirror up to my eyes,
- that brought the most distant objects before - them,)
who appears busied in some mifterious production, is
to perfect their happiness. He is now employed by
the council, in one of the mod difficult operations of
art, which, when finished, is to equal the effects of
patriotism. He is a young man, you perceive, but
let me tell you, that there is concealed under this
viel of youth, more real knowledge, 'than if to be
found in all-the antiehralchymifis put together.
But, laid I, *«•**•**••*
P. S. The writer of these papers is unavoidably
interrupted irtfheir prosecution, but he promises to
complete them, agreeable to his firft intension, as
soon as'poffble. He hasa great deal to tty, on what
.be think* interesting 'ubjeHs.
, Jie would jattadd, that he has not the vanity to
make an addenda containing corrections of the typo
graphical errors of these pieces, nor even of those which
have arrifen from the haste and hurry in which they
„ re written; and which are only to be attributed to
himfelf. The tenfible reader m^ft have noticed them,
and should he be a candid one also, have placed them
to a proper caute. He cannot however omit mention
ing a blunder in Janus No. VII, because it conveys
a lie to the reader. Instead of the “ sudden arrival
of the French squadron in the Chefapeak, rt fhon|d
have been the " sudden arrival of a part of the French
squadron in the Chefapeak."
A N^N AP O L I AW $<
A correspondent has favoured.iff w s -fo the fallow rt.g:
On Saturday the gift ^U.a par/ , o' fh^enemy from
his mo ft gracious majesty's Thips the Mohk^hd Hope,
off this city, proce'eded-np Well rivefy wifi an in
tention oc'defi royiogf^ith their accurfpmed savage
cruelty, t.be property of Mr. Stephen Sfetyhrd. They
arrived at, kind of- peninfufa, called, Chalk-po ; nt,
about a mile from ,Mg. Steward's.;' it appears, from
the rout they took, the, were conduced by a negro
of Mr. Steward's, who late', ventured to..try their
geiferofity and escaped from, hr matt r. On Chalk
point was a Cannon for fix pounds, and fix men, wo
copeeiving the enemy's approach must be ip front (un
less the, knew the situation of the Cannon) werC Un
fortunately alarmed too lateta make.ufe of their can
non tfor at their firft difeovery they were within a
very few yards of the shore, and confolerabl, in the
rear of, the guards ; on being challenged, they ans
el, friends to con,refs from Annapolis; they were
fired on by two only oftheguard; one of their pieces
miffing fire, theother^, frightened at their numbers,
immediately ran off; they returned it. furioufl, with
swivels and small arms „ unfortunately for those whose
inclination was to harrafs them,,thofe who r^n off lad
with them all the ammunition ; they &*re in three
large barges : their number is fuppoftd to have been
about too men; no farther reffftauce 'being made (for
indeed it was now rmpraßicable) they advanced by
land to Mr. Steward's, where the wholf force that
could be mustered was fix or seven on whom there
could be any dependeugejit was determined to retreat
to captain ffirrifop's, where they were next expelled,
and there make what refiftao.ee,they codid, with the
assistance of what neighbours mi^ht joit, them- but
their vengeance was fatiited for that time ; when they
had so- gloriously Completed the deftruftion of every
thing valuable to Mr. Steward on that place, how did
they exult,! "how glow'd the generous boforn of the
Briton at,a fight Co glorious ! how did the conscious
blush, which feffufes each feature of the hero, brig>t
en their Footes ! how beat the gallant heart when
they beheld the flames which British heroism alone
could kindle, afeeudand'eonfume all before them.!A
flip of 20 guns, that in' a few days would have
been launched, the dwellitg-houfe with most of the
furniture, two or three store houses, &c. filled with
articles of every kind for conducing the business of
building flips,, as well as for private purposes, pro
viffons,. tools, timber, every thing was loft; the
houses, though not elegant, were, for the purpose
they were intended, equal to the most superb ; the
hospitable door was ever open to the honest, and
guefts-of every degree we e welcome as their merits
entitled them ; arid the very fatages who efteded this
horrid affair, afewhours before might ' have been fed,
had they &en'hungty? TheTofois wot yet to be esti
mated; every hour they difeover their fofs greater ;
some papers and books were consumed. This brave
band, at length fatisfie! with this mighty feat, their
vengeance glutted, retired in good order, and made
good' a -Retreat, to their immortal' honour; although
opposed by such numbers. Their malice seemed to be
levelled alone at'Mr. Steward, they having palled thro*
Mr. Harrison's house without injuring it, and in their
way up And returning they paired several others, with-,
out mo'lefting them; there was cantton at the flip
yard, but they were too well informed of its direction
to march that way. Sa, ye deluded few, whom idle,
fear, prejudice, or treachery, aerate ; „ warm ad
vocates for a union with Britain ! Can, .idle fancy pic
ture the idea ; no ; even folly laughs at it-;infanity
derides it. Oh 4 George, which of the heroes, from
the long line of kings which have graced the British
throne, can compare with tuee ?' Brave, generous,, just,
^humane, time can never produce anything to emulate
thy worth. .- , ^ - .
BALT[MOR E, Aprils
On Saturday last several vessels, laden with valuable
goods, arrived here from the Head of Elk, having for
tunately, and very narrowly, escaped the British crui
zers in Chesapeake, some of which presumed to chafe
them within a short diftince of our fort at Whetstone
point', about three mile^from this town.
The harbour of Annapolis', by the latest accounts,
was'ftill blockaded by two British men of war.
' The marquis de la Fayette was yesterday hourly
expected at Annapolis from Virginia, to join his divi
sion of trumps, now ftatioaed near that city.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at Annapolis,
. dated on <T uefejay last.
" On the 24th uh. as major M Lane was coming up
the Bay in a boat, with dispatches •om the marquis
de la Fayette, he difeovered a schooner off Gwin's
island, which, from her behaviour, he fufpeewed to be
an enemy. After she had made several attempts to
runaway, her last effort, to run him down, he board
ed her with great gallantry and address. On board of
her were, the noted captains, Carey Done, and Thomp
son, who, on feeing the major and his few men ap
proach them with their bayonets, begged for mercy,
tho' they w< re well armed on board the schooner. They
were conveyed back to Virginia, from whence they had
escaped from confinement, and the vessel returned to
her owner, at Urbanna, on Rappahannock. The ma
jor proceeded up the Bay, puffed several British cruifc
ers, and arrived here fafe last night.",
TRENTO N, April 4.
Thursday Last a party of the enemy from New-
York attempted to carry off the honourable Josiah
Hornblower, efqufr p , speaker of the afferoply of this
State. They were in the habit of peasants, and per
sonated Jerfej militia, hi this manner they came to
the ferry nearly bppofite his house in Etfex county,
and called for the boat, which was carried over to
them, the people not fufpeaing their villainy. The
ferryman, dn his arrivals observed G. R. oh their car
tdtfch boxes,, and therefore on his returrity with some
addrtfs, let the boat fall down stream 'with the tide, in
order to give a hint to,Mr. Hornblower's family that
at! w^ flat right. This *n' fh rt d^red effeA ; Mr/
Hornblower escaped out of the back door a few mi
nutes prior to their coming at th- front. Two of the
villains pursued him and were tiken, the others got
otf, after making Ms. Hornblowers syn ip-law, Nir.
Cape, prisoner, who has since tefurped on parole.
Philadelphia, 'April 1 0.
A report yefierda, circulated here thut the States
of Holland have -declared war against Great-Bri ain.
This account is fai^ttybe received by a-veget lately ar-<
rived at Boston from France.
Advices from N^w Vorkf through .a good channels
.fay, that the enemy have it in contemplation to fend
a considerable force up our river. New daftle is par
ticularly mentioned asa proper piflee to efrablifh a po&
at: but time must determine the truth of this account.
No mail was yesterday received at the post office,
from the eastward, farther than Morris-Town.
From " The R OYA L G'A'Z ETT E:" #
“ New-York, April 4. On Saturday another re-,
Bel mail was brought tb this city, faken last Thurfda/
with Montaigne the post rider, who was in perfoa'
brought to town by tire eaptors-.; Ft contained a great
number of letters, in the baesy from New England;
Rhode-Ifland, ConneQitu', Fifh-Kiil, New-Windsor,
&c. &c." 1
Mead Quartern New-Windsor,
Thursday, December 28,T780,
AT a general court-martial, whereof Lieutenant
Colonel Forest was President, held by order of
the honourable Board of War, in Philadelphia, De;
cember 6, 1780.
Mr. Thomas Dewees, barrack-mailer, was tried oil
the following charges viz*
First, For ngg!eA of duty.
Secondly, For a partial distribution of wood.
Thirdly, For undertaking an office he was nos
qualified to hold; having never taken the oath
of allegiance to' the United States, or to any
particular Star?.
Fourthly, For n^t taking the oath of office, be
fore he aßet, according to a resolution of Con
gref* of the r^th Ju'y last.
Fifthly, For Selling public wood,* to the prejudice
of the Service.
The Court, aft*r having maturely considered the
evidence both for and against the prisoner, do acquit
him of the firft, Second and third charges; but find
hint guilty of the two last charges, and considering
the ex'enfive and pernicious nature of the last charge,
do Sentence him, under the resolution of Congress of
the 22d August, ^BO, passed particularly for the pu
nishment of delinquents in the quarter-rafter's, com-'
miffary's and clothier's department, to be caffiiered;
and rendered incapable of holding, any future office
in the Service of the United States of America, and
tkat his* crim, of Selling public wood; rind his Sentence!
be publifAed three times in each of the English and
German news-papers, in order to prevent in future
the commission of futh crimes, for 'fearof this, or the
like infamy attending them.
His Excellency the Commander in Chief approver
the fen ten demand orders it to take place,
NIC. GILMAN, junr. A. A. General.-
&^&o<£®^&^W^^
'TOBE SOLD;'..
An elegant Country Houses
And LOTjof LANDypleafantly situated in the town of
Germantown, on a road which leads from the market
place to the falls of Schuylkill, bounded by the Schools
boufe and Quaker-meeting lots, and by ground of St*
rah Afhmcad ; containing two acres aud thirty-two
perches' of land:
Alfa A three ftor. Brick House and
Lot of Lard, on the westerly fide of Front-ftreef, a lit
tle above Vihe-ftreet ; containing in breadth 1, feet 3
inches, and in length <35 fee, or thereabouts, bound
ed bv ground of Charles Weft and 0 hers. For terms
enquire of LEWIS WEISS, Scrivener, in Arch-ftrecf,
oppofiie the Church Bmymg-ground.
TO BE SO L D;
By Pe^er and William Wikoff;
in Front street, between Arch and Race-ftieetf,
Old IVeft-India Rum Ma
deira Wine of the best quality, Red Port Wine, Gin
in cases, the best bottled Cyder, Wool-:ards, &c. &c.
A Quantity of Opium,
T o'b E SOL D, BY
Benezet, Lewis, and^ Company,
At their S re in Sicond-ftrect, near Spruce ftfee.
The Contributors, to the Penn
sylvania HOSPITAL, re r queft^d to meet at the
said H dpita', on Monday, the seventh d.y of May
nex+,between the hours of Three and Five in the AA
t rnoon, in order to ele& Twelve Managers and a
Treasurer for the year thence en u ng, «C. orbing t®
law. April 7.
Was taken off an island
in Schuylkill, by D niel Burrri, es Lower Merrion
township, an lion-roan coloured HOR SE, about five
years bld, does not appear to have hern Ihod. The
owner, proving his p c,eity and paying charges, may
hare him again, by applying as above. March p.