Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1775-05-29 00:00:00, page 4

" If;LS godlike uc is made of our fupcrflui
ties, after a decent provifiun for our families,
we dial! never have cceafion to deem wealth in
compatible with libert, ';but if applied to the
ignoble purposes of what is commonly called lux-
Iy, cue too in our turn muff loon fink into that
CO Chihli gulph—"
What the palegholl of mighty empires stalk
J melancholy ^uile, w;th not one mark.
Cfglory L ft:—their wither'd laurels all
Dropp'd frofu their brow, to mock the pride of
man,
" At this thought you are routed, and me
thinks I hear every American cry out — Luxury,
the foe to Liberty shall never find footing here—
Liberty is our idol !—She is the parent of virue,
the guardian of innocence and the terror of vice.
Equal laws, security of property, true religion,
wisdom, magnanimity, arts and Iciences are her
lovely offspring ! —Shej has turned defarts into
fruitful fields, and villages into populous cities.
Without enjoying the bleflings which fire bellows,
the solitary Rate of nature is preferable to socie
ty; and the ficins of wild beads a more honour
able covering than all the silken vestments slavery
can bestow. For jiavery debases the nature of
man, and is a Handing war againtt heaven and
earth. Bafenels arid misery are her offspring ;
and allmanner of injnftice, rapine and vice till
up her train ! —
" Here then I rest my argument ! —Since at the
feet of luxury, the chief empires of the old world,
lie prostrate and debased; let us learn wisdom
from the example of others; and particularly in
cor present trying situation, let us route from the
lap of eaje, and be prepared for every patriotic est
erhon, If we hope to ride out the storm, let us
like fkilful mariners call all bandr to the oars .and
ropes; beginning our work by throwing overboard
every thing useless, and taking down the Juper
flous jaiis.''
" / nd oh ! thou that art the great po'eftar, by
which every hero and every patriot, of ancient or
modern times, has directed his course-— do thou
Jhive in ft, on us! Thou that didst illuminate Bri
tons, when the name of Britons reached its high
est glory ! Thou that didst inspire our Hamp
dens, cur Sidneys, our Ruffels, our Lockes !
Thou that ledft our fathers across the valt ocean
to plant a wilderness, and didst dictate to our ve
nerable PENN, his benevolent system of laws
Genius of liberty, guardian angel of the free, by
whatever name thou wilt be called—Or rather
more devoutly—Thou FATHER and MAKER
of all! from whom every good and perfect
gift descends— do thou foine in upon us! —Rekindle
to ancient British spirit wherever Britons dwell
—Save a parent fate, and save the children too !
Lay the day be removed to the fartheft verge of
:me, in which virtue shall wholly forfake the old
world — But ifin thy wife dispensations that day
should be permitted sooner to dawn, have com
faffion on the new! Invigorate and support usin
every thing praise worthy—that so, amidst the
vi le wafie rf^/rq,this one corner of the globe
may at least remain the last asylum of truth, right
eousness, and freedom !"\
Onthe conclusion of this piece, which was de
livered wiha fervour and animation worthy of
the fubje<ff, the audience, no longer connniming
ihemfelves to the usual silent marks of applause,
broke forth into one loud and general plaudit —a
sure testimony that the sentiments it contains
found an advocate in every bosom.
An Account of the Valedictory Oration*.
TH E firft part of this piece contained an ac
curate anal)fis of the different branches
of science necessary to a liberal education, and
might be very proper to be laid before the public;
but the latter part is what coincides with our pre
fint design, and gave the speaker a full opportu
nity of displaying the strength of his oratory.
After fomming up this firft part with the fol
lowing just remark—“ That liberty cannot be
destroyed till true learning is extinguished, like
a mighty giant who cannot be subdued till his
eyes are blinded, or eradicated"—he addrefles
himfefto the truflees of the college as follows—
“ Since such is the influence of a good educa
tion upon the manners, the genius, the felicity of
individuals as well as whole kingdoms, how shall
we prepare ourselves to take leave of this seat
of letters? When I recoiled that here we
Lave spent our youthful, and perhaps many of
our happiest days, delighted and improved; when
1 call to mind, that while we have been led thro'
the pleasing walks of science, you, Gentlemen,
the benevolent founders and patrons of this Se
minary, with a care even paternal, have joined
our worthy preceptors in watching our steps, and
inciting us to glory and excellence by example as
well as precept; and when I look forward and
consider that we are soon to launch out into the
world upon the foundation of our own yet uhripen
ed reason - a thousand anxious thoughts croud
upon my mind, too big for utterance ! My bosom
heaves with gratitude which language cannot ex
press ! My tongue faulters, and refufes the office
of bidding adieu, or dissolving a connexion so
ufefcl, so honourable to us! No, Gentlemen!
let it not be dissolved—we will Hill look up to
you with filial reverence, for council and
protedion in the ways of virtue; and while we
walk in them, we know that you will absolve us
from those inferior marks of gratitude which
words can but ill express.
" Happy Pennsylvania! although dark clouds
lower over our heads—yet happy in this—that
t!ie firft men of our country, even the defcendents
of our venerable Founder, Governors, fudges,
Divines, and the oracles of our other liberal pro
feffions—deign to superintend the education of
youth, and to train up a succession of patriots,
J See Cato's Letters, Vol, 11.
* Spoten by Benjamin Chew, B. A.
PHIL '\? EL P H y : Printed by JOHN DUNLAP, at the Newest Printing-Office in Market-Street, where
buMcriptions at Ten Shillings per ^num, Advertisements, &c. are thankfully received for this Paper.
sages and lawgivers, to support and dignify cur
great American cause, when the present il
lufbious let of a&ors shall quit this earthly stage!
“ As to you, young Gentlemen, who are fol
lowing us through those pleasing walks of science,
I know that you already anticipate that part of my
address which custom has appropriated to you. —
With such models before you, countenanced and
encouraged by such dignified chara^ers; the eyes
of your country upon you, and its growing diffi
culties calling for growing exertions of wisdom
and virtue—lose not your present golden opportu
nities of preparing yourselves to ad a worthy part
in life. Be not discouraged with the apparent
difficulty of improvement. Our little experience,
being however lomewhat greater than yours, en
titles us to tell ffi^ that difficulties vanilh as in
dustry increales, and the farther you travel in the
paths of learning, the more smooth and delight
ful they become.
" But the last and moll severe part of my pre
sent duty remains. lam now to bid adieu to
you, my dear fellow Graduates, as joint votaries
of science in this place. Being now to part, our
lots may be cast wide in this continent, and our
pursuits may be different. The moment we step -
over yonder threshold, we must look upon our
selves as embarking on the perilous voyage of life,
in perilous times- The happy hours of youth,
which we have spent here in joyous converse, open
ing our bosoms to each other, unfufpe&ing and
unfufpe&ed, will often recur to us in sweet re
membrance—Yes! my companions! let them re
cur; and with them, let all the inftruftive ief
fons we have here received, recur also—and thus
our constant wishes will be, for the prosperity of
this Seminary, that it may continue to the latest
ages one of the brightest luminaries of this new
world, the grand nursery of truth and free
dom; diffusing abroad whatever can elevate or
enlighten mankind, and promote the best interests
ofthis great and growing country !
" And while in this public manner we confefs
our obligations to this our alma mater, and have
been dignified with her laurels; it is her right in
return, nay it is our country's right, to expea
from us a conduct in life proportionably dignified.
And let them expert it; for I know, my dear
Fellow Graduates, that your hearts join me, and
all the foul of the patriot exults within you,
while I now step forward, and pledge myfeif
before this great and venerable AfTembly, that
we who have this day been so highly distinguished
in their fight, will make our country's good, and
the support of her religion, her laws, her civil
rights, the grand object of all our pursuits. We
will confider liberty as the choicest gift of
heaven, the unalienable right of mankind, exalt
ing human nature, and inspiring evlry nobler sen
timent. And we will devote ourselves to her
service, not with a sudden or occasional zeal, but
with a pure, ftedfaft and inextinguishable flame,
burning still clearer and stronger through life—
Our latest prafts the fame as all the pof,
rind '' Save our country heaven (ball he our lafi !”
This performance was received with the fame
marks of universal approbation as the former ; the
speaker, through the whole of it, and particularly
in his pathetic conclusion, having fbewn that he
felt, and was thoroughly possessed with, his
fubjedt.
Extraßsfrom the CHriRGE given to the Gra
duates by the Provost.
Young Gentlemen,
CUSTOM requires that I should now take
leave of you, with a short address for your
future conduct in life; and it gives me great
fatisfaftion that you have anticipated much of
what I might fay on the prelent occasion ;
having publicly avowed your principles and
pledged yourselves to your country for its ser
vice. I have therefore determined rather to re
frefh your memories with a few old\ lessons,
than to deliver much that is new; because I
with all rim rica to know that dodrines constant
ly propagated here, long before the present day,
are not, however, unsuitable to it. And that
these dodrines have been as follows, l ean appeal
to the testimony of many of the worthy sons of
this seminary, who now bear a capital part in our
present animated struggle for public happiness."
" In the firft place, then, we have always
endeavoured to convince you that the relation
you bear to Jesus Christ sheds the brightest
luftre round the human character; and that in
his school only you can complcat your wisdom.
All arts, all sciences, all eloquence, all philo
sophy, which would lead you to negled this
divine and saving system of knowledge, are but
vain and empty."
" But I need not enlarge with regard to your
relgious condud; and shall pass on to a few
things refpeding your condud in civil life.
And this you will remember has been our con
stant maxim—"
“ That the government of your country is a
government of laivs, founded on reciprocal
obligations between the governors and. governed;
where your liberties, your lives, your property,
depend not on the will of one man, nor of a
number of men, but on the known and e?ab
lifhed rules of Juflice —even your equals being
your judges.
On this fubje&, we have endeavoured to lead
your attention to the hilldry of empires, that
you might trace the causes of their fall; and
the virtuous sigh hath often fwell'd our bosoms
when we have conhdered in how few places of
the world civil liberty, the Christian religion
in its purity, and the principles of toleration
are to be found. Al.hough the ways of Provi
dence are hard to scan, yet when we have ob-
1 See the Charge givin at the Ji ft Commence
ment, viz. 1757, from which a cofarable part
oj this is quotea, and therefore jhculd not have le n
now republished, ij it had not been by desire, and
for the reasons above assigned.
served that these nighty bleflirg', reiufing all
fellowlhip with corruption, venality and de
basement of thought, have been travelling from
clime to clime, and from people to people—a
fond belief has feezed us, that future z:ras of
renown are yet reserved for this American world,
in its turn. There is nothing criminal in this
belief! Nay, we have not only wished you to
indulge it in the heart, but even to work it up
into a itrong and enthusiastic persuasion ; think
ing it might be to you as a portion of divine
spirit, animating you in every adion, and in
spiring you with a noble perseverance amidst
the word that can happen. Our lessons to you
have therefore run in the following drain—
" Since you are thus peifuaded that there is
yet a great and mighty fabric to be built up in
this your native land; and since, when the
present set of matter-workmen shall be no
more, it may be your lot to succeed to their
patriot toils ; if, therefore, you would be
prepared for such a talk—the greatest which a
mortal can bear among his fellow creatures —
we charge you in the firft place to accustom
yourselves to industry and temperance. Be as
sured, that let a man's parts be ever so eminent,
he will find it difficult to gain confidence, or
make a figure in the grand concerns of the com
munity, if he has not firft made himfelf refpe&-
able, easy and independent by integrity of con
dud and a laudable attention to his own private
concerns—For he who is prodigal of his own,
ought not to be entrusted with what belongs to
another."
The glory of every country is its liberty, its
independency, and its improvements in com
merce, arts and religion. But, like the worm
at the root of Jonah's gourd, sloth is a strong
poison, eating out the vitals of all. It exhausts
wealth, enervates power, famifhes arts, de
stroys religion, and fells liberty for a morsel of
bread. °
“ Spurn from you, then, betimes aR Jlotb,
and turn a deaf ear to the fyren charms of plea
fur b . Remember that it was net by idle hands,
or supernumerary mouths ; it was not by re
clining in the lap of ease, or flaunting after va
nities unsuitable to their condition—that your
industrious and honorable ancestors formed to
themselves these goodly habitatations in an once
uncultivated wilderness! Nor is it by such
means, that they can be transmitted fair and
flourishing to posterity."
“ Jt is always too soon when a people,, who
have attained the meridian of their glory, for
get those virtuous arts by which they were ex
alted into importance! But for us, who have
not yet half way reached our noon—nay, whose
fun is but just rising over the mountains, and
that with clouded afpe& —1 fay, for us to relax
one jot of primitive virtue, or to Iciter in the
morning of our day—what sluggards Should we
be deemed ?
Let it not offend yau then, when called to look
back “ to the rock from whence you were
he ven, and the pit from whence ye were dig
ged. Observe the steps by which your ancestors
rose into confidefation ; and you shall scarce
find one of all the number that ever attained
eminence but by industry in some fettled calling.
On your firft entrance upon life it should,
therefore, be your business to make a pause—a
solemn pause at its portal ; and to confider that
your fup^rior opportunities of knowledge re
quire superior exertions of virtue. When set
loose from, the reins of discipline, you will be
ready to look abroad on the world with confeious
rapture anJ the most buoyant hopes. ' The full
refs of blood and strength of passion will be apt
to bear down that sober reason and cool reHefti
on, which are your best guides. At every glance,
Elvfian feenes and Fairy profpeas will rife be
fore you, seemingly so variegated with pleasure,
that the choice will perplex you!
" But be persuaded that the pleasures thus
to be derived, from pursuing phantom after
phantom, expedient after expedient, to keep
animal joy alive, till the pall'd sense recoils,
and refutes the hated load—will be found at last
a bed shorter than a man can stretch himfelf
upon, and a covering narrower than he can
wrap himfelf in. Such pleasures will only se
duce you from the path of virtue, drawing you
on, through meads of unreal bliss, to the fool's
paradise—a deceitful region, where snakes lurk
under the grass,
" And, mid the roses, fierce Repentance rears
“ Her horrid crest "
“ But true pleasure is to exert the firft efforts
of your reason, in considering wtyt you are,
whence you came, whither you are going, what is
given you to do, and how you are prepared to aft
your part worthily ! It is to come forth on the hu
man stage, .in the fight of mortal and immortal
powers, all energy and action; rejoicing to'fill the
sphere assigned you with diligence and dignity."
Thus animated—thus panting after virtue and
excellence—should your country call ; should you
perceive the corruptors or corrupted stealing upon
the unguarded hour of Liberty, and undermining
the civil or religious principles of your country —
then will a holyjealoufy seize your whole frame !
you will be all eye, and ear, and heart, and voice,
and hand, in a cause so glorious! You will let
the world know that Liberty is your unconquer
able delight, and that you are sworn foes to every
species of bondage, either of body or mind !
In this work, your utmost efforts, the facrifice
of every private advantage, will leave no fling be
hind, but yield matter of eternal exultation ! For
certainly if there be any thing in this world,
suited the the native greatness of the human mind,
and worthy of contention—it must be to afiert the
cause of truth and virtue; to support the funda
mental rights of mankind, and to ftiive for the
confutation of your country —and a government
of Laws freely consented to by yourfeves!
While such objects are in view, dangers will
not daunt a good man. But where the voice of
public virtue and public Liberty calls, thither will
te follow, whether to life or to death t With a
manly and intrepid spirit, with a fervent and en
lightened zeal, he will persevere to the last, even
although his country should be blind to his virtue,
knowing it often happens, that
" The funs of glory please not till they set."
These, Gentlemen, are the lessons which you,
and those that have gone before you, have, for
many years/, received here. Could I now enter
tain a sentiment repugnant to them, I should deem
myfelf unworthy to stand in this place. And so
long as such sentiments are propagated in this Se
minary, I trust it will continue to enjoy the coun
tenance of good men; as I am sure it will enjoy
your countenance on this account, as well as from
the remembrance of past favours.
Sure I am too, that it was as a Seminary calcu
lated for the advancement of those sacred princi
ples that I recommended * it to the encouragement
of good and benevolent men in the parent coun
try. And the munificence of their benefactions,
on that occasion, led me fondly to believe, that the
propagation of those principles, in the remotest:
parts of the Empire, was their ardent wish. The
remehibrance of that kindness cannot eafly be torn
from a grateful heart ; and it is with relu&ance
we lift up our voice with those that complain.
Oh Britain ! Shall it ever be said, that the lau
rels which have so lung bloomed around thy brow
shall be withered by a policy that would degrade,
beneath the rank of Freemen, Millions sprung
from your own loins, and inheriting your own
spirit, from the time that your spirit exalted yew.
above the surrounding nations? Can honour, vir
tue, public fafety, dignity of sentiment, ahy laud
able or liberal principle ever dilate this? Rome,
in all her glory, was never called to such an il
lustrious work as now lies before you !—to en
large the sphere of Proteflantifm, to encreafe the
number of free Rates and communities; to propa
gate the arts of peace and civilization ; to bind to
gether all the members of a great empire in one
golden cord of mutual love and mutual benefits ;
and in short, to bid other Britons rife, in other
climes, to the remotest verge of the habitable
world !
These are the true ways of advancing and sup
porting power; and would to God that all who
are eloathed with it would confider it as given only
for these divine purposes, ere the irrevocable
decree of deftru&ion shall go finally forth.
* c i be language oj the Royal Brief for a national
Collection, and of the Address to the People of England,
which accompanied, it was as follows
“ The kind providence of God seems to have great
things in view at this time, by calling the British na
tion to the possession of the most important part oj Ame
rica ; and the greatest of all the glories that can accrue
to this kingdom from a dominion so widely extended,
will be to make use of the opportunities thereby given
her for the advancement of divine knowledge ; "ana' to
be found a chosen inflrumknt, in these latter days, for
calling new, and heretofore unexplored, countries', to
the enjoyment of every thing that can exalt humanity,
at a time when fa many of the old have fallen back ~to
their original barbarity. Should we once become in
different in this refped, and begin to confider our vast
American settlements as given to us merely for advan
cing our secular intereJis, and not for enfreafing the
number of Protestants and Freemen, we may have
reason to fear, that Providence would league as to our
selves, and raise up worthier infiruments for accent
plifoing its own eternal purposes of love towards those
so long benighted regions !
BY virtue of a writ to me direfteq, will be fold
by public vendue, on Monday the 29th day
of May inst. on the premises, at 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, a certain meffilage or tenement, ball al
ley and other improvements, and lot or piece of
ground therunto belonging, situate cn the fourh.
fide ofPlumb-ftreet, between Second and Third
freets, in the dittria of Southwark, containing
in front 36 feet, and in depth 90 feet ; bounded
by ground of William Morris, and others ; fub
je& to a groundrent of 6/. currency, per annum ;
late the estate of James Brown ; seized and taken
in execution by
WILLIAM DEWEES, Sheriff.
BY virtue of a writ to me dirtied, will be fold
by public vendue, on Tuesday, the 30th day
of May inst. at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, at the
house of James Nevill, the sign of the Rainbow, in.
the Northern Liberties, all the estate, right, title,
interest, the possession, property, claim, and de
mand whatsoever, of a certain Jacob Miag, of and
in a certain meffiiage, tenement, and lot or piece of
ground thereunto belonging, htuate on the welt
tide of Second-street continued beyq,d the city cf
Philadelphia, containing in front about sixteen feet,
and in depth about 120 feet ; bounded by ground
of William Coates; fubjefl to a groundrent of 5/.
125. currency, per annum ; late the property of the
said Maag ; seized and taken in execution by
WILLIAM DEWE E S, Sheriff.
Imported in the last vessels from Briltol, and to be
fold, wholesale and retail, by
JO E L Z A N E.
At his STORE in Second street, the third door
above Race-street,
A LARGE assortment of Ironmongery, Cut-
A lery, Joiners Brass Ware, and Saddlery; also
Dye Stuffs, Pointers Colours, Seine Twine, Timo
thy and Clover Seeds, Wool Cards, Glue, Win
dow Gla's, Chalk, Slates, &c. &c.
This Day is pubUJhed by
JOHN SPARH A W K,
At his Book Store in Second-street, near Mar
ket-lheet, Philadelphia,
The L ife
OF THE LATE
EARL of CHESTERFIELD.
OR, THE
MAN of the W 0 R L 1).
INCLUDING his Lordship's principal
Speeches in Parliament; his most admired
Essays in the Paper called The WORLD
his Poems; and the fubftmce of the System \
of Education, delivered in a series cf L E T
TERS to his SON. [1 vol. 10s.]
N. B. This Book contains the valuable tart of
Lord Chesterfield's celebrated tetio-s tc b,s Sen.
to which is added, jund'y otter things as above, tie
Latin and French intefperfed through the v „,* ^
tranfated by way oj notes, which are not .n the ori
ginal.