The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-05-06 00:00:00, page 1

For the PENNSYLVANIA JACKET.
Mr. DurLAp,
TH E queries mentioned in your papor of Saturday
week, were intended to have been published a few
days after the butchery of Mr. Whitmier's f inly, but by
some accident t eir appearan e in print was delayed fill
after the arrival of the troops to the affiflance of that
distressed country. Had these queries then appeared, in
all probability no person would have attempted to con
front them, at least by any partial " Rate of fads;" be
cause th< information they conveyed was too frefli and po
sitive for coutradiaied.
I will not, however, take upon me the unequal talk to
determine, whether it were trifling or not in the Assembly
to N firft undertake their relief, and then referring the mat
ter to the Executive Council and his Excellency General
Wdhiazton, as more proper for their notice and dlfcut
fions. Certain it is that the Assembly were no Grangers to
the important employments of Cbngrefs some long, time
before , and to speak in as tender language as we can of
-so refpellable a body, they did not in this infiance, what-/
ever they have hitherto done in others, discover the atten
tion to an injured and ufeful people, which was naturally
expelled fromthem.
Early in the commencement of the late sessions, did
they represent the dangers which they were exposed to, in
the most striking terms. What was the confluence? A
Committee appointed, who had a conference with another
Committee from Congress- Some measures in their relief
propoftd—yet nothing decifiv^ done—And in short, just
on the exit of the sessions the whole application 'devolved
on another body of bur government
And, true it is (I shall ever confefs it with applause)
Bur Council were riot wanting in a generous zeal to aid
them, and it was owing print ip Ily t® their active inter,9-
firion that the forces at length reached there. It is full as
true, and as candidly is allowed, that the inhabitants have
at this moment the most extensive benefits of that protec
tion— But shall we thank the Assembly for this? Or does
all the advantage these troops now give atone for the burn
ings and devastations, which the not fending them before
occafipned to that place?/
For, I must have leave to think, that the forces could
have been feat early enough not only to prevent there de
predations, but, at the time time, to have maintained the
Length of the county, which; an that account, has, no
doubt, been much weakened by the evacuation that en
sued. February was an exceeding fine month, as was the
general part of March. We fee the enemy benefited by
it—Why ought not we? The weather was equally good
for both parties; and General Hind, to all appearance,
could then as well have marched td the Rapport of Wyo
ming, as he has lately since done.
Thus an opportunity which might be considered a' a
bluffing, has been converted into a misfortune, by the
conduit of the Assembly. What must those think that
have loft their homes and habitations by this unaccounta
ble oversight ? And what are not the surviving connexions
of that family juflified in faying who, relying on the at
tention of our Assembly, were inhumanly massacred ^vith
in fourteen miles of the town ? Can they have this reafoo,
and yet be silent ? *
In matters oftrivial moment, it were not, perhaps, im
proper for our Assembly to have treated with indifference
an application from any, even the most refpe&able peo
ple ; but, Purely, in a matter of this extensive concern, in
which the interest of that, and, indeed, of every other
back county in this state, was so immediately connected,
I shall leave it to men of more difeemment than myfelf to
answer, what was their bounden duty?
* I believe it is cne ofthe firJt inf.ar.ces in an, free fate
where the Magifrum have been unpetted to embody a
number offerees to defend part 01 it, especially where the
Representatives of fuck MagiJirates had early notice of the
impending invasion given them. This mu, do that count,
lading hanouy and 1 shake no doubt but that the moner,
which these brave and determined people have so gsnerofy
advanced for that purpose, will be tbearfuU, remitted them.
It is surmised, that if this is the case, fuels' liberties by indi
viduals ma, be taken hereafter, to the public detriment,
7be be,, and indeed the only method to avoid ibis danger,
mill be jor the Assembly to lend a more attentive ear to the
voice of their conflitgents, than the, fcepti have done on
t'ris fubjea.—Nor will this be the only, tyg&nience. The
People can then have noju, pretence to ctfrss% of men or
measures, Hear what a reJpMiable authority writes to bis
friend in this eit,, from Sunbury, in a tetter dat<d6th April.
10,9 "You will fee, by the enclosed proclamation c, the
Magi,rates, the means nue are obliged to have refrurce to
for a small temporary defence. Thanhs to our worthy friends
in bgbflation! The place where the family were kiledand
burned, as mentioned in the enclosed is not above fourteen
miles from tbts town. The inhabitants at Wyoming are now
compleatly ruined, as the few houses that escaped la, H ,„.
her are now defrayed, amd the cattle that remained are
either killed or drove away. We are in daily expectation of
the Jamefate ; and if an expedition is not already underta
ken, we cannot ex,eft a rojidence herd?
THURSDAY, MAY 6, ft
THE
^^^^rw^ ^^^
OMol Jm ^^bjb^
‘OR THE
GENERAL *^^^^^^^^ADVERTISEP
[ Price 2s. 68. single, zs. by the quantity. Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. ]
One would think, if there is any thing worthy ®f the fe
frious attention of that 'venerable body, it mufb be that
which has a tendency to feeure the community from every
invasion, but above all from savage invasion, the worst of
all invasions! Other enemies may be more readily repel
led, and with greater probability defeated; but iuvafions
from this quarter have been too often experienced not to be
well guarded against, when we have it in our power.
I have long regreted the languor with which our pu' lie
measures in this slate are conduced. And although I
Should not desire to be the foremeft in elucidate . this ime
lancholy truth,yet t b observation may not be improper on
this oc afion. Some people, in all fiates, are inclined to
refigh themselves to toe virtue of their ruling powers with
perfect tranquility and therefore diver their attention
from all public affairs, not doubting but that they will
be directed with the regularity they deserve.
Such a truly good lifpofition is perhaps onepft^emoft
amiable of our nature. I with I were permitted to aid, it
could be indulged confident with the imerefts of society.
An absent people, however, are generally impefed upon,
and this implicit confidence, in even t e best of friends,
-has often been attended with the most deplorable confe
quehces. Human nature is too frail and degenerate to have
the most favorable fentiroerits of, and even allow ng vir
tue and honor their due merits, that rigid integrity and
felf-denial, so often profeffed, is not ,onfiflxrly to be ex
pelled from mixed Affemhiies of men where such a vari
ety Qf propensities and fentimen § are frequently encour
aged, even at the public exp^hce.
Care and tircumfpfflion are then absolutely rigeeffary,
let interefled and designing men dhfcry it as they pletfe/f
and I hope the future conduit of this promising slate) will
remain a Handing evidence of this obvious truth.
A PENNSYLVANIAN.
Philadelphia, May 1, 1779,
f However Statesmen may magnify the imparlance of
their pop, it gives but a, ludferint proof o j an upright in
tention, to wi/h to Jtlence others tn leaking well known
facts. Little underfanaing is neck,dry to "judge whether
the mterefj of one's country be attended to b„bofe in admi
nf'd^on. The m f liflefo will , oner 0, later fee. A peo
ple injured must feel it whether they be Athenians or Bce
tians.',
PHILADELPMfr A.
At ACT to ascertain ibe number of taxable inhabitants
witbin the city of Philadelphia, add within each of the
counties of this commonweal h,
WHEREAS it is declared, in and by the seventeenth
feltion of the confiitution of this commonwealth
“ That 4s represen tation in proportion to the number of
taxable inhabitants, is the only principle which can, at all
times secure liberty, and make the voice ofe majority of
the people thedaw of the land ; therefore the General Af
(embly, small cause compleaf lifts of the taxable inhabitants,
in the city and each county in the commonwealth refpelt
ively, to be taken and returned to them on or before the
lafv meeting of the Assembly, e tilled in the year Oue thou
sand seven hundred and seventy eight."
tn pursuance, therefore, of the said direction of the
constitution, -
Be it hnafted, tend it it hereby snaked by the Representa
tives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the fame,
That the Commissioners of the city of Philadelphia, and
of each county within this commonwealth, shall, and they
are hereby enjoined and required to meet at such conve
nient time and place as they ma, appoint, and shall make
out a true and exalt lift of all and every of the taxable in
habitants, in each towefhip. ward or difiril t in the said
city, and each of the said counties, according to the return,
next before the time of the said meeting to them made by
t^e Affiftant-Affefforsof the townships, wards or diftrilts,
of the said city, and of each of the said refpeltive Counties;
and shall certify jhe number and names ofthe said taxable
inhabitants within the said city and counties refpeltively,
under them hands and seals, or under the hands and seals
of any two of them, for the said citv and for each county,
a?d hall deliver, ^r cause to be delivered, the said lifts to
the General Assembly, at or before the expiration of ten
days after the beginning of the next meeting es the said As
sembly, and in order to prevent any undue practices, in
making out the said returnsand certificates, the said Com
rciffioners, or so m ny of them as shall certify the said re
turns, shall, before force Justice of the Peace of the proper
county, make oath or affirmation, (which fuoh Justice is
hereby required and empowered to administer, and certi
fy under his hand and seal, underneath each of the Gid
certificates ) that the lift of taxable inhabitants, by
them made out, is just and true, according to the best of
their knowledge and belief.
And be it further ena&ed by the authority.aforefaid, That
all taxable inhabitants, who have removed from the county
they resided ia, on account of the incursions of the Indians,
shall be returned and con fidered as inhabitants of the coun
ty from whence they have so removed, and not as inhabi
tants of th# county where they now refide#
And he it further ^aßed 1, the authority aforefaid. That
if any 01 the iad C^miffioners ffiall neglea or re fu fe to
make out the said lifts as aforefai 1, or mail negleft or re
hue to deliver or Cause t e fameto bedelivered asaforefaid.
fl" 1' every , , m ^iffi^er so netting or refufing,
4' r P r 7'7 f ^ ch ^"^ f ° rfeit an .d pay the sum of
= ive Hundred Pounds, for .the life ' of this state..
JOHN BAYAR D, Speaker.
Enacted into a law at Philadelphia,„,, ,&nda v th, twe^
, tftinib day „ March, in the, ear One thsufand seven,
buncred and Jeventn-nine
JOH I\ MORRIS, Junior,
Clerk of the General Assembly.
CDl^/^O^DCfy^MXX^
The HIGHEST PRICE
!S GIVEN FOR
CLEAN LINEN RAGS,
B,Y
J 0 HN DU N # L AR
Up er freon Tkwnjhip, Northampton Counts,
- State o, Pennfjlvania, May , 1770
WHEREAS Henry Sc^ER/of'Up
, 7 p r daemon T ^nilup aioreimc, dihihr, ab~
fronted tram his u fyal|.l d ce of abode Without paying
"" ^b„: And Whereas a writ of atta hmene
was ,ffucd out of the C urt 0 Common Plqg f or fc
fouCumy ag :,1 the Hire and ,ffi& of t h: said dal
°'""N ''"' "" wfit '~ * dul y ttf vf d by the High
Shenil ot the Cumy afonbid aid returned to March
fem Anl whereas the laid Court appointed
'CI L r"\ J "hn Stahl and John Newfor Auditors
to fth the rftate or .fl &of the laid defendant, arid to
a idu the hud defend mt's creditors accounts and adiuft
'' ™ according to law % Thtfe are to give notre. That
f' F f'°?f'^ 'J ' enh "' ' ° f J" n ' ne ' xt vid be fold to
7* * d -> by public sale, at the boufe of Wil.
han. Bon, o? U per Saw on aforefaid, all the iff ft.and
est de of the Gid defendant, fa attached as aforefaid.
And d pe tons r ho are any,a s indebted to bhe laid
defendant, a^ deify to pay rhe fame to the said Au
ditors without any delay ; and ihofe who have any de.
manes ag^nft the said defendant are desired 1 briNin
th.eir ctounG, duly proved, to the. said 'Auditors'
thr hpuie or the Gid John Stahl, the next d y after the
vendue, in order to he adjusted and paid as the Law di
rects in the like cases.
Signed by order of the rift of the said Auditors,
FELIX LYNN,
JOHN STAHL,
JOHN NEWCOMER.
. Philadelphia, May
<To ce SOL Dby the Subjeriber,
A0 ° '°' G R ° UND fitdat'eon the weft fide of
2 ^ Svanfontt eet, in the d drift of Southwark, twenty
feet f ont by two hundred and forty-fix feet deep,
whereon is e^eded a commodious three-story brick
house fifteen .feet by thirty, one, with a good cellar un
del the waole, and a good stone two ftoty kitchen ad
joining.'
Alio another lot of like dimenfiohs, whereonris croft
ed a good two ftbry frame tenement ; and another va
cant lot of like depth, and twenty-one feet front, fituare
between the. above mentioned lots.
Lkewife three twenty.feet lots on the e^ft fide of
Swedes-Church , alley, one hundred and thrty five feet
deep each; which lit mentioned three lets are to be
fold or let upon ground-rent forever, by the fuhferibec
on the premiss, JOHN JONES.
TO BE SOLD BY
A N I)R FW TYBO UT,
In Chefaut street, Philadelphia,
ESTINDIA Rim in foeafa, of the best
VV quality; Geneva in calcs; Jesuits Bark, Rhu
baio, Manna, Ipecacuanha and Cantharides,
Philadelphia, April
TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD.
RAN AWAY in the morning of the xzd inst.
a likely Negro woman named DUTCHES, about
fi*e feetfive otbx inches high, eighteen or twenty yeais
°f a g e , / we ll ma 'e and walks remarkably strait, is very
apt to shew htr teeth when die lau hs, which are ex
ceeying good and white. As die took wish her a great
viri ty of cloaths it is unprot.in which sh. nit, wear.
Whoever /ecurts the said Ne^ro Cat the owrermay
have brr again, er d^ivt'her to tire keeper of the
Woik-houf' of this city, fh.dl be paid the above reward
and ail icaicna 1, charo^v.
THEOPHILUS SHANNON.