Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1773-11-29 00:00:00, page 2

^ ^ ?rinhr of lie Pennsylvania Packet.
fIR,
('^ N riling your paper the other day, I ob
„ served fometbing by way of answer to a
piece against the ftage.plays figged Phdadclphus;
upon reading it, a thought @f replying fiufhed in
tipon me, but I demurred a while, on considering
the vague, inconclusive and trifling manner in
which a matter of foferidus a nature was treated ;
however, left it might make any unfavourable im
preflions on themindsdf the unwary, or incoohde
rate, 1 concluded it might not be amiis to examine
Philalethes through his piece, and rejoin a little to
what has already been said against tbde itinerant
Comedians..
Philalethes introduces his performance with two
Latin lines, which if he please, I will alter, and
thereby render as consonant with truth—
" hut contaminate volant, aut dAe&are Cam^di,
" At final ct jucunda, indecoraquedLere I'it.c."
The firft thing that he enters upon is the law,
concerning which,„as he openly acknowledges, so I
think he fufficicntly proves himfelfto bean Ignora
mus (I hope the expression may be excused) and
as he seems fond of Latin, I could wish him hence
forward to make more apt quotations than he has ;
done with regard to “ Leges ptferiores," or latter
Jaws; concerning which as he justly feared an
objection, so he halves over with a needless “ per
haps," &c. —and as our “ Leges priores," or anti
ent laws, tho' he objects to them, as made inthe
infancy of the colony, and by men who were not
the most learned, yet the fame reasons he allows
would have been good then, againtt these feenes
of dissipation and extravagance (with regard to
property, &c.) continue to be strong yet, and
which some, even of the most important and sen
sible friends to these matters, candidly allow ;
and as to the makers of thole laws, though they
might not have studied logic, or been able to split
a hair, yet let him believe they knew good from
evil, and that if the affairs of the Roman Empire
and the chriftian church (Tempore antique) as well
as some Rates and churches since, had been con
duced by no learneder or worse men than many
plowmen or fishermen (neither of which I suppose
Philalethes to be) we should not have had the
pages of history so deplorably Rained as they have
been.
Big with the importance of cuflom, Philalethes
tells us, “ they have been licensed in other colb
“ nies, as well as this, for these 20 or 30 years;
" and queries, why the matter was not therefore
“ taken into consideration by government before
“ now?"
I would afl< him, ifhe had a trad of land,
Which he neglected, or was otherwise rendered
unable to cultivate for 20 or 30 years, and that
during that time some evil persons had usurped
the possession, and seated themselves on it,—whe
ther he would therefore/concludetheir conduct was
just, and that he had thereby loft his right? Or
supposing some other person or persons in like cir
cumstance with him, should be so stupid, as to
conclude concerning the matter in a manner I
judge he would not; whether he would think
such a conduct or conclusion bindingupon himfelf
or others ?
And as to this query above-cited, why the •
matter was not sooner considered by the legislative
as well as executive part of government before
now, and his lubfequent vain “ Preemption;'
that because they have not been yet fappreffed,
that therefore it was agreeable to the people ; it is
great pity be was not better informed, or that the
public should be so amused by this “ nugatory"
writer; they may therefore be allured, and fatisfy
themselves upon a stronger evidence than a single
" ibfe dixit," that the matter has been taken into
consideration (within the space he speaks of) by
the legislative body, and a bill actually passed by
them, as the voice or representative of the peo
ple, for the purpose of suppressing their exhibitions.
-—But— prob Dolor !
As to the query, why Pennsylvania ffiould en
joy more privileges than her neighbours, and his
triple declaration of their being licensed or autho
rized wherever they came, and by the univer,al
consent of British America ; let me fay, fefina len
te, and observe, our theatrical advocate has there
in again difeovered his ignorance (if nothing worse)
inasmuch as they are disapproved by thousands of
individuals, and actually forbid by several of the
powers of government on this continent (in some
other refpe&s inferior to this under which we live)
whereof the Company he would defend, can, if
they will, readily assure him.
Philalethes alks further, whether real life can
be truly and justly represented, but by contraß
ing virtue with vice ? If he here alludes, as I sup
pose he does, to the representations given by Co
medians, I oppose what he experts ; for tho' we
may acknowledge that a contrast, io some cases,
may be well, yet we might perhaps be some time
before we ffiould agree upon the manner how, the
places where, and the persons by whom, such pas-
Rons or habits ffiould be contrasted ; I have not
much doubt the persons who are most immediate
ly concerned in the representations, would be
proper fubjecis for one fide of the drama, but
whether they would for the other, I leave the
people to judge, since, according to the declara
tion of one of the Celebrated authors named by
Philalethes.
" None but good men can give good gifts."
As to his flourifhing “ alta voce," what he
would support concerning plays and their original,
it might appear, better from a Jew or a Pagan, but
as a Christian, I hope he may suppress any thing
of the fort, " !m? he foould feein to build again
those things wideb the coming ofCbrifi hath defray
ed," at least in such as believe and obey his doc
trines.
In his attempts to clear them from the imputa
tion of vagrants, I think he has equally failed ;
for in defining the character, he has undoubtedly
painted them in their true colours, save that some
parts are rather too faint, and which, ifhe please,
I will finifu for him.—He fays, “ a vagrant is an
idle disorderly perfori'--fo are they, as I can teftify
from ocular and aural observation; —“ wandering
r'ui from place io /A/^,"—fo do they—" without
any visible means of procuring a living," —so un
doubtedly are they in the eye of the law, except
he can make the repetition of a parcel of vain
and ludicrous layings, or the expiration of the
fetid effluvia of corrupted hearts, to be visible;
or except he will judify them as he could a thief
or pick-pocket, whom to save from this part of
the imputation, tho' actually guilty, might refi
nedly plead their mode of art: With regard to
the means of getting their living, he may perhaps
refer us again to the lawyers, I would then an
swer, that if the present practice of these as well
as those, was suppressed, the world night be none
the worse: To compleat the character, he fays,
they are such as “ may in time become barthenfane
tothe public," so may these, and not only so, but
now a&ualty are— . Erg-
In faring them from the Rigma of Sturdy Beg
gars, he pays a very pretty compliment to mankind,
by comparing their proceedings with that of these
vagrants (a term, I trust, the above lines may
jußify) which comparison, even the honest cobler
has a right to fefent, who, in return for your
money, presents you with a valuable visible con
sideration.
Our author, like a true friend, stands to the
matter to the very last, and attempts to save the
very play-house from the imputation ofanuifance;
I would not mean to aft the critic, yet people may
differ in their opinions of a nuisance, as it seems
he and I do. Now, if I have a right notion of
the matter, it is fometßing hurtful in its conse
quence, and ail means conducing to hurtful ends,
I think, may fafely be Riled nuisances ; in which
case the very method taken to evade the imputation,
hath effectually fixed it; for he tils us," the
prudent manager of the company, wifely forefeeing
some inconvenience, erected the theatre in the
suburbs (gratias Magiflratibus) where none but
the worst fort refided."—Now the youth of this
city, who are the most numerous attendants at
these places, after having their pkffions railed
by the representations of the rape of Proserpine,
Innocence betrayed, She would if foe cou d, and
other similar performances, are let out all a fer
ment into the very midst of those “ infernal infti
'tutions," as Philalethes justly calls them, so that
all things agreeing to compleat their ruin, they
are driven headlong to deftru&ion (unless some
propitious power intervene) and if this be not to
make a nuisance, in the highest acceptation of the
word, let the peoplejudge; and from which, that
heaven may protest all, is the sincere desire of one
who means by this to flicw the futility and error
of Philalethes's performance, and who could have
remarked further upon the fubje&, but that it
would be to trespass too much upon the printer,
and the patience of the public at one time.
PHILO-VIRTUTIS.
(The foregoing piece was intended for our last, but
omitted through want of room.)
To the Printer of the Pennsylvania Packet.
SIR,
AS it is owing to a disposition in your nu
merous correspondents to communicate their
thoughts, that we are frequently entertained with
their productions through the channel of your
paper, and as I dare fay, it is your inclination to
promote fuels a disposition when it's tendency is
dihnterefted and well meant, I therefore can have
no doubt of your publishing the following remarks,
if such is youropinion concerning them.
Suppose, thought I, as I was muffing about the
present situation of affairs—Suppofe the African
company, after having wrested from their native
country a number of their fellow creatures, whom
they haQ doomed to perpetual bondagein a foreign
land, ijad concluded to fend me a consignment of
thole unhappy people ; —what, on such an occasion,
would naturally occur to me? and how would my
reflections lead me to confider this matter?—Be
hold the miserable remains of a parcel ofhalf
Rarved wretches, almost naked, and nearly perish
ing, many of them loaded with irons, pent up in
dismal confinement, and grieving perhaps, that
their lot was so unhappy as to have survived their
fellow-fafferers who perished on the passage.—•
These poor creatures are consigned to me for sale;
of me it is desired to confirm their slavery for life;
to put them into the hands of their hard tafc-maf
ters, and, in fad, to be guilty of the most out
rageous act of injustice that imagination can well
conceive.—Can I accept the commiffion?—No:
I cannot be acceffary to such a flagrant aft of
violence: conscience, humanity, and every sacred
principle forbid it. The Captain muR do as he
thinks proper with his cargo :—lf the profits of
the whole amount were offered to me, I should
reject them with indignation.
Such were my thoughts so far, and the present
Rate of affairs, naturally led me to confider further.
Suppose then, that the EaR-India company had
appointed me one of their commissioners, could I
act as such, or would I refufe the commission ?—
Now although I do not pretend to compare this,l
with that Mockingly inhuman practice of the Have 1
trade, yet as it appears to be the general senti
ment of my countrymen, that the introduction of
tea (in the way intended) would be an unavoida
ble badge of fiavery, I would refufe this likewise:
let the Captain do as he thinks proper with his
cargo, I would have nothing to do with it, in
regard to its disposal: and I have such an opinion
of every one of those appointed for this province,
as to believe that they will not a& in direct op
position to the general sentiments of their Ameri
can brethren.
I should be very sorry to fee any violent mea
sures pursued, and I do hope that nothing of that
kind will occur amongst us, nevertheless, I have
as earnest a wish as a man can have, that Penn
sylvania (the land of my Nativity) may never be
disgraced with the sale of one penny worth of the
expected tea while the revenue aft continues in its
present Rate; and I would rather be totally de
prived of the use of this article, than that it should
be introduced among us at the expence of liberty.
What then (may some fay) is this roan against
the practice of fmuggling?—l answer, yes, by all
means, it mould be the referee I fmuJ ap
ply to, to. remedy the defect : what? procure a
Captain to swear falfely, make perjury familiar
to him, and inform him in plain terms, that ifhe
. Ricks at any thing he is no roan for me, I will
turn him out of his employ, and get another per
son who will answer my purpose in a better man
ner.—Shocking! Is this the nature of smuggling?
I fear it is; ifit is not, I am misinformed, but if
this is the case, may all that is good forbid that
I should be guilty of such a heinous practice.—
Stop, fays the Veteran smuggler, you are too
much contracted in your notions, I.do nog ^hoofe
to follow you through, the whole of them neither?
you are precise indeed if you affect to despise riches
so far as all this ; —you would not receive a cargo
of slaves if the whole value was offered you: You
would not be a commissioner for the sale of tea,
because the liberties of your country might be af
fe&ed by it; —and more than all, you would not
s mu ggle tea when none could be admitted (that
was legally imported) on account of the duty;
this in my opinion is carrying the matter too far,
away with such narrow notions, it is natural for
all men to love perferment, and wealth in great
abundance is often the foundation for it. But
hold friend, I might answer with much propriety,
and let us confider whose notions are most narrow
and most confined, and in doing this, I hereby
promise, that if you are not convinced by a few
expressions, the use of many at this time shall not
be burthenfome. Well then, we are both perhaps,
beyond the meridian of life, we may be verging
faft, for ought we know, on the borders ofanother
world, is it worth our while to rifque our fouls
for the paltry possession of wealth, which will
serve us but for a trifling space, and soon must
remain to us forever ufelels; no, let our views be
more extended, let us look forward to a future
time, and let us a& such a part when it is in our
power, as may procure us peace of mind while
here, and be an earnest to us for happiness here
after.
That this may be more the case with all, is the
hearty wish of one, who earnestly defines, that
the liberties of his country may be preferred, that
a promotion of fiavery in every sense may be
avoided, and that the land may not be sullied by
means of perjury, for the fakeof gain.
A PHILADELPHIAN.
^oofcc^cfoofo%#%cfoo^c^ofoc^^
By theflip Hayley, Capt. Scott, arrived at Boston,
and the ftip Samson, Capt. Coupar, arrived at
New-York, both from London, we have the
fallowing advices.
CO NS TENTING P L E, Aug. 1.
THE disagreeable intelligence has just arri
ved here of the Ruffians having pofTefTed
themselves of the town of Afoph, at the mouth of
the River Don, in the following manner : The
Empress of Russia had a squadron of men of war
and frigates in the Palus Myotis, or the sea of
Afoph, which squadron landed their men in seve
ral parts, and committed great depredations,
which induced the Sublime Porte to fend a fleet into
that sea, in order to put a stop to such proceed
ings. This fleet confided of a large number of
gailies, with two fifty gun ships, and three fri
gates, who arrived in the Palus Mentis, fell in
several times with the Ruffians, and engaged with
various success. At laR the Ruffian Commander
formed & design of landing his men, to take the
town of Afoph; which, being known to the
Turks, they prepared to oppole it, in confcquence
of which a general battle ensued. The Turks had
manifeftly the advantage in point of situation, as
they were within the Ruffian fleet, and fought in
a manner under the cannon of Afoph, but the
Ruffians having the advantage of a wind, drove
in with the Turkic gallies who were a-head, and
caused much confufion ; however, one of the men
of war and two of the frigates coming up, gave
the gullies some relief, and maintained the fight
with great obstinacy, but at laid the superior weight
of the Ruffian metal prevailed, fix of the gullies
were funk, three, and one of the frigates taken;
the two men ofwar, the two frigates, and the rest
of the gallies made their escape out to sea, whi
ther the Ruffians did not think proper to follow
them. The Ruffian Commander immediately failed
into the river, and landed his men a little above
Afoph, on the eaftera fide of the river, took pos
session of that important place with very little re
sistance. The Divan was direßly called together
when this intelligence arrived, and the result of
the conference is, to endeavour at all events the
retaking of Afoph.
Vienna, Aug. 20. Letters from the Ruffian ar
my fay, that Field Marshal Romanzow is under
the greatest uneasiness touching the fate of his son,
who accompanied him in his expedition beyond
the Danube, and of whom he has never heard
since.
Hague, dug. 28. The projed for augmenting
our land forces is to be executed, not by forming
new corps but by railing the complement of the
old ones. Thus the troops of the Republic will be
in a refpeAable condition. Our sailors and ves
sels are likewise to,be augmented, circumstances
requiring that we ffiould pay attention to that de
partment.
Hague, Aug. 31. Twelve elders of the Polish
Synagogues, which have fallen to the lot of the
King of Prussia, have been presented to that mo
narch by General Ziethen. They had at their
head Ephraim, and went to request ^revocation
of the edi& for their emigration; and on their
agreeing to pay 70,000 crowns, it was fettled that
such Jews as were poflefTed of a capital of 500
crowns might remain in his Majesty's dominions,
and the time for the departure of the poorer fort is
to be proportioned according to certain circum
stances.
Vienna, Sept. 1. A Lieutenant of the Ruffianl
Hufiars .has just arrived here with the intelligencel
of a frefh action, which has passed in Moldavia|
between a body of the Turks, consisting of aboutl
3000 men, and a detachment of 2500 Ruffians,l
who were sent from Marshal Romanzow's army,l
to take possession of the town of Braifa, on thel
river TLrdaHcE; but v^cre opposed in their way
by the Turks, when, after a severe engagement,
victory declared in favour of the Ruffians, 40#
of the Turks being killed, and 600 taken prison
ers.
Riga, Sept. 2. Her Imperial Majesty hasorder
cd the dock-yard^ of this place to be enlarged
and repaired, for the purpose of building some firft'
and second rate flips of war. The mole is to be
run further into the fed, some new batteries', ma
gazines, fibre boules, &c. are to be kuilr, and in
Ihort all the fortifications and works are to be
greatly ftrengtbened and augmented, as her Ma
jesty means to make it the fineft port in her domi
nions.
Paris, Sept. 6. The prodigious florm, which
we mentioned some time since, was felt equally fe-
Vere at St. Malo's and its environs. The waters
occasioned the greatest damage, and all the hopes
they had flattered themselves with of a plentiful
harvest, have been loft by the inundations. The
violence of the wind raised the waves of the sea
to such a height, as to beat over the walls ofthe
town. The fliips and vessels that were moored, or
at anchor, could not resist the impetuosity of the
waves, but amidst the roaring of the wind and
most tremendous thunder and lightning, were dri
ven against the rocks; and perished; among others
the Augusta, and the Queen of Angels, which
were laden with different merchandizes for Ro
chelle. The coast is since covered with wrecks.
1 hefame storm was felt at Havre de Grace, at
half a league from which port were loft an Eng
lish ship, two French vessels, and four persons be
longing t 0 2 Dutch galliot; but the galliot was
luckily saved, with the Commander.
L O N D O N, Sept. l2.
The Czarina, whose pride and ambition is
gratified by having herfelf considered as the sole
agitator of the present martial manoeuvres on
the continent, is nevertheless, we are affared,
merely a cat's paw to a certain artful and high
reaching Monarch, who has been often heard to
boast of his talents for fomenting and appealing
national differences at will.
We hear that the post of mafler of horse to the
King is designed for his Grace the Duke of St.
Albans, whenever it shall be resigned by the Duke
of Ancafter.
The Lords of the Admiralty have ordered a
particular account of the monthly expences in
curred by supporting the armed cutters against
the smugglers, to be made out and laid before
them.
Baron Riedefel, in his account of his travels,
fays, that the annual revenue drawn by the Grand
Seignior from Egypt, consists of 11,450 purses,
of 62 l. 10 s. sterling each, amounting to 715,625!.
296,700 measures (at 250 pounds of 32 ounces
each) or corn, two thirds in wheat, and the re
mainder in barley and legumes; and in 1200 quin
tals, and 700 measures of lentils.
When Pope Innocent desired the Marquis of
Carpio, Viceroy of Naples, to furnifh him with
thirty thousand head of swine, he could not spare
them, but ifhis Holiness had occasion for thirty
thoufand Lawyers, they were at his service.
Sept. 1% The eyes of all Europe are upon the
I warlike preparations of the Emperor and the King
of Prussia. Whether this armament is for theof
fenfive or defenfive, or whether they are going to
ad in conjunction, or the contrary, is a secret
which is only known to themselves.
Letters from Faulkland-Iflands mention, that
a party, confiding of 34 Spaniards, had strayed
up the country from Magellan as far as Chili, in
search of some of the best gold mines, which they
found, and which the Chilian Indians had kept
concealed from the Spaniards, as well knowing
that a difeovery would excite in them a greater
thirst for conquest , but before they could get back,
the Indians seized them, and put every one to
death, least they fliould make their escape, and in
form their countrymen where the mines lay.
We hear that 3000 men are shortly to be draft
ed fi-om the marching regiments, and embarked
for North-America.
Sept. 14. The feculiarizing the estates belong
ing to the Jesuits in the imperial dominions will
augment the Emperor's revenue about 5,555,555
florins per annum.
Sept. 15. It is averted that Governor Hutchin
son will still be continued in his government, not
withstanding all the reports to the contrary.
It was yesterday reported at the Smyrna, that
it was absolutely determined by the premier, that
Mr. Wilkes should be Lord Mayor for the erftuing
year, to prevent his being in that office on the
year of the general election.
Sept. 16. It may be depended on, notwith*
standing what has been recently said to the con
trary, that the court ofGreat-Britain has positively
declared of having any thing to do in fettling dis
putes between the Turks and Ruffians, although,
the Grand Signor is now about to solicit the fa
vour. This may seem a mystery to many; howe
ver, what follows may unravel it : the Empress on
hearing that our sovereign was to be applied to by
the Porte to bring about a reconciliation, immedi
ately informed him what terms flte would accom
modate matters upon; which were thought at St.
James's very unreasonable, and such as his Ma
jesty could not, with any degree of justice, desire
the Grand Signior to accept of; therefore conclu
ded, and rightlytoo, to have no concern with this
business.
An end is put to the order of the Jesuits in all
the Roman Catholic dominions, which, in all ap
pearance will be the foundation of a general refor
mation in Europe.
By a gentleman arrived from Ofnaburg we are
informed that the inhabitants of Hanover were ap
prehensive of a visit from the King of Prussia, and
had sent an express to the court of London, inti
mating their fears.)
If it is true, as is currently reported, that the
Dutchefs of Northumberland is preferred before
anyother person to conduct the Queen of Denmark
to England, we may naturally suppose that the
Duke of Northumberland is in no small degree of
favour with a great personage: from which WC.