The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-02-19 00:00:00, page 3

Common Sense, on the King of
England's Speech.
OF all the innocent passions which aH^ate the hu
man mind, there is none more universally pre
valent than curiosity. It reaches all mankind,
and in matte s which c ncern us, or concern us not,
it alike provokesin us a defireto know.
Altho' the situation of America, (uperior to every
effort to enslave her, and daily rising into importance
and oppulence, hath placed her above the region of
anxiety,' it Bill left her within the circle of curiosity ;
and her fancy to fee the speech of a man who had
proudly threatened to bring her at his eet, was visibly
marked with that tranquil confidence which cared
nothing about its contents. It was enquired after
with a (mile, read with a laugh, and dismissed with
disdain.
But, as justice is due, even to an enemy, it is right
to fay, that the speech is as well managed as the em
barrassed condition of their affairs could well admit of;
and though scarce a line of it is true except the
mournful dory of Cornwallis, it may serve to amuse
the delud d commons and people of England, for whom
it was calculated.
'' The war," fays the speech, " is still unhappily
" prolonged by that restless ambition which firft ex
cc cited our enemies to commence it, and which dill
“ continues to disappoint my earned wishes and dili
" gent exertions to restore the public tranquility."
How easy is it to abuse truth and language, when
men, by habitual wickedness, have learned to set juf
ticeat defiance, that the very man who began t" e war,
who, with the most fuller infolen.ce refufed to answer,
and even to hear the humblest of all petitions, who
hath encouraged his officers and his army in the most
savage cruelties, and the most scandalous plunderings,
who hath ftirreJ up the Indians on one fide, and the
Negroes on the other, and invoked every aid of Hell in
his behalf, should now with an air of attested pity
turn the tables from himfeif, and charge on another
the wickedness that is bis own, can only be equalled
by the baseness of the heart that spoke it.
To BE NrBLY WRO F G I MORE MANLY THAN TO
be meanly right, is an expreflion I once used on
a former eccafion, and it is equally applicable now.
We feel fomerhing like refp.fi for confiflency even in
error. We lament the virtue that is debauched into a
vice, but the vice that affeds a virtu? becomes the
more detestable : and among ft the various assumptions
of character, which hypocrisy has taught, and men
have praftifed, there is none that raises a higher relish
of disgust, than to fee difaepointed inveteracy twisting
itfelf, by the most visible falfhoods, into an appearance
of piety it has no pretentions to.
" But I should not," continues the speech, " answer
" the trust committed to the sovereign of a FREE
" people, nor make a suitable return to my fubjefls
" for their constant, zealous, and affectionate attach
" ment to my person, family and government, if I con
“ fented to facrifice, either to my own define of peace,
“ or to their temporary case and relief, THOSE ESSEN
" TIAL RIGHTS AND PERMANENT INTERESTS, up
“ on the maintainance and preservation of which, the
“ future flrength and security of this country must
“ principally depend."
Thatthe man whose ignorance and obflinacy sirs l in
volved and still continues the nation in the mod hope
less and expensive of all wars, should now meanly flat
ter them with the name of a free people, and make
a merit of his crime, undr the disguise of their essen
tial rights and permanent interefis, is something which
disgraces even the character of perverseness. Is he a
fraid they will fend him to Hanover, or what does he
fear? Why is the fyeophaht thus added to the hypo
crite, and the man who pretends to govern, funk into
the humble and submissive memorialift ?
What those essential rights and permanent interests
ate,on which the future strength and security of England
must principally depend, are not so much as alluded
to. They are words which impress nothing but the
ear, and are calculated only for the found.
But if they have any reference to America, then do
they amount to the disgraceful confeffion, that England,
who once assumed to be her protedrefs, is now become
her dependent. The British king and ministry are
constantly holding up the vast importance which Ame.
rica is of to England, in order to allure the nation to
carry on the war : now whatever ground there is for
this idea, it ought to have operated as a reason for not
beginning it ; and therefore they support their present
measures at their own disgrace, because the arguments
they now use, are a direct reflection on their former
policy.
" The favourable appearance of affairs, " continues
the speech “ in the East Indies and the fafe arrival
" of the numerous commercial fleets of my kingdom
" must have given you (atisfaftion."
That things are not quite so bad every where as in
America may be some cause of confutation, but can
be none for triumph. One broken leg is better than
two, but still it is not joy : and let the appearance of
affairs in the Bast-Indies be ever so favourable, they
are nevertheless worse than at firft, without a rofpeA
of their ever being better. But the mournful story of
Cornwallis was yet to be told, and it was necessary to
give it the fefteft introduction possible.
“ But in the course of this year, " continues the
" speech “ my assiduous endeavours to guard the ex
" tensive dominions of my crown, have not been attend
“ ed with success equal to the justice and u prightnefs
"of my views " — what justice and uprightness
there was in beginning a war with America the world
will judge of, and the unequalled barbarity with which
it has been conduced is not to be worn from the me
mory by the cant of fnivelling hypocrisy.
“ And it is with great concern that I inform you
" that the events of war have been very unfortunate
" to my arms in Virginia, having ended in the loss
" of my forces in that province." And our great
concern is that they are not all served in the fame man
ner.
'' No endeavours have been wanting on my part"
fays the speech “ to extinguilh that spirit of rebellion
" which our enemies have found means to [fomenffand
“ maintain in the colonies ; and to reflore to my DE-
Z' luded subjects in America that happy and prof
" perous condition which they formerly derived from a
" due obedience to the laws."
Whereas Mary Worrall, wife of
the fuoicriber, has eloped from his bed and board,
these are therefore to forewain til perform not to trull
her on my account, as I th T nay no debts of her con
trsainrafter this date. BENJAMIN WORRALL.
New-Providence township, Carter county, Feb. 18,
i;3x.
The expression of deluded subjects is become so
hacknied and contemptable, and the more so when we fee
them making prisoners of whole armies at a time, that
the pride of not being laughed at would induce a man of
common sense to leave it off. But the most offenfive falf
hood in the paragraph, is the attributing the prosperity
of America to a wrong cause. It was the unremitted ia
duftry of the settlers and their defeendants, tlie hard la
bour and toil of persevering fortitude that were the true
causes of the prosperity of America. The former tyranny
of England served to people it, and the virtue of the
adventurers to improve it. Ask the man who with his
axe hath cleared h way in the wilderness and now pos
sesses an estate, what made him rich, and he will tell
you the labour of his hands, the sweat of his brow and
the blessing of heaven. Let Britain but leave America
to herfelf and she asks no more. She has risen into
greatness without the know|ege and against the will of
England, and has a rght to the unmolel ed enjoyment
of her own created wealth.
At M.s. FOR D's, in Arch ft^et, determined to give
the fulleft imist Ebon to the Public, ^ om hr is de
vot'd to fetvr, picp.fst< >t»ke MINIAIURE LIKE
NESSES, for the two mon hs following, ^ the very
moderate price of Two Guinea#.
N. B. If the persons who my empo Y him should
not he fati^fied with the goodness of the li.<eurfF, he
will demand nothing for the piece. Feb. 16.
" I will order 'ays the speech " the estimates of the
" ensuing year to be laid before you. I rely on your
" wjfdom and public spirit for such fuppliesas the cir
" cum^ancs of our affairs shall be found to require.
" Among the many ill confeq nen es which attend the
'' continuation of the prelent war, I must sincerely re
" gret the additional burthens which it must unavoida
" by bring upon my faithful fubjeds."
Strange! That a nation mud run thro' such a laby
rinth of trouble, and expend such a mass of wealth to
gain the wisdom which an hour's reflexion might have
taught. The final foperiority of America over eve
ry att mpt which an island might make to conquer her,
was as naturally marked in the confutation of things,
as the future ability of a giant over a dwarf is delineat
ed in his features whilean infant. How far Providence,
to accomplish purposes, which no human wisdom could
forefee, permitted such extraordinary errors, will be
believed by some and doubted by others, and Bill a se
cret in the womb of time, must rest till futurity fha 1
give it birth.
" In the prosecution of this great and important
" contest," fays the speech, '" in which we are en
“ gaged, I retain a firm confidence in the pr< TECTI
“on of lOVINE P R v PENCE, and a perfect con
" vision in the juPice of my cause, and I have no
" doubt, but, that by the concurrence and support
" of my parliament, by the valour of my fleets and
" ar des, and by a vigorous; animated, and united
" exertion of the faculties and resources of my peo
" pie, I fhal be enabled to redore the blessings of a
" a fafe and honorable peace to all my dominions."
The king of England is one of t' e readied believers
in the world. In the beginning of the contest he passed
an ail to put America out of the protection of the crown
of England, and though Providence, for (even years
together hath put him out of her protection, still the
man has nd dou t. Like Pharoah on the edge of the
Red sea, he fees not the plunge he is making, and preci
pitately drives across the flood that is closing over his
head.
Her situation now is such, that to whatever point,
past, present or to come she call her eyes, new matter
rises to convince her she is right. In her condwd to
wards her enemy, no reproachful sentiment lurks in se
cret. No sense of injurtice is left upon the mind. Un
tainted with ambition and a Granger to revenge, her
progrtfs hath been marked by providence, and she, in
every stage of the conflict has blef l her with success.
But let not America wrap herfelf up in dulufive hope
and suppose the buline s done. The lead remissness in
preparation, the leaft'r' lax in execution, will only serve
to prolong the war snd incresfe expences. If our ene
mies can draw con olation from misfortune, and exert
themfel.es upon difpair, how much more ought we,
who are to win a continent by the conquest and have
already an earned of success.
[To be continued in a future paper.]
I think it is a reasonable supposition, that this part
of the speech was composed before the arrival of the
news of the capture of Cornwallis; for it certainly has
no relation to their condition at the time it wasfpoken.
But, be this at it may, it is nothing to us Our line
is fixt. Our lot is cast. And America, the child of
fate, is arriving at maturity. We have nothing to do
but by a spirited and quick exertion, to stand prepar
ed for war or peace. Too great to yield, and too no
ble to ir.falt. Inferior to misfirtune, and generous
in success let us untaintedly preserve the character
we have gained, and fho'w to future ages, an exam
ple of unequalled magnanimity. There is something
in the cause and consequence of America that has
drawn on her the attention of all mankind. The
world has seen her brave. Her love of hberty ; her
ardour in supporting it; tiejuftice of her claims, and
the constancy of her fortitude has won her the esteem
of Europe, and attached to her interest the firft power
of that country.
Mr. Verstille,
[All the Printers in the United States art requested
to insert this in their Newspapers ]
zdly. They shall receive bank notes issued by the
president, dirraors and company of th Bank of Norths
America, in payment of taxes; and when they shall re
ceive ary ether money, they shall purchase therewith
the said bank notes.
gdly. They shall, at the end of every week, make
out a cash account, containing all the receipts of mo
ney during such week, which account (hall be transmit
ted by the next succeeding post the Superintendent of
Finance.
WHEREAS th^ United st^6 in Congress afr, ti
led, on the Second d^y of Novernt er, 1781,
did resolve, That it be recommended to tie hvoal
States to lay taxes for railing their quotas of money
for the United States, separate from those laid for their
own particular use • and to pass adls, dir ding the col
leaora to pay the fame to the comm ffiorei of the lour <-
office, or such other person as shall be appointed by the
Superintendent of Finance, to receive the fame within
the State, and to authorize such receiver to recover tl e
monies of the colle&ois tor the use of the United State ,
in the fame manner and under the fame penabi's as
state taxes are recovered by the treasurers of the resp t
tive States, to be fubjtH only to the orders of Congress
or the Superintendant of Finance.
And WHEREAS, it is not on only neceffvy thrt
some precise mode be adopted for managing the purl c
business in this refpe&, but alf) that the fame be pub
licly known, so that all per sons concerned therein may
have due notice thereof; I have therefore established
the following Rules in that behalf, for the receives,
who have been or shall be by me appointed.
111. They shall, according to the powers and autho
rities which they may refpe&ively be invested with, urge
the payment of the several quotas of money which are
or may be required by the United States in Congress
assembled.
4thly. They shall, from time to time, transmit the
hanK notes in the r poss ffion, by such person and in
furh manner as the Superintendent of Finance shall di
re& to the tre^urer of the United States, which per
lon shall pive a receipt for the fame.
grhly. Whin such notes, so transmitted, shall arrive,
a warrant sh H issue therefor, in f^vor of th# trealurer
of the United States, under the seal of the treasury,
finned by the Superintendent of Finance, and duly en
tered in the regular's office, diredd to the receiver,
who fhal have transmitted the fame, and the said trea
surer, on receipt thereof shall give a dricharge for the
fame, in the usual form, tndorfed on the said warrant;
which receipt, being also entered in the regi tier's cffice,
the said warrant shall be transmitted to the said receiver,
who shall cancel the receipt originally given to him+
6thly. The said receivers shall, at the end of every
month, make out an exalt account of the monies re
ceived by them refpe&ively, during such month, fpeci
fying therein the names o' the persons from whom the
fame shall have been received, the dates and the fumy
which account they shall refpidlively cause to be pub
lished in one of the newspapers of the State ; to the end
that 'very citizen raa r know h< w much o' the monies
coll' &ed from him, in taxes, is transmitted to the trea
sury of th- United States for the support of the war;
and also, that it my be known what monies have b ea
at the order of th^ Superintendant of Finance. It being
proper and necessary, that in a free country the people
should be as fully informed of the administration of
their affairs, as the nature of things will adm t.
ROBERT MORRIS.
Philadelphia county, February 14 . 1782.
For Terms apply also to dc&or HENRY SCHNIB
LY, near said land; but none need apply that cannot
be well recommended for industry.
On MONDAY, the iß<h day of Mirch next, at the
Coffee-houfe, at 12 u'Clock at Noon, if not Sold
before by Priva^ Sale, A
Large Brick House, situated on
the bank fide of Front-firmer, three < ours above Arch
ftreet, with two fior s, each 20 feet in breadth ; the
one in Front- street is three ftorits high, the other, in
Water- fti eet, is four ftorier, with a good Kitchen, and
a Cellar under the whole. The said Houle is fubje& to
twelve pounds Pennfylvsnia currency per annum.
Whoever inclines to become purchaser before the rhove
rl^e. may know the Terms by apply.ng to DAVID
FICK, at the Corner of Arch and Front streets.
Philadelphia, February 18, 17&2.
The Subferiber, as ailing Ad_
miniftrator of the eftateof captain JONAIHAN HA
GER, late of Washington county, in the star- 0 Ma
ryland, deceased, requells all those that are indebted '0
the said estate to make payment to him; and those that
have any demands against said estate to bring in their
accounts, that they may be fettled ; for whi h purpose,
as also to receive the Ground. Rents of El z eth-to^n
(or Haget's-town) in said county, the fuhfenber will
attend at the hou'e of Mr. BELSHUBER, in the said
town, from the iff day of Match next to the rzth day
of the fame month.
The fub'criber has also to Let, about 4000 Acres of
LAND in said county (1400 acres ther o. in his o^n
right, and the rest as a tiuftee.) This land arjeing
Hager's-town ; and as the fertility of the land in that
neighbourhood is so well known it needs no particular
description. The fabfcriber may be applied to whilst
he days at Mr. Belfhuber's, and before or after at his
House in Philadelphia county, in this state.
DANIEL HIESTER, junr.
To be Sold by Public Audion,
Office of Finance.
FEBRUA RYn, 17^