The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-06-03 00:00:00, page 3

between deliberations upon the methods of procuring it and
taking proper measures in consequence of their resolves ;
and while they are employed in appointing new Commifla
ri>s or inftrufting former ones, the opportunity of pur
chasing it cheap is seized by individuals, who fell it again
dear to the Congress. Of the many instances that could be
given of their luffmng from this cause, their situation in
the month 01 September lift may be produced, when they
had it not in their power to supply either theirown army,
®r the fleet of Monficur ie Compte de Eftaing.
From the embargo one would naturally have expected,
that the produce of America would have funk in value,
while the price of European commodities would have pro
portionally risen Tne contrary however has happened,
ana European commodities have remained at the fame
price, while the produce of America has risen, in propor
tion to its value, previous to the embargo, as 10 to 4,
flour, the refufe of warehouses, is now fold at 200 livres
per hundred weight. This may be attributed not only to
tne depriciation es their money, but also to the little occa
sion people in the country have for foreign merchandizes,
f A planter or farmer cares not to lay up a greater sum
of money,than is fuffi ient to difeharge the taxes levied on
him. Every necessary of life is produced from his lands
and his negroes. The habits of his family are spun in his
own house, from cotton or flax of his own gathering, and
the liquor he uses is of his own diflilling. In short, except
tea, coffee and sugar, the last of which may be in some de
gree supplied by tue use of honey, his own plantation pro
vides every ne cffmv,and the salted meat of the hogs he has
fullered to run wild in the woods, during great part of the
year, furnifh him with fufficient cash lor his taxes, or for
the acquisition or his little luxuries He has therefore no
inducement to part with his tobacco for paper, unless he
meets with n immediate opportunity of purchasing ne-
The source of the prefeat disorder and wavering condi
tion of American affairs, may be traced to that deprecia
tion of their money, the natural consequence of its excessive
abundance: at the fame time it must be acknowledged
tint the culpable authors of this depreciation are the Con
gress themselves. Obvious as the evil has been these last
eighteen months, they have notwithflan^ing had continual
application to the fame pernicious source, and have wan
tonly added emission to emdhon. At firfl the largest bills
were of 20 dollars, from whence they have successively
risen to 30, 4 ^ an: 50 dollars; inthe province 1 am now
in to 100. Few are convinced by the assurances of Con
gress, mat paper is equal in value to gold. Affections
that reaion and faCt deny, aid tneir own members do eve
ry thing in their power to confute. Mr. Robert Morris,
io particular, nas oared to offer to a perlon of my ac
quaintance, bills of exchange upon France, at the rate of
13 sols and tome derniers for a Continental dollar. Other
caffes however, betides this depreciation, have contributed
to the dearness of American produce, and particularly to
the last rife. Violent hurricanes, in autumn, destroyed
much of the tobacco and Indian corn, and a species of in
fe&s has runted the Harvells of wheat. The speculators
of this country have also contributed not a little to it,
notwithstanding the severe embargo laid upon provisions
since the monta of July. Never was a country so favor
able, or a period to iortunate for the underhand practices
and monopolks of trade as this. Every person in place is
either a real or pretended merchant : but, destitute of vir
tuous or patriotic principles, they confider their posts only
as the meats of making a fortune, which under the ap
pearance of lively zeal and difintereited honor for their
country, is elected with secrecy and e^fe. The oppor
tunity of tueir situations enables them to monopolize,
what they forefee toe future exigenceis of the State will
oblige it to purchase, at a rate suited to their own inordi
nate avarice. They then repretent themselves to the peo
ple as the friends ot liberty and favious of their country,
and cover the most villainous conduct under the most
ami ible of characters.
Let not these {peculations be considered as the portraits
of prejudice and error ; I write nothing but what is evi
dent to every one not perfectly blind.
There is in Amen a a general improvidence, which pre
vails thro' every rank of people, and from the lowest arti-
groes or land ; and we fee that they even prefer the loss of
part by an inundation or other accident, to the sale of the
whole , yet high as the price of it is, and little as they de
sire to part with it, they still, in conjunction with t eir
merchants, endeavour to raise it higher. This is easy to
them, for as I observed before, the Americans have un
fortunately less occasion tor our merchandizes, than we,
who carry our cargoes there, have for their produce,
and they turn this circumstance to their own advantage.
Before the present commotions, the English carried on
an exclusive commerce to America, which ne effarily left
the balance of trade in their own favour ; yet the want of
payment on the part of the Americans, occasioned those
disputes which were not unhe <rd of, before the resolutions
of America to shake off their dependance together. To
remedy this evi, it was requested, that the ports of Ame
rica should be opened to all nations, or that America should
be allowed to trade, without reftriftion, to every place.
The consequences of which it was hoped, would be ei
ther fetch an increase of riches, as would enable her to pay
off the debts she had coatra&ed ; or such a rife in the va
lue of American articles, and proportionate fall in the pri
ces of imported goods as would by degrees lessen those
disadvantages in the balance of trade, which impoverished
America, and from that equilibrium so much the object of
her wishes. These intentions have not been laid aside by
the present centeft, but it requires little judgement to pre
did, that it is a work for years, for which they are much
too early.
f Thi{ particularly relates to Virginia and North Caro
lina, inhere the consumption of merchandize lies wholly tn
the country.---What are called towns there, not deferring
the name of more than villages.
For the PENNSYLVANIA PACKET.
To the PRESIDENT of the State.
SIR,
lAMI AM encouraged by your Excellency's character to
address a few lines to you as the firft Magistrate in the
State, not doubting of your influence to do me justice in
the next session of our Assembly. My husband died
zan, to the rulers of the date, little care is taken but for
the prefect moment. [ cannot but think it a vice peculiar
to the climate, wnen I fee even the Congress defer the pre
paration 0 Gvery necessary, till the moment in which it
becomes indhpetdible : their time then becomes hurried,
eight ye^s ago, and left me with two sons and five
daughters. His estate confided entirely in money at in
terest, amounting to seven thousand pounds. Upon this
we lived for several years pretty comfortably. I bore for
a while the loss that accrued from the depreciation of the
interest of my money with patience, and thought myfelf
happy in contributing a portion of felf-denial for the sal
vation of my beloved country. My eldest son fell in the
battle of Germantown-His death feeved only to encreafe
my affeflion for my country ; and after paying the tri
bute of maternal grief, I consoled myfelf with refloating
that I had been honoured in giving birth to a youth who
had fallen gallantly in defence of the liberties of Ameri
ca. The low value of the interest of my money obliged
me to recal my youngest son from College, and to put
him into an office under the Congress which brought him
in a bare fubfi fiance. My girls and myfelf have been liv
ing, with the mod ingenious ceconomy, upon a few hun
dreds a year. We have fold our man feryaut, and diG
miffed both our maids; and we have done most of the
work of them all for these two years part with chearful
nefs and resignation. Happy should we esteem ourselves
jf our fufferings ended here A few days ago a man call
ed upon me t® difeharge a bond of 5000!. The whole of
i t was lent to him in Half Johannes and, Spanish Dollars.
It seems he had pur^hafed this sum with 2501. in hard mo
ney. I objected to re elving the money, and refufed to
five him up his bond. Upon this he threatened me with
the law.—" Laws, Sir, (said I) were made te protefl
property. I have often heard that mankind formed them
selves i nt ° Societies chiefly with a view of securing pro
perty —That law, therefore, must be unjust, and contra
ry to the firft principles of all governments, which compels
me to receive only 3501. for 5000!." “ Madam (said he)
in all wars individuals must expert to fufter." “ Yes,
Sir, (laid I) I know it and feel it; but I expelled my
fufferi^ 8 would have come from another quarter. I ex
pelled nothing but injustice and oppression from the arms
of Great Britain, but I looked for protection and jeftice
from the laws of this State." I was interrupted from fay
ing any more, by observing my youngest girl burst into
tears in a diflant part of the room. The villain who of
fered me the money took no notice of our distress; but
calling to a fellow that he brought with him, bid him to
witness that I had refufed to give up his bond, or to take
his money, After this he went out of my house. Now,
Sir, I call upon your Excellency in the name of all the
widows, orphans, and old people of the State over which
you preside, to do your utmost to repeal the odious law
which is so big with ruin to the helpless members of this
community. I have been told that Massachusetts Bay
and Virginia have refufed to pass laws to make the Con
tinental Money a legal tender for money lent upera bond
before the year 17759 and. for old debts. In this they
have Ihewn their wisdom and jurtice. Pennsylvania was
once famed for them both. Under your Excellency's ad
ministration we hope to fee the charaHer of our State re
vived. You are bieffed, I have been told, with an amia
ble wife and promising children—While they are solacing
themselves in your friendship and protection, think, Sir,
of the many widows and orphans who want their support.
May neither,^, nor they, ever feel the misery of, Sir,
Your most devoted humble servant,
OLIVIA.
PHILADELPHIA, June 3 .
Extra& oj a letter from a gentleman in Berkley count,, Vir=
ginia, to his friend in this city, dated Ma, 4, 1779.
“ I make no doubt, before this, you have heard of Gov.
Hamilton, with 8 officers and xoi privates, having been
taken at Port St. Vincents, by Colonel Clark.---They are
sent to Williamfburgh under a proper guard, where they
must be arrived before this gers you."
Accounts from York and Cumberland, and all the
counties eastward of the Susquehanna, agree in repre
senting the profpeft of a great harvest of all forts of corn,
as very promising. Frost in April, in the western parts,
had apparently killed much of the rye, and f®me of the
wheat ; and drought succeeding, the hopes of the htffcand.
man were almost dashed. This incited the farmers to plant
spring grain and potatoes with unusual industry, to supply
the dreaded loss of their winter corn. In the mean time,
very feafenable rains and spring-weather has restored the
languishing fields in a most surprising degree, so that the
late dreary appearances has increased the present pleasing
profpeas ®f plenty.
In COMMITTEE, June 2d, 177,.
The members of the Committee in their several diftrids
will, this afternoon, go to the holders and fellers of flour,
to advise them to fell their flour at the regulated prices,
in quantities, not more than one barrel to each family,
and that to such only who shall declare they have not one
barrel in their possession.
Revived, That such holders and fellers of flour who
chufe to supply the poor by retailing it in small quantities,
or by fending it to market, be allowed to receive one dol
lar per quarter of an hundred over and above the regu
lated price.
The Committee do likewise recommend to poor fami
lies to join three or four together to purchase a barrel be
tween them and divide it.
WILLIAM HENRY, Chairman.
N. B. The allowance of one dollar, per quarter of an
hundred is for the calk,and waste.
tilt The Committee are desired to meet this morn
ing at the College, at nine o'clock precisely.
^X^^^^)^AM^X^^X
A SCHOOLMASTER WANTED.
TH E Trustees of the Union Scheol-houfe at Ger
mintown will meet at the said School house on
the 3d inst. at Three o'clock in the afternoon, to re
ceive the proposals of an English Matter.
N. B There is a house, garden and prehard, rent
free, for the Matter.—Should any offer after laid day,
their proposals will be attended to, as the Schoo! is
very large.
WANTE D,
A PERSON who can be well recommended, to
aft as a CLERK in a public office. Enquire of
the Printer-
To be SOLD by Public Vendue,
At the Coffee-houfe in the city of Philadelphia, on
Wednesday the ninth day of June inst, at Six o'clock
in the evening, i.,
A HOUSE and lot or piece of ground, situate on
the weft fide of the main street in Geimaniownb
containing in breadth on said street fifty feet, and in
length or depth two hundred and seventeen feet; oppo
site the White Horse tavern. There is on laid lot an
elegant new (tone house, two stories high, - with two
rooms on a floor gmteely finifhed, and a goad cellar
under the whole house; allo a stable and other cut
houfes, with some fruit trees. The lot is inclofed with
a good board fence. Free from any ground rent. Late
the estate of Daniel Meredith, deceased. For fur
ther particulars enquire of Colonel Bradford, at the
Coffee-houfe.
OF> CE for Conveyancing, and Salß of
Real Estates.
TO BE SO L D,
THREE frame dwelling-houses and lot of ground,
firuate on the east fide of the main street in New
town, Bucks county : The lot is in breadth on the said
street nine perches and an half, and contains in quanti
ty one h indeed and thirty three square perches. The
houses are well built and compleatly finifhed, with cel
lars under each ; one of them 30 feet by 20, and the
other two 18 f«et by 26, two rooms on a floor, a good
garden to each tenement ; being an exceeding good
stand for a store or tav rn. .
Also a valuable traft of land, situate about twenty
f ven miles fie m Carlifle, in the county of Cumberland^
containing about four hundred and thiee acre?, eighteen
acres thereof good mowable meadow and fixy acres
more may be easily mads, fixy acres cleared ; being
extremely well situated for a mill feat, @n a never-failing
ftre:m of water. On the premises are a log house, barn,
orchard, garden, and other improvements.——Loan-
Office Certificates will be taken in payment for this tra&,
Likewise a great number of houses and lots in and
near the city, plantations in the country, and a great
quantity ot unimproved tr. &s of land in most of she
different counties. For a more particular description of
which, and the terms of sale, apply to BONSALL
and SHOEMAKER, at their Office in Fourth- street,
opposite the end of Union street, where Deeds, Mort
gages, Borods, Wills, &c. are done with accuracy and
dispatch, and Money let out at interest.
Philadelphia, June 2.
ALL persons who have any demands against
the estate of James Humphreys, deccaled, are
requested to render in their accounts to the fu bferibers,
that they may be fettled and paid. As there were a
number of Deeds and ocher writings in the possession of
the deceased at the time of his death, belonging to dif
ferent people, the owners are requested to call on the
fubferibers, who will deliver the fame on the payment of
charges. ASSHETON HUMPHREYS,] A , .
SAMUEL JEFFERYS jAdmimftratort
Philadelphia^ June
TO BE S O LD,
At SAMUEL HODGSON's Livery Stable, back
of the City Tavern,
A GENTEEL pair of BAY HORSES, with a
second-hand PHOTON, harness compleat.
Philadelphia, June
TO BE LE T,
On the south fide of Market-street, between Fifth and
Sixth streets,
TH E Dwelling house and Stores late the property
of Adam Kimmell, deceased, and now in possession
of Mr. Adam Foulke, she fame may be entered upon
by the fifteenth instant. For particulars apply at the
King of Prussia in Market street; to
MICHAEL KIMMELI.
Philadelphia, May 29.
FORTY DOLLARS REWARD.
STRAYED or STOLEN from off the Commons,
two large HORSES; one a sorrel, about sixteen
hands high, four white feet, a bald face, and marked
WK on his left buttock; the other a bay,^ about the
fame heighth but rather thicker, and his lower lip turns
out. Whoever takes up said horses and brings them to
the fubferiber, shall receive the above reward and rea
sonable charges, paid by
JAMES STEWART.
One Hundred and Forty Dollars Reward.
WAS STOLEN last night, out of the pasture
of the fubferiber, in Brandywine hundred, New
castle county, state of Delaware, a black roan HORSE,
ten or eleven years old, about fourteen and a half hands
high, when rode inclines mostly to pace, and when pull
ed trots very rough ; formerly belonged to the Conti
nent and branded US, was fold last fall at Continental
vendue and branded P on both shoulders ; his tail trim
med to a short round bob, his shoulders pretty much
ruffled with the collar, very tender footed, and had n®
faces on when stolen. Whoever takes up and secures
said horse so that the owner may have him again, shall
receive Fort, Dollars, and for the thief, if brought to
justice, One Hundred Dollars, by applying at Grubb's
Tavern, to
June s. GEORGE ROBINSON.
Philadelphia, Ma,
FIFTY DOLLARS REWARD.
OTOLEN from the fubferiber, in Oxford township,
U on Saturday night last, a bright bay MAR E, with
a white star, her left hind foot white, a natural pacer,
thirteen years old, and about fourteen hands high ; she
is apt to kick when any person mounts her. Whoever,
takes up said mare and the thief, and brings them to
the fubferiber, shall leceive Twenty Dollars for the
mare and Thirty Dollars for the thief.
GEORGE CASTER, Sen,